First, here is what we are looking for our of our VSTO

• VSTO just works
• VBA code can use the new libraries AND have intellisense (eg pre-binding)
• to be used by all users of the computer (click once installer is thus ‘out’ thus – custom installer)

UPDATE: This article has the answer: The stuff below is also good information to use and do. Continue reading →

After I deleted registry entries for a VSTO program, I used the regshot tool to compare the before and after.

When I started testing my VSTO from a VBA button, the function that reads from the app.config broke. I knew that the VBA was not able to access the app.config since my default null value was being returned, but did not know how to fix it.

After trying multiple approaches, the one approach that works is found here.

http://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/105992/which-special-characters-are-not-allowed-in-sharepoint-2013-files-folders

I uploaded something I got from a collegue – it seems to be plagurizing the doc above BUT HAS even MORE info.  I would love to give credit, but I don’t know where it comes from: Ilegal Characters _SharePoint.pdf

OK – so 1.5 days down without pay. That stinks and is not going to happen to me again. I have always wanted to make a VM and run Windows inside my VM. 2 machines later and 3 crashes – I finally snapped and did it. I don’t have a blog with many links, but here is what I did… and it works. Again , I wrecked many a VM on purpose – fiddling and knew how quick a restore could be – so why am I not working like this on purpose for my own disaster recovery? A whole weekend went down the drain – but never again … here’s how… Continue reading →

The blog post here describes what program to install and how to create the icon. Then once created I saved it into a Icon folder in the project file.

What route to choose. There are really only 2 options

1. Sole Proprietership (also called Trade Name) and Incorporated. Here is how to choose. You do not want any of the other options due to the risk involved.
   • click on the sub-links and it has all the how to steps on getting things done
2. Canada Government resources
   • self employed …
   • GST section is most important
     • Do I need a GST Number? Use this online tool.
     • To register
     • How to charge GST
     • After you register for GST – they have made it easy to understand what to do next
   • Important Dates if you own your own company
3. Book Keeping 101
   • tips
   • online calculators
   • some basic spreadsheets for
     • stuff you spend $$ on
     • splitting out
       • the GST (basically it is a running total. How much GST to collect, how much stuff did you expense that you can take off that GST)
       • categories
     • stuff you can claim (eg. $500 for gift cards in some instances, meals is 50% deductible, computer is 100% but over X years etc. etc.)
     • automobile – miles or $$ and %driven
   • reading
     • record keeping for small business
     • Dummies(c)  book for Canadian book keeping

So my visual studio ended up crashing due to my hard drive dying. Unfortunately the work I had completed yesterday to my form was corrupted. Luckily I had a backup and then performed a beyond compare on the designer.cs file. I took all of the new buttons and then had to fix any errors when I opened the file due to the code in the .cs file not being there. Also to be noted I could not use the original .cs file since I was full of nulls. I just took in the old one.