DataObjects for .NET's key features include:
- Visual Studio Integration
DataObjects for .NET includes integration with Visual Studio Windows Forms features including Smart Tags and Data-binding.
- Based on ADO.NET Technology
DataObjects for .NET is based on Microsoft ADO.NET technology and enhances it to empower and simplify database application development in Visual Studio. DataObjects for .NET' programmatic object model closely follows ADO.NET, so it will look very familiar to those who are used to the ADO.NET object model.
- Reuse Business Logic Components
DataObjects for .NET Enterprise Edition uses the standard business object paradigm to allow you to develop business logic components (data libraries) and reuse them in multiple client projects. It provides clear separation of business and data logic from the presentation (GUI) layer.
- Structured, Consistent Data
Expose data to users and client applications in a structured consistent way, so that all structural dependencies are maintained automatically without manual coding.
- Multi-Table Object Support
Unlike other business object, data object, and data persistence frameworks, DataObjects for .NET fully supports multi-table objects (composite tables) automatically enforcing data relations without manual coding.
- 3-tier Web-based Application Support
DataObjects for .NET Enterprise Edition completely automates the task of developing distributed 3-tier Web-based applications. No special server-based code is necessary; making your application distributed becomes a simple matter of deployment configuration.
- Virtual Mode Technology
With an innovative virtual mode technology, DataObjects for .NET allows you to use large datasets in .NET Windows Forms applications, a feature that is not supported in Visual Studio and ADO.NET without DataObjects for .NET.
- Data Libraries
In enterprise development, DataObjects for .NET Enterprise Edition allows you to create a centralized and reusable repository of data schema and business logic (data libraries) used in applications throughout the enterprise.
- Automated Database Updates
DataObjects for .NET completely automates database updates so there's no need for manual coding or to use ADO.NET DataAdapter or other special components. DataObjects for .NET can even update the database when multiple and interrelated changes have been made to multiple tables.
- Immediate Database Updates
In DataObjects for .NET you can update the database immediately after the user changes a row, just by setting a single property. This optional feature, not supported by standard ADO.NET, is commonly used in desktop and classic client-server applications.
- ADO.NET Data Storage
DataObjects for .NET stores data in an accessible ADO.NET DataSet; this enables a powerful combination of DataObjects for .NET and ADO.NET in the same code. Your code can work with the same data using either DataObjects for .NET or ADO.NET interface, whichever is most suitable for the task at hand.
- ADO.NET Integration
Continue to do everything with your data that you can do with ADO.NET, including features not supported in DataObjects for .NET (for example, DataSet.Merge).
- Import and Export XML Data
Work with XML data in DataObjects for .NET and import and export your data in self-describing XML to and from other tools and programs.
- Import and Export ADO.NET Data
Export/import your data from/to DataObjects for .NET in ADO.NET DataSet format.
- Programmatic Customization
DataObjects for .NET supports an extensive set of events enabling full programmatic customization.