[DotGNU]2004 SWF

[Neil Cawse]

What ms has planned for 2004 for System.Windows.Forms:

 

Windows Forms empower developers with the full power of the Windows client PC. In Whidbey, the Windows Forms classes will be enhanced to include an improved application deployment model, increased developer productivity, and simplified data access. Whidbey will also include notable enhancements to Windows client application performance and security.

First, Whidbey will improve upon the deployment strategy introduced by No-Touch Deployment in version 1.0 of the .NET Framework. New capabilities will include support for running applications offline, rolling back to previous versions of an application, and listing an application in the Windows Start menu as well as the Remove Programs catalog within the Control Panel. Additionally, No-Touch Deployment in Whidbey will enable developers to distribute the .NET Framework with a Windows client application.

To further support this deployment model, significant investments are being made in code access security, which protects users from malicious code by governing the capabilities of applications deployed from a remote Web server. In Whidbey, the scope of permissible actions that may be carried out safely by the deployed application will be expanded. Additionally, enhancements to the .NET Framework will make it easier for systems administrators to safely roll out updates to code access security policy.

Second, Windows Forms will include features and controls that increase developer productivity. These include: an Active Document Container for hosting Office documents, a Microsoft Office-style toolbar, intuitive splitter controls, a sound component that can run in partial trust, a Web browser control that can be accessed safely by way of managed code, and layout controls that automatically position and resize controls on a form as screen resolution or form dimensions change. In addition, implementation of multithreaded applications will be simplified through large investments in the Windows Forms asynchronous programming model. Many Windows Forms controls will feature asynchronous properties and will be complemented by a new, intuitive BackgroundWorker component to manage asynchronous tasks.

Finally, Windows Forms will include new components that simplify data binding, such as a new data table. As the successor to the existing DataGrid, the new data table will support master-details view, in-place editing, a developer-friendly extensibility model, and improved scalability.