MSDN Flash - Volume 11, Number 4: February 12, 2007
From the Editor
Got Visual Studio 2005? You can start developing Windows Vista and 2007 Office system applications right away. If you own a licensed version of Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office or Visual Studio Professional and above (either standalone versions or via an MSDN Premium or Professional subscription), you are eligible to download a free copy of VSTO 2005 Second Edition. The free add-on to Visual Studio 2005 offers several important new features to support Office programmability, like the extensible Office user interface or the managed add-ins in Office applications not previously covered by Visual Studio Tools for Office.
Looking to develop robotics applications? The Microsoft Robotics Studio offers an end-to-end development platform, including a visual programming tool, a lightweight services-oriented runtime, and simulation engine. The programming model can be applied for a variety of robot hardware platforms. To see for yourself and learn the basics, download the latest Robotics Studio and tutorials.
If you are interested in Web development, the newly revised and expanded Web Development Learning Series is definitely worth a look-see. You will find more than 80 learning modules, including virtual labs, on-demand and live webcasts, good stuff on ASP.NET AJAX and Expression, plus an e-learning workshop specifically for PHP developers. Whether you are an ASP, CFML, JSP or PHP developer, it's a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Microsoft Web development platform. And an added bonus - participate in two learning modules and you get a free Web Development Kit.
Thanks for reading.
Editor, MSDN Flash
Keep those cards and letters coming!
Spotlight on: Windows Vista
Innovate on Windows Vista
Innovate on Windows Vista helps fast-track solutions to success, by qualifying for a logo that tells everyone your existing application works with Windows Vista, and by providing plenty of assistance as you develop new solutions on this advanced platform to gain the Certified for Windows Vista logo.
March 25 - 28, Orlando, FL
Come learn about ASP.NET 2.0 and Atlas, Windows Vista and .NET 3.0 development, Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005, and more.
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Check out the Windows Vista Developer Center for more great resources...
Spotlight on: the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Introducing the Office Developer How-to Center
Discover task-based samples to help you learn the new features of the 2007 Microsoft Office system programs, servers, services, tools and technologies.
Visual How-to: Building Word 2007 Document Templates Using Content Controls
Content controls are bounded and potentially labeled regions in a document for specific types of content. Watch a short video, read about it, and then learn how to write code.
Visual How-to: Build Word 2007 Documents Using the Office Open XML Formats
The new file format in Microsoft Office Word 2007 divides the file into document parts. Watch a short video, read about it, and learn how to build a document from scratch.
Find conceptual overviews, programming tasks, samples, and references (Automation, Save as Web Page, ShapeSheet, and XML) to guide you in developing solutions based on Visio.
New: Developer References for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Find conceptual overviews, programming tasks, samples, and references to guide you in developing solutions based on the Microsoft Office system.
• Access 2007 Developer Reference
• InfoPath 2007 Developer Reference
• InfoPath 2007 XSF Schema Reference
• Object Library Reference for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
• Outlook 2007 Developer Reference
• Project 2007 Developer Reference
• SharePoint Designer 2007 Developer Reference
• Word 2007 Developer Reference
• Excel 2007 Developer Reference
Microsoft Office Live Developer's Guide Updated
An updated version of the Office Live Developer's Guide is now available. This guide describes the core concepts, requirements, and development guidelines for Office Live.
SharePoint Server 2007 Code Sample: Item-Level Auditing
Learn how to create an item-level auditing view programmatically in three different ways.
Microsoft Office Live Code Sample: Contact Map
Download a sample code mashup for Microsoft Office Live, which is designed to map the addresses of all contacts included in an Office Live Business Contact Manager application.
VSTO 2005 SE Sample: Managing Task Panes in Word 2007 and InfoPath 2007 Using VSTO 2005 SE
Learn about enhanced features for integrating Visio 2007 with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and SharePoint Server 2007.
Managing Task Panes in Multiple Word and InfoPath Documents
Learn how you can integrate Visio 2007 with Microsoft SQL Server 2005, to create data-driven diagrams from stored SQL data.
Best Practices: Writing SQL Syntax Queries for Relevant Results in Enterprise Search
Learn to write SQL syntax queries to return the most relevant results for Enterprise Search in SharePoint Server 2007.
Adding Resource Links to the Office Fluent Ribbon Using COM Add-Ins
Walk through the process of creating an add-in that adds a custom tab to the existing Microsoft Office Fluent Ribbon in Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, and Word 2007.
