Topics

1

General Software Discussion / Quicklaunch annoyance, question

« on: February 06, 2010, 05:00 PM »

I use the Quicklaunch folder for a lot of shortcuts (about 50).  When I open the QL folder it sometimes takes a few seconds for the shortcuts/icons to appear.  This usually happens the first time I open the folder, but can occur anytime.  I guess it needs to load the links/icons into cache or something?  I was wondering if there a way to force the QL shortcuts to be loaded - so there is no delay.   Any ideas?

Thanks

btw - I know there is a setting for menu delay or something like that - mine is set to zero.  I set menu animations off.  My PC runs Xp on an intel Core2 6300 and 2gb ram, and is reasonably fast for most things I do.

2

General Software Discussion / Voice thru Modem port to landline?

« on: October 21, 2008, 12:48 PM »

How/Can I use a (sony vaio laptop) modem port as a direct dial voice line?
    I want to use a set of usb/headphones with a landline.

btw-This setup is not for my own use - I have not had a landline for awhile, and I'm out of date re using modems;-)

thanks

3

General Software Discussion / How do you track phone/contacts on your PC?

« on: April 18, 2008, 10:44 AM »

I'm going thru my annual 'cant find a phone number - need a new phone list' ritual.  I'd like a simple database type app that is small enough to keep open without eating too much ram.  It also has to import/export is some common format like csv.  Something with PC+Linux versions would be a bonus but not required.  Features I'd like to avoid...

• un-modifiable forms - The standard home/biz tab format does not work well for me - I'd rather have one 'form' with flexible fields - especially email > 1 or 2 email fields are not enough.
• built in calendar/task management/etc
• memory hog
• pictures (dont need/want them in a phone list)

Any suggestions?

4

Developer's Corner / batch file question re cmd + color

« on: April 15, 2008, 08:31 AM »

For anyone still using batch files...
I customized the colors/font of my cmd window (on XP) by clicking the titlebar and changing Properties>Colors.
When I use my right click menu to 'open command prompt here" I get the colors I want.
I also have a batch file that opens a window with cmd /k but the colors default to black/white.
I read the color /? and cmd /? entries but did not figure out the solution - what "cmd" do I use in my batch file to open a window with the same colors/font as I get with "open command prompt here"?

thanks

5

Post New Requests Here / IDEA: Personal Event Log

« on: December 11, 2007, 01:07 PM »

Updated Description:  I'd like a fast way to log a recurring event (that I am tracking) acutally happend.  My thought is a Program or Firefox Custom Button that, when clicked, adds the date/time to a log file.  Features that would be nice to have:
1. Works with or without the log file (text or html) open in a Tab
2. If log file can be html - record the selected event as an HTML table row.
3. Indicate the event was added by sound and/or message
The following enhancements would allow logging a few different recurring events...
3. Button includes a dropdown with entries based on my own text/vars (eg Event Description 1, 2, 3, etc)
4. Record the selected event as "Date/Time" plus "Event Description"
5. Default button opens the html/text file
Original Post...

I'd like a fast way to log a recurring event.  My thought is a tray icon that, when clicked, adds the date/time to a log file.  My use of this app would be 2 record when something (that I am tracking)  acutally happend.  Features that would be nice to have:
1. Indicate the onclick event by sound.
2. Ability to assign a name to the mouseover popup
3. Ability to assign my own (tray) icon
4. Tiny memory footprint

If there are alternative ways to do this pls let me know... I don't use AutoHotKey so that is not an option for me.  I'm on XP Pro.   I use Firefox 2 - maybe a bookmarklet/extension could write the time to a txt file?  I'll post a question about this option at www.custombuttons2.com

Thanks

6

Living Room / 2 favorites (Blocknote and CSEs)

« on: August 15, 2007, 02:20 PM »

Hi all,
This is an 'fyi' re 2 of my favorite tools... Blocknote - a free/simple html editor - great for notes, simple pages, email, etc., and Google CSE Search - If you search for 'Freeware' you'll probably find a few new "Freeware Search Engines", but it's a great tool for all kinds of research.  Creating CSEs is pretty simple too.... if you need one.

