In August I wrote a blog about MS Word shortcuts.  Turns out there are a few other one's I've been using quite a bit.  Read on for a table you can print out and tape beside your monitor to help you out.

I've recently written one of the MCTS exam, please read for a small suggestion that might help you write your next certification exam.

If you are creating a project on CodePlex, good for you!  But make sure you get the URL right the first time cause you get ONE shot to set it up!  Read on for more information.

I bit the bullet today and installed MS SQL Server 2008 today, read on for some interesting things I found out.

What would happen to your sanity if you lost, yes I said LOST your digital photo album tomorrow?  Read on for some archival strategies to keep your precious memories your's forever.

Confused by the title?  Read on about a commercial I saw tonight from Swiffer.

Have you ever wanted to extract a path or directory name from a field in SQL Server?  I found myself looking at that today and I found a cool and nifty trick.  Read on for more information.

The preliminary agenda for Ottawa Code Camp 2009 has been posted!  Read further for more information.

This week at work, I noticed a piece of code setting the Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture to a specific culture.  No big deal right?  Except shouldn't that be CurrentUICulture?  hhhhhmmmm  Good question!  What's the difference between them?  Please read on for a bit of a descriptive and some code.

Progress update as promised (late, but still as promised).

Do you code to the "lowest common denominator" on your team or do you code to another standard?  Read on for something to make you go hhhhmmmmm....

Interfaces are like vegetables, you know you're supposed to eat/use them more, but yaaaaaaaaaa know, life just gets in the way sometimes right?  Read on for a cool idea to help your consumers use your interfaces better.

Are you using proper CSS in your web pages?  If you are, good for you!  If not, then here's a couple invaluable links, please read on.

This is a VERY cool read about the different types of cables out there.  Read on!

Of course YOU'VE never done this before, where you write two constructors, but instead of having one calling the other, it calls itself.......hhhhmm what would happen?  Read on for more details.

Ever been tasked with a code review?  Enjoyed it?  Unless you're a sadist, I doubt it!  Read on for the best (easiest and quickly) code review criteria you'll EVER find!

I like my hockey teams, but I think this guy's got everyone beat!  Read on and check out the picture.

To what standard to you hold yourself accountable to?  Do you use Hungarian notation?  What about the C++ "m_" convention?  Camel vs Pascal casing?  Or do you have no clue what I'm talking about?  Read on for more information.

SB had a great coding question today which he thought enough of me to see if I could help out.  As an aside, ever notice how you can ask some people questions but not others?  Why is that?  Fodder for another blog.  Anyways, read on to see if you can solve this coding challenge.

I got some constructive feedback today from an influential reader (two actually :> SG and SB) and I thought I would quickly explain in a bit more detail the changes I made to help make Rene's life a bit easier for the ///todo management tool in a previous post.  So if you're interested, please read on! :>

With special thanks to a reader, I made a small change to the Show All Tasks project I blogged about in September.  Read on for further details.  Thanks Rene, great idea!

Are you trying to share your code with the outside world?  Are you using SVN (or a variant like VisualSVN Server)?  If you answered yes to both of these, then read on for some assistance.

Today I read an article called Saving and Restoring Form Location in a Multi-Monitor Environment. The article talks about saving and restoring the previous window's size and location even on systems with multiple monitors.  I have a different solution to this problem from the author, please read click through for more imformation and the code sample.

When someone tells you to put in a brace in your code, do you know if they're talking about ( or { or [ or even <?  Read on for some concrete definitions.

This afternoon I was writting some code which removed a ToolStripStatusLabel from my ToolStrip and it took me a few moments to figure it out.  Can you spot the error?

Are you tired of seeing flashes out of the corner of your eye when you have Microsoft Messenger up?  Read on for a sneaky, cool and geeky way to get rid of that.

Are you seeing an error message when opening an .csproj file and you're thinking "HUH?  VS knows what a .csproj is! WTF?!"  I have a possible reason, read on for details.

 I goofed once (ok, I've goofed more than once, but this time someone caught me on it).  Read on for more details.

The Ottawa Code Camp dates have been confirmed and the rooms booked at Algonquin College!  Mark it on your calendar's, May 2nd, 2009 is the BIG DAY!

Does your company use the very same product it creates?  If not, uh...... WHY THE HECK NOT?!  Read on for food for thought!

Unless you're Sara Ford or Scott Cate, I'm pretty confident you haven't heard of these two features, Anchor Swapping and Deleting Words, but they are pretty cool.  Read on for more details.

Did you know there are two types of matches you can do with RegEx?  I know you can create LOADS of regex patterns, but did you know there are two different types of "matches" you can get from your LOADS of patterns?  Read on for a brief description (yes, I'll keep it short I promise :>).

Have you heard of CodePlex?  Have you tried it out?  Joined a project, downloaded some code?  Checked in some code?  I've been avoiding it, for no other reason than I haven't had any need to.  Until tonight, read on for some details!

