Converting WPF application to Silverlight with use of Access database

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+3 Q:

Converting WPF application to Silverlight with use of Access database

Hey,

I was wondering if it is possible to convert a wpf application to silverlight without days of work.

Yes, i know there's a similar post, but dates from 2008, so outdated according to me because of the fast progress in silverlight.

i have a wpf application that uses a 2003 access database (orders :)) and my client wants a silverlight version as well.

Any ideas on time and effort? Thanks in advance.

+3 A:

Unless you're not using any significant WPF visual features, I don't think you can avoid significant effort. Even just Triggers and Actions are significantly less featured. Even under Silverlight 4 there are still huge differences in what the XAML can support, and you'd still be looking at a server side data source (probably over WCF) so you'd have to build out the set of services and such.

Using something like WCF Data Services may make the back end transition easier, but even just the differences in control set are going to create a lot of work on the UI.

While it is possible to limit yourself to a subset and get some functionality (mostly if you use one of the cross platform toolkits for your controls), retrofitting it onto a complete application is likely as difficult as redeveloping it in Silverlight.

Ben Von Handorf 2010-03-03 20:09:15

well, there's no wcf service or such, it's just a simple desktop program but with an ms access DB.I do use itextsharp for pdf creation and amcharts for chart obviously, so those can be a bugger...thanks for the replies so quickly nevertheless

djerry 2010-03-03 21:05:15

If it is going to be a desktop app then why migrating the application to silverlight?

funwithcoding 2010-03-04 00:43:59

You would be unable to hit the Access database directly through Silverlight. The JET engine would not be accessible (unless you're using Silverlight 4/COM Interop under full trust). You will need to construct a WCF service to get to your data, or use WCF RIA Services or WCF Data Services.Depending on what you're doing, this might be somewhat easy using RIA Services or Data Services or it could be a lot of custom coding. Either way, with your other components, I suspect the process would be difficult, at best.

Ben Von Handorf 2010-03-04 13:13:00

+1 A:

You will be able to use Silverlight RIA services and can connect to Access DB, It will be relatively easy port unless you used plenty of non portable WPF features.

Jobi Joy 2010-03-03 20:16:06

Thanks to all responses. I had a project needed to be done in wpf. I've spent about 3 weeks working on it, and it was finished. Every week, i needed to show my progress. When at consult 3 days for deadline and presentation, i said i was about done except for the small bug fixes. My teacher at college gave me the chance to earn some extra points. So he asked me if i could convert my wpf-application to silverlight. I had 2 days to do this.

When i showed my wpf project durign presentation, he was satisfied with the result. Then he asked me about the silverlight. I came with some arguments you guys posted, and he totally agreed. The little bugger knew it wasn't really going to happen (at least not in 2 days).

So thanks for posting and not let me work my ass of for those 2 days.

djerry 2010-03-10 10:09:33

So the assignment was a trap? I like your professor! Bonus points if he has an evil laugh. :)

Ben Von Handorf 2010-03-10 16:04:04

ansaurus

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Converting WPF application to Silverlight with use of Access database

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