.NET HTML5 Application Development

New Detailed Documentation for latest Visual WebGui versions/features

2012-05-24T01:29:50-12:00:00

Hi,

I know it is a bit late, but better late than... you know how it goes. So here is the detailed documentation of the latest WINWEB version 6.4.0 Release d / .NETHTML5 Beta3.

The document is documenting the many new features added to the recent release, but it also touches base with more basic framework functionality. The purpose of the document is to serve Visual WebGui beginners as well as to support more advanced Visual WebGui developers.

We decided to release the documentation even that it is not yet fully completed, so our community can use it. We think it would better serve the community to release what we already completed and then update it as soon as we have completed more chapters. So missing chapters such as the new DockingManager control will be added in the near future. As always, we welcome any comments and corrections.

To access the document, go to the downloads section here, and you will find it within the Documentation section near the bottom in the WINWEB and .NETHTML5 columns. Or directly download it from this link.

Extending applications to HTML5 & Mobile - recorded webinar

2012-05-16T19:35:20-12:00:00

Hi,

The recording of the webinar we did with Forrester Research recently is now available. At this opportunity I would like to thank Jefferey Hammond of Forrester who did a great job in discussing the Open Web, Cloud computing and Mobility trends and presenting the new development challenges they bring and why organizations need to rethink their application development strategies.

The 2nd part of the webinar is a presentation from Gizmox, discussing the Instant CloudMove assessment and transposition tools, which support those trends Jefferey Hammod talked about and help companies extend Windows apps to HTML5 and mobile platforms.

The video is available through the visualwebgui website and it is free of course:
http://www.visualwebgui.com/tabid/738/Default.aspx

What should we do with our Windows CE/Windows Mobile apps?

2012-05-09T18:46:59-12:00:00

I would like to share a post from the Visual WebGui Blog on ASP.NET. The post "The link between Windows CE/Windows Mobile applications, ASP.NET and HTML5" discusses the developer's alternatives when facing the need to update applications that were written for Windows CE and Windows Mobile. If you have written such application you are again facing a critical decision since Microsoft's current mobile platform - Windows Phone has no backwards compatibility to those not so old platforms.

"(organizations)...need to make a decision about the technology and platform which they are going to rewrite the application on and obviously whether it is even cost-effective to rewrite the application all over again. Microsoft Windows Phone would be the natural decision as it can be developed in Silverlight within Visual Studio 2010"

The post presnets a more complete alternative than redesigning it for Windows Forms; a framework that is also based on .NET but the outcome is not limited to Microsoft Windows Phone but can run on almost any platform and any device via the mobile browser. There is also a link to a showcase of a large telecom company that converted an old Windows CE application into a web-based mobile application with HTML5 front-end. This allowed the company to upgrade the UI and freed them from the limitation to a certain mobile platform, so now they can use any Smatphone and Tablet they want.

Cheers.

Trends in HTML5 open web and mobile development

2012-04-23T02:14:23-12:00:00

Hi,

I'd like to point out an opportunity to view a live session with a world leading expert in open web and client architecture, next-generation mobile and software development productivity. Jeffrey Hammond, a Prinicipal Analyst at Forrester Research will be co-presenting with Gizmox a free webinar tomorrow (April 24, 1PM EST) and will speak about market trends in enterprise software development and the changes brought on by the move to web apps and open web architectures.

Jeffrey and Gizmox will also discuss about the new development strategy in enterprise and how they are moving to the cloud and extend operations to mobiles. Gizmox will present its solution for extending enterprise client/server applications to HTML5 which can be consumed in any web browser and mobile device. There will also be a short live demo of example WinForms and VB6 applications moving to the web using the tools.

It is going to be very interesting to developers, managers and IT people, so don't miss it!It's Free and there are several spots left:
http://www.visualwebgui.com/Gizmox/Landing/tabid/674/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/987/Extending-Windows-Applications-to-HTML5-and-Mobile-Has-Never-Been-Easier.aspx

Thanks!

