SSMS 2012 Launching Exception on Windows 8 Developer Preview with VS 11 Developer Preview


Recently I came across an unusual exception during launching SSMS 2012 on Windows 8 Developer Preview where VS 11 Developer Preview was already installed. On launching the SSMS 2012 RC0 , an exception window pops up indicating “Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation“.

  • Now visiting log files did not provide proper troubleshooting info henceforth , I searched up the registry at  HKEY CURRENT USER\ Software\Microsoft\SQL Server Management Studio  , under which you can see two nodes 11.0 & 11.0_Config.
  • Expand the node of 11.0_Config & delete the entire node.

  • Now launch SSMS 2012 again in Windows 8 developer preview. It will launch successfully.

 

Using Fiddler 2 in debugging of Windows 8 Metro Style Apps (HTML5/JavaScript & XAML)


Fiddler 2 is a freeware Web Debugging tool used primarily for debugging & capturing of sessions, Headers, Cache-modules , JSON, XML view of Web apps. No only for Windows Client/Server/Phone enviornment , it’s highly recommended for capturing web sessions in iPhone/iPad devices also.  You can download the tool freely from the web & go through its tutorials at http://www.fiddler2.com/fiddler2/ .

  • In this article, we will see how Fiddler 2 helps us to capture traffic in debugging Windows 8 Metro Style Apps in Windows  Developer Preview environment.
  • First of in Fiddler 2 tools you need to check the Tools -> Options -> Connections -> Check Allow Remote Computers to Connect .

  • Next , set the decryption of HTTPS traffic for Fiddler & allows Fiddlers certificates to install on your Windows 8 developer preview certification manager.
  • Click on Tools -> Fiddler Options -> HTTPS -> Check Decrypt HTTPS traffic . It will prompt for the popup for certificate installation.

  • Click Yes to follow the installation of Fiddler 2 certificate.

  • Click Yes to install the certificate in Trusted Root Certificate Applications.

  • Now check the Certificate manager by typing Windows + R   & type certmgr.exe & open Trusted Root Certificate Application & under the root , Click Certificate. Open the Fiddler 2 Certificate.

  • Now , Fiddler 2 can capture traffic sessions for Windows 8 Metro Style Apps debugging too. So , lets open a Metro Style apps in VS 11 Developer Preview & capture traffic sessions in fiddler 2.

  • Open the Inspector section to preview the debugging overview & session details of Windows 8 Metro Style apps in Fiddler 2.

Installation of SQL Server 2012 RC0(Release Candidate) in Windows 8 Developer Preview


SQL Server 2012 RC0 has published on November 2011 after the CTP3 beta Denali edition. The new edition of SQL Server 2012 RC0 contains a lot of improvements over the Database Engine, High Availability, BI tools prespective. Windows 8 Developer Preview is a next genetation Windows Slate OS version which influences developer to develop market ready  Metro Style apps.

  • Windows 8 Metro Style apps quite resemble with Windows Phone 7 Metro apps which having functionality with Windows Azure, Push Notification, Isolated Storage & Local Storage, Bing Maps integration, leveraging business data from Microsoft SharePoint 2010 etc.
  • In those respect it’s also important to integrate Metro Style apps with SQL Server databases. Tiles & notificates generation from data of SQL Server, Configuring & developing SSRS reports in tablets, Windows Slates too.
  • Lets see the installation of SQL Server 2012 RC in Windows 8 Developer Preview(Client).
  • First enable .NET Framework 3.5.1 in Windows 8 Developer Preview otherwise it will create issues in SQL Server 2012 RC installation.
  • Step by step reference of enabling .NET Framework 3.5.1 in Windows 8 Developer Preview:
  • http://techdows.com/2011/09/enable-net-framework-3-5-1-on-windows-8-developer-preview-to-run-applications.html

  • Lets start by checking the licence rules. For Express editions & Express with Advanced Editions no Product Key is required.

  • Lets check the installation rules. First installer will run Update rules if any recent updates for SQL Server 2012 RC is available or not.

  • It’s will check the instance rules & divisions.

  • Next, it will prompt to select the features needed for the installation.

  • Next prompt will update the Server Configurations for SQL Server 2012 RC .

  • Alternatively, you can check for Collation properties.

