The set of useful methods that can make developer life easer

Take a look at a list below and you may find a few methods that save your time.The sources  and documentation are here.

Array

GetMissingItems
Gets a list of the items in an array missing from a second array.

RemoveDups
Removes any duplicate items for a list of items.

StringArrayToString
Converts an array of strings into a string.

Collection

CollectionToHtmlTable
Converts a collection to an html string having a table.

Color

ColorToHtml
Converts a color into an html hexadecimal string.

GetColorTable
Get an html table listing color, html hexadecimal, and color name.

GetRandomColor
Gets a random color.

DataSet

ArrayToDataTable
Converts an array of strings to a DataTable.

DataTable2ExcelString
Coverts a DataTable into an Excel string.

DataTableToArray
Creates a string array from a DataTable.

DataTableToString
Converts a DataTable to a string with an html table.

FilterSortData
Filter and sort a dataset.

DateTime

CountWeekdays
Counts the number of weekdays between two dates.

CountWeekends
Counts the number of weekends between two dates.

IsDate
Checks whether an object is a date.

IsWeekDay
Returns true of day is weekday, otherwise false.

IsWeekEnd
Returns true of day is weekend, otherwise false.

TimeBreakdown
Returns a string that enumerates years, months, days, etc.

File

ArrayToFile
Saves a string array as a text file.

FileToArray
Converts the contents of a file to a string array.

GetDirectoryFileInfo
Gets information about the files in a directory and puts it in an array of strings.

GetDirectoryInfo
Gets information about a directory and puts it in an array of strings.

GetFileInfo
Gets information about a file and puts it in an array of strings.

ReadFromFile
Reads from a text file, puts the contents of the file in a string, and returns the string.

WriteToFile
Writes the passed in string to a file.

Forms

SetCheckboxesSelect
Adds a check to the checkboxes whose values are passed in.

SetComboSelectedIndex
Sets which item is selected in a DropDownList.

Math

Triangulate
Sums the numbers from 1 to n.

UnTriangulate
Undoes the Triangulate method.

Network

DNSLookup
Gets DNS information about a url and puts it in an array of strings.

GetHttpHeaders
Gets Http Headers and puts them in an array of strings.

GetImages
Gets the images from a webpage.

GetLinks
Gets the links from a webpage.

GetServerVariables
Gets the ServerVariables and puts them in a string.

ReadWebPage
Reads a web page and returns a string with the contents.

SendMail
Sends an e-mail message.

SendNetSend
Sends a net send message.

Numbers

GetDoubles
Gets an array of double values from the start value to the end value.

GetInts
Gets an array of int values from the start value to the end value.

GetRandomNumber
Gets a random number.

IsNumeric
Check whether an object is numeric.

Stats

GetAvg
Gets the average of an array of doubles or an array of ints.

GetCorrelation
Gets the Correlation between two arrays of numbers.

GetStandardDeviation
Gets the standard deviation of a list of numbers.

Strings

CountStrings
Count how many times a string appears.

GetASCII
Gets a string with ASCII characters.

ProperCase
Converts a string to proper case.

RemoveWhiteSpace
Remove extra white space in a string.

SketchPath-XPath development and XML analysis tool

SketchPath is an XPath development and XML analysis tool. It provides an integrated graphical environment for viewing XML files , developing XPath expressions against them and managing the expressions in file libraries.

File libraries of XPath expressions can be saved and loaded as .NET DataTable XML serialized objects. SketchPath supports XML Packages as used by Open XML and ODF.

This .NET tool was originally designed to assist XSLT developers at all levels, but should equally suit any developers or analysts who currently work with XPath 1.0 or who would benefit from using it to exploit XML.

 

Features

1. Easy to install: A single  350KB .EXE file (Needs .NET 2.0 Also)
2. XPath Location Step-Tracer - Predicate tracing
3. Auto-Generate XPath Locations by selecting from
4. XPath Result list
5. Regular Expression Result list
6. Element Tree View
7. Element Nodes List
8. XML Text Editor
9. XPath Variables List
10. XPath Step Tracer
11. Save XPath expressions for re-use as variables
12. Import XPath Expressions from an XML source (eg. XSLT)
13. Manage Xpath variables lists in groups
14. Save and load XPath variable groups in library files
15. ‘As-You-Type’ bookmarking of nodeset results in Element Tree View
16. Manage Xpath environment
17. Manage Namespaces
18. Set the Context Node
19. Select the group of XPath variables required
20. Auto-Complete ('Intellisense') uses 'Look-Ahead' to list available location and value nodes when typing
21. An XPath 'Assist Pane' provides quick access to all XPath Nodes/Axes and Functions
22. Syntax checking and colorizing of XPath expressions
23. Uses .NET System.XML.XPath namespace to evaluate expressions
24. All XML panes synchronized, viewable panes & behavior controlled by modes
25. Use Regular Expressions (Regex) to resolve XPath locations
26. Simple User-Interface with just 3 main toolbars with minimal icon-clutter
27. Package Inspection feature for ZIP compressed XML file structures, support includes:
1. Word 2007 docx format
2. Excel 2007 xlsx format
3. Powerpoint 2007 pptx format
4. XML Paper Specification xps format
5. OASIS Open Document Format (ODF)
28. Fast XPath location generation usin an optimized 'Element Index' (updated as you type)
29. Free-flow XML Source Editor Pane with well-formedness checking

 

Download SketchPath

Watch Flash Demo of SketchPath

[Via Larkware News]

Refactor! For ASP.NET was released as free download.

