MSDN Flash - Volume 11, Number 21: October 8, 2007
From the Editor
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a great technology for creating compelling user interfaces, but creating applications that are responsive takes some careful planning, which usually entails having long-running processes work in other threads so that the UI thread is free to keep up with the user. But before you can start using an asynchronous programming model in your WPF application, it is important that you understand the WPF threading model. In this month's MSDN Magazine, Microsoft MVP Shawn Wildermuth shows how the threading model works and how to use Dispatcher-based objects and the BackgroundWorker to create compelling and responsive user interfaces.
For bringing the WPF experience to the Web, we'd like to highlight an article from the June issue of the magazine, Building a Deeper Experience Across the Web, which offers an introduction to Silverlight and XAML. Silverlight, the cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of .NET-based media experiences, was recently released, and you can already see how it is being used to deliver some of those experiences. The Silverlight Showcase has been expanded, with 16 new sites showing applications created by Microsoft partners. If you want see a really cool application of the technology, check out the Halo 3 Interactive Game Guide. Of course, while you're there you can begin to master all the controls, weapons, and gameplay modes in this new blockbuster, all in the spirit of learning... not that we actually went there and did this ourselves... not for too long, anyway.
The MSDN Library is now piloting a new beta machine translation feature that employs an innovative technology from Microsoft Research. Content that was previously available in English only is now available in 7 languages. Try it out and give your feedback on the translation quality, or make any other suggestions you have for improvement.
A quick reminder: Daylight Saving Time is extended to November 4 in the U.S., and unless certain updates are applied to your computer, time zone settings for your computer's system clock may be incorrect during the week prior to November 4. Use our handy guide to make sure that both your Windows operating system and your calendar programs are updated.
Thanks for reading.
Editor, MSDN Flash
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Evaluation Center
Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate
Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate provides developers with the most secure, flexible, and connected Web and application platform, reducing the time to craft high-performing, standards-compliant applications and make network services available remotely.
Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2
Additional resources to help you get the most out of your evaluation experience:
What's New in Visual Studio 2008
This topic in the MSDN Library contains descriptions and quick overviews of some of the new features and enhancements in Visual Studio 2008.
Get up to Speed with Visual Studio 2008 Training Videos
Ready to learn about all the ways that Visual Studio 2008 will make you more productive? Check out the videos on this regularly-updated page. Videos include some quick clips as well as in-depth training videos on the following subjects: client development, Web development, data access, Office development, mobile development, and team development.
What's New in ASP.NET and Web Development
Learn about the changes in ASP.NET and Visual Web Developer, including new server controls and types, a new object-oriented client type library, and full IntelliSense support in Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft Visual Web Developer Express Edition for working with ECMAScript (JavaScript or JScript).
Visual Studio Team System Resources
Develop and Test Web Applications with Visual Studio Team System 2008
Testing Web applications is hard. Visual Studio Team System 2008 provides tools to automate testing, generate testing code, and make it easy to test Web applications and AJAX sites. In this topic, you will learn how to create a simple Web application, record and run a Web test, and bind data sources to your tests.
Learn How to Use Continuous Integration in Visual Studio Team System 2008
Integrating your code with the rest of the system can be a painful experience; breaking the sacred nightly build has never been fun. Continuous integration is a response to these problems. Learn how to use Visual Studio Team System build features to integrate your code at each check-in and get feedback on your work as you complete it.
Learn How to Work More Efficiently in Your Team with Visual Studio Team System 2008
Version control, build, and team workflow are key components of the daily lives of a developer. Understanding these concepts and how to make the best use of your tools is fundamental. Follow these short, step-by-step walkthroughs, and learn how Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server can help you in key scenarios, including version control, build setup, and team workflow features.
Windows Server 2008 Evaluation
Additional resources to help you get the most out of your evaluation experience:
Using CardSpace in Windows Communication Foundation
Read about personal information cards and how to use them, the basic concepts behind CardSpace, and how CardSpace provides a solution to password fatigue. Review samples that demonstrate how to use CardSpace and the reference for the set of APIs used with CardSpace.
Secure Your ASP.NET Apps and WCF Services With Windows CardSpace
This MSDN Magazine article discusses Windows CardSpace and information cards, Web browsers and identity selectors, security tokens, and integration with WSFederationHttpBinding and ASP.NET membership.
Using InfoCards for User-Centered Identity
In this MSDN TV episode, Kim Cameron presents a thumbnail sketch of how InfoCards bring an architecture for identity to the Internet, a demo of how it works, and a peek at how you integrate it into a Web page.
