Max Akbar : SDK

Updated version uploaded: Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site Release 2

Max Akbar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:24:29 GMT

Looks like there is an update to the Starter Site Release 2 you can still download it from MSDownload.

How to tell you have the right download?

I looked at the original release 2 and the file version for CommerceComponents.dll is 6.0.3863.0 and the update release 2 is 6.0.4109.0.

How to tell which files were updated?

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell there is no documentation on the bugs and which files were modified. You need to do a file diff on the code to identify changes :(.

OrderForm Visualizer

Max Akbar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:52:38 GMT

Have you developed a pipeline component and then started to debug it and found that you couldn't drill down the OrderForm, Dictionary and SimpleList objects? Well here is the solution. I created this Visualizer to help with the debugging process of pipeline components.

What is a Visualizer?

Visualizers allows the displays of a variable or object in a meaningful way. For example, if you have a DataSet visualizer interprets a DataSet object and displays the result in a DataGridview. So the OrderForm visualizer interprets Commerce Server OrderForm which inherits from Dictionary and SimpleList in a TreeView. After installing the OrderForm visualizer run your pipeline code and set a debug point bring your cursor on the object you wish you view noticed that now you have a Dictionary Visualizer.

After selecting the visualizer the data is rendered in a TreeView.

You can now visualize the data in a tree structure by viewing the key\pair value and the data type.

Note: The OrderForm visualizer does not allow modifying the underlying data.

What Version of Visual Studio 2005 does this support?

Edition	Visual Basic	C#	C++	Web Developer
Express	X	X	Managed only	X
Standard	X	X	Managed only	X
Pro and Team	X	X	Managed only	X

I haven't tested Visual Studio 2008 but I don't see any issues with using it.

Where do I get the OrderForm Visualizer?

Commerce Server Training, Inc.

Starter Site Documentation

Max Akbar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 04:58:34 GMT

Looks like we have documentation for the starter site, you can find it here.

Free Commerce Server 2007, SQL 2005, Visual Studio Web, and C# Express

Max Akbar — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:36:00 GMT

Did you know that Commerce Server 2007 Developer Edition can run using SQL Express as the data store and Visual Studio Web Express to edit your Starter Site and that's not all you can download the Visual C# Express to create application with Commerce Server 2007.

Of course this is not tested by the product group but I took it upon myself to do the work.

Here is what you need to do:

Make sure you have a clean system running Windows 2003 SP1 or R2 with latest updates.
Download the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2005 Express Edition making sure to download the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services SP1 and install it. Be sure to check the Full Text option during the installation.
Next download the Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition and install accepting all defaults.
Then download the Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and install accepting all defaults.
Now we are ready for Commerce Server download the Commerce Server 2007 Developer Edition for free and install accepting all defaults then configure Commerce Server.
Download the Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site and follow the instructions in the readme for installation and configuration.
Download the Commerce Server 2007 Partner Software Development Kit and install to the SDK folder of Commerce Server.

That's it now you have a full functional starter site that you can review and modify as well as view the new Management Applications and if you want to know how they were designed or you want to modify them you can do that using Visual C# Express, and it's all free. Another scenario that this fits is that you maybe training folks and you never have to worry about reinstalling software :).

Caveats

No BizTalk 2006 it's not free but you can download the evaluation bits.
No Data Warehouse and Analytics but you can download the evaluation bits.
No support form PSS at least not yet :).

Summary

So what does this mean? If you are developer, a hobbyist or someone who is curious about Commerce Server 2007 and want to know what all the BUZ is about you can do that free.

Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site is RTW

Max Akbar — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:12:26 GMT

Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site now available

With the included sample data, the Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site helps you build an online store complete with product details, shopping cart, checkout processes, and marketing support. Use the Starter Site as a guideline for building front-end Web sites for Commerce Server 2007.

Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site CTP

Max Akbar — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 23:34:00 GMT

The Commerce Server team is pleased to announce that a Technology Preview of the Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site is now available. This release is designed to provide our community with a guideline for building a front-end website for Commerce Server 2007. The release includes an installation guide and readme, but does not include full documentation. The CS2007 Starter Site CTP is NOT FOR PRODUCTION USAGE, and is not supported by Microsoft. This release is to allow our customers an early technology preview to learn more about how to deploy Commerce Server 2007, and provide feedback to the product group about the technology.

The final release of the Starter Site is scheduled for later this year. The final release will also include the final, full documentation, along with any requisite updates to the Installation Guide and Readme. For customers who wish to go live with the Starter Site, it is imperative that they use the final version, not the CTP release.

Commerce Server 2007 Starter Site CTP Downlaod

Commerce Server 2007 Partner Software Development Kit

Max Akbar — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:48:00 GMT

Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 Partner Software Development Kit (SDK) makes available source code and documentation to customize the Commerce Server Business User tools – Catalog Manager, Marketing Manager, and Customer and Orders Manager – for redistribution to your customers (subject to terms of license).

Recommended System Requirements

A computer with a 2.0 GHz or better processor
1.0 GB or more RAM
30 GB or more free hard disk space
SQL Server 2005 SP1 or SQL Server 2000 SP4

Download the Partner SDK