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Woo Hoo, another DC coffee mug to be gained, I'm in.

Imagine having a original Google Coffee cup, and what it would be worth.
So having a set of 3 DC mugs must be worth a fortune. True collectors items.

And looks like a big field of players this year.

Thanks for the effort Mouser and team

Brett

I need to make something clear.
I am NOT a heavy, or even a light user of Mind Mapping Software.

I came across this offer in my daily surfing habits and posted so all DC members might also have the same opportunity.

The reason all DC members frequent here is because opinions are mostly Unbiased and Constructive, good and bad.

The one review on the site is pretty damning about it though.

Yep, the user at the download link sure does have a axe to grind.

Here is the link to the reviews I found on ConceptDraws website
Make sure you scroll down and select 'MindMap Reviews' from the 4 products they produce. Not that these are worth anything, but do your homework.

I have had Mindmap , and also ConceptDraw Pro installed for around 6 months and had no real issues with either, but I also don't use them daily.

There are is one issue related to this offer:
Maybe I read something wrong but didn't buying on some PC magazine a must?
Those kinds of information's appears on many websites (comments being honest). If this is true then it's nothing really special but an advertisement only.

You do not need a magazine or anything else, just a email address. (choose 'other' from the drop down, I did)

Brett

Looks like you can get ConceptDraw Minpmap v5 for a limited time.

Important, this is V5 and the current is V6

The auto-generated licence key only works with the standalone version of ConceptDraw MindMap 5, and the version currently hosted on the ConceptDraw web site is version 6. If you don't mind being a version behind, you can download the Windows version here and the OS X version here.

Then you need to sign up for a registration key (not a hack, ConceptDraw's web site)
Get Rego Key for ConceptDraw v5

I downloaded (28mb) today, entered name and email, received my rego number immediately on website and email. All good.

screenshots from website (v6)
Large Screenshot (400k)
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ConceptDraw programs tend to be of very high quality and design.

Other members feedback welcome, and could someone post when this offer expires.

Brett

In a moment of weakness
'Why oh Why do I do this to myself'

I am happy in Chaos, it's the way I am.
I know it should be more organised, but I do ten times more things then the next 'organised' person.
Yes I envy their planned life, the spare time they have, the neat and tidy desktop.

Yet again I pledge my allegiance to the DC cause.
ToDoList has been a shining light, just need to knock out a few to many tasks, and add some leisure,

I'm In.
(Category chosen is 'delegate' , stop doing everything myself and get somebody else to do it.)

Brett

Looked for something myself just the other day.
Wanted it to be simple, my search found this

Id3ToFolder

Its very basic, read the tag and move accordingly.

Sorted my collection very nicely.

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Gui says it all really, no bells, no whistles, just do the job please.

from the website

Description:
Id3ToFolder helps you sort your music files. It reads out the id3 tag and creates folders and subfolders for every album, artist, year or genre. Id3ToFolder can read MP3(Id3v1 and Id3v2), Ogg Vorbis and Windows Media Audio files. Version 2.1 features new function for working with whole directories. Version 2.12 enables sorting for genres. Version 2.2 adds filerenaming. Version 2.21 adds "Bitrate", "Genre" and "Comment" to folder naming.

Freeware from what i can tell.

Brett

[AUSTRALIA]

AUSTRALIA

DC is a truly a international site.
Each reply should list their resident Nation in nice bold letters on the first Line, nothing else.
If your country is already replied for, please do not post again, this way we should see just how many Countries are represented here at DC.

Remember, we need to try and avoid duplicate nominations

Brett
(of course a moderator could probably run a query, but where is the fun in that)

Hi Curt

There are some differences between Free,Home and Pro in Helicon Filter. But having used Pro for a while now I could not remember what they where.
The frames do change with the option of adding shapes etc, and this is a lot more then I thought. 

Good news is the 'apply to folder' is in the free.

