Smart Client Vs Other Techniques

[Srimar]

Hello,

I am trying port a Client/Server application to .Net. This was an offline application and syncs up every day. We have about 300 users that are using Win 98/2000. Original thinking was to use ASP.NET and publish it to the web (The users are getting broadband). Here is the problem we are facing.

We have some UI screens that are very interactive and dynamic. For example one of the screens have up to 10 input fields and changing the value in any of the fields will result in a different output. The users are used to receiving the results with out initiating any action and seeing the results immediately.

I am trying to figure out my options and here are my two options (I think)

1. Use XMLHTTP (or even use post back to write XML to the response stream) and load the XML on the client machine using JavaScript. Handle the changes on the Client with JavaScript. The problem with this I think is spitting too much JavaScript.

2. Use Smart Client technology. As I mentioned earlier my users run Win 98/2000 and use IE 5.0. These people are not admins and the corporate policy does not let them to install any applications. I am not sure how well Smart Client technology fits for this scenario.

I need your suggestions....

Thanks
Srimar

[Alvin Bruney [MVP]]

One approach here is to build what i call a data delivery tier. This is
essentially a webservice in the backend whose main responsibility is moving
data from the server to the client and back. You can access the data from
the client using script. Here is a link, see if it helps:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...e/overview.asp
--
Regards,
Alvin Bruney [ASP.NET MVP]
Got tidbits? Get it here...
http://tinyurl.com/27cok
"Srimar" <an*******@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DE**********************************@microsof t.com...

Hello,

I am trying port a Client/Server application to .Net. This was an offline application and syncs up every day. We have about 300 users that are using
Win 98/2000. Original thinking was to use ASP.NET and publish it to the web
(The users are getting broadband). Here is the problem we are facing.
We have some UI screens that are very interactive and dynamic. For example one of the screens have up to 10 input fields and changing the value in any
of the fields will result in a different output. The users are used to
receiving the results with out initiating any action and seeing the results
immediately.
I am trying to figure out my options and here are my two options (I think)

1. Use XMLHTTP (or even use post back to write XML to the response stream) and load the XML on the client machine using JavaScript. Handle the changes
on the Client with JavaScript. The problem with this I think is spitting too
much JavaScript.
2. Use Smart Client technology. As I mentioned earlier my users run Win 98/2000 and use IE 5.0. These people are not admins and the corporate policy
does not let them to install any applications. I am not sure how well Smart
Client technology fits for this scenario.
I need your suggestions....

Thanks
Srimar

[Kevin Spencer]

Hard to say for sure from your description, but with the client machines
configured as you've described, an ActiveX control would be a good
possibility.

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
Big things are made up
of lots of little things.

"Srimar" <an*******@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DE**********************************@microsof t.com...

Hello,

I am trying port a Client/Server application to .Net. This was an offline application and syncs up every day. We have about 300 users that are using
Win 98/2000. Original thinking was to use ASP.NET and publish it to the web
(The users are getting broadband). Here is the problem we are facing.
We have some UI screens that are very interactive and dynamic. For example one of the screens have up to 10 input fields and changing the value in any
of the fields will result in a different output. The users are used to
receiving the results with out initiating any action and seeing the results
immediately.
I am trying to figure out my options and here are my two options (I think)

1. Use XMLHTTP (or even use post back to write XML to the response stream) and load the XML on the client machine using JavaScript. Handle the changes
on the Client with JavaScript. The problem with this I think is spitting too
much JavaScript.
2. Use Smart Client technology. As I mentioned earlier my users run Win 98/2000 and use IE 5.0. These people are not admins and the corporate policy
does not let them to install any applications. I am not sure how well Smart
Client technology fits for this scenario.
I need your suggestions....

Thanks
Srimar