.NET MVP KenLin's Blog : Old

Is it possible that Microsoft's security problems are really to blame for its sudden inability to release new products?

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:16:00 GMT

Just read on an article from windows magazine, the author saying a lot about the original expected released date for some Microsoft Products. This is attracting me to read on it. Many of my friends and students keep asking me when the WinXP SP2 will be released. Well, it should be in the second week of the Aug 2004 from the latest news I got. Yes, again. Delay and delay again. But I can say, it is normal to IT Field. As a Developer, I did worked on many projects, and sure found out that the “True” or “Final” products always delay.

That article also point out few things, like.....Yukon suppose released on 2003, not 2005, the same as Longhorn. And the author point out that Microsoft keep polling our focus to Longhorn. But actually, there is another one after Longhorn------ Blackcomb. You may not heard of this CodeName of product of Microsoft. But it is ture, I heard this codename and saw some presentation from Microsoft Hong Kong in the mid of 2001, when the WinXP just released in that time. The funny things is, the author voice out a question, Longhorn was suppose to be a minor project, just a interim release on the way to Blackcomb?.......Originally expected in 2003, and recently delayed
until 2006, Longhorn might never ship.

After that, I search on google and found some interesting news, you may not believe, Longhorn will be only as a client product, Not the same as in the past, a project will be release on both Desktop and Server side.
I would like to say, ”Longhorn is really never ship(but in server side)”.

“Longhorn“ will be only in Tablet and MediaCenter Edition, as Graphic and Audio Area
“Blackcomb“ will be on Both WorkStation and Server Edition, as Functional Area

WinHEC 2003: Blackcomb to be Phased in Over Time [Updated]
Microsoft: Longhorn on the Desktop, Blackcomb on the Server
Windows Roadmap Leads to Longhorn in 2005

* Windows Server 2003 SP1--This release will feature an intriguing new roles-based Security Configuration Wizard, but like most other Windows-oriented products, SP1 is waiting on XP SP2. After the SP2 release to manufacturing (RTM), Microsoft can begin work on Windows 2003 SP1 in earnest. But promises of a late 2004 release now seem
unrealistic. Don't expect this update until the first half of 2005.
* SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio (VS) 2005--The next versions of SQL Server and VS will include various functional enhancements, but the most notable aspect of these products is how often they've been delayed. SQL Server 2005, previously code-named Yukon, was originally due in late 2003. It will now ship almost 3 years later. And I don't have the space to discuss the Software Assurance (SA) concerns that arose in the wake of SQL Server's delays.
* Longhorn--Does anyone else remember when Longhorn was a minor, interim release on the way to Blackcomb? Today, Longhorn's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink philosophy appears poised to make this release the next Windows NT Cairo. And although I'm one of those rare proponents of Longhorn's optional and misunderstood Palladium security technologies, I have to wonder what benefit these features can have if they never ship. Originally expected in 2003, and recently delayed until 2006, Longhorn might never ship. Again, it's disheartening.

Win an Xbox with Xbox Live subscription and Halo 2!

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:15:00 GMT

This summer, why not put your coding skills and creativity to good use for a chance to win an Xbox with Xbox Live subscription and Halo 2!*

That's right, Microsoft is giving away six Xboxes each with an Xbox live kit that includes a one year subscription and a copy of the soon-to-be-released, Halo 2. The Summer of Express contest is a worldwide skill contest where developers are challenged to create “non-business” applications using the newly announced Express products. The Express products (VS 2005 Express Edition & SQL Server 2005 Express Edition) are lightweight, easy to use, easy to learn tools for hobbyists, enthusiasts, and students who want to build dynamic Windows applications and Web sites

Here's how to get started!
the Summer of Express Contest FAQ is here

Visual Studio 2005 Team System

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:15:00 GMT

I started to use Visual SourceSafe since Visual Studio v5.0, and I was wondering why there is no new version on Visual SourceSafe since VS.NET2002. I also discuss this with my MCAD class students.

In this afternoon, I was searching something in msdn site, and found this “Visual Studio 2005 Team System” and there will be a GREAT DEMO on TechEd2004. I am not sure if Microsoft Hong Kong TechEd2004 will really have this demo, but read from the Related web page and telling about this.

More info? Here you are: VS2005 Team System(MSDN Link)

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition!!!!

