Proof that anyone can do it RSS 2.0
 Thursday, July 28, 2005

I won't be surprised if someone can look at this and point out the problem right away, but I'm also ashamed to say how long I've been looking at it and trying to make it work...

private void Page_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e) { 
  DataTable dt = new DataTable(); 
  dt.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("id",typeof(int))); 
  dt.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("name",typeof(string))); 
  
  DataRow dr = dt.NewRow(); 
  dr["id"] = 6; 
  dr["name"] = "City1"; 
  dt.Rows.Add(dr); 
  
  dr = dt.NewRow(); 
  dr["id"] = 7; 
  dr["name"] = "City2"; 
  dt.Rows.Add(dr); 

  this.ddLabList.DataSource = dt;      
  this.ddLabList.DataTextField = "name"; 
  this.ddLabList.DataValueField = "id"; this.ddLabList.DataBind(); 
}

The this.ddLabList.DataSource = dt; line gives an 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object' error.

Help!

Thursday, July 28, 2005 9:23:08 PM UTC  #    -
.NET | Programming

It's just not something you see very often...credits to the Lansing State Journal for the original article.  They credit Matt Tomczak/Special to the State Journal for the picture. 

Thursday, July 28, 2005 12:51:07 PM UTC  #    -

 Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Be sure to visit all the options undfer "Configuration" in the Admin Menu Bar above. There are 16 themes to choose from, and you can also create your own.

 

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 7:00:00 AM UTC  #    -
dasBlog
 Wednesday, July 13, 2005

I stumbled across this site accidentally one day...it does a really nice job of archiving web sites (and preserving a historical record of them).  It's like Google's sites cache feature on steroids...and a really good way to find information from sites that have gone off-line. 

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 2:50:29 AM UTC  #    -

 Wednesday, July 06, 2005

I've had a number of clients complain that they just want their computers to 'work', without having to worry about new virus definitions, Windows updates, updated anti-spyware software, and firewall patches.  "Just fix it so I can use it and not worry about it", is the common theme. 

Those days of carefree Internet use are GONE.  To some degree, these things can be automated, but for the most part, you will have to learn to watch over them (or you'll be taking your PC in for 'cleaning' frequently).  Here's a good article at PCWorld that helps explain why. 

Wednesday, July 06, 2005 11:27:44 AM UTC  #    -
Troubleshooting
 Wednesday, June 29, 2005

It took a while for me to find enough examples to put together a method that will calculate the distance between two GPS points (using C#), so I thought I'd post my end product in the hopes it will shorten someone else's search.  Credits to 'The Math Forum' for the formula (http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/51879.html)

The code looks terrible in a browser, so I've attached it as a text file. DistLatLong.txt (1.54 KB)

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 5:22:30 PM UTC  #    -
.NET | Programming
 Friday, June 24, 2005

Thanks to a recent newsletter editorial from SQLServerCentral, I ran into Password Safe, which is a small program that allows you to protect all your passwords for web sites and online accounts, keeping them handy and safe at the same time.  There's no install, just a small executable to run, and it will even enter your username/password combination to complete your login for you! 

I've looked at other electronic 'wallets' in the past, but this one is the best I've seen to date...simple, direct, FREE!, and good at what it does.  Being ignorant of the apparent power of the Blowfish algorithm, I'm still a little nervous to put 'all my eggs in one basket', but it sure is convenient. 

Friday, June 24, 2005 2:09:42 AM UTC  #    -

I'm not any of these John Bowen's...but I can go one better.  I'm not the John Bowen that wrote the "I'm not ANY of these guys" page either.  Somehow, this is creepier than laughing at oneself...
Friday, June 24, 2005 1:34:16 AM UTC  #    -
Humor
 Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Congratulations to Kerri and Chris!  Olivia Kristine Bowen was born Saturday (June 18) afternoon.  I'll update this post (soon) with a couple pictures from the big day.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 1:48:14 AM UTC  #    -
Family | Life
 Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Jeremy Esland has just added a slew (yes, slew is a real word...look it up) of new features to the Rainbow core and/or documentation.  They include: 

  • A much improved portal alias retriever:  you can now host 'sub-domains' on the same Rainbow installation as 'regular' sites...so support.example.com and sales.example.com can exist happily alongside example.com, example.co.uk, and www.example.com (even when the latter three point to the same site).  It seems simple, but this is a huge step forward, IMHO. 
  • A new smarterror handler that provides much better interface for the end user when a page doesn't load (404, 403, 500 errors, for example).
  • Terrific CSS documentation to support the Zen layout framework...though it also serves as a pretty good tutorial for those with only a basic understanding of the power of CSS. 
  • MagicUrls: These will allow a site admin to avoid complicated URLs, simplifying targets from (for example) www.example.com/site/2271/default.aspx to www.example.com/articles.  Much better for the typical human user, eh? 
  • Much improved behavior for search engine optimization...amond other things, this should prevent spiders from indexing error pages!

