Topics

1

General Software Discussion / How to preview a new Thunderbird Theme as you make it?

« on: January 17, 2024, 07:30 PM »

Thunderbird 115 Supernova uses a really simple method of creating themes.  You basically put tags and color codes into a json file and zip it up. 

Now, I know how to edit the code and set the colours and I know how to make my own custom themes.
However, my question is:
Is there a way to change the colours "live" so you can actually see what they look like?
So far the only thing I can do is guess what it will look like, edit the code, zip the extension and install it and then enable it.  Blech.

I look at the Browser toolbox, but can't find any way to locate the actual elements that I can actually style.
Here's is a json manifest sample with the simple code: https://developer.th...web-extension-themes
Maybe you can actually do what I want with the Browser Toolbox, but for the life of me I can't figure it out.

I've googled the world and can't find any answers.
Waaaah! I just wanna adjust the code in the interface and see what it looks like!  Is there no way to preview what you are doing?

So, I come here, hoping somebody might be listening.

2

General Software Discussion / Internet Timer

« on: October 31, 2022, 11:31 AM »

I have a particular Windows computer that I want to put on a schedule for its internet access.  I want it to turn off every day at a particular time and turn on every day at a particular time.

Can anyone recommend me a free program for this that I can install on that machine?

Parental Controls sound like an option, but I don't want to sign up for anything, and I only use domain/local accounts - no microsoft accounts for computer logins.

Maybe there's some setting on my linux CentOS dhcp server that I could add for that particular mac address?

3

General Software Discussion / Looking for Volume Booster

« on: June 08, 2022, 09:03 AM »

When I stream audio, it seems to lose part of its volume and we can't always hear what is being said, even if the computer speakers are turned all the way up (system sounds at that volume level will hurt the ears, though).

So, I've been toying with a volume booster app, but I've only found ones that are for trial to shareware.

Anyone have a volume booster program for free that they actually like?

4

Living Room / How to fix a keyboard with catchy keys

« on: June 03, 2022, 09:53 AM »

How do you fix a keyboard where the keys catch?

Please don't advise me to clean my keyboard or buy another one.  I want to fix *this* particular keyboard because I like the look and feel of it.

Okay, so, I'm not talking about a keyboard that needs cleaned.  I'm talking about keys, where, when you push on the corners of them they get caught on the way down.  It's an engineering error, but I want to fix this instead of getting another keyboard.

I have a Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard 1.0A  (has a PS2 connector!)

When I type, if I don't push directly in the center of the key then it catches or jams against itself riser underneath the key cap.  This happens especially on the larger keys like the shift and return keys, and mostly with keys hit by my pinky fingers. In fact, on my right shift key, if I try and push it with any finger but I don't hit it in the center, it gets stuck and I have to push it really hard.

Now, when I remove the key cap, I see there is the keycap shaft, the metal stabilizer wire, and then there is a thin vertical piece with a straight slot in it - (you can see it in this picture, but mine is totally clean).  This vertical piece has a slot to receive a flange in the bottom of the keycap so as to keep the key straight when it is depressed.

I've tried putting some mineral oil and then some salve on the keycap shaft to make it slide better, but that didn't help.  I can still push on the corner of the key and if I push it right, it just won't go down.

I think it is this flange that is where the key gets stuck, but I'm not completely sure.
I am posting here to query whether anyone has experience fixing this.  I'd have to fix at least a half dozen keys. 

5

Screenshot Captor / Y2K problem in SC (not April Fool's)

« on: April 01, 2022, 09:29 AM »

haha!  I bet nobody ever knew this!  And this is not an April Fool's thing.  Seriously.  It isn't.
Screenshot Captor has the Y2K problem!  It cannot number screenshots past 999!

Really!  So, I set my SC to name screenshots like this:   Screenshot_1.png   Screenshot_2.png
but once it gets to Screenshot_999.png, it can't create Screenshot_1000.png and just keeps overwriting Screenshot_999.png.

