Google Chrome

Yeah, I am back as Blogspot or Blogger.

Seem like more convenient to use existing features with Blogger.

Today installed Google Chrome, really interesting UI ( feel of simplicity )

and it really make use of the space we have to display content.

Branched My Blog To EthanLiew.com

Dear Reader,

I am branching my blog to EthanLiew.com which hosted in my own server.
Do take a read on EthanLiew.com.

I will focus on the new blog first because it is using word press template and I need some time to pickup the knowledge.

Hope to see your comment on EthanLiew.com

Thanks.

UBUNTU LAMPP Is Case Sensitive

Just notice that LAMPP on Ubuntu is Case Sensitive.

Which means when you deploy your application containing folder path or file path,
do takes note the folder or file name.

Show Ruler In Microsoft Outlook 2007

Today my college asks me where is the ruler in Ms Outlook new email composer.
Wow.. Good question, I take sometimes to search around and finally found it there!

A small icon :P

Create favicon via Photoshop ICO Exporter

Create favicon for website via photoshop ico exporter.

Get a free download copy of plug in here.
http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/dl.php3?file=ICOFormat-1.6f9-win.zip


Recently trying to research which tool is great to create video tutorial.
Personally I feel that video tutorial is much more better than text base in perspective of user understanding.

Let's watch this video, created by me :P

Gigapan - Experiece the panoramic view

http://gigapan.org

The Gigapan process engages with you in four steps:

1. Explore

Starting right now, you can search, browse and explore all of the panoramas that are available on the GigaPan sharing site. Dive into the panoramas to explore for yourself, or explore other users' snapshots to see what others have found.

2. Discover

As soon as you create your free user account, you can not only explore, but you can also annotate and share your discoveries by creating new snapshots and describing what you have found. This is a way to take part in the GigaPan community even if you have not done panoramic photography yet.

3. Create

We are beta-testing prototypes of the Gigapan robotic mount, which attaches to your small digital camera to create a fast and easy-to-use high-resolution panorama capture device. We are growing the beta process and are negotiating concerning general release and sales of the Gigapan camera. You will be able to purchase these low-cost robotic mounts and take several hundred or thousand images at a time to create panoramas with one billion pixels and more.

You don't need specialized GigaPan hardware to take your own panoramas. If you have lots of patience, a high-quality digital camera, and a good tripod (or very steady hand!) you can take hundreds or thousands of overlapping, zoomed-in pictures for a gigapixel-scale panorama, then use off-the-shelf stitching software to combine the images into one very high-resolution panorama for upload.

4. Share

Once you create your free account, you can download our free upload tool to enable you to take any panoramic, high-resolution image and add it to the GigaPan sharing site for community exploration, annotation, and discovery.


In Gigapan, you can use the toolbar on the left to pan the view you like.
You can submit own photos and use gigapan to help you create the panoramic experience,
then you can share it to your friends.

Panoramic view able to let user experience the real scene and environment than a normal static images.

You can add Gigapan service on Google Earth too. Here is what I read and try out!
Below is the example of Meteor Crater, Let's click on the link below the title.
You will be zoomed to the point and you can take a look how large the crater and environment around the crater!


Use the pan tool on the right top or drag the box on the top right to pan around!

Using Adobe After Effect To Key Out Green Screen

Was busy with several "hobbies" past few weeks to refresh back my 3D skills with 3D Max, Adobe After Effect, Ulead Video Studio, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Goldwave and etc.

Here is the given story where character was shot infront the Green Screen ( I use 3D Max to render the Green Environment to create the Green Screen Effect. In fact, for real charactor should take the shot in studio. )

Noted that the recommended colors to be key out are Green (0,255,0) or Blue ( Blue ). It depends on your colors on the video.

I would like to use Adobe After Effect to key out the Green Color and make it transparent, so that I can overlaps my charactor video on top of background video.

There are actually a lot methods to do that, you may use Ulead Studio ( Chrome Features ) too.

But this example, I am using Linear Color Key under Effect Control > Keying menu.

When I have more times, will show you all my works :)

Enjoy creating your creative movie.

Happy Songkran with Microsoft Thailand

Today 13 April is Songkran Festival of Thailand again!
For past two years I was in Bangkok and really enjoy playing powder and water on the road!

This year only able to wish my Thai friend Happy Songkran and receive the holy water and blessing from each others!

Here is an interesting Microsoft Thailand Silverlight wishes!
Very nice! Take a look!


