SQL Server Magazine

This Issue Sponsored By
This email newsletter comes to you free and is supported by the following advertisers, who offer products and services that might interest you. Please take a moment to visit these advertisers' Web sites and show your support for Developer .NET UPDATE.

ProClarity
http://www.windowsitpro.com/essential/index.cfm?code=DevTop0120

FaxBack
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/Faxback/faxing?code=DevMid0120 /p>

1. Developer .NET Perspectives

2. Events and Resources

3. Featured White Paper

4. Announcements

5. New and Improved

Sponsor: ProClarity

The Essential Guide to Analytic Dashboards
With the proliferation of different types of BI tools, what constitutes a portal, a dashboard, and a scorecard can be confusing. Learn how to differentiate between them with this free guide!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/essential/index.cfm?code=DevTop0120

1. Developer .NET Perspectives
by Bill Sheldon, bills@interknowlogy.com

Build Lab in a Box
I'd like to thank those of you who provided feedback based on my last column "Will .NET Survive?" (http://www.windowsitpro.com/SQLServer/Article/ArticleID/49049/49049.html) in which I announced changes to the newsletter. Your input is valuable, and as we prepare to implement changes, it can influence our direction. I'd also like to encourage those of you who were meaning to send us suggestions to please feel free to do so this week. This week's column is going to touch on some open issues prior to the start of our new format.

For starters, one of the big stories last year was how Visual Basic (VB) 6.0 was coming to the end of its mainstream maintenance cycle. Similarly, SQL Server 7.0 reached the end of its mainstream support on December 31, 2005 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;912251). I mention this not because it's a problem but because there might actually be someone out there still running this product. If you are, do yourself a favor--upgrade to SQL Server 2005. There's no good reason to still be running your databases on SQL Server 7.0. If you don't use anything but the most basic features of SQL Server 7.0, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is a free replacement. If you're using SQL Server 7.0's advanced features, you really should upgrade to SQL Server 2005. If you just want to match SQL Server 7.0's features, the upgrade to SQL Server 2005 will be relatively cheap. (Check out the "How to Buy" Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/default.mspx for upgrade information.)

Next, I'd like to revisit Team Foundation Server (TFS). I last talked about TFS in September 2005 ("Blog Contains Important Information About TFS Beta 3," http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/47579/47579.html). Since then, there have been several developments that you should be aware of.

As you probably know, TFS includes a new source control system. What you probably don't know is where to find the interface to this new system. Team Explorer is the key to its location. Team Explorer is separate from but integrated with Visual Studio 2005. If you first install Visual Studio 2005 and then install Team Explorer, the new source control system installs as an integrated part of Visual Studio 2005. However, if you install Team Explorer but not Visual Studio 2005, the client installs as a stand-alone application.

The client itself is tied to TFS, not Visual Studio 2005. This is important because TFS still hasn't been released. Shortly after the release of Visual Studio 2005, TFS received a beta 3 refresh. This refresh came with an updated Team Explorer installation. Microsoft is supporting this newest version of TFS. In fact, you can still even use the "Visual Studio 2005 / .NET Framework 2.0 Go-Live License" available on the TFS home page (http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/teamsystem/team/default.aspx). Thus, you have little or no reason not to start migrating to TFS.

However, "not having" a reason "not to" migrate is different from actually "having" a reason "to" migrate. So, why migrate? For starters, there's improved task and project-management integration. But for most people, better integration is not a truly compelling reason to migrate. A far more compelling reason is to leverage Team Foundation Build. TFB is a separate set of server components that you can install as part of your TFS infrastructure. TFB leverages the power of MSBuild, which is the compilation behind Visual Studio 2005. By leveraging MSBuild, you can create an environment that automatically performs application builds. However, there's a hidden configuration step. TFB doesn't include the actual compilation engines. Instead, when you designate a build server, you need to install your compilers (aka Visual Studio 2005 compilers) on the build server so that the TFB engine can trigger the execution of the build.

However, TFB goes beyond letting you automatically create a build schedule so that you can mirror one of Microsoft's best practices. TFB also lets you trigger static code analysis and unit-test runs against your application. Thus, with a single product, you can arrange to automatically generate a daily build of your application and execute all your test procedures. This product really brings home the concepts of the daily check-in of project files and the daily build of applications. Let's face it--there are lots of process models that call for you to use a daily build as your application approaches release, but without a build lab where you can automate this process, how realistic is it to accomplish in a meaningful manner? With TFB and TFS, you can create a custom build lab with little more than a few clicks through a Team Explorer wizard. More information about TFB is available at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181710.aspx.

