Besides Microsoft SQL Server there are various other databases which exist in industry and are widely used among the various corporate clients. While you will most likely be able to obtain an ADO.NET data provider directly from the database but you can always go and get the ADO.NET data provider for the database of your choice from www.sqlsummit.com/DataProv.htm
The ADO.NET providers exist for following dbs SQLite, IBM DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, TurboDB, Sybase and etc.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
System.Data.OracleClient.dll with .NET Framework 4.0
If you recall starting .NET 1.1 until .NET 3.5 all the .NET platform shipped with an assembly named System.Data.OracleClient.dll, which was one of the recommended data provider to connect .NET appplication with Oracle databas.seas the name suggests, offered a data provider to communicate with Oracle databases.
With the release of 4.0, Microsoft made this assembly obsolete and will eventually be deprecated.
The reason is certainly not that Microsoft only wants SQL Server and other MS specific Dbs to be used using .NET, but the actual reason is that Oracle corp provides its own custom .NET assembly, which follows the same overall design guidelines as the data providers provided by Microsoft.
You can download this assembly free of cost from Oracle corp's web site at
www.oracle.com/technology/tech/windows/odpnet/index.html.
With the release of 4.0, Microsoft made this assembly obsolete and will eventually be deprecated.
The reason is certainly not that Microsoft only wants SQL Server and other MS specific Dbs to be used using .NET, but the actual reason is that Oracle corp provides its own custom .NET assembly, which follows the same overall design guidelines as the data providers provided by Microsoft.
You can download this assembly free of cost from Oracle corp's web site at
www.oracle.com/technology/tech/windows/odpnet/index.html.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
What are the contents of Service1.asmx
In any version of Visual Studio, when you create a WebService, it comes with a default Service1.asmx file. When you double-click on this file it opens Service1.asmx.cs file for you, why? and what is the content in this file then? and how do you view it?
In order to view what is inside Service1.asmx, select the file in Solution-Explorer, right-click, and choose "Open With..."
From the shown dialog, select the option "Source Code(Text) Editor, click OK, you will see content like this:
These are the instructions Service1.asmx have and so it opens the Service1.asmx.cs, whenever you double-click on Service1.asmx, as its .cs file is the CodeBehind.
In order to view what is inside Service1.asmx, select the file in Solution-Explorer, right-click, and choose "Open With..."
From the shown dialog, select the option "Source Code(Text) Editor, click OK, you will see content like this:
These are the instructions Service1.asmx have and so it opens the Service1.asmx.cs, whenever you double-click on Service1.asmx, as its .cs file is the CodeBehind.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Where is Web Service Project Template in VS 2010
If you are looking for Web Service project template in Visual Studio 2010 under .NET Framework 4.0 as shown in the image below, you will not find it.
In order to create a WebService using Visual Studio 2010 you need to switch back to .NET Framework 3.5, as shown in the image below, and you will be able to crate a WebServeice project.
In order to create a WebService using Visual Studio 2010 you need to switch back to .NET Framework 3.5, as shown in the image below, and you will be able to crate a WebServeice project.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Great Azure App - Jumpman Mosaic
Air Jordan is a brand divison of Nike Inc thought of an innovative idea to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
They wanted an innovative web-app which will allow Jordan fans to upload their photos with their favourite Air Jordan shoes which shows thier style/personality type etc. They named this web-app a Social mosaic.
This application is built on Windows Azure using Silverlight with deep-zoon feature, running s on Windows Azure allows the application to be scalable for traffic, as photos were continusously uploaded, and do automatically do all other activities to keep this web-app working.
You can visit this web-app here http://www.jumpman23mosaic.com/
If you hover mouse on the image shown on the home-page (as above) and start rotating your mouse wheel in forward direction then you will see the Deep-zoom taking effect and you will start seeing something like this.
They wanted an innovative web-app which will allow Jordan fans to upload their photos with their favourite Air Jordan shoes which shows thier style/personality type etc. They named this web-app a Social mosaic.
