CodeGuru Update eNewsletter - April 11th, 2006

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CodeGuru Newsletter
April 11, 2006
http://www.CodeGuru.com

This newsletter is part of the Developer.com, EarthWeb, and internet.com networks.
Jupitermedia Corporation

___________________________ Sponsors ________________________________
Jupiterimages
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TOPICS:

--> Editorial -
        - Do you know what Viridian is? 
        - Is Internet Explorer going to bust your apps?
        - Where oh, where has the little SQL Server gone?

--> Recently Published Books

--> New Articles on CodeGuru: 
        ==> Algorithms
                - zlib: Add Industrial Strength Compression to Your C/C++ Apps
        ==> Classes
                - [Updated] Tree Container Library
        ==> C++ Language
                - VSTS Annotations for C++: Beyond Just Documenting Method Behavior
        ==> C# Language
                - C# Generics Part 3/4: Casting, Inheritance, and Generic Methods
        ==> Databases
                - Storing Session State in a SQL Server Database
        ==> Database
                - Enterprise Data Management with SQL
        ==> Debugging
                - Quick Debugger Visualizers in Visual Studio 2005
        ==> dialogs
                - [Updated] TIP: Dialog-Based, Single-Instance Applications
        ==> EL 2.0
                - Enterprise Library 2.0: Building Named Extensions in the Configuration Console
        ==> Internet
                - Automatically Hyperlink URLs and E-Mail Addresses in ASP.NET Pages with C#
        ==> Networking
                - [Updated] MODBUS Serial RTU + TCP/IP Simulator

--> Discussion Groups -- HOT Threads
        - Call COM IDispatch Method (C++)
        - Default arguments (C++)
        - References vs Pointers (C++)

--> Highlighted new articles on Developer.com 
        1. Serializing an Object via a Client/Server Connection
        2. Speeding Up AJAX with JSON
        3. Processing Image Pixels, Applying Image Convolution in Java

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Comments from the Editor
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...Do you know what Viridian is?

In last week's newsletter (http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,1grg,30b,jorm,i5r0 ) I mentioned that Microsoft had changed the pricing on Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2. Continuing with the virtual server topic, I thought it worthy to mention the codename "Viridian".

Viridian is the codename for a future virtualization product coming from Microsoft that is based on hypervisor technology. According to postings on the web, Viridian won't be available until 2008. Even so, when it does release, it will provide even better support for virtualization, including 64-bit support. More so, what makes this technology interesting is that it will run  below the operating system. Watch for more on this as we get closer to its release. In the mean time, you have a new code word you  can toss around!

...Is Internet Explorer going to bust your apps?

Have you played with the Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta yet? It is now available on line at:

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,5ns3,fefi,jorm,i5r0

If you develop web-based applications, then you will want to take a look at this newest version of IE even though it is still in beta form. Due to a number of changes, there is a very good chance that your web application could run into issues with IE 7.

IE 7 has several changes to improve security as well as to be more in line with the standards. Some of the areas that could be impacted in you applications include security compatibility issues, internationalized name support, HTTP Security changes, CSS compatibility, ActiveX security, and working with protected mode. For example, IE 7 may block content that was not blocked before. You can find more informaiton on all of these areas and Internet Explorer on the Microsoft web site.

Microsoft has already provided a toolkit to help check for compatibility issues. The Temporary Internet Explorer 7 Application Compatibility Toolkit can be downloaded from Microsoft at:

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,2l50,2v07,jorm,i5r0

This toolkit will help provide additional information such as letting you know why content is blocked. While this toolkit is only temporarily available, it should help you if you want to get an early start on making sure your applications will work cleanly with IE 7 when it releases.

... Where oh, where has the little SQL Server gone?

Oh where, oh where can it be? The answer is simple, Everywhere!

Microsoft made many of us very happy with the release of SQL Server Express to replace MSDE. A free version of SQL Server, called SQL Server Everywhere Edition, is expected to release later this year.

Microsoft has announced this even smaller version of SQL Server is targeted for mobile and other solutions that are constrained for space. With SQL Server Everywhere Edition, you get a stripped down edition perfectly aimed at mobile developers. More importantly, this lightweight version will be free for stand-alone use. You won't need a license unless you connect up a full copy of SQL Server.

In that case, you will need a client license. For more on this release, check out:

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,jxcf,hwrj,jorm,i5r0

Until next week...

