Answer:
This is a common question for organizations looking to implement a Microsoft-based online collaboration system. The basic answer is Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (WSS) provides a collaboration foundation with a variety of features including a web-based portal, document collaboration, etc. and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS) builds on WSS by providing several additional enterprise features.

The best way to understand the difference is to evaluate the additional features provided by MOSS. This article provides a good feature comparison.

I have implemented both MOSS and WSS-only solutions for a number of organizations and although WSS is nice and will work, if you can afford MOSS (or SharePoint Server 2010) I would strongly recommend it.

Answer:
The meta-data (library columns) and the files themselves (BLOBs) are stored in the SQL Server database associated with the specific web application.

The databases can be viewed and managed in Central Admin -> Application Management -> Content Databases.

I figured it would be interesting to have an ESPN-like ticker at the bottom of my presentation and although it’s not appropriate for all audiences, it is pretty cool.

It works by handling internal PowerPoint events through macro code (hit Alt-F11 to view the code editor) and reads the tabs and messages at runtime from a XML file in the same directory as the presentation. Please note that I’ve only tested this with PowerPoint 2007, but it should work with 2010 and probably 2003.

A few quick notes:
1. You need to install EventGen12 add-in, which redirects PowerPoint events to actual presentations. http://officeone.mvps.org/eventgen/eventgen.html

2. Make sure you enable macros when prompted in PowerPoint.

3. The code that performs the work relies on the ticker shapes in the presentation to be named in a particular way, so it’s generally easiest to simply copy an existing slide from the sample and then make your content changes. But, if you’d like to change them, there’s also a ‘NameShape’ macro included as well.

4. The speed of the ticker is controlled by adjusting the ‘timer_interval’ value in ‘ticker_msgs.xml’.

Download Complete Sample (includes source code, sample presentation and XML)

A quick video demonstration of how it looks in action.

Download Complete Sample

Although I’m still in the honeymoon stage, I have to say I’m impressed with both the device and OS.

The Android SDK looks interesting as well and could be fun.

Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and click Properties.
Select Configuration Properties -> General.
Set the Character Set to Use Multi-Byte Character Set.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// A quick example of reading a binary file in C++.
//
// 2010 Jason Barkes - http://jbarkes.wordpress.com
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <tchar.h>

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    FILE *file;
    char *fileName;
    int   fileSize;
    char *readBuffer;

    // Set the filename (could also get from a command-line parameter)
    fileName = "c:\\samples\\binary.jpg";

    // Open the specified file in binary mode ("rb")
    file = fopen(fileName, "rb");

    // If the file wasn't opened successfully, print an error and close
    if(file == NULL)
    {
        perror("Failed to open file for read access.");
        return 1;
    }

    // Determine the file size
    fseek(file, 0L, SEEK_END);
    fileSize = ftell(file);
    rewind(file);

    // Allocate the read buffer
    readBuffer = (char *)malloc(fileSize);

    // Read the file's data into the read buffer
    long read = fread(readBuffer, 1, fileSize, file);

    // Do something with the data
    // ...

    // Free allocated memory and close the file
    free(readBuffer);
    fclose(file);

    // Exit program
    return 0;
}

Live Demo: Drawing Dynamic Silverlight Shapes

The following code excerpts show the highlights of performing the primary shape drawing functions:

• Dynamic shape creation
• Sizing calculations
• Brushes
• Dynamic event handlers
• Shape re-sizing
• Shape movement

/// <summary>
/// Draws the desired geometrical shape.  This quick example app uses
/// ellipses and rectangles, but others would work here as well.
/// </summary>
private void DrawShape(Shape shape, SolidColorBrush brush)
{
    double x = 0.0, y = 0.0;

    // These calcs are required to handle sizing in any direction
    if (_ptStart.X > _mX)
    {
        shape.Width = _ptStart.X - _mX;
        x = _mX;
    }
    else
    {
        shape.Width = _mX - _ptStart.X;
        x = _ptStart.X;
    }

    if (_ptStart.Y > _mY)
    {
        shape.Height = _ptStart.Y - _mY;
        y = _mY;
    }
    else
    {
        shape.Height = _mY - _ptStart.Y;
        y = _ptStart.Y;
    }

    // Set the brushes
    shape.Fill = brush;
    shape.StrokeThickness = 1;
    shape.Stroke = _whiteBrush;

    // Set the shape's coordinates
    shape.SetValue(Canvas.LeftProperty, x);
    shape.SetValue(Canvas.TopProperty, y);

    if (_shapeLast != null)
    {
        LayoutRoot.Children.Remove(_shapeLast);
    }

    // Set the name, tooltip and add the event handlers
    shape.Name = "DynamicShape" + _shapeCount.ToString();
    ToolTipService.SetToolTip(shape, shape.Name + "\r\n" + shape.GetType().ToString());

    shape.MouseEnter += new MouseEventHandler(shape_MouseEnter);
    shape.MouseLeave += new MouseEventHandler(shape_MouseLeave);
    shape.MouseLeftButtonDown += new MouseButtonEventHandler(shape_MouseLeftButtonDown);
    shape.MouseLeftButtonUp += new MouseButtonEventHandler(shape_MouseLeftButtonUp);

