MSDN Flash - Volume 10, Number 20: October 2, 2006

From the Editor

In this issue, we present two special sections, one highlighting the .NET Framework 3.0, and the other Visual Studio Team System. Check them out below.

Developing apps is all about communication here. Sometimes it is hard to balance the dev meetings with the actual time needed to finish the apps. To help speed you along, this week you can . DevForce Express is the award-winning .NET productivity suite from IdeaBlade that extends the .NET Framework and accelerates application development. New advanced features in this release include support for in-memory checkpointing, paging, and asynchronous queries. While at IdeaBlade.com, you can also subscribe to their "Tech Tips" weekly newsletter, an invaluable resource for the latest DevForce Express and .NET 2.0 Framework technical insights and code samples from the IdeaBlade development team.

With all that saved time you can put your devs to work centralizing your reports, and improving communication. Now you can add feature-rich Excel and Word to SQL Server Reporting Services. Momenta, a leading program management consultancy, needed a centralized reporting solution for the Department of Trade and Industry to replace a legacy application that was facing increasing performance problems as data increased. Momenta found that its staff could create reports faster and make them more accessible by using SoftArtisans OfficeWriter with SQL Server Reporting Services.

All the reports in the world though, will do no good if your audience can't get to them. To make it easy, . Easily create RSS feeds from a variety of sources, such as databases, spreadsheets, e-mails, and directories. Use RSS feeds as simple Web services to communicate with your partners, vendors, and customers - not just text, but data and services.

With your team saving time, and communicating together as they never have before, you'll have time for the important things in life, like finding a new spot for the foosball table in the employee lounge.

Happy Coding!

Brad


Spotlight on: Visual Studio Team System

From architecture through development and testing, the integrated tools in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System enable you to be more productive throughout the stages of application development. To learn more about Visual Studio 2005 Team System and how it can improve the application development process, register for this series of webcasts now.

Upcoming Live Visual Studio Team System Web Seminar Series

In this six-part Web seminar series, you will follow an application through the entire software development lifecycle, using the Visual Studio Team System. In this first Web seminar, you will learn how all of the components of Visual Studio Team System work together, and we will discuss the example application that will be designed, built, and tested during the remainder of the series. The first 100 participants to register and view all six Web seminars will receive a Mini-Madison digital camera.
Register now!

October 9 - 10, Sofia, Bulgaria
This event will feature famous international industry speakers and will give attendees the unique opportunity to gain valuable practical knowledge, as well as insights on the Microsoft technology roadmap. The varied sessions cover ASP.NET 2.0, ADO.NET 2.0, SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio Team System, SharePoint, and the 2007 Microsoft Office System.


Spotlight on: .NET Framework 3.0

Featured downloads...

This article describes how to uninstall pre-release versions of Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 if the typical uninstall process is unsuccessful.

In this series of free webcasts, we cover Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, Windows CardSpace, and XAML.


Web Resources

Keynote streamed live from MS Studios: November 1, 8:00 A.M. Pacific
Get hands-on with the technology that will help you develop the next generation of embedded devices. Through a live keynote, 10 on-demand technical sessions, and 7 hands-on labs, attendees get a first look at the new features in CE 6.0 and Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007. Register today, and watch the event live for your chance to win one of 6 GPS devices.


Beginning October 5
12 cities nationwide
Preview the powerful new features of the 2007 Microsoft Office system in an instructor-led, demo-driven environment. Our live ISV Innovation Briefings half-day events will show you how to create customizable solutions that address real-world business problems. What's more, you can enter the Take-a-Break sweepstakes for the chance to win a US$3,000 travel voucher. If you're still hungry for more information, feel free to stay for an .

October 13, 1:00 P.M. Pacific
Tune in and learn how to use Microsoft Expression Web to work through some basic site design tasks using fully standards-compliant XHTML and CSS.

October 24 - 27, Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, MA
Choose from today's key topics: AJAX, C# Generics, Visual Basic language enhancements, .NET 2.0 Framework fundamentals, and more.

This factory will provide comprehensive architecture guidance to help customers build Web solutions using the Microsoft platform.

Move your Microsoft-based solutions from concept to launch faster and more profitably. Visit the Microsoft Innovate On Portal for complimentary* software and technical support, free** testing, discounts and rebates on licenses, plus strategic marketing tools and opportunities.

* For development, testing, and internal use only. Requires enrollment in the Microsoft Empower for ISVs program.
** Limited-time offer.

You know MSDN Magazine has great developer content, but did you know we have RSS feeds, too? Sign up now.

Mike Hall discusses Windows CE, Windows XP Embedded, and Windows Embedded for Point of Service, where they might be used, and which technologies are unique to each. He also walks through the tools for the Beta release of Windows CE 6.