Data Type Handling with Excel Services User-Defined Functions
Learn how to handle data types when working with Excel Services user-defined functions (UDFs).
Check out the Office Developer Center for more valuable resources...
Spotlight on: Visual Basic 2005
Upgrading to .NET with Visual Basic 2005
Upgrade your skills from Visual Basic 6 to Visual Basic 2005 and the .NET 2.0 platform. In two days, we'll cover topics like Windows Forms applications, Windows Services, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, interoperability, and deployment. Register today!
Check out the Visual Basic 2005 Developer Center for more great resources...
Web Resources
Prepare to Make your Mark: Come to Tech·Ed 2007
June 4 - 8, Orlando, FL
It's more than what you learn. It's the impact you make when you get back to the office. See for yourself at Tech·Ed 2007. Register by April 6 and save US$200.
Free Web Development Kit: Updated Microsoft Web Development Learning Series
The newly revised and expanded Web Development Learning Series contains over 80 learning modules, including virtual labs, on-demand and live webcasts, how-tos on ASP.NET AJAX and Expression, plus an e-learning workshop specifically for PHP devs. Participate in two learning modules and you get a free Web Development Kit.
Windows Vista is Ready - Are You?
MSDN Magazine has up-to-the-minute Windows Vista coverage. Check it out!
The Back Room - Exclusively for System Builders
Building boxes is a different kind of business. We provide a place to find relevant information and help you maintain and grow your business.
industryCast: Interoperability in Health Care
February 13, 10:00 A.M. Pacific time
Learn how advanced interoperability capabilities can be used to solve real-world health care scenarios.
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teamCast: Visual Studio Team System for Database Professionals: Change Management, Refactoring
February 14, 7:00 A.M. Pacific time
Powerful capabilities to compare database schema and data enables database developers to easily enable change management for database code.
teamCast: Visual Studio Team System Overview
February 16, 7:00 A.M. Pacific time
Visual Studio 2005 Team System is an integrated and extensible suite of lifecycle tools that enables greater communication and collaboration among software development teams.
teamCast: Version Control Strategies
February 28, 7:00 A.M. Pacific time
Team Foundation Server offers enterprise-class version control. Learn about branching, merging, and shelving, and how these features can help your team manage application development.
Security for Developers
Please Do Not Use the .NET 2.0 HMACSHA512 and HMACSHA384 Classes
We've recently discovered a bug in the HMACSHA512 and HMACSHA384 classes that shipped in the .NET Framework 2.0. This bug will cause these algorithms to produce incorrect results that are not consistent with other implementations of HMAC-SHA-512 and HMAC-SHA-384.
IE7 Phishing Filter Performance Update Is Now Available
Tech·Ed ANZ '07 - Security Track
Security Features vs. Convenience
Downloads
Office SharePoint Server 2007 SDK (Updated for RTM)
Experience conceptual overviews, programming tasks, code samples, references, and an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) starter kit to guide you in developing solutions based on SharePoint Server 2007.
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SDK (Updated for RTM)
Get the same great information as the online version in a compiled HTML Help file that includes conceptual topics, managed code reference, and the Workflow Developer Starter Kit.
Office Development Bloggers OPML
Add this OPML file to your favorite RSS reader and learn about the latest about Office development posted by the community.
Case Studies, KB Articles, & How-tos
Dow Jones MarketWatch Deploys SQL Server 2005 to Enhance Scalability, Availability
MarketWatch.com helps more than five million unique visitors a month stay abreast of market conditions. By upgrading to SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition (64-bit), MarketWatch.com gained support for up to 1 terabyte of RAM, increased availability, and more.
Zurich in North American Anticipates US$25 Million Gain with SQL Server 2005 Solution
By upgrading to SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition for the backend, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for laptops, and an application created using Visual Studio, Zurich North America Commercial projects efficiency savings of US$25 million over five years.
Global Distributor Avoids Cost, Risk While Upgrading Mission-Critical Data Warehouse
Two programmers upgraded Gulf Coast Seal's data warehouse in only eight weeks by relying on Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals. Because deployment required merely eight hours, the impact on operations was minimal.
Benefits of the Microsoft .NET Framework
More KB Articles and How-tos...
More Case Studies...
ASP.NET KB Articles
SQL Server KB Articles
How to use custom assemblies or embedded code in Reporting Services
How to schedule a database backup operation by using SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2005
Visual Studio 2005 KB Articles
Training
Double Your Chances: Visual Studio 2005 Certification Exam Insurance
Give yourself a free second chance to pass your certification exam, or 25% off your next exam if you pass on the first try.