Here is the setting at  Settings > File Naming> New Screenshot File Template > Default New File Name
%quickfield% Screenshot%_num%

And, I have checked the box in the same settings section for "Auto sequence new file names to avoid overwriting old files"
Auto-incrementing Number is set to "1"

For myself, I've modified the naming scheme to: %quickfield% Screenshot2022%_num% to get it to start the numbering over at 1.

6

Living Room / Android App Idea: 9-ball scorekeeper

« on: December 31, 2021, 09:40 AM »

Here's an idea for an Android app.

Setting, 5 fellows who want to play 9-ball - you know, where you hit the balls in using numerical order?  Well, with 5 people, you have to use all 15 balls.  When we do this together where I live, I use a little score-keeper app where I type in the numbers and it adds them up for each person.

It seems to me that it would be better if you could, for each player, click their name, then a little image of one of the balls rather than having to type in the value.  Touch-clicking a ball would automatically add its proper value to the score.

Then, aside from the players (that can be added, named and dragged into player order), there would always be one for "the pocket" which indicates any balls that were shot in erroneously (you know, their points don't count for some reason).

Anyway, I can envision the app, but don't have time to learn how to program android apps, so I'm just throwing this out there to see if anyone is interested in making it for themselves (and I could get a copy).

7

General Software Discussion / Regarding O&O Shutup

« on: December 16, 2021, 11:01 PM »

Do any of you all use O&O Shutup to take care of Windows 10's "inclinations" ?

Check out this review:
https://helpdeskgeek...-from-spying-on-you/

Now, I posted a comment at the bottom in the Disqus comments, but the comment was refused - which is why it's not there.

I said something like,
"If O&O Shutup is a Microsoft Gold Partner, then why does Microsoft allow them to remove the spyware that it intended to be in their system."

Okay, I agree that it is a little forward in manner, but the question stands.  The article props up the O&O company as a valuable M$ associate, but the software is designed to actually undo potentially unwanted aspects of the system in ways that are not really available to Windows 10 users without modifying the registry and/or system files.

My intention was to get some insight as to why M$ would allow them to do that.  If M$ allows them, is O&O actually doing what it says?  Can one of you more techie sorts vouch for the Shutup program?  I use it, and it does appear to do the trick - it removes all the ads and nags like it's supposed to.  But how can they be a partner and still do this?

8

Living Room / Is a Polycom HDX 8000 good for anything?

« on: November 30, 2021, 10:15 AM »

We recently acquired two Polycom HDX 8000 systems, complete with their cameras and microphones.  They are Polycom Video Conferencing Systems.

However, they don't really fit into our communications methods since we only really use MS Teams now.  The polycoms all use H.323 video protocol.

I don't know what to do with them.

Here is a link to what they actually are.
https://support.poly...-series/hdx8000.html

I am tempted take it apart to see inside of everything (and play with the camera lenses) and then throw it all away.

Any ideas?

9

Living Room / Practical Space

« on: July 20, 2021, 09:15 AM »

Today, I thought of a practical value for space - I mean outer space!

I was watching this video where an astrophysicist explains gravity and she mentioned that astronauts actually get taller in space because gravity is not always scrunching their spines.

We all have neck and back problems, right?

Well, what if you could pay someone to put you into anti-gravity for several weeks in order to release all the tension in your neck, back and muscles?  It would be a fitness routine in anti-gravity.  An anti-grav gym!  Think of it!  Go into a special fitness spaceship and get your exercise routines, health-diet, massage therapy and chiropractic for two or three weeks straight.

A fitness-space cruise!

Yeah it would be expensive, but after time things could calm down to a normal consumer level like other gyms.

This would make space to actually have practical value for practical people.  It would pave the way for colonizing the moon - think of the trails we could build on the moon - what kind of exercise would you get for your moon-mountain bike!  The commerce that would be caused in the fitness-space cruise would make it more sustainable for colonizing the moon.  Wouldn't a moon-based campus be more practical and spatious than being cooped up in a teeny modular spaceship?

But really, the space-fitness stuff could be carried out still in close orbit and wouldn't require the resources of a full-fledged spaceship, for now.  All we need for that is an good-sized anti-gravity chamber.

