Greg's Cool [Insert Clever Name] of the Day: 12/27/2009

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Visual Studio 2010 editions and “The Ultimate offer” – If you’re buying Visual Studio in the next three months, information you MUST know

Visual Studio business news - Visual Studio 2010 transition benefits: “the ultimate offer” – What you need to know

“Visual Studio 2010 is about to come in few months (March 22nd) and I have been receiving many, many, many questions around the new product family and the transition benefits.

I’ll answer some of them in this post and will probably update it later if I have additional recurring questions.

So before jumping on the product capabilities I want to spend 1 minute on Why Microsoft is changing the line-up.
As you already know, Visual Studio is the main developer tool to build software applications on the Microsoft platform. At the end of the day, we don’t really care about the IDE but more about the solution you are building, Visual Studio will come automatically if you have decided to use part of the Microsoft platform (from .NET to C++, Office to Sharepoint, embedded to Azure….).

People were a bit confused between the different editions of Visual Studio. As an example, does a developer need Visual Studio professional (the main IDE to write code) or a Team Developer? A developer may need some testing or modelling capabilities only available in the Team Test or Team Architect edition, so what is the recommended SKU ? As Visual Studio 2010 is extending the capabilities (test management, code visualisation ….) the right move was not to add more editions but to simplify the product family. We’ll have 3 levels of Visual Studio

Visual Studio 2010 Professional – the basic one

Visual Studio 2010 Premium – the standard one

Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate – the advanced one

You can notice that no edition contains “Team System” in the description or a job role (like Developer, Tester …).
The idea is that any edition can suit your needs. It’s up to you to look at the capabilities, what you want to achieve and your team maturity to point out the right level.

…

This "Auto upgrade" means you will get an edition with many more features than you have with your current Visual Studio edition for the duration of your subscription.
Different scenario to optimize this “Ultimate offer” - transition benefits

…

…”

If you’re planning on purchasing any editions of Visual Studio in the next few months this is information you MUST know. In short, I hate to say it but IMHO only a… um… cough… sucker… cough… would buy Team Suite VS2008 right now.

Review the above post and contact your MS rep to make sure your making a good licensing decision

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Enable any file type to Run As Administrator on Vista/Windows 7

How-To Geek - Add "Run as Administrator" to Any File Type in Windows 7 or Vista

“Have you ever tried to unzip a file to the Program Files directory in Windows 7 or Vista? You’ll get all sorts of permission denied errors, and generally be unsuccessful. So how do we open up the zipfile as an administrator? For that matter, how do you open any file as administrator?

There’s a simple registry tweak that will let us specify the action to run as administrator for a file type. Unfortunately you’ll have to make the tweak manually, but we’ll walk you through it.

…

…”

Found this tip in the comments in Jason’s, Open .sln File as Elevated User post. I was about to blog about that post but in reading the comments liked this solution and its broader scope (sorry Jason! ;)

(via Jason Haley - Open .sln File as Elevated User)

Entity Framework links, links and more links - 100+ Delicious EF Links

Tony and Zuzana’s World - 100 EF4 Links

“As part of my DevelopMentor Entity Framework course, I put together a delicious web site containing over 100 links to Entity Framework 4.0 topics.

http://delicious.com/tonysneed_elinq

…” [Post Leach Level: 99%]

Delicious - tonysneed_elinq's Bookmarks

I’ve started playing with EF4 and so this list will come in handy…

Monday, January 04, 2010

SQLPSX v2 – PowerShell for SQL Server has been PowerShell 2’ed

CodePlex - SQL Server PowerShell Extensions

“…

The primary goal of SQL Server PowerShell Extensions (SQLPSX) is to provide intuitive functions around the SMO objects which are backward compatible with SQL 2000. A secondary goal is to provide an application which reports flatten/effective security settings for logins, users, roles, and permissions.

Installation

SQLPSX consists of a library file of PowerShell functions and several PowerShell scripts, if you've downloaded the files through Internet Explorer you'll need to unblock all Powershell files after downloading by right-clicking each PowerShell file in Windows Explorer and clicking the Unblock button. Using SQLPSX requires you've installed the SMO libraries which are included with SQL Server Management Studio.

