Compiler Error: Can't find 'Eval'

I just learned a new factoid:

If I copy a page and rename it, but don't rename the Class name, then the two pages will compile and run in DEV but not in TEST.

The error message was bizarre: couldn't find the Eval or Bind verbs.  When I fixed these, then it couldn't find the Title or MasterPageFile attributes.  This got me thinking.

The solution of course was to rename the second class name to something unique.

[dotnet] Test-Driven Development

Kiaora Zac,

I’m going to get ridiculed by true, OO developers like Owen, but I’ll give you my 10c. Having read the sum total of 1 MSDN article about it (and numerous Geek group discussions), I decided to give it a try. I found it easy to install and easy to use.  However, it didn’t fit my design methodology.  Let me elaborate. I use Strongly-Typed Datasets (instead of ORM) and don’t use MVC.  I like declarative programming and minimalist event-driven coding.  I code from the data model rather than the class definitions.  Maybe I should use MVC, but because I don’t, then I found TDD was of limited use to me. When I changed an interface (e.g. modified a stored proc), then TDD was very good at reminding me that I needed to flow through the changes to the BLL.  What it wasn’t any good at was helping me to pin-point everywhere in the Presentation layer where I’d used that ObjectDataSource (I guess Find All would do it). Having just read Owens response (I might have guessed he’d get in first), I agree that he’s top-down and I’m bottom-up.  I don’t have an issue with that.

Blessings,
James Hippolite
Senior .NET Developer – Workgroup Solutions Team

---

From: dotnet@dot.net.nz [mailto:dotnet@dot.net.nz] On Behalf Of Zac Seth
Sent: Thursday, 20 March 2008 1:07 p.m.
To: dotnet@dot.net.nz
Subject: [dotnet] Test-Driven Development -->

Hi All, I have an early Friday arvo question for you: Are you/your organisation:

1. Currently using Test-Driven Development (TDD),
2. Hoping/planning to use TDD,
3. Not planning to use or not interested in TDD.

For those of you that are using TDD, how are you finding it? What are the pros and cons that you find using it in your environment? Would you ever consider developing without it? How painful was it to transition into? If you have any other thoughts on the subject I’d love to hear them. Cheers, Zac Seth  |  Developer  |  Netfinity Limited
phone: +64 9 308 5494  |  mob: +64 21 310 308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level 1, 1 Augustus Terrace
Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
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Web: www.netfinity.co.nz

Exam 70-431

Had a great exam yesterday.  Took me the full 2.5 hours.  I've never done Simulation questions before.  They were... interesting.  I found them quite easy.  The simulator only allowed certain actions to be performed in the SSMS IDE, so finding the right sequence was relatively simple.
35 ordinary questions and 12 simulations.
My study technique this time worked really well.  Each number below stands for the date in February:

1. Picked up the self-paced study kit on February 1st.  Completed Chapter 1: Installing SQL Server 2005
2. Chapter 2: Configuring SQL Server 2005
3. Chapter 3: Creating Tables, Constraints, and User-Defined Types
4. Chapter 4: Creating Indexes
5. Chapter 5: Working with Transact-SQL (very light)
6. Chapter 6: Creating Partitions
7. Chapter 7: Implementing Views
8. Chapter 8: Managing XML Data (very important)
9. Chapter 9: Creating Functions, Stored Procedures and Triggers
10. Chapter 10: Working with Flat Files
11. Chapter 11: Backing Up, Restoring and Moving a Database
12. Chapter 12: Using Transact-SQL to Manage Databases
13. Chapter 13: Working with HTTP Endpoints
14. Chapter 14: Working with SQL Server Agent Jobs
15. Chapter 15: Monitoring and Troubleshooting SQL Server Performance
16. Chapter 16: Managing Database Snapshots
17. Chapter 17: Implementing Database Mirroring
18. Chapter 18: Implementing Log Shipping
19. Chapter 19: Managing Replication
20. Chapter 20: Working with Service Broker
21. Chapter 21: Creating Full-Text Catalogs
22. Concentrated (using practice exam questions) on Exam Objective 1: Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2005
23. Objective 2: Implementing High Availability and Disaster Recovery
24. Objective 3: Supporting Data Consumers
25. Objective 4: Maintaining Databases
26. Objective 5: Monitoring and Troubleshooting SQL Server Performance
27. Objective 6: Creating and Implementing Database Objects
28. On February 28th sat the exam

Name: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance
Required score: 700
My Score: 876

Busy Studying for Exam 70-431

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist:
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance
Studying via Self-Paced Training Kit by Solid Quality Learning
Chapter 8: Managing XML Data is a killer...

