Mark Brown's Blog : Visual Studio

Fewer smaller .Net DLLs vs less large DLLs

mab — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Generally speaking it is better to have less large DLLs versus many smaller DLLs for the following reasons:

Hard Disk time: Loading 100 dlls will almost always take longer than a single large DLL. DLLs are physically scattered across the disk. Latency etc come into play on the initial load times.
Memory Usage: A single dll contains 1 set of "standard" meta data vs 100 times that standard meta data can start to make up some memory space (i.e. X bytes of product name, version info, etc x 100 dlls x # of app domains = memory)
Security: .Net CLR has to do a lot more processing with multiple DLLs vs less DLLs. A security policy will need to be loaded, managed, and executed per each DLL.
CLR Management: If DLLs do not specifically call for a unique "base address" so the CLR must re-base each DLL when it loads them costing startup cycle time. Also when code executes the CLR must locate the object in memory and if it has to go through a "lookup table" of those addresses it will take longer to find one if multiple DLLs are used.
Management: Locating code, determining DLL references to use, build scripts, etc will take more time to manage in the SDLC.
Optimization: The .Net compiler can make more and better optimization decisions if acting on more code base. Smaller sets of code will provide less optimization opportunities.
Maintenance: Managing the additional project files, assembly info files, etc add time and understanding to developers.

Additional information: http://blogs.msdn.com/brada/archive/2004/05/05/126934.aspx

Visual Studio and .Net Tutorials and Training Videos

mab — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:41:00 GMT

A friend asked about some sites to learn about Visual Studio and programming. There is a lot of great free resources out there. I created an article with a starting list to help. Feel free to comment and suggest the "best" free sites out there.

Visual Studio and .Net Tutorials and Training Videos

Steps to add Developer Tools to Send To folder

mab — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:18:00 GMT

Steps to add programs to Send to folder

Navigate to your SendTo folder (Windows XP location is C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\SendTo and just replace {user} with your login user name)
Right click select New/Shortcut to add a shortcut
Type in the location of the program to send the file to then click Next

Notepad is “%windir%\notepad.exe”
Visual Studio 2008 is "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /edit

Give the send to a name that is user friendly (i.e. Notepad or Visual Studio 2008 as appropriate)

TFS Extras Article Created

mab — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:51:00 GMT

Started a article that will contain lots of free/commerical add-ons and website articles for TFS.

Enjoy the first edition: http://blogs.msdn.com/mab/pages/team-foundation-server-extras.aspx

Free Telerik TFS Manager and Dashboard

mab — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:28:00 GMT

As a Microsoft VSTS ranger, I come across some interesting TFS add-ons on occasion. The recently introduced Free Telerik TFS Manager and Dashboard tool seems impressive. Most of the features enhance SCRUM/Agile methodology shops but can be used for any methodology.

Main Page
http://www.telerik.com/products/tfsmanager-and-tfsdashboard/tfs-work-item-manager-features.aspx

Features

Work Item grid filtering, grouping, and aggregation
Area and Iteration filtering using single and multi select modes
Filter query results using a tree of areas or iterations
Unique Task board view of work items independent from any process template
Print work item cards for the board in your room
Iteration schedule
Paste as New/Current work item
"New by example" saves your query for other team members
Search the title and description of query results as you type

How to autoresize parent frame height from child frame

mab — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:01:00 GMT

Scenario
A parent document contains a frame that loads a file which content is dynamic and you want the frame to not scroll and autosize the height of the frame.

Solution
function autoResizeParent() {

// if no parent don't attempt to change
if (parent != null) {

var frameList = parent.document.body.getElementsByTagName("iframe");

// is there any frames?

if (frameList != null) {

for (var i = 0; i < frameList.length; i++) {

var srcName = frameList[i].src;

srcName = srcName.substr(srcName.lastIndexOf("/"));

var srcParent = document.location.pathname.substr(document.location.pathname.lastIndexOf("/"));

alert("Parent=" + srcParent + "\nFrame="+ srcName);

// found myself

if (srcParent == srcName) {

// set parent frame height to my height

frameList[i].height = document.body.offsetHeight;

// force scrolling off

frameList[i].scrolling = "no";

}

}

}

}

}

Using Visual Studio with IIS7 on Vista and Win 7

mab — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:08:00 GMT

For those interested in installing VSTS and using with IIS7 on Vista (and possible with Win 7) you should follow the following instructions:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa964620.aspx

TFS History via command line for a date range

mab — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:45:00 GMT

I know several people have blogged about this and it is available in the help files somewhat. I thought I would just capture a quick note on what I sometimes use.

Scenario: Show me all the changes (history) for all files within a location in a team project on a server for a specified date range

Command Line:
tf history /server:http://MYTFSSERVER:8080 $/MYTEAMPROJECT/FOLDER /recursive /format:brief /user:* /version:D"04/28/2008"~D"04/29/2008" /noprompt

So if your server name was "TFS01" and the TeamProject name was "FinancialApp" and your folder was "main" then the command line would be:
tf history /server:http://TFS01:8080 $/FinancialApp/main /recursive /format:brief /user:* /version:D"04/28/2008"~D"04/29/2008" /noprompt

How to use or setup Sharepoint or Reporting Services on a separate port or machine with TFS

mab — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:57:00 GMT

You can use the following to move your sharepoint location on your existing TFS Sharepoint sites or Repritng Services to another port or to another server. Note that you must have the Sharepoint site or Reporting Services already configured.