As I said in the review, sometimes you have to dig and poke around this application to find some extras.
There is a menu option that allows you to switch between 'simple' and 'expert' mode.  (free and paid)
So whilst in trial you can play with either modes.
[attach=1]   [attach=2]

The ball overlapping in the frame is a little distracting, so here is another, all done in simple mode
Framed with 'unfocussed strong'
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Brett

Hi Tomos

found a table so here is Free Vs Home Vs Pro

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Check out helicon filter

Create a frame, (and lots of other adjustments)
apply to folder, (create new images in subfolder, never alter the original)

Performed on 192 images raw format 10mb per picture = 15mins
Performed on 81 images jpg format 1600x1200 = 3mins

read my review at
http://www.donationcoder....14768.msg128321#msg128321

Warning.   Large photo 750k, added color, reduce noise, added sharpen, ADDED FRAME
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[App Name]

App Name	Helicon Filter
App URL	Heliconsoft
App Version Reviewed	4.88
Test System Specs	xphome, 2.33Ghz Duo, 2gb Ram
Supported OSes	Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Vista x64.
Support Methods	forum, email
Upgrade Policy	Number of options, 1year, lifetime see web site
Trial Version Available?	30 day trial, reverts to free version
Pricing Scheme	Free version, Pro $75(plugin&multiprocessor),  Home $60, v4xx options, 1year option
Reviewer Donation Link	Donate to Brett, the Review Writer
Relationship btwn. Reviewer and Product	REVIEWER: No relationship with Helicon other then a registered Pro user

Intro:
Helicon Filter is a complete image editing solution for the digital photographer.
Pro Version used in review, but there is only minor difference for most users.
[attachimg=1]

Who is this app designed for:
Originally I thought this was a fantastic easy to use program for the average photo taker that wants to perform some improvements to their photo's.
But after using for a while you will find that there are some unique and Power user options, tools that Photoshop find difficult if not impossible are a breeze in Helicon Filter.

The Good
Fast, Fast, Fast.  If you need to improve some photos quickly, turn out some work that is presentable, this is it. Make some adjustments, save the adjustments and apply them to other images or batch process a whole folder.

Simple, even your mother could use this. (my mum could not use Photoshop)

Powerful, there are some features that are unique, but you have to poke around to find them (especially in Pro)
Easy frame tool, reduce noise by colour, side by side comparisons, noise and sharpening maps, blur/sharpen brush, eyedropper white balance, Image stacking HDR, etc.

The needs improvement section
Programmers probably take for granted what a new user does not understand, the tutorial/help section is good, but you need to read it over and over.
Some buttons and sliders are available, and you will need to dig to learn what they perform.
No layers or masks.

Why I think you should use this product
Cant afford Photoshop, PSP, etc. The free version has more then enough, and the Pro version adds a few power tools.

How does it compare to similar apps
It is hard to compare because Helicon Focus Filter uses a different approach.
I originally found Helicon Filter in a post here at DC. Since then I have become a fan of its simplistic design and layout, its ability to perform some very powerful features, and its editing workflow.
So how does it differ from other photo editors, best put by other comments elsewhere on the web.
Helicon Filter is Task based, and other editors are Tool based.
Photoshop might have 100's of tools, but does not lead you in what to use first or how.
Helicon Filter lays out a series of tasks, with tools for each task.
The advantage is that your workflow becomes fast. I have both PS elements 6 and Helicon Filter (also Lightroom2) and if time is a factor, I reach for Helicon Filter.

Quick example (reduced size 800w 100%jpg)
I was happy with the original photos composition, but the photo feels flat and washed out.
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A quick run along the tabs adjusting
contrast, highlights, shadows for sand highlights
Dull and Bright colors, add some richness.
reduce a little noise
Sharpening, heaps of edge sharpening
Add a frame for presentation
Save 
(workflow time from start to finish, around 4mins)
[attachthumb=3]

Conclusions
I still use PS elements and Lightroom, just not very much.
This is not a full replacement for high end photo editing as it does not support layers or masks.
But if you have never used Layers or masks, then Helicon Filter will be more then you will ever need.
(The pro version has a PS plugin )
and if you need speed, its stunning.

