Add Using for Controls or lookup very useful

In VS 2008, when the caret is on the name of the class which doesnt have a using statement in the file, SHIFT+ALT+F10 will bring up a context menu to add the using statement.

Reboot Remotely

When you work in distributed environment you probably use remote desktop session as you primary method of sql server machines administration. When critical windows updates are installed or when you install system or sql server service pack installation wizard promts you to restart the box in order to complete the installation. And it happens from time to time that this  machine hangs on reboot process for some reason and you can no longer connect it via remote desktop. If it was you local computer you could enter into your server room and press the reset button but if it stand thousands miles away from you it becomes a real problem.

How to restart or shutdown remote machine

If you can ping this machine from other computer and you have administrators rights on that machine you may use windows utility.

On a computer that has connection to the server which needs to be restarted or shutdown go to Start -> Run and type shutdown -i

This window will show up. Press Add and type either IP or DNS of remote server.

Select shutdown or restart and press OK. That 's it. For your convenience you may run from command line constanct ping  (ping servername -t) when the server actually stopped to respond to pings and when it started again.

Alternatively you can go to command prompt (start -> run -> cmd) on your workstation and Typeshutdown -r -m \\x.x.x.x
Replace x.x.x.x with the IP address or computer name of the remote machine. -r option is for restart, don't use -r if want to just shut down the system.  

SharePoint Site Collection Administration

Lesson learned. If you are ever asked to maintain a SharePoint site the first thing to do is say, "Grant me Site Collection Admin Rights". Why? Because if you are testing security and you do not know who the Site Collection Admin are then if you remove security the individuals in that role will still have access. (Nice 2 hour lesson learned)

AJAX Install

If you develop ASP.NET applications with AJAX here is a step by step guide so you do not bang your head.

1) Download the latest version from CodePlex for AJAX.
2) Extract to a location of your choice
3) Add the AjaxControlToolkit.dll & AjaxControlToolkit.pdb to you Web layer project /bin folder
4) Create a new Tab in your Toolbox and point to the new AjaxControlToolkit.dll
5) Create a reference to your AjaxControlToolkit.dll
6) Finally ensure the line in your Web.config is that same version as your dll assembly - (Simply right click the dll and look at the properties for assembly info.

Visual Studio 2010

Microsoft has released Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. I think it is time for me to upgrade to Windows 7 and start using there new tool set in order to keep up with the times.

SharePoint and SQL Sever Reporting Integration

Well, I must tell you that I had to reach out to Microsoft yesterday and use 1 of my support calls with my MSDN Subscriptions. I have been tasked with integrated SQL Server Reporting Services with MOSS 2007.

This will be the first implmentation at my company and I very excited to have a fantastic presentation for my upper managment.

A lot of work has been put into this and I plan to sell this great feature.

New Trick Envrionment Variables

public static string SecurePath = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("SECURED_APP_PATH");

You can right click on your computer > Advanced Tab > set the variables. Warning they will not take effect till a reboot.

This would not worth using for a hosted appllication when you do not have access to the server.

Time to build the app

I am ready to build the app for retirement. 1 to 2 hours a day.

Define - 20 more hours
- Design DB (Completed)
- Design Workflow (Completed)
- Design UI(s) All screens (Completed)
- Design Objects (Completed)
Measure - 10 hours (2-6 Months, but will be done before I am 40 :-) )
Analyze - 40 hours (Done)
Improve (Build) - (In Process)
- Database Development (8 Hours Completed)
- Application (Web to start in Progress 2-6 months
* Web UI
* Business Layer
* Data Layer (Completed)
* Test Test Test fix fix fix test test test
* Demo to friends and family (Huge Milestone - break out Beer and Wine)

Control - Will know after Improve Phase)

Trace.axd

One thing I am going to remember is Trace with ASP.NET... It is so powerfull to watch Application, Session and ViewState.

