Windows 7 on Virtual PC 2007

Today I experimented Windows 7 on Virtual PC 2007. Its great experience to be short.

Here is how it went.
First install Virtual PC 2007 on to your computer.
Create a new virtual machine.
Download windows 7 from Microsoft site.
Download ISO Buster to identify the image file downloaded from MS site. (Optional)
Start virtual PC 2007, make sure it has RAM not less than 1 GB.
In Virtual PC windows, go to Capture ISO image and select the downloaded file from MS.
After few minutes it will ask to reboot. Turnoff the virtual PC and start it again.
It will automatically start installing, and just go ahead with next...next options.
You may have to restart your Virtual PC one more time during the installation process.

Within a short while Windows 7 is all yours. Enjoy the new OS coming in Christmas 2009. By the way if you are interested in stock market, buy Microsoft shares. It seems after Windows 7 release share might shoot up !!!!

Some notable features :
Improved boot performance (Really short boot time). I loved this feature.
Calculator is much enhanced.
Task bar is visually bigger.
MS paint is also little differe with respect to options.
Some more things added and removed.
The most disappointing thing is Windows Movie Maker is removed.

Yet to explore other features.......

Code Digest Updates.....

This month Code Digest Updates.....
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                           

CodeDigest For the Month 3\2009

New Articles Published
Using JQuery in ASP.Net AJAX Applications–Part 2
In Part 1, we have seen how to make AJAX calls through POST and GET method using JQuery library. , In Part 2 of this article series, we will see some of the advanced usages of JQuery with ASP.Net AJAX application. 
Search Content Sources
Part 1 of 3 part SharePoint Search Customization series by Sveta Yerpilev a SharePoint consultant and trainer for KWizCom Corporation.
Sveta gives a clear overview of SharePoint search and how to create the results you want.
How to create a website using 3 tier architecture
In this article, i will explain how to implement a website using 3-tier architecture in a beginner point of view. After reading this article, you will understand how to create a simple 3-tier based architecture project using Visual Studio 2005.
Load Your SharePoint "View" Page Faster
Roi Kolbinger, a SharePoint Consultant for KWizCom Professional Services explains how to load your SharePoint "View" page faster in this straightforward "how to" guide.
Search Scopes & Contextual Search Scopes
Part 2 of 3 part SharePoint Search Customization series by Sveta Yerpilev a SharePoint Consultant for KWzCom Professional Services..
Sveta gives a clear overview of SharePoint search and how to create the results you want.
How do I save a publishing site as a template?
Shai Petel, KWizCom's VP R&D explains how tto save a publishing site as a template
C# Constructor and its Types – A Detailed Look
IntroductionIn a simple words Constructor is nothing but a method, a special kind of method of a class, which gets executed when its (class) object is created.Now, let’s take above in broader sense, a constructor is a class method automatically executed whenever class’s object is created or whenever class is initialized. Consider following bit of code:
State Management in ASP.Net
The State or Cache Management is nothing but the way to storing the data in Client-Side and in Server-Side using preity small memory.
How to Add a web part to your web parts gallery using a feature
Igor Goldshtaub, KWizCom's VP Professional Services explains how to add a web part to your web parts gallery using a feature.

New Codes Published
Calling a Serverside Method from JavaScript in ASP.Net AJAX - PageMethods
Prevent the Page Flickering with AJAXControlToolkit Rating control using JQuery
Enable/Disable Validator controls in ASP.Net
Creating Watermark TextBox in ASP.Net using JQuery
Custom Paging Using Sql Server 2005
Get the ScriptManager Object in MasterPage from ContentPage in ASP.Net AJAX
Get the Element that raised the Asynchronous Postback in UpdatePanel in JavaScript
Open an Outlook window from JavaScript with Pre-populated Subject and Body
A Simple CAPTCHA Image Verification in C# and ASP.Net
How to Refresh a Set of Controls or DIV without Refreshing other Controls Inside UpdatePanel control in ASP.Net AJAX?
How to Add, Remove ListItems from one ListBox to Another Using JQuery?
Display Progress or Loading message without using UpdateProgress Control in ASP.Net AJAX
A VideoPlayer - Custom Control

New FAQs Published
How to Convert an Existing ASP.Net Application to ASP.Net AJAX application?
How to Configure ASP.Net Membership Providers to Use Our Own Database?
Why do some of the characters in DIV tag gets repeated in IE 6.0 ?
How to increase default File Upload size in ASP.Net ?
How to Inject a JavaScript method from CodeBehind Class in ASP.Net?
What is Windows Workflow Foundation(WWF)?

