Sahil Ebrahim's Weblog/Blog

ASP Code to detect mobile devices

2010-05-27T11:58:00.000+02:00

ASP Code to detect mobile devices

Option Explicit

Dim user_agent, mobile_browser, Regex, match, mobile_agents, mobile_ua, i, size

user_agent = Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_USER_AGENT")

mobile_browser = 0

Set Regex = New RegExp

With Regex

.IgnoreCase = True

.Global = True

End With

match = Regex.Test(user_agent)

If match Then mobile_browser = mobile_browser+1

If InStr(Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_ACCEPT"), "application/vnd.wap.xhtml+xml") Or Not IsEmpty(Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_X_PROFILE")) Or Not IsEmpty(Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_PROFILE")) Then

mobile_browser = mobile_browser+1

end If

mobile_agents = Array("w3c ", "acs-", "alav", "alca", "amoi", "audi", "avan", "benq", "bird", "blac", "blaz", "brew", "cell", "cldc", "cmd-", "dang", "doco", "eric", "hipt", "inno", "ipaq", "java", "jigs", "kddi", "keji", "leno", "lg-c", "lg-d", "lg-g", "lge-", "maui", "maxo", "midp", "mits", "mmef", "mobi", "mot-", "moto", "mwbp", "nec-", "newt", "noki", "oper", "palm", "pana", "pant", "phil", "play", "port", "prox", "qwap", "sage", "sams", "sany", "sch-", "sec-", "send", "seri", "sgh-", "shar", "sie-", "siem", "smal", "smar", "sony", "sph-", "symb", "t-mo", "teli", "tim-", "tosh", "tsm-", "upg1", "upsi", "vk-v", "voda", "wap-", "wapa", "wapi", "wapp", "wapr", "webc", "winw", "winw", "xda", "xda-")

size = Ubound(mobile_agents)

mobile_ua = LCase(Left(user_agent, 4))

For i=0 To size

If mobile_agents(i) = mobile_ua Then

mobile_browser = mobile_browser+1

Exit For

End If

If mobile_browser>0 Then

Response.Write("Mobile!")

Else

Response.Write("Not mobile!")

End If

DataGridViewCell DatePicker VB.NET

2010-04-14T11:12:00.003+02:00

Public Class CalendarColumn

Inherits DataGridViewColumn

Public Sub New()

MyBase.New(New CalendarCell())

End Sub

Public Overrides Property CellTemplate() As DataGridViewCell

Get

Return MyBase.CellTemplate

End Get

Set(ByVal value As DataGridViewCell)

' Ensure that the cell used for the template is a CalendarCell.

If (value IsNot Nothing) AndAlso _

Not value.GetType().IsAssignableFrom(GetType(CalendarCell)) _

Then

Throw New InvalidCastException("Must be a CalendarCell")

End If

MyBase.CellTemplate = value

End Set

End Property

End Class

Public Class CalendarCell

Inherits DataGridViewTextBoxCell

Public Sub New()

' Use the short date format.

Me.Style.Format = "d"

End Sub

Public Overrides Sub InitializeEditingControl(ByVal rowIndex As Integer, _

ByVal initialFormattedValue As Object, _

ByVal dataGridViewCellStyle As DataGridViewCellStyle)

' Set the value of the editing control to the current cell value.

MyBase.InitializeEditingControl(rowIndex, initialFormattedValue, _

dataGridViewCellStyle)

Dim ctl As CalendarEditingControl = _

CType(DataGridView.EditingControl, CalendarEditingControl)

ctl.Value = CType(Me.Value, DateTime)

End Sub

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property EditType() As Type

Get

' Return the type of the editing contol that CalendarCell uses.

Return GetType(CalendarEditingControl)

End Get

End Property

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property ValueType() As Type

Get

' Return the type of the value that CalendarCell contains.

Return GetType(DateTime)

End Get

End Property

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property DefaultNewRowValue() As Object

Get

' Use the current date and time as the default value.

