.net and other interesting dev stuff in PA : User Group

First Philadelphia FoxPro User Group coming on September 14

sspotts — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:05:00 GMT

Tamar Granor, a FoxPro MVP who is starting this group, will be presenting at the Microsoft offices in Malvern, PA. The meeting starts at 7pm, so please try to arrive 15-30 minutes sooner.

This presentation wil be Using the VFP Debugger Effectively.

Visual FoxPro has a powerful debugger that provides many tools for finding problems with your code. This session will dig into the Debugger by working through a buggy piece of code, and show you how to step through code to find problems, how to set breakpoints, how to use Event Tracking and the Coverage Profiler and more. Overall, the session will teach you to make the most of the Debugger's tools in order to speed development, improve your code, and understand VFP better.

Please register at: http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/EventDetail.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032280764&EventCategory=1.

Tamar E. Granor, Ph.D., is the owner of Tomorrow's Solutions, LLC. She has developed and enhanced numerous Visual FoxPro applications for businesses and other organizations. She currently focuses on working with other developers through consulting and subcontracting. Tamar served as Editor of FoxPro Advisor magazine from 1994 to 2000. She is the magazine's Technical Editor and co-author of the popular Advisor Answers column.

Tamar is author or co-author of nine books including the award winning Hacker's Guide to Visual FoxPro and Microsoft Office Automation with Visual FoxPro. Her most recent book is What's New in Nine: Visual FoxPro's Latest Hits. Her next book, due this fall, covers the use of VFP's SQL language for managing local data. Her books are available from Hentzenwerke Publishing (www.hentzenwerke.com).

Tamar is a Microsoft Certified Professional and a Microsoft Support Most Valuable Professional. Tamar speaks frequently about Visual FoxPro at conferences and user groups in North America and Europe, including every FoxPro DevCon since 1993. She is a Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. She served as Technical Content Manager for the 1997-1999 Visual FoxPro DevCons and was part of the coordination team for the Visual FoxPro Excellence Awards.

You can reach her at tamar@thegranors.com or through www.tomorrowssolutionsllc.com.

August Philadelphia Area BizTalk User Group meeting

sspotts — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 02:43:00 GMT

We had our third meeting tonight, and had about 9 attendees. Unfortunately for the late cancellations, we had a great session by Michael Webber and Darrin Weber from Air Products who presented their document tracking solution and deployment strategy. Lots of custom adapters, integration with Remedy, and more. Good stuff!

The BizTalk User Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month in the Microsoft Malvern office. Their new support web site is at www.pabtug.com. If you're in the Philadelphia area, and interested in meeting with other BizTalk users, developers, analysts, and managers, be sure to sign up at the web site to get onto the mailing list for meeting announcements.

Big turnout for DotNetNuke SIG in Malvern, PA

sspotts — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 02:23:00 GMT

We had about 50 people attending the DotNetNuke SIG meeting tonight at the Microsoft office in Malvern, PA. There were three talks tonight - one by Bill Wolff, the PhillyDotNet User Group leader, one by Hal Dell, the DotNetNuke SIG leader, and the final talk by Todd Davis, from Seabury Design.

Bills talk was about database tricks: We saw the database structure in DNN 3.x including tables, stored procedures, and views. Sample code that automates page and module creation will be reviewed. This technique can saves lots of time when you have many pages with similar content.

Hal's presentation was on how to develop a Scheduled Task within the DotNetNuke Framework. While DNN tasks are similar in concept to Services; DNN Scheduled Tasks have some limitations were discussed.

Finally, Todd presented on SqlDataProviders. Packing a DotNetNuke module from distribution requires the creation of the 01.00.00.SqlDataProvider file, which installs the tables and stored procedures required by the module. This process requires some careful finesse and fine tweaking to be successful. Todd demonstrated how to create this file by hand, and how to edit it properly so that DotNetNuke can consume it during installation. Afterwards, he showed how to automate the process using ScriptBuilder. Todd, BTW, is very much involved at the DNN training site.

Indigo Roadshow coming to Philadelphia area on September 21

sspotts — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 23:40:00 GMT

You’ve heard the buzz about Indigo, Microsoft’s unified programming model for building distributed applications. Attend this FREE event and learn how Indigo technology will simplify your life.

With Indigo, you use the tools and language you’re familiar with, and a single programming model with all the functionality you need. And Indigo is built on standards, so the applications you write will work with applications on all participating platforms.

Join us as we build Indigo demos from scratch and see firsthand how it works. Stop struggling with the dirty work. Indigo makes it easy to develop secure, reliable, interoperable web services, so you can focus on what really matters.

Register today! Space is limited.

Every guest will walk away with:

An inside look at Microsoft's next-generation web services platform.
The ability to quickly build secure, reliable web services.
David Pallmann's Programming Indigo Beta 1 book
A special DVD of the latest Indigo bits, content, labs and demos
The chance to win T-shirts and an Xbox

See the Indigo Roadshow site for more info and to register for the event. Watch this space for additional information as we get closer to the event.