Overall, free version is great, that great I paid for the Pro.

For those that are as lazy as Jimdoria and Myself
Ultraexplorer is a filemanager mentioned at DC a few times and has a 'DropStack' window.

from help file
Adds a temporary drag drop staging area for file manipulation. Simply drag folders or files to the stack from UltraExplorer or Windows Explorer then drag the block of files to another window or Windows Explorer. To clear the stack simply press the Clear button.

and one of the Options
Auto Remove on Right Drag Only: Only removes the files from the DropStack Window if the user uses the right mouse button to do the drag. If the left button is used the files remain in the DropStack.

Screenshot showing DropStack
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Negatives.
Mouse based, but I am lazy and did not look hard for KB shortcuts.


Brett

Don't dismiss a favorite among some DC users.  (non associated, but a fan)

ToDoList

In the perfect world, it would have the following features:

• Drag and drop a document into the window and a new row is created
• Ability to quickly and simply move the rows up and down or assign projects (or have a simple text interface like Todopaper)
• Ability to rename the files inside the organiser without renaming the target file
• Be free or relatively cheap
• Be small and portable

Drag and Drop -
- multiple files to the comments area creates a shortcut.  (Activate link by holding down 'Ctrl' whilst Left Mouse click.
or
- a single file to the file Link Field (adds a icon in the task list)

Move Up and Down
- by holding down 'Ctrl' and uses arrow keys Up, Down and also Left Right

Ability to rename the files inside the organiser without renaming the target file
- ?
Free -
- freeware, but donations can be made, so in the DC tradition......

Small and Portable
- Happily runs on portable drives, but relative file links between machines might be troublesome

Screenshot one shows Mockup with multiple shortcuts in comments window
Screenshot two shows shortcut in FileLink

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[attachthumb=2]

Hi Curt, thanks for the feedback, and uncanny in your thoughts.
GiveAwayOfTheDay had a screensaver maker  'Wondershare slideshow builder' (I grabbed it)
so i am going to make available in a screensaver a few categories.
will probably make all shots avail in different size/configs as well for anyone for wallpaper.

My web site is at
http://www.twowillows.com.au

it is built with CMSmadesimple, a CMS that is great for anyone wanting a easy to use web site.
I have setup a couple for others, ie Soccer club, Racing car driver, Golf club,

Photography is a hobby and i am getting more passionate about it as i age. (canon 350d/400d)
must go google 'Image Compressor 2008' now, many thanks Curt

btw.  I edit my photo's with 'Helicon Filter' , software mentioned here at DC, and I am in the middle of a mini review for.
Its quick, simple, and outputs a presentable image in seconds.

My work will ease off a lot over the next couple of weeks, so I should get time to do some more work on this,
Vixay, really appreciate your input, will incorporate your suggestions.
Will, can add your options no problems (i think)

I am building a new PC, so slowly adding and growing to my new shiny animal.

Brett

Hi Knightindustries

AHK is known to sometimes trip Antivirus software, there are numerous reports of false alarms.

If there is ever a concern for anybody, they can download the source and check in a text editor.
Install AHK on the required machine to run the souce direct, or compile using the AHK compiler. All very beginner level.

On a 'evaluweight' front. I have been having nightmares on the best format to save the data files in, but will now concentrate on CSV.

Brett

Hi Marek

If you need the output parsed to CSV then this is perfect. I love this utility

What you need is a little AHK and XML2CSV.
XML2CSV can be found here http://www.a7soft.com/xml2csv.html
Its a command line xml parser.

We could create a 'dropzone' or scan a folder in AHK. The output can then be saved in same/sub folder in CSV format with only the specified tags.

