NOTE PAGES^*

Sql Server: Filtering based on given number of days prior today

Escape Characters Microsoft Access
Escape Characters MS Access
Escape Characters VBA
Escape Ampersand VBA
Escaping Ampersand VBA
Escape Ampersand C# ASP.NET
Escaping Ampersand C# ASP.NET
Ampersand Escape Character VBA
Ampersand Escape Character MS Access
Escape & Microsoft Access
Escape & MS Access

Nonbreaking Space C# ASP.NET (more)

Nonbreaking LineBreak C# ASP.NET (more)

Ampersand C# ASP.NET (more)

More Escape Sequences C# ASP.NET (more)

Changing normal.dot

File/Page Setup
 
Click the 'Default' button to be given opportunity to use the current document as the new 'normal.dot' in Microsoft Word.

Yes, I know. It makes no sense at all to have 'Default' refer to "changing" the default, but that's how it works.

Secret Code

Although there is an obvious and glaring error, this is what it took to both display a SQL Server image, then align it to the right. However, it doesn't matter how you say it: Storing images in SQL Server,  using SQL Server to store images, using SQL Server to display images, databinding images with ASP.NET and SQL Server, or browsing web enabled database images with ASP.NET and SQL Server, this little trick took a long fucking time to find, then futz into working order.

BTW: the mistake is that <p align="right" is not closed with an /p  tag, nor (as of 09/28/05) have I found any authority that would say the syntax is correct, but this is the only way I could get it to work??! Of course, none of this makes any sense whatsoever out of context, and without viewing the "getHorsePhoto.aspx" code behind, but the results can be viewed at:

http://www.equipoise.com/search/select/getHorseAuto.aspx

Endico Scan/Print Procedures

Pre-press scan and prep submittal process for print service providers - Endico haute conduite watercolors.

Web Enabled Database Test

04/27/05: updated "Page" directive in all non-forms aspx files to:

 <%@Page Language="c#" Debug="False" EnableSessionState="False" %>

per:  asp.netPRO Magazine May 2005, p.  19
re:    tuning performance by disabling the default Session State Manager where not needed

K4 Bogus Hit Counter

SQL Server:	Dynamic Bibliography
Bibliography:	Click, Copy, Paste...	Link to: Functioning Code
Endico:	ListBox | get_files	Link to: Functioning Code

MDAC 2.8 download: Developers (not casual users), unless you update all your computers with this Microsoft download you are going to have immense trouble getting your data connections to work with any reliability.

Ports

Windows Server Port Requirements

Microsoft download site listing of default port usage in Excel spreadsheet format.

Unicode

http://www.unicode.org/

Legend

The following table indicates which modifiers are indicated by Icons found on the MSDN Library.

	public method
	static
	protected method
	public property
	protected property
	public event

C# Best Practices

UTF-8 encoding provides best portability for source text files

World's Simplest C# Program (aka: Simple C# Programming Guide)

Here is the world's simplest C# program.
 

[C#] class Simplest {      static void Main()      {           System.Console.WriteLine("namespace.class.method");      } }

Just copy/paste the above text, beginning with the word 'class' to and including the final '}'  into a pure text file (using Notepad set the "Save as type:" to "All Files" and set "Encoding" to UTF-8), then save it with a name of your choosing to compile. Information about compiling from the command prompt is found in:

Liberty, Jesse. Learning C#. Cambridge: O'Reilly, 2002., pp. 8-9.

Be aware the figure '[C#]' above is not part of the program but merely points out that the language is C#. You will find this is a standard convention used to present code examples online.

Unfortunately a large number of published examples, such as the one that the above snippet was abstracted from, lead to confusion by including extraneous code in order to allow for expansion later in the text. The original Liberty example (p. 4), which the above code is based on, adds a namespace definition that is not required for the code to run. The code above has been simplified from the Liberty snippet to assure the true essence of C# stands out.

Another example of such misdirection can be found in:

Cooper, James W. C# Design Patterns: A Tutorial. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 2003., p. 17

Point number 2 states:

The program starts from a function called Main, and it must have exactly the following form.

static void Main(string[] args)

Of course my "World's Simplest C# Code" proves that 'string[] args' is not necessary, and also reveals the italics used for 'exactly' is an overstatement of misguidance.

If you are working your way through Liberty, be aware that there are numerous such errors and misdirections. For example, page 17 shows a use of the keyword 'private' which is not possible in the position shown. Also 'string' (a C# keyword) is capitalized by mistake. The VS.NET IDE catches the first mistake, while the second one is allowed inside the IDE but does not work if coded, compiled and run outside it.

In a French version of an O'Reilly book, I found a dubious procedure given as a coding example. It's  on page 4 of:

Drayton, Peter, Ben Albahari, and Ted Neward. C#: Précis & Concis. Trans. Yannick Aristidi. Paris: O'Reilly, 2002.

In any case the code example above is the simplest possible functional program that can be written using C# and the .NET Framework. Beginning with the line "class Simplest," each element is absolutely necessary for the code to run.

