Geekette's Blogette

Steve Ballmer raised the Search Challenge to MVPs at 2008 Summit, with the words, “I’m going to ask you one week switch your default, one week. At the end of the week…I’ll want feedback, how was your week, what happened, what did you like, what didn’t you like … Can I make that deal with you? (Cheers and applause.) That’s the deal.”

I was there, I agreed, so here goes... I'm giving up Google and going to use Live Search for one week.  For one week I have the opportunity to provide feedback every time I wish I received different results. 

I'm sure the real goal is for me to stay with Live Search and not return to Google. 

If you want to join in and provide feedback, just post comments to this post. 

I recently had a problem with Excel 2007 where the cell contents did not show.  I could see the contents in Print Preview and in the formula bar.

Research via goggle showed me that it was likely to be caused by Wrapped Text on Merged Cells.  I didn't have Merged cells, but I did have wrapped text.  I was able to see the contents again if I

• used the ToolBar and did Clear - All formats. 

This is nice, but I need it formatted.  It is a standard worksheet used by the entire organization.

More oddities

• Other users could open and view the contents on their laptops
• I could see the contents when I didn't have my laptop docked
• It worked for months and then just quit working one day.

The fix (thanks Jennifer!)

• Changing the font size, changing the monitor resolution did NOT fix the problem
• Remove the laptop from the dock, boot the machine and delete the dock profile, redock the machine and let a new profile be created.  Problem cleared.

Not sure what was in the profile causing the problem, but I hope it doesn't come back.

I'm a developer .. I have avoided learning infrastructure.  After all, there is enough to learn as a developer - how can I possibly have time to learn that as well.  As such, I do not have a tool kit to accomplish some seemingly simple tasks, such as moving folders that have a deep folder structure or a large volume of data (or both). 

Scott Hanselman has an excellent article on 3 tools to accomplish just this.  Not only can you restart a copy due to a network interruption, you can copy only what has changed. Here's Scott's link

For a quick reference, here's the 3 he recommends.

RoboCopy

SyncBackSE

XXCopy

Last Updated: 10/17/08

I'm working in a test WSS 3.0 environment and I would like to be able to move a subsite with subsites to another environment.  There are several ways to move a WSS 3.0 site.  The first one I tried almost worked.  I will document my attempts (and reason each attempt was or was not successful here. 

SharePoint Designer

The technique:

• Create a placeholder for the new location of the site
  • Use WSS 3.0 browser
    • Create a site using the Blank Site template.
• Create a backup of the site to be moved
  • Use SharePoint Designer
    • Open the site to be moved
    • On the Site Menu - point to Administration - Backup Web Site - Check Include Subsites
    • Creates a .cmp file
• Restore the backup to the new location
  • Use SharePoint Designer
    • Open the site (new location)
    • On the Site Menu - point to Administration - Restore Web Site
    • Use the .cmp file 

Limitations:

• The site hiearachy for the new location must be the same as the original location. 
  • For example: If you have
    • Portal Site - Projects Site - IT Projects Site - Project A Site - Project A Documentation Site - Project A Final Dcoumentation Site
    •  you cannot move it  to  move it to
    • Portal Site - Project A Documentation
• There is a size limitation of 25MB

• Create a Site Template
  • Using WSS 3.0 Browser:
    • Save the site you want to move as a template – include content
    • If moving to a different site collection:
      • Go to Site Gallery (at top level)
      • Save the template to a good place in the file system (like your desktop)
      • Go to the root site of the Site Collection of the new location
      • Go to the Site Gallery
      • Upload the saved site template (.stp file)
    • Browse to the parent site of the new location
    • Create a new site with the template you just uploaded (Select a template – Custom tab)

Limitations:

• Subsites are not included

STSADM Export / Import

The Techique

• Use STSADM command line tool
• Export the subsite to a .bat file
• Import the .bat file to the new site location
• Must have the following permissions:
• login account for SQL server for SharePoint databases
• Site Collection Administrator for new location (?and maybe original location)

Results

• Subsite and subsites were restored
• Used -includeusersecurity parameter and SharePoint groups and users in these groups were moved

Limitations

• STSADM is not user friendly with error messages.  Check the Application Event Log.  The message received in the command window may not be indicative of the true problem.

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Document Library saved as a template is not in the Libraries choices on the Create Page

The scenario:

• A SharePoint user, named Pat, creates a Document Library and saves several forms.
• The user then requests an administrator of the site to save this as a template (and include the content) named SchoolDocumentLibrary.
• Pat then tries to Create a new Document Library with the newly created template. However, the SchoolDocumentLibrary is not listed in the Libraries templates.

The solution:

• List templates are stored in a gallery list at the Site Collection level
• Users creating new items must have Read access to the gallery list
• Users that have been given access to a Site Collection at a site lower than the root will not see the List Template Gallery items (as they do not have Read access).
  • Pat had been given access to a site that was 3 levels deep in the site collection. Therefore she did not have read access to the List Template Gallery at the root level.
• Give users that will be creating document libraries (or lists) using custom templates Read access to the List Template Gallery at the root level of the site collection.
• NOTE: I have not found a way to give item level permissions to items contained in the List Template Gallery.

