Got the plugin working on Firefox... now Chrome

The plugin worked on Firefox!

But under Chrome it kept crashing....

The problems seem to be down to:
1. A whole load of test and demo code in CPlugin::CPlugin - in plugin.cpp - couldn't be bothered to find out which bit of it caused the crash - it was all just demo code from the sample - so I cut it all out!
2. Problems with the way the sample code used malloc and strdup to allocate memory... these need to be replaced with NPN_MemAlloc for Chrome (and really for Firefox too!)

This page seems to help a bit...
http://code.google.com/p/vacuproj/wiki/SciMozNotes

But really it is hard work to debug!

Starting out on Firefox plugins

I've been working on a new Firefox plugin.

stage one... was to get the code I wanted to working as an ActiveX control inside Internet Explorer.

stage two... was to then start on getting the mozilla code working - this guide for Visual Studio building is a little out of date - but still seemed to basically work:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Compiling_The_npruntime_Sample_Plugin_in_Visual_Studio

The main things that didn't work were:
- problems with changes in function names
- problems with int32_t types which seem to have been removed!

Eeeeek - back in C++ land

Spent a long time today trying to get a project to link :)

Eventually worked it out - but it took some decoding of name mangling - http://www.kegel.com/mangle.html - it eventually became "obvious" that the library I was linking against was built using VC++ 6.0 - before w_char as a type was introduced - so one of my names didn't match one of the mangled names...

I'm really finding it hard to work in C++ after 3 years of mostly C# though!

If you encounter ASP Validators not working in Chrome

This solution http://forums.asp.net/p/1343086/2734523.aspx seemed to work rather well for me:

<script type="text/javascript">
    evt = ""; // Defeat the Chrome bug
</script>

Making an AJAX TabPanel really invisible

If you want to make a TabPanel invisible using the ASP.NET AJAX
TOOLKIT then it seems you have to make the header text invisible too.
I did this using:

if (!viewedPreferences.ShowHealthInProfile)
{
TabPanelHealth.Visible = viewedPreferences.ShowHealthInProfile;
TabPanelHealth.HeaderText = string.Empty;
}

Presentation to www.devevening.co.uk - 16th April 2009

In the clouds no one can hear you scream...

View more presentations from cirrious.

ASP.NET textbox multiline maxlength

Very useful and simple javascript if you want to protect a multiline text box from enterting too many characters!

http://geekswithblogs.net/mahesh/archive/2007/12/27/asp.net-textbox.multiline-maxlength.aspx

function CheckCount(text,length)

 

{

 

      var maxlength = new Number(length); // Change number to your max length.

 

if(text.value.length > maxlength){

 

                text.value = text.value.substring(0,maxlength);

 

                alert(" Only " + maxlength + " characters allowed");

            }

}

<asp:TextBox ID="textBox" onKeyUp="javascript:Count(this,100);" onChange="javascript:Count(this,100);"  TextMode=MultiLine Columns="5" Rows="5" runat=server>

    </asp:TextBox>

Or something like that...

Some useful pages for OpenSocial

Just starting to look at this now...

Here's some useful OpenSocial pages I've found:

This reply is very useful with links and ideas: http://www.mail-archive.com/opensocial-api@googlegroups.com/msg04079.html

Here's the Ning hello world application: http://developer.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=1185512:Topic:4655&page=3&commentId=1185512:Comment:87952&x=1#1185512Comment87952

The iGoogle page is very good - and I use their sandbox quite a lot! - http://code.google.com/apis/igoogle/docs/igoogledevguide.html - sandbox at http://www.google.co.uk/ig?refresh=1

(I also find it quite funny that Google has a "legacy" gadget section already! http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/docs/legacy/gs.html#Scratchpad

Here's the developer's guide  http://code.google.com/apis/opensocial/docs/0.8/devguide.html

An example gadget (not quite opensocial) on CodeProject - http://www.codeproject.com/KB/ajax/igoogle_gadget.aspx

MySpace also has opensocial capabilities - http://developer.myspace.com/community/opensocial/helloworld.aspx (I never use MySpace - but maybe I should take a look one day)

The www.opensocial.org  site is very useful - e.g. here's a tutorial - http://wiki.opensocial.org/index.php?title=OpenSocial_Tutorial and here's a list of containers - http://wiki.opensocial.org/index.php?title=Containers

Another interesting tutorial - http://www.devx.com/webdev/Article/37952/0/page/3 (plus also see their Gadget tutorial - http://www.devx.com/webdev/Article/35007/0/page/4)

Not sure about this link - it's about xml2json - but I think there may be better ways available now - http://www.phdcc.com/xml2json.htm

Changing YetAnotherForum to display time as "x minutes ago"

This really demonstrates the beauty of open source!

