Visual Studio 2008 Tip: View Debugger DataTip Information Easier

I don’t know about you, but when I’m debugging and using the data tip feature of Visual Studio 2005 or 2008, the data tip default font size of 8, is too small for me.  Sometimes I have trouble getting my mouse exactly where I want.  So this evening, I finally decided to get to the bottom of this and increase the font size.  Turns out it’s very easy to do.  Let’s take a look at the before & after first.

Before – Default Size

After – Easier To See

As you can see, the code is the same size, but the data tip is much larger.  I think it’s 14pt here.  Nice and big; easy to select the correct item in the list with the mouse now.  Maybe 14pt is too large for you, then since you are doing the choosing, select the size that best suits you.

Change Data Tip Font Size

Very straight forward to make this change.  From the Visual Studio 2005 or 2008 menu, select Tools, Options…, Environment, Fonts and Colors.  The from the dropdown select DataTips, and make your desired changes. 

I have also increased the size of the Statement Completion font and the [Watch, Locals and Autos Tool Window] font.

These tips are also very good for when performing presentations!

Have a great day,

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

WARNING: After Installing The New Framework 3.5 SDK, my VS2008 XAML Intellisense No Longer Works – UPDATED

Warning – Work Around

Microsoft has released a workaround for this at:  http://blogs.msdn.com/windowssdk/comments/7850578.aspx

Problem 

I updated my work computer and both my desktop and laptop at home with the new Framework 3.5 SDK.  Now XAML Intellisense no longer works  in Visual Studio 2008.

I have been working with the Microsoft SDK Team for the last 5 hours.  They have logged a bug report and are currently building a clean test machine so that they can troubleshoot this issue.

I spent the last hour on the phone with the Team and want to post the following information at their approval:

• If you have not installed the new Framework 3.5 SDK on VS2008, do not install it yet.  Give Microsoft time to sort this out.
• If you have installed the new 3.5 SDK on VS2008 and your XAML Intellisense is broken, you can run the Visual Studio 2008 Repair function and this will correct the problem.
  • Please note.  I’m not sure how this will affect your system in the long run.  Microsoft is working on the problem and will release their findings.

Please note:  I did try removing the new 3.5 SDK from my home desktop system, but this did not fix the problem.  I must now run the Visual Studio 2008 Repair to get the XAML Intellisense back. 

 Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

Setting Initial Volume Levels In Silverlight Video Player Applications

I received an email from Chris Maunder, the Co-founder of Code Project about the initial volume level of Silverlight videos. On some systems the player has a very high initial volume level. The Silverlight Team is aware of this and is working on it.

The Silverlight forum discussion thread on this issue can be read here.  After reading the thread, it seems that most people with nVidia drivers are having most of the problems.  All my systems use nVidia drivers and I have not had the problem. The suggetions in the foum post mostly revolve around updating the motherboard chipset and audio card drivers.

I added this information to my Code Project article Creating, Encoding and Delivering Silverlight Streaming Screen Capture Videos.   In this article update I’ve added a section on how to edit the StartPlayer.js package file and set the initial volume level.

For those who are familar with editing the StartPlayer.js file the below image shows the very simple changed that can be made to lower the initial volume level of your Silverlight Video Player applications.  The volume property value defaults to, 1.0.  Changing this value to 0.5 will place the volume level at 50%.

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

Embedding Silverlight Video Player in Web Page and Code Project Articles

I have updated my Code Project article Creating, Encoding and Delivering Silverlight Streaming Screen Capture Videos.

This update shows how to embed a Silverlight video player in a web page and also provides a updated player.xaml and JavaScript files. 

The reason for the updated code is that you don’t want your Silverlight video to start playing or start downloading the video until the visitor to your web page clicks a play button. 

This article also has a new video showing how this works.

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

WPF 3.5 Data Validation – Shorter Syntax

One great new feature in the .NET 3.5 Framework is, WPF now supports the IDataErrorInfo interface when data binding.  You can read an article posted by the SDK Team here Data Validation In 3.5.

I read the article and found that their example syntax looked long hand to me so I changed it to be much shorter.

SDK Example Syntax

Nested <Binding> within the <TextBox> control.

<TextBox x:Name="txtLastName">
    <Binding Path="LastName" UpdateSourceTrigger="LostFocus"
             Mode="TwoWay" ValidatesOnDataErrors="True"/>
</TextBox>

Shorter Syntax

<TextBox> control on a single line of XAML. (on two lines here to fit in lmited space)

<TextBox x:Name="txtFirstName" Text="{Binding Path=FirstName, UpdateSourceTrigger=LostFocus,
         Mode=TwoWay, ValidatesOnDataErrors=True}" />

I like this shorter syntax since it will fit in one line of XAML code and shortens the vertical length of my XAML files.  You can also add any required converters if required to this same syntax.

For those who prefer the longer syntax, go for it.  This is WPF, you can have it your way!

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

New Atmosphere

I had an urge yesterday to add some spice to my programming atmosphere.  Turns out my urge has a name; Flamenco Guitar.  Josh Smith gets the credit for telling me the name of my desire. 

I purchased four albums.  Here is a sound bite from the Best of Narada New Flamenco Guitar album.

 Have a great day!

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.

WPF Business Application Series Part 1 of n – Application Structure, Skinning & Custom ToolBar Button Control

I have started a new series that will be posted on Code Project called the WPF Business Application Series.

This series targets business application developers who know the basics of WPF or have experience with WPF. The primary focus of the series is on writing business applications, rather than addressing the question, “what is a style, how do I apply a style or how does the UniformGrid control work.”

I have a few other ideas but for now the road map is:

• Part 1 Application Structure, Skinning & Custom ToolBar Button Control
• Part 2 Form Validation Summary Control
• Part 3 Exception Handling and Logging
• Part 4 Business Object Declarative Programming; How To Implement Object Validation & Logging
• Part 5 Business Object Declarative Programming; How The Business Entity Base Class Work
• Part 6 Business Object Declarative Programming; Dynamic Form Control
• Part 7 Loading Menus & ToolBar From Object Source & Application Security
• Part 8 Business Application MDI
• Part 9 Displaying SQL Server Reporting Services Reports In WPF
• Part 10 Complete Layered Business Application
• Part 11 Complete Layered ASP.NET Business Application

Your can read Part 1 on Code Project here: Application Structure, Skinning & Custom ToolBar Button Control.

I hope you can learn about using WPF for writing business applications from this series.

Have a great day!

Just a grain of sand on the worlds beaches.