ASP.NET AJAX is a set of extensions to ASP.NET developed by Microsoft for implementing Ajax functionality.

Road Map

In its early development stages, ASP.NET AJAX was given the code name Atlas. Initial releases were made public to the development community in the form of CTPs (Community Technical Previews). The production version, ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 RTM; was released on January 23, 2007 as an extension to ASP.NET 2.0.

Important release milestones for ASP.NET AJAX are as follows:

• CTPs: October, December 2005, January, March, April, June, July 2006
• Beta: October, November 2006
• Release Candidate (RC): December 2006
• ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 RTM: January 23, 2007
• ASP.NET AJAX 3.5: November 19, 2007 (as part of ASP.NET 3.5)

The next version, ASP.NET AJAX 4.0; will be part of the ASP.NET 4.0 framework release.

Browser support

ASP.NET AJAX runs on the following browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer (> 6.0)
• Mozilla Firefox (> 1.5)
• Opera (> 9.0)
• Apple Safari (> 2.0)

ASP.NET AJAX Suite

At present, the ASP.NET AJAX suite consists of the following components and packages:

• Microsoft Ajax Library 3.5: It is a JavaScript library that provides the client-side features of the ASP.NET AJAX framework. Integrated in ASP.NET 3.5, the library is also available as a separate download for use in other environments, such as PHP.
• A server framework: It is included in ASP.NET 3.5 for building Ajax-enabled ASP.NET server controls. These components are also available for ASP.NET 2.0 in a separate package called ASP.NET 1.0 Extensions.
• ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Templates: It is a package with a set of Visual Studio templates for building ASP.NET AJAX applications with ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2008.
• ASP.NET AJAX Preview: It is a package with the new features that will be part of the future versions of the framework.
• Ajax Control Toolkit

Microsoft Ajax Library

The Microsoft Ajax Library is a JavaScript library that provides the features for the client portion of the ASP.NET AJAX framework.

• Components: The library provides an infrastructure to build either visual or non-visual JavaScript components. A global JavaScript object Sys.Application is responsible for managing the lifecycle of client components.
• JavaScript extensions: It is an enhanced type system is introduced to emulate object-oriented constructs such as namespaces, classes and interfaces; and to perform reflection on client types.
• Abstraction API: It is common operations on the DOM (retrieving elements, setting styles and other manipulations) are automatically translated by the library into browser-specific calls.
• Ajax: It is a set of client components is provided to handle Ajax requests.
• Application Services: It is the library that allows accessing the ASP.NET Membership, Authentication, Roles and Profile services from the client side.

Recently, new features have been announced as part of the ASP.NET AJAX 4.0 release:

• Template Engine: It allows displaying data on the client side by using HTML templates and a custom binding notation. This approach avoids performing page rendering on the server side.
• Declarative instantiation of client components: It allows registration, instantiation and configuration of client components using markup code, without writing any imperative JavaScript code.
• Live Bindings: It synchronizes element properties.
• Command Bubbling

The UpdatePanel Control

The UpdatePanel is an ASP.NET server control that updates portions a web page without reloading it. Through a mechanism called asynchronous postback, the HTML for the region of the page wrapped by the control is sent by the server asynchronously through an Ajax request.

The ASP.NET controls that have been specified as content in an UpdatePanel are able to cause either synchronous (traditional) or asynchronous postbacks, by means of triggers.

A trigger is an event coming from an ASP.NET control that causes an UpdatePanel to refresh its contents. Through triggers, an asynchronous postback can be started also by controls that are declared outside the region of the ASP.NET page wrapped by the UpdatePanel control.

Script Controls and Extenders

The server portion of the ASP.NET AJAX framework introduces two categories of ASP.NET server controls for adding client capabilities to server controls.

An Extender is used to add client functionality to an existing ASP.NET control, without the need to create a new server control. A Script Control is a standalone ASP.NET control that offers both server and client functionality.

Using AJAX in Visual Studio.Net 2008 or .Net Framework 3.5

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Configuring and deploying applications

• Configure the installation of a Windows Forms application by using ClickOnce technology. It may include but not limited to:

1. Installing a Windows Forms application on a client computer by using ClickOnce deployment.
2. Installing a Windows Forms application from a server by using ClickOnce deployment.
3. Configuring the required permissions of an application by using ClickOnce deployment.

• Create a Windows Forms setup application. It may include but not limited to:

1. Creating a Windows Forms application setup project.
2. Setting deployment project properties.
3. Configuring setup project to add icons during setup.
4. Configuring conditional installation based on operating system versions.
5. Configuring a setup project to deploy the .NET Framework.