If you've had Visual Studio crash on you today simple cause you tried to add new toolbox items, you're probably confused and frustrated, just like I was today, TWO hours before a prototyping meeting!  Read on for some tips to try and help the situation.

Someone at my work today asked me a whiz-bang question (thanks SB! :>) about how to selectively put a checkbox on a TreeView's node?  HHHHMMMM  Please read on if you were as interested as I was!

Do you have a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard with a Zoom slider that has a complex?  Does it think it should be a Scroll Up/Down function instead of the zooming job it currently does?  Please read on for instructions on how to change your slider to a scroller.

Pop Quiz, how many types of tables are there in Microsoft SQL Server?  BBBZZZZZZZZ!!!!!  Times up, did you say one?  Two?  Ten?  Read on for the answer.

I've recently moved jobs and as such, find myself reconfiguring Visual Studio (again) to my liking.  I've had to rejig my VS install a few too many times and would like to create myself a bit of a reminder of the things I do in the future.  So read on to see what kinds of changes I like to make.  What do you like to change/modify for your VS installs?

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued a scam warning last summer which seems to be making it's rounds again (thanks NK for the info).  With tax time upon us soon, I guess this is why this is coming around again. Read on for more details.

Ever visit some webpages and see a funky look'n webpage icon in your browser's address bar?  If you save that page to your favourites/bookmark the page, you'll probably see it there too.  Ever wonder how they do that?  WHAT is that thing called anyways!  It's called a "favicon" and continue reading if you want to know how to set one up for your website.

I read this article on the Developer Connection this afternoon and it's pretty cool!  Please read on for a direct correlation between your potential success at work and what you do in your spare time.

Are you annoyed that when you create a new class with Visual Studio it doesn't make the class public?  Are you like me and always forget to make it public but smack your forehead when your code won't compile and go "OH MAN! I forgot that AGAIN?!" :<  Well, no more, I can help you fix that small annoyance and a few others too! :>  Read on.

In trying to learn things about a new company, new processes, new tools, it's quite overwhelming, so I wrote up two little cheatsheets/cribsheets to help me rememeber key shortcuts for VisualSVN and CodeRush Xpress.  Read on to check them out.

Earlier this month I wrote one of those "what I'm going to do to become a better geek...uh....codehead.....uh coder!" :>  Read on to check on my progress so far.

PS Don't expect miracles here, it's only been three weeks, this is more for me than anything else you could say.

Are you all of a sudden getting Microsoft Word macro/virus warnings?  Not sure where they're coming from?  Don't remember installing anything recently?  Read on for further details about a possible solution!

What are you using for your source control?  Are you using the antiquated, buggy and very unstable Microsoft Visual SourceSafe (VSS)?  If you are, then it's time you did yourself a favour and check out VisualSVN!  I pretty much guarantee you it won't cost you more than an hour of investigation and MAYBE another hour to install AND configure the server and client!  Yup, it's THAT fast and easy!  Read on for some further details about my recent and brief VisualSVN experiences.

This was up on a coworkers (SG) cubicle wall and I laughed so hard when I saw it!  If you don't laugh as hard as I did, at least I think you'll say "it's about freak'n time!" :>>>>

The Ottawa Code Camp organizing group have released the date for this years event, Saturday, April 25, 2009 (Date being modified and updated, potential date is May 2 or 9)!  Please read on for more information.

A friend of mine (thanks NK :>) sent this to me and it's too good to keep to myself, I have to share this!  Too cute!  Enjoy!

I was on an interview a few weeks back and someone asked me about a question which is obviously framed to gain insight into the person's thinking process.  How would you answer the following question (read on).

Maybe you seen these types of blog posts before, so what, you ask, right?  They're kind of bogus New Year's resolutions which inevitably get broken/ignored/disregarded. :< Well, not only do I plan on consciously working on my list continually throughout the year, but I hope to report on my progress every once in a while to keep accountable (yup, trying to learn something from Agile :>).

I’m also hoping this posting gives you (veteran readers, all two of you :> or noobs to my site) a bit of a heads up on what type of blog posts I’ll be putting up!  And yes, I'll obviously put up code as well! :> 

Continue reading to see what things I'm planning on working on to become a better codehead, uh, coder.  If you like what you see, please come back for new and exciting posts!

Are you thinking of starting up a study group to help get a technical certification?  Study groups are great for achieving certifications for what they provide, positive learning environment, non judgemental, enthusiastic and willing participants.  But is that all you need?  Unfortunately a bit more is required.  Read on for some of my personal experiences with running three study groups.

Warning: Due to the type of material this is, this is a long post.

If you could describe your ideal work place, how would you?  Not in a novel, as terse as possible.  For me it's 1 + 1 = 3.  Simple isn't it?  If you think it's math, you'd be, well, right and wrong.....WTF you might say?  Let me explain.

