Charting Solution for Windows Service - c#

I need to create 100s of graph through automation, I try couple of library for charting from codeplex. however none of them works for me as they all expect either a WPF or Windows Forms interface to be present. Since I need the task to be done using Background windows service such libraries won't work for me.
I am not stuck to use ZedGraph, yeah it is one of the best library, but the Chart quality is way too dim, I use MSChart with ASP.NET projects of mine, they have such a smooth curves, but ZedGraph doesn't.
Now my only question is: Which is the best library in terms of visual as well as in terms of feature like zedgraph to use for windows service. I prefer if someone tell me how I can improve zedgraph really quick if possible.

If you are using a SQL Server you could use Microsoft's SQL Server Reporting Services which is abbreviated to SSRS. This is similar to Crystal Reports in so much as you can design your report with graphs, tables, textual information etc and then when run the information is populated from your database.
SSRS can be called either by a front-end application or simply as a web service call (via your Windows Service) that can generate the report and save to either Excel, PDF etc.
This is industry recognised and a good place to go if you already have SQL Server. I also mentioned Crystal Reports that you may also want to check out.

Related

Connectivity with DB for Window store using Blank app template

I am trying to make a quiz application for Windows Store using the blank app template (in VS2013). I have the UI laid out in XAML but I don't know how to fetch Questions saved in my DB (MS access or SQL).
I have tried to find tutorials related to it,but what I have found is for WPF and Windows Forms. I had chosen the Blank app template, so can anyone explain how to fetch question from the Database in an application using Blank app template?
As it turns out, there's a good reason you couldn't find a tutorial for accessing a local DB in the WinRT environment. You can't. Microsoft didn't even include the requistite ADO.NET assemblies, assuming you could get out of the sandbox in order to connect.
There is a SQLLite project for Windows Store apps, found here. That's about as good as you can get it right now in terms of a local relational database in a windows store app.
What Microsoft intended for you to do was to store your database in the cloud (and if they have their way, on Microsoft Azure) and access it using a web service. Support for that is all over the WinRT API. It sounds like thats probably what you want anyways (unless you expect your users to generate their own questions) so I would go into that route.
A starting point for that would be to use Azure Mobile Services.
One last thing to note, WPF and WinForms are not WinRT, but there are other project templates (like the Hub template) that are. The fact that you chose the "Blank" template doesn't really affect anything in this regard.

Utiltizing SVN commands from a custom interface

I'm looking to automate the GUI available for TortoiseSVN. Rather than using the one provided and manually inputting the urls, I would like to save off various urls that I switch to on a daily basis and at the click of a button switch my working copy to one of my choosing.
TortioseSVN's 'TortioseProc.exe Switch' command does not support the /url parameter until a future release (1.8), this prevents me from being able to embed these easily within an anchor tag (supported by Tortiose) somewhere on our intranet.
Using the standard svn CLI thats compatible with the 1.7 build I'm able to perform switches and automatically close the command line, however I don't know of a way to perform these from a web interface and as I'm not familiar with desktop development I don't know of a plausible desktop solution.
I'm coming to you StackOverflow in hopes you know of a lightweight desktop alternative that wouldn't require much setup on the users side or better yet (web developer by trade) a web solution.
I want to clarify, I'm not looking for actual code but a library or language that will allow me to meet these requirements as I'm hoping to open this solution up to more developers at my workplace and would rather something that allows easy adoption (not a messy setup).
Thanks!
From a Windows/.NET application (whether it be ASP.NET within IIS, or a standalone application), your best way to go is SharpSVN.
Second place would be to write a wrapper around the command-line client.

How to use Microsoft Excel as a Grid control in C# winforms?

