Long Overdue Update

Hello,

Whoa it's been a while!!!!
I have not posted since before getting my Systems Analyst position in March of 2011.
I suppose I have been so busy and wore out since I have been submerged in all aspects of IT.

Also I got married in April this year, awesome wedding at the Green Building downtown Louisville, and honeymoon in Vegas.

I am looking forward to graduating in the fall an am planning my next educational move.

I have a lot to update, post, and share so stay tuned!!!!

Karel the Robot - Academic Earth

So, I was in database class this week and we have covered the whole book or close to the whole book so far.
Our instructor John had an idea to play a video from  a renown MIT doctor Ron Rivest whose specialty is Cryptology.
 Most people in the class wanted to shoot themselves in the face after 5 minutes of this 40 minute video, however I found this material very very interesting.
Research him, he is brilliant person!
But that's not what I wanted to talk about.

By using the same channels that Ron's video was discovered by my instructor,
I found a Stanford Java Programming Methodology video series.
A whole free semester of Java, from Stanford...
Here is the link, Bon Appetite
http://www.academicearth.org/courses/programming-methodology

Also, Academic earth is pretty bad-ass resource as well!
Get in there an dig around a little bit
-A 

XML continued and C# from scratch

Man, still winded.
Just did a quick burst exercise routine
(stretch/ push ups / lat pulls / leg presses / curls / dumbbell upper chest / push ups /
jumping jacks / light kick-boxing) *In 15 minutes

I have been slacking on the exercise from due to my recent insane study habits.
I am finishing my ITT Tech classes; Management Information Systems and Databases.
And I am personally studying C# and XML while doing exercises in Visual Basic as well.


XML continued from last post
Another good place to study XML and it's use in the current environment is in 2 tutorial videos sections on Lynda.com
Topics I will be expanding on are: (XPath, XLST, XML Schema, RSS, and ATOM)

Here are the links to the 2 tutorial sections:
XML Essential Training http://www.lynda.com/tutorial/237
Real World XML http://www.lynda.com/tutorial/782



In addition, I have been reading Microsoft Visual C# step by step by  John Sharp
from ITT Tech's virtual library.

So far, a similar feel from Visual Basic,
but different syntax and abilities.
I look forward to start writing .NET programs and applications.
I will post some of my projects soon!


-A

XML and W3School

Hello fine folks!
I have been working on a XML project this morning.
So if you were ever wondering what hard spent educational money buys,
here is an excercise:

***also, I have updated this 3 times since 1st post since I have discoved incorrect syntax***
always keep checking!!!!

Teacher: "Go to http://www.w3schools.com/ and read the tutorial on XML. 
Then write (2) examples"
That's it!

I do have to say that the w3schools has helped me tremendously in the past with HTML and CSS,
so use it and embrace its resource.

Also, a good rule I have to pass along as well from another teacher referring to open/close tags:
"Tags are like butt cheeks. You need two of them or things get messy!"

Remember XML doesn't do anything, its just a way of describing your code
In XML pay close attention to elements and tag order,
you need to set up a sort of hierarchy.

Here is what I came up with,
this goes along with a custom database I am creating:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<pet_database>
<pets>
  <pet_id1000>
    <name>patches</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>german_shepherd</breed>
        <dob>2010-02-28</dob>
       <owner_id>15236</owner_id>
  </pet_id1000>
  <pet_id1001>
    <name>killer</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>rottweiler</breed>
        <dob>2010-01-15</dob>
       <owner_id>20012</owner_id>
  </pet_id1001>
  <pet_id1002>
    <name>fluffy</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>cocker_spaniel</breed>
        <dob>2008-06-17</dob>
       <owner_id>45637</owner_id>
  </pet_id1002>
  <pet_id1003>
    <name>Walter</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>husky</breed>
        <dob>2009-03-14</dob>
       <owner_id>23456</owner_id>
  </pet_id1003>
  <pet_id1004>
    <name>missy</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>st_bernard</breed>
        <dob>2010-11-11</dob>
       <owner_id>00045</owner_id>
  </pet_id1004>
  <pet_id1005>
    <name>cujo</name>
     <type>dog</type>
        <breed>chihuahua</breed>
        <dob>2007-01-31</dob>
       <owner_id>02025</owner_id>
  </pet_id1005>
</pets>
</pet_database>
Good times!
-A

