August 2005 Entries
via Microsoft
The folks at MS introduced the Provider Toolkit. If you aren't familiar, it makes ASP.NET 2.0 much more flexible, expandable and customizable than before. I know the core team of DotNetNuke incorporated the model with version 3.x. However, you may not have known that you can implement the design pattern into ASP.NET 1.1 Apps today!
Check it out here
via Microsoft
If you didn't get a chance to attend TechEd 2005 and see all the new things coming down the pike soon, you can grab your free copy of the hands-on labs that were available to all attendees. I don't know about you, but I learn a lot better by getting my hands around those samples.
Check 'er out here ... and thank me later :-0
via AC by way of Microsoft
It appears there are some major changes slated for RTM of ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Web Developer 2005 from Whidbey Beta 2 to RTM.
Here's a summary of changes effected between the two releases:
Migration and Compilation
Migration Wizard
Generating Classes in code-behind
Adding a definition for a base class in page directives for page types in code behind classes
Standards
Default will be XHTML 1.0 Transitional for ASP.NET 2.0 rendering and new Web Developer Web pages as opposed to XHTML 1.0 Strict markup
Licensing
LICX model will use the same model as Windows Forms in 2.0!
Security
IDE & Project System
Data...
via Pandora.com
Were you one of those forerunners in high school or college who was on top of all the British, European or U.S. College bands out there? Or perhaps, did you have a friend like that who you relied upon to recommend those killer bands you would enjoy? Well, the Music Genome Project has created a web site that'll be your friend. I just fired it up and entered U2 as my point of reference. It plays the first 10 hours free of similar bands that you'll enjoy. I'm into my 3rd song and it's doing a good job so...
I just started a new project. The cool thing is - I get to develop it in Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2. By the time it goes live, the launch in November will have come and gone. I am still writing technical documents, but should start coding soon.
This project will not require MCMS so I won't be able to refine my skillset in that regard - bummer. However, I'll keep up with the blogs while head deep in some ASP.NET 2.0 / VB 2005 goodness. So, you'll be seeing more of the new VS 2005 revelations from myself, sprinkled...
via Stefan Goßner
Here's an oldie but goodie... Stefan explains a key technique in providing high performance MCMS web sites. The key is output caching in template files and user controls.
Here's a snippet:
All of the above is done by the following method which needs to be added to your global.asax.cs:
protected override string GetVaryByCustomStringToken(HttpContext context, string token) { if (token.ToLower() == "cmschannel") return CmsHttpContext.Current.Channel.Guid; else return base.GetVaryByCustomStringToken(context, token); }
Read the full article at Channel based ASP.NET output caching for user web controls
Intranet Journal has a series of articles “intended to help you understand the capabilities of the product (Sharepoint), as well as provide tips and tricks, development ideas, information from Microsoft, information from the community, and perhaps some samples.”
So far there are seven posted:
In Part 1 Paul Schaeflein, begins his series with a look at the history, features, and applications of Microsoft's SharePoint portal server.
Part 2 looks at the basic installation of a corporate intranet and some basic customization options.
Part 3 shows you how to build a searchable telephone directory for your intranet, complete with partial name search.
Part 4...
SWEET! I received my TechEd 2005 Conference DVD Set from the Brown (UPS) dude this morning! Now I can relive the sessions I didn't get to attend and brush up on the one's I attended - ALL OFFLINE.
Good start to a Monday, most definitely.
Believe it or not, scientists in Singapore have developed a battery powered by urine. The prototype battery produced about 1.5 volts, the same as a standard AA battery, and runs for about 90 minutes.
Benefits include:
Compared to batteries they are
smaller
more efficient
less expensive
biodegradable
The most applicable use of these batteries are for healthcare test kits called biochips.
Read more about it from these sources:
National Geographic article
Scientists develop pee-powered battery
New urine-powered battery
Have you ever had this problem happen to you?
“go to a page, fill in the form values, and click the Submit button and... nothing would happen. No error. No message on the screen. No sending to a blank page. No postback. Just nothing.”
The problem could very well be a hotfix for the .NET Framework 1.1, Specifically, the javascript function ValidatorCommonOnSubmit inside the file WebUIValidation.js
Read the complete scoop over at Scott Mitchell's blog...