Spotlight on Microsoft Expression, ASP.NET AJAX, and Windows Live
Free ASP.NET AJAX E-learning Clinic
In this 2-hour clinic you'll learn about the different server and client components of ASP.NET AJAX, how to build new ASP.NET AJAX applications, and how to upgrade existing ASP.NET applications to take advantage of ASP.NET AJAX.
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Spotlight on Office Business Applications
Office Business Applications Developer Portal
The 2007 Microsoft Office system provides a comprehensive set of servers, clients, and tools to make it easier for enterprises, software vendors, and developers to build and deploy a new class of business applications called Office Business Applications (OBAs). In this section, you will find information about OBAs and how to build them using the Microsoft Office system Platform.
OBA Central
Office Business Applications (OBA) - MSDN Architecture Center
Book Excerpt: Getting Started with Office Business Applications (Part 1 of 2)
Get the practical guide to implementing the Microsoft Office system as an application-development platform. This book highlights the breadth of approaches developers can take for extending line-of-business information to information workers in the familiar, usable format of the Microsoft Office interface.
Book Excerpt: Getting Started with Office Business Applications (Part 2 of 2)
In this section, we'll describe the breadth of approaches that can be used to extend and integrate LOB systems and Microsoft Office. These approaches, Microsoft Office Business Application (OBA) patterns, are based on real-world implementations in many cases.
Check out the Office Developer Center
News for Students
Learn How to Create a Silverlight Game
Justin Petersen at Coding4Fun shows us how to Duncan Mackenzie has the details.
The Ultimate Steal - Office 2007 Ultimate Special Student Pricing
Through April 2008, students are privy to special pricing on Office Ultimate 2007. You simply can't get it cheaper anywhere else. Details at The UltimateSteal.com!
Find a Halo 3 Launch Party Near You
Microsoft's Academic Developer Evangelists and Student Partners are hosting a slew of Halo 3 launch parties in the month of October. Are you ready to finish the fight? Find a party near you.
Windows Home Server Goes Green?
Mark Johnston posted an interesting article about Windows Home Server, a company called Tranquil PC, and ideas for Imagine Cup and environmental sustainability.
Government Resources
Microsoft Developer Conferences
Come join us for a full day of developer-oriented technical sessions on Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO), Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Microsoft Silverlight, What's New for Web Developers in Visual Studio 2008, and Microsoft ASP.NET Futures. There is no fee to attend!
- October 18, Denver, CO
- November 14, Austin, TX
Virtual Earth Road Show
October 23, Reston ,VA
Virtual Earth Platform from Microsoft is an integrated set of services that combines unique aerial and satellite imagery with best-of-breed mapping, location, and search functionality. It enables government agencies to deliver innovative solutions and breakthrough customer experiences. With the Virtual Earth Platform, agencies can create an immersive experience that enables citizens to easily discover, search, and visualize critical business location data from within existing line of business applications.
Come join us for a full day of sessions on the Microsoft Virtual Earth Platform.
Developer Webcasts
Learn about the latest Microsoft development tools for public sector developers! And be sure to check out this month's upcoming webcast schedule.
Free Workshop: SharePoint Document Workflow for Developers - Part I
Public Sector Developer Evangelist Robert Shelton is releasing a series of free workshops about building document workflow for SharePoint with Visual Studio.
Visit the Public Sector Developer Blog
Web Resources
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MSDN Magazine: Optimize Managed Code for Multi-Core Machines
In order to enjoy the performance improvements when running on a multi-core machine, we need to write our programs in a new way. The Task Parallel Library (TPL) is designed to make it much easier to write managed code that can automatically use multiple processors.
The Ingenuity Point People's Choice Award Winner
Check out ecoDriver's winning education solution and submit your solutions that address a need in healthcare, education, or the environment for a chance to win next time.
Be on Time: Daylight Saving Time Ends November 4
Daylight Saving Time was extended in the United States in 2007. Unless certain updates are applied to computers, time zone settings may be incorrect during the week prior to November 4. Use this guide to find out which products are affected and to ensure that your systems are updated.
Microsoft Office System Developer Conference 2008
February 10 - 13, 2008, San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA
2000 developers and architects who build solutions on the Office platform (Office clients, servers, and services).
Register Now for the Microsoft Office SharePoint Conference 2008
March 2 - 6, 2008, Seattle, WA
Featuring Bill Gates as the keynote speaker and over 100 SharePoint technical sessions and hands-on labs.
