Utilize MySQL's features through .NET [TechRepublic 5/3/2005] MySQL continues to gain market share due to its ease of use and price. The open source community has extended its reach by developing a connector to be used with the .NET Framework. Learn more about using MySQL in .NET applications and get extended examples of how to work with MySQL data via .NET.
1:53:17 PM    

Bypass SETLOCAL/ENDLOCAL

Sometimes it would be nice if we could use SETLOCAL and ENDLOCAL to preserve the initial environment but still change one variable "permanently", in the SORTDATE and SORTTIME examples, for example. I recently saw a posting at the alt.msdos.batch.nt newsgroup where Phil Robyn solved this problem in an ingenious way:

SET TEST=
SETLOCAL
:: Variable test is set within local environment, which means
:: its changes are flushed by the next ENDLOCAL command
SET TEST=Some new value
:: By using the ampersand and the following SET command on the
:: same line as the ENDLOCAL command, %TEST% is resolved before
:: the ENDLOCAL command "restores" its value
ENDLOCAL & SET TEST=%TEST%
SET TEST

This way the environment variable TEST and its value are preserved in spite of the ENDLOCAL command.
See my Conditional Execution page for an explanation of the ampersand's usage
2:21:18 PM    

First, let me say you can bookmark IP-specific address. For those that don't know, you type http:// in the address bar followed by the IP number of the site you want to go to. Once there, you can bookmark it. I have a number of my very important sites bookmarked by IP # - e.g., my bank, credit card company, etc.
Here are some popular IP addresses:
Microsoft - 207.46.245.92
E-bay - 66.135.208.89
Google 64.233.187.104
Amazon 207.171.175.35
PayPal - 216.113.188.66
CitiBank - 192.193.210.24
Also, here is a DNS tool for converting addresses from the www. form to the IP number: http://www.ndo.com/servlets/dominfo. Regarding IP address, please note that if a site is addressed by a server company rather than on its own server, you may not be able to reach the address just by putting in the IP number. For instance, if you convert my company's web address (www.keystonecomputerconcepts.com) to an IP # (38.113.20.12) and then try to go directly to the site using the IP number, you get an error page. That's because we are hosted by a server hosting service.
Post by: johnnybluenote on 02/23/05 CNet article discussion: Alarm over pharming attacks: identity theft made even easier
8:36:18 AM    

With Synergy, all the computers on your desktop form a single virtual screen. You use the mouse and keyboard of only one of the computers while you use all of the monitors on all of the computers. You tell synergy how many screens you have and their positions relative to one another. Synergy then detects when the mouse moves off the edge of a screen and jumps it instantly to the neighboring screen. The keyboard works normally on each screen; input goes to whichever screen has the cursor. GNU GPL
7:03:28 PM    

Halo 2 Legendary: Beat the boarders, Cairo Station, first landing bay
This tactic can make getting past this section quicker on legendary. Run up to the doorway and simply hose down the Covenant with continuous fire from dual plasma rifles. This kills most of the grunts (especially when they're still in the boarding tube) and knocks out the elites' shields so your marines can finish them off. Duck back through the doorway whenever your shields get too low or a grenade comes your way. After the last wave, you'll probably have a few elites left, but you can deal with them the normal way. As a bonus, you have ALL the grenades at your disposal. [by Eric Hartwell]
Also, see Cairo Station Legendary Walkthrough for other hints for this level, and Halo 2 Legendary Tactics & Walkthrough for general Legendary hints.
10:57:44 AM    

Halo 2 Legendary: Beat the boarders, Cairo Station, second landing bay
This tactic can make getting past this section a lot easier on legendary. When you walk into the room, go to the right, into the room and up the stairs. K[ill] the Grunts on the turrets, then look for a crate next to one of the guns. Choose the gun you want to man (preferably facing the enemies), and melee the box directly behind it. Try to position the gun in the center of the box. Now, press X to man the turret. You should go into the box, and be sticking partially out, but still able to aim and shoot. In this position, so long as you positioned the box well, the Covenant won't see you, even as you fire the turret at them. [Halo 2 Trick FAQ by Kyle Barr].
Also, see Cairo Station Legendary Walkthrough for other hints for this level, and Halo 2 Legendary Tactics & Walkthrough for general Legendary hints.

