StrataFrame Forum

Windows 8

http://forum.strataframe.net/Topic31527.aspx

By Ger Cannoll - 10/26/2012

Hi.

Now that Windows 8 has been 'officially' releassed, I am planning to upgrade all my bits and pieces,  and am wondering if any implications for Strataframe

Is SF  ok with Visual Studio 2012

Is SF ok with Sql Server 2012

Is SF ok with Windows 8

Thanks

Gerard
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/6/2012

Well, Strataframe works ok with VS2010 and SQL Server 2012 in Win 7 x64

But I can't get the list to select the binding field in a windows form when using VS2012. I get an error about instance of an object.

I am downloading now Win 8 Pro and in the compatibility check the installer told me that VS2010 is not compatible with Win 8.

When I finish I let you know what happens.
By Ger Cannoll - 11/7/2012

Hi Hugo. That would be great.

Dont want to start updating if there are going to be major problems !!
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/7/2012

We will be posting a build in the next 10 days that will have full VS2012 support.  You can make it work now if you want to, but if you want 10 days or so, we will be pushing out a build.
By hector - 11/7/2012

Hi Trent,

Bytheway, what about StrataFrame 2.0?

2012 is ending.. Wink

Kind regards...
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/7/2012

It will not be released in 2012.  We are working on it full time though.  This entire week we have been going over every possible enhancement request that we have heard of for each area to make sure that no valid enhancements are missed.

All will be revealed in time.  But this is a huge release and we will be releasing some new products as well that are not currently available.  We are going to release things in phases, one of the first being the DDT.  We will be updated the website as well as a new blog area so you guys can see the progress.  There will also be some video blogs showing to features, etc.

Stay tuned...we are on it.
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/7/2012

I couldn't reinstall Strataframe on Win 8 Pro . When running Phase 1 of 2 of the Installer, a windows appears telling that the Strataframe Installer has stopped working. I click on close but then the phase 2 of 2 continues installing without problem and finishes as if it installed ok. Then when trying to run the examples module I also get a program stopped working message and it crashes.



When opening VS2010 (it opens despite the fact that the Windows 8 installer told me that it was incompatible) I get a message about Strataframe addin manager failed to load.

 I did it using a Microsoft account (Safe PC mode) and using a local account. 
Tried to run it as administrator and in Win 7 compatibility mode, but the same results.


So no luck for now.
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/9/2012

Has anybody else tried to install Strataframe on Win 8?

I am still stuck.
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/16/2012

After downloading StrataFrame 1.7.6.0 I run it and installed OK.

I could run the samples and everything went right.

Now my projects are ok both in VS2010 and VS2012.



Soooo, as far as I tested, Strataframe 1.7.6.0 works on Windows 8 Pro with SQL Server Express 2012 both in VS2010 and VS2012. 



GOOD!!!!
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/18/2012

Good to hear, Hugo.

I have been running Windows 8 and VS 2012 for a while and so far there are pros and cons.  There are more cons on Windows 8, such as the ridiculous permission issues.  They are trying to stop viruses, okay I get that, but sheesh, it took a while to get everything lined up where I could work.  I still get the occasional, "Access Denied" and I am a Domain Admin!

As for VS 2012, there are some issues with the colors (too monochrome) that can be corrected with the Theme plug-in for VS 2012.  The pending changes dialog for the Team Explorer is awful....way more energy to work from.  Also, the icons are all the same color and look virtually the same in the Solution Explorer, so it is hard to quickly spot certain code files.

There are some good things about both as well.  I think in the end, both will be far better, but it is like anything else, you have to get things "tweaked" to your liking a bit.

Happy coding!
By Edhy Rijo - 11/18/2012

Hi Trent,

I use TFS, SQL2008R2 & VS2010 to upgrade all that what would be the order of upgrading?  I guess:
  1. SQL 2012
  2. TFS 2012
  3. VS2012
I will not upgrade to Windows 8 yet, will only upgrade on Win 7.