Brad!
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Bradley L. Jones
www.CodeGuru.com
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Recently Published Books
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For those of you keeping up by reading books. The following are just a few of the new books that have been recently released. If you've read any of these, feel free to write a review to be posted on CodeGuru. See the submission guidelines at:

http://www.codeguru.com/review-guidelines.php

--> Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++ 2005
      By Ivor Horton for WROX
      1200 pages for $49.99
      http://books.internet.com/books/0764571974

--> Working with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
      By Mike Snyder & Jim Steger for Microsoft Press
      580 pages for $49.99 w/ CD
      http://books.internet.com/books/0735622590

--> SQL Server 2005 Distilled
      By Eric L. Brown for Addison Wesley
      320 pages for $34.99
      http://books.internet.com/books/0321349792

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New & Updated Articles on CodeGuru
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Following are short descriptions of new articles on CodeGuru. If you are interested in submitting your own article for inclusion on the site, then you will find guidelines located at http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,fka1,909i,jorm,i5r0

This week's posted CodeGuru articles:

==================
==== Articles ====
==================

==> Algorithms

- zlib: Add Industrial Strength Compression to Your C/C++ Apps
    By Victor Volkman
The zlib compression library enables developers to integrate lossless compression into their application suites with ease. The benefits are saved time, space, and therefore money.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,jw5t,976s,jorm,i5r0

==> Classes

- [Updated] Tree Container Library
    By Mitchel Haas
The TCL consists of four template container classes, similar to those found in the STL.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,4fb2,25mk,jorm,i5r0

==> C++ Language

- VSTS Annotations for C++: Beyond Just Documenting Method Behavior
    By Nick Wienholt
Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) code annotations enable C++ developers to attach metadata to a method's parameters to explicitly define the correct usage of the method.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,2g31,9uwe,jorm,i5r0

==> C# Language

- C# Generics Part 3/4: Casting, Inheritance, and Generic Methods
    By Patrick Smacchia
A further study into the use of generics in C#2.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,mfow,lbz1,jorm,i5r0

==> Databases

- Storing Session State in a SQL Server Database
    By Bipin Joshi
In ASP.NET 2.0, you can customize the session state store as per your requirement. Explore one of the scalable and reliable approaches for storing session variables -- SQL Server.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,4hoa,4d51,jorm,i5r0

==> Database

- Enterprise Data Management with SQL
    By Addison-Wesley Professional Books
Read about the "big picture" guide to SQL Server 2005 for every manager, DBA, and developer.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,h5po,jomt,jorm,i5r0

==> Debugging

- Quick Debugger Visualizers in Visual Studio 2005
    By Mike Gunderloy
Debugger visualizers allow you to provide a custom user interface for the display of particular classes of data when your program is in debug mode. While there are some complex use cases for this, you can actually derive considerable benefit from very simple debugger visualizers -- ones that take ten minutes or less to build.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,jdjt,ciwy,jorm,i5r0

==> dialogs

- [Updated] TIP: Dialog-Based, Single-Instance Applications
    By pkhach
Limit your dialog-based programs to a single instance by modifying the dialog template.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,jw11,kvyv,jorm,i5r0

==> EL 2.0

- Enterprise Library 2.0: Building Named Extensions in the Configuration Console
    By Vijay Mehta
See how the Configuration Console is an extremely powerful tool that can be used to simplify creating and editing .config files.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,1k1d,5xs9,jorm,i5r0

==> Internet

- Automatically Hyperlink URLs and E-Mail Addresses in ASP.NET Pages with C#

    By Roland Luo
Learn how to hyperlink URLs and e-mail addresses in ASP.NET pages with C#.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,cvss,itly,jorm,i5r0

==> Networking

- [Updated] MODBUS Serial RTU + TCP/IP Simulator
    By Conrad Braam
If you are unable to find a free Modbus Slave simulator, here is one. (The article and downloadables were updated.)

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,kycx,4zzg,jorm,i5r0

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Discussion Groups
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Check out the CodeGuru discussion forums at:

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,bcr8,cx5j,jorm,i5r0

Forums include Visual C++, General C++, Visual Basic, Java, General Technology, C#, ASP.NET, XML, Help Wanted, and much, much, more!

... HOT THREADS ...

Some of the current threads with the most activity are:

==> Call COM IDispatch Method (C++)
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,gp2u,7ijn,jorm,i5r0

==> Default arguments (C++)
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,habx,2l3e,jorm,i5r0

==> References vs Pointers
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,2ui5,1c3i,jorm,i5r0

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New Articles on Developer.com
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Below are some of the new articles that have been posted to Developer.com (http://www.developer.com).

1. Serializing an Object via a Client/Server Connection
    By Matt Weisfeld -
Learn how to use Java to create a simple Client/Server  system and transfer an object across a network.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,2u6g,43mu,jorm,i5r0

2. Speeding Up AJAX with JSON
    By Sean Kelly -
JSON's clever idea of being a subset of JavaScript (and Python) makes it an instantly useable, lightweight, and highly nimble way to handle data interchange for AJAX. It's faster to parse and vastly easier to use than XML.

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,di4h,hh2o,jorm,i5r0

3. Processing Image Pixels, Applying Image Convolution in Java
    By Richard G. Baldwin -
Part 2 of this lesson teaches you how to design copying filters, smoothing filters, sharpening filters, 3D embossing

http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,2d6x,1,flrz,hbpp,jorm,i5r0

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