.NET News

Build Communication Apps with TCP Connectivity

May 13, 2025
Use TCP-enabled components to build stable, high-performance connections across distributed applications.

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a core network protocol that ensures reliable, sequential, and error-checked delivery of data between devices over IP networks. It is fundamental to many internet applications, including web browsing, email, and file transfer. TCP support enables developers to create distributed applications capable of exchanging structured data over both internet and local network connections. This ensures stable and consistent communication between clients and servers, making it ideal for scenarios like real-time processing, remote procedure calls, and service-oriented architectures that require dependable connectivity.

Several .NET communications and messaging components offer TCP features including:

  • IPWorks .NET Edition by /n software allows you to build scalable TCP client and server apps using an asynchronous, event-driven architecture with optional SSL/TLS encryption.
  • PowerTCP Sockets for .NET by Dart Communications enables TCP support with SSL/TLS security and a stream-based interface for efficient data handling.
  • SocketTools .NET Edition by Catalyst Development Corp. facilitates rapid development of TCP client and server applications with simplified socket programming interfaces.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET communications & messaging components.

Compare .NET Comms & Messaging Components

Simplify Data Collection with Fillable PDFs

May 12, 2025
LEADTOOLS enables the creation of fillable PDF forms that integrate into your applications, simplifying both data entry and processing.

LEADTOOLS PDF presents a comprehensive toolkit for developers seeking to integrate robust PDF functionality into their applications. This solution enables efficient management of PDF files, offering features such as precise text, image, hyperlink, and metadata extraction, alongside complete control over document pages. The inclusion of the LEADTOOLS PDF Optimizer further facilitates web preparation through linearization and compression. Use cases range from document management systems and content processing applications to solutions requiring efficient PDF viewing, editing, and conversion capabilities.

LEADTOOLS PDF provides the ability to incorporate interactive PDF form functionality into software applications, enabling the creation and manipulation of fillable PDF documents. This feature facilitates efficient data collection directly within PDF files, minimizing manual data entry and potential errors. Programmatic access to form fields allows for the automation of data extraction and processing, leading to enhanced application efficiency and an improved user experience for individuals interacting with digital forms. This capability supports diverse use cases, including automated data gathering, digital document signing processes, and the creation of dynamic, user-friendly document interfaces.

LEADTOOLS PDF is licensed per developer and per application, requiring a development license for each programmer using the SDK and a separate license for each application developed. For deployment, a runtime license is needed, with options for desktop, concurrent, or server licenses depending on the application's use. See our LEADTOOLS PDF licensing page for full details.

For more information, visit our LEADTOOLS PDF product page.

Instantly Visualize Data Within Spreadsheets

May 12, 2025
Transform raw figures into interactive charts directly inside your .NET spreadsheet application for faster insights and cleaner reporting.

Chart support in a spreadsheet component refers to the ability to create, render, and manipulate various types of charts - such as line, bar, pie, and area charts - all within the spreadsheet environment. This functionality allows spreadsheet developers to present data visually and dynamically, without needing to rely on external charting libraries. The integration of charting capabilities enhances the end-user experience by making complex data more understandable. For developers, this reduces the need for separate visualization components, improves performance through tighter integration, and simplifies the deployment of data-centric applications.

Several .NET Winforms spreadsheet controls offer chart support, including:

  • MindFusion.Spreadsheet for WinForms empowers users with interactive charts directly within cells, enhancing data visualization and making analysis readily understandable.
  • Infragistics WinForms Spreadsheet (part of Infragistics Ultimate UI for Windows Forms) can embed rich charts, facilitating interpretation of trends and performance metrics.
  • Spread.NET WinForms by MESCIUS facilitates dynamic data visualization through customizable charts and conditional formatting, enabling users to highlight key insights.
  • DevExpress WinForms Spreadsheet (part of DevExpress WinForms) lets developers integrate interactive charts, offering visually compelling representations for analysis.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our .NET Winforms spreadsheet controls comparison.

Compare .NET Winforms spreadsheet Controls

Build Web Apps Faster with .NET Core-Only Designer

May 9, 2025
Wisej.NET v4 adopts a .NET Core-only designer, enabling developers to leverage modern .NET features, simplifying and future-proofing projects.

Wisej.NET is a cross-platform web framework enabling .NET developers to build modern HTML5 applications using C#/VB.NET instead of HTML and JavaScript. It provides a complete toolkit for mission-critical web applications, including UI components, session and state management, and backend integration. The integrated Visual Studio designer allows for pixel-perfect control across devices, making it an efficient solution for rapidly developing sophisticated web applications with a consistent look and feel for enterprise and line-of-business needs.

The Wisej.NET v4 update introduces a dedicated .NET Core-only designer, providing developers with the advantage of building applications exclusively with the latest .NET Core libraries. This eliminates the necessity of maintaining compatibility with the .NET Framework 4.8 designer, allowing projects to fully leverage the performance enhancements, modern APIs, and cross-platform capabilities inherent in .NET Core. By streamlining the development environment to focus solely on the .NET Core ecosystem, developers can create more efficient, robust, and future-proof web applications while utilizing the most up-to-date features of the .NET platform.

To see a full list of what's new in v4, see our release notes.

Wisej.NET is licensed per developer and per server. It is available as a perpetual license and includes a 1 year subscription that provides updates and support. See our Wisej.NET licensing page for full details.

For more information, see our Wisej.NET product page.

Optimize the User Interface of WPF Applications

May 9, 2025
Toolbars centralize essential commands in a compact, customizable strip, improving productivity and creating a more intuitive user experience.

A toolbar user interface component is a horizontal or vertical strip that contains a set of buttons, icons, dropdowns or menus designed to provide quick access to commonly used functions within a software application. These customizable toolbars streamline user interactions by grouping related tools in a consistent and easily accessible location, often near the top or side of the interface. Toolbars enhance productivity by minimizing the number of steps required to perform frequent tasks, improving efficiency, and reducing the need to navigate through deeper menu hierarchies. Such a component also contributes to a cleaner and more organized interface, helping users perform actions more intuitively and with fewer interruptions.

Several WPF user interface suites provide you with toolbars, including:

  • DevExpress WPF enables developers to build flexible, dockable toolbars that support runtime customization and command binding for dynamic user experiences.
  • ComponentOne Studio WPF by MESCIUS allows the design of tabbed and grouped toolbars with support for ribbon-style interfaces, making it easier to organize sets of commands.
  • Telerik UI for WPF provides a toolbar control featuring automatic overflow handling and a tray system, ensuring responsive layouts and customizable tool arrangements.
  • Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise offers customizable toolbars, and allows WPF developers to combine various UI elements and tools to create task-focused interfaces.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of WPF user interface suites.

Compare WPF UI Suites