Thanks!!!
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/18/2012

I know I made Windows 8 sound bad Smile, but honestly I like it pretty well.  I like it a little better than Windows 7, so don't let my "ragfest" alter your decision there.  But in regards to upgrading, the recommended order would be to load in this order:

  1. Load Visual Studio 2012 as it will load side-by-side with VS2010.  Also, you can use TFS 2010 with VS 2012, which is what we are doing, as updating TFS from version to version is always a bit of a bugger and so we plan carefully for this.
  2. Next, I would load SQL Server 2012.  You can upgrade your existing instance or create a new one if you have this need.  If this is the SQL Server that you have TFS on, be sure to BACK IT UP!!!!!!  There can be some upgrade issues anytime you go from version to version, so protect your backside!!
  3. As for TFS server, I would do this last, once you have everything else working.  The TFS client in VS2012 works perfectly with TFS Server 2010.  So you can skip this for now and be working instead of messing around with the server.  However, if you DO plan on updating your server, make sure that you have a very clean backup and then proceed when you can have some down-time.  There are some online articles that you can look at that will give you the play-by-play.  Since I have not yet gone through this myself, I don't feel qualified to tell you all of the necessary components.  But once I do, I will let you know if there are any sticky wickets.
By Edhy Rijo - 11/18/2012

Thanks Trent,
About Windows 8, the reason for not upgrading right now are based on drivers from Dell, and this usually takes a lot of time whenever I need to upgrade the OS, usually I change computers, but the one I have is just 1 year old so there is no need to be replaced, but before upgrading it I have to make sure it will go smooth and have all backups available.

I like Windows 8 and will upgrade to it as soon as Dell releases all drivers for my computer and printers.

I like your upgrade path for the rest, makes sense and will allow me to keep using TFS2010 for a while and this is a must, I heavily depend on TFS it has saved me many times.
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/18/2012

Makes sense, Edhy.  I have had pretty good luck across the board with the drivers, etc.  Heck, this is the 3rd OS my motherboard and CPU have gone through.  I have upgraded RAM, drives, etc., but my Core i7 922 is still doing great.  I will wait until the next generation of CPU is released to upgrade.  I have, however, upgraded my video card significantly as well. 

You are right about TFS as well.  It is hard to imagine development without these days.
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/19/2012

Thank You.



I really like Windows 8 too.
By Hugo R. Figueroa - 11/19/2012

oopsie...

I tried to replay to the earlier post.
By Trent L. Taylor - 11/19/2012

No problem, Hugo.  Thanks for sharing!
By Edhy Rijo - 12/5/2012

Hi Trent,

Trent L. Taylor (11/18/2012)
As for VS 2012, there are some issues with the colors (too monochrome) that can be corrected with the Theme plug-in for VS 2012.  The pending changes dialog for the Team Explorer is awful....way more energy to work from.  Also, the icons are all the same color and look virtually the same in the Solution Explorer, so it is hard to quickly spot certain code files.

Just to report back that I finally upgraded to MS-SQL2012 & VS2012, not Window 8 yet.
MS-SQL2012, I like it a lot, maybe because now they are using VS2010 as the IDE and I feel very comfortable around it.  Also it is faster than 2008R2.

As for VS2012, I love everything under the hood, the speed and other things, but the 2 theme options are just awful, either totally in the dark or extremely white, very uncomfortable, heck my applications looks much better for sure, just cannot understand why they have not addressed that in Update 1, I read the next update will have some UI fixes, at least they should have provided a VS2010 theme.

Well have not done anything seriously yet, but planing to do so this week.  By the way, I could not find any documentation related on what is new in SF 1.7.6.0 or at least what has been fixed, but the SF update when really smooth with no complications. Smile
By Trent L. Taylor - 12/6/2012

Edhy:

You can download a VSIX package from the online gallery to address the colors.  I loaded this and it made a huge difference.  There are also some packages out there to change the icons back to the previous version instead of the monochrome all-look-the-same icons.  You can download the theme color editor here:

http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/366ad100-0003-4c9a-81a8-337d4e7ace05

This will save your eyesight!

Edhy, we didn't do a great job of updating the docs this last go around.  Mainly because it was a decision of where to spend time, and we elected to spend it on SF 2.0.  There is a lot going on there on this side.  When we get a little further along, we will start posting screenshots and samples so you can see what is going on.

If I get a chance this weekend, I will sit down and add a post out here with some of the changes and fixes.
By Edhy Rijo - 12/6/2012

Trent,

Thanks for the info on the theme, I downloaded and yes it helps a lot. Tongue

About the SF update, I just though my SF help file was not updated.  I understand the process and just wanted to know any relevant major detail in the update to be aware of.  I am constantly making changes to my main SF application and sometimes there are not enough time to re-test all features and not knowing what may have change in SF could affect something, or if there is some new hidden goodies then I would not take advantage of them Rolleyes