US ISV Developer Community

How to Create Extensions to Visual Studio 2010

Bruce Kyle — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:02:00 GMT

The Visual Studio team has made it easier than ever to build extensions to Visual Studio 2010. The Visual Studio 2010 SDK has been reduced from 100K to just 10K. In fact, the SDK’s install time has also gone from 20 minutes to just over a minute.

The SDK now has project templates to assist you in building Visual Studio extensions that include adding visuals to the editor (including WPF), offering menu commands, and tool windows.

Deploying your extensions is easier too. The extension project templates all generate a VSIX file instead of you needing to build a MSI installer.

With the new Extension Manager, users have the chance to find and download extensions directly from within the IDE. This experience is thanks to the new and improved Visual Studio Gallery, which allows you to share your creations with the world just by uploading your VSIX.

For more information, see S. “Soma” Somasegar blog posting, Creating extensions for VS 2010. To get started, see VS Extensibility Dev Center, the extensibility samples, and the SDK documentation to learn more about building extensions. Download the SDK from Visual Studio 2010 SDK Beta 2.

Bruce D. Kyle
ISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation

Developer Learning Center for Parallel Computing Now Live on MSDN

Bruce Kyle — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:32:00 GMT

Parallel Computing Developer Center on MSDN is now live. The new site provides a more guided experience, helping developers to find content appropriate to your needs.

You’ll find sections on Getting Started with Parallel Computing and a code gallery at Updated .NET Parallel Programming Samples and links to videos.

The content on the site is now almost entirely RSS-driven. So you’ll be able to keep up to date as new content is developed.

Bruce D. Kyle
ISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation

List Your Application as Windows 7 Compatible

Bruce Kyle — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:13:01 GMT

Computer World posted an article that describes the number of applications that are now Windows 7 compatible. The article is at No application compatibility woes for Windows 7 – yet. To quote a bit of the article:

A spreadsheet for IT professionals (download here) listing information lists which applications are compatible with Windows 7 or not. Of the more than 13,000 apps on the list, 82% are compatible with Windows 7 today. That includes the 23% that have been certified compatible under Microsoft's Windows 7 Logo program.

That follows a blog posted by Microsoft last month in which it claimed that more than 800,000 unique apps run on Windows 7 (including multiple versions of the same programs, 32- and 64-bit editions and a variety of language editions). Of those, more than 9,000 apps and devices have been certified as compatible under the Windows 7 Logo program. More information can be found at Microsoft's Windows 7 Compatibility Center.

Front Runner

For a limited time, you can list your application, software companies in the United States can join Front Runner. Front Runner will help you get your applications compatible, will help market your application. And you can display the Front Runner stamp to show your commitment to compatibility.

Or for companies outside the United States can list applications on Project Green Light.

Both programs help get your application listed in the Windows 7 Compatibility Center.

Bruce D. Kyle
ISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation

PHP and IE8 Web Slices

jpelak — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Bruce Kyle just told me that Microsoft has published a blog post on PHP and IE8 web slices that might be of broad interest, and so I'm blogging about it here. The post (on our interoperabiilty blog) explains how a PHP web site can easily enable content to be shared as a web slice. It includes simple code snippets and images that show the end product working on a PHP web site running on Windows as well.

Enjoy (and thanks Bruce!)

jmp

Web Platform Installer welcomes Joomla!

jpelak — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:10:00 GMT

It is with great pleasure that I note that Joomla! is now available by way of the Microsoft Web Platform Installer (http://www.microsoft.com/web.)

For those of you unaware of the Web Platform Installer, it's a simple way to get your workstation or server set up for popular web applications. Some of these apps are from Microsoft (e.g., SQL Server Express), some aren't (MySQL), and some are agnostic (e.g., Joomla!, which runs on PHP in IIS or Apache.)

For those of you unfamiliar with Joomla!, it's a popular PHP based content management framework which makes it very easy to build and manage websites. You can learn more about it up on http://joomla.org.

I'm hopeful that we'll be able to much more with Joomla! in the months ahead, and if so, you'll hear about my adventures here.

In the meantime, happy Joomla! to you.

Free Support for Windows Azure Early Adopters

Bruce Kyle — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:06:00 GMT

A new TechNet blog has launched for tech-savvy business decision makers at ISVs, web services and web design companies interested in Windows Azure Platform, Windows web platform and learning how to grow their business by partnering with Microsoft. The blog is Windows Azure Platform, Web Hosting and Web Services.

The first posting, USA Early Adopters: Check out Front Runner for Windows Azure, describes how early adopters can benefit from Front Runner. “This program is a no-brainer if you want to get your cloud applications on to Azure in record time. Plus, the program helps you market your cloud applications.”

The program includes free email and phone support for your development issues.

Azure Tokens

The posting also says, “I also found out that Front Runner is giving out instant Windows Azure Community Technology Preview (CTP) tokens – these tokens are like gold and you’ll bypass the several days wait if you went through other channels.”

See USA Early Adopters: Check out Front Runner for Windows Azure.

