Here's some info on the teaching scheduler program I have written utilising DX extensively throughout:

http://www.jdnet.co.uk/TASC/overview.htm

It was primarily for my girlfriend who found it a nightmare managing her music practice.   After her initial reservations she says she cannot run her business without it now, which is a good sign that the program hit the nail on the head :)

The page contains a description of how it works and links to loads of screenshots (containing random data to protect the innocent) but here's a teaser:

http://www.jdnet.co.uk/TASC/03_ParentsAndStudents_StudentSchedule.jpg

I have just finished replacing Cristi's Wizard Control (http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dialog/SampleWizard.aspx) with the DX one and it looks good, minus the fading in/out which affects the painiting of images) and started to replace my own RichEdit control with DXs Beta but found it lacking a few important features so backed it out.   Unfortunately my subscription has since expired so won't be adding it to my app unless the new version of DX contains something major in addition to releasing the XtraRichEdit to justify the expenditure.

The scheduler control is awesome, if a little quirky at times.   All of a sudden recently my app has slowed down starting up (from 2 seconds to 7).   Running various profilers points to the scheduler's constructor.   I haven't taken it any further due to other priority items cropping up but would be interested in hearing if others have experienced the same issue.   Another issue is Appointment custom field mapping.   A great feature unless (like me) you have written your own persistent objects.   My scheduler control (which contains the DX scheduler) has an option to display location abbreviations.   Unfortunately with PO's there is only one copy in memory at any time so a mapping for the Location field to my object doesn't work since I need to know when requesting the location if the scheduler asking for the location is in abbreviation mode ... which since the data model is seperate from the GUI there's no way of knowing!

Anyway if you have any questions about the app, or it's DX usage ask away.

That's a very impressive app. Honestly, the thing that pops out the most to me is the usage of SMS notifications. That could be very useful in the application that I maintain for my company. Can you expand a little on your SMS system?

Hi,

SMS is a doddle.   All the intricasies are handled via this free (x86/x64) library:

http://www.scampers.org/steve/sms/libraries.htm

Basically you construct their object giving it a COM port then call SendMessage.   This works with mobiles hard wired to someones laptop or connected via bluetooth, since BT uses a virtual COM port.   I have also looked into 3rd party sites where you send the message via HTTP, all very simple stuff.

So, in TASC all I do is take the phone number requested(or the numbers from the selected students), throw up my form, allow template loading, implement token replacement then call the send function when the button is clicked.

That should get you going; but if not then email me.

This is more or less what I assumed you did. Thanks a lot for the link--I'll look into implementing that library in my own application.

I've been working with the XtraRichEdit lately too and find it quite "lacking" to put it nicely.  I reported quite a bit and made several suggestions to give them feedback, I hope you submitted your suggestions to the Support Center as well.  I ended up using the native RichTextBox as well until I see this control mature a little more.

As for the scheduler slowing down the startup time, I hope you can report that as well.  I may be experiencing the same thing but haven't investigated it as deeply as you.

Nice job on the app, it looks great and it's so neat to be able to create something like that where you know it will be useful to those that need it!

I have discovered a load of issues with the various DX controls in 2008.3 but don't know if it's appropriate to bother support with them since my subscription expired at the beginning of the year.   Even if I did I doubt they would be willing to tell me the code changes to make in my version of the source to fix the bugs.

Re the scheduler slowing down it varies between the machines I have tried it on.   I have a sneaky feeling it's to do with the scheduler reading printer settings, but that's only because I noticed a strange call in the profile graph from the trial of ANTS profiler I used.   As a test I am going to reinstall my machine this weekend (currently on 2008 server configured as a workstation) to see if that gets around the issue.

I suggest submitting every finding to the support center to help improve the product, if not for you but for others that will use it.  I hate to call it "selfish" to not submit your issues because you don't have a subscription but I try to submit issues to help others not just myself.  Who knows, you may find yourself updating to a later version some day and because you have not submitted your findings your purchase will be less valuable as it won't incorporate the fixes you need.  Just my $.02, I submit everything I find and the product has evolved quite a bit over the years as a result which makes me feel good that I've helped improve these products.

I didn't think you were allowed to use the reporting system once your subscription has expired?

James_1:

I didn't think you were allowed to use the reporting system once your subscription has expired?

You can continue to develop and distribute your applications without renewing your subscription. However, you will not continue to receive bug fixes and updates once your subscription has ended.

I really like how you've used the Ribbon control. I've been ignoring it because I think it takes up too much screen real estate...but after seeing your implementation, I'm beginning to like it.

I agree with you about the screen real estate business.  I played with a ribbon in the main form but with one there, then one in the scheduler it ate into a load of screen.   So I decied to keep the one in the scheduler only.   The ribbon needs a compact/expand facility.

 I was very anti-ribbon controls for the reason already stated (screen space) BUT having used a bespoke application here at the college that uses one I am converted. However this only applies to the more specific type of application where entering, reviewing and analysing data since you rarely need quite so much information at one time (indeed it can be counter productive - can't see the wood for the trees). For apps like Word, Excel and graphics packages I'd still rather have the screen space.

Looks impressive, any chance of some source code?