Data visualization / analytics / dashboard in ASP.NET (NOT Google analytics integration) - asp.net

I need to create an ASP.NET site which can display graphs, charts, statistics for a dashboard type application pulling data from a backend data source.
I am trying to locate either:
(a) open-source modules that I can use / build up on
(b) tutorials which teach the above
(c) existing modules (preferably low-cost) that work well.
I did the basic googling, but found only VERY expensive paid solutions (eg: http://www.dundas.com/ $700+, http://www.devexpress.com/ $300 * n).

For simple visualizations, you should take a look at the EXTJS library. It's a free javascript framework.
http://www.sencha.com/products/js/
There are several good examples of dynamic charts there and I've found the API is pretty easy to use.
A non-free library that you can always go to is Adobe's Flex platform. That will give you more of a sexy front end. A basic license for Flash Builder (which comes with the Flex library) is only $249, so that may be within your budget.

If you can publish your data as JSON objects and have the results displayed in a browser, Protovis is a free JS library that's pretty nice to work with:
http://vis.stanford.edu/protovis/

ASP.NET is shipped with everything you need to build the application without having to purchase additional components.
(a) there are plenty of open source projects around charting. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/graphics/zedgraph.aspx
(b) there are plenty ASP.NET tutorials on the next including ones related to charting. Google is your friend here!
(c) see point a (if I understand well what you are asking for.
And the last but not least, don't hesitate to ask your questions on stackoverflow.com !

Related

Are there examples of authenticating Desire2Learn api's using Flex or similar Adobe platform?

I'm new to Flex, not new to web services, but definitely not sure how to get started with authenticating as a user against the Desire2Learn API within the Flex platform.
Some examples would really help, and maybe promote some of the great tablet apps that could get developed. Are there any public samples out there? If not with Flex, then similar platforms?
Looking mostly here: http://code.google.com/p/desire2learn-valence/
There are no samples provided by Desire2Learn at this point. However, the source code for other platforms are posted. So you could take something like the c# code and combine that with the wiki docs in order to move it into flash/flex. (Also, javascript samples should be coming down the pipe)
If you create anything please feel free to contribute back to the project site.

Alfresco or OpenKM

I'm investigating OpenKM and Alfreasco to integrate a DMS with a Python based ERP. Of course, the DMS should be feature rich in its own too.
After searching the web I could not find any clear and simple comparison of their feature sets. I would be interested both in their commercial offers and community editions, but event that distinction wasn't clear (is it only about support services?)
any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
thx
I think the preview function in OpenKM is more well than Alfresco.
And OpenKM is easy to use in a short time. configruation is more easy such as 'Search'...
In your case, pure repository storage, the integration with thirdparty apps with webservices is one of the advantages you have with OpenKM. You have a set of SDK libraries ( you can find more information https://docs.openkm.com/ ) what he lps you to make a rapid integration with thirdparty software. I think in the past I have seen a python wrapper https://github.com/openkm/python-wrapper.

Embeddable Enterprise Collaboration (Microblogging) Engine

Short Version (tl;dr):
Is there an open source or commercial engine that provides embeddable collaboration and microblogging functionality?
Long Version:
I am creating a niche application that has need of this functionality and do not want to reinvent the wheel. The following are must have requirements:
Data API only. My application is SaaS, and I want to build the functionality around the data. This eliminates most of the offerings out there (facebook, salesforce chatter, yammer, present.ly, teambox)
Does not require use of a built-in front end. I really just want an engine that will take care of the storage and events, and gives me a means of querying. Requiring the use of a specific front end renders it useless for embedding into my app. This eliminates everything else I have found (status.net, Yonkly, Jaiku)
Beyond standard updates and replies, can handle custom events. For example, if I were embedding this into an logistics application, I could have the engine handle events like "shipped", "received", and "cancelled".
Beyond this, there are several nice to have features that a framework would have:
Should not require a specific platform or server technology to run (i.e. something like a RESTful API would be nice)
Should be message based so that commands that affect its state can come from any source
Should encapsulate its own storage so that external resources are not necessary (i.e. no database needed)
Should have pluggable extendable UI components/widgets for web, mobile, and desktop clients
Should have search and retrieval APIs available for many languages/platforms
It seems that someone out there should have this already, or at least be in progress with it. Please point me in the right direction.
Since nobody had any answers and continued research did not find anything, I created a solution on my own called Collabinate. Updates can be found on Twitter, and the project itself is hosted on GitHub.

