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Current MCSD's are still valid from pre .NET days and there is no requirement that I'm aware of to upgrade. I did upgrade my just as a means of learning though.
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Changes to the MCSD have been few and far between over recent years. I doubt MCAD requirements will change for at least 2 years and I doubt they'll change that soon.
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It still gives you some advantage to know COM/ATL even today. While it may not be a deciding factor, MCAD does give you an extra edge. Personally, exams is a good way to let me gauge what I do not know about things that I should know.
norm
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I'd advise you to just take the plunge. The only thing you'll spend is a little bit of time, and the tests are pretty damn easy. I have a mostly non-MS background (some C++ and a lot of Java), and I recently became an MCSD and then MCDBA, a total of seven tests. I studied a total of seven days-- one for each test. Please believe me, I'm no genius; the tests just aren't that difficult. Microsoft has done this intentionally in an effort to increase their market share; they'd love to be able to trumpet "10 million certified .NET developers can't be wrong" on every media channel.
Especially for someone like yourself, recently graduated (which means you have recent study experience), it'd be pretty easy to knock one out each weekend WITHOUT killing yourself. You'd also be bound to learn some interesting things during your studying, things you wouldn't naturally pick up in the course of your work. If they don't offer an upgrade path later, just do the same thing over again; it'll keep you on your toes. Or you could just decide at that point that Microsoft can go hang for putting you through all that trouble for nothing...
Regards,
Jeff Varszegi
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Thanks for the thoughts guys ... now that i've got some spare time i've decided to take the plunge .. i hope to sit my first exam later this month!!
Fingers crossed!!
Paul Griffin
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Great!
If you have a few extra bucks to spend, I'd check out the Transcender exams at transcender.com; their practice suites are pretty awesome. Last I knew they were around ninety bucks each, but you get a discount if you buy a few together. They usually come with a flashcard part and a testing part, and the latter contains multi-paragraph explanations of the answers and why they're wrong or right, for every answer to every question. The flashcards are helpful, but the practice test answers usually wind up teaching me something that's useful to know.
I'm not shilling for Transcender; I seldom recommend anything to anybody, but I was impressed by their stuff. If you don't want to spend the extra money, I'm positive you'll do really well just by studying and/or practicing.
One thing about the MS exams that made me sweat a couple of times was just the extreme length of some of the questions, which can easily scroll past an entire page depending on the computer setup at the testing center. You have to just force yourself to read those as quickly as you can, and then read it again if necessary. I think that for such lengthy questions, it's better not to come back and force yourself through it again; just focus hard for a minute or two and choose the best answer and let it go, no worries.
If you're taking the Windows Forms test first, you will pick up at least a question or two just by memorizing all of the properties, etc. of the standard widgets.
Good luck!
Jeff Varszegi
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LMAO... I hope you weren't plugging for Transcender. They have been bought out and I dance around the purchase agreement! The company has ruined my family forever! I will boycott to the bitter end! 
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If you position yourself as an all round developer i.e. asp.net, C++ and/or C#, ADO.net some DBMS and most of the rest of the alphabet, do you stand a better chance of landing a plum job?
Does this approach dilute the quality of work in the long run?
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My current work situation is kind of shaky (because of the company, not because I'm a loser), and I'm not sure what's going to happen. I am getting certified in several different things right now, to be prepared to go for a jack-of-all-trades IT job at a tiny company, where I might wind up the one-man IT team. I figure those kinds of jobs feature lots of real responsibility (somewhat lacking at my current job), and they can't be shipped overseas.
I think it's a good idea for a programmer to have a DBA certification, and vice versa; with respect to your "major" skill I wouldn't carry more than two or three certifications, because of the risk of seeming like a dilettante. Of course, you can get certified in lots of things, then withhold certain certifications from a hand-tailored resume that you send with each job application. The only thing there is that you have to make sure you don't get multiple versions of your resume floating around on the net!
My only current certifications are MCDBA (SQL Server 2000), MCSD .NET, and a Sun java certification. I am getting ready to become Oracle certified as well, just in case it'll be helpful; I wanted to practice my PL/SQL anyway.
One last thing: if you plan to apply for a technical leadership position even at a big company, it probably can't hurt to be certified in zillions of things. Even better would be to actually have decent skill in each area. 
Regards,
Jeff Varszegi
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Anybody care to share their insight on the job market for scientific programming. I'm a computational chemist.
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I am a scientific programmer who runs his own company. Here is my insight into my experience.
Scientific programming can be a nice place to be, if you can find the right niche market. I market a software package to the disk drive industry. There are not a lot of potential users, the hours are long, and you must be a jack of all trades (to put together marketing pamphlets, a user manual, a freindly GUI, all this in addition to the scientific skills you bring to the table). In order to make ends meet I have to sell my product at a high price which scares a lot of potential users. If you have not already done so, you will spend a lot of time developing the product (without pay) so that it is marketable. Once you put your product on the market it will take an additional 3-6 months before people begin to purchase it. Therefore, you will need some money in the bank to get you through the development phase and initial introduction phase. Money does not come in in a predictable way, so there will be times when you just scrape by and others when you have a lot of money in the bank. You will be caught in a cycle of never-ending updates. I charge a yearly license for my software which does give some predictability to my finances. You will have to handle all your tax issues (including self employment tax). If you can afford it, find an office outside the home. You will have to be extremely self-driven and work to find a balance between home life and work life.
