Architecture News

Restrict the Modification of Grid Data in WPF Apps

October 23, 2024
The ability to display columns as read-only in WPF grid applications lets you protect data integrity and consistency whilst retaining visibility.

Read-only columns in a data grid are vertically displayed fields that are not editable by users, but can still be viewed. These columns typically display information that is derived from other data or is considered static and should not be altered. By stopping users from directly modifying certain content, developers can ensure data integrity and consistency while still providing full visibility. This feature prevents accidental or intentional changes that might disrupt the system's functionality. Such restrictions streamline workflows by distinguishing between editable and non-editable data, reducing the risk of errors and improving overall system reliability.

Several WPF grid components allow you to display read-only columns, including:

  • DevExpress WPF Data Grid (part of DevExpress WPF) allows you to designate specific cells as read-only, ensuring data integrity by preventing unwanted edits.
  • FlexGrid for WPF (part of ComponentOne Studio WPF by MESCIUS) provides functionality to mark columns as read-only, enhancing control over user access and data protection.
  • Xceed DataGrid for WPF by Xceed Software helps maintain data consistency and security by restricting editing via read-only mode for any portion of the grid.
  • Infragistics XamDataGrid for WPF (part of Infragistics Ultimate UI for WPF) enables read-only configuration to protect sensitive data from modification whilst maintaining visibility.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET WPF grid components.

Compare WPF Grid Components

Easily Design Software Installer and Setup Packages

October 23, 2024
Installation tools with features for installer and setup authoring enable you to create customized packages to simplify the install process.

Installer and setup authoring tools are essential for developers and IT professionals when creating efficient and user-friendly software installation packages. These tools allow users to design and customize installation workflows for desktop, web, and enterprise applications. They offer a variety of features to streamline the setup process, ensure compatibility with different operating systems, and facilitate deployment across various environments. From creating executable (.exe) and Microsoft Installer (.msi) files to offering UI customization and silent installation options, these tools enable efficient and user-friendly software deployment.

Common features include:

  • Shortcut Creation allows developers to easily create shortcuts during installation to the installed application on the user's desktop or program menus.
  • New Project Wizards provide a guided setup process, simplifying the creation of installation packages by following the on-screen wizard step by step.
  • Silent Installations allow you to build installation packages that can run without user interaction, making them ideal for large-scale deployments or unattended setups.
  • EXE Authoring enables you to design and package applications into executable (.exe) files for easy installation and execution.
  • MSI Authoring facilitates the creation of Microsoft Installer (.msi) packages, a standard format used for Windows installations.
  • Setup Themes allow developers to customize the appearance of their installation packages with different preset themes and skins to match their branding.
  • UI Designers offer a visual interface for designing the look and feel of the installation process, allowing for a customized user experience.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our installation tools comparison.

Explore Installer/Setup Authoring Features

Easily Incorporate Calculated Values in Text Elements

October 23, 2024
Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB 2024.4.1 allows users to enhance their dashboards by creating Measures within the Text dashboard element.

Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB is a versatile suite of tools for crafting interactive data visualizations for web and desktop applications. It empowers developers to embed intuitive dashboards across various platforms, using the platform-specific components or a centralized cloud designer. With rich data analysis elements, extensive customization options, and pre-built templates, Stimulsoft Dashboards helps you transform complex data into clear, actionable insights for any audience.

The Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB 2024.4.1 release adds the ability to create Measures within the Text dashboard element, which significantly enhances the flexibility and functionality of dashboards by allowing users to dynamically incorporate calculated values into text elements. This feature enables more informative and contextualized reports, as users can seamlessly display and update relevant metrics directly within the text, eliminating the need for separate data visualization components. This not only streamlines dashboard creation but also improves data accessibility and understanding for end-users.

To see a full list of what's new in 2024.4.1, see our release notes.

Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB is licensed per developer and is available as a perpetual license with 1 year support and maintenance. See our Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB licensing page for full details.

Stimulsoft Dashboards.WEB is available in the following products:

Unlock Speed and Fluidity with 3D Capabilities

October 23, 2024
LightningChart .NET v12.1.1 enhances 2D and 3D interactions with refined zooming, rotation, and panning, improving navigation for large datasets.

LightningChart .NET is a high-performance data visualization library designed for .NET developers working with WPF, WinForms, and UWP applications. It offers GPU-accelerated rendering for smooth real-time visualization of massive datasets, exceeding billions of data points. This library supports a wide variety of chart types, including 2D, 3D, polar, and geographic maps, along with extensive customization options for each. LightningChart .NET is a powerful tool for developers creating demanding data visualization applications requiring exceptional performance.

The LightningChart .NET v12.1.1 update delivers a substantial performance boost to 3D interactions, particularly for large surface-rendering objects such as SurfaceGridSeries3D, SurfaceMeshSeries3D, and MeshModel. This improvement allows for faster zooming, rotating, and panning, significantly enhancing the efficiency of workflows involving complex 3D models. Developers working on mid-level systems will experience at least double the performance, while high-end graphics setups can achieve up to a tenfold increase in speed. These optimizations enable smoother and more responsive interaction with large datasets, leading to more productive and seamless user experiences when working in demanding 3D environments.

To see a full list of what's new in v12.1.1, see our release notes.

LightningChart .NET is available per developer in packages for either WPF, WinForms, UWP or all 3. Each package comes as a subscription license (with 1 or 2 years of limited support), or a perpetual license (with 1 or 2 years of Standard or Premium support). Floating licenses and site licenses are available upon request. See our LightningChart .NET licensing page for full details.

Learn more on our LightningChart .NET product page.

Simplify Key Expansion Algorithm Selection for Users

October 23, 2024
PowerSNMP for .NET 8.0 adds a new property to the User object, providing flexibility when using AES192 with weaker authentication algorithms.

PowerSNMP for .NET is a comprehensive .NET library that provides a robust interface for interacting with SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) devices. It offers a wide range of functionalities, including managing SNMP agents, retrieving and setting MIB (Management Information Base) variables, trapping, and configuring SNMP security mechanisms. By leveraging PowerSNMP for .NET, developers can efficiently integrate SNMP capabilities into their .NET applications, enabling them to monitor and control network devices effectively.

The PowerSNMP for .NET 8.0 release adds the AesKeyExpansionAlgorithm property to the User object, enabling the selection of a key expansion algorithm for each user when using AES192 or AES256 encryption with less secure authentication algorithms like SHA-1 or MD5. When processing incoming messages, the chosen algorithm will be prioritized, and if it fails, a fallback to the secondary algorithm will occur. Should both attempts be unsuccessful, an exception will be raised. This enhancement provides greater control and flexibility in managing encryption security on a per-user basis.

To see a full list of what's new in 8.0.0.0, see our release notes.

PowerSNMP for .NET is licensed per developer and is available as a perpetual license with 12 months subscription (product updates and priority email support). See our PowerSNMP for .NET licensing page for full details.

Learn more on our PowerSNMP for .NET product page.