Add the following code to your project:

// IsNumeric Function
static bool IsNumeric(object Expression)
{
// Variable to collect the Return value of the TryParse method.
	bool isNum;

// Define variable to collect out parameter of the TryParse method. If the conversion fails, the out parameter is zero.
	double retNum;
			
// The TryParse method converts a string in a specified style and culture-specific format to its double-precision floating point number equivalent.
// The TryParse method does not generate an exception if the conversion fails. If the conversion passes, True is returned. If it does not, False is returned.
	isNum = Double.TryParse(Convert.ToString(Expression), System.Globalization.NumberStyles.Any, System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo.InvariantInfo, out retNum );
	return isNum;
}	

Have a nice day!

Max

Adding resource files:

First of all, add a folder named “resources/” in your project.

Inside this folder, right click then from the context menu choose “add an element” -> “new element” -> select “Resource File (resx)” -> create a file named “Resources.en-US.resx”

In the “Resources.en-US.resx” file, You have to write all the strings used by your application.
It’s important that your language resource file is named as “Resources.{Language Code Name}.resx”, so VS can reach automatically this file.

The rsx file is just a list of Key-Value items, then You have to give a key-name for each string value; don’t use spaces in key-names, otherwise it’s best using “_” symbol.

Insert only two test lines in your new rsx file as the following…

KEY – VALUE:

TEST_STRING1 us1
TEST_STRING2 us2


Then, compile your project and if it’s all right, You will find a new folder in “bin\Release\” named “en-US” created by VS, with a file “{your project name}.resources.dll”; this file contains all the strings for the english-US language (“en-US”) and right now You can access them programmatically.

If You want add a new language to your application, just copy the rsx file and rename it in “Resources.{Language Code Name}.resx” where the language code name is one of those listed at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee825488(v=cs.20).aspx.

Step 2, how to programmatically select the language and strings:

Add a vb class “Resources.vb” in the “resources\” folder with the following code

Public Class Resources

    Public Shared Function GetValue(ByVal name As ResourceName) As String
        Return My.Resources.ResourceManager.GetObject(name.ToString)
    End Function

    Public Shared Property Language() As CultureCodeName
        Get
            Dim c As CultureCodeName = Nothing
            Dim cs As String = System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture.ToString().Replace(New Char() {"-"c}, New Char() {"_"c})
            For Each cc As CultureCodeName In [Enum].GetValues(GetType(CultureCodeName))
                If cs = cc.ToString Then
                    c = cc
                    Exit For
                End If
            Next
            Return c
        End Get
        Set(ByVal cultureCodeName As CultureCodeName)
            Dim c As String = cultureCodeName.ToString.Replace(New Char() {"_"c}, New Char() {"-"c})
            System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = _
                            System.Globalization.CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo(c)
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

then, add a vb “code file” named “CultureCodeNames.vb” in “resources\” folder with the following code

Public Enum CultureCodeName

    en_US
    'if You want add a new language, after creating the rsx file, 
    'also add here the code name, with "-" replaced in "_"

End Enum

Finally, add the last vb codefile “ResourceNames.vb” in “resources\” folder with this code

Public Enum ResourceName

    'add here all the key names in the RSX file
    TEST_STRING1
    TEST_STRING2

End Enum

The configuration is finished.
In your project, add a button to a form, then add the following vb code in the codebehind to learn how to access to different language RSX files and their strings inside.

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        
        'Select a language for your app
        Resources.Language = CultureCodeName.en_US

        'show test string 1
        MessageBox.Show(Resources.GetValue(ResourceName.TEST_STRING1))

        'show test string 2
        MessageBox.Show(Resources.GetValue(ResourceName.TEST_STRING2))

        'show the current language code
        MessageBox.Show(Resources.Language.ToString)

    End Sub

It’s very useful because when you will be writing the code, VS automatically suggests the strings that you can use, saving a lot of time and by selecting a language with “Resources.Language”, You can translate your application strings on the fly.

Have a nice day!

