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Microsoft Turns To Desktop To Rescue Search

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Microsoft Corp today announced that HP would embed its Live Search technology on all consumer PCs sold by the Palo Alto, Calif.-based computer company in the United States and Canada, starting January 2009. Live Search is also going to be the default search engine in all browsers on HP’s web site. Funnily, the big announcement […]

Microsoft Corp today announced that HP would embed its Live Search technology on all consumer PCs sold by the Palo Alto, Calif.-based computer company in the United States and Canada, starting January 2009. Live Search is also going to be the default search engine in all browsers on HP’s web site. Funnily, the big announcement merited only a tiny press release. So, why is this a big deal? Because it shows that Microsoft is using its time-tested strategy of leveraging its desktop monopoly ... Read More

The New New Browser Wars

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In thinking about the desktop/web hybrid platforms that have launched or are about to be launched, I’ve decided that even if last year they were overhyped, this year we’re going to see real adoption and applications. But that presents an interesting problem for developers and eventually, for users. The vast array of options and functionalities […]

In thinking about the desktop/web hybrid platforms that have launched or are about to be launched, I’ve decided that even if last year they were overhyped, this year we’re going to see real adoption and applications. But that presents an interesting problem for developers and eventually, for users. The vast array of options and functionalities not only makes the web experience different for different users, but it makes developing sites more complicated, much like the rise of different browsers and the proliferation ... Read More

Free Open Source Counterparts of Windows Software

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Why would you want to have Open Source software on your computer? Let’s consider a few reasons:

(1) First reason that every one thinks of is that Open Source software is free of cost, well it certainly is about 95% of the time but it can be paid too although the license will be less […]

Why would you want to have Open Source software on your computer? Let’s consider a few reasons: (1) First reason that every one thinks of is that Open Source software is free of cost, well it certainly is about 95% of the time but it can be paid too although the license will be less restrictive. Nevertheless it can save you hundreds of dollars. (2) Another often overlooked aspect is that you can have full access to the source code of the software. ... Read More

Object reference not set to an instance - Webpart Sharepoint

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When you download and install  the Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for WSS3.0.
You could have taught wow my deployment stress is over
But actually it isn’t  its just the start

I had deployed several webparts to my sharepoint sites without getting the error 

Object reference not set to an instance

But after sometime these ugly errors started popping up .

One was Object reference not set to an instance the other was some GUID error

After pulling out my hair i didn’t have i found an individual who shed a light on it here at   WSSWIKI

He even add a missing feature application you can download.But when i tried running the application
i get error it can’t access the database

Later i found this solution below :-

PROBLEM:

========

Deploying webpart to SharePoint 2007 using  Visual Studio Extensions for Windows SharePoint Services (VSE WSS) and getting error message “Object reference not set to an instance of an object”.

 

RESOLUTION:

===========

1] Copy the built webpart.dll to c:\windows\assembly (GAC)

 

2]  In the folder location where webpart VSE solution was created found setup.bat file in bin\Debug, and this is the file which VSE calls when deploying the solution and has instructions to run it. Ran the setup.bat from command prompt as “setup /uninstall” this ran ok, then ran setup /install this ran ok too. Modified the setup.bat file and add the line to remove the webpart.dll from the GAC and add the webpart.dll assembly to GAC as under:

 

under :LDeploy section before goto :EOF added the following line:

===========================================================

“%programfiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin\gacutil.exe” -if webpartTest.dll

“%programfiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin\gacutil.exe” -uf webpartTest

iisreset

**Make sure you changed the name of your webpart to the one in question

This solved my problem but sometimes it did work sometimes it didn’t and  the solution need a lost of manual process.

Al last i came across this featurecleaner Utility
And it did the TRICK it actually fixes it and deletes orphaned features from the feature table.

Hope the next VseWSS ver 1.2 will be out soon

Enjoy


When you download and install  the Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for WSS3.0. You could have taught wow my deployment stress is over But actually it isn't  its just the start I had deployed several webparts to my sharepoint sites without getting the error  Object reference not set to an instance But after sometime these ugly errors started popping up . One was Object reference not set to an instance the other was some GUID error After pulling out my hair i didn't have i found ... Read More

New to Design Patterns?

