Developing a WYSIWYG - IDE type application. How would you do it?

[iKiLL]

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical code
in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the screens
and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does where
you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick of it and
write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[Fabrizio]

This is how sharpdevelop was done. Perhaps it is even too much for what you
need, but probably you'll find something useful.

http://www.apress.com/free/download.html

hth
Fabrizio

"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical code
in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the screens
and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[Neil Cowburn]

This is something that's not really feasible with the .NET Compact and there
are a number of reasons why. The first being that the .NET Compact Framework
does not support CodeDOM or Reflection.Emit , so there is no way to
dynamically parse or generate IL instructions on the fly. Another being that
the .NET CF does not support drag & drop, so even if you did have a UI
designer running on the device, it would be cumbersome to work as there
would be no easy way to lay out the controls.

As a suggestion, you may want to propose to your client that they should use
templated forms. By that I mean construct a set of fairly generic UIs that
the user can choose from at runtime. These could include a single data row
UI, a tabular UI using the datagrid, or a master/detail view using a
combination of the previous two UIs.

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical code
in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the screens
and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[Neil Cowburn]

The problem with SharpDevelop is that it doesn't run on Windows Mobile
devices, which the OP requires.

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"Fabrizio" <no****@nospam. comwrote in message
news:45******** *************@r eader5.news.tin .it...

This is how sharpdevelop was done. Perhaps it is even too much for what
you need, but probably you'll find something useful.

http://www.apress.com/free/download.html

hth
Fabrizio

"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical
code in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the
screens and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[=?Utf-8?B?QW1pdA==?=]

Check this out:
http://blogs.msdn.com/sriram/archive...12/492070.aspx

Hope it helps.
--
Thanks and Regards
Amit Ranjan
blog:http://amitranjan.wordpress.com

--
Thanks and Regards
Amit Ranjan
blog:http://amitranjan.wordpress.com
"iKiLL" wrote:

>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical code
in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the screens
and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does where
you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick of it and
write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[iKiLL]

Thank you all for your comments.

Fabrizio: This is a very interesting site. and i have downloaded the PDF. i
have read the intro and you are wright. This is alot more complicated than i
need, but this would be like the whole grail of what i need. but again. I am
looking to develop something that a User can be trained in one day to change
screen lay out but a developer can sink his teeth into if needs be, but
prioraty number one is simple user customisations.

Neil: It is verry interesting to know the limitations of .Net CF. But I am
sorry i did not explain my self clearly. but the Development environment
would be on a Desk to PC and Saved to the Publiser database and then synced
to the PDA via Merge replication. Then when the user logs into the app in
the PDA the app will read the screen layout from a Meta data table and draw
it.
Amit: I am still reading the link you sent me.

Thank you all for your comments.

ink




"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical code
in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the screens
and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[Fabrizio]

I knew that. But it's useful to look at how someone did something like what
you have to do if you don't have any idea on how to do it.
I'm not particularly expert in this case, so I just suggested SharpDevelop
because is quite nice and most of all it is free and documented and you can
also download the source files, with the hope that the op would have found
something useful for him.
cheers

"Neil Cowburn" <neilc@[nospamthanks].opennetcf.comw rote in message
news:9E******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

The problem with SharpDevelop is that it doesn't run on Windows Mobile
devices, which the OP requires.

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"Fabrizio" <no****@nospam. comwrote in message
news:45******** *************@r eader5.news.tin .it...

>This is how sharpdevelop was done. Perhaps it is even too much for what
you need, but probably you'll find something useful.

http://www.apress.com/free/download.html

hth
Fabrizio

"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******* *******@TK2MSFT NGP02.phx.gbl.. .

>>>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical
code in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the
screens and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that
can then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[Neil Cowburn]

OK, fair enough. You didn't mention that requirement, but you did state it
is "supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using Merge
Replication".

It is possible to use a runtime interpreter to take some layout definition
and then construct a UI from that, but it would pretty much be a
display-only interface. How are you going to handle events? There is no
support for dynamic methods in the .NET CF so you cannot hook up a custom
event handler without pre-compiling the code.

--Neil

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:e3******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP05.phx.gbl...

Thank you all for your comments.

Fabrizio: This is a very interesting site. and i have downloaded the PDF.
i have read the intro and you are wright. This is alot more complicated
than i need, but this would be like the whole grail of what i need. but
again. I am looking to develop something that a User can be trained in one
day to change screen lay out but a developer can sink his teeth into if
needs be, but prioraty number one is simple user customisations.

Neil: It is verry interesting to know the limitations of .Net CF. But I am
sorry i did not explain my self clearly. but the Development environment
would be on a Desk to PC and Saved to the Publiser database and then
synced to the PDA via Merge replication. Then when the user logs into the
app in the PDA the app will read the screen layout from a Meta data table
and draw it.
Amit: I am still reading the link you sent me.