• BLOCKNOTE - http://blocknote.net/index.shtml
• GOOGLE CSE SEARCH - http://urlao.com/4dnzg

7

General Software Discussion / Seconfig - XP freeware security utility

« on: August 02, 2007, 01:51 PM »

Has anyone used this?  http://seconfig.sytes.net/?cat=2

Looks useful but I'm not an expert in such things -thought maybe someone here would be.

fyi - I stumble on it at http://www.freedownloadaday.com/

8

Living Room / Help/question re creating a key sequence

« on: July 19, 2007, 07:23 PM »

Hi all,
I have an application that requres Alt+Shift+3 to activate.
Can I create a batch file that will perfrom this?
I'd like to put this in my quicklaunch bar, and click to activate.

thanks for any suggestions.

Barrett

9

Living Room / screencast-o-matic.com

« on: June 21, 2007, 10:45 PM »

This site allows you to create and store a 'screencast' (ie a movie/sequence of screen captures)
I thought it might be useful for developers/others to demo features of their software.
It is a free service.

http://screencast-o-matic.com

10

Living Room / FYI - links to a CompSci quiz and a good Wallpaper site

« on: June 18, 2007, 02:48 PM »

Quiz for Comp Sci folks...  www.brainacademy.qmul.ac.uk/

Hi res wallpaper and icons... www.interfacelift.com

11

Living Room / Firefox Bookmark tool to tag/index/search FAST?

« on: June 12, 2007, 08:48 PM »

I have a lot of bookmarks...and cannot keep them organized.  I think what I need is a way to index them so I can start typing ... and a tool (TBD) will bring up matching URLS, keys, descriptions. etc.   I know this is what Firefox does...but it just seems slow... and I'm thinking a dedicated tool would be better at the task. 

Anyone have suggestions?  I am going to try using Locate32 (http://locate32.webhop.org/) which I already run for local search...it has text search... but seems like there ought to be some product that is designed to  edit/index and search bookmarks very quickly.

thanks

12

Living Room / how to log boot process cpu utilization?

« on: June 07, 2007, 10:07 PM »

Is there an easy way to log/review CPU/process utilizatin during the (xp) boot process?
My start up time (finishing with Firefox loading) seems to be slower than usual - I'd just like to understand the cpu/time time used by the start up processes.  I know I could setup snmp for this but it's been awhile since I've done that and am hoping there is a tool I can just 'run' to record the data.

thanks

PS - There are a some entertaining picture galleries at 'dark roasted' (eg the google sign & 'really bad wiring jobs')  http://thrillingwond...lletin-bloopers.html

13

General Software Discussion / www.mind-mapping.org

« on: May 30, 2007, 06:00 PM »

FYI - this site has an extensive list/summary of knowledge mgmt. tools.
If you are looking for such it's a good reference site.
For example - a link to their search results for Windows Outlining tools
http://www.mind-mapp...=Show+selected+items

This is also worthwhile if your looking for outliners - http://john.redmood.com/organizers.html

ps - A noob question about editing posts - how do I create a normal text hyperlink - I don't understand how to use the "Insert Hyperlink" tag which shows bracket/url/bracket

14

Living Room / Any myBase Desktop usere here?

« on: May 25, 2007, 03:37 PM »

I'm thinking of buying myBase desktop - it looks great for my needs.  But I notice there are no forums at wjjsoft or elsewhere - which seems odd.  Are there any myBase usergroups or lists?  How is the support fro myBase if you send them a question?  I may have several as I get started....the manual is good but does not go in depth on a few areas.

thanks

15

Living Room / Recommendation - Shirusupad

« on: May 24, 2007, 02:04 PM »

See http://hem.bredband....t/danielc/about.html (or with ads http://www.shirusupad.tk )

This is a tiny clip/reminder tool that works great for me - just wanted to let you know.
The author (in his forums) says it needs a rewrite - but I have had no problem with it)

Barrett

16

General Software Discussion / Custom Help menu - any options?

« on: May 23, 2007, 03:20 PM »

I often wish there was (in every Windows Menu) a 'MyHelp' menu item that would allow me to put in my own shortcuts for links to 'my' help or project info files.    These are typically local documents (html or a text/note tool files) that have additional 'how I did it' notes, or project notes.

I remember Barnacle - but never used it - is that a good option for this?   Maybe a (tiny) macro tool? so I could press some key combo, or click a tray icon - and a list of my links for the active application would pop up?    Any other ideas?
thanks

17

General Software Discussion / How to schedule hibernation On/Off so can run overnite once a week

« on: April 18, 2007, 11:38 AM »

If I use Hibernation to save power...how can I keep the PC running, or wake it up, for batch/maintenance jobs?  Generally I schedule this once a week...but not sure what to do if I also want to save power with hibernate mode.

thanks for any solutions/ideas....

