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Hiding the Mouse Pointer (C#)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:41:15 GMT

Some applications require that the mouse pointer be hidden during use. Examples of such software include screen savers and graphical applications or games. Each may fundamentally change the manner of display or the general behaviour of the cursor.

Moving the Mouse Pointer Programmatically (C#)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:35:03 GMT

Although rare, there are some situations where you may wish to reposition the mouse pointer programmatically to improve the user experience or to enhance accessibility. This can be easily achieved using standard .NET classes and properties.

Treating Warnings as Errors in Visual Studio

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The compiler used by Visual Studio can produce errors when code cannot be built and warnings when it completes compilation successfully but there are areas of concern. To avoid warnings being missed or ignored, there is an option to treat them as errors.

Using Extension Methods with Enumerations

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:45:01 GMT

Extension methods were introduced in .NET 3.5 to allow classes to be apparently extended without modifying the class' code or using inheritance. Extension methods can also be used to add extra behaviour to enumerations.

Registering System-Wide Hot Keys

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:10:30 GMT

Some Windows applications execute in the background and are activated only as required. To enhance such a program's usability it is useful to register a system-wide hot key. This allows the software to activate when a specific key combination is pressed.

Visual Studio Looping Code Snippets

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:04:30 GMT

Visual Studio 2005 allows quick creation of boilerplate code through the use of code snippets. In this article five snippets are considered. These allow you to quickly create the common looping structures in your programs with simple shortcut phrases.

Observer Design Pattern with C#

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:37:35 GMT

The observer pattern is a design pattern that defines a link between objects so that when one object's state changes, all dependent objects are updated automatically. This pattern allows communication between objects in a loosely coupled manner.

Combining Arrays (C#)

Sat, 30 May 2009 19:43:46 GMT

A common requirement when developing software is to combine several arrays. This article explains the process of copying two arrays into a third, larger structure. This process can be extended to join together the contents of any number of arrays.

The Chaos Game and the Sierpinski Triangle

Wed, 20 May 2009 05:31:38 GMT

The chaos game is a method for generating fractal images by plotting randomised points inside a polygon according to a simple set of rules. In this article we will use the chaos game to generate the Sierpinski triangle using C# and Windows Forms.

Recycling Files and Folders Part 1

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:22:45 GMT

If your software can be used to delete files or folders, it can be advisable to move them to the Recycle Bin rather than permanently deleting them. This removes the problems caused by accidental deletion, as recycled files can be easily recovered.

Integrate FxCop with Visual Studio

Sun, 10 May 2009 08:31:02 GMT

Step by step how to integrate FxCop with Visual Studio.

Strategy Design Pattern

Mon, 04 May 2009 21:28:36 GMT

The strategy pattern is a design pattern that allows a set of similar algorithms to be defined and encapsulated in their own classes. The algorithm to be used for a particular purpose may then be selected at run-time according to your requirements.

Debugging with Attach to Process

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:52:39 GMT

Visual Studio allows you to execute a program in debug mode and use various debugging tools to monitor its activity. When you are running a program outside of Visual Studio, it can still be possible to attach to that software to investigate its behaviour.

5 Blogs ASP.NET MVC Developers Should Be Following

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:46:07 GMT

Everyone knows that Phil Haack, Rob Conery, Scott Hanselman, and Scott Guthrie all provide good ASP.NET MVC content on their blogs. I wanted to provide a list of excellent resources on ASP.NET MVC that are a little less well known.

Bridge Design Pattern

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:02:05 GMT

The bridge pattern is a design pattern that separates the abstract elements of a class from its technical implementation. This provides a cleaner implementation of real-world objects and allows the implementation details to be changed easily.

9 Golden Rules of Visual Design

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:46:19 GMT

A consistency in Visual Design signals to users that they are in the right place and that they are moving in the right direction.

Why I develop with the Microsoft .NET Framework

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:45:29 GMT

Some people are still apprehensive about developing Windows applications in .NET because it requires users to also have the .NET Framework on their computer. It's certainly a valid concern. Of course, any programming architecture you choose is going to require certain dependencies.

Creating an Elevated Button Control

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:11:03 GMT

When using Microsoft Windows Vista, administrative tasks are restricted by the user account control (UAC) system. Buttons that require elevated permissions are displayed with the command text and a shield icon to indicate that permission will be required.

Using a Form in Place of a Control

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:46:48 GMT

When you have developed a Windows Forms control, you may find that it would be helpful to have it behave as a control. This would allow you to use the form within another form, potentially including it several times and promoting reuse.

Check if a Program is Running as an Administrator

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:09:35 GMT

User Account Control (UAC) protects Vista by preventing programs from performing administrative or system functions without prior permission. Before attempting such a function, you should check whether your software is running with elevated privileges.

Creating SOLID Code: Dependency Inversion Principle

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:01:04 GMT

Taking a look at how to create SOLID Code: Creating SOLID Code: Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP). This is a last episode in a series where we will take a look at each of the parts the SOLID Princi

Launching Processes From .NET Applications

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:54:37 GMT

Some applications require the ability to launch other programs, either to open new windows or to reopen an application with alternative privileges. The .NET framework provides methods that permit you to start .NET and other processes easily.

SQL Server Stored Procedures

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:09:11 GMT

The twenty-third part of the SQL Server Programming Fundamentals tutorial describes stored procedures. A stored procedure allows you to create a script, or batch, containing multiple commands to be executed, potentially being controlled by parameters.

Creating SOLID Code: Liskov Substitution Principle

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:46:25 GMT

Taking a look at how to create SOLID Code: Creating SOLID Code: Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP). This is a Third in a series where we will take a look at each of the parts the SOLID Principle

Using the DebuggerDisplay Attribute (C#)

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:22:25 GMT

When debugging, the contents of strings and numeric types can be viewed in the locals and watches windows. When a custom object is displayed, the name of the class or the result of ToString() is shown. This can be changed with a DebuggerDisplay attribute.