I've just published a new version of Sesame Data Browser.
Here's what's new this time:
- Upgraded to Silverlight 4
- Can run out-of-browser (OOB), with elevated permissions. This gives you an icon on your desktop and enables new scenarios. Note: The application is unsigned for the moment.
- Support for Windows Azure authentication
- Support for SQL Azure authentication
- If you are behind a proxy that requires authentication, just give Sesame a new try. Silverlight 4 offers improved support for proxies.
- An icon and a button for closing connections are now displayed on connection tabs
- Some less visible improvements
Here is the connection view with anonymous access:
If you want to access Windows Azure tables as OData, all you have to do is use your table storage endpoint as the URL, and provide your access key:
A Windows Azure table storage address looks like this: http://<your account>.table.core.windows.net/
If you want to browse your SQL Azure databases with Sesame, you have to enable OData support for them at https://www.sqlazurelabs.com/ConfigOData.aspx.
I won't show how it works because it's already been done in several places over the Web. Here are pointers:
You can choose to enable anonymous access or not. When you don't enable anonymous access, you have to provide an
Issuer name and a
Secret key, and optionally an
Security Token Service (STS) endpoint:
Excerpt from Jack
Greenfield's blog:
To enable OData access to the currently selected database, check the box
labeled "Enable OData". When OData access is enabled, database user
mapping information is displayed at the bottom of the form.
- Use the drop down list labeled "Anonymous Access User" to select an
anonymous access user. If an anonymous access user is selected, then all
queries against the database presented without credentials will execute
by impersonating that user. You can access the database as the
anonymous user by clicking on the link provided at the bottom of the
page. If no anonymous access user is selected, then the OData Service
will not allow anonymous access to the database.
- Click the link labeled "Add User" to add a user for authenticated
access. In the pop up panel, select the user from the drop down list.
Leave the issuer name empty for simple authentication, or provide the
name of a trusted Security Token Service (STS) for federated
authentication. For example, to federate with another ACS based STS, provide the base
URI for the STS endpoint displayed by the Windows Azure AppFabric Portal
for the STS.
- Click the "OK" button to complete the configuration process and
dismiss the pop up panel. When one or more authenticated access users
are added, the OData Service will impersonate them when appropriate
credentials are presented. You can designate as many authenticated
access users as you like. The OData Service will decide which one to
impersonate for each query by inspecting the credentials presented with
the query.
Next time I'll give an overview of how Sesame Data Browser is built.
In the meantime, happy data browsing!
I've just added two new attributes to SharpToolbox.com: Built for Silverlight and Built for .NET 4.
There are already more than 30 tools tagged as offering support for Silverlight, and 20 tools for .NET 4.
You can search for tools, libraries and add-ins with these attributes using the search page.
PS: if you have submitted tools, be patient, I have a lot to process...
Since the first preview of Sesame was published, I've been working on improving it with new features.
Today, I've published an update that provides the following:
- Support for hyperlinks (URLs and email addresses)
- Improved support for the OData format. More OData producers are supported, including Netflix and vanGuide, for example.
- Fixed display of images (images used to appear mixed up)
- Support for image URLs
- Image zoom (try to hover over pictures in Netflix' Titles or MIX10's Speakers)
- Support for complex types (test this with Netflix' Titles and the OData Test Service's Suppliers)
- Partial open types support
- Partial feed customization support (Products.Name and Products.Description are now displayed for http://services.odata.org/OData/OData.svc for example)
- Partial HTML support
- Query number is now unique by connection and not globally
- Support for query continuation (paging) - See the "Load more" button
- Partial support for <FunctionImport> (see Movies, Series, Seasons, Discs and Episodes with Netflix)
- Version number is now displayed
- More links to examples (coming from http://www.odata.org/producers)
provided in the connection dialog
You can try all this at the same place as before. Choose Netflix in the connection dialog to see most of the new features in action and to get a richer experience.
There is a lot more in the pipe. Enough to keep me busy for a few more weeks :-)
Microsoft has just named me an MVP for the seventh time in a row!
More .NET adventures with me expected in 2010...