August 2003 - Posts
Here's the place to look: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cpguide/html/cpconhowruntimelocatesassemblies.asp (see also the additional steps described in detail under that section (look in the table of contents)).
I need to drive to Seattle today, tweezers in hand. Looks like they're going to arrest one of the Blaster dudes.
In VB.NET 2003, when you create an instance of a class and there are no parameters to pass to the constructor, the parentheses will not show. You can type them, but the editor will remove them. They didn't disappear in VB.NET 2002.
myNewObject = New Foo()
will turn into
myNewObject = New Foo
No matter what you do, those parentheses will not remain. Why? I asked one of the program managers on the VB.NET team. He said that having empty parentheses was too confusing for people. In VB you can use empty parentheses for declaring arrays. People would end up accidentally declaring an array of something rather than creating an instance of something.
I don’t buy it. I think they should have left the parentheses on there.
I'm working with the Boise .NET Developer User Group. We're doing an MCAD certification study group, using the MS Press study guides as our primary reference material.
I looked at the ton of labs we’re going to be working during our study group.
Then I thought about how cluttered my inetpub\wwwroot directory will become if I let VS.NET create the virtual directory for each lab assignment.
To help keep things in one place, I'll use this approach:
* I’ve created a folder called “C:\BlizVsNet11\NetDug\McadWeb”
* Inside this folder I’ll create folders for each chapter, such as “C:\BlizVsNet11\NetDug\McadWeb\CH02Labs”
* I’ll use Internet Services Manager (the IIS management console) to turn the chapter lab folder into a virtual directory. (Most of the time I'll take the shortcut route here and right-click on the folder in Windows Explorer, Properties -> Web Sharing -> Share this folder. One note: this route uses integrated security and does not allow anonymous access, which means I have to remember to use ISM for web services.)
In VS.NET, I’ll do the following
* First I’ll create an empty solution for the lab (File -> New -> Blank solution…).
* In the Name text box I type ch02labs
* In the Location text box I type “C:\BlizVsNet11\netdug\mcadweb”
* Once the solution has been created I add a web application project to it. (Right click on solution name in the solution explorer, Add -> New project…)
* In the Location text box, I type http://localhost/ch02labs for the location.
By taking these steps everything (including the solution (.sln) file) is in one folder. It takes just a bit longer at the start, but it helps me stay organized.
Thoughts?
Last night I was writing some demos that do distributed transactions across databases. It started getting late (or early, depending on your point of view), but I was making good progress and didn’t want to stop.
I took a break after reaching a roadblock. I fired off a quick e-mail to myself letting me know I was not satisfied with not finishing by then.
I returned to the task at hand and quickly got it working. (Funny how distracting your brain for a few minutes helps you reach clarity.) I went to bed.
Woke up this morning and took a look at the code. Wow. Who wrote that? Couldn’t have been me. There’s stuff in there that I’ve never seen before. Honest. (Ever happen to you? “The programmer’s morning after.”)
OK. So this morning I’m refactoring the code so it looks more presentable in a demo. I still don’t know who wrote some of the original last night.
Notice I’m blogging now? Yes, I’m trying to reach a bit of clarity. (Some people might say “procrastinating.”). But this time, instead of an e-mail to myself I’m doing something a bit more public. Have to keep it clean. (I suppose I could use Rory’s bad word substitution scheme (RBWSS)) ;)
Back to it.
From Scoble's blog, a reference to a ComputerWorld article.
OK. OK. OK. I'll be at the PDC too.
Saw a reference on Chris Sells' blog, about this posting by Eric Sink. Chris' words: “There's just so much good advise in this post and it covers so much ground that I can't even think of a clever summary. Just go read it.”
(An aside: Am I arrogant if I point you to something that Chris Sells has written, as though you wouldn’t have already seen Chris’ post already? Implication is that anyone reads my posts… And that they ignore Chris. Nah. Just means I really like what Eric has to say and want to make sure people see it.) ;)
MSDN just posted a new Developer Center. “Visit the new one-stop shop for all mobile and embedded information, including the .NET Compact Framework, Visual Studio .NET, Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Windows CE .NET.”
