Hi All,

I am trying to set up my first Webforms Demo.  I am using c# ASP.NET and hope to use the Developer Express Control Set ... after I get going.

Questions

1)  Is there a c# help file ? I have looked around .. I heard about it in the forum but I can't find it?  I am finding it very difficult to read the help instructions in VB.NET then implement them in C#.

2)  I have been unsuccesessful trying to set up the 1 included Web Application Sample .. (Error post Submitted) ...Does anyone have a couple of very simple c# Web Examples ... simple examples say a data grid or simple form and/or parent-child form set-up so I can see how this is done.

3)  When building a web form can you mix Strata controls with Standard VS controls ?  What do you need to consider when choosing between Strata controls and VS 2005 controls.  Will I have to wrap the VS 2005 controls?  Can I use GridView, FormView and Breadcrumbs controls ... In a Strataform Application ?

Thanks In Advance 

This will help me get going I have been going round in circles

Kind Regards

jd

There is a C# web sample as well as many other C# sampels that come with the framework.  Most topics do have VB.NET code samples, but we have started adding the C# samples as well.  The reason for this logic initially is that most people that can program in C# can also program in VB.NET.  Though we have learned that this is not always the case.  The class libraries are in both C# and VB.NET.  But as far as the documentation is concerned, this is not generally something that is VB.NET or C# specific.  Most of the help points out properties, events, etc. and though there are some code samples (which we will be sure to add C# snippets) this is not something that should require another help file dedicated to C#.

I have this on my list from your other post and will try to get to it as soon as possible. 

You can use any combination of controls that you want to.  We primarily use SF controls throughout our application but use an Infragistics grid in the areas that we need a grid.  You can bind to ANY 3rd party control without adding a wrapper of any sort using the BusinessBindingSource control.  But if you want to have native SF data binding, then you will need to implement the IBusinessBindable interface to your custom or inherited control.

If you are planning on using themes, then you will want to take this into consideration when using things that could have a visual impact on your application.  But in most cases this will not present too much of an issue as you can add your own logic or add SF theme colors, etc. if you really need this functionality, and is some cases it really doesn't matter (i.e. using a GridView).

Hi Trent,

Thanks for you response ... all points taken.  Sorry I don't think I was very clear when I asked for c# samples.  I have seen and worked with a few of the excellent samples you/the community have supplied. 

I am working on a C# ASP project.  When I have tried working through the Tutorial help files "Creating a WinForms App VB" and "Creating a Business Obj library" .  The later was excellent for c# ASP.NET but I would really like the equivalent of the Winforms VB explanation in ASP.NET c# as I am having to learn VB.NET and winforms issues that do not apply in any way ... although interesting ... but very confusing when I'm trying to knock up a simple example.

Thanks In Advance.

jd

Any actual tutorial links you may have explaining the approach to c# ASP.NET developments would be greatly apprciated. 

Hi Trent,

 ..... the specific areas I am having problems with transcribing to C# ASP.NET in the "Creating a winforms App [VB]" help file are.

Adding Controls & Binding Data 

Populating the Business Object

Thanks Again

jd

All points well taken.  We are in the process of rolling out a KB which will have both C# and VB.NET tutorials, How-Tos, samples, and the lot.  It has become too cumbersome to try to cram all of this in the install and help and it also requires a more lengthy process to get it out the door.  We are in the process of addressing this very issue through our KB.  We hope to open the doors at the end of April with at least a few articles and how-tos that will grow from that point forward on a weekly basis...for example, this would be a good article that could be created quickly and placed out there for your review.  Thanks for your patience.

