Export Vonage Call Log using IronPython and WatiN

Here is another IronPython script that shows how to use the WatiN testing framework, which is great for testing web pages in Internet Explorer, and it is starting to support Google Chrome and Firefox too. We use WatiN at work for testing the full stack on an ASP.Net website, and it works very well even for AJAX sites. This example will login to Vonage and export all of a user's call data to a CSV format.
"""Sample for getting Watin to work with IronPython Usage: Download the WatiN-2.0.10.928-net-2.0.zip file from http://sourceforge.net/projects/watin/files/ put this script file(WatinExample.py), Interop.SHDocVw.dll, Microsoft.mshtml.dll, and WatiN.Core.dll into a folder called Watin import the script or run execfile( "c:\\PATHTOFILES\\WatinExample.py") from console use the Run() method to run the script, or use Reload() to reload the module after making changes.""" import sys import clr import re from System.Reflection import Assembly #clr.AddReference("d:\My Documents\Resolver\Watin\WatiN.Core.dll") #Only works for IronPython 1.1 sys.path.append("D:\My Documents\Resolver\Watin") #Needed so that WatiN can find the Interop.SHDocVw.dll file assembly = Assembly.LoadFile("d:\\My Documents\\Resolver\\Watin\\WatiN.Core.dll") #Better way to import the file clr.AddReference(assembly) from WatiN.Core import * from System import DateTime,TimeSpan def reload(): """Code used to reload this module. Helpful for when testing from console.""" print "Reloading..." global Vonage Vonage.Close() execfile( "D:\\My Documents\\Resolver\\Watin\\WatinExample.py") def run(): """Code used to run a test script. Helpful for when testing from console.""" global listActivity Vonage.Logon("username","password") listActivity = Vonage.ParseActivity("1-(801)-123-4567", DateTime(2008,2,1),DateTime(2008,5,31)) Vonage.ArrayToCSV("C:\\test.csv",listActivity) class Vonage(object): "Static class for working with Vonage website using WatiN" IE = None #Instance of IE object used by WatiN @staticmethod def Logon(strUsername, strPassword): """Initiates WatiN for use in IronPython to scrape the Vonage website for call activity.""" print "Vonage.Login: Loading IE and browsing to Vonage.com" #TODO: Setup logging with different levels. Attach to WatiN for click events Vonage.IE = IE("http://www.vonage.com") Settings.WaitUntilExistsTimeOut = 25 #For development work set the timeout value to 15 seconds instead of default 30 seconds. print "Vonage.Login: Login to Vonage.com" Vonage.IE.TextField(Find.ByName("username")).TypeText(strUsername) Vonage.IE.TextField(Find.ByName("password")).TypeText(strPassword) Vonage.IE.Form(Find.ById("logonForm")).Submit() Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Log Out")).WaitUntilExists(15) #Waits up to 15 seconds for IE to login. If fails an exception will be thrown @staticmethod def isAuthenticated(): """Returns True if the session is currently logged in or false otherwise.""" return Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Log Out")).Exists @staticmethod def ParseActivity(strPhoneNumber, dtStartDate, dtEndDate): """Browses to the Activity section and parses the results. strPhoneNumber: Line Number to parse. Must be in 1-(xxx)-xxx-xxxx format. Must append (Fax) or (Virtual) for special lines. dtStartDate: Start Date (Inclusive). dtEndDate: End Date (Inclusive). Returns a list of call details""" if not Vonage.isAuthenticated(): raise "Vonage.ParseActivity Error: User is not authenticated." Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Activity")).Click() lstActivityData = [["DateTime", "From", "To", "Duration", "TransactionID","FromCallerID","TransferedTo"]] #Store Activity data as list of row data. First element is header row. #Run report for Incoming calls Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Advanced Activity Search")).Click() Vonage.IE.SelectList(Find.ByName("didID")).Option(strPhoneNumber).Select() #Select the phone number requested. If phone number does not exist an exception will be thrown. Vonage.SetDate("start",dtStartDate) Vonage.SetDate("end",dtEndDate.AddDays(1)) #NOTE: Have to set end