I love the concept of Nullable<T> being able to deal with null data coming out of the database - especially ints and datetimes. The only problem is that I cannot figure out how to leverage Nullable<T> with data coming from a database. I still have to test for null. I have also talked with Sahil Malik at length about this. He is just as confused. I have tried it in a number of different spots -- from the data layer to the business layer --  with no luck.

Let's say I'm working with a Nullable<Int32>. I have created a SqlDataReader from some SQL Server data.

Nullable<Int32> does not seem to grok System.dbNull. (Invalid Cast). That means I cannot assign mySqlDataReader.item("myintfield") directly to my Nullable<Int32> when it is null.

Though you *can* cast an Int to a Nullable<Int>, you cannot use DataReader's GetInt32 method on a null database value. (SqlNullValueException). Therefore I can't get at the null value this way either (without explicitly testing for Null myself).

So, let's say I load the data into a DataTable.

I happen to know that my null integer is in the "someintdata" column of my 2nd row - so I am just coding specifically to test that data. This column is an Integer.

.NET will not implicitly  cast myTable.Rows(1).Item("someintdata") into my Nullable<Int>. It won't even compile and helpfully suggests that I explicitly cast it.

Nor can I explicitly cast it. That attempt throws an InvalidCastException. It doesn't like the null.

So it seems that no matter what,  I still have to test for Null before I can extract the data. And if I have to do that, what is the Nullable<T> buying me in this case?

(This is one of those posts that I worry I have *really* missed something obvious and am going to look like a total fool, but I am just going to go for it anyway...)

http://www.AcehAid.org

In preparation for ASPConnections, I am revising my What's New in the Whidbey Base Class Libraries talk for the 3rd time. I first wrote it against the PDC bits and presented it last February. Then I revised it with the May 2004 bits to present at DevTeach in June. For ASPConnections in November, I used the October CTP (which I put on my demo box just days before the conference). Now I am updating it again using the November CTP. I am also trimming it down and shifting some of the focus. Most importantly for this version of the talk (as for what I did in November) is to focus on what is of use and of interest to developers writing ASP.NET Applications. I think these bits are really close to what we will see in Beta 2. If it is out before this conference, I will definitely update the demo box before the show.

http://www.AcehAid.org

That Casey is too much!

And you've gotta love this response.

http://www.AcehAid.org

You would think that by now I would be used to the amazing places that there are .NET user groups. But I think I will never be jaded. I loved reading this post about some Microsoft folks presenting at the Romania .NET Users Association (yes of course, an INETA member!)

http://www.AcehAid.org

Starting with a keynote by Bill Gates and filled with .NET stars from the Middle East (including INETA MEA Region Head, Goksin Bakir) and also some from the states (Kimberly Tripp, Patrick Hynds and Stephen Forte), this years MDC starts in a few days. Over on geekswithblogs, Mohamed Ahmed Meligy writes about how excited he is to attend this event.

http://www.AcehAid.org

The Vermont.NET January meeting's presentation by Mario Cardinal was about Enterprise Library. All of Mario's work was based on the specifications because the product had not yet been released.

The Microsoft Patterns and Practices team has just announced that the Enterprise Library has indeed been released. Check it out!

http://www.AcehAid.org

In addition to my In Depth Tablet Web Applications presentation at Windows Anywhere in (2/6-10 in San Francisco) I just found out that I get to be on a panel with a bunch of Tablet developers and vendors (who are also developers).

Influencing Tablet PC Solutions–Tablet PC ISV, Wednesday, February 9, 2:00 pm to 3:00pm

Here are the other members of the panel session, all of whom have done some major tablet pc development and have real products on the market. I'll be the dabbler (or is that doodler) on the panel, that is for sure!

Joerg Lenz, SOFTPRO
Sean Campbell, 3Leaf 
Steve Hoffman, ActiveInk Software 
Josh Einstein, Einstein Technologies 
Teresa Shu, xThink 
Brad Baldwin, Agilix

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Loren Heiny pointed this out. For $25 you can get into the exhibit hall at this 6 conference show in San Francisco (feb 6-10). I'll be there to speak at the Windows Anywhere conference  - In Depth: Tablet PC Web Development.

Here is the list of exhibitors

If you are in the northeast - you can get into the expo hall at the Sys-Con Web Services Edge East conference (Feb 15-17) along with  the keynotes and workshops for free.

 

http://www.AcehAid.org

multi-item auctions are REALLY wierd on ebay.

According to EBay's algorithm (designed for the thrifty, not for the charitable) nobody is supposed to have to pay more than the lowest winning bid. So, though many have already bid more than $100, there are still not enough bids to push away the last of the $100 winning bids. Therefore all of the "winning bids" still are sitting at $100. I don't know what it will take to get these things moving. Lots of bids. Lots and lots of bids. EBay doesn't really like charity auctions, I think.

