All Things Microsoft AI

Orcas: code name for the next version of Visual Studio, due in 2007 or 2008. One of the big features of the new VS is Language-Integrated Query (LINQ). LINQ is a breakthrough technology that eliminates the impedance mismatch among different data domains. With LINQ, developers do not need to learn separate query syntaxes when querying over diverse data domains such as XML, Relational and Objects. LINQ has been very well received both last year at its announcement at the PDC, and more recently at Tech-Ed in Boston. Orcas, the next version of Visual Studio, includes LINQ infrastructure that enables this powerful combination of languages and API’s, as well as concrete support in multiple programming languages and data domains. Orcas is based on the .Net Framework 3.0, which is comprised of the existing .NET Framework 2.0 components, including ASP.NET, WinForms, ADO.NET, CLR, and additional base class libraries. It will also include Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communicati...

Q: I have an ASP.Net application where I would like to pass the value of a variable to JavaScript code on the same page. How can I do that? A: An article found at http://aspalliance.com/ArticleViewer.aspx?aid=851&pid=-1 explains exactly how to do that. First, place the script in a separate .js file. Then pass the required value to the script using Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptBlock(). In ASP.Net 2.0 Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptBlock() is used to download and store a script in a browser's cache for quicker reponse in the browser. Another similar method is Page.ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(). This method is best used when you have a JavaScript function that you want to initiate when the page is loaded. The code, including this method call, would be placed in the Page_Load() event handler. For more information, go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnaspp/html/JAVAwASP2.asp .

For those developing web parts, Microsoft has released " Best Practices for Developing Web Parts for SharePoint Products and Technologies " . This can be accessed at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/odc_sp2003_ta/html/ODC_WSSWebPartTips.asp

During the last SIG meeting, one of the members asked if multiple web parts could be deployed simultaneously. There was no obvious way to use the SharePoint UI to import multiple web parts at once. However, other solutions are available by use of STSADM.EXE and InstallAssemblies.EXE. STSADM.EXE To use the Stsadm.exe command to deploy a Web Part package on a server computer running Windows SharePoint Services, open a command prompt, and then type the following command: stsadm.exe -o addwppack -filename Web_Part_Pack_name [-url URL] [-globalinstall] [-force] A series of these commands can be entered into a batch file and used to import multiple web parts simultaneously. STSADM.EXE is a standard SharePoint utility, and is installed by default on the SharePoint server. InstallAssemblies InstallAssemblies is an assembly installation tool for Windows SharePoint Services. The tool is designed for use within development and testing environments. By default, InstallAssemblies will start in int...

Microsoft announced today that office 2007 will be delayed for the purpose of shipping a better product. Different versions of Office 2007 will shipping at different times in 2007. The 2 business editions are: Office Professional Plus 2007 Office Enterprise 2007 The 6 consumer versions are: Office Home 2007 Office Student 2007 Office Professional 2007 Office Small Business 2007 Office Standard 2007 Office Ultimate 2007 edition. The business editions are now expected to ship by the end of 2006, a few months later than the previously announced October date. Consumer editions are expected to ship in "early 2007", instead of the January 2007. To try Office 2007 Beta2 online, please go to http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/beta/testdrive.mspx

As a follow-up to this month's meeting, listed below are a few SharePoint 2003 Web Part resources. Web Part Template for Visual Studio http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=CAC3E0D2-BEC1-494C-A74E- 75936B88E3B5&displaylang=en Son of Smart Part http://www.gotdotnet.com/workspaces/workspace.aspx?id=6cfaabc8-db4d-41c3-8a88-3f974a7d0abe “The Rational Guide to Building SharePoint Web Parts” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972688862/qid=1151515832/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-1550737- 3506543?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 “Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Resource Kit” http://www.bookpool.com/ss?qs=sharepoint+resource+kit&x=0&y=0 This list has been incorporated into the PowerPoint presentation. The presentation is titled SharePoint 2003 Web Parts and is listed under the Previous Presentations section of the SIG web site .

