Technology

Few useful Installation Script(VBScript) functions

Ram Shankar Yadav — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:02:43 GMT

After so long I’m posting something, lately I was working on installation script of our project, and came across few good things. I’m sharing few of them here:

' *************************************

'Global variables

Dim objFSO, objLogFile, WsShell

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set WsShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

'Getting Program Files path

Const PROGRAM_FILES = &H26&

Dim objShell, objFolder, objFolderItem, strProgramFilesPath

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")

Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(PROGRAM_FILES)

Set objFolderItem = objFolder.Self

strProgramFilesPath = objFolderItem.Path

WScript.Echo strProgramFilesPath

'For getting Documents and Settings\<UserName>

Dim strUserProfileFolder

strUserProfileFolder = WsShell.Environment("PROCESS")("UserProfile")

WScript.Echo strUserProfileFolder

'Getting Desktop folder

Dim objDesktop

objDesktop = WsShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")

WScript.Echo objDesktop

'Rename File

Function RenameFile(oldName, newName)

If(objFSO.FileExists(oldName)) Then

objLogFile.WriteLine( oldName & "File found and renaming/moving it to " & newName)

DeleteFile newName

objFSO.MoveFile oldName, newName

objLogFile.WriteLine( oldName & "File renamed/moved successfully " & newName)

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( oldName & " File does not exist.")

End If

End Function

'Rename Folder

Function RenameFolder(oldName, newName)

If(objFSO.FolderExists(oldName)) Then

If(objFSO.FolderExists(newName)) Then

objFSO.DeleteFolder newName, True

End If

objFSO.MoveFolder oldName, newName

End If

End Function

'Delete File

Function DeleteFile(filePath)

If objFSO.FileExists(filePath) Then

objFSO.DeleteFile filePath, True

objLogFile.WriteLine("File : " + filePath + " deleted successfully")

End If

End Function

'Calling an Excel Macro

Function CallExcelMacro(filePath, macroName)

Dim objExcel

Dim objWorkbook

Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

objExcel.Visible = False

If objFSO.FileExists(filePath) Then

objExcel.EnableEvents = False

set objWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open (filePath)

objExcel.EnableEvents = True

objLogFile.WriteLine("Calling Macro :: " & macroName)

objExcel.Run "'" & objFSO.GetFileName(filePath) & "'!" & macroName

objWorkbook.Close True

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( filePath & " File does not exist.")

End If

objExcel.Quit

Set objWorkbook = Nothing

Set objExcel = Nothing

End Function

'Registering .NET Components

Function RegisterComponents(assemblyPath, assemblyName)

Dim winDir

Dim param,program

Dim assemblyFullPath

assemblyFullPath = assemblyPath + "\"+ assemblyName

winDir = objFSO.GetSpecialFolder(0)

program = winDir + "\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "

If objFSO.FileExists(program) Then

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Registering... " + assemblyName)

' Register/UnRegiter Filename

param = " /unregister " + chr(34) + assemblyFullPath + chr(34)

WsShell.Run program + param , 0, True

param = " /tlb " + chr(34) + assemblyFullPath + chr(34) + " /codebase"

WsShell.Run program + param , 0, True

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Successfully Registered... " + assemblyName)

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Failed to register assembly, as this machine does not have .NET Framework 2.0 runtime installed!")

End If

End Function

'Unregistering .NET Components

Function UnRegisterComponents(assemblyPath, assemblyName)

Dim winDir

Dim param,program

Dim assemblyFullPath

assemblyFullPath = assemblyPath + "\"+ assemblyName

winDir = objFSO.GetSpecialFolder(0)

program = winDir + "\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe "

If objFSO.FileExists(program) Then

objLogFile.WriteLine( "UnRegistering... " + assemblyName)

' Register/UnRegiter Filename

param = " /unregister " + chr(34) + assemblyFullPath + chr(34)

WsShell.Run program + param , 0 , True

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Successfully UnRegistered... " + assemblyName)

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Failed to unregister assembly, as this machine does not have .NET Framework 2.0 runtime installed!")

End If

End Function

'Copy Folder

Function CopyFolderToDestinationFolder(strSourcePath, strDestinationPath, strFolderToCopy)

Dim strTempSource

Dim strTempDestination

strTempSource = strSourcePath & strFolderToCopy

strTempDestination = strDestinationPath & strFolderToCopy

If Not (objFSO.FolderExists(strTempDestination))Then

CreateFolder(strTempDestination)

End If

If objFSO.FolderExists(strTempSource) Then

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Copy " & strFolderToCopy & " Folder : Start")

If objFSO.FolderExists(strTempDestination) Then

objFSO.DeleteFolder strTempDestination, True

End If

objFSO.CopyFolder strTempSource, strTempDestination

objLogFile.WriteLine( "Copy " & strFolderToCopy & " Folder : End")

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( strTempSource & "Folder does not exist.")

