Semut's References

Spam Messages and Messenger Software in Mobile Devices. And How to Remove the Spammer

2012-02-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

Many people are using their mobile devices to communicate nowadays. Messenger, facebook, SMS and etc in one device. And to serve the users needs, most mobile devices will come equip with multi-protocol messenger built in or free to download and install. However, because these free multi-procotol messenger software are not the de facto owner of these messenging protocol like GTalk or MSN messenger. They lack of proper update in term of protocol support and vulnerability fixe that big corp like Microsoft can offer. Because of that, spammer and malware are taking advantages of this and exploiting these loopholes. Thus, many mobile devices user are getting scam, junk messages from their mobile devices messengers.

Recently, i have just removed a long time MSN messenger spam+bot contact of mine that has Artifical Inteligent that can prevent typical messenger contact removal from mobile phone. Logon to latest version of PC Microsoft Windows Live. Then click - Tools - Options - Privacy - Block the contact. Select no for any invites that pop up later sent by the bot contact. That is the AI and trick of the bot contact to try to stay in the contact list. Most software/freeware will fail to remove the contact because these invites are invisble in most software other than genuine MS Live Messenger. Spammers or malwares are exploiting the loopholes of those software.Block list is centralized, so, you remove it in MSN Live PC would remove it in mobile devices or other multi-protocol messenger like Miranda/Pidgin later.

I believe there are more of these kind of exploits going on in the internet/mobile internet to be precise nowadays. Open source software economy has a common weakness which is getting proper support. Proprietary software company on the other hand has the obligation to help to fix and support.

Disable Nokia On Screen Keypad for the applications by editing JAR (j2ME) manifest file without having to repacking or make use of programming tools

2011-04-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

I have a phone that runs on Symbian S60v5. The phone is a cool phone as I can use it for GPS navigation, decent camera, ergonomic (no awkward function/design like some other phones i have used before that put me off. Design and function make sense to me, no impractical but just down to earth.), sturdy , stable signal reception and good call quality.

However, like any phone OSes, there are always bugs in it and Symbian makes no exception. And of all bugs in Symbian S60v5, there is one particular bug in the Symbian that really annoys me. It is this Java Suite Setting that sits inside the Installed App menu (Symbian Application Manager). The Installed Applications has a memory constraint bug that it cannot load up if there are too many applications/games installed into your phone. Especially if you have upgraded your memory card.

When the Installed App could not load up. There is no way that you can change the Java Suite Settings of your Java application/game.
What is in the Java Suite Settings? You can turn off the on screen keypad and the default orientation of the application in it.

And without that, I need to live with games/application with a redundant ugly on screen keypad which I do not need knowing my phone is touch screen and those games/application support touch screen. On screen keypad is only needed if the applications/games required keypad to operate but not in this case.

I google quite a bit but the working solution that people proposed is to reduce the number of applications/games in your phone. This is not a solution because I need those applications/games.

So, how do i overcome the problem.

Edit the J2ME jar file before you install it to your phone. And it is not difficult too.

1. Download and install WinRAR.
2. Download the Jar file of your application.
3. Open the JAR file using WinRAR
4. Locate the manifest file. Normally in META-INF\MANIFEST.MF
5. Edit the manifest file using Notepad.

Add lines

Nokia-MIDlet-On-Screen-Keypad: no
Nokia-MIDlet-App-Orientation: portrait

or

Nokia-MIDlet-App-Orientation: landscape

6. Save and exit the notepad and WinRAR would prompt if you would want to update your archive. Select Yes.

That's all you need to do. Install the JAR again and you would find that the on screen keypad is gone and orientation default has been changed for your application/game.

Dos Prompt - Batch file programming - Preparing executables for deployment(more straightforward way)

2011-01-21T03:21:00.000-08:00

All I want to do is to get a set of binaries from projects in solution file (.NET win application) in the debug/release folder and put into one target folder so then I can quickly deploy into staging environment for testing.

I do not want to create the setup packages because I want to retain the pdb files in it (for debug version). I know this can be done using the package setup too and also some well build automation script to include debug database but too much of hassle and I want to do it across many projects. Also, I do not want to purchase another tool for simple stuff like this. All I want is a generic script for all kind of the projects.

So, here, I come out with a batch file

There are some approach in batch programming where a batch will read from another text file (the locations of the project). But i like to put all the location setting to the batch file. Easy to keep track and feel like in control all the time. Too many files to maintain not my preference that all.

Here goes the script.

cls

SET SOURCELOCATION="D:\Solution\"

SSET OUTPUTLOCATION="D:\Deployment"

SET FOLDER1=Project1

SET FOLDER2=Project2
SET FOLDER3=Project3

SET FOLDER4=Project4

SET FOLDER5=Project5

@echo off & setLocal EnableDELAYedeXpansion

pushd %SOURCELOCATION%

for /Lfor /L %%i in (1 1 5) do

(

echo.FOLDER%%i is !FOLDER%%i!

pushd !FOLDER%%i!
pushd "bin\Debug"

if not exist *.dll goto ERROR

mkdir %OUTPUTLOCATION%\!FOLDER%%i!

xcopy xcopy *.* %OUTPUTLOCATION%\!FOLDER%%i!

popd

popd

)

:QUIT echo Done EXIT /B 1

:ERROR echo Error occurredEXIT /B 1

Microsoft XPS Viewer would not print in Windows 7

2011-01-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

I need to delay the print job as there is no printer available for me to print. Therefore, I decided to save it as XPS for the print job and print it later when I am hook up to a printer in the network.

XPS is the format supported in Win 7. It is part of the windows installation.
So, i suppose, no issue would follow even though this would be my first time using the XPS.

Next day, I open the file using the Ms XPS viewer. Yes, it does the job nicely, i can see the print out clearly and it looks exactly like the actual print out. (what am i talking, it "is" the print out.)
Then, ok, it is time to print since i am hooked up to printer.

Click print, says successful. Then, go to the printer, nothing comes out. Try few more times, same thing.

I thought something is wrong with my printer. Try to print other thing. No issue. Only XPS viewer can't print. So, I figured out that it is XPS viewer printing issue.
I then, try to convert to other format like PDF using Paperport or paginated version using Fineprint. Nothing works.
Google it, the only working solution is
http://www.timbarcz.com/blog/HowToPrintXPSDocumentsEasyAs11a1aI233a45.aspx

This guy do not have XPS in Vista or XP where he needs to install the XPS software bottom up. Along the way, he has identify the bug in Ms XPS Viewer. My case is even Ms did install the XPS for me which should have learn from other people comment. Yet, the XPS viewer shipped in Win 7 is still buggy!!! How come no one ever complaint about this loudly? Unless... no one uses this XPS thingy.
I can confirm is XPS viewer bug because the when i print in Paperport or Fineprint.
Those programs would report error or something.
The solution I found based on the blog and some trial and error is
To install PrimoPdf - http://www.primopdf.com/index.aspx. And then print the XPS to the PrimoPdf. The reason why it works is that PrimoPdf is more lax and has additional error correction to the print out that gets send to it. Like this case, XPS viewer send buggy print script to the printer (in our case, the PrimoPdf). PrimoPdf corrects it and make the printing possible.

Good work PrimoPdf, you save the day for a bunch of Ms XPS users.

Resolving SSRS 2008 Deployment and Access Issues

2010-12-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

If you are coming from SSRS 2005 background. You would be accustomed to the fact that SSRS is part of SQL server and at the same time, it is a web application in IIS.
So, when you want to configure the report server, you would tinker the IIS and SQL server management studio.

However, once you have upgraded the SSRS to be 2008. You would feel lost at first that all these familiar ways of doing things have changed. So, now, it is no longer depending on IIS seems. It has it's own http.sys.

These are all good as in term of technology improvement and progress but at developer end, it is nothing pleasant but confusion and frustration when trying to troubleshoot the problem developers encounter, especially for experienced SSRS developers. They suddenly have turned into rookies. Ok, to help those experienced developers out there. This is my take to experienced guys as this is what i have been through too.
First thing first, you have to accept the fact that technology advance quicker than you thought, don't obsess to the old way of doing things. (This is a digression, just for laugh, don't take it seriously...:)).

Ok, the real deal is there are few new places that you need to check on. So quit those old habits and check items below.

1. Reporting Services Configuration Manager.
2. The familiar http://(YourServer)/Reports (report manager)
3. SQL Server Management Studio
4. C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS10.MSSQLSERVER\Reporting Services\ReportServer\rsreportserver.config
5. Checking status of URL for http.sys
6. Folder permission for virtual directory.
7. Visual Studio Project Setting.
8. The Run As Administrator permission when running the Internet Explorer.

Reporting Services Configuration Manager
----------------------------------------
Reporting Services Configuration Manager is a new dedicated configuration program to configure everything that you used to do in IIS in the past.

The common problem that you would face if you are using it in your own testing machine is that you can't connect to ReportManager URL using your browser. No matter what you do, you tweak your permission and etc. Out of many solutions that i have tried. (If i am positively sure i install everything correctly). The commonest problem would be the SSRS is trying to use SSL as the main connection to the report manager. May be someone would be needing that in the production server but not for developer. So, first thing, remove the Multiple SSL identities for Report Manager. iPV4 or iPV6. It should solve the report manager not being able to connect problem.

http://(YourServer)/Reports (report manager)
--------------------------------------------
This is the same old report manager but now, it has more in it. You have to assign windows login / domain user the permission to each of the folder . Especially the root. You need it for deploying using your IDE or report builder. You need to ensure roles below get assign to the Windows Login you use in your IDE/report builder.
- Browser
- Content Manager
- My Reports
- Publisher
- Report Builder.

SQL Server Management Studio
-----------------------------

This is the same as before, but one thing most commonly neglect in here is the user permission to the database schema. Report server still uses database and it has it own database schema. Make sure the ReportServer database has your user login configured in it.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS10.MSSQLSERVER\Reporting Services\ReportServer\rsreportserver.config
--------------------------------------------
This is the most obscure setting among all. It got me stuck for hours. Basically, the commonest issue is that the SSRS installer is being thoughtful to help to harden the security of the connection which most developers do not need.

Look for
<Add Key="SecureConnectionLevel" Value="2"/>
Change the value to be 0.

Status of URL for http.sys
-------------------------
If you are not using the default URL/virtual directory. You need to check this
Run
netsh http show urlacl

and compare it to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS10.MSSQLSERVER\Reporting Services\ReportServer\rsreportserver.config

if the setting matches the one running in http.sys

Delete the unwanted URL reservations:
netsh http delete urlacl [INSERT RESERVED URL HERE]

Permission for virtual folder
--------------------------
I don't recall i have seen the virtual folder for the report server. IN fact, there is no virtual folder etc anymore, everything is stored in database now. So, don't bother to crack your head to look for it and suspect it is folder permission problem.

However, there aresome places that you need to set the permission.

http://(yourmachine)/Reports or http://(yourmachine)/ReportServer (which ever work)

Run your IE with admin rights and then in site settings click security and in the setting, set it to admin for the user login.

After this, set this to folder as well . Click Home and then properties of each and set the credential you need.

Visual Studio Project Setting
-------------------------
Ensure the targetURL is "http://ServerName/ReportServer" and NOT http://ServerName/Reports".

I think that is all required for seasoned SSRS 2005 developer should they get stuck with SSRS 2008. Other problems beside above would stuff like firewall, incomplete installation, sharepoint (if it is to be used with sharepoint) and internet browser security setting which is not covered here.

The Run As Administrator permission when running the Internet Explorer
------------------
One of the security improvement in Windows (so called improvement) is that whenever you want to perform any system related action in your application, you need to run the application as Administrator. Especially if you have Vista or Windows 7, menial stuff also you would need to ensure you run it as System Administrator eventhough your login to windows is already an Administrator. A few layers of confirmation check by Microsoft. (Kinda like, are you sure? are you really really sure?) This itself would affect the SSRS 2008 when you want to run the report manager. Find it hard to believe but if you do not run your Internet Explorer as Administrator, you get permission denied prompt. Many people would not expect this and I always forget about this. Must run as Administrator.

Roadblocks utilizing ASP.NET 3.5 and ASP.NET AJAX - part 2

2010-07-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of the previous post. (http://anthony-yio.blogspot.com/2010/03/roadblocks-utilizing-aspnet-35-and.html)

ASP.NET Dropdownlist with tooltip

Problem: Although it might occur to everyone that dropdownlist when the text in it is too lengthy, there should have some tooltip to show the text in the dropdownlist like "any" combobox in Windows. But to your surprise, this feature does not come for free on ASP.NET 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 or may be even 4.0.

Resolution:

(quote from - http://forums.asp.net/p/903935/994720.aspx)

I have search many solutions, some used JQuery, some use CSS and etc. But i do not like to mess around too much with the CSS and Javascript/JQuery for this sort of thing since i am doing MVP+Controller model. A little or non scripting is preferred.
Therefore, it is to add the title attribute to the item

Add a ondatabound="ApplyOptionTitles" event to your DropDownList control.

Then implement in code-behind (C#) as follows:

protected void ApplyOptionTitles(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DropDownList ddl = sender as DropDownList;
if (ddl != null)
{
foreach (ListItem item in ddl.Items)
{
item.Attributes["title"] = item.Text;
}
}
}

Data bound controls

Problem: There is no dedicated function to refresh the content of the AJAX controls that bound to data source suppose if you have updated the records in the database. The only way is to reload the page which defeat the purpose of having AJAX.

Resolution: The original thought is to call databind or rebind function but it does not work. (Wonder what the use of having those functions then? Basically, it would check if there is any changes to data source "name", or else calling those functions do nothing.. duh...)

So, the workaround are below
1. Datasource set to null programmically and then call databind() and then set the datasource back to the original one and call databind() - Which look like a mess.

2. If you have control parameters or session parameters. Just reset those value like set to null and back to original value. This would work even on AJAX. - The slightly better way...

Web Application Development - Browser Issues

2010-05-29T02:47:00.000-07:00

I am sure anyone who have developed/run web application project before know how crucial the application compatible with the mainstream browser in the market. If you search in the google and look for the most rant about browser. It would be no surprise that IE is on top of the list. Ok. this is not a IE bash thread and never intended to be.
Because the relation of IE to the development team or business is actually a love and hate sentiment. Why?
thanks to IE, development team can focus only compatibility test on IE and ensure if it works there. The rest (not mainstream browser) on the other hand can be ignored (unfortunately, that would mean sayonara to my favorite Mozilla Firefox).

To cut the story short, let just explain based on my experience (it could vary on your experience, just my exposure) why people would rant about IE. They said, it is bad, but how bad is bad?

Most people would start off "trying" to make the application at least compatible with IE6. Because the older version of windows are bundled with it by default.

Lets put aside the javascripts/ other scripting goodies , security that IE6 would have problems with. Just focus on usability.

If you have tested the IE6. The IE6 is actually working "very" badly on CSS , DIV and UL tag (bulleted list). How badly is that?
You would end up not able to see a big chunk of pages and even able to click on those buttons. That bad, not usable at all. (All good web sites have CSS nowadays. only lame ones don't use it)

So, if you are a designer or UI perfectionist. Never ever consider supporting IE6. Fight to the death to ask client to upgrade to higher version of IE.

Ok, then, naturally you would think IE 7 is the better choice. 6 to 7 is a big leap right? After much hard convincing your client to upgrade to IE 7. You would think now, ok, i am a lot better off. After much testing, holy shit, another slew of problems follow. So, what now?
IE 7 has this z-index problem, what is z-index problem ?
Meaning if you have layers of screen overlapping each other or stacking. It would be a total hay wired in the order. But hey, you would think, who need a layers screen anyway? Ok, layered screens are everywhere and pervasive in modern web application. Such as your drop down menu, modal popup, funky web layers and etc. Unless you would like to have only the static old timer HTML without AJAX support. Then, you need not worry. Or else, this is a big headache.