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Excel 2007 XLL Software Development Kit (MSDN Online)
Create high-performance worksheet functions for Excel 2007 using conceptual overviews, programming tasks, and sample files.
PowerPoint 2007 Developer Reference
Find conceptual overviews, programming tasks, samples, and references to guide you in developing solutions based on PowerPoint.
Microsoft Office Communicator Automation API
Find a set of COM interfaces, objects, events, enumerated types, and other related programming entities in this API that you can use to program a Communicator instance from a third-party application, as well as extend and customize user experiences with Communicator.
Unified Communications Managed API V1.0 SDK
Use the Unified Communications Managed API version 1.0 SDK to create and deploy SIP-based applications for real-time communications and collaboration. The intended applications can be client-based or server-based and can be written in Microsoft .NET Framework-supported C#.
Video: Change Display Formats Programmatically for All Contacts in Outlook 2007
In this Visual How-to video, learn to create an add-in to change the FileAs property programmatically for all contacts in Outlook 2007.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Web Seminar Series for ISV Developers
October 15 - 18, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Learn about the next-generation development environment for the Microsoft Windows platform and exciting new technologies coming in Visual Studio 2008.
Visual Studio Team System On-Demand Web Seminar Series: Rubik's Cube Giveaway
Through November 16
The first 50 partners who register and view the entire Visual Studio Team Edition on-demand Web seminar series will receive a Rubik's Cube at the end of the promotional period. This offer is available until November 17 at 12:00 A.M. Pacific Time, or while supplies last.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 On-Demand Web Seminars: SQL Book Giveaway
Through November 16
Be one of the first 150 partners to register, view, and fill out a survey for any 7 of the 9 on-demand Web seminars and receive a copy of Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Database Essentials at the end of the promotional period. This offer is available until November 17 at 12:00 A.M. Pacific Time, or while supplies last.
• Building Custom Office Applications Using Microsoft Visual Studio Team System
• Part 1: Data Binding with Word Content Controls
• Part 2: Create an Outlook Add-in with a Form Region
• Part 3: Build an Excel Add-in with Ribbon and Custom Task Pane Integration
• Part 4: Create a SharePoint Workflow
• Visual Studio Team Edition 2005 for Database Professionals
• Part 1: Getting Started
• Part 2: Managing Change
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ISV Innovation Presents: 2007 Microsoft Office System Open XML Web Seminars
December 10 - 20, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Open XML represents an exciting advance toward achieving the original vision of XML, where broad interoperability allows documents to be archived, restructured, aggregated, and re-used in new and dynamic ways. Learn about this new open format for business documents in this Web seminar series.
Promote Your Certified for Windows Vista Products via the New "Win What You Love" Campaign
Products you donate will be featured on the promotional site and given away to sweepstakes registrants as weekly and monthly prizes. The promotional site will feature your product shots and company logo, and drive traffic back to your home and product pages.
New Microsoft Online Campaign Showcases Partner Products that Have Earned the Certified for Windows Vista Logo
At road2greatness.com, IT pros will learn why they should choose Certified for Windows Vista software and devices to meet their business needs. Online ad placements will run on IT pro-focused sites, such as CIO and InformationWeek. Learn more about earning the Certified for Windows Vista logo for software.
Optimize a SharePoint Server 2007 Web Content Management Site for Performance
Learn to optimize an Internet-facing Web content management (WCM) site to achieve maximum performance and an effective user experience.
Video: Create Custom Web Parts for Project Server 2007
Learn how to create a custom Web Part that you can use to display the upcoming tasks for a specified project.
Video: Create User Profiles in the User Profile Store in SharePoint Server 2007
Learn to create a SharePoint Server 2007 user profile by using the SharePoint UserProfileService Web service.
Video: Display Custom Fields in Content Query Web Parts in SharePoint Server 2007
Learn to display custom fields in the Content Query Web Part by setting the CommonViewFields custom property and editing the default XSLT transformation used to render items.
Add Drag-and-Drop Functionality using the .NET Framework and VSTO 2005 SE
Learn to build a simple Windows Forms application and a VSTO 2005 SE add-in for Excel 2007 to perform a drag operation from your custom application to Excel 2007.
Advanced Server-Side Authentication for Data Connections in InfoPath 2007 Web-Based Forms
Learn about several different approaches for authenticating cross-domain data connections from form templates deployed to InfoPath Forms Services, as part of either Forms Server 2007 or SharePoint Server 2007.
