Just checked... Windows Vista is now available for download to MSDN Subscribers.

Ed B.

So... looks like Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals (which currently happens to be the Microsoft product that has the longest name in the Microsoft Product Catalog) will be RTM on November 30.

Ed and I have been invitied to sit on the Expert Panel for the Dallas Launch Event on December 13.  You can find more details about the event here.  We look forward to seeing you there.

DB Pro (former "Data Dude") is a great addition to the Visual Studio Team System and has a lot of cool and useful features.

1. Brings in the database developers and includes them in the collaboration using Team Foundation Server.
2. Database Schema is now able to be put into source control!  This enables a group to manage changes to the database with all of the version control features TFS brings to the table.
3. Generates Data for testing.
4. Produces database schema change scripts.
5. Allows creation of unit tests for the database.
6. Rename Refactoring across entire database!  Unfortunately, it will not rename objects that you have used in code.  For instance, if you have a data layer project, it will not change stored procedures or parameter names if you changed them in the DB project.
7. Schema Comparisons (between Projects and Live Databases, and DB to DB)
8. Data Comparisons (same)

Things that this release did not have in it that I hope to see in the future:

1. Data Modeling Tools
2. Intellisense for T-SQL (Although I really understand how daunting of a task that would be because of how the syntax of T-SQL was designed.
3. I'm sure there are other things that I think are needed but I'll add them as I think of them.

Very exciting times!

Ed B.

So... after looking and looking... and then some more looking at MSDN Subscriber Downloads this weekend I finally saw that Office 2007  was released.  Not all of the programs are available yet but the main applications are.

Beware though... if you were using prerelease versions of Office 2007 be sure to uninstall all of the components from them before you attempt to install the RTM version.  So far so good though.  I'm really impressed with the release.

Ed B.

I have been invited to attend a 5 day training class on Capgemini's Integrated Architecture Framework. The training will start this week and is located in Dallas TX. I had the opportunity to choose to take the training in either Dallas or Paris France. Do to the short notice I had to choose Dallas since I do not have a passport (the Microsoft .Net Passport won't work) and it takes to dang long to get one. O well, better to do it here locally so I will be more concentrated on learning rather than site seeing. I will do several post this week sharing what I learn.

Ed K.

The DotNetRocks show "Live from Tulsa TechFest 2006", show number 201, has been posted. This is one of the best shows I have heard in a while. Not just because "The Eds" are on it, but because of the humor and wide variety of people interview. Caleb Jenkins jokes, David Walkers references and Bill Vaughn's thoughts are a  few of the great momonents in the show. You can catch "The Eds" at minute 13. We had the opportunity to do a plug at the end of our talk so, we Bragged about  our employer Sogeti USA (a Capgemini Group company.) 

Download the show here.

Thanks for interviewing us Carl and Richard! We love the show and are huge fans!

Ed K.

The 3.0 Framework has been release today and is available for download here. Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for the 3.0 Framework can be downloaded here.

The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 is the new managed code programming model for Windows®. It combines the power of the .NET Framework version 2.0 with new technologies for building applications that have visually compelling user experiences, seamless communication across technology boundaries, and the ability to support a wide range of business processes. These new technologies are Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, and Windows CardSpace. The .NET Framework 3.0 is included as part of the Windows Vista™ operating system; you can install it or uninstall it using Windows Features Control Panel. This redistributable package is for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. (Microsoft, 2006)

For customers that already have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed, this .NET Framework 3.0 redistributable package installs only the new Windows Vista components. This ensures that any .NET Framework 2.0-based applications work seamlessly when the .NET Framework 3.0 is installed, with no application migration or updates of any kind required. (Microsoft, 2006)

Ed K.

If your working in HealthCare with BizTalk odds are you have a solution for the 837. The 837 is the standard for a HealthCare Claim. There are three different flavors of the 837, Dental, Professional and Institutional. There are many differences between these formats, impeticular, the beginning name of each node, TS837Q3 for Institutional, TS837Q1 for professional and TS837Q2 for Dental. The differences I speak of are very subtle. The one I want to share is the a node in the 2300 segment that we currently use to store a unique ID which we call the BizTalkID; it is how we track claims as we send it to different vendors for repricing. I am not saying that is a best practice but its what we have to deal with in the current BizTalk solution we have adopted.

