Display Client Types

Displays Client Types

Many types of remote graphic clients are supported. This page will describe what is required for the installation and configuration of each one of these types of clients.

Rich Clients

Runs as a desktop application, allows blocking the Windows task-switch. This is ideal for process control applications that need high performance and enhanced security.

Smart Clients

Uses Click-Once technology. Installs and updates on remote clients with a single click from a browser and is automatically updated on the remote clients when it is updated on the server. It uses all the power of the remote computer yet retains the advantages of a centralized installation.

Web HTML5 Clients

Runs directly from the Web-Browser with no installation of any software required (nor any active-x controls!). The partial-trust security guarantees it runs in a completely isolated secure environment.

Rich Clients Setup

A Rich Client is a computer with the FrameworX RichClient installed. The RichClient is a WPF-based desktop application. (in Linux, the Rich Client is a WinForm application)

Advantages:

• Allows the blocking of Windows task switching (Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+Tab, etc).

• Can use redundant application servers automatically.

• Project updates are downloaded automatically.

Trade offs:

• Local product installation is required (Solution is remote, only the product is local). Therefore, product updates must be deployed to each client station.

Smart Clients Setup

A .NET Smart Client automatically downloads the application the first time you execute and also when it is updated on the server. It uses local processing so the hardware requirements are identical to the Rich Client, but there is no local installation of either the product or the project, therefore having all the benefits of a web-based solution plus the performance and security of a desktop solution.

Advantages:

• One-click application installation.
• Application updates are downloaded automatically from the server.
• Allows the blocking of Windows task switching
• Automatically recognize redundant servers

Trade off:

• Only available to Windows computers

Smart clients are client applications that behave like rich clients but either run from the web or can be installed painlessly with a single click. You can deploy your application to be used by Windows smart clients. The smart client runs like the rich client, but it uses ClickOnce™ installation. This technology allows you to have the same functionality as the rich client without having to install the software on your computer.

The first time you access the application, the system automatically downloads the components necessary to run the application. The next time you access the application, the system checks if the local cache is the same version of the application that is on the server, and if necessary, updates the local cache before running the application. If the version is the same, the application starts immediately.

Web HTML5 Clients Setup

The Web clients run inside the browser.

Advantages:

• Requires only web browser and it is multi-platform.
• No installation required on the client-side Application.
• Updates are downloaded immediately from the web server.

Trade offs:

• Requires a web server (however, FrameworX includes a zero-config Web server).
• Browser does not block Windows task switching (Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+Tab, etc).
• Data communication performance, due the HTTP protocols will be slower than SmartClient and redundancy options must have external IP resolving or operator confirmation.

Clients Technologies Comparison

The three types of displays supported  (.NET, HTML5 and iOS) have their own benefits and trade offs. Depending on the Application each one, or a combination of more than is more suitable for your application.

In this section...