Framework /starting point for social networking site in .NET?

I did do some googling and searching on this site but did not find exactly what I was looking for.
I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction here. I'm an ASP.NET/SQL Server developer and would like to develop a (intially) basic social networking site (gasp). Before I start from scratch with a blank solution in ASP.NET, I'm wondering if there are any frameworks out there ASP.NET specific that would serve as a good starting point. I'm already thinking of using the Google Maps jquery control for my Google Maps integration, as well as the 'sharethis' control for my social networking website sharing integration. Captcha for human authentication... But other than that I'm not sure what I can leverage... Nothing on Google jumped out at me on my search terms.
I'm also wondering if anyone else has done something similar and could share their post mortem/war stories with me.
I'm also open to learning a new platform/language if it would mean saving time - my experience is mostly in ASP.NET, so that is what I plan on using if it makes the most sense. My initial requirements are basic and realistic - profile setup (images, information, etc.), 'group' creation, Google Map integration, calendar controls shared by groups, SMS support, discussion forums among groups, searching for groups, OpenID integration most likely, etc. I am not going to try to build the entire site and then release it, but take baby steps and release pieces of functionality at a time.
Any advice is greatly appreciated for a broad question such as this. Thanks again.
I've found DotNetOpenAuth which seems to be a nice API for handling OpenID for ASP.NET web forms. They also have an ASP.NET MVC version
I also found MS Web Platform. This looks like some good stuff. Anyone ever use it and think it would do well for this sort of app?
I found a library for DotNetNuke called ActiveSocial. It's priced right ($500) and has more than the features I need but lacks some. I wonder if anyone here has ever used AS before. Is DNN easy to extend so I can add Google Maps functionality and such? It doesn't say anywhere on snowcovered (the vendor that sells AS) if AS comes with the source. If it didn't, then I might be screwed because I wouldn't be able to integrate the functionality I want.
I went through this exercise about 15 months ago when I built a SNS for a client. Hoping to find some basic framework for Friends, Chat, Profiles etc I was pretty disappointed.
That said, in retrospect I wish rather than building one that we would have purchased a solution like Community Server. As with most projects I looked at the problem scope with beer, no strike that, ambitious goggles on and the level of work to cover all the edge cases was more than I imagined.
Tread careful my friend, tread careful.
I think this is what you're looking for. Kigg is an open source ASP.NET MVC app that would be a good starting point for what you want. Here is the url: http://www.codeplex.com/Kigg
You can also find a site that is using this here: http://dotnetshoutout.com/
At the very least you will learn the ASP.NET MVC framework which is fantastic.
While not exactly intended to be used for social networking sites, both of these frameworks can help you so you don't have to start from scratch:
DotNetNuke: http://www.dotnetnuke.com/
Umbraco: http://umbraco.org/
Also, for an out of the box solution (no code involved) you could always try this: http://www.ning.com/
Good luck!

How to utilize my learning power in ASP.NET studies?

I've recently tried to switch to ASP.NET. Did I write switch? I meant to learn it, however I am not really sure how to proceed. I've opened several videos - and really watched them with enthusiasm however they seem to be very general. It's not like there are tons of sources on learning PHP.
Do you know some great learning procedure including the websites and sources to learn from so I can learn it ASAP?
I got one project waiting here -> the website is kinda simple Online flash games. The graphics and HTML's finished but I want to try to do it in ASP.NET with MS SQL. I'm already experienced in C# thus I won't need a lot of insight into that, although I'm absolutely unaware of how to do the website, cute urls, what the basic principles in coding are etc..etc.. :)
Since you have a PHP background, I'd recommend that you try out ASP.NET MVC - if you are familiar with the MVC design pattern, it should be a rather painless 'switch'. The "Learn ASP.NET MVC" section is very nice. There's also an RSS feed (on the site above) that contains many great blog posts regarding the technology; furthermore, there's the NerdDinner sample website with a complete tutorial. If you follow the last one, you should be ready with the site in no time :)
I have found these Microsoft videos to be very useful as study material. Videos

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