• .MDB - Access Database
• .MDE - Protected Access Database

Store the image outside of your MDB Access database. There are many benefits to storing it outside of Access including the following:

• More easily work with all the images at once.
• avoid the overhead of an OLE server
• decrease the size of your MDB file
• easily reuse images with other development tools such as a website, VB, VS.Net, etc.
• Metadata is preserved

If the analyst is qualified sure, but if they're not, don't push it. Many times a resource was made the analyst not because they are a great analyst but because they have great people skills, know the domain well, and can document process well. Under that scenario, I prefer a programmer analyst work with the business analyst to identify entities and attributes. If the analyst is not good at documenting process, find a new analyst.

In PSDP, we overcome this problem by creating the database and GUI prototype during the requirements phase. By forcing the creation of the database while discovering what the client wants, you force the identifying of entitities and attributes.

In UML, sometimes analysts create class diagrams to create the database. The Data Model is a much better choice.

An example of using ASP's Response.Write and creating functions.

<%
Dim MyName
MyName = "Mr Paradiddle"
%>
<script language="javascript">
<!--
function ShowYourName() {
document.write('Your name is <%=MyName%>.')
}

ShowYourName()
-->
</script>

Although this question really depends on the provider, in general, the answer is no to MS Access views and yes to MS SQL Server views so long as you open the RecordSet editable.

Retrieves an array of all the components of any given type within a starter control (such as a page, table, panel, etc.)  This routine is recursive and will keep iterating down until all the embedded components are found.

This C# code can be invoked to produce an array as  follows:

CheckBox[] myCheckboxes = GetAllCheckboxes(Table1); 

public CheckBox[] GetAllCheckboxes(Control myControl)
{
  ArrayList myCheckboxes = new ArrayList();

 
  foreach (Control thisControl in myControl.Controls)
  {
    if (thisControl is CheckBox)
    {
      myCheckboxes.Add(thisControl);
    }

 
    if (thisControl.HasControls())
    {
      myCheckboxes.AddRange(GetAllCheckboxes(thisControl));
    }            
  }

 
  CheckBox[] result = (CheckBox[])myCheckboxes.ToArray(typeof(CheckBox));
  return result;
}

Aggregations indicate a whole-part relationship, and are known as "has-a" or "is part of" relationships. An Aggregation relationship is indicated by a line with a hollow diamond.

According to Microsoft, "PowerCommands is a set of useful extensions for the Visual Studio 2008 adding additional functionality to various areas of the IDE. The source code is included and requires the VS SDK for VS 2008 to allow modification of functionality or as a reference to create additional custom PowerCommand extensions. "

If you've previously worked with Delphi and GExperts, you know how helpful some extensions to your IDE can be.

This free download, from Microsoft, adds some really useful functionality to the VS2008 IDE.  Check it out.

You turn on ASPX in your control panel. Depending on what O/S and version of IIS there are slightly different steps required but essentially you go to the Add/Remove Programs, Alter Windows Components, and make sure ASPX is checked in the Application Server or Application Development Services.

More Info / Details - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;332124&Product=winsvr2003

BLOBs (Binary Large Objects) are collections of data that can be stored as a single entity in a database. In Microsoft SQL Server, BLOBs are stored using the text, ntext, and image data types.

• The text data type stores a variable length of non-unicode data up to 2³¹ - 1 characters.
• The ntext data type stores a variable length of unicode data up to 2³⁰ - 1 characters. The storage size, in bytes, is twice the amount of characters.
• The image data type is used to store image files smaller than 2³¹ - 1 bytes.

Use SetWindowRgn API call to make a round form. The SetWindowRgn function sets the window region of a window. The window region determines the area within the window where the operating system permits drawing. The operating system does not display any portion of a window that lies outside of the window region.

Simply use this function in the FormCreate event:

procedure TForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
  R1: HRGN;
  R2: HRGN;

begin
  R1 := CreateEllipticRgn(1, -1, Width - 1, Height);
  R2 := CreateEllipticRgn(50, 50, Width - 50, Height - 50);
 

  CombineRgn(R2, R1, R2, RGN_XOR);
  SetWindowRgn(Handle, R2, True);
end;

Official Delphi and C++Builder Roadmap from Codegear.