News

See the two-part article series on SQLServerCentral describing installation and usage of SQLPSX:
SQLPSX Part1
SQLPSX Part2

…”

SQL Server PowerShell Extensions - 2.0 Production

“Released: Dec 31 2009

Updated: Dec 31 2009 by cmille19

Dev status: Stable

…

SQLPSX_2.0.zip
source code, 1268K, uploaded Dec 31 2009 …

Other Available Downloads

readme.txt
documentation, 23K, uploaded Dec 31 2009 …

screenshots_SQLPSX.docx
documentation, 1315K, uploaded Dec 31 2009 …

Release Notes

Release 2.0 re-implements SQLPSX as PowersShell version 2.0 modules. SQLPSX consists of 7 modules with 132 advanced functions, 2 cmdlets and 7 scripts for working with ADO.NET, SMO, Agent, RMO, SSIS and SQL script files. In addition an optional component of a backend database and SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 reports are provided. See readme file for details.

…”

From the readme.txt;

“…

What's New
    Version 2.0
        Converted function libraries and snapins to modules
        Created comment-based help for all functions
        Made helper functions private through use of module manifests (psd1 files)
        Converted functions to advanced functions with parameter bindings
        Refactored code to use Powershell V2 features:
            try/catch
            valuefrompipeline
            validatescript
            validateset
            new-object -property hashtable
            add-type
        Renamed Set-SqlScriptingOptions to New-SqlScriptingOptions
        Renamed Get-ReplScriptOptions to New-ReplScriptOptions
        Removed scriptopts and replscriptopts text files in favor of script option objects
        Moved Get-InvalidLogins.ps1 and Get-SessionTimeStamp.ps1 into SQLServer module
        Removed Init-SqlParser.ps1 script (not needed since SQLParser is now a module)
        Added new ADO.NET module
        Added format file for SSIS packages
        More rigorous testing was performed using PSUnit testing framework
        Fixed issues discovered in testing
        Added 5 aliases for Information_Schema and sysdatabases functions. These functions were renamed with a Get-Sql* prefix
        All parameters are strongly typed where possible

…”

A cool project gets a major upgrade…

(via Richard Siddaway's Blog - SQL Server PowerShell Extensions)

DBA’s & PowerShell? Yep, PowerShell is not just for your IT brethren, you can have PS fun too!
PowerShell and SQL Server 2008 Whitepaper
More details about SQL Server 2008 and its PowerShell support
SQL Server 2008 & PowerShell - Better Together
SQL Server Provider/Namespace for PowerShell (Think "Easy Command Line/PowerShell Access to SQL Server Data")

GodMode, Windows 7 Style (no joke) – One folder, all admin settings

Geek In Disguise - Enable GodMode On Windows 7

“I thought this was a joke when I read it, but evidently not. If you want a quick way to get to all the settings on Windows 7, GodMode is it. How?

Add a new folder to your desktop and name it GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} - you will now see the icon above on your desktop and a pretty long list of items. Below is just a small sample.

…”

Awesome… It really IS real!

Here’s a snap from my test system;

(via @HilaryP – tweet)

Update #1 1/4/2010 @ 9:45AM PST:
God Mode revealed by Windows 7 Hacker, The Secrete “Windows 7 Hacker” Mode Revealed –> How To Geek - Stupid Geek Tricks: Enable the Secret "How-To Geek" Mode in Windows

In short, a shell extension CLSID. Shell extension CLSID’s have been around for forever, but this one is new (I think) and one that I’m going to be putting on all my Win7 machines…

A Feed You Should Read #18 - F# Discoveries This Week

F# is a programming language that will be included in VS2010 and may result in a few brain explosions. It’s a different way of coding for many of us, one that while could result in effectively solving problems that we consider almost impossible to solve in our current languages, but as with all new “shifts” there’s a good bit of a learning curve.

Today’s Feed is one that should give you the resources to help working up that curve…

Rick Minerich's Development Wonderland - F# Discoveries This Week

Background:

It’s been said by many this it is important that developers break out of their programming language comfort zones and learn new languages on a regular basis. That learning new languages not only broadens your exposure and keeps your brain cells fresh but also makes you a better developer in the languages you already know.