TFS 2005/2008: During Setup

Copy msiproperty.ini from the install media from AT or ATDT folder to a folder of your choice i.e. C:\temp\msiproperty.ini
Change the property: VSTF_WSSSQL_PORT from 80 to another port.
Start setup.exe under the subfolder of the sku with a command line: d:\atdt\setup.exe /INIFILE=C:\temp\msiproperty.ini.

TFS 2005: Change ports on same server for Sharepoint
http://blogs.msdn.com/elyasse/archive/2006/02/14/532120.aspx

TFS 2008: Moving Team Project Portals to a Different Server Running SharePoint Products and Technologies
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb909655.aspx

TFS 2008: Alreday installed, just change Reporting Services or Sharepoint port
Just run TFSAdminUtil ConfigureConnections. The details are located: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb778396.aspx

SOAP Toolkit + Vista + Excel 2007 + Call Web Services = Impossible

mab — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:13:00 GMT

Well I wouldn't say impossible ... just not supported.

I had a conversation with a client that asked "Where do I get the latest SOAP toolkit for Vista?". I had to politely say "We don't support the SOAP Toolkit anymore." Which was followed by "Well how do I call a web service from VBA in excel?". The short answer is "you migrate to managed code!" and use Visual Studio 2005 Second Edition (VSTO) or the new Visual Studio 2008 Excel Workbook project.

Everyone that does Excel "programming" should be using managed extension excel workbooks and discontinue using macros or VBA for development like web service calls. Managed code gives you much more flexibility and support.

It is as easy as (almost) ...

Open Visual Studio 2008
Create a New Project
Select tye Office type/Excel 2007 Workbook
Add your bits and components to the workbook
In the (.cs or .vb) code behind, put in standard web service calls referencing System.Web and System.Web.Services, web references, etc
Enjoy a happy coding experience

Like to know your thoughts, but thought I would just write a little about my experience ...

eSCRUM template from Microsoft Released

mab — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:57:00 GMT

Microsoft eScrum Version 1.0

eScrum is a Web-based, end-to-end project management tool for Scrum built on the Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server platform. It provides multiple ways to interact with your Scrum project: eScrum Web-based UI, Team Explorer, and Excel or Project, via Team Foundation Office Integration. In addition, it provides a single place for all Scrum artifacts such as product backlog, sprint backlog, task management, retrospective, and reports with built-in context sensitive help.

You can download it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=55A4BDE6-10A7-4C41-9938-F388C1ED15E9&displaylang=en

Using MSSCCI Provider and TFS Proxy Server

mab — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:20:00 GMT

I was at TechEd and was involved in a conversation that thought the MSSCCI provider did not work with a TFS proxy. I inquired internally and it is possible. FYI the MSSCCI provider uses the same object model as VS 2005. You can either run the VS 2005 and set it up or configure the registry.

Visual Studio 2005

Enable
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Url /d http://myproxy:8081 /f
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Enabled /d True /f

Query and Check
reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy

Disable
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Enabled /d False /f

For Visual Studio 2008

Enable
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Url /d http://myproxy:8081 /f
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Enabled /d True /f

Query and Validate
reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy

Disable
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\TeamFoundation\SourceControl\Proxy /v Enabled /d False /f

Team Foundation Server and Project Server 2007 Connector Launched

mab — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:14:00 GMT

My good friend Lenny (and fellow VSTS Ranger) released the Project Server 2007 Connector to TFS. I know he has put many many signficant hours into the project. For those syncing between TFS tasks and PS 2007 activities should check it out at

http://www.codeplex.com/pstfsconnector

Official: Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008

mab — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:10:00 GMT

Well, I just got back from TechEd and WOW! lots of things happening. Along with the great sessions we officially announced the names of our next versions of Visual Studio and SQL Server ...

Orcas = Visual Studio 2008, Team Foundation Server 2008
Katami = SQL Server 2008

Now all I have to do is get used to saying it!

How to determine schema definitions of Stored Procedures in .Net

mab — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:59:00 GMT

Here is some code to get an idea. Note that if a stored procedure sends back a temp table this does not work. If anyone has a way to do temp table schemas I would like to know.

class Program
{

static void Main(string[] args)
{
string connectionString = GetConnectionString();
using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
// Connect to the database then retrieve the schema information.
connection.Open();
DataTable table = connection.GetSchema("Procedures");
// Display the contents of the table.
DisplayData(table);
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to continue.");
Console.ReadKey();
}
}

private static string GetConnectionString()
{
// To avoid storing the connection string in your code,
// you can retrieve it from a configuration file.
return "Data Source=<servername>;Database=<database>;Integrated Security=SSPI;";
}

private static void DisplayData(System.Data.DataTable table)
{
foreach (System.Data.DataRow row in table.Rows)
{
    foreach (System.Data.DataColumn col in table.Columns)
    {
      Console.WriteLine("{0} = {1}", col.ColumnName, row[col]);
    }
    Console.WriteLine("============================");
}
}