I just received an email informing me that MAP 7.0 is live, and it now supports assessment to help you plan the deployment of Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. You can start planning now, with the products coming down the pipe soon. The new version which you can download now allows you to: Understand your readiness to deploy Windows Server 2012 in your environment Determine Windows 8 readiness Investigate how Windows Server and System Center can manage your heterogeneous environment through VMware migration and Linux server virtualization assessments Size your desktop virtualization needs for both Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and session-based virtualization using Remote Desktop Services Ready your information platform for the cloud with the SQL Server 2012 discovery and migration assessment Evaluate your licensing needs with usage tracking for Lync 2010, active users and devices, SQL Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 Assessment is a critical early step in a virtualization project, be it XenServer, VMware, or Hyper-V. MAP is a FREE and Agentless discover and assessment toolkit that really comes handy. Apart from assessing virtualization, MAP has wide coverage in this release. We can use MAP to assess SQL, MYSQL, Oracle, and Sybass. Application summary and Performance metrics will show details of Applications and performance in the environment. Try it out within your infra environment and see its magic!

When you download the source code from [caption id=“attachment_10266” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Export GridView Data to Excel using OpenXml”][/caption] http://www.codeproject.com/Tips/366446/Export-GridView-Data-to-Excel-using-OpenXml and try to transfer it to Excel from a single cell to another Excel file, it is not easy. I have broken a big chunk into a smaller unit to just output one value to an Excel workbook using OpenXML SDK. Below is the part of code segments that doing this. //Simple private void CreateExcelParts(SpreadsheetDocument spreadsheetDoc, string str) { //Create a Workbook WorkbookPart workbookPart = spreadsheetDoc.AddWorkbookPart(); CreateWorkbookPart(workbookPart); //Create a worksheet Worksheet worksheet = new Worksheet() { MCAttributes = new MarkupCompatibilityAttributes() { Ignorable = “x14ac” } }; worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“r”, “http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships"); worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“mc”, “http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"); worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“x14ac”, “http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2009/9/ac"); //Create sheetviews SheetViews sheetViews = new SheetViews(); SheetView sheetView = new SheetView() { WorkbookViewId = (UInt32Value)0U }; //Create a cell or range Selection selection = new Selection() { ActiveCell = “A1” }; //Append range to sheetview sheetView.Append(selection); //Append sheetview to sheetviews sheetViews.Append(sheetView); int columnIndex = 0; SheetData sheetData = new SheetData(); UInt32Value rowIndex = 1U; //Create a row Row row1 = new Row() { RowIndex = rowIndex++, Spans = new ListValue() { InnerText = “1:3” }, DyDescent = 0.25D }; //Create a cell and put the value in it Cell cell = new Cell() { CellReference = ExcelHelper.ColumnCaption.Instance.Get((Convert.ToInt32((UInt32)rowIndex) - 2), columnIndex), DataType = CellValues.String }; CellValue cellValue = new CellValue(); //Create a CellValue to store the value //Assign the value to new cell cellValue.Text = str; //Append the cellValue into cell cell.Append(cellValue); //Append the cell to row row1.Append(cell); //Append the row to sheetdata sheetData.Append(row1); //Append the sheetData to worksheet worksheet.Append(sheetData); WorksheetPart worksheetPart = workbookPart.AddNewPart(“rId” + (101).ToString()); //Append the worksheet into workbook workbookPart.WorksheetParts.ElementAt(0).Worksheet = worksheet; //Save the workbook workbookPart.Workbook.Save(); } /// /// Creates the workbook part. /// /// The workbook part. private void CreateWorkbookPart(WorkbookPart workbookPart) { Workbook workbook = new Workbook(); Sheets sheets = new Sheets(); Sheet sheet = new Sheet() { Name = “Book” + 1, SheetId = Convert.ToUInt32(101), Id = “rId” + (101).ToString() }; sheets.Append(sheet); CalculationProperties calculationProperties = new CalculationProperties() { CalculationId = (UInt32Value)123456U // some default Int32Value }; workbook.Append(sheets); workbook.Append(calculationProperties); workbookPart.Workbook = workbook; } The code segment is pretty much self-explanatory. You can also download a single solution from http://skydrive.live.com. The sample file name is GridToExcelNew.rar If you have any questions, feel free to ping me. My MSN ID is chanmmn@hotmail.com.

Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft’s president of the Windows and Windows Live Division, has just announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 starting 26th October 2012, just in time for Christmas :) It will be available on PC hardware and also software upgrades. This new operating system, used in most of the world’s computer systems will be adapted to the tablets, including the Microsoft Surface. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to see for yourself how fast, fluid and beautiful Windows 8 is, you can download the Windows 8 Release Preview. If you’re planning to buy a computer in the meantime, we’ve got you covered, as Microsoft is offering a Windows Upgrade Offer. Be sure not to miss out on this!

Building an app from scratch is never easy. Building a high quality, beautiful, intuitive and highly usable app is even harder. But here are some great (and did I mention free?) online sources to help you get started with Windows 8 Development :) Check it out: Windows 8 UX fundamentals–free virtual training [caption id=“attachment_10242” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Visit http://www.windowsuserexperiencetraining.com/ to get started!”][/caption] Metro style apps are the focal point of the user experience on Windows 8 Release Preview. Great Metro style apps share an important set of design traits that provide a consistent, elegant, and compelling user experience. With the first apps in the Windows Store, it’s exciting to see app designers begin to push the boundaries of the Metro style design principles on Windows 8. There’s plenty of innovation and beautiful apps to come. If you are a developer or designer creating a new user experience for your Metro style app and you want to learn how to get started, this free virtual training is perfect for you. The Windows User Experience team is running sessions on how to design great apps that use the platform in cool ways and follow UX guidelines. After the training, you’ll be able to design and build experiences that follow the tenants of great apps, use intuitive information architecture patterns, and use best practices for designing flexible layouts, touch, contracts, and much more. Agenda: •Embracing Metro style design – the principles of designing for Windows 8 •Less is more: Commanding, information architecture and navigation •Be fast and fluid: Designing for touch, mouse and keyboard •Be fast and fluid: Animations •Snap and scale beautifully: Designing apps with adaptive layouts •Using the right contracts •Connected and alive – how to design great tiles and notifications •Anatomy of an app: case study You can view the training anytime, in the comfort of your office or home!

