Monday, March 29, 2010

Geek Post Monthly Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 3

Geek Post

Volume 2 Issue 3

March 2010

Hippolite Musings

Tena Koutou Katoa,

Looking forward to the Visual Studio 2010 launch in April.  Finding it hard to find time to study for my next exam.  

Blessings,
James


Developer News

Grenada Village Online

This is where I continue the saga of documenting my learnings from actually putting a web site “out in the wild” (I usually code within a nice, safe, Intranet).

In March there wasn’t time nor a requirement to implement any new code.  However, I did have time to make a proposal to the Chairman.  Now that we’ve got a database, and a method to authenticate/authorise users, we could allow residents to view/book use of the community hall.

This would be a radical departure from Standard Operating Procedures.  We need a meeting to discuss.  Stay tuned.


Telecom News

Got a new CTO

My hierarchical structure now looks like this:

Dr Paul Reynolds
CEO Telecom

-->David Havercroft
-->Group CTO Transformation, Technology & Shared Services

---->Marc Rackett
---->GM Shared Business Delivery – IT & Internal

------>Trevor Coles
------>HO Application Delivery

-------->Steven Burke
-------->Manager Online Delivery


Microsoft News

What I did for Microsoft this month

(I don’t work for them, but sometimes it feels like I do)

  • Filled in Partner Survey
  • Updated MCT Blog Roll
  • Attended Dot Net User Group meeting
  • Got a freebie t-shirt (thanks Microsoft!) which says “MS-DOS” (say what?)
  • Started training myself on Exam 70-503, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Windows Communication Foundation
  • That’s enough!


Situations Vacant

Senior Category Specialist – Corporate - STR0204N
Take tactical procurement to a new level in our Procurement Category Management function. Helping shape world class procurement practices. Work horizontally right across categories and suppliers ensuring that we bring together new developments. Deliver leading strategic category management activity that enhance our corporate sourcing activity and enable us to transform the way we deliver to our customers!

Senior Payables Specialist - FIN020GS
Let your enthusiasm and sense of achievement shine through as you develop your commercial understanding and steer your abilities towards being part of this dynamic, fun and tight knit team. Immerse yourself in this accounting environment, demonstrating your natural flair and confidence dealing with numbers. Come and find out where this role could lead you, the options are there for the taking - see where your potential lies!!

If any of my non-Telecom friends are reading this and interesting in any of the above, then drop me a line so we can discuss eligibility and suitability.


Training News

Got invited to Visual Studio 2010 C# Beta Training

At: Auldhouse Wellington

On: April 26-30

By: Invitation only

To register interest: drop me a line.


INETA News

INETA stands for the International .NET Association

It’s the umbrella group for all Dot Net User Groups world-wide.

I’ll try to find new stuff of interest to post here each month.

Last week, we had a report back from Ryan Tarak of Microsoft about the recent MIX conference in Las Vegas.  Here’s the blurb:

With MIX10 around the corner, it’s no better time for Microsoft to get on the road and showcase some of the highlights from this year’s conference held in Las Vegas. Join us at your local Community User Group where we will focus on some of the key highlights including; the future of Mobile™, Silverlight™, Internet Explorer®, Expression®. Ryan Tarak, from Microsoft New Zealand will be travelling all over NZ spreading the good word and also be getting everyone ready for the launch of Visual Studio 2010 by giving the first 30 members at each event a retro Microsoft t-shirt. We will also be providing content from MIX on DVD’s and also the usual pizza, so make sure you block out the date below.


PASS News

I’m not speaking at Auckland SQL Saturday in April…

On Saturday 10 April at Wolters Kluwer, 41 Centorian Drive, Mairangi Bay, North Shore.

My topic (Microsoft Sync Framework) was rejected.  I find it difficult (as a full-time Web Developer) to find topics of relevance to Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrators.

If you’re in the area, you should still go; Ivan Towlson will be talking on LINQ again.


Events Schedule

In this section, I highlight dates, times and venues of events either I am presenting at, or of interest to Geeks.  I’m available for bookings.

Date Event Venue Speaker
31-Mar-2010 Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) 2010 Xero,  Wellington    

Mark Carroll

10-Apr-2010 SQL Saturday

Wolters Kluwer, Auckland

Various
14-Apr-2010 Wellington:SLUG Xero, Wellington

Sky Sigal

22-Apr-10 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Launch All Over The World Various
21-23 April 2010 PASS European Conference Neuss, Germany Various
18-May-10 NZ SharePoint Conference Bay of Plenty Lots

Humour

Why I’m generally sceptical of all statistics

Three econometricians went out hunting, and came across a large deer.

The first econometrician fired, but missed, by a meter to the left.

The second econometrician fired, but also missed, by a meter to the right.

The third econometrician didn't fire, but shouted in triumph, "We got it! We got it!"


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Geek Post Monthly Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 2

Geek Post

Volume 2 Issue 2

February 2010

























































Hippolite Musings

Tena Koutou Katoa,

Still catching up on stuff I did last month.  It’s been hectic at work, so taking a breather to document it all seems good to me.