This application is built on Windows Azure using Silverlight with deep-zoon feature, running s on Windows Azure allows the application to be scalable for traffic, as photos were continusously uploaded, and do automatically do all other activities to keep this web-app working.
You can visit this web-app here http://www.jumpman23mosaic.com/
If you hover mouse on the image shown on the home-page (as above) and start rotating your mouse wheel in forward direction then you will see the Deep-zoom taking effect and you will start seeing something like this.
Where your data lives on Azure
Data on Azure lives in PODs (Performance Optimized Data-center) and these PODs are securely placed in various Microsoft Data centers.
Microsoft have multiple data-centers located in USA (Chicago & San Antonio), Europe (Dublin & Amsterdam) and in Asia (Singapore & Hongkong)
These Data-centers are huge in size anywhere from 300,000 sq ft to 470,000 sqft or more.
Microsoft have multiple data-centers located in USA (Chicago & San Antonio), Europe (Dublin & Amsterdam) and in Asia (Singapore & Hongkong)
These Data-centers are huge in size anywhere from 300,000 sq ft to 470,000 sqft or more.
Features of Windows Azure
Some of the features which makes life so easy when any organization/ISV create applications for Azure
1- Pay as you go model, so you pay what you or your customer uses.
2- Commissioning and de-commissioning of servers are easy and cost-effective
3- Server management is taken care by Microsoft.
4- Database management is taken care by Microsoft
5- You can scale the application as per the demand.
6- You are charged separately for peak and off-peak time.
7- It’s fully compatible with applications running on-premise.
1- Pay as you go model, so you pay what you or your customer uses.
2- Commissioning and de-commissioning of servers are easy and cost-effective
3- Server management is taken care by Microsoft.
4- Database management is taken care by Microsoft
5- You can scale the application as per the demand.
6- You are charged separately for peak and off-peak time.
7- It’s fully compatible with applications running on-premise.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Checking the Health Status of Windows Azure services
Once you have deployed your application and its in production environment.
If you want to check the health of Azure services which are running in any of the geographical location which you have choosen as afinity while creating the service project.
Microosft offers the health status of each and every Azure service running in all the data centers.
It shows health for current day to last 6 more days, liste under "Status History" sections towards the bottom of the page.
You can check the health of the services by following this url http://status.windowsazure.com/
If you want to check the health of Azure services which are running in any of the geographical location which you have choosen as afinity while creating the service project.
Microosft offers the health status of each and every Azure service running in all the data centers.
It shows health for current day to last 6 more days, liste under "Status History" sections towards the bottom of the page.
You can check the health of the services by following this url http://status.windowsazure.com/
Monday, April 19, 2010
Connecting with SQL Azure through SSMS
In order to connect with SQL Azure Db, you need special version of SQL Server Management Studio.
Ability to connect with SQL Azure is buid in "SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP".
You can download this from SQL Server® 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview - Express
Ability to connect with SQL Azure is buid in "SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP".
You can download this from SQL Server® 2008 R2 November Community Technology Preview - Express
TownHall - an Engagement program hosted on Windows Azure
Windows Azure team developed a new Azure based feature, known as TownHall.
This is a software which will aloow to create applications where people seek opinions, message-boards, vote etc. TownHall applications will be based on REST API in the Azure which will enable the delivery of clients on a number of platforms, in order to store the collected data, database used for this will be on SQL Azure.
There is no License fee for TownHall, you only pay for the WindowsAzure. Some common scenarios where TownHall can be used:
Note- I am not sure how long this site is available for demo purpose.
You can download the design templates, themes for TownHall development from http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/TownHall/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=4209
This is a software which will aloow to create applications where people seek opinions, message-boards, vote etc. TownHall applications will be based on REST API in the Azure which will enable the delivery of clients on a number of platforms, in order to store the collected data, database used for this will be on SQL Azure.