Let me know if you want this done in AHK or you want to do this in Python.
Should be less then 50 lines in ahk
(send a altered example to email if you want)

Brett
 

New update to Titlelog v1.0.47.03

+ summary view is now a two pane display
left is application, right is all titles logged for that application

+ summary view sorts to most used

+ error check in detail view when updating search

Screenshot shows
Notepad++ used for 1hr 3 minutes today
Each 'window title' in right pane and time on each

[attachthumb=1]

Footnote.
There have been some requests for how to track time spent on a project.
Label each project with a unique identifying tag. You should then be able to do a filter on that tag over a range of dates, and Titlelog will return the amount of time on the project.
ie  design a web page for Bill, every file that you save on bills project should have a unique number and look like 'Bill web page P6592.html'  'Bill P6592.xsl' 'Bill P6592.doc'
as long as the Application lists the filename in the title, you now have a record of how much time is spent on that project, and you can perform multiple searches for P6592 and you will be presented with a breakdowns of your time.

Next update will mainly be trying to improve speed and optimize.

All feedback of all type is well received.
Brett

I have searched google for a few days and have come up empty.

I am on the look out for a group notice board that does the following
- Is used on a network (although web based would be very good)
- Allows me to post a notice that is allocated to 'xyz' in the group. select by tickbox
- when 'xyz' has ticked that they have read this notice, the message is auto deleted.

bonus points for
- history that it has been read
- replies, or added content
- needs to be very simple

typical eg
- Bill rang and said 'thanks for all your hard work'
- There is a lunch at 'The Railyard' be there at 1.pm
- Reports due on friday, dont be late.


I currently use 'Stickies' to send messages between PC's but it does not match above, (but is sensational software)

closest match so far has been 'Pink Notes Plus' that turned up in a google search.    http://www.alphamedia.net...roducts/pnp/v40/index.htm
It is a 'sticky notes' application that allows acknowledge of note sent.

I really dont want to use all the might and power of M$ and outlook to have invitations and acceptances. just a simple 'have you read this' style notice board.

Brett

[CSV]

Hi all.

A few more additions.

+ should now be able to load 'from' and 'to' dates in Summary and Detail views.
+ changed tray menu, now has 'explore log folder'
+ all log's now saved as CSV files (was txt)
+ filter saves as csv extension by default
+ made height/width larger. (will work on auto-resizing listview control)

- open in notepad, see above due to date spans.

needs more testing, as early days.

suleika
At some point I'm going to have a go at playing with it in Excel.  I'll post about it.

before playing in excel, you should try the filters in the detail view. I would be surprised if they did not achieve most objectives.
When you have the right filter, use the 'save current list' button to save the filtered items.
What I am pleased about is that it should/will filter over a date range.

This alone will give the user a handy productivity tool.

Tomos
this is super - you can see how long you've spent at each programme

even better now, you can see how long for a date range.
And in detail view, filter down to one particular item.

Large Screen shot of Detail view, filtered to Firefox with Donation in title, Status bar show how much time spent over three days.

[attachthumb=3]

Brett

Hi all.

There are a number of things I want to change/update here. I think I will add it as my GTD of 2007
Brett
.

thanks for the good words, but sometimes I need a massive push.
I tend to start a lot of things, get them to about 90%, then do something else.
Overall, I am very easily distracted.   (beer, women, sport, butterflies, etc )

So what is in v01.02.23

I was never happy with the way the text was written to the file so that has been tidied up.

Fixed writing log to file
Fixed idletimeout over the top of canned messages, (thanks Armando)
Added a Summary Log
Added "" to text file
Added filters in detail view.
Added Save in filter view, ie save the results as a CSV file. (suleika)

Screen shots show same log, unfiltered, and filtered.
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[attachthumb=2]
and the status bar with summary
[attachthumb=5]

If I dont get distracted to much next step is to allow filtering over selected multiple days.
ooh, look, a butterfly...........


Brett

Just a quick update because I wanted to have this out at the beginning of this week, and as far as GOE 2007 , it is in the same basket as GTD2006.

