Tech Ed 2006

Attended Tech Ed hear in Sri Lanka, met many old friends, it was a good time but I think Microsoft should have emphasized more on technical side.

Free Computer Education

We are planning to start a free Computer Training Centre based in my temple (Maithree Dharamayathanaya, Jayawadanagama Battaramulla) to educate the less previledged. On this matter the Rotary Club is helping us. So if you are interested in helping us please contact me.

Getting a Crystal Report Parameter value in VB.NET

After setting a parameter value of a crystal report there is no easy way of getting the value. So I found this to get the parameter value.


CType(CType (CType (CType (CType (CType (rpt.Parameter_paraArea, CrystalDecisions.Shared.IParameterField), CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine.ParameterFieldDefinition).CurrentValues, CrystalDecisions.Shared.ParameterValues).Item(0), CrystalDecisions.Shared.ParameterValue), CrystalDecisions.Shared.ParameterDiscreteValue).Value, Object)

rpt is the Crystal Report, paraArea is my parameter name which I needed to get the value of.

Hope this helps.

Playing Media Files in .Net Compact Framework 2.0

I have seen many people asking how to play media files in device applications. Here I am playing media files using Windows Media Player.

This is the ProcessHandler class which imports Coredll Dll and uses it's CreateProcess to create a seperate process with the required application.


This is the main form which has a button to start the Player, then it will ask the user to browse for a media file to play.


The ProcessHandler.CreateProcess function can be used to start any application which is installed in the device by simply replacing the 'WMPlayer' by the required application qualified name (IExplorer).

Interop Forms Toolkit 1.0

Are you in Visual Basic 6 (VB 6) and would like to join the .net 2.0 fun? But is your application size stopping you?

Now with the Interop Forms Toolkit 1.0 you can run forms that you have created with .net hand in hand with vb 6 forms in a VB 6 process.
Big Picture? You don't have to convert your entire application to .net but you can partially convert your application to .net or the new forms that you plan to create can be done in .net and used in your VB6 application.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/aa701259.aspx

Enjoy.

.Net Micro Framework

Microsoft has released a beta developer kit of .net Micro Framework which can be used to develop applications for the smallest of devices which are constrained in cost, memory, processor and/or power consumption.

Would like to know more?
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/sep06/09-26MicroFrameworkDKPR.mspx
http://www.aboutnetmf.com/entry.asp

When trying to Run or Build a .Net Compact Framework project, Visual Studio 2005 (VS2005) giving an error MSB4018 ?
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This a curious error which VS2005 gives before refusing to build the project in anyway.
The work around for this is to close the VS, restart VS and Rebuilding the project.