Technology permeates our everyday lives. [caption id=“attachment_10157” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A Day in the Life of Developer Evangelist”][/caption] And in a time where “software is eating the world” , we’ve become so used to the smartphones, tablets, computers and apps that most of us can’t imagine living without. All of which are enabled not just by a single company, but by developers all over the world. The phenomenon of collaborative development for the success of a technological platform has given rise to a new breed of technologists that are required in a tech company, otherwise known as “Developer Evangelism”. Developer Evangelism hasn’t been around for a long time. Whether it’s at a tech conference or even in our own homes, I’ve realized that our unconventional jobs require some explaination - so starting from this month, we’d like to start telling you a bit more about what we do at Microsoft. [caption id=“attachment_10162” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Meet Chun Siong, a Developer Evangelist here at Microsoft Singapore.”][/caption] Not a typical career path in the IT industry “When I started my academic journey in polytechnic focusing on IT, I always thought that I might end up becoming a programmer or in a system administrator type of job. The first time I was exposed to “evangelism marketing” was through the Microsoft Student Partners program. Getting involved with the program for the past 5 consecutive years made me realize that this is a very unique and exciting role that exists in the IT industry. It’s definitely not your typical desk bound IT job.” [caption id=“attachment_10167” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Checking into office”][/caption] The role of the Developer Evangelist The DE is the tech company’s representative to the developer community helping to win the hearts and minds regarding the company’s platform. It is a technical role with the mission of engaging the broad community of developers and driving excitement around developer related technologies. DEs in general must be able to talk about technology intelligently and enthusiastically to developers, developer managers and senior management. Passion, curiosity, technical depth, and exceptional communication & presentation skills are key qualities that will help them succeed in this career path! [caption id=“attachment_10168” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Coffee is an essential part of a DE’s life - we all need a jolt of energy in the morning to get things started!”][/caption] Being an all-rounder While coding is an important facet of the job, there are many other hats that you need to put on as a developer evangelist. Most days you are out and about as an advocate for the company - speaking and doing demos at some tech event or sales call, but it’s not unusual to find yourself organizing events, brainstorming for marketing campaigns, being a judge for tech contests such as Imagine Cup, troubleshooting for other developers and so on. A typical work week for Chun Siong involves “…meetings, both internal and external are a common item on the weekly calendar. We hold regular events for developers and attend lots of events as well. These networking and communication opportunities with developers and business owners make your calendar more interesting. You never know who you’re going to meet and what’s going to surprise you in an industry that’s moving so quickly. On a daily basis, I spend a couple of hours catching up on technology news and doing hands on learning on new technologies.” [caption id=“attachment_10187” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Prepping for presentations and meetings, coding and replying questions from the developer community are a big part of a DE’s life.”][/caption] Noon comes and it’s time for lunch. For the DPE team at Microsoft, lunch is a great time to celebrate birthdays, catch up on each others’ lives and just in general enjoy all the good food that Singapore has to offer. We usually end up at Lau Pa Sat, where they serve up local dishes that are not bad (try the Ayam Penyet, the You Tiao, Porridge and Yong Tau Foo) [caption id=“attachment_10189” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Lau Pa Sat - for hungry people working in Raffles Place”][/caption] 2pm. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush (and sometimes fear) you experience speaking in front of a large audience. Depending on your schedule and the day’s event, you almost always find yourself having to present at a conference or meeting, speaking to a variety of audiences - government officials, students, teachers, developers, CIOs, CEOs, startups and IT professionals. DE’s have to be well versed in a broad range of technologies - from mobile to cloud, hardware to software. It’s a never ending learning journey for us, especially since the industry moves quickly. [caption id=“attachment_10188” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Getting ready for a presentation - the key is practice!”][/caption] What it takes to be an exceptional Developer Evangelist An exceptional Developer Evangelist not only speaks well and is truly passionate about enabling people with technology, but takes time to understand developers’ needs and is committed to the community. “Passion for technology and a willingness to share your knowledge with others is a must. While developer evangelists differ in their personality, expertise and how they engage with people, the common trait would be a strong interest in technology. If you are always following the startup scene /technology announcements /software and hardware development news, you are one step closer to what is required of you as a developer evangelist.” [caption id=“attachment_10190” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Public speaking - another important skill to have as a DE”][/caption] Some nights are burnt with Hackathons. While tiring, it’s an amazing thing to be part of, especially when you have so many people gathered together with a single goal bring their ideas to reality through code. Rob Miles once said that developers are possibly the luckiest people in the world right now, because we are given the many tools and capabilities to showcase our creativity. We couldn’t agree more. It’s our job to help you achieve those goals. [caption id=“attachment_10220” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Somehow, you can never escape from troubleshooting for others and debugging”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10215” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The beautiful view from our office - great to gaze out at when you’re coding”][/caption] What’s the first sign that you might be fit for a role as a developer evangelist? I think it’s to be a true geek at heart. “I started being interested in computers when I was 10. It was an exhilarating experience back then if you had a 486. This meant your PC could support cd-roms. Over the years I got curious about tweaking software and optimization for windows operating systems and occasionally testing out some Linux distros. At times I did some upgrading of computers like most folks do, playing around with PSU, RAM, CPU, HDD, Motherboard and more… In today’s context, I’m following really exciting development revolving around Mobile Devices, Cloud Computing, Search Engine Optimization, Solid State Disk and more… There are really amazing things and innovations coming out from student projects and the startup community as well.” [caption id=“attachment_10161” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Chun Siong is a Developer Evangelist in Microsoft Singapore - Geek at heart”][/caption] We thrive on collaboration. If you have an interesting idea or seek to explore creative ways of using our technologies, feel free to reach out to us and we will be glad to dive in the deep end with you. We thrive on your success, be it personal or professional. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone Development to Kinect Development, if you live and breathe codes, get to know Chun Siong. **POST UPDATE** We are searching for a Developer Evangelist who is specialized in HTML5, JavaScript, Ajax, jQuery, ASP.NET. If you think you have what it takes to become a Microsoft Developer Evangelist - Drop us an email at a-johua@microsoft.com with your resume, blog link (if you have) and a short description of your interests! Looking forward to hearing from you! Watch out for our next segment on what its like to be a Program Manager for Microsoft Bizspark!

[caption id=“attachment_10171” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Download the consumer preview here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/en"][/caption] Office is one of the most popular software products out there, one that we are most familiar with and almost can’t live without. Within 8 hours of announcement - the internet is already set abuzz with first looks, reviews and tonnes of screenshots of how the new Microsoft Office works. Here’s a quick video from CNET and their hands-on review. [caption id=“attachment_10182” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Watch and read CNET’s full review of the Microsoft Office”][/caption] ...

