Articles written by Mark Alexander Bain
Showing 1-100 of 240 Articles
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Moving into the 21st Century with AJAX
The technology behind AJAX is not new. It is standard Javascript. However, this simple technique can be used to create amazing web sites.
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How to Create New User Accounts with PHP
An Internet application administrator can obtain information from new users and then create account for them, or they can use PHP code to do it all automatically
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Creating Web Page Components with Javascript
Web pages are usually created manually by adding HTML tags in a text file. However, the programmer can dynamically create a whole web page completely in Javascript code.
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How to Limit Movement of a Windows Games Sprite
The right image improves the look and feel of any Windows based game. However, it is essential that any sprites remain in the correct games area, and don't wander off
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How to Create a Javascript Web Page Slide Show
The setTimeout enables a web site programmer to create animations simply and easily. They can create an impressive slide show show with just a little Javascript coding
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Writing in Basic on a Sinclair ZX81 Emulator
The Sinclair ZX81 Emulator was state of the art in the early 1980's but how does it stand up to the passage of time? The easy way to find out is to use an emulator
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Problem Solving with TCP/IP Command Line Tools
Network problems can be infuriating for Internet users. However, there are simple command line methods that help a programmer to find why their applications run slowly
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Optimising the Use of Web Technologies with AJAX
AJAX is a powerful technique but requires data in order to work correctly. However, the programmer can develop and test an application using dummy data from static sites.
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Object Oriented Games Programming in VBScript
VBScript is a powerful scripting language and supports object oriented languages. It is, therefore, an excellent learning tool for anyone new to OOP or games programming
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Choosing an OOP Language for Web Browsers
Object oriented programming is an important concept for any programmer. However, the new programmer needs to consider which is the better language to learn on.
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Object Oriented Games Programming in Javascript
A programmer can create simple, but effective, games for web browsers by using Javascript. A job that's made even easier by using object oriented programming
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Finding the Mouse Coordinates with Javascript
The position of the mouse is important in many web based games, and it can easy be found by using some simple Javascript code. It even takes account of different browsers
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Find the Dimensions of a Multidimensional Array
VBScript Ubound d can be used to get the number of elements in a multidimensional array. However, the number of dimensions must be known. A simple function will help
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How to Make Web Page Animations Using Javascript
Javascript games for a web page are not difficult to create. The programmer only needs notepad and a web browser. And, of course, a little Javascript magic
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Adding Public and Private Methods to a Class
Methods are a vital part of any class. They enable programmers to use the objects effectively, and for objects to communicate with each other.
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Program Games with Sauerbraten Cube 2 CubeScript
The Sauerbraten Cube 2 games engine allows programmers to modify maps by using its GUI and CubeScript code. And that's all done while a game is running
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How to Work with Number Types When Programming
Programming languages can do strange things with numbers. Not because they've done anything wrong. It's just that not all numbers are the same. It's all to do with memory
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Using Multidimensional Arrays with VBScript
A VBScript programmer can use multidimensional arrays in their applications. By using these they organize their data into lists, rectangles or even into a matrix
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A Brief Introduction to Object-Oriented Design
Object-oriented design is an important technique because it enables the programmer abstract information from existing objects and for classes to inherit characteristics
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How to Add Text to Java Applet Applications
Fancy graphics and involved plot do not always produce a popular game. A lot be achieved with simple graphics, and the starting point for any Java applet is some text
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An Introduction to Games Programming with Java
Studies show that certain computer games can help improve a child's literacy and numeracy. It is, therefore, the Java programmer's duty to start creating games
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Improving Internet Account Password Security
The steps required to improve Internet account security are simple, and secure passwords can be generated with an easy piece of programming. Safer than the cat's name
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How to Simulate a Quantum Computer
Quantum computers will soon replace existing ones. However, the programmer can start using a quantum computer simulator today.
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Google, Yahoo! Finance and REBOL Programming
Both Yahoo! Finance and Google Finance provide financial information, and these sources of data are especially useful for programmers using such languages as REBOL
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The Turing Programming Language
While thousands call for an apology for the treatment of Alan Turing, computer programmers can use the language inspired by the father of modern computing
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Creating and Using Dynamic Link Libraries
A Visual Basic Programmer can create a Dynamic Link Library that allows them not just to reuse code across applications, but to reuse code across programming languages.