10

General Software Discussion / Which Windows 10 Updates should be avoided?

« on: June 09, 2021, 09:20 AM »

Hi, all my techie Friends,

I am worried about upgrading my Windows OS.  When Win7 came out, I waited until it completely expired before upgrading to Windows 10 - and I only did it because I had to in order to accomodate my motherboard + processor combination.  (long story; I made it work, but apparently, there should have been very little chance it should have worked - I'll spare you that story, though).

Anyway, I am always afraid of upgrading my Windows OS because I don't want things to change without my approval.

I am running Windows 10 N Pro x64 version 1909, build 10.0.18363.

Now, I am willing to install updates that make improvements that I like.

So, this thread is about which Windows Updates a person should not install.

For example, version 20H2 from last October completely removes the old Win7 style control panel.  I don't want to get rid of that panel because I prefer it to the metro panels, so I don't want to install the update.

Can anyone add their knowledge here?

11

Living Room / Happy Birthday Skwire

« on: February 22, 2021, 08:53 AM »

♪ ♬ Happy Birthday to you... ♪ ♬

Wait a minute....   

♪ ♬ It's your birthday, and we don't care! ♪ ♬
♪ ♬ Gloom, doom and despair! ♪ ♬

Dern that other personality...   

♪ ♬ Happy Birthday deaaaarrrrrrr Joooooooody... ♪ ♬
♪ ♬ Happy Birthday to you... ♪ ♬
 

12

General Software Discussion / Looking for Standalone CSV Editor like CSVPad

« on: January 25, 2021, 04:25 PM »

When you work with Powershell, you have to work with CSV files.  I hate working with Microsoft Office (even though I'm a 365 admin! doh!), so Excel is out.

The best thing I've found so far is CSVPad - its interface is perfect and I love it - BUT you cannot open things with it via the commandline.  It was made from CSVForm, but the coder left out that part of the code. 

You see, I use FreeCommander, and I attach the little csv editor to a button on the toolbar.  So I can just select the csv file and click the button to get a quickie view/edit for the file.  Right now I'm using CSV Form, but it lacks a lot by way of usability.  CSVPad won't open the file because it lacks the commandline to open via %1.  I wish I had the source code for that (it's in Delphi, though).

Now, CSV Form is also in Delphi, but I don't know Delphi, and it would take me some time to get my head wrapped around it.

There are other csv editors out there, but they are either written in ugly Java or they are part of an office suite that I don't want.

What I'm looking for is a standalone app (not part of any suite) designed for CSV Files that is easy to see and use, and isn't a Java app.  I love toolbars.  I really just want CSV Pad to work correctly - that would be perfect.


Anyone have some ideas?  Or is anyone willing to make something nice out of CSVForm?

13

Developer's Corner / Best Approach to store and load a lot of text snippets into a web page

« on: November 14, 2020, 08:58 AM »

My project is a web-application that I'm writing using C# webforms.
I have a few hundred small text blocks - (actually prayers) that I want to load into the web page and arrange so the user can easily find what they want.

Now, my question is how to store them.
I could put them in XML or an access database or a sql database, or I can just type them all right into the web page.

The thing is that if I put them in a database, I can enclose everything in the proper divs that the webpage needs to display them with sortable jquery menus and accordians.  If I typed them into the webpage, it would be hard to know what is in the page, exactly, and I'd have to type all the divs.  So, I'm leaning toward a database or xml for storing the prayers with their titles, imprimaturs, and perhaps comments.

Should I use xml, sql or accdb for storing things?  Which would be faster to load and search?

14

N.A.N.Y. 2021 / N.A.N.Y 2021: Incipitor

« on: October 03, 2020, 10:59 AM »

NANY 2021 Entry Information

Application Name	Incipitor
Version	1.2
Short Description	A handy, dandy tool to add shortcuts to your Start Menu
Supported OSes	Windows 7 and Windows 10
Web Page	DC Members: bgmCoder
Version History	1.0 First Release - October 23, 2020 For complete history, view the program's help file[/]
Author	Link to Author's Profile page

Description
At my workstation I like to use Open Shell (revamp of Classic Shell) and to manually organize my Start Menu so it works as an effective and efficient program launcher.  Since I often need to add items to the Start Menu's folder structure, I wrote Incipitor (incipit is Latin for "start").  This allows me to add those not-installed applications to the menu.

