Visual DataFlex and Windows 8
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Visual DataFlex and Windows 8 Stephen W. Meeley Development Team Data Access Worldwide www.dataaccess.com
The Room 111 View of Windows 8 • Visual DataFlex 17.1 will be officially supported on the various Windows 8 platforms (but not Windows RT) • No, older revisions of Visual DataFlex are not officially supported, but the word on the street is that they “mostly work” • As long as you don’t use WinPrint • No, you can’t just copy the WinPrint from 17.1 and use it with older revisions • Questions?
The Kübler-Ross View of Windows 8 • Shock or Disbelief * • Denial • Anger • Bargaining • Guilt * • Depression • Acceptance and Hope
Windows 8 • What are we really talking about here? • Windows 8? Windows RT? • Touch (Windows and/or Web)? • Tablets? • Surface? (Pro and/or RT) • Metro, er, Windows Store, er, excuse me, Modern UI apps? • Apple envy? • Internet Explorer 10 (Modern UI and/or Desktop)? • “Just” running Visual DataFlex on Windows 8?
Editions • Windows 8 • Install on any PC • Runs Windows Store apps and Desktop apps • Windows 8 Pro adds • BitLocker (data protection) • Host RDC • Domain join (networks) • Hyper-V • Virtual Hard Disk Boot • Windows 8 Enterprise adds • Features for corporate IT support • Windows To Go • Windows RT • Only pre-installed • Only Windows Store apps
Interesting things about Windows 8 • The split-interface is a double-edged sword • Live Syncing (using Microsoft Account and not Local Account) • Search • Task Manager • Faster booting • Windows To Go • Pausing file transfers • Windows key combination – especially Windows+Print Screen (saves directly to Pictures folder)
Loves the screen… • But is still very infatuated with the keyboard! • Windows Key + C: Displays Charms menu. • Windows Key + X: Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer. • Windows Key + I: Displays the Settings menu for the current app. • Windows Key + Q: Brings up the apps search menu that allows you to search your list of installed programs. • Windows Key + D: Activates desktop mode. • Windows Key + Tab: Brings up the Task Switcher and toggles between Windows 8-style apps. • Windows Key + H: Brings up Share menu for the current app. • Windows Key + M: Opens desktop mode and minimizes all windows.
Loves the screen… • But is still very infatuated with the keyboard! • Windows Key + W: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search settings. • Windows Key + F: Opens universal search menu and sets it to search files. • Windows Key + R: Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names. • Windows Key + E: Opens File Explorer to the “My Computer” view which shows all your drives. • Windows Key +Number Key (1-9): Switch to desktop mode and make the Nth application on the task bar active where N is the number key you hit and 1 is the furthest taskbar icon to the left. • Windows Key + . (period key): Docks the current Windows 8-style application to the right or left, depending on how many times you hit it. • Windows Key + Z: Brings up app menu, which shows contextual options for the active app.
Windows 8 Market Share • Growing, but at a very slow pace • Still running in 4th place (behind Windows 7, XP and Vista) at 3.17% • NetMarketShare
What about Visual DataFlex? • Visual DataFlex 17.1 adds official support for Windows 8 • Prior versions have known problems with WinPrint • The Modern UI version of Internet Explorer 10 provides a “plug-in-free browsing experience” • Translation = no PDF support • But it will switch to the Desktop version if you have a plug-in installed • Touch can be funky in Windows applications (but that’s not specific to Windows 8) • Touch has issues in Web applications • Eg. Menus are “hover”, not “click” so they don’t stay open • We’ll be addressing these, but not necessarily in 17.1 • We’ll be adding an option to reduce the number of Start Menu items
Tidbits • Check out Stardoc Corporation • Start 8 • ModernMix • Check application compatibility • Even Microsoft • Hot Corners are kinda important and they don’t work well when running Windows 8 in virtual machines • This can be very frustrating if you didn’t know this and thought you just didn’t “get it” • Not all updates can be “in-place”
It’s a learning experience… • Give yourself time to play • Personally, I’m still at stage four