As Keyword in C#

The "as" keyword in C# attempts to cast an instance to a specific type and if it fails returns null.

What is the different between explicitly cast ?

string str = (string) Request["nullSession"];
string str = Request["nullSession"] as string;

Both of them return the same (NULL)...

However probably, I will stick with my casting style because
1. It confused me when I need to convert from C# to VB
2. I can not using as keyword to replace
(int) 123.23 where I expect to get 123 as integer

----
123.21 as int
//throws The as operator must be used with a reference type ('int' is a value type)

123.21 as int16
//throws The as operator must be used with a reference type ('short' is a value type)

123.21 as double
//throws The as operator must be used with a reference type ('double' is a value type)

JSON AJAX Localization

It may be annoying when you need to have several languages in your web sites..

There is several way... to implement localization your web content in the client..

you either create a control and attached those assembly to your web site...
or just use... JSON object...

My preference is using JSON ( Javascipt Object Notation)....

* Create.. JSON Resource JS file for each.. languange...
Resource.js
MyReourceText={
"HeaderTitle":"Hello World",
"FooterText":"CopyRight By Kurniawan"
}

Resource.fr.js
MyReourceText={
"HeaderTitle":"Header Title in France",
"FooterText":"CopyRight By Kurniawan in france"
}


* Create.. UpdateResource js - this script will update your content use specific localize language.
Note:
-saperate this file from Resource.js...so you will not duplicate your code

UpdateResource.js
Sys.Application.add_load(SetupForm);
function SetupForm()
{
$get('HeaderTitle').innerText = MyReourceText.HeaderTitle;
$get('FooterText').innerText = MyReourceText.FooterText;
}



* In your aspx... add enable EnableScriptLocalization="true" in your ScriptManager
This will enable the


* Add those script reference into your script Manager
<asp:ScriptReference Path="Resource.js" ResourceUICulture="fr" />
<asp:ScriptReference Path="UpdateResource.js" />


**** THAT'S ALL ****

You may change your language from the browser or
from the your own control.... by using this...
System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture =
System.Globalization.CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(cmbLang.SelectedValue);

and you can get the current language from your browser when not postback
cmbLang.Items.FindByValue(System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.
CurrentUICulture.TwoLetterISOLanguageName).Selected = true;

****

You may enable globalization.. to formating your date / currency into specific languange../ culture...

by activate EnableScriptGlobalization = "true" in Script Manager...
You can use
d.localeFormat("dddd, dd MMM yyyy");

****

XAML ???

X A M L ??? (ZAMMEL) Yes, That's the correct spelling...

It extends for Extendsible Application Markup Language.
ZAMMEL is Xml based language to define object and their properties ...

It focused on UI for WPF/E (Windows Presentation Foundation/Everywhere)

You may check out Silverlight to begin with XAML.

Here is the Zammel Sample
<object>
<child property="x" property="y">
<child.property>
<class property="u" property="v"/>
</child.property>
</child>
<child>
</child>
</object>


Note:
* Xaml is different with WPF - Xaml is Xml based Markup
WPF is a graphics API

* XAML also supports things like 3D and controls, which SVG does not. It's different from SVG

* Saparate Design and Development

F# ???

F# -
Functional language ???
Why do we need to learn that language ???

So far I know... this language is meant to be more mathematical at heart, and thus creates more separation between the lower level machine details and the developer's code.

functional programming is supposed to be a "higher level" of programming than Java or C.

#light
(* Sample Windows Forms Program *)

(* We need to open the Windows Forms library *)
open System.Windows.Forms

(* Create a window and set a few properties *)
let form = new Form(Visible=true, TopMost=true, Text="Welcome to F#")

(* Create a label to show some text in the form *)
let label =
   let temp = new Label()
   let x = 3 + (4 * 5)
   (* Set the value of the Text*)
   temp.Text <- x
   (* Remember to return a value! *)
   temp

(* Add the label to the form *)
do form.Controls.Add(label)

(* Finally, run the form *)
do Application.Run(form)

Generic.Dictionary Serializable ?

so far I know that Generic.Dictionary is not serializable by default in .Net 2.0

One of the implication is when you put your dictionary in the session of Asp.net...
You will get problem... You will get an error when serializer run and
try to get your session ship out of your web service....

