The architecture of the tool
This tool is developed using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, using C# and .NET Framework 4. This means that it can be developed as a Visio 2010 Add-in using VSTO 2010. This will make deployment simple using ClickOnce, because once it has been installed it will periodically check to see if there is an updated version available.
I have called the project ValidationExplorer
, and it will be extended in later chapters to provide enhanced capabilities.
I decided to use Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) to create the UI elements wherever possible because it has become my preference over the last few years. Visio is a COM application, therefore the WPF elements have to be hosted within a WinForm control. The effort is worth it though, because of the superior data-binding and UI element flexibility.
Programming in WPF promotes the adoption of a data-driven model, rather than the event-driven model more common in WinForm applications. A programming guide pattern called...