Category News

Utilize Security Features to Protect Data in .NET Apps

November 4, 2024
Leverage .NET components with such functionality as encryption or authentication to secure the communication of data in your applications.

In modern communications and messaging platforms, security features are essential for safeguarding data integrity, user privacy, and system reliability. These features encompass a range of protocols and mechanisms designed to protect data from unauthorized access, ensure data authenticity, and verify the identity of communicating parties. By integrating security measures such as encryption, authentication, and digital certificates, organizations can mitigate risks and enhance trust within their digital ecosystems. Effective security within messaging and communication systems not only prevents data breaches but also ensures compliance with regulatory standards and supports secure collaboration across teams and partners.

Common features include:

  • Cryptography/Encryption ensures confidentiality through encryption algorithms like AES, DES, and RSA, enabling the protection of sensitive data at rest and during transmission.
  • Digital Signatures/Certificates provide a means of verifying the authenticity and integrity of messages or documents.
  • TLS Compliance secures data transmission against interception or tampering, allowing authentication and encryption using Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols.
  • SSL Support provides security for communication channels using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol, enabling encrypted connections across networks.
  • Server-Side Authentication validates server identity by providing certificates to the client, proving they are connected to a legitimate server.
  • Password Authentication allows for secure user authentication using passwords, often integrated with encryption to enhance security.
  • Client-Side Authentication verifies the identity of clients initiating a connection to a server, typically implemented through client certificates or tokens.
  • Key-Based Authentication verifies users based on a shared secret key, strengthening authentication and reducing the dependency on passwords.
  • SSO (Single Sign-On) facilitates user authentication across multiple independent applications with a single credential, improving both security and user experience.

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

Explore .NET Security Features

Ensure Accurate Deployment via Automated Testing

November 4, 2024
Boost software reliability and reduce deployment risks with automated package testing for seamless installations across environments.

Automated package testing in installation tools uses scripts and frameworks to verify software installations, ensuring they configure correctly across environments. This approach accelerates release cycles, identifies errors early, and reduces deployment risks, improving software reliability and quality. Common use cases include validating enterprise packages in multi-OS settings, ensuring updates maintain compatibility, and confirming compliance in regulated industries. By automating these tests, teams can focus more on development, with confidence in deployment readiness and consistency.

Several installation comparison tools offer support for package testing automation including:

  • InstallAnywhere by Revenera enables automated testing to ensure seamless installation and configuration across platforms, improving software reliability and deployment speed.
  • AdminStudio Enterprise by Flexera facilitates automated package testing to verify compatibility, streamlining application preparation and reducing deployment errors.
  • RayPack Studio by Raynet supports automated testing for package installations, enhancing accuracy in complex setups and ensuring consistent results across diverse environments.
  • PACE Suite by Infopulse allows you to automate package testing for streamlined deployment, minimizing installation issues and ensuring reliable application readiness.

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

Compare Installation Tools

Enhance Surface Chart Visuals with Theming Support

November 4, 2024
Syncfusion Essential Studio WPF 2024 Volume 3 enables customizable colors, fonts, and layouts for branded, visually cohesive surface charts.

Syncfusion Essential Studio WPF, available as part of Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise, is a powerful suite of over 95 UI controls, 50+ charts, and document processing libraries designed to boost the development of high-performance line-of-business applications for the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) framework. With built-in themes, touch-friendly interfaces, and seamless Visual Studio integration, it empowers developers to craft modern, feature-rich, and cross-platform experiences with ease.

The Syncfusion Essential Studio WPF 2024 Volume 3 release adds theming support to the Surface Chart. By enabling the modification of color palettes, font styles, axis labels, and overall layout, theming empowers users to create visually striking and informative charts that align with specific branding guidelines or user preferences. This flexibility not only improves the chart's aesthetic quality but also contributes to a more engaging and intuitive user experience.

To see a full list of what's new in 2024 Volume 3, see our release notes.

Syncfusion Essential Studio WPF is available as part of Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise which is licensed per developer starting with a Team License of up to five developers. It is available as a 12 Month Timed Subscription License which includes support and maintenance. See our Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise licensing page for full details.

Learn more on our Syncfusion Essential Studio WPF product page.

Extract Data Precisely with Targeted Text Search

November 4, 2024
Altova MapForce 2025 extracts targeted data with precision, using advanced text search in PDF files for faster, more accurate data processing.

Altova MapForce is a graphical tool designed for seamless data integration and conversion. It empowers users to transform data between various formats, including XML, databases, flat files, PDFs, and web services, using a drag-and-drop interface. This eliminates the need for complex scripting and facilitates efficient data exchange across diverse applications, promoting streamlined workflows and enhanced data accuracy.

The Altova MapForce 2025 release introduces advanced PDF text search, enabling users to efficiently extract only relevant data from large, complex PDF documents. By setting search criteria around specific keywords, case sensitivity, and formatting, users can precisely target data, such as financial figures following headings like “Expenditures,” without manually combing through extensive content. This feature streamlines template creation for repetitive document types, including annual reports and multi-page financial records, saving time and enhancing accuracy in data processing workflows. Altova MapForce 2025’s enhanced capabilities bring efficiency, precision, and automation to document-based data integration tasks.

To see a full list of what's new in version 2025, see our release notes.

Altova MapForce is licensed per Installed, Concurrent or Named user. Licenses are perpetual, and come with or without 1 year Support and Maintenance Package (SMP). See our Altova MapForce licensing page for full details.

Altova MapForce is available to buy in the following products:

Fast Reports to End Support for Legacy WebReports

November 4, 2024
Effective December 1, 2024, the FastReport.Web (legacy) library within the FastReport.Net package will no longer receive updates or support.

To better align with the evolving landscape of reporting technologies, Fast Reports will cease updates and support for FastReport.Web (.NET Framework) on December 1st. While this library has been invaluable for numerous Online Designer projects, FastReports' future efforts will concentrate on more modern technologies. From this date, the FastReport.Web (Legacy) library will no longer receive bug fixes or technical support.

Fast Reports currently supports four web reporting solutions:

  • FastReport.Web (Legacy): Works only in Windows projects and lacks new Online Designer features. Updates will be discontinued from Dec 1, 2024.
  • FastReport.Web for Core/Skia: A cross-platform solution with all Online Designer features.
  • WebReport for Blazor Server: Reporting components for Blazor Server.
  • WebReport for Blazor Wasm: Reporting components for Blazor WebAssembly, currently with limited functionality.

You can still create an Online Designer for FastReport.Web (Legacy), but Fast Reports recommends migrating to the new backend for an improved user experience.

FastReport .NET includes both backends, so no further purchase is necessary. To migrate to FastReport.Web for Core/Blazor, you will need to build an Online Designer with the updated FastReport.Web or FastReport.Web.Skia backend.

FastReport .NET is licensed per named user with options for Single, Team or Site Licenses. See our FastReport .NET licensing page for full details.

For more information, visit our FastReport .NET product page.