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Computer Programming and the Existence of God
There are many programming language philosophies, but can programming answer some of the fundamental philosophical questions such as whether or not God exists?
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Use a Free Mortgage Calculator in a Web Page
A web page developer can create their own mortgage calculator with PHP. Their users will be able to calculate monthly payments or how large a mortgage they can afford
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Calculating Affordable Mortgages with VBScript
A VBScript programmer can quickly produce an application that will calculate the mortgage for any budget, interest rate and repayment period
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A Simple VBScript Home Mortgage Calculator
The VBScript programmer can easily add a mortgage calculator to an application. This will calculate the monthly payments due on any compound interest loan
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A Simple Home Mortgage Calculator
The monthly repayments due on a Mortgage can easily be calculated on a calculator, and it's even easier to calculate them with a Windows computer
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How to Carry Out VBScript File Management
VBScript is a powerful computer programming language. A VBS script file can be used to create, copy and delete files. And by combining those command it can rename a file
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How to Get Started with Programming in Scala
Scala is a free, functional, object oriented programming language for the experienced Java programmer and it is even suitable for programming for beginners
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How to Use Modular Programming
Modular programming is a simple yet effective way of writing software. The amount of code can be minimised and reused throughout an application.
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A Brief Introduction to Linear Programming
Linear programming is a mathematical technique well suited to any programming language, and the best way to understand it is to look at some linear programming examples
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Create and Use Erlang Modules and Functions
Rather that typing in the same code everytime that they start a new shell, the Erlang programmer can store all of their functions in a module and then use and reuse their
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Get Started with the Erlang Programming Language
The Ericsson Erlang programming language was developed for their mobile telephony switches and is now open source. It can handle thousands of parallel, distributed events
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The Python argv List and environ Dictionary
The Python argv list give the programmer access to command line arguments and the environ dictionary gives them access to environment variables.
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Starting Programming with Python
Python is a simple yet effective scripting language, and it's one that the programmer can learn very quickly regardless of the platform that they're using.
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An Introduction to Programming with Haskell
Any programmer looking for a concise and easy to understand programming language, that's also free and open source, doesn't need look any further than Haskell.
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How to Program with VBScript in a Perl Script
Today VBScript programmers can become Perl programmers without learning any new code. Well, almost no new code. They will have to learn how to load a module.
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How to Calculate the Phase of the Moon with Perl
It's difficult to most people to tell the difference between a waxing or waning crescent Moon. However, the Perl programmer doesn't have that problem. They have a module.
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How to Create a Simple Perl AJAX Application
AJAX is a simple technique that allows any programmer to create applications that can be used as part of web pages. Perl is no exception and AJAX works well with it
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How to Create a Simple VBScript AJAX Application
A VBScript developer need not be daunted by the thought of starting to use AJAX. In fact nothing could be easier than creating a VBScript based AJAX application.
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Getting Started with Windows Scripting Files
With a Windows Scripting file a programmer no longer has to worry about learning new languages. For example, a VBScript developer can use PerlScript or JScript with ease
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Using a Property Let and Get in a VBScript Class
A property in a VBScript class is some much more than just a variable. A programmer can add code to the get and let statements that will control the object's operations
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How to Initialise and Terminate a VBScript Class
If a VBScript programmer adds variables to a class, they may need default values.One way to do this is to use subroutines that run when the class is initialized.
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Starting Object Oriented Programming in VBScript
For the VBScript programmer object oriented programming is particularly easy. With just a few minutes programming they can develop classes that they can use and reuse
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How to Process Inputs to a REBOL CGI Web Page
Web Pages users normally pass information to applications by means of an HTML Form. The REBOL programmer can take those inputs and use them in their CGI scripts.
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How to Create and Run a REBOL CGI Web Page
A programmer can quickly create business rules by using REBOL/View, but by with a CGI application with REBOL/Core they can enable anyone with Internet access to run it.