( Image credited to Mircosoft Thailand )
Please visit the live animation of Silverlight !
http://www.microsoft.com/thailand/songkran/en.aspx

Blog with FEDORA 8 LIVE DISC

Blogger with Fedora 8 LIVE CD... is cool!

There is a program named Post Blog Entry in the Internet Category allow you to post to blogger directly.

Get FEDORA 8 For Free at http://fedoraproject.org/

You can download iso CD version, burned it into CD and just boot and make it LIVE!

Apple Safari On Window XP

Loading http://ethanliew.com with Safari on Windows XP

Download Safari now!

http://www.apple.com/safari/

• Pretty cool apple look!
  
• Fast browsing with tab features
• Plug-ins available

Safari Plugins

IE8 BETA 1 Preview

( Image credited to Microsoft.com )

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/default.mspx

New release IE8 Beta 1 is now available.
Download and try it out now.

IE8 for Vista
Size: about 11mb
Date Published: 06/03/2008

New Features:

ActivitiesChoice of layout engine

Activities are contextual services that provide quick access to external services from any webpage. Activities typically involve one of two types of actions:

• "Look up" information related to data in the current webpage
• "Send" content from the current webpage to another application
  

WebSlices
Web sites can expose portions of their page as a WebSlice that users can subscribe to and bring that content with them on their links bar wherever they are on the web.
Users receive update notifications when the content changes.


Choice of layout engine
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 will ship in standards mode by default. However, three different rendering modes that may be set using the X-UA-Compatible header:

• Quirks mode which supports Internet Explorer 5 and legacy browsers
• Strict mode which supports Internet Explorer 7 and is accessed through the emulate Internet Explorer 7 button
• Internet Explorer 8 standards mode
• Cascading style sheets 2.1 compliance
  

The Internet Explorer 8 layout engine is built to be cascading style sheets 2.1 compliant, enabling web developers and designers to write their pages once and have them render properly across all cascading style sheets 2.1 compatible browsers.

However, Microsoft is not finished—hence, Microsoft is seeking feedback from developers working with Internet Explorer 8 Developer Beta 1.

HTML improvements
Many cross-browser inconsistencies have been fixed in Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1, including:

• Separate URL handing for attributes
• The get/set/remove attribute implementations are now compatible with those of other browsers
• Default attributes for HTML are supported so that they always exist on elements whether specified in the markup or not
  

Improved namespace support
Internet Explorer 8 simplifies the use of standards-compliant XML-based webpages that support namespace features like scalable vector graphics, XML user interface language, mathematical markup language, and others.

Platform performance improvements

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 improves performance in many Internet Explorer subsystems, such as the HTML parser, cascading style sheets rule processing, markup tree manipulation, the JScript parser, garbage collector runtime, and memory management.
More performance work is planned for later beta releases.


Developer tools

Microsoft has heard your feedback that Internet Explorer needs its own built-in Developer Tools, so the new Developer Toolbar enables developers to quickly debug HTML, cascading style sheets, and JavaScript in a visual development environment that is included with the web browser.

Developers can quickly identify and resolve issues because of the deep insight the tool provides into the Document Object Model. The Developer Toolbar also allows the layout to be changed on the fly so that each rendering scenario can be tested thoroughly.

Compatibility for existing sites
Internet Explorer 8 includes a more standards compatible layout engine by default which allows developers to build a single standards compatible website for multiple browsers.

Internet Explorer 8 Developer Beta uses the Internet Explorer 8 standard mode layout engine by default. However, by clicking on the emulate Internet Explorer 7 button, users can choose when they use the strict mode which supports the Internet Explorer 7 compatible layout engine to retain compatibility with existing sites.


Improved security
Internet Explorer 8 will build upon Microsoft's security and privacy investments to address users' security concerns. In the months ahead, additional new protection, prevention, and privacy services will be added.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 includes:
Enhanced protection from deceptive websites:

As part of an ongoing commitment to privacy and security, Microsoft is making enhancements to the phishing filter in Internet Explorer 8 to provide additional protection against evolving threats to the consumer.

With the Safety Filter, Internet Explorer 8 will now protect against a broader set of online threats by analyzing the full URL string.
The Safety Filter provides a more granular detection, and these prevention capabilities enable Microsoft to protect against more targeted and sophisticated attacks.