Bruce D. Kyle
ISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation

How Do They Do That?: Ferrari GT on Windows phone

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Ever wonderered how games are developed for Windows Phone? - Check out this content and learn how Ferrari GT was brought to the Windows Phone

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Check out the new Dynamics CRM Developer Center on MSDN

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:19:00 GMT

Check out the new look of the CRM Developer Center on MSDN! There is new information on just about every tab, pointers to accelerators, whitepapers, and other downloads. Also, take a few minutes to read the latest technical article: Plug-ins, Part 2: Development and Deployment.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Case Study - News Cooperative Creates Touch-Friendly Mobile News Service for Windows Phones

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:15:00 GMT

Link to content - http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000005570

News Cooperative Creates Touch-Friendly Mobile News Service for Windows Phones

As newspapers seek a way to thrive in the world of digital media, The Associated Press is assisting by identifying new outlets and revenue streams for member news providers. Its first response is AP Mobile, which delivers international, national, and local news from more than 1,000 content providers to Windows® phones. The application takes advantage of gesturing, a touch-friendly interface, and polling that delivers breaking news alerts.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Windows Phone Case Study - Leading Photo Sharing Site Drives Revenue by Solving Camera-Phone Dilemma

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:10:00 GMT

Link to Content - http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000005615

Leading Photo Sharing Site Drives Revenue by Solving Camera-Phone Dilemma

Taking pictures with a camera phone is easy. Getting those photos off the phone so you can do something with them, however, has proven to be prohibitively difficult for many consumers. Photo sharing site Photobucket has changed that with its Mobile Uploader from Ontela, available now on Windows® phones. The easy-to-use application is helping Photobucket drive revenues and maintain market position.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) V 4.0.11

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:55:00 GMT

Link to content - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=82E632A7-FAF9-41E0-8EC1-A2662AAE9DFB&displaylang=en

Brief Description

This package contains the complete software development kit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

Overview

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is for developers, system customizers, and report writers. This SDK documentation contains information for developers writing server side code, custom business logic, integration modules, workflow assemblies, and plug-ins. It provides an architectural overview of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the entity model, security model, and Web services. Sample code and walkthroughs are provided to guide you through the new features. It also contains information for developers customizing the Web client or Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, including scripting, integration of custom Web pages, sample code, and a detailed user interface style guide.

In addition to the documentation, this download package includes the projects for all sample code found in the documentation, and full featured samples that are not included in the documentation. The package includes a visual style guide you can use to make your customizations fit in smoothly, and a style sheet you can use as a basis for your work. There are also tools and helper code provided in this package. Look for regular updates to this SDK!

November 10, 2009 - Updated the assemblies in the Bin folder. Use these updated assemblies instead of the ones in the previous release of SDK 4.0.10.

If you need assemblies or schema files prior to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Update Rollup 7 and the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online November 2009 Service Update, you can download the SDK 4.0.9 from this location: http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/E/C/DECA6FF2-2683-4E7A-B9A2-1CEB8AF971AE/CrmSdk4.0.9.exe

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Security and Authentication in Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Field-level Security in Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Options and Constraints

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:51:00 GMT

Link to download - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=471f8670-47b3-4525-b25d-c11a6774615c

Brief Description

While Microsoft Dynamics CRM does not provide for true field-level security, there are a number of options available for using supported custom logic to control of access to data at a more granular level than provided out of the box. This document discusses some of the key options and constraints available for implementing this type of solution.

Overview

This white paper, Field-level Security in Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Options and Constraints, provides selected aspects of the conceptual application of the security model in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. While Microsoft Dynamics CRM does not provide for true field-level security, there are a number of options available for using supported custom logic to control of access to data at a more granular level than provided out of the box. This document discusses some of the key options and constraints available for implementing this type of solution.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Accessing the Windows Marketplace for Mobile from a Windows Phone 6.0 and 6.1

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:46:00 GMT

If you have been looking at your friends Windows Phone 6.5 devices and wishing you could access the Windows Marketplace for Mobile from your Windows Phone 6.0 and 6.1 device well now you can. You can download an installer from this location - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/get-marketplace.mspx

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

Accessing the Windows Marketplace for Mobile without a Windows Phone

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:41:00 GMT

If you have not yet bought a new Windows Phone device or even if you have, you can now access the Windows Marketplace for Mobile from your desktop browser by going to http://marketplace.windowsphone.com.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel

The Microsoft Mobile Enterprise Application Platform

jodonnell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:38:00 GMT

Link to content - http://www.msteched.com/online/view.aspx?tid=9e01231b-7828-4f3f-8ea3-4cf0ff43cfd7

Gartner says the market for Mobile Enterprise Application Platforms tops $1 billion and that 95% of organizations will be choosing them instead of going with point solutions. Spend some time with Rob and learn about Microsoft's MEAP solution stack.

John O'Donnell
Microsoft Dynamics ISV Architect Evangelist
Microsoft Corporation
(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/jodonnell

(b) http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde

(t) http://www.twitter.com/jodonnel