Martin Poon - Microsoft MVP blog [SQL Server] : .NET

Create a Game in Microsoft Silverlight 2... and win an Xbox 360!

Martin Poon — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:54:00 GMT

Silverlight gives a lot of love to .NET coders, especially those versed with Microsoft development tools like Visual Studio 2008 and the new Microsoft Expression Studio. PHP developers have a lot to benefit from Silverlight as well. Using the Silverlight runtime, XAML, PHP code, and a touch of JavaScript, you can add a lot of splash to your PHP apps. Now, your mission--should you choose to accept: Take your shot at gaming stardom if you think you have what it takes to build a cool RIA game and you could win an Xbox 360 or other fabulous prizes. Hurry! You only have until May 15, 2008 to enter your game!

Note: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open only to residents of the 50 United States (includes D. of C.) who are 17+. Game ends May 15, 2008

=== For more information ===

~ RIA Run Registration

http://www.devx.com/RIA/Door/37507

Writing the first SQL Server database .NET application

Martin Poon — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:15:00 GMT

Just listing a few getting-started links for developing SQL Server .NET application.

~ SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Sample Rich Client and Web Applications
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/bb403187.aspx

~ SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Samples and Starter Kits
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa718396.aspx

~ "How Do I" Videos - ASP.NET
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/asp.net/bb498194.aspx

~ "How Do I" Videos - Visual Basic
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/bb466226.aspx

~ Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Studio and SQL Server: Best Practice Architectures and Examples (7th Edition)
http://www.amazon.com/Hitchhikers-Guide-Visual-Studio-Server/dp/0321243625
http://www.betav.com

~ LearnVisualStudio.NET
http://www.learnvisualstudio.net

~ Free basic training for SQL Server
http://blogs.msdn.com/buckwoody/archive/2008/07/17/free-basic-training-for-sql-server.aspx

Installing Components... Full Installation of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition

Martin Poon — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:20:00 GMT

Just got the *full* installation of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition done on an Vista Ultimate box (x64), and, here is the ...long... list of components that are installed!

- Runtime Pre-requisites
- Microsoft .NET Framework v3.5 (x64)
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 64bit Prerequisites (x64)
- Microsoft Document Explorer 2008
- Microsoft Visual Studio Web Authoring Component
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
- Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0 SP2
- Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5
- Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0 Runtime)
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System Runtime
- Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5
- Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 Design Tools
- Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 For Devices
- Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK R2 for Pocket PC
- Windows Mobile 5.0 SDK R2 for Smartphone
- Microsoft Device Emulator version 3.0 (x64)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Remote Debugger (x64)
- Crystal Reports Basic for Visual Studio 2008
- Crystal Reports Basic 64-Bit Runtime for Visual Studio 2008
- Microsoft Windows SDK for Visual Studio 2008 Tools (x64)
- Microsoft Windows SDK for Visual Studio 2008 Headers and Libraries (x64)
- Microsoft Windows SDK for Visual Studio 2008 Win32 Tools (x64)
- Microsoft Windows SDK for Visual Studio 2008 .NET Framework Tools (x64)
- Microsoft Windows SDK for Visual Studio 2008 SDK Reference Assemblies and IntelliSense (x64)
- Microsoft SQL Publishing Wizard

.NET Framework 3.5 full package

Martin Poon — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:06:00 GMT

Have just got the link to download the full package of .NET Framework 3.5. This is a 197 MB standalone executable file that contains all the components that are required to deploy to 32-bit and 64-bit platforms on all supporting operating systems. (The .NET Framework 3.5 supports IA64 only on Microsoft Windows Server 2008.) This executable does not contain language packs. The .NET Framework version 3.5 language packs are available as separate per-language stand-alone executable files.

.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0. For example, feature sets in Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas which have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes.
They include the following:

~ Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.

~ ASP.NET AJAX lets you create more efficient, more interactive, and highly-personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers.

~ New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.

~ Full tooling support in Visual Studio 2008 for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.

~ New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.

===== For more information =====

~ .NET Framework 3.5 full package
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/0/f/60fc5854-3cb8-4892-b6db-bd4f42510f28/dotnetfx35.exe

~ Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 readme
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/a/e/9ae0f6cc-7032-408e-9ca7-989f9e4af4ec/dotNetReadMe.htm

===== Other posts that points here =====

~ Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0: Pacote de Idiomas x86 (KB928416) (Resolvido)

http://www.guiadohardware.net/comunidade/microsoft-net/907431/

101 samples for Visual Studio 2005

Martin Poon — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:43:00 GMT

Microsoft provides 101 samples to help you get started with Visual Studio 2005. You can find code projects (in C# / VB) related to different categories: data access, web development, windows forms, Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO), tablet PC, and .NET Compact Framework.

===== For more information =====

~ 101 samples for Visual Studio 2005

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa718334.aspx

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Redistributable Package

Martin Poon — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 05:21:00 GMT

The Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.0 redistributable package has been released! It combines .NET Framework version 2.0, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF), and Windows CardSpace. For those who are already working with .NET Framework version 2.0, only the new Windows Vista components are installed.

For those who have installed any pre-release versions of .NET Framework 3.0 (Beta 2, RC1, CTP), you will need to uninstall these versions using Add/Remove Program in Control Panel, before installing this final release version.

===== for more information =====
- Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Redistributable Package
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=10CC340B-F857-4A14-83F5-25634C3BF043&displaylang=en

Free 6-hour eLearning - Visual Studio 2005, Widnows Presentation Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation

Martin Poon — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 11:41:00 GMT

Micosoft E-Learning offers a few e-learning collection (Collection 5134) on developing rich experiences with Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Visual Studio 2005. This collection of 3 2-hour premium clinics teaches about the new capabilities provided by the .NET Framework 3.0. These clinics are for experienced Developers and Software Architects who are looking to adopt Microsoft's next generation technology within their solutions. Topics covered within the collection include Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation and Windows Communication Foundation.

This collection is free till the offical launch of .NET FX!

========== For more information ==========

- Collection 5134: Developing rich experiences with Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Visual Studio 2005 { https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=109340 }

Bob Beauchemin @ TechEd Hong Kong 2006 - ADO.NET vNext

Martin Poon — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:38:00 GMT

Bob Beauchemin has just spent a few days in TechEd Hong Kong, giving a few talks on various aspects of SQL Server 2005 and some topics related to .NET development. He has also offered a full-day pre-conference seminar on SQL Server 2005 features like T-SQL enhancements, T-SQL vs SQLCLR, tuning, etc.

To me, the topic about "Next generation data access in .NET application with ADO.NET vNext" is exciting, while Bob has just offered a summary of ADO.NET vNext on his blog "What is ADO.NET vNext anyway?" right after his talk! More information about ADO.NET vNext can also be found at MSDN "Next-generation data access: making the conceptual level real", while Community Technology Preview is available for download at ADO.NET vNext CTP August 2006.