So, what is the resolution to this IE7? One would say JQuery, workaround on CSS and etc. Just google and you will find tons of answers. But after going through all this hassle, sometimes the workaround might not even work correctly or expected. Or worst, other side effects would follow. Like in my case, the drop down menu overlap the modal popup. So, once you hover through the menu in the modal popup, the menu in background would popup for some stupid reasons.
So, that does make you really want to spike the programmers in MS.
Ok, so, the only real solution and guarantee to work fine and little sweats and tears are
1. Upgrade to IE 8 at least
2. Use Firefox.

The rest, don't bother. Don't waste your life working on workaround

Continuous Integration Environment : Parser Error Message: The file XXX does not exist

2010-05-18T02:59:00.000-07:00

This is something that definitely continuous integration able to identify.

Something to do with ASP.NET web page running well in development but not in the live environment or pre-screen - continuous integration environment.

Server Error in '/' Application.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parser Error
Description: An error occurred during the parsing of a resource required to service this request. Please review the following specific parse error details and modify your source file appropriately.

Parser Error Message: The file '/XXX/XXXX.aspx.cs' does not exist.

Source Error:

Line 1:
Line 2: <%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true" CodeFile="

For seasoned developers, if they have started development since .NET 1.1. This is something definitely they familiar with. Because, in the past, all this are not so automated in older version of Visual Studio.NET.So, in this case, it is the CodeFile directive that asking compiler to look for csharp code specify in the aspx file. This would in turn force the IIS server compile the aspx file with the *.cs file dynamically.
However, if you are deploying this to live environment, you would definitely end up puzzling how come it is not working now with the assemblies since you would not ship with source code.

So, the resolution would be to change it to

Codebehind="XXX.aspx.cs" instead. And once you publish the web site for deployment, it would still work and look for the respective DLL in bin folder.

You can also use "assembly= " directive if you want to handcraft the location of DLL.

Excel 2007 - Printing of excel sheet to fit to page size

2010-04-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Ms Excel is a different animal when it comes to printing.
Because of the nature of the format, you could be selecting only a fraction of page/sheet or workbook to print.

For a casual excel user like me, this give inconvenient when all i care is to be able to print what i see on that particular page (or call sheet in excel).

Often time, you would see some fraction of the content is being crop out in the print out. Because of exceeded range, you need to resize the columns one by one so then to be able to see the print out in one page. This is time consuming and frustrating.

So, after some digging, I found my all time favorite Fit to Page printing function.

It is located in "Page Layout" segment.And then, there is a "Scale to Fit" band next to page setup band. (that is another frustration of using newer version of office , all the menu items have been revamped, need time to search for what you want like in the past version). However, this would not work magically. You need to be accustomed with some of the Excel specific printing function.
The 3 steps below.

The first thing you need to do is to set "Print Area" in the Page Setup band.
Then, in the Scale to Fit band, you need to set the Width and Height. You have to roughly estimate how much pages you need for your print out. For instance, 2 pages in Heights if you need print out in two pages. Also, in the scale to fit, you need to set the orientation right.(portrait or landscape).

You can of course by pass these 3 steps but you would probably get a miniature print out with improper zoom out and wasting a lot of space with blanks.

So, this is the summary of the steps,
1. Select Scale to Fit, choose orientation
2. In Scale to Fit, number of pages in heights.
2. Set Print Area. Include only cells with data.

That is all. have fun with printing.

My Experience of Prepaid Wireless Broadband

2010-04-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

I do not hook up to internet that often after office hours, only once in a blue moon for research purposes. (after all, i get to connect to internet all day long in the office.)
It makes no sense for me to commit to the monthly flat rate plan , and thus I choose prepaid broadband for my non-office hours internet surfing.

Ok, I have done quite a bit of survey (that is just me, surveying even on these kind of menial stuff) - (comparison of packages as of today - 3 April 2010)

Oh, by the way, I have bought a D-Link WCDMA/HSDPA USB modem to test most of these packages. (No need to lock in to any packages just to get the bundled modem by any operator, it is the same standard HSDPA modem. It would work the same way. In fact, my D-Link modem has additional MicroSD card slot (for storage) and I can use the bundled software to send SMS. So, no need to top-up using my handphone, just the modem will do. )

Digi Limited Edition Prepaid Internet
-------------------------------------
RM10 5 days unlimited data access (384kbps)
RM30 15 days unlimited data access (384kbps)
RM50 25 days unlimited data access (384kbps)
RM100 50 days unlimited data access (384kbps)
(with throttle of speed when reach a certain limit but still usable)

U-Mobile Prepaid Broadband
---------------------------
UB6 1 day RM6 500MB data quota (384 kbps )
UB1O 30 days RM1O 100MB data quota (384 kbps )
UB2O 30 days RM 20 300 MB data quota (1.0 mbps )
UB4O 30 days RM 40 2GB data quota (1.0 mbps )
UB68 30 days RM 68 Unlimited (with throttle at 5Gb) (3.6 mbps )
(data quota means you would get disconnected once you reach the quota. No more internet. Ouch!!)

Celcom Prepaid Broadband
-------------------------
RM6 Daily Unlimited (384 kbps )
RM20 Weekly Unlimited (384 kbps )
(no throttle on speed)

Maxis Prepaid Broadband
------------------------
RM8 Daily 500MB Data Quota (7.2 Mbps*)
RM25 Weekly 2.5Gb Data Quota (7.2 Mbps*)
(data quota means you would get disconnected once you reach the quota. No more internet. Ouch!!)

P1 W1GGY Prepaid Broadband
-------------------------
RM20 15 days 500MB Data Quota (800 Kbps)
RM50 30 days 2.5GB Data Quota (800 Kbps)
(data quota means you would get disconnected once you reach the quota. No more internet. Ouch!!)

Ok, let start with Digi plan.
Digi Plan
---------
After much comparing all the packages available, it is clear in my opinion that Digi broadband is the most worthwhile package consider that it is unlimited in data download and cheapest in price. (RM10 for 5 days). You would ask, isn't that U-Mobile RM10 for 30 days more worthwhile? Wait a second, there is a 100MB data quota. Unless you are going to just check your mail and chatting(without smiley or images, and just pure text), 100MB is ridiculously little for you to consume. (Also, any of your application auto update, windows update, anti-virus update has to be configured not to download itself because any one of those updates easily take up more than 50Mb of download. Then you wonder where the download has went to).

However, when I actually tested with my 3.5G USB modem. To my disappointment, I can't connect to internet properly. It only has EDGE coverage and it is not usable at all. Constantly get disconnected and very very slow. I have even tested in other states and what I discover is , Sigh ~~~~
So, Digi no go for me. It is worthwhile only if your area has HSPDA coverage, or else, don't bother to try.

U-Mobile
-------
In term of price and number of packages you can pick on, it is the most flexible one among all. In fact, i am using it for very light surfing, like only checking mail, write blog or twitting. However, if I want to surf heavily for short term, there is no package available (RM68 only has unlimited, the rest has data quota).

Celcom
------
Ok, in term of price, at first, it does not look attractive. But when you are really serious into using it for surfing or so for your internet related activities. You would realize that unlimited data is very important because, data download is not something you can control easily, many background processes, many background downloads, movies, software download, surfing, etc nowadays require high "bandwidth" and the reason of having broadband is to be able to surf freely with high bandwidth with many downloads. Data quota in my opinion is causing a broadband to be useless. Imagine that if you have 7.2 Mbps with 1 month stretch connection but what use can it be if you can only use it for lesser than a day. (suppose, you are hardcore broadband user). That is why unlimited is important.

Maxis
------
7.2Mbps. Can they deliver it, I have not tested it, therefore, I not dare to deny anything. May be can, may be not.
However, if and only if they can deliver 7.2 Mbps. Then, probably this is the best package for one off download , may be in the range of 500MB and you need to download it fast. RM8 to download a 500MB of file with 7.2 Mbps connection would only take about 555.555 seconds (roughly 9 minutes ) in calculation.

By the way, I read that Maxis is the early adopter HSPA+ . Read - http://www.maxis.com.my/mmc/index.asp?fuseaction=press.view&recID=420

P1 W1ggy
---------
I think need not to mentioned anymore that data quota is bad idea. But if and only if you think you can control your download. Then, I think this would be an ideal package to invest on for user who want to use next generation of mobile network internet access with a decent price. It has much room to improve on since it is 4G (please note there is a launching of HSPA+ for 3G which could be parallel to 4G - Read more about 4G(Wimax) vs 3G(HSDPA/HSPA+) - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2359139,00.asp). However, the downside of this is P1 is creating their new network in this region. So, you won't be able to see good coverage in rural areas or some areas. Unlike existing 3G or 3.5G operators, they can just utilize existing mobile network. So, this is not an ideal package for people on the go. However, because also it is a new network and only for data purpose, the bandwidth is not extensively shared by mobile phone users which could be good.
Anything else need to mention here is that since it is Wimax, you can't use 3.5G or HSDPA/HSPA+ modem that you buy in the market. So, you are pretty much lock in to this operator if you are using Wimax modem.

Roadblocks utilizing ASP.NET 3.5 and ASP.NET AJAX

2010-03-01T00:40:00.000-08:00

Below is a listing of known bugs of the ASP.NET 3.5 and ASP.NET AJAX and the resolution.

Calendar control extender

http://forums.asp.net/p/1110311/2780472.aspx#2780472

Problem: Calendar extender would show random transparent weird popup upon clicking. (unbelievable that this can pass QA in the first place)
Resolution: Add a dummy CalendarExtender outside of updatepanel. The calendarextender might need to associate with a dummy invisible textbox and invisble image button too.

-----------------------------------------------------------

ASP.NET AJAX CalenderExtender again, this time on the days cells being blocked.

Problem: If you have a couple of CalenderExtender in your page and asking UI designer to design the CSS separately. You would be very likely getting this. The problem is the td, tr and div tag being overridden by the CSS .

Resolution: Have a more specific CSS for your calendarextender. The rule of CSS is the most specific one prevail.Use this (MyCalendar) in the CssClass attribute of the calenderextender.Adjust the width and height to suit. However, there is another problem follows using this method. When you select month, you would see some misalignment, same goes to years.

/*fixed ajax calendar issue*/
/*Calendar*/
.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_container {

border:1px solid #646464;
background-color: white;

color: black;
width:230px;
height:200px;
}

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_body{width:100%;height:200px;
}

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_other .ajax__calendar_day,
.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_other .ajax__calendar_year {

color: black;

}

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_hover .ajax__calendar_day,

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_hover .ajax__calendar_month,
.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_hover .ajax__calendar_year {

color: black;

}

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_active .ajax__calendar_day,

.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_active .ajax__calendar_month,
.MyCalendar .ajax__calendar_active .ajax__calendar_year {

color: black;

font-weight:bold;

}

-------------------------------------------------

ASP.NET 3.5 ListView with DropDownList in InsertItemTemplate

http://forums.asp.net/t/1187425.aspx
Problem: When you try to bind a dropdownlist in the listivew. You get
Error "Databinding methods such as Eval(), XPath(), and Bind() can only be used in the context of a databound control".
Resolution: Handle OnItemInserting of the ASP.NET 3.5 ListView. To contruct object to be inserted manually.

----------------------------------------------------

SSRS ReportViewer in ASP.NET AJAX UpdatePanel

Problem: So, you want to have those fancy AJAX updatepanel behavior on the dropdownlist to choose your report in reportviewer. You diligently code the way up your controls so then it is ready to load the report. However, when you about to roll in the report. Strange things happen. It is not working all and the browser throwing all sort of javascript that you have no idea what it is about. You must be wonder could be browser compatibility issue but the more browser you more, the different errors you get.

Resolution (so-called):

From - http://forums.asp.net/p/1044194/1460759.aspx

ReportViewer.AsyncRendering="false", can anyone help me solve script error? This is my current code base on Yarick's:

protected void Page_PreRenderComplete(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
ListDictionary scripts = ClientScript.GetType().GetField("_registeredClientScriptBlocks", BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic).GetValue(ClientScript) as ListDictionary;

foreach (object key in scripts.Keys)
{
Type type = key.GetType().GetField("_type", BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic).GetValue(key) as Type;
if (type.Namespace.StartsWith("Microsoft.Reporting.WebForms"))
{
string registeredKey = key.GetType().GetField("_key", BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic).GetValue(key) as string;
ToolkitScriptManager.RegisterClientScriptBlock(Page, type, registeredKey, scripts[key] as string, true);
}
}

However, this is not working. Only working if your report view does not need to scroll. What kind of page does not need to scroll. Absurd.

However, found someone posting in stackoverflow that new version of library would solve it. Just give it a shot if you are desperate for solution. For me, i would prefer stay safe by not using any updatepanel at all if i have reportviewer in the page. Your reportviewer would not work even it is outside of updatepanel.

Microsoft Report Viewer 2010 Redistributable Package from :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a941c6b2-64dd-4d03-9ca7-4017a0d164fd

----------------------------------------

ASP.NET listview - record running number

Problem: Would like to have the asp.net ListView to have a automatic running number of the records. Thinking just a few simple settings and thats it. However, no luck.

Resolution: Handle ListView ItemDataBound event

To have codes like this in the handler where LblNo is your control name in the column of the listview

Label LblNumber = e.Item.FindControl("LblNo") as Label;
ListViewDataItem dataItem = (ListViewDataItem)e.Item;
if (LblNumber != null)
{
LblNumber.Text = (dataItem.DataItemIndex + 1).ToString();
}

-------------------------------------------

ASP.NET Menu incompatibility in IE7 and IE8.

Problem: In IE 7, the asp.net menu looks fine, however when you open it in IE8. Disaster. Menu item turn into blank white spaces.

Resolution:

http://blogs.msdn.com/giorgio/archive/2009/02/01/asp-net-menu-and-ie8-rendering-white-issue.aspx

Just overwrite the z-index

.IE8Fix
{
z-index: 100;
}

(however, i notice there is a side effect doing this. It would interfere the ASP.NET AJAX modalpopup where the z-index overlap the modalpopup. ) Probably can try other methods pointed in the website.

-----------------------------------------

Believe me, some of these bugs/inconveniences have wasted few hours of mine trying to figure what was wrong.
(this list would grow from time to time)

WCF - Reading from Application Configuration File - config section - system.serviceModel

2009-11-30T01:10:00.000-08:00

I can't find any example on the web for this, so i guess it could be helpful.
This is a simple example to show a way to read the system.serviceModel configuration section in application/web configuration file.

Something like for
ConnectionString, there is a straightforward class for that,
ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["keyname"].ConnectionString

Codes snippet below

ServiceModelSectionGroup group = ServiceModelSectionGroup.GetSectionGroup(ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None));

//suppose if there is only one endpoint
if(group.Client.Endpoints.Count < 0)
{
uri = group.Client.Endpoints[0].Address.AbsoluteUri;
}

Stop Symantec Endpoint Protection Weekly Scheduled Scan Momentary

2009-11-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

The intention of weekly scheduled scan is good, it helps to safeguard and diagnose your computer from malware. It is a setting set by the most system administrator that any computer with endpoint protection installed would need to oblige this and have it scan every week. It is a centralized setting where users can't change it at the user end.

However, for an advanced user like myself who know how to take care of my computer, running a PC scanning even on my peak hours are really intrusive. Therefore, after some trial and error, i notice if I use process explorer to kill the rtvscan.exe while it is running, it would force the scanning to terminate itself. And the best thing is antivirus would still be up and running and no restart required. Probably you would need to enable back the protection at the setting where it would prompt you too. That is all you need to do.

(this is my backdoor trick, use it at your own risk.)

Visual Studio .NET 2008 - Some conditional breakpoints not getting triggered and workaround.

2009-07-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

If you read some debugging tips or reference on conditional breakpoint. You would notice that what is in the instruction should be straightforward and there is no reason why it won't work when you try it out.

However, there are times when you set conditional breakpoint , a very simple one like

say in you code,

string a[] = {"21", "123", "32", "1234", "sds"};

foreach (string myString in stringArray)
{
Console.WriteLine("myString = " + myString); //conditional breakpoint set here.
}

conditional breakpoint set as myString == "1234" but to your surprise, it would not break and stop there.

It is a very simple thing you would do but it just seems not working. For most people, they would just set normal breakpoint there and run a few more iterations and bypass the use of the conditional breakpoints but this is not my liking. This is a VS.NET function that I would really like it to work. It is afterall a very productive debugging function.

