This is mostly for my own reference, but here is a series of interesting articles on SQL Reporting Services.  My company currently uses and recommends Cognos, which is used in comparison in these articles.  I've got a project coming up that I will probably use Reporting Services for.  Anyone care to share their experiences?

MSSQL Server 2000 Reporting Services: A New Paradigm for Enterprise Reporting

The Authoring Phase: Overview Part I

The Authoring Phase: Overview Part II

Managing Reporting Services: Data Connections and Uploads

Managing Reporting Services: Report Execution and Standard Subscriptions

I also ordered Professional SQL Server Reporting Services.  I'll post a review of my discoveries over the next few weeks...

Many developers use Panels to programmatically show and hide different sections of a page, such as for a multi-step wizard interface or different areas of administration. Here is a series of overloaded methods I came up with for making it easier to show and hide Panels on a page.  You'll notice that some of the overloads include a parent control, for cases where you need to show/hide a Panel inside another Panel or PlaceHolder.

1  #region private void ShowPanel(...)   
2
3  private void HideAllPanels(Control parent)
4  {
5   foreach (Control c in parent.Controls)
6   {
7    if (c is Panel)
8    {
9     c.Visible = false;
10    }
11   }
12  }
13
14  private void ShowPanel(Panel showPanel)
15  {
16   ShowPanel(showPanel, this);
17  }
18
19  private void ShowPanel(Panel showPanel, Control parent)
20  {
21   foreach(Control c in parent.Controls)
22   {
23    if (c is Panel)
24    {
25     c.Visible = (c == showPanel);
26    }
27   }
28
29  }
30
31  private void ShowPanel(string panelID)
32  {
33   ShowPanel(panelID, this);
34  }
35
36  private void ShowPanel(string panelID, Control parent)
37  {
38   Panel p = (Panel) parent.FindControl(panelID);
39   ShowPanel(p, parent);
40  }
41  #endregion

I sure wish I could afford one of these!

http://www.poetictech.com

http://www.mypce.com

Why haven't I blogged more?

I've been asking myself that question the last couple of weeks.  I had such great aspirations when I created this Web site and my own Blog engine.  I could say that I've been too busy.  Yes, I have been very busy, but, I think that is a cop out.  Just how much time and effort does it really take to make an entry?

No, I think the real issue is I haven't decided yet who my audience is.  I don't have someone, real or fictional, that I imagine to be my reader.  I think it would be much easier and more natural, if I could imagine I was writing an email to a good friend.

Once I discover who my reader is, then I think I'll have a story to tell.

I recently started evaluating a server-side spam solution for my e-mail server.  Of course, in the context of the World Wide Web, everyone knows that spam is synonymous with unsolicited e-mail messages and not the canned meat.  So, what do you call legitimate messages?  Apparently, some spam filtering solutions are labeling non-spam e-mails as “ham.”

I guess I never thought about it before.

I thought I would pass this tip along.  I know some developers have used an HtmlGenericControl to programmatically change the title of their pages (the text that shows up in the browser's window title).  However, a friend of mine informed me that some search engines will not recognize the <title> tag with the added “id” attribute.

If you are a .NET developer and you haven't downloaded the VB.NET Resource Kit or the ASP.NET Resource Kit, then download them now.  Let me say it again.  Download them NOW.  NOW!!!  Have you downloaded them yet?  Okay, I concede that it takes a while.

Here's why: I write most of my code in C#, but that doesn't stop me from using the free .NET controls that come with the VB.NET Resource Kit, such as ComponentOne Studio Enterprise and Infragistics UltraWebNavigator.  See the DHTML menu used on this site?  That's the UltraWebNavigator.  Not only does it do menus, but it also includes an awesome tree control that I use on a lot of administration pages.  The ASP.NET Resource Kit includes Infragistics UltraWebGrid, and Telerik's r.a.d. rotator control. I haven't done the math, but my guess is the kits have well over $1,000 in free controls.  Not to mention all the source code, training materials, book chapters, white papers, and stuff like that.  Let me say it again, this time like Dave Ramsey.  It's FUHHHH-RRREEEEE.

I thought I would provide some background on how this site came about.  About a year ago, I began searching for a new Web host for the domains I manage.  At some point in my search, I discovered ServerBeach -- dedicated servers at incredible prices.  I began to dream about hosting hundreds of Web sites and making lots of money.  Realistically, I knew there was far too much competition for me to make very much money.  Still, I wanted the flexibility and control of a dedicated server.  However, after giving up on the idea of making a profit, how could I justify getting a dedicated server and then letting the majority of its capacity and bandwidth go to waste?

In September 2003, I started a new study at my church on the book “What Would Jesus Do?”  As silly as it may sound, I began to ask myself the question, “What would Jesus do as a .NET developer?”  Now, I've always felt there was a severe shortage in the online community for Christian-based developer resources.  I had been thinking for years about writing some articles or publishing some tools that could help developers who are either just starting out, or are looking for ways to assist their church or organization in building a Web site.

It then occurred to me one day how I could combine my passion for software development with my longtime desire to contribute to the online community, and hopefully spread the good news of Jesus Christ at the same time.  With no desire to attempt to make a profit, and faced with the fact that the majority of my hosting resources would be going to waste, why not give away Web hosting for free?

Thus, the idea of ChristianASP.NET was born.  It's taken a while to get to this point, but I am still very excited about what the future holds for this site.  I sincerely hope and pray that this grows into a ministry: making a positive impact on developers and providing a way for individuals and organizations to build their own Web sites that might not otherwise because of the cost.