The VSTO 2005 SE beta offers several new important new features to support Office programmability. Check out our new portal page and keep coming back for more great content.

Get up to date on SharePoint technologies, including Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Office SharePoint Server 2007.

Create a custom page layout using the Web Content Management features of SharePoint Server 2007.

Learn to extend the Data Graphics feature in Visio 2007 by creating custom data graphics and custom graphical content for use in data graphics.

MVP Bill Coan reviews options for customizing Word 2003, including customization scopes, storage, and considerations for design-time customizations versus run-time customizations.


Security for Developers

Download security-related presentations (and more!) from Gamefest 2006, including "Games as Malware: Why Security is Your Problem Too," "Hardening the Box: The Xbox 360 and Windows Vista Security Models," and "Getting Ready for Microsoft Windows Vista."



and view the .


The VSTO 2005 SE beta offers several important new features to support Office programmability.

Use the step-by-step examples to familiarize yourself with the powerful new features in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the 2007 Microsoft Office System.

Get an Inside Look at VSTO 2005 SE Design

Learn about the design decisions underpinning the new VSTO 2005 SE Beta, and how they improve your Office development experience.


Case Studies, KB Articles, & How-tos

Managed Hosting Company Rebuilds Service Platform to Meet Changing Business Needs

Data Return's managed Web hosting model began to break down when its customers began requesting customized solutions. Building a new platform using Visual Studio, ASP.NET, and SQL Server made it possible to offer custom solutions without requiring custom code.


Payment-Processing Leader Enhances Products and the Development Experience

By standardizing on Visual C# and Visual Studio 2005, TPI Software has been able to implement innovative features, reduce time-to-market for one product by nearly one-third, and vastly simplify communication and collaboration among a team that spans three time zones.

By moving all their data into a SQL Server database, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) was able to eliminate mainframe-related costs, develop new applications on a single platform, and deliver a single view into title data across the United States.


.NET Framework KB Articles

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SQL Server KB Articles

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KB Targeted Visual Studio

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Training

This guide highlights architectural underpinnings, the latest enhancements for developers, and code samples to get you started building custom applications and solutions.


This premium clinic from Microsoft E-Learning covers platform features and how to build, extend, and assemble solutions using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

This premium clinic from Microsoft E-Learning covers Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 platform features, how to build and extend SharePoint Sites, and deployment options.

Get hands-on experience and learn new Visual Studio 2005 skills from a Microsoft Certified Trainer.

Hot Off the Press! New Books from Microsoft Press

• • Explore the latest Microsoft software and platforms in a no-fuss environment. There's no cost and nothing to install or format. With several Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, and Business Intelligence Upgrade lab modules, you will learn how to make the most of these innovative technologies.


Partner News

Map data graphically, then auto-generate XSLT, XQuery, Java, C#, or C++ code and integrate into your apps within .NET.


ComponentOne Studio Enterprise 2006v3 now includes Atlas-ready ASP.NET components. View our online demos and download your free trial today.

True Enterprise Modeling tool integrated in Visual Studio. Download the eval today.


International Events

9 - 10 October, Sofia, Bulgaria
This event will feature famous international industry speakers and will give attendees the unique opportunity to gain valuable practical knowledge, as well as insights on the Microsoft technology roadmap. The varied sessions cover ASP.NET 2.0, ADO.NET 2.0, SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio Team System, SharePoint, and the 2007 Microsoft Office System.

16 - 20 October, Bad Ems, Germany
This 5-day workshop, designed for experienced .NET developers, offers an intensive introduction in .NET Framework 3.0 that will allow you to successfully build your own applications. Learn from our experience with an early-adapter project.

30 October - 3 November, Mallorca, Spain
IDesign and newtelligence AG present five intense days of WCF programming, design guidelines, pitfalls, original techniques, and best practices. Become not just an WCF expert, but also a better software engineer.

7 - 10 November, Barcelona, Spain
These four days will take you months ahead of the game. Get deep-dive technical training, information, and community resources to give you the edge you need to keep up with the latest development trends.


Customize MSDN Flash

You can customize your next issue of Flash by visiting the . Check the box next to each section in order to get all headlines for that topic, and uncheck the box to get just the top story. If you're a subscriber in the U.S., make sure your profile includes your current ZIP Code so you'll get news on free MSDN and other events in your area.


MSDN Events

This winter's going to sizzle! Get ready to fire up your solutions with hot new skills and coding techniques. These free sessions will tackle every tier of your applications, with lots of time to ask questions and share crib notes with your peers.

Our topics:

Take Control of the Database Development Lifecycle with Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals

Windows Workflow Foundation Exposed

Create Cutting-Edge Web Designs with Expression Web

Check out the for a full list of cities and dates.