What Is Domain Highlighting?
Domain Highlighting is a technology that highlights the top level domain in the address bar, allowing users to quickly confirm that the website they are visiting is the site they intended to visit.
The domain name is in bold and black font, standing out from other characters in the URL which are gray.

Major Search Engine Url Submission Site

May be the URL below able to give you a hand to make your site appear on major search engine such as Google.com, Live.com, Yahoo.com.

Yet, if you wish your site to have a better ranking. You need to research more about SEO ( search engine optimization ) knowlege.

Here we go:

Yahoo !
http://search.yahoo.com/info/submit.html

Google
http://www.google.com/webmasters/

MSN Live
http://search.live.com/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=WSUT

Open DMOZ Project
http://www.dmoz.org/add.html

Feel free to let me know if you have other major search engine submission site.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 with Windows Mobile!

Amazing Sony Ericsson XPERIA (tm) is comming soon!


( image credited to Sony Erricson )

Full animation web showcase
http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1/default.aspx?cc=gb&lc=en

Sony Erricson Site
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/x1?cc=gb&lc=en

XPERIA is my new DREAM phone !
It lets you enjoy the convergence of communication and entertainment.

The WOW! Thing here is , it comes with Windows Mobile® !!
I can deploy my mobile application which able me to work more efficiently with my phone and enjoy customizing it my way !


Besides touch panel, there is QWERTY keyboard which make input more convenient.


What's Cool here!
Arc slider design, 3-inch Wide VGA display and premium metal body.
Really a great and distinctive design ! Cool right?


The 14 Reason to get one!
1. Panel interface ( Configurable and navigate with tips of your finger )
2. Arc slider design ( Slide the screen upwards )
3. Video call ( Two camera )
4. Intergrated camera ( I love Sony Camera quality especially viewfinder )
5. RSS feeds ( easy to feed webs or blogs content )
6. Web wherever ( mobile internet browsing and emailing )
7. Bluetooth ( sync, share and send )
8. Multiple navigation ( Touch, QWERTY, 4-way key, Optical joystick )
9. 3G ( video streaming, net surfing... )
10. Push email ( instant email )
11. Capture the action ( Great video shooting )
12. Handwriting Recognition ( input via stylus on touchscreen to write )
13. Blog your life ( easy picture blogging and publishing )
14. Wi-Fi Alternative ( Wi-Fi enabled!! Get the cheap connection at favourite starbucks)




Specification ( visit Sony Erricson website X1 Summary to get further info )

Size	110.0 x 17.0 x 53.0 mm / 4.3 x 0.7 x 2.1 inches
Weight	145.0 g / 5.1 oz
Available colours	Solid Black
Screen	800 X 480 65,536-colour TFT
Memory	Up to 400 MB Phone Memory MicroSD support Actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration
Networks	GSM 850 GSM 900 GSM 1800 GSM 1900 EDGE HSDPA HSUPA UMTS 850 UMTS 900 UMTS 1700 UMTS 1900 UMTS 2100
Performance GSM 850 GSM 900 GSM 1800 GSM 1900 EDGE HSDPA HSUPA UMTS 850 UMTS 900 UMTS 1700 UMTS 1900 UMTS 2100	Talk time (up to) - - - - - - - - - - - -	Standby time (up to) - - - - - - - - - - - -	Video call (up to) - - - - - - - - - - - -

Camera Video record Photo light Digital zoom - 3x Camera - 3.2 megapixel Auto focus	Music Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP) Windows Media® Player Mobile PlayNow™ Music tones Media Player	Internet Internet Explorer® Mobile RSS feeds
Entertainment 3D games Video Clip Video streaming Java Radio - FM radio RDS	Connectivity aGPS WLAN USB support USB mass storage Synchronisation PC Modem Bluetooth™ technology	Messaging Exchange ActiveSync® SMS long (Text Messaging) Predictive text input MMS (Multimedia Messaging) Email
Communication Video call Vibrating Alert Speakerphone Polyphonic ringtones	Design XPERIA™ panels Optical joystick navigation Picture wallpaper Navigation key	Organiser Touch-screen Tasks Phone book Notes Handwriting recognition Flight mode Document readers Document editors Calendar Calculator Alarm clock

Mega Bass™, Memory Stick Duo™, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Memory Stick Micro™ and M2™ are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Hope when this phone release, I got extra money to get one :P who want to trade-in my IPAQ RW 6828 ha ha ha....

PointUI

This week onwards, I will try to introduce you all my PDA's software.