Last Month Winners
Winner:Gaurav Arora
Transcend 2GB Pendrive
Contribution Done:3 Articles or 5 CodeSnippets

Code Digest Updates.....

Here are the latest updates from code digest:

Thanks to Sateesh for introducing me to this......

New Articles Published
Using Roles in Forms Authentication in ASP.Net 2.0Authentication is one of the essential parts of any asp.net application we develop. Using authentication, our site visitors can be restricted to access private contents anonymously. Forms Authentication is one of the authentication mechanisms that can be used to authenticate users. With the introduction of 2.0 we have a handful of controls that helps in implementing role based forms authentication very easy with the primary support of Providers in ASP.Net 2.0.
ASP.NET Social Networks—Making Friends (Part 1)In this article by Andrew Siemer, we will cover the most important aspect of any community site—making friends. We will divide this article in two parts. This part starts with the discussion of Problem, that is, what we need to do to achieve success for the article's topic—finding and inviting friends to your network on a community site. It then moves to Design part where we decide on our requirements, and finally the article reaches Solution part where we begin discussing how to actually implem
ASP.NET Social Networks—Making Friends (Part 2)In the first part of this article we concentrated on two aspects Problem and Design. We started with the Problem, that is, defining what we need to implement the Friends concept, finding and inviting friends to join our network and developing an alert system. We then moved to Design wherein we actually finalized the requirements. And finally we began with the Solution, that is, actually implementing the features. In this part of the article by Andrew Siemer, we will continue with the solution pa
How to add content to SPList Item view formExcellent "how to" article written by my company VP R&D.
Custom GridView Paging with ObjectDataSource Control with ASP.Net 2.0ASP.Net is packed with many data bound control to present the data in tabular form to the users. In GridView control, we can enable the inbuilt paging by setting AllowPaging and PageSize property. In this approach, it will fetch all the records from database to display the records in any page. This will affect the performance when the number of records is really huge. It will be good, if we fetch only those records which are required to display in that particular page. This article will help us
Want to add a rating field to MOSS search results? Here's how! KWizCom's VP R&D explains how to add a rating field to MOSS search results.!
Using JQuery in ASP.Net AJAX Applications – Part 1JQuery is a light weight JavaScript library which provides fast and easy way of HTML DOM traversing and manipulation, event handling, client side animations, etc. One of the greatest features of JQuery is, it supports an efficient way to implement AJAX applications because of its light weight nature. This article series will help us understand the usages of JQuery in implementing AJAX applications.
How to import data from AD to InfoPath 2007 Form Template (code free) Excellent how to guide written by my colleague Shai Petel, KWizCom's VP R&D, explaining step by step how to import data from AD to InfoPath 2007 Form Template (code free!)
New Codes Published
Fit Popup window Size to the Image Size using JavaScript
Fire Validator Controls Before JavaScript Confirm Box Fires in ASP.Net Page
Validate For Invalid File in ASP.Net FileUpload control
String.ReplaceAll function in JavaScript
Display multiple spaces in HTML
Printing ASPX Page by Hiding Some of the Page Elements Dynamically
How to Pass Date from Calendar Pop-Up control To Parent Window in ASP.Net ?
Using the JQuery Library hosted by Google CDN (Content Distribution Network) in ASP.Net Applications
New FAQs Published
How to Host ASP.Net AJAX site on a Server that does not have ASP.Net AJAX Installed ?
What is the difference between Label and Literal Control in ASP.Net?
What is SharePoint?
What is WSS and MOSS? Explain How Sharepoint Works?
What is site and site collection in Sharepoint? And What is the main advantage of using site collections?
What is the concept of virtual path provider in sharepoint?
What is the concept of ghosting and unghosting in SharePoint?
What is the concept of safemodeparser in ASP.NET?
What is the concept of Site pages and Application pages in Sharepoint?
How should I find the temp tables are exists in database?

