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Creating Passionate Users: Build something cool in 24 hours

This is cool. I think I would be very interested in something like this. Will have to give this a try

Creating Passionate Users: Build something cool in 24 hours

Jay Kimble -- The Dev Theologian : Some DXCore Addins (I think all that exist)

I have been looking around for some good DXCore plug-ins to get some examples of extending the Visual Studio IDE. I think my Larkware Contest project will use DXCore as a base.

http://codebetter.com/blogs/jay.kimble/comments/130595.aspx

Team Agile | Recorded audio interviews with leading figures in the blogsphere

There are some pretty good interviews here.

Team Agile | Recorded audio interviews with leading figures in the blogsphere

Announcing a New Larkware Contest

This is a great reason to get my 2005 project off the ground. I am sure that there are going to be lots of great ideas.

Join the contest.

http://www.larkware.com/contests/contest2005.html

Enhancing the Server Explorer Window

I have been experimenting with DXCore from DevExpress (you guys rock!!!!!) for the last couple of days. I am now revisiting an issue I had about a year ago. I had an idea to try to extend the Server Explorer window through an add-in (done the hard way, by not using DXCore) in the following ways:

1. Right click on any table/view/stored procedure and create an interface based upon the columns.
2. Build a strongly typed collection and business object based upon these items.
3. Based upon a database diagram, generate a strongly typed dataset.

When accessing the Server Explorer window, I am able to get the name of the selected node, but I can't figure out how to access the properties. What I would like is a way to get the properties for a selected node in the Server Explorer window.

I use CodeSmith (thanks Eric) to generate the information now, but would still like a way to do this through the Visual Studio IDE. The company I am working for will be with 2003 for a while after 2005 becomes available, so I would like to make this work in 2003.

I would appreciate any feedback....

Until next time

MrDave's (David Yack) Blog! : Get A Free Copy of CodeSmith!

GrokTalk

Want to hear 10 minute presentations from the regional directors at Microsoft? Here is your chance. Over twenty presentations on various different items. So much information so little time. Thats why I used DrizzleCast

http://www.groktalk.com

I also used DrizzleCast to get the latest DotNetRocks MP3s.

CR_Documentor is the ticket to better commenting

I was looking for some DXCore add-in Samples to give me guide on how to develop a new "plug-in". It wasn't long before I came across CR_Documentor, a wonderful plugin to help document my code in style. Requires DXCore (A free download from devexpress.com)

http://www.paraesthesia.com/blog/comments.php?id=701_0_1_0_C

Customizing the File Open/Save Dialog box

How many clicks does it take to get to the folder you want to open or save an item? Sounds like the lollipop commercial huh..

The "My Places" toolbar can be modified very easily. Check out this microsoft article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;826214

I am now finding really good uses for it.

Whats the focus?

Lately I have been wondering where I need to focus my research efforts, Framework 1.1 or Framework 2.0. So many code samples, webcasts, and other tutorials are now focusing on 2.0 at an alarming rate. I currently work in 1.1 most of time. Hey, thats what I get paid to do.

The Ying:
The 1.1 framework will be around for a while because many companies won't adopt 2.0 for at least 2 years.

The Yang:
If you don't keep up with the new, the learning curve will be that much greater when you have to use it. How to find the time....

Do I wish to become specialized in a particular area or gain a great general knowledge. These are the questions that I am trying to figure out

Code Generation To The Nth Level

This has to be the best code generation webcast that I have seen. When I first heard Scott speak in Colorado Springs, I realized that I needed to be more productive in everything that I do. This was just another example on where I need to improve my thought processes.

Scott Hanselman's TechEd2005 Talk on Code Generation and More

Googling Tips

How many times do you use google in a day. I use it all of the time and was thinking about how much google could do for me if I just understood its capabilities. This led me to look at the advanced search options and the examples off of googles main site. Some of the best of these are:

• date:
• intitle:
• Surrounding search text in quotes

Another great set of examples is found at the following site:
Examples of Google Searches

Enum Boundaries

I have been using enums in my code whenever I can to replace literals. For example, I use CodeSmith to generate an enum for all of the stored procedure columns to make my code more readable. If the order changes on the stored procedure, I just change the enum item order and I am done.

In chapter 12 of McConnell's Code Complete, he talks about various ways to use enumerations as a best practice. Of these ways, two uses really caught my attention:

1. InvalidValue Enum

When setting up your initial enum, create the first value in the enum as an InvalidValue:

public enum EmployeeType
{
InvalidType,
Internal,
External
}

This will allow for setting defaults as well many other uses.

2. Setting up boundaries

public enum SurveyScale
{
FirstItem = 1,
Poor = 1,
Average = 2,
Excellent = 3,
LastItem = 4
}

This allows for the setup of a loop on the enumeration. Try it out, and tell me what you think.


Code Complete 2 - Code Complete, Second Edition

Aliases and the Command Window

I am a big fan of using the keyboard whenever possible instead of the mouse. The command window (CTRL + ALT + A) provides a great opportunity for me to keep my fingers on the keyboard.

One of the awesome things is to create aliases. I do for lots of items from building a project to browsing to my favorite website.

Many times I skip the command window and go straight to the Find/Command Box (CTRL + /). From there I can type in the greater than(>) character and type my alias. For more information on how to use the command window and aliases, Microsoft has a pretty good reference.

Pre-defined Visual Studio Command Aliases

MZ-Tools - Productivity Tools for Visual Studio .NET, Visual Basic and VBA

This weekend I happened to be doing some dreaded VBA work in Access for a client. What a switch from C#!! It took me a while to get used to the environment again. Then I remembered that I used to use an add-in for VBA from MZ-Tools. It is a great add-in for VBA coding.

It looks as if Carlos has continued on enhancing the IDE for Visual Studio. I am going to try to look at his add-ins for 2003. You can't beat the price either.

MZ-Tools - Productivity Tools for Visual Studio .NET, Visual Basic and VBA

Integrating Visual Studio.net with Outlook

I have been troubling myself on how to quickly bring up a new outlook task when in Visual Studio 2003. There are automation samples that show how to sync up tasks, even add new ones to outlook. However, I wanted to be able to set more options then just a title for the task.

Then I remembered External Tools.

1. Select Tools - External Tools
2. Click Add with the following properties

• Title = Outlook Tasks
• Command = Location of Outlook Executable
• Arguments = /c ipm.task
  

3. Select OK. This should now be in your menu under tools.

For more information on outlook switches go here:
Outlook 2003 Command Line Switches

Master Detail Datagrid with Datasets

A friend of mine was asking how to do some initial sorting in a datagrid when binding to a dataset. He was going to have master-detail records in the grid. I told him to use a default view and set that as his datasource. I am used to using either the infragistics or devexpress grids and had never created a master-detail grid so I decided to search how to do this with the default Microsoft DataGrid. I am hoping that the new grid in 2.0 will have better features.

Check out this article for a Microsoft how to do it

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vbcon/html/vbtskcreatingmasterdetailslistwithdatagrid.asp

Where did TechSoda come from

One day Chris (http://www.surrealbox.net/) and I were brainstorming on new domain names for myself. I wanted something catchy that people could identify me with.

Technology = Tech +

• S – Streamlining
• O – Organizations
• D – Daily
• A – Activities

The Soda part is also a play on words. My last name is Kola.