Thank you all for your comments.

ink




"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

>>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical
code in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the
screens and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that can
then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

[iKiLL]

Thanks Neil,

What do you mean by "runtime interpreter" is this something i would purchase
or i would write.

i want to use C# to build this application but i dont mind if the users of
it use somethin like VB. infact this would probably be prefered for ease of
learning for the user.
Thanks
ink


"Neil Cowburn" <neilc@[nospamthanks].opennetcf.comw rote in message
news:eC******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

OK, fair enough. You didn't mention that requirement, but you did state it
is "supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication".

It is possible to use a runtime interpreter to take some layout definition
and then construct a UI from that, but it would pretty much be a
display-only interface. How are you going to handle events? There is no
support for dynamic methods in the .NET CF so you cannot hook up a custom
event handler without pre-compiling the code.

--Neil

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:e3******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP05.phx.gbl...

>Thank you all for your comments.

Fabrizio: This is a very interesting site. and i have downloaded the PDF.
i have read the intro and you are wright. This is alot more complicated
than i need, but this would be like the whole grail of what i need. but
again. I am looking to develop something that a User can be trained in
one day to change screen lay out but a developer can sink his teeth into
if needs be, but prioraty number one is simple user customisations.

Neil: It is verry interesting to know the limitations of .Net CF. But I
am sorry i did not explain my self clearly. but the Development
environment would be on a Desk to PC and Saved to the Publiser database
and then synced to the PDA via Merge replication. Then when the user logs
into the app in the PDA the app will read the screen layout from a Meta
data table and draw it.
Amit: I am still reading the link you sent me.

Thank you all for your comments.

ink




"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB******* *******@TK2MSFT NGP02.phx.gbl.. .

>>>

Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical
code in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the
screens and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that
can then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the thick
of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code editing
window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink

This really is not something that's going to be easy. One of the problems,
as Neils has alluded to, is events. Let's say you spend a few months
getting a WYSIWYG editor (and I think that's generous). Now let's say a
user drops a button on a form. They'll want to handle a "cick" event
somehow. Well in order for that to happen, a handler would have to exist,
so you must already have a handler written and compiled into your code. You
don't have codedom to create one dynamically and you don't have a compiler
to make a new one.

To be honest, a full UI editor with teh code facilities would likely take
over a year to build. I'd also recommend you go with templates that can be
modified.
--
Chris Tacke - Embedded MVP
OpenNETCF Consulting
Managed Code in the Embedded World
www.opennetcf.com
--
"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:us******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP05.phx.gbl...

Thanks Neil,

What do you mean by "runtime interpreter" is this something i would
purchase or i would write.

i want to use C# to build this application but i dont mind if the users of
it use somethin like VB. infact this would probably be prefered for ease
of learning for the user.
Thanks
ink


"Neil Cowburn" <neilc@[nospamthanks].opennetcf.comw rote in message
news:eC******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP03.phx.gbl...

>OK, fair enough. You didn't mention that requirement, but you did state
it is "supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication".

It is possible to use a runtime interpreter to take some layout
definition and then construct a UI from that, but it would pretty much be
a display-only interface. How are you going to handle events? There is no
support for dynamic methods in the .NET CF so you cannot hook up a custom
event handler without pre-compiling the code.

--Neil

--
Neil Cowburn
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting, LLC.

http://www.opennetcf.com/
"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:e3******* *******@TK2MSFT NGP05.phx.gbl.. .

>>Thank you all for your comments.

Fabrizio: This is a very interesting site. and i have downloaded the
PDF. i have read the intro and you are wright. This is alot more
complicated than i need, but this would be like the whole grail of what
i need. but again. I am looking to develop something that a User can be
trained in one day to change screen lay out but a developer can sink his
teeth into if needs be, but prioraty number one is simple user
customisation s.

Neil: It is verry interesting to know the limitations of .Net CF. But I
am sorry i did not explain my self clearly. but the Development
environment would be on a Desk to PC and Saved to the Publiser database
and then synced to the PDA via Merge replication. Then when the user
logs into the app in the PDA the app will read the screen layout from a
Meta data table and draw it.
Amit: I am still reading the link you sent me.

Thank you all for your comments.

ink




"iKiLL" <iK***@NotMyEma il.comwrote in message
news:uB****** ********@TK2MSF TNGP02.phx.gbl. ..
Hi all

I have been asked to develop a solution that is customisable by our
clients.

It is supposed to run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 CF2.0 environment using
Merge Replication.

I have looked into allowing the creation of Addin's but that has been
rejected as it would require to much programming knowledge of a Dot.Net
Language.

Ideally what I would like is to store the user interfaces and logical
code in a Database and then almost compile it at runtime to display the
screens and perform logical tasks.

Then build a WYSIWYG designer for creating the PDA entry screens that
can then almost be data bound.

What I am looking for is something like how an MS Access Database does
where you can do simple data bound screens or you can get into the
thick of it and write VB code.

My questions are:

1.. How do I store logical code in the database and then us it at
runtime?
2.. Any ideas about how to build a WYSIWYG designer with a code
editing window?
If you know of any examples that would lead me in the right direction I
would be most great full.

The primary language I want to use for development is C#.

Thanks for any help.

ink