Q: How do you retrieve the Identity value of a row that was last inserted in a SQL Server DB? A: SCOPE_IDENTITY, IDENT_CURRENT, and @@IDENTITY can all be used to return values inserted into IDENTITY columns. However, each one has its own scope limitations. Scope refers to a specific module (i.e. a stored procedure, trigger, function, batch). SCOPE_IDENTITY will return last identity values generated in any table in the current session, but within the current scope. IDENT_CURRENT returns the value generated for a specific table in any session and any scope. It is not limited by scope and session, but it is limited to a specified table. @@IDENTITY will return the last IDENTITY column value inserted across any scope in the current session, but it is not limited to a specific scope. For more information, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/tsqlref/ts_sa-ses_6n8p.asp

Microsoft recently announced a new line of products designed for security at all levels, called ForeFront. The Forefront product line currently consists of the following products: - Forefront Client Security (formerly called Microsoft Client Protection) - Forefront Security for Exchange Server (currently called Microsoft Antigen for Exchange) - Forefront Security for SharePoint (currently called Antigen for SharePoint) - Antigen for Instant Messaging - Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Release Candidate Athough some of these products (i.e. ISA) are not new to the market, they have been incorporated into the new package now known as "ForeFront". For more information visit ForeFront homepage . Also, be sure to see the FAQ section and video demo .

Microsoft recently released SharePoint Software Development Kit v3.0. To download the SDK, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=05E0DD12-8394-402B-8936-A07FE8AFAFFD&displaylang=en

Microsoft Technical Preview Featuring Vista, Office and Exchange Microsoft® is making a special appearance in Cleveland, OH on Wendesday, June 21, 2006, to give a presentation to Greater Cleveland PC User Group members (and guests) about technical details of the upcoming releases of Vista, Exchange and Office. Microsoft experts will be giving in-depth technical presentations and demos and there will be Q&A time. In addition, they will be providing refreshments and raffle prizes. As with all GCPCUG meetings, this is free and open to the public. GCPCUG requests that each attendee be included in an RSVP email to me@RLCoppedge.com to insure that there is enough seating and food. Please include the number of people attending in the RSVP. Event Information Wendesday, June 21, 2006, 5:00 to 9:30 PM Cleveland Renaissance Hotel Ballroom B 24 Public Square Cleveland, OH 44113 (216) 696-5600 Free and open to the public Subject Content Microsoft Vista - This presentation will serve as a deep ...

Here's a little tip on SharePoint that I wanted to share with everyone. When debugging a web part on a SharePooint site and there are problems bringing up the page, try the following. Manually enter the URL of the page in question and add "?contents=1" to the end of the URL. Once you press enter, the page returned is the "Manage Web Part Page". This will list all web parts on that page, including their title, type, display on page, and personalized properties. This will help identify if other web parts on the page are causing problems with opening the page.

Listed below is an example of file access in VB.Net, utilizing many of the I/O functions. First the routine creates a file, then deletes it. This routine is used only for demonstration purposes. Sub FilePurge() Static dtLastPurgeTime As DateTime Dim dtNow As DateTime Dim intCounter As Integer Dim Files() As String Dim strGUID As String, strTXTName As String While True strGUID = System.Guid.NewGuid.ToString strTXTName = "C:\Temp\STB_" & strGUID & ".TXT" 'Create a uniquely named .TXT file Dim swTXT As StreamWriter swTXT = File.AppendText(strTXTName) swTXT.WriteLine(strGUID) swTXT.Close() 'Wait 2 seconds before proceeding System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(2000) dtNow = Now Dim lTimeDiff As Long = DateDiff(DateInterval.Hour, dtLastPurgeTime, dtNow) If lTimeDiff > 24 And Now.Hour = 22 Then 'Check if last purge was more then 24 hours ago and current hour is 10PM 'Purge *.TXT files Files = Directory.GetFiles("C:\Temp", "STB_*.TXT"...

Listed below are upcoming events in the Cleveland area pertaining to .Net development: June 8th: ONSQL SIG Meeting June 10th: GCPCUG General Meeting June 22nd: MSDN Event June 27th: C#/VB.Net SIG If you have any questions about these events, please e-mail me at sam@clevelanddotnet.info .