New .NET Framework 4.8.1

 

 .NET Framework 4.8.1:

                   .NET Framework 4.8.1 introduces new features in the following areas:

• Native support for Arm64
• WCAG2.1 compliant accessible tooltips
• Windows Forms – Accessibility Improvements

Improved accessibility, which allows an application to provide an appropriate experience for users of Assistive Technology, is a major focus of .NET Framework 4.8.1. For information on accessibility improvements in .NET Framework 4.8.1

In this release, both Windows Forms and WPF have made improvements to the handling of tooltips to make them more accessible. In both cases, tooltips now comply with the guidelines set forth in the WCAG2.1 content on Hover or Focus guidance. The requirements for tooltips are:

• Tooltips must display either via mouse hover or by keyboard navigation to the control.
• Tooltips should be dismissable. That is, a simple keyboard command like Esc should dismiss the tooltip.
• Tooltips should be hoverable. Users should be able to place their mouse cursor over the tooltip. This enables scenarios like using magnifier to be able to read the tooltip for low-vision users.
• Tooltips should be persistent. Tooltips should not automatically disappear after a certain amount of time has elapsed. Rather, tooltips should be dismissed by the user moving their mouse to another control or by a keyboard command.

The highlights of Windows Forms improvements in .NET Framework 4.8.1 are:

• Text pattern support– Windows Forms added support for the UIA Text Pattern. This pattern enables assistive technology to traverse the content of a TextBox or similar text-based control letter by letter. It enables text to be selected within the control and changed, and new text to be inserted at the cursor. Windows Forms added this support for TextBox, DataGridView cells, ComboBox controls, and more.

• Address contrast issues– In several controls, Windows Forms has changed the contrast ratio of selection rectangles to be darker and more visible.

• Fixed several DataGridView issues:

• The scrollbar names have been updated to be consistent.
• Narrator is now able to focus on empty DataGridView cells.
• Developers are able to set the localized control type property for Custom DataGridView cells.
• The link color for DataGridViewLink cells has been updated to have better contrast with the background.

You can install .NET Framework 4.8.1 from our .NET Framework Download site. For building applications targeting .NET Framework 4.8.1, you can download the NET Framework 4.8.1 Developer Pack. If you just want the runtime, you can use either:

• .NET Framework 4.8.1 Web Installer – requires an internet connection during installation
• .NET Framework 4.8.1 Offline installer – can be downloaded and installed later in a disconnected state

Additionally, .NET Framework 4.8.1 is included in the latest version of Visual Studio, Visual Studio 2022 17.3.

.NET Framework 4.8.1 includes native support for the Arm64 architecture (Windows 11+) and accessibility improvements as well as other improvements. You can see the complete list of improvements in the .NET Framework 4.8.1 release notes.............