However, you can change two of the elements to suit your taste.

The word "Simplest" is just the name that I gave it. Plus it is capitalized only because that is a standard convention for words in that place. You might want to call it "tiny" or "Genius" or "pure," whatever pleases you. The words 'namespace.class.method' can also be anything you want—from "a" to 新年好 or anything in between, plus the dots (.) are not required. Using the string  'namespace.class.method' was done here to make the result of running the code somewhat instructive.

The instructive aspect is that the result that is written to your screen shows the keywords for the first two positions of the previous code statement with the name of the structural unit for the last position. That is to say 'System' is the namespace, 'Console' is the class, 'WriteLine' is the method. Be mindful that the statement 'System.Console.WriteLine' does in fact require the dots (.) plus the capitalization, but the characters within the double quotations ("namespace.class.method") can be any.

For more about defining the basic C# language constituents see: C# Morphology.
 

NOT PSEUDO-CODE

Below are two snippets of code that appeared to be pseudo-code on first glance, but in fact (taken together) they compile, run perfectly, and provide incredible insight into the inner workings of C#.

Copy/Paste,  Save and Compile both snippets using the simple directions following them.

Displaying Microsoft SQL Server Images with C# and ASP.NET

Here it is, clear and simple. See the Online links below. You will have to know a little bit about C#.

Then you can just copy paste the code samples into NotePad, save each page as a text file with the suggested names into any web folder, set up a SQL table as indicated, alter your NotePad copies of the code's SQL connection strings to match your own server address, user id (user name), password, and the name of your database where you put the new table. Afterwards open the aspx pages in your browser. The code works.

Please use online version.

Online:

| Part 1 | Part 2 - | page 1 | page 2 |

If unavailable, this archive version has been maintained in case online resource disappears.

Archived:

| Part 1 | Part 2:  | page 1 | page 2 |

The only thing I don't like about the superdotnet.com site, where these articles come from, is the anonymity of the writers. I can deal with the flashing pop-ups and banners, since the quality of information is so high, but I would like to know who (not what) to credit.

However, this bit of information about viewing images in a SQL Server database is certainly worth the trouble and also seems to be something that should be addressed in every book about the subject of C#, ASP.NET, and web enabled databases. It isn't.

Here is a link to a database that works the way it should. It has simple controls and fast returns from 4341 files. Unfortunately it is not done with SQL Server but with FileMakerPro, or so I gather from the URLs that always mention "FMPro": Botanical Image Database, University of Basel.

Circular Logic Oddity

In C# a class may sometimes call itself, from within itself with no ill effects.

This next snippet of code points out an illogical aspect of C# programming. This code runs without incident, but the logic implies an infinite loop could result.

 

[C#] using System; namespace StaticTester {      class Tester      {           public void Run()           {                Console.WriteLine("Hellow World!");           }            static void Main()            {                 Tester t = new Tester();                 t.Run();            }       } }

From inside the class Tester, Main() instantiates a new instance of class Tester which would logically also call its own instance of Main() which in turn would instantiate a new Tester(), again, again, and again. However, this does not happen. The code runs, and C# has taken care of another problem for you.

The snippet above was simplified by removing the comment lines from an example in:

Liberty, Jesse. Learning C#. Cambridge: O'Reilly, 2002., pp. 105-6.

Time Stamp C# ASP.NET

06/27/03: VS .NET does not provide a simple TimeStamp in the manner of FrontPage, a Google search found a snippet of code on the Visual Studio Magazine Site that did the trick. However the VS.NET IDE makes using this code a complex issue. So...

10/05/03: A better solution to the Time Stamp problem was found in "Beginning ASP.NET with C#," Goode et al., p. 50, but an even more trivial answer was derived by simply trying a variation on the code sample given in the book. Here's my variation:
 

[C#] time.Text = DateTime.Now.ToString(); <asp:label id="time" runat="server"/>

Place the first line in your C# <script> block and the second line anywhere in your html that you wish the time stamp to appear.

Note: The "[C#]" comment is merely a convention to indicate the programming language used. It is not part of the code.

BTW: If you want more than one Time Stamp on a page, you must copy both lines with a new id, such as "time2.Text" for the first line and "label id=time2" for the second.

See also HOWTO: Prevent Caching in Internet Explorer, a microsoft.com article that addresses keeping pages current, or you may View/Source on this page and check out the headers .

