The CTC ASP.NET WebForms Generator 2.0, released on 30 July 2008, provides support for AJAX and includes a large number of significant features that sets it apart from other generators available on the market.
Support for ASP.NET AJAX
The generator has been enhanced to provide support for both ASP.NET AJAX and the standard ASP.NET.
Generating a bundle for ASP.NET AJAX allows you to provide a richer User Interface utilizing features such as:
- Flicker free display.
- Partial rendering using the ASP.NET AJAX Update Panel to provide a more efficient User Interface.
- AJAX Controls from the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit to modernize the User Interface.
Selecting whether to generate a bundle for AJAX or the standard ASP.NET is as simple as setting the new 'ASPNETVersion' option. By default, this is set to standard ASP.NET. Depending on the setting, the generator will automatically adjust the generated Visual Studio project files to reference the relevant .NET Framework dll's and copy all the relevant infrastructure files into the generated project.
This version includes changes to the CE Webform Renderer to support both AJAX and the standard ASP.NET.
Support for the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit
The
ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit is a free download from the Microsoft Web Site which contains more than 40 AJAX controls that work on top of the core ASP.NET AJAX release.
Controls from the toolkit that are particularly suitable for extending controls on EAE and AB Suite forms to enhance the user experience have been included as
custom controls.
Additional Custom Controls
A total of 12
custom controls have been included with this release of which 9 take advantage of AJAX.
Generating CopyFrom Region as a Table
Setting the option CopyFromAsTable, a CopyFrom region in CopyFrom ispecs can be generated as a table. The table is generated using the standard ASP.NET Table control. This allows the table and all its elements to be styled using the CTC Configurator taking advantage of all properties available by ASP.NET to suit any local requirements.
See also
CopyFromAsTable.
Enhancements to the Context Menu Control
In addition to the Multi Level Sub Menu capability added in version 1.0.1, the Context Menu control has been enhanced to allow the creation of a true context menu that reflects the actual context in which the browser user requests the menu.
- New events added that occur when the context menu is requested from the browser user, allowing the application to dynamically create menu items reflecting the actual context.
- The menu is created and sent to the browser only when requested by the browser user. This minimises the html code sent to the browser.
- A comprehensive example of how to create a context menu that responds to the browser user’s request, dynamically builds a list of ispecs currently generated for the bundle and adds it as a sub-menu to the standard context menu is included with the Default.aspx form.
Easy Configuration of Applications, Bundles, Ispecs and Fields
Configuration of applications, bundles, ispecs and fields using the CTC Configurator has been enhanced to provide a dropdown list allowing easy selection of applications, bundles, ispecs and fields that are defined in the EAE or AB Suite Development Environment.
Preview of ASP.NET Controls
Preview of ASP.NET Controls has been added to the Properties/Specification Editor. In addition to providing a list of properties available on the ASP.NET Controls, this allows the user to preview the effect of setting the properties while configuring ASP.NET Controls.
Prevention of Double-Submitting Forms
A feature that disables the User Interface when the browser user submits a form until a response has been received from the server has been added.
- This prevents the user from double-submitting the forms/transactions.
- When submitting, the cursor changes to the wait icon providing immediate feedback to the user.
- When submitting, an image/icon can be displayed informing the user that the transaction is being processed.
Custom Code for Individual Forms
An option for the generator to add a Custom Code Module to all or selected forms has been added. This allows the user to add custom code to a form to perform special actions such as setting properties on controls depending on values returned from the host system, and validating input from the browser user before transmitting the data to the host system.
Remove Control Option
An option has been added that allows removal of a control from the form and thus exclude it from being generated. This provides an easy way to hide a control that has been painted in the Development Environment from the user.
IIS Reset Option
When set, the generator resets (Stop and Start) IIS at the start of a generate process before generating Ispec Models files. This avoids errors occurring during the generation of the Ispec Model files caused by IIS locking Ispec Models files that have previously been accessed.
No Restriction 30 Day Evaluation Version
Restrictions previously found in the 30 day evaluation license have been removed. Any number of ispecs can be included in a bundle and the watermark on the forms has been removed.