VB Programming / XML

Been sharpening my VB skills up this week, and revisiting code of the past and present!
Hopefully I have some big things in store for me!
It seems every book, instructor, and course has different information of whatever subject matter is relevant,
and important.
Which begs the question , What exactly is?
Well, all of it!!!
I don't mind because I learn a range of things, but just find it interesting enough to mention!

Here is an exercise from:

Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Programming for the Absolute Beginner

by Jerry Lee Ford, Jr.
here is a link for inexpensive purchase:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Microsoft-Visual-Basic-2008-Express-Programming-for-the-Absolute-Beginner/Jr-Jerry-Lee-Ford-Jerry-Lee/e/9781598639001

So the exercise starts of in MenuBar creation, and moves in to loops and conditions...
I went through it and added comments from the text and my own, with easy formatting to explain each sections purpose...
The program is designed to ask for lottery numbers, and picks, and then generates a sample for you...

Here is the "Beast" of the code:

Public Class ltaForm

    Private Sub GetNumbersToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles GetNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Click

        'Statements that are to be executed when the Get Numbers menu item is clicked between these two statements
        'These statements define variables and an array used by the application to store and manipulate the data it needs to execute
        Dim intForLoopCtr As Integer = 0
        Dim blnFullSetComplete As Boolean = False
        Dim intRndNo As Integer = 0
        Dim strDisplayString As String = ""
        Dim intNoOfValidPics As Integer = 0
        Dim aintLotteryArray(10) As Array
        Dim intNumberCount As Integer = 0
        Dim strTestString As String = "_"

        'These statements check to see if the player has supplied valid input into the first TextBox control
        'and displays an error message if this is not the case

        If txtFullSet.Text = "" Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify how many numbers " & _
            "make up a full set.")
            Return
        End If

        'The next set of statements checks to ensure that that the player entered numeric data into the first TextBox control
        'and displays an error message if this is not the case
        If IsNumeric(txtFullSet.Text) = False Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify numeric input when " & _
            "specifying how many numbers make up a full set.")
            Return
        End If

        'The next set of statements to be added check to see if the player entered a number greater than 10 in the first TextBox control
        'and displays an error message if this is the case
        If Int32.Parse(txtFullSet.Text) = 10 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The maximum number of numbers in a full " & _
                           "set is 10. Please enter a number between 3 - 10.")
            Return
        End If

        'The following statements check to make sure that the user specified a number of no less than 3 in the first TextBox control
        If Int32.Parse(txtFullSet.Text) < 3 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The minimum number of numbers in a full " & _
                            "set is 3. Please enter a number between 3 - 10.")
            Return
        End If

        'These statements display error messages if the player fails to supply any text, if the player does not supply numeric input
        'or if the player tries to specify a number less than 1 or greater than 10 in the second text box

        If txtNoPics.Text = "" Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify how many sets of " & _
                            "Lottery numbers you want.")
            Return
        End If

        If IsNumeric(txtNoPics.Text) = False Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify numeric input when " & _
                            "specifying how many sets of lottary numbers you want.")
            Return
        End If

        If Int32.Parse(txtNoPics.Text) > 10 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The maximum number of lottery tickets " & _
                            "that can be generated is 10. Please enter a number " & _
                            "between 1 - 10.")
            Return
        End If

        If Int32.Parse(txtNoPics.Text) < 1 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The minimum number of lottery tickets " & _
                            "That can be generated is 1. Please enter a number " & _
                            "between 1 - 10.")
            Return
        End If

        'Program statements that validate the contents of the third TextBox control

        'Display error messages if the player fails to supply any text, if the player does not supply numeric input
        'or if the player tries to specify a number that is less than 9 or greater than 50

