Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Error connecting to TFS 2010 using VS BIDS 2008

Hi All,

If you are experiencing an error when connecting to TFS 2010 using Microsoft Visual Studio Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) while you don't have this problem connecting using VS 2010 so follow below steps to fix it.

1) Close your VS 2008 instance if you have it open.

2) Install VS 2008 SP1 if you don't have it already.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10986

3) Install Team Explorer Forward Compatability Update:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10834

4) From the start menu, Open Run window and type: regedit
we need to update the default entry of your Team Explorer for TFS server url.

Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER -->Software -->Microsoft-->VisualStudio-->9.0 -->TeamFoundation -->Servers

Right click on Server and click on add string:
set the name to: tfsservername
set the value to: your tfs server url, for example:
http://TFSServer:8080/tfs/CollectionName

Collection Name: is the project collection you want to connect to in TFS.

5) Close registry editor window and open VS 2008 BIDS.

6) You will automatically be connected to the project collection you previously specified and be able to bind your projects to the TFS 2010.

Enjoy Coding!

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Mostafa E.


Sunday, November 04, 2012

Error When activating Windows 8 Code 0x8007007B

Hi Folks,

If you are facing a problem activating your windows 8 machine this is because there is a bug till this point that won't allow you to activate or even change the product key from the  user interface. The solution for this problem is to change the key using the command line. you will be able to do this in 2 simple commands.

The Error Code when trying to activate your windows 8:




1) Open Command Prompt as Administrator
From the Metro Desktop, Hover the top right corner to get the menu; then search for "Command Prompt" and then hit enter. you will get the command prompt tile. then right click on this tile and click on Run As Administrator.

Below Figure shows the appearance before you click on Run as Administrator.


 


2) Type in this command to uninstall the product key

slmgr /upk


Once you enter this command you will get this popup window.




3) Install your product key

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX



Once you install the new key you will get this message



Once you installed the new key, you will notice that if you go back by typing Activate Windows in the search menu from Metro Desktop you will be noticing that the windows is activated.

Congrats and have fun with Windows 8!

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Mostafa E.

Friday, November 02, 2012

Getting Started Windows 8 Store Apps Resources

Hi Folks,

I'm writing this post to share the resources that every software engineer or developer needs to get started with Windows 8 Store App development.

First, Before heading out and install Development resources (SDK) to start playing and exploring with windows 8 store app tools looks like. here is some sites you need to read to have a basic understanding about windows 8 store apps principles, design and concepts:

1) Windows Store Apps development center:
This site is the main site that contains all materials you want to get or read about Windows Store Apps design and development.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps

2) First document i suggest to read, Windows 8 Product Guide for Developers, find it here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/apps/hh852650

3) Spend some time understanding the API reference for Win Store apps using JavaScript, C#,C++ or VB.NET:
This source shows how to use,understand & explore Windows 8 API using different programming languages. Using C# or JavaScript to build HTML Store Apps is different than using Traditional JavaScript in some manner.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/br211369

4) Get some basic understanding of Metro Style Store apps guidelines and principles:
Even if you are not a designer, it is crucial to have basic understanding of designing Views and pages.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/hh779072

After the previous four steps, you should be able to build your development box with Windows 8,VS 2012 Express, Blend and SQL 2012 Express, so you proceed to the following resources.
Downloads link:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/apps/br229516

5) Getting started with development tutorials:
Get some samples, tutorials to get dirty hands working with VS 2012, Blend and All windows Store necessary tools to get up to speed in development.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/br211386

Since I'm a C# guy, here is the Get Started Development resources for C# Developers:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh974581.aspx

Once you reach this step, you should be able to build your first windows store app. now the time for deployment/licensing and selling your application.

6) Selling you application:
Get to know the available markets, languages and how to get paid.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/hh694064

I will keep updating this post as i find good resources to read  for early adopters!

Hope this helps,

Regards,
Mostafa E.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Microsoft Surface - Product Review

Hi Folks,

I'm writing this blog post to share with all my blog readers and friends my experience in using Microsoft Surface. I was eager and waiting till it is available to pre-order it online and i ended up getting it from the store right away with no waiting LONG lines...lucky me!



I have been using Microsoft Surface for 6 days, and i want to share with you my personal insights from technical point of view and not from the marketing aspect! So, Let's start by answering basic questions:

1) Why did i buy Microsoft Surface ?
Since my wife has an iPad and we are using it for quite long time, I have much deeper experience using my iPhone and iPad or in general Apple Products. Before i bought MS Surface; I watched few reviews about mini iPad which is the latest and greatest from Apple. After comparing the 2 products i found that the mini iPad was over priced in comparison to the MS Surface, doesn't have Office, OS is locked not as Windows 8 and it serve the purpose as a E-Reader and a handy PC with fully featured Windows OS including IIS, Control Panel and Services. In addition to that, Fully fledged SDK for Developers to build Windows Phone Apps, Surface Apps and Web Apps for different platforms using HTML 5 and JavaScript!

If i would buy an E-Reader tablet my choice will be Kindle Fire from Amazon for 199$ and not min iPad for 329$.

All above was enough for me to go with the Surface!




2) What you can do with the Surface ?

a) Metro Style Experience: With Windows RT, You would have the same experience when you have Windows 8 on your PC. Very intuitive Tiles and fluid touch experience for what's in the start page, Pin to Task bar, and switch to Desktop Mode (You regular Windows Experience). The User Experience is fresh and new and this is a winner for The surface over iPad.

b) Cloud Connected Device: With the surface as for iPad, you will be able to sync up all you files to SkyDrive - Cloud Service from MS and they offer you to upgrade with extra 3GB for free when you purchase it! This is really cool. I have all my files linked to my Microsoft Account and i access it wherever i want and using any machine. MS is little behind since Apple introduced iCloud long time back, but here we are now we have it for both.

c) Store: Windows RT comes with the store where you can install all your applications as AppStore for Apple. The MS store still doesn't have lots of applications as Apple AppStore but it is growing tremendously!

d) MS Office: You have Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, OneNote, InfoPath for Free when you have Surface unlike iPad. Microsoft Office price is included and you don't need to pay extra for Office, this is a big plus!

e) Kinect: If you have XBOX 360, you will be able to play XBOX from the Surface, this is really cool! I tried it to surf internet and run Netflix and other applications in my XBOX and it was amazing experience.

Note: This feature requires you to have Windows Live Gold Membership to fully utilize all your applications in XBox.

f) People Hub: Connect & Read all your social media network notifications including: Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live and Mail notifications all through one place.

g) For Developers: If you are a geek and likes to develop apps for the surface. you can have all development environment for free from Microsoft. SDK,VS 2012 Express with Blend and SQL 2012 seamless integration for building Windows 8, Windows RT application with the ability to test your applications against these platforms. check out Windows Store Dev Center for details:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229512.aspx

-- Updated 11/13/2012
h) Connect the Surface to your TV: I bought a mini-HDMI cable from Amazon and now i'm able to stream any shows and vidoes i'm watching to my TV. here is what you can search for: mini HDMI to HDMI cable and you can get it for only 5$ from Amazon.

This is all what i have been seeing and experiencing during my last few days using the Surface!

Hope you like it and see it useful!
Drop me a line if you have any other questions or a feedback!

Thanks.

Mostafa E.