Entries for Winston Pang

How can you handle ALL ASP.NET web controls inside AddParsedSubObject? [How can you handle ALL ASP.NET web controls inside AddParsedSubObject?]

Winston Pang — Sat, 12 May 2007 04:28:01 GMT

Hey guys,

i wrote a little custom web control so i can reuse it in my project, basically it has a bunch of div's and labels etc, and then normally within the main div, it should be capable of storing any normal HTML makrup of control, so i was researching and discovered i need to set the ParseChildren attribute to false and override AddParsedSubObject and CreateChildControls, however, for the AddParseSubObject method, i have to go check specifically the type of controls, otherwise they wont render correctly, my question is, how do u handle all the web controls, ill show u some code:

protected override void AddParsedSubObject(object obj)

{

if (obj is LiteralControl)

{

this.ViewState["InnerContents"] = ((LiteralControl)obj).Text;

}

else if (obj is Repeater)

{

mRepeaters.Add((Repeater)obj);

}

else if (obj is DataList)

{

mDataLists.Add((DataList)obj);

}

else if (obj is WebControl)

{

mWebControls.Add((WebControl)obj);

}

else

{

base.AddParsedSubObject(obj);

}

protected override void CreateChildControls()

{

if (mRepeaters.Count > 0)

{

foreach (Repeater repeater in mRepeaters)

{

PaneContents.Controls.Add(repeater);

}

if (mDataLists.Count > 0)

{

foreach (DataList dataList in mDataLists)

{

PaneContents.Controls.Add(dataList);

}

if (mWebControls.Count > 0)

{

foreach (WebControl webControl in mWebControls)

{

PaneContents.Controls.Add(webControl);

}

}

As you can see it seems a little cumbersome, adding a type everytime i want to support a control, PaneContents is the div which i want to add the control to.

I would of thought just checking WebControl and LiteralControl should suffice, but it doesn't.

My main objective is to achieve:

<cc:MyControl runat="server" ID="test">

//markup or Webcontrol here...

</cc:MyControl>

Thanks guys

in reply to How can you handle ALL ASP.NET web controls inside AddParsedSubObject?

How do i get a channel 9 guy? [How do i get a channel 9 guy?]

Winston Pang — Thu, 03 May 2007 04:31:30 GMT

Hey everyone,

How do i go about getting a channel 9 guy?

I really want one!

Thanks!

Winston

in reply to How do i get a channel 9 guy?

How would you validate fields when u want a tailored message for each? [How would you validate fields when u want a tailored message for each?]

Winston Pang — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:35:20 GMT

I want to see how people would approach this in another way.

Say on a WebForm/WinForm, you have about 10 fields, and you want a different error message for each of them even though all you're testing is that it's filled in, for example "Please fill in your name", "Please fill in your address", etc...

Normally you'd do a bunch of if's, but it gets kind of messy and your brain tells you that there must be another way of doing this.

How would some go about handling this?

in reply to How would you validate fields when u want a tailored message for each?

ASP.NET 2.0 Databinding help with an implementation [ASP.NET 2.0 Databinding help with an implementation]

Winston Pang — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:47:35 GMT

So i'm making my own Blog, and it's going to be simple the general layout is:

DATE - POST TITLE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
POST CONTENTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TAGS | COMMENT LINK(NUMBER OF COMMENTS)

So i've used a GridView, and supplied an SqlDataSource all works well, but now i'm trying to incorporate the TAGS feature, but it's kind of hard to do it all in the one single query, i don't think it's even possible.

My current schema goes something like this

Post - PostID_PK, Post title, etc
Comment - CommentID_PK, CommentContents, PostID_FK
Tag - TagID_PK, TagName
Tag_Post - Tag_Post_ID_PK, TagID_FK, PostID_FK

So that's the general layout, for my SqlDataSource i've got a query that will fetch all Posts, and also fetch the number of comments for each post, just a count. Works all well. But now i need to fetch all the Post_Tag records for EACH post, the results will be strange and i'm not sure how it'll work out in DataBinding.

My next step is to make my own custom data source objects, but i'm not exactly sure how i should model my custom data source objects for me to make my <%# Eval("FieldName") %> calls work still inside my aspx page.

Thank you in advance.

Winston

in reply to ASP.NET 2.0 Databinding help with an implementation

Bug inside Web App project templates for Visual Studio 2005? [Bug inside Web App project templates for Visual Studio 2005?]

Winston Pang — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 05:04:59 GMT

Well it looks like i've bumped into a bug.