• The Group Owner of a SharePoint group has permission to add / remove users from a group.
• The Site Collection Administrator has permission to add / remove users from a group.
• Only one person (or group) can be assigned as the Group Owner.
• SharePoint Groups belong to the Site Collection. 

• Navigate to the Change Group Settings page. One way to do this is:
  • Browse to any site within the site collection.
  • On the Quick Launch Click People and Groups.
  • On the Quick Launch Click on the group you wish to modify.
  • Click Settings – Group Settings
• Change the Group Owner to the desired individual.

• Create a SharePoint Group for all individuals that will have the Group Owner permissions (such as MySite Group Owner.
• Add individuals to this group.
• Follow the steps for setting an individual, but enter the SharePoint group name. HINT: You can use the address lookup to help find (and insure correct spelling) the desired group.

Links showing tools to help make development and/or administration of WSS 3.0 and/or MOSS 2007 easier

Katrien's About .NET Blog

 Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Software Development Kit (SDK)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=05e0dd12-8394-402b-8936-a07fe8afaffd&displaylang=en

PCMagazine recently lists 10 Great Microsoft Technologies that Failed

.NET is on the list -- figure that one out

Congrats to my friend and mentor Chris Williams on publication of his article on Twitterverse in the most recent issue of CoDe magazine.  Not only is Chris great, the magazine's great and yes -- Twitter is great too.  If you haven't yet joined a tribe or become a tweep; read Chris's article. 

My addition to Chris's article:

If you haven't tried Twitter -- you're missing out.  I'm new to Twitter -- less than 1 month.  Friends had been telling me for a long time to try it out.  In fact, Chris probably has asked me since the day Twitter launched!  I figured, I don't blog as I intend; why add something else to my list of things I won't do.  But then, I attended a UG Leader Summit in North Carolina.  During the entire summit; everyone in the room (except me) was twittering (and chuckling).  I began to realize I was missing out on something. 

One Friday afternoon, I joined.  Andrew, my DE,  warned me that very day -- Twitter can be addictive.  Yes, it can but it can also be beneficial.  Not only can you follow other geeks; you can follow organizations such as a particluar Code Camp or User Group.  You can even follow Community Megaphone.  It's fun to tweet -- but even more fun to follow.  So cool.

Tweeting is a great way to grow a community.  Here are several benefits of user group leaders (and members) tweeting:

• You keep up with what's going on in other user groups in your region
• You keep up with what your DE knows (and doesn't know -- like how to wire his garage)
• You grow friendships with the folks you only see at Code Camps
• You get help when you run your local Code Camp
• You know when the Code Camps are before they are officially announced

Twitter does have technical information or requests for help; but I still find blogs better for that.  Tweeting for the community, 140 characters at a time, has turned out to be way more beneficial and FUN than I imagined. 

RV.NUG is focusing on the networking aspect of user groups tonight.  We are hosting Wii night.  What's it take to host a Wii night?

• 3 Wii consoles
• 3 Projectors
• 3 sets of speakers
• 2 Mario Cart Wheels
• 1 Wii Guitar
• 12 Wii Remote Controllers
• 4 Wii Nunchuck Controllers
• 24 AA batteries
• 3 Power strips
• 12 Wii games
• RV.NUG & RVSPUG members and friends
• Pizza

If you want more information visit www.rvnug.org

Just in time to get certified in Visual Studio 2008 -- second chance exams are back.  The good news is that exam 70-536 carries forward from the Visual Studio 2005 (.NET Framework 2.0) cert. 

More information on second chance is here

More information on certification on Visual Studio 2008 here

This month I tested the new INETA Community Champions program.  Contributions recorded here give you Community Credit points.  I won a DIY MP3 Alarm Clock!

To find out more (and see what cool prize you could have won in July) go here:

Testing the Casino

The July meeting of the Roanoke Valley .NET User Group was one of the best ever! 

During the summer months, user group attendance is usually low.  Therefore, we try to have meetings that are a little less formal and require less preparation for the presenter.  This July we not only had a HIGH ATTENDANCE but we had 100% MEMBER PARTICIPATION during the meeting.

Here's the formula:

• Take the Black Jack Starter Kit
• Add Bugs
• Deliver a brief presentation on Unit Testing in Visual Studio 2008
• Divide the user group into teams.  Each team has
  • Prearranged team leader
  • Laptop with buggy starter kit
  • Projector
• Each team then writes unit tests to try and find the bugs
• Meeting presenters (and bug adders) assist each team and offer guidance as needed
• Give goofy prizes to the team that finds the most bugs

Some additional comments:

• Interestingly enough, each team found the same number of bugs - EVERYONE did a GREAT JOB!!!  We gave goofy prizes o everyone. 
• Some sample bugs added:
  • Comment a line of needed code (like we might do when testing -- and then forget to uncomment)
  • Change the operator of a For loop from "< 0" to "< = 0"
• There was a consistent difference between the VB.NET and C# developers on how to correct a line of code.   VB vs C# note:  The VB developers changed it to: "< = -1"; the C# developers changed it to "< 0"