The life style can be nice. The hours are long (already mentioned that), but the freedom is wonderful. You can take vacations when you want to. If you have children, you can go and see them at school plays and the like without feeling guilty. There is no boss, so you can work when you want and develop the program in whatever direction you want to which is very, very nice.
Before owning my own business I worked for a small 5 man company that did scientific computing. Working for yourself is much better. If you can find a company that is hiring someone with your background, however, then it can be a rewarding experience. It is a lot of fun to work with others who are doing the same as you and to be able to bounce ideas around with them. Small companies, though, can be very hard to work for. Unless you have the best idea since sliced bread, money will always be tight and when you work for yourself or for a small operation, you will always be sorely aware of just how close you are to being out on the street.
I hope this helps
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I'm a electrical engineer that often writes embedded code in C for 8 and 16 bit microcontrollers. I have written a few Windose apps using Builder in the past but it looks to me that C# and .NET is the way to go for the foreseeable future.
I was considering taking one of those C# Bootcamp 4-day courses to help me get started but, at lease for me, they seem to force feed too much information in too small of a time to be of much use. (Memory is the second thing to go.)
There are a load of online courses available that look to be a good solution. Unfortunatly, they all look the same from their web sites and it's hard to tell just how good they are until after you're half way through it and the money is paid.
Can anyone here reccommend a high quality online course program? My goal is a MCAD certification.
Thanks,
Ken Galer
Electrical Engineer
Preferred Utilities Corp.
Danbury, CT 06810
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I have just been recruited in to a new position as a Senior Web Developer and have been asked if I know of anyone else who can take up a second position doing the same thing.
The role is C#/ASP.NET web development against SQL Server 2000 and IIS 6.0.
If you're UK-based and interested, let me know and I'll pass on your details.
Derek Lakin Providing instant integrated access to an online repository of .NET components from Visual Studio.NET and #Develop. Personal musings on life, the universe and everything as well as commentary on my software & digital graphics life.
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COM+ Transaction 70-320 exam question
[Transaction(TransactionOption.Required)]
[SecurityRole("Admin")]
public class SalesProcessor
{
public void PlaceOrder()
{
//STEP 1: Code here to insert order to order table, calling method on another COM+ component participating in the transaction.
objCOM1.InsertOrder(...);
//STEP 2: Code here to update shipping table. Again, calling method on a second COM+ component participating in the transaction.
objCOM2.UpdateShipping(...);
}
}
The question is, what do you need to add in order for the transaction initiated by PlaceOrder to be executed properly. You options are:
a. Add [AutoComplete(true)] to PlaceOrder
b. Add EnableCommit( ) to "End" of PlaceOrder method.
c. ... not viable option ...
d. ... not viable option ...
The model answer is "EnableCommit" (That's option *b*). But I don't understand why. I never used EnableCommit( ) before, never had to. If I don't use [AutoComplete(true)] to automatically call SetComplete and SetAbort, I'd do it manually:
public void PlaceOrder()
{
ContextUtil.EnableCommit( ); //Is this how you use EnableCommit()? But "option b" suggested that it should be added at the END of the method after the processing... That's weird.
try
{
objCOM1.InsertOrder(...);
objCOM2.UpdateShipping(...);
ContextUtil.SetComplete(...);
}
catch(Exception er)
{
... exception prcessing ...
ContextUtil.SetAbort( );
}
}
Otherwise, [AutoComplete(true)] would do the job:
[AutoComplete(true)]
public void PlaceOrder()
{
objCOM1.InsertOrder(...);
objCOM2.UpdateShipping(...);
}
Thanks.
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I don't think I would call EnableCommit as a matter of course (for example, as the first line of code in PlaceHolder). What that says is, "Regardless of what I do with the code in PlaceHolder that may impact my transaction, I choose to vote for committing it anyway." That is to say, in general, you call EnableCommit *after* the body of your transaction-aware code has executed, to tell other participants in the transaction that your code is unaware of any reason not to commit.
Second (and I am not a COM+ transaction authority), my understanding of AutoComplete versus EnableCommit is that AutoComplete is used to both ensure the creation of a transaction, and ensure that SetComplete is called if the tagged method returns normally(PlaceHolder in this case). Marking the method as AutoComplete(true) suggests that PlaceHolder is the first and last bit of logic to use the created transaction. Can't tell by your question, but I must assume there may be other methods called either before or after PlaceHolder that also intend to use the transaction.