Newsgroups are such a wonderful resource. People can post questions and get quality answers. I use Outlook Express and lurk in the “microsoft.public.dotnet.*” groups. What's really cool is that there are people who are experts in their field(s) who provide top notch answers. And you'll probably see postings from people with [MVP] after their names...
What's a Microsoft MVP? The Microsoft MVP Program is a worldwide award and recognition program that strives to identify amazing individuals in technical communities around the globe who share a passion for technology and the spirit of community. Microsoft MVPs are recognized for both their demonstrated practical expertise and willingness to share their experience with peers in Microsoft technical communities.
Next time you have a .NET question, take a look at one of the newsgroups. The question has probably already been asked and answered before.
Wow, that rant felt good.
Turns out, all I needed to do was UNPLUG the cable modem from the wall (I went ahead and disconnected the ethernet cable, and the coax just to be sure) for 30 seconds. Did the same for my laptop and my wireless router. Just hitting the on/off switch on the cable modem wasn't enough to reset it. Why the Comcast rep didn't mention that fact is beyond me. (I guess that's part of the fun of being a tech support person.... and we've all probably heard tons of funny stories about stupid things users do in response to things tech support people tell them to do. (although I'm not calling myself stupid here))
I think I'll still play some XBOX with my son for a little while after I get back from taking my wife on a hot date at the IHOP. (nothing in the world like breakfast for dinner)
Well, my VPN capability is being held hostage.
Comcast is my cabel modem ISP. (Right now, if I could switch I would.) I've recycled my cable modem & PC about a half dozen times. That didn't help, so I called Comcast tech support.
Because of the #!@ blaster worm, according to Comcast, the Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory that all “RPC ports” and ports 135, 139, and 445 be shut down. The Comcast helpdesk person and her supervisor said there is no ETA on when the ports will be opened again....
This really stinks. Big time. Makes it hard to work from home without VPN access.
If I could get hold of the author of the blaster worm I'd pluck every hair from his (or her) body, one at a time using a pair of tweezers.. Or maybe I'd use an Epilady. I've heard those can be very painful. (Never tried one myself. (Honest))
I think I'll go play some more XBOX.
(at least I can blog and read others' blogs)
Here's the registration link.
Smart Client Deployment with Windows Forms
This session focuses on how Windows Forms applications fit as part of a distributed enterprise environment. At the most basic level, a smart client deployment involves the ability to have users start applications from a link within their browser. This session will address how ADO.NET fits within smart client applications, and how the use of the smart client allows for the creation of self-updating Internet applications. These applications not only allow for the best combination of capability and deployment, but provide the ability to cache both application data and interface on the client machine. Moving forward, the growth of UDDI Services in Windows Server 2003 will provide additional enhancements to the smart client model. We’re going to take a look at how ‘No-Touch’ deployment enables us to leverage the client while still addressing the biggest concerns with distributed computing.
Microsoft Office 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003
What’s all the buzz around Microsoft Office 2003 development with Visual Studio.NET 2003? Join the millions of Office developers and see this presentation which will show you how Office development in Visual Studio has emerged to become a powerful way to develop your applications. You'll be introduced to Office 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003. We'll also show why the new features in Office 2003 allow for better Office applications. Finally, you'll see how to use Visual Studio .NET 2003 to develop Office applications. This session also looks quickly into other tools and functionality that can extend Office 2003 development and summarizes the key features when building Office 2003 applications in Visual Studio .NET 2003.
Russ Fustino will be presenting from 1 - 5 pm.
See you there!
I was looking through the MSDN Library for something & took a different tack. This time I went to the Contents and drilled down to find the topic I wanted. As I as drilling I came across this very helpful page: “Documentation Map by Technology.” Nice little gem.
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