Google Video Search is on the main google page

I wonder if this is the result of the you-tube buyout, our they were just ready. But either way it is cool. Now nothing stops you from finding that video you were looking for :)

Google Video Search is on the main google page

Disable Security Warning in IE7

One of the new security futures available in IE7 is a warning to correct your security settings if they are not considered "Secure Enough"

Microsoft does not give a good way to disable a warning, and for a good reason. The warning can only be disabled via a registry setting usually set by the group policy.

Here's the setting:

Key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security\DisableSecuritySettingsCheck KeyType: DWORD Value: 0x1

Disable Security Warning in IE7

MSBuild Community Tasks

I've tried to convert some of the projects from using NANT to MSBuild process, however, the lack of available build tasks was always preventing my from converting any of the advanced scripts.

Now I stumbled upon MSBuild Community Tasks. It covers a lot of the tasks supported by NAnt or NAnt contrib projects. There are still a lot of things to be desired, however, it provides some of the key tasks to make project creation easy. Together with tasks provided by MSBuild, the functionality is very comparable to NANT combined with NANT Contrib. Very, very impressive.

Here's an important yet easy example: Autoincrement version number of the build:

• Open the .csproj file in notepad or your other favorite text editor
• Add import directive to the one that already exists in the .csproj file
<Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\MSBuildCommunityTasks\MSBuild.Community.Tasks.Targets" />
• Uncomment BeforeBuld and AfterBuild targets located at the end of the project
• Add Version task to the BeforeBuild:
  <Version VersionFile="version.txt" RevisionType="Increment"> <Output TaskParameter="Major" PropertyName="Major" /> <Output TaskParameter="Minor" PropertyName="Minor" /> <Output TaskParameter="Build" PropertyName="Build" /> <Output TaskParameter="Revision" PropertyName="Revision" /> </Version>
• Add AssemblyInfo task to the BeforeBuild target
  <AssemblyInfo CodeLanguage="CS" OutputFile="AssemblyVersion.cs" AssemblyVersion="$(Major).$(Minor).$(Build).$(Revision)" AssemblyFileVersion="$(Major).$(Minor).$(Build).$(Revision)" />
• Remove AssemblyVersion and AssemblyFileVersion from AssemblyInfo.cs file
• Add AssemblyVersion.cs file to the project

Now compiling the project will adjust version number in version.txt, and use the new version in generating AssemblyVersion.cs

Easy and Extremely Useful

Some Related Links:

• MSBuild Community Tasks - http://msbuildtasks.tigris.org/
• MSBuild Tasks - http://msbuildtasks.com/default.aspx
• MSBuild Team Blog - http://blogs.msdn.com/msbuild/default.aspx
• MSBuild Reference - http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0k6kkbsd.aspx
• Sample Project - http://weblogs.asp.net/pwelter34/archive/2005/12/05/432384.aspx

MSBuild Community Tasks

Query ExPlus 2.0.1.1 is out

Two main items the release

1. Drag and Drop from explorer
2. Automatic packaging of Source and Binary files.

The second item is requires installed MSBuild Community Tasks from http://msbuildtasks.tigris.org/

More on that later

Query ExPlus 2.0.1.1 is out

Using IE 7 and liking it, alot

Now that Internet Explorer 7 is finally released, I've tried it again as my main browser. I'm using it, and I'm liking it.

The UI is a bit different, and it takes me a few seconds to find the new STOP button. The menu is also in a different place. The interface is nice and clean. The tabs are finally an integrated part of the UI, instead of an ugly addon from MSN Toolbar.

Really no complains so far.

Using IE 7 and liking it, alot

Query ExPlus 2.01 beta is out

• Serious bug with saving list of connection strings is fixed.
• Settings are now saved using .NET 2.0 settings API
• help for command line arguments (-help)

Check it out at http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/queryexplus

Query ExPlus 2.01 beta is out

Query ExPlus 2.0 beta is now on SourceForge

I've now officially merged code for the Query ExPlus 2.0 into the sourceforge repository. Look for the new release under www.sourceforge.net/projects/queryexplus

Here are some main highlights of the release:

• Writen in .NET 2.0 - You will need Framework 2.0 installed as it is not backwards compatible
• Code refactored to make it easier to extend
• Support for command line parameters to automatically connect to the server
• Copy data as CSV from the grid output is implemented

All new development is done on the 2.0 branch. I am not planning to backport new functionality unless I feel that it is very critical to the application use.

Please check out the source and the compiled appplication. As always, any comments are welcome.

Query ExPlus 2.0 beta is now on SourceForge

Back from Microsoft

The Microsoft trip was a blast. Great campus. Technology is everywhere. Very, very cool. I really liked the idea of providing every guest with a tablet PC loaded with OneNote. As you take notes or jot things down on the screen, everything is saved to a USB key chain. At the end of the trip, you take the key chain with you.

