MVVM Platform Composer

In my 'spare' time I'm developing a WPF pure MVVM platform composer, at the moment I have learned and improved many things like datatemplates nesting to create itemscontrols inside itemscontrols.
The  idea is to create XMLs for XNA WP7 levels games. The first game I'll do is a shoot'em up with a new kind of levels, mixing different missions with achievements.

Note: The enemies are a really old version.

Great indie games are coming :).

Memcards video ingame for WP7

Hello everyone, Memcards, a new game to learn a lot of vocabulary in a new way, with more than  2000 words in 30 categories, writing as fast as you can, learning in seconds with images and clues, and in an addictive way. Here the video:



Enjoy it now here in Zune

MemCards for Windows Phone 7 available now on Marketplace

Hello everyone, I have released at Marketplace Memcards:

An amazing and addictive way of learning words, Spanish, English, German, Italian and French. Organized in 30 lessons with more than 2000 words you will see that you learn as fast as you write.

You have clues with images and definitions that makes easier and fast to learn a language, indeed great for kids associating images with the words. Great!

Choose a language for the words you read and a language for the answer you will write and in a few hours you will see that have learned plenty of words. Amazing! 

MemCards is just now available. Take a look at: MemCards or get it at MemCards at Zune

Tip #1 MVVM Delegate Command with an ObservableCollection

First of all I get the DelegateCommand from the .toolbox courses (I encourage you to download them and find it).

Using this DelegateCommand wich we bind to a button Command for instance (I always add CommandParameter in xaml too, (in order to work fine).

Now my layoutroot datacontext viewmodel has the following property:

private ObservableCollection _sales;
public ObservableCollection Sales
{
  get { return _sales; }
  set
      {
         _sales= value;
         NotifyPropertyChanged("Sales");
         }
        }

And now (in this case is a WPF application, in case you use SL I recommend you to use PagedViewCollection), I instance the command in the constructor:


PaidCommand = new DelegateCommand()
{
 ExecuteCommand = () =>
   {
      bw = new BackgroundWorker();
      bw.RunWorkerCompleted += (s, e) =>
        {
          NotifyPropertyChanged("Sales"); //#1
        };
      bw.DoWork += (s1, e1) =>
        {
           _sales= DM.GetSales(_date1, _date2); //#2
        };
      bw.RunWorkerAsync();
    }
};

 In #2 we process every lines of code we want filling our private fields and when it's finished we publish
simply Notifying them #1 (In my case I have a datagrid with ItemsSource = {Binding Sales})

I hope it helps you (I like this way to do).


And now just a question if any one knows , for other classes I would like to define. Let's suppose a not MVVM environment

Button1.OnClick += (s,e) =>

{

 ...

};

Do you know a way to remove inside the ... the previous delegates like the old way:


Button1.OnClick -= OnButton1Clicked;

Open asp.net crystal report from Silverlight 4 - Report with List T and List S subreport

1.- The sources: (To do not have CR errors)

Let's suppose (I like when it works) create a Crystal Report with a Subreport and the source are two List and List.

How can I set the sources.
A.- Create a new report in the project.
B.- Set the following as sources (Both the main and the child one):

 C.- Now you add the subreport to the main report:

D.-And add only the child class.
E.- Now in the main Report from database expert remove the child class because we needed it only to be able to add the child report.