Private visibility means members are invisible outside of the unit. In OO terms, this is how Object Pascal implements friendly classes (visibility to the private members of another class). To implement true private members in Delphi 1-7, put each class in a separate unit (most developers didn't bother).

Strict Private visibility means that private members within a class are visible ONLY within the class declared. In OO terms, this is true private visibility.

Chapter 29 by Mike Prestwood from the book WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux: The Official Guide. First published June 2000 by Osborne-McGraw/Hill. ISBN 0-07-212238-2.

QBE Expression...

mIkE.., @@@@

Paradox 9 (and all versions of Paradox including Paradox 10 and 11) still ship with a Windows Help file so, if you're a Vista user, you will need to download Windows Help. Hopefully Corel will convert the Paradox help file to the new help system in a future version of Paradox and hook it into Paradox. This is a very easy task to do so it's just a matter of them wanting to do it.

Want to run Paradox for DOS in full screen mode? Good summary of this issue with 3 work-arounds. It seems it's better just to get used to looking at Paradox for DOS in a Window. The default font size for DOS apps is pretty small and you get a small Window on most monitors because monitors these days have much higher resolution. Increasing it to 10x18 on my Vista notebook made for a nice Paradox for DOS experience.

Microsoft link addressing this issue...
Some 16-bit DOS-based Programs and the Command Prompt will not run in full-screen mode in Windows Vista

• KB926657

We like Paradox's feature set too but it's not the right tool for every situation. For very large transactions and storage, we prefer a true SQL server over ALL file-based databases including over Paradox. Although we judge and discuss the viability of toolsets for each project, we do have standards we steer our clients toward. For example, we steer our Paradox-oriented large transaction/large storage needs clients toward SQL Server 2005 with either VS.Net as a front-end or Delphi (for a true native code solution).

Hear David I discuss software development on a nationally syndicated radio show. I posted this to the PHP group because he focused a bit on Delphi for PHP and PHP in general.

This change management procedure is specific to Prestwood Software Development Process (PSDP).  PSDP is our free process we maintain and distribute as well as use with our own clients. Althought this is specific to PSDP, you can read it with an eye toward your own change management procedure. Do you use version control software? Do you use promotion groups?

We're all familiar with program help systems. At Prestwood, of course, we need to author them for many of the applications we create.

There are many help authoring tools available, and HelpScribble is one of my two favorites.

Now, even though you may not need to create program help systems, help files, on their own, can be a great way to organize and convey all manner of information. Because they can contain a table of contents, an index, search capabilities, hyperlinks from one topic to another, and embedded graphics, they can be a wonderful way to document many kinds of complex information - say a training manual for new workers - in just about any industry.

The people at Just Great Software like to say that, "If you can scribble, you can create help systems." They're right: HelpScribble makes it about as easy as it could get. Naturally, HelpScribble includes an extensive help system of its own, which will teach you everything you need to know.

HelpScribble can produce

• WinHelp (.hlp files),
• Compiled HTML Help (.chm files),
• Rich Text Format (.rtf files) for printed manuals, and
• Multi-page HTML output - suitable for web help.

At only $99, this is one of the best software bargains I've encountered.

You can read all about HelpScribble, and download a free trial here:
http://www.helpscribble.com/

Optimize your Windows performance by disabling unused Windows Services.

All files cached to ReadyBoost are still backed up on disk in virtual memory. This is why you can disconnect a ReadyBoost device anytime you wish. ReadyBoost increases overall speed because random I/Os are faster with flash RAM than with disk. It's interesting to note that some hard drives are much faster at sequential I/O than flash RAM so ReadyBoost focuses on caching virtual memory which is random I/O intensive. Many industry experts expect flash RAM to outperform disks in the near future especially now that Microsoft has created a market for super fast flash RAM devices.