  • Then , look out for the instance selection which is one of important step in SQL Server installation.

  • You have select the authentication features for SQL Server 2012 RC in Windows 8 Developer Preview.

  • Alternately, you can enable Filestream data to obtain data from Remote SQL Servers.

 

  • Next step is to configure the SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 , you can select ‘install & configure’ or ‘install only’.

  • After that, carry out the normal installation procedure in Windows 8 Developer Preview.

  • Next, the installation got successful , you will get Complete dialog box shows the selected features already got installed.

  • Now , Open SQL Server Management Studio 2012 to check in Windows 8 Developer Preview.

  • That’s it, start working on SQL Server 2012 RC with Windows 8 Metro Style apps in Windows 8 Developer Preview.

Developing Windows 8 Metro Style Apps with GridView in XAML – Part I


  • Development of Windows 8 Metro Style apps in Windows 8 Developer Preview is quite easy with the help of Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview or Visual Studio 11 Express Developer Preview(Available only with Windows 8 Developer Preview x64 with Windows SDK Tools). In Metro Style apps creation you will get option to create five types of applications in VS 11 developer preview templates.
  • Application
  • Grid Application
  • Split Application
  • Class Library
  • Unit Test Library

  • Next, we will create a Grid Application for Windows 8 Metro Style applications in XAML 4.5 to develop an PhotoViewer app.
  • So, after creation of Grid application in VS 11 Developer Preview you can find the following files:
  • App.xaml: The Configuration file responsible for launch, Application Event Handling, Splash Screen handling.
  • CollectionSummaryPage.xaml: This page is responsible for summing up ListView along with FlipViews with User Control Styles & Templates binding.
  • DetailPage.xaml: The Page controls the basic UI binding of the Items retrieved from Service URL or local database.
  • GroupCollectionPage.xaml: Responsible for UI layout & formatting.
  • Package.appxmanifest: The overall configuration file of the app, responsible for logo designing & selection of Splash Screen, Logo of the Application, Device access capability, Code signing, Certificates & credentials control etc.
  • Lets , I have added some Image files in the existing Images folder of the project & created a new file called PhotoDataSource.cs.
  • PhotoDataSource.cs :

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

using System.Threading.Tasks;

using Windows.UI.Xaml.Data;

using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media;

using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media.Imaging;

using System.Xml.Linq;

using System.Net.Http;

namespace PhotoViewer

{

classPhotoItem : INotifyPropertyChanged

{

public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;

protectedvoid OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)

{

if (this.PropertyChanged != null)

{

this.PropertyChanged(this,

new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));

}

}

private PhotoCollection _collection;

public PhotoCollection Collection

{

get

{

returnthis._collection;

}

set

{

if (this._collection != value)

{

this._collection = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Collection”);

}

}

}

private String _category = String.Empty;

public String Category

{

get

{

returnthis._category;

}

set

{

if (this._category != value)

{

this._category = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Category”);

}

}

}

privateString _title = String.Empty;

publicString Title

{

get

{

returnthis._title;

}

set

{

if (this._title != value)

{

this._title = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Title”);

}

}

}

privateString _description = String.Empty;

publicString Description

{

get

{

returnthis._description;

}

set

{

if (this._description != value)

{

this._description = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Description”);

}

}

}

privateString _owner = String.Empty;

publicString Owner

{

get

{

returnthis._owner;

}

set

{

if (this._owner != value)

{

this._owner = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Owner”);

}

}

}

privateString _dateTaken;

publicString DateTaken

{

get

{

returnthis._dateTaken;

}

set

{

if (this._dateTaken != value)

{

this._dateTaken = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“DateTaken”);

}

}

}

privateImageSource _image = null;

privateUri _imageBaseUri = null;

privateString _imagePath = null;

publicImageSource Image

{

get

{

if (_image == null && _imageBaseUri != null &&

_imagePath !=

null)

{

_image =

newBitmapImage(newUri(_imageBaseUri, _imagePath));

}

returnthis._image;

}

set

{

if (this._image != value)

{

this._image = value;

this._imageBaseUri = null;

this._imagePath = null;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Image”);

}

}

}

publicvoid SetImage(Uri baseUri, String path)

{

_image =

null;

_imageBaseUri = baseUri;