New Enhanced Visual WebGui WINWEB and .NETHTML5 Versions

2012-04-02T18:49:03-12:00:00

After a long wait and huge anticipation from the Visual WebGui community, I am happy to announce the release of new versions for the WINWEB and .NETHTML5 branches. The new 6.4.0 Release d and 6.4.0 beta3 versions are available after an extensive work on core capabilities of Visual WebGui including extension of existing controls and adding new controls such as Strip Controls, RibbonBar, DataGridView, ComboBox, PropertyGrid and RadioButton as well as some major enhancements to both versions in terms of cross-browser support and performance.

We apologize for the delay in the release of those most expected versions, but we believe that the extra time lead to a more mature and complete product. As you can see the changelog is pretty long and includes a list of enhancements, new features and bug fixes: http://visualwebgui.com/Developers/KB/tabid/654/article/w_changelogs/Default.aspx

The new versions are available for all versions with open sources for Visual Studio 2005, 2008 and 2010.

You are welcome to download the WINWEB Free Trial and the Free .NETHTML5 beta on the downloads page.

Application Migration: Windows/VB6 Apps to ASP.NET HTML5

2012-04-01T19:24:24-12:00:00

I would like to invite you to a fascinating webinar on extending applications to HTML5 and Mobile that we are doing in collaboration with Jeffrey S. Hammond, Principal Analyst serving Application Development & Delivery Professionals at Forrester Research.

The webinar is free and it will will introduce the substantial changes brought on by the move to Web Applications and Open Web architectures, and the challenges it places on application development shops. We’ll also introduce how we at Gizmox are helping client navigate this mobile shift and evolve existing Windows applications with a new set of Transposition tools called Instant CloudMove. We will discuss the alternatives in the market to evolve your existing applications and focus on our transposition tools that reduce migration risk, minimize costs, and accelerate your time to market.

So if you have locally installed Windows, VB6 or ASP applications that you are looking to enable as SaaS, offer over private or public Cloud platforms or allow end users with mobile accessibility then you shouldn't miss this webinar.

Extending Windows Applications to HTML5 and Mobile Has Never Been Easier

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Free registration:
http://www.visualwebgui.com/Gizmox/Landing/tabid/674/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/987/Extending-Windows-Applications-to-HTML5-and-Mobile-Has-Never-Been-Easier.aspx

.NET developers finally get their HTML5 Mobile Framework

2012-03-13T01:19:53-12:00:00

The new mobile framework we released today extends to Enterprise Mobility the revolution that Visual WebGui brought to Enterprise RIA Applications. Just like Visual WebGui for Web, the new Enterprise Mobile framework also provides a classic .NET development paradigm within Visual Studio. This allows leveraging existing development skillset for building HTML5 mobile applications and extending enterprise IT to the post PC era.

The new framework is optimized for enterprise mobility and supports the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend. It produces totally secured cross platform and cross device HTML5 applications that doesn't bring or hold any data on the device (the entire logic and data stays behind the Firewall) and doesn’t require strong local computing resources. It also provides a native mobile user experience such as gestures. On the roadmap are utilization of local device resources via PhoneGap (open source) integration and Citrix receiver, along with Form Factor and Device awareness.

The current preview version provides limited functionality and capabilities and includes about 14 controls which were adapted for mobile requirements in terms of performance and user experience. Currently, the framework supports iOS and Android devices or Chrome and Safari and offers only one out-of-the-box theme - iOS like, but it is possible to customize it or create other themes as well. Upcoming versions will offer more capabilities including an HTML5 off-line feature that will ensure application availability even when there is no internet/network connectivity. We encourage you to download and "play" around with this version and will deeply appreciate your feedback. There is also a live HTML5 mobile mail application that was developed with the framework and available for browsing from mobile devices via this url:
http://67.205.112.81:8080/m

The preview is free and can be downloaded here:
http://www.visualwebgui.com/tabid/711/Default.aspx.

Windows application to a cross-platform web-based solution without a rewrite

2012-02-13T23:59:30-12:00:00

A Windows healthcare application for clinics and physicians needed a cost-effective way to accommodate all operating systems without reducing the existing functionality and security. Since users use a variety of operating systems, it was determined that a web-based version of the application was the best way to overcome those installation roadblocks. This was also a great opportunity to enable tablet access as well and reach users who use tablets such as the iPad for work.

