DotNetText C# Extension Methods

I uploaded a beta version of my Extension Method Library written in C# for Text.  It’s a Visual Studio 2010 project that contains numerous methods to simplify operations and manipulation of text strings. Plus a few fun things like IsAnagram().  It’s divided into Partial Classes where all or part of the project can be used as needed.

For the die-hard VB.Net users, yes I ported some common VB.Net methods into C#.  But, it allows for using just what you need. There's no need to reference VB.Net Assemblies. Check it out and let me know what you think.

DotNetText Extension Method Library

Using jQuery in Blogger

While I was experimenting with Windows Live Writer 2011 I started to wonder about using jQuery.  After a bit of trial and error I figured it out.

BTW, jQuery's rounded corner plug-in on this page didn't work in Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate. It turns out that IE9 wouldn't use a script that started with "https://" but works with "http://" okay.

First, log-in to your blog and go to the Design section.  Click on Edit Html on the Design tab.
In the HTML Edit window go to the <!-- end outer-wrapper –> comment.  Just above there are two </div></div> tags. Between </div></div> and <!-- end outer-wrapper –> comment enter the following:

   1: <script src='http://ajax.aspnetcdn.com/ajax/jQuery/jquery-1.5.min.js' type='text/javascript'/>

   2: <script type='text/javascript'>

   3:         $(document).ready(function () {

   4:             var tag = "[Your selector go here like #content-wrapper]";

   5:             $(tag).[Your jQuery Function]();

   6:         });

   7: </script>

I ran into problems using the jQuery selector after the $ so I just created a variable and that solved the problem.  Also, there’s other CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) like Google you can use in Place of Microsoft’s. You can see an older post that tells why I use a CDN.

You can look at the source of this page to see how I use the jQuery Corners plugin.

Happy computing…

Technorati Tags: jQuery,Blogger,Writer 2011

Windows Live Writer 2011

I just stumbled into Windows Live Writer 2011 at: http://explore.live.com/windows-live-writer so I thought I would try it out.  It’s part of the Windows Live Essentials download.

You can easily insert Bing maps like this one below of the Mojave Desert.

Cass Thoroughbred Ranch, Oro Grande, CA – Just South is the original Roy Rogers Ranch off of old Route 66. Cool so far.  The plug-ins are equally as cool for tasks like mutliple posts and Tweeting to multiple accounts.

Technorati Tags: Windows Live,Blogger,CSharpMark,Writer 2011,Essentials,Wordpress,Sharepoint

objectiF Visual Studio .NET Edition

While looking for a UML Application I stumbled across objectiF, a software development UML tool from microTool in Germany.  I dowloaded the Visual Studio .NET Edition, objectiF 7.1 and it's way cool.  I've been playing with it all weekend.  I recommend going through the tutorial first.

objectiF integrates with Visual Studio to automate development based on UML and principles of Model-Driven Development – MDD.  There's several variations that allow software development in C#, C++, Java, BPEL, XSD and WSDL.  The .NET Edition is for C# and VB.NET development in Visual Studio 2005, 2008 & 2010.  There's even a version for Eclipse.

I had to open the Template Projects Solutions (.sln) and upgrade them to Visual Studio 2010 to get them to work right.  My only complaint is some of the buttons and menus haven't been translated from German to English. Try it!  microTool has some other software development products available. 

Download objectiF and try it out for yourself.

Great CSS Reference Site from the World Down-under

A common problem developing for the web is working with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and jQuery.  They both go hand in hand.  In order to be productive with jQuery you need to be good with CSS.  It can get very tricky!

I just stumbled across a site in Australia. (My daughter's favorite spot.) They have an awesome site about CSS.  It's well organized and broken down into simple terms.  I'm impressed.  See for yourself at: CSS at  http://css.maxdesign.com.au/ and their main site is at http://www.maxdesign.com.au/.  It's a great reference for those using jQuery, CSS or both.

Why use Content Delivery Networks (CDN) like jQuery, YUI & Microsoft?

Wow, it's been awhile since I blogged!  I've been attending a lot of events and learning as much as I can. Like Windows Azure, jQuery, MVC and more.  As far as JavaScript script files, I followed what Douglas Crockford (Yahoo) suggested and minimized my JavaScript script files and served them from my server.  That included libraries like jQuery and YUI.  Well, that's a bad idea.

Becasuse of caching, both on the server and in the browser, there's a faster way.  Common Javascript script files such as the libraries for jQuery, YUI and Microsoft's AJAX provide better end performance when the source URL is used.  URLs like "http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jQuery/jquery-1.4.2.js" are cached by both the server and the browser.  Now, If I followed my old way, my files probably would not benefit from the caching, so my pages would load much slower.  That makes sense, right?

Meta Tag Generator for Microsoft Office Live Small Business

I finally finished my Meta Tag Generator for Microsoft Office Live Small Business. The Visual Studio 2010 Web User Control Project is available as a download at http://bit.ly/aQpd0d.  It was a little frustrating debugging the JavaScript because Visual Studio or IE (I'm not sure which.) doesn't always clear the JavaScript cache.  The only way to ensure the correct code is executed is to keep renaming the .js files. I wish I could figure out how to reproduce the problem to report it as a bug.  The other irritating problem is Visual Studio renames the Control ID (element ID property) at runtime. That would break the JavaScript.  But, I found the ClientIDMode property for the control in the properties form.  Just set it to Static and the IDs are not renamed. 

Visual Studio's Intellisense for JavaScript also seems to be incomplete. Aptana Studio (Open Source) does a much better job for writing JavaScript.  Even Netbeans offers better support for JavaScript.