SetComplete sets both the IsConsistent and IsDone bits on a transaction context, indicating that the transaction should proceed with the act of committing itself (bad news if other logic needs the transaction), while EnableCommit only sets the IsConsistent bit, allowing further code to use the transaction instead of trying to commit it immediately.
If PlaceHolder actually sits in the middle of other methods, all of which are intended for use in the same transaction context, setting EnableCommit at the end of PlaceHolder's execution would be the right choice with regards to transaction integrity.
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' ('I found it!') but 'That's funny...’
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hi,
i need good resume format. send it to me. email address is murali_utr@hotmail.com,murali_utr@vsnl.net. any one help to me.
thanks in advance
Have A Nice Day
Murali.M
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I plan to start studying for a MCAD (then MCSD) and I was wondering how it takes to prepare for a single exam?
Also how repesected is an MCAD in the software development when you combine with a degree in computer science?
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I'm taking the SQL Exam this coming Wednesday, I've been studying BOL, and the book "Professional SQL Server 2000 Programming" by Robert Vieira, and "Inside SQL Server 2000" by Kalen Delaney and also using the Transcender practice exams.
Hopefully I will pass the SQL Design exam and then onto the "Web Services" exam and finally the Developing Web Applications with C# exam, I have MOC books which I plan to use for preparing for the above mentioned exams.
The amount of time it takes depends on the amount of time you have to spend preparing before you sit the exam.
Depending on your experience with the parts of the exams you are preparing for, on average I would at least give yourself 2 weeks minimum to prepare for any MS Exam although opinions may vary.
I have a BS Degree in Aeronautics, I also hold the Windows NT MCSE Cert, combined with the cert's I've managed to stay employed. There is a definate advantage to having a degree in todays job market, however I know IT folks who don't have a degree and make more money than a lot of the others. I also must add, experience on the job is key, but if you are new, you will have to start out as a green horn but you have to start somewhere.
The MCAD Cert is relativly new, I'm not sure how it is looked upon by IT Managers.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735609985/qid=1066539723/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-3310558-7210558?v=glance&s=books[^]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735615845/qid%3D1066539822/sr%3D4-1/ref%3Dsr%5F4%5F1/102-3310558-7210558?st-type=slots-id&st-id=Q1UGIHSKCH0K0C[^]
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735615861/qid%3D1066539822/sr%3D4-3/ref%3Dsr%5F4%5F3/102-3310558-7210558?st-type=slots-id&st-id=Q2MDR8WIZIGG2T[^]
Just my $00.2
Tony
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I have completed my MCAD and MCSD.NET already.
I spent between 20 to 40 hours studying for each exam, including reading the MS Press book and going through the Transcender practic exams.
Eric Michel
MCP, MCAD, MCSD
Website: http://www.ericmichel.com
eMail: theblueenergy-dotnetnews@yahoo.com
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I have my MCSD for .NET and my MCDBA for Windows 2000 (along with other non-Microsoft certifications). I spent one day preparing for each exam: I scheduled each one for Monday at 10 AM, then started studying at around noon on Sunday and didn't let up until I left for the exam.
I think people are different, but in my experience it's better to study very hard over a shorter period of time than to study for many short periods spread out over a long span of time. It's inevitable that some knowledge will be lost between short study sessions; I think that this knowledge is better cemented in place if more of it's taken at a time.
What I'm trying to say is that I don't seem to suffer a loss of knowledge after the fact with my method, even though some would call it cramming; in fact, much the opposite. I wouldn't necessarily recommend just one session before each test, but you should also realize that a lot of the knowledge you gain in studying for these tests will never be useful to you.
I have seen lots of Microsoft-centered shops where the people ooh and ah over Microsoft certifications of any stripe, but in my experience the most well-known to the general public are (in order of descending importance)
MCSE
MCSA
MCDBA
MCSD
MCAD
MCP
and then all the rest.
The bottom line is that all computer-related certifications are relatively easy to achieve (even Cisco certs), and they're not going to hurt your chances at all, unless you really don't know what to do with the stuff when you go for a technical interview with someone who does know. In general, the best thing that you can hope for from a certification is to show some level of familiarity with a certain topic. In my opinion, the resume format and interview are the most important factors when applying for a new job (although I try to stay highly certified all the time).
It would also be bad to have ten different certifications on your resume, needless to say. I would pick two or three certifications that you think wouldn't hurt to have, study intensely for a short time for each one and go confidently to take the exams, then not worry about it all again for a couple of years! Good luck on your job search.
Regards,
Jeff Varszegi
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How's the job market for C# developers?
norm
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In the US mid-west: Competitive with moderate salary for entry-level positions (1-yr exp.). Unfortunately, I am "overqualified" (3 yrs C#); in employer-speak, I am asking for to much money.
Good thing I already have a decent job; I have already turned down two full-time positions involving C#/.NET due to sub-standard offers in the last three months.
The market for experienced developers isn't so soft anymore.
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What's a moderate salary for 1-yr exp in Mid-West?
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