In this moment we have defined the design of the report. Now by code we will fill it in the aspx:
 
E.- We add the viewer and a source

F.- In the .cs we add the following: (Create the templates, depending on the version you will need it)



#region Create XML Templates
XEvento xe = new XEvento();
xe.Cliente = "";
xe.Comercial = "";
xe.Fecha = new DateTime(2010, 10, 10);
xe.SerializeObj(XEvento.ItemsFile);

XHistorico xh = new XHistorico();
xh.Nombre = "Prueba";
xh.Fecha = new DateTime(2010, 10, 10);
xh.Detalle = "Esto es otra prueba";
xh.SerializeObj(XHistorico.ItemsFile);
#endregion

G.- Fill the two lists with your data.
H.- On Page_Load:
this.CrystalReportSource1.ReportDocument.Subreports[0].SetDataSource(xhs);
            this.CrystalReportSource1.ReportDocument.SetDataSource(xes);


And that's all the first part in the asp.net


2.- In a method in the silverlight:

private void BPrint_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)

        {

            HtmlPopupWindowOptions options = new HtmlPopupWindowOptions()

            {

                Directories = false,

                Location = false,

                Menubar = false,

                Status = false,

                Toolbar = false,

            };

            HtmlPage.PopupWindow(new Uri("http://localhost:51694/Reporting.aspx?Fecha=" + DP.SelectedDate.Value.Date.ToShortDateString().Replace('/','.') ), "_blank", options);

        }

3.- In the Page_Load in the asp.net capture the parameter:


this.TextBox1.Text = HttpContext.Current.Request.Params["Fecha"];

Now you have to set it as a parameter of the crystal report and that's all.

Tip: Gimp remove red lines

If you have scracths, dust or anything that makes your pictures with lines or bands, apply the filter disparasite, check adaptative, uncheck recursive, radius =1,black level = -1, white level = 256
And that's all

Tip for WPF Mess Resizing

When you begin to add containers and controls inside a WPF and you resize the form, you realize that the mess that happens, what you should do to keep the form is change the main grid container to a canvas, and you will have the control again.

Context Menu - Send to... Boss

Suppose you have to send many times to your account or to your boss attachments from your computer. Well, if you have MS Outlook 2007 there's a way adding in two big steps, creating a new form in Outlook and the second creating a shortcut in the sendto folder, so let's go

A.- Creating the new form (template) from a standard message form:

1.- Have installed Outlook 2007
2.- Open it.
3.- Tools -> Forms -> Design Form
4.- Choose Message from the List
5.- Click on the To Text Box
6.- Click on the Properties icon
7.- Choose the 'Value'
8.- Set Initial value checked
9.- Set a value between ""
10.- Check automatic... to check it works
11.- Publish -> Publish Form As
12.- In Look In: Choose "Personal Forms Library"
13.- Display Name "Boss"
14.- Now Click Publish
15.- Close and save the changes

B.- Creating a new shortcut:
1.- Run: "shell:sendto"
2.- Copy the shortcut of Outlook to send to
3.- Right click - properties
4.- in Start in, after the last " add :  /c IPM.note.Boss /a "%1"  where Boss is the name of the form
5.- Click ok and rename the shortcut to  Boss and that's done.

I will add some screenshots to have a better idea.

8,16,32 GB Flash drives review

Due to I have bought some multimedia devices (1080i mkv usb player) and the files from my hard disk takes a lot of time copying and reading in usual flash drives. The HD files with huge Mbps from my Canon HV20 are actual problems I try to avoid. I have made a chart from multiples sources, reviews and prices because I have not found any benchmark of this kind. I have not included Buffalo neither Transcend due to I have not found any decent review or benchmark. Might be Buffalo has a chance, who knows. Well, take a look:

Take care that I have done from Internet sources, I am not responsible of the data showed before, It's only sharing information. Those are my conclusions:

16GB:After analyzing the scores (Read1+Read2+Write1+Write2)/Price, we take care that a 16 GB is the best one (Patriot 8GB can be the first one), and as you see it has a really interesting price. As you see the OCZ Rally2 16GB has the half speed on writing so there is no doubt.

32GB:About 32GB now OCZ wins, I am not sure why the writing speed vs the 16GB is so huge. Of course I haven't the flash drives to test them, but the technology could have changed. In case of doubt, followint this is Patriot again.

