For my new project I had to create a plan, I guess all the project managers need one… and the best way to represent the plan is in Gantt chart. So that your boss will know when each milestone will be achieved in the timeline.
I searched in the web for free Gantt chart tools and couldn’t find any good ones, and we didn't had budget to buy one.

Then I decided to use the almighty excel to create one. It was very easy to create one, excel support charts, what else you need. Excel is really powerful isn't it..I remember when I used to share accommodation with my friends I used excel spreadsheet to calculate our common expenses, though some of them argue there is mistake in the formula they are paying more :)

So to cut the crap out, the Excel Project Plan Gantt chart is available here for download. In short the features include
1. Gantt chart of the project plan
2. Need only minimal inputs(project start date, tasks and task estimates)
3. The formula takes care of Weekends(NOT holidays) while calculating dates.
3. Fully customizable. you are free to change the formula to suit your purpose. you can even convert it into an excel template Gantt chart if you like.

Rest you can see yourself in the spreadsheet.

Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions in this blog.

Some of the references I have used are below

1. Using Excel to Create a Gantt Chart by Michele McDonough
http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/3418.aspx

2. and of course office online excel help

-Rujith

I recently migrated an Oracle database to SQL Server 2005 database. It was an good experience thought I should share it.

This is not comprehensive guide on migrating data from Oracle to SQL Server 2005, but describing my experience in doing it.

Source
Oracle 9i
No of databases/schema(Oracle name I guess) = 1
No of tables in the database = 35

Destination
SQL Server 2005
No of database = 1
No of tables in database = 0

In Part 1, I’ll start with establishing connection between these two database server

Adding Linked Server

In order to connect the Oracle server from SQL Server 2005 you need to create a linked server. If you are wondering what’s a linked server is, that link has a good picture, and a picture is worth a thousand words.

You can add a linked server  from the Management Studio as below
Step 1. Go to Server Objects in Objects explorer, expand the tree, on Linked Server right to add new.
Step 2. Select other datasource and choose Oracle Provider for OLE DB as the provider.
The details on data source, provider string etc are available here (on MSDN, and I am not repeating here to avoid data redundancy :) )

If you don't like the GUI way you can use the script way as described on the MSDN article above (I used the script method)
Remember you need to install Oracle Client software on the SQL Server machine to do the above mentioned steps.

To check if the linked server a added correctly, you can use the management studio or run a sample query
Something similar to
SELECT * FROM OPEQUERY(OracleLinkServer, ‘Select * From <any table in Oracle> ‘)

I found the following links helpful while creating linked server.
1. How to set up and troubleshoot a linked server to an Oracle database in SQL Server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280106
2. Allow inprocess tick box
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqldataaccess/thread/b9caa913-3935-4ddb-8c56-33c26b4edd32
3. Limitations of Microsoft Oracle ODBC Driver and OLEDB Provider
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244661
4. http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/e64476a9-4182-4f89-98ca-f2e489d815b2

Part 2 will contain preparing migration of tables from Oracle to SQL Server 2005.

If you are connected and logged in sql plus and want to know the version of Oracle you connected to via sqlplus command, following are the quickest methods

1. Type ‘define’ in SQL prompt(ex :SQL> define)
2. use query – select * from v$version;
3. use the view called - product_component_version.
4. check the registry (though this is not through sql plus )

-Rujith

Hope everyone worked on DOS (NOT Denial Of Server, its Disk Operating System :)) remember the command ’Cd\’. That’s something which everyone used so frequently. Now in Windows PowerShell you have to use “Cd \” (notice the space between d and slash), come on Powershell guys does this change really required ?? I am sure its a bad decision making.

-Rujith

I am doing Test Driven Development in my current project. I have used TDD before when I was doing some component development, but this project is entirely different, this is a normal product development using Agile methodology. And as in any other product development the requirement keeps on changing. So this is really interesting.

During one of the discussions I had a conflict in opinion between different test doubles. There is no clear distinction between them isn't it ? I found a nice article in msdn magazine. The image below(from the article) gives better picture :)

As mentioned in the article there is not clear boundary between most of them.

TDD Rocks!

-Rujith

Its true the modern monitors don't need it, but we do :)... check out some cool screensaver here..

http://www.dudeworldorder.com/2009/04/16-awesome-screensavers/