_imagePath = path;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Image”);

}

privatestring _url = string.Empty;

publicstring Url

{

get

{

returnthis._url;

}

set

{

if (this._url != value)

{

this._url = value;

this.OnPropertyChanged(“Url”);

}

}

}

}

classPhotoCollection : PhotoItem, IGroupInfo

{

publicObject Key

{

get { return Title; }

}

privateList<PhotoItem> _itemCollection = newList<PhotoItem>();

publicvoid Add(PhotoItem item)

{

_itemCollection.Add(item);

}

publicIEnumerator<Object> GetEnumerator()

{

return _itemCollection.GetEnumerator();

}

System.Collections.

IEnumerator

System.Collections.

IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()

{

return GetEnumerator();

}

}

classPhotoDataSource

{

publicList<PhotoCollection> GroupedCollections { get; privateset; }

privatevoid AddCollection(String category, String title,

String description, Uri baseUri, String imagePath)

{

var collection = newPhotoCollection();

collection.Category = category;

collection.Title = title;

collection.Description = description;

collection.SetImage(baseUri, imagePath);

GroupedCollections.Add(collection);

}

privatevoid AddItem(String category, String title, String description,

String owner, String dateTaken, Uri baseUri, String imagePath)

{

PhotoCollection lastCollection = GroupedCollections.LastOrDefault() as

PhotoCollection;

var item = newPhotoItem();

item.Category = category;

item.Title = title;

item.Description = description;

item.Owner = owner;

item.DateTaken = dateTaken;

item.SetImage(baseUri, imagePath);

item.Collection = lastCollection;

if (lastCollection != null)

{

lastCollection.Add(item);

}

}

public PhotoDataSource(Uri baseUri)

{

GroupedCollections = newList<PhotoCollection>();

AddCollection( “Pike Place Market”, ” Pike Place Market “,

“Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants. Named after the central street, Pike Place runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street, and remains one of Seattle’s most popular tourist destinations.”,

baseUri, “Images/PikePlaceMarket.jpg”);

AddItem(“Pike Place Market”, “Picture 1”,

“A picture of Pike Place Market”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/PikePlaceMarket.jpg”);

AddItem(“Pike Place Market”, “Picture 2”,

“A picture of Pike Place Market”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/PikePlaceMarket.jpg”);

AddItem( “Pike Place Market”, “Picture 3”,

“A picture of Pike Place Market”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/PikePlaceMarket.jpg”);

//AddPhotos(“Pike Place Market”, 1);

//AddPhotos(“Pike Place Market”, 2);

AddCollection( “Space Needle”, ” Space Needle “,

“The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), and a gift shop with the rotating SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet (150 m).[5] From the top of the Needle, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands.”,

baseUri, “Images/SpaceNeedle.jpg”);

//AddPhotos(“Space Needle”, 1);

//AddPhotos(“Space Needle”, 2);

AddItem( “Space Needle”, “Picture 1”,

“A picture of the Space Needle”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SpaceNeedle.jpg”);

AddItem( “Space Needle”, “Picture 2”,

“A picture of the Space Needle”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SpaceNeedle.jpg”);

AddItem(“Space Needle”, “Picture 3”,

“A picture of the Space Needle”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SpaceNeedle.jpg”);

AddItem( “Space Needle”, “Picture 4”,

“A picture of the Space Needle”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SpaceNeedle.jpg”);

AddCollection( “Pioneer Square”, ” Pioneer Square “,

“Pioneer Square was once the heart of the city: Seattle’s founders settled there in 1852, following a brief six-month settlement at Alki Point on the far side of Elliott Bay. The early structures in the neighborhood were mostly wooden, and nearly all burned in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. By the end of 1890, dozens of brick and stone buildings had been erected in their stead; to this day, the architectural character of the neighborhood derives from these late 19th century buildings, mostly examples of Richardsonian Romanesque.”,

baseUri,“Images/PioneerSquare.jpg”);

//AddPhotos(“Pioneer Square”, 1);

//AddPhotos(“Pioneer Square”, 2);

AddItem(“Pioneer Square”, “Picture 1”,

“A picture of Pioneer Square”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/PioneerSquare.jpg”);

