2006-01-19

#2413 : Why do I get non-database-related 80004005 errors?: "Request object, ASP 0104
Operation not allowed"

I got this error at a customer's after they upgraded their web servers to Windows Server 2003. The error appears when trying to upload files through the web. Turns out there is a setting in the metabase.xml file (located in the Windows\System32\inetsrv directory) called AspMaxRequestEntityAllowed, that sets the maximum filesize allowed to be uploaded. This is set very low as a default, to only 204 Kb. In Windows 2000 Server you could upload files much larger (well at or above 1 Meg anyway, I believe).

2006-01-18

Best Practices for Microsoft Business Intelligence : Checks used for remoting a query to the server

Describes different reasons why a query can not be executed on the server.

2006-01-13

Discworld Quotes

A page with lots of cool quotes from the Discworld series (Terry Prattchett).

My favorite (from "Thief of Time):
If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-Of-The-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.

Another good one:
"I'll tell you, the day someone pulls the plug out of the bottom of the universe, the chain will lead all the way to Ankh-Morpork and some bugger saying, 'I just wanted to see what would happen.'"
OleDbException E_FAIL(0x80004005)

Got this message when I was trying to connect to Analysis Services:
Exception: System.Data.OleDb.OleDbException
Message: No error information available: E_FAIL(0x80004005).

Looks like the most common explanation is that one of the field names in the query is a SQL reserved word, like for instance "Name", "Size" or "Read". If you use bracketed field names this should not be a problem.
LinkD

A little comparation of the subst command and the LinkD tool. From Craig Andera's blog. Craig also published the now legendary "The last config section handler I'll ever need".

2006-01-02

MSDN TV: Special Holiday Episode III: Connecting People, Programs and Devices Using WinFX: "Special Holiday Episode III: Connecting People, Programs and Devices Using WinFX"

Don Box and Chris Anderson show how to build real applications that leverage the major components in WinFX. With rich UI, robust communication, and workflow control, they build an application that integrates with various devices laying around Don's home to demonstrate how to use WinFX together.