» Form with Validators Not Submitting on a Rebuilt ASP.NET 1.1 Box
I'm about a year late, but I just had to share this article written by Scott Mitchell on MSDN. It deals with “how your ASP.NET pages and controls can add client-side code“. But it's not just that. He provides some very useful routines that we should have in our own shop. We have rolled our own with each project. However, this article shows how easy it is to standardize these common client side scripts into classes.
Here are some of the highlights:
Creating a Base Class as the Foundation for Adding Client-Side Script
Adding Client-Side Script from the Code-Behind Class
Executing Client-Side Code...
[via Bil Simser]
Well, you would think it is Bil Simser day here at the Waynester.net blog. I couldn't resist referencing this next posting though - catch up time, I guess. It's related to the discussion on ghosting and unghosting pages in SharePoint. There seems to be a lot of confusion about it lately. Bil provides his steps in avoiding it all together. He also gives relevant resource links on the big picture of Ghosting - the big picture and some humor mixed in.
I see dead pages
[via Bil Simser]
Here's an in-depth article by Bil explaining how to correct problems with InfoPath forms included with Microsoft WSS Site Templates out-of-the-box. In the following excerpt from his article you'll see how easy he makes it to overcome these potential challenges.
“We'll walk through fixing the Travel Request site as it's one of those ones that needs some extra care before you can start using it. You can use the principles here for any of the other templates. “
Find the entire article at Bil's blog here » http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2005/08/09/421993.aspx
[via Bil Simser]
Bil has taken the challenge and ran with it. He has created a Centralized Community (Project) where anyone can share or contribute Sharepoint Template Business Solutions. If you are needing a templated solution for Sharepoint, this is the place to look first. If you have a solution that you feel would benefit the Sharepoint Community, please share it!
Here's the article http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2005/08/11/422281.aspx
Here's the SourceForge Project Site where it lives: http://sourceforge.net/projects/sptemplates/
Thanks Bil!
[via Jeffrey Palermo]
Ever wonder how to change those ugly url's into Friendly (Google-happy) one's - Jeff shows us a sample.
How to do Url Rewriting with just an HttpHandler (without the side-effects) - level 400
[via Carl Franklin]
Exclusive: Mark Miller shows off *new* refactoring features for VB 2005
The refactoring support for VB 2005 is being supplied by Developer Express
Mark Miller, Chief Architect of the IDE Tools Division at Developer Express (he's the guy who designed CodeRush and Refactor!), shows off the new features of refactoring support available to VB 2005 developers in this two part video, totalling 22 minutes.
Part A (1 of 2) http://perseus.franklins.net/refactor3a.html
Part B (2 of 2) http://perseus.franklins.net/refactor3b.html
These are flash movies created with TechSmith Camtasia. They total about 18MB
Enjoy!
Heather has posted a download for Tab Navigation that can be used on Sharepoint or any other web site. This was written by a fellow coworker, Chris Lasley.
Here's the link: Tab Navigation using CSS only - Great for SharePoint
This week I am in Jacksonville Florida. Home of the MCMS world-renowned co-author and MVP, Andrew Connell. My mission? To learn more MCMS, by golly. And after one day under my belt, I'm feeling better for it already. AC has a hunger and desire to write better software, to improve processes and save the client money. He's always on the bleeding, cutting-edge and I enjoy being around people like him. It motivates me to be better at what I do.
As I mentioned earlier, Andrew Connell, along with Lim Mei Ying, Stefan Goßner and Angus Logan are expecting their Advanced book...
I once was on stage with Don Box at a DevelopMentor Conference. The occasion was 'some of us attendee geeks' were trying to win a Compaq PDA. The theme Don came up with for us to beg for it was “Stupid human tricks”. There was about a dozen of us geeks drooling over this device and I had to think quick on my feet to Stand Out. Well, I didn't win and thought I had the best trick offer - but I've gotten off topic...
... The same Don Box has blogged an encouraging experience with BizTalk 2006 Beta 1 install...
Google and Yahoo! are hiring away hundreds of top engineers from high tech's most prestigious firms.
"...just about everyone is a bit astonished at the fearsome force swallowing up some of tech's best and brightest."
Read which superstars from Microsoft, eBay and Amazon have been snapped up (and more insight) at ...
» BusinessWeek online