*** MSDN Flash *** A Twice-Monthly Newsletter for the Microsoft Developer Community Visit us today on the World Wide Web at: http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/ In this issue: PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS *Customers Choose Visual Studio *VBA PowerTools *New MSDN Online Feature - HelpDesk Code Sample *Dr. GUI on COM *XML-Data Submission to the W3C *Visual FoxPro Migration Sourcebook CD RESOURCES *MSDN Subscription January Release *Chat About MSDN Subscription *MSDN Online Member Downloads *New Chapter from Microsoft Mastering Series *Download Windows CE 2.0 Platform SDK *MSDN Online Membership Kit *J/Direct Jump Start Reviewers Guide *Learn Visual Basic Scripting Edition Now EVENTS *Windows DNA Development Lab *XML Conference *VBITS *Windows CE Developer Conference *Visual C++ Developer Conference *Visual J++ Developer Conference *Visual Foxpro Devcon 98 *Microsoft TechEd *Developer Events - United States *Developer Events - Europe MSDN FLASH TIP OF THE WEEK *Visual J++ Developer's Journal ================================================= PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS ================================================= CUSTOMERS CHOOSE VISUAL STUDIO Microsoft Visual Studio 97 is being widely adopted by enterprise customers, partners, and solution providers for building mission-critical business applications addressing a wide variety of scenarios and architectural challenges. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/vstudio/ to read case studies and customer testimonials. VBA POWERTOOLS If you're learning how to build VBA components for applications such as Word or Excel, the new VBA PowerTools series offers add-ins to install and examine, like a popup thesaurus. Download a dozen of them from http://www.microsoft.com/vba/vbapowertools.htm NEW MSDN ONLINE FEATURE - HELPDESK CODE SAMPLE Check out the new MSDN Feature package this month-the HelpDesk, an extensive sample intranet application with 24,000 lines of source code. Find out more about the package at http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/news/feature/020298/default.htm DR. GUI ON COM Check out Dr. GUI's COM column-a step-by-step, week-by-week guide to learning about components, COM and the Active Template Library. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/news/drgui/020298.htm XML-DATA SUBMISSION TO THE W3C The W3C acknowledged the XML-Data submission from Microsoft, ArborText, DataChannel and Inso. The joint submission outlines a richer method for describing and validating data - the goal is to make XML more powerful for integrating data from multiple, disparate sources, and building 3-tier web applications. The submission is available for public review from http://www.microsoft.com/standards/xml/ VISUAL FOXPRO MIGRATION SOURCEBOOK CD This free interactive guide is designed to make upgrading to Visual FoxPro 5.0 easier, addressing the two biggest concerns developers have when upgrading: The learning curve and the operating system. There is plenty of in-depth information on everything from Visual FoxPro's features to using Visual FoxPro to build client/server and Internet applications. For ordering information visit http://www.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/ ================================================= RESOURCES ================================================= MSDN SUBSCRIPTION JANUARY RELEASE The MSDN Subscription January Shipment includes Windows 98 beta 3, Windows NT® Option Pack 4.0, Windows NT DDK (for Windows NT Workstation 5.0 beta 1, Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition, and Visual Studio Service Packs (Alpha). For complete interim details or a full listing of all MSDN subscription components, visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/services/subscription/index/ CHAT ABOUT MSDN SUBSCRIPTION Join us for a discussion about MSDN Subscriptions on Tuesday, February 17. 11:00 am - noon, PST. Chat about Library content, quarterly and interim shipments, licensing, and other subscriber benefits. If you can't make the chat but have a great question, please submit it to msdn@microsoft.com with "MSDN Chat" as the subject line. We'll post a transcript two days after the chat. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/newsgroups/chats.htm MSDN ONLINE MEMBER DOWNLOADS Check out this week's free downloads for Online Members: TeeChart Pro ActiveX from TeeMach is a charting and graphing ActiveX control. Also try Soffront TRACK - a customizable defect-tracking and technical-support database. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/developer/download/ NEW CHAPTER FROM MICROSOFT MASTERING SERIES This month check out Creating ActiveX Code Components, Chapter 7 from Mastering Microsoft Visual Basic 5. Gain the skills you need to become an expert in database programming and ActiveX component creation. Available online and as a download. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/training/mastering.htm DOWNLOAD MICROSOFT WINDOWS CE 2.0 PLATFORM SDK If you're developing for Windows CE 2.0 you'll want to download the Windows CE 2.0 platform SDK. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/developer/download/ for more information. MSDN ONLINE MEMBERSHIP KIT Sign up now to get your MSDN Online Membership Kit. Members in the US and Canada will start receiving the kit in February. The kit includes the Component Source CD, which includes 500 ActiveX controls and over 1200 software components and tools, including products from APEX Software Corporation, Distinct Corporation, Phantom Reality, and Spatial Technology. It also features discounts on books and magazines including PC Magazine, Microsoft Systems Journal, Inside Visual Basic, Computer Shopper, Visual J++ Developer's Journal, and featured books from Wrox Press and Microsoft Press. Not to mention rebates on MSDN Professional and Universal subscriptions. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/join/ J/DIRECT JUMPSTART REVIEWERS GUIDE The J/Direct Jumpstart Reviewers Guide discusses developing powerful Windows applications in Java. This guide provides introductory information on both J/Direct and J/Direct Jumpstart, including a description of the code samples and other materials designed to help familiarize developers with the basic concepts of programming with J/Direct. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/visualj/ LEARN MICROSOFT VISUAL BASIC SCRIPTING EDITION NOW Check out this sample chapter from the Microsoft Press book, LEARN MICROSOFT VISUAL BASIC SCRIPTING EDITION NOW, which explains the basics of the VB scripting language. Visit http://mspress.microsoft.com/prod/books/sampchap/364.htm ================================================= EVENTS ================================================= MICROSOFT DNA DEVELOPMENT LAB A DNA Development Lab has been established for teams needing assistance in moving their applications to Internet architectures. Corporate development teams can bring their projects into the Lab, an intensive 5-day knowledge-transfer "boot camp", and get assistance in architecting and implementing their solutions. The lab is a partnership between Microsoft, CoreTech Consulting Group and Hewlett Packard. This environment is ideal for proof-of-concept, porting, and startup projects. More information is available at http://www.coretech-group.com and http://www.microsoft.com/usa/mid-atlantic/ XML CONFERENCE March 23-27, Seattle, WA XML, eXtensible Markup Language, describes structured data and delivers the data the way you want it. Come to XML the Conference, and select from the Business, Technical, E-Commerce, Print Media, and Content Management Tracks. See tools that support XML today and those planned for tomorrow. For registration and additional information visit http://www.gca.org/ VBITS SAN FRANCISCO '98 March 23-27, San Francisco, CA VBITS brings Microsoft and independent speakers together to give in-depth, hands-on training on topics ranging from multithreading applications and servers, to leveraging component-based solutions to the Internet or intranet, to deploying N-tier Client/Server apps with MTS. Visit http://www.windx.com/vbits/ for more information. REGISTER NOW FOR THE WINDOWS CE DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE April 5-8, San Jose, CA In-depth technical sessions will teach you all you need to know about the latest advances in Windows CE-based devices. Anyone writing software for Windows 95 or Windows NT will want to come hear how they can leverage their existing Win32 skills into this area. Attendees will receive a complimentary Palm PC - so you can start developing cool applications right away. For more information or to register visit http://www.microsoft.com/events/windowsce/ MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ DEVELOPER CONFERENCE IV April 15-17, Boston, MA TPD Publishing and Microsoft are holding the fourth Visual C++ Developers Conference: three days of intense technical instruction with Microsoft product gurus and third-party speakers and authors. Come learn about COM and DCOM, MFC and ATL, MTS, hardcore Visual C++, and more. For more information Visit http://www.vcdj.com/ VISUAL J++ DEVELOPER CONFERENCE April 