Release 8.0 is taking root in the field and the development group is starting to look forward toward 8.1. In the next couple of weeks Allan will be setting up the Unidata accounts for 8.1 development and I will setup the build machine and devweb machine for the ASP.NET side of 8.1.
I have already started on the work of replacing Infragistics controls in the Portals with combinations of standard Microsoft controls and jQuery and jQuery Mobile clientside effects in my lab environment. The "System.Web.DataVisualization.Charting.Chart" class introduced as an add-on download in 2008 is now a standard part of Visual Studio 2012. It is based on the Dundas chart control and provides a very nice alternative to the Infragistics UltraWebChart which Infragistics eliminated from their ASP.NET suite in 2012.
The UltraWebGrid which Infragistics also dropped will be replaced with standard Microsoft GridView and DetailView controls. It takes a bit more work but hiearchical GridView/DetailView compositions can effectively replace what Manage 2000 was doing with the UltraWebGrid.
It also took a little trial and error to find a nice replacement for the IG Update Panels; one that would work nicely in both desktop and touch enhanced tablet or phone mode. But now that jQuery is part of the Manage 2000 javascript foundation a simple slow jQuery toggle on the content container div provides a pleasant collapse/expansion in both modes. There will still be a little more work to combine in a partial postback or async JSON update where speed and backround paging are desired.
So I feel a little bit like a race horse chomping at the bit in the 8.1 starting blocks.
Also on the dockit for next month is the Novo User Group Meeting October 5 - 10, 2014 here in Minneapolis. I am putting together sessions on integration of Manage 2000 with Microsoft Office products, the evolving Manage 2000 javascript foundations, and touch enhancement mark-up (how our web functions are using jQuery Mobile). Hope to see you there.
