Guru's info collection: 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

SSAS

Great collection of useful SSAS articles. It helped me. It will help all.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Office 2013 become much more smart and packed with lot of features, at the same time switching between the version always has some learning curve. Recently we spend few minute in searching the insert object option in 2013.

In Office 2010

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

T-SQL Concatenate all row values

Many time you may need to get list of values from a database table and form a concatenated string (Comma separated). I see still some programmer use cursor to do that. we have simple technique to achieve this.

DECLARE @T VARCHAR(MAX)
SET @T = ''

SELECT @T = @T + COLUMN_NAME + ', '
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'Metadata' AND TABLE_SCHEMA = 'DBO'

SELECT @T

The @T variable will hold all row values separated by comma.

C# Virtual & Abstract Properties

Recently a new learner of C# asked me a question on C# Virtual & Abstract properties. It turned out to a deep dive. Detail follows.

Difference between the Abstract and Virtual property

* Abstract properties forces you to make the class abstract,
no such constraint for virtual properties. Virtual provides
an offer to subclass to override.
* Abstract properties defer the implementation to subclass.
In Virtual property a default implementation can be provided..

Let us deep dive on write only virtual property
-------------------------------------------------------------

To make a property as write only

Option 1: You can mark the getter as private
public virtual string Prop1 { set; private get; }

Option 2: You can just have setter

> in case of explicit implemented properties,
it is legal to just have Setter

        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        string Field;
        public virtual string Prop1 { set { Field = value; } }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

   > in case of Automatically implemented properties, you must have getter
      because if you have just the setter, there is no way you can
      access the value. (Check compiler error below)

        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        public virtual string Prop1 { set; }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Error:
'ConsoleApplication1.test.MyVirtaulWriteOnlyProperty1.set' must declare a body
because it is not marked abstract or extern. Automatically implemented properties
must define both get and set accessors.

Detail:
So for virtual write only property, you must explicitly have setter implemented.
if you are using Automatically implemented property it must have both get & set

In contrary write only abstract property allows setter only property.
It is because, in abstract the implementation is deferred, in the subclass
the compiler will force you to implement the setter explicitly in subclass.

        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    abstract class Animal
    {
            public abstract string Prop1 { set; }
    }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Attempt - 1

        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    public class Dog : Animal
    {
            public override string Prop1 {set;}
    }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Errror
'ConsoleApplication1.Dog.Prop1.set' must declare a body
because it is not marked abstract or extern.
Automatically implemented properties must define both get and set accessors.

Detail:
The reason is there is no way you can read the value,
so compiler forces us to add both get, set.

Attempt - 2
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    public class Dog : Animal
    {
            public override string Prop1 {get;set;}
    }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Error:
'ConsoleApplication1.Dog.Prop1.get': cannot override
because 'ConsoleApplication1.Animal.Prop1'
does not have an overridable get accessor

Detail:
There is no getter defined in suberclass, so we cannot define it in subclass.
We cannot change the write only property as read/write property in subclass

Attempt - 3: (Correct implementation)
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    public class Dog : Animal
    {
           string field;
           public override string Prop1
           {
              set { field = value; }
           }
    }
        /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Error: None
Detail:
So the only way out is implement the Write only property as write only explicitly.

I hope this helps to understand the write only property behavior in reference to Abstract & Virtual.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

E-Book Collection

Check out the large collection of Free Microsoft eBooks for you, including: SharePoint, Visual Studio, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Office 365, Office 2010, SQL Server 2012, Azure, and more.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2012/07/27/large-collection-of-free-microsoft-ebooks-for-you-including-sharepoint-visual-studio-windows-phone-windows-8-office-365-office-2010-sql-server-2012-azure-and-more.aspx

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Building Windows 8 Metro Style Application

The windows application development is keep evolving. The day from FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, Visual Basic, .Net WinForms, WPF.

Now it is big move for Windows 8. The decade old typical windows app style is replaced with metro style. The OS API are evolved, the world is more connected, the UI interfaces evolved, the devices are evolved. Windows OS is embracing major change in Windows 8.

The transition is trend change and requires completely different approach. Getting started with Windows 8 needs solid understanding. Here is the complete training available from Channel 9.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Run-time assembly creation

There are times where you may need to generate Assembly dynamically at run-time. The blog post shares some code for the same.

public CompilerResults Compile()
{
    //Set the compiler options
    var compilerOptions = new Dictionary<string, string>();
    compilerOptions.Add("CompilerVersion", "v4.0");

    CodeDomProvider compiler = new CSharpCodeProvider(compilerOptions);
    CompilerParameters parameters = new CompilerParameters();
    parameters.WarningLevel = 4;
    parameters.TreatWarningsAsErrors = false;
    parameters.GenerateExecutable = false;
    parameters.GenerateInMemory = false;
    parameters.OutputAssembly = GetFileName();
    parameters.IncludeDebugInformation = false;
    if (RoleEnvironment.IsAvailable)
        parameters.TempFiles = new TempFileCollection(RoleEnvironment.GetLocalResource("CompilerTempFiles").RootPath, false);

    string baseDir = Path.GetDirectoryName(
                           Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);
    baseDir = baseDir.Substring(0, 
                       baseDir.LastIndexOf(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar));
    baseDir = baseDir.Substring(0, 
                       baseDir.LastIndexOf(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar));