There is no License fee for TownHall, you only pay for the WindowsAzure. Some common scenarios where TownHall can be used:
- Event hosting as offered by evite etc
- Engagement with communities
- Message boards
- Vote
- Fan clubs , followers etc
Note- I am not sure how long this site is available for demo purpose.
You can download the design templates, themes for TownHall development from http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/TownHall/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=4209
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Solution - VS 2010 IDE Crash Issue with VS 2008 pre-instsalled
I came across a strange behavior of VS 2010 Ultimate and other version's. I had VS 2008 Professional on my laptop and I tried installing VS 2010, it got installed each time but IDE crash was an issue. For instance, if I try to "Add a New Item" to the project IDE will crash and VS 2010 IDE will re-start.
I struggled with this for couple of days, and finally I thought of doing reverse installation. I.e, install VS 2010 and then VS 2008. So I Un-Installed Vs 2008 and VS 2010 (which was crashing) completely.
I did a fresh install of VS 2010, and then VS 2008, it works just fine.
I struggled with this for couple of days, and finally I thought of doing reverse installation. I.e, install VS 2010 and then VS 2008. So I Un-Installed Vs 2008 and VS 2010 (which was crashing) completely.
I did a fresh install of VS 2010, and then VS 2008, it works just fine.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Solution - VS 2010 RC Un-install hangs
If you have VS 2010 RC installed and now you try to uninstall it, it begins but hangs after sometime.
You continue to wait but neither it does anything nor it progress to the next step.
Most obvious solution to this problem is to shut down the system, restart and then un-install it again, it will pick from the features/options where it got hung last time.
This time there are bright chances that it will finish until the end, and you will see a Successful Un-Installation message :)
You continue to wait but neither it does anything nor it progress to the next step.
Most obvious solution to this problem is to shut down the system, restart and then un-install it again, it will pick from the features/options where it got hung last time.
This time there are bright chances that it will finish until the end, and you will see a Successful Un-Installation message :)
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Motivation Behind the term Azure
Windows Azure is Cloud computing technology from Microsoft.
Azure is the term which is also considered as a synonym for "blue color", Azure alsos refers to a bright blue color, resembling the sky like it apperass on a bright and clear day.
Azure is the term which is also considered as a synonym for "blue color", Azure alsos refers to a bright blue color, resembling the sky like it apperass on a bright and clear day.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
VS 2010 Highlighted References
VS 2010 IDE has a new feature where it "highlights" all other instances of a class member.
For example, in the image below I have Deposit function being called multiple times and when I select (by double-click) one instance of it, what this new feature of VS 2010 does is; it highlights (in gray color) all other instances of the selected member in the same file. Like shown in the image below.
Once you have multiple instsances of a member highlighted you can navigate through them by Ctrl+Shift+ Up arrow or Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow.
For example, in the image below I have Deposit function being called multiple times and when I select (by double-click) one instance of it, what this new feature of VS 2010 does is; it highlights (in gray color) all other instances of the selected member in the same file. Like shown in the image below.
Once you have multiple instsances of a member highlighted you can navigate through them by Ctrl+Shift+ Up arrow or Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow.
Monday, March 08, 2010
VS 2010 Code Editor's Zoom feature
How many times you encountered a situation when you need to change the screen resolution or text size to make you code to appear in larger font. I encountered couple of time and instances especially when disusing something with team and people sitting far can't see the code statements at all, in presentations etc.
The solution has been an easy approach, change resolution or change the font size from Tools --> Options. What appeared tedious to me was re-setting either one of these after the purpose is over.
VS 2010 Code Editor comes up with this new feature where you can just simply ZOOM your entire code editor view without changing resolution or text size.
To do so it’s a well known trick "Hold Left-click and scroll the Mouse Wheel."
Click on the image to see larger view and use browser's back button to re-visit this post.
The solution has been an easy approach, change resolution or change the font size from Tools --> Options. What appeared tedious to me was re-setting either one of these after the purpose is over.
