Microsoft

VS2010 SP1 - The file is under source control and is not checked out

Stacy Vicknair — Wed, 11 May 2011 23:27:31 GMT

If you’ve recently upgraded to SP1 and tried to build a solution checked out from TFS you might have come across the following dialog. Not only does it not allow you to cancel the build process, but it also REPEATEDLY THROWS THE DIALOG PREVENTING YOU FROM STOPPING THE PROCESS. Very annoying.

There is a hotfix available via connect and code gallery that will stop this problem.

Connect Bug Entry:
http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/650587/vs-2010-sp1-changes-packagecode-in-vdproj-on-each-build-but-fails-as-source-controlled

Hotfix download:
http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=35848
http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/KB2529927

Increase your Visual Studio 2010 keyboard kung-fu! Shortcut charts are available for VB.NET, C#, F# and C++

Stacy Vicknair — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:28:34 GMT

Get them now!

Technorati Tags: VS2010,keyboard,shortcuts

Visual Studio 2010 Professional now on Dreamspark!

Stacy Vicknair — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:40:03 GMT

If you are a student and you were looking for your VS2010 fix today, be sure to check out Dreamspark.com and get your own copy!

Dreamspark is simple; it’s about giving students Microsoft professional tools at no charge.

Visit Dreamspark right now to sign up and get VS2010!

Technorati Tags: VS2010,Dreamspark,students,.NET

How Microsoft listens

Stacy Vicknair — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:29:10 GMT

This being my freshman year as an MVP, I had a realization that I perhaps should be embarrassed hasn’t happened sooner. The realization comes much like the iconic M&Ms commercial where the M&Ms run into Santa and exclaim, “He does exist!” My personal realization arguably has a greater implication: Microsoft does listen. This is the most important lesson that I received this year attending the MVP Summit.

My hope is that I can convince you that we are empowered to make a difference. Instead of using “Man I hate how this works / doesn’t work!” as cooler conversation, we can use it as true interaction with Microsoft. We as customers to Microsoft need to stop asking the question “Will this work for me?” and instead ask “How can this work for me?”

There are three quick resources that the average developer has access to today that they can use to be heard by the product teams, and by no means should you think twice if you have a concern that you’d like a real response on.

MVPs
MVPs are members of your community who have a deep relationship with Microsoft and will have connections to their associated product group. Don’t think of them as just a resource for answers, but also as your ambassador for getting your experiences heard. You can find your local MVPs by browsing the directory at:

https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx

Evangelists
Evangelists are employees of Microsoft who work to foster and grow communities in their assigned region. They are first-class citizens of Microsoft and are often deeply involved with the product groups. As a result, they will be more than glad to direct your questions or concerns to those who can answer them most expertly. With that said, evangelists are also very busy people (who do amazing things for the community) and might not be able to get you that conversation as quickly as a local MVP. You can find your local evangelist at the following website:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/bb905078.aspx

Microsoft Connect
This is one of the resources that I haven’t used enough, but it cannot be understated. Connect is the starting point of the social conversation that happens between Microsoft and the community daily. Connect acts as a portal where you can provide new feedback as well as comment and rate the feedback provided by others. Power is in numbers when it comes to Connect, so the exposure that your feedback can get not only lets you know that you aren’t the only one who wants change, but also lets Microsoft know the same.

https://connect.microsoft.com

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,MVP,Feedback,Connect

Visual Studio 2010 hits RC!

Stacy Vicknair — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:39:41 GMT

Grab the bits and be sure to submit feedback through Connect!

Technorati Tags: VisualStudio,VS2010,VS2010RC

List of influential VB’ers on Twitter

Stacy Vicknair — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:04:45 GMT

Antonio Chagoury, VB MVP, has constructed a list of Twitter accounts for VB MVPs, VB Team members, and others who are influential in the VB.NET community on his personal blog, CTO v2.0. This list has many great people who are not only talented in VB, but also who have great talents in many aspects of the .NET framework.

I’m listed as a VB MVP, but if you don’t want the full list you can still check me out at http://twitter.com/svickn. However, I’d recommend checking out the rest of these guys too, you might find someone you would never have thought to follow that you mesh with. Besides, it’s never a bad thing when .NET help is just a tweet away ;)

http://www.cto20.com/post/Tweeps-List-Microsoft-Visual-Basic-MVPe28099s-and-Influencers.aspx

Technorati Tags: VB.NET,Twitter,.NET

What are you looking forward to from E3?

