Obtaining computer SID and Processor ID using C#

Sometimes you have to track a unique identifier for an application (e.g. license key registration). Here are two small C# methods to get the Windows SID (Security ID) and the motherboard processor ID (may be more than one).

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Management;
using System.Security.Principal;

namespace ConsoleTest
{
   class Program
   {
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
         new Program().Run(args);
      }

      private void Run(string[] args)
      {
         string sid = UserSecurityId();
         Console.WriteLine("The SID is: {0}", sid);

         string[] processorIds = ComputerProcessorId();
         foreach (string id in processorIds)
         {
            Console.WriteLine("Processor ID: {0}", id);
         }
      }

      public string UserSecurityId()
      {
         return WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent().User.AccountDomainSid.ToString();
      }

      public string[] ComputerProcessorId()
      {
         return new ManagementObjectSearcher("Select * from Win32_Processor")
            .Get()
            .OfType<ManagementObject>()
            .Select(o => o["ProcessorID"].ToString())
            .ToArray();
      }
   }
}

TFS Lightweight Scrum Template Graphic

Here is an 17" x 11" graphic of the TFS Lightweight Scrum template. It is pretty much the same as the one on the codeplex site (which is terrible quality). The scaling of the graphic is such that you can place it on 8.5" x 11" paper as well.

Enjoy.

Click here for graphic.

Converting Office 2007 Excel to XML using C#

Don't want Office 2007 installed on your web server to access Excel 2007 content?

Here is a Visual Studio C# solution that demonstrates how to read an Excel 2007 workbook, converting it to XML. You don't need Office 2007 installed in order to do this! Once Excel content is in XML format you can process it easier using transformations tools or other language code.

The solution code uses .NET 3.5 XML support and LINQ. The solution also contains an example console application that will take an Excel 2007 file name on the command-line and convert it to XML via the console. Everything should run out-of-the-box using an example Excel 2007 file that is included; just run the example application and accept the default file name to read.

The quickest way to learn how to use the ExcelReader class, and its options, is to examine the brief Program.cs file in PCarver.OfficeXml.ExampleExcel project. You an register for events to transform cell contents and ignore certain rows (see example code).

Download only the binary files for converting Excel to XML:

Click here for binaries/executables

Download the full Visual Studio Solution:

Click here for Visual Studio 2008 Solution

If you have any bug fixes or nice enhancements, please post a comment and let me know.

Information from Microsoft on these formats is found at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338205.aspx.