Overview: Design Time and Debug Time Data Feed

Data for design time

We have created a special project in the solution file called NewsReaderDesign which provides data while viewing the SceReaderSample project on Expression Blend’s design surface. This sample data is simply a valid SceReader feed compiled into a DLL. You can change this data as you wish by altering the files in SceReaderDesign/Resources/DesignFeed. You can also completely replace the contents of this directory entirely.

Data for debugging

You can also use the design-time data set while debugging the SceReaderSample application. This is the default behavior of the starter kit. If you wish to use data hosted on a server, you must set two properties under the settings designer for the NewsReaderSample application. To edit these properties, expand the "Properties" folder under the SceReaderSample project within Visual Studio’s Solution Explorer. Double click on "Settings.settings."

Using your own data for design and debugging

We have provided a property called "UseDesignFeedInDebug." When set to true, the sample application uses the design time data when compiled in debug mode. When set to false, the sample application will always use the data feed indicated by the property DataFeedUri.

Debugging your feed

The starter kit includes XSD’s that will enable you to perform some degree of validation on your feeds. In addition, the starter kit application makes use of the NewsReader error logging and reporting mechanism. When running under Visual Studio’s debugger, the application will spew information, errors, and warnings to the Output window (View>>Output). When the app shuts down, the error log is flushed to a persistent log file. On XP, this log file is found under "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Application Data\[CompanyName]\[ApplicationName]\log.txt." When running Vista, look for "C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\[CompanyName]\[ApplicationName]\log.txt." The CompanyName and ApplicationName fields are found in the Settings.settings folder.