Philadelphia SQL Server and Philly.NET User Group Special Event - Itzik Ben Gan "Outside the Box" session

sspotts — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 22:45:00 GMT

The Philadelphia SQL Server User Group, Philly.NET User Group, and Microsoft are delighted to together host a special Philadelphia Development Community event with world renowned SQL Server expert Itzik Ben Gan. This event is free but requires advanced registration.

SQL querying problems, especially the tough ones, have very much in common with pure logical puzzles and brainteasers.

Some SQL problems seem too hard, or impossible to solve; however, by applying pure logic you can often come up with short, efficient set-based queries.

By practicing logical problems that seem unrelated to SQL at first glance, you can improve your "outside the box" thinking, and your ability to solve tough querying problems.

In this session you will be presented with pure logical puzzles and brainteasers that require outside the box thinking, and also tough T-SQL problems that require logical deductions.

Itzik Ben-Gan is a Principal and Founder of Solid Quality Learning. A SQL Server Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) since 1999, Itzik has delivered dozens of training events across the US and Europe focused on T-SQL Programming, Performance Tuning and Internals, Administration, Implementation, Data Warehousing and OLAP. An accomplished author, Itzik has written many articles for SQL Server Magazine as well as articles and whitepapers for MSDN and co-authored the book Advanced Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000 (APress). Itzik's speaking activities have spanned more than 6 years including Tech Ed, DevWeek, PASS, SQL Server Connections, and SQLU Summits to name a few.

In the last 10 years Itzik has been involved in many projects covering various database related technologies. From manufacturing systems, through analytical systems, financial, performance and availability tools, SLA/SLM etc. Besides helping customers with their pressing needs, fixing their problems and optimizing their databases, Itzik helped the developers and DBAs in many of the projects shift to relational/set based "thinking", improving both the performance of their code and its maintainability. Itzik's main expertise is T-SQL Programming, Query Tuning and Internals, but he's proficient in other database areas as well. In 1999 Itzik founded the Israeli SQL Server and OLAP Users Group and has been managing it since.

Teaching runs in Itzik's genes - His father teaches mathematics, his sister teaches English and his brother teaches architecture. Itzik himself is a trainer in his heart and soul and has been teaching IT related technologies for 7 years. Itzik has over 16 years of experience in networking, programming in languages such as Pascal, VB, C, C++, along with designing, implementing, administrating and programming with Microsoft SQL Server. Itzik is the primary author for Solid Quality Learning's Advanced T-SQL Programming courseware along with being a primary resource within their T-SQL related activities.

Registration is at http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032279223&Culture=en-US

August Philadelphia SQL Server User Group meeting

sspotts — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 02:30:00 GMT

Join the Philadelphia SQL Server User Group August meeting on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 from 5:00 to 8:30 at the Unisys office at 2476 Swedesford Road, Malvern PA 19355

Do your ETL processes require complex workflow management ? Have you encountered limitations in defining your required workflow using your current ETL Tool ? In this session you learn how to utilize SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to define Precedence Constraints and Expressions to meet your complex workflow management needs. Find out how looping containers and other tasks such as conditional splits can take advantage of constraints and expressions to satisfy your workflow needs. Leave this session on the right path towards getting the most out of your Integration Services implementation.

Our Keynote Speaker will be Joe Toscano. Joe has been working with SQL Server since version 6.5 and prior to that he worked with Sybase and Informix as a developer, DBA, consultant, mentor and instructor. As a former SQL Server instructor for Idea Integration / Actium and Learning Tree International, Joe has extensive presentation experience and thoroughly enjoys teaching and lecturing various SQL Server topics.

The group will be giving away an XBox in a drawing at the end of the night.

Please register at http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032279073&Culture=en-US.

July PhillyDotNet User Group meeting

sspotts — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 01:56:00 GMT

We had a great turnout for the PhillyDotnet User Group tonight, with over 100 members watching some cool ASP.NET presentations.

We started off with a topical presentation on Ajax (Asyncronous Java and XML), also referencing upcoming technology in future ASP.NET implementations called Atlas. This is stuff that's been supported for a while - and we've used it with Outlook Web Access for years - but seems to have been "rediscovered" and is all the vogue now. Don't think I'm deprecating it - this is really cool stuff and gives you a much nicer user experience with web applications. See Dino Esposito's MSDN article from last year for an idea of what this is about.

After some user group business and announcements, the second presentation was given by Miguel Castro, Microsoft MVP and one great speaker. Miguel wowed the group with his presentation about writing custom controls for ASP.NET.

Philadelphia Area BizTalk User Group July 6 meeting

sspotts — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 19:31:00 GMT

The Philadelphia Area BizTalk User’s Group will have its July regular meeting at the offices of Microsoft Corporation in Malvern on July 6, 2005 from 7 – 9:00 PM. The featured speaker is Jason Ellsworth-Aults of IntelliMark.

Jason will be discussing Memorial Hospital’s implementation of BizTalk for a health care EAI solution using the HL7 Accelerator.

Discussion of future plans for the user group and member Q & A will follow the presentation. Come help us decide on an official name for the group!

Please register for the event at http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032277406&Culture=en-US.