Animate Objects in Excel 2007 Using the 3-D Animation Engine
Learn about the 3-D Animation Engine tool, which demonstrates the new OfficeArt rendering platform in Excel 2007. Find out how you can use this tool to start programmatically manipulating three-dimensional shapes in the 2007 Microsoft Office system.
How Do I: Add Programs to Access 2007 Deployment Packages
Mike Stowe shows you how to add an add-in to an Access 2007 deployment package created by using the Package Solution Wizard.
Mapping Your Objects to Database Tables with LINQ to SQL
Using the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Data Mining Add-Ins for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
See the New Capabilities: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Visual Studio 2005
Learn about Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, and Windows Workflow Foundation capabilities provided by the .NET Framework 3.0 with this free collection from Microsoft Learning.
Security for Developers
Avoiding Assembly Level Declarative Security
Although the CLR has supported RequestMinimum, RequestOptional, and RequestRefuse since v1.0, I tend to stay away from using them as much as I possibly can, and also recommend that others avoid them as well.
Threat Modeling Again, Threat Modeling Rules of Thumb
Some Final Thoughts on Threat Modeling...
What's Wrong with this Code, Part 21 - a Psychic Debugging Example
What's Wrong with this Code, Part 21 - a Psychic Debugging Example: the Missing Piece
What's Wrong with this Code, Part 21 - a Psychic Debugging Example: the Answers
Product-Related Downloads
New Starter Kits for Windows Mobile 6
Ready for a helping hand? Three new Starter Kits will help you create applications that make the most of new Ink features, DirectDraw, and Home Screen plug-in architecture.
Case Studies, KB Articles, & How-tos
Life-Saving Electronic Clinical Management System based on SQL Server 2005
Eclipsys required a scalable and available database that could support clinical data repositories growing beyond one terabyte. Eclipsys created its new solution using SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, Visual Studio 2005, and the .NET Framework 2.0.
FIX: The Visual Studio 2005 IDE may randomly crash when you build a Visual Basic .NET solution
Car Dealer Triples Development Speed with Agile Methods and Visual Studio Team System
When DriveTime needed to update its application to provide a better customer experience and scalability, it used Visual Studio Team System to create the new application, and SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition as the data store.
Serbian Credit System Reduces National Loan-Debt from 3.5 Per Cent to 1.18 Per Cent
The Association of Serbian Banks (ASB) used Visual Studio .NET 2003 to create a credit rating system that could compile and send precise reports in real time. The system has reduced the number of un-repaid loans nationally from 3.5 per cent to 1.18 per cent.
More KB Articles and How-tos...
More Case Studies...
.NET Framework KB Articles
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MenuFont in ToolStrip causing ArgumentException
Windows Forms application freezes when system settings are changed or the workstation is locked
SQL Server and Data Access KB Articles
Partner News
Free StrataFrame Trial Download
A .NET application framework that accelerates your .NET development skills while helping you to cut development time. Source code is included with no runtime fees.
DBI Technologies Inc. Releases Component ToolBox .NET v2.0
Component Toolbox .NET v2.0 is an outstanding selection of eleven UI and data presentation, royalty-free Windows Forms components ready for reusable commercial consumption.
dynaTrace Diagnostics Integrates with Visual Studio and Wins BASTA! Innovation Award
Diagnose problems in .NET applications and jump to the exact location within Visual Studio to repair. Sign up for a free trial now.
Developer Express Releases its Newest Component Library for ASP.NET
Learn more about the ASPxGridView and download your free evaluation copy.
Killer Offer for .NET Oracle and SAP Developers
.NET Oracle and SAP application developers can qualify for a free copy of DevForce Enterprise (a US$5,400 value). Learn more here.
International Events
Microsoft is Seeking Inspiring Stories of Software Companies Making a Difference
If you are an ISV using Microsoft technology to create a world changing application for healthcare, education, or clean technology, please submit your solution to The Ingenuity Point for a chance to get your story told.
5 - 9 November, Barcelona, Spain
Gain hands-on experience with the newest and coolest development tools, and acquire the skills you need to build more streamlined, scalable, and secure applications.
MSDN Events
Enjoy an all-access tour through some of today's hottest technologies with MSDN Events.
• Session 1: What's New for Web Development in Visual Studio 2008
Learn about the new tools, features and innovations in Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.
• Session 2: A New Paradigm for Data Development with Web Based Data Services
Learn about the latest data access technologies that will change how you architect Web applications.
• Session 3: Building Rich, Dynamic Web Experiences with Microsoft Silverlight, ASP.NET and ASP.NET AJAX
Learn how you can enhance Silverlight applications by applying the latest Web development techniques.