08GB:In the 8GB flash drives, I am sure that Patriot wins, then Corsair Survivor GT (may be the Voyager GT too), and after the Sandisk, which is not typical in this kind of charts. Well, I hope the analysis helps you because now I know that I have to buy the Patriot 16GB, because 8GB could be little today.

Preparing a new article

After so much time, I have a new idea for an article that is not only visually great, it has extreme functionality. The idea is a new fresh styles and UI for making forums, because the typical style of the forums when they grow is unhandle, so my new article will be a silverlight developed forum in a new mind style.
I hope have time enough to give it form and publish it before the end of the year, I am not to telling you more details to do not have copiers. But be sure a great article is coming.

If you have not seen my articles, take a look here. Have a nice weekend

Computer madness

As you know I do not usually add contents like the following, but this is so sci-fi:

The SDD is deprecated, yes it's true. The Blu-Ray, the CPUs, the GPU is deprecated and all the 1st level future is old-fashioned. Here I show you the last amazing science-fiction that you could never imagine. A PCI-Express SSD that reads a photoshop file of 750 MB in 26 seconds, and 256 videos playing on the screens as piece of cake.

Here is the sci-fi-pci-sdd. In a few years we will see a CPGPU of 300x300mm processor with 16 GB SSDRAM 500 GB SSDISK. That means all inside the processor.

Proyecto interesante de aprendizaje por superación

Se trata de un proyecto, del estilo de fichas, pregunta con respuesta, he aprendido en un día (en unas horas) 85 símbolos kanji (impresionante, ¿verdad?), os recomiendo la visita:

http://www.learnexperiment.com/es/pag405

Webtablet specificacions

I think the best way to add components is inside a spreadsheet, here I show my idea:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=paxt-nsqGJ1pPKeA2s1H1JQ&hl=en

Webtablet

Maybe you hate being printing pdfs, and webs to take a look them at night, or reading in your laptot, and seeing that a tablet pc costs more than $2500, today I have seen an interesting project: techcrunchit webtablet I have add some specifications:

harddisk OCZ Rally2 8GB USB or A-Data 4GB Compact Flash
motherboard MX800LX2D http://www.bcmcom.com/bcm_product_mx800lx2.htm
memory A-DATA 1GB 184-Pin
screen ?

the motherboard is the latest fanless I have find on the web, and it can be connected directly to 12V.

I think two possibilities,

1.- use a USB as a hardisk (I do not know if the bios can boot from USB)
with a wireless module on the CF module.
2.- use a USB wifi module with a CF hardisk.

Both kind of wifi modules has antenna conector, so is possible to extend the wifi range.

I think the biggest issue in this project is a cheap 800x600 or 1024x768 SVGA panel up to 100$ with A4 size, I have found this kits:

12.1'':
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=SXvQijT3Ep8DSdtY4%252boUSg%3d%3d
http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MICRO/fcai/touchpanels/7_wire_standard_ds_rohs.pdf

59$ the 12.1 model

15'': http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=3gJN1c9na9e4AD7syQ1Zww%3d%3d
with touch for 123$

SO IS POSSIBLE, if you know interesting info reply in the forum


http://www.ewayco.com/25-LCD-panels-kits/LP-LCD-Panel-kits.html

Touchpanel:

http://www.ewayco.com/30-touchscreens/touch-screens-5-wire.html

New style

Well this noon I was updating the blog and I saw there was a grey layer over the blog and it only appeared on the IE (as always), the issue is inside the script of analytics because when I remove it, all works, but I have to use it, so I decide trying changing the template, after hours I found this interesting one, so now I can continue programming. I have added a visit counter too, let's see how it works

40 pages of bitmap bgs

Hi everyone, I've seen new visits these days, might be people is looking for the videos I promised. I'm not having problems I do not have enough time. What I want first is to explain the whole NDS graphic system in a book, at the moment I have 40 pages only up to bitmap bgs and now I have to add the tiles maps and sprites. I think is really complete and very well presented. I have made devkitprojects for each example so understand me, it tooks time, but I think is necessary because I thinks there's a huge lack in this matter and old code. I'll try to put a video of the bitmap bg progress this weekend but I can't promise anything.

