Sam Nasr

Microsoft recently released a compatability pack allowing users of Office 2000, XP, and 2003 to be able to open, edit, and save files in the new 2007 format. This applies to Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) files. Before installing the compatability pack, users should be sure that all office updates are in place. To download this free utility, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&DisplayLang=en

Microsoft released SP1 for Visual Studio 2005 earlier this month. To view all of the new features in VS2005 along with SP1 enhancements, go to http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/88fx1xy0(VS.80).aspx To download SP1, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=BB4A75AB-E2D4-4C96-B39D-37BAF6B5B1DC&mg_id=10055&displaylang=en#Overview For related issues with installing SP1, go to http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=928957

Q: Do you know the date when Microsoft will end support for classic Asp and VB6? A: Primary support ended in April of 2005 for those products. They are currently in the "extended support lifecycle" which means that we only provide free security fixes. That will be ending next year in April and then there will only be the "online" support of KB articles that are already published. If you have a customer still using them, I highly recommend you upgrade them, as that technology just isn't up to the task of dealing with Today's types of security, scalability or reliability requirements. Thanks to Bill Steele (Microsoft) for providing this info first hand.

ComputerWorld has conducted a salary survery for a large variety of developers. It also provides a breakdown per region and vertical industry. To view these results and see how your salary compares, go to the 2006 Salary Survey . In addition, check out other related articles compiled by ComputerWorld. * Salary Survey 2006: Smart Salary Tool For Comparing Pay http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/1004849/209182/41105/2/ * 2006 Salary Survey Blog: 'I Want a Raise' http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/1004849/209182/41106/2/ * Gender Gap: Women's Paychecks Still Lag Men's http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/1004849/209182/41104/2/

I came across an article from Computer World that looks at Overseas outsourcing in a different light. Typically the argument has been cost vs. quality, but in this article many are saying outsourcing is becoming a necesary evil due to lack of resources in the western hemisphere. A shortage of IT graduates from Western universities is leading companies to call on developing countries to meet research demand, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said today. To read the full article, go to http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004836&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1

Q: I have a For-Next loop where intensive processing takes place. I would like the application to respond other events during execution of this code. A: The method DoEvents() will handle this requirement. By placing a call to DoEvents at the top of the loop, this method will process all messages queued from the Operating System, including shutting down the application. Using the DoEvents() method requires a reference to System.Windows.Forms.dll. Furthermore, the DoEvents() method is found in the class System.Windows.Forms.Application. Private Sub btn1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btn1.Click Dim intCounter as Integer For intCounter = 1 To 1000 DoEvents() 'located in System.Windows.Forms.Application 'Processing Procedure here Next End Sub

For those that missed the last SIG meeting on VB 2005, you can catch it Monday night (Nov. 6th). I have been asked to give the VB 2005 presentation at a local community college. The presentation is scheduled for Monday, November 6th, 2006, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. If you're interested, please e-mail me for more information at sam@ClevelandDotNet.info .