James H. Byrd

7 Benefits of Formal Procedures

Seven reasons why anything worth repeating is worth systematizing and suggestions for how you can prevent good procedures from going bad.

Protecting Web Site Download Files

Learn how to put files on your Web site and protect them so that only certain users can access them.

Mapping SQL Server Logins to Database Users

Learn how to save time and prevent permission configuration problems when you move a SQL Server database from one computer to another.

Manage Your Inventory in Excel

Inventory is all about figuring out how much you need to order.

Using Bitwise Operators In VB

To demonstrate bitwise concepts, this article shows you how to store an array of Boolean flags within a single numeric variable.

Software Design – Part 3

Learn how a data flow diagram can help you design.

Software Design – Part 1

Define your goals before you start coding software.

Image Resolution versus File Size

Understanding how image resolution affects file size.

How to Align Inkjet Printer Cartridges

How to align the cartridges on color inkjet printer.

Potential Issues when Upgrading Your Hard Drive

Things to think about before putting a new drive in an old computer.

Naming Date-Based Files for Easy Retrieval

Name your date-based files logically so you can sort them properly and find them more easily.

Understanding the Microsoft Office FindFast Utility

The next time your hard drive goes crazy with activity, the Microsoft Office FindFast utility may be the culprit.

Find Lost Files

Finding files you misplaced on your Windows computer hard disk.

File Management – My Documents and The Windows Recycle Bin

File organization with or without My Documents and Y2K.

Sharing Microsoft Word Files

How to resolve issues with sharing Microsoft Word files with other users.

How to Change Your Windows Display Settings

Changing settings so you can see your icons more easily.

Fixing Shortcut (.lnk) Errors at Windows Startup

Missing shortcuts make for mysterious error messages.

How to Open Zip Files

Understanding archive files, such as Zip files.

Cleaning Your Computer Safely

How to safely clean your computer.

Replace Your Mail Links with a Contact Form

Using a contact form instead of an email link on your Web site allows you to hide your email address from spammers, yet still gives your customers a way to contact you

What Makes a Site Secure?

Understanding Internet security

How to Add Events with Custom Arguments to ASP.NET User Controls

Learn how to pass custom event arguments between your user controls and the web pages that host them.

Tempeh Eggplant Florentine

Hearty and satisfying, the tangy tomato goodness of this dish appeals even to people who don't care much for eggplant.

Improve GridView Performance by Delegating Paging to SQL Server

Use SQL Paging to make your grids so fast that you'll wonder if you really clicked the mouse button.

Sunflower Seed Bread

Sunflower seed bread makes a great general-purpose loaf for sandwiches, toast, and more. You can use it with sweet dishes or savory dishes.

Using Optional Stored Procedure Parameters

Learn how to handle missing and invalid parameters in your Transact-SQL stored procedures.

Subscribing Customers to an AWeber List with an ASP.NET Application

This article shows you how to send subscribe requests to AWeber directly from your ASP.NET application. This technique is useful when you already have the customer's name and email address and don't want a separate subscribe form.

Tofu Barley Soup with Spinach

The next time you are longing for a savory and satisfying soup, give this Thai-spiced recipe a try.

Configuring ASP.NET for Large File Uploads

If your application needs to support large file uploads, you can override the default maximum request length for a specific page or the entire site using the maxRequestLength configuration property.

Posting to an Off-Site Page in DotNetNuke

Getting an AWeber subscribe form to work in DotNetNuke requires a little ingenuity.

Resizing Uploaded Images in ASP.NET

How to keep uploaded photos and images under control when you can't assume the user has the knowledge or tools to manipulate them.

Sending Multi-Part Emails from ASP.NET

Make your recipients and the spam cops happy by sending multi-part plain text and HTML email messages.

Using Declarative Referential Integrity in SQL Server

The next time you are designing a new application database or adding new tables to an existing database, take a few moments to think about how you can leverage the DRI features of SQL Server to make your development life a little easier.

Cookies and Affiliate Programs

Explore what affiliate programs can do for your Web site and how they use cookies.

Creating Custom Configuration Sections in ASP.NET

Use the ASP.NET configuration system to add complex configuration structures to Web.config.

Use Excel to Create Accurate Project Estimates

Using just a few simple formulas, you can create a functional project estimating tool in Excel

TinyUrl Improved

Free services are nice, but when you want extended features and flexibility, you sometimes have to built it yourself.

Use Windows LiveWriter to Update Your Blog

Learn this quick and easy way to update your blog from your desktop (instead of a Web browser)

Should Is a Two-Edged Sword

The word "should" can cause a lot of stress in your life, but it can be an inspirational word as well. The trick is in how you use it.

Making the World a Better Place, One Workout at a Time

Rather than exercise for the sake of exercising, try exercising to get something accomplished.

This Release: A Better Way to Prioritize

Assigning tasks a numerical priority is a waste of time. Try the This Release method instead and save yourself some stress.

How to Gather Comprehensive Business Requirements for a Database Application

A database design begins when you sit down with your customers and learn the business requirements for your application.

How to Set Your Retail Pricing to Meet Your Financial Goals

Learn the difference between retail markup and gross margin so you can earn the money you need to earn from your products.

The LEI Web Site Goes Live at Last!

This is a banner day. After several weeks of converting pages, writing new copy, and integrating new programming features, the new Logical Expressions Web site is alive and well.