Blessings,
James


Developer News

Grenada Village Online

This is where I continue the saga of documenting my learnings from actually putting a web site “out in the wild” (I usually code within a nice, safe, Intranet).

In February I learned how to upload documents to a database, without having to upload the file to the server first. 

  • I had always assumed that using the FileUpload control, I had to copy the file from the client to the server first, in order to grab the file on the server and push it into the database.
  • However, in a managed server environment (e.g. utilising an Internet Service Provider) I do not have permission to write files to the server.
  • I now realise that assumption was false.
  • Here is the completed (presentation) code:
   1:  Protected Sub Submit_Click(ByVal sender As Object, _


   2:                             ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _


   3:                             Handles Submit.Click


   4:      If Page.IsValid() Then


   5:          DocumentLogic.Insert()


   6:      End If


   7:  End Sub


   8:   


   9:  Protected Sub DocumentLogic_Inserting( _


  10:      ByVal sender As Object, _


  11:      ByVal e As ObjectDataSourceMethodEventArgs) _


  12:      Handles DocumentLogic.Inserting


  13:   


  14:      Dim iod As IOrderedDictionary = e.InputParameters


  15:      iod("documentName") = TitleTextBox.Text


  16:      iod("attachment") = FileUpload1.PostedFile.InputStream


  17:      iod("documentType") = FileUpload1.PostedFile.ContentType


  18:      iod("userName") = AppState.UserName


  19:  End Sub




 


Then, the business layer looks like this:




   1:  [System.ComponentModel.DataObjectMethodAttribute(


   2:      System.ComponentModel.DataObjectMethodType.Insert, true)]


   3:  public bool Add(


   4:      string documentName,


   5:      string documentType,


   6:      string author,


   7:      string audience,


   8:      string purpose,


   9:      DateTime? dateWritten,


  10:      Stream attachment,


  11:      string userName)


  12:  {


  13:      DAL.Document dr = new DAL.Document();


  14:   


  15:      dr.DocumentName = documentName;


  16:      dr.DocumentType = documentType;


  17:      dr.Author = author;


  18:      dr.Audience = audience;


  19:      dr.Purpose = purpose;


  20:      dr.DateWritten = dateWritten;


  21:      dr.UpdatedBy = userName;


  22:      dr.UpdatedOn = DateTime.Now;


  23:      Int32 docLength = (Int32)attachment.Length;


  24:      byte[] docBuffer = new byte[docLength];


  25:      attachment.Read(docBuffer, 0, docLength);


  26:      dr.Attachment = docBuffer;


  27:      dr.Save(userName);


  28:      return true;


  29:  }











Telecom News



We are moving to SubVersion…



We are finally moving off Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for source code control.  The reasons for moving are:




  • Ability to branch and merge (apparently) is better;


  • More stable, robust database;


  • Other teams (non-Microsoft e.g. Java) already have it – we’re the last holdouts.


  • Free Open Source application (although the Visual Studio interface – Visual SVN – isn’t free).



The reason why we’re not going to Team Foundation Server is:




  • There already is a TFS database, but they way it was implemented (Virtual Server on a non-Telecom network via internal wireless network) means that we couldn’t code from home.


  • Prohibitively expensive to spin up a second license.



Seems like a good idea to me.  Not sure I want to share the same repository as all other teams: might lose too much autonomy.  We shall see.







Product News





Nothing new to report at this time



Last month, I made a mistake.  I had thought (typo?) that the world-wide launch of Visual Studio 2010 was taking place on 22 March.  Turns out to be 22 April.







Partner News



Got our new MSDN Subscriber Licenses



Good for another two years of unlimited, legal downloads.  I love working here.







Situations Vacant



Senior Functional Specialist BI/Planning - Wellington



  • Requisition ID – INF022D5


  • NZ-Wellington


  • Permanent - Full-time


  • Job Posting 18/Mar/10



Senior Finance Analyst



  • Requisition ID – FIN020GO


  • NZ-Wellington


  • Permanent - Full-time


  • Job Posting 12/Mar/10



Technical Graduate Programme



  • Requisition ID – GRA2200Y


  • New Zealand


  • Permanent - Full-time


  • Job Posting 08/Mar/10



Functional Specialist BI/Planning - Wellington



  • Requisition ID – INF022CE


  • NZ-Wellington


  • Permanent - Full-time


  • Job Posting 01/Mar/10



Graduate Leadership Development Programme 2011



  • Requisition ID – GRA2200X


  • New Zealand


  • Permanent - Full-time


  • Job Posting 01/Mar/10



If any of my non-Telecom friends are reading this and interesting in any of the above, then drop me a line so we can discuss eligibility and suitability.







Training News



In February, I sat and passed Exam 70-562




  • TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development


  • Should have been easy, but there was a whole lotta extra stuff


  • e.g. WCF & AJAX


  • My score: 763



Skills being measured in this exam:




  • Configuration and Deploying Web Applications (10%)


  • Consuming and Creating Server Controls (20%)


  • Working with Data and Services (17%)


  • Troubleshooting and Debugging Web Applications (16%)


  • Working with ASP.NET AJAX and Client-side Scripting (15%)


  • Targeting Mobile Devices (5%)


  • Programming Web Applications (17%)







Trainer News



Renewed my MCT for another year…



I’m a Microsoft Certified Trainer again.  Yippee!  It means that Telecom gets a discount on MSDN subscription, and I get unlimited, free and legal access to all Microsoft Official Curriculum material.