Some points from the trip:

• It is all about the collaboration. People and applications share data, contacts, files, ideas, and everything in between.
• Sharepoint is everywhere. It is the presentation server from MS. Every application we saw had a hook into Sharepoint.
• Sharepoint will have a huge overhaul. It will now support extranet deployment. It will support a knowledgebase, mixed mode authentication, and is the content management solution.
• Vista will be COOL. Great new technologies around performance, security and virtualization.
• All server applications from Microsoft are designed from the ground up to be centrally managed and monitored. The idea is that with current technology, applications should manage themselves, or should be managed by other applications. But not by people. This idea is broader then just Microsoft. Microsoft is a part of the consortium behind Service Modeling Language
• .Net - Well.. For one, there was once again a comment on ".NET 3.0 really should have been called .NET 2.5". It will be interesting to see how Microsoft responds to MONO. So far, it seems that Microsoft is discounting MONO as a viable .NET architecture. As far as Microsoft is concerned,  .NET means Windows. However, if the whole "Collaboration" idea is to work, it has to be beyond Windows.

Back from Microsoft

Trip to Microsoft

I got a chance to visit Microsoft in its Seattle headquarters. so a few notes to follow.

But first thing first: Airline travel sucks, especially domestic airline travel. Just when I thought its impossible to cramp more seats onboard an airplain, Continental Airlines proved me wrong. I trully felt like a sardine for a bit.

Well enought complaining. I got a chance to finish some functionality in the Querty - Query Analyzer Alternative. New functionality includes: OleDB connectivity option, Copy from grid, more UI enhancements, and some bug fixes. I trying to use Querty as much as I can internally and future set is prioritised based on my need. The next to come is probably Find/Replace functionality.

It really looks close to be able to merge the code with the Query ExPlus as a version 2 of the trunk. Check out the download, any feedback is appreciated.

Trip to Microsoft

FolderShare

I am really, really impressed with the foldershare software. It does exactly what I need it to do - synchronizes folder(s) between two computers across Internet. It does it well. It doesn't ask too many questions, but is not completely dumbed down. And it has some features that I didn't expect - ability to download files from my remote computer without having to install folder share on my local machine. I have a feeling everyone will need to use a software like it sooner or later. Bookmark the link so you don't forget: http://www.foldershare.com/ 5 stars!!!

FolderShare

Query Express is now Query ExPlus on SourceForge

After downloading Query Express, I got in touch with the developer, Joseph Albahari, and asked him to put the project on SourseForge. A few more emails later regarding the Licensing (Source Forge does not support permissive free license), and a few days later, the Query ExPlus was born. Check it out at http://sourceforge.net/projects/queryexplus/

Query Express is now Query ExPlus on SourceForge

Steve Irwin dies after an attack by a sting ray

Steve Irwin - The "Crocodile Hunter" was a great naturalist and a TV personality. His sudden death is a tragedy and he will surely be missed.

Steve Irwin dies after an attack by a sting ray

Where Is Time

Did you ever wonder where did you spend your 8 hour work day? Well, Here's a little utility I wrote to find that out.

Where Is Time?

The project is in C# - .NET 2.0. You should have no problem compiling it in 1.1 either. It has an example of how to use multi-threading with Windows forms, and .NET Interop.

Any comments are welcome

Where Is Time

More Powershell tricks

Two other usefull scriptlets for the powershell

First function filters for only CLR files
Second returns CLR version that the assembly was compiled against.

function IsClr() {
process {
trap {continue;}
$asmb = $null;
$asmb = [System.Reflection.Assembly]::ReflectionOnlyLoadFrom($_.FullName);
if ($asmb)
{ $_ }
}
}

function ClrVersion
{
param ([System.IO.FileInfo] $fileInfo)
$asmb = [System.Reflection.Assembly]::ReflectionOnlyLoadFrom($fileInfo.FullName);
$refAssemblies = $asmb.GetReferencedAssemblies();
foreach ($refAssembly in $refAssemblies)
{
if ($refAssembly.Name -eq "mscorlib")
{
$refAssembly.Version
break;
}
}
}

Use Examples

dir | Clr

dir | IsClr | foreach-object{$V = ClrVersion($_); $_.Name + " " + $V.ToString()}

More Powershell tricks

Microsoft Atlas framework is renamed to ASP.NET 7.

This is one I did not expect. Joshua Flanagan has a blog entry enitled Formerly known as Atlas. It seems that Atlas framework has gotten a new name: it is is now officially called ASP.NET 7.0.

First of all, what ever happened to ASP.NET 3.0-6.0 (Joshua's blog explains the story). Second - I thought Atlas is about AJAX. Does it mean that Microsoft is using whatever left over projets it has to and calls them new versions of the software. May be not, may be it will have some more enhancements outside of Ajax. We'll just have to wait and see.

Microsoft Atlas framework is renamed to ASP.NET 7.