Introducing PointUI from my favourite ppc free software site:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/


(image credited for freewarepocketpc.net)

Click To Download!





I feel this software is excellence for me, especially the non-stylus features.

I like the idea of finger friendly controls and arrangement of the navigation.

It just good enough to replace windows mobile default navigation way.
I can launch my applications with my finger easily.

It provide several cool features such as the IPhone-like scrolling gesture, phone lock gesture, and so on.

You can easily lock your phone at the top left corner. After locking, the phone will go back to your today wallpaper.
To unlock, just press on any spot on the screen, it will brings you to unlock screen, just slight from top to down to unlock it ( just like the IPhone-like gesture )

Besides, I like the today's 'BIG' icons and menu.
At the middle, you can get your digital or analog clock being displayed.
Just scroll your finger from left to right, the middle clock display will goes to next items.
To edit or launch the application, just press on the big icon. e.g: the calendar or clock.
It will launch the default WM program accordingly.

Middle display items included:
a. clock
b. calendar
c. tasks
d. appointment
e. weather ( I am not able to connect it :S )


PointUI has a BIG icons at the bottom of the screen.
Just press on the icons and it will launch your program accordingly.

Try it out, and welcome to share your experience with me by posting a new comment.

Configure MSSQL Mix Mode Authentication

Some times we installed the wrong authentication mode for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and 2005.
It would be quite troublesom to configure web application connection string or way to connect the
windows authentication database server.

Hope the solution as below help!
You can re configure SQL Server with windows authentication mode to mixed mode authentication.


For MSSQL Server 2000
======================
1. Launch Enterprise Manage for SQL Server 2000.
2. Right click current active database server (Usually named local) 's "PROPERTY".
3. Click on the "SECURITY" tab, and change:
Authentication
- Tick "SQL SERVER AND WINDOWS radio button

Audit Level
- Tick "None"

Ownership Chaining
- Uncheck

4. Startup service account
- Tick "System account"

5. Restart server


For SQL 2005 Express Edition
============================
No GUI tool available to configure the server it to MIX MODE!
You need to go it manually. The first step is to change the login-mode.

1. Press Window Key + R ( Run ) and key in regedit to launch Registery Editor.

2. Go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQLServer in the tree on the left.

3. On the right, look for an entry named LoginMode.

The default value would be 1.
Now change it to 2 ( HEX )

4. Restart the SQL Service.

Type services.msc in the RUN to launch your Service Manager (Start -> Run -> Type services.msc)
and look for a service named MSSQL Server (SQLEXPRESS).
Right Click and Restart the service.


In this stage, if you already have an exisiting SA user, make sure you enable the SA user.


Configure a valid SA User properties:
1. Open SQL Management Studio

2. Connect via windows authentication ( use windows authentication to change the SA user property to be valid )

3. Under current SQL Server > Security > Logins > Double Click on SA user.
a. Change the password
b. Uncheck "Enforce password policy" if not needed
c. Default database set to "master"
d. Default language set to "english"

4. Property of Server Roles, Check on "public" and "sysadmin"

5. Property of User Mapping, Map databases with User (dbo) and Default Schema (dbo) value.

6. Property of Status,
a. Permission to connect to databse engine, set to "Grant"
b. Login, set to "Enabled"

or you can use command prompt way:

To add a user with administrative priviledges so that the database can be accessed from ASP.Net.

On the command prompt, login to SQL Server command prompt using the osql utility.
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is installed with the instance name SQLEXPRESS.

Use the following command to login:
=============================
osql -E -S .\SQLEXPRESS
=============================

One the SQL-command prompt, execute the following?

1> exec sp_addlogin 'username', 'password'
2> go
1> exec sp_addsrvroleadmin 'username', 'sysadmin'
2> go
1> quit

Replace the username and password but not forget the quotes. To verify, try login using the following on the command prompt:
=================================
osql -S .\SQLExpress -U username
=================================
Provide the password when asked.

ASP Clasic System Locale Setting With Session.LCID

LCID stands for Locale Identifier

Example of usage:
If you using ASP Classic Functions such as MonthName(xxx), Date(xxx) and etc, your web application will converting the month's name base on your server regional / locale settings.

Let say your server locale is Chinese (PRC ) settings, you may get a chinese charater of month being shown at the website.

Suggested solution for this would be:
reset the locale identifier at the page initialize stage

Example as below:
Session.lcid = 1033 ' English US
Session.lcid = 3081 ' English Australia

LCID might affected other formats such as the format of date time and currency value.