I’ll buy that…

Now to put that in practice is the hard part.

Why do I like this feed and think you might also?

When trying to get up to speed on a new tech or language getting the zen of it can be hard. Rick’s F# Discoveries This Week series provides links/summary curation of F# related news (funny that given the title), which is a great way of getting a feel for the community.

At first you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s where a blog of this kind if perfect. It casts an wide net which will help you catch tidbits you might have missed otherwise…

If you’re interested in the F# thing you’ve heard about recently, or are a F# Zen Master, this blog will very likely contain content you’ll find useful and will become one that you look forward to every week.

Snap of the latest post:

Blog Information:

Name:	Rick Minerich's Development Wonderland - F# Discoveries This Week series
URL:	http://www.atalasoft.com/cs/blogs/rickm/default.aspx
Feed:	Full http://www.atalasoft.com/cs/blogs/rickm/rss.aspx, series http://www.atalasoft.com/cs/blogs/rickm/rss.aspx?Tags=roundup&AndTags=1)
Post Types:	F# link curation and F# dev/code posts

Essential F# DZone Refcard by Chance Coble & Ted Neward

DZone Refcardz - Essential F#

“Overview

F# is Microsoft's most recent language for the .NET platform. This DZone Refcard will lead you through the basic essentials so that you can quickly move on to using this Functional Programming Language for creating some mind-bending code.

…”

With F# coming in the VS2010 box it’s really starting to get to be that time where we start looking at it more…

Friday, January 01, 2010

“SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide” – 486 pages of SQL Server 2008 upgrade guidance

SQL Server News Blog - Ultimate guide for upgrading to SQL Server 2008

“Last week, our SQL Server engineering team in association with Solid Quality Mentors released an unprecedented 490-page free whitepaper called SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide that provides in-depth information on how to upgrade to SQL Server 2008. The guide can be downloaded from here, and the following is a listing of topics covered in each chapter:

Chapter 1 (Pages 17-68)

Overview of technical issues and decisions involved in upgrading to SQL Server 2008, as well as recommendations for planning and deploying an upgrade.

Chapter 2 (Pages 69-90)

Addresses issues related to upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Management Tools.

Chapters 3-8 (Pages 92-243)

Upgrade issues for SQL Server relational databases.

Chapter 3: Relational Databases (Pages 92-117)
Chapter 4: High Availability (Pages 118-181)
Chapter 5: Security (Pages 182-198)
Chapter 6: Full-Text Search (Pages 199-210)
Chapter 7: Service Broker (Pages 211-216)
Chapter 8: Transact-SQL Queries (Pages 217-243)
Chapter 9: Notification Services (Pages 244-251)

Chapter 10 (Pages 252-270)

Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Express

Chapters 11-14

Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence components: Analysis Services, Data Mining, Integration Services, and Reporting Services.

Chapter 11: Analysis Services (Pages 271-302)
Chapter 12: Data Mining (Pages 303-329)
Chapter 13: Analysis Services (Pages 330-420)
Chapter 14: Reporting Services (Pages 421-468)

Chapter 15 (Pages 469-477)

Implications of upgrading to SQL Server 2008 for other Microsoft applications and platforms.

Appendix 1

Detailed table of allowed SQL Server 2008 version and edition upgrade paths.

Appendix 2

Upgrade planning checklist.

…”

Microsoft Downloads - SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide

“This 490-page document covers the essential phases and steps to upgrade existing instances of SQL Server 2000 and 2005 to SQL Server 2008 by using best practices. These include preparation tasks, upgrade tasks, and post-upgrade tasks. It is intended to be a supplement to SQL Server 2008 Books Online.

File Name: SQL2008UpgradeTechnicalReferenceGuide.docx

Version: 1.0

Date Published: 11/25/2008

Language: English

Download Size: 7.0 MB

A successful upgrade to SQL Server 2008 should be smooth and trouble-free. To achieve that smooth transition, you must devote plan sufficiently for the upgrade, and match the complexity of your database application. Otherwise, you risk costly and stressful errors and upgrade problems. Like all IT projects, planning for every contingency and then testing your plan gives you confidence that you will succeed. But if you ignore the planning process, you increase the chances of running into difficulties that can derail and delay your upgrade. This document covers the essential phases and steps involved in upgrading existing SQL Server 2000 and 2005 instances to SQL Server 2008 by using best practices. These include preparation tasks, upgrade tasks, and post-upgrade tasks.