Happy learning..........

Powered By Cloud : Up coming seminar

Folks,
Here is information about one of the rare sessions on "Cloud Computing". Its difficult to find such a great set of industry experts expressing their vision on latest technologies like Cloud Computing. This program is happening in London.

If you have a chance my advise is don't miss it. Here you can find further details about the session and registration.

http://www.poweredbycloud.com/programme/programme.aspx

Its targeting the below audience:

CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, strategy heads and senior executives of:
- cloud computing providers
- potential clients of the cloud industry
- hardware equipment and packaged software vendors
- the wider telecommunications industry
- Internet service providers
- data centres
- leading cloud-computing start ups
- private equity, venture capital, and hedge fund investors
- business and technology media

Dates of Conference :
2-3 February 2009

Thanks to Philip (philip.low@broad-group.com) for informing me about this seminar. Reach him for any discounts with my reference :-)

Happy Learning !!!

KODU - Programming Language for Gaming

KODU - Design your own Video game -

How about designing the video game you imagine. This cool feature is being researched by Microsoft under name "KODU".

This is a visual programming language for creating games. Even children can develop a game under KODU and run on XBOX.

Some features of it are as below....
It is entirely Icon Based and has programming user interface.
You can design a game basing on rules, conditions and actions. You can add Vision, hearing and Time control characteristics.
Uses Xbox 360 controller for gaming input.
You don't need a Keyboard. I think the first programming language in the world which doesn't need a key board !!!!
20 different characters with different abilities.

So Game lovers, start imagining your own game, create it and play it !!! Its all yours.......

F# Language

Microsoft Cambridge Research center is coming up with a new language called F#, where F stands for Functional.

I was going through Microsoft Research blogs and found this one interesting. So here are some cool things about F#:

F# is all about leveraging the benefits of both typed functional programming and .NET.

F# is Interactive with Visual Studio. This allows F# users to develop fast, accurate code using Visual Studio’s background type-checking and Intellisense.

F# lightweight syntax inspired by Haskell and Python.

F# is functional language like BASIC, simplicity is the core concept.

A good functional program is like a beautiful poem: you see the pieces of a ‘solution’ come together. - Don Syme MS Research, Cambridge.

F# really enables the .NET platform to reach out to new classes of developers, and appeal to domains where .NET is not heavily used. This is especially true in data exploration and technical computing. We’re also exploiting functional techniques in parallel programming.

Many programmers choose to explore a problem in F# because it lets them focus more on the problem domain and less on programming itself.

In his interview, he gives an example of Scientist using F# to solve his functional domain problem.
Happy Learning !!!

Microsoft Blueprint

In continuation to my effort of bringing new age technologies from Microsoft, here is the latest "Microsoft Blueprint".

Microsoft is working on a new Factory based architecture that is nothing but MS Blueprint. Infosys is also partnering with MS on this new architecture development.

A software blue print is a step by step guidance and code generation capability for different layers like Data Access, Security, Smart Client etc.,

Guidance Automation Toolkit (GAT) is the predecessor for MS Blueprint. The basic use of this is to build guidance packages and make them available within Visual Studio Dotnet.

MS Blueprint has an advantage over GAT with versions. Whenever a new guidance package is available with GAT we have to uninstall old one and install new one. But with MS Blue Print you can get updates like RSS feed. It will check over Internet for newly available factories and makes it available integrated with Visual Studio.

Blueprint gives tight integration with windows work flow foundation. Each phase of work flow can be integrated with MS Blueprint. Guidance is build on top of the WWF.

Writing code generation logic in C# or VB.NET makes it simple than the GAT XML structure.

Infosys Work on MS Blueprint: Infosys created a silver light software factory demo, which internally contains three additional blue prints, Silver light Blueprint, WCF Blueprint, LINQ Blueprint.

Infosys Silver light blueprint gives factories/Guidance to implement logic layer of Silver light.

LINQ blueprint is for data layer. WCF Blueprint is for service interface layer.

Happy Learning !!!