BtV's corner

Embedded databases

2008-01-11T14:03:00Z

Lately I was looking around for an embedded database for a winforms application so it can run off-line and synchronize when online.

I didn't have the time for any poc yet, but here are the options I found for now...

MySql Embedded

Free
http://www.mysql.com/oem/

Microsoft SQL Server Compact

VistaDB

Commercial: $189 (license fee for multiple client deployments is confusing, have to check it out)
http://www.vistadb.net/

Greetz
BtV

Gemini + excel

2008-01-10T15:35:12Z

This week I started a new project for my current client so I created a fresh excel file to start planning the different project features. Since I already heavely use our company Gemini website for issue/task-tracking I wondered if I could combine those two.

You can indeed export a Gemini issue list to excel but I want to integrate Gemini data into an existing excel, containing more data then the task list.

Webservices to the rescue. Gemini offers a whole set of webservices for external applications to integrate with it. Huray! Only thing is that my client is an Exce file. Excel is surprisingly stil not very well capable to work with webservices. But, of course, you can trigger a webservice by simply requesting a url and process it's return data, in this case an xml dataset.

First task to do is enable HttpGet in the Gemini web.config.

OK, now we can address the webservice by requesting an url. I want to get the issues for a specific project version so I can use:
https://<MyGeminiUrl>/webservices/gemini.asmx/GetVersionIssues?accessCode=<MyAccessCode>&versionID=<MyVersionId>

(the accessCode is defined in the Gemini web.config)

OK, we can load the data from Gemini, so let's now setup our excel file to consume this webservice. Create a new worksheet and start importing from an xml data source:

As file name provide the url and choose Open:

You will get a message that a schema if not provided, just discard this and click Ok:

Next you can choose the location yuo want to add the webservice data into the worksheet:

Ok, now we have data into our excel file. But his datatable is rather messy containing rubbish:

... as well as your actual Gemini task information:

So let's clean up this table by first hiding the columns that don't contain any relevant infoirmation:

Next you will have a lot of blank rows above your task data, you can filter them out by unchecking the blanks from the column filter options (grey arrow right to the column name):

After renaming the column names we finally we have a nice sheet with our tasks for a specific version:

Of course nothing usefulle if we don't have to possibility to refresh the downloaded data. Our main goal was not having to reproduce the tasks into Gemini as wel as excel. So just use the refresh option into the Data ribbon. This will check all dataconnections in and get the latest data from it's source:

Greetz
BtV

Regular Expressions for End Users

2007-10-04T11:53:00Z

Lately I use Regular Expressions quiet often to handle some validation rules in my winforms application. The idea is to store the regex patterns in the database so they can be edited by the end user (e.g. administrator of the application). Technically this works just fine, but... most end users only have littitle to none knowledge about the syntax, if all they ever heard of regular expressions. This creates a problem because I don't want the customer to have to rely on an external consultant to change their business rules.

The first version of the regex pattern editor I implemented was just a plain textbox, mainly to give myself easy means of configuration.

Now I'm ready for a second version, I want to bring this editor up to level of an end user, giving rich support to create even most complex patterns (scenarios). In my Visual Studio 2005 I already use the Regex Kit Visualizers from Roy Osherove quiet a while (do check out his tools site and blog). This debug regex visualizer gives great support, and made me think I should have something simular in my application.

Why re-building if such great tool already exists and it's totally free to use and download. So I re-used parts of his tool and this is the result...

[Animated gif]

This custom editor let's the end user create a regex pattern (the green question mark leads to a help file with the syntax explained with samples), beneith the patterns is written out in human language thanks to Roy, at the right the end user can insert unlimited test values
(also stored in my database, per pattern) and they will highlight orange or green depening the match with the pattern.

Now all end users should be able to adjust the validation configuration !!!
At least they have no excuse to get started :-)

Greetz
BtV

Sql Server Management studio boost

2007-01-31T16:02:00Z

I just bumped into an interesting article on Euan Garden's blog on how to boost the startup of SSMS.
Happy readings & be carefull !

Greetz
BtV

Microsoft URL Reputation Service

2006-09-30T05:23:00Z

Yesterday evening I joined an MSDN evening 'What's New in Internet Explorer 7 for Developers' at Microsoft Diegem, presented by Cyra Richardson.

I must admit that I didn't spend much time into the new features of IE7 yet, so most stuff was new for me. A lot of new features indeed, but one called my attention. The Url Reputation Service (URS), what's in he name.

Because Microsoft is placing security as a hot topic the last years, they wanted to do better with IE7. One issue with making browsing more secury is trying to stop or prevent phishing. This is where URS comes in. Default behavior into IE7 is that the browser will validate it's url's with this online Microsoft service (if a local client database doesn't contain this url). URS at there side, use their own lists of safe and unsafe website's and also use third party phishing databases.

When the website is not listed as a phishing site but looks very suspisious (e.g. using an ip address as url) you'll getting a warning to be carefull about this website. Also a message is send somehow (by user action or not I don't recall) to a URS responsable (grader) who will check out this website and owner manualy. This means checking the registration paper, maybe call the coppany and so on.