date + one day to be inclusive Vonage.IE.RadioButton(Find.ByValue("Incoming")).Click() #First select incoming and run the report Vonage.IE.Form(Find.ByName("activityForm")).Submit() while True: Vonage.ParsePageData(lstActivityData) if Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Next>>")).Exists: Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Next>>")).Click() else: break #Run report again for outgoing calls Vonage.SetDate("start",dtStartDate) Vonage.SetDate("end",dtEndDate) Vonage.IE.RadioButton(Find.ByValue("Outgoing")).Click() #First select incoming and run the report Vonage.IE.Form(Find.ByName("activityForm")).Submit() while True: Vonage.ParsePageData(lstActivityData) if Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Next>>")).Exists: Vonage.IE.Link(Find.ByText("Next>>")).Click() else: break lstActivityData.sort(Vonage.SortData) #Sort data to merge Incoming and Outgoing calls return lstActivityData @staticmethod def ParsePageData(lstData): """Parses the call data from a page and appends each row to lstData""" print "Vonage.ParsePageData: Parse Page data." #TODO parse total results out of string and display "xx of xx" using table row count re.DOTALL = True #Make the . character match newlines in re.search for aRow in Vonage.IE.Table("received_calls").TableRows: #print aRow.InnerHtml if aRow.Index > 1 and aRow.TableCells.Count == 6: #Skip first and second row (header row) and any other row with less than 6 cells lstRowData = [] #See Row Data Format above lstData.append(lstRowData) #Add row to list lstRowData.append(DateTime.Parse(aRow.TableCells[0].Text + aRow.TableCells[1].Text)) #Create DateTime lstRowData.append(aRow.TableCells[2].Text.Trim()) #add From lstRowData.append(aRow.TableCells[3].Text.Trim()) #add To TODO: Parse Transfer data lstRowData.append(TimeSpan.Parse(aRow.TableCells[4].Text)) #add Duration lstRowData.append(long(aRow.TableCells[5].Text.Trim())) #add TransactionID regEx = re.search("<b>([^/]+)</b>'",aRow.TableCells[2].InnerHtml) #Get caller ID info if regEx and len(regEx.groups()) == 1: lstRowData.append(regEx.group(1)) else: lstRowData.append(None) regEx = re.search("Forwarded to (\d+)'",aRow.TableCells[2].InnerHtml) #Get forward info if regEx and len(regEx.groups()) == 1: lstRowData.append(regEx.group(1)) else: lstRowData.append(None) @staticmethod def SortData(lstA, lstB): "Comparer used to sort array data. Rates string datatypes highest, then compares based on datetime" if type(lstA[0]) == str: return -1 elif type(lstB[0]) == str: return 1 else: return cmp(lstA[0],lstB[0]) @staticmethod def SetDate(strPrefix, dtDate): """Used to set the Start and End Dates strPrefix: start or end dtDate: Datetime (inclusive)""" Vonage.IE.SelectList(Find.ByName(strPrefix+"Month")).Option(dtDate.ToString("MMM")).Select() Vonage.IE.SelectList(Find.ByName(strPrefix+"Day")).Option(dtDate.ToString("dd")).Select() Vonage.IE.SelectList(Find.ByName(strPrefix+"Year")).Option(dtDate.ToString("yyyy")).Select() Vonage.IE.SelectList(Find.ByName(strPrefix+"Time")).Option("Midnight").Select() @staticmethod def Close(): """Closes IE instance and cleans up""" if Vonage.IE <> None: print "Closing IE..." Vonage.IE.Close() Vonage.IE = None @staticmethod def ArrayToCSV(filename, listData): """Code used to convert an array of row data into a CSV file.""" csvFile = open(filename, "w") for aRow in listData: bFirst = True for aValue in aRow: if bFirst: bFirst = False #Reset first flag else: csvFile.write(",") #seperate values with a comma #Write data item with special conversions if type(aValue) in (int, long, float): #Keep integer types the same. Also DateTime is a special case (See ExcelManager.SetCell) csvFile.write(str(aValue)) #write numbers without quotes elif type(aValue) is TimeSpan: csvFile.write(str(aValue.TotalMinutes)) #write value as total minutes elif aValue is None: pass #write null entry as nothing (ie: 1,2,,4) else: #Cast everything else to a string csvFile.write("\""+str(aValue)+"\"") #Convert everything else to a string and enclose in brackets csvFile.write("\n") #New line after each row. Note: \r\n doesnt work correctly on IPY 1.1 csvFile.close()
Enjoy!