AddCollection(“Snoqualmie Falls”, ” Snoqualmie Falls “,

“Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft (82 m) waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington, USA. It is one of Washington’s most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year, where there is a two acre (8,000 m²) park, an observation deck, and a gift shop.”,

baseUri, “Images/SnoqualmieFalls.jpg”);

//AddPhotos(“Snoqualmie Falls”, 1);

//AddPhotos(“Snoqualmie Falls”, 2);

AddItem(“Snoqualmie Falls”, “Picture 1”,

“A picture of Snoqualmie Falls”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SnoqualmieFalls.jpg”);

AddItem(“Snoqualmie Falls”, “Picture 2”,

“A picture of Snoqualmie Falls”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SnoqualmieFalls.jpg”);

AddItem( “Snoqualmie Falls”, “Picture 3”,

“A picture of Snoqualmie Falls”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SnoqualmieFalls.jpg”);

AddItem(“Snoqualmie Falls”, “Picture 4”,

“A picture of Snoqualmie Falls”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/SnoqualmieFalls.jpg”);

AddCollection(“About Me”, ” About Me ““Hi,Myself Anindita Basak.Senior Software Engineer by role.”,

baseUri, “Images/me.jpg”);

AddItem(“About Me”, “About Me”,

“Hi,Myself Anindita Basak.Senior Software Engineer by profession.”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/me.jpg”);

AddItem(“About Me”, “About Me”,

“Hi,Myself Anindita Basak.Senior Software Engineer by profession.”,

string.Empty, string.Empty,

baseUri, “Images/me.jpg”);

}

}

}

  • Add the following code in DetailPage.xaml by commenting out the ContentPanel1,ContentPanel2,ContentPanel3:

<StackPanel x:Name=”ContentPanel1″ Style=”{StaticResource

PrimaryContentPanelStyle}”>

<TextBlock x:Name=”DetailTitle” Height=”74″ Style=”{StaticResource

LargeContentFontStyle}” Text=”{Binding Title}” />

<Grid x:Name=”ImageGrid” Width=”Auto” Margin=”0,8,0,0″

Background=”#FF3B3B3B” HorizontalAlignment=”Stretch” VerticalAlignment=”Top”>

<Image x:Name=”Image” Height=”300″ Margin=”0″ Stretch=”UniformToFill”

Source=”{Binding Image}” />

</Grid>

 

  • Lets check the PhotoViewer screen in Windows 8 Metro Style apps.

  • Next, Run the Metro Style Apps in Windows 8  Slate Simulator . Select it from VS 2011 developer Preview Debugging option pane.

 

Installation of IIS 8 in Windows 8 Developer Preview


Working with IIS 8 in Windows 8 Developer Preview is quite important as it ‘s a pre-requites to work with Windows Azure tools in Windows 8 Developer Preview. Simply switch to Metro preview & select Control Panel & set to More Settings for Desktop -> Select Turn  Windows features On or Off & set Internet Information Services.

  • Set it default & Click OK. Check localhost in IE 10 for IIS 8.

Developing Windows 8 Metro Style applications in Windows 8 Developer Preview with VMware Player


Development of Windows 8 Metro Style applications with HTML5,Javascript(Chakra) or XAML is quite easy but important is the installation of Windows 8 in VM (Hyper-V or VMware Workstation). For most of peoples like Oracle VirtualBox but I never experienced so much superior support in it. Freeware VMware player or VMware workstation is quite charming in that case otherwise Windows Hyper-V with a bootable vhd is best way for installation of Windows 8 Developer Preview.

  • Start with selection of the installation media & be careful about the selection of the guest operating system. VMware still does not support Windows 8 so keep the name of guest os as Windows 7 (for 32 bit Windows 8) & Windows 7 x64 for 64 bit Windows 8 developer preview.

  • Next, select the  harddisk space requirements in VMware player & save the VHD as backup in your drive.
  • Start booting with Windows 8 developer preview once you finished the customization of VM settings.

  • Next, setup the Windows 8 botting screen & populate with your Windows Live ID account.

  • Check the final preparation screen of Windows 8 developer preview.

  • Install the Visual Studio 11 developer preview & start with Windows 8 Metro Style apps development.

  • Lets check the VS 11 developer preview in Windows 8 Developer Preview.