Option Strict -- Always On

How do you make Option Strict always on without having to type Option Strict at the top of your forms and modules?

In Visual Studio.NET, go to Tools>Options>Projects -- then select Option Strict ON.

......It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data.

The Access Database must be placed in the All Users/Shared Documents folder on your local machine. Make sure that the ASPNET has permissions on that folder. (Right-click on Shared Documents folder, select Sharing and Security, select the Security tab, add the ASPNET user or make sure correct permissions are set.)

Creating a Generic SQL Server Connection String

If you are moving an SQL Server VB.NET project from machine-to-machine, (such as from home, to a lab, to a classroom) you need to have a generic connection string for your database.

Use this:

server=(local\NetSDK;Trusted_Connection=yes;database=Cottages)

where NetSDK is your INSTANCENAME and Cottages is your database name.

Unable to start debugging on the web server.

If you get the message, "Error while trying to run project: Unable to start debugging on the web server. The project is not configured to be debugged." You might not have created a virtual directory in IIS for your project.

To do this, right-click on My Computer.
Select "Manage."
Expand Services and Applications
Expand Internet Information Services
Expand Web Sites
Expand Default Web Site (or wherever your application is hosted)
Go to your project folder (it should have the folder icon)
Right-click on your project folder
Select "Properties"
Click on the Create Button.
Your project folder will change from the folder icon to the package icon.

Also, you may not have ASPNET user set up on your project.
Try this:
Find your project folder in C:\inetpub\wwwroot
Right-click on it and select "Sharing and Security"
Select the Security tab
Is ASPNET there?
If not, click on "Add"
Click on "Location" and select your local computer
Type in the user name "ASPNET"
Click OK
It should have added that user to your list of users.
Now make sure ASPNET user had read/write/modify priviledges.



Microsoft also has some help on this: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vsdebug/html/vxtbshttpservererrors.asp

In Search of Answers to VB.NET

Here are some great sites to try:

The "Big Daddy" of all! http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/

All about ASP.NET http://www.asp.net

VB at the Movies - 101 short movie clips http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/atthemovies/

101 Examples for VB and C# http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=08e3d5f8-033d-420b-a3b1-3074505c03f3&displaylang=en

Webcasts http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/community/webcasts/default.aspx

Seting Initial Focus

How do you set initial focus on a web control in VB.NET?

Manually edit the HTML code for your webform.
Inside the body tag, place the following code:

onload="Form1.yourcontrolnameTexBox.focus()"


NOTE: The form name is found in the ID tag in the HTML code of the webform. The textbox ID is in the properties of the control.

Case of the Missing Message Box

We just upgraded our lab to Visual Studio.NET 2003. We continue to run 2002 for compatibility reasons.

Quirk...The information in MessageBox.Show commands has disappeared!!! This is also true with the buttons in the Font and Color CommonDialog boxes.

Haven't fixed this one yet, but am looking for a solution. It is frustrating not being able to see a message or see what is on a button.

Swamped with Paper

One of my goals -- about 5 years ago -- was to create a paperless classroom. Well, needless to say, that hasn't happened yet. This is my blog to move me toward that goal. I plan to use this to post those findings, mostly programming or networking related, that clutter my office with paper -- and then I can't find them when I need them! I also hope others might benefit from my ramblings! :)