Stability of Dynamic Data

Question

User-1246852455 posted

I don't know if I'm spinning my wheels on this or not.

I thought I'd learn and use Dynamic Data on a new project that I have started that must be completed in about 4-5 months. I've been told this technology isn't ready for production, but I thought within 5 months maybe it would be so I could proceed with it.

So what's the projected stability of this to use on full-blown, professional web applications? Should I just do this project using existing, working technology? Because it seems that I keep running into roadblocks, and I admit a lot of those problems probably stem from my ignorance on things. But even if I were a genius, is there going to be an issue with this as an immediately useable technology?

 thanks.

 

Answer 1

User-1005219520 posted

Dynamic Data is a released and supported product now - you don't need to wait 5 months. The Dynamic Data team is actively working on the next version (you can get an idea of what is planned from the Dynamic Data Road Map and the  ASP.NET Dynamic Data 4.0 Preview 1 ). The released product is very stable and ready for production systems. The futures version mentioned is not meant for production systems.  As far as road blocks - we all run into them on occasion - that's what the forum is all about.

Answer 2

User-1246852455 posted

Okay, sorry I am so confused. I am coming out of an entirely different area of development and putting it all together is confusing to me. I'm been on lengthy projects that aren't anywhere near using this kind of thing and it's like I've been on a deserted island for a year and all this stuff is out, so I have to muddle through documentation and web sites and blogs that are talking about "use this," now "don't use this", and "here's how," no, "do it this way instead." And I can't make sense of what is the latest word and latest technology, especially on "undated" articles and blogs.

 So when I read this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc161164.aspx#_Toc188851309

Introducing Linq to Relational

It talks about Linq to SQL versus Linq to Entities.

So when I'm looking at Dynamic Data, is the Linq to SQL the "Dynamic Data Web Application" and the Linq to Entities is the "Dynamic Data Entities Web Application?"

And although it is known as ADO.net Entities, the developer can still program using Linq, thus making it Linq to Entities?

In addition, since I have an existing partial application developed, I'm assuming I can start with the "DDE" version and add my completed pages and classes with no problems, or maybe even just add DDE to my existing application, one or the other?

I just don't want to start something and then find out I've handicapped myself and started in the wrong technology, or wont' be able to do everything because I went the wrong direction. (Like I spent a day learning about MVC to find out this is definitely not the direction I want to go.)

Thanks.

 

Answer 3

User-330204900 posted

So when I'm looking at Dynamic Data, is the Linq to SQL the "Dynamic Data Web Application" and the Linq to Entities is the "Dynamic Data Entities Web Application?"

Yes

And although it is known as ADO.net Entities, the developer can still program using Linq, thus making it Linq to Entities?

Yes, you can use traditional ADO.Net, EntitySQL and Linq to talk to EF

I just don't want to start something and then find out I've handicapped myself and started in the wrong technology, or wont' be able to do everything because I went the wrong direction. (Like I spent a day learning about MVC to find out this is definitely not the direction I want to go.)

I know what you mean EF is the wau forward for MS it's where they are going to out all there development energy in the future. EF will surface in SQL Server it serf eventually.

It's worth knowing that there are some limitations at the moment EF compared to L2S under Dynamic Data but in DD V2 there will be a BusinessLogicDataSource that will over come them an allow greater flexibility.

Hope this helps [:D]

P.S. I'm convinced that DD is the way forward you just need to get into it and do some custom pages to see the real benifits. [:D]

Answer 4

User-1230855586 posted

 Hi,

I have similar concern about stability of Dynamic Data.

I am developing solution where I need following things. And available database schema is as follows. Company, Employees, Accounts etc.

1-  Search facility. Custom search. E.g. I should able to search on any column in table. [Currently very few column are available for filters. Can I add custom filters?]

2- Edit data, Update, Insert, Delete. [Dynamic Data:It is available currently.]

3- Links to various detail pages. E.g. From company I want to go to particular company's detail page and from there respective Account's page. [One level detail is available. If I have to go to Account's detail page, first I need to go to Account's List page. Can it be directly from Company's Details page?]