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Using GET and POST in a VBScript CGI Web Page
One of the key tasks that any CGI web page must do is to process the GET and POST variables sent from forms. This can be difficult, but not for the VBScript programmer.
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How to Use the VBScript Scripting Dictionary
VBScript does not have the associative array (or hash) data type. However, what it does have is the scripting dictionary. If anything, it's even better than a hash.
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Professional CGI Web Development with VBScript
CGI (the Common Gateway Interface) is traditionally the domain of languages such as Perl. However, there is no need for the VBScript programmer to set aside their skills
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How to Create a Simple VBScript CGI Web Page
VBScript is not normally considered as a cgi programming language. However, with just a little tweeking, it is as easy (if not easier) to use as Perl.
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How to Use Cookies with a Perl CGI Web Page
Cookies are small pieces of information left on a computer by a web page, and they can be manipulated by any Perl programmer.
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Starting Object Oriented Programming with Perl
Perl is not just a scripting language for CGI web pages. It is also a very powerful object oriented programming. Fortunately it is also very simple to use.
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Using Perl Subroutines, Packages and Modules
A Perl programmer should try to reuse code as much as possible (just as any programmer should), and they do that by using subroutines, packages and modules.
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Using Associative Arrays in Perl Programming
The Perl Associative array (or hash) allows the programmer to use a string as in index to an array rather than a number.
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How to Use a MySQL Database in a Perl Program
A MySQL database will always form a suitable backend for any application, and the Perl programmer will find that this can be achieved very easily.
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How to Use a Form in a Perl CGI Web Page
Nothing could be simpler than adding a form to a Perl CGI web page, and if a programmer uses the Perl CGI module then they can easily process the information it contains
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How to Use Perl Programming on a Web Site
Per is one of the easiest programming lanuages to start with when it comes to CGI application development - it doesn't even mattter if the web server is Linux or Windows.
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A Brief Introduction to Programming with Perl
Perl is a used in many web sites, however it is a powerful programming languages in its own right. This is very evident in the way that it handles variables and arrays.
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How to Use Business Rules in a MySQL Database
Business rules are incredibly important to every organisation. They can be made application independent by placing them in a MySQL database.
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An Introduction to Business Rules Programming
Business rules are representations of the practices and process built ( and often evolved) within an organisation.Added to applications they benefit everyone
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A Brief Introduction to REBOL Programming
REBOL (the Relative Expression-Based Object Language) is a light, but powerful scripting language.
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How to Create a REBOL Dialect
The REBOL programming language contains an important concept. That of Dialects. With a dialect the programmer can start to write business rules.
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An Introduction to the Boo Programming Language
Boo is an object oriented programming with the ease of use of Python and the advantage of type inference. Why make programming harder than it need be?
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An Introduction to a Nice Programming Language
Nice is a programming language that extends Java and Java classes, but it is very simple to use. It can even add methods to a class without touching the source code.
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Taking Control with the PC Command Line
The Linux command line is a powerful place to be, and that power is available to a Windows user as well. Now everyone can take complete control of their own computers.
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How to Determine a File Type on Linux
The Linux find command can be used to identify file types and, as part of a script, it can process those files. For example, to add images to a web page.
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Working with the Greek Alphabet and C#
The Greek alphabet cannot be displayed directly as part of a C# application. Instead ASCII codes must be used. Fortunatley that is not very difficult.
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VBScript and the ASCII Greek Alphabet
Greek letters cannot be added directly to a web page - they need ASCII codes. And a little VBScript code makes life a lot easier.
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Display the Greek Alphabet with VBScript
The Greek alphabet cannot typed directly into a web page. Instead ASCII codes must be used. So, intead of having to remember 48 separate codes just use VBScript code.
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A Brief Introduction to Lua Scripting
Lua (portuguese for "Moon") is the scripting language used for World of Warcraft's interface customization. It's light, fast, portable, embeddable and very easy to learn
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How To Create an OpenOffice.org Database Log On
When looking an OpenOffice.org database there is no way of adding user accounts. Not directly, anyway. The secret is to use a little bit of SQL.
