Oh, the humanity! How I hate it when I get “The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections.”

Page Brooks and I were just talking about how it only happens to you when you are in a bit of a hurry, and need to get something done ASAP. You are allowed two remote terminal sessions.

The problem usually isn’t that there are too many people logged in. The problem is almost always that people disconnected from their without ending their session or logging out. So terminal services thinks the connection is still active, but just idle.

One option is to use the Computer Management Console, and choose Action, Connect to another computer…, Services and Applications, and then go to Terminal Services Manager and log off or disconnect the sessions.

I found out about a more powerful command line version that was able to work for me. I think the above didn’t work because our servers are virtualized.

1. run the following from a command prompt: query session /server:servername
2. Next run the following: reset session [ID] /server:servername

Ah, it just works. So much better now. Me and our servers are friends again.

It happens all the time. You’re working in Visual Studio, and you need to work with an object that is in a namespace you haven’t declared yet. For example, you need to create a WebRequest in the System.Net namespace.

You have a few choices, some easy and some hard: You could add a using or import statement at the top of the class file as in “using System.NET”. You could fully qualify the object as in “System.Net.WebRequest”. You could try to click that tiny, tiny little red rectangle that will open the Smart Tag. You could type “CTRL + SHIFT + F10”. Or you could take the easy road and simply enter “Ctrl + .”.

“Ctrl + .” Rocks! Try it, you’ll love it!

 

Feedback:

What is your favorite Visual Studio 2008 tip or trick? Tell us all about it in the comments section. I’m keeping score: Me 2 / Readers 0.

 

PowerPoint: 31 Days of Visual Studio 2008 Tips & Tricks.pptx (Note: PowerPoint is updated daily to include new items.)

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Chris Craft

Topic: Windows Mobile Programming

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008, is the next meeting of the Pee Dee Area .NET User Group.

Chris Craft will be presenting at Microsoft Mobility Roadshow alongside Brian Hitney, Glen Gordon, and Lou Vega in Charlotte - June 18, 2008 and Atlanta (Alpharetta) - June 24, 2008. These are full day Windows Mobile device application development events.  PDANUG will be hosting our own special "Welcome to the World of Windows Mobile" event to keep in theme these two MSDN events.
Focus will be Windows Mobile 6.x and using Visual Studio 2008 to developer mobile applications.
Topics to be covered:

•       Intro to Windows Mobile
•       Data Guidance (some discussion of line of business applications)
•       Whole New Level

Speaker Bio
Chris Craft
Pee Dee Area .NET User Group
Florence, SC      
•    Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Application Development MVP
•    Cofounder and regular speaker of Pee Dee Area .NET User Group.
•    Frequent CodeProject.com article author.
•    Expert's Exchange Windows Mobile Programming Master.
Email: ccraft@pdanug.net
Web: http://pdanug.net/
Blog: http://cjcraft.com/blog/

Here is the tentative schedule:
6:00 PM - 6:20 PM Socializing / Free Dinner
6:20 PM - 6:30 PM Introduction, Sponsor Time, and News.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Presentations

Heroes Happen {Here}: Hands On Lab Manuals [Source: Paulo's Blog]

Windows Server 2008

• Windows Server 2008: Assessment and Planning
• Creating Windows PowerShell v2 Script Cmdlets
• Scripting with Windows PowerShell v1
• What's New in Windows PowerShell v2
• Windows Server 2008: Server Manager
• Introduction to MS Deployment Tools

• Lite Touch Installation with MS Deployment
• Zero Touch Installation with MS Deployment
• Deploying SSTP Remote Access
• Failover Clustering with Windows Server 2008
• MS Identity Lifecycle Manager 2 Beta 2
• Lifecycle Manager 2007 Meta Directory Sync

Download All (zipped file: 7.32 MB)

Visual Studio 2008

• ASP.NET AJAX, New Features
• Visual Studio Tools for Office with MOSS 2007
• .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Development
• Visual Studio 2008: Developing Outlook Add-ins
• Windows Communication Foundation and REST
• Integrating WCF and WF