All this (and more) is in the Dev build right now...watch for it in a (hopefully near) future release! 

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 2:35:31 AM UTC  #    -
Rainbow Portal
 Thursday, June 16, 2005

I just ran across this awesome repository of Windows Scripting samples...

http://www.ericphelps.com/scripting/samples/

Thursday, June 16, 2005 6:29:05 PM UTC  #    -
Programming
 Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Last week, I decided I needed the capability for the Rainbow portal to let authenticated users 'customize' a module for themselves.  This way, whenever the user loads the page with that module, his custom settings are retrieved and applied as the module is rendered.  

With this functionality, a developer can allow the user to customize just about anything in the module; it could retain sort order for a list, filter preferences, even the theme of the module could be customized on a per-user level. 

This enhancement has been applied to the 'dev' build, so Rainbow developers are free to play with it right now.  Hopefully, end users will see it in the next release! 

Read more about it here

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:57:12 PM UTC  #    -
Rainbow Portal

I finally 'finished' the Recycler module for the Rainbow Portal...at least enough so that it works and I'm reasonably confident in its security and reliability.  This enables Rainbow portal administrators to delete modules, with the option to later restore them to the same (or a different) page...with the module's contents still intact. 

I ended up splitting the 'Recycle Bin' functionality from the module itself, so that other developers can write their own (better) Recycler modules (and uninstall mine).  The Rainbow core now holds all the functionality itself and exposes methods for future Recycler modules. 

It's in the 'dev' build right now...when it eventually moves to the release build, you'll know it because the new 'Use Recycle Bin' Site Setting will appear in your portal's administration page.

You can read more about it here.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:52:39 PM UTC  #    -
Rainbow Portal
 Friday, June 03, 2005

I just found these online resources that are 'local' to the Roscommon and Higgins Lake area.  In the spirit of neighborly promotion-by-linking, I thought I'd mention them here with the hope the GoogleBot will pick them up. 

Friday, June 03, 2005 1:21:23 AM UTC  #    -

 Saturday, May 28, 2005

Here's a pretty neat look at Dodge's attempt to get into the police car market...it's even dressed up in Michigan State Police blue.  Thanks to http://www.ryanpatrickdean.com/MagnumPolice.html for the images. 

I'll be curious to see what the MSP Training Division comes up with in their annual testing...but you have to admit, it's a good looking car!

Saturday, May 28, 2005 9:11:02 PM UTC  #    -

 Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Without the Internet, you'd have to make up guys like this.  With the Internet, they're as real as you and I. 

http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/Polarman

Long live Polarman!

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 12:26:02 AM UTC  #    -
Humor
 Friday, May 06, 2005

Our Governor has declared May 5th as state employee recognition day, and as a small token of appreciation, has granted those employees 'free' use of all the Michigan State Parks for the week of May 2-8. 

At first blush, that's a pretty nice gesture...there are some really great State Parks in Michigan (2 within 5 miles of my home).  On second glance, however, it's not that great of a deal, and is really pretty laughable. 

  • Consider that the average temperatures for May run between 39 and 67 degrees Farenheit...a bit chilly for most 'park' activities.
  • The state parks don't even open until May 1st.  Now that they're open, the first few weeks are spent cleaning up a winter's worth of yuck.
  • The employee 'appreciation' doesn't waive camping or other fees...just the $6 admission to the park...where I guess you could swim in 38 degree water (or, to be fair, launch your boat and go fishing - or waterskiing :) )
  • For the past two years, most state employees have been forced to give up 4 hours of pay for every 80 they work, to help cure the state's whopping debt.  Can you feel the love?
Friday, May 06, 2005 1:01:48 AM UTC  #    -
Life
 Monday, April 18, 2005

OK, OK...I know it's not PC, but it's REALLY funny...

Try a search on Gizoogle.com

Just pay very close attention to the descriptions of the results...thanks to Chris Farrell for the link!

Monday, April 18, 2005 2:48:26 AM UTC  #    -
Humor
Archive
<July 2005>
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
262728293012
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456
Quick Quips
    About the author/Disclaimer

    Disclaimer
    The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.

    © Copyright 2009
    John Bowen
    Sign In
    Statistics
    Total Posts: 152
    This Year: 0
    This Month: 0
    This Week: 0
    Comments: 164
    Themes
    Pick a theme:
    All Content © 2009, John Bowen
    Theme modified from the 'Business' theme created by Christoph De Baene (delarou)