So with all above requirements, can somebody suggest whether Dynamic Data would be better approach. And whether it supports (or will support) all such functionalities. Can I go with this technology and which version should I used for production purpose.

Thanks,

Sandi
 

Answer 5

User660823006 posted

You can get some rich filtering support in Dynamic Data RTM using this project; http://www.codeplex.com/DynamicDataFiltering you can see previews of what we are doing for the next version of Dynamic Data here: http://www.codeplex.com/aspnet/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=18803. You can easily build links to whatever you want using the routing engine, we have a DynamicHyperlink in the futures project that makes it as simple as specifying a table and the mode and possibly the primary key for navigation.

Answer 6

User-1230855586 posted

 Hi Scott,<o:p></o:p>

Thank you for your reply. I have visited these samples. However still I am confuse with versions and various names been used on this forum and codeplex site. To make straight questions, here I go..(May be these questions are very basic as I am newbie. Please excuse me for same. Please redirect this to correct forum if required.)<o:p></o:p>

1.  I have not installed VS 2008 SP1 however I have installed ASP.NET SP1. Still I can see 'DynamicData Web Application' in project template. So should I install VS 2008 SP1? And why it needs?<o:p></o:p>

2.  When I downloaded samples, it has reference of 'System.Web.Extensions, Version=3.5.0.0' and all samples works fine on my machine. Now when I tried to create new 'DynamicData Web Application' from VS2008. It added 'System.Web.Extensions, Version=3.6.0.0'. How 3.6 is coming?<o:p></o:p>

3.  I referred link http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc668188.aspx for article ‘Walkthrough: Adding Dynamic Data to an Existing Web Site’: I followed it till end and while building I got error like “DynamicDataManager is not known element. Or Type 'System.Web.DynamicData.DynamicDataManager' does not have a public property named 'ID'”. I searched for help on this problem while there was nothing relevant and exact answer found. All were guesses. So question is why I am not able to add DynamicDataManager.<o:p></o:p>

4. What exactly scaffolding means? <o:p></o:p>

5. If I want to use DynamicData controls like DynamicDataView and DynamicDataFilters etc in normal ‘ASP.net web application’. Exactly what I need to install or I need to add reference of?<o:p></o:p>

6. What is ‘Preview’. Is this code name for Dynamic Data Controls?<o:p></o:p>

7. What is current version of DynamicDataControls. Are these controls bundled into some new version of asp.net (currently under development)? Or it’s part of asp.net SP1?<o:p></o:p>

8. If I just want to add DyhamicDataGridView and do custom filtering (like text searching)  into my ASP.Net application how should I go about.

Thanks in advance,

San 

Answer 7

User-1005219520 posted

Hi San,

>>I have not installed VS 2008 SP1 however I have installed ASP.NET SP1.

You need to install SP1 - that will solve most of the rest of your questions.

How To: Add Dynamic Data to an Existing Web Site is more direct and focused.

 

>> What exactly scaffolding means?

automatically generating the views, update pages, details with minimal code.

 

>> If I want to use DynamicData controls like

Follow How To: Add Dynamic Data to an Existing Web Site

 

>>What is ‘Preview’. Is this code name for Dynamic Data Controls?

The preview release is what we are considering for the next release. It is not a code name.

 

>>What is current version of DynamicDataControls

You need VS SP1 (which includes .net 3.5 SP1) for development and net 3.5 SP1 on the server when you deploy

 

>>If I just want to add DyhamicDataGridView and do custom filtering (like text searching)

There is no such thing as a DynamicDataGridView - You can use Dynamic controls on a ASP.Net gridview. Filtering (in the current release) is not searching - it's filtering. It limits the rows shown that match the filters. The filters you get by default are foreign key filters and boolean filters. You don't get them for Non-PK or non-Boolean columns.

 

You might want to try one of the walkthroughs on getting started with Dynamic Data to get more comfortable with the technology.

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