Example:
For 1033, date format would be mm/dd/yyyy and 3081 would be dd/mm/yyyy

List of LCID
http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/reference/lcid-all.mspx
http://www.science.co.il/Language/Locale-Codes.asp?s=decimal

Tips To Validate Online Banking Fake or Phishing Site

Phishing site would be a site which created very similar to the original website to trap user.
If you didn't take note of several security validation, you might probably entering your user id and password to the phishing site, and the owner of the phishing site will get all your login information and able to access your real account then.

You can always call to those online banking site if you suspect the site is a fake or phishing site.

Here by would be some tips to validate our local Maybank2u site:

1. URL
You have to always be careful and notice the Url of your site.
Take note of
a. URL Protocol : e.g: always be https:// ( for secure online banking system )
b. Domain Name: always be a valid or related domain name and not those xxyyzz.aa
c. Query String: always be a valid query string but not those weired one.

Below figure is Maybank2u site which always reporting latest fake or phishing site.
Take note if you found your current Maybank2u site URL are listed at the red circle in the figure.






2. Always check for security certificate of site owner.
How to check ?
a. Always note on the right bottom site would show a LOCK icon whenever it is a https secure site.
b. Right Click the page > Property of the page > Click on the Certificate button
You will get to know this certificate is issued to which owner.
In this case would be www.maybank2u.com.my
and is issued by www.verisign.com.
Besides, you will get validity period from when to when.

Go for the certificate path tabs and check for the certificate status whether it is ok or not.

3. Be advised that not to open pages via email links or IM links
Those unknown source of links might have hidden query string and will divert the page to a phishing site.

How To Get Windows Mobile Application Pre-Requisite CAB

When you debug and deploy your mobile application with visual studio 2008, you will get some information may help on your real deployment process.

Eg. the out here below will show the cab you needed for client, get those cab from the specific path and deploy it with your program together in order to make it work.

For database, you might need to be aware of the path of database. Default location is device program files.

------ Deploy started: Project: Ringamon, Configuration: Debug Any CPU ------

'// For my HP IPAQ RW 6828 on Windows Mobile 5 qVGA 320x240
Deploying 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\windowsce\NETCFv35.wm.ARMV4I.cab'

'// SQL Server Compact Edition ( PPC WCE5 )
Deploying '%CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Devices\wce500\ARMV4i\sqlce.ppc.wce5.armv4i.CAB'

'// SQL Server Compact Edition ( Repl ppc version )
Deploying '%CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Devices\wce500\ARMV4i\sqlce.repl.ppc.wce5.armv4i.CAB'

'// SQL Server Compact Edition ( DEV enu version )
Deploying '%CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Devices\wce500\ARMV4i\sqlce.dev.enu.ppc.wce5.armv4i.CAB'

'// My Ringamon Database
Deploying 'C:\Users\Ethan Liew\Desktop\Ethan.Mobile.Ringamon\trunk\Ethan.Mobile.Ringamon\bin\Debug\db.sdf'

'// My Ringamon program :P
Deploying 'C:\Users\Ethan Liew\Desktop\Ethan.Mobile.Ringamon\trunk\Ethan.Mobile.Ringamon\bin\Debug\Ringamon.exe'

Deploying 'C:\Program
'// Result of diagnostics message / error message
Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v3.5\windowsce\diagnostics\NETCFv35.Messages.EN.wm.cab'

========== Deploy: 1 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 skipped ==========

DBNETLIB SQL Server Error 17 with SQL2000 Windows Authentication

If your SQL Server 200 had been initially installed using Windows Authentication ( Windows only ) option as above figure, you may have hard to to connect via Odbc or Sql Management Studio 2005.

You might get the error bellow.



Solution might be getting windows authentication before you connect your machine to sql 2000 server.

You can type in machine name or IP and try to key in the sql2000 server administrator and password ( authenticated user ) for sql 2000.


Then you will able to attach the sql server 2000 on your sql server management 2005.