Max

I’ll be back soon with an updated version of JQUERY BUBBLE POPUP that supports the new jQuery library v1.7.1;

I’m already testing the final plugin however You are always able to download the older version from the following link:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/jqbubblepopup/files/latest/download

stay connected!

Max

Incoming Server - imap.mail.yahoo.com
Outgoing Server - smtp.mail.yahoo.com
Incoming Port - 993 (requires SSL)
Outgoing Port - 465 (requires SSL)
Username: full email address (bill@yahoo.com)
Password: is the password you login to Yahoo! with


Chrome to Phone: http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chrometophone – send urls or texts from ur browser to ur mobile 

ES File Manager http://market.android.com/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop – look for local files, over LAN or FTP 

Goggles: http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.unveil – make a picture of what u want search on google 

Google Reader: http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.reader – smart feed reader 

Google Sky Map: http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid – move ur mobile and look the stars around

Google Translate: http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate – record ur voice and translate it!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 52,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 6 days for that many people to see it.

In 2010, there were 23 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 32 posts. There were 15 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 627kb. That’s about a picture per month.

The busiest day of the year was November 26th with 764 views. The most popular post that day was JQUERY BUBBLE POPUP v.2.0.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were plugins.jquery.com, vegabit.com, webdesignish.com, dvq.co.nz, and coliss.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for jquery scrolling text, scrolling text jquery, jquery scroll text, jquery text scroller, and facebook for omnia i900.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

JQUERY BUBBLE POPUP v.2.0 October 2010
74 comments

Linear scrolling text with jQuery February 2010
5 comments and 1 Like on WordPress.com,

How to create smart Bubble Popups with jQuery! February 2010
25 comments

jQuery Bubble Popup plugin February 2010
59 comments

jQuery Scroller Plugin – scrolling made easy September 2010
5 comments

The “CryptographyHelper” is a wrapper class of  mine “Cryptography” core .net class, and it lets you to easly encrypt/decrypt strings in .NET framework using a robust symmetric Rijndael algorithm or you can get also MD5 or SHA1/SHA256 hash codes of a string.

What happens during the encryption: The CryptographyHelper encrypts a clear text and saves it in a binary stream, then converts the binary output in Hexadecimal or Base64 encoding type for a string rapresentation. The opposite job during the decryption…

A simple usage example:

        Dim cryptoHelper As New CryptographyHelper

        'select your favorite encoding type of the output (note that hexadecimal result is longer then base64 compression)
        cryptoHelper.EncodingType = CryptographyHelper.EncodingBaseTypes.Hex 'CryptographyHelper.EncodingBaseTypes.Base64

        Dim password As String = "my secret password to encrypt or decrypt strings"
        Dim encryptedText As String = cryptoHelper.Encrypt("plain text to encrypt...", password)
        Dim decryptedText As String = cryptoHelper.Decrypt(encryptedText, password)

        'if you want get an hash of a string try out one of the following...
        Dim MD5hash As String = cryptoHelper.GetHash("string to hash", CryptographyHelper.HashTypes.MD5)
        Dim SHA1hash As String = cryptoHelper.GetHash("string to hash", CryptographyHelper.HashTypes.SHA1)
        Dim SHA256hash As String = cryptoHelper.GetHash("string to hash", CryptographyHelper.HashTypes.SHA256)

This is the source code of the classes…

'	CryptographyHelper & Cryptography .NET classes
'	http://maxvergelli.wordpress.com/

'	Copyright (c) 2010 Max Vergelli

'	Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
'	of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
'	in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
'	to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
'	copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
'	furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

'	The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
'	all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

'	THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
'	IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
'	FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
'	AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
'	LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
'	OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
'	THE SOFTWARE.

