I finally finished up my two new tutorials on DataShaping and gifStream. Check them out in the Dynamic section of dwfaq.com.

Snippets now MX Compatible

We've got the Snippets Exchange converted, and all snippets are now MX compatible (shweet!). Look for new instructions for snippets downloads if you're using Massimo's Snippet Panel in version 4 Macromedia products.

Macromedia and Adobe Shake Hands

Looks like the big two web companies have finally settled their patent infringement suits (even though the details are confidential). It's sad that things have to degrade to these types of actions. Hopefully this will allow product development to continue at a quicker pace (albeit more carefully).

I finally did some "spring cleaning" and cleaned up the test area on my website. I've tried to index most of it (and there is quite a bit I haven't got to yet), but you can find some code I'm working on, and some you can grab for yourself in my little playground.

Been playing with CafePress.com lately, and I've opened my own ego-stroking store where I'll be selling WebShorts merchandise, and other goofy HTML geek type stuff. Let me know if you like it :). You can even buy an actual pair of Dan's Shorts.

Personal Stuff

Spent the weekend in Seattle, and boy am I glad to be back. Dealing with all things in-law is emotionally draining, considering the combativeness of the entire family. But another weekend is gone, and Kris' brother is now settled in a new apartment (his living room is larger than his entire old apartment. Feels good to know he's better off, and that he actually appreciates the help Kris and I give him.

Being in Seattle, how on Earth could we come home without visiting Ikea :). We bought a new entertainment center, a new coffee table and some lamps and such. Now we just have to find someone to buy our old one.

Since I'm using this site to communicate with my family as well, I'll try to start specifying what is what (so my Aunts aren't wondering what XHTML is and my colleagues who don't care to know about my in-laws can skip it ;).

All things work...

On the work front, I've been dealing more and more with DataShaping (see links in the post on the 16th) and am liking it more and more. I've been running a bunch of ideas through my head, mostly to do with off-the-shelf CMS systems. Would be nice to put together a "web site in a box" type of product, where you complete a template type file (via includes or a completely separate file) and then just upload everything and you're good to go.

I'm also getting geared up to go to Chicago in September. Gotta buy my plane tickets and get my content together for my presentations. Hopefully there will be rum and cookies (hint hint all you Shorties...).

I look forward to seeing you all there.

That's right, say it with me now... datashaping.

Many thanks go to Kindler Chase for putting me onto this wonderful technology. Datashaping is a function of Microsoft's latest ADO components. It allows you to easily nest information (think nested repeat region). This allows you to present tons of complex information easily.

And instead of trying to teach it all to you here in the blog, here's the list of links that Kindler sent me.

• 4Guys
• 4Guys
• ASP 101
• ASP 101
• MSDN Library
• MSDN Library
• MSDN Library

And to get UD or MX (I'd imagine) to work with datashaping, read the datashaping tut:
T-Cubed (nested repeat region using data shaping)