New Features of Windows 2000

The final Win2k test version has basically met all our requirements, and we can believe that the release version can do better. Here I will list some new features provided by the new version for developers:

First, Win2k updated the kernel, and the COM + technology was used by extensive applications to make development based on distributed network software easier.

In addition, the security features added to Win2k improve the system security, so that your PC will not be used by others at will.

The Active Directory function is provided in the system, which is a directory service that can be expanded and adjusted by Windows 2000 Server. It stores information about network objects and allows administrators and users to conveniently find and use the information. The Directory Service of the Active Directory uses structured data storage as the basis for directory information logic and hierarchical organization. You can store a large amount of information, such as system information, network printers, users, or even email addresses of others. In addition, you can easily find and manage the information through the Active Directory.

The system provides developers with related interfaces (ADSI Active Directory service interfaces). You can perform multiple operations on objects in the directory through interfaces, such as adding users to a domain through ADSI.

The systemparametersinfo function is enhanced. You can use it to modify the system appearance and settings. In addition, you can also control the effects of several new Win2k user interfaces.

In addition, a new function animatewindow is added to the system. With this function, you can use dynamic effects when hiding or displaying a window, including a prototype of the rolling blanking function, such as bool animatewindow (hwnd, DWORD dwtime, DWORD? Dwflags );

Another enhancement is that you can capture the right-clicked messages from a menu. The newly added message is wm_menurbuttonup, with this message, developers can provide context help for a menu item.

The Intelligent Image Feature (intellimirror) allows multiple computers to synchronize data in the following situations: when new software is installed, data changes, user-defined conditions. This is a big step forward than Win9x's briefcase. You can use a smart image to make all your computers have the same software configuration or even the Start menu and desktop look the same. The smart image function is very useful to mobile users, because if you take a notebook on a business trip, save local files to the network before you leave, when you modify the information and return to the company, as long as you connect to the network system, the network and your local files will be automatically synchronized. If someone else changes your file during this time, the image feature will remind you of a file conflict.

Windows Scripting host (wsh) is a scripting language provided by windows. (In Windows, the batch processing under DOS is no longer effective) you can install wsh in Win9x, but now this function is enhanced and integrated into Win2k. At the same time, wsh supports scripts written by VBScript and JavaScript. IE allows you to execute VB and Java scripts on the HTML page, but in Win2k, You can execute these scripts from the command line. As a developer, you can use your scripts to detect your OCX components, access files, view network neighbors, and use network printers, you can even add and modify the network to change the registry.

Dim WSHShekkDim strRetSet WSHShell = Wscript.CreateObject"Wscript.Shell")WSHShell.RegWrite _   "HKLM/SOFTWARE/Forest Software/WSHTest", _   "New Key"WSHShell.RegWrite _   "HKLM/SOFTWARE/Forest Software/WSHTest/" & _   "NewValue", 2, "REG_DWORD'strRet = _   WSHShell.RegRead("HKLM/SOFTWARE/ " & _   "Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/" & _   "CurrentBuildNumber")MsgBox strRetYou can also use the WSH to create collections and enumerate the network drives connected to your computer: Dim WSHNetworkDim colDrivesSet WSHNetwork = _   WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")'Enumerate drives into a collection of type    WshCollectionSet colDrives = WSHNetwork.EnumNetworkDrivesIf colDrives.Count <> 0 Then   strMsg = _      "Current network drive connections: " & CRLF   For i = 0 To colDrives.Count - 1 Step 2      strMsg = strMsg & CRLF & colDrives(i) & Chr(9) _          & colDrives(i + 1)   Next   MsgBox strMsg, _      vbInformation + vbOkOnly,       "WSH Sample"End If

Win2k provides a better system management interface. You can use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) to complete all management tasks, because MMC can become the host of all management tools. There are two modes to run in the console: user mode, you can use the installed management software package; Management Mode: you can modify and add a new management software package. MMC does not provide any management functions. It only provides a framework for running other management tools. You can create your own management plug-ins (snap-in). These plug-ins can be ActiveX controls running on HTML pages, or DLL developed by C or other development tools, you can also use ATL for development.

In addition, Win2k integrates the Encrypting File System EFS and remote storage. EFS can use the public key technology under NTFS to encrypt data. Remote Storage reduces disk space by running a monitoring program to a certain extent by copying some files with low usage to other backup devices to reduce the possibility of system crash.

In addition, Win2k provides wider software and hardware compatibility.