I know they brought back the create a Web Solution inside the New Project dialog throuhg SP1, but i'm getting the vibe, they just re-enabled it and didn't update the template files accordingly, because if you create it through the New Project dialog, the template generates the Page directives using CodeBehind attribute, which is depericated, while if you make it inside the Web Solution dialog, it generates the correct Attributes using CodeFile attribute.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue?

in reply to Bug inside Web App project templates for Visual Studio 2005?

Making a simple connection with SQL 2005 wont work!! [Making a simple connection with SQL 2005 wont work!!]

Winston Pang — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 04:04:49 GMT

Hey guys i've got this block of code i'm trying to just connect to the DB, pull out a table and traverse the columns.

String dbpath = Path.Combine(Application.StartupPath, "Database1.mdf");

String conn = @"Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=" + dbpath + ";Database=database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;";

SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(conn);

con.Open();

SqlCommand comm = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Student", con);

SqlDataReader reader = comm.ExecuteReader();

while (reader.Read())

{

MessageBox.Show("Retrieved ID:" + reader["ID"] + ", Name: " + reader["Name"]);

}

I have no idea what's wrong.

I keep getting thrown exceptiosn about cannot attach a DB.

What i'm trying to do is connect to a SQL 2005 .mdb file locally.

I've setup my SQL configuration to allow remote connections, it's all set.

I have created the DB already called Database1.mdf, with one Student table with ID, Name, LastName.

Also one more question, how do i find out about the Database name that i specify int he connection string normally, or is that an arbitrary name i make up that's unique?

And, how does one set the User and Password of a .mdf file?

Thanks for your help guys.

in reply to Making a simple connection with SQL 2005 wont work!!

I empathise with the ones who are annoyed with Vista [I empathise with the ones who are annoyed with Vista]

Winston Pang — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 03:33:52 GMT

I've recently, for the first time, tried out Vista, on the Beta 2 released, and i've finally realised why people are annoyed with so it so much.

They've broken the entire UI, and 2 step tasks into 5 step tasks.

I don't understand why they've broken up the Display properties into 5 different dialogs, with just one tab-page, that surely annoys me.

Why on earth is the Windows Mail toolbar blue, that is so hideous, what on earth were they thinking, the blue is too eye blinding.

There's many more little annoyances, for example the Start Search in the task panel, when you delete all the text, it loses focus! WTH?

Windows Basic, without glass looks horrible, only glass makes it look appealing.

I find that the aqua/turquoise is over used in explorer and often destroys the UI.

Management console windows still look horrible. I still see a heap load of XP + 9x icons.

Sidebar gadgets arent even as hyped as it seems either, some seem redundant, some seem to be just there for the sake of it, like a calculator? What's the point of windows calc now?

Don't get me wrong, i'm not a basher, i initially decided to hold back till RC1 to try it, i haven't used one build since the longhorn reset either, but it's definitely rather dissapointing.

I just don't understand what they did to the usability of the OS, i feel that Control Panel is a maze to me now, they've over complicated it.

Windows XP's usability was spot on, but now it's broken in Vista, =\

I just hope they change this before it goes RTM.

in reply to I empathise with the ones who are annoyed with Vista

Are there aussie sydney people here at channel 9 who wants a free app made? [Are there aussie sydney people here at channel 9 who wants a free app made?]

Winston Pang — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 06:40:31 GMT

Hey fellow channel9'ers

If you're in sydney, australia, and you work in a company or own a business where you've been wanting to have a custom information system based application designed for you, here's your chance.

There's no catch, basically it's a subject i'm doing at uni, where a team of 6 of us are required to create a free solution for an external client.

If you're interested just pop me an e-mail.

Thanks.

in reply to Are there aussie sydney people here at channel 9 who wants a free app made?

AJAX being over used in Live products? [AJAX being over used in Live products?]

Winston Pang — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:58:39 GMT

What do you guys think towards the live products, i find that AJAX is overused, and sometimes slows things down, in comparison to google, for example gmail vs live mail.

Also, why exactly is there a need to have a Windows Live Mail Client, when they can just enable pop access for us in our live mail accounts?

in reply to AJAX being over used in Live products?

When will we lose the Win 3.1 Font dialog =( [When will we lose the Win 3.1 Font dialog =(]

Winston Pang — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:34:46 GMT

It's like beta 2, and they still haven't gotten rid of it yet:

http://media.arstechnica.com/reviews/os/vistab2.media/fonts.jpg

I know it's not that much of an issue, but hey, it doesn't blend well with the rest of the shiny OS, furthermore, can they also get rid of the 3.1 icons in some of the management consoles or policy editors.

in reply to When will we lose the Win 3.1 Font dialog =(

What do you guys think the trend for IT in business will be for the next 5 yrs [What do you guys think the trend for IT in business will be for the next 5 yrs]

Winston Pang — Sun, 28 May 2006 04:45:01 GMT

I've been looking at SOA recently, i wonder what's going to be next biggest trend.