And after some trial and error. It seems like the == operator is not correctly recognized as the ordinary C# syntax in the case of string in the conditonal breakpoint expression. It would work on most type like int, float but not on string. I suspect it would not work on most reference type variable (my reckon, though i have not tested it).
So, to cut story short. In the case when some occassion when expression in conditional breakpoints not working because of some operator like == or >.
Use the equivalent function. So, in the case of string. That would be String.Equals.
So, use Equals in the expression of the conditional breakpoint instead.

Technorati Tags: VS.NET Debugger

C# 2.0 syntax reference

2009-06-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

readonly - member variable of class where can only be initialized once in constructor.

yield - contruct return for IEnumerable

e.g.

IEnumerable GetNumbers()
{
yield return 1;
yield return 2;
yield return 3;
yield return 4;
yield break;
}

This is return a 1,2,3,4 list.

this() - calling class constructor

this[] - [] operator override

e.g

public int this[int i]
{
get
{
return 1;
}

}

generic programming

//where TbaseClass is use for T calling function
class C1<T>:D1 where T:TbaseClass

class B1 : C1<myInherittedTbaseClass>

C# pass-by-value and reference type

2009-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

If you are coming from C/C++ programming background. You would be accustomed with heavy use of pass by reference (or pass by pointer) as a way to improve the performance, update the variable passed in and reducing memory consumption. It is so common, that most C/C++ function written to be efficient would be passing by constant reference (if they do not wish to allow variable passed in get updated)

Like

void myFunction(const MyClass & param)

So, you are rest assured that variable pass in would not get updated.

For C#, there is no such thing as const reference. But, there is pass-by-ref, unsafe pointer and pass-by-value.
So, to ensure that your variable passed in to function not get updated. You would naturally think of using pass-by-value.

However, there is a catch for pass-by-value if your object is of reference type (class, interface, delegate, objet, string)

Value type variable store value but reference type variable store references to object. So, even the reference is passed by value in the function. The method can still use the reference it receive to
update the original object stored in the memory.

So,

MyClass o = new MyClass();
myFunction(o);
Debug.Assert(o.MyName != “123”) ; //assertion get thrown because object has been updated by function

Public void myFunction(MyClass o)
{
o.MyName = “123”
}

So, in short, do not update the variable pass in to the function if you do not intend to. Or simply, write a Clone function for your object and pass in clone object instead.

Smart Thinking & Lateral Thinking (Edward De Bono)

2009-04-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

(These are just my own "personal" summary to Edward De Bono smart thinking & lateral thinking materials where I have came across some of his books lately. (for my own reference)
Please visit authorized Edward De Bono web sites if you are interested on these topics. http://www.edwdebono.com/)

Lateral Thinking - 6 thinking hats

White Hat - Based on hard data, facts, figures and numbers
Red Hat - Based on hunch, gut feeling emotional point of view
Black Hat - Pessimistic, sad & negative view but logical.
Yellow Hat - Glad and possitive but logical view.
Green Hat - Alternative, creative and sprouting new idea.
Blue Hat - Step back and take care of process of thinking. Deciding hats to be used and summarize what have been thought.

Critical Thinking - A way to minimize mistake in thinking.

Creative Thinking

Provocative Operation - Come up with an absurd idea. Then, think of "movement".
Movement - Think of ways to make provocative operation / random words possible.

Random Words - Random nouns, then think of "movement"

Focus - Set hit list (focus point for the creative thiking or where to improve).

DOS prompt batch

2009-03-27T00:55:00.000-07:00

Was trying out something on batch file, quite interesting though has limited features. But would be a quick way to delivery some solutions. Always check what batch can do before want to write a program for it.

Good place to start on batch programming at -> http://www.allenware.com/icsw/icswidx.htm

SET MYLOCATION = C:\Folder

REM A reversible CD command where you can go back where you
REM came from.
pushd %MYLOCATION%

REM check for file existent
if not exist *.txt goto ERROR

for %%file in (*txt) do type "%%file" >> mySingleFile.txt
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 goto ERROR
popd

:ERROR
echo Error occurredEXIT /B 1

XSL - Altering child attribute with original parent attribute

2009-03-09T03:36:00.001-07:00

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <Items xmlns="http://www.abc.com"
xmlns:myns="http://www.abc.com"> <Item attr="1"> <field1>My Content 1</field1>
</Item> <Item attr="2"> <field1>My Content 1</field1> </Item> <Item attr="3">
<field1>My Content 1</field1> <field2 innerAttr="a">My Content 2</field2>
</Item> </Items>

XSL

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <xsl:stylesheet version="1.0"
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" xmlns:myns="http://www.abc.com"
xmlns="http://www.abc.com" > <xsl:output omit-xml-declaration="no"
indent="yes"/> <xsl:namespace-alias stylesheet-prefix="#default"
result-prefix="#default"/> <xsl:template match="@* | node()"> <xsl:copy>
<xsl:apply-templates select="@* | node()"/> </xsl:copy> </xsl:template>
<xsl:template match="/myns:Items/myns:Item"> <xsl:variable name="OriginalAttr"
select="@attr"/> <xsl:choose> <xsl:when test="./myns:field2/@innerAttr">
<xsl:copy> <xsl:apply-templates select="@*"/> <xsl:for-each select="*"> <xsl:if
test="local-name()='field1'"> <xsl:copy> <xsl:apply-templates select="@*"/>
<xsl:apply-templates select="node()"/> </xsl:copy> </xsl:if> <xsl:if
test="local-name()='field2'"> <xsl:copy> <xsl:attribute name="innerAttr">  <xsl:value-of
select="$OriginalAttr"/> </xsl:attribute> <xsl:apply-templates select="
node()"/> </xsl:copy> </xsl:if> </xsl:for-each> </xsl:copy> </xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwise> <xsl:copy> <xsl:apply-templates select="@* | node()"/>
</xsl:copy> </xsl:otherwise> </xsl:choose> </xsl:template> </xsl:stylesheet>

Resumeable Windows File Copying

2009-02-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

Recently having need to copy huge files or a whole set of files more often over the network. Thinking of finding a tool like getright. So, this is the tool I found really useful.

Robocopy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robocopy

How it fit my usage is with command like below.

robocopy \\source\dir \\destination\dir /W:15 /R:30 /E /Z

W = 15 seconds pause should it failed
R = Retry of 30 times
Z = Restartable mode
E = Copying content recursively (including subfolders content)

(use /MIR if want to mirror both side of content instead of /E. /MIR would remove the destination file if not found in source)

Adding notepad, command prompt, powershell run here context menu

2009-02-12T23:59:00.001-08:00

Create a text file, name it temp.reg. Then, for each application you want to add it context menu.
Copy and paste to the temp.reg. Then, just execute the temp.reg by double clicking it.

For Powershell
--------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\powershell]@="PowerShell Here"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\powershell\command]@="C:\\Windows\\system32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe -NoExit -Command Set-Location -LiteralPath '%L'"

Command Prompt
-----------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\CommandPrompt]
@="Command Prompt Here"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\CommandPrompt\command]
@="C:\\Windows\\system32\\cmd.exe /k pushd %1"

Notepad
----------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Edit in Notepad]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Edit in Notepad\command]
@="notepad.exe \"%l\""

Searching word/phrase in a very large text file in windows

2009-01-29T23:40:00.000-08:00

1. Firstly, you need to have a grep tool (like Unix). For windows, you can try

http://www.wingrep.com/

2. Then, you just search a word/phrase in the text file with simple query or advanced regular expression query in the wingrep.

3. You should be getting the line number in the grep search result.

4. Then, start dos prompt.

5. Type command - "more +123 YourHugeFile.txt" where 123 for example is the line number you wish to see starting from.

6. Then, you should see some content in "more" dos screen.

7. If you wish to scroll line by line in "more", key in "enter/ret". if you wish to go page by page, key in "space"

9 Once you are done, type "CTRL + C" to exit.

Virtual PC setting - resetting MAC address.

2008-09-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

In the case where you would want to change the IP address by forcing the DHCP to re-assign a new IP to you Virtual PC. (or in the case you are using the same *.vmc file and you don’t bother to recreate a new one)

Stop your virtual machine. Then, in your *.vmc, look for

<ethernet_card_address type="bytes">0003FFxxxxxx</ethernet_card_address>

Remove the number so the line appears as follows:

<ethernet_card_address type="bytes"></ethernet_card_address>

After you remove the number, Virtual PC will create a new MAC address the next time you start the virtual machine. And in turn, DHCP will assign u a new IP address for your virtual machine.

SQL server IDENTITY and seed

2008-08-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

One can make a column to be auto increment by setting it as identity.

CREATE TABLE dbo.MyTable ( MyID int identity(1,1), MyName nvarchar(20) )

One can make it start from certain number by setting the seed

identity(1000, 1)

So, the first row would have id 1001

One can also increase the seed even with some data in the table say already the record run up to 102. If set seed to 200, the next record id would be 201. (one catch is if seed is 1, it will start with 1. But if seed as 11, it will start at 12.)

Also one note is that the seed can not be smaller than the existing one as it would not make any changes. (the existing seed number can be check in the property of the column)

For reseting the identity seed. The DBCC command is needed like

DBCC CHECKIDENT('MyTable', RESEED, 1)

It will attempt to start over from 1 and if found some ID with the same number exist, it will skip that ID and use next number. (This is done by the MSSQL in best effort mode. It is not predictable and guaranteed to work correctly)

Getting started powershell

2008-06-06T01:27:00.000-07:00

After installing powershell 1.0. The $profile will not be added.
The $profile is equivalent to .profile in ksh where it initialized when it started.

So, to add it. You need to specify permission first (like below), then, create the $profile. (you can echo $profile to see where the file resides in the windows)

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
new-item -path $profile -itemtype file -force

Fix login of restored DB (SQL server 2005)

2008-06-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

After when restored Database from *.bak file. The associated login will not be restored into the MSSQL.

And when trying to create the same login in the security tab in managemement studio. It will prompt

Error 15023: User already exists in current database.

The off hand workaround that normally one would do would be drop the user in the database user login and recreate again.
like
USE YourDB
GO
EXEC sp_dropuser 'YourRestoredDBLogin'
GO

The better way would be

run command below to check the orphan logins.

USE YourDB
GO
EXEC sp_change_users_login 'Report'
GO

then below to restored the login with command below. It will retain the settings that you have.

USE YourDB
GO
EXEC sp_change_users_login 'Auto_Fix', 'YourRestoredDBLogin', NULL, 'YourRestoredDBLoginPassword'
GO

Reference: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2007/02/15/sql-server-fix-error-15023-user-already-exists-in-current-database/

Winmerge - To be able to see non English characters in compare windows

2008-03-11T01:06:00.000-07:00

Firstly,

Change your windows Language for non-unicode program to the language you want.(In Regional and Language Option in control. refer Windows Help file)
Then,

In winmerge – Edit – Options – Codepage (tab)

Tick ‘According to WinMerge User Interface’

Then,

In View – Select Font – choose the font which has needed font script. E.g. CHINESE_GB2312 for simplified chinese

Then

In winmerge – Edit - Refresh Selected (if you are already viewing something.) and no restart required to see the changes.

Win32 SendMessage equivalent in Javascript

2008-02-28T01:23:00.000-08:00

Problem Statement:

Custom control written in Javascript can't immediate trigger the onchange event if
the textbox control are updated using the code. e.g. ctrl.value = "123";
It will only trigger the onchange when move focus to another control.

Solution:

Win32 SendMessage equivalent in Javascript

IE:

element.fireEvent('onchange');

And via DOM2 Events (for Gecko):

var evt = document.createEvent('HTMLEvents');
evt.initEvent('change', true, true);
element.dispatchEvent(evt);

Eclipse CVS Repository Integration Watch Out

2007-12-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

Eclipse has CVS version control integrated. It is nifty but some watch out to be careful of.

1. Always Refresh your project/ whole thing in the project view before performing Team - Synchronize With Repository or else you would not see your changes during synchronization and causing your changes GONE if you choose to update the files thinking your side have no changes!!!

2. Always use synchronize to check the changes. NEVER use the update (to overwrite local file with changes from server) or commit (to overwrite server/remote files with local file changes) to a folder directly. You would cause either server version get overwritten by your version if there are additional changes by others or your version get overwritten by server copy without doing the conflict checking and merge.

3. If you have already merged the changes (by comparing remote file and local file and use move change facility), your side with the server. Select ‘mark as merge’ and then commit.

MSSQL GROUP_CONCAT

2007-12-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

This is using XML feature of the SQL server. (nothing new here)

select Type, RestaurantNames from Restaurant AS A CROSS APPLY
(SELECT RestaurantName + ',' FROM Restaurant AS B WHERE A.Type = B.Type FOR XML PATH('')) D (RestaurantNames) GROUP BY Type, RestaurantNames

This is to get something like below (similar to MYSQL GROUP_CONCAT)

Type |RestaurantNames
----- ---------------
Chinese Food | Ah Yat Abalone, Liang Yah Yong Tau Foo,
Indian Food | Kanna Curry House,
Western Fast Food | Burger King, McDonald

instead of multiple rows.

like
Type |RestaurantName
----- ---------------
Chinese Food |Ah Yat Abalone
Chinese Food |Liang Yah Yong Tau Foo
Indian Food |Kanna Curry House

ASP.NET i18n setting.

2007-11-05T02:52:00.000-08:00

web.config

If UTF-8 does not solve the problem for some reasons or feeling it is too consuming bytes since it standardize to 2 bytes.

use each language codec (multibyte mode) by specify.

<globalization requestencoding="euc-jp" responseencoding="euc-jp" enablebestfitresponseencoding="true"></globalization>

Note: the language codec must be installed of course in the first place.

Truncate String in XSL call-template

2007-10-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

The purpose is to just prune the string and add ... at the end when certain size of the string in xsl output exceeded.
This method do not burden CPU much. (as some using recursive ways do)



<xsl:template name="fixed-string">
<xsl:param name="targetVar">
<xsl:param name="allowable-length">
<xsl:value-of select="substring($targetVar, 1, $allowable-length)">
<xsl:if test="string-length($targetVar) & gt ; $allowable-length">
<xsl:text>...</xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
</xsl:value-of></xsl:param></xsl:param></xsl:template>

To use it,

just

<xsl:call-template name="fixed-string">
<xsl:with-param name="targetVar">'<xsl:value-of select="MyContent">'</xsl:value-of>
<xsl:with-param name="allowable-length" select="15">  </xsl:call-template-->
</xsl:with-param></xsl:with-param></xsl:call-template>

Original script located at http://www.stylusstudio.com/xsllist/200104/post20940.html
I just tidy up to ease reuse.

Press anykey to continue

2007-08-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Taken from http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/PressAnyKeyToContinue.asp

private void FlushConsole()
{
while( Console.In.Peek() != -1 )
{
Console.In.Read();
}
}

Console.WriteLine("Press any key to continue...");
FlushConsole();
Console.Read();

Crystal Report Formula - ToWords - Remove 'xx/100' the trailing string.

2007-07-23T05:02:00.000-07:00

Left(ToWords(Sum ({YourTable.Field})), InStr(ToWords(Sum ({YourTable.Field})), " and ")) & " and " & ToWords(ToNumber (Right(ToText(Sum ({YourTable.Field})), 2 )), 0) & " cents."

LPAD in T-SQL and Crystal Report Formula

2007-07-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

I am sure there should have some neater ways to do this but if all you need are just working version, here it goes.

