14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is pressing onward with efforts designed to drive Windows 7 compatibility, even though the gold build of the operating system is scheduled to launch only in four months. In this regard, the company is providing developers with the necessary tools to ensure that their applications are tailored to the next iteration of the Windows client before the platform ships, but also with additional resources designed to streamline their work. New downloads are available for Windows 7 Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5, from Microsoft, live on the Download Center since last week: the ACT 5.5 Handout Card and the Getting Started with Windows 7 Application Compatibility Handout documents.
“The Windows Application Compatibility Infrastructure provides a mechanism to change the behavior of Windows, but only for the particular application that you select. An application fix can’t create a new security hole (it can’t do anything your application couldn’t do if you changed the code), and they can resolve a significant percentage of compatibility issues. Many of the application fixes included with Windows are documented, but some require more complex command line arguments. These are just a few of the many available fixes,” reads a message from the ACT 5.5 Handout Card.
Microsoft last updated the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 for Windows 7 at the start of April 2009. At that time, the updated ACT 5.5 was designed to help devs embrace the Release Candidate Build 7100 of Windows Vista's successor. Fact is that even with ACT 5.5, Microsoft is providing some guidance for software publishers looking to make their apps play nice with Windows 7. The ACT 5.5 Handout Card and the Getting Started with Windows 7 Application Compatibility Handout documents are in this sense additional resources set up to fuel compatibility.
“In a managed environment, where users are not local administrators on their computers, the software and hardware profiles may be well known. In a less managed environment, or where users are local administrators on their machines, there may be applications installed that are unknown to you. An application compatibility testing plan using tools provided by Microsoft will help you understand what software and hardware exists in your organization. It can also help you determine the most likely compatibility issues each application may encounter based on how real users interact with your software on a day-to-day basis,”Microsoft added.
Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 is available for download here.