    //Add required assembly references of your code
    string assemblyName;
    foreach (string assembly in GetReferences())
    {
        string suffix = assembly.EndsWith(".exe") ? "" : ".dll";

        assemblyName = assembly;
        if (!assembly.StartsWith("System"))
        {
            if (assembly.IndexOf(".dll") > -1)
            {
                assemblyName = FindAssembly(baseDir, assembly);
                suffix = "";
            }
            parameters.ReferencedAssemblies.Add(assemblyName + suffix);
        }
        else
        {
            var assemblyPath = (from assm 
                  in AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetAssemblies()
                  where assm.FullName.IndexOf(assemblyName + ",") > -1
                                select assm).FirstOrDefault();

            if (assemblyPath == null)
            {
                throw new Exception("Unable to locate assembly: " 
                                      + assemblyName + suffix);
            }

            parameters.ReferencedAssemblies.Add(assemblyPath.Location);
        }
    }

    //Get your dynamic code
    string Code = GetCodeText();
            
    CompilerResults results = compiler.CompileAssemblyFromSource(
                                               parameters, Code);

    return results;
}

With dynamic code you must have some known interface, so that you can create the dynamic object of given interface to invoke the code.

public IKnownInterface GetTableServiceContext()
{
    string assemblyPath = GetFileName();
    if (!File.Exists(assemblyPath))
    {
        throw new FileNotFoundException(assemblyPath + " not found");
    }

    System.Reflection.Assembly assem = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.Load(
        File.ReadAllBytes(assemblyPath));

    Type queryType = assem.GetType("DynamicClassName");

    return Activator.CreateInstance(queryType) as IKnownInterface;        
}

We should be avoiding dynamic code generation and look for solutions like dependency injection, MEF frameworks.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

SSIS–DFT does not loads last row from flat file

Yesterday, I had an interesting issue. It has been reported me that an ETL always misses the last row from the flat file. No matter what is the row is it happens for every file that the last row is missing.

It is wired issue, I started check the ETL and created a new ETL with DFT pointing the same share file. I could able to get all the rows. It was happening only in that particular ETL.

I copied the DFT from the error ETL to my new ETL. The problem disappeared. I was wondering about the magic happening here. The DFT is same, data file is same but the last row is getting missed.

I started comparing the ETL config and connections. oh…at last I could able to figure out the issue. It was due the Text Qualifier setting which update on the Flat File Connection component. Make sure it set to None, if you don’t have any special handling.

Related MSDN discussion

Monday, April 16, 2012

Web API

Web API is the emerging trend in the Web programming.

The WiKi defines as “A web API (Application Programming Interface) is typically a defined set of HTTP request messages along with a definition of the structure of response messages, typically expressed in JSON or XML. While "web API" is sometimes considered a synonym for web service, the Web 2.0 applications typically have moved away from SOAP-based web services towards more direct REST-style communications.^[1] Web APIs allow the combination of multiple services into new applications known as mashups”

Check out the PDC 10 talk on Building Web API which gives insight on how Microsoft approaches Web API.

Getting Started with ASP.NET Web API

Check out the blog to get started Tutorial

Friday, April 13, 2012

SQL Table Size

Many times you may want to check the size of set of tables in SQL server. There are multiple ways to achieve the same.

DECLARE @Unit CHAR(2)
DECLARE @SlicerSize FLOAT

SET @Unit = 'GB' --MB

CREATE TABLE #DataSize
(
    RowId        INT IDENTITY,
    TableName    SYSNAME,
    DataRowCount BIGINT,
    Reserved     VARCHAR(20),
    Data         VARCHAR(20),
    IndexSize    VARCHAR(20),
    Unused       VARCHAR(20)
)

SELECT @SlicerSize = CASE WHEN @Unit = 'GB' 
                          THEN 1024.0 / 1024.0
                          ELSE 1024.0 
                     END

-- Add the table you want to check the size
INSERT #DataSize EXEC sp_executesql N'EXEC sp_spaceused [dbo.Emp]'
INSERT #DataSize EXEC sp_executesql N'EXEC sp_spaceused [dbo.Address]'

SELECT TableName, 
       DataRowCount / 1000 AS RowCountInKs ,
       CONVERT(DECIMAL(10,2),CONVERT(INT,REPLACE(Reserved,' KB','')) / @SlicerSize)  AS ReservedSpace ,
       CONVERT(DECIMAL(10,2),CONVERT(INT,REPLACE(Data,' KB','')) / @SlicerSize)      AS DataSize ,
       CONVERT(DECIMAL(10,2),CONVERT(INT,REPLACE(IndexSize,' KB','')) / @SlicerSize) AS IndexSize,
       @Unit                                                                         AS Unit 
       FROM #DataSize

DROP TABLE #DataSize

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Encryption

Encryption is used to product the data. There are 2 types of encryption.

