Returning data tables from Web Services in .NET

This is just a small reminder, and I don't know why it gets me every time, but it does. I guess I return data tables from web services infrequently enough where I don't think about it. Maybe writing it down somewhere will help me remember. When creating a data table to return from a web service, give the table a name.


DataTable dt = new DataTable("nameMyTable");


If you don't, the first time you hit the service when testing you will get an exception about the table not having a name. And then you will curse to yourself and then give it a name and move on with your life.

scripts for processing stuff

Often I need to write something up quick to process a file, or process files in a directory and I'll want a GUI for these things so I can pass them along to other people to use. Here are two python scripts that I use as templates for picking either a file or a directory and then doing something with it. The object here isn't to have everything "correct" according to the latest design fashion or methodology. With this script I can import a python module that takes a file or directory name and does the processing I want, plug in the function name, pass the parameter and then move on with my life.

Pick a file and do something with it:

from tkinter import *
from tkinter.messagebox import *
from tkinter.filedialog import *

class FileProcessor(Frame):

# Object constructor
    def __init__(self, parent=None):
        Frame.__init__(self, parent)

        self.txtFile = Entry(parent)
        self.txtFile.place(x=6,y=64,width=375,height=24)
        self.txtFile.insert(0,'')

        self.btnPickFile = Button(parent,text='Pick File', command=self.btnPickFileClick)
        self.btnPickFile.place(x=6,y=20,width=96,height=24)

        self.btnRun = Button(parent,text='RUN', command=self.btnRunClick)
        self.btnRun.place(x=6,y=114,width=96,height=30)


# Methods (event handlers) of object
    def btnPickFileClick(self):
        print (self.txtFile.get())
        self.txtFile.delete(0,END)
        self.txtFile.insert(0,askopenfilename())

    def btnRunClick(self):
        fileName = self.txtFile.get()
        self.runFile(fileName)

    def runFile(self, fileName):
        print('code goes here to run when click: ' + fileName)
        showinfo('The file is',fileName)

# Method called if script is run directly
# instead of imported or used as a class
if __name__ == '__main__':
    root = Tk()
    root.title('Process File')
    myForm = FileProcessor(root)
    myForm.pack()
    root.geometry("423x156")
    root.minsize(423,156)
    root.maxsize(423,156)
    root.mainloop()

Pick a directory and do something wit it:

from tkinter import *
from tkinter.messagebox import *
from tkinter.filedialog import *

class DirectoryProcessor(Frame):

# Object constructor
    def __init__(self, parent=None):
        Frame.__init__(self, parent)

        self.txtDir = Entry(parent)
        self.txtDir.place(x=6,y=64,width=375,height=24)
        self.txtDir.insert(0,'')

        self.btnPickFile = Button(parent,text='Pick Directory', command=self.btnPickFileClick)
        self.btnPickFile.place(x=6,y=20,width=96,height=24)

        self.btnRun = Button(parent,text='RUN', command=self.btnRunClick)
        self.btnRun.place(x=6,y=114,width=96,height=30)


# Methods (event handlers) of object
    def btnPickFileClick(self):
        print (self.txtDir.get())
        self.txtDir.delete(0,END)
        self.txtDir.insert(0,askdirectory())

    def btnRunClick(self):
        dirName = self.txtDir.get()
        self.runDir(dirName)

    def runDir(self, directoryName):
        print('code goes here to run when click: ' + directoryName)
        showinfo('The directory is',directoryName)

# Method called if script is run directly
# instead of imported or used as a class
if __name__ == '__main__':
    root = Tk()
    root.title('Process Directory')
    myForm = DirectoryProcessor(root)
    myForm.pack()
    root.geometry("423x156")
    root.minsize(423,156)
    root.maxsize(423,156)
    root.mainloop()