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:14:00 GMT

Wow~~beside VS 2005 Express Family, there is also a new Edition for SQL Server 2005, which is also called Express Edition. It is an entry-level database for hobbyists, enthusiasts, and students developers and so the same “EXPRESS“ to VS 2005. The SQL Server Express is a version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple, dynamic applications. SQL Server Express helps developers build robust and reliable applications by providing a powerful database that is also free and easy to use. Too often database systems are overly complex for building simple applications. SQL Server Express and the other Express products reduce this complexity by providing a simple but powerful development environment for building data-driven applications. You can design schemas, add data, and query local databases, all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment. If you need more advanced database features, then SQL Server Express can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

More info? Here you are,
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/

Microsoft Jet OLE DB Provider and Replication Objects (JRO)

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:14:00 GMT

HOW TO: Compact a Microsoft Access Database by Using Visual Basic .NET
Wow.....Again, I am creating an Windows Application which the DB is Access97, as most of the computers are win98 only. And so, I found out the .mdb file is getting bigger and bigger while it add and delete a lot of data.
So.....have to find out a way to compact it without opening it.(As I rename the file extention to .mdbx and so noone will try to double click on it and have a look on it.....heheheheh, .mdbx......Access.NET? v1.0 or v1.1? hahahah)

And sure, lucky that I found it. And I would like to be share with you all althought that it is not a new technology. But I do sure there are many programmer/developer is being same situation as I am being, doing solution with Access.

Neither ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) nor ADO .NET provide the means to compact or repair Microsoft Access databases. However, you can accomplish this task by using the Microsoft Jet OLE DB Provider and Replication Objects (JRO) that was introduced with Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.1. ADO .NET allows the use of COM-based object libraries through the Interop layer.
Microsoft Jet OLE DB Provider and Replication Objects (JRO)

Whidbey Beta 1, Yukon Beta 2: Any Time Now

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:13:00 GMT

Whidbey Beta 1, Yukon Beta 2: Any Time Now

The Visual Data Team is posting real-time info on the status of Visual Studio 2005 (Whidbey) and SQL Server 2005 (Yukon) in http://www.microsoft-watch.com. It's looking like Beta 1 of Whidbey and Beta 2 of Yukon could hit any day now. And next week at TechEd Europe, it sounds like the teams are planning to party together on June 30. Seems like they're planning on celebrating something….

Application.EnableVisualStyle has BUG??????????

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:12:00 GMT

Introduction

Version 1.1 of the .NET framework introduced the method system.Windows.Forms. Application.EnableVisualStyles. Calling this method prior to the creation of any Forms or Controls, will cause Windows XP to apply a theme when rendering Windows Common Controls and many of the native .NET controls like Buttons and CheckBoxes.

The introduction of EnableVisualStyles to v1.1 of the framework is a nice addition because it allows WinForms applications to easily adopt the new look and feel of Windows XP styles.

The Bug

The problem is that there is a bug in the implementation of EnableVisualStyles that interferes with Images stored in an ImageList component and Window Common Controls, like the TreeView or Toolbar classes. The effect is that if you call EnableVisualStyles, all of the images will disappear from your toolbars, treeviews and listviews.

To reproduce the bug:

Create a WinForms application in VS.NET 2003
Add a Toolbar and ImageList to Form1
Add an image to the ImageList and a button to the Toolbar
Assign the image to the button
In the Main method add a call to Application.EnableVisualStyles just before the call to Application.Run

When you run the app on Windows XP, with a Visual Style active, there will be no image on the toolbar button.

Solution(for C# only??)

After some searching from the google.com, I found some discussion of this issue and a work around that seems to work and hasn't caused any problems in C# applications.

A call to Application.DoEvents just after EnableVisualStyles, seems to fix the problem. How or why, who knows. Most likely it causes some message that was sent via PostMessage to get flushed out to the correct place, before the creation of the first WinForms based window.

So the work around code looks like this:

Sub Main() 
  Application.EnableVisualStyles()
  Application.DoEvents()
  Application.Run(Form1())
End Sub

However, I try to inplement this into VB.NET and it does not work at all. However, everyone are saying it works fine if under C#. Interesting.