<trace enabled="true" requestLimit="40" localOnly="false" />

Very important when troubleshooting:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/y13fw6we%28VS.71%29.aspx

Kill Task in XP

c:\>taskkill /pid 3252 /F

Force kill aspnetwp.exe....

Than stop the IIS and then delete temporary files.

Ctrl-Alt-Del on remote desktop aka server

In order to send Ctrl-Alt-Del keystrokes to remote computer connected via Remote Desktop client, just press the following workaround keyboard shortcuts specially used in Remote Desktop environment:

Ctrl+Alt+End

Database Design and Audit

When developing ASP.NET application that use a APP Pool and identity to make all calls to the back end database in order to have a trigger based solution for auditing.

 

I would recommend all your tables have updatedDT and updateBY columns in all the tables you want to audit.

Leading a Development Team

New idea for a Development Team lead.

Depending on the scope of the technical requirements, it is the job of the team lead to review all documentation. PERIOD. From the technical specs the DEV LEAD develops the HLD/LLD specs, make estimates on the Business Analysis for each HLD/LLD.

Next, grant the developer the proper time to analyze the HLD/LLD requirements written by the tech lead. Tech Lead should read the HLD/LLD to ensure they are complete and time the review time and add 1 hour to allow developer the time needed to read the documentation and allow time the developer to ask questions to close gaps on missing requirements.

Once the business and the tech lead sort out these issues a developer should not code until all gaps are filled.

If you do, you will be doing rework on the project, thus costing time which as we all know == MONEY.

Team work

Team work is the key important part of any project along with communication. Always communicate and work hard and do your best.

Assignments

DUhG

If you see that something does not work in Visual Studio because it is not set as an assignment on a property.

 

Include the = symbol.

 

Example

 

li.select;

 

Will not work

 

li.select = true; //will.

 

 

Change My Documents

Ability to change the My Documents path is restricted.

This setting can restrict the ability to change the current path of My Documents folder.

Click here to run a free scan for registry errors

Description:
Every user on a computer has some files and folders of personal use. The my documents folder is the users personal folder where he normally saves all his documents, pictures, music and other personal files. If more than one user account is created on the computer, windows creates the my documents folder for each account. This setting disables the users ability to change the default location/path of the my documents folder. The user can invoke the my documents properties dialog by right-clicking the folder, but the access to change the folder location is denied. For this, go to start > run menu, enter regedit and navigate to the registry path listed below. You can create a dword value disablepersonaldirchange, if this value does not exist. Now, right-click and modify the value to 1 which can restrict change in folder path. However, if you want to enable the changes, delete the value name disablepersonaldirchange. The changes take effect after a restart or logoff.

Level: Recommended For Experts Only

Registry Entries

Click here to run a free scan for registry errors

·         Path: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\]

·         Location: Current User

·         Value Name: DisablePersonalDirChange

·         Data Type: DWORD (DWORD Value)

·         Enabled Value: 1

·         Disabled Value: 0

·         Action Type: Add an Entry

Screenshots

Click here to run a free scan for registry errors

First, click the Start button, and select Run. In the resulting dialog box, type "regedit"

Second, go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\] and create a DWORD value "DisablePersonalDirChange.

Third, right-click on "DisablePersonalDirChange" and select 'Modify'.

Finally, set the "Value Data" to 1in the textbox provided and click on 'OK' to enable

 

 

For Loop

for (initializer; condition; iterator) {
// code to execute while condition is true
}

Enable Remote Connections in SQL Express

Read the following article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;914277

 

To enable remote connections on the instance of SQL Server 2005 and to turn on the SQL Server Browser service, use the SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration tool. The Surface Area Configuration tool is installed when you install SQL Server 2005.

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Enable remote connections for SQL Server 2005 Express or SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition

You must enable remote connections for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that you want to connect to from a remote computer. To do this, follow these steps:

1.     Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.

2.     On the SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration page, click Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.

3.     On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, expand Database Engine, click Remote Connections, click Local and remote connections, click the appropriate protocol to enable for your environment, and then click Apply.