    // Add the shape to the canvas
    _shapeLast = shape;
    _shapeCount++;
    LayoutRoot.Children.Add(shape);
}

/// <summary>
/// This is where the shapes are drawn, resized and moved.
/// </summary>
private void LayoutRoot_MouseMove(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseEventArgs e)
{
    // Update mouse coordinates
    _mX = e.GetPosition(sender as UIElement).X;
    _mY = e.GetPosition(sender as UIElement).Y;
    ctlCoords.Text = "(" + _mX + " ," + _mY + ")";

    // If enabled, add event info to the console
    if (chkTrackMouse.IsChecked == true)
    {
        AddConsoleMsg("LayoutRoot_MouseMove: X=" + _mX + ", Y=" + _mY);
    }

    // Perform a hittest to make sure we're operating within the bounds of our
    // drawing surface
    IEnumerable<UIElement> elements;
    elements = VisualTreeHelper.FindElementsInHostCoordinates(
        new Point(_mX, _mY), ctlBounds as UIElement);

    if (elements.Any())
    {
        // If enabled, draw the gridlines
        if (chkGridlines.IsChecked == true)
        {
            DrawGridlines();
        }

        // If enabled, draw an ellipse
        if (_isLeftMouseButtonDown == true && _isDrawEllipse)
        {
            Ellipse ellipse = new Ellipse();
            DrawShape(ellipse, _brushes[_randBrush.Next(0,_brushes.Count)]);
        }

        // If enabled, draw a rectangle
        if (_isLeftMouseButtonDown == true && _isDrawRect)
        {
            Rectangle rect = new Rectangle();
            DrawShape(rect, _brushes[_randBrush.Next(0, _brushes.Count)]);
        }

        // If enabled, draw a line
        if (_isLeftMouseButtonDown == true && _isDrawLine)
        {
            Line line = new Line();
            DrawLine(line);
        }

        // If a shape is moving
        if (_isShapeMoving)
        {
            double x = _mX - _shapeMove.Width / 2;
            double y = _mY - _shapeMove.Height / 2;

            // Move the shape
            _shapeMove.SetValue(Canvas.LeftProperty, x);
            _shapeMove.SetValue(Canvas.TopProperty, y);
        }
    }
    else
    {
        // We're outside of the bounds of our drawing surface so remove the gridlines
        RemoveGridlines();
    }
}

You can download the full source here: Drawing Dynamic Silverlight Shapes Demo. This requires Visual Studio 2008 and Silverlight 3 development tools (Expression Blend is not required but would be useful as well).

public static class ExtensionMethods
{
       public static T DeepCopy<T>(this T oSource)
       {
              T oClone;

              DataContractSerializer dcs = new DataContractSerializer(typeof(T));

              using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
              {
                     dcs.WriteObject(ms, oSource);
                     ms.Position = 0;
                     oClone = (T)dcs.ReadObject(ms);
              }

              return oClone;
       }
}

Being a C#/C++ software guy with some graphical design skills, this is a perfect match. In this article, we’ll create the start of a Silverlight application for designing basketball plays. The finished product’s looks can change quite a bit, but the functionality remains the same:

In the first video clip you will learn how to create the project in Visual Studio and the static visual layout in Expression Blend.

In part 2, you will learn how to create and wire up dynamic controls and event handlers and create the associated C# code.

The next steps for this application will be presented in an upcoming article and include:

• Drag and drop animation
• Better styling (buttons, etc)
• Passing and dribbling
• Record and playback
• Save plays and play templates (e.g., ‘2-3 zone’)

Download Source: SilverlightBasketballSample.zip (316KB)

Download Source: WinLocCounterSample.zip (216KB)

#include <windows.h>
#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <stack>
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

// Recursive directory traversal using the Win32 API
bool ListFiles(wstring path, wstring mask, vector<wstring>& files)
{
	HANDLE hFind = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
	WIN32_FIND_DATA fdata;
	wstring fullpath;
	stack<wstring> folders;
	folders.push(path);
	files.clear();
	
	while (!folders.empty())
	{
		path = folders.top();
		fullpath = path + L”\\” + mask;
		folders.pop();

		hFind = FindFirstFile(fullpath.c_str(), &fdata);

		if (hFind != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
		{
			do
			{
				if (wcscmp(fdata.cFileName, L”.”) != 0 &&
                    wcscmp(fdata.cFileName, L”..”) != 0)
				{
					if (fdata.dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
					{
						folders.push(path + L”\\” + fdata.cFileName);
					}
					else
					{
						files.push_back(path + L”\\” + fdata.cFileName);
					}
				}
			}
			while (FindNextFile(hFind, &fdata) != 0);
		}

		if (GetLastError() != ERROR_NO_MORE_FILES)
		{
			FindClose(hFind);

			return false;
		}

		FindClose(hFind);
		hFind = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
	}

	return true;
}

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
	vector<wstring> files;

	if (ListFiles(L”C:\\source”, L”*”, files))
	{
		for (vector<wstring>::iterator iter = files.begin(); iter != files.end(); ++iter)
		{
			wcout << iter->c_str() << endl;
		}
	}

	return false;
}