P.S. Hey I have just received the BIG BUCK BUNNY dvds, I really enjoyed that, indeed, there's a huge amount of information as a video with 4 rectangles (sketch, block rendering, blender viewport and final render), the blender files, the script, an excel with the script timetable and else. That's like having the Trinity helicopter mind tutorial, I lust for more info. I'm having faith to make a short render on the next year.

Big Buck Bunny

Well and what's that? Well I am not used to post information of another matters, but this is special is an OPEN MOVIE, yes open source movie, well you have to pay for the DVDs with 720p and 1080p versions:

"You can help us to realize future projects by purchasing the DVD edition of the Peach project.
On the Big Buck Bunny DVD (two disks) you will find:- The movie in best DVD quality widescreen format (versions in both NTSC and PAL)- The HD version of the movie (.avi and/or .mov)- Commentary tracks by the creators- All .blend files, models, textures, and so on... the material used to create the movie.- The original script, breakdown, storyboards- Documentation and video tutorials by the team members about all technical aspects the movie; like how to re-use assets, animate characters, or add new shots."

but I found it really interesting, because it has a great quality at the trailer and in the movie frames. It has been made with blender which is improving a lot since last time I saw and practise, and taking a look at the blog you can see yesterday arrived the dvds for circulation. I have just bought a copy of the set here, maybe a bit expensive for the spanyards but well the money is not for a enormous company is for people with initiative, so here I put some of the images, I hope you help too. For further info, here

Delay due to spyware

On Sunday I had one of the most complex spy or virus I ever had. I had the virtumonde.dll spy and Spybot, Adaware, Spyware terminator, didn't work, so I downloaded combofix.exe it turned my desktop to black and the icons have only the description, I don't see the image of them, ie doesn't work, I spent the afternoon trying to restore my machine but at the end I have decided to format, so I will try to make the videos on my laptop.

Few videos "in progress" of BG library on weekend

Last night I was playing with the method to scroll strips of scanlines, at the end on the last version of dsmume it runs at 64 fps indeed, so I have decided to use as good enough method. It is a bit annoying that a interrupt can't assign a class' method, but I find a way to solve it elegantly.

I have define a bg class with the possibility of ten strips with y0,yf and own speed. This afternoon I will write code to be able to scroll not only horizontal but vertical, and for the bmp bg and tile bg you want to scroll, shake or wave. Then I'll put the example videos on the blog. A new "unof" new SMB is coming.

I have some few experiments with gravity and tile collision, the next steps after having an alpha release version are:

1.- Setting different "tile class" classes like: transparent, block, teletransport, jumper, ramp, ladder, and so on.
2.- Setting gravity and acceleration for the sprites.(I have tried 2 Newton laws with the jump and I'm delighted how it works :)).
3.- Placing animated tiles..

Libro sobre programacion para la NDS

Ha sido una ardua tarea la de programar para la NDS, la verdad que la informacion existente esta, no solo mezclada con el antiguo codigo para GBA, sino que muchas veces se explica pero no hay ni un solo snippet, he estado realizando un libro que explica de cero utilizando la libnds, como poner 4 fondos (2 tiles, 2 bgs) como hacer efectos de scroll, shaking (agitar) y wave (ondear) la pantalla, como poner mapas grandes de tiles, como utilizar sprites y aplicar la gravedad. Faltan muchas cosas aun, pero estoy pensando en publicarlo como primera parte y despues uno mas avanzado con temas mas complejos.

NOTA: Por ahora es todo sobre el 2D, ya que quiero dominar tanto horizontal, como vertical y el isometrico. Mi primer gran proyecto sera horizontal, el segundo vertical (the gusto Tyrian?) y el mas fuerte y tercero sera isometrico (te gusto Diablo? :))