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Have all your Desgin Pattern woes solved and more: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Design_Patterns

As a general rule of thumb, keep in mind that your code instantly gets 270-890% better when using design patterns (unless, of course, you are programming in Perl or Assembly). Note also that design patterns let you score big time with the ladies at parties (unless you abuse Dependency Rejection pattern), increase the size of your member, make you a better driver, and level you directly to OT9.

Made my chuckle!

On a totally different note, now long till Developer Day Scotland.  If your in Scotland and have signed up, shame on you!  Get signed up now, should be an interesting day.  Also, like to point out the Scotland ALT.NET User Group again.  Looks like a meet on the 28th May is set to g oahead.  I’m due to be on holiday then, so I’m not going to make it, but I’m really looking forward to attending future events.  I think raising the developer education level in Glasgow is really long past due.  There are too many developers out there that take the word of Microsoft as gospel won’t try any of the fantastic OSS projects out there!


Have all your Desgin Pattern woes solved and more: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Design_Patterns As a general rule of thumb, keep in mind that your code instantly gets 270-890% better when using design patterns (unless, of course, you are programming in Perl or Assembly). Note also that design patterns let you score big time with the ladies at parties (unless you abuse Dependency Rejection pattern), increase the size of your member, make you a better driver, and level you directly to OT9. Made my ... Read More

Baby steps

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Hello World!

In 2000 I was a freshman at the most beautiful university campus in the world, UCT (The University of Cape Town). I was fresh out of school and extremely naive. Strange as it maybe, I had a crush on Hydraulics from a young age, this got me into all sorts of compromising situations.

When I got to varsity, IT was all over. The South African bubble was at its peak. Everybody wanted to be a programmer, and they were enrolling in droves. New institutions sprung up over night and most disappeared just as they had appeared.

The Transition

Towards the end of September, my class was introduced to the world of code and coders. It was a simple QBasic program that sounded like a police siren. That was the last coding class that I ever attended, over the next coming months and years, I got hooked to the PC. I found it fascinating, we started building web pages at Geocities, Brinkster, Angelfire and it felt good. We had not idea how the web worked, what drove it or where it was headed.

The turning point was almost a fluke; a friend accidentally clicked the “view source” IE menu and out came the little green men. Eureka! We had struck gold. It was big, we were excited about stuff.

This discovery has played a big role; I am where I am because of that defining moment. The people I know now, the fights I have had and the brain cells I have slaughter all stem from that moment.

Beep!

 


  Hello World! In 2000 I was a freshman at the most beautiful university campus in the world, UCT (The University of Cape Town). I was fresh out of school and extremely naive. Strange as it maybe, I had a crush on Hydraulics from a young age, this got me into all sorts of compromising situations. When I got to varsity, IT was all over. The South African bubble was at its peak. Everybody wanted to be a programmer, and they were enrolling in droves. New institutions sprung ... Read More

Next Version of BizTalk Server Announced

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Today, Steve Martin announced a few details about the next version of BizTalk that will be available in early 2009.   The release will be BizTalk Server 2006 R3, and is an incremental release of BizTalk and not related to the future Oslo releases. In the main this is a this compatibility release to support the 2008 wave of products.(Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio.NET 2008).   Expect a CTP later in the year and full release after SQL 2008 goes gold. Additional features include:

  • New web service registry capabilities with support for UDDI (Universal Description Discovery and Integration) version 3.0
  • Enhanced service enablement of applications (through new and enhanced adapters for LOB applications, databases, and legacy/host systems)
  • Enhanced service enablement of “edge” devices through BizTalk RFID Mobile
  • Enhanced interoperability and connectivity support for B2B protocols (like SWIFT, EDI, etc)
  • SOA patterns and best practices guidance to assist our customer’s implementations