A solution to turn this local Windows application to a cross-platform web-based solution was needed. It was important to complete the migration without having to manually rewrite the application and with minimal changes and resources involved. Running some assessment tools on the existing application provided estimations that almost 98% of the code could be automatically migrated into rich ASP.NET using the Instant CloudMove tools. “When we received the project estimations from the migration experts at Gizmox we were a bit skeptical at first as it seemed too good to be true” said Dr. Wendy Graham, Mihealth CEO and added “not only that the solution was exactly what we needed but it was also priced lower than all other alternatives.”

Those optimistic estimations turned into reality very quickly as the code migration was completed by Gizmox in only a couple of weeks. Then, in less than 2 months the entire project was completed and the migrated web-based physician tool was ready for delivery.

The final product was a completely identical version to the Windows application, with all of the functionalities, appearance, and feel, but was available through a web-browser from anywhere in the world. This allowed Mihealth to reach all clinics/physicians without turning away any potential customers. Implementation of mihealth™ also became much easier, as sales representatives did not face any of the previous complications when installing the application in a busy clinic on unfamiliar hardware or operating software. “Migrating mihealth to a web-based technology means we can now reach more customers with much less operative efforts and resources on our side. I can definitely say it made us more competitive” concluded Dr. Graham.

The original story was published here.

Microsoft Developers finally get a .NET Framework for HTML5 Mobile Applications

2011-12-27T01:56:54-12:00:00

I would like to share with you some exciting news from the Gizmox labs. If you haven't heard by now the Visual WebGui Mobile Team @ Gizmox has been working on a .NET Mobile Framework for a few months now. This mobile dedicated framework continues the Visual WebGui vision towards the mobile development workd by enabling Microsoft core .NET developers to leverage their existing skills for developing cross-platform HTML5-based mobile apps within Visual Studio.

As with its Web Framework, the Visual WebGui Mobile Framework will also allow the .NET development paradigm, but in this case for creating Form Factor and Device aware, browser-based applications that can use local device resources through PhonGap integration. Those browser-based HTML5 mobile apps with inherit the famous Visual WebGui "empty client" security.

A first preview release is due towards the second half of January 2012 which makes Visual WebGui the first framework within the Microsoft camp that allows leveraging existing skillset to develop HTML5 mobile applications. The upcoming preview will be accompanied by a mobile email application demo (iPhone look & feel) developed with the framework’s preview. The preview version will support gestures and animations in transitions and will include the following designated mobile controls:

ListView
TreeView
Toolstrip
TabControl
TextBoxButton
RadioButton
Panel
Label

The next framework version is expected in the beginning of Q2 2012 which will be another phase in fulfilling the Visual WebGui promise of allowing .NET development for cross-platform HTML5 Web, Cloud and Mobile within Visual Studio.

More info is available on visualwebgui.com.

ASP.NET developers turning to Visual WebGui for rich management system

2011-11-16T20:17:05-12:00:00

When The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) decided they needed a web application to allow easy access to the expenses management system they initially went to ASP.NET web forms combined with CSS. The outcome, however, was not satisfying enough as it appeared bland and lacked in richness. So in order to enrich the UI and give the web application some glitz, Visual WebGui was selected. Visual WebGui provided the needed richness and the familiar Windows look and feel also made the transition for the desktop users very easy.

The richer GUI of Visual WebGui compared to ASP.NET conveyed some initial concerns about performance. But the Visual WebGui performance turned out to be a surprising advantage as the website maintained good response times.

Working with Visual WebGui required a paradigm shift for the development process as some of the usual methods of coding with ASP.NET did not apply. However, the transition was fairly easy due to the simplicity and intuitiveness of Visual WebGui as well as the good support and documentation.

“The shift into a different development paradigm was eased by the Visual WebGui web forums which are very active thanks to a large, involved community. There are also several video and web pages dedicated to answering the most commonly asked questions and pitfalls" Dave Bhatia, Systems Engineer who added "A couple of issues such as deploying on IIS7 seemed to be show stoppers at first, however the solution was readily available in a white paper on the Gizmox website.”

The full story is found on the Visual WebGui website:
http://www.visualwebgui.com/Gizmox/Resources/CaseStudies/tabid/358/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/964/The-Center-for-Organ-Recovery-Education-gets-a-web-based-expenses-management-system.aspx