Features

• Settings for adding and removing Incipitor in the Windows context menu for all files.
• Drag-n-drop onto the main window.
• Customizations for the context menu.
• Allows for renaming of the shortcut file before creation.
• Maybe I'll make an installer so that the context menu can be added/removed without the user having to do it manually from the application.

Planned Features
Cleanup task to remove invalid shortcuts
Backup Start Menu

Screenshots
 

Here is the Context Menu entry


Here is what my Start Menu looks like, using Open Shell and all organized.


Usage
Installation
Unzip the package and run Incipitor.exe.  Then click the "Install" button to add to the context menu.

Using the Application
Once installed, you can use the Windows context menu on files to add them to the start menu.  Incipitor's window will appear allowing to you choose what folder to place the shortcut into, and allow for you to name it whatever you like.

You need to run Incipitor as Administrator to install it to the context menu. After that you can run it with normal rights.

Uninstallation
Push the uninstall button to remove it from the context menu, then just delete the application folder.  It will not do anything to the Start Menu folder.

Version History
version 1.1: 
Fixed missing version info in the executable's Resource Table.
Added icons
Added ability to rename the folders
Added a "Save Settings" button

Tips
Use it with Open Shell.  It's not so useful when used with the normal Windows 10 Start Menu.  However, it would work great on Windows 7.

Known Issues
Just remember to use the "uninstall" button in the main window to remove the context menu entry if you decide to delete Incipitor.  Also, the folder structure only dives 2 directories deep.  You get all the folders in the Start Menu folder and one level of sub-folders below that, but no further.  This isn't so much an issue as a limitation, though.  I could change that if anyone really wants it.

15

General Software Discussion / Pixarra Pixel Studio and Icon Editing

« on: October 03, 2020, 10:39 AM »

Hi, all,  I just found that you can get Pixarra Pixel Studio for free (just today) from SharewareOnSale.
https://sharewareons...-studio-100-discount

Now, SWOS regularly releases Pixarra applications for freebie, but I wanted to draw attention to Pixel because it looks like a really good program for creating icons for your DC applications. 

I usually collect all of these Pixarra programs and install them, and then never use them (hee hee).  But just trying them out, they have some very interesting approaches to digital artwork.  This Pixel program looks like it would actually make the creation of program icons - well, fun!

Normally for my own programs, I start with an icon from some long-forgotten collection and alter it to my needs using an old SIB Icon editor.

The only thing about using Pixel to create program icons is that it isn't an "icon editor" per se - it's a pixel art editor.  It excels at the art part, but not at the icon part.  But I also know how tedious it is in SIB Icon editor to go and make your 256x256p icon look nice if you had originally started out with a 32x32p image - you almost have to redraw the entire thing.  That's where Pixel Studio would come in.  But you'd still have to resort to your icon editor (unless there is a feature I cannot find) to save the different icon sizes into the icon.

16

Living Room / How to Make a Quiz for American Accents

« on: September 16, 2020, 10:36 AM »

One of my jobs is to produce a children's magazine.  I was thinking that a fun article would be a little quiz to show them what kind of an American accent they have. 

However, I'm not quite sure how to go about it.

There are several online quizzes.  Here is a pretty accurate one (IMHO), which pinned me pretty well for my Midwest accent.  But this one is an online test.

I am thinking of asking the questions and each answer gives a number score and at the end of the quiz you add up the numbers and if you scored with certain values, then you choose from an answer key.  This is how the site above works if you look at the javascript.

But I thought I would ask y'all to see if you have any good ideas.

17

Screenshot Captor / Delete white space

« on: January 01, 2020, 09:27 PM »

So, I've taken a screenshot of a window that has a dropdown menu showing (for the docs for my NANY application, in fact!), and I do it over a white background.