End If

End Function

'Copy File

Function CopyFileToDestinationFolder(strSourcePath, strDestinationPath, strFileName)

If objFSO.FileExists(strSourcePath & strFileName) Then

objFSO.CopyFile strSourcePath & strFileName, strDestinationPath, True

objLogFile.WriteLine( "File : " & strSourcePath & strFileName & " copied successfully to " & strDestinationFolder & strFileName)

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine( strDestinationFolder & strFileName & " does not exist.")

End If

End Function

'Clearing Read only attribute of a file

Function ClearReadOnlyAttribute(filePath)

Dim file

If objFSO.FileExists(filePath) Then

Set file = objFSO.GetFile(filePath)

If file.Attributes Then

file.Attributes = 0

objLogFile.WriteLine("File : " + filePath + " attributes cleared successfully!")

End If

Else

objLogFile.WriteLine("File : " + filePath + " does not exists")

End If

End Function

'Create Desktop Shortcut

Function CreateDesktopShortcut(fullFilePath, shortcutName)

' ----------------------------------------------------------'

Dim objDesktop, objLink

Dim strIconPath

' --------------------------------------------------

' Here are the variables that to change if you are making a 'real' script

'strIconPath = "%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,5"

objDesktop = WsShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")

Set objLink = WsShell.CreateShortcut(objDesktop & "\" & shortcutName & ".lnk")

' ---------------------------------------------------

' Section which adds the shortcut's key properties

objLink.Description = shortcutName

'objLink.HotKey = "CTRL+SHIFT+X"

'objLink.IconLocation = strIconPath

objLink.TargetPath = fullFilePath

objLink.WindowStyle = 3

'objLink.WorkingDirectory = filePath

objLink.Save

' End of creating a desktop shortcut

End Function

' **************************************

Happy Coding

9's Clock!

Ram Shankar Yadav — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:12:15 GMT

A clock that has only 9's in it.
Having 9s does not make it special.... U can design a clock having only 9 with 9/9 (=1), (9+9)/9(=2), (9+9+9)/9(=3) and so on...

What makes it really amazing is the fact that... it has only 3 9s in each digit representation. ..

Free eBooks from Microsoft on LINQ, ASP.NET AJAX and Silverlight! - grab it now!!!

Ram Shankar Yadav — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:21:05 GMT


Introducing Microsoft LINQ by Paolo Pialorsi and Marco Russo	Introducing Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX by Dino Esposito	Introducing Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 by Laurence Moroney

http://csna01.libredigital.com/

Happy Learning

Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit - Downloadable!!

Ram Shankar Yadav — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:59:09 GMT

Hey Guys! Just found this useful stuff and sharing it!

What it is?

The Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs, and demos. This content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the Visual Studio 2008 features and a variety of framework technologies including: LINQ, C# 3.0, Visual Basic 9, WCF, WF, WPF, ASP.NET AJAX, VSTO, CardSpace, SilverLight, Mobile and Application Lifecycle Management.

Where it is?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8BDAA836-0BBA-4393-94DB-6C3C4A0C98A1&displaylang=en

Happy Learning!

MSBuild Links!

Ram Shankar Yadav — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:50:31 GMT

Last week I was occupied by two things: Year End Party and MSBuild. Former was rocking and later was interesting! I’ve got few links and would like to share it with you guys.

MSBuild Links:

MSBuild.pdf : http://www.guysmithferrier.com/downloads/msbuild.pdf

[ppt] MSBuild : Architecting and Customized Build System: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/1/6/f16badeb-a4d7-434b-92a9-8e2f716c35fe/DEV/Managing_the_Daily_Build_Process_with_Team_System_and_MSBuild.ppt

[MSDN TV] Visual Studio 2005: MSBuild - http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdntv/episode.aspx?xml=episodes/en/20040122vsnetak/manifest.xml

7 Steps to MSBuild: http://brennan.offwhite.net/blog/2006/11/30/7-steps-to-msbuild/

MSBuild Team Blog : http://blogs.msdn.com/msbuild/default.aspx

Compile Apps Your Way With Custom Tasks For The Microsoft Build Engine : http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/06/insidemsbuild/default.aspx

http://www.sedodream.com/CategoryView,category,MSBuild.aspx

MSBuild: By Example: http://en.csharp-online.net/MSBuild:_By_Example

Integrating MSBuild with CruiseControl.NET : http://www.dougrohm.com/cs/pages/56.aspx

I hope that you’ll find it useful!

If you have more links just add a comment to this post!

Happy Building

Visual Studio Debugging Tricks

Ram Shankar Yadav — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:06:26 GMT

Hey Guys!

I've got something to share which will help us in our "bugging" life…………

Here it goes:

Visual Studio 2005: Cool Debugging Tricks

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspnet/1e7daccd-ed00-4a35-a2ed-92fb0ad72bec/visual-studio-2005-cool.aspx

Happy Debugging!

Internet @ home

Ram Shankar Yadav — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:53:05 GMT

After a week long waiting finally, we(me & my roomies) have got Internet connection through Reliance Broadnet. We have got 999 Planwith 300 Kbps speed, unlimited download limits @ Rs. 999. I think there's a value for money proposition is there, and my first impression with the speed is good as well :)

Now I'll get more time to discover new things on net, download more movies and songs, and more blogging indeed!!