PASS News



I’m speaking to Auckland SQL Saturday in April…



On Saturday 10 April at Wolters Kluwer, 41 Centorian Drive, Mairangi Bay, North Shore.



My topic will probably be the Microsoft Sync Framework (again).  I find it difficult (as a full-time Web Developer) to find topics of relevance to Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrators.





Events Schedule



In this section, I highlight dates, times and venues of events either I am presenting at, or of interest to Geeks.  I’m available for bookings.









































































Date Event Venue Speaker
19-Feb-2010 Exam 70-562 Auldhouse, Wellington None
22-26 Feb 2010 Exchange 2010 Training Auldhouse, Wellington ?
10-Apr-2010 SQL Saturday

Wolters Kluwer, Auckland


James, et al
22-Apr-10 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Launch All Over The World Various
21-23 April 2010 PASS European Conference Neuss, Germany Various
18-May-10 NZ SharePoint Conference Bay of Plenty Lots




Humour



Mistaken Identity



One day, one of my first-grade students, Taylor, asked his grandmother if he was a child of God. "Why, of course you are, Taylor," she replied. He looked puzzled, then responded, "Well I better get home and tell Mom and Dad—they think I'm theirs!"



—Mary De Guzman, Greenville, SC. Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."




Sunday, March 7, 2010

Geek Post Monthly Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 1

Geek Post

Volume 2 Issue 1

January 2010

Hippolite Musings

Tena Koutou Katoa,

Last year, I started this newsletter.  I managed 11 weeks before year end.  This was a bit much, so this year I will probably end up doing monthly.  I have two months to catch up on.  Here goes…

Blessings,
James


Developer News

Grenada Village Online

This is where I continue the saga of documenting my learnings from actually putting a web site “out in the wild” (I usually code within a nice, safe, Intranet).

This month I learned how to actually implement Profile, Membership and Role providers. 

  • The first learning was that there are three providers!
  • Secondly, put it all in the Web.config (see below). 
  • Point all three providers to the one connection string for your application’s database. 
  • Then, create all the objects (tables, views & stored procedures) that the Providers expect to find there. 
  • The code for creating a script to generate the objects is this: aspnet_regsql -S (local) -E -A all –sqlexportonly <filename>


Telecom News

XT has developed a glitch…

People are working on it.

I’m not directly a cause nor a cure for the problem.

We’re all being impacted in some way or other.  For example, Production change requests are under closer scrutiny to ensure nothing exacerbates the situation.

That’s all I have to say on this subject at this time.


Product News

ReSharper 5.0 for Visual Studio 10

Can’t wait to get VS10 RTM, so I can upgrade ReSharper!


Partner News

I met Telecom’s new Microsoft Technical Account Manager

His name is Antony Willis.

 


Situations Vacant

Customer Service Representative- Faults Mobile- 26th April

  • Requisition ID – CUS020ZB
  • NZ-Auckland
  • Permanent - Full-time
  • Job Posting 08/Mar/10

Complex Billing Specialist

  • Requisition ID – INF022CU
  • NZ-Christchurch
  • Permanent - Full-time
  • Job Posting 05/Mar/10

Systems Engineer - Networks

  • Requisition ID – ENG0209K
  • NZ-New Plymouth
  • Permanent - Full-time
  • Job Posting 05/Mar/10


Training News

In January, I sat and passed Exam 70-561

  • TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development
  • Should have been easy, but there was a whole lotta extra stuff
  • e.g. Sync Framework, LINQ and ORM with the Entity Framework


Trainer News

Nothing new

 


PASS News

Nothing New

 


Events Schedule

In this section, I highlight dates, times and venues of events either I am presenting at, or of interest to METTLE.  I’m available for bookings.

Date Event Venue Speaker
11-Jan-2010 First day back at work Telecom Wellington James
19-Jan-2010 Exam 70-561 Auldhouse, Wellington James
25-29 Jan 2010 SharePoint 2010 Ignite for Developers Microsoft, Wellington Wayne Ewington
22-26 Feb 2010 Exchange 2010 Training Auldhouse, Wellington ?
22-Mar-10 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Launch All Over The World Various
21-23 April 2010 PASS European Conference Neuss, Germany Various
18-May-10 NZ SharePoint Conference Bay of Plenty Lots

Humour

Digging Whales


We had recently moved from Tennessee to Mississippi. Our four-year-old son, Jeep, came home from church one Sunday, excited about the Sunday school lesson. "My teacher taught us all about the whales," he announced.
"You mean Jonah and the whale?" my wife asked.
"No," he said, "Jacob and the whales."
"I think it was Jonah," my wife corrected. "He was swallowed by a whale in the ocean."
But Jeep knew his lesson. "No, it was Jacob. He moved out into the desert and when he got thirsty, he dug some whales."

—Pat Apel, Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."