Validate Input Values With Message List

Private Function ValidateInputValues(ByVal control As Control, ByVal pageType As PageType) As ArrayList
Dim messageList As ArrayList = New ArrayList()
DataFormat.SetDateSeparator("/")
If (pageType <> PageType.Search) Then ' Add/Edit Validation
Dim fullName As TextBox = TryCast(control.FindControl("fullName"), TextBox)
If (fullName IsNot Nothing) Then
If (Not DataFormat.CheckString(fullName.Text)) Then
messageList.Add("Invalid Value (String): fullName")
End If
End If
Dim phoneNumber As TextBox = TryCast(control.FindControl("phoneNumber"), TextBox)
If (phoneNumber IsNot Nothing) Then
If (Not DataFormat.CheckInt32(phoneNumber.Text)) Then
messageList.Add("Invalid Value (Int32): Phone Number")
End If
End If
End If
Return IIf(messageList.Count = 0, Nothing, messageList)
End Function


' Powerful TIPs !
Dim source As WebControl = TryCast(sender, WebControl)

Page Load Function Tips

Get some idea or tips from others work in their page load():

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal s As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)

' Registering external javascript file, so that we can have more neater js file management.
Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptInclude("ethan", "ethan.js")

' Cache Setting, I just know about
' ASP Caching can be set manually on the virtual directory property
Response.Cache.SetCacheability(HttpCacheability.NoCache)

' Auto-find control and set focus to it;
' I just know got such a syntax, which really near to human language syntax "IsNot"
' and about ClientID property which is very useful in some case.
If (tblpwdDetailsView.FindControl("fullName") IsNot Nothing) Then
Page.Form.DefaultFocus = tblpwdDetailsView.FindControl("fullName").ClientID
End If

' The way they check for QueryString exist or not
If (Not Page.IsPostBack) Then
If (Request.QueryString.Count > 0) Then
......

Team Viewer Remote Access

http://www.teamviewer.com/download/index.aspx


File Transfer Mode


File Transfering


Login ID

MMC cannot open the file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\BINN\SQL Server Enterprise Manager.MSC.

Case:
When you click on "SQL Server Enterprise Manager" shortcut,
you get "MMC cannot open the file C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\BINN\SQL Server Enterprise Manager.MSC.
This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file."

First I try to check the NTFS Security Permission and is already set to administrator.
Probably the file had corrupted.

Suggested solution:

1. Select Start - Run.
2. At the Open prompt enter: mmc
3. Click OK
4. Select File - Add/Remove Snap-in...
5. Click Add...
6. Select Microsoft SQL Enterprise Manager
7. Click Add, then Close
8. Click Ok to return to the mmc.
9. Select File - Save As...
10. Delete or rename the original (offending) file out the way.
11. Save the new msc file as C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\BINN\SQL Server Enterprise Manager.MSC

Now your original shortcut should work.

Alternatively you can always access Enterprise Manager from within the Computer Management mmc.

Reference From: http://geekswithblogs.net/timh/archive/2005/08/09/49716.aspx
Thanks to Tim Huffam (geekswithblogs) and Sin Huei ( my college)

Converting Valid XML String To Dataset

Imports System.Text
Imports System.Xml
Imports System.Data
Imports System.IO

Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder
sb.Append("")
sb.Append("")
sb.Append("" & "Ethan Liew" & "")
sb.Append("" & "info@ethanliew.com" & "")
sb.Append("")
sb.Append("")

' Covert to string reader then to xmltextreader
Dim reader As New XmlTextReader(New StringReader(sb.ToString))
Dim ds As New DataSet
ds.ReadXml(reader)

' Return dataset
Return ds

1. First you need to use StringReader to read the string.
2. Convert it to XmlTextReader
3. Create a new dataset to

Windows Experice Index and Vista Rating

My machine vista rating. so far so good ?

What is the Windows Experience Index?

The Windows Experience Index measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a number called a base score. A higher base score generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks.

Each hardware component receives an individual subscore. Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of an individual hardware component is 2.6, then the base score is 2.6. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores.

You can use the base score to confidently buy programs and other software that are matched to your computer's base score. For example, if your computer has a base score of 3.3, then you can confidently purchase any software designed for this version of Windows that requires a computer with a base score of 3 or lower.

Recommend Reading:

• Introducing My Medium Budget Desktop PC

• Enable Windows Vista Administrator Account

Accessing Web.Config AppSettings Collection Value

Web.config Settings:

** replace ( to < ** replace ) to >

(appSettings)
(add key="ContentFrameHeight" value ="600px"/)
(add key="ContentFrameWidth" value="700px"/)
(add key="MenuFrameHeight" value="400px"/)
(add key="MenuFrameWidth" value="250px" /)
(/appSettings)


Usually AppSettings placement:
configuration
configSections
"AppSettings"
system.web


Before using System.Configuration.Manager
We might need to add .NET reference, because by default this reference might not be added.
1. Right click "Add reference" > Add the System.Configuration as below figure.