Philadelphia SQL Server User Group meeting - Reporting Services

sspotts — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 19:21:00 GMT

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 5:30 PM - Wednesday, July 13, 2005 8:30 PM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Microsoft Malvern Office
MPR I
45 Liberty Boulevard, Suite 210
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
United States

General Event Information
Products: SQL Server and Visual Studio.

Recommended Audience: Developer and IT Professional.

Intro to SQL Server Reporting Services

First Philadelphia area BizTalk User Group meeting held tonight

sspotts — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 01:29:00 GMT

We had 15 people, plus myself and Steve Mohr (the user group leader) attend our first Philadelphia Area BizTalk User Group meeting tonight. We discussed what the format of the group should be, what kind of information everyone is interested in, and how everyone will contribute to the group.

One new member suggested that everyone should, at the next meeting, commit to something he/she will do to support the group - and ask for something that he/she wants from the group. Everyone thought this was a good idea and next month we should see some real ownership of the group by the group.

We'll be meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Microsoft Malvern office (45 Liberty Blvd, Ste 210, Malvern, PA 19355). Traffic and location was fine for this time of day.

It looks like we'll be initiating a group newsletter with meeting info, tips and tricks, links to docs, webcasts, tools, and other resources, etc. One member "volunteered" to host a web site to support the group, and when that's ready I'll post about its location.

I'll also post when we have the presentation topic for next months meeting, along with registration info.

PhillyDotNet User Group meeting on May 18 in Oaks, PA

sspotts — Fri, 13 May 2005 19:48:00 GMT

Looks like a cool meeting. Starting off with Bill Wolff, the PhillyDotNet UG leader (and VB.NET MVP) demonstrating Xamlon, a XAML editor for Windows Forms, and finishing with an ADO.NET 2.0 presentation by Andrew Brust. This is an INETA sponsored meeting.

I'm bringing copies of Visual Studio 2005 Team System beta 2.0 for all attendees, so be sure to register at the user group web site and fill out your evaluation forms after the event. Only attendees who complete their forms will receive the software!

Central PA .NET User Group meeting on May 17

sspotts — Fri, 13 May 2005 19:30:00 GMT

I'll be presenting a demonstration of Visual Studio Team System on May 17 at the Central PA .NET User Group meeting in Harrisburg. I'll also be bringing along copies of Visual Studio 2005 Team System beta 2 for all attendees, which includes VS 2005 Team Suite, SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition (CTP), and Team Foundation Server.

Lehigh Valley .NET User Group meeting in April

sspotts — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 21:14:00 GMT

I was so busy with local events that I didn't have time to thank the members of Lehigh Valley .NET User Group for attending my talk at their user group meeting last week, on Monday, April 18th at the Northampton County Community College. There was a lot of interest and good questions around my talk on Enterprise Library, and I even received some follow-up e-mail from some members that they downloaded it and were starting to play with the code the night of the event. Don't forget to sleep, people!

For a relatively new and small group, they've gotten some great speakers so far. Check out this list:

Stan Spotts, Microsoft Corporation ("Introduction to the patterns & practices Enterprise Library")
Sean Allison, Solutions.NET Corporation ("Making Your Business Classes Data-Bindable")
Ken LeFebvre, Developer Community Champion, Microsoft ("Microsoft Visual Studio Tools For The Microsoft Office System", "Building Distributed Applications Using SQLXML And Visual Studio .NET")
John Murdoch, Lutron Technologies ("Database Application Development And .NET")
Mitch Ruebush, .NET Architect, ING Direct ("Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System")
Mark Scott, CTO, Micro Endeavors ("An Overview Of The Microsoft .NET Application Blocks")
Geoff Snowman, Developer Community Champion, Microsoft ("Everything You Always Wanted To Know About .NET Security But Were Afraid To Ask")

Not too shabby!

Call to Form a Philadelphia Area BizTalk Server User’s Group

sspotts — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 19:40:00 GMT

7:00 PM June 1, 2005 at Microsoft Corporation, Malvern, PA

You installed the software. You bought the book. You started your first project.

Things happened.

Microsoft BizTalk Server is breaking out in our area. What did you learn? What did you try? What will you never, ever do again?

Come share your experience.

It’s a good time to form a user’s group focusing on BizTalk in our area. You should be part of it. What should we discuss and how should it work? Roll up your sleeves and bring your ideas because everything is on the table.

Our inaugural meeting will be led by Stephen Mohr, co-author of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004 Unleashed and local BizTalk consultant. This will be a bare-bones, meet-greet-organize type of meeting designed to identify and connect people using BizTalk in the greater Philadelphia area. We’ll be looking for your ideas about what you want to do, learn, and most of all, share with the rest of us! For this to work, you have to take a hand! The agenda will be:

• Welcome and introductory comments
• Stephen’s Stupid BizTalk Tricks
• Where do we go from here?
• The author explains why programming books are so bad
• Who wants to volunteer for….?
• Name the UG

The Greater Pennsylvania District of Microsoft Corporation hosting this group in it's Malvern office:

45 Liberty Blvd, Ste 210
Malvern, PA 19355

Slight change...

To Register, please go to:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032275422&Culture=en-US