I've got a lot of international visitors to www.runsaturday.com - so I wanted to avoid time zone specific times (yes - I know YAF does let each user customise the time zone, but that doesn't really help when I get so many guests through)

So ... I decided to adopt the facebook/twitter approach - to listing times like "23 seconds ago" and "in the last week".

It was remarkable easy to change. Here's the main new code:

        /// <summary>

        /// Formats a datetime value into "friendly terms" - let's hope this works!

        /// the date is yesterday or today -- in which case it says that.

        /// </summary>

        /// <param name="o">The datetime to be formatted</param>

        /// <returns>Formatted string of DateTime object</returns>

        public string FormatDateTimeTopic(object o)

        {

            //string strDateFormat;

            DateTime dt = Convert.ToDateTime(o) +TimeOffset;

            DateTime nt = DateTime.Now+TimeOffset;

 

            TimeSpan diff = nt - dt;

            double totalSeconds = diff.TotalSeconds;

            double totalMinutes = diff.TotalMinutes;

            double totalHours = diff.TotalHours;

            double totalDays = diff.TotalDays;

 

            try

            {

                if (totalSeconds < 15.0)

                {

                    return GetText("MomentsAgo");

                }

                if (totalSeconds < 100.0)

                {

                    return string.Format(GetText("SecondsAgo"), totalSeconds);

                }

                if (totalMinutes < 100.0)

                {

                    return string.Format(GetText("MinutesAgo"), totalMinutes);

                }

                else if (totalHours < 10.0)

                {

                    return string.Format(GetText("HoursAgo"), totalHours);

                }

                else if (totalDays < 1.0)

                {

                    return GetText("InTheLastDay");

                }

                else if (totalDays < 2.0)

                {

                    return string.Format(GetText("ADayAgo"), totalDays);

                }

                else if (totalDays < 30.0)

                {

                    return string.Format(GetText("DaysAgo"), totalDays);

                }

                else

                {

                    return dt.Date.ToString("dd MMM yy");

                }

            }

            catch (Exception)

            {

                return dt.ToString("f");

            }

        }

 

Old code was:

            /// <summary>

            /// Formats a datatime value into 07.03.2003 00:00:00 except if

            /// the date is yesterday or today -- in which case it says that.

            /// </summary>

            /// <param name="o">The datetime to be formatted</param>

            /// <returns>Formatted string of DateTime object</returns>

            public string FormatDateTimeTopicOld( object o )

            {

                  string strDateFormat;

                  DateTime dt = Convert.ToDateTime( o ) + TimeOffset;

                  DateTime nt = DateTime.Now + TimeOffset;

 

                  try

                  {

                        if ( dt.Date == nt.Date )

                        {

                              // today

                              strDateFormat = String.Format( GetText( "TodayAt" ), dt );

                        }

                        else if ( dt.Date == nt.AddDays( -1 ).Date )

                        {

                              // yesterday

                              strDateFormat = String.Format( GetText( "YesterdayAt" ), dt );

                        }

                        else if ( BoardSettings.DateFormatFromLanguage )

                        {

                              strDateFormat = dt.ToString( GetText( "FORMAT_DATE_TIME_SHORT" ) );

                        }

                        else

                        {

                              strDateFormat = String.Format( "{0:f}", dt );

                        }

                        return strDateFormat;

                  }

                  catch ( Exception )

                  {

                        return dt.ToString( "f" );

                  }

            }

 

Connecting to SQL Server Express remotely

I'm beginning to become more of a power user....

The section below is copied from http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm (just copying it in case the original disappears)

Although by the time I become a proper power user I'll hopefully be on the full monty - not the express!

Here's the instructions:

Here's a quick summary of the actions you need to take. The first three actions have a separate page which provides more details and some screen shots of the procedure.