Return DateTime.Now

End Get

End Property

End Class

Class CalendarEditingControl

Inherits DateTimePicker

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl

Private dataGridViewControl As DataGridView

Private valueIsChanged As Boolean = False

Private rowIndexNum As Integer

Public Sub New()

Me.Format = DateTimePickerFormat.Short

End Sub

Public Property EditingControlFormattedValue() As Object _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingControlFormattedValue

Get

Return Me.Value.ToShortDateString()

End Get

Set(ByVal value As Object)

If TypeOf value Is String Then

Me.Value = DateTime.Parse(CStr(value))

End If

End Set

End Property

Public Function GetEditingControlFormattedValue(ByVal context _

As DataGridViewDataErrorContexts) As Object _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.GetEditingControlFormattedValue

Return Me.Value.ToShortDateString()

End Function

Public Sub ApplyCellStyleToEditingControl(ByVal dataGridViewCellStyle As _

DataGridViewCellStyle) _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.ApplyCellStyleToEditingControl

Me.Font = dataGridViewCellStyle.Font

Me.CalendarForeColor = dataGridViewCellStyle.ForeColor

Me.CalendarMonthBackground = dataGridViewCellStyle.BackColor

End Sub

Public Property EditingControlRowIndex() As Integer _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingControlRowIndex

Get

Return rowIndexNum

End Get

Set(ByVal value As Integer)

rowIndexNum = value

End Set

End Property

Public Function EditingControlWantsInputKey(ByVal key As Keys, _

ByVal dataGridViewWantsInputKey As Boolean) As Boolean _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingControlWantsInputKey

' Let the DateTimePicker handle the keys listed.

Select Case key And Keys.KeyCode

Case Keys.Left, Keys.Up, Keys.Down, Keys.Right, _

Keys.Home, Keys.End, Keys.PageDown, Keys.PageUp

Return True

Case Else

Return False

End Select

End Function

Public Sub PrepareEditingControlForEdit(ByVal selectAll As Boolean) _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.PrepareEditingControlForEdit

' No preparation needs to be done.

End Sub

Public ReadOnly Property RepositionEditingControlOnValueChange() _

As Boolean Implements _

IDataGridViewEditingControl.RepositionEditingControlOnValueChange

Get

Return False

End Get

End Property

Public Property EditingControlDataGridView() As DataGridView _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingControlDataGridView

Get

Return dataGridViewControl

End Get

Set(ByVal value As DataGridView)

dataGridViewControl = value

End Set

End Property

Public Property EditingControlValueChanged() As Boolean _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingControlValueChanged

Get

Return valueIsChanged

End Get

Set(ByVal value As Boolean)

valueIsChanged = value

End Set

End Property

Public ReadOnly Property EditingControlCursor() As Cursor _

Implements IDataGridViewEditingControl.EditingPanelCursor

Get

Return MyBase.Cursor

End Get

End Property

Protected Overrides Sub OnValueChanged(ByVal eventargs As EventArgs)

' Notify the DataGridView that the contents of the cell have changed.

valueIsChanged = True

Me.EditingControlDataGridView.NotifyCurrentCellDirty(True)

MyBase.OnValueChanged(eventargs)

End Sub

End Class

Public Class Form1

Inherits Form

Private dataGridView1 As New DataGridView()

<STAThreadAttribute()> _

Public Shared Sub Main()

Application.Run(New Form1())

End Sub

Public Sub New()

Me.dataGridView1.Dock = DockStyle.Fill

Me.Controls.Add(Me.dataGridView1)

Me.Text = "DataGridView calendar column demo"

End Sub

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) _

Handles Me.Load

Dim col As New CalendarColumn()

Me.dataGridView1.Columns.Add(col)

Me.dataGridView1.RowCount = 5

Dim row As DataGridViewRow

For Each row In Me.dataGridView1.Rows

row.Cells(0).Value = DateTime.Now

Next row

End Sub

End Class

Sahil Ebrahim

Resizing an Image in VB.NET

2010-04-13T09:30:00.003+02:00

'The following code resizes image to fit specified width/height

Dim bm As New Bitmap(PictureBox1.Image)
Dim x As Int32 'variable for new width size
Dim y As Int32 'variable for new height size
Dim width As Integer = Val(x) 'image width.
Dim height As Integer = Val(y) 'image height

Dim thumb As New Bitmap(Width, Height)

Dim g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(thumb)

g.InterpolationMode = Drawing2D.InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic

g.DrawImage(bm, New Rectangle(0, 0, width, height), New Rectangle(0, 0, bm.Width,
_bm.Height), GraphicsUnit.Pixel)

g.Dispose()

'image path. better to make this dynamic. I am hardcoding a path just for example sake

thumb.Save("C:\newimage.bmp", _

System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Bmp) 'can use any image format

bm.Dispose()

thumb.Dispose()

Me.Close() 'exit app

'===========================================================

This post is in response to the previous one, where some people using Windows XP might be getting the "Out of memory" error in the Image.GetThumbnailImage method.

