Using the AutoComplete feature in .net 2.0 with a custom source

The .net 2.0 Windows forms TextBox control introduces a new auto complete feature, like that in IE when we try to type a recently visited URL


This feature allow for auto complete of strings from a certain standard sources like File System and IE History List, but it also allow for a custom source to be used as the source of strings to be auto completed



The custom source can be a list of strings added in runtime by setting the AutoCompleteCustomeSource property, or at runtime by setting this property to an AutoCompleteStringCollection instance.

We should set the AutoCompleteSource to CustomSource first and then set the AutoCompleteCustomeSource property.




private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

AutoCompleteStringCollection names = new AutoCompleteStringCollection();
names.Add("Apple");
names.Add("Bird");
names.Add("Car");
names.Add("Dog");

textBox1.AutoCompleteSource = AutoCompleteSource.CustomSource;
textBox1.AutoCompleteCustomSource = names;


}

Viewing Shape files using GoogleEarth

I had some shape files and I wanted to show them on GoogleEarth, I couldn't do this directly as GoogleEarth supports only KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file format.

I thought that it will be easy to convert shape files to KML, and I was right, … thanks to Tim Beermann.

He developed a tool to convert a shape file to KML file, he used completely open-source tools to develop his converter, and also he sharing it freely.


Download Shape2Earth Beta 2

Happy new year to me in ITWorx

I am now 1 year old in ITWorx, Am I happy? Or what … here is my feelings

I am happy for:

• The new people I worked with.
• The new methodology of development I am getting used to.
• The new technologies I have learned: .net 2.0 ,VS2005, Third party UI libraries, Windows Services, RSS, SharePoint, Exchange Server WebDAV and CDO development, Telephony APIs, Remoting , MSMQ , XSLT, Unit Testing, Build management …
• ITWorx itself :I am more than happy and proud of myself joing it,why not and others name it Most Exciting Company
  http://www.businesstodayegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4967

While I have some other feelings because:

• Working in a large company exposes you to a wide competition: who you are in 400+ employees!!
• Working in dynamic projects with fast moving feature set and adaptation to more and more new technologies put you in a stress: running for new information, learning very fast, how to decide if you need to scratch the surface of a topic or go deeply into details.
• Being in situations which not only your technical level that decide your career future; it is your personality, your skills in communicating with people, your ability to show up your self and being able to negotiate and debate.
  
  More feelings coming soon …