27-30, Los Angeles, CA Informant Communications Group, Inc. and Microsoft have announced the first Microsoft Visual J++ Developer Conference and Exposition. A technical forum on advanced Java development using Microsoft Visual J++, this event features four tracks and 48 sessions. For more information visit http://www.javaconference.com/ VISUAL FOXPRO DEVCON 98 May 17-20, Orlando, FL Come learn all about Tahoe, the next version of Microsoft Visual FoxPro. Presented by MSDN and FoxPro Advisor Magazine, this is the ultimate developer conference for Visual FoxPro developers. Join thousands of professionals from around the world and be among the first to get an in-depth look at Tahoe. For more information visit the Visual FoxPro Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/ MICROSOFT TECHED 98 June 1-4, New Orleans, LA This is the definitive technical conference for building complete solutions with Microsoft technologies. Register now for the event that always sells out. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched/ MICROSOFT TECHED EUROPE 98 7-10th July, Nice Acropolis Convention Centre, France Book Now! For more information visit http://www.eu.microsoft.com/europe/teched/ DEVELOPER EVENTS - UNITED STATES EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SERIES The Emerging Technology Series hits Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee in February and March with a six-city tour. This free one-day seminar includes sessions on "Developing Multi-tiered Applications with Visual Studio" and "Write Once, Run Everywhere? Alternatives to Cross Platform Application Development". For more information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/stlouis/ets/ BOB AND LARRY'S DEVELOPER WORKSHOP SERIES February 12, Waltham, MA February 17, Farmington, CT Learn how to deliver solutions faster, cheaper and easier. For more information on this free monthly series or to register head to http://www.microsoft.com/usa/newengland/developer/ MICROSOFT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPERS SUMMIT The PDS hits the West Coast in February with a seven-city tour. This one-day seminar will focus on the Windows Distributed interNet Applications Architecture and the new capabilities of the Windows platform. For more information and to register visit http://www.microsoft.com/usa/pdswest/ TURNING DATA INTO INFORMATION Learn how to leverage desktop productivity tools, Internet technologies, universal data access and SQL Server in a building framework for effective data marts at a lower cost. For more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/usa/mid-atlantic/developer/ DEVELOPER EVENTS - EUROPE MICROSOFT SQL SERVER AND UNIVERSAL DATA ACCCESS TECHNICAL CONFERENCE March 25 - 26th Paris, March 30 - 31st Stockholm, April 2 - 3rd Frankfurt, April 6 - 7th London 1998. For more information visit http://www.eu.microsoft.com/europe/msdn/events/sql/ MICROSOFT WEB SOLUTIONS DEVCON February 16, Munich February 18, Dusseldorf March 3, Frankfurt The one day 2 track technical conference will cover the development, deployment and administration of web solutions built with Microsoft technologies. A pre-conference the day before will focus on component development with either VC++, VJ++ or VB. For more information visit http://microsoft.eusoft.com ================================================= MSDN Flash TIP ================================================= BE CAREFUL WHEN COMPARING STRINGS from Visual J++ Developer's Journal Java allows you to compare two String objects, strng1 and strng2 using the following code: if(strng1 == strng2) then ... Unfortunately, the effect may not be what you want. The code above actually compares the String locations, not their text value. To compare the text values, use this: if(strng1.equals(strng2)) then ... MSDN Online Members - we have a new Tip for you each week at http://www.microsoft.com/msdn. For a free issue of Visual J++ Developer's Journal visit http://www.cobb.com/vjp/freevyer.htm To receive the Visual J++ Developer's Journal Tip of the Week in email, visit Visual J++ tip sign-up: http://www.zdtips.com/vjp/msd-f.htm ================================================= HOW TO JOIN THE MAILING LIST: You received this e-mail newsletter as a result of your registration on the Microsoft Personal Information Center. You may unsubscribe from this newsletter, or subscribe to a variety of other informative newsletters, by returning to the Personal Information Center, http://register.microsoft.com/regwiz/personalinfo.asp and changing your subscription preferences. 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