Yngwie Malmsteen syndrome (Silverlight 2 Scroller revisited)

Earlier this month, I blogged about a Silverlight 2 Scroller control that I had labored over for the better part of a weekend. The entire time I was working on this Scroller, I had this small, dirty feeling that what I had created was somehow way more than what I needed to accomplish my end goal. But, time was short, it got the job done and I figured that I could always revisit it at some point.

Fast forward a few days as I was reading Shawn Wildermuth’s blog and I come across his post on the Silverlight ItemsControl and realized what that dirty feeling was all about. I was exactly the guy he was talking about that was trying to bastardize the Silverlight ListBox into something else…namely the ItemsControl. So, I revisited the Scroller and was able to remove about 50% or more of the code and still achieve my goal. No custom ListBox, etc.

I think it’s part of most any process, really. As you work on making something better you tend to keep adding and adding more code until you reach a saturation point where you need to step back and just start removing things.

It made me think of so many guitarists in the 80’s that just kept adding and adding notes and playing faster and faster until the music just became guitar masturbation instead of anything musical. (These guys wouldn’t have known a whole note if it hit them in the face). On the other hand, you take someone like David Gilmour that can play one note and absolutely convey way more than the shred monsters could ever muster. It’s all part of the learning process. There’s a curve graphed somewhere (I’m sure) that shows the guitarist’s ascension to knowing when NOT to play.

So, who is Yngwie Malmsteen and what does he have to do with this post? You can find out more than you ever wanted to know about Yngwie here. Yngwie was the poster boy [Link updated 2021-05-31] for never quite knowing when to stop adding notes and he flashed before my eyes when I looked back and my original Scroller code. Anyway, thanks Shawn for saving me from that fate.

The updated code is here. Here is the live demo.

I’ll leave the original code here in case you want to get it and make fun of me.

Atmosera Web Help Desk or WHD

In an effort to continue delivering more value to our customers, we implemented a web-based application built on the SolarWinds Web Help Desk software (https://www.solarwinds.com/help-desk-software). Our goal is to improve the ability for our customers to create tickets, view their status, and communicate more efficiently with our team. We are confident this will result in faster resolutions and clear communication.

Below you can find the following details About Atmosera Web Help Desk (WHD):
- How Can I Get Access to Atmosera’s Web Help Desk?
- How Many WHD User Accounts Can My Company Get?
- Known Issues with Multiple Microsoft Logins
- Can I Get More User Accounts If I Need Them?
- How Can I Change Who Is an WHD User?
- How Can I See All Tickets for my Company?
- What Is a Super User?
- Can I Still Open a Trouble Ticket by Sending an Email to support@atmosera.com?
- What Will Happen to the Current Trouble Ticket System?
- Can I Send Updates to a Distribution List?
Tutorials
- Create a Ticket
- Manage Tickets
- Reset Your Office 365 Password
- Forward Emails
- Mobile Access Using an iPhone or Android device

How Can I Get Access to Atmosera’s Web Help Desk?

Web Help Desk (WHD) Users for each customer will receive login instructions via email when their account is created.

Access Portal

How Many WHD User Accounts Can My Company Get?

Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) to identify how many logins you will receive.

Atmosera’s policy is that these accounts are assigned to individuals who will receive login credentials.

If you have a third party vendor who needs to have access, additional seats will be required.

An 0ffice 365 mailbox account will be created for each Web Help Desk (WHD) User. The mailbox address will be [clientID]-[firstInitial][lastname]@atmosera-portal.com. (e.g. Craig Smith at company id 12345 would be 12345-csmith@atmosera-portal.com). The new Web Support System will send emails to this email address and will only accept emails from that address. You can configure this email address to forward to your normal address; however, email responses on tickets back into Web Support will need to come from the email address that we provide; otherwise they will be denied. You do have the option to just update your tickets via the WHD Portal also.

Known Issues with Multiple Microsoft Logins

The portal uses Microsoft credentials to log you in. If you use other Microsoft accounts such as Officer 365, you will likely need to log out before attempting to login to the portal. Some users are experiencing issues related to conflicts between multiple logins in issue. Logging out and restarting your browser will take care of any such conflicts.

Can I Get More User Accounts If I Need Them?

Yes, any authorized Web Help Desk (WHD) User can log into WHD and submit a ticket to have a new user created.
We need first name, last name, email, and phone number.
The process takes up to two (2) business days to complete.

How Can I Change Who Is an WHD User?

Existing Web Help Desk (WHD) Users can submit a request using WHD to remove WHD Users.
The process takes up to two (2) business days to complete.

How Can I See All Tickets for my Company?

By default, all Web Help Desk (WHD) Users are only able to see the tickets they created using their account.
Any WHD User can be promoted to Super User status which allows them to see all tickets for their company.
To enable Super Users, submit a ticket or contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) and identify which WHD Users need to be promoted to Super User status.

What Is a Super User?

A Super User is granted rights to see all tickets for their company regardless of which WHD User created them.

Can I Still Open a Trouble Ticket by Sending an Email to support@atmosera.com?

Once a customer has been moved to Web Help Desk (WHD), users can only create tickets using the Portal.
Sending emails to support@atmosera.com will result in the sender receiving an auto-response pointing them to the Portal.

What Will Happen to the Current Trouble Ticket System?

The current system based on BMC Footprints will be retired shortly after the launch of the new WHD application.
We will maintain tickets already created ahead of the cut over and work them to resolution.
When WHD goes live, all new tickets will be generated and managed with the new application.

Can I Send Updates to a Distribution List?

Yes, Web Help Desk uses an Office 365 account to login WHD Users.
Office 365 accounts have the ability to forward all messages to another email address.
Follow the directions below to setup email forwarding using your Office 365 account.
This process makes it possible for Web Help Desk (WHD) Users to forward correspondence to another email and/or a distribution list.

Create a Ticket

Access the Atmosera WHD Portal: https://websupport.atmosera.com/