VS.NET

Logical placement of created files for New Projects:

1) in IIS MMC create virtual directory using proposed project name (e.g., myName)

2) create project (myName) in VS allowing localhost location

3) myName.sln & myName.sou files will be automatically placed in new browsable localhost folder (myName) while remaining VS files will be placed in physical location of your pre-named (myName) virtual directory

In addition to the *.sln and *.sou files mentioned in item 3 above that are placed in the browsable localhost root directory, for New Projects VS creates and automatically places default files in the physical location of your named (myName) virtual directory. These files are:

[bin] (empty folder)
AssemblyInfo.cs
Global.asax
Global.asax.cs
Global.asax.resx
Web.config
WebForm1.aspx
WebForm1.aspx.cs
WebForm1.aspx.resx
myName.csproj
myName.csproj.webinfo
myName.vsdisco

However, only the following files are viewed in Solution Explorer from within VS:

AssemblyInfo.cs
Global.asax
Web.config
WebForm1.aspx
WhatIsWhere4.vsdisco

the remaining *.cs files are available through context sensitive clicking "View Code" links such as "WebForm1.aspx.cs" displays when clicking "View Code" (F7) while focus is on WebForm1.aspx.
 

ASP.NET

For coding aspx (web pages) 'Page_Load()' is essentially equivalent in usage to the code blocks with ID 'Main()' used in Console and Windows Applications. The server will begin with the "Page_Load()" code block, and if the ID (Page_Load) is misspelled the C# code will be broken—even though the remaining html will display normally.

Pages 39 & 55 of Goode et al. 2003 shows folder permissions set to: "Scripts and Executables" when, in fact, "Scripts Only" is all that is necessary. Furthermore, if set as shown, Front Page will refuse to allow publication of files stating "/" is and executable directory and downloading files is not permitted.

Per Goode et al. 2003 p. 29: using "127.0.0.1" is synonymous with "localhost" in the context of "http://localhost/";  but, oddly, on my computer "127.0.01" and "127.001" functions in the same way. Otherwise, "127001" is refused as would be expected.

Files Downloaded for Academic Archive^†

Natural vs. Programming Languages

Chat re: Port 80 blocked (chat file found re: Optimum blocking Port 80)

06/09/03: After much confusion regarding inability to serve web pages from home, found the chat room thread linked above using Google search: "optimum online" "blocking port 80"; reassigned links and server to Port 9003 per IAIA statement that 9003 is "Unassigned."

For assistance checking connectivity and working through the Port 80 problem thanks to: Katherine Doob, Ian Duke, Katherine Endico, Rob Fichter, John Mitchell.

Time Stamp C#: Visual Studio Magazine article (find code at "see Listing 1")

Reading Notes^††

Kennedy, 1998

Archival Copy of early KeyTap^®

Following are links outlining early KeyTap, and my involvement in the Sugar Loaf Community.

First is a description of Sugar Loaf circa 1996 that is abstracted from the KeyTap web site. Second is a pdf copy of the document that offered free membership to the Sugar Loaf Guild in June of 1997. This document describes benefits and services, offered at no charge, for artisans living and working in the hamlet. Third is a link to the full early KeyTap site with its sub-links to other aggregations such as the sites of members of the Artisan's of Sugar Loaf that resulted from the KeyTap offer.

Brief History of Sugar Loaf Guild

This link opens a brief description of Sugar Loaf village of Artisans at the time the invitation to join the Sugar Loaf Guild (see link below) was presented to the various organizations within the community.

[pdf] Invitation to Sugar Loaf Guild Membership (June 1997/92 kb)

This is a PDF copy of the original document that offered free membership and outlined the benefits of joining the Sugar Loaf Guild.

Unfortunately the Internet plus electronic tracking/communications in general were new concepts and not well understood, so a standard response was, "Ok...but what's in it for us?" Yes, I was as shocked as you.

Despite the lack of understanding I kept the offer open, in conjunction with the Artisans of Sugar Loaf (a committee of the Sugar Loaf Foundation), for the next four years hoping enough people would come online to see what this computer stuff was all about. They may get here someday yet.

For a time KeyTap also hosted gratis the official web site for the Town of Chester, NY. That site never achieved actual content due to an aggressive proactive stance on the part of the Town Board and other local government agencies to "hide all information possible from the public." But that is another story and one I didn't quite understand at the time, even though I served eight years on the Planning Board. Here's the brief.

One person who was supposed to be one of my liaisons was subsequently convicted of embezzlement, plus another was removed from their position by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Those events define the tip of a very deep iceberg which was itself not even slightly thawed by the heat directed on it. I personally considered my last official duty as Planning Board member to be the 2 hours and 45 minutes spent in a private meeting with an FBI agent, handing over a wealth of information I gathered and begging for something to be done. Those events gave me a refined sense of how it comes about that some people may find it necessary to fly big jets into tall buildings. I absolutely do not condone such action, but I sure do understand it.

KeyTap® Early Years

When following this link, be aware that a unique use of straight HTML, plus a clever use of directory naming conventions extended from DNS functions available at the time (1996), combined in a way that allowed each site of the Sugar Loaf Guild Members and Artisans of Sugar Loaf to function discretely, separating each individual site from from all others as well as the remaining KeyTap content. At the same time the whole of KeyTap was easily browsed from a central aggregation on three levels. Individual sites were named for easy typing, because domain names were expensive, but subdirectories were free.

Early KeyTap presaged Internet portals, but it went a step further by providing mediation. It remains a glimpse at the good that may come.

this page was last updated: 07/31/2007 01:41:24 AM