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Build Responsive Web Pages
by Andy Clark
December 20, 2005
Dart Communications' PowerWEB LiveControls for ASP.NET 1.1.3 can help you give your users a positive experience with your Web pages. Dart uses a technology called LiveCallback to support a number of highly responsive ASP.NET controls (see Figure 1).
LiveCallback improves Web page responsiveness by minimizing the volume of data that flows between a server and a client when processing a control event. LiveCallback initiates callbacks to the server on events, but it minimizes the amount of data to and from the server. Many controls repaint an entire Web page when server-side events change the appearance of the page. However, LiveControls sends small packets of data that make changes to the page's appearance without repainting it. LiveControls can update a control's values or style properties, such as font or color. Further, LiveControls can make updates to many other controls, such as Microsoft-supplied Web controls. For instance, pressing a LiveControls button can change the color properties of cells in a Microsoft calendar.
LiveControls allows you to give your Web users a much richer, more responsive UI experience. You'll be able to consider using events that you would not normally use in a Web application. Note that the responsiveness of LiveControls is still dependent upon server loads and network traffic, so take care not to become overly aggressive in using the controls, particularly in widespread Internet applications. Obviously, there will still be a noticeable lag in responsiveness if an event requires a lengthy server calculation.
PowerWEB LiveControls includes controls that function as buttons, checkboxes, data grids, listboxes, hyperlinks, images, image buttons, labels, message boxes, panels, radio buttons, textboxes, timers, and sounds. There is also a control that allows you to adapt LiveCallback to your own controls and specialized application situations.
Dart provides solid sample code and good, integrated documentation. The support staff is knowledgeable and responsive.
PowerWEB LiveControls gives you a powerful tool for improving your ASP.NET UI. You need to keep one eye on scalability, but the product offers the potential to help you give your ASP.NET users the type of rich environment that WinForms users take for granted.
PowerWEB LiveControls for ASP.NET 1.1.3
Dart Communications
Web: www.dart.com
Phone: 315-339-8040
Price: $499
Quick Facts: Highly responsive ASP.NET versions of many common controls.
Pros: Gives users highly responsive forms.
Cons: Possibility of a noticeable lag in responsiveness if an event requires a lengthy server calculation.
About the Author
Andy Clark is a technical lead with the Virginia Community College System. He holds PMP, MCSD, and SJCP certifications. Reach him at .
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