Happy Surfing :)

To Do : Before you deliver the code

Ram Shankar Yadav — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:43:59 GMT

Today I got few guidelines that I would love to share it with you guys, before you deliver the code!

Check existing code passes all unit test cases.
Check Nant script copies the files to proper location
Test UI according to unit test cases written.
Format your code by "select all" the code and press Ctrl+K, Ctrl+F.
If project is completed, do regression testing properly.
Code is as per the coding standard.
If you got any code review comments, you have incorporated it and run unit test cases.

Happy Coding

Apple's iPhone Newsletter

Ram Shankar Yadav — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:54:02 GMT

iPhone arrives on June 29. iPhone features an amazing mobile phone, is the best iPod we've ever created, and puts the Internet in your pocket with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching, and maps. And iPhone makes it all easy to use with its revolutionary multi-touch user interface. iPhone syncs with your PC or Mac just like an iPod, so organizing your content now will help you start calling, texting, emailing, surfing, listening, and watching even faster when you get your iPhone. Here are a few suggestions to help you get ready:

Making a call with iPhone is as simple as tapping a name. You won't need to re-enter all your contacts because iPhone syncs with the address book you already use on your computer—Address Book or Entourage on a Mac, or Outlook or Outlook Express on a PC. If you keep your contacts on the web using Yahoo! Address Book, iPhone can sync with them, too. To get ready for iPhone, organize your contacts in one of these applications and make sure they're up to date with the latest phone numbers and email addresses. If you don't have contacts on your computer, don't worry. You can still enter them directly into iPhone.

Using its built-in calendar, iPhone lets you check your appointments with the flick of a finger. iPhone uses iTunes to sync with the calendar application you already use on your computer—iCal or Entourage on the Mac, or Outlook on a PC—just like it does with your contacts. If you don't already use one of these applications to manage your appointments, now is a great time to start, so you'll be ready to sync when your iPhone arrives. If you choose not to use a calendar program, that's OK. You'll be able to enter appointments directly into the iPhone calendar.

iPhone is the first phone to come with a desktop-class email application. So now your phone can display rich HTML email with graphics and photos alongside the text. iPhone will even fetch your latest email every time you open the application and automatically retrieve your email on a set schedule, just like a computer does. iPhone works with the most popular email systems—including Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, AOL, and .Mac Mail. If you're not already using one of these services, now would be a great time to get an account. iTunes will make email setup on iPhone a breeze by automatically syncing the settings from email accounts stored in Mail on a Mac or Outlook on a PC. Don't worry if you're not on one of these email services; iPhone also works with almost any industry-standard POP3 and IMAP email system.

iPhone has a 2-megapixel camera and a gorgeous 3.5-inch display, so it's a great way to enjoy and show off your digital photos. iPhone uses iTunes to sync your photos from iPhoto on a Mac or Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Album, or any picture folder on a PC. You can carry thousands of photos on iPhone, but you can start by creating an album or two with 50 to 100 of your favorite photos, so that when you first sync your iPhone, you'll be ready to quickly show off some of your best shots.

iPhone is the best iPod ever. Its beautiful, 3.5-inch widescreen display allows you to easily enjoy the music, TV shows, and movies you have in your iTunes library. If you already use iTunes, you can start getting ready for iPhone by creating a playlist of a few hundred of your favorite songs. If you don't have iTunes, now is a good time to download it and start a music and video library. That way, when you sync your iPhone with iTunes, you'll be able to take your favorite music, as well as a few of your TV shows and movies, with you wherever you go.

To set up your iPhone, you'll need an account with Apple's iTunes Store. If you already have an iTunes account, make sure you know your account name and password. If you don't have an account, you should set one up now to save time later. To set up an account, launch iTunes, select the iTunes Store, and click the Sign In button in the upper right corner of iTunes. Sign in and you're ready to go.

E-mail usage tips!

Ram Shankar Yadav — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:56:26 GMT

This wonderful technology is for all of us and today is the key to communication....truly it is the lifeblood of any organization....

As any other technology this too requires prudence and a bit of intelligence while we use this.....

Some common tips the world uses to make this technology helpful ...lets look at these next time we use Email to communicate with others...

Ask yourself .....

Have I addressed the mail to relevant recipients ?
Does all recipients CCd really require that information ?
Is my mail for Information or for action or as a response ?
Am I mentioning the subject on each mail clear enough for others to know ?
Can I resolve the issue / communicate to the other person over the phone rather using e-mail ?
Do I require the information to go to all or the critical few who need to know this?
Is my response / revert mail going to recipients who may not need that information ?
Do I really require the information to go to all users ?
Am I looking at the recipients list addressed before using " Reply all " ?

Remember each one of us can make a difference ....to our Mail box :-) and keep this less bulky by using above guidelines....lets ensure E-Mails truly remain a significant tool and not become a nuisance value for us as well as for others....

Lastly wrong usage of e-mails certainly clogs the system reducing the Network speed .

Happy Mailing