Microsoft UNPLUGGED

Just got back from attending Microsoft UNPLUGGED - 'Web Development with Visual Studio 2008' with Nigel Parker (Auckland's version of Wellington's Darryl Burling).

Highlights included:

• VS 2008 multi-Targeting Support
• Web Designer and CSS Support
• Nested Master Page Support
• JavaScript Intellisense and Debugging
• Code Editing Improvements

I won Windows Live OneCare!  "The All-in-One Security and Performance Service for your Windows XP or Vista PC"

Just in time too, because my McAfee subscription was due to expire this week!

I asked the question "Does all that IntelliSense also go with VBScript"?  The answer was yes.

[wgn-sql-server] Adam's presentation from last night now online

http://turtle.net.nz/sqlug/

Best Practices - SQL Server Reporting Services

Rules to Better Reporting Services 2005

• Adam Cogan
• www.ssw.com.au
• SQL Server User Group

About Adam

• Chief Architect
• Runs teams of developers
• Present .NET User Group, .Sydney
• Speaker for Microsoft Roadshows, Dev Conn, VSLive
• Microsoft regional Director, Australia
• adamcogan@ssw.com.au

Complaints

• VS.NET (resolution: Report Builder)
• Security not very definitive (resolution: make everyone Admin.  Preferable make Security Model same as SQL Server)
• Lack of control over interface (e.g. Textboxes don’t break over pages).
• RTF/HTML
• Easy way to put the RS box on the web
• IIS on the RS box
• No CSS
• Data Bars

Best Practices

• Dev, Test, Production
• Automated Deployment

1. Which User Experience?

• Report Builder
• Web Site (Report viewer control)
• Emails (aka Subscriptions)
• Windows

2. Do you know when to use Reporting Services?

• Good when:
  • Faster to develop read-only reports
  • Has a designer – non .Net developers needed
  • No code – maintenance is easier
  • Groups and totals is easier (in ASP.Net you would need to iterate…)
• Bad when:
  • Licensing
  • Parameters – forced to use built-in controls
  • Query string – when you change the parameters and refresh a report, the values do not appear directly in the query string
  • Can’t separate SQL in to a strongly-typed dataset or middle-tier object like in ASP.Net – if worried about it use stored procs

ASP.NET – the Good

• Can edit data
• Control over parameters e.g. you can page through months using a hyperlink
• Can use query strings to pass parameters for easy URL creation

ASP.NET – the bad

• Higher development time
• No graphs

3. Do you check that “RS Configuration Manager’ is all green ticks? 4. Do you check out the built-in samples?

• Install, Install, Open Folder
• Deploy Adventure Works OLAP
• Deploy Model

5. Do you have your deployment strategy sorted?

• osql.exe
• rs.exe
• www.ssw.com.au/ssw/sqldeploy

Prepare

• Tip: When should this deployment story be sorted?
• Think about being Larry King before an interview…

Do you know the 2 migration options for Access?

• Import Reports
• Save and Interop with SSQ Access Reporter

6. Does your report print and display on the web correctly?

• Tip: Export your report to PDF and do a print preview, so you don’t have to print a lot of testing pages to find out the best page settings.

7. Do you include a useful footer at the bottom of your report?8. Do you avoid using word ‘Report’ in reports?9. Do you underline items with Hyperlink Action?10. Do you show errors in Red?11. 12. Do you show the past 6 months of totals in a chart?13. Do you show data and chart in one?14. Do you avoid using…?15. Are you aware of the common charts in tables problem? 

• Or do you use expressions to show the correct scale on charts?
• Or do you use red for negatives for charts in tables?

16.17. Do you avoid showing change as a percentage?18. Data Layout – do you use alternating row colours?19. Do you have nodes count like Outlook?20. Do you avoid displaying decimal places?21. Do you have consistent height for table rows?22. Do you display zero number as blank in your reports?23. Do you know the best way to show your numbers?24. Do you know too many numbers can be scary? 

• Do you use de-normalized database fields for calculated values?

25. Do you show all the report parameters in the body?