Does MS plan a GUI

Hello all,

We are planning to base a product on Microsoft SQL-2005 Notification services. However, one of the required properties from this software is to provide the client administrator a user interface to configure the Instance Configuration File (ICF) and Application Definition File (ADF). Working with XML files will not do for us, once the responsibility is delegated from a developer to an administrator.

Before going into the process of writing such an application from scratch, I would like to know if Microsoft has such an enhancement on the SQL-NS roadmap, and if so, when it is scheduled to.

Does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge?

Thanks

Ziv G.

I don't have any inside knowledge into what Microsoft is planning for future releases. But in the meantime if you're using the SSNS 2005, you can develop your own SSNS GUI to create and manage instances and applications using the SSNS API. I've given a few examples on my blog. Go to http://www.sqlns.com and enter a search criteria of nmo in the textbox in the upper left hand corner of the form.

HTH...

Joe

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Ziv,

Drop me an email, I may be able to help with the GUI. BTW, do you work in Israel, if so where?

-- Shaul Dar (shauld@.medcon.com)

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Hi Joe,

Thanks for your (quick) response. I had a look at the API supplied with SQL-NS, it seems pretty extensive, and well designed. The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple. On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on, would take a considerable time to design and write.

The thing is that it seems to me like a general-purpose software, that any NS developer would find beneficial, not an application you would expect each developer to write on his own (unlike subscription/subscriber management, which would probably be integrated into customer application, and therefore cannot be supplied with the product).

In any case, I appreciate your response, and I really enjoy your blog.

Thanx, Ziv G.

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Hi Ziv -

>>The thing is that it seems to me that creating an ad-hoc solution should be pretty quick and simple.
>>On the other hand, constructing a true user application, that takes into account SQL-NS integrative
>>capabilities (custom event provider, protocols and so on), while providing default values for the internal
>>components (SMTP delivery protocol for example), taking into consideration robustness and so on,
>>would take a considerable time to design and write.

Agreed. Creating an instance/application is typically much faster with the ICF and ADF rather than with the API. I think the API was added to the product to pave the way for Microsoft and 3rd parties to create toolsets. I keep intending to do that for my own practice, but alas I just haven't done it yet.

Joe

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I know this isn't going to be a very satisfying answer but at this point in the product cycle, we're not discussing what features we're thinking about for the next version of SQL Server.

Over time, you'll see us come out with more detailed plans for the overall product. If I remember correctly, it wasn't until 1.5 years into SQL Server 2005 that we did our Tech Preview and started the ball rolling on what features we were thinking about. These things take a little time to settle out.

Thanks,

-Lukasz

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Hi Luksaz,

Thanks for your answer. You are right, I wanted to get a different answer, but your answer makes sense to me.

Thanx again,

Ziv G.