Solving Boggle-type word games in Python
Recently I’ve been spending a lot of my spare time learning the Python computer programming language. This all began because of an interest in the Google App Engine, which uses Python as the primary language. I decided that it’d been a while since I picked up a new programming language (the last being C#) and I knew I’d have some spare time over the holidays.
Anyhow, there are a number of excellent learning resources for Python, but I seem to learn best by doing. So, after tackling a number of levels in the Python challenge I decided to make my own challenge; Rack up a high score in Scramble and Scramble2, which is a “Boggle”-type game for Facebook and the iTouch/iPhone respectively.
photo credit: therichbrooks
KB969856 – Security update for Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 installs repeatedly
I had an issue with a Windows 2008 Server recently, where a security update for Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 would install successfully. However, after rebooting, Windows Update would request that I install it again. In the Windows Update history, it would show success, multiple times.
It turns out the problem was that I had Virtual PC 2007 AND Virtual PC 2007 SP1 installed side-by-side. I uninstalled my original Virtual PC 2007 (not SP1) and then applied the Windows Update and the problem was solved.
I’ve read of this same issue affecting Vista as well. Hope this helps anyone who encounters this problem.
SQL Server Reporting Services “interal error occurred”
If you work with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 2005 for any length of time, you’ll see a number of ambiguous error messages. I recently ran into the error below and found the solution quite easy. Maybe you’ll encounter this one day and I’ll save you some headache.
An error occurred during local report processing.The definition of the report ‘/Main’ is invalid.An internal error occurred on the report server. See the error log for more details.
Duplicates in SharePoint Datasheet view / Export to Spreadsheet (Excel)
Recently I encountered a bug in SharePoint where sometimes duplicate items appear when viewing items in Datasheet view in SharePoint. This also happens when using the Export to Spreadsheet (Excel). If duplicates appear in Datasheet view, they will also appear during Export to Spreadsheet and vice versa.
This happens only under specific circumstances. The base list must have a required lookup column/field that is multi-value. The view must not include this column.
A required, multi-value lookup column is created to demonstrate the problem:
An example of the list data in standard view, showing the “Region” column:
I created a new view without the “Region” column to show the duplicates bug. Standard view appears normal:
Same view, but when switched to Datasheet view, duplicate records show:
Same view in Export to Spreadsheet shows duplicates:
If the column is not required, everything works fine. If the column exists in the view, everything is fine. It is only when the required column is omitted from the view that you see duplicates.
If the column is included from the view, everything is normal during Edit in Datasheet mode:
Duplicates are now gone in Export to Spreadsheet as well:
There seems to be no fix for this problem. The work-around is, if you have a required multi-value lookup column, to always add the column to views, especially datasheet views. If a user creates their own view without the column, they may run into this problem. User education is the only solution in this case.
Although this seems like a rare circumstance, it does appear that multiple SharePoint users are encountering this problem. This affects both WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007.