8:22:10 AM    

How do I create one Formula URL (link) field that deals with both UPS and FedEx tracking numbers?
[QuickBase Support Center KnowledgeBase Article #74]

• UPS: http://wwwapps.ups.com/etracking/tracking.cgi?tracknum=[Tracking #]&accept_UPS_license_agreement=yes&nonUPS_title=QuickBase%20Package%20Tracking%20System
• FedEx: http://www.fedex.com/cgi-bin/tracking?action=track&language=english&cntry_code=us&initial=x&mps=y&tracknumbers=[Tracking #]
• FedEx Ground: http://www.fedex.com/cgi-bin/tracking?action=track&language=english&cntry_code=us&initial=x&mps=y&tracknumbers=[Tracking #]
• Fedex Freight: http://www.fedexfreight.fedex.com/protrace.jsp?as_type=PRO&emailfax=&as_entryPage=Pro%20Number&as_pro= [Tracking #]

11:53:00 AM    

Dynamic HTML Lab: Pop-up Calendar 1.1. The first maintenance release of our new, but already popular, Popup Calendar includes better navigation bar styling, the ability to clear read-only input fields and fixes a couple of minor problems missed the first time around. By Peter Belesis. 0916 [WebReference News 9/16/2004]
4:31:09 PM    

Dynamic HTML Lab: Pop-up Calendar 1.0. In a much anticipated article, Peter Belesis returns with this piece on a DHTML Lab Popup Calendar. Among its many features: No knowledge of JavaScript is necessary; only a beginner's aquaintance with HTML and CSS syntax is all that's needed. 0809 [WebReference News 8/30/2004]
9:20:57 PM    

Export HTML Data into Excel Files
Nowadays, many reports are generated as HTML documents for access on the Web. This tip shows you how to export that HTML data as it is (including all the CSS styles, tables borders, etc.) into an .xls file which can be saved and used as you need it. Include the following code in the .jsp page that generates the report/HTML page:

 String mimeType = "application/vnd.ms-excel";
 response.setContentType(mimeType);

The output is transferred to an .xls document.
Please Note: Microsoft Excel must be installed on the client's computer for this to work.
By MS Sridhar SridharMSmail@yahoo.com

8:44:02 AM    

Constraints and unit testing.

One thing that I would like to enforce in my unit tests are constraints. Examples of constraints are things like read-only properties and sealed classes. If a developer comes along and removes one of those constraints by making the property read-write, or by unsealing the class, those changes are not detectable by simply recompiling the code.

One way to enforce constraints is to write unit tests that assert their existence. To help folks out, I've written the beginnings of a utility class that can be used with NUnit tests. Here's the source code for that class for folks who are interested. Feedback about these ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 Public Class AssertEx : Inherits Assertion Public Shared Sub AssertReadOnlyProperty(ByVal t As Type, ByVal propertyName As String) Dim pi As PropertyInfo = t.GetProperty(propertyName) Assert(String.Format("Read-only property {0} in class {1} cannot be read from", propertyName, t.FullName), pi.CanRead) Assert(String.Format("Read-only property {0} in class {1} can be written to", propertyName, t.FullName), Not pi.CanWrite) End Sub Public Shared Sub AssertWriteOnlyProperty(ByVal t As Type, ByVal propertyName As String) Dim pi As PropertyInfo = t.GetProperty(propertyName) Assert(String.Format("Write-only property {0} in class {1} can be read from", propertyName, t.FullName), Not pi.CanRead) Assert(String.Format("Write-only property {0} in class {1} cannot be written to", propertyName, t.FullName), pi.CanWrite) End Sub ' TODO: Implement a visibility property assert - must be internal for example. need to use GetAccessors() ' and assert visibility based on property get/set method visibility Public Shared Sub AssertNotInheritableClass(ByVal t As Type) Assert(String.Format("Class {0} cannot be derived from", t.FullName), t.IsSealed) End Sub Public Shared Sub AssertNonSerializable(ByVal t As Type) Assert(String.Format("Class {0} cannot be serializable", t.FullName), Not t.IsSerializable) End Sub ' TODO: Assert that a class must be abstract Public Shared Sub AssertNotCreatable(ByVal t As Type) Dim cis() As ConstructorInfo = t.GetConstructors() Dim ci As ConstructorInfo For Each ci In cis Assert(String.Format("Non-private constructor found in a class {0} that must not be creatable", t.FullName), ci.IsPrivate) Next End Sub End Class 