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Creating and Customizing OpenOffice.org Dialogs
Application dialogs tend very simple and uninspiring. However, that's not true of OpenOffice.org. An OpenOffice.org dialog is fully customizable and very flexible.
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The Summer Solstice and the Programmer
The Summer Solstice does not occur on the same day every year. How can a programmer cope with this changing date?
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How to Create a Self Registering Base Database
With the release of OpenOffice.org 3.1 the programmer can do something important. They can add a macro to a database and they can run it automatically.
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How to Create OpenOffice.org Database Macros
Release 3.1 of OpenOffice.org gives programmers a new facility - the ability to save macros as part of a database file.
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How to Format Calc Spreadsheet Cells with C#
An OpenOffice.org Calc Spreadsheet user can format cells manually to provide a professional looking report. However, a C# programmer can easily automate the whole process
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Creating an OpenOffice Calc Document with C#
OpenOffice.org Calc does most things that Microsoft Excel can do. And for free. Not only that, but it provides a programming interface for the C# application developer.
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Creating an OpenOffice Writer Document with C#
C# programmer can now delve into the world of open source applications such as OpenOffice.org Writer by making use of the CLI - the Common Language Interface.
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Simulating Human Input to Microsoft Word with C#
A C# programmer can insert whole paragraphs into a Microsoft Word Document or they can program their application to type information in as a human would do.
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How to Create a Word Document with PowerShell
These days there's no need for anyone to spend hours typing up those weekly reports. All they need is Microsoft Word and a PowerShell Script
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How to Create a Microsoft Word Document with C#
A C# programmer can quickly automate the creation of a Microsoft Word document. With just a few lines of code they can add paragraphs as save the file to the computer.
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Using PowerShell User Parameters and Prompts
The programmer of a PowerShell script always has a vital source of information - the user. The question is how to get that information from them.
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How to Update A MySQL Database with C#
It is important to keep the contents of a database up to date. It's fortunate, therefore, that C# and the MySQL .NET connector make that an easy task.
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How to Connect to a MySQL Database with C#
Using databases may seem daunting to the new C# programmer, but it shouldn't. Not if they're using the MySQL .NET connector.
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How to Add Records to MySQL With C#
As well as viewing data in a MySQL database, a C# programmer can add information by using the SQL insert statement and the MySQL .NET connector
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How to Create a Menu with ASP
A menu can make a web page look much more professional than a multitude of links. If the web page developer is working with ASP then the menu can be added very easily.
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How to Use the MySQL Data Reader
One real advantange to using the Microsoft .NET framework is that the same objects (such as a data reader) can be used in multiple applications using different languages.
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Choosing a Windows Scripting Language
The Windows script developer can choose between MS-DOS (or CMD), VBScript and now PowerShell. There are pros and cons for each of them, so which is best?
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Connecting to MySQL from PowerShell
PowerShell is Microsoft's .NET scripting language. If the programmer combines this with the MySQL .NET connector then they can build a very powerful database application
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How to Write a PowerShell Script
Microsoft Windows PowerShell Cmdlets are very powerful because of the way in which they use .NET objects. Using a script makes them versatile and efficient.
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An Introduction to the Windows PowerShell
PowerShell is Microsoft's new shell language. It works with the .NET objects and is therefore much more powerful than MS-DOS or CMD, but much simpler than VBScript.
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How to Access MySQL with C#
C# and MySQL make a very powerful combination, and it's all made possible by using the MySQL .NET connector
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How to Add Tabs to a C# Windows Application
A programmer can make Windows forms simpler to use for their users by adding tabs, and this can be easily achieved by using some C# code.
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How to Work with Dates and a C# Date Time Picker
The Date Time Picker is an interactive calendar used in many Windows applications, and it canbe programmed by using C# code.
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How to Add and Customize a C# Date Time Picker
A Date Time Picker is a visual way of choosing a date in a Windows application. This interactive calendar can added to a form and customized with C#.
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How to Create a Dynamic C# ComboBox
Every C# Windows application needs at least one ComboBox - especially when the contents of the ComboBox can be updated dynamically.
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