        If txtNoRange.Text = "" Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify the highest number " & _
                            "that can be picked.")
            Return
        End If

        If IsNumeric(txtNoRange.Text) = False Then
            MessageBox.Show("You must specify numeric input when " & _
                            "specifying the highest number that can be picked.")
            Return
        End If

        If Int32.Parse(txtNoRange.Text) > 50 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The maximum value for the highest number " & _
                            "is 50. Please enter a number " & _
                            "less than or equal to 50.")
            Return
        End If

        If Int32.Parse(txtNoRange.Text) < 9 Then
            MessageBox.Show("The minimum value for the highest number " & _
                            "that can be picked is 9. Please enter a number " & _
                            "greater than or equal to 9.")
            Return
        End If



        'The For loop executes once for each set of lottery numbers that the player wants generated
        'The Do loop executes repeatedly until a complete set of numbers has been generated

        For intForLoopCtr = 1 To CInt(txtNoPics.Text)

            Do Until blnFullSetComplete = True
                Randomize()

                intRndNo = _
                 FormatNumber(Int((txtNoRange.Text * Rnd()) + 1))

                If InStr(strTestString, _
                Convert.ToString("_" & intRndNo & "_")) = 0 Then
                    strDisplayString = strDisplayString & " " & _
                    intRndNo & ControlChars.Tab
                    intNoOfValidPics = intNoOfValidPics + 1
                    strTestString = strTestString & intRndNo & "_"
                End If

                If intNoOfValidPics = Int32.Parse(txtFullSet.Text) Then
                    blnFullSetComplete = True

                    strDisplayString = strDisplayString & _
                    ControlChars.NewLine & ControlChars.NewLine
                    strTestString = "_"
                End If
            Loop

            blnFullSetComplete = False
            intNoOfValidPics = 0

        Next


        'The basic logic used in the statements wrapped inside the Do loop is as follows:
        '1) Get a randomly generated number.
        '2) Add that number to a string representing a list of lottery numbers
        'but don’t allow duplicate numbers to be added to the list.
        '3) Format the display string so that a new line is generated for each set of lottery numbers.



        'The last program statements added to the code that executes in response to the Get Numbers menu item’s click event is shown here:

        txtOutput.Text = strDisplayString
        GetNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = False
        ClearNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = True
    End Sub
    Private Sub ClearNumbersToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ClearNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Click

        'The first four statements clear out any text displayed in the four TextBox controls.
        'The next statement places the cursor in the first TextBox control,
        'and the last two statements enable the Get Numbers menu item and disable the Clear Numbers menu item

        txtFullSet.Text = ""
        txtNoPics.Text = ""
        txtNoRange.Text = ""
        txtOutput.Text = ""
        txtFullSet.Focus()
        GetNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = True
        ClearNumbersToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = False
    End Sub

    Private Sub ExitToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender _
          As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
          Handles ExitToolStripMenuItem.Click
        Application.Exit()

    End Sub

    Private Sub WhiteToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender _
      As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
      Handles WhiteToolStripMenuItem.Click
        'Menu item white background color
        Me.BackColor = Color.White
        WhiteToolStripMenuItem.Checked = True
        YellowToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False
        GrayToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False

    End Sub


    Private Sub YellowToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles YellowToolStripMenuItem.Click
        'Menu item yellow background color
        Me.BackColor = Color.Yellow
        WhiteToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False
        YellowToolStripMenuItem.Checked = True
        GrayToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False

    End Sub


    Private Sub GrayToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles GrayToolStripMenuItem.Click
        'Menu item gray background color
        Me.BackColor = Color.LightGray
        WhiteToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False
        YellowToolStripMenuItem.Checked = False
        GrayToolStripMenuItem.Checked = True

    End Sub


    Private Sub ToolStripMenuItem2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ToolStripMenuItem1.Click
        'Makes fornt 8pt Microsoft Sans Serif
        txtOutput.Font = New Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8)
        ToolStripMenuItem1.Checked = True
        ToolStripMenuItem1.Checked = False
        ToolStripMenuItem2.Checked = False