Are there any good samples of using Microsoft Excel as a grid control in a typical winform C# application.
I have come across a lot of threads talking about excel 'like' control or grid controls with functionality similar to Excel etc.
Why not use excel as a GRID control , it has all the goodies in build ( formula engine , sorting, filtering etc )
You certainly can host Excel as a control within a WinForm application, so part of what you want is possible (with major caveats). However, to wire up the rest of the functionality seen in many of the 3rd party grid libraries takes a lot of work, and has many pitfalls.
The prime reason for this is that Excel is a native Windows application, and is not running under the .Net framework. Therefore, all of the manipulation has to be done at arms length - you have to instantiate the application, instantiate a sheet, try and subscribe to certain events (many of which may not be available as Excel was not designed for this purpose), and, of course, try and propertly manage all of the COM references to avoid memory leaks.
The grid controls you mention have all been built from the ground up as controls to be hosted within .Net applications, and therefore expose properties and events around the type of grid style interactions that people want - remember, Excel is more than a grid.
However, as if to acknowledge that Excel can be a powerful tool when leveraged programmatically, Microsoft provided VSTO - a runtime that allows you to develop Excel (and other office applications) using .Net
As far as I know, there are no .NET controls for embedding Office applications.
Earlier you could use the DSOFramer to achieve what you want but then it was discontinued. I believe it still works though (I am not sure). The Web Browser (COM) control is an alternative to DSOFramer, but has its own drawbacks. For example, you cannot use the inbuilt "Goodies".
The below is just my personal opinion
I doubt that MS will never support embedded Office applications and the reason is very simple. MS-Office Applications are "End-User-Targeted" products. You need separate licenses for it and from a business perspective they wouldn't want to loose on that :) Like I mentioned earlier these are just my personal thoughts and do not echo MS's views.

Creating Advanced Gantt Chart

I am workin on an automation of production follow-up project with c# and we are producing fabric. and we have many customers and their works are running on about 100 weaving machines.
so there is a planning departman and they are deciding to optimum time-save and many time one customers product weaving on multiple machines.
This excel sheet capture shows which machine work wich job and will work after current work. and user can carry the work if she decide to carry to another machine.
in thispicture first line is date line and different colors are different works...
I want a gantt chart as flexible as this. are there any solution for it?
I think, your task has two facets: there is a scheduling challenge (time-optimized allocation of the production flow) and a visualization challenge (display the plan on a comprehensive screen). If you go for a Gantt chart to cope with the visualization challenge, make sure that it is interactive and allows the planner to make changes on the screen and that these changes are written back into your planning system. Also, the Gantt should be open and flexible enough to deal with business rules so that the outer appearance can be context-sensitive. Here is an example of how a Gantt chart can work in a production environment: http://youtu.be/oXRUy90lpsM
Does this help you?
There's a commercial component for creating such charts with quite good documentation from PlexityHide. But you can also use e.g. a general charting framework such as the Microsoft Chart Controls to recreate what you want. Certainly there are several more.
Here's some getting-started
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/webforms/EventCalendarControl.aspx
http://naspinski.net/post/Simple-Gantt-Chart-with-Aspnet.aspx
Or use ZedGraph:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/zedgraph/
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/web-image/ZedGraph.aspx
Also, MS-Chart controls is nice.
See here to get started:
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/11/24/new-asp-net-charting-control-lt-asp-chart-runat-quot-server-quot-gt.aspx
There is a very good Production Planning online sample here which lets you drag and drop color coded tasks from one machine to another:
http://demos.radiantq.com/jQueryGanttDemo/Demo.htm
There is also .NET versions of the Gantt component which lets you build something similar in a desktop application.

Visual Studio Lightswitch Beta2

What are your experiences with Beta2 of Visual Lightswitch? Can it already be used for real life projects? Does anybody know, when the final (RTM) version will be out?
I am very intersting in using Lightswitch in the future for RAD, but I am a litte bit self-conscious, if the tool is flexible enough for my dividual requirements and if a Lightswitch solution can be extended with own code !? Can it be mixed with "normal" Silverlight?
I am currently in production with a Lightswitch application connected to SQL Server 2008 via IIS. I am using it to create basic stuff for now like orders, invoices. My experience so far is very good considering Beta 2. Small bugs on slower computers but nothing to stop continuing. It will take you longer to build a nice database than to build the front-end application in LS. If you do your db design right, then the rest is easy and flawless. You can extend alot with Lightswitch like using custom Silverlight controls so basically sky is the limit if you know Silverlight programming. This is what I like, I know I can build on top with future options for my app like bing maps, upload pictures or documents.
For me, this is the perfect tool since I am not a super programmer. Once your data is in SQL, then the fun begins, you will be able to create reports via Reporting Services. If you the want to go even further, then create some SSIS`s to automate email report notifications, etc... which is what I am planning to do.
Basically, Lightswitch is driving me crazy because I can now build an app 10 times faster than if I would have to program it in Silverlight.
I don't know the release date.
Francis
Visual Studio LightSwitch 2011 will be launched on July 26, 2011.
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/lightswitch

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