I've been told for numerous releases that Infragistics was going to beef up their documentation (as it used to be for releases years ago) and it has yet to be changed. I've provided samples over and over of things that should be easy to do (and are once you figure out the magical method that isn't documented) but aren't listed in the help file because it's automatically generated using a tool that only lists classes without examples, or decent usage examples, or even context for usage.
I'd like to challenge Infragistics to either live up to their word on the documentation OR hire a developer that has never used their controls before and have that developer try to create a robust site with both server-side and client-side code, using their controls AND only able to get information from the documenation/help file.
I don't think it can be done, or easily done at the very least. Not without having to constantly turn to the forums, or simply pulling one's hair out.
I agree, the documentation is lacking. And the forums feel like a wasteland, many posts never get an answer. And many of the questions asked could easily have been avoided with a more robust examples area.
revbones and NervousRex:
Thanks for taking the time to post here to let us know how you feel about our docs, samples and forums.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Craig Shoemaker and I have recently taken on the position of Product Guidance Manager. Inside Infragistics the Product Guidance (PG) department is responsible for our docs, samples, startup solutions and any other deliverable that our customers use to learn our products.
Rest assured your frustration and concerns have not fallen on deaf ears; we are listening to you and are in the midst of a fundamental change in the way PG writes and presents content to our customers. You’re right that you’ve been told for years that, “things will change in the docs” and release after release you’ve seen the same result. Let me say, though, that our 11.1 release features a distinct departure from how we’ve approached our docs and samples in the past. Internally we’ve changed the way each department interacts with PG in order to make sure the coverage of our docs is more complete. Further, we are unveiling new and easier ways of accessing content in our docs. Finally, our quality control standards and checks are at levels higher than ever before.
I would love to have a chance to chat with the both of you over the phone if you would like. I’d really like to hear any other ways you think we can improve.
Either way 11.1 is the release where you’ll see significant change!
Best,
Craig Shoemaker
Product Guidance Manager951.310.4496cshoemaker@infragistics.com
Craig - your post said that the 11.1 release "features a distinct departure from how we've approached our docs and samples in the past". I'm not sure that changing the sample web site to a new look and feel with even less information qualifies under that statement.It seems like the only thing that was even remotely addressed in the 2011.1 release was some modicum of help in transitioning from the classic controls.
The list could go on and on.
It's extremely frustrating. I've been waiting these many months for the promised improvements in the documentation and now that the release is here, I got nothing new but several more bald patches from pulling my hair out.
revbones
You said it better than I ever could have. My frustration with webdatagrid and the hierarchical version has been expressed many times but never as eloquently as you.
Also the lack of CSOM documentation is astonishing.
Contact me.
gary.goodwin@gmail.com
It's been 3.5 years since I started this thread and that was in response to waiting through multiple releases for changes that were specifically promised. 3.5 years and nothing has changed in the documentation. No significant movement to restoring functionality lost in the transition from the UltraWebGrid to the WebDataGrid. 3.5 years since Craig posted that the "11.1 release features a distinct departure from how we’ve approached our docs and samples in the past." and that "11.1 is the release where you’ll see significant change!"
I have used Infragistics since the Sheridan controls and waited patiently for years now for any movement on any of the above complaints. Even the forum search is still broken (if you drill down to a subforum, such as WebDataGrid, and search, it searches all the forums).
Seriously?!?
The documentation is ridiculously unusable requiring you to rely on the forum which you can't accurately search anymore. The base functionality of the preceding controls has still not been accomplished in the Akido controls.
WebDataGrid can't track changes. If I want to delete a record in the grid and not perform the database operation until the user clicks the save button, why is the row still visible? Using the WebDataGrid as a basic container for data from the server and back, should be the most basic functionality possible and I should be able to add/remove rows easily.
The only way to use WebDataGrid effectively now is to handle a postback for nearly every click, or 50 different events like RowAdded, RowDeleted, etc...
Can someone let us know if Infragistics plans on actually doing anything with the ASP.NET controls anymore, or are we just being strung along year after year while their developers work on other control packages?
It's quite frustrating to have taken a break from Infragistics to use other controls, and come back to what used to be my favorites for years to see that absolutely nothing has changed.
Hi Rev:
In your comments around WebDataGrid and tracking changes it sounds like you want batch updates. Here's a video on batch updates that I hope is helpful. I have logged your issue regarding search with our web properties team. I'm not sure if you've encountered this yet or not, but the best way to tell us about changes you want to see is https://ko.infragistics.com/community/ideas.
We do still invest in ASP.NET, but as it's a mature platform many of the big areas of functionality are already built out. If batch updating isn't what you need can you tell me more about what you do need?
You can email me directly at cshoemaker@infragistics.com or if you want to catch up over the phone I can do that too.
Craig