IronPython Date Selector: Pick a date... any date...

Another quick IronPython snipet that shows how to use the Windows.Form.MonthCalendar control to create a simple date selector.

"""rslCalendarForm contains the code for creating a Windows Form with a Calendar control to let the user choose a Date value. Usage: execfile(dirname(__file__)+"\\rslCalendarForm.py") #use execfile with the full path to the file name to load the module frmCalendar = CalendarForm("Window Title") #Create and load the form. GUI thread is blocked until the form is closed dtSelected = CalendarForm.LastDateSelected #Retrieve selected value from the static CalendarForm.LastDateSelected variable. """ #NOTE: Form code taken from http://www.voidspace.org.uk/ironpython/presentation.html and was originally written by Michael Foord import sys import clr clr.AddReference('System.Drawing') clr.AddReference('System.Windows.Forms') from System.Windows.Forms import Application, Form from System.Windows.Forms import Button as frmButton from System.Windows.Forms import (ControlStyles, ContextMenuStrip, DockStyle, FormStartPosition, ImageList, Keys, MenuStrip, MessageBox, MessageBoxButtons, MessageBoxIcon, Panel, TabControl, TabAlignment, TabPage, ToolStrip, ToolStripButton, ToolStripMenuItem,ToolStripLabel, ToolStripItemDisplayStyle, WebBrowser, Padding, FormBorderStyle,SizeGripStyle) from System.Windows.Forms import (MonthCalendar, Day) from System.Drawing import Size,Point from System import Uri, Exception, DateTime class CalendarForm(Form): "Windows Form that displays a Calendar control. This will run in the main GUI thread." LastDateSelected = None #Static value used to store the last date selected def __init__(self, Name="Calendar",dtStartDate=None): "Name is the title of the control. Callback is a method that accepts a Datetime as a parameter and will be called when the form is closed." Form.__init__(self) CalendarForm.LastDateSelected = None #Clear last date selection self.Text = Name self.Name = Name self.Width = 210 self.Height = 230 self.FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog self.SizeGripStyle = SizeGripStyle.Hide self.MinimizeBox = False self.MaximizeBox = False self.initMenu() self.initCalendar(dtStartDate) self.CenterToParent() self.ShowDialog() def createToolstripButton(self, name, text, clickHandler=None, keys=None): menuItem = ToolStripButton(Name = name, Text = text) if keys: menuItem.ShortcutKeys = keys if clickHandler: menuItem.Click += clickHandler return menuItem def initMenu(self): menuStrip = MenuStrip( Name = "Main MenuStrip", Dock = DockStyle.Bottom ) mSpacer = ToolStripLabel(" ") mBack = self.createToolstripButton('Save', '&Save', self.onSave) mSpacer2 = ToolStripLabel(" ") mForward = self.createToolstripButton('Cancel', '&Cancel', self.onCancel) menuStrip.Items.Add(mSpacer) menuStrip.Items.Add(mBack) menuStrip.Items.Add(mSpacer2) menuStrip.Items.Add(mForward) self.Controls.Add(menuStrip) def initCalendar(self, StartDate=None): "Setup the Calendar Control." pCalendar = Panel(Dock = DockStyle.Fill) pCalendar.Padding = Padding(25, 10, 25, 10) self.mCalendar = MonthCalendar() self.mCalendar.Location = Point (10, 10) self.mCalendar.FirstDayOfWeek = Day.Sunday self.mCalendar.ShowTodayCircle = False self.mCalendar.ShowToday = False self.mCalendar.ShowWeekNumbers = False self.mCalendar.MaxSelectionCount = 1 self.mCalendar.DoubleClick += self.onSave if StartDate==None: self.mCalendar.SetDate(DateTime.Now) else: self.mCalendar.SetDate(StartDate) pCalendar.Controls.Add(self.mCalendar) self.Controls.Add(pCalendar) def onSave(self, _, __): "Set the CalendarForm.LastDateSelected to the selected date and then close the form." CalendarForm.LastDateSelected = self.mCalendar.SelectionStart self.Close() def onCancel(self, _, __): self.Close()

Works well for selecting singe dates, and could be modified to support selecting a date range if desired. I prefer having a Start Date and End Date, and selecting each separately. Full code can be downloaded here.

