We all know that a DesignDB (a local instance of SQL Server to host the Design Database) is no longer required; instead, everything is loaded into a single model representation. However, when I was loading the database project, I ran into the model size limitation as the model exceeds 257MB limit and the following error came up:

The database file is larger than the configured maximum database size. This setting takes effect on the first concurrent database connection only. [Required Max Database Size (in MB; 0 if unknown) = 257]

UPDATES: This is fixed in GDR July CTP as I can load the database project without the above error message

Important changes:

• Project upgrade is now in place.
• Mixed projects are no longer supported, from now on server projects represent only server creatable objects and user objects that need to be deployed to “master”. Another change is that server options will not get deployed; only the settings are validated as pre-requisites for a deployment. As such server options (sp_configure) have been added to the project system.
• The interpreter now understands temporary tables, table variables and select into column sources.
• The Static Code Analysis MSBuild task was added
• XSD Reference user interface support is enable, but it does not yet create XML Schema Collections
• And lots of fixes since CTP14

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bb3ad767-5f69-4db9-b1c9-8f55759846ed&displaylang=en

Background
Free, unlimited installation and compatibility support is now available for customers using Windows Vista SP1, until March 18, 2009.
Telephone support is available. Some countries also offer Chat and Email support.

Effective Dates
From now until 18 March 2009

Location
Find out more and access the service at http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx?rdpath=1&prid=11274&gprid=500921

Who is Affected
All users of Windows Vista SP1

What's New\Updated in the July Release
A new UI for subscribing for TFS Alerts (NEW!)

• A VS plugin (and therefore much more friendly than the BisSubscribe command line tool) and enables much more flexible subscriptions.
• Alerts can be based on Checkin, Work Item change or Build completion
• Removed "Disconnect from Team Foundation server" from Menu

Best Practices Analyzer (BPA Tool) (Updated)

• Support for SQLServer 2008
• Incremental improvements and bug fixes

TFSUsers  (NEW!)

• This tool allows administrators to update TFS Work Items and event subscriptions when names are changed in Active Directory.

Work Item Templates and Process Template Editor (Updated)

• Bug fixes

TFPT (Updated)

• tfpt treeclean was an existing command that will delete files on your local disk that are in source controlled folders but are not in source control.  The primary difference is that it is now dramatically faster.  tfpt treeclean now replaces tfpt online /purge, which is no longer available.
• A new tfpt scorch command - scorch is like treeclean except that additionally it re-downloads content that has been changed locally without pending an edit and content that has been deleted locally without pending a delete.
• Important bug fixes in tfpt unshelve /migrate where the base versions for a 3 way merge were sometimes being computed incorrectly.
• Improvements in online, scorch and treeclean to now handle folders as well as files, to properly handle single file mappings and proper treatment of items with pending changes other than "edit".

Download: Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server Power Tools - July 2008 Release

I was unable to boot up a virtual machine today after the guest OS properly shut down. This was weird as I didn't perform any major change to the virtual machine. Hence, quickly took a quick look at the Event Viewer, which revealed a series of errors saying "servername" could not be started because one of its virtual hard disks is already in use by another running virtual machine.

Besides, it was apparent that none of the other virtual machines were running at that time based on the summary shown on Virtual Server Master Status. I began to wonder if any specific process locked the virtual machine files...

I went to download Process Monitor and from the event monitor, I realized that the virtual machines files were locked by network backup software (which was running at that time!).

With the company's commitment to celebrate 40th anniversary by donating volunteer time worldwide, our team took part in a series of community services targeted at a local orphanage. Last Friday, the team organized a birthday bash coupled with live performances, games, cake cutting and gift giving activities at the orphanage for the kids. The entire event was energetic and fun.

I took part in martial arts performance: Tai Chi as well as gift giving session as Darth Vader to cheer up the kids (some kids freaked out though LOL)...