Archives
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Missed my High School Reunion :(
Wish I had thought to google for this. Another classmate just left me a message on MySpace and the link to my HS Reunion site. <sigh/>
With all of this technology at hand it is still hard to know when periodic events like this happen. How does everyone else stay abreast of events like this? -
Loading XML with accented characters breaks System.XmlDocument.Load()
It took me a bit of time but I finally found a solution for loading a XML file that has accented characters (like áéíóúâä) into a UTF-8 format. I'm loading data for a client and it ended up having a name in it with an accented e character. For the first time on this project System.XmlDocument.Load() was blowing up. With a lot of Googling I finally found a link that gave me, what I hope, is the solution for this problem. For now it is working so I'll go with it. The link to the article I found is in the code sample below as well as the image to the left. The magic happens by reading in while enforcing a double-byte encoding then saving out in an encoding that gives the visual representation we, in the US, would expect.
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Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) is on CodePlex
The Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) is a new library in .NET that enables greater reuse of applications and components. Using MEF, .NET applications can make the shift from being statically compiled to dynamically composed. If you are building extensible applications, extensible frameworks and application extensions, then MEF is for you.
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SQL Not In Revisited
I always seem to struggle with a NOT IN clause when there are more than one column to compare. This, of course, comes up when I am trying to get records from one set that are NOT IN another set and the comparison has to be done across multiple columns. For instance, if I want to compare table 1 (users) against table 2 (importedUsers) and I want to see if the mandatory fields are there and *NOT* work with those that fail I usually ended up doing a cursor. But - there is a much easier way to do it and it does need a cursor! Thanks to David Penton for pointing me in this direction!
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SQL XML - TreeView
I sometimes forget how to do an XML output formed in a tree when dealing with a single table parent/child relationship. There is a great explanation on SQL Server Central on *how* to do this. I am mainly capturing the link and the SQL I just generated to do this. This query will drill down 12 levels at the most. Just alter the case statement (pivot) to go deeper.
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Microsoft's Velocity - Caching turned up a notch
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VS 2008 and .NET FX 3.5 SP1 (Beta)
The beta has been released. Scott Guthrie has a huge list of what to expect.
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ALT.NET?
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Using multiple config files in one application
I'm supporting an ASP (Application Service Provider) style application for my company. Instead of putting each client's settings into a single config file, I wanted to have the main config file point to each clients configuration. After a bit of digging, I came up with a solution that works. I don't know if it is the best solution but it does work. My main config file now looks like:
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Latest build of the ASP.NET MVC source on CodePlex
Come and get it! If you are a MVC developer and really want to dig into the core of MVC then go directly to CodePlex and get the code! Scott Guthrie has a LOT more details on his blog.
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DDD Ireland
Looking for events? Are you in Ireland on May 3rd? What better way to spend a Saturday than at an event with some
funnycharismaticnotable characters like Plip and Sussman! With Plip's permission I've duplicated his blog entry for this event. -
Getting started for the long haul...
I've worked in everything from startups to multi-billion dollar companies plying my trade as a software engineer (head geek, architect, tester, developer, business analyst, janitor, etc). There seems to be 2 defining characteristics that define successful ventures and flailing ventures. One is the individual doing the work and the other is documentation.
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Microsoft Mix 08
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ASP.NET Wiki (Beta) has just launched
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Notice of violation
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Making the single box and multiple box disappear
I don't keep up with all the latest trends, breakthroughs and buzz in every corner of the industry. Wish I could! I've been a fan of Virtual PCs for quite awhile. While they have their pain points they allow one to have a complete environment separate from the physical PC it runs on. Virtual Server does the same for Servers (and you can run Virtual Server on a PC for those really complex environments from your client.) Microsoft and VMware are the two leaders that I am aware of.
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Windows Live Writer and multiple machines
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Book Review: ASP.NET Data Presentation Controls Essentials
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Send To and RegSvr32
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California lab claims step toward developing valuable stem cells
Scientists say stem cells from cloned embryos could provide a valuable tool for studying diseases, screening drugs and, perhaps someday, creating transplant material to treat conditions like diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
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.NET Framework Library Source Code is now available
Scott Guthrie announced the release of the .NET Framework Source Code! Scott Hanselman has an excellent post on how to step through the Framework source as well as a caveat on 64-bit installation. Another other fantastic source on how to actually step into the Framework code is Shawn Burke's blog on configuring Visual Studio for Debug. You will need the Visual Studio 2008 QFE for this.
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English 101
It's been a few, hmmmm, decades since I took an English writing course. In my job I've done tons of technical writing and that is still very strong. However, I am quite rusty at writing the standard English paper. So, to help me knock off the rust I am starting to do book reviews. To keep it interesting, for me at least, I'll be reviewing books of a technical nature as well as leadership and relationship books. I may eventually bite off some fiction and other "light" reading.
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Denver is having a Big Event
It's been quite awhile since I made a Microsoft Event. This one coming up at the end of the month has 2 tracks and both of them look excellent. But don't rely on my word, check it out yourself at the Microsoft Events Site. Below is the agenda per the MS site:
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New job
I am close to finishing my first week at a new place. I've hired in full-time to take on a team management role which includes classic ASP as well as ASP.NET (2003, 2005 & 2008). From what I understand so far we need to finish stabilizing the classic ASP app while we roll the app into a .NET application. The app was acquired when the company I work for bought a local company and brought them "into the fold". :)
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Wii + Virtual Reality...
This is a really slick trick to add a new dimension to gaming - and other applications!
Using the infrared camera in the Wii remote and a head mounted sensor bar (two IR LEDs), you can accurately track the location of your head and render view dependent images on the screen. This effectively transforms your display into a portal to a virtual environment. The display properly reacts to head and body movement as if it were a real window creating a realistic illusion of depth and space. By Johnny Chung Lee, Carnegie Mellon University. For more information and software visit http://johnnylee.net
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Testing Live Writer
I wanted to test out how easy it might be to add photos, like this Christmas house.
del.icio.us Tags: PersonalLooks like I can add maps too. Our house is pretty much dead center - and it looks like a satellite image from 18 months ago.