[iunknown.com]
11:42:05 AM    

Windowpaper XP FREE Wallpaper customizer: lets you customize the background of your folders with wallpapers in the same way you can customize your desktop. It allows you to select a custom background image for any folder you want, specify the font color (to make it stick out), and instantly preview the results. Very neat, easy to use tool for those that like to customize their workspace.[Lockergnome Windows Fanatics]
8:39:19 PM    

TrayDevil v1.04 [56k] W98/2k/XP FREE  TrayDevil can minimize any window to the system tray, and also acts as a quick reboot and shutdown tool. It enables you to simply Shift + left-click on any window (program, folder, website, etc.) and it will be minimized to the system tray, using its standard windows icon. In addition, you can use the middle mouse key to quickly close windows, hide the system clock, and reboot your PC by double-clicking the TrayDevil icon. Small and easy to use. [MWA] [Lockergnome Windows Daily]
7:56:47 AM    

Automatically generate CSS [Lockergnome Windows Daily]

• http://www.fu2k.org/alex/css/layouts/3Col_OrderedAbsolute.mhtml (configures tables)
• http://www.csscreator.com/version1/
• http://nide.snow.utoronto.ca/css/
• http://www.cathyjenkins.com/downloads/css.html
• http://www.xmldir.de/quickcss/
• http://www.inknoise.com/experimental/layoutomatic.php
• http://www.wannabegirl.org/firdamatic/

9:24:54 AM    

Step-by-Step Guide for Setting Up a PPTP-based Site-to-Site VPN Connection in a Test Lab. This step-by-step guide describes the configuration of a PPTP-based site-to-site virtual private network (VPN) connection using five computers in a test lab. This guide assumes you know TCP/IP, IP routing, and the capabilities of the Windows Server 2003 Routing and Remote Access service. [Microsoft Download Center]
8:23:12 PM    

Expat is a library, written in C, for parsing XML documents. It's the underlying XML parser for the open source Mozilla project, perl's XML::Parser, and other open-source XML parsers. As demonstrated in my benchmark article, it's very fast. It also sets a high standard for reliability, robustness and correctness.
8:34:22 AM    

Ingenious email-harvester honeypot. Merlin Mann outlines an ingenious procedure for identifying spammers' email-harvesters' IP addresses and user-agents: In each page I serve, I include a bogus email address, encoded with the date of access as well as the host IP address and embedded in a comment. [Apache's server-side includes are great!] This has allowed me to trace spam back to specific hosts and/or robots. One of the first I caught with this technique was the robot with the user agent "Mozilla/4.0 efp@gmx.net", which always seems to come from argon.oxeo.com - it's identified it above as simply rude.
8:22:27 AM    

Using Stylesheets to Create a Print This Page View ( 06/11/03 ) [4GuysFromRolla.com 6/25/2003]
2:51:28 PM    

List of free ASP.NET and .NET tools. A new site up with a list of ASP.NET and .NET tools. Also supports an RSS feed.[Sean  Early' Campbell & Scott 'Adopter' Swigart's Radio Weblog] 8/12/2003
6:51:53 PM    

Prevent unauthorized software on your network with software restriction policies Windows Server 2003 gives you more power than ever before, including the power to control installed software on workstations. Here's a look at how you can use software restriction policies to keep unauthorized software off your network.
7:53:42 AM    