T-SQL

REPLICATE('0', 8 - LEN(LTRIM(STR(YourTableField)))) + LTRIM(STR(YourTableField))

Crystal Report Formula

StringVar Message := "";
StringVar Num := {YourCrystalReportTable.Field};
Num := Trim (Num);
NumberVar Counter := 8 - Length(Num) ;
While (Counter > 0) do
(
Message := Message & "0";
Counter := Counter - 1;
);
Message := Message & Num

Workflow in ASP.NET

2007-07-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

Same codes except
placing static variable

static WorkflowRuntime wr = new WorkflowRuntime();

in
Application_Start of global.asax

then

(quoted from MSLearning)

If you use the WorkflowWebRequestContext object to access the workflow runtime, you cannot add services such as persistence or scheduling services because the workflow is already started. If you try to add services to the runtime when it has already started it will generate an error. Instead, to configure the runtime with services, use the <workflowRuntime> section in the Web.config file:

[Web.config]
<configuration>
<configSections>
<section name="WorkflowRuntime"
type="WorkflowRuntimeSection, System.Workflow.Runtime" />
</configSections>
</configuration>

Host Workflow in .NET WinForm

2007-07-17T04:08:00.000-07:00

Add reference to
- System.Workflow.Activities
- System.Workflow.Runtime
- System.Workflow.ComponentModel
- <the MyWorkflow assembly>

in the WinForm codes,

add member variable

WorkflowRuntime myWorkflowRuntime = new WorkflowRuntime()

Then, in the constructor of the winform.
//setup event handler
myWorkflowRuntime.WorkflowCompleted += new EventHandler<WorkflowCompletedEventArg>(wr_WFCompleted);
myWorkflowRuntime.WorkflowTerminated += new EventHandler<WorkflowTerminatedEventArg>(wr_WFTerminated);

//handler for the workflow thread.
void wr_WFCompleted(object sender, WorkflowCompletedEventArg e)
{
MessageBox.Show("Workflow output" + e.OutputParameters["Field"].ToString());
}

//to kick start the work flow thread.
Type type = typeof(MyNamespace.MyWorkflow);
//to pass parameter to the workflow thread.
Dictionary<string, object> param = Dictionary<string, object>;
param.Add("Field", System.Convert.ToInt32(123));
WorkflowInstance myWI= myWorkflowRuntime.CreateWorkflow(type, param);
myWI.Start();

WPF sample

2007-07-16T03:18:00.000-07:00

(Nothing new, codes taken from MSLearning)

<Application x:Class="MyApp"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
StartupUri="Window1.xaml">
Startup="MyApp_Startup"
Activated="MyApp_Activated"
Deactivated="MyApp_Deactivated"
SessionEnding="MyApp_SessionEnding"
Exit="MyApp_Exit"
</Application>

C#
public class MyApp : Application
{
StackPanel rootPanel;
Window win;

protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
{
win = new System.Windows.Window();
rootPanel = new StackPanel();
win.Content = rootPanel;
win.Show();
}

void MyApp_Startup (object sender, StartupEventArgs e)
{
//singleton model and where sharing information pages uses Properties.
MyApp.Current.Properties["TextFromPage1"] = txtBox.Text;

// Retrieve the information
string appPropertyValue;
appPropertyValue = (string)MyApp.Current.Properties["TextFromPage1"];

}

void MyApp_SessionEnding(object sender, SessionEndingCancelEventArgs e)
{
//trigger if user shut down system or log off and application hasn't exit.
//session ending then application exit
}

void MyApp_Activated(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

}

}

internal sealed class TestMain
{
[System.STAThread()]
public static void Main()
{
MyApp app = new MyApp();
app.Run();
}
}

Hosting WPF (Avalon Control) in WinForm quick info

2007-07-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

Though this code snippet already available in the Win SDK sample.

//the host should be a private member variable.
ElementHost host = new ElementHosy();
host.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
myPanel.Controls.Add(host); //adding the control the panel control in the winform.
//the variable datatype available after added reference
//to the WPF/Avalon control and WPF namespace)
avControl = new MyNamespace.MyAVControl();
avControl.InitializeComponent();
host.Child = avControl; //control has been linked to the winform

//The RoutedEventHandler is used because the WPF in this case is a
//child control. There are 3 type of event routing namely direct, tunnel and bubble.
//refer http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms742806.aspx#why_use
//for more info on the event on WPF.
avControl.Loaded += new RoutedEventHandler(avCtrl_Loaded);

//To use Avalon control in Win32 which wrap the Avalon control into HwndSource
//refer http://blogs.msdn.com/nickkramer/archive/2005/07/17/439659.aspx

Unix Debugging Cheat Sheet

2007-06-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

pmap
To check the memory address mapping of the core dumped process.

e.g.

036AA000 2592k [heap]

So, it means 036AA000 and above is heap address.

FFB3A000 [stack]

And likewise.

Also can be used to check shared memory, shared libraries used and etc.

truss -d -o -p
System API trace.

gcore - o
Force core dump

Use dbx later to investigate the core file.

pstack

call stack.

ps -ef

getting running process PID.

Monitor system log file.
tail -f /var/adm/SYSLOG
tail -f /var/adm/messages
tail -f /var/log/syslog

ls -l /proc//as
ps -p -o pmem,vsz,osz,rss,pid
To check memory usage.

pldd
check dependencies

pargs
check all arguments passed to process.
Note: arg[0] is always the process execution path like even Win32. Useful also if the ls -l return truncated path.

Excel VBA for conditional formatting.

2007-06-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Sub CreateConditionalFormatting()

Dim column As String
column = "C"
Dim NoOfRowNeeded As Integer
NoOfRowNeeded = 3000
Dim j As Integer
Dim cellSelect As String
For j = 1 To NoOfRowNeeded

cellSelect = column & CStr(j)

Range(cellSelect).Select
Selection.FormatConditions.Delete
If (j - 1) < 1 Then

Range(cellSelect).Interior.ColorIndex = 4
Else

'maximum 3 formula allowed.
Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlExpression, Formula1:= _
"=INT(" & column & CStr(j - 1) & ") Selection.FormatConditions(1).Interior.ColorIndex = 3
Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlExpression, Formula1:= _
"=INT(" & column & CStr(j - 1) & ")>INT(" & column & CStr(j) & ")"
Selection.FormatConditions(2).Interior.ColorIndex = 6

Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlExpression, Formula1:= _
"=INT(" & column & CStr(j - 1) & ")=INT(" & column & CStr(j) & ")"
Selection.FormatConditions(3).Interior.ColorIndex = 4

End If
Next j

End Sub

.NET 2.0 modifying content of app.config file (C#)

2007-05-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

Before you start, make sure you have added reference to System.Configuration.dll for .NET 2.0. I think the default the Visual Studio C# Express referenced to is from .NET 1.1 which will not compile.

using System.Configuration;
using System.Collections.Specialized;

//to write
System.Configuration.Configuration config =
ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);

config.AppSettings.Settings.Remove("myKey");
config.AppSettings.Settings.Add("myKey", "123");

config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);

ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings");

//to read
NameValueCollection appSettings = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings;
string strRead = (string)appSettings["myKey"];

Content of app.config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <configuration> <appSettings>
<add key="myKey" value = "123"/>
</appSettings> </configuration>

Clearcase check in/uncheck out all the checked out files script

2007-05-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

I am so used to source safe recursive check in and found troublesome in clearcase having to do it manually one by one.

This is the Unix script that I have come out with

//for undo check out all the checked out files

cleartool lsco -cview -avobs | cleartool unco -rm `awk '{ print $(5) }' | sed -e 's/^\"*//' -e 's/ *\"$//'`

//for check in all the checked out files

cleartool lsco -cview -avobs | cleartool ci -nc `awk '{ print $(5) }' | sed -e 's/^\"*//' -e 's/ *\"$//'`

//Using xargs

cleartool lsco -cview -avobs -short | xargs cleartool ci

Simple Test Unix C++ Source Compilation and Makefile

2007-04-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

Create 3 (*.C) files

/* main.C */
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include "1.h"

extern void test2();
extern void test3();

void test1()
{
}

int main()
{

test1();
test2();
test3();
exit (EXIT_SUCCESS);
}

/* 2.C */
#include "1.h"
#include "2.h"

void test2() {
}
/* 3.C */
#include "2.h"
#include "3.h"
void test3() {
}

Create 3 (*.h) files
touch 1.h
touch 2.h
touch 3.h

Then,

Create a makefile with content (note: <tab> should be a real tab. Tab is very important or else you will else funny compiler message)

testing123: main.o 2.o 3.o
<tab>g++ -o myapp main.o 2.o 3.o
main.o: main.C 1.h
<tab>g++ -c main.C

2.o: 2.C 1.h 2.h
<tab>g++ -c 2.C

3.o: 3.C 2.h 3.h
<tab>g++ -c 3.C

Then run

make -f makefile

then

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:/apps/public/lib

(for C++ libraries since g++ is to compile CPP files)

Then, just run "testing123"

(note: In Unix, *. a is a static library where as *.so or *.sa is a shared library or dynamic DLL in Win32 term. To make the link to shared library permanently link to the binary. Use the configuration option --disable-shared)

To modify makefile above to create static lib file, makefile command as below

# Which compiler
CC = g++

# Where are include files kept
INCLUDE = .

# Options for development
CFLAGS = -g -Wall -ansi

# Local Libraries
MYLIB = lib.a

testing123: main.o $(MYLIB)
$(CC) -o testing123 main.o $(MYLIB) $(CFLAGS)

$(MYLIB): $(MYLIB)(2.o) $(MYLIB)(3.o)
main.o: main.C a.h
2.o: 2.C 1.h 2.h
3.o: 3.C 2.h 3.h

clean:
-rm testing123 main.o 2.o 3.o $(MYLIB)

Recover from C++ istream failure sample

2007-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

The code is not coded in a standard way where it would altogether avoid the problem but does exhibit the recover from C++ istream failure which occur in a while loop.

void main_menu(){
int condition = 1;
int input = 0;

do {
cout << "please input an integer\n";
if(cin.fail()) {
//if it encounter a fail state which is error type. it will ignore the buffer
//associate with istream
cin.ignore(100);
cin.clear();
//reset the fail state to be good
}

cin >> input;
fflush(stdin); //fflush alone not suffice for some reason thou it works on scanf
if (input == 1) {
cout << "Hello World\n";
condition=0;
system("Pause");
} else { condition=1; }
}
while (condition == 1 );

}

Using Cygwin as XServer and putty as terminal client.

2007-01-22T00:55:00.000-08:00

Firsly, install Cygwin with XServer.

Then, start your xserver in the cygwin bash shell by typing "startx &" so that you will have an additional xterm for configuration or

xwin -broadcast to start a broadcast XDMCP session instead.

Then, after started xserver, it will pop a xwindow client.

In your xwindow client (normally xterm), authenticate (if required) any client that
attempt to connect to your server by typing in

xhost + < IP / hostname >

(note: if hostname unresolved, add it in at /usr/hosts. Also to identify if your client
having authentication problem. Normally, your client will get error message like

authentication error - Xlib: Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key
)

Then,

you would need to configure your putty session so that it would forward X11 to Xserver, this can be done so by going to

Connection - SSH - X11- Tick Enable X11 Forwarding
And key in
X-Display Location as "localhost:0" (note, assuming your xserver is running at localhost)

Then, start your configured session and connect and login to say myserver.helloworld.com

To test the XWindow, type "xclock &" in your putty.

(side note, the copy and paste for xwindow in cygwin commands below

ctrl - ins for copy (or just highlight the text in the xwindow)
shift - ins to paste (or "wget" prior shift-ins if it does not work))

C/C++ Basic - protect data and pointer with const

2006-12-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

char * const lpszct = "test"; //protecting pointer
char szBuff[10];
strcpy(szBuff, "123");
const char* lpctsz=szBuff; //protecting data pointed.

lpszct = "12"; //<-- compile error trying to change the pointer address

lpszct ++; //<-- compile error trying to change the pointer address

lpctsz[0] = '7'; //<-- compile error where trying to change the data

Google Search Cheat Sheet

2006-12-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

define:[word] Search word in dictionaries
filetype:[ext] Query result with filetyp. E.g. "C++ filetype:pdf"
/[country] Limited search to coutry E.g. "food /malaysia
/language:[language shorthand] Limited to particular language group. e.g. "cari /language:ms"
site:[domain] Limited to a domain. e.g. "thread site:edu"
inanchor:[url] Limited search to anchor <a>
inurl:[word] Limited search to URL of sites
intitle:[word] Limited search to web site title
(content inside html title tag i think)
intext:[word] Limited search to web site content
(content inside html body tag i think)

Kill all my processes in current Unix machine (shell script)

2006-12-28T03:37:00.000-08:00

This is a korn shell script, but should work in other shell with little change or none.

#created by Anthony Yio, 28 Dec 06
#!/bin/ksh
MYUSER=`whoami`
for MYPID in `ps -ef | grep $MYUSER | awk '{ print $(2) }' | sort -r`
do
`kill -9 $MYPID`
done

A little perl script to spice up your unix shell startup

2006-12-08T03:40:00.000-08:00

Content of perl script
-----------

use strict;

$/ = "\n%%%\n"; #define separator for array
open ARTS, "art.dat" or die $!;
my @file = <arts>;
my $random = rand(@file);

my $ascii_art = $file[$random];
$ascii_art=~s/\n%%%\n//; #remove the separator string
print $ascii_art, "\n";

----------

sample content of art.dat, you can get more from the mentioned web site or newsgroup
(sample below taken from http://www.chris.com/ASCII/)
----------

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$*" *$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"  "*"   *$$$$$$" ^$$$"$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$" z$P"$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P  e$"e4$b.   "$$" d$ $P $$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$" .$$$ J$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" .$Pz$$4$$$$c  z" $$*" z$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$  4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P  z$$4$$%$$$$$$$d  "   z$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$P  z$$$* er$$$* ze$$P .$  $$  $F  d$$ $$Fz$$$$$$$  $$P$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$P  4$$$" $$F$$" $" $" z$% J$$$$F  d$$$ *"d$$$$$$$  $$Pd$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$  .$$$  $c* "  $$b$" z$P .$$$$P  4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$  d$Pd$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$   $$$" 4$$%$  4$$$"  $$  $P$$$   $$$""$$$$$*"$$% 4$"$$P"*""$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$F  4$$$  $$Fd$  $$$"  $$  dPd$$"  $$" z$ $$" d$ $  $\$$  dP 4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$   $$$F  *"d$F  $* r  *   "J$$$  .$% .$$.$" .$$J   d$$  $$  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$   $$$$  .$$$$   e$b  dL  $$$$F  J$  d$P$" d$e e  $$$  $$  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$   $$d$$$.F .$$"$F 4$$  d$% J$J$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$L  "$$$$$$$$$$*"        "$$$$$   4$$$$ $  $$"d$  $$   $F  $.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$c  ^*$$$*" .e$$$$$c       $$$L   "*".$$    d$$   z       .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$e.   .e$$$$$$$$$$$z$$$$$$$$$$.  .d$$$c .$$$$c d$b .$c e$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Gilo94'$$

%%%

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                  "$$$P"               .P$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                    ""                 4$e3$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                                       4$$4$CeC$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                                ....   4$$.$$$$^$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                           ...d$$$*"   4Pz$$$$\d$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                         d$$$$*"        d$$$5d$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                      zd$$$$$ .ec     .$$$Pz$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                   .e$$"  $$F $$$r    $$$"4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                  4$$"    3$$ *$$$   d$$\$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F                          4$$  *$$r d$$)$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               .          4$$   3$$$$$"4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               $$.    .d  d$$    $$$$" 4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               $$4$$cd$$  $$$    3$$$  4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               $$4$$$$$$  $$$     """  4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               $$4$$$$$$  4$$          4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               $P4$$$$$$               4$$4$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$F               \d$$$$$$$               ')d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Gilo94'$$

%%%

-----------

After these two files are created in your unix home directory. Update your .profile or any startup script of your shell with

perl [your script filename] art.dat

CTags and VIM

2006-11-23T00:48:00.000-08:00

Sample generate tags file command
ctags -f {tag file location} --recurse --langmap=C++:.C.h.c.cpp.hpp --languages=C++ --extra=+q --fields=+i --verbose {source parent folder e.g. /usr/my_source/}
After tag file generated, add
set tags={tag file location 1}, {tag file location 2} to .vimrc
in VIM
type

:set tags={tag file location 1}, {tag file location 2}

or add it to .vimrc

in VIM

For ultraedit, the ctag parameter is
-L %fi -f %fo --language-force=C++ --extra=+q --fields=+i

If using VIM as editor, the supported commands are

:ts - tag, class definition as priority
:tj - tag (can use /pattern or /^pattern. Since it is pattern search, it is not binary search mode which would be slow)
:po or ctrl + 't' - older tag search stack
ctrl ']' on selected text to call tag search directly.
: or to scroll for previous calls

(refer http://www.vim.org/htmldoc/tagsrch.html )

VIM commands which is useful when use in conjunction with ctags
shift + * - start to search this word in the document
shift + # - start to search this word in the document (backward order)
n - continue to search forward the word
shitf + n - continue to search backward for the word.
:e - to reload the current document in VIM.
/ (command mode) - to search for a word (using regex if supply) in forward order
? (command mode) - to search for a word (using regex if supply) in backward order.
:file - to show current edit/view file in VIM
ctrl + [ or ctrl ] or ctrl % - nagivate source files.
:e - to open another file as another page buffer in VIM.
:E - to open another file using a file explorer of VIM
:bn - move to next page buffer in VIM.
:bp - move to previous page buffer in VIM.
:bd - close current page buffer in VIM.
:files - show all page buffer loaded in VIM.
:%s///g - to replace all the source string to destination string.

