Microsoft has released .NET Framework 4.7 as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update bringing in a big set of improvements over the old version, along with the support for targeting the .NET Framework 4.7 in Visual Studio 2017 and a new .NET API browser.
The updated .NET Framework 4.7 is bundled in the Creators Update; hence users will have to wait until April 11 to get it via the Windows Update. However, for those who want to upgrade immediately, they can download it using the Microsoft’s Update Assistant tool.
For older versions of the Windows, Microsoft plans to release the updated framework soon. The company says that it will be announcing an update in future for Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 Service Pack 1 along with Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.
.NET Framework 4.7 improvements
The .NET Framework includes improvements in several areas as mentioned below:
1] High DPI support for Windows Forms applications on Windows 10
The release includes a big set of High DPI improvements for Windows Forms DPI Aware applications. Higher DPI displays allow forms apps to lay out correctly at higher DPI, use high-resolution icons and glyphs and respond to changes in DPI, such as moving an application across monitors.
Microsoft has made improvements for system-DPI-aware applications, fixing layout issues with controls like the calendar, exception dialog box, checked list box, menu tool strip, and anchor layout.
2] Touch support for WPF applications on Windows 10
.NET Framework 4.7 enables WPF to integrate with the touch and stylus/ink support in Windows 10.
Microsoft’s Rich Lander mentions on the Windows blog,
“The Windows 10 touch implementation is more modern and mitigates customer feedback that we’ve received with the current Windows Ink Services Platform (WISP) component that WPF relies on for touch data. You can opt into the new Windows touch services with the .NET Framework 4.7. The WISP component remains the default”.
Microsoft advocates that the new touch implementation is more reliable, more capable and equally compatible as compared to the current WISP.
3] Enhanced cryptography support
The .NET Framework 4.7 has enhanced the functionality available with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). Microsoft has added ImportParameters(ECParameters) to the ECDsa and ECDiffieHellman classes to allow for an object to represent an already-established key. An ExportParameters(bool) method was also added for exporting the key using explicit curve parameters.
The .NET Framework 4.7 also adds support for additional curves (including the Brainpool curve suite) and has added predefined definitions for ease-of-creation via the new ECDsa.Create(ECCurve) and ECDiffieHellman.Create(ECCurve) factory methods.
For more information on .NET Framework 4.7 improvements, visit MSDN.
