Old School Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

Want to use Query Analyzer keyboard shortcuts, like Ctrl-Shift C (comment the highlighted lines) and Ctrl-Shift R (uncomment the highlighted lines) in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)? Easy. Open SSMS's Options (Tools -> Options), go to Environment -> Keyboard and change the Keyboard scheme to SQL Server 2000 and click OK.

.NET Setup Project Custom Actions

Ever created a .NET windows service in Visual Studio, added a setup project, set all of the properties to install and display the correct information during installation, only to have the service not show up in Windows' Services Microsoft Management Console (mmc)? You probably forgot to add the custom actions.

To add custom actions to your setup project:
1) Click the setup project in Solution Explorer
2) Click the Custom Actions Editor button at the top of Solution Explorer
3) Right-click on the Custom Actions node
4) Click Add Custom Action
5) In the Select Item in Project dialog box, select Application Folder from the dropdown
6) Click OK

That's it. Right-click the setup project, and click Install. Your service should now appear in the Services mmc. Just remember to close the Services mmc before you uninstall, or undesired consequences may result. Good luck!

Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification

Two years. It's been two years since I received my Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) certification for Microsoft .NET 1.0 and 1.1. Now, I'm studying for the MCPD certification for .NET 2.0. The practice tests are similar to the tests leading up to the MCAD, so I'm not worried about failing the test because of formatting changes. In fact, I've been programming in .NET 2.0 for nearly a year, and most of the practice questions are familiar.

Because I already have my MCAD, upgrading to the MCPD requires that I pass only one test. I have chosen the Windows developer MCPD path (test 70-552), because most of the .NET 2.0 applications that I write at work are windows applications.

The reason that I want to complete Microsoft certifications is that my employer pays for the study materials and tests, it looks good to potential employers, and hey, this is a good substitute for going back to school (who would hire me if I had a Ph.D., anyway?).

I plan on taking test 70-552 mid-late August, depending on how much time I can spend studying between now and then.

Do you have any of the Microsoft .NET certifications? Have they helped you in your career? Please post in the comments below. Thanks.