If run Ctag from the shell, type vim -t {tag file} and then select which tag position to start edit with

Operator overload

2006-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

A a;

if(a) <--- this will trigger operator bool() and also operator void const*() const{
{
}

}

boost style
(typedef T * (this_type::*unspecified_bool_type)() const;operator unspecified_bool_type() const // never throws{return px == 0? 0: &this_type::get;})

if (a == "ss") <-- a combinations of few operator overload.

Foo(std::string const& s);
Foo(std::string s);

bool operator==(Foo const& lhs, Foo const& rhs);

For []

int& operator[] (unsigned i) { return data[i]; }

class A
{
public:
enum enA { A1, A2, A3 };
A() { }
~A() { }

operator A::enA() { return A2; }

};

void Fn(A::enA e)
{
std::cout << "Fn(A::enA)\n";

}

when
A a;
Fn(a); // Will call Fn(A::enA) due to overload of operator A::enA()

C++ Heap Corruption example

2006-11-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

class A {

A(int i)
{
text = (char *)malloc(sizeof (char *)) ;
}

A()
{
text = (char *)malloc(sizeof (char *)) ;
}

virtual ~A()
{
if(text != 0)
{
free(text);
text = 0;
}
}

};

void main()
{
A a;
a = A(123);
}

Polymorphism or inheritance watch out

2006-11-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

class B {
char *str;
B(){str = new char[100];}
~B(){delete [] str;}
};
class D : public B {
D(){}
~D(){}
};

B* pB = new D;delete pB; // resource leak cause the base destructor (class B) wasn't call.

Solution 1: The base class "MUST" declare destructor as virtual.
e.g.

virtual ~B(){delete [] str;}

Solution 2: (a prevention mechanism to C++) By declaring class as final so that can't inherit the class. C++ itself does not have final, concept taken from Java.

E.g. http://www.codeproject.com/cpp/finalclass.asp

or use

class __declspec(novtable) YourClassName

Excel VBA

2006-11-07T22:13:00.000-08:00

A macro I used to creat the hyperlinks to another sheet which is in sequence

Sub CreateLinks()

Dim i, j, NoNeeded As Integer
i = 19 'copy source start row
j = 2 'copy destination start row
NoNeeded = 500 'number of links
Dim cellSelect As String
Dim cellTarget As String
For j = 2 To NoNeeded
cellSelect = "A" & CStr(j)
Range(cellSelect).Select
cellTarget = "!A" & CStr(i)
ActiveSheet.Hyperlinks.Add Anchor:=Selection, Address:="", SubAddress:=_ "'UNKNOWN (1)'" & cellTarget, TextToDisplay:="'UNKNOWN (1)'" & cellTarget
i = i + 1
Next j

End Sub

standard C++ OOP features (codes)

2006-09-26T04:56:00.000-07:00

#include "stdafx.h"

#include <cstdlib>

#include <iostream>

#define OUT

using namespace std;

class A

{

private:

int
iMyNum;

void
APrivateFunc()

{

}

public:

A()

{

iMyNum = 100;

}

friend ostream& operator<<( ostream&, A& ) ;

//made as friend function for performance reason

void
MyFunc()

{

printf("myfunct");

}

};

ostream&operator<<( ostream& o, A& theObj ){ o << "A" << endl; return o ;}

class B : private A

{

public:

B():A()

{

}

int iMyB;

using
A::MyFunc;

//only for the
member variables which already originaly

//accessible but
during inheris access specifier specify as private instead of public

//using
A::APrivateFunc;

//this is not
valid APrivateFunc before that is a private function.

};

class A1

{

protected:

int iMyA1;

public:

int
GetMyA1()

{return
iMyA1;}

};

class B1:public A1

{

public:

int iMyB1;

B1():A1()

{

}

B1 & operator
= (A1 &a1)

{

A1::iMyA1 = a1.GetMyA1();

return
*this;

}

};

// o (based)

// /\

// o o (derived)

// \ /

// o (grandchild)

//hybrid inheritance base class

class Base

{

int iMyBased;

public:

Base()

{}

Base(int
i)

{iMyBased = i;}

void
MyBased(){

cout << "MyBased" ;

}

};

//virtual base class to solve hybrid inheritance problem when calling
common based function

class DerivedA :
public virtual Base

{

public :

void
DerivedFunc()

{

}

DerivedA()

{

}

DerivedA(int
i):Base(i)

{

}

};

class DerivedB :
public virtual Base

{

public :

void
DerivedFunc()

{

}

DerivedB()

{

}

DerivedB(int
i):Base(i)

{

}

};

class
GrandChild : public
DerivedA, public DerivedB

{

public:

GrandChild():DerivedB(), DerivedA()

{}

//GrandChild(int
i):DerivedB(i), DerivedA(i) //the problem is that if the base class is virtual,
only the default base class constructor will be called.

//{} i.e
- the Base(int i) will not be called eventhough the constructor had instructed
to do so.

GrandChild(int
i):Base(i), DerivedB(i), DerivedA(i) //to solve the
problem above

{}

void
MyCall()

{

Base::MyBased();

}

};

class String

{

private:

char
*Strng;

public:

void
GetData()

{

cout << "Type the data\n";

Strng = new char[15];

cin >> Strng;

}

void
ShowData()

{

cout << Strng << "\n";

}

String &operator = (String &Strn)

{

printf("operator assignment");

int
Len = strlen(Strn.Strng);

Strng = new char[Len + 1];

strcpy(Strng,
Strn.Strng);

return
*this;

}

String(){}

String (const
String &Strn)

{

printf("copy
const");

int Len = strlen(Strn.Strng);

Strng = new char[Len + 1];

strcpy(Strng,
Strn.Strng);

}

explicit String(char
*psz)

{

printf("explicit cast");

int
Len = strlen(psz);

Strng = new char[Len + 1];

strcpy(Strng, psz);

}

operator char*()

{

printf("operator typename");

return Strng;

}

~String()

{

delete
[] Strng;

}

};

class Host

{

private:

int iMyID;

public:

Host()

{}

Host(const
Host&){}

Host & operator
= (Host &h){}

friend class Parasite; //establish
friend relationship

};

class Parasite

{

private:

int iMyID;

public:

friend void accessParasite(OUT Parasite &p, int ID); //this allow non
member or member of class to be able to access private data members.

Parasite(){}

void
SetHostID(OUT Host &h, int ID){h.iMyID =
ID;} //this become possible if Parasite become Host
friend class.

};

void
accessParasite(OUT Parasite &p, int ID)

{

p.iMyID = ID;

}

class v1

{

public:

/*v1(){}

~v1(){}*/

//when a class
definition contain a pure virtual that definition undefined, that mean it is a
abstract class,

//meaning it can
not be instantiated. If inheritted class do not define the definition of that
parent virtual

//function, the
inheritted class also become abstract.

//pure virtual
save from having to write definition into function.

//__declspec(novtable)
for VC++ can be use as it save storage for each of the inheritted object

virtual char* myPVirtual() const
=0; //the const mean the function can not modify the
member variable

virtual void myV1(){cout << "v1-myV1"<<
endl;}

void
myNonVirtual(){cout << "v1-myNonVirtual"
<< endl;}

};

class dv1: public v1

{

public:

dv1():v1(){}

~dv1(){}

virtual
char*
myPVirtual() const

{

printf("myMyVirtual");

return
NULL;

}

virtual
void myV1(){cout << "dv1-myV1"<< endl;}

void
myNonVirtual(){cout << "dv1-myNonVirtual"
<< endl;}

};

class dv2: public v1

{

public:

dv2():v1(){}

~dv2(){}

virtual
char*
myPVirtual() const

{

printf("myMyVirtual");

return
NULL;

}

void
myV1(){cout << "dv2-myV1"<<
endl;}

void
myNonVirtual(){cout << "dv2-myNonVirtual"
<< endl;}

};

class dv2d:public dv2

{

public:

void
myV1(){cout << "dv2d-myV1"<<
endl;}

};

int main(int argc, char
*argv[])

{

String str1;

str1.GetData();

str1.ShowData();

String str2(str1); //copy
constructor

String str3 = str2; //copy constructor

String str4;

str4 = str3; //operator
= called

str2.ShowData();

str2.GetData();

str1.ShowData();

String str5;

char
*pszTest = "hello";

str5 = String(pszTest); //explicit cast called

String str6;

str6 = (String)pszTest; //explicit cast called

char
*pCheck = (char*)str1; //operator
typename called (it works like text sub internally.)

cout << pCheck;

A1 *a;

B1 b;

b.iMyB1 = 1000;

a = &b;

B1 *b2;

b2 = (B1*)a; //this
will still be able to get the retained value.

printf("%d",
b2->iMyB1);

A1 aa;

/*B1 b3;

b3 =
reinterpret_cast<B1>(*a);*/

B1 b3;

b3.iMyB1 = 123;

aa = b3; //from
derived to base, can

B1 b4;

b4 = aa; //from
base to derived, need conversion function for the B1 assignment operator or
copy construtor

GrandChild oo;

oo.MyCall();

oo.MyBased(); //this
will prompt error if not using virtual base class, in the code write
"virtual public classname" as inherit access modifier

oo.DerivedA::DerivedFunc(); //this will resolve ambiguity problem.

cout << endl << "----------------" << endl ;

v1 *v;

dv1 dv_1;

dv2 dv_2;

v = &dv_1;

v->myV1();

v->myNonVirtual(); //non virtual will not be able to make the function call to
be based on the

//the real class it points to. (meaning, polymophism needs
virtual function.)

v = &dv_2;

v->myV1();

v->myNonVirtual();

dv2d dv_2d;

dv2 *pDV2;

pDV2
=&dv_2d;

pDV2->myV1(); //eventhough
the dv2 does not declare the myV1 as virtual anymore but only its parent, but
the derived

//child
still be able to make the function call to be based on the

//the real class it
points to.

cout << "----------------"
<< endl;

system("PAUSE");

return
EXIT_SUCCESS;

}

//composite relationship

class
CompositeOrContained

{

public:

CompositeOrContained(){}

CompositeOrContained(int i){}

};

class
ContainerOrComposed

{

public:

CompositeOrContained m_o;

ContainerOrComposed(){}

ContainerOrComposed(int i):m_o(i)

{

}

};

//associative relationship

class
Associated;

class
Associating

{

public:

Associated *pA;

};

class Associated

{

public:

Associated(){}

~Associated(){}

};

//associative with custody relationship

class
AssociatingWithCustody

{

public:

Associated *pA;

AssociatingWithCustody(){pA = new Associated();}

~AssociatingWithCustody(){delete pA;}

};

TLS (Thread Local Storage) sample code

2006-06-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

This will spawn multiple threads and each thread will access itTLS, including the main thread itself will access its own TLS.

The code will not deallocate the memory in the heap which initially allocated in the thread. The reason is to able to show the content of the TLS and each TLS is localized to each thread.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <Windows.h>
#include <process.h>

static DWORD dwTlsIndex; // address of shared memory

void func(LPVOID);

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{

if ((dwTlsIndex = TlsAlloc()) == 0xFFFFFFFF)
return FALSE;

//main thread
LPSTR lpszTemp = new char[10];
strcpy(lpszTemp, "main thread");
TlsSetValue(dwTlsIndex, (LPVOID)lpszTemp);

for(int k = 0; k < 10; k++)
{
_beginthread(func, 0, NULL);
}

LPCTSTR pCheck = (LPCTSTR)TlsGetValue(dwTlsIndex);
printf("Main: %s\n", pCheck);
TlsFree(dwTlsIndex);

return 0;

}

void func(LPVOID)
{
char *lpszData;
lpszData = new char[10];

sprintf(lpszData, "%d", GetCurrentThreadId());

LPCSTR lpcszCheck = (LPCTSTR)TlsGetValue(dwTlsIndex);

printf("Prev: %s\n", lpcszCheck);

TlsSetValue(dwTlsIndex, (LPVOID)lpszData);

lpcszCheck = (LPCTSTR)TlsGetValue(dwTlsIndex);
printf("Current: %s\n", lpcszCheck);

}

My frequently used Visual Studio.NET 2003 IDE Commands

2006-06-09T03:41:00.000-07:00

I do not know about others but these are commands that I would definitely want it to be customized for my preference.

Edit.ToggleTaskListShortCut
Edit.GotoNextLocation
Edit.GotoPreviousLocation
Edit.ToggleBookMark
Edit.NextBookMark
Edit.PreviousBookMark

Windows Script to search for a file in all the drives

2006-05-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Script below will search for a file in all drives(excluding network mapped drive)

'filename to search for
filename="test.txt"

On Error Resume Next
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_LogicalDisk",,48)
For Each objItem in colItems

Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set folder = fs.GetFolder(objItem.Caption)
fList(folder)

Next

sub fList(folderObj)
for each file in folderObj.Files
if file.name=filename then
Wscript.Echo "File found at" & file.Path
exit for
end if
next
for each folder in folderObj.subfolders
fList(folder)
next
end sub

Using DrWatson log to debug

2006-02-14T03:15:00.000-08:00

- If lately application crash. DrWatson will record it and place the info to a log file.(newer version Windows should have it). Type drwtsn32 or drwatson
- Then, open the log. Look for Fault->
- Start vadump and type
vadump -v -p 1160 |more

-p = is the process ID. (get it from task manager)

in the crashed PC
to get the memory address of the environment.

- If confirm involved module are related to your application.
- Get the pdb file (debug info) file of the related module. (even for release mode module, you can rebuild it and checked the generate debug info. It will still be able to load some additional info without the expense of address changes a lot cause the compiled release module with debug info size is identical to one without)
- Debug the process using IDE - Attach to process.
- The DrWatson should contain offset from the loaded module to the crash location.
Makesure IDE set to read the debug info to ease in reading the crash location in response to real source. If the IDE is super enough to be able load the complete source code. It would even greater. (tough luck so far on the IDE I know off that able to load the complete source code on release mode module) Anyway, given the name appear if any in the disassembly is already good enough. (The prefered IDE would be V.S.NET 2003, more setting during debug process. VS6 too primitive)

Outlook - IMAP Sent Items folder not keeping the sent items

2006-01-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

If you are familiar with Outlook Express, you will notice that everytime if you are using the IMAP account to send out the email, the sent emails will automatically be copied one copy into "Sent Items" IMAP folder. But, if you switch to Outlook, regardless of Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003 and etc. The sent email will never be copied into the IMAP sent items folder but instead only into the local sent items folder.

Anyway, there is a way to overcome this problem (courtesy of Lee Ta Nen). By using the Outlook rules to imitate the effect.

Steps

1. Goto menu, Tools - Rules and Alerts

2. Click "New Rules ..." button

3. In the Rules Wizard - choose "Start from a blank rule"

4. In "Select when message should be checked", select "Check messages after sending"

5. Click "Next" button

6. Then, in the next page, choose "uses the form name from" and tick it.

7. Then, in the "Edit the rule description" click on the "form name" hyperlink.

8. Then, in the "Choose Form" dialog box, select "Application Form" in the combo box, and then, select "Message" in the list box and click "Add ->" button.