Sponsor: FaxBack

Business Communications Trends: Integrating Fax Servers in MFP Environment
Did you know that wasteful processes can drive the cost of document management and output to as high as 10-15% of your company's annual revenues? Download this free white paper today and find out how you can use fax solutions to achieve cost control, security and compliance, increased workflow and more.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/Faxback/faxing?code=DevMid0120

2. Events and Resources
(brought to you by SQL Server Magazine)

SQL Server 2005 Up & Running Roadshows Coming to Europe!
SQL Server experts will present real-world information about administration, development, and business intelligence to help you put SQL Server 2005 into practice and learn how to use its new capabilities. Includes one-year PASS membership and subscription to SQL Server Magazine. Register now for London, UK, and Stockholm, Sweden.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/roadshows/sqlservereurope/index.cfm?code=0118emailannc

ESSENTIAL GUIDE: Real-Time High Availability for Exchange
Industry expert Paul Robichaux discusses how availability is a function of unplanned downtime only, helping you achieve a system available 99.9% of the time.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/essential/index.cfm?code=0116emailannc

WEB SEMINAR: Email Compliance Requirements--Getting Started
Find out or what policies help or hurt in protecting your company's assets and data. View the on-demand seminar today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/compliance/?partnerref=0116emailannc

WHITE PAPER: IT Consolidation--Maximizing the Potential of Your Windows Environment
Optimize your existing Windows Server infrastructure with the addition of server and storage consolidation software and techniques.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/polyserve/serverconsolidation/?code=0116emailannc

3. Featured White Paper

Centralized Identity and Policy Management with AD and DirectControl
Learn to centralize administration for multiple OSs through AD and policy management.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/centrify/identitymanagement?code=0118emailannc

Hot Spot

Microsoft ASP.NET & Visual Studio Connections
April 2-5, 2006, Orlando, FL. The largest and most progressive developer conference will return to The Hyatt Grand Cypress, co-located with SQL Server Connections. Over 150+ sessions with Microsoft and industry experts. Call 800-438-6720 for more info or visit
http://www.devconnections.com

4. Announcements
(brought to you by SQL Server Magazine)

Become a VIP Monthly Pass Subscriber
Sign up now and get a VIP Monthly Online Pass that includes online access to ALL the articles, tools, and helpful resources published in SQL Server Magazine, Windows IT Pro, and the Exchange and Outlook Administrator, Windows Scripting Solutions, and Windows IT Security newsletters. You'll also have 24/7 access to a database of more than 25,000 online articles that will give you all the answers you need, when you need them. BONUS--Includes the latest issue of Windows IT Pro each month. Sign up now for just $29.95 per month.
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu2761uv

Windows IT Security newsletter--New Year's Special
The Windows IT Security newsletter is a must-have. Order now and SAVE up to $30 off the regular price. You'll discover endless fundamentals on building and maintaining a secure enterprise, in-depth product coverage of the best security tools available, and expert advice on the best way to implement various security components. Paid subscribers also get searchable access to the full online security article database (more than 1900 articles). Subscribe today for just $99:
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu2561us

5. New and Improved
(by Karen Bemowski, products@sqlmag.com)

Self-Wiring .NET Control for Visual Studio 2005
Red Brook Software released WiredNav 3.0, an enhanced version of its self-wiring .NET control for filling, navigating, searching, validating, updating, and reporting ADO.NET data tables. The control can be used in database applications without the developer writing a single line of code or making any initial property settings for the control. There are no DataAdapter, DataSet, DataSource, or DataTable properties for the control. At runtime, the navigator automatically wires itself to every data object found on the Windows form to which it's added. When a user enters a DataGridView, TextBox, or other data-bound control, WiredNav switches to the correct instances of the data objects for that control. WiredNav lets developers set up input validation using a unique interface at design time for DataGridView, TextBox, and ComboBox controls and validate them at runtime. Pricing for WiredNav 3.0 starts at $199 for a single-user commercial license. For more information, contact Red Brook Software at 518-248-3450 or sales@redbrooksoftware.com.
http://www.redbrooksoftware.com

Contact Us

Developer .NET UPDATE is brought to you by SQL Server Magazine, the only magazine devoted to helping developers and DBAs master new and emerging SQL Server technologies and issues. Subscribe today.
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=9&promocode=eu215xdb

View the SQL Server Magazine Privacy Policy
http://www.winnetmag.com/aboutus/index.cfm?action=privacy

SQL Server Magazine is a division of Penton Media, Inc. 221 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80538, Attention: Customer Service Department

Copyright 2006, Penton Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

End of Article