Also, I read from someone called Michael Harsh who is from MS Team(I guess) and replying with the following message in some public forums.
====================================================
This is indeed a bug and will not be fixed for the final version of 2003. The problem is that the handle for the ImageList is being created prior to the the fusion binding context we setup around the app's main message pump. This is why ImageLists are broken everywhere (TabControl, TreeView, etc).

There are a few decent workarounds. The first is to either manually add a .manifest file to your .exe's directory, or embed one in the Win32 resource section of your .exe.

The other workaround is to move the code which creates your ImageList from InitializeComponent to the Form's Load event. This will delay the handle creation.

Good luck,
====================================================

Decision Support: Choose the right Microsoft database for your development needs

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:12:00 GMT

“Microsoft has announced the next version of SQL Server, code-named Yukon. The new features that will be incorporated into Yukon will be a determining factor in your choice of migration path. “

Well, just read something about making the right choose for your development needs from the Microsoft Series of Product for DB. SO GOOD, and I love to share here with you all. And the following is the short beginning,

"Microsoft has produced a dizzying array of software over the years. Think, for just a moment, about all of the varieties of Windows; if you go back as far as I do, you've probably worked with at least a dozen versions. Similar choices exist in other areas of the Microsoft universe, including the one that I'm writing about today: databases. Microsoft offers developers four databases for their application needs:

Microsoft Jet and Microsoft Access
Microsoft Visual FoxPro
Microsoft Database Engine (MSDE)
Microsoft SQL Server

How do you decide which of these databases to use for a given application and client? Although hard-and-fast rules are few and far between, a basic understanding of the differences (and similarities) between these databases will help you choose intelligently.”

IsNot....IsNotPostBack??

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:12:00 GMT

IsNot Keyword

Although it hasn't been a terrible burden in the past, determining whether an object reference is not the same as another object reference has historically involved a somewhat clumsy construct:

If Not (obj Is Nothing) Then

Visual Basic 2005 adds the IsNot keyword, making it possible to rewrite the previous example:

If obj IsNot Nothing Then

Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big difference. However, I am also looking forward another one for ASP.NET, which is:

If Not IsPostBack Then

We always use this property to check if this is the first time the web page is being processed. Why not just simply adding another one "IsNotPostBack".

MVP Party is coming

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:11:00 GMT

Well, as I know from the schedule, we are going to join the MVP Party soon. We all will join Taiwan Community and other Taiwan MVPs go to the Microsoft Store for shopping first. This morning and afternoon, we cannot take the camera in, but sure will take some more photo in the party, see if I can share them here later.

P.S. Let's see how many more MVPs will ask me if I know Colt Kwong(Our great great great MVP in Hong Kong), I forgot and say, this morning, a MVP(in US but chinese) ask the same question again. Yes....many people ask us about this................

VB.NET in 2005....

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:11:00 GMT

I attend VB Series Class today, while Jack and Andy attend ASP.NET and Jacky Attend C#.

I heard a lot of VB programmer complaint on why there are many source sample code in C# but not in VB. Is Microsoft putting C# in too high priority? Well, everyone is asking if VB team can do more work about this. Otherwise they may think on moving to C# as well.....

Then after this complaint, we listen to the new Tech in VB.NET2005. A new thing.....Which is not including in C#.
Everyone here may read about my article in a local Magazine on how to do a “Ping” function. I need a lot of code to do so, right?!
There is a new namespace “My”.....I can do ping very simple in VB.NET2005. it is..............
( SECRET)(Sorry that I cannot open it to public now)

I feel so surprise.......you will be feeling the same once you got the VS.NET2005 and there is more on .NET common function and namespace is coming up.....
All I can say here.....Really want to do test on it......”COOL”

Try SmartPhone Emulator and got DOS 8.3 problem

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:10:00 GMT

I am trying to create shortcut icon for the smartphone emulator, I found the following from a site and which is posted by AndyC,

"F:\Progra~1\MICROS~2.NET\COMPAC~1\CONNEC~1\Bin\Emulator.exe" /CEImage "F:\Progra~1\WINDOW~2\wce420\SMARTP~1\EMULAT~1\SP_200~2.BIN" /skin "F:\Progra~1\WINDOW~2\wce420\SMARTP~1\EMULAT~1\SMARTP~1.XML" /MemorySize 64 /Ethernet true“

But...Interesting that I found out I have install the smartphone sdk under “Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\smartphoneSDK\”. Problem comes up when I try to change the switching path. As the shortcut target cannot be typing in a long string, I need to convert the switching path to be 8.3 format and so that it will be shorter enough. Then, I got error message when try to run the emulator. I try to open a command Prompt and found that I cannot go to the “Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\smartphoneSDK\”, I found out that I have 8 directories which is start from “Microsft....” under “Program Files“. So, I have to use “Micros~x” where x is a number. I try to go into different directories to see if I am getting right by typing “cd [Micros~x]” and “cd..“ again and again with x+1 everytime. I found out that I can only go into the Directories where x is one of [1, 2, 3, 4]. But fail since x is 5. Anyone can tell me the reason???