If you're going Agile, are you looking into "Agile" utilities/tools to help you manage your Sprint/Product backlog?  What about scrum meetings?  Retrospectives?  If you're thinking they'll cost you an arm and a leg, you could be in for a pleasant surprise!

In learning more (and more and more :>) about Agile, I would like to summaryize the guiding principles behind Agile according to the 17 original creators.  To often I've read, seen even experienced people saying if you're doing X, Y AND Z then you're NOT doing Agile.  hhhhmmmmm  Agile is a set of principles right?  Not rules, correct?  So as long as you're trying to follow the guidelines, I think you'll be safe (by me that is) that you're Agile. :>

A bit antagonistic, but to the point, what's in it for me?  Well, it depends on your point of view, are you a manager or a developer for example.  Read on for a quick insight into Agile and what it can do for you.

So you LOVE Generics eh?  But are you "limiting" them at all?  What about with the right scope?  Read on for more information.

Ok, the subject line might be a bit harsh, but it conveys my point.  The point being, Agile itself is a simple set of processes/steps/guidelines.  If it didn't work for you or your company, maybe you should be asking yourself if it just exposed hidden problems that were there all along?

Are you a perfectionist and a developer or do you know someone who is? 

We know we're not supposed to check in code that does not compile, but do you get the sweats checking in feature incomplete code?  Do you stress out about having to release a "minor" version cause you know "the job's just not done yet?"  How do you feel about starting on a new task before finishing the last one?  Does it drive you batty to be told by your team lead "that task" is done when you know there's just a bit more time required to make it juuuuuuust right?  Gold plating?  Maybe, but juuuuuust another hour to make it perfect!  Does any of this sound familiar?

Is your dev team Agile?  No, I don't mean quick or dynamic, but are you following Agile development practises?  Join me on a journey to learn more about Agile.

Have you even gone to a presentation and wished the presenter could just zoom in on one small piece on the screen?  Have you ever given a presentation and wanted to point out one specific piece of information on the screen and found yourself stretching/pointing at the white screen?  There is a fantastic utility to help you out called ZoomIt.  Read on for further details.

Do you have the .NET String formatting strings memorized?  Do you have the entire ASP.NET page life cycle memorized?  Do you know ALL the built in code-snippets?  If you don't, here's a great .NET cheat sheet!

 John Sheehan's blog - Just Sayin' More Words blog entry about .NET Cheat Sheets: http://john-sheehan.com/blog/index.php/net-cheat-sheets/

Have you ever been part of a team run by a project manager who had no budget?  What about by someone who was cheap?  Frugal usually implies being smart or wise with your money but when was the last time you used that word to describe your PM?  Have you ever been on a project where the PM/manager/boss was willing to spend a little bit of money where it made sense?  Dual monitors/LCDs come to mind.  Which projects did you enjoy being a part of?  I bet I can guess which ones!  Read on to see what one PM (Jeffery Palermo) did to help improve his team's communications, very cool read!

Are you still developing with Courier New as your default font in Visual Studio?  I have to ask you, WHY?  Oh, TrueType is a good font technology, but there's a new kid on the block especially made for LCDs called ClearType.  Read on for further details and screen shots of what you could be seeing in VS.

Have you seen this message before but have NO clue how to fix it?  I have a few of the common links here, AS WELL as one which actually fixed the problem I was having, which you might be having too and can't seem to find the answer.

Have you ever asked a senior developer for help?  What did they do?  Were they actually helpful or did they just talk over your head? 

I think to climb the corporate ladder, "teaching" should be a mandatory skill!  Unfortunately not too many companies value teaching as an asset.

As developers, we've been asked to "rework" pieces of code/sql to optimize it.  But have you ever questioned WHY?  Still forced to optimize eh?  Seems like you've been stung with Premature Optimization.

Every once in a while I want to know how the CLR datatypes map up to the SQL Server data types and I can never remember the link.  Well, here it is.

I've been using Generics for a little while now (List<Team> = new List<Team>()); and I'm liking them quite a bit.  I LOVE the strong typing it gives me, It's ALWAYS better to find bugs at compile time than at runtime.  But I always forget the predicate syntax for anonymous methods.  So here it is for all posterity.

 Using a GridView with ObjectDataSource or SqlDataSource, parameter setting results in Page Not Found error in IIS but works perfectly on Vista?

I read today on Sara Ford's blog a VS trick about forcing VS to put the MRU file opened on the far left.

As you open up files for viewing/editing, they're added to the tabs to the right of the current one.  Well after opening a few, ok, more than a few, they start to drop off out of view! :<  It can be frustrating cause chances are the files you're looking at only once in a while are already in your face on the left, but the ones you REALLY want are gone!  Sara's got a fantastic registry trick to fix that!  The trick forces all the most recently used (MRU) files to the far left, therefore the more recent the file is, the further to the left it is.

