In a previous post I mentioned that I was using an unsupported tool from Microsoft called the Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel for WinXP. Well, I think I've just discovered why it is unsupported. I'm using it to run an install direct from an ISO, and the install is complaining about a missing file. However, if I burn the ISO to CD, the file is there.

Thankfully, someone just pointed me at Daemon Tools, which is also free but works just fine with the ISO that caused the other one to fail.

Inspect Exception Object

I've been doing some work in another .NET tool, which shall remain nameless for what it's worth :-), and I've found myself missing a few features from C#Builder and Delphi 8. I don't want to start a "My tool's better than your tool" war, but I guess it's not until you use another tool that you notice some of the features of the tool you're used to.

Case in point: Exceptions. When an exception occurs during debugging, this other tool gives me a modal dialog with the details of the exception, but being modal, I have to dismiss it before I can go looking for my error. Problem is, my memory sucks. So, once I've dimissed this modal dialog, I invariably forget some of the details. I believe there is a magic string I can enter into the watch window to get the details of the exception, but I don't think it's documented and buggered if I can remember what it is.

C#Builder and Delphi 8, on the other hand, give me the same modal dialog, but notice in the screenshot above, the checkbox in the bottom right corner that says Inspect Exception Object? If I leave that checked, I get a Debug Inspector showing all the details of the Exception object that I can dock against my code while I go looking for my error.

A little thing maybe, but a little thing that I didn't really notice until it wasn't there.

Channel 9 : Windows is not the most important OS

Bill Hill, the co-inventor of ClearType and the head of the typography team at Microsoft, has a couple of short video interviews up on Channel 9. The one on Windows not being the most important OS made me smile (It might have something to do with the fact that he sounds a bit like my grandmother). Channel 9 so far has been a bit hit and miss, but it's only the first day I think, so too early to unsubscribe from their feed.