Then you can apply the syntax below:


E.g syntax:
Dim height As String = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings("ContentFrameHeight").ToString

Accesing Master Page With IFRAME Property From Code Behind

Sometimes we need to access code front controls property from code behind, so that we can create a dynamic or configuration variable for this purpose.

How we know what property we have in the code front controls?
In the code front, we can get intellisense helps to verify whether it is a syntax or property with different colors.

ASP.NET Code Front:

(asp:Content ID="Content3" ContentPlaceHolderID="MainContent" runat="Server")
(iframe id="mainContent" name="mainContent" src="../Dev.aspx" width="700px"
scrolling="auto" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" runat="server"
title="E-Application Content")(/iframe)
(/asp:Content)

** replace ( to < ** replace ) to >


ASP.NET Code Behind:

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
mainContent.Attributes.Add("Height", "700px")
End Sub


Explanation:
IFRAME ASP.net Code behind having an "Attribute" syntax where we can simply accessing the value of controls in front page. Yet, code front control needed to be "runat=server" mode.

We created a master page, within the master page we have content place holder setup.
Then we create a new page and inherits master page layout.

In this case, we might still need to use traditional html href link to open a page onto a target.
We can use IFRAME with the id and NAME ( name is needed here ) and shown the page on the IFRAME.

With the code above, we can manipulate IFRAME property during page load.

XPAntivirus.com is a Fake Online Anti Virus

Well, Just got a feedback comment from my reader named Malabei.

Thanks for visiting and drop by the comment.

Usually comment or message posted look similar as below:

"I first visited your blog, but my antispyware said that he is infected with an unknown virus.
I deleted the virus through this AntiSpyWare.
The virus does not manifest itself but gradually destroys information on the computer."

You probably have to be extra careful of those HiJacker

I had gone through the process ( Although I know it is a fake one, so that I can get more information to share with my readers )

HOW THEY HIJACK YOUR PC?
If you are not careful enough, you probably will follow the link as what they leave at the forum, blogs, website or even through instant messenger.

It will brings you to a new page where it requests your authorization or permission to let hacker hijacks your local machine.

Here is the XPANTIVIRUS .com screen shot.
It prompts you to make a virus scan on your machine.
Please DON'T ALLOW it!

You can get some clue stated below to identify whether this is a fake one or not.
1. Did you feel the URL sound too "nice" or "easy to understand" if compare with other antivirus software name.
2. OOoo it is totally FREE! There are FREE anti virus, but not this.
3. Wow, it able to SERVE you and PROTECT you for all aspect (virusese, spyware, adware ) !!
( even AVG give Free antivirus ONLY)
4. The word "Install" , you have to really check out who is the party produce that software, are they Trusted company? or having Certificate for the site ? VeriSign , AntiHacker validation ?
5. The word "Recommended" is just nice word to "fish" you.



Well, if you ignore the pop up. It brings you to this site too.
Noted that, the animation or programming on the web is really look like scanning your machine, although you din't allow them to scan your machine previously.
So, it is all FAKE!!

After scanning ( actually is an animation only ), it will prompt you, your machine is infected by viruses as shown on the right red box.

Then it started to prompt you to download their anti virus or any other utilities to clean the viruses. Please refer to valid anti virus site to get more information about virus details.
You can even email the symptom of viruses to genuine anti virus company for a verification.

If you met this screen shot, DON'T Donwload the fake anti virus!


If it is too late for you, you had donwloaded and installed.
Don't panic! You can refer these site to get them out of your box.

http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-xpantivirus.html
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2007-101010-0713-99
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic111715.html

Google Android

(image credit: Google )

Google launched new software for mobile on last Nov named Android.

The Android platform consists of an operating system, middleware, a user-friendly interface, and applications.

Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008 =)


image credit: Google

According to CNET News (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9871542-7.html?tag=cd.blog)
Development Kit had been launched.


image credit: Hello Android


image credit: HelloAndroid


For more UI Screen shot, can refer http://www.helloandroid.com/node/258

Redirection 301 Moved Permanently

Wow... nearly one month din't update my blog. Due to busy on Chinese New Year 2008 celebration and outstation for business trip.