Symmetric: The key used to encrypt and decrypt are same.
Asymmetric

Symmetric Encryption

There 4 different algorithms we can use to encrypt data in C#

DES
TripleDES
RC2
Rijndeal

Asymmetric Encryption

In Asymmetric encryption data is get signed using public key and decrypted using private key. for complete list and detail check MSDN Article

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Securing you Azure Connection String

With windows Azure you have dependency on the Keys, like storage key, sql authentication. It is important to encrypt them and secure it. There is good article which details the steps to secure your connection strings.

Configuring specific section of web.config

for Encrypting and Decrypting string using certificate refer http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh697511.aspx

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

C# by examples

One of the best way to start learning any technology is learn by examples, then understand the underlying concepts by using deep-dive books.

I came across an excellent site which list all C# techniques and provides very simple examples on each topic. It is good recommandation for any who starts learning C#.

http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/CSharp/CatalogCSharp.htm

Friday, February 3, 2012

Windows Azure Resources

Service Bus Demo -

Email service

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2012/01/25/announcing-native-windows-azure-libraries-and-special-free-pricing-using-sendgrid-for-windows-azure-customers.aspx

Browser based cloud app development

https://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/nodejs/tutorials/deploying-with-cloud9/

SQL Azure Import/Export Service Now in Production

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2012/01/24/announcing-sql-azure-import-export-service-now-in-production.aspx

Transient Fault Handling Application Block

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh680934(v=PandP.50).aspx

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Windows Phone 7 Resources

There are lot of material on WP7 phone development. In this post I would like to list the few which refered recently.

Windows Phone 7 sampleshttp://www.jeffblankenburg.com/2010/09/30/31-days-of-windows-phone-7

Mango samplehttp://jeffblankenburg.com/31daysofmango

Silverlight toolkit http://silverlight.codeplex.com

Localization tool http://patrickgetzmann.wordpress.com/wp7-localize

Optimizing and testing WP7
http://research.microsoft.com/apps/video/default.aspx?id=156138

UX: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/belux/archive/2011/12/01/web-amp-phone-ux-event-recordings-slides-and-content-now-available.aspx

Channel 9 - Inside WP7: http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Inside+Windows+Phone

Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/windowsphone?feature=watch
Training: http://www.pitorque.de/MisterGoodcat/post/Free-Windows-Phone-Training.aspx
Must have dev tools: http://www.diaryofaninja.com/blog/2012/01/23/8-musthave-tools-for-windows-phone-7-development
MetroSky: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/MetroSky-A-Complete-4250b80f

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Metro Design

A Windows applications UI is not changed for many years. The recent big change was office Ribbon. Now there is major shift in UI design which is Metro style design. Metro design is already adopted completely in Windows Phone 7, Zune. Windows 8 will also be based on Metro design. The design is from the inspiration of sign boards in Metro cities. Hence the name.

Principles

Light & simple: No glassy buttons are rich graphics. Simple flat graphics
Typography: Beauty is given importance, Have specific type (ex Segoe) use at various weightages to have textual hierarchy
Motion: The lively of the application is given importance, little animation added for every user interface and page transitions
Content, not chrome: Important is for the content not for controls, so unnecessary controls are removed, so no more scroll bar for a list, a list it self can be scrollable.
Honesty: It is unique and new style

Design Language
Principles talks about abstract concepts language takes a shape.

Navigation: Pivot & Panaroma
Motion: Animations
Iconography: Flat icon set
Images & Photos
Themes & Personalization
Touch Gestures & Targets
UI controls: Application Bar, Application Bar Menu
Hardware
Services
Marketplace and Branding

Tutorial: http://blendinsider.com/tutorial/blend-tutorial-part-1-design-your-first-metro-style-app-with-javascript-html5-css-2012-1-20/

For more detail check out Channel 9, MSDN, Blog Reference

Friday, January 6, 2012

SQL Server 2008 High Availability

High availability configuration is a tricky area for me, I feel Operation team will take care on them!! and never ventured to understand in depth. But today I came across simple video on configuring high availability options in a simple way. It is simple and clear.

Grouping set in SQL Server 2008

Aggregation is primary need when you are building reports. The simple GROUP BY is not sufficient when you are building reports. The ROLLUP and CUBE are handy features for cumulative aggregates. These ROLLUP and CUBE are replaced with GROUPING SET in SQL 2008.

The features like ROLLUP, CUBE exists for backward compatibility, so in if you are in SQL 2008 start using GROUPING SET.

Instead of explaining GROUPING SET, I just listed set of query and output which is self explanatory. .

Sample Table

EmpId	Yr	Sales
1	2005	12000.00
1	2006	18000.00
1	2007	25000.00
2	2005	15000.00
2	2006	6000.00