Enjoy!

IronPython Excel COM Automation: Pivot this!

I have been playing around with IronPython recently while creating spreadsheets in Resolver One. So far I have been having a lot of fun, but I haven't really been doing anything that would be useful in a work setting. The main reason for this is because most of the spreadsheet work that I do revolves around pivot tables and Auto Filter, which are immensely helpful for visually analyzing data. I thought I might try and use Excel's COM Automation to add Pivot Charts and Auto Filter to any system with IronPython, and here is the code that I have come up with so far:
UPDATE 7/13/2009: After releasing the initial code, I found that there was a problem with the HideToolbars function causing the Excel toolbars to be disabled permanently. Also, the code would not work if the user's Region was set to something other than "en-US" due to this known bug. I updated the code to disable the HideToolbars function and use Reflection and the InvokeMember method to force the Culture to be "en-US". If you want to view the old "en-US" only code, you can download it here.
"""ExcelManager contains code for interacting with an Excel spreadsheet. This code should work with both IronPython 1.1 and IronPython 2.0 NOTE: Microsoft Excel must be installed on the machine for this to work. Code should be compatible with Office 2003 or Office 2007 If you get an error message about "IOError: Could not add reference to assembly Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel" then you need to install the Primary Interop Assemblies for Microsoft Office, which can be downloaded from: Office 2003 PIA: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3c9a983a-ac14-4125-8ba0-d36d67e0f4ad&displaylang=en Office 2007 PIA: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=59DAEBAA-BED4-4282-A28C-B864D8BFA513&displaylang=en Install from Office Setup CD: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa159923(office.11).aspx#officeprimaryinteropassembliesfaq_after The original code gave an Error: 0x80028018 "Old Format or Invalid Type Library" when trying to set worksheet values (Name, Cell.Value2, etc) This is a known issue when the computer's region is set to something other than en-us: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320369 The ExcelManager.SetProperty method was added as a workaround to this issues. It uses the Reflection and the InvokeMember method to ensure that the CurrentCulture is set to en-US. This method should be used whenever you set a property value to ensure that the code will work in any culture. More info at http://www.ironpython.info/index.php/Interacting_with_Excel """ import sys import clr clr.AddReference("Office") clr.AddReference("Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel") from Microsoft.Office.Interop import Excel from System.Reflection import Missing, BindingFlags from System.Threading import Thread from System.Globalization import CultureInfo from System import Array, DateTime, DayOfWeek def reload(): """Helper method to reload this script when testing or debuging""" print "Reloading..." global ExcelManager ExcelManager.CloseExcel(True) #Force Excel to close execfile( "D:\\My Documents\\Resolver\\RslPivot V1.4\\ExcelManager.py") def run(): """Sample method for how to use the Excel Manager""" global SheetData SheetData = [['a','b','c'],[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]] #Data should be packed row by row in a multi-dimentional array. First Row is Header Row. ExcelManager.OpenExcel(True) #Open Excel but do not show the window yet ExcelManager.NewBlankWorkbook("My Autofilter") ExcelManager.LoadSheetData(SheetData) ExcelManager.CreatePivotTable("My Pivot Table") ExcelManager.CreatePivotChart("My Pivot Chart") ExcelManager.HideToolbars(lstExcept=["PivotTable Field List", "Standard", "FormulaBar"]) #Disable all the toolbars except the Pivottable, Standard toolbar and FormulaBar ExcelManager.ShowWindow() class ExcelManager(object): """Static class for managing the Excel application. