how to create drawing application on the web

[developsc]

Hi,
can you guide me, which MS technologies are suitable to create drawing
application (simple CAD application) on the web - to allow 2D/3D drawing on
some canvas and use data stored on server (in some databases)?
The resulting application can be either embedded on the web page or runnable
directly from the web page - if it is possible with minimal depending
installations on client computer.
I know about Flash, Director or Java3D approaches, but I would prefer any
suitable MS technologies.
I'm new to web applications programming, so any help is appreciated.
I'm using Visual Studio 2003/2005 for development.

 

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

If you want to draw the pictures for users, you can use GDI+ with .NET. If
you want the user to be able to draw, it gets a bit stickier. If it must be
fully web based, you have to have some form of embedded technology. With
..NET alone, there is no firm way, but you can move into Silverlight and have
a mini-.NET Framework in the browser.

In a pure Microsoft manner, you can create ActiveX controls for a page, but
this is a bit of a pain and not .NET. You can also mix with Flash, Java,
etc., although you have stated you do not wish to do this.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP, MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

*************************************************
| Think outside the box!
|
*************************************************

 

[developsc]

Thank you for reply. To be more specific, I want to create an web based
vector graphic editor with the same functionality as e.g. simple desktop
application using GDI/GDI+ (to use the same/similar drawing capabilites as in
GDI).
So can this be achieved using Silverlight with ease?
And there is no other .NET based technology alone sufficient for the job
(ASP.NET)?
Can you give more detailed comment?

Thank you.
Petr M.

 

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\)]

Thank you for reply. To be more specific, I want to create an web based
vector graphic editor with the same functionality as e.g. simple desktop
application using GDI/GDI+ (to use the same/similar drawing capabilites as
in
GDI).
So can this be achieved using Silverlight with ease?

I am not sure how easy, but Silverlight 1.1 would be the way to go. That
would mean heading towards Framework 3.5.

And there is no other .NET based technology alone sufficient for the job
(ASP.NET)?

If you want to code it in JavaScript, you can head that route, as well. It
is a bit of a pain. If you want a full windows type editor, you can have a
downloadable application using ClickOnce. It is not pure web, however. That
would give you a lot of functionality options. And, you could always code an
ActiveX control, Java applet, or Flash/shockwave.

Can you give more detailed comment?

Hope that helps.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP, MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

*************************************************
| Think outside the box!
|
*************************************************