What's your thoughts towards it?

Do you think an emphasis on richer UIs for business applications be a trend? With the inception of WPF

in reply to What do you guys think the trend for IT in business will be for the next 5 yrs

ostream_iterators [ostream_iterators]

Winston Pang — Fri, 12 May 2006 10:42:56 GMT

Hey guys, i'm using an ostream_iterator in conjunction with the copy algorithm, to iterate through a a list and append it to an ostream:'

std::ostream_iterator<std::string> osi(rOstream, ", ");
std::copy(rAddress.components.begin(),rAddress.components.end(),osi);

however, as you can see i've used a comma as a delimiter, but, i don't want the last item having it dangle at the end.

i.e.

Hello, how, are, you,

I don't want the comma after the last item, what can i do?

I've tried doing rAddress.componenets.end() - 1 to try to skip the last element, but that gives me an error.

Thanks!

in reply to ostream_iterators

Adding additional property for design time for a extended control. [Adding additional property for design time for a extended control.]

Winston Pang — Tue, 02 May 2006 08:34:09 GMT

Hey guys, i'm owner drawing and extending the existing listbox, and i'm providing a new listitem type that has additionals fields.

I'm trying to add an Items property for the extended listbox control which will add new listitems that i've defined, and allow the IDE to generate code for it.

How would i go about doing this?

Thanks guys.

in reply to Adding additional property for design time for a extended control.

Should i start learning WPF now or wait? [Should i start learning WPF now or wait?]

Winston Pang — Mon, 01 May 2006 09:26:25 GMT

Basically i'm juggling if i should invest time on it, because i know with every CTP release there seem to be namespace changes, or elements being pulled out of the entire model.

So when are they locking in all that and stopping the changes?

When does WPF RTM? Parallel to Vista's RTM?

Thanks guys.

Also, what should one person do to start off learning about WPF, is it really necessary to code raw in XAML or should one just really rely on graphics apps to general XAML for you?

in reply to Should i start learning WPF now or wait?

How hard is it to write a .NET app that uses SQL Server 2k5? [How hard is it to write a .NET app that uses SQL Server 2k5?]

Winston Pang — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 07:47:50 GMT

Hey guys ive been wondering firstly.

For SQL 2K5 based apps what does the target use require to have installed to have it run first?

Then next, how hard is it to open a connection and save and delete records etc using .NET?

Are there any succinct guides to this?

I can't find many.

Thanks.

in reply to How hard is it to write a .NET app that uses SQL Server 2k5?

Getting turned down from jobs :( [Getting turned down from jobs :(]

Winston Pang — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 09:32:18 GMT

It's just so ever depressing, i mean i'm graduating at the end of this year, so it's natural for everyone to apply for graduate positions in large corporations. But more and more i'm getting rejected for many of my applications it's so ever depressing.

But i guess on the bright side i managed scoop out one interview and 2 online tests, but i can never progress further past that.

So how was it like for everyones first job? Did you guys take it easy?

I've been mainly wondering what i should do if *touchwood* i don't get offered a position for next yr at all, i wonder what i should result in doing, i just don't want to be like everyone who's got X degree and because of stupid recruitment depts in corporations for not letting a good candidate in, and result in temporarily doing Y job in a totally unrelated field.

in reply to Getting turned down from jobs :(

What notation do you guys use for control naming? [What notation do you guys use for control naming?]

Winston Pang — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 05:38:47 GMT

Hey guys i know most people still use hungarian notation for naming controls, but some people disapprove of it. I'm wondering for the ones who don't use that notation, what notation do you use normally for naming controls and components?

in reply to What notation do you guys use for control naming?

Do people get extremely overwhelmed with so much technology? [Do people get extremely overwhelmed with so much technology?]

Winston Pang — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:19:06 GMT

I've always wondered, i mean i don't have so much time to sit down and code everyday, so i'm still not that savvy at .net but i love coding in it.

But with Vista and WinFX, don't you find it overwhelming with so much to learn etc?

How do you guys find the time to do it?

in reply to Do people get extremely overwhelmed with so much technology?

.NET 2.0 Controls, what on earth happened? [.NET 2.0 Controls, what on earth happened?]

Winston Pang — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 05:20:50 GMT

I was just wondering has people realised they've made some big mistakes with the new control sets.

Just to highlight a few obvious ones:

Textbox and Combobox, why did they remove the ability to resize the height? I mean come on, stick the combo box side by side with a textbox, and they look so inconsistent.

