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The Universal Converter 2.0 
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The Universal Converter is a a free Client/Server C#/APL+Win application loadable from the Web allowing you to do various conversions (Celsius to Farenheit, Decimal to Hexadecimal, etc.) (read more about it) ( watch the Universal Converter Screencast ) |
Prerequisites
Although the Universal Converter application in itself loads from the Web and starts on your computer without installing any files, there are a couple of prerequisites for it to run ok:
- download and install the .Net Framework 2.0
(v2.0.50727; 22960 KB; only if not yet installed on your computer: see note 2. below)
- download and install the Microsoft Windows Media Player DLL (Wmppia.dll) and the APL2000.TTF font (Wmppia.dll v9.0.0.3095; 387 KB; installation required)
(updated on Feb. 1, 2007: please download and install again this DLL)
- you must use Internet Explorer 6 or 7 to load the Universal Converter
(it might work with earlier IE versions, but we have not tested it)
- some people have Firewalls which restrict the use of any port on their system: if it is the case for you, you must authorize port 10014 in your Firewall in order to use The Universal Converter
- Steps 1. and 2. need be done only once: you may later come back the Universal Converter without installing anything, even if the application is updated
- To know if your computer already has the .Net Framework 2.0 installed, search for the following directory: C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework\v2.0.50727
- If you cannot find this directory and even if you have an earlier version of the .Net 2.0 Framework (like v2.0.40607 or v2.0.50215), download and install the .Net Framework 2.0
- Installing the .Net Framework 2.0 will not harm your computer in any way!
- If you already have the .Net Framework 2.0 installed (many computers already have it), you only need to install the Microsoft Windows Media Player PIA DLL: this takes only seconds
Loading the Universal Converter
Load the following page and then click the Run button (no files will be installed on your computer):
Notes:
When loading the Universal Converter you may encounter an error telling you that "the assembly wmppia Version 9.0.0.3095 must be installed in the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) first". This means that the wmppia.dll install program you've downloaded and run (see Prerequisites above) had not been able to locate the GACUTIL.EXE file needed to install wmppia.dll in the GAC. To solve this problem, assuming you have indeed first downloaded and run the wmppia.dll install program described above in the Prerequisites:
- search your C drive for the GACUTIL.EXE file
- open a DOS Command Prompt window (Start / Run then type: Cmd then click OK)
- navigate to the directory you've found which contains GACUTIL.EXE
- type: gacutil /i c:\windows\wmppia.dll
- then try to run the Universal Converter again
When you are done using the application, please close it (don't leave it open, to spare Server resources: thanks.)
Reporting Problems or Sending Suggestions
Please report any problem with as much details as possible if you cannot launch the Universal Converter application, including:
- browser name and version you are using
- Windows version you are using (including any Service Pack installed)
- screenshot of error encountered
- precise version of the .Net Framework installed (please check the latest version found in C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework directory)
Any suggestions to improve this free application are welcome.
We will also be improving it by adding more conversions as time permits.
All problem reports and suggestions are to be sent to: eric@lescasse.com
Characteristics
Here are its characteristics :
- the User Interface is a pure .Net C# application
- this application creates Remote C# objects on the Server (my own Internet Server in this case)
- these Remote C# objects start APL+Win and run APL+Win functions, access APL+Win variables, use APL+Win component files, etc. when required
- the results are returned through the remote C# objects to the C# client application
- the application is deployed with ClickOnce, i.e. is loaded from the Server with no deployment on the Client computer
What this technology allows to do
- port any APL+Win application to the Web
- allow anyone (with an Internet connection), anywhere, to use the application without any files being installed on his computer!
What you must do
- rewrite the application User Interface in C# (a relatively easy task as long as only the User Interface is concerned)
- leave the chore of the application in APL+Win (calculations, variables, files, etc.) and simply access it from C#
- use the technology I have developed to do so efficiently
Results and Advantages
The results and advantages are:
- a Web application usable by anyone, anywhere with no files installed on the Client computer
- an application which loads very quickly
- an application with a Rich Client User Interface (Windows Forms), unlike traditional Web applications wich have poor Clients (ASP, ASP.Net, even AJAX, ...)
- a very fast application (calling APL+Win on the Server from the C# Client is extremely fast)
- an application that can be easily updated (by a simple upload to the Server) for all your customers without any installation required on their computers
- an application which uses the best of both worlds: the richness and beauty of C# User Interfaces with the impressive power of APL+Win in terms of calculations, files, etc.
Yes, you can...
If you are a Company and think about porting your APL+Win Application or Product to Microsoft .Net and to the Web :
- you can do it NOW
- it works
- the result will be nice and very efficient
- you can do it without rewriting your entire application or product
- you can do it at a relatively low expense compared to rewriting your entire application in C# or VB.Net