DevExpress has announced that Refactor! For ASP.NET is free for download.

Features

1. Add Validator
2. Extract ContentPlaceHolder
3. Extract ContentPlaceHolder (and create master page)
4. Extract Style (Class)
5. Extract Style (id)
6. Extract to UserControl
7. Move to Code-behind
8. Move Style Attributes to CSS
9. Rename Style
10. Surround with Update Panel

You can find more details on each refactoring from Mark's post.

Make sure to check out the informative 12 minute screencast on the ASP.NET refactoring.

A list of programs for keyboard maniacs

A list of  programs for keyboard maniacs - they helps you rapidly find programs or documents from within the depths of the start menu (or other directories).

• AutoHotKey - http://www.autohotkey.com/ - excellent Open Source (!) tool with support for scripts and hotkeys. Two scripts add similar start menu searching functionality, Seek and 320mph. More info can be found on their forum.
• Tray Command Line - http://traycl.chat.ru/ - shareware, $10  Very nice, *tiny* application - the inspiration for this program; does not search for files, but allows you to manually create aliases to launch from they keyboard.  
• Key Launch - http://software.xfx.net/utilities/kl/index.html - shareware, $12  Similar to this program, incrementally searches through the start menu. Felt a bit clunky to me, and short on configuration options.  
• RunIt! - http://keleos.h11.ru/ - now freeware!  Very good program - has similar search functionality as Find and Run Robot and additional features for terminating apps, etc. Runs as a toolbar.  
• ShellSearch - http://www.harmonyhollow.net/ss.shtml - freeware  Very similar in spirit to Find and Run robot, but not quite as fast to use. Free though, and lots of nice other apps by this developer too.  
• WinConsole - http://galan.dogmalab.ru/index.php?lang=eng&look=soft&item=winconsole - shareware $10  Similar to Tray Command Line, with support for hotkeys and lots of options.  
• Meta Launcher - http://www.codesector.com/commandline.asp - shareware $15  Nice looking app which also comes with a startmenu replacer and app launch bar type feature  
• OpenExpert - http://www.baxbex.com/openexpert.html - freeware  Adds context menu to open files with a menu of applications.  
• LaunchItNow - http://www.gemiscorp.com/english/launchitnow.html - freeware  Launch bar type app.  
• Stargate Link Boss - http://www.lincolnbeach.com/stargate.asp - shareware $20 Launch panel app.  
• Shell Search - http://www.harmonyhollow.net/ss.shtml - freeware  Similar to find and run robot.  
• MCL - http://mlin.net/MCL.shtml - freeware  Similar to Tray Command Line but with some nice addons.  
• CMDBar - http://www.pitrinec.com/pcb_index.htm - shareware  Persistent bar on screen that lets you type commands and has other functions.  
• Smart Launch - http://www.pxcompany.com/en/sl/index.shtml - shareware $18  
• 1st TurboRun - http://www.turborun.com - shareware $25
• CrossLaunch - http://methodik.pixelarmy.org/readme.html - freeware  
• JetStart - http://www.codesector.com/jetstart.asp - shareware $19.95  
• ESP - http://www.espsw.com/index.php - shareware $10 - very close in functionality and approach.  
• SlickRun - http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/ - freeware  
• Run! - http://crimsonfan.altervista.org/ - freeware  
• AppRocket - http://www.candylabs.com/approcket/ - shareware (.net) $18  
• QuickFind - http://mitglied.lycos.de/quickfind/ - freeware  
• Rock-It-Launcher - http://www.brunswim.com/RIL/
• PC-Com - http://www.boletrice.com/pccom
• Ava Find - http://www.think-less-do-more.com/avafind/
• Luanch-n-go - http://www.tethyssolutions.com/launch-n-go.htm - shareware  
• FileTracer - http://www.filetracer.com/ - shareware  
• Task Tracker - http://tasktracker.wordwisesolutions.com/index.html - shareware  
• Instant Document Search - http://www.sowsoft.com/document-search.htm - shareware  
• Getchoo - http://alilm.needlemen.com/drupal/?q=node/2 - donationware  
• CuteType - http://www.tooto.com/cutetype/ - shareware
• RunFast - http://www.idiogensoftware.com/runfast/index.htm - freeware  
• ZenKey - http://www.camiweb.com/zenkey/index.htm - freeware  
• KbStart - http://www.kbstart.com/ - shareware  
• Mayk - http://www.beotel.net/~darkdst/ - freeware  
• Locate - http://locate32.webhop.org/ - Freeware  
• FastFind - http://www.guyswithtowels.com/dev/apps/fastfind.html - Freeware  
• 99 Useful Run Commands - http://www.fixmyxp.com/content/view/20/42/
• Type and Run - http://galanc.com/index.html?page=5&lang=en - Freeware  
• Filehand - http://www.filehand.com/
• Trip - http://trip.glenmurphy.com - freeware  
• Launchy - http://www.launchy.net/
• VistaGlance - http://www.vistaglance.com/vg_screenshots.html
• Triniaut - http://trininaut.sourceforge.net/
• Faster Than Ever - http://www.yazalim.com/products/fte/index.htm - freeware
• yubnub - http://www.yubnub.org/ - free web service  
• Semex - http://smx.wickedorange.com/?page_id=3
• Direct Access - http://www.nagarsoft.com
• FindOnClick - http://www.2brightsparks.com/foc/index.html
• http://www.zchromosome.com/