Break in 3rd day

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:10:00 GMT

Well, I am also having lunch break now. Today our class is close to the hotel where we are living. So I can also back to Hotel(same as Andy) for a little while. Well, Here is so great. I meet many MVPs from Taiwan, China and Singapore....etc.

And also, I saw a great Demo on Windows Media Center Server 2005. SO GREAT!!!! Yesterday I, Jacky, Jack and Andy visit the Microsoft Home, it is a home with future idea. We control a lot of elec and media with a server. So I think this is the Media Server I saw today. Well, It is amazing.....and I love it.

Also, there is a great MVP welcome movie, We all feel that movie is funny......Finally, We are one of the Microsoft MVPs and “I FEEL SO GREAT!!!”

The Whidbey Chronicles: MSBuild

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:09:00 GMT

The Whidbey Chronicles: MSBuild

So you've heard the buzz about MSBuild at PDC, but you're not really sure what the buzz is all about. Well, you've come to the right place.

During this episode, Alex Kipman shows how to fundamentally alter the Visual Studio build process with the new build platform for Microsoft: MSBuild.

Start learning .NET Compact Framework

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:09:00 GMT

Well, I finally download and install the .NET Compact Framework and start my first tutorial about it. It seems that a bit late for me, but better than never try.

But...I got a question. Before install the .NET Compact Framework SDK, I did not install the C# in my VS.NET2003. Why I have no option to choose only VB.NET when installation but finally it installed VB.NET and C# for me?

[3G 駕到] 3G 手機資訊立即睇!

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:08:00 GMT

[3G ??] 3G ???????!
03?12?15?,??? 3G ?????????????????,?????????????? 3G ???????????????,????? 3G ??,???,???,???????,???????! ( ????)

More info in the MSN HK Mobile Tech Home

Smartphone but running Linux?!

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:08:00 GMT

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? MP3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? CPU ? ? ? ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ( CPU ) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Smartphone e2800 , ? ? ? ? ? ? , e2800 ? ? ? ? ? ? ( PDA ) ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? MP3 ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? E28 ? ? ? ? ? ( ? ? ) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? e2800 , E28 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , Smartphone e2800 ? ? ? ? ? Linux ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? , ? PDA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? MP3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , e2800 ? ? CPU , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? PDA ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ARM9 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 200MHz , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? e2800 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? 16MB SD ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? 512MB SD ? ? ? , ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ; ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? : http://www.e28.com ?

創作力…

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:08:00 GMT

Recently, try to find some topics to create some small program and also doing the articles.
I found out that my Creative is really bad. I cannot find any result on what I should do.
Seems I still got a lot of things to learn.

My name of Microsoft MVP is under Hong Kong?

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:07:00 GMT

Interesting, I follow Daniel's giving link and browse and really
found out that my name is really under Hong Kong list of
Microsoft MVP list. Interesting? What is going on?

痛失英才，Taiwan MVP - 李怡青與世長辭

kenlin — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:07:00 GMT

Just received an email from Taiwan MVP Committee,
???MVP?,
??????????,??????????????????????????
?10?26???????,??31?,????????????????????
???????????????????????.!
??????????????????????????(MVP)??,?????
?????????????????????????????????, ???
????????????????,????????? ???????????
???????!
????!??????????????????!

????? (Yi-Ching Lee):
??????? CTO ??:???????, ??,??
??????:????????ASP?Windows?FrontPage
???????????????????,????????????(MVP)??:
????????????(MVP)????????????????????
?????,??????,???????????,???????????
?,????????????????????,???????,?????
??????,???????????;????????,????Office
FrontPage Add-ins ?????,????????????????,??????
???????,??????????MCP+SB,???????????MCSD!