Ignoring Header in Excel using .NET

I recently was put on a project that requires an Excel file to be uploaded. It must then be read and data in it, validated. The solution I chose was to use a OleDbDataReader. However, the Excel file can come in with or without headers. What I mean is that the very first row may or may not contain headers.

After researching the web for a while, my colleagues and I found the following property can be set in the connection string. Here's the code:

String sConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=" + [Your Excel File Name Here] + ";Extended Properties=Excel 8.0;HDR=No";

Setting HDR=No will ignore the first row as header.

FDM - Free Download Manager

This application is an easy-to-use download accelarator and manager. It is also absolutely free. One of its features is flash video download. It allows you to download videos from sites such as YouTube, etc. It resumes broken downloads and also provide smart file management and a powerful scheduler.

FDM can be found here

SlickRun - Opening multiple sites with one MagicWord

Create a new MagicWord in SlickRun. Enter a new MagicWord that you would like to use. In the Filename or URL, enter @MULTI@. In the parameters section, there the MagicWord browser of your choice. In my case, I am using firefox. Enter the following:
firefox -url http://www.techbargains.com -new-tab http://www.woot.com -new-tab http://www.dealsucker.com.

UPDATE: doing the above will only work if you already have a browser open. If you do not have a browser open, it will actually open up a new browser for you. If you remove the -url and all the -new-tab(s), it will open up a new browser and automatically open up additional sites in a new tabs.

firefox http://www.techbargains.com http://www.woot.com http://www.dealsucker.com http://sellout.woot.com

Save the new MagicWord. Now, try it. You can also use IE or any browser of your choice. In this case, make sure that you have a MagicWord created for your browser.

You can also use @MULTI@ to start multiple applications. Make sure that you have MagicWords for your applications. In the parameters section, enter the applications that you would like to open. Separate each application with the @ sign.

Vista Quick Launch Toolbar

I found this article that allows you to create a new Quick Launch bar and let's you position it any where you want, rather than the default taskbar. You can do this easily in XP but not Vista. Basically the steps are as follows:

1. Create a New Folder in a blank area in your desktop and drag it to the very side ( or top ) of your screen. Let go.
2. A new toolbar will be created.
3. Right click on the toolbar, select Toolbars, Quick launch.
4. Now right click on the toolbar again, select Toolbars and then unselect New Folder.
5. Right click on the Taskbar, select Toolbars and then unselect Quick Launch

A list of tools

Hey, I was at Day of .NET today and in one of the session, I was introduced by Mr. John Alexander to this site maintained by Mr. Scott Hanselman. This site contains a huge list of tools available for us to use. I personally use SlickRun, FireBug, and WinMerge, just to name a few.

I also had the priviledge of meeting Mr. Lee Brandt.