Is there a way in SC to use the magic wand to render the selected area as transparent?  Normally I have to open Photoshop just do this.
In SC, I can select the white area, but when I push the delete button, nothing happens.

18

Screenshot Captor / Larger Toolbar Buttons

« on: January 01, 2020, 09:25 PM »

Is there a way for SC to display it's toolbar with 32px icons?  I'm talking about the toolbar in the editing window.

19

N.A.N.Y. 2020 / Systemus

« on: September 08, 2019, 04:35 PM »

NANY 2020 Entry Information

Application Name	Systemus
Version	1.5.1
Short Description	A Handy Dandy System Tool
Supported OSes	Windows 7, Windows 10 to some degree
Web Page	http://www.dcmembers...r/download/systemus/
Download Link	http://www.dcmembers.../download/systemus/#
System Requirements	Windows 7 Windows 10?
Version History	January 1, 2020: Initial Release. See my DC site for change history.
Author	bgmCoder

Description
A Handy Dandy System Admin Tool
To do all those things you *want* to do when managing a new system.

Notice!
This program will trigger most antivirus apps; make sure you add System's folder to your antivirus exclusion list.  Also, if you use this on your flashdrive, beware of the computer's antivirus or it will steal the exe from you.  I've never been able to figure out exactly what is making this app appear dangerous, so I can't fix that.  I also don't ask for any money or anything in return, so if you don't use it because you are afraid, then I'm not going to lose any sleep over that.  haha!  I use this program myself and designed it to suit my own purposes.  Hopefully, you will also find it useful.

Features

• Portable
• Tiny interface
• Completely customizable menus, commands and main interface
• Advanced RUN box with memory - this needs some work, however; just warning you.
• Instant Computer Info in main panel - click the values to copy to the clipboard.
• Access the default Windows system menus, control panels and commands
• Add your own commands
• Have multiple menu and info configurations and switch betwen them.
• All of the program menus also appear as a menu for the system tray icon

Planned Features
I wrote this program because I often have to set up computers for other people, or I have to do maintenance or fixes.  It seems I always end up using a whole bunch of programs to do things - a folder full of tools, and I can't remember or find the ones I want, sometimes.  With Systemus, I have a single program that I can use as a launcher.  It also tells me the most basic system information that I want, such as ipaddress and mac address, Windows version and what model of computer I'm working on.

There are still a bunch of bugs to fix and some features to tweak.

Usage
Installation
Simply extract the contents to whereever you like.

Using the Application
Using this program, you get a one-stop program that can give you quick links to all the Windows control panels, built-in applications, and system menus.  You can customize the menus to contain just the ones you like, and you can add links to your own programs, portable or non-portable.  You can run scripts, batch files - anything you want.  You can even add your own menus and submenus.

Uninstallation
Delete the folder containing the application and its settings.

Known Issues
Well, I am writing it to work for Windows 7.  Most of the commands should work for Windows 10, too, but I don't have any way to test this.  When I finally migrate my computer to Windows 10, then I'll update the program with Windows 10 features, but I don't know when this will happen, and it will probably be awhile.  In the meantime, I am willing to accept suggestions.

Systemus will probably trigger your antivirus.  I haven't figured out why, just yet.

20

General Software Discussion / How to run userscripts on chrome-extension pages?

« on: September 06, 2019, 10:29 AM »

Is there any way to run a userscript on a chrome-extension:// url?

I want to make some tweaks to the Feedbro extension, but Tampermonkey won't run on chrome extension pages.

Is there a way to do it?  I don't have to use Tampermonkey.

21

Living Room / Buying a 2TB SSD to replace my 2TB HDD

« on: August 16, 2019, 02:44 PM »

For some time now I have been considering to replace my workstation's HDD with an SSD.

• 2TB HDD with partitions for C and D
• 2TB HDD with partitions for K and I
• 128GB SSD used for IRST acceleration and also for system's paging file
• 250GB nvMe SSD where I keep Waterfox, FreeCommander and Thunderbird (the disk was unstable when I got it, but haven't had any trouble since; but didn't want to trust an OS to it)

And my questions for y'all are these:

• When SSDs first became popular, everyone warned how heavy usage would run them down, but that's a long time ago now.  I'm sure they are more viable now.
• What SSD should I buy?

