Archives
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Creating an ASP.NET RSS Blog Roller with C#
We needed an RSS blog roller for http://www.interfacett.com so we could show employee blogs from various sites. While there are several out there for .NET we wanted something that we could build on and customize so Spike Xavier and I put together a quick class named RssBlogRoller that would read an array of blog URLs, grab a specific number of items and then sort them based upon the <pubDate> element. It was a fun little exercise that will be useful in classes as well since it demonstrates generics, XmlReaders (and sub readers) and the ASP.NET ObjectDataSource.
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Using SQL Server 2005 CLR Features to Create Aggregates
I played around with SQL Server 2005 a bit this past week to explore (more in-depth) some of the different CLR features that are available. I'll be posting a few of the things I've experimented with over the next few days. One thing that can be really useful is the ability to create custom aggregate functions using C# or VB.NET, store them in the database and then use them within queries or stored procedures.
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Binding Data to Tables with MS AJAX and the ListView Control
If you've used the client-side MS AJAX controls then you know that there's no such thing as a GridView control like we're used to having on the server-side (although a GridView could be used with an MS AJAX Update Panel of course to get AJAX functionality). When I first started using the ListView client-side control I had a hard time getting tables to show data property. If you're unfamiliar with the ListView control it can be defined using XML Script:
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Calling Web Services with MS AJAX using Code Vs. Declaratively
I've been playing around with MS AJAX more these days and had some sample code working fine when using MS AJAX (formerly Atlas) controls combined with JavaScript that calls a Web Service. Since I'm quite familiar with JavaScript I initially wrote most of the functionality using code. For example, the following JavaScript routine calls a Web Service that returns customers in a given country and specifies the callback function that should process the returned data:
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New Song Released - No Shame in Crying
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Redefining a Relaxed Office Atmosphere
I swung by my good buddy Spike Xavier's house the other day and checked out his new office arrangement. Spike apparently thinks that most home office setups are too confining, stuffy and stressful. So, he created his own arrangement complete with reclining chair and wireless keyboard to go along with the dual monitors. My first thought was that it couldn't be very productive the way he had it setup, but after giving it a try I'll have to admit that it was great....and very comfortable. Here's a shot of me at work in his home office (taken with my phone so the quality isn't the best....but you'll get the idea). Definitely the most relaxed office atmosphere I've ever been in. :-)
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Microsoft Releases Open Specification Promise for Web Services
In an effort to spur more adoption of Web Services standards, Microsoft has a released a new online document called the "Open Specification Promise" (OSP). The document allows companies to use specifications patented by Microsoft without worrying about "Microsoft Necessary Claims". What are "Microsoft Necessary Claims"? I asked the same question. Here's how the document defines them:
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In Case You're Late To The Atlas Naming Party....
This is one of the most blogged about topics of the day, but in case you haven't heard (I understand since there was a double-header on Monday Night Football tonight :-)) Microsoft's Scott Guthrie officially announced the name Atlas will be and gave a timeframe for the production release. Read all about it here:
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Web Service Software Factory Available on MSDN
Download the Web Service Software Factory documentation, code and tools at:
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Atlas, IIS7, LINQ and Other Technologies
Scott Guthrie came to Phoenix today to speak on various topics including IIS7 and LINQ. I've had the chance to hear Scott speak on several occassions and he delivered yet another great speech that was fun to watch since he always does a lot of demos. Some of the topics covered included new configuration options in IIS7. Once released, you'll be able to configure the settings for an IIS7 application using web.config rather than having to go through the admin utility of old (you can of course use the admin utility as well...which has been significantly revamped). For example, you can add the following XML into web.config to configure the default pages for a site as well as specify if directory browing is enabled.
No More Shame in Crying (mp3)