1. [Link] Enable the TCP/IP protocol using the Surface Area Configuration Utility
2. [Link] Make sure the TCP/IP protocol is enabled in the SQL Server Configuration Utility
3. [Link] Make sure the SQL Server browser is started. Note this step is optional. It is possible to set the SQL Server instance to use a fixed IP address - but this is non-standard for named instances. See sqlexpress's WebLog for details.
4. Make sure SQL Server and SQL Server Browser are exempted by the firewall on the server machine. This is done by putting sqlservr.exe and sqlbrowser.exe as an exception in the windows firewall. Chris D. sent in a note which might help.
5. Note: In order to get things to work. You might need to completely reboot the server machine after making the changes. There have been reports (thanks P.C.) that starting and stopping the SQL Server and Browser software is not enough.

Essential reading if you are trying to run DNN5 with a proper SQL Server Express Connection String...

This blog post has just saved me lots of horrible experimentation

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Blogs/tabid/825/EntryId/1202/DNN-SQLExpress-SQL-Server-Management-Studio.aspx

Basically I've been running using "File" access - and now it's definitely time to move up to "proper" access. For a start it will make my backup process 100 times easier :)

Post is reproduced here - just so it can go missing in any reorg at DNN:

Recently I rebuilt my laptop and decided to only install SQL Express and not the full SQL Server 2005.  The issue I can across occurs when you attach to the DNN mdb file within SQL Server Management Studio.  Once you have done that the connection string does now work and you DNN site cannot connect to the database. And no matter what you do you cannot correct it even by detaching it, restart SQL Express, resetting IIS, etc.  I finally had to scrap the database and do it all again.  Below is the way to setup DNN and SQL Express if you want to also access the database from within SQL Server Management Studio.

1) Rename the Database.mdb to another name.  (This is optional).

2) Open SQL Server Management Studio and do the following 

• Attach the database 
  

1. Right click on the database folder and choose attach.
2. Click Add button and point to the database you want to attach to.
3. Click on the "Attach As" column and give it a more friendly name.  For this blog purpose we will change it to DotNetNuke_ModDev
4. In the lower screen delete the line that references the ".ldf" file.  This will be created and you will get an error that it cannot be found if you do not delete it.
5. Click on the "Current File Path" for the ".mdf" file and update it so it points to the location of the DNN database you are attaching to.
6. Click Okay and the database should be attached correctly.

• Set up permissions
  • Adding Login
  1. Click on the security\logins folder.
  2. If the ASPNet user exist you can skip this section.
  3. Right click login folder and choose "New Login"
  4. Click the "Search" button, then the "Advance" button, and then the "Find Now".  This will bring up a list of user on the computer and select the ASPNet account.
  5. Make sure Windows authentication is checked and click "OK" to add user.
     

•  Adding Database User
1. Click on "Databases\Security\Users folder.
2. If the ASP.Net user exist you can skip this section
3. Right click the user folder and choose "New User"
4. Click on the "..." button next to the Login Name, then click on the "Browse" button.
5. Check the ASPNet user and click "OK" button.  Click the OK button on the Select Login screen and this will add the user.
6. Under database role membership check one of the following combinations.  Option #2 is more secure.  Click "OK" button when done.
   
• Permission Options #1
  • dbowner
• Permission Options #2
  • db_datareader
  • db_datewriter
  • db_ddladmin
  • db_securityadmin

• Setting Database Permissions (Only needed it Option #2 is chosen above)
  
1. Right click on the database you attached to and choose "Properties"
2. Click on "Permissions" under select a page (upper-left of screen).
3. Under Explicit permission for {Database Name}, make sure that the Grant box is checked for Execute.

3) Update the connection strings in the DNN web.config file.  Do not forget to use the same connection string in the <ConnectionString> and <AppSettings> section.

FROM
Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|Database.mdf;

TO
Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=False;Database=DotNetNuke_ModDev;

4) Access the DNN web site to run the installation process.

You should now have a working DNN site and a SQL Express database that you can access/manipulate using SQL Server Management Studio and still be able to access it from the web site as well.

Validation of viewstate MAC failed / The state information is invalid for this page and might be corrupted

I'm hitting some of these problems on runsaturday at the moment.

These definitely aren't being caused by machinekey errors - this is occurring on a single PC.

Some of these might be occurring due to some specific DotNetNuke behaviour - especially when the page makeup changes during a postback.

However, in one particular case - I have one specific Mac user who (regardless of whether he uses Firefox or Safari) just occasionally seems to randomly hit one of these problems).

This has me quite stumped.... but I'm still looking :)

Here's one discussion that seems to be particularly relevant - http://forums.asp.net/t/955145.aspx?PageIndex=4

Still trying to understand IIS7....