Here is the code... to

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Text;

using System.Xml.Serialization;

[XmlRoot("dictionary")]

public class DictionarySerializable

: Dictionary, IXmlSerializable

{

#region IXmlSerializable Members

public System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchema GetSchema()

{

return null;

}

public void ReadXml(System.Xml.XmlReader reader)

{

XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TKey));

XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TValue));

if(reader.IsEmptyElement) return;

reader.Read();

while (reader.NodeType != System.Xml.XmlNodeType.EndElement)

{

reader.ReadStartElement("item");

reader.ReadStartElement("key");

TKey key = (TKey)keySerializer.Deserialize(reader);

reader.ReadEndElement();

reader.ReadStartElement("value");

TValue value = (TValue)valueSerializer.Deserialize(reader);

reader.ReadEndElement();

this.Add(key, value);

reader.ReadEndElement();

reader.MoveToContent();

}

reader.ReadEndElement();

}

public void WriteXml(System.Xml.XmlWriter writer)

{

XmlSerializer keySerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TKey));

XmlSerializer valueSerializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(TValue));

foreach (TKey key in this.Keys)

{

writer.WriteStartElement("item");

writer.WriteStartElement("key");

keySerializer.Serialize(writer, key);

writer.WriteEndElement();

writer.WriteStartElement("value");

TValue value = this[key];

valueSerializer.Serialize(writer, value);

writer.WriteEndElement();

writer.WriteEndElement();

}

}

#endregion

}

Get bored with Web Service ???

Are you get bored with Web Service Technology ?

Yeah... Probably... It has been too old for us....

Check it out Microsoft Astoria - Data Service....
http://astoria.mslivelabs.com


You may try to deploy your database into Web Data Service

It is also supported by ASP.NET Futures (May 2007)

Iron Phyton with ASP.Net Futures

Here is the example... how to nice it is using Iron phyton to filter your Grid View which generated from DynamicList

* Restrict your column...
def GetColumns() :
return ["Column1","Column2",....]

* Add your custom column
def GetColumns() :
return ["Column1","Column2",....
["My Custom Column", lambda: "%s (%s)" % (Column3, Column4)]
]

* Rule level formating for your view
From System.Drawing import Color
def InitRow(row):
if "myKeyword" in Column1 :
row.BackColor = Color.Green


How easy it is ????

Dynamic Data Component in ASP.NET Futures

These are the details of Dynamic Data Components , If you want to play around with the code...

* DynamicAutoData - It will build the presentantion of your tables
Master, Detail, Insert RSS Links

* DynamicList - Build Grid View for your table

* Dynamic Details - Build the details for your master tables...

* Dynamic Insert - Build the insert new data form for your table...

* Dynamic Rss Link - Burn your page into.. RSS feed

* Dynamic Filter - Filter.. your table...

Codeless in .Net Futures

Please Check out this...
It's amazing, You don't need to write anything to View all your database through .Net Futures...

* Create Web Site with DynamicDataWebSite Template...

* Add your Database into APP_Data

* Open your web.config

1. Enable showAllTables by change false into true
<dynamicDataControls showAllTables="true" >

2. and uncoment auto.axd inside httpHandlers


---- That's ALL --------------------------

All has been build for you
* List all of your tables
* Master Detais
* Insert Update Delete
* RSS Links....

What else do you need?

Embed your javascript file into single DLL

If you want your javascript hidden or secure inside the dll...

Please see this step... to embed your javascript file (*.js) into your dll.

• Go to the property of the javascript file (Right Click in *.js file)
• Change Build Action to Embeded Resource (Default is content)

• Go To AssemblyInfo.vb (Turn on Show All file to see that file)
• Add <AssemblyL System.Web.
  UI.WebResource("YourNameSpace.YourJSName.js", "application/x-Javascript")>

• Register to Page control.Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptResource
  (typeOf(yourClassName),"YourNameSpace.YourJSName.js");
  

OR if available

• Register to AjaxToolkit.ScriptManager using Reflection
  
  System.Type _ScriptManager = Type.GetType
  ("System.Web.UI.ScriptManager , System.Web.Extension");
  
  if (_ScriptManager == null)
  throw new Exception(" Use... the other register above");
  
  System.Reflection.MethodInfo _RegisterClientScriptResourceMethod =
  _ScriptManager.GetMethod("RegisterClientScriptResource",new Type()
  {typeof(System.Web.UI.Control), typeof(Type), typeof(System.String)} );
  
  
  _RegisterClientScriptResourceMethod.Invoke(Nothing, new Object()
  (this,typeOf(yourClassName),"YourNameSpace.YourJSName.js");
  

Building your own Ajax

So far, I know there is 3 Tutorials which good to see before you build your own control...

The best one is using AjaxToolkitTemplate-Extender...
See - AjaxToolkit Documentation on the left bottom corner.
According to me.. this Ajax design is easy to use and very consistet with ajaxToolkit...

However.. there is another... Video Tutorial can be found in the www.asp.net/learn/ajax

• "WinVideo-ASP-AjaxCustomAjaxControl" - Build User Control embeded into single dll
  
• "WinVideo-ASP-AjaxEnableYourCustomControl" - Build Web UserControl in different DLL