Sahil Ebrahim

Creating a Tooltip with an Image in VB.NET

2010-04-12T10:29:00.002+02:00

Creating an Image Tooltip in VB.net

It is fairly easy creating a tooltip with an embedded image.

Start off by dropping a Tooltip onto your form.

I named it 'ImageToolTip'

Two events of concern will be ImageToolTip.Draw() and ImageToolTip.Popup().

Firstly create the image that you will be using as a public:

'CREATE AN IMAGE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO USE

'ONE WAY WOULD BE TO CREATE A PICTUREBOX

Public pb1 As PictureBox = New PictureBox()

'LOAD AN IMAGE FROM YOUR HARD DISK

pb1.Load(My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\happy.jpg")

'SET THE VISIBILITY TO FALSE

pb1.Visible = False

In the ImageToolTip.Popup() sub, place the following code:

Dim wid As Integer = e.ToolTipSize.Width + pb1.Image.Width

'GET THE WIDTH OF THE TOOLTIP AND KEEP SPACE FOR THE IMAGE

Dim hgt As Integer = e.ToolTipSize.Height + pb1.Image.Height + 40

'GET THE HEIGHT OF THE TOOLTIP AND KEEP SPACE FOR THE IMAGE PLUS A BIT

If hgt < 50 Then hgt = 50

'SET THE HEIGHT TO 50 IF IT IS TOO NARROW

e.ToolTipSize = New Size(wid, hgt)

'SET THE TOOLTIP SIZE

Then in the ImageToolTip.Draw() sub, do the following:

' Draw the background and border.

e.DrawBackground()

e.DrawBorder()

' Draw the text.

Using sf As New StringFormat()

sf.Alignment = StringAlignment.Near

sf.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center

Dim rect As New Rectangle(50, 0, e.Bounds.Width - 50, e.Bounds.Height)

e.Graphics.DrawString(e.ToolTipText, e.Font, Brushes.Green, rect, sf)

End Using

' Draw the image.

e.Graphics.DrawImage(pb1.Image, 9, 9)

Then set the tooltip to a control

'this can be placed in the form load event

ImageToolTip.SetToolTip(btnWhatever, "Whatever...")

[Solved] Unable to use legacy display driver / VMware SVGA II Driver Working

2010-03-11T15:30:00.002+02:00

If you have tried installing Windows 95 onto a Virtual machine like me you might have come

across a troublesome step, which is to install the VMware SVGA display adapter.

After fiddling around a bit I finally managed to sort out the problem.
After succesfully installing VMware tools a message pops-up saying that the display driver

could not be installed automatically and even after following the instructions that appear in

the text file, the problem is still not sorted.

Here's the fix:

1. Remove all the current display adapters in device manager and then restart.
2. You will then get the following prompt, choose to select from alternate drivers.

3. Select "Display adapters"
4. Ensure that you choose from the default (Standard Display Types) on the left and on the
right choose Super VGA, then click "Have Disk"

5. Browse to the VMware video drivers folder under Program Files.

6. Click OK a few times and then restart.

Thats it folks, after the restart you should see a more colourful background and 32-bit enabled.

If you like you should also change the display monitor as well to obtain a higher resolution size:

Download Windows 95 (No Internet Explorer)
Good Luck
Sahil Ebrahim

Currency textbox VB.NET

2010-03-08T11:13:00.002+02:00

This is a converted example of the C# one given on CodeProject:

Create a class project in VB.Net and add the following code to your class file, remember to name the project and class file both to: "CurrencyTextBox"

This is what the control should look like, remember to set the culture to your specific region to display your currency, mine is in Rands:

Here is the code:

Imports System

Imports System.Collections.Generic

Imports System.ComponentModel

Imports System.Data

Imports System.Drawing

Imports System.Text

Imports System.Windows.Forms

Namespace CurrencyTextBox

'/// <summary>

'/// Extended Textbox Control used to display Currency

'/// </summary>

Public Class CurrencyTextBox

Inherits TextBox

'// member variable used to keep dollar value

Private mDollarValue As Decimal

'// constructor

Public Sub New()

InitializeComponent()

DollarValue = 0

End Sub

'// default OnPaint

Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint(ByVal pe As PaintEventArgs)

'// Calling the base class OnPaint

MyBase.OnPaint(pe)

End Sub

'/// <summary>

'/// Keypress handler used to restrict user input

'/// to numbers and control characters

'/// </summary>

'/// <param name="sender"></param>

'/// <param name="e"></param>

Private Sub CurrencyTextBox_KeyPress(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As KeyPressEventArgs)