If you just want the reg key, here it is.

Under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0 key, you can create a DWORD UseMRUDocOrdering = 1

If you want more details, please visit Sara's blog.

Have you ever wanted to get the Date part of a DateTime field in SQL Server?  What about the Time part?  What about the different formats available to you?  You might know you need to use Cast/Convert, DateAdd, DatePart or DateDiff but who can remember their parameters?  What about the order of the parameters?  Oh you can?  Good for you, here's your hero biscuit, for the rest of us, there's this link. :>

Are you getting this error message?

The SMTP server requires a secure connection or the client was not authenticated. The server response was: 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. 9sm3590188qbw.6

Exception Details: System.Net.Mail.SmtpException: The SMTP server requires a secure connection or the client was not authenticated. The server response was: 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. 9sm3590188qbw.6

Are you using the Microsoft.NET PasswordRecover object and the LocalServer connection string in web.config?  Are you using Google's smtp servers as well?  Well, THERE'S your problem (taken from Adam Savage's quote).&l Read More »

Did you just cut'n'paste something to the clipboard but thought DANG! I wanted that other thing that was there before! :<  Oh man, it's lost now.  Have no fear, it's not lost!  Introducing the Clipboard Ring!

I'm working through creating WebControls and got a funky bug tonight (read that as it smelled realy bad) but I couldn't figure out what was going on.  Turns out I tripped onto a bug with VS08.

If you are seeing the error below, then you're dealing with a VS08 bug and not a coding error (well, at least not YOUR coding error :>).

Do you use magic number/strings in your code?  Shame on you!  Do you use constants or read only variables, KUDOS to you!  But do you know the difference between a const and a readonly variable?  Read on for some insights into their differences.

If you are a member of the ODNC 70-528 Web Study Group, then you'll be interested in a new website I'm working on.

Have you ever had to create a web User Control and dynamically show/hide stuff in it?  Have you had issues with it?  I have the solution here, and it's easier than you think! :>

From yesterday's blog, I hope you noticed I'm a fan of the ///todo tag!  I raised one caveat, you cannot see all your solution's or project's ///todo tags for unopened files.  So how can you fix this you ask?  Great question!  It's actually quite simple, but you'll need to get your hands dirty with a bit of code.  We're all code-heads here right?  So this shouldn't be too foreign?!  Let's dive in!

Hopefully you've all heard of XP, Agile, TDD, BDD, but have you heard of ///TODO Management?  If you're using Visual Studio, have you see the ///todo tag in action?

How do you grab a screen capture?  Do you hit the PrtScn button and then copy/paste it into Paint?  Or do you have some expensive (read as you paid for) tool?  I used to use SnagIt! as my screen cap tool, it was AWESOME!  But with Vista, there is a new kid on the blog, sorry, block!  Introducing, the Vista Snipping tool.

Have you heard of RSS but don't really know what it is?  You've heard other's talk about getting updates via RSS or maybe reading blogs over RSS, but what IS RSS?  Read further to get a solid foundation of what Realy Simple Syndication is all about.

A picture is worth a thousand words right?  So I'll take this opportunity to shut up and let the picture speak for itself.  Has anyone else had a boss like this?

With the introduction of Microsoft's next generation smart client called Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), they also introduced some news tools.  YAHOO!  But is it really that exciting to find out you actually have to do more work than you used to with WinForms.  WTF?

If you are reading this blog, hopefully you're into C# and therefore OOP.  I would hope you've heard of constructors, but have you heard of Constructor Chaining?  It's the process of keeping your code DRY by having one constructor method calling another.  There are two ways to do it, general to specific (forward, down) or the other way around, specific to general (backwards, up the object hierarchy tree).  Both have their benefits and draw backs. 

Slang for this is daisy chaining your constructors.

When you're coding, do you use Int32 or int?  So you use String or string?  When it comes time to picking your datatypes do you use the native .NET type or the language specific types?

As you're processing a method, how do you return back to the calling method?  Do you have multiple returns in your logic or just have one at the end of the method?

I would like to start a series (nope, don't know how many installments yet :>) on coding better.  The first installment/chapter will be on Naming Conventions.

Ever find yourself trying to figure out what sender is in an event handler?  Have you resorted to using String comparisons thinking there has to be a better way?  Well, there is!

Here are some of my favourite Visual Studio keyboard shortcuts I use to save coding time.  Anything that helps me keep thinking about what I want to do instead of thinking how I want to do it, is awesome IMHO.

Useful keyboard shortcuts for MSWord I can never find when I need them.

Ottawa Code Camp Presentation, ppt slide deck link included

SQL Server 2008 gets Intellisense

PDBs are created with Release builds as well as Debug builds.  Here's how to turn that off.