VS 2010 Code Editor comes up with this new feature where you can just simply ZOOM your entire code editor view without changing resolution or text size.
To do so it’s a well known trick "Hold Left-click and scroll the Mouse Wheel."
Click on the image to see larger view and use browser's back button to re-visit this post.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
VS 2010 Transact-SQL Editor's backward compatibility
VS2010 IDE provides a new menu named Data and it has a brand new feature item "Transact-SQL Editor" this feature allows you to perform the db operations without leaving the VS development environment.
* Microsoft's another step forward to make it a real IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Read more about this feature on previous post: http://dotnetpassion.blogspot.com/2009/12/vs-2010-ide-integration-with-sql-2008-t.html
SQL 2008 is the main candidate which gets the privilege to provide db service to this new Data menu of VS2010, and so SQL 2008 express is part of VS2010 installation. Whereas this new Transact-SQL Editor is capable enough to connect to SQL 2005 instance as well. When it prompts for connection, by default it pulls SQL 2008 instance name (SQLExpress), you can choose "Browse for more" option and then expand the "Database Engine" node and select the SQL 2005 instance.
Now you are good to go and do your db work with SQL Server 2005 from VS 2010 IDE.
* Microsoft's another step forward to make it a real IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Read more about this feature on previous post: http://dotnetpassion.blogspot.com/2009/12/vs-2010-ide-integration-with-sql-2008-t.html
SQL 2008 is the main candidate which gets the privilege to provide db service to this new Data menu of VS2010, and so SQL 2008 express is part of VS2010 installation. Whereas this new Transact-SQL Editor is capable enough to connect to SQL 2005 instance as well. When it prompts for connection, by default it pulls SQL 2008 instance name (SQLExpress), you can choose "Browse for more" option and then expand the "Database Engine" node and select the SQL 2005 instance.
Now you are good to go and do your db work with SQL Server 2005 from VS 2010 IDE.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Upgrade path - VS 2008 to VS2010
Microsoft will be providing an ability to upgrade exiting VS2008 environment into VS2010.
Whereas, it is also possible to have various VS (2005, 2008 and 2010) installtions to be available and run on the same machine.
For VS 2010 Beta users, Microsoft is also providing an upgrade path to be upgraded into VS 2010 final vesrion rather than doing a fresh and clean install.
Whereas, it is also possible to have various VS (2005, 2008 and 2010) installtions to be available and run on the same machine.
For VS 2010 Beta users, Microsoft is also providing an upgrade path to be upgraded into VS 2010 final vesrion rather than doing a fresh and clean install.
Friday, February 26, 2010
New Default Layout of an ASP .NET Web Application in VS 2010
Visual Studio 2010 provided "ASP .NET Web Form Application" has a new default layout (unlike a blank web page in VS 2008 or earlier versions).
New default features added to a VS 2010 Web Application
1- Site.Master page (MaterPage)
2- About.aspx page
3- Account folder, this folder by default contains following pages:
3.i- ChangePassword.aspx 3.ii- ChangePasswordSuccess.aspx
3.iii-Login.aspx
3.iv-Register.aspx
4- Scripts folder- this folders have some .js files in it
5- Global.asax filse with empty templates of:
5.i - Application_Start
5.ii- Application_End
5.iii-Application_Error
5.iv-Session_Start
5.v- Session_End events.
6- Styles folder, containing Site.css in it
Once you have this application, you can remove unwanted features or remove master-page settings from the Default.aspx.
What happens when we add another form to this applocation
When you choose a new Web Form to be added to this web form application, it "offers you a new item in VS 2010 Add New Item dialog" it shows you a new template "Web Form using Master Page" along with old "Web Form" template; which is anyways available in all other previous version of Visual Studio.
Now if you pick the new template it opens a dialog where it will show you the default provided or if you have added your own MasterPage in a list, so you can apply the selected MasterPage setting on this being newly added web form.
click here to see larger image, use brower's back button to continue reading post
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