WebDesktop 5 is a major release that sports a completely redesigned user interface based on the new Unified Theming framework introduced in the WebUI Studio 2016 release. Building on its innovative UI components, WebDesktop 5 leverages the latest web technologies and front-end trends optimized for modern browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge. The new WebDesktop lets you easily create professional-looking ASP.NET web project with simple drag-drop, while delivering beautiful design that naturally suitable to modern web applications today.
More importantly, this release adds a new modern theme that you can apply with the simplicity of xcopy. Beyond just basic styling, the modern theme includes comprehensive styling for more than hundreds of UI elements available in WebDesktop. In addition, this release provides full support for latest major browsers including Internet Explorer 11, Edge, Safari for Mac, Chrome 47 and Firefox 42.
This page guides you through the new features and enhancements available in WebDesktop 5. Click the links below to jump to the section of your interest.
Unified Theming Support
In this release, WebDesktop has been significantly enhanced to fully support unified theming capability introduced in WebUI Framework 4. In general, these are the key area of improvements to support unified theming:
- Inline styles are now removed in favor to CSS styles which reduce markup and page output in overall.
- Instance-level styles and default stylesheets are no longer rendered, enabling the page to load much faster.
- Provide attribute-based states for streamlined styling through CSS3 selectors.
- Enhanced both server-side and client-side rendering to support modern HTML5 and CSS3 markup/syntax.
For more information, see Unified Theming.
New Unified Modern Theme
One of the biggest updates in this release is the introduction of brand-new modern theme for WebDesktop. Building on the new unified theming framework, WebDesktop's new theme leverages the most popular CSS framework, Bootstrap. Unlike previous versions, WebDesktop automatically uses shared/common styles when the unified theming feature is enabled. When the common styles are modified, WebDesktop and the other WebUI components that present similar semantic will be automatically updated.
At a glance, the WebDesktop modern theme key highlights are:
- Based on Bootstrap 3.3
- Written in SCSS language
- Redesigned with clean and modern styles
- Meticulously designed, pixel-perfect styling on over 100+ elements and editors
- Control resources now use scalable vector graphic (SVG) in favor to low-res images
- Includes 150+ SVG icons designed exclusively for WebUI Studio
The following screenshots show a basic of every WebDesktop controls in action with the new modern theme.
WebButton
WebButton component is included as a perfect complement for the WebDesktop. By using WebButton, you can resemble a consistent look & feel for the buttons throughout the entire application.
WebCallOut
WebCallOut is a superior replacement for the standard tooltip. With its beautifully designed styles, appealing visual effects, and customizable elements, WebCallOut has everything you need to build the perfect tooltip to complement your web applications.
WebDesktopManager
WebDesktopManager employs an object-based approach to give you granular control over every visual aspect of its elements. Offering a rich set of properties to control shortcut, icons, taskbar, and window elements, it enables you to create the precise appearance your desktop requires with a minimum of effort.
WebDialogBox
WebDialogBox provides you a powerful dialog box component from Intersoft that delivers a true desktop experience. WebDialogBox has keyboard support and eight predefined button types returned as DialogResult when it is close. Offers you with easiest way to change the style of dialog box, WebDialogBox allows you to make stylish dialog box in web applications.
WebDragDropExtender
WebDragDropExtender component is the first of its kind in the industry that provides sophisticated drag and drop implementation with elegant object model so that you can add drag and drop behavior to any existing server controls easily in consistent programming model.
WebExplorerPane
WebExplorerPane gives users a superior Microsoft Windows-style navigation and control pane in your web applications. WebExplorerPane offers a true Explorer look with sleek visual styles and advanced features.
WebMenu
WebMenuBar introduces most of functionalities a MenuBar control should have, plus integrated with PlaceHolderManager and completed with powerful Designer which will help the process of design time in a more convenient way. The new WebMenu presents you with a brand new theming through full support for the new WebUI Unified Theming. It presents a stylish theme which shows a simple, yet elegant look.
WebNavPane
WebNavPane give users a superior Microsoft Windows-style navigation and control pane in your web applications. WebNavPane offers a superior navigation pane system, with rich visual styles and advanced features.
WebNotification
WebNotification enables interactive push message systems to your ASP.NET applications. It’s an ideal tool for the ability to send notification messages from servers to clients. WebNotification's broad and rich feature set supports all types of web applications regardless of their size and complexity. A few of its advanced features include a built-in context menu, clickable notification, and audio visual notification effects.
WebPaneManager
WebPaneManager puts you in control of the screen, providing all the tools you need to develop layouts that organize your applications content and give it a consistent, professional appearance.
WebSplitter
WebSplitter gives you the benefit of dividing your layout with style. More than just splitting section, it also provides you with collapsing feature for the layout to be resized to users' needs.
WebTab
WebTab offers all new modern looking layouts for you to make your web application more appealing, such as line tab and pill tab.
WebToolBar
WebToolBar delivers a desktop toolbar experience equal to that of Office Applications. Faithfully replicating the Office 2007 toolbar style and behaviors, it features sliding visual effects, docking, and more. The new unified theming WebToolBar presents you with new modern look.
For further information about the new unified theming on WebDesktop, see WebDesktop Theming Overview.
New Compact Mode in WebPaneManager
WebDesktop 5 provides you with an additional brand new Compact Mode in WebPaneManager. This mode presents WebPaneManager with a stylish compact look to beautify your web application. See the iilustration below on how powerful this control could be.
Look at WebDesktop Theming Overview for complete instruction on how to apply the compact mode.
Latest Browser Support
WebDesktop 5 has been significantly improved to support the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer 11
- Edge
- Safari Mac 9.0
- Chrome 47
- Firefox 42
Updates and fixes in this release
This release includes the following updates and bug fixes:
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Since WebDesktop 5 is a major release, the WebDesktop updates are not available via Update Manager channel. Please install from the latest setup for the best development experiences which includes new project templates and other IDE enhancements.