Whidbey Release: Web Application Development (ASP.NET)
From the RoadMap
While the DataSource control helps simplify the retrieval and update of data, ASP.NET will also provide new controls that display data. The GridView control is a successor to the ASP.NET DataGrid that adds the ability to automatically handle paging, sorting, editing, and deleting of data. The DetailsView is a data-bound control that renders a single record at a time from its associated data source. Similar to the Form View of a Microsoft Access database, the DetailsView provides paging buttons to navigate between records. Developers can use the DetailsView control in a master-details scenario for updating and inserting new records where the selected record of the master control determines the DetailsView display record.
Second, Whidbey will include features that ensure consistency and code reuse across pages within a Web site. The introduction of Master Pages will enable developers to quickly share layout across multiple pages by designing templates that specify the location of controls, menu bars, headers, and footers. Similar to visual inheritance in Windows Forms, Master Pages allow other pages on a Web site to inherit from a Master Page, automatically acquiring its look and feel. When a developer wishes to change the layout of all the pages, they need only make updates to the Master Page.
Finally, ASP.NET will incorporate themes and skins to enhance the visual appearance of Web applications. A skin is a set of properties and templates that can be used to standardize the size, font, and other characteristics of controls on a page. A theme incorporates multiple skins and stylesheets to specify the overall look and feel of a Web site. Themes and skins will be simple to package, transfer, and apply to other Web sites. In addition, ASP.NET will provide several built-in themes that developers can use to build aesthetically appealing Web sites out of the box.