Microsoft Visual Studio Team System

How to Manually Bind a Dataset to a Datagrid

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this video, part 2 of 3, Joe Stagner uses the sample ASP application created in part one, to demonstrate how to manually bind a dataset to a datagrid. For additional information about this video, read the Creating a Data Access Layer data access tutorial.

How to Work with Datasets and Filters from an ASP Application

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this video, part 3 of 3, Joe Stagner demonstrates how to return a filtered set of data from the overall application dataset. For additional information about this video, read the Creating a Data Access Layer data access tutorial.

How Do I: Use MSBuild to Automate the ASP.NET Compiler and Merge Utilities

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this video Chris Pels shows how to create an MSBuild project that orchestrates the execution of the aspnet_compiler and aspnet_merge utilities for an ASP.NET web site. First, learn the fundamentals of the compilation process for an ASP.NET web site and the role of the two command line utilities. Next, see how to create an MSBuild project file and the primary elements such as PropertyGroup and Target. Then learn the details of how to execute the aspnet_compiler and aspnet_merge utilities from the MSBuild project. Lastly, several potential expansions of the core concepts are discussed.

Data Access Layers in ASP.NET Applications

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this video, part 1 of 3, Joe Stagner creates a data access layer using a typed data set for a simple ASP.NET application. For additional information about this video, read the Creating a Data Access Layer data access tutorial.

Over 30 Essential PDF Documents Every Designer Should Download

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:23:14 GMT

Found this post on The Graphic Design Blog over the weekend with links to a lot of great info:

Well it took me a lot longer than I had originally expected but I was able to track down the original links to more than thirty PDF documents that I have collected over the past couple of years. I have personally archived every one of these files due to the high quality of content. No matter what you call them; ebook, white paper, or resource they all contain information that no designer should go without. (In actuality there are more than 30 files however it was a good round number for the title…)

30 Essential PDF Documents Every Designer Should Download :: Positive Space :: The Graphic Design Blog

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Mickey Gousset - Visual Studio Magazine Online

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:39:15 GMT

My friend and Team System MVP, Mickey Gousset of Notion Solutions, is now co-authoring with Jeff Levinson the "Inside VSTS" column for Visual Studio Magazine Online. Congratulations, Mickey!

I would like to introduce everyone to a new author for this column -- Mickey Gousset. Mickey is a fellow Team System MVP, co-author of the book Professional Team Foundation Server from Wrox and an all-around great guy. Mickey and I will be alternating the authoring of this column. Enjoy! --Jeff Levinson

Read his first column on "The Red X of Death":

Can't access the Documents or Reports folder? Mickey shows you the two most common causes for this problem and how to correct them.

Visual Studio Magazine Online | Inside VSTS: The Red X of Death

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40+ Tips to Improve your Grammar and Punctuation

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:07:19 GMT

If you don't have your Strunk & White handy, this covers some of it.

Purdue University maintains an online writing lab and I spent some time digging through it. Originally the goal was to grab some good tips that would help me out at work and on this site, but there is simply too much not to share.

40+ Tips to Improve your Grammar and Punctuation | via Dumb Little Man

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Sponsor Ad

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:52:46 GMT

Martin Woodward on Why Software Estimation is Hard

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:15:35 GMT

I'm so far behind on reading blogs that I no longer pretend to actively read them. That said, I was on Martin Woodward's blog today to check out his new site design and came across this post he wrote a couple of months ago on software estimation (Why Software Estimation is Hard).

Suduko is the closest analogy to computer programming that I can find for "normals" - i.e. people that don't code. This only really works if the person does Suduko puzzles, but my wife does so it works in our house. Suduko is a numeric analytical problem solving activity. While there are tricks and techniques to solving some puzzles, there is a significant challenge and difference to each one. Looking at the puzzle, it is hard to know if it is going to be hard or easy. You can get stuck down blind alleys and have to start all over. Also when you "get into the zone" you can often make surprising intuitive leaps that often defy verbal explanation afterwards. Finally, solving a hard Suduko puzzle quickly involves a fair degree of luck and depends on your state of mind at the time of trying the puzzle. There is a great amount of satisfaction to be gained from solving a Suduko puzzle along with a high degree of frustration when you cannot solve one - you know that it must be possible after all.

Equating Suduko puzzles to programming challenges is an interesting idea, and it makes it easier to explain the challenges of software estimation to those who don't write code, but who are familiar with doing Suduko puzzles. This is a great post, Martin!

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How Do I: Use Skins with CSS for a Flexible and Maintainable ASP.NET Web Site

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this video Chris Pels shows how to create skins for ASP.NET server controls and then incorporate CSS styles to control the appearance of the skinned controls. First, learn how to create a skin for an ASP.NET server control such as a Label that controls the appearance of labels throughout a web site. Next, see how to abstract the definition of the visual appearance for a skin to CSS styles. During this process learn the advantages of having the styling information for a skin in the CSS styles. Then see how to create multiple skins and corresponding styles for a single ASP.NET control such as a Label that can be used to standardize the appearance of certain types of labels throughout a web site. Finally, learn the advantages of applying a CSS style to multiple skins and the ability to apply it to a generic HTML element.