Today's tip, to create a SEO friendly redirection method:

Search engines have indexed your entire site and many pages rank well. By moving and renaming these files, you run the risk of losing a lot of traffic and leaving visitors to your site who follow a search engine link with the dreaded "Error 404 - File not found"


There are several way recommended:
1. 301 Redirection
The code "301" is interpreted as "moved permanently". After the code, the URL of the missing or renamed page is noted, followed by a space, then followed by the new location or file nam




2. Meta Refresh / Redirect
This method always used by spammer to redirect their page to itself, so that they can get the counts. This is so called illegal traffic. Thus, use this method wisely.

The code will be located in the header tag.

Show Desktop Quick Launch Shortcut

Lost your show desktop shortcut ?

Just create a new file with extension as below and type in the code as below.

Show Desktop.scf
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Place it back to your quick launch folder.Usually in
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Here you got it back!

Tips! Press Windows Key + D, it is actually show desktop command.

Meta Tags In General SEO

Sample META TAGs
Replace character ( to <>

(meta name="'robots'" content="'index,follow,all'")
(meta name="'keywords'" content="'EthanLiew,")
(meta name="'description'" content="'EthanLiew.com")
(meta name="'content'" content="'EthanLiew.com - Sharing blogs of how-to, who-is, what-is and etc' /)
(meta name="'copyright'" content="'EthanLiew.com'")
(meta name="'Author'" content="'Ethan")
(meta name="'GOOGLEBOT'" content="'INDEX,")
(meta name="'Date'" content="'2008-01-01'")
(meta equiv="'Content-Type'" content="'text/html;" charset="utf-8'")
(meta equiv="'Content-Language'" content="'English'")
(meta name="'verify-v1'" content="'your-websiet-key-here'")
(title)EthanLiew.com(/title)

You can visit http://www.google.com/webmasters/ ( Google Webmasters )
and get add your website visible from Google BOT
Here the Tag look like, add it to your meta tag!

(meta name="'verify-v1'" content="'your-websiet-key-here'")

Hope those meta tags helps on SEO performance!

Xampp With Custom Port Setup

Usually IIS will occupied port 80 for those ASP.NET developer or some other reason, other application had grab over the port e.g: Skype.

In this case, we might need to use different port for Apache web server.
Recommend to port 88, 8088, 8888 and so on ( 8 looks and feel goods for me )

What changes need to be done?

1. Get your httpd.conf, usually located inside apache installation and inner conf folder.

Example of my httpd.conf location and I am planning to use 8088 as my custom port:
C:\xampplite\apache\conf\httpd.conf

2. Change the default Listen 80 to your custom port
#
# Listen: Allows you to bind Apache to specific IP addresses and/or
# ports, instead of the default. See also the
# directive.
#
# Change this to Listen on specific IP addresses as shown below to
# prevent Apache from glomming onto all bound IP addresses (0.0.0.0)
#
#Listen 12.34.56.78:80
Listen 8088

3. Change Server Name with the correct port too.
#
# ServerName gives the name and port that the server uses to identify itself.
# This can often be determined automatically, but we recommend you specify
# it explicitly to prevent problems during startup.
#
# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.
#
ServerName localhost:8088

4. Restart Apache server and you can browser with http://localhost:8088/


Incase you have problem to check your port, you can always run this application bundle with XAMPP named: xampp-portcheck.exe

It will shown you which port are occupied by which programs.


In case your 443 port being use by IIS and you are not using SSL on IIS.
You can try to stop your IIS and start Apache before IIS.
Hope this help.


Recomended Reading

• WAMP Server - PHP + Apache + MySQL + Windows

• Xampp With Multiple Sub Domain Setup

NoMao - The Place To Bee

http://www.nomao.com

NoMao, a new name of online map application.

It applied Google Maps API ( I think so ) and really friendly to use.

It allows us to 'bee' on a spot on the earth and share your locations to your friend or placed the widget on your blog.

I would like to say the GUI is really attracting me with all those fancy AJAX technology!!

Let's try somethings!


Figure 1: Click sign up and search for a spot or to add a new spot.


Figure 2: Cute GUI to guide you!


Figure 3: You got your spot added and you can get the widget code and post on your blog!

My Two Cents
I use to play with Google Earth and Google Maps, so far so good, hope there are more information added to our local Google Maps.(currently don't have traffic info and detailed descriptions)

You can take this opportunity to post your business spot or to memories some special places that you want to mark it down. Probably your first dating place? Well, enjoy the technology!
=)

Recommended Reading

• Spot Me On Earth Via Google Maps