9. Then click "Close" button in the "Choose Form" dialog box.

10. Then click "Next" button

11. Then in the next Rules Wizard page, in "What do you want to do with the message?" - "Select action(s)", tick "move a copy to a specified folder".

12. In the Edit Rule Description, click on "specified" hyperlink, and then it will pop a dialog box for choosing the folder. Choose the IMAP sent items folder and press ok.

13. Then, click "Next" two times.

14. Click "Finish" button.

If you have set up the above rule you may want to stop Outlook automatically copying your sent messages to your local Outlook Sent Items folder as well as the IMAP Sent folder. To do this:

1. Choose Tools > Options
2. Click on the Preferences tab, then E-mail Options
3. Uncheck the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder box.
4. Press OK

.NET GDI+ Simple Image Operations

2006-01-09T00:21:00.000-08:00

(In C#)

System.Drawing.Graphics g;

bmpOriginal = new Bitmap("C:\\myImage.gif");

int nNewWidth = 2 * bmpOriginal .Width; //suppose resize 200%
int nNewHeight = 2 * bmpOriginal .Height;

System.Drawing.Bitmap bmpModified = new Bitmap(nNewWidth, nNewHeight);
g = Graphics.FromImage(bmpModified );

RectangleF rectDest =new RectangleF(
0,
0,
nNewWidth,
nNewHeight);

RectangleF rectSource = new RectangleF(0, 0, bmpOriginal.Width, bmpOriginal.Height);
g.DrawImage(
bmpOriginal ,
rectDest,
rectSource ,
GraphicsUnit.Pixel);

bmpModified .Save("C:\\myNewImage.gif", System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Gif);

g.Dispose();
g = null;

Reflection API to access COM objects sample

2005-10-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

quoted from URL

Object o;
     System.Type t = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("MODI.Document");
     o = System.Activator.CreateInstance(t);

     Object[] a = new Object[1];
     a[0] = "C:\\Temp\\iri36300.TIF";

     t.InvokeMember("Create", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, o, a);
     Object images = t.InvokeMember( "Images", BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, o, new Object[] {} );
     Type imagesType = images.GetType();
     Object item = imagesType.InvokeMember( "Item", BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, images, new Object[] {"0"} );
     Type itemType = item.GetType();
     itemType.InvokeMember("OCR", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, item, new Object[] { 9 } );
     Object layout = itemType.InvokeMember("Layout", BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, item, new Object[] {} );
     Type layoutType = layout.GetType();
     Object ocrResult = layoutType.InvokeMember( "Text", BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, layout, new Object[] {} );

Locating MAPI directory using FGetComponentPath

2005-10-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

Codes below quoted from
URL
By Sam Charchian

typedef BOOL (STDAPICALLTYPE FGETCOMPONENTPATH)
(LPSTR szComponent,
LPSTR szQualifier,
LPSTR szDllPath,
DWORD cchBufferSize,
BOOL fInstall);
typedef FGETCOMPONENTPATH FAR * LPFGETCOMPONENTPATH;

static TCHAR s_szMSIApplicationLCID[] =
"Microsoft\\Office\\9.0\\Outlook\0LastUILanguage\0"; // STRING_OK
static TCHAR s_szMSIOfficeLCID[] =

"Microsoft\\Office\\9.0\\Common\\LanguageResources\0UILanguage\0InstallLangu
age\0"; // STRING_OK

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///
// Function name : CSVCFile::InitMAPIDir
// Description : For Outlook 2000 compliance. This will get the
correct path to the
// : MAPISVC.INF file.
// Return type : void
// Argument : LPSTR szMAPIDir - Buffer to hold the path to the
MAPISVC file.
void CSVCFile::InitMAPIDir(LPTSTR szMAPIDir)
{
HINSTANCE hinstStub = NULL;

// Call common code in mapistub.dll
hinstStub = LoadLibrary("mapistub.dll");
if (!hinstStub)
{
// Try stub mapi32.dll if mapistub.dll missing
hinstStub = LoadLibrary("mapi32.dll");
if (!hinstStub)
goto Done;
}

LPFGETCOMPONENTPATH pfnFGetComponentPath;

pfnFGetComponentPath = (LPFGETCOMPONENTPATH)
GetProcAddress(hinstStub, "FGetComponentPath");

if (!pfnFGetComponentPath)
goto Done;

if ((pfnFGetComponentPath("{FF1D0740-D227-11D1-A4B0-006008AF820E}",
s_szMSIApplicationLCID, szMAPIDir, MAX_PATH, TRUE)
||

pfnFGetComponentPath("{FF1D0740-D227-11D1-A4B0-006008AF820E}",
s_szMSIOfficeLCID, szMAPIDir, MAX_PATH, TRUE) ||

pfnFGetComponentPath("{FF1D0740-D227-11D1-A4B0-006008AF820E}",
NULL, szMAPIDir, MAX_PATH, TRUE)) &&
szMAPIDir[0] != '\0')
{
szMAPIDir[lstrlen(szMAPIDir) - 13] = 0; // Strip
"\msmapi32.dll"
}
else
{
szMAPIDir[0] = '\0'; // Terminate String at pos 0.
}

Done:

if (hinstStub)
FreeLibrary(hinstStub);
}

Another reference available in

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229700

and

(In Delphi by Dmitry Streblechenko)

URL

Troubleshooting Outlook Express (IMAP, POP3, HTTP, NEWS) with the log file

2005-05-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

Just happen to know this when trying to solve my friend OE problem.

You can log in POP3, IMAP, NEWS, HTTP commands of your Outlook Express into a log file. (note, the password in the log file is encrypted by Microsoft, therefore, it is safe to ask user to send the log file over if you are a IT support)

To enable logging.
-------------------------

Tools(menu) - Options (menu) - Maintenance(menu) - check on the protocol you need. (POP3, IMAP, NEWS or HTTP)

To view the log file
--------------------------

Goto path

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{8D32DF8B-D3B8-4783-A0C5-FE37E2FC8659}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\pop3.log (for pop3)

imap.log for (imap)
and other respectively.

P.S. The {8D32DF8B-D3B8-4783-A0C5-FE37E2FC8659} may vary and there could be a few Identities in it. Look for the folder with the structure of *.dbx similar to your Outlook Express email account.

Steps to set up VS.NET 2003 remote debugger

2005-05-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

(quoted from http://www.codecomments.com/archive370-2005-2-396392.html)

msvcmon ( Visual C++ .NET 2003 ) on Windows 9x/NT 4.0/2k/XP.

Steps to set up
the remote debugger

1. copy msvcmon.exe and all the dll it needs to the target machine ( Windows
NT4.0 SP6). Psapi.dll need to be copied over Winnt\System32.
2. on the target machine, open a DOS command windows
c:\app\msvcmon -anyuser
3. start the app ( of course the debug version ) on the target machine
4. on the development machine ( Windows XP SP2 ) , open the project file, go
to
Debug -> Processes
select "TCP/IP(native only)" as the transport layer, and type the IP
address of the target machine. Then click "refresh" button.

(use PSList or PSKill for remotely terminate process. (at sysinternals.com))
URL for explanation on its usage.

Outlook : "operation failed, object could not be found. " when trying to close a PST.

2005-04-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

When you try to close a PST. The error message
"operation failed, object could not be found"
pop up.
After you have tried scanpst and detect and repair. Still won't work.

Solution. (a hard way)

Start Regedit

Go to Key
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings

Where "Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings" is the Outlook profile name that has problem. (note: Outlook support multiple profile even for same Windows login)

In the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings, you will see a bunch of long string sub keys in it

Like in the format of GUID, like e.g. 75d1fa940a0d3a4497130516edbde90e

Then, start at the very first sub keys of HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings. Right click on sub key,

Select Find (menu)
And then, in the Find dialog, check on 'Values' (checkbox) and leave the other uncheck.
In the Find What text box, key in 01020fff

Then, you will see a few values get highlighted. Double click on it and you will see
something like this

reg_screen

Check what is in it, the value show is actually the PST path of your Outlook Store.

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings\XXXXXXXX

delete the whole XXXXXXXX key if it contain the 01020fff which is the PST path you can't close it in the Outlook. You can check what is your PST path in Outlook by checking the properties of the mailbox. (the root node in the tree)

The reason why you need to do this is that Outlook API is unable to remove the sub key where it is appearing in the Outlook folder list. Doing this is to force to remove the sub string manually. However, there is a risk to take whenever you are changing any registry key. By the way, if your PST/OST is a Exchange Mailbox, this solution is not suitable cause this is meant for local PST where the PST file is stored locally and no one copy in server.

(IMPORTANT: Make sure you back up your keys before deleting it by just right click on the key you want to delete and select "Export" in the regedit.)

error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _IID_IMessage

2005-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Often time, I encounter unresolved external symbol _IID_IMessage problem when I am trying to use IID_IMessage in my codes.

This is my solution to the problem, include and define in such sequence.

#define INITGUID
#define USES_IID_IMessage
#define USES_IID_IMAPIPropData
#define USES_IID_IMAPITable

#include <initguid.h> //this is needed,
#include <mapiguid.h> //then this
#include <mapiform.h>
#include <objbase.h>
#include <mapix.h>
#include <mapitags.h>
#include <mapidefs.h>
#include <mapiutil.h>
#include <imessage.h>

Managed string to Unmanaged string

2005-03-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

Taken from http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~cs216/labs/helpdocs/system.string.html

Example Code

#include "stdafx.h"

#include
#include
using namespace std;

#using
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Text;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;

//Converts a System::String to a std::string
//This code assumes that you have used the following namespace:
// using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices;
std::string ManagedToSTL(System::String *managed) {
//get a pointer to an array of ANSI chars
char *chars = (char*) Marshal::StringToHGlobalAnsi(managed).ToPointer();

//assign the array to an STL string
std::string stl = chars;

//free the memory used by the array
//since the array is not managed, it will not be claimed by the garbage collector
Marshal::FreeHGlobal(chars);

return stl;
}

//Converts a std::string to a System::String
//This code assumes that you have used the following namespace:
// using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices
System::String* STLToManaged(std::string stl) {
//the c_str() function gets a char array from the STL string,
//but the PtrToStringAnsi function wants a int array, so it gets casted
return Marshal::PtrToStringAnsi((int*) stl.c_str());
}

int _tmain()
{
/*Parsing and Comparison Example*/
//First, here is an example of simple string parsing
Console::WriteLine("Parsing and Comparison Example:");

//here is a string to parse
String *str = S"one two,three:four;five";

//this is a list of delimiters that can separate words
Char delim[] = {' ', ',', ':', ';'};

//using the Split() method, we can obtain an array of strings that
//are separated by the given delimeters
String *strArray[] = str->Split(delim);

//check that the first element contains "one"
//if you wish to compare alphabetically, use Compare() (see MSDN)
if (strArray[0]->Equals(S"one"))
Console::WriteLine("\"one\" == \"one\"");

//output all members of the array
//we should see:
// one
// two
// three
// four
// five
for (int i = 0; i <>get_Count(); i++)
Console::WriteLine(strArray[i]);

/*StringBuilder Example*/
//Here is an example of using StringBuilder as a changeable alternative
//to the immutable String class
//Here we assume:
// using namespace System::Text;
Console::WriteLine();
Console::WriteLine("StringBuilder Example:");

//declare a new StringBuilder
StringBuilder *strBuild = new StringBuilder();

//use the Append() method to construct a string of the words that we parsed
strBuild->Append(strArray[0]);
for (int i = 1; i <>get_Count(); i++) {
strBuild->Append(" ");
strBuild->Append(strArray[i]);
}

//convert the StringBuilder to an immutable String and output
String *final = strBuild->ToString();
Console::WriteLine(final);

/*Conversion Example*/
//Here we see how to use the functions declared above to convert between
//the managed System::String class and the unmanaged STL std::string class
Console::WriteLine();
Console::WriteLine("Conversion Example:");

//the variables we will be using
String *managedString;
string stlString;

//converts a managed String to an STL string, using cout to output
managedString = S"Managed -> STL";
stlString = ManagedToSTL(managedString);
cout <<>

//converts an STL string to a managed String, using Console::WriteLine to output
stlString = "STL -> Managed";
managedString = STLToManaged(stlString);
Console::WriteLine(managedString);

return 0;
}

IT conversation

2005-02-28T18:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.itconversations.com/

Listener-supported audio programs,
interviews and important events.

Viewing STL container in VS.NET 2003 watch windows

2005-02-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

For a vector, you can start with these examples:

"v._Myfirst" -> the first element
"v._Myfirst, 10" -> 10 elements
"v._Myfirst[1]" -> the element at index 1
"v.size()" -> number of elements

For a list:

"l._Mysize" -> number of elements
"l._Myhead->_Next->_Myval" -> the first element
"l._Myhead->_Next->_Next->_Myval" -> the second element
"l._Myhead->_Next->_Next->_Next->_Myval" -> the third element, etc.

MFC Windows Message Processing - yield control

2005-02-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

(Refering Programming Ms Visual C++ fifth edition - Ms Press)

A workaround which works with both Win16 and Win32. Yield control once in a while by inserting the following instructions inside the time consuming function:

MSG message;
if (::PeekMessage(&message, NULL, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE)) {
   ::TranslateMessage(&message);
   ::DispatchMessage(&message);
}

The PeekMessage function works like GetMessage, except that it returns immediately even if no message has arrived for your program. In that case, the function keeps on processing. If there is a message, however, the function pauses, the handler is called, and the function starts up again after the handler exits.

E.g.

void CMyClass::LengthyFunction()
{
   MSG message;

   volatile int nTemp;
   for (m_nCount = 0; m_nCount < nMaxCount; m_nCount++) {
       for (nTemp = 0; nTemp < 10000; nTemp++) {
           // processing here.
       }
       if (::PeekMessage(&message, NULL, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE)) {
           ::TranslateMessage(&message);
           ::DispatchMessage(&message);
       }
   }

}

Recover HDD after format

2005-02-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

SystemRescueCd is an improvement of the gentoo live cd. It aims to provide an high quality bootable CD-Rom, with all system utilities that can be required to repair your system.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/systemrescuecd

There seems to be some utilities for FAT16/32 (dosfstools[^]) and NTSF (NTSFProgs[^]) included on the bootable linux CD

There is also this tool R-Studio 2.0[^]

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm[^]

Merging menu items for MDI container and MDI child forms

2005-02-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

Say, if MDI container has a "About" Menu that the MDI child forms need to merge with.

Set the MDI container menu in such manner. (In the InitializeComponent or change it using the IDE property window)

this.menuItemAbout.Index = 1;
this.menuItemAbout.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
this.menuItemMainHelp});
this.menuItemAbout.MergeOrder = 1;
this.menuItemAbout.MergeType = System.Windows.Forms.MenuMerge.MergeItems;
this.menuItemAbout.Text = "Help";

this.menuItemMainHelp.Index = 0;
this.menuItemMainHelp.MergeOrder = 1000; //this need to be larger than the child so that it appear //underneath the child menu items.
this.menuItemMainHelp.Text = "Main Help";
this.menuItemMainHelp.MergeType = System.Windows.Forms.MenuMerge.Add;

Set MDI child forms in such manner. (In the InitializeComponent or change it using the IDE property window)

this.menuItemAbout.Index = 1;

this.menuItemAbout.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
this.menuItemChildHelp});
this.menuItemAbout.MergeOrder = 1;
this.menuItemAbout.MergeType = System.Windows.Forms.MenuMerge.MergeItems;
this.menuItemAbout.Text = "Help";

this.menuItemChildHelp.Index = 0;
this.menuItemChildHelp.MergeOrder = 100;
this.menuItemChildHelp.Text = "My Child Help";
this.menuItemChildHelp.MergeType = System.Windows.Forms.MenuMerge.Add;
this.menuItemChildHelp.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuItemChildHelp_Click);

Integrate help to .NET apps

2005-02-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

Help.ShowPopup(this,
"Enter Phone number here. Valid input characters are 0-9,space,'-','(', and ')'",
Cursor.Position);

//this will show an unconventional popup message box on the cursor position. Nicer than standard //messagebox

Can also use the HelpProvider object HelpString properties to achieve the same effect but seems to have less control over.

when drag a System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider to a form.