• Add functionality to a Windows Forms setup application. It may include but not limited to:

1. Adding a custom action to a setup project.
2. Adding error-handling code to a setup project for custom actions.

Developing Windows Forms controls

• Create a composite Windows Forms control. It may include but not limited to:

1. Creating a composite Windows Forms control.
2. Creating properties, methods, and events for Windows Forms controls.
3. Exposing properties of constituent controls.
4. Creating and using custom dialog boxes in Windows Forms applications.
5. Customizing a control to paint and render.
6. Configuring a control to be invisible at run time.
7. Configuring a control to have a transparent background.
8. Providing a Toolbox bitmap for a control.

• Create a custom Windows Forms control by inheriting from the control class. It may include but not limited to:

1. Creating a custom control by inheriting from the control class.

• Create an extended control by inheriting from an existing Windows Forms control. It may include but not limited to:

1. Creating an extended control by inheriting from an existing Windows Forms control.

Implementing asynchronous programming techniques to improve the user experience

• Manage a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component. It may include but not limited to:

1. Running a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.
2. Announcing the completion of a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.
3. Cancelling a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.
4. Reporting the progress of a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.
5. Requesting the status of a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.

• Implement an asynchronous method. It may include but not limited to:

1. Implementing advanced asynchronous techniques.
2. Creating an asynchronous method.
3. Creating a new process thread.

Enhancing usability

• Perform drag-and-drop operations. It includes the following:

1. Perform drag-and-drop operations within a Windows Forms application.
2. Perform drag-and-drop operations between applications.
3. Perform a drag-and-drop operation by using a TreeView control.

• Implement globalization and localization for a Windows Forms application. It includes the following:

1. Implement globalization and localization within a Windows Forms application.

• Implement accessibility features. It includes implementing accessibility features within a Windows Forms application.

• Create and configure multiple-document interface (MDI) forms. It includes the following:

1. Create MDI parent forms.
2. Create MDI child forms.
3. Identify the active MDI child form.
4. Send data to the active MDI child form.
5. Arrange MDI child forms.
6. Create a window-list menu for an MDI application.

• Create, configure, and customize user assistance controls and components. It includes the following:

1. Configure the PropertyGrid component.
2. Configure the ProgressBar control to indicate progress graphically.
3. Display status information by using the StatusStrip control.
4. Configure the ToolTip component.
5. Configure the ErrorProvider component.
6. Configure the HelpProvider component.
7. Play system sounds and audio files by using the SoundPlayer.
8. Configure the Timer component to raise an event at regular intervals.
9. Enable scrolling by using the HScrollBar and VScrollBar controls.

• Persist Windows Forms application settings between sessions.

Implementing printing and reporting functionality in a Windows Forms application

• Manage the print process by using print dialogs.

1. Configure Windows Forms print options at run time.
2. Change the printers attached to a user’s computer in Windows Forms.
3. Configure the PrintPreviewDialog control.
4. Display a Print Preview window in Windows applications.
5. Set page details for printing by using the PageSetupDialog component.

• Construct print documents.

1. Configure the PrintDocument component.
2. Print a text document in a Windows Form.
3. Print graphics in a Windows Form.
4. Print a document by using the PrintDialog component.
5. Alert users to the completion of a print job.
6. Enable security for printing in Windows Forms.

• Create a customized PrintPreview component.

1. Set the Document property to establish the document to be previewed.
2. Set the Columns and Rows properties to establish the number of pages that will be displayed horizontally and vertically on the control.
3. Set the UseAntiAlias property to True to make the text appear smoother.
4. Set the Zoom property to establish the relative zoom level when the document preview appears.
5. Set the StartPage property to establish which document page is displayed when the document preview appears.
6. Set additional properties.
7. Add custom methods and events to a PrintPreviewControl.

Integrating data in a Windows Forms application

• Implement data-bound controls.

1. Use the DataGridView control to display and update the tabular data contained in a data source.
2. Use a simple data-bound control to display a single data element on a Windows Form.
3. Implement complex data binding to integrate data from multiple sources.
4. Navigate forward and backward through records in a DataSet in Windows Forms.
5. Define a data source by using a DataConnector component.
6. Create data forms by using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.

• Manage connections and transactions.

1. Configure a connection to a database by using the Connection Wizard.
2. Configure a connection to a database by using Server Explorer.
3. Configure a connection to a database by using the Connection class.
4. Connect to a database by using specific database Connection objects.
5. Enumerate through instances of Microsoft SQL Server.
6. Open an ADO.NET connection to a database.
7. Close an ADO.NET connection to a database by using the Close method of the Connection object.
8. Protect access to data source connection details.
9. Create a connection designed for reuse in a connection pool.
10. Control a connection pool by configuring ConnectionString values based on database type.
11. Use the Connection events to detect database information.
12. Handle exceptions when connecting to a database.
13. Perform transactions by using the Transaction object.