Hi Trent,

Thanks for your speedy reply .... I am very pleased to learn about your plans for extending the help and Demo's.  Right at this moment though I am really stuck .... I know it is on things that are really quite simply ... I am making a bit of a leap mentally/technogically in terms of development methodology in deciding to use your product.  In my instance I already have a Database desgined for the project.  I have a style sheet/Masterpage for the design .... by tomorrow I need a working example to show my client how this product is going to save us time .. in the long run ...  and money .. again in the long run

Specifically, at the moment I can't even connect a simple Strata ListView control to my database.  I have a Business object mapped ..... I have a Rows collection and not A Columns collection for my ListView so the VB example I was walking through under "Controls" "ListView Population" is really confusing.  The pop up property form "Web List View Population Settings" under PopulationDataSourceSettings for binding business objects is different from that in the help .... I'm guessing its the difference between win controls and web, but I cannot find this distinction in the forum or in help file .... I know it's propbably my error but at the moment I don't know where to turn ....

I wonder if I should add a WebBusinessBingSource to the form.  whether I need to add the business object to the ApplicationBasePage.cs.  I want to set up a parent child form as a basic ....

I don't mean to moan but every time I get a few days to work on this I find I'm bogged down trying to make the simplest things work .... I haven't got over that learning curve hump where you can paddle around .... I feel I'm drowning ... switching between help and VS2005 printing bits and pieces from the help ... trying to piece it all together ... should I learn VB.NET and winforms first .... help me to get into c# ASP.NET ... looking at the excellent Ajax contributed sample ... I know it can't be this bad.  At least I can maybe show my client this discussion ... See if I can get him to wait until April

Thanks in Advance

jd

John,

It sounds like you are fighting on a lot of fronts all at the same time.  This is a common thing when moving into .NET development...and when you add web on top of it things can become more frustrating.

We all have preferences as it relates to languages and though I totally know C# and love the language, I have come to appreciate VB.NET over the years for application development.  I have also noticed that most developers have an easier time moving into VB.NET versus C# when coming from any background other than C++...so that is why you see VB.NET as a base many times.  However, this is really somewhat irrelavant in regards to trying to create a prototype application.

The first thing I would do is load VS2008...much better all the way around and this way you are not running to catch up.  You can also run any of your existing .NET application in this environment without changing any code...it supports .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0, and .NET 3.5.  This will also make it easier for you when you start looking at our new samples...they will all be VS2008 projects.  I don't even have VS2005 on my daily development machine any longer, just test and Virtual Machines.  Most of our current samples are VS2005 solutions that can be upgraded to VS2008, but all new samples with be VS2008...and it makes it easier when everyone is on the same playing field.

Next, you should first create a simple WinForms application so that you can see how the BOs, etc. work and interact.  Then use those same BOs and create the same form on the ASP.NET side.  We have a new sample application that we are working on called StrataFlix that does this very thing, but since it isn't ready it doesn't do us much good today

Finally, I want to help...that is why we are here and what we try to do with all of our developers, but I am not sure where to start here.  I was going to create a quick sample in C# for you that loaded a ListView from a BO so that you would have something else to look at past the sample that you already have (which does this by the way and is a separate control that using the grid and a WBBS). 

Sorry for the ambiguos response, but I hope that his might get us going down the right path.

Hi Trent,

Thankyou for suffering my frustrations.  I have taken on board all you have said especially about VS 2008.  I have already installed the Express version (unused).... Will Strata frame work with the express version ?

As for help, I am going to relay our discussions to my client which is a good start, .... more practically I would like to maybe talk with someone over the phone to discuss the technical aspects/coding of Your product ... I believe it will help to kick start my development.   I have already developed a business object library ... It was just how to wire up the forms correctly.

First, I will attempt to convert/Rebuild my project to Visual Studio 2008, on your go ahead, and would be interested to know any differences when using Strata Frame in developing between the two environments. 

Unfortunately, I am preparing to visit a another client abroad on Friday 4th until next wednesday and will be unable to carry out the above until I get back .... co-incidently I intend to use your product with this clients development.

Thanks in advance for your help

jd

P.S I saw the stratatrain website at some point, ..... I watched the demo videos, are there any links available to this material for c# ASP ?.  Are you going to release anything similar they looked ideal !

You will want to load a full version of VS.  The Express versions really won't get the job done.  You will be dealing with a number of other headaches.

The knowledge base will get this done.  We will have videos, etc. through the KB.