'// allows only numbers, decimals and control characters

If (Not Char.IsDigit(e.KeyChar) And Not Char.IsControl(e.KeyChar) And e.KeyChar <> ".") Then

e.Handled = True

End If

If (e.KeyChar = "." And Me.Text.Contains(".")) Then

e.Handled = True

End If

If (e.KeyChar = "." And Me.Text.Length < 1) Then

e.Handled = True

End If

End Sub

'/// <summary>

'/// Update display to show decimal as currency

'/// whenver it is validated

'/// </summary>

'/// <param name="sender"></param>

'/// <param name="e"></param>

Private Sub CurrencyTextBox_Validated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)

Try

'// format the value as currency

Dim dTmp As Decimal = Convert.ToDecimal(Me.Text)

Me.Text = dTmp.ToString("C")

Catch ex As Exception

End Try

End Sub

'/// <summary>

'/// Revert back to the display of numbers only

'/// whenever the user clicks in the box for

'/// editing purposes

'/// </summary>

'/// <param name="sender"></param>

'/// <param name="e"></param>

Private Sub CurrencyTextBox_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)

Me.Text = mDollarValue.ToString()

If (Me.Text = "0") Then Me.Clear()

Me.SelectionStart = Me.Text.Length

End Sub

'/// <summary>

'/// Update the dollar value each time the value is changed

'/// </summary>

'/// <param name="sender"></param>

'/// <param name="e"></param>

Private Sub CurrencyTextBox_TextChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)

Try

DollarValue = Convert.ToDecimal(Me.Text)

Catch ex As Exception

End Try

End Sub

'/// <summary>

'/// property to maintain value of control

'/// </summary>

Public Property DollarValue() As Decimal

Get

Return mDollarValue

End Get

Set(ByVal value As Decimal)

mDollarValue = value

End Set

End Property

Private Sub InitializeComponent()

Me.SuspendLayout()

Dim customCulture As System.Globalization.CultureInfo = _

New System.Globalization.CultureInfo("en-ZA")

'set your custom culture info here

'this specific one is set to south africa, hence it

'will display currency in Rands

'for this specific thread

customCulture.DateTimeFormat.Calendar = New System.Globalization.GregorianCalendar

System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = customCulture

AddHandler Click, AddressOf Me.CurrencyTextBox_Click

AddHandler KeyPress, AddressOf Me.CurrencyTextBox_KeyPress

AddHandler Validated, AddressOf Me.CurrencyTextBox_Validated

AddHandler TextChanged, AddressOf Me.CurrencyTextBox_TextChanged

Me.ResumeLayout(False)

End Sub

End Class

End Namespace

Then just add it to your windows forms and you're on your way!

Sahil Ebrahim

NumericUpDown with Percentage Sign

2010-03-05T09:16:00.007+02:00

In Visual Studio 2005/2008 create a new project and call it whatever you wish, I have named mine “NumericUpDownCustomLibrary”. You should then see a panel-like control whereupon you may add other controls. Rename UserControl1 to “NumericUpDownPercentage”. So drag out a NumericUpDown control and then proceed to set the size to (17, 20).
With this done proceed by dragging a MaskedTextBox control onto the panel-like control and drag it to fill the rest of the “panel” until you are left with this:

Also set your Anchor property on your MaskedTextBox to “Top, Left, Right” and the anchor property on your NumericUpDown to “Top, Right”.

Then add the following code into your NumericUpDownPercentage class:

'Created By : Sahil Ebrahim - Cape Town, South Africa (March 2010)

Public Class NumericUpDownPercentage

Public editModeNUD = False

Public editModeMTB = False

Private Sub NumericUpDownPercentage_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

End Sub

Private Sub NumericUpDown1_ValueChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles NumericUpDown1.ValueChanged

If editModeMTB = True Then Exit Sub

editModeNUD = True

MaskedTextBox1.Text = NumericUpDown1.Value

editModeNUD = False

End Sub

Private Sub MaskedTextBox1_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MaskedTextBox1.TextChanged

If editModeNUD = True Then Exit Sub

editModeMTB = True

Dim conVal = cnvTxt(MaskedTextBox1.Text)

If conVal < 100 Then

NumericUpDown1.Value = conVal

Else

MaskedTextBox1.Text = 100

NumericUpDown1.Value = 100

End If

editModeMTB = False

End Sub

Public Function cnvTxt(ByVal theStr) As Integer

cnvTxt = Nothing

Dim pt1 = InStr(theStr, " %")

If pt1 > 0 Then

Dim theVal = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Left(theStr, pt1 - 1)

If theVal = "" Or theVal = " " Then theVal = 0

cnvTxt = theVal

Else

cnvTxt = theStr

End If

End Function

Private Sub MaskedTextBox1_MaskInputRejected(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MaskInputRejectedEventArgs) Handles MaskedTextBox1.MaskInputRejected

End Sub

End Class

Build the project and you have a NumericUpDownPercentage custom control.

