MCE Software Factory

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The Multichannel Engine (MCE) is a UI framework targeted at UI development for large enterprise applications. MCE is useful in environments where multiple delivery channels are necessary and reuse of code across multiple functionalities and across channels is critically important. MCE works with any .NET environment.

MCE fully implements the Model View Controller (MVC) pattern and also uses Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) functions. This allows developers to create a graphic representation of the navigational logic behind a UI process. This navigational logic can display any particular view by using only the logical metadata available, without using any technology-dependent information. While displaying a view, the navigational logic dictates which data should be bound to that view, and MCE takes care of the binding automatically. By separating the navigational logic and the data from the presentation layer, MCE allows a work unit—including its dependant views, children, and rehydration—to be persisted. Because the navigational logic does not contain any technology-specific information about the view that it shows, MCE can rehydrate existing work units across different technological channels. (The targets, however, must provide physical views that are compatible with the rehydrated work units.)

MCE Software Factory

The MCE Software Factory is a guidance package that controls the design of logical work units in a user-friendly and model-driven environment. The software factory allows you to set up the workflow and to use graphical tools to design the logical views and their data in a digital subscriber line (DSL) environment. The workflow activities that provide design-time guidance use this information to construct the navigational workflow. The MCE Software Factory operates as part of CCF Studio.

MCE System Requirements

To use MCE, you must have the following installed in your development environment:

  • Windows Server 2003 SP 2 or later.
  • .NET Framework 3.0 or later.