Read more from Steve Martin here…


Today, Steve Martin announced a few details about the next version of BizTalk that will be available in early 2009.   The release will be BizTalk Server 2006 R3, and is an incremental release of BizTalk and not related to the future Oslo releases. In the main this is a this compatibility release to support the 2008 wave of products.(Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio.NET 2008).   Expect a CTP later in the year and full release after SQL 2008 goes gold. ... Read More

The joy of file synchronisation with Allway Sync Pro

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I’m an itinerant developer armed with a laptop which means I have to deal with the issue of keeping my files synchronised with my file server.  Source code is easy, it’s under version control.  That leaves items such as documentation, Outlook PST files and MSDN downloads which are way too big and way too binary for version control systems.

For years I’ve been synchronising my files with a set of Windows Briefcase folders, when they came in with Windows 95.  They worked fairly reliably.  I put up with the agonizing delay to open a briefcase when the network drive was no longer connected – think 30 second timeouts on every folder being opened while it ‘checked the file status’.  However, it was Vista that was the nail in the coffin, it supports briefcases but file access rights become an issue on dual boot systems.

So I bit the bullet and looked for a file synchronisation tool.  I decided that I would happily pay for this software.  For me, I consider this is an essential business application, so paying for it is not an issue.  I also decided to change my work methods, instead of dragging a laptop around, I would carry around one of my portable hard drives, based on an 80Gb notebook drive, powered over USB, much easier to carry than a laptop (and less expensive if you drop it).

So I was after a many to many copy utility that would make sensible decisions, warn me if there were conflicts, and more importantly, once configured, be a one button fire and forget solution. After researching free products (PowerToys sync included) I found a product called Allway Sync Pro, http://www.allwaysync.com/.  I’ve now been using it for about a month, which allows me to make a considered judgement.

It’s brilliant.  Truly, it’s really, really, really good software.  I can’t believe it only costs $12 a PC (for 5 PCs).

OK, the UI design is a bit messy and old fashioned looking, but it actually does everything that you expect, and sometimes things you didn’t expect (good things).  This is a tightly focused piece of software that has a clear set of functionality in which it excels.

An unexpected feature was that it properly ‘deletes’ files it updates so they are put in the recycle bin.  At some point I must take a look at some of the more fancy options, such as how it can automatically synchronise files when you logon and logoff.

So now, before I leave my office, on my Windows Server 2003 file server I synchronise my server files to the portable hard drive.  Back home, I plug in the same hard drive and synchronise to Windows XP Pro.  Back in the office I also run a copy under Windows Vista that synchronises files from the C: drive to my file server.

So in summary, for me this is now an essential application for my business and is that rare beast - a technology solution which actually delivers what it promises and makes your life easier. 

I also think it’s a clear example of what software developers should strive for in their own software – reliable, functional, focussed on a clearly defined task, simple to use and intelligent in how it operates. I would hope that software I create can be as good as this - although probably with a better UI design,


I’m an itinerant developer armed with a laptop which means I have to deal with the issue of keeping my files synchronised with my file server.  Source code is easy, it’s under version control.  That leaves items such as documentation, Outlook PST files and MSDN downloads which are way too big and way too binary for version control systems. For years I've been synchronising my files with a set of Windows Briefcase folders, when they came in with Windows 95.  They worked fairly ... Read More

100th Post! Cheers!

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LONDON-EYE-244

This is my 100th post in GWB, which just been written in my 29th Birthday! Cheers to all!

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This is my 100th post in GWB, which just been written in my 29th Birthday! Cheers to all! Technorati Tags: Birthday,Blog Read More

New Asp.Net Starter Kit Available: Employee Info Starter Kit

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untitled

Employee Info Starter Kit  is a starter kit, which includes very simple user requirements, where we can create, read, update ad delete (crud) the employee info of a company.

The primary purpose of this starter kit is, to provide a solid guideline with respect to building enterprise level projects, by utilizing new asp.net 2.0 and sql server 2005 features, as well as latest best coding practices.
The starter kit includes several cases where we can perform multi-table joining and/or write operations. Combining high performance and security features this starter kit shows how we can solve in real world problems and challenges, from a wide range of view point.