…”

From the Document;

“…

Overview

A successful upgrade to SQL Server 2008 should be smooth and trouble-free. To achieve that smooth transition, you must devote plan sufficiently for the upgrade, and match the complexity of your database application. Otherwise, you risk costly and stressful errors and upgrade problems.

Like all IT projects, planning for every contingency and then testing your plan gives you confidence that you will succeed. But if you ignore the planning process, you increase the chances of running into difficulties that can derail and delay your upgrade.

This document covers the essential phases and steps involved in upgrading existing SQL Server 2000 and 2005 instances to SQL Server 2008 by using best practices. These include preparation tasks, upgrade tasks, and post-upgrade tasks.

For the purpose of this document, an “upgrade” is any type of transition from an earlier version of SQL Server to SQL Server 2008, a “server” is a computer that is Windows Server (either physical or virtual), and a “component” is one of the several relatively independent executables included within SQL Server, such as the Database Engine, SQL Server High Availability Solutions, SQL Server Analysis Services, SQL Server Integration Services, SQL Server Reporting Services, and SQL Server Notification Services.

This document is intended to be a supplement to SQL Server 2008 Books Online. It is not intended to supersede any information in SQL Server Books Online or in Microsoft Knowledge Base articles. The reader will notice many links to SQL Server Books Online topics and Knowledge Base articles. In all such cases, the information in this document is included to provide you enough context to decide whether you need to read the linked article. If there are any discrepancies between this document and a linked article, the linked article is assumed to be more accurate.

…”

I had missed or forgotten this; got to love social networking. If it wasn’t for seeing @michaelm2100’s tweet I doubt I would have found this. And since one of my hopes is that I can move my work project off of SQL 2000/2005 and to 2008 this year, it’s very timely…

(via @michaelm2100 – tweet)

With the new year we get a loved series sequel, Visual Studio Tips and Tricks v2 - Visual Studio 2010 Tips and Tricks

Is This Thing On? - Visual Studio 2010 Tips and Tricks Begins!

“I'm happy to announce that the New Year marks the beginning of my endeavor to carry on Sara Ford's great work with Visual Studio Tips and Tricks for the Visual Studio product (http://blogs.msdn.com/saraford/archive/tags/Visual+Studio+2008+Tip+of+the+Day/default.aspx). After many discussions between us on how best to move the effort forward we decided that continuing the love with 2010 was a good idea. With Sara's help I have managed to get a good idea of her approach and added elements of my own style to the mix.

Additionally, in conjunction with Scott Cate (http://vstricks.com/), I am pleased to say almost all tips will include a video showing the tip in action. Many thanks to Scott for stepping up and doing the past and future videos related to this series.

…

There was some debate over whether to wait until VS2010 launches or begin with the New Year. As you can see, I decided to begin on January 1. This is important for a couple of reasons:

1. The tips published until RTM will be based on Beta 2 and RC builds.

2. It is possible (though unlikely) some of the tips may not be valid in the RTM build when it ships. I will be retesting all tips when VS2010 ships to make sure they work as advertised :)

The plan is to have a tip a day posted on this blog with a few extra items thrown in for good measure. What you will see is a healthy mix of new tips in Visual Studio 2010 and some of the old favorites as well (tested to make sure they still work). To be absolutely clear: These are Visual Studio 2010 Tips and Tricks so what you will see are the details on how to leverage old and new content with our latest product. To get things started, and through the inaugural weekend, let's take a look at the #1 tip from Sara's Tips and Tricks:

…

…”

Sara Ford’s VS Tips and Tricks series was a must read and loved by many (hard to not love it when a simple series of tips helps us code easier and faster :) It’s great to see that series given a new life.

I think it fitting that this post, my 4,000th and first of the year/decade, is on this. I live in VS and with the monster that is VS2010, I will be able to use all the help I can get in make my life there easier, faster and better.