Stacy Vicknair — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:20:50 GMT

So E3 has come upon us and is about to make its way out again. Anything that peaked your interests? I have to say by far I was happiest with what I can get for my XBox360 over anything coming out for the Wii (I’ve got no PS3).

The games that I’m really looking forward that were shown off this year at E3 are Crackdown 2, Assassin’s Creed 2 and Forza Motorsports 3. I’ve spent many hours playing all three of those titles, and I’m happily awaiting their releases. AC2 and FM3 are both slated later this year, and I haven’t really seen anything about when Crackdown 2 is coming out. Either way, I’m happy to have a couple titles coming my way that’ll undoubtedly rock.

Now, there were a couple new controller / controller addons announced. Although new peripherals are cool, I guess I’m more into the games. I don’t need a sensor reading my thumb and telling me how soon I’ll have a heart attack nor am I really interested in talking to creepy child-like virtual buddies.

So what are you guys looking forward to? If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Assassin’s Creed 2.

Technorati Tags: E3,E32009,Microsoft

MSDN Events: Azure, Debugging and Mobility Review

Stacy Vicknair — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:21:38 GMT

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of going down to a local theatre to watch through the MSDN event for Azure, debugging, and mobility. The event itself was refreshing, and I always enjoy hearing Zain speak. We have similar passions, and also similar personalities.

The event started off with a brief look at Azure, which is Microsoft’s very beta cloud computing platform. The technology itself seems straightforward and easy to use, although Zain warned about a tedious process of getting the tokens necessary to get started. Altogether, the session was informative, and exposed resources that ought to be taken into consideration when computing from the cloud.

Afterwards, Zain went over some debugging hints that were completely new to me. The debugging session was the one I was attending for specifically, and it didn’t disappoint. Her talked about advanced debugging, and conditional debugging and watches. I didn’t know what to expect from the session, and it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be about, but I can say that I definitely learned more about the debugging process from it.

The final session was on programming for mobile devices. There are many helpful downloads necessary for getting started, and the testing can be painfully slow, but otherwise the process seemed a lot simpler to what I remember about doing the same for Blackberry devices through Java.

All in all, I enjoyed the event and am glad I attended. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been posting often, but I promise you that I’ll have something good for the beginning of February.

To see about attending this event near you, check out the MSDN Events website. Also, MSDN Dev Con is still going on, I’m sad I missed it, but you don’t have to be sad as well!

http://www.msdnevents.com/

Technorati Tags: MSDN Events,Azure Debugging and Mobility,DevCon

Passing the 070-536 Revisited

Stacy Vicknair — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:27:39 GMT

So, yesterday I passed the 070-536, and I wanted to revisit my list of helpful insights. I wanted to add a couple new insights to the mix in particular. Here are the additional insights, and these will probably remain steadfast for all .NET exams:

Go in with a deep understanding of core operations. If something is often used or is referenced in the training kit, get a really good grip on it.
Isolate the differences in each answer. Look at what could be wrong, and use your best judgment.
Finally, remember that .NET is meant to help tasks be easy to code! Sometimes the easiest solution really is the right solution.

I hope that these vague tips can help you, because they touch on the core knowledge when it comes to testing. Be good at .NET and know the subject, but also don’t panic and be a good tester.

The old blog was posted at this link:

Click To View Entry

Technorati Tags: 070-536,Microsoft Certification

Hot-To: Model a Work Breakdown Structure with Project 2007 and Visio 2007

Stacy Vicknair — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:05:25 GMT

If you’re trying to make a WBS from your suite of 2007 applications, Microsoft Download Center has a Visio add-on that might save you some time.

To get a WBS pumped out quickly, just do the following:

Download and install Microsoft Office Visio 2007 WBS Modeler.
Open Visio, and start from the new WBS Modeler.
Open Project and open the project you want to make a WBS for.
In Visio, click WBS Modeler, then Import From Microsoft Office Project…

Click through a couple more settings and here you have it. An easy WBS, and best of all it is free! When I was looking around the best alternative looks like it will run you around $200.

Technorati Tags: Project,Visio,WBS