7 Steps to Windows 7: Make Your Applications Shine!

Windows 7 contains many powerful new features that are designed to light up your applications. Using our simple guide, 7 Steps to Windows 7 you will quickly understand the key features of Windows 7 and learn how they can be applied to new applications. 

Prepare to transform your applications by downloading the Windows® API Code Pack for Microsoft® .NET Framework which provides a source code library used to access new Windows 7 features.  These features are not available to developers today in the .NET Framework. 

This page lists many additional Windows 7 resources that have been handpicked by our technical experts to support you.

What else is In the Spotlight?

• Windows Azure
• Skills
• .NET
• Microsoft Office 2010
• Windows Client

Trials and Downloads

• Windows API Code Pack for Microsoft .Net Framework
  
   Windows API Code Pack for Microsoft .Net Framework

  • Windows 7 Taskbar Jump Lists, Icon Overlay, Progress Bar, Tabbed Thumbnails, and Thumbnail Toolbars.
  • Windows 7 Libraries, Known Folders, non-file system containers.
  • Windows Shell Search API support, a hierarchy of Shell Namespace entities, and Drag and Drop functionality for Shell Objects.
  • Explorer Browser Control.
  • Shell property system.
  • Windows Vista and Windows 7 Common File Dialogs, including custom controls.
  • Windows Vista and Windows 7 Task Dialogs.
  • Direct3D 11.0, Direct3D 10.1/10.0, DXGI 1.0/1.1, Direct2D 1.0, DirectWrite, Windows Imaging Component (WIC) APIs. (DirectWrite and WIC have partial support)
  • Sensor Platform APIs
  • Extended Linguistic Services APIs
  • Power Management APIsApplication Restart and Recovery APIs
  • Network List Manager APIs
  • Command Link control and System defined Shell icons
• Windows 7 Developer Guide (free download)
• Test drive Windows 7 – no log in or download required