Paulo Morgado : PnP

Upgrading the WCSF EventBroker Extension to WCSF 2.0

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:15:10 GMT

While preparing the demos for my session at TechDays Portugal 2008, I've noticed some changes in the Web Client Software Factory 2.0 that prevented the EventBroker Extension from compiling and running.

The problem ended out just being a little change in the WebClientApplication class. The virtual methods related to creating the builders changed.

To fix this, all it's needed is editing the WebClientApplication class (CompositeWeb\WebClientApplication.cs, line 35).

Just replace the CreateBuilder override:

protected override Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.ObjectBuilder.WCSFBuilder CreateBuilder(bool isSingleton)
{
    // Our builder adds an EventBrokerStrategy to the build.
    WCSFBuilder builder = new WCSFBuilder();
    builder.Policies.SetDefault<ISingletonPolicy>(new SingletonPolicy(isSingleton));
    return builder;
}

with an override of the AddBuilderStrategies method:

protected override void AddBuilderStrategies(IBuilder<Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.ObjectBuilder.WCSFBuilderStage> builder)
{
    base.AddBuilderStrategies(builder);
    builder.Strategies.AddNew<EventBrokerStrategy>(Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.ObjectBuilder.WCSFBuilderStage.PostInitialization);
}

Don't forget that if you want to run it in IIS7 Integrated Pipeline mode, you have a few more changes to make.

WCSF 2.0 And IIS7 Integrated Pipeline Mode

Paulo Morgado — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:06:00 GMT

While preparing the demos for my session at TechDays Portugal 2008, I've noticed that the Web Client Software Factory 2.0 doesn't work with IIS7 in integrated pipeline mode because it's trying to access the Request property of the current HTTP Context from the HTTP Application Start "event", which is not available at this point.

This is an already known issue and you can vote to get it solved.

Meanwhile, there are two ways to work around this:

Changing the Composite Web Application Block

If you are comfortable with having your own build of this block instead of the provided strong named one, you only need to change one statement in the WebConfigModuleInfoStore class (WCSFBlocks-Feb2008\CompositeWeb\Source\CompositeWeb\Services\WebConfigModuleInfoStore.cs, line 105).

Just replace:

configuration =
    WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration(context.Request.ApplicationPath + "/" +
                                                 configFilePath.Replace(context.Request.PhysicalApplicationPath, ""));

with:

configuration =
    WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration(HttpRuntime.AppDomainAppVirtualPath + "/" +
                                                 configFilePath.Substring(HttpRuntime.AppDomainAppPath.Length));

Changing the application

If you prefer to (or have to) use the provided and strong named version of the Composite Web Application Block, you can always change your application.

Just open the generated global.asax file:

<%@ Application Language="C#" Inherits="Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication" %>

and add:

<script RunAt="server">

    private bool initialized;

    protected override void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.initialized = false;
    }

    protected void Application_BeginRequest(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (!this.initialized)
        {
            this.initialized = true;

            base.Application_Start(sender, e);
        }
    }

</script>

Web Client Software Factory 2.0 shipped

Paulo Morgado — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:54:51 GMT

Web Client Software Factory 2.0

February 2008 Release

Resources

MSDN site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/webclientfactory
Community site: http://www.codeplex.com/websf

About the Deliverable

The Web Client Software Factory (WCSF) provides a set of guidance for architects and developers building enterprise Web applications. The factory includes samples, reusable code and a guidance package which automates key development tasks from within Visual Studio.

Using the Web Client Software Factory assets, developers can create Composite Web applications composed of independently developed and deployed modules. These modules are dynamically brought together at runtime into a common shell. Additionally the factory includes support for ASP.NET AJAX thus providing users with a richer and more responsive user experience.

New In This Release

The February 2008 release of the Web Client Software Factory has the following improvements to the June 2007 release.

Full support for Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5
Added ASP.NET AJAX extenders for Context Sensitive Autocomplete, AJAX Validation, and Real Time Search that can be used in existing ASP.NET sites and ASP.NET sites built using the Composite Web Application Block.
Added UI Composition capability through extending our dependency injection mechanism to support Pages, User Controls and Master Pages.
Added Dependency Injection on ASMX Web Services and JSON services.
Added a new set of Quickstarts and How-To topics on MVP, Modularity and the new AJAX extenders
Added a new Order Entry Reference application that demonstrates all of the new functionality.

In addition, this release of WCSF has the following community issues and fixes:

42 Workitems closed including the top-voted items on CodePlex
Add ASP.NET AJAX Support (97 votes)
Web Client Software Factory Support for Enterprise Library 3.1 (62 votes)
Services through configuration (32 votes)
Support for using the Validation Application Block (16 votes)
Recipe support for Visual Basic .NET (20 votes)
Added Presenter support for Master Pages (11 votes)

WCSF geekSpeak: Download Available On Channel 9

Paulo Morgado — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:31:00 GMT

WCSF geekSpeak: Download Available At MSEVENTS

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:25:27 GMT

For those who missed my webcast (and wanted to watch it) it's available to download at the MSEVENTS site.

WCSF geekSpeak: Online Resources

Paulo Morgado — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:46:42 GMT

Here is the list of topics covered in the WCSF geekSpeak webcast:

And here is a list of online resources:

WCSF geekSpeak: Real-Time Search Bundle Demo Code

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:51:00 GMT

This demo e based on the demo included in the Real-Time Search Bundle download.