Imports System
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Security.Cryptography

Public Class CryptographyHelper

    Private m_encoding As Integer

    Public Enum EncodingBaseTypes As Integer
        Hex = 1
        Base64 = 2
    End Enum

    Public Enum HashTypes As Integer
        MD5 = 1
        SHA1 = 2
        SHA256 = 3
        SHA512 = 4
    End Enum

    Public Sub New(Optional ByVal encoding_type As Integer = EncodingBaseTypes.Hex)
        'by default encryption/hashing outputs hexadecimal strings and decryption get hexstrings as input
        If encoding_type <> EncodingBaseTypes.Hex And encoding_type <> EncodingBaseTypes.Base64 Then
            encoding_type = EncodingBaseTypes.Hex
        End If
        EncodingType = encoding_type
    End Sub

    Public Property EncodingType() As Integer
        Get
            Return m_encoding
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            m_encoding = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Function GetHash(ByVal input As String, _
            Optional ByVal hash_type As Integer = HashTypes.MD5) As String

        Dim objCrypto As New Cryptography
        Dim bytes() As Byte = Nothing
        Select Case hash_type
            Case HashTypes.MD5
                bytes = objCrypto.CreateMD5Hash(input)
            Case HashTypes.SHA1
                bytes = objCrypto.CreateSHA1Hash(input)
            Case HashTypes.SHA256
                bytes = objCrypto.CreateSHA256Hash(input)
            Case HashTypes.SHA512
                bytes = objCrypto.CreateSHA512Hash(input)
            Case Else
                bytes = objCrypto.CreateMD5Hash(input)
        End Select
        Dim hash As String = ""
        Select Case m_encoding
            Case EncodingBaseTypes.Hex
                hash = objCrypto.BytesToHexString(bytes)
            Case EncodingBaseTypes.Base64
                hash = objCrypto.BytesToBase64(bytes)
            Case Else
                hash = objCrypto.BytesToHexString(bytes)
        End Select
        objCrypto = Nothing
        Return hash

    End Function

    Public Function Encrypt(ByVal input As String, _
                            ByVal password As String) As String

        Dim objCrypto As New Cryptography(password)
        Dim bytes() As Byte = objCrypto.Encrypt(input)
        Dim encrypted As String = ""
        If bytes IsNot Nothing Then
            Select Case m_encoding
                Case EncodingBaseTypes.Hex
                    encrypted = objCrypto.BytesToHexString(bytes)
                Case EncodingBaseTypes.Base64
                    encrypted = objCrypto.BytesToBase64(bytes)
                Case Else
                    encrypted = objCrypto.BytesToHexString(bytes)
            End Select
        End If
        objCrypto = Nothing
        Return encrypted

    End Function

    Public Function Decrypt(ByVal input As String, _
                            ByVal password As String) As String

        Dim decrypted As String = ""
        If input.Length > 0 Then
            Dim objCrypto As New Cryptography(password)
            Dim enc_bytes() As Byte = Nothing
            Select Case m_encoding
                Case EncodingBaseTypes.Hex
                    enc_bytes = objCrypto.HexStringToBytes(input)
                Case EncodingBaseTypes.Base64
                    enc_bytes = objCrypto.Base64ToBytes(input)
                Case Else
                    enc_bytes = objCrypto.HexStringToBytes(input)
            End Select
            decrypted = objCrypto.Decrypt(enc_bytes)
            objCrypto = Nothing
        End If
        Return decrypted

    End Function

End Class



    Public Class Cryptography

        Private m_strKey As String = Nothing
        Private m_bytKey() As Byte = Nothing
        Private objTextConverter As New UnicodeEncoding
        Private objRijndael As New RijndaelManaged '"rèin-daal" :)

        Public Sub New(Optional ByVal encryption_key As String = "")

            If encryption_key <> "" Then EncryptionKey = encryption_key

        End Sub

        Protected Overrides Sub Finalize()

            If objTextConverter IsNot Nothing Then
                objTextConverter = Nothing
            End If
            If objRijndael IsNot Nothing Then
                objRijndael = Nothing
            End If
            m_strKey = Nothing
            m_bytKey = Nothing

        End Sub

        Public Property EncryptionKey() As String

            Get
                Return m_strKey
            End Get

            Set(ByVal Value As String)

                Try
                    'Set the key string
                    m_strKey = Value

                    'Set hash in bytes of the key string
                    Dim objHash256 As New SHA256Managed
                    m_bytKey = objHash256.ComputeHash(objTextConverter.GetBytes(m_strKey))
                    objHash256 = Nothing