Listed below is the node and its attributes on an Institutional claim:

<TS837Q3_2300_REF_ClaimIdentificationNumberForClearinghousesAndOtherTransmissionIntermediaries TS837Q3_2300_REF01__ReferenceIdentificationQualifier="D9" TS837Q3_2300_REF02__ValueAddedNetworkTraceNumber="02397SC05232604" />

Listed below is the node and its attributes on an Professional Claim:

<TS837Q1_2300_REF_ClaimIdentificationNumberForClearingHousesAndOtherTransmissionIntermediaries TS837Q1_2300_REF01__ReferenceIdentificationQualifier="D9" TS837Q1_2300_REF02__ClearinghouseTraceNumber="03497SC05318645" />

Can you spot the difference's.... besides the Q1 and Q3? That's right they are subtle.

The first and most oblivious is REF02 segment. One is ValueAddedNetworkTraceNumber and the other is ClearinghouseTraceNumber. The difference that has bitten us time and time again in XSL Transforms and XPaths is the node name. One has a capital H and the other has a lower case h.

TS837Q3_2300_REF_ClaimIdentificationNumberForClearinghousesAndOtherTransmissionIntermediaries
TS837Q1_2300_REF_ClaimIdentificationNumberForClearingHousesAndOtherTransmissionIntermediaries

Why is this? Their both are based off the 837 spec.......The answer is, who knows. Maybe different people were in charge of each sub type of the 837 and did not communicate. Just be careful and don't assume that they are the same.

Ed K.

So as the night continued on Ed B makes the bold statement that he looks better than the infamous Rory Blyth. This came out of nowhere and the statement left me and Tim Rayburn, of TimRayburn.net, speechless, confused and laughing. The man in the blue shirt is Ed B.

Here is Rory's Blog ..... you be the judge...... if you really care.

Ed K.

We have a really huge problem with SPAM in our Trackbacks.  It's crazy.  I know several other people have been having this same problem and I am seriously thinking about upgrading to one of the nightly builds of dasBlog which has a new feature to help this.

Clemens Vasters:  %#%^@^ you Spammers

Tim Rayburn:  Upgrading to dasBlog 1.9.6288

Ed B.

HP Pavilion dv9035nr Notebook PC. Here is some specs:

• The next-generation Intel® Core™2 Duo processor is based on the innovative Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, so it runs faster and is more energy-efficient for cooler, quieter operation
• 17" WXGA+ high-definition widescreen display with BrightView technology and 1440 x 900 resolution
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive capacity (two 80GB; 5400 rpm)
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics with 256MB discrete video memory; S-video TV-out
• 2GB DDR2 memory for multitasking power
• Built-in HP Pavilion 1.3MP WebCam with microphone makes it easy to chat with and send video mail to family and friends 
• QuickPlay music and DVD buttons; HP mobile remote and ear bud headphones included
• Hewlett-Packard ExpressCard analog TV tuner with Media Center remote
• 5-in-1 digital media reader supports Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card
• IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface and 4 high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer
• Built-in 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; 56 Kbps high-speed modem; Expansion Port 3 connector
• Long-lasting HP Imprint high-gloss finish with inlaid wave design; backlit media control panel
• Weighs 7.8 lbs. and measures 1.6" thin for portable power; lithium-ion battery and AC adapter
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system preinstalled; software package included with Sonic DigitalMedia Plus, muvee autoProducer DVD Edition with Burning, HP Photosmart Premier and more

I am really loving this laptop. When searching for a laptop, I decided that I wanted a laptop that was powerful enough to serve as a desktop replacement and be able to handle the advanced graphics of Vista. I am hardly ever at home...so it made sense to get something that I could develop on anywhere and at anytime. This machine certainly fit the bill for my needs; I can develop, play games and watch movies all without having to worry about performance and quality. O ya, almost forgot you can't beat the price tag for this beast of a laptop......$1499 at your local BestBuy.

Ed K.