The upcoming releases for this starter kit will contain latest best practices using ASP.NET 3.5 MVC, ASP.NET 3.5 Dynamic Data, LINQ, ADO.NET Entity Framework. Stay Tuned!

Url: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/eisk

===============================================

Technology Features :-

===============================================

- .net 2.0 genetic type
- .net 2.0 nullable type
- asp.net 2.0 object data source
- asp.net 2.0 grid view
- asp.net 2.0 form view
- asp.net 2.0 skin
- asp.net 2.0 theme
- asp.net 2.0 master (nested)
- sql server 2005 xml type
- sql server 2005 paging support

===============================================

Validation :-

===============================================

Validation — XHTML 1.1, CSS level 2.1, WCAG 1, ABS 508
Validation — Microsoft Coding Guideline (Using VSTS 2008 Code Analyzer)

===============================================

Object Model :-

===============================================

User Interface ****** ——–

- Design template (MS SIMPLE)
- Client side calendar control
- Grid view client side select all feature
- Grid view delete confirmation feature
- Form view data pre-fill feature
- Databound dropdown with ‘All’/'None’ selector field
- Print page
- Context parameter based listing/details page
- Client end validations
- Content upload in SQL Server

Utility Class ****** ——–

- Error reporting
- Friendly error page
- Email functionality
- Html formatter
- Login utility
- File upload utility
- Role based (cache based) security
- Session expire base page
- Session manager
- Keys
- Enumeration

Cache Layer ****** ——–

CRUD Methods :-

- Get All Entity
- Get By Primary Key
- Create New Entity
- Update Entity

Utility Methods :-

- Get cache key
- Get cache item
- Add cache item
- Invalidate cache

Command Wrapper ****** ——–

Methods :-

- Scalar Value
- Custom Entity Single Record
- Custom Entity Tabular
- Custom Entity Tabular Collection
- Generic DataTable
- Generic DataSet
- Write Return Success
- Write Return PrimaryKey

Data Access Layer (Entity Level) ******* ——–

- System.Data.SqlTypes for data property fields
- Create and Update Method with primitive type paramaters for Object Data Source Support
- Design time support for Object Data Source
- Works for only auto-generated primary key
- .Net 2.0 Generic Collection Support
- Isolation for Stored Procedure Name Constants
- XML Comments (useful for nDoc utility)
- Validation for method parameters

Database Utility Methods :-

* Generate collection for reader delegate
* Add parameter to sql command method
* Execute scalar command method
* Execute reader method
* Format xml for id array method

CRUD Methods :-

CREATE METHODS
* Static method with data filed’s as method parameter
* Static method with business entity as method parameter
* Instance method, without any parameter

UPDATE METHODS
* Static method with data filed’s as method parameter
* Static method with business entity as method parameter
* Instance method, without any parameter

GET BY PRIMARY KEY METHOD
* Method that gets a single record

GET BY FOREIGN KEY METHOD
* Method that returns a collection of records based on the foreign key

GET BY FOREIGN KEY - PAGED
* Method that returns paged result for the provided foreign key
* Count method being used when using paging method

GET ALL
* Gets all of the records for the corresponding entity

GET ALL PAGED (USING SQL SERVER 2005 PAGING SUPPORT)
* Method that returns paged result for the provided foreign key
* Count method being used when using paging method

DELETE BY ID
* Deletes a record using the primary key

BATCH DELETE (USING SQL SERVER 2005 XML TYPE)
* Deletes a set of records, based on the passed parameter of list of Id’s as xml data


Employee Info Starter Kit  is a starter kit, which includes very simple user requirements, where we can create, read, update ad delete (crud) the employee info of a company. The primary purpose of this starter kit is, to provide a solid guideline with respect to building enterprise level projects, by utilizing new asp.net 2.0 and sql server 2005 features, as well as latest best coding practices. The starter kit includes several cases ... Read More