                    If UBound(m_bytKey) < 0 Then Exit Property

                    'Set Rijndael Key and IV vector for 256 bit encryption
                    Dim MainKey(31) As Byte
                    Dim MainIV(15) As Byte
                    Dim iDiffBlock As Integer = 5
                    objRijndael.KeySize = 256 'bit
                    Dim n As Integer = 0
                    Dim x As Integer = 0
                    Dim y As Integer = 0
                    For n = 0 To UBound(MainKey)
                        MainKey(n) = m_bytKey(x)
                        If n > iDiffBlock And n <= UBound(MainIV) + iDiffBlock Then
                            MainIV(y) = m_bytKey(x)
                            y = y + 1
                        End If
                        x = x + 1
                        If x > UBound(m_bytKey) Then x = 0
                    Next
                    objRijndael.Key = MainKey
                    objRijndael.IV = MainIV

                Catch
                    'set a blank encryption key then we cannot encrypt/decrypt
                    m_strKey = Nothing
                End Try

            End Set

        End Property

        Public Function Encrypt(ByVal clear_text As String) As Byte()

            Dim enc_bytes() As Byte = Nothing
            Try
                If m_strKey IsNot Nothing Then
                    'get byte array from text
                    Dim bytes() As Byte = objTextConverter.GetBytes(clear_text)

                    'encrypt data
                    Dim encryptor As ICryptoTransform = objRijndael.CreateEncryptor()
                    Dim msEncrypt As New MemoryStream
                    Dim csEncrypt As New CryptoStream(msEncrypt, encryptor, CryptoStreamMode.Write)

                    'write all data to the crypto stream and flush it
                    csEncrypt.Write(bytes, 0, bytes.Length)
                    csEncrypt.FlushFinalBlock()

                    'get encrypted byte array 
                    enc_bytes = msEncrypt.ToArray()

                    msEncrypt = Nothing
                    csEncrypt = Nothing
                End If
            Catch

            End Try

            Return enc_bytes

        End Function

        Public Function Decrypt(ByVal encrypted_text() As Byte) As String

            Dim dec_text As String = Nothing

            Try
                If m_strKey IsNot Nothing Then
                    Dim decryptor As ICryptoTransform = objRijndael.CreateDecryptor()
                    Dim msDecrypt As New MemoryStream(encrypted_text)
                    Dim csDecrypt As New CryptoStream(msDecrypt, decryptor, CryptoStreamMode.Read)

                    'prepare buffer
                    Dim bytes() As Byte = New Byte(encrypted_text.Length - 1) {}

                    'read the data out of the crypto stream
                    csDecrypt.Read(bytes, 0, bytes.Length)

                    'convert the byte array back into a string
                    dec_text = objTextConverter.GetString(bytes)

                    'strip null end chars
                    StripEndNull(dec_text)

                    msDecrypt = Nothing
                    csDecrypt = Nothing
                End If
            Catch

            End Try

            Return dec_text

        End Function

        Public Function BytesToBase64(ByVal input_bytes() As Byte) As String

            Dim s As String = Nothing
            Try
                s = Convert.ToBase64String(input_bytes)
            Catch

            End Try
            Return s

        End Function

        Public Function Base64ToBytes(ByVal input_base64 As String) As Byte()

            Dim b() As Byte = Nothing
            Try
                b = Convert.FromBase64String(input_base64)
            Catch

            End Try
            Return b

        End Function

        Public Function BytesToHexString(ByVal input_bytes() As Byte) As String

            Dim s As String = Nothing
            Try
                'Dim s As String = BitConverter.ToString(input_bytes).Replace("-", String.Empty)
                Dim builder As New StringBuilder()
                For i As Integer = 0 To input_bytes.Length - 1
                    builder.AppendFormat("{0:x2}", input_bytes(i))
                Next
                s = builder.ToString()
                builder = Nothing
            Catch

            End Try
            Return s

        End Function

        Public Function HexStringToBytes(ByVal input_hex_string As String) As Byte()