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! I’m a big fan of travel - as I’m sure most people in Singapore are (it’s such a small island that we have to get out some time or another!) One of my favourite apps on Windows 8 is Bing Travel. There are actually has a couple of Bing-powered apps in the Windows 8 Release Preview: News, Sports, and Travel. The Travel app is no doubt the prettiest one! Here are some must-try features. [caption id=“attachment_10143” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Starting screen of the Bing Travel app - highlights a featured destination”][/caption] I love how the clean interface makes the pictures stand out - makes me feel like packing up my bags and book the next flight out! [caption id=“attachment_10144” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Can’t figure out where to go for your next holiday? Use the featured destinations feature to decide!”][/caption] By far the best feature of the app is the “Paranomas” View - for those consumed by wanderlust, indulge in the next best thing by visiting the landmarks in the comfort of your office or home with these views. [caption id=“attachment_10148” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Can’t get out? Well the next best alternative is to take a look at the Paranomas of all the beautiful landmarks that the country has to offer!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10146” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower”][/caption] Instead of paying for travel guide books, read all about the destination from the Travel app and plan for your trips! [caption id=“attachment_10150” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Planning your trips is much easier - get a quick overview of landmarks and things to look out for”][/caption] Once you’re all set and ready to make bookings - you can do it within the app itself with the Hotels and Flight search option. [caption id=“attachment_10151” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Booking made simple - Hotels and flight search is also available on the Bing Travel app.”][/caption] If you’ve downloaded Windows 8 RP - great! This is a default application! So try it out today and let me know what you think. Download the Windows 8 Release Preview ...

Today the Photosynth team announced on their blog that the Photosynth app on the Windows Phone is finally launched! This is definitely one cool tool for photography fans out there. Using Photosynth, you can take photos of places that cry out for a full 360 panorama. [caption id=“attachment_10101” align=“alignnone” width=“591” caption=“Photosynth for Windows Phone”][/caption] The Photosynth app for Windows Phone feels like magic. Start it up, move the camera around, and watch your panorama fill in. Make a 360 revolution and watch it join up. Capture the floor and ceiling too. When you’re done the shots are automatically stitched together, and the results are beautiful and immersive. Here are some shots I took in our office. :) In the pantry: In the meeting room - looking out to MBS: Definitely one of my favourite apps on Windows Phone! Get the Photosynth app on the Windows Phone it today if you haven’t!

[caption id=“attachment_10096” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Microsoft Translator Hub empowers businesses and communities to build, improve, and deploy customized automatic language translation systems”][/caption] Today Microsoft announced the launch of its latest translation tool, the Microsoft Translator Hub. The tool enables people to customize translation and in some cases teach machines new languages. At the Worldwide Partner Conference today, Microsoft announced the commercial availability of the Microsoft Translator Hub, which enables people such as those who speak the Hmong language, businesses, developers, and partners to not only translate content, but build their own customized machine translation system. [caption id=“attachment_10097” align=“alignnone” width=“505” caption=“Microsoft Translator Hub”][/caption] A shrinking planet Microsoft Hub Translator is now translating billions of words a day, and the new Microsoft Translator Hub gives people and businesses a more customizable translation tool than ever before. The technology called “machine learning” relies on a large amount of data and on algorithms to help the machine create a model and learn about the data—in this case, a language. At Microsoft, the technological threads of machine translation go back nearly 20 years to the company’s Natural Language Processing Group. Find out more about the project here!

Thank you everyone who attended Cloud Summit 2012. It was a great event. I hope you guys enjoyed the keynote and all the breakout sessions. Next up is TechDays. Look out our blog for details of the event. Below is the Presentation decks from all presenters. Feel free to download and keep as reference. Keynote - http://sdrv.ms/P8UO82 Application Management with System Center Configuration Manager - http://sdrv.ms/N7FHvV Incident problem, Change and Asset Management - http://sdrv.ms/NyMe0Z Managing Private and Public Cloud - http://sdrv.ms/NAxZZv Microsoft Big Data - http://sdrv.ms/NrUm3z Service Delivery and Automation - http://sdrv.ms/NAyuTz SQL 2012 Always on High Availability Solution - http://sdrv.ms/NAz4ke SQL Server for Private Cloud - http://sdrv.ms/NOQ1pC The next generation of virtualization with Windows Server 2012 - http://sdrv.ms/NAzO95 Windows Azure Application Platform - http://sdrv.ms/NOQkRp Windows Azure Hybrid DC - http://sdrv.ms/NAAcEy