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| Resources for Your Developer Toolbox |
| Theresa W. Carey |
SQL Server Data RecoveryLumigent Technologies Inc. is shipping Log Explorer version 1.5, a software package that provides selective online data recovery for Microsoft® SQL ServerTM databases. Now with support for SQL Server 2000, Log Explorer provides access to the SQL Server transaction log in order to analyze transactions and reconstruct lost data. Log Explorer complements SQL Server by giving users the ability to analyze and resolve user and application errors including data loss, unauthorized data modifications, and unexpected application behavior. Log Explorer brings online log-based recovery techniques previously available only for mainframe database systems to the SQL Server platform..gif) User and application errors account for most instances of data loss in SQL Server environments, and can lead to expensive downtime. Log Explorer helps minimize losses by keeping the database online and available during recovery operations. Data can be recovered based on row, table, database or individual transaction. Log Explorer lets you identify all changes to a database, selected by a broad range of criteria such as program or user ID, change date, or row. This allows auditors to verify application and user behavior and validate security policies. The log-based approach makes it possible to track down problems in production systems without adding performance overhead and provides access to historical data, so you can resolve problems that occurred even before Log Explorer was installed. Lumigent Technologies Inc. Mobile Application Framework.gif) WebPutty Inc. has unveiled WebPutty Application Framework Version 2 for Windows® 2000, Windows NT®, and Microsoft .NET, featuring support for the Pocket PC, SQL Server 2000, and integrated version control. In a browser-based environment, the application framework enables developers to create, deploy, and modify mobile solutions, particularly applications written for the Pocket PC. WebPutty Application Framework Version 2 provides wireless access to intranets, extranets, and corporate databases.WebPutty's best practices Web application model architecture encapsulates a distributed computing model and infrastructure. Its metadata-driven technology captures definition, processes, and behavior for subsequent code construction, dynamic binding, and for capture and reuse of corporate intellectual property. The product's open code construction framework creates server-specific code such as HTML, DHTML, ASP.NET, COM+, T-SQL, C++, and JScript®. Coupled with code generation, dynamic binding allows objects to assume relevant application behavior at execution time, minimizing compile requirements and allowing real-time modifications. System and application modifications are controlled for rapid, continuous integration, upgrade, and maintenance. WebPutty's patented language independence, integral to all metadata and user data, allows multiple languages to be supported from a single code base and installation. WebPutty integrates with existing systems by supporting XML integration and interoperability with XML-based products. Intelligent mapping is accomplished without hardcoding import-export logic by using the powerful built-in rules engine. You can preview WebPutty at the company Web site. WebPutty Inc. Active Directory Access.gif){kind=small} OpenNetwork Technologies recently announced DirectorySmart for Microsoft Active Directory, an integrated extranet access control software suite for Microsoft Active DirectoryTM. DirectorySmart for Active Directory will allow companies using Windows 2000 to take advantage of DirectorySmart's security infrastructure, which includes Web access control, authorization, and delegated user management functionality to manage access to eBusiness applications.DirectorySmart for Active Directory is designed for businesses that want to provide Web-based access to both internal and external Internet users. It provides a platform for policy management for companies with a wide variety of business relationships among employees, administrators, partners, and customers. By utilizing the native Microsoft Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) interface to integrate the Active Directory schema, DirectorySmart for Active Directory reduces the cost and complexity associated with simultaneously managing security and access control for those users' online eBusiness applications. DirectorySmart for Active Directory can be used in conjunction with digital certificates, and is compatible with a number of certificate authorities. OpenNetwork Technologies Protect Those FilesAlfa Corporation has released Alfa File Protector (AFP), a file protection component/library for Windows-based developers. Alfa File Protector provides support for Delphi, C++ Builder, Microsoft Visual C++®, and other Windows-based 32-bit languages. It integrates file protection and file hiding in applications without having to bother with the complexity