            Dim bytes As Byte() = Nothing
            Try
                'i variable used to hold position in string           
                Dim i As Integer = 0
                'x variable used to hold byte array element position           
                Dim x As Integer = 0
                'allocate byte array based on half of string length           
                bytes = New Byte((input_hex_string.Length) \ 2 - 1) {}
                'loop through the string - 2 bytes at a time converting           
                'it to decimal equivalent and store in byte array           
                While input_hex_string.Length > i + 1
                    Dim lngDecimal As Long = Convert.ToInt32(input_hex_string.Substring(i, 2), 16)
                    bytes(x) = Convert.ToByte(lngDecimal)
                    i = i + 2
                    x += 1
                End While
                'return the finished byte array of decimal values           
            Catch

            End Try
            Return bytes

        End Function

        Public Function CreateMD5Hash(ByVal input As String) As Byte()

            Dim hash As Byte() = Nothing
            Try
                Dim bytes() As Byte = objTextConverter.GetBytes(input)
                Dim objMD5 As New MD5CryptoServiceProvider
                hash = objMD5.ComputeHash(bytes)
                objMD5 = Nothing
            Catch

            End Try
            Return hash

        End Function

        Public Function CreateSHA1Hash(ByVal input As String) As Byte()

            Dim hash As Byte() = Nothing
            Try
                Dim bytes() As Byte = objTextConverter.GetBytes(input)
                Dim objSHA As New SHA1CryptoServiceProvider
                hash = objSHA.ComputeHash(bytes)
                objSHA = Nothing
            Catch

            End Try
            Return hash

        End Function

        Public Function CreateSHA256Hash(ByVal input As String) As Byte()
            Dim hash As Byte() = Nothing
            Try
                Dim bytes() As Byte = objTextConverter.GetBytes(input)
                Dim objSHA As New SHA256CryptoServiceProvider
                hash = objSHA.ComputeHash(bytes)
                objSHA = Nothing
            Catch

            End Try
            Return hash

        End Function

        Public Function CreateSHA512Hash(ByVal input As String) As Byte()
            Dim hash As Byte() = Nothing
            Try
                Dim bytes() As Byte = objTextConverter.GetBytes(input)
                Dim objSHA As New SHA512CryptoServiceProvider
                hash = objSHA.ComputeHash(bytes)
                objSHA = Nothing
            Catch

            End Try
            Return hash

        End Function

        Private Sub StripEndNull(ByRef input_string As String)

            Dim nullchar As Char = Convert.ToChar(0) '&H0
            If input_string.Length > 0 And input_string.EndsWith(nullchar.ToString) Then
                Dim n As Long
                For n = input_string.Length - 1 To 0 Step -1
                    If input_string.Chars(n) <> nullchar Then
                        input_string = input_string.Substring(0, n + 1)
                        Exit For
                    End If
                Next
            End If
            Convert.ToString(input_string)

        End Sub

    End Class

Happy Encryption/Decryption!

Max

besides, if u’ll need to convert each german umlaut to the corresponding two-letter chars, u can also use the ReplaceGermanUmlauts() method…

Public Shared Function StripAccentMarks(ByVal input_string As String) As String
   Dim n_s As String = input_string.Normalize(NormalizationForm.FormD)
   Dim s As New StringBuilder()
   Dim c As Char
   For i As Integer = 0 To n_s.Length - 1
      c = n_s(i)
      If System.Globalization.CharUnicodeInfo.GetUnicodeCategory(c) <> System.Globalization.UnicodeCategory.NonSpacingMark Then
         s.Append(c)
      End If
   Next
   Return s.ToString
End Function

Public Shared Function ReplaceGermanUmlauts(ByVal input_string As String) As String
   Dim s As String = input_string</pre>
s = s.Replace("ä", "ae")
 s = s.Replace("ö", "oe")
 s = s.Replace("ü", "ue")
 s = s.Replace("Ä", "Ae")
 s = s.Replace("Ö", "Oe")
 s = s.Replace("Ü", "Ue")
 s = s.Replace("ß", "ss")
 Return s
End Function

Have a nice day!

Max

You can find a rich documentation or try out a demo at
http://sorgalla.com/projects/jcarousel/

Max