Barret

18

Living Room / OT Help Request - registry issue

« on: April 14, 2007, 10:47 AM »

I posted this info in some tech forums but have not gotten a response...so I thought I'd try here even tho I realize this is not a support forum...

I have an XPhome PC that no longer saves desktop icon positions.  I have seen/fixed this probleme before by editing the 'nosaevsettings' key as shown below in a script from http://www.kellys-ko...xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"SystemTray"="SysTray.Exe"

I've also got X-Setup which has an option/checkbox for this setting.  And, a right Click menu optoin (on MyComputer) to "Save Desktop Icon Layout" - and it pops up a box that says 'Saved".    But none of these things have worked and I cannot save desktop icons - they are always autoarranged on the left side.

If you have any ideas how I fix his please let me know.... Thanks!

19

Post New Requests Here / IDEA: Bmap - modify to strecth Wallpaper

« on: April 02, 2007, 11:56 AM »

bmap (http://www.geocities...imakoto/main_en.html) is a great little tool I use to quickly browse and change wallpaper.  Unfortunately the Wallpaper command does not Stretch the image to fit.  I'm not a programmer...and realize there are many other ways to change wallpaper...but thought it could not  hurt to ask if someone could mod the source to strecth the wallpaper.   The source is available on the linked page.

Thanks.

Barrett
Note - I originally got bmap from Tim RIces page - bcheck.net - but have not been able to load his page for a few days.

20

General Software Discussion / Monitor Resolution change tools?

« on: March 31, 2007, 10:43 PM »

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a tool for quickly changing video settings?  I have an Nvidia setup and their latest software - which includes some desktop utilities for doing this.  But I stopped loading that because it seemed unwieldy.  And I usually can usually find some free/donationware that works better.

I plan to try Reso from bcheck.net when their server is back online.
I tried http://www.southbaypc.com/FastRes/ but it lists every setting (see image) - and I'd prefer a smaller list of resolution optoins - maybe just a few I choose to display.

Update.... I just found ToggleRes which looks good for me - it toggles between 2 res settings you predefine  http://users.forthne...grams/toggleres.html

Also found WIRM2.  http://www.prometheu...uk/noshok/index2.htm

Thanks for any other recommendations

21

General Software Discussion / Volume Control recommendation

« on: March 19, 2007, 10:32 PM »

Hi all,
I just found a freebie that solves a minor annoyance (for me anyway) by providing a convenient way to adjust/mute volume via the mouse.    http://www.zvolume.com/

hope it helps someone.

FBJ

22

General Software Discussion / Crossloop.com - Remote Control freeware

« on: January 24, 2007, 05:53 PM »

Hi,

I've always had a hassle getting my non tech friends/family to work with VNC.   But these guys have it super simplified and it worked first time out.  If you need remote control check this out - http://www.crossloop.com
Highly Recommened.

Barrett

23

General Software Discussion / FYI - Address Book & Event Manger

« on: January 22, 2007, 01:25 PM »

Hi all,
I did not find anything here about these 2 freeware tools and I like them both.
For the coders (not me) the PEM is open source.

Address Book - www.freebyte.com/addressbook/

PEM - Personal Event Manager - http://www5.brinkste...olombo/pem/index.htm

Barrett

24

General Software Discussion / CPU Utilization Alerter ?

« on: December 11, 2006, 11:05 AM »

Hi all,
Does anyone know of a tool to monitor CPU utilization in the following (or similar) manner...
   - I enter a value (e.g., 10%)
   - When a process exceeds this value, the name of the process appears (preferably near the systray).

Since utilization could go up/down quickly...maybe it would not display when utization time (over 10%) was less than 1 second or whatever makes sense.

This methodology is basically what I do now by watching a bargraph displayed by TinyResMeter - when I notice CPU utilization is unexpectedly high - I open Task Manager to find the source.  I think it t would be more convenient to just see the process name.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Barrett

25

General Software Discussion / Tool or Shell to Browse+Play .WAV files?

« on: November 17, 2006, 06:59 PM »

Is there a way to preview/play .WAV files from Explorer..or maybe another small app?
I end up launching my MP3 player, or Adobe Audition.   This issue comes up when I am douing AV editing, or setting sound prefs in some app that allows me to specify an alternative WAV.  So the WAVs I'm intrested in hearing are usually small, system sounds...not music.
Thanks for any advice