Autofill TFS password on Codeplex

  I hate filling in TFS credentials every time I connect to TFS server on Codeplex. I’ve just found an easy way to automate it.

Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a new component called Credential Manager. You can store Windows, Certificate-based and Generic credentials. It means these credentials can be automatically provided by Windows on request. So you just simply don’t have to type them in every time you log on somewhere.

Codeplex

These are the steps to automate the Codeplex login process:

1. Open Credential Manager
2. Choose Add a Windows credential
3. Specify the Codeplex server name at Internet or network address, fill in the rest
4. Click OK
5. Open your TFS project

You won’t be prompted for credentials anymore.

CTRL+ALT+TAB

Have you tried to press CTRL+ALT+TAB on Vista?

The Task Switcher appears but does not disappear when I release the buttons. It can be used as an application list and now I can easily use the mouse to hover over the icons, read the titles, select an application. It’s very convenient.

I think this feature is much more useful than the over-advertised Vista Expose (WIN+TAB) feature. Have you asked yourself how often do you use that visual effect?

3D Studio Max on Vista

I tried to run 3D Studio Max 9 on Vista but it just crashed. Autodesk does not support Vista in this version. There is a really simple solution:

1. Find 3dsmax.exe in the installation directory
2. Open Properties window (right click on the file and select Properties)
3. Select Compatibility tab
4. In the Compatibility mode section select Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox
5. Select Windows XP (Service Pack 2) in the dropdown control
6. In the Settings section select Disable desktop composition
7. In the Privilege level section select Run this program as an administrator
8. Click OK

Now 3DS Max should run without any problem.