Yeah, Baby!

SQLCE Sample Code and Projects

Lessons in programming with SQL Server Compact Edition:

http://arcanecode.com/arcane-lessons/

Deploying SQL Server Compact Edition

In the interest of copy and paste and making your life easier, here are the 7 dll’s you need to locate and add to your project. You should be able to find them in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5 (or v3.0). If you are using 3.0, substitute “30” for “35” in the names of these dll’s.

• sqlceca35.dll
• sqlcecompact35.dll
• sqlceer35EN.dl
• sqlceme35.dll
• sqlceoledb35.dll
• sqlceqp35.dll
• sqlcese35.dll

Set the Build Action to “Content”, and “Copy to Output Directory” to “copy always” on these entries in Solution Explorer. On the reference to the System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll in your project, set “Copy Local” to “true”.

JSON.NET

Json - Release: Json.NET 3.5 Release 7

Json.NET library makes working with JSON formatted data in .NET simple. Key features include a flexible JSON serializer to for quickly converting .NET classes to JSON and back again, and LINQ to JSON for reading and writing JSON.

Features
-Flexible JSON serializer to convert .NET objects to JSON and back again
-LINQ to JSON for reading and writing JSON
-Writes indented, easy to read JSON
-Convert JSON to and from XML
-Supports Silverlight and the Compact Framework

The JSON serializer is a good choice when the JSON you are reading or writing maps closely to a .NET class. The serializer automatically reads and writes JSON for the class.

For situations where you are only interested in getting values from JSON, don't have a class to serialize or deserialize to, or the JSON is radically different from your class and you need to manually read and write from your objects then LINQ to JSON is what you should use. LINQ to JSON allows you to easily read, create and modify JSON in .NET.

Easiest way to set ListView ItemHeight in an Owner-Drawn ListView

When creating an owner-drawn ListBox, you will receive measure-item messages that allow you to specify the height of items.  In a ListView control, that functionality is not there.  So how is the ItemHeight determined in a ListView in Details mode?  It uses the ImageList height then the Font height, so to override the item height create a dummy ImageList and set it to the desired height and assign it to the listview depending on the view.  Using the Font to set the height does not work very well because it also affects the height of the Header control, an unwanted side-effect.

HUDZEE

If you have extra 3.5" internal hard drives, perhaps for backups or archiving purposes, what's the best way to store them?  This is the answer – a VHS-like static-free enclosure that can be placed on a bookshelf.  I found a similar item on Amazon, but it looks flimsy and apparently has one side longer than the other so you can't stand it straight up on a bookshelf.  The Hudzee looks strong, snug, and will store nicely on a bookshelf.  They're about $65 for 10 of them, not very cheap, but if you have hard drives accumulating, it's a good investment.
http://hudzee.com/

Jazzercise!

Started a new blog, for myself really, to chronicle my exercise - specifically, following one of the year-long programs found in the book "The New Rules of Lifting", which I just finished reading.

http://christoffer-workout.blogspot.com/