Note Click OK when you receive the following message:

Changes to Connection Settings will not take effect until you restart the Database Engine service.

4.     On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, expand Database Engine, click Service, click Stop, wait until the MSSQLSERVER service stops, and then click Start to restart the MSSQLSERVER service.

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Enable the SQL Server Browser service

If you are running SQL Server 2005 by using an instance name and you are not using a specific TCP/IP port number in your connection string, you must enable the SQL Server Browser service to allow for remote connections. For example, SQL Server 2005 Express is installed with a default instance name of Computer Name\SQLEXPRESS. You are only required to enable the SQL Server Browser service one time, regardless of how many instances of SQL Server 2005 you are running. To enable the SQL Server Browser service, follow these steps.

Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to, or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you choose to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

1.     Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Surface Area Configuration.

2.     On the SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration page, click Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.

3.     On the Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections page, click SQL Server Browser, click Automatic for Startup type, and then click Apply.

Note When you click the Automatic option, the SQL Server Browser service starts automatically every time that you start Microsoft Windows.

4.     Click Start, and then click OK.

Note When you run the SQL Server Browser service on a computer, the computer displays the instance names and the connection information for each instance of SQL Server that is running on the computer. This risk can be reduced by not enabling the SQL Server Browser service and by connecting to the instance of SQL Server directly through an assigned TCP port. Connecting directly to an instance of SQL Server through a TCP port is beyond the scope of this article. For more information about the SQL Server Browser server and connecting to an instance of SQL Server, see the following topics in SQL Server Books Online:

• SQL Server Browser Service
• Connecting to the SQL Server Database Engine
• Client Network Configuration

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Create exceptions in Windows Firewall

These steps apply to the version of Windows Firewall that is included in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and in Windows Server 2003. If you are using a different firewall system, see your firewall documentation for more information.

If you are running a firewall on the computer that is running SQL Server 2005, external connections to SQL Server 2005 will be blocked unless SQL Server 2005 and the SQL Server Browser service can communicate through the firewall. You must create an exception for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that you want to accept remote connections and an exception for the SQL Server Browser service.

SQL Server 2005 uses an instance ID as part of the path when you install its program files. To create an exception for each instance of SQL Server, you must identify the correct instance ID. To obtain an instance ID, follow these steps:

1.     Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

2.     In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click the SQL Server Browser service in the right pane, right-click the instance name in the main window, and then click Properties.

3.     On the SQL Server Browser Properties page, click the Advanced tab, locate the instance ID in the property list, and then click OK.

To open Windows Firewall, click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click OK.

Create an exception for SQL Server 2005 in Windows Firewall

To create an exception for SQL Server 2005 in Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

1.     In Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Program.

2.     In the Add a Program window, click Browse.

3.     Click the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe executable program, click Open, and then click OK.

Note The path may be different depending on where SQL Server 2005 is installed. MSSQL.1 is a placeholder for the instance ID that you obtained in step 3 of the previous procedure.

4.     Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each instance of SQL Server 2005 that needs an exception.

Create an exception for the SQL Server Browser service in Windows Firewall

To create an exception for the SQL Server Browser service in Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

1.     In Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Program.

2.     In the Add a Program window, click Browse.

3.     Click the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe executable program, click Open, and then click OK.

Note The path may be different depending on where SQL Server 2005 is installed.

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

 

 

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all and I am looking forward to a happy, prosperous, healthy and knowledge filled year.  I wish everyone goodness and joy.  Remember to focus on your family and loved ones.

 

This year I will be looking to achieve a weekly blog post to reflect on the week.

 

Moojjoo

12/21/2008 - Code thoughts

I have been wondering what a laptop is like with just ubuntu.  I am a .NET guy and I would have to convert to Apache, PHP, mySQL.  Which are all free.

 

__________________________________________

Robert B. Dannelly, Jr. MCTS

http://www.mmwebs.com/

http://moojjoo.blogspot.com/