This excellent post has at least solved one of my queries - I simply could not understand why IIS7 didn't let me select .NET 3.5 - the answer is in the runtime... http://www.west-wind.com/Weblog/posts/289139.aspx

Problems using ThreeSharp with bucket names containing DOTs

I'm trying to set up a bucket name at the moment (for public access) and keep hitting:

The underlying connection was closed: Could not establish trust relationship for the SSL/TLS secure channel

One solution seems to be not to include "config.Format = CallingFormat.SUBDOMAIN;" - but this obviously won't help people with European buckets.

Azure downtime report

Using host-tracker to check my Azure sites.

Here are the stats from Feb - I think all downtime must be from Azure itself - I haven't taken the site down at any point.

I can also get a response time report if anyone is interested

Stuart

Stacka
  http://www.stacka.com
   Total uptime:99.71% Downtime:2 hour(s) 13 min(s)
       Monthly uptime:99.75% Downtime:1 hour(s) 39 min(s)
           Day 2009-02-28 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-27 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-26 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-25 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-24 Uptime:96.00% Downtime:57 min(s) 37 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-23 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-22 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-21 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-20 Uptime:97.12% Downtime:41 min(s) 30 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-19 Uptime:99.95% Downtime:41 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-18 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-17 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-16 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-15 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-14 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-13 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-12 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-11 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-10 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-09 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-08 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-07 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-06 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-05 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-04 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-03 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-02 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-01 Uptime:100.00%

clouddotnet
  http://www.clouddotnet.com
   Total uptime:98.83% Downtime:8 hour(s) 54 min(s)
       Monthly uptime:99.86% Downtime:55 min(s) 44 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-28 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-27 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-26 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-25 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-24 Uptime:98.23% Downtime:25 min(s) 29 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-23 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-22 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-21 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-20 Uptime:98.08% Downtime:27 min(s) 43 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-19 Uptime:99.82% Downtime:2 min(s) 32 sec(s)
           Day 2009-02-18 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-17 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-16 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-15 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-14 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-13 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-12 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-11 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-10 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-09 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-08 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-07 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-06 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-05 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-04 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-03 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-02 Uptime:100.00%
           Day 2009-02-01 Uptime:100.00%

DotNetNuke, Roles and Invalid value for 'encrypted ticket parameter'

On http://www.RunSaturday.com I was using DNN's roles for friends... then one day I couldn't log on.

The reason? I had too many friends :)

Basically the problem was that DNN was inserting a very long string into a cookie....

To work around this I'll need to either change my code to not use the DNN roles structure or insert an HTTPModule to tweak their Roles behaviour.

Here's the DNN thread: http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/111/threadid/234880/scope/posts/threadpage/7/Default.aspx

I was sure I'd already blogged this - colors (colours) darker and lighter

From http://www.csharp411.com/lighten-and-darken-colors-in-net/ (and other sources) you can use ControlPaint to help with lightening and darkening colours.

Integrating Twitter

I've been playing with www.twitter.com quite a lot over the last week or two.

On the send side, I used the tweetsharp project to send tweets - if you're a www.runsaturday.com user then you'll have seen this - if not, then you can't see it! - http://code.google.com/p/tweetsharp/

On the browse side, I used twitter.js to show people's tweets on their runsaturday profile - see http://www.runsaturday.com/Profile/TabId/82/UserId/3/Default.aspx for an example - http://remysharp.com/2007/05/18/add-twitter-to-your-blog-step-by-step/

Both libraries come recommended

Starting to think about internationalisation

Someone's emailed me from Martinique.

Yes, I had to lookup were that was! (It is on Google Maps but not on all of them - e.g. not on Google static maps!)

Anyways, it's got me thinking about internationlisation (i18n) for runsaturday. I think it should be possible to do this... I might have a go soon...

Need to go back over my code first and find out which modules have strings naughtily hardcoded... but then I think it should be possible to translate the existing site quite quickly - maybe in less than a week....

It must be done! But then so must a lot of other things....

Stuart

Preprocessor directives must appear as the first non-whitespace character on a line

Dodgy error from the compiler....

"Preprocessor directives must appear as the first non-whitespace character on a line"

What this actually meant was I'd tried to use two DataBinding expressions inside the same property -

                <asp:Label ID="UserName" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("UserName") %><%# Eval("TeamMemberNameText") %>'></asp:Label>

To solve it I just pulled it down to:

                <asp:Label ID="UserName" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("UserAndTeamMemberNameText") %>'></asp:Label>