of the Windows internals. The AFP component sends protection items to the driver, which are used on the fly by the driver to allow or deny a file operation to occur. AFP can deny file open, file create, file replace, file read, file write, file/directory rename, file delete, directory create, directory delete, and query file/directory attributes. It can also change attributes, query last access date, query modification date, query creation date, set last access date, set modification date, set creation date, hide files, and make files fully inaccessible.AFP can filter file patterns using wildcards, use more than one pattern per entry (such as *.exe; *.dll), filter process names, and filter exclusion filters for file names and processes as well. AFP also supports tagging a password with an entry. Alfa Corporation Masked Edit Control.gif){kind=small} Softel vdm Inc. has released a new ActiveX® control product, SftMask/ATL 4.0, which offers data input and validation features.While it looks like an edit control, SftMask/ATL simplifies data entry by offering date and time input fields, numeric integer input, currency input, and user-definable input masks. For numeric input, it offers spin buttons, a minimum/maximum range, and a popup calculator. Date input controls support a dropdown calendar. All data input fields are defined using an input mask. This input mask can mix date, time, numeric input, single input positions, and literals in one single control. With SftMask/ATL, the input control has a built-in caption, which can automatically be aligned with the edit control. SftMask/ATL also offers automatic OLE drag and drop support. Using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), the control can be used in data-bound mode. SftMask/ATL is suitable for use with all major languages, such as Visual Basic®, Visual C++, Delphi, C++ Builder, and more. It also supports Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000, allowing migration of applications across the supported platforms. Use of the product is supported with Internet Explorer, so the control can be used directly on Web pages. A digitally signed cabinet file is also included for this purpose. The control weighs in at just over 300KB and requires no additional DLLs, while the cabinet file is only 150KB. Softel vdm Inc. Barcode Source Code.gif){kind=small} IDAutomation.com Inc. has released version 2.0 of their Barcode Macros for Microsoft Office and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)-based source code, which allow for integration of barcode font technology into business applications. Version 2.0 includes performance improvements, new mode options, and support for Code 128, Code 39, LOGMARS, Interleaved 2 of 5, SCC-14, SSCC-18, POSTNET, USPS Special Services, as well as other barcodes.The barcode macros and VBA-based code allow technical users and software developers to integrate barcode font technology directly into their business applications, instead of having to export the data to a proprietary label program. MICR, OCR, and older bar code technologies are easy to print as a font. However, most modern implementations of barcodes require complicated check digit calculations for error correction that cannot be performed by the fonts themselves. The tools and source code at the IDAutomation.com Web site will perform the proper calculations and format the return string for the selected barcode font. The Microsoft Office macro download includes examples of printing barcodes from Microsoft Access reports, Word mail-merge and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The Office macros are implemented in a single VBA module that may be exported and imported between Office applications. The Visual Basic-based source code provided includes a barcode printing application written in Visual Basic 6.0. IDAutomation.com Inc. produces TrueType, PostScript, and PCL fonts. You can find the macros and source code in the font tools section of their Web site. IDAutomation.com Inc. The Bookshelf.gif) SQL in a Nutshell, is a command reference guide to the latest release of SQL, helping readers learn how this database product supports any standard SQL command. This book presents each of the SQL commands and describes its use in both commercial (SQL Server 2000 and Oracle 8i) and open source (MySQL, PostgreSQL 7.0) implementations. Each command reference includes the command syntax (by vendor, if the syntax differs across implementations), a description, and informative examples that illustrate important concepts and uses. Authored by Kevin Kline with Daniel Kline, Ph.D., SQL in a Nutshell is published by O'Reilly & Associates Inc. For more information, including table of contents, index, author bios, and samples, see https://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sqlnut/index.html.Send your New Stuff to Theresa at newstuff@microsoft.com. |
| Theresa W. Carey is a freelance writer who lives in California. Her byline has appeared in Barron's and PC World. |
From the April 2001 issue of MSDN Magazine.