The demo includes an entry form with two implementations:

Using an Update Panel.
Using the WCSF's Real-Time Search Monitor.

WCSF geekSpeak: Validation Bundle Demo Code

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:46:00 GMT

This demo e based on the demo included in the Validation Bundle download.

The demo includes an entry form with three implementations:

Using the traditional server-side validation.
Using server-side validation with the Enterprise Library's Validation Application Block.
Using server-side validation with the Enterprise Library's Validation Application Block and the WCSF's Server-Side Validation Extender.

WCSF geekSpeak: Contextual Auto Complete Bundle Demo Code

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:26:00 GMT

This demo e based on the demo included in the Contextual Auto Complete Bundle download.

The demo includes an entry form with three implementations:

Using the traditional auto post back model
Using an update panel
Using the Contextual Auto Complete Extender.

WCSF geekSpeak: Registration Open

Paulo Morgado — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:27:00 GMT

There was a problem with the registration for this webcast, but it's now solved.

Jan 23 - Paulo Morgado - The Web client software factory in action

Enterprise Library V4 Product Backlog

Paulo Morgado — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:07:22 GMT

Check out the Enterprise Library V4 Product Backlog.

I'm on geekSpeak

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:34:47 GMT

Or I'll be, on January 23rd.

Here is the complete list of web casts for December 2007 and January 2008:

A new phase for the Acropolis project

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:36:01 GMT

The Acropolis Team has announced that Acropolis is going to enter a new phase.

Bug Found On The Page Flow Without Database Improvement

Paulo Morgado — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:16:33 GMT

Joern found a nasty bug in my code. I've uploaded the updated source code in all articles.

Improving The Page Flow Application Block: Decoupling Page Flow Usage From Its Implementation

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:23:00 GMT

In this second article of the series I'll show how you can change the Page Flow Application Block of the Web Client Software Factory to get page flows by its definition name instead of its definition type.

Improving The Page Flow Application Block: Removing Database Dependencies

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:49:27 GMT

In this first article of the series I'll show how you can use the Page Flow Application Block of the Web Client Software Factory without a database.

Improving The Page Flow Application Block

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:48:24 GMT

I'm starting a series of articles where I'll show how (in my opinion, obviously) to the Page Flow Application Block of the Web Client Software Factory could be improved.

Validation Guidance Bundle

Paulo Morgado — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:01:46 GMT

The P&P team has released another Web Client Software Factory Guidance Bundle. This time is the Validation Guidance Bundle.

What are some scenarios to consider using the guidance in this bundle for?

Improving UI responsiveness while reusing entity business validation logic across screens when performing validations such as:
- Length of Employee name.
- Employee’s email.
- Order number is unique.
- Order is complete.
Improving UI responsiveness for applications utilizing Server-Side ASP.NET validators.
Determining what type of validation to use for improving responsiveness and security.

Who should use this bundle?

This bundle is for Developers and Architects who are interested in improving the UI Responsiveness of validation in their Line-Of-Business ASP.NET Web applications.

What is in the bundle?

Validation QuickStart: source code to demonstrate how to improve UI responsiveness for validation and reuse of validation rules across pages.
Validation Application Block from Enterprise Library 3.1: Validation Application Block binary.
AJAXControlToolkit.WCSFExtensions.dll: Contains the ServerSideValidationExtender which invokes ASP.NET validators including the Enterprise Library PropertyProxyValidator via AJAX
Acceptance Tests: Manual tests that can be executed to walk you through the Quickstart functionality.
Documentation: Documentation explaining Validation Guidelines (Security, Schema, and so on) the Quickstart, and how to use the extender.

Check it out. It even has an introduction video (15' - 15MB) by Glenn Block.

Guidance Bundles From The Web Client Software Factory

Paulo Morgado — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:32:55 GMT

The P&P team came up with a new concept for the Web Client Software Factory: Guidance Bundles.

What is a Guidance Bundle?

A Guidance Bundle is a small package of guidance whose purpose is to allow users to quickly, conveniently, and easily learn and evaluate a concept.
Although a Bundle can contain any type of guidance, it typically includes the following elements:
Source code: QuickStarts and related artifacts.
Binaries: Application block binaries required by the QuickStarts .
Written documentation: QuickStarts description and How-To topics.
Guidance Package: Visual Studio Automation for performing development activies in accordance with our guidance.
Reference Implementation: Applications that illustrate usage of our guidance in real-world scenarios.

The first one has already been released:

Contextual Autocomplete Bundle

As a user enters information in a text box on a Web page, a Web page can use AutoComplete behavior to display a list of suggested values which a user can choose from rather than typing the complete term. This is optimal in cases where the list of possible values is too large to be embedded within the page such as with a list box. For example imagine embedding a list of all of the cities in the United States.

See a demo here and get it from here.

Patterns & Practices Summit and TechEd Developers (Europe)

Paulo Morgado — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:36:00 GMT

November 5-9 2007, Microsoft Redmond

With:

Anders Hejlsberg	Steve McConnell	Scott Guthrie	Scott Hanselman	John Lam

http://www.pnpsummit.com/west2007.aspx

5-9 November 2007, Barcelona, Spain

Without:

Anders Hejlsberg	Steve McConnell	Scott Guthrie	Scott Hanselman	John Lam

http://www.mseventseurope.com/TechEd/07/Developers/Pages/Default.aspx