Maybe for most users this is a good service and will prevent a lot phishing oing on, BUT, I wonder how Microsoft will garantee a high level of privacy. I don't like to publish every url I'm browsing to to Microsoft, what a treasure they will collect. Being a carefull person I could think they could use this info to gain deep inside knowledge for their future number one (as they sayl) search engine...

Besides the privacy issue, I also would believe that this URS will also slow down browsing. Once IE7 is public, what infrastructure will Microsoft need to ensure a good q.o.s.? A lot of questions raise. I'm also curious about the reactions of European Union, those two are not

As soon as IE7 is on my laptop, I'll be looking for the option to disable URS, untill I know more...

Happy browsing,
BtV

Save the Whale... euh... Orca !

2006-09-29T14:22:00Z

If you have some spare time and a broadband connection you can download a 3.5Gb virtual pc image containing Microsoft Pre-release Software Visual Studio Code Name "Orcas" - September Community Technology Preview (CTP).

Greetz,
BtV

Rules & Standards

2006-07-28T08:09:00Z

Find some interesting readings on http://www.ssw.com.au/SSW/Standards/Default.aspx

Greetz
BtV

Winforms 2.0 Control Tab Order

2006-06-30T19:32:00Z

Browsing a new book I bought today (Windows Forms 2.0 Programming, isbn 0321267966) I bumped into the control tab orders. In the past, to my knowledge, it was quiet cumbersome to properly manage the perfect tab order using the property grid.

Now in Visual Studio 2005 we have some design time help build in. Choosing the Tab Control menu from the View menu gives you a visual help to set the ordering.

All the controls on the forms get a blue box on top with the order number.

To change the order you simply click the blue boxes in the desired tab order and you're done!

Life can be simple, sometimes... :-)

Greetz
BtV

Some downloads

2006-06-12T04:55:00Z

some interesting stuff for all who wants to escape the burning sun :-)

MsBuild Sidekick
MSBuild Sidekick is a tool for MSBuild Engine users providing Graphic User Interface front-end for editing MSBuild project files.

Sql 2005 Service Manager
Manage SQL Server, SQL Agent, Analysis Services, Full Text Search, MSDTC,SSIS and Reporting Services. Supports all SQL2005 and SQL2000 Editions. Manage services from the system tray (like the 2000 one).

SQL Server 2005 Report Packs
Free Microsoft Reporting Services 2005 reports for:
- Integration Services
- SharePoint Portal Server 2003
- Dynamics Axapta 3.0
- Dynamics Navision 4.0
- Dynamics Great Plains 8.0
- Dynamics Great Plains 9.0
- Internet Information Services (IIS)
- Financial Reporting

Colligo Reader for Sharepoint 2003
Colligo Reader is a free product that lets you easily download SharePoint content and read it while you are working offline.

Visual WebGui Enterprise Manager
A new database tool that is based on Microsoft's "Enterprise Manager" and is actually a natural evolution of the popular "ASP.NET enterprise manager" that provides similar capabilities with a fully AJAX enabled UI and multiple database type support.

Greetz
BtV

Sql 2005 Reports

2006-06-09T04:45:00Z

Today I learned a new option in Sql 2005, not that hidden but I wasn't aware of it.

In SQL 2000 there was an overview of the database sizes per table and so on. In Sql 2005 you have Reports. Those Reports are listed in the toolbar on top of the Summary pane and differ by the item you select in the Object Explorer pane (server, database).

By the way, these reports are rendered by the ReportViewer in local mode (no Reporting Services used).

Greetz
BtV

MSDN & TechNet evenings

2006-06-05T07:49:00Z

I noticed that many people don't know about the MSDN and TechNet evenings. These are short free info sessions by Microsoft. I have to admit that they don't always have superb content or speakers, but mostly you get a good overview on the given topic.

Besides attending already a dozen MSDN evenings over the past years, I also like the TechNet evening since these aren't my direct professional focus and this way I do get informed on new infrastructure technologies. I know I probably won't install them myselve at customer side, but it's always nice to be aware of the possibillities and to be an added value in such discussions.

The sessions aren't as big as the devdays or such, only about 50 attendees are allowed, free drinks and a small cold buffet is provided. And, the bar is open afer the session :-)

IIS7

2006-06-04T09:11:00Z

Be sure to visit the IIS 7 website if you're into web development and want to know what's comming up in the near future.

NDoc vs Microsoft

2006-06-02T12:15:00Z

Using NDoc for class library documentation generation is great... in .Net 1.0/1.

Since NDoc isn't updated for over a year there's no support for .Net 2.0. Well not updated... Kevin Downs, the creator of NDoc, has started working on NDoc 2.0 again after having to tackle some personal issues. No time frame is given so we just can wait and see. There's no release expected in the near future.

Microsoft also has an xml-to-helpfile tool of course, but they didn't want to release this tool to the public. Due to many customer complaints on 03/206 they, al last, announced to prepare their tool to make it public available by the end of June 2006.

Looking forward to see one of the above tools been published so we can generate a nice helpfile again...

Greetz
BtV