A quick how-to.  I've done this a dozen times and figured I might as well make an entry in relation to it since I always have to look up where that blasted SQL file is or a step here or there.  So with that, a quick and dirty how to on setting up ASP.NET 2.0 Membership, Roles, and Users in SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005.

1. First thing, get an empty database setup on the database server.  It really doesn't matter what it is named, how it is configured or anything like that.  You just need a database.  You can even have other objects in the database;  tables, stored procedures, etc. but they'll be deleted.
2. Next find the aspnet_regsql.exe executable.  This file is usually located in the C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727 folder.  Once you find the file, execute it.
3. The next screen that pops up will be a standard wizard.  Now at this point all the reminders needed have been provided.  Pick which database you want to install the tables and procs on and continue on through to the end of the wizard.

So that's it.  Now you're ready to setup users, roles, properties/membership information and even extend the data, classes, or other API functionality.

I dug up the following info searching around for this information my last go round.

• For a more thorough explanation with screen shots.  Check out Scott Gu's Blog.
• For some more information relating to the whole personalization API and such in .NET 2.0 go check out MSDN.
• More information about Personalization in regards to Web Parts.

I know, I know.  Most people I know would hear me say “Web 2.0 site” and give me that look of, “you do know that’s basically arbritrary and superficial marketing hype for the new startup sites?”  Yeah, I know.  But it’s a good descriptive word for exactly what a lot of these AJAX enabled, responsive, custom content, custom to user needs, based web sites are.  I’m sure there is some specific defintion out there for Web 2.0 sites but right now I’m just going with the above description.  Web 2.0 sites based on the features I listed are awesome sites.

With that I’m gonna stick a list of sites below that I’ve found recently.  Each of these sites has Web 2.0 Criteria.

• LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a great website for keeping your business (and friends/psuedo business) contacts together, but also connecting past them into their networks.  View Adron Hall’s profile.

 

• meebo – Meebo is an online instant messenger client.  Basically go to their page, sign up with a Meebo account, then register each of your current instant messenger accounts (MSN, Yahoo, AOL, Jabber, ICQ, and Google).  When you go to the page and login it logs you into each of your accounts.  No more need for downloaded clients, reconfiguring the clients on each seperate machine, etc.  Just go to the site, on whatever machine, wherever your at, and login!

• jobburner – Job Burner is a site that has affiliate links to the jobs and pays out to link ins from other sites.  Right off the bat it has some really nice AJAX implementations that add to the functionality of the site.  It also detects your location and states how far you currently are from the job listing.

That’s it for now.  I’ll be commenting on new sites as they pop up.

I've been working dilligently this week to get a deadline met for x amount of functionality.  So far, the team is well over 50%, most likely past 80% without much doubt, and nearing 90%+ of the functionality done.  But with all this working, I've already knocked out over 50 hours and Thursday isn't even over, and I'm feeling a little rough around the edges.  With that in mind I decided to drop my dilligence for a few hours, play some WOW, and dig up some research on web CSS layouts.

In the past I've used a couple different sites for layout and graphic design for pages I've put together.  The primary sites include;

• CSS Zen Garden
• Glish's CSS & Glish's Holy Grail, three columns

I decided this time I wanted to know more and to really dig into some of the specific differences between browsers and such.  I wanted to be able to complete a layout off the top of my head without looking back and sample sites.  Not that it is a bad idea, but I wanted something custom.

With that I hit up ole' trusty Google.  Of course with just a few variations of the words, "CSS", "layout", "graphics", "design", and others I plummeted into a plethora of sites that have awesome examples and tutorials.

• Blue Robot has some great layouts.  I however kind of worry about the site, because like some of the others here, it doesn't seem to have a source of income nor has it been updated in ages.
• Max Design also has some great layouts.
• Then there is the Etribou Skidoo site.  This site has multiple examples such as redux, tank, lighter gargoyle, and gragoyle.
• I also found this wiki of CSS layouts.

All in all it was a good 30 minute break from endless hours of troubleshooting, coding, refactoring, and general brain usage.  Now I just need that next 30 minutes fix to put something together that I'll like.

Back to work, back to work!

Ok, I’m not going to go into this.  But check out my main page at www.adronbhall.com.  I have a Meebo insert over at the right hand side of the page.  You can chat directly with me this way.  Very, very kewl.

If you don’t know about Meebo GO now and check it out.  www.meebo.com.