SPECIAL THANKS to those that helped make this idea work:

• Presenter Will "El Machio" Ashely
• • Why unit test
  • What to unit test
  • How to unit test
• Black Jack Unit Test Workshop with defects added by our own Brian "Cobra Kai" Johnston
  • Starter kit overview
  • Team / projector assignments
  • Team Leaders: Bret Shawn, Tolga Balci and Brian Lanham
  • Identify defects by writing unit tests (each team has a team leader that know a little about Unit Testing and Will is going to be available to assist all teams)
  • Awards from our geek treasure chest

Photos are posted here:

Code with the bugs and Code with Unit test project have been posted here:

This is from the May 2008 RV.NUG newsletter

User Groups and Blogs

Keeping current with technology continues to be a daunting task, especially if your job does not lend itself to tasks that help keep your skills current. One way to benefit from the trials and tribulations of others is via blogs. The blog search engine Technorati indexes over 112 million weblogs. With 112 million blogs from which to choose, how can you determine which blogs to use? More importantly, how can you determine which blogs are reliable?

First let's begin with the local user group. Are there members of your user group with their own blogs? This is a great place to start, because you have the advantage of knowing the blogger. If you don't know the blogger, someone in the user group will. Not only will this give you a reliability factor, you will likely have the opportunity to ask for additional information on posts of interest.

The next logical branch is to look for blogs for other user groups' members you have met (while attending other UG meetings or Code Camps). Once again, you can easily get a reliability factor. You might not see these bloggers as often as your local group, but you're likely to see them on occasion and likely to obtain an email address from them.

So how do you get to the high profile bloggers? You begin with your local user group and ask them which blogs they read on a regular basis. Then ask members from other user groups you know. Better yet, just read their blogs. They are likely to reference other blogs and/or have a blog roll. Then look for the ones that are mentioned most.

I have compiled a list of blogs using the above suggestions myself. If you would like to see which area user group members have blogs or which blogs their members are reading, check out the results on the RV.NUG web site here: RV.NUG Blog Roll.

Help us make this list more complete for the RV.NUG members by submitting your answers to the following questions to the newsletter at mailto:newsletter@rvnug.org

1. What blogs do you read on a regular basis?
2. What blogs do you consider reputable sources of information?
3. If you have a blog, what is the link for your blog?

As always, the more you provide to your user group, the more the user group will provide to you!

This is from the April 2008 RV.NUG Newsletter

RV.NUG -thon event

This June will mark the 4th annual RV.NUG -thon event. Just what is a -thon event? How did it originate? (Okay, perhaps you are more interested in "what it is" than a history lesson).

A -thon event occurs during an RV.NUG monthly meeting. A presentation topic is chosen. However, care is taken to select a topic that can be easily segmented. The 75-90 minute presentation time of the meeting is then broken into five or six 15 minute time slots. Each time slot is filled by a different presenter. One topic that has worked in the past is design patterns. There are many design patterns and in one evening you can hear a presentation on five or six different design patterns.

The RV.NUG is located in a small market area. This has always made it challenging to obtain speakers for monthly meetings. This was even more difficult four years ago when membership was smaller and.NET development was just beginning. The user group had to rely on members for many presentations; however, there was a very limited number of members who were comfortable delivering a 75-90 minute presentation. The solution was to encourage several members to deliver a 15 minute presentation on the same evening. The experienced presenters of the group would work with the -thon presenter; by providing any needed assistance - be it technical, public speaking, slide preparation or encouragement. An added bonus is that the nature of a -thon event also promotes collaboration and networking among members of the user group.

The first event was the Grid-a-thon. There were six presentations on the DataGrid . The presentations began with sessions addressing how to get started with the DataGrid; followed by sessions on using more advanced features of the DataGrid and ending with a couple of sessions on extending the DataGrid functionality with code. All of the presenters were first time presenters. The event was so well received that discussion of next year's -thon topic began before the evening was over.

This year's -thon is titled: Ajax-a-thon. This event will focus on controls provided as part of ASP.NET AJAX and the AJAX Control Toolkit. ASP.NET AJAX was called ATLAS during beta release, and is included in ASP.NET 3.5. You can view the live Toolkit here to see what's included. (NOTE: This paragraph was contributed by Bret Shawn, Vice-President.)

We still have openings for presenters. If you are a first-time presenter or a presenter that's out of practice, we encourage you to take advantage of this low-risk opportunity. If you are looking for motivation to learn more about easy-yet-powerful ways to use AJAX into your web applications, seize this opportunity . (I know I work best with a deadline!) There are several RV.NUG members on standby to help in any way you need (technical or presentation). As an added bonus, it has been repeatedly shown that the person that learns the most from a presentation is the presenter! Don't miss this great opportunity. Contact any officer if you would like more details on being a -thon presenter.

This is a meeting you will not want to miss. It's a great learning and networking opportunity for everyone in attendance. Hope to see you there!