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.office.interop.excel(office.11).aspx for more details.""" ExcelApp = None #Excel Application Interop Object ExcelWorkbook = None #Excel Workbook Interop Object ExcelWorksheet = None #Excel Worksheet Interop Object PivotTable = None PivotChart = None LocalShortDateFormat = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern #used to format from OADate to correct format @staticmethod def SetProperty(target, name, value): """Used to set properties using the en-US culture, which is the safest way to do Excel COM integration. See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320369""" try: args = Array[object]([value]) return target.GetType().InvokeMember(name, BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.SetProperty | BindingFlags.Public, None, target, args, CultureInfo(1033)) except: print "Error setting Property: " + name print sys.exc_info() raise @staticmethod def OpenExcel(ShowWindow=False): """Opens a new Excel Application. ShowWindow: True means the window will be visible, otherwise the window will be hidden. """ #print "ExcelManager: Opening Excel" ExcelManager.ExcelApp = Excel.ApplicationClass() if ShowWindow: ExcelManager.ShowWindow() else: ExcelManager.HideWindow() @staticmethod def ShowWindow(): ExcelManager.ExcelApp.Visible = True @staticmethod def HideWindow(): ExcelManager.ExcelApp.Visible = False @staticmethod def CloseExcel(ForceClose=False): """Closes the Excel application. If ForceClose=True then the user will not be prompted to save any changes.""" if ExcelManager.ExcelApp <> None and ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook <> None: print "Quitting Excel..." if ForceClose and ExcelManager.ExcelApp.Workbooks.Count > 0: ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook, "Saved", True) ExcelManager.ExcelApp.Quit() @staticmethod def NewBlankWorkbook(SheetName="Worksheet"): """Opens a new blank workbook in Excel with one worksheet with the given Name.""" #print "ExcelManager: NewBlankWorkbook" ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook = ExcelManager.ExcelApp.Workbooks.Add() #NOTE: use Item.__getitem__(index) to be compatable with both IronPython 1.1 and IronPython 2.0 ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Item.__getitem__(3).Delete() #workbook starts with 3 blank worksheets. Delete the second and 3rd. ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Item.__getitem__(2).Delete() #ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Item.__getitem__(1).Name = SheetName #Threw error whenever the computer's region was set to something other than en-us. Use SetProperty method instead. ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Item.__getitem__(1), "Name", SheetName) ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet = ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Item.__getitem__(1) @staticmethod def SetCell(RowIndex, ColIndex, Value): #print "Loading Cell(" + str(RowIndex) + str(ColIndex) + ") with " + str(Value) aCell = ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet.Cells.Item.__getitem__(ColIndex).Item.__getitem__(RowIndex) if type(Value) == DateTime: #aCell.Value2 = Value.ToOADate() #Threw exception when culture was not en-us. Use SetProperty instead ExcelManager.SetProperty(aCell, "Value2", Value.ToOADate()) ExcelManager.SetProperty(aCell, "NumberFormat", ExcelManager.LocalShortDateFormat) else: ExcelManager.SetProperty(aCell, "Value2", Value) @staticmethod def SetRow(RowIndex, ArrayValues): #print "Loading Row " + str(RowIndex) + " with " + str(ArrayValues) intColIndex = 0 for aValue in ArrayValues: intColIndex += 1 ExcelManager.SetCell(RowIndex,intColIndex, aValue) @staticmethod def GetCommandBar(strName): """Helper method used to get a Commandbar. This way the code works with both IronPython 1.1 and IronPython 2.0""" if hasattr(ExcelManager.ExcelApp.CommandBars, "Item"): return ExcelManager.ExcelApp.CommandBars.Item(strName) #IronPython 2.0 else: return ExcelManager.ExcelApp.CommandBars[strName] #IronPython 1.1 @staticmethod def LoadSheetData(SheetData): """Loads data into the Excel WorkSheet. SheetData should contain an object for each row, with each object containing data for that row.""" intRow = 0 for aRow in SheetData: intRow +=1 ExcelManager.SetRow(intRow,aRow) ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet.UsedRange.AutoFilter(1, Missing.Value, Excel.XlAutoFilterOperator.xlAnd, Missing.Value, True) #Enable Autofilter @staticmethod def CreatePivotTable(strName="Pivot Table"): """Creates a Pivot Table. See http://www.eggheadcafe.com/community/aspnet/2/10050513/solved--export-data-from.aspx for more info.""" NewSheet = ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Worksheets.Add() ExcelManager.SetProperty(NewSheet, "Name", "Pivot Table") ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.PivotTableWizard(Excel.XlPivotTableSourceType.xlDatabase, ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet.UsedRange, NewSheet.UsedRange, strName, True, True, True, False, Missing.Value, Missing.Value, False, False, Excel.XlOrder.xlDownThenOver, 5, Missing.Value, Missing.Value) ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.ShowPivotTableFieldList = True ExcelManager.GetCommandBar("PivotTable").Visible = False ExcelManager.PivotTable = NewSheet @staticmethod def CreatePivotChart(strName="Pivot Chart"): """Creates a Pivot Chart. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.office.tools.excel.chart_properties(VS.80).aspx for more info. Example code: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/csharpgeneral/thread/c7b0f6dd-8890-41c7-a5e0-e18f70686f8c""" ExcelManager.PivotChart = ExcelManager.ExcelWorkbook.Charts.Add(Missing.Value, Missing.Value, Missing.Value, Missing.Value) #ExcelManager.PivotChart.ChartWizard(ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet.UsedRange, Excel.XlChartType.xlColumnClustered, Missing.Value, Excel.XlRowCol.xlColumns, Missing.Value, Missing.Value, True, "Pivot Chart Name", Missing.Value, Missing.Value, Missing.Value) #This method threw an 0x800A03EC error message, so set the values seperately ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.PivotChart, "ChartType", Excel.XlChartType.xlColumnClustered) #ExcelManager.PivotChart.SetSourceData(ExcelManager.ExcelWorksheet.UsedRange, Excel.XlRowCol.xlColumns) #Threw error... but seems to work fine without it. Must assume that it is a pivot chart ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.PivotChart, "HasLegend" , True) ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.PivotChart, "HasTitle", True) #Show chart title and set it's text ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.PivotChart.ChartTitle, "Text", strName) ExcelManager.SetProperty(ExcelManager.PivotChart, "Name","Pivot Chart") #Set Tab name @staticmethod def HideToolbars(lstExcept=["PivotTable Field List", "Standard", "FormulaBar"]): """Hides all the toolbars and only shows the worksheet and charts. If the toolbar's name is in lstExcept then it will remain visible. NOTE: May cause tool bars to be perminantly disabled if the worksheet is saved! It is advised not to use this method, needs to be reworked.""" #for aBar in ExcelManager.ExcelApp.CommandBars: # if lstExcept.Contains(aBar.Name): # aBar.Enabled = True # else: # aBar.Enabled = False #disable #ExcelManager.ExcelApp.DisplayFormulaBar = lstExcept.Contains("FormulaBar") pass
The code should be pretty straight forward. The Reload() method is helpful for reloading the whole module when testing from a console. The Run() method shows the steps to load a new spreadsheet. The ExcelManager static class is the core of the logic and provides an entry point for interacting with the spreadsheet.
There is not a lot of debuging code, so if something goes wrong it is just going to throw an exception, but this should be enough to help get things started. I did fix some funky problems with importing DateTime, where they kept getting converted into integers. Should work fine now, but anything other than Datetime, numerical types or strings will probably not get imported correctly.
If anyone else needs to do Excel Interop with IronPython, feel free to use the code, which can be downloaded here.
Enjoy!

Simple-Talk article about SQL FOR XML usage

I read a great article from Simple-Talk today about how to use the FOR XML option in Microsoft SQL server. I usually would passively post these to a shared RSS reader feed or star them for future reference, but I found the article through the Red Gate Newsletter and I don't really want to add the entire feed just to share one article. I do however suggest signing up for the newsletter if you are interested in MSSQL, .NET, or Exchange as they often have a lot of good articles about coding in or managing these systems.

Simple-Talk is a service from Red Gate, which creates tools for Exchange, SQL Server and .NET including the .NET Reflector, which is an invaluable tool for anyone using the .NET framework. I use it all the time to help with testing and debugging or when using .NET libraries that have poor user documentation. It even includes add-ins for changing code in .NET assemblies or adding an embedded IronPython console for playing around with objects and methods. Very handy indeed!