Here's from the eBay site about multi-item auctions:

Bids are displayed when you click on the "Bidders list" link. Bids that are not currently winning show their bid prices, but bids that are winning show the price that they would pay if the auction ended immediately. This means that, in the Bid History, all winning bids show the same price per unit – the lowest winning bid. To place a winning bid (a bid that wins at least some units), you need to exceed this price.

http://www.AcehAid.org

Don Kiely says he just can't get good Indian food where he lives in Alaska. When he came to Vermont in July we took him out for Indian one night. It was his only requirement during the whole visit. Now he is in Alberta and I see that he went out again with John Bristowe for Indian last night.

Don who is a new addition to the INETA Speaker Bureau is speaking at the Alberta.NET user group today as an INETA speaker. Yippee.

http://www.AcehAid.org

Poor Dave. Already a "grumpy old git" at such a young age.

It seems that students are not only not being taught math properly, but they are being given high marks for very poor achievement. I really thought this was going to be something about the "no child left behind" plan and elevating grades to keep funding coming (yes, sadly, I can envision that it has come to this) but this is about the U.K. education system. Dave's depressed about this. Rightly so.

http://www.AcehAid.org

People keep emailing me to say how great the latest INETA newsletter looks (Jan '05 went out a few days ago but is here online). I have nothing to do with it's wonderful good looks.

Sheri Nawrocki is the graphic designer extraoadinaire. Though she is a professional graphic designer, she also knows a lot more about .NET than most designers (and has access to whatever she needs to know). So she is a great graphics person to partner with on .NET projects, don't you think?

Sheri is working on her own design website, SheriBDesigns, (you know, the old shoemaker's kids syndrome), but watch this space. Sheri tells me that my pointing to her website will light a fire under her to finish it up. Hey, what's a friend for?

http://www.AcehAid.org

I finally finished outfitting my Toshiba M200 tablet. I bought memory in November so it has 1GB and just bought an extra battery (on ebay, no less!), a USB CD/DVD drive and the cool little portfolio that was designed for it so I can use the tablet without even taking it out!

http://www.AcehAid.org

Mark Fussell writes that the Hands on Labs for WSE2 have been updated for the SP2 version, added to and released. Mark refers to the first rev of these HOLs  written by Aaron Skonnard, as "without doubt the best resource for getting up to speed with understanding WSE 2.0 quickly." I couldn't agree more. I have mentioned these HOLs in many posts and both my WSE2 presentation and an upcoming article make many references to them i.e. "please refer to the HOLs for more details on ______" just about everything.

So the one I worked with Security & Policy C# version now has a VB partner! Hooray. Though I loved the opportunity to keep working on my C# skills, it's really hard to deal with two learning curves at once.There is also one for Messaging in both C# and VB.

See Marks' post for more details. If you want to learn WSE2.0, you must must must do these HOLs.

The security one also is the best resource I have seen for installing certs into your windows box, by the way!

http://www.AcehAid.org

Thanks for the reminder Dave! Since I'm going to Code Camp (sure hope my sessions get selected), his post made me think to actually book my room.

So I booked a room at the Waltham Westin. Funny, they have an internet discount of 15% but it is a non-refundable reservation. I could get a 21 day AAA discount, but it, too, is non-refundable. So I paid the regular room rate. (I just hate being locked into anything) Got two beds. Looking for a chick roomie for 3/12 to split the cost.

http://www.AcehAid.org

I can't believe I wasted SO much time designing a drawing UI in both BLInk! and on my [ink on the web] Doodle app.

I just dropped an Agilix InfiNotes Note control into an asp.net web page and poof! Actually, I didn't "drop" it, it's a windows forms control, so I embedded it via an Object tag. You can't do this with the free trial really, you have to have the full blown app so that you get the right dll. Which I will be getting ASAP. (I don't regret the time waste because I learned a LOT.)

http://www.AcehAid.org

Can someone tell me what is special about this screenshot of my ink on the web application running from within Visual Studio? You can click on it to see a full size image.

http://www.AcehAid.org

ObjectSharp is bidding on 5 consultants in our charity auction for Aceh Aid at IDEP. Owner (and  RD and auction item, himself) Barry Gervin lists what he will be asking of the consultants if he wins! It helps to understand that each of the people in his list have well known specialties and they are quite the opposite of what he is planning to ask of them.

http://www.AcehAid.org

Hooray!!!

Look in your inboxes if you are subscribed. Or read it online!

Thanks for the major group effort that went behind this newsletter.

 

http://www.AcehAid.org

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=5552696499

go BID!

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