Visual Studio 2005 Certifications: Save 25% on Upgrade Exams
MCADs and MCSDs can upgrade their credentials to reflect expertise using Visual Studio 2005 with one or two upgrade exams. Save 25% if you take your exams by March 31, 2007.
E-Learning: .NET Training for Advanced Developers
Strengthen your .NET expertise with courses developed with Readify and Wintellect, premier Microsoft developer training and consulting partners. Each course includes instruction, samples, hands-on labs, and access to instructors and peers via a private forum.
Special Offers on Visual Studio Classroom Training
Take courses led by subject matter experts in a traditional classroom setting. Courses focus on the things you need to know to help you get your job done.
Download Sample Chapters and Get 35% Off Select Visual Studio Books (U.S. only)
Get free sample chapters and a 35% discount on select Visual C# and Visual Basic titles.
Take a Free Microsoft ASP.NET for AJAX Course Online
Take the Developing Enhanced Web Experience with Microsoft ASP.NET for AJAX course, and get select free and discounted related courses.
Seven Development Projects with the 2007 Microsoft Office System and Windows SharePoint Services 2007 (PDF)
This guide highlights architectural underpinnings, the latest enhancements for developers, and code samples for building custom applications and solutions. Download the guide to help get you started now.
Free Clinic: Create Windows Communication Foundation Services and Clients
In this free clinic you will learn to create and enhance Windows Communication Foundation services and clients.
Microsoft U.S. Partner Readiness Site
Find technical and sales training resources to help you continue your success in selling and delivering superior, industry-leading Microsoft solutions.
Visual Studio 2005 Team System - "Deep Dive" Advanced Training
Learn how Team System's components can build better software, more efficiently, and how to extend and customize the built-in functionality of VSTS.
Visual Studio Team System OnRamp 240
This instructor-led, 200-level training provides partners with an overview of the latest technology training in a half-day (or 240 minutes). Partners will learn the architecture of Team System and Team Foundation Server and how Team System's components can be utilized to build better software more efficiently.
Compute Cluster Server 2003: Technical for ISV
February 12 - 15
February 20 - 23
10:00 A.M. Pacific time
Designed for Microsoft ISV partners, this 8-part Web seminar series will give ISVs the knowledge necessary to work with and begin to program for Microsoft Compute Cluster Server 2003.
ISV Virtual Labs - Training You Need Without the Fuss
Microsoft MSDN Virtual Labs provide a great opportunity to explore the latest Microsoft software and platforms in a no-fuss environment. There's no cost and nothing to install or format.
Partner News
The MissionKit bundles intelligent application development, data management and modeling tools for software architects and XML developers. Download a free trial today.
IdeaBlade Supports WCF in Our Newest Release Available Today
Download your royalty-free DevForce Express Productivity Suite and take advantage of our new WCF and Web Services publishing capabilities.
Free Videos - Lotus Notes Integration for Visual Studio Developers
Download these 7-minute videos detailing Proposion's ADO.NET driver for developers or turn-key migration/integration tools for SharePoint and .NET applications.
International Events
TornadoCamp .NET Team System (German)
20 - 23 February, Bad Ems, Germany
Guest speaker Richard Hundhausen, VSTS MVP
Visual Studio Team System integrates process guidance, prescriptive architectures, and life-cycle tools for successfully deploying solutions on the Windows platform. Visual Studio Team System provides tools to support the entire software development team.
TornadoCamp .NET Fundamentals (German)
5 - 9 March, Bad Ems, Germany
This 5-day course gives you a solid foundation and teaches you the fundamentals about the .NET framework, Visual Studio 2005, C#, ASP .NET, Web services, security features, and much more.
Microsoft OEM Technical Seminars
Through May 2007, worldwide
See how Microsoft Windows Embedded products are revolutionizing the way that people work and live. Attend a free OEM Technical Seminar and find out how Microsoft Windows Embedded can help you quickly configure, build, and ship your next device.
Microsoft Virtualization Summit
To March, worldwide
Microsoft Virtualization Developer Labs
To April, worldwide
Virtualization experts will teach you how to take advantage of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2.
MSDN Events
Microsoft Across America Launch Event - Developer Track
The launch of Windows Vista operating system, 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 is here. Come get in-depth insights into all three new releases and how they can help you simplify the challenges of today's workplace.
Visit the MSDN Events Web site for a complete list of cities and dates.