    End Sub


    Private Sub ToolStripMenuItem2_Click_1(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ToolStripMenuItem2.Click
        ''Makes fornt 10pt Microsoft Sans Serif
        txtOutput.Font = New Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 10)
        ToolStripMenuItem1.Checked = False
        ToolStripMenuItem2.Checked = True
        ToolStripMenuItem3.Checked = False

    End Sub


    Private Sub ToolStripMenuItem3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ToolStripMenuItem3.Click
        'Makes fornt 12pt Microsoft Sans Serif
        txtOutput.Font = New Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 12)
        ToolStripMenuItem1.Checked = False
        ToolStripMenuItem2.Checked = False
        ToolStripMenuItem3.Checked = True

    End Sub


    Private Sub AboutToolStripMenuItem_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles AboutToolStripMenuItem.Click
        MessageBox.Show("This Visual Basic application was created " & _
        "by Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. " & _
        "This code was hand entered, and comments placed and formatted " & _
        "by Andrew Garbe for practice and learning purposes.")
    End Sub
End Class

Got that?

I am entering in to the realm of XML tags next.
we are brushing on a few topics in my Database class such as:
-Datawarehouses
-Datamining
-Cookie Algorithms
and XML...

So, I will be sure to add some of my newly discovered XML tags and projects!

-A

Google Salesforce and Chrome

It has been a while since I have posted.
Been very busy in SQL server and Management Information Systems classes.
Also a XBOX360 and new TV hasn't helped my spare time!

A good friend has been a strong advocate for Google's technology,
so I have cleared this morning to familiarize myself with Google's applications...

1st on the docket is Salesforce.

Salesforce is a cloud based business management tool, here is a link... https://www.salesforce.com/crm/editions-pricing.jsp
You can download a free trial to give it a spin

Next on the agenda is the Google Chrome Web browser

So far my take is, very minimal in design,
which leads me to believe it won't need to update as much as let's say Mozilla...
Once again, here is a link to download this browser:
http://www.google.com/chrome

I have been learning cool concepts lately in SQL about database creating and query's,
as well as data mining, and tracking cookie algorithms...

Until the next post!
-A

DreamWeaver CS5 / Medicine Ball Exercise

I was going to wait until the new year to start getting busy here on this blog, but why wait!
I just got a medicine ball I ordered yesterday, and am ready to get busy using it...
Also, Peggy got me a new camera for xmas,
so there will be a lot more picture here in the future!

Here are a few exercises I picked up if you feel so inclined:

Men's Health  December 2010 issue

Medicine Ball Twist - Hold a medicine ball at chest level, arms straight out. Without moving your torso, rotate your arms far to the left, than far to the right. That's 1 rep.
Continue back and forth as fast as you can.

Mountain Climber- Assume a push up position with your hands on a medicine ball. Lift your right foot off the floor and raise your right knee as close to your chest as you can, without rounding your lower back. Put your leg down and repeat with your left leg.
Continue alternating as fast as you can.

Medicine Ball Slam - Hold a medicine ball at waist level, and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. While keeping your elbows slightly bent, explosively lift the ball up and slam it to the floor in front of you. Grab the ball on the rebound and repeat.

Here are some youtube link to some videos as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZvrFK8y7NE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDEhekunkj4


Adobe DreamWeaver CS5
I have also been studying DreamWeaver CS5 for Web application.
http://tryit.adobe.com/us/cs5/dreamweaver/tw1/?sdid=IBERS

I really like my experience with Adobe products, and am enjoying this one as well! DreamWeaver allows you to create, even from preloaded templates, websites and pages without knowing HTML and CSS.
I am studying with a Lynda.com tutorial video that shows you how to work DreamWeaver and create as well as adjust code and understand it...
Here is a link to that tutorial video:
http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=58712
Hope some of this helps! I look forward to reading this back in the future and laughing at when I just got started!
-A