• Create, add, delete, and edit data in a connected environment.

1. Perform asynchronous operations by using a Command object.
2. Perform bulk copy operations.
3. Store and retrieve binary large object (BLOB) data types in a database.
4. Retrieve data by using a DataReader object.
5. Build SQL commands in Server Explorer.
6. Build SQL commands in code.
7. Create parameters for a Command object.
8. Perform database operations by using a Command object.
9. Retrieve data from a database by using a Command object.

• Create, add, delete, and edit data in a disconnected environment.

1. Create a DataSet graphically.
2. Create a DataSet programmatically.
3. Add a DataTable to a DataSet.
4. Add a relationship between tables within a DataSet.
5. Navigate a relationship between tables.
6. Merge DataSet contents.
7. Copy DataSet contents.
8. Create a typed DataSet.
9. Create DataTables.
10. Manage data within a DataTable.
11. Create and use DataViews.
12. Represent data in a DataSet by using XML.
13. Use the OleDbDataAdapter object to access an ADO Recordset or Record.
14. Generate DataAdapter commands automatically by using the CommandBuilder object.
15. Generate DataAdapter commands programmatically.
16. Populate a DataSet by using a DataAdapter.
17. Update a database by using a DataAdapter.
18. Resolve conflicts between a DataSet and a database by using a DataAdapter.
19. Respond to changes made to data at the data source by using DataAdapter events.
20. Perform batch operations by using DataAdapters.

• Manage XML with the XML Document Object Model (DOM).

1. Read XML data into the DOM.
2. Modify an XML document by adding and removing nodes.
3. Modify nodes within an XML document.
4. Write data in XML format from the DOM.
5. Work with nodes in the XML DOM.
6. Handle DOM events.
7. Modify the XML declaration.

• Read, write, and validate XML by using the XmlReader class and the XmlWriter class.

1. Read XML data by using the XmlReader class.
2. Read all XML element and attribute content.
3. Read specific element and attribute content.
4. Read XML data by using the XmlTextReader class.
5. Read node trees by using the XmlNodeReader class.
6. Validate XML data by using the XmlValidatingReader class.
7. Write XML data by using the XmlWriter class.

Creating a UI for a Windows Forms application by using standard controls

• Add and configure a Windows Form.

1. Add a Windows Form to a project at design time.
2. Configure a Windows Form to control accessibility, appearance, behavior, configuration, data, design, focus, layout, style, and other functionality.

• Manage control layout on a Windows Form.

1. Group and arrange controls by using the Panel control, GroupBox control, TabControl control, FlowLayoutPanel control, and TableLayoutPanel control.
2. Use the SplitContainer control to create dynamic container areas.

• Add and configure a Windows Forms control.

1. Use the integrated development environment (IDE) to add a control to a Windows Form or other container control of a project at design time.
2. Add controls to a Windows Form at run time.
3. Configure controls on a Windows Form at design time to optimize the UI.
4. Modify control properties.
5. Configure controls on a Windows Form at run time to ensure that the UI complies with best practices.
6. Create and configure command controls on a Windows Form.
7. Create and configure text edit controls on a Windows Form.
8. Create and configure text display controls on a Windows Form.
9. Use the LinkLabel control to add Web-style links to Windows Forms applications.
10. Provide a list of options on a Windows Form by using a ListBox control, a ComboBox control, or a CheckedListBox control.
11. Configure the layout and functionality of a Windows Form to display a list of items.
12. Implement value-setting controls on a Windows Form.
13. Configure a WebBrowser control.
14. Add and configure date-setting controls on a Windows Form.
15. Display images by using Windows Forms controls.
16. Configure the NotifyIcon component.
17. Create access keys for Windows Forms controls.

• Create and configure menus.

1. Create and configure a MenuStrip component on a Windows Form.
2. Change the displayed menu structure programmatically.
3. Create and configure the ContextMenuStrip component on a Windows Form.

• Create event handlers for Windows Forms and controls.

1. Use the Code Editor to override methods defined in the base class.
2. Use the Windows Forms Designer to create event handlers.
3. Manage mouse and keyboard events within Windows Forms applications.
4. Program a Windows Forms application to recognize modifier keys.
5. Use the Windows Forms Designer to create default event handlers.
6. Create event handlers at run time to respond to system or user events dynamically.
7. Connect multiple events to a single event handler.