All the controls in the form will have the option HelpNavigator on myHelpProvider avail in the properties windows.

For directing the F1 key press to index of the CHM. The helpprovider need to set HelpNamespace to "Help\VB.chm" (to chm appropriate).

Then, in the needed control, HelpNavigator on myHelpProvider option, choose keyword index, and then key in the helpkeyword.

This will automatically map the F1 key press or the "?" help button button to be directed to the CHM.

To sort using ArrayList.Sort()

2005-02-14T02:34:00.000-08:00

Quoted from http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/sortingarraylist.asp

public struct MyStrcuture
{
public Int32 iID;
public String sName;
}

In order to be able to sort elements contained in an ArrayList, we have to define the CompareTo method of the IComparable interface, and then use the ArrayList's .Sort() method. This -of course- means that our structure should be inherited from that interface .. and so we'll do!

public struct MyStrcuture : IComparable
{
public Int32 iID;
public String sName;

public Int32 CompareTo(Object obj)
{
  MyStrcuture tmpObj = (MyStrcuture) obj;
  return (this.sName.CompareTo(tmpObj.sName));
}
}

This would allow the array list to be sorted by just calling MyArrayList.Sort()
provided the arraylist containing the item with the above structure.


Useful sorting algorithms in C#. URL

Useful C++ code snippet (ascii to unicode)

2005-02-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

void ascii2unicode(LPCTSTR strin, wchar_t* strout)
{
int len = strlen(strin);
for(int i=0; i<len; i++)
strout[i]=(wchar_t)strin[i];
strout[i] = 0;
}

ImpLib32

2005-02-03T02:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/5806/implib32.htm

ImpLib32 is a small utility which creates an import library for Visual C++ 2.x/4.x/5.x from an existing DLL.

What is Implib32:

Implib32 creates 32 bit import libraries for the use with Microsoft Visual
C++ 2.x/4.x/5.x.

Back in the good old days of Windows 3.x, Microsoft supplied a tool called
IMPLIB. This tool was able to create a import library for a given DLL.
After creating this library, you linked it to your program in order to
call functions contained in the DLL.

Unfortunatly, there is no equivalent to IMPLIB for Win32. Microsoft suggests
on the Win32 Knowledge Base that you should use DUMPBIN to create a file
which lists all exports of a DLL, reformat this file to .DEF-file using a
text editor and then use LIB to create a import library from the .DEF-file.
Implib32 does all this work for you: It invokes DUMPBIN and LIB and creates
an import library!

Note: ImpLib32 can't process 16-Bit DLLs, it will only work with 32-Bit DLLs!

Open Source Licensing Quick Guide

2005-02-03T01:37:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://zooko.com/license_quick_ref.html)

QUICK REFERENCE FOR CHOOSING A FREE SOFTWARE LICENSE, version 1.4.5.0, 2004-08-31

License

|           hackers like to accept code under it

|             | combine with proprietary and redistribute

|             |   | combine with GPL'ed code and redistribute

|             |   |   | must share source of redistributed version

|             |   |   |   | must include patent license with contribution

|             |   |   |   |   |

|             |   |   |   |   |

v             v   v   v   v   v

---           --- --- --- --- ---

permissive      Y   Y   Y   N   N

GNU LGPL        Y2  Y1  Y   Y   Y

GNU GPL         ?2  N   Y   Y   Y

Mozilla PL 1.1  Y2  Y   N3  Y   Y  (FAQ on MPL URL)



Excel doc which explains various licensing stuff

http://www.mass.gov/itd/legal/quickrefchart.xls

The Robots Exclusion Standard (web spider)

2005-01-30T22:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.searchengineworld.com/robots/robots_tutorial.htm

http://www.searchengineworld.com/cgi-bin/robotcheck.cgi

Getting more hits count for a web sites.

http://tom.gilki.org/programming/other/121104/

and set the meta tag of the main page. (check thestar.com.my)

C++: Named Constructor Idiom

2005-01-30T18:35:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/ctors.html#faq-10.4)

What is the "Named Constructor Idiom"?

A technique that provides more intuitive and/or safer construction operations for users of your class.

The problem is that constructors always have the same name as the class. Therefore the only way to differentiate between the various constructors of a class is by the parameter list. But if there are lots of constructors, the differences between them become somewhat subtle and error prone.

With the Named Constructor Idiom, you declare all the class's constructors in the private or protected sections, and you provide public static methods that return an object. These static methods are the so-called "Named Constructors." In general there is one such static method for each different way to construct an object.

For example, suppose we are building a Point class that represents a position on the X-Y plane. Turns out there are two common ways to specify a 2-space coordinate: rectangular coordinates (X+Y), polar coordinates (Radius+Angle). (Don't worry if you can't remember these; the point isn't the particulars of coordinate systems; the point is that there are several ways to create a Point object.) Unfortunately the parameters for these two coordinate systems are the same: two floats. This would create an ambiguity error in the overloaded constructors:

 class Point {

 public:

   Point(float x, float y);     // Rectangular coordinates

   Point(float r, float a);     // Polar coordinates (radius and angle)

   // ERROR: Overload is Ambiguous: Point::Point(float,float)

 };

 int main()

 {

   Point p = Point(5.7, 1.2);   // Ambiguous: Which coordinate system?

   ...

 }

One way to solve this ambiguity is to use the Named Constructor Idiom:

 #include                // To get sin() and cos()

 class Point {

 public:

   static Point rectangular(float x, float y);      // Rectangular coord's

   static Point polar(float radius, float angle);   // Polar coordinates

   // These static methods are the so-called "named constructors"

   ...

 private:

   Point(float x, float y);     // Rectangular coordinates

   float x_, y_;

 };

 inline Point::Point(float x, float y)

 : x_(x), y_(y) { }

 inline Point Point::rectangular(float x, float y)

 { return Point(x, y); }

 inline Point Point::polar(float radius, float angle)

 { return Point(radius*cos(angle), radius*sin(angle)); }

Now the users of Point have a clear and unambiguous syntax for creating Points in either coordinate system:

 int main()

 {

   Point p1 = Point::rectangular(5.7, 1.2);   // Obviously rectangular

   Point p2 = Point::polar(5.7, 1.2);         // Obviously polar

   ...

 }

Make sure your constructors are in the protected section if you expect Point to have derived classes.

The Named Constructor Idiom can also be used to make sure your objects are always created via new.

C++: Warning: Derived::f(char) hides Base::f(double)

2005-01-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/strange-inheritance.html)

What's the meaning of, `Warning: Derived::f(char) hides Base::f(double)`? Updated!

[Recently included a new example, changed the parameter types so the behavior seems more bizarre/ominous, and added a note about warnings not being standardized, thanks to Daniel Kabs (in 12/04). Click here to go to the next FAQ in the "chain" of recent changes.]

It means you're going to die.

Here's the mess you're in: if Base declares a member function f(double x), and Derived declares a member function f(char c) (same name but different parameter types and/or constness), then the Base f(double x) is "hidden" rather than "overloaded" or "overridden" (even if the Base f(double x) is virtual).

 class Base {

 public:

   void f(double x);  ← doesn't matter whether or not this is virtual

 };

 class Derived : public Base {

 public:

   void f(char c);  ← doesn't matter whether or not this is virtual

 };

 int main()

 {

   Derived* d = new Derived();

   Base* b = d;

   b->f(65.3);  ← okay: passes 65.3 to f(double x)

   d->f(65.3);  ← bizarre: converts 65.3 to a char ('A' if ASCII) and passes it to f(char c); does NOT call f(double x)!!

   return 0;

 }

Here's how you get out of the mess: Derived must have a using declaration of the hidden member function. For example,

 class Base {

 public:

   void f(double x);

 };

 class Derived : public Base {

 public:

   using Base::f;  ← This un-hides Base::f(double x)

   void f(char c);

 };

If the using syntax isn't supported by your compiler, redefine the hidden Base member function(s), even if they are non-virtual. Normally this re-definition merely calls the hidden Base member function using the :: syntax. E.g.,

 class Derived : public Base {

 public:

   void f(double x) { Base::f(x); }  ← The redefinition merely calls Base::f(double x)

   void f(char c);

 };

Note: the hiding problem also occurs if class Base declares a method f(char).

Note: warnings are not part of the standard, so your compiler may or may not give the above warning.

Resolution to C++ "dreaded diamond"

2005-01-30T18:18:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://www.parashift.com)

The "dreaded diamond" refers to a class structure in which a particular class appears more than once in a class's inheritance hierarchy. For example,

 class Base {
public:
  ...
protected:
  int data_;
};

class Der1 : public Base { ... };

class Der2 : public Base { ... };

class Join : public Der1, public Der2 {
public:
  void method()
  {
     data_ = 1;  ← bad: this is ambiguous; see below
  }
};

int main()
{
  Join* j = new Join();
  Base* b = j;   ← bad: this is ambiguous; see below
}  

Forgive the ASCII-art, but the inheritance hierarchy looks something like this:

  Base
  /     /                          /                                 Der1        Der2
                       \             /
                          \        /
   \   /
  Join

Before we explain why the dreaded diamond is dreaded, it is important to note that C++ provides techniques to deal with each of the "dreads." In other words, this structure is often called the dreaded diamond, but it really isn't dreaded; it's more just something to be aware of.

The key is to realize that Base is inherited twice, which means any data members declared in Base, such as data_ above, will appear twice within a Join object. This can create ambiguities: which data_ did you want to change? For the same reason the conversion from Join* to Base*, or from Join& to Base&, is ambiguous: which Base class subobject did you want?

C++ lets you resolve the ambiguities. For example, instead of saying data_ = 1 you could say Der2::data_ = 1, or you could convert from Join* to a Der1* and then to a Base*. However please, Please, PLEASE think before you do that. That is almost always not the best solution. The best solution is typically to tell the C++ compiler that only one Base subobject should appear within a Join object, and that is described

Resolution
----------

Just below the top of the diamond, not at the join-class.

To avoid the duplicated base class subobject that occurs with the "dreaded diamond", you should use the virtual keyword in the inheritance part of the classes that derive directly from the top of the diamond:

 class Base {
public:
  ...
protected:
  int data_;
};

class Der1 : public virtual Base {
public:             ^^^^^^^—this is the key
  ...
};

class Der2 : public virtual Base {
public:             ^^^^^^^—this is the key
  ...
};

class Join : public Der1, public Der2 {
public:
  void method()
  {
     data_ = 1;  ← good: this is now unambiguous
  }
};

int main()
{
  Join* j = new Join();
  Base* b = j;   ← good: this is now unambiguous
}  

Because of the virtual keyword in the base-class portion of Der1 and Der2, an instance of Join will have have only a single Base subobject. This eliminates the ambiguities. This is usually better than using full qualification as described in the previous FAQ.

For emphasis, the virtual keyword goes in the hierarchy above Der1 and Der2. It doesn't help to put the virtual keyword in the Join class itself. In other words, you have to know that a join class will exist when you are creating class Der1 and Der2.

   Base
  /     /                          virtual  virtual
/                                 Der1        Der2
                       \             /
                          \        /
   \   /
  Join

Wrapping .NET Framework SP1 into a installer

2005-01-28T04:03:00.000-08:00

(Original : http://www.mcse.ms/archive102-2004-9-1093014.html)

1. First download the .NET framework v1.1 re-distributable package, and run "dotnetfx.exe" with the "/C" switch (to extract contents).
2. Then download the .NET fw v1.1 SP1 update, and run "NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe" with the /XP" switch (to extract contents).
3. A dialog box asking you where to save the MSP (update patch) comes up, choose where you want to save it (size 18,760 KB).
4. Rename that MSP to SP1.MSP, and place the extracted contents of dotnetfx.exe (.NET framework installer) in the same directory.
5. Clean the directory so sp1.msp, data1.cab, and netfx.msi are the only files (3 files) in the directory.
6. Run the following commands (from a command prompt):

CODE
msiexec /a netfx.msi TARGETDIR="c:\netfx1"
msiexec /p sp1.msp /a c:\netfx\netfx.msi

7. Your c:\netfx directory should have 3 items in it after this operation: 2 directories - Program Files & Win, and netfx.msi.
8. Now you can compress it to SFX (if compressed it will be just 17.5 MB, if left uncompressed it is 56.2 MB). And set it to silently extract.

;The comment below contains SFX script commands

Setup=Netfx.msi /qn /norestart
TempMode
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

With WinRAR:
Choose SFX with best compression.
Copy the above into the comment window. (last tab)
Then ok to create a 17.5 Mb SFX.

Contents (already patched with sp1.msp):
netfx.msi
\Program Files
\Win

Think I got it all?

Log4Net tutorial (my straightforward version)

2005-01-28T01:10:00.000-08:00

After playing around with the Log4Net, this is my version of tutorial of Log4Net. (WinForm or console)

I have come across a few tutorials but it seems that most of them are either not working or missing out some details that could lead to further waste of time in searching. Hence, my version is here. (in case in future I need to refer back again)

1. Download latest Log4Net. Not the release version 1.1.1, it won't work in this tutorial. Actually, I haven't seen any tutorials works on 1.1.1 release with FileAppender, what an upset. You will need to download the 1.2.0 Beta8 or later.
2. Start a .NET WinForm application or console application.
3. Add reference to Log4Net.dll
4. Add codes below to AssemblyInfo.cs

[assembly: log4net.Config.DOMConfigurator(ConfigFile="Logging", ConfigFileExtension="config",Watch=false)]

5. Add these two lines into your class.

private static readonly ILog logger =
LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(YourClassName));

static YourClassName()
{
DOMConfigurator.Configure();
}

6. Then, right click on your project at the Solution Explorer.
- Add - Add New Item - Utility - Application Configuration File

You will see a App.Config appears before you.

7. Add in these lines into your App.Config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<configuration>

<configSections>

<section name="log4net" type="log4net.Config.Log4NetConfigurationSectionHandler, log4net" />

</configSections>

<log4net>

<appender name= "LogFileAppender" type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender">

<param name="File" value="LogTest2.txt" />

<param name="AppendToFile" value="true" />

<layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">

<param name="Header" value="[Header]\r\n" />

<param name="Footer" value="[Footer]\r\n" />

<param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d [%t] %-5p %c - %m%n" />

</layout>

</appender>

<root>

<level value="INFO" />

<appender-ref ref="LogFileAppender" />

</root>

</log4net>

</configuration>

8. Then, at any point where you want to log to the file, just place codes like e.g. below, depends on priority and purpose.

logger.Debug("Here is a debug log.");
logger.Info("... and an Info log.");
logger.Warn("... and a warning.");
logger.Error("... and an error.");
logger.Fatal("... and a fatal error.");

For further info on its usage, check the Log4Net project page.