To add this control to your toolbox, simply right click in the toolbox area and select "Choose items". Select your newly created control and drag it onto your form.

Sahil Ebrahim

Panini UEFA EURO 2008 Complete Set : album + 180 stickers

2010-02-20T09:20:00.003+02:00

I recently purchased a very peculiar Panini sticker album from one of Panini's official retail stores here in South Africa. The UEFA Euro 2008 official sticker album it seems.

After hours of searching on google and through random fan pages of Panini I have yet to see anyone post up this:

Apparently the Official Panini UEFA EURO 2008 Complete Set : album + 180 stickers!

As you may or may not see from the picture, its actually half the size of the one advertised on the Panini website, which means that the sticker are half the size too.

Also the colour and layout are both different from each other.

This is the official sticker booklet advertised on www.paninigroup.com

Here are some more pictures of the peculiar album:

As you can see from the above pictures, this album looks legit, if not then they have gone to great lengths to create this fake!

I have contacted Panini and await a response to confirm, is this a limited edition? Is it real? and most of all if it is real, why is it not advertised or shown anywhere on their website or on the web in general?

Sahil Ebrahim

FIFA Official World Cup DVD Collection (Hard to find?)

2010-02-19T12:22:00.013+02:00

Is it just me or is it that even through the awesome power of the internet, one still has so much trouble in finding these dvd's (mind you I have even tried downloading them illegally, to no avail!).

This was an email sent to me tppresspromotion, off the back of "fifafilms" who are the official company who handles these rare films.

Thanks for your mail Mr Ebrahim

Where do you live? We are marketing this collection in more than 40 countries and each country will launch this collection to the market from April 2010.

If you let me know where do you live I could tell you when the collection is going to be release and where

best

Juan Baixeras

TP&Associates

C/Aduana 33, 4º floor

28013 Madrid, Spain

+34 658763125

www.tppresspromotion.com

According to these guys they are preparing for the 2010 tournament in style by marketing something like this in 40 different countries!

Remember if you see these pics selling the DVD Collection: THEY ARE NOT THE OFFICIAL DVD's

This is a list of documentary films officially sanctioned by FIFA for the FIFA World Cup. The first such film was of the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Up to 2002, 35 mm film was used for the footage.

Tournament	Venue	Title	Narrator	Notes
1954	Switzerland	German Giants
1958	Sweden	Hinein!	Herbert Zimmermann; Heribert Meisel; Heinz Gottschalk	An UFA production with commentary in German.
1962	Chile	Viva Brazil
1966	England	Goal!	Nigel Patrick	The first World Cup film in colour; the 1966 television coverage was monochrome.
1970	Mexico	The World at Their Feet	Patrick Allen
1974	West Germany	Heading for glory	Joss Ackland
1978	Argentina	Campeones
1982	Spain	G'olé!	Sean Connery
1986	Mexico	Hero	Michael Caine
1990	Italy	Soccer Shoot-Out	Edward Woodward
1994	United States	Two Billion Hearts	Liev Schreiber
1998	France	La Coupe de la Gloire	Sean Bean
2002	South Korea/Japan	Seven Games from Glory	Robert Powell
2006	Germany	The Grand Finale^[8]	Pierce Brosnan	direct-to-video release

Here is a short clip on what these DVD's are about...

Sony will film the 2010 FIFA World Cup in 3D

2010-02-19T11:13:00.002+02:00

FIFA has announced the full brackets for next year’s World Cup, to be held in South Africa. Yes, there’s a tech angle here. Sony has said that it will film the entire tournament, from the very first kick-off until the final whistle of the final game in Johannesburg, with 3D cameras.

As you can imagine, this is the first time that the World Cup will be filmed in 3D. What that means to you, the average football fan, is still sorta hazy. Sony says that it will release a number of 3D-capable products (including TVs) before the tournament begins on June 11. Presumably we’ll see some of these products at CES in January.