• Developing a WPF Application
• Lighting up MFC Applications on Windows Vista
• Building Web Applications
• Client Application Services using WPF
• C# 3.0 Language Enhancements
• Visual Basic 9.0 Language Enhancements

Download All (zipped file: 13.2 MB)

SQL Server 2008

• SQL Server 2008 Change Data Capture
• What is new in SQL Server 2008 for DBA's
• Using SQL Server 2008 Resource Governor
• Partition Processing for DW
• SQL Server 2008: Reporting Infrastructure
• Managing SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
• Analysis Services through MS Office
• Data Mining with SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management
• Performance Studio in SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 Database Mirroring
• SQL Server 2008 Online Operations

• SQL Server 2008 Peer-to-Peer Replication
• SQL Server 2008 Database Architecture
• SQL Server 2008 Table Index and Partitioning
• SQL Server 2008 Data Snapshots
• SQL Server 2008 Data Recovery
• SQL Server 2008 Instant Initialization
• Table Valued Parameters in SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 DATE/TIME Data Type
• Occasionally Connected Applications
• SQL Server 2008 Spatial Capabilities: GEOGRAPHY
• Plan Freezing with SQL Server 2008
• Transparent Data Encryption in SQL Server 2008

Download All (zipped file: 20.5 MB)

Hands On Lab Manuals

Windows Server 2008

• Windows Server 2008: Assessment and Planning
• Creating Windows PowerShell v2 Script Cmdlets
• Scripting with Windows PowerShell v1
• What's New in Windows PowerShell v2
• Windows Server 2008: Server Manager
• Introduction to MS Deployment Tools

• Lite Touch Installation with MS Deployment
• Zero Touch Installation with MS Deployment
• Deploying SSTP Remote Access
• Failover Clustering with Windows Server 2008
• MS Identity Lifecycle Manager 2 Beta 2
• Lifecycle Manager 2007 Meta Directory Sync

Download All (zipped file: 7.32 MB)

Visual Studio 2008

• ASP.NET AJAX, New Features
• Visual Studio Tools for Office with MOSS 2007
• .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Development
• Visual Studio 2008: Developing Outlook Add-ins
• Windows Communication Foundation and REST
• Integrating WCF and WF

• Developing a WPF Application
• Lighting up MFC Applications on Windows Vista
• Building Web Applications
• Client Application Services using WPF
• C# 3.0 Language Enhancements
• Visual Basic 9.0 Language Enhancements

Download All (zipped file: 13.2 MB)

SQL Server 2008

• SQL Server 2008 Change Data Capture
• What is new in SQL Server 2008 for DBA's
• Using SQL Server 2008 Resource Governor
• Partition Processing for DW
• SQL Server 2008: Reporting Infrastructure
• Managing SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
• Analysis Services through MS Office
• Data Mining with SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management
• Performance Studio in SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 Database Mirroring
• SQL Server 2008 Online Operations

• SQL Server 2008 Peer-to-Peer Replication
• SQL Server 2008 Database Architecture
• SQL Server 2008 Table Index and Partitioning
• SQL Server 2008 Data Snapshots
• SQL Server 2008 Data Recovery
• SQL Server 2008 Instant Initialization
• Table Valued Parameters in SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 DATE/TIME Data Type
• Occasionally Connected Applications
• SQL Server 2008 Spatial Capabilities: GEOGRAPHY
• Plan Freezing with SQL Server 2008
• Transparent Data Encryption in SQL Server 2008

Download All (zipped file: 20.5 MB)

It's almost that time. What time is it you ask? Well, it's only 4 days, 02 hours, 20 minutes, and 22 seconds left until this year's Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Global Summit.

And the best part, at least for me :D, is that'll I'll be going this year. I can't wait to meet all the other MVP's, and to get to hang out with some of my developer friends that I don't get to see nearly enough.

This year's conference looks to be really exciting. I'm expecting some big news to come out of Redmond next week.