Sunflower Seed Toast

The next time you need a quick breakfast or snack and feel like having something different, give this recipe a try.

Rural Broadband Update — Cellular at Last!

A tale of how getting cellular broadband has improved my computing life.

Holiday Evening Soup

This thick, spicy soup is an excellent treat on a cold fall day near the holidays.

Logical Expressions Web Site Rebuild

My current project is to rebuild our company web site, and the experience is producing plenty of fodder for future Nerdy Musings articles. Which topics would you like to learn more about?

Using Logical Operators with Non-Boolean Expressions

Although VB's logical operators are conceptually quite simple, they can be the source of elusive bugs.

Register/Unregister Your Executables from Explorer

If you frequently work with ActiveX (COM) components, you'll appreciate knowing how to add DLL registration to your right-click menu in Windows Explorer.

How to Redirect Folder Requests with ASP.NET

Give your visitors a simple mnemonic URL that takes them to a specific location on your site without creating IIS virtual directories.

Find Scripts Quickly in SQL Server Management Studio

You'll love this tip if you are tired of navigating all over your hard drive to find your scripts from inside SQL Server Management Studio.

Create a Photo Calendar in Publisher

Use Microsoft Publisher to create a personalized monthly calendar that you can print on your own printer

ASP Cache Options Debacle

Wrong documentation is worse than no documentation. I recently got to experience the frustration of following Microsoft's instructions for an IIS configuration change, only to discover that the instructions were incorrect.

Customize Your QuickBooks Invoices

Create a custom invoice that will impress your customers with its professionalism and clarity

Quick Stuffing

An easy stuffing recipe that's great for a quick lunch.

Coding Transactions in Transact-SQL

This article demonstrates a pattern for coding transactions using Transact-SQL in SQL Server stored procedures.

Measure the Success of Your Email Campaign

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of your email campaign, so you need to test different approaches

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

With a bread machine, pizza is really easy to make.

Hoppin James

Make this dish on New Year's Day for good luck!

Faux Cheese Sauce

Non-dairy cheese sauce made with nutritional yeast.

Vegan Gravy

This vegan gravy is surprisingly rich and flavorful.

Vegan Hot Cocoa

This classic winter warmer is delicious, yet contains no diary.

Fruit Muffins

You won't have any problem finding takers for these soft and fruity, easy-to-make muffins.

Vegan Biscuits

Biscuits that make an excellent morning treat when served with our Vegan Gravy over them.

Greek Tofu Scramble

This egg scramble is similar to Greek Eggs, with fresh basil and tomatoes, and with lemon-marinated tofu playing the role of feta cheese.

Pancake or Waffle Mix

This hearty batter makes flavorful and satisfying pancakes or waffles.

Stella Blues Breakfast

Tofu breakfast inspired by a Maui restaurant called Stella Blues.

The Realities of Operating an Online Product Business

Learn what is involved in operating an Internet storefront after you have it set up

Cornmeal Pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes make for a satisfying breakfast with either a savory or sweet topping.

Give Your Bread Machine Another Chance

There may yet be a way to salvage your bread machine and live your homemade bread dreams.

Create Your Own Music CDs with Windows Media Player

You can use your CD burner for more than just data; burn music CDs and become a digital pyromaniac.

6 Keys to Programmer Productivity

This article gives you a few ideas for how you can evaluate and manage the environmental and procedural factors that contribute to poor productivity.

Using Internet Explorer for FTP File Transfers

When you need to FTP files and you don't have an FTP program, try Internet Explorer

Breathless Development

Don't let hype anxiety and career anxiety jeopardize your ability to deliver projects.

The VB Classic Debate

Many Visual Basic developers are upset by Microsoft's plans to scrap the very language that put them on top of the development environment heap.

Learn How to Use an RSS Reader

If you've been putting off learning about RSS, procrastinate no more! This article shows you how easy it is to get started and take control of the subscription content you receive from the Internet.

Rural Technology Experiences

Setting up a home office in a rural area teaches you to appreciate urban technological amenities.

Write Your Own .NET RSS Feed in C#

Program an RSS feed for your Web site using C# and the .NET framework.

Oh, the Impermanence!

Rapid technological obsolescence takes some of the joy out of building a great application.

Search Engine Optimization Tips Using Site Content – Part 2

Optimize your Web site's position in the search engine rankings by virtue of its content.

Search Engine Optimization Tips Using Site Content – Part 1

Proven methods to increase the traffic your Web site receives from people using search engines

The Five Stages of Burnout

Some jobs can cause serious grief.

Building HTML Tables with XSL

Learn how to transform XML data into an HTML table with variable data.

Where Has All the Notation Gone?

When did creating maintainable code become uncool?

Write Your Own .NET RSS Feed in C#

Program an RSS feed for your Web site using C# and the .NET framework.

The Requirements, They Are a-Changing

Learn to deal with changing requirements throughout your software project lifecycle.

Software Design – Part 2

Going from a list of requirements to the analysis phase.

Carrot-Bean Quick Soup

A good lunch soup when you are out of everything except carrots.

Working with Web Graphics

Tips for using graphics effectively on your Web site.

Understanding On-Line Payment

Learn how on-line transactions are processed before you set up a site.

James H. Byrd

Book Publisher
Fiction Author
Software Developer
Technical Writer
Speaker
Vegetarian Cook

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