One of the current projects we’re working on involves a large database. The initial project was to optimize and clean-up an existing Access database application. However, as we’ve gotten involved in the project it’s expanded to include more features, larger requirements and more potential users.
We initially asked about migrating the database over to a full SQL Server 2005 solution, but ran into some resistance for a variety of concerns, one of which was cost of setting up and installing SQL Server 2005.
We then started to take another look at potentially using SQL Server 2005 Express edition as the solution for …read more

We’ve been looking for some files lately that seemingly just can’t be found on Microsoft websites that state they should be there.
You can click on the image above to have a perfect example. When you click on the image it will enlarge to full-size and you can see what I’m seeing. On the page is the statement:
Please download the attached file that contains the previous service pack release notes.

Do you see a link somewhere that I’m not seeing? If you do, please let me know. You’d think this should be obvious, and it appears to be, except for the …read more

One of the great tools you can get with the PowerToys I talked of earlier is the PowerToy Calculator. A feature you may not be expecting with the application is tools for converting a variety of measurements from English to Metric equivalents and more.
As you can see from the screen shot above, all the basics you probably wonder about frequently are available.
In addition to the conversions, you get all your basic calculator option, including graphing and trig functions too. You know all that cool stuff you used to use with your Texas Instruments T51 calculator in high school.

Honestly I don’t use the standard Live Messenger software, but it’s not because it’s not loaded with some great features. For me, it’s mainly because I don’t want to have a separate application open for each IM client I do use.
I like the different emoticon tiles that are available in the "me" section header.
Some of the other great tools available in Live Messenger in the past that they didn’t talk about is the application sharing and control. That can come in very handy at times.

After doing some research on my AutoPlay and autorun.inf questions earlier I was reminded about some of the features that are available for tweaking your Windows XP install with the PowerToys applications like TweakUI.
Here’s a quick reminder about some of the other tools that are available:

Color Control Panel Applet: Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. This new tool helps you manage Windows color settings in one place.
SyncToy: With new sources of files coming from every direction (such as digital cameras, e-mail, …read more

One of the great resources I’ve been able to take advantage of with my "real" job is being a member of the Microsoft Partner Program. It’s actually up for renewal so I’m looking forward to what some of the new stuff is that’s available now.
I just received an email letting me know that the Windows 7 beta is now available as part of the program. That’s pretty exciting.
My only challenge is I don’t have the resources or spare machines sitting around where I can install and test some of these programs without worrying about killing my main business …read more

Did you know that 2008 was a dual leap year? Probably not since I made up the whole "dual leap year" tag, but what I do mean is that we had a February 29th this year and we’ll also have an extra leap second added to our clocks tomorrow night.
The problem is that Microsoft won’t really catch up with that second until later.
It turns out the deal is that Microsoft doesn’t recognize (or ignores) the alert in the atomic time codes that says a leap second is being added to the time adjustment. When the leap second is …read more

Image: Screen capture of Microsoft Update website
I’m working through my weekly updates and scans on my system today and I came across a list of optional software updates that were available for a few of my Microsoft Office 2007 applications.
This is normally good news, but here’s my question. The Help information available in just about every Microsoft product is fairly close to useless. I think they’d be better served to just put an automatic Internet search for the keyword you clicked on in their Help system in the first place. I’m not sure if I’ve ever really gotten the …read more

The big Microsoft event going on this week is PDC 2008 in Los Angeles. The "PDC" stands for Professional Developer’s Conference and it’s Microsoft’s time to share lots of new information and insight on what they’re up to with their extended developer community.
I wasn’t able to attend the conference, although I’ve been hearing plenty about it through the various people I follow on twitter. Thanks to @DanRigsby, @DaveLeininger, @BetsyWeber, @larryclarkin, @timheuer, @davebost, @BradleyLJones and many more.
Windows 7 seems to be the topic du jour but I just received an email from Steve Ballmer and he’s sharing a lot about Windows …read more

Image: Screen Grab of Desktop by Jason Bean
I was reminded today of a feature I’d long forgotten about in Windows. The ability to place "active" content that was regularly updated via the Internet. When the feature first came out I guess you could call it the grandfather of what we now called widgets and sidebars, except before you could just put stuff wherever you wanted on your desktop, not just docked to a side of the screen.
Anyway, I was reminded of it today when I was checking some of my desktop settings to see if I could enlarge the …read more