Menus, the new menus seem to be lacking in some fading abilities, and i think some third party controls who had it implemented dont work either, it's as if the framework broke the fading mechanism.

What happened?

in reply to .NET 2.0 Controls, what on earth happened?

A question about MS and IE [A question about MS and IE]

Winston Pang — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 01:26:28 GMT

I've always wondered why initially MS never contemplated with full CSS support?

Why was it ever half implemented with so many bugs?

I'd like to know the truth, was it because it was too hard?

If it was apparent that there's so many CSS problems, why didn't they issue an IE update that will fix the common CSS issues, but instead have it all planned for IE 7.

in reply to A question about MS and IE

A question to the experienced and formerly-n00b developers. [A question to the experienced and formerly-n00b developers.]

Winston Pang — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 02:17:38 GMT

Hey guys,

I'm still studying comp sci at uni. I love coding, but i'mnot that great at it.

I find that i have issues structurig solutions, always rushing into deving, and ending up with a dodgy solution. For me, it's hard to forsee the future so that i can plan something out nicely.

Now my question is to those developers who are experienced and was once a n00b, how did you guys overcome this? How do you effectively plan a solution. What do you guys think about first?

Another issue is, there's so many ways of doing one thing, say for example a part of an app can be implemented in .NET Remoting, but i did it another way because i wasn't aware that .NET Remoting offered classes to support this feature. Then what do you guys normally do? Re-write the whole section using Remoting? Imean surely not everyone is aware of every bit about a programming language.

Also, for the ones who work in dev roles as a job, what ever happens when you guys get can't figure iut a soluton for a bug, or you can't implement something cause u have no idea even after many searches online. Isn't that daunting? I'm always scared that when the day comes and IF i'm lucky enough to find a job, i'll be in these situations.

I currently do non-MS deving in uni, so i end up losing time doing .NET, only on my holidays, so i find that i get behind on the technology a lot.

I'm really worried about finding a job this year, since it is my final year in my degree, however i might apply for doing Honours (is that a good idea?). Do you guys have any tips for me so i can brush myself up, so that i can end up being at least a competitive candidate for jobs this year. I'm open to all opinions.

Thanks heaps eveyrone!

in reply to A question to the experienced and formerly-n00b developers.

Will Vista will be 100% new icons? [Will Vista will be 100% new icons?]

Winston Pang — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 22:20:10 GMT

I know it seems apparent that there would be all new icons, but would it actually be entirely all new? Or would it be like always, only the crucial ones being replaced, and the less frequent ones left with the XP or possibly Win9x ones?

I think everyone wonders this question, because it happened in XP, why is it that every OS release there is icons left behind? And icons that aren't replaced?

in reply to Will Vista will be 100% new icons?

What topics should i look at for Windows Presentation Foundation, doing animation? [What topics should i look at for Windows Presentation Foundation, doing animation?]

Winston Pang — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 00:09:10 GMT

Hey guys, how's everyone going?

I was wondering what particular topic names should i be looking under if i wanted to explore how those nifty animations are created using WPF? Like for example media mania, having those CD's pop out like that.

Thanks guys.

in reply to What topics should i look at for Windows Presentation Foundation, doing animation?

Drawing problem with ListBox [Drawing problem with ListBox]

Winston Pang — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:32:21 GMT

Ok, this might be hard to understand but anyways:

i'm currently inheriting from the ListBox control and providing my own drawing code.

I'm drawing a gradient background on each listbox item. All fine, however the gradient i'm drawing is a little away from the edge of the actual rectangle so youll see some white space around the actual rectangle.

All fine till when you run it and when u resize the listbox, only the first item gets refreshed and draw appropriately.

If i drew the gradient so that it covered the whole rectangle up with no spaces between the edges, and if i resize it during runtime, all the items become drawn correctly.

Here's a screenshot of the issue when it's resized

http://www.ug.it.usyd.edu.au/~wpan6331/ss/ss.JPG

Has anyone experienced the same situation before?

Thanks

in reply to Drawing problem with ListBox

What i'd like to see more of at Channel9 [What i'd like to see more of at Channel9]

Winston Pang — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 03:55:51 GMT

I've always pondered and pondered how the process of things go in Microsoft, from the videos, it seems like a laid back environment, and things seem flexible, but when it comes to Projects you guys work on, how does the process of things go, do we have someone who form the teams and assign roles? and then someone planning out things, and defining a timeline, like how does all these things work out?

And do you guys just set a time and say, we're gonna code this component today at that time, like how formal do these things get? or are developers just in their own office coding their assigned parts?

I'd like to hear what happens generally.

Thanks, and you guys rock.

in reply to What i'd like to see more of at Channel9