Lost Windows Product Key?. One of our guys had to reload one of his boxes, and he couldn't remember which key he used on which machine.  Then he used one of these tools to find out.
8:39:00 PM    

Changing the product key on Windows XP Changing a Windows XP product key doesn't always require a complete reinstallation of the OS. We'll show you how to get the job done by editing the registry or using a Microsoft WMI script.
8:29:04 PM    

free XML SOAP Monitor
free Authentic 5 XML document editor
8:23:13 PM    

Troubleshoot bad RAM with DocMemory from CST Your RAM could be the culprit if you're experiencing random Windows errors or Windows installation problems. Get the details on why you should use DocMemory, a freeware program from CST, to speed your diagnosis.
4:21:49 PM    

iCarbon v2.1.3 {free personal copier} Combine the printer and scanner into a photo copier using iCarbon, which works with TWAIN-compatible scanners. The utility makes the scan/print operation work with one click. After installing, the program immediately and accurately recognized my printer and scanner. The preferences offer inverted image printing. The simple interface displays options for the number of copies, zoom percentage, quality, contrast, and type of copy (RGB, for example). The printer prints the image from the scanner or the Webcam. If you're in a hurry to get a printout of a picture, this takes a two-step process and combines it into one.
4:19:06 PM    

DIAGNOSING LOGON DELAYS In this column, I discuss diagnosing and solving logon delays caused by three specific problems. I use the term "logon delay" to include the time it takes for the logon screen to disappear after you enter valid credentials, plus the time it takes for a Windows XP or Windows 2000 system to display the desktop after the logon box disappears. Logon delays can occur in three situations: when you log on interactively at a workstation or server, when you connect to a VPN server, and when you connect to resources on a standalone server that requires local credentials, rather than domain credentials. Profile problems are also a common source of logon delays, but they're complicated and outside the scope of this discussion--a large profile or an inaccessible or corrupt profile can appear to hang a system or result in an empty desktop after a delay of 10 minutes or more.
6:30:36 PM    

Build a floppy-based router/firewall with Freesco
Freesco is an open source router/firewall solution with small hardware requirements and minimal administrative overhead. It's perfect for your small IT budget. Find out how to get it up and running.
8:55:35 PM    

wshwizard - HTML Application Template to be used as a VBScript Interface Have you ever needed a rich interface for a WSH script? Most available options require the deployment of at least one custom control - not this one.
11:42:45 AM    

MSDN Licenses are Perpetual
The licenses for the tools inside your MSDN Subscription are licensed to you for development and test purposes in perpetuity . This means that even if your subscription were to expire, you can still use the tools for development and test purposes, for ever. To learn more about how to become an MSDN Subscriber visit the MSDN Subscriptions Centre.
11:35:34 AM    

Panicware's Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition
11:33:00 AM    

4t Tray Minimizer v3.2 [564k] W9x/2k/XP FREE {Minimizing apps to system tray}
Free up taskbar space with 4t Tray Minimizer, which minimizes applications as system tray icons instead of buttons on the taskbar. Minimize any open application to the system tray instead of the task bar by right-clicking the minimize button (in the upper right hand corner of applications, there are three buttons: minimize, reduce, and close). Hide any application without displaying its icon in the system tray and restore it by using a list of hidden applications in the Main Window of the program. The program also has the ability to create a Quick Launch style menu for your favorite (or more often-used) applications. Although you can use Quick Launch elsewhere, this may be easier for some to use as opposed to the built-in Windows Quick Launch. It does come with customized keyboard shortcuts. When you start using the program for the first time, it starts with an optional step-by-step tutorial. The free version doesn't store customized settings or come with technical support, however. [Lockergnome Windows Daily]
10:50:45 AM    

Distribute prebuilt system configurations with VMware
Admins often need to copy and rebuild exact replicas of system configurations--especially in a testing network. VMware makes it quite simple to transport complete system configurations of virtual machines.
9:40:58 AM    