And I was able to find a great "utility" to help me keep track of when the conference starts: :D

Windows Vista "MVP Global Summit Countdown" Sidebar Gadget

About a dozen of us are getting up early tomorrow, leaving at 4:30am, to ride up to Charlotte, NC to attend the Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and SQL Server 2008 launch event there.

Not only do you get to attend a great event hosted by Microsoft for free. But you'll also get to take home a promotional kit with versions of all three products.

You should definitely make a point of attending one of the launch events in your area!

http://www.heroeshappenhere.com/

I'll try and twitter updates from the event live tomorrow: http://twitter.com/CJCraft

Due to the scheduling conflict with the Heroes Happen Here Event in Charlotte, the April PDANUG Event has been moved to April 29th, 2008.  More details to follow.  See you all in Charlotte tomorrow!

---

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Chris Reeder, Chris Craft, and Page Brooks
Topic: SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008 (Respectively)

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008, is the next meeting of the Pee Dee Area .NET User Group.

Chris Reeder, Chris Craft, and Page Brooks will be presenting on the latest exciting new products from Microsoft.  First, Chris Reeder will give us a run down on a few cool features in SQL Server 2008.  Next, Chris Craft will take us on a tour of some excellent new features in Internet Information Services 7 (IIS7).  Page Brooks will finish off the presentation with a few cool tips and tricks in Visual Studio 2008.

Please click the link below to register.  We use this information to determine how much food to buy!

Here is the tentative schedule:
6:00 PM - 6:20 PM Socializing / Free Dinner
6:20 PM - 6:30 PM Introduction, Sponsor Time, and News.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Presentations

If you have ever used Total Commander for Windows then you know how fast it is. It gives the command prompt a run for its money.

I was looking around the other day, and notice there is a version for Windows Mobile and it is FREE. Grab it here.

 

Main features:

• Copy, Move whole subdirectories
• In place rename, create directories
• Delete (no recycle bin)
• Zip and unzip
• Properties dialog, change attributes
• Built-in text editor
• Search function (also for text)
• Select/unselect groups of files
• Select with [Sel] button
• FTP client
• Registry editor
• LAN access
• Send/Receive via Infrared (OBEX)
• Brief, full and large icons mode
• Single or two file window mode
• Option to hide all files in ROM
• Directory hot list as in Total Commander
• Directory history through drop down list
• Tree view
• Configurable button bar
• Simple help function
• Supported languages: English, German, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Swedish

 

Today a friend of mine called me, and asked me to help him with a problem he was having.

I soon learned that he has an ASP.NET application set up on Windows Server 2003, but he couldn't get the application to load in the browser. Anytime he tried it would always give him a "404 File Not Found" error.

We checked all the usual suspects: IIS running, ASP.NET installed, Web site and virtual directory set up and configured correctly, permissions, checked for a App_Offline.htm file, and so on.

Everything looked good, and we still couldn't see the page. I thought this was odd, we should be seeing something. I then decided to try viewing some static items like images, and some html pages that we in the Web site as well. Wow, these would actually come through fine every time. For some reason, ASP.NET just didn't like us.

I have to admit, I didn't see the answer at this point and I turned to the Web. It took some considerable search-fu, but after a little while I was able to find the source of our troubles.

By default Windows Server 2003 has a security policy enabled that prevents Active Server Pages from running.

Here's all you need to do if you ever run into this:

Open IIS manager, and check Web Service Extension folder, make sure ASP.NET extension is listed and marked as "Allowed".

I couldn't resist making the trip down to Columbia, SC to experience the Columbia Enterprise Developers Guild's Visual Studio 2008 Install Fest.

Glen Gordon and Chris Eargle did a great job hosting this event.

There were a little over 25 attend, and everyone walked away with a copy of Visual Studio 2008 Professional.

During the event everyone had an opportunity to experience Halo 3 and Rock Band for the XBox 360.

And there was a special appearance by Halo's Master Chief himself. I don't have any actual pictures, but the image below is close to the experience.

Microsoft has created another awesome resource for Windows Mobile developers!

