Web Matrix Features

Web Matrix is an easy-to-use tool that provides a simple approach to building ASP.NET Web applications. Its core features include the following:

• Page designer

  Allows you to rapidly create ASP.NET pages and user controls within a WYSIWYG design surface or within a syntax-highlighting source editor. The designer allows you to drag and drop server controls onto the design surface, customize their properties, and associate event handlers. Web Matrix supports the single-file model in which server-side code is embedded within the .aspx file. The page designer offers multiple logical views of the same file to separate code and content during development. The page designer can be seen in Figures C-1 and C-2.

• Development Web server

  Web Matrix provides a development Web server that allows you to run and test your application without requiring Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) to be installed on your development machine. Web Matrix also supports running your application within the context of an IIS virtual root.

• Online component gallery

  The toolbox in Web Matrix can be customized with additional components that you develop. In addition, Web Matrix is directly tied to an online component gallery that contains a repository of custom controls that can be browsed or searched. Figure C-6 illustrates toolbox customization using the online component gallery.

• File-based workspace

  Web Matrix allows you to work on individual files without imposing the concept of a project. In addition, Web Matrix allows you to work directly against an FTP connection.

• SQL and Microsoft Data Engine database management

  Web Matrix contains a simple data administration feature that allows you to create or connect to an existing SQL or MSDE database and create and modify tables and stored procedures. Web Matrix also contains wizards that can generate code to access and modify these database objects programmatically from within your application. Figure C-3 shows the data administration functionality.

  Figure C-3. The SQL and MSDE database management features of Web Matrix

  

• XML Web services support

  Web Matrix allows you to create .asmx files and add methods that contain the implementation of the XML Web service. In addition, Web Matrix contains an add-in that you can use to create a client proxy class for a specified Web service. You can use the proxy class from your application to access the Web service.

• Class browsing

  Web Matrix allows you to browse and search classes from any assembly to inspect their object model (properties, methods, and events) along with associated metadata. The class browsing functionality also allows you to navigate to associated help topics in the MSDN .NET Framework reference documentation. Figure C-4 depicts the class browsing feature.

  Figure C-4. Class browsing within Web Matrix

  

• Community

  Web Matrix contains a gateway to the ASP.NET community that includes links to ASP.NET discussion forums and newsgroups as well as other independent ASP.NET Web sites. The community feature also integrates with Microsoft Windows Messenger to provide access to your Messenger contacts within the tool. Figure C-5 contains various views provided by the community tool window.

  Figure C-5. The community integration within Web Matrix