- 'HTML generate'   menu item to generate HTML code. (completed) [now broken, grrr....]
- 'BBC generate'  menu item to generate HTML code. (30%) [see HTML  ]
- 'Normalisation' of weighting, allows ANY numbers of weighting to be added. (0%)  [completed]
- 'file dropdown list' allows quick loading of saved  (50%) [completed]
- 'save checking' before exit check saved status. (0%)  [completed]

new
- 'add a comments box to each rating for user notes' [completed]
- 'trying different data save formats, ie csv, txt, ini, custom, Grrrrr..   ' [testing]

hehe, in judgment and decision making, this is the 'normative' way of making decisions. What is surprising is that human decisions never correspond to what a model like this (with weights etc) predicts.

i.e., fill the form for any real decision. Take your time picking your weights. Better yet, do it for a past decision. Then, compare what the weighting model says with what you actually picked. Chances are, the two things are not the same

By the way, does ahk have a 'spreadsheet-like' component? Maybe that'd be more convenient than the current grid of textboxes...

Good job!

Hi Urlwolf

Evaluweight certainly provokes the mind in your own decision making. Because evaluweight is on paper it takes away the emotion factor in the decision.

ahk does not have a real spreadsheet-like component, it does have a listview, but then in-cell editing becomes difficult.

the next release will have a small 'notes' button next to each cell allowing the user to jot down some comments. so I will need to stay with the grid of edit boxes.
[attachthumb=1]

Brett,
Any chance that you worked in Broadmeadows Victoria in the 90's  ?

Rob

Hi Rob,  Newcastle and Sydney all my life. 

real job requires my attention, post new version as soon as I fix broken bits.

Brett

Hi all.

This has stirred up a lot more interest then I first anticipated, and I originally thought it was fun and a bit of a novelty toy.
After seeing this mentioned in a few blogs I had better clean 'Evaluweight' up a bit and add a few items. So here is what is planned.

- 'HTML generate'   menu item to generate HTML code. (completed)
- 'BBC generate'  menu item to generate HTML code. (30%)
- 'Normalisation' of weighting, allows ANY numbers of weighting to be added. (0%)
- 'file dropdown list' allows quick loading of saved  (50%)
- 'save checking' before exit check saved status. (0%)

see what I can do after the weekend. ( i have to work )

Brett

[Evaluweight]

Having trouble justifying a decision,
Stop procrastinating and start using Evaluweight !

This started out as a little fun and bit of effort to scam mouser of one of the legendary Cody Mugs.
In the end it is a interesting insight into how we come to a conclusion.

Theory,

Each decision you make, is a 100 percent commitment. Therefore, that decision can be broken down into categories,
and each category represents a part of that 100 percent commitment.
So "evaluweight" lays this all out in a nice and easy grid format.
Simply give each category/feature a percentage mark of how it would impact your total commitment.
Now add the product that you want to compare, and in each category, mark that product out of 10 on how it meets your expectation.

Evaluweight will produce a score at the bottom of each row.

The screenshots will enlighten a little more.
ToDo
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Chocolate
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Printers
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Vehicle
[attachthumb=4]

Some notes
- This is a very basic script designed to con mouser into giving me a Cody mug.
- This is a very basic script that could be improved
- This is a very basic script that provokes the mind
- It is a standalone script, no installer, portable. (AHK source provided)
- Saving is very basic, it saves to the same directory as the file.
- Data is saved in a small csv text file.
- Can be used in making or justifying any decision.

More on the thought process
After using this for a few projects I was surprised to find that Money is not the major influence in a purchasing decision. If the product does not do what I want, I really dont care how much it costs. So rarely was money more then 20% of the factor, mostly around 10 and sometimes less then 5.

Suggestions, Critics, Applause and Rock Throwing all accepted.

The files
A Zip with the four examples above
The AHK Source file


Brett

Quickbooks for Free

http://quickbooks.intuit....accounting-software.jhtml

I use MYOB myself, so I have no idea if this is bad/good/great.

The link was posted somewhere the other day, i just bookmarked it.

Brett

100 , still feel insignificant compared to others, but my first pin.   
[attach=1]

Brett