INNOVATE ON Windows Mobile located at http://www.innovateonwindowsmobile.com/.

Learn Webcasts Microsoft Virtual Labs Books How-tos Videos
Develop Technical support incidents Online communities Blogs and wikis MVPs Windows Mobile related sites Newsgroups Windows Mobile webcasts Windows Mobile newsletter Events
Test Certify and sign your application now, and Microsoft will pay for it—up to US$800. Guarantee compatibility. Receive complimentary testing—worth US$400. Ensure authenticity. Receive complimentary code signing—worth US$400.
Market Market–Mobile2Market certification Publish your application Sell your application

 

"Get the new Microsoft Office Mobile and you’ll have Office 2007 file compatibility in hand."

Pretty cool free offer from Microsoft. If you have a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone or Windows Mobile 5.0 touch screen device that came with an earlier version of Office Mobile you can upgrade to Office Mobile 6.1 for free.

Get the new Office Mobile

Ars Technica has a good write up of Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta.

Windows Live Messenger 9 Features

• Multiple Points of Presence Support: Ever been annoyed by the fact that logging onto Messenger from another computer logs you out of the first one? If so, you'll be glad to be able to log on from multiple locations at once. And so will you.
• Signature sounds: Find new and creative ways to annoy your coworkers with personalized sound signatures.
• Per-contact sounds: That one friend who keeps annoying you with constant IM's? Give them a rude sound.
• Animated .GIF display pictures: Now your friends can be forced to look at your baby while he's making silly faces.
• Links in status messages: As if there wasn't enough to click on, now URLs in the status bar can be clicked.
• Anti-spam filter: You can now report users who spam you via IM, which should do absolutely nothing to stop them in future.

Get the new Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta

Yesterday, Saturday, October 20, 2007, I did a presentation at the Fall 2007 Charlotte Code Camp. I actually ended up doing an encore presentation due to the overwhelming number of people who showed up. My presentation was titled "Visual Studio 2005 Tips & Tricks".

Presentation Highlights:

• Tons and tons of Visual Studio 2005 keyboard shortcuts
• Windows keyboard shortcuts
• Internet Web browser shortcuts
• Many developer utilities and tools for Visual Studio 2005
• and more..

If you attended the event, or are just curious, and would like to have the slide deck I presented just use the link below:

Visual Studio 2005 Tips & Tricks Presentation PowerPoint

Last week I did a presentation at our South Carolina Code Camp 2.0. It was a great event, and I think the presentation went very well. My presentation was titled "A Lap around Windows Mobile", and I showed it during my Welcome to the World of Windows Mobile Development session.

Presentation Highlights:

• What's new in Windows Mobile 6
• Demonstration of AT&T Tilt 8925
• Overview of Compact Framework .NET
• Overview of SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition
• Overview of OpenNETCF's Smart Device Framework
• Demos
• Silverlight Mobile
• And more...

If you attended the event, or are just curious, and would like to have the slide deck I presented just use the link below:

Welcome to the World of Windows Mobile Development: A Lap around Windows Mobile Presentation PowerPoint

I really like Windows Mobile Live Search. It's a great example of how to make a truly standout application for Windows Mobile.

It looks great and it works great. And now it even has speech recognition.

The only Live Search for Windows Mobile needs now to really give TomTom a run for its money is text-to-speech support for reading out direction that need to be taken in order to reach given destination.

 

Maps and Navigation	Quick and Natural Interaction	Theater Show Times
Gas Prices	Traffic Conditions	Turn-by-Turn Directions

Right now you can get a free USB 2.0 2GB Flash Drive when you buy CA Internet Security Suite 2007, which includes Anti-Virus, Personal Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, and more.

It comes with three licenses, and it is Vista compatible. The Flash Drive is tiny, and can be snapped into a credit card size carry case if desired. Also the flash drive is ReadyBoost capable.

It is a free after rebate deal, $59.99 before rebate at CircuitCity.com, or you can buy it off eBay for around $20-$25 after shipping.