(Content below quoted from http://www.vipan.com/htdocs/log4jhelp.html)

Useful Layouts

Some layout classes are TTCCLayout, HTMLLayout, PatternLayout, SimpleLayout and XMLLayout.
SimpleLayout and PatternLayout classes ignore Java Throwable errors and exceptions. HTMLLayout and XMLLayout handle them.
SimpleLayout consists of the priority of the log statement, followed by " - " and then the log message itself. For example:
```
DEBUG - Hello world
```
PatternLayout lets you specify the output format according to conversion patterns similar to the C language printf function.
For example, PatternLayout with the conversion pattern %r [%t] %-5p %c - %m%n will output something like:
```
176 [main] INFO  org.foo.Bar - Located nearest gas station.
```
- The first field is the number of milliseconds elapsed since the start of the program.
- The second field is the thread making the log request.
- The third field is the priority of the log statement.
- The fourth field is the name of the category associated with the log request.
- The text after the '-' is the message of the statement.
You can insert any literal text within the conversion pattern.
Conversion characters are:
- %c: Outputs the category of the logging event. Example: For the category name "a.b.c", the pattern %c{2} will output "b.c". {2} means "output last two components of the dot-separated category name". If no {n} is there, full Category name is output by default.
- %t: Outputs the name of the thread that generated the logging event.
- %x: Outputs the nested diagnostic context (NDC) associated with the thread that generated the logging event. Useful when multiple clients are handled by separate threads such as in Java servlets.
- %n: Outputs the platform-dependent newline character(s). Preferable to specifying "\n" or "\r\n" etc.
- %%: Outputs a single percent sign.
- WARNING: The patterns below will slow down the execution of your program somewhat. Avoid unless execution speed is not an issue.
- %d: Outputs the date of the logging event. The date conversion specifier may be followed by a date format specifier enclosed between braces. Example: %d{HH:mm:ss,SSS} or %d{dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss,SSS}. If no date format specifier is given then ISO8601 format is assumed. The date format specifier admits the same syntax as the time pattern string of Java's SimpleDateFormat which is slow. For faster performance, use %d{ISO8601}, %d{ABSOLUTE}, %d{RELATIVE} (millisecs since program start, fastest) or %d{DATE} which use log4j's ISO8601DateFormat, AbsoluteTimeDateFormat, RelativeTimeDateFormat and DateTimeDateFormat date formatters respectively.
- %l: Outputs source code location information. Shortcut for %C.%M(%F:%L).
- %C: Outputs the fully-qualified class name of the caller issuing the logging request. Example: For the class name "org.apache.xyz.SomeClass", the pattern %C{1} will output "SomeClass". {1} means "output last one component of the fully-qualified class name". If no {n} is there, full class name is output by default.
- %M: Outputs the method name where the logging request was issued.
- %F: Outputs the file name where the logging request was issued.
- %L: Outputs the line number from where the logging request was issued.
Optionally, use format modifiers between the percent sign and the conversion character to change the minimum field width, the maximum field width and text justification within a field.
- Use the minus sign (-) to left-justify within a field. Default is to right-justify (pad on left).
- Use a positive integer to specify the minimum field width. If the data item requires fewer characters, it is padded with space(s) on either the left or the right until the minimum width is reached. If the data item is larger than the minimum field width, the field is expanded to accommodate the data.
- Use a period followed by a positive integer to specify the maximum field width. If the data item is longer than the maximum field, then the extra characters are removed from the beginning of the data item and not from the end. For example, it the maximum field width is eight and the data item is ten characters long, then the first two characters of the data item are dropped. This behavior deviates from the printf function in C where truncation is done from the end.
Examples:
- %r [%t] %-5p %c %x - %m\n: This is essentially the TTCCLayout.
- %-6r [%15.15t] %-5p %30.30c %x - %m\n: Similar to the TTCCLayout except that the relative time is right padded if less than 6 digits, thread name is right padded if less than 15 characters and truncated if longer, and the category name is left padded if shorter than 30 characters and truncated if longer.
ADVANCED: You don't have to pass just Strings to log. You can pass your objects to the log method also. Implement ObjectRenderer to log a string representation of your object to the appender.

Logger

2005-01-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

It seems that Log4J is a de facto logger for the Java Developer community. Automatically, the Log4Net gets all the limelight since it is a direct port from Log4J.

It is unbelievable that the project page (url below) does not provide helpful tutorials or something for people to kick start the logger. I suppose probably the developers of log4net assumed people who choose to use log4net are users from log4j. (well, at least not for me.)

http://logging.apache.org/log4net/

Let see, after some search. These are what I found.

(tutorial for ASP.NET users)
http://tom.gilki.org/programming/net/120604/

(explanation on the Log4Net, usage and design and structure)
URL

(another explanation,in layman terms)
http://www.donews.net/shanyou/archive/2004/12/16/204289.aspx

(Console example)
http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/log4net_intro.asp

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/log4net_intro2.asp

Coding Standard Enforcer Tool

2005-01-27T01:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.flexisoftsolutions.com./

Only for VS5/6 and VS.NET

GOF Codesmith Template

2005-01-24T01:28:00.000-08:00

In refer to my previous post on the Jan 18, 2005. One of the tools, codesmith, and below a cool template for GOF.
http://www.ericjsmith.net/codesmith/forum/default.aspx?f=9&m=4640

C# 2.0 language features

2005-01-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2004/04/05/csharpwhidbeypt1.html

http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2004/04/12/csharpwhidbeypt2.html

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/team/language/

Few major language refinement mentioned by Oreilly.

Anonymous Methods
Iterators
Partial Classes
Generics 101

A tutorial to connect to open source project with WinCVS.

2005-01-19T01:31:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://www.compiere.org/technology/build.html)

Reason I copy all over to my blog is that overtime I notice many web sites will be either dissapeared, content changed or URL broken after some times. Just do not want to search here and there again for the same stuff. Therefore I just place the whole thing here for my sake of future references. The credit should still be all dued to the real authors.

These are the steps to build Compiere from Source:

Download the CVS compiere-all module (details see below)
In the utils-dev sub-directory
- customize the myDevEnv.bat file
- execute RUN_build.bat

We internally use Eclipse, but you are able to use any IDE or Java development environment to build Compiere form Source.

Please note that there is a delay between the CVS commit and it's availability in anomynous (general) CVS access - up to 24 hours according to SourceForge. Usually it does NOT create a problem, but it has resulted in compile errors. In that case, please re-download.

CVS Download

If you are on the developer list (i.e. have CVS write privileges), you need to install ssh (see below). Here is are some helpful CVS links:

Compiere CVS settings
SourceForge CVS documentation (#6)
If you have problems with CVS setup, please directly contact SorceForge (not the Compiere project).

General CVS (anonymous) Download

There is the general procedure to download the source:

Get any CVS client
Execute
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere login
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere checkout compiere-all

Alternatively, you can

follow the install steps below with the "pserver" connection option
(you can skip the ssh installation)
also download the nightly CVS Tree Tarball.
download individual files via the CVS web interface

Developer & Anonymous CVS Download under Windows

If you are developing under Linux/Unix, things are a bit easier with CVS. Here one way to get CVS working on Windows 2000

Enabling SSH

You can skip this step, if you are not on the developer list and just want to download the source. One way is to install Cygwin which gives you Unix utilities under Windows. Make sure, that you install OpenSSH (in the Net category).

Start Cygwin and connect to SourceForge:

ssh -l compiere.sorceforge.net
ssh -l cvs.sorceforge.net

(example: ssh -l jjanke compiere.sourceforge.net)

This adds the SourceForge hosts to the list of known hosts and shows that you have a valid user ID. The connection to cvs.compiere.sorceforge.net is immediate closed, but this step is required to add it to the list of known hosts.

Install CVS Client

There are many CVS clients available. We use WinCvs (if you have trouble connecting, download directly).

Note: You can use any CVS client (e.g. the command line option 'cvs' in Cygwin), when you set the environment variables CVSROOT (and CVS_RSH for SSH access).

Check also the Compiere settings and the SourceForge CVS documentation (F). The WinCSV project has very good general CVS documentation.

General (anonymous) CVS Access:

CVSROOT=:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere

In WinCVS enter

Authentication: pserver
Path: /cvsroot/compiere
Host address: cvs.sourceforge.net
User name: anonymous

Then checkout "compiere-all" via the menu Create > Checkout module ... and enter

Module name: compiere-all
Location:

Example:

The command line equivalent is:

cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.compiere.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere login
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere co compiere-all

For Developer CVS Access via SSH:

For this, you need to be on the Compiere Developer List. Follow the steps above, but note the following changes:

Authentication: ssh
Path: /cvsroot/compiere
Host address: cvs.sourceforge.net
User name:
Select: Show CVS console
In ssh Settings enable Additional ssh options: -v

Set the following System Environment Variables:

CVS_RSH=C:\cygwin\bin\ssh.exe (or the location of the ssh executable)
CVSROOT=:ext:@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere

The command line equivalent is:

cvs -d:ext:@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere co compiere-all

e.g.
cvs -d:ext:jjanke@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/compiere co compiere-all

Compiling / Building Compiere

The CVS tree has all required libraries - you just need a Java 1.4.2 SDK

Customize myDevEnv.bat / myDevEnv.sh

The files are located in the utils_dev directory. Define the path of Java executable, source, and build area. Executing the script creates the keystore required for signing jar files for the use with WebStart. If you are distributing the build, you may want to get a Java code signing certificate.

Execute RUN_build.bat / RUN_build.sh

The files are located in the utils_dev directory. It compiles the sources and builds the distribution files.

If you are using an IDE like Eclipse, you need to define projects.
CVS contains the Eclipse .project files.

Ten Must-Have Tools Every Developer Should Download Now (.NET)

2005-01-18T22:31:00.000-08:00

The URL

It basically introduces,

Snippet Compiler
Regulator (regex tool)
CodeSmith
NUnit (unit tester.)

Lutz Roeder's .NET Reflector (ildasn advanced) http://www.aisto.com/roeder/dotnet/
FxCop
NDoc
NAnt (.NET based builder)
ASP.NET Version Switche
Project Convertor

.NET Memory Profiler

2005-01-18T02:24:00.000-08:00

Found this

http://www.scitech.se/memprofiler/snapshotviews.htm

in the forum. Seems like it capable to be used to optimize the .NET application.

Moving Forward >>> .NET Reality Check

2005-01-16T23:49:00.000-08:00

(quoted from http://forums.sgdotnet.org/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3281)

Hello,

To follow up with my previous email about the deprecation of SOAPFormatter in .NET 2.0, I am wondering how many ppl here uses heavy-duty remoting in their projects. If you are, how are you securing that channel ? Are you using Custom Sinks for that ? Or are you using Enterprise Services ? If you are using Custom Formatters and Sinks, please minimize the use of it as it is NOT a strategic step moving forward.

The reason why i am asking is because Microsoft's focus is on Web services, Remoting is not getting a whole lot of new features going forward. Thus, it is not a long-term strategic technology. The deprecation of SOAPFormatters is just the beginning. To move forward to Indigo which will significantly change a lot of things (for the better...), it will also change the way you look at XML Services. Notice that I dropped the word "Web"...You may also need to change the way you look at communication...such as dumping the mindset of the RPC-ish way of communication, etc...

Indigo is something that has caught my excitment and is probably the only technology in recent years that is worth its money Smile In fact, its the only technology that has got me going for the last few months. It will really open up the way SOAP is supposed to be...and not the SOAP we are seeing today, which offers very little options of MEPs..which is why SOAP is no more an acronym for "Simple Object Access Protocol". In SOAP 1.2, SOAP is just SOAP.

Therefore, shielding your code from specific implementations is of critical importance. I know it is a little bit tough but I recommend against using physical tiers to start with. Use layers - gain maintainability and reuse. But don't use tiers...Try NOT to anyways. Tiers are complex, expensive and slow and may not be as future-proof as you think. Networks deter performance more than you think. In fact, the costs of remoting across multiple machines outweigh the benefits of it.

I took a few tips on moving expectations forward to Indigo. Please ping me if need further clarifications.

1) Use ASMX enhanced with WSE if required. The key word is "If Required" WSE is supported and is the only supported Advanced Web Services Toolkit today. Even IBM's ETK is NOT suppported...However, compatibility is an issue with the different flavours of WSE as the standards are changing too fast today.

By implementing your service in ASMX/WSE, your service will automatically have an explicit boundary, expressed in a standards-based schema, sharing standards-based schematized data documents and will communicate over open standards transports. This cannot be said of ES or Remoting components!

2) Inside my service, I need to spread my implementation across n physical tiers and therefore need to call objects on remote machines.

If you can implement the logic on each of the physical tiers as individual services, do so! By implementing mini-services inside your larger service, you'll be more closely aligning yourself with Microsoft's entire Distributed Applications strategy and will reap great benefits when Indigo is released. And I add that we are NOT talking just about Microsoft, most major technology vendors will have their goals of Distributed Applications very much aligned with each other. The coming of WS-I and the rolling out of WS-BP1.0 is a major milestone to reach there.

3) Operations within my Service involve retrieving, storing and processing high volumes of complex data and requires many traversals between objects.

Consider consolidating the code which performs the highest number of communication traversals on the same physical box to avoid the penalty imposed by traversing the network. Architects and Designers need to take note of that as latency must be kept in check. Play within the sandbox wisely Smile

If you must physically separate components (ie: on separate boxes) which need to exhange large amounts of data or communicate intensively, use .NET Enterprise Services (ES) components on each tier. The reason we opt for ES here is that ES uses DCOM on the wire and is by far the fastest technology on the Microsoft platform for remoting object invocations and data exchanges. Again, consider wrapping access to this portion of your Service with ASMX.

If you call ES components on the local box, consider configuring and activating them as Library (in-process) rather than Server (out-of-process) components wherever possible - especially if you are able to locate all on the same physical box.

4) I need to communicate between two components in different AppDomains inside the same process

This is the second of the two scenarios where .NET Remoting is recommended. Remoting has explicit high-performance support for cross-AppDomain communications. Note that this is only for communications between AppDomains inside the same process. If you have two .NET components that must be hosted in two different processes (on the same machine), I recommend implementing the logic as .NET ES components hosted in COM+...Yes, use DCOM !!!

.NET Remoting is NOT the fastest way to call a remote object! .NET Enterprise Services is! Note that by remote, I mean an object that runs in a process remote from yours ... whether it's on a remote process or a remote machine! Google in MSDN for papers on performance comparisons between these two. I think you will be surprised how Remoting doesnt have much of a performance edge, if at all...

5) I believe that there are recent papers (one is published in .NET Asia) that does some performance comparisons between Binary and SOAP Calls and I think everyone is surprised at how fast SOAP, if designed properly, can be. The architects and the designers have to make their decisions based on their findings. If the interop benefits of SOAP greatly outweighs the performance lags of it (even if it is proven more and more these days), we have to sell the story of being more "future-proof" and "interop-proof".

To summarize, COM / COM+ will not disappear, it will be part of hybrid solutions, and transparent to the service interface.

Remoting is useful for crossing app domains, but not for crossing machine boundaries. Use it for fault tolerance within a process (one app domain goes down, the main process stays alive). Again, I empahsize on the careful design implementations of it. It is NOT that "future-proof" !

Crossing machines and processes, with NO Doubt ! --- DCOM is fastest binary protocol, and can be secured, which means EnterpriseServices (ES). This means and facilitates transactions and guarantees message delivery. Your ES investment with COM+, MSMQ WILL be supported by the world of Indigo.

On ASMX serialization vs. binary serialization with remoting, ASMX will be faster than .NET remoting. I will give a couple of presentations soon on the next generation of XML Serialization in .NET 2.0 explains it all and how performance (SGEN, Decompression on HTTP and TCP, etc) is the key thing the XML Serialization team is working on moving forward in .NET 2.0 to Indigo.

Do take note that short term performance gains using remoting today will not position your applications for future releases (I.e., Indigo). Like I said above, you can expect better performance with ASMX in future as programming models change, and usually what impacts performance most is usually bad architecture, including hardware choices, physical tier distribution and bad designs that are NOT well thought of. Some issues that I have come across are the use of Datasets (a NO ! NO ! in distributed designs -- > Interop is a big problem and Datasets are TOO verbose), the inclusions of Data Schemas at the wire level when traversing network calls, etc. One thing that will also support performance improvement at a more granular level is also XML parsers…There are better and more efficient XML Writers and Readers coming up, something the same XML Messaging and Serialization team is working on.

How many WS* protocols do we need? Less. SOAP/XML is a great start. WS-Security is critical for end to end message integrity. We need standard protocols for interoperability, thus we need tools to assist with serialization, such as WSE 2.0.
WSE 2.0 gives us a chance to work with WS* protocols now, while waiting for Indigo. The important thing is to realize it is taking you in the right direction. These standards move fast, so does the WSE team. Indigo will just swallow it all making it even easier once standards are more stable.

Thank you.

~Softwaremaker (BLOG)
M. Twain: "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead"

Ways to prevent virus (manually without AV)

2005-01-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

A hands-on knowledge for anyone who wants to prevent virus attack manually.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/03/05/VirusHunting/default.aspx

COM spying tool

2005-01-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.ddevel.com/DrCOM/DrCOMMonitor.asp

Hope this will solve some of my COM debugging problems.