22

General Software Discussion / Can't close side panel in Google Voice

« on: July 24, 2019, 05:21 PM »

I like to run Google Voice in Vivaldi (or Rambox). How can I hide the right-panel? It takes up a lot of room, and there doesn't seem to be any toggle.

Anybody know how to get that panel to toggle closed?  I can't find any control to do that. 
It didn't use to be there; one day it appeared and now I can't close it.  And I can't seem to google up any solution.

If I run the browser in full screen, it's not so bad, but if I run it in a smaller window, I can't hardly see the typing area it is so small, the space is hogged up by the side panel.

Ad blocker is off.  Javascript is enabled.

23

General Software Discussion / Windows 7 not able to connect to network shares

« on: July 23, 2019, 06:52 PM »

My Windows 7 Workstation keeps having an issue where it cannot connect to network shares on other Windows 7 machines.  I am logged in using a domain account and am domain admin.

Sometimes I can connect, other times no.
It makes no difference if I use the computer's name nor their ip address.
I can always ping the other computer.
The other computer can access MY network shares with no problem.
I've gone through all the obvious stuff.
Netbios is enabled in the ipv4 settings for the adapter.
I can access the network shares on our servers.
Sometimes I can access the other Win7 share, and after awhile, then I can't do it anymore.
Rebooting doesn't help.
All the ip addresses are assigned by the DHCP server and never change.
When I try the network share, I receive a message: "The specified server cannot perform the requested operation".
Error code: 0x80070035
The network path was not found.  (even though I can ping the machine)

I've had this problem for a long time and can't solve it.  Any ideas?

24

Living Room / Windows 7 always slow after idle

« on: June 11, 2019, 09:25 AM »

My computer has some slowness issue that I can't figure out.  It happens everyday, and I can't really pinpoint what causes it or when exactly it happens.

Stats:

• Motherboard: MSI 7370 PC ProMSI Z370 PC Pro
• RAM: 32 GB DDR4
• Processor: Intel i5-8600K (not overclocked)
• Windows 7 Pro
• Dual Graphics cards: MSI GeForce GT 710 & MSI GeForce GT 730 - using the same driver
• Three monitors - All the same: Dell S2415H (one connected via VGA, the other two via HDMI)

Now, Intel's 8th gen processors do not "support" Windows 7, therefore the onboard graphics do not work at all because there is no driver available, so I have to use the two graphics cards.  However, Windows 7 runs just fine otherwise.

Also, I am using an internal SSD drive to accelerate my C drive (HDD) with Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

Thunderbird and Waterfox files, profiles and applications are kept on an internal NVM disk - as fast as you can possibly get.

The slowness happens, from what I can tell, after I leave my screensaver on overnight - so I'm suspecting it is on account of system idling.  Slowness consists of certain programs not reacting instantly - there are lags when I type, lags when I click the mouse, if I run the Nox Android Emulator, it is slow to react and sometimes freezes for a second or two before reacting.

I can fix it all by rebooting.  Sometimes if I close programs (doesn't matter which ones), one of them will "release" the lag and everything will go back to normal speeds.

I've defragmented everything.  The machine is not consuming much RAM or CPU - the meters never run past half the total available amount.  Crystal Disk Info reports a "good" health status for all my disks.

The only thing left for me to do is a memtest.

Any other clues here?

25

Screenshot Captor / [Solved] Capture moves window to other monitor

« on: May 25, 2019, 02:56 PM »

Mouser, I somewhat recently upgraded my graphics card.  I have three monitors running on two cards, all use the same driver.

Ever since I did that, when I push the printscreen button (I like that) to enter capture mode, it creates a full-screen image of the monitor being captured and moves it to another monitor along with the sniper crosshairs and I have to move my mouse over there to select the region. 

It used to do this on the monitor where I am making the capture.  Now I have to select the area on the other monitor and it's annoying.

How do I fix this?  I'm running the latest version.