You can simplify your life considerably - at least as far as registry settings are concerned - by investing in a tool called WinGuides Tweak Manager from WinGuides Network. WinGuides Tweak Manager covers some 1,100 registry tweaks for Windows, Internet Explorer and Office. The list of tweaks is regularly updated and downloaded to your copy of Tweak Manager on demand. At $30, this product is a steal.
9:58:47 AM    

Q. How can I change the product key when I activate my Windows XP installation?
When you install XP, you must enter a product key to register the software with Microsoft. However, if you want to use a different key to activate the software after installation (e.g., maybe you originally used an existing key during installation and have since purchased a new license), perform the following steps:

1. Start the activation process as usual (go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then select Activate Windows).
2. Click "Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to active Windows", then click Next.
3. Click the "Change Product Key" button.
4. Enter the new key, then click Update.
5. Click Telephone, then continue with the activation.

8:20:44 PM    

Access Hotmail From a POP3 Mail Client with Hotmail Popper Many people want to get their Hotmail using Outlook 2000/2002, Eudora or some other POP3 client. They don't want to have to use the web browser to get their Hotmail messages. It makes sense to use a POP3 client, since it's much easier to save and organize your mail when it's downloaded to your email program. Hotmail Popper is a free program that allows you to download messages from your Hotmail account.
10:05:26 PM    

Hekko Virtual CD v1.02 [1.2M] W2k/XP FREE Hekko Virtual CD enables you to create a virtual CD-ROM drive on your PC, which allows you to play CDs without having to insert the actual disk. This not only eliminates the need to switch disks frequently, but also increases the performance of games, since the hard drive can usually be accessed much faster than the CD. Hekko Virtual CD works with most games, music or software programs. You can image as many CDs as you need and the load the virtual image into the drive by using the tray icon. The program uses HekkoScan(tm); nearly any CD can be imaged and played. [MWA] [Lockergnome Windows Daily]
7:13:15 AM    

Code That Debugs Itself - (C++) A set of simple, flexible, and powerful debug macros that allow you to catch most of the programming errors in early stages of development. These macros stimulate writing the "code that debugs itself."
7:34:40 PM    

The Matrix Codebreaker. Remember The Matrix, when they do the phone trace and the numbers keep scrolling until the correct number is found? This script randomly chooses the numbers until the correct one is chosen. A cool way to display your messages. [WebDeveloper.com]
9:27:37 AM    

MyIE2 Online v0.7.829 beta [657k] W9x/2k/XP FREE {Internet Explorer multi-page browser} Netscape has it. Mozilla has it. Opera has it. Internet Explorer does not have it. What is it? Tabbed browsing. The nice thing about tabbed browsing is that you have only one window open for multiple Web pages instead of one Window per Web page. The MyIE2 interface is similar to the Internet Explorer interface and adds the opened Web sites just beneath the address box. It also comes with its own options separate from IE's where you can select options for filtering popups, windows, favorites, tab appearance, and plug-ins. It also adds a few more system icons such as auto-scrolling, undo, and utility manager. There are two "x" icons, one for closing the current window and the other for closing all windows. Microsoft should adopt this feature; with all other browsers doing it, the company is bound to copy it and add some of its own proprietary stuff to it. If the download or Web site is slow, go to WebAttack for a faster download. [Meryl] [Lockergnome Windows Daily]
9:25:29 AM    

EIF Releases With absolutely no fanfare, Enterprise Instrumentation Framework has released.  EIF lets you instrument your applications with tracing information that's meant to be left in while the application is in production.  Tracing can be turned on and off, and directed to various sinks, simply by modifying a configuration file at run time.  You can trace user operations, class operations, requests as they travel through a distributed application, or just about anything else you can imagine. Check it out. MSDN Subscriber Downloads | Content | Developer Tools | Enterprise Instrumentation Framework.[Sean 'Early' Campbell & Scott 'Adopter' Swigart's Radio Weblog]
9:24:35 AM    

FREE: Hard-link Creator for Windows UNIX fans have been familiar with hard-links for quite some time. A hard-link makes it appear as though a file is located in more than one place at a time, when in reality, only one copy exists. [Eric Hartwell: Ping]
8:40:05 AM