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Messages - rjbull [ switch to compact view ]

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1
The Zombies Need Brains (ZNB) small press is in its 12th year of assembling and publishing anthologies of fantasy and science fiction, and needs a sizeable amount of momey to get this year's offering off the ground.  Details of the current project:

About This Project

This project will fund THREE science fiction and fantasy anthologies, titled WERE-2, SKULL X BONES, and AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR. Each anthology will contain approximately 14 all-original (no reprint) short stories from established SF&F authors in the field and new voices found through an open call. The books will be edited by S.C. Butler & Joshua Palmatier (WERE-2), David B. Coe & Joshua Palmatier (SKULL X BONES), and Joshua Palmatier (AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR).

WERE-2:
It’s the night of the full moon, but there are more than mere werewolves skulking the streets. In WERE-2, we return to the back alleys in the dead of night to discover what other were-creatures might see you as prey. A were-raven? Were-squirrel? Were-octopus? You won’t know until you hear that rustle of feathers next to your ear or smell the brine of the sea in that gust from the window. Writers are asked to give us their most creative were-creature, with only one rule: No werewolves allowed!

Edited by S.C. Butler & Joshua Palmatier, WERE-2 will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors include:

Randee Dawn,
Auston Habershaw,
Gini Koch,
Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin,
Harry Turtledove,
Tim Waggoner, and
Jean Marie Ward.


SKULL X BONES:
Avast, ye scurvy dogs! It’s time to plunder! Pirates have enchanted and haunted readers for generations, from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island to the ill-fated Firefly. Whether it’s Blackbeard, Mal, or Han Solo, we love our swashbucklers, our One-Eyed Willies, and our scruffy-looking nerfherders. In SKULL X BONES, we want writers to give us their best science fiction or fantasy pirates, whether they be on the sailing ships of the deep wide ocean or the spaceships of the black void!

Edited by David B. Coe & Joshua Palmatier, SKULL X BONES will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors include:

R.S. Belcher,
Alex Bledsoe,
Jennifer Brozek,
C.C. Finlay,
Violette Malan,
Misty Massey, and
Alan Smale.


AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR:
The city of Ampyrium is bustling with trade…in the midst of a Merchant War! In AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR, we return to the city that’s the hub for eight portals to other worlds, where the streets are shadowed on the brightest of days, the wares exchange hands both above and beneath the table, and all of it happens under the Eyes of the enigmatic Magnum. In AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR, we invite writers to come play in this shared-world city of magic and mayhem, saintliness and sin, established by the seven authors in last year’s AMPYRIUM. What nefarious plans will you perpetrate…or foil?

Edited by Joshua Palmatier, AMPYRIUM: MERCHANT WAR will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors include:

Patricia Bray,
S.C. Butler,
David B. Coe,
Esther M. Friesner,
Juliet E. McKenna,
Jason Palmatier, and
Joshua Palmatier.
Backers of this project will essentially be generating the base funds needed to produce these three anthologies [...]

I've read some of ZNB's earlier anthologies (Derelict, Guilds & Glaives, The Modern Deity's Guide to Surviving Humanity, My Battery is Low and It Is Getting Dark, and Portals), also Ampyrium from last year, and am in the process of reading Familiars, also from last year, and enjoyed them.  They contain a wide variety of stories.

N.B.; Malwarebytes (MBAM) says that ZNB's web site is compromised, but that could be just another <sigh> false positive.  Try the About This Project link instead, as it goes direct to the Kickstarter page.

2
I think PTFB Pro (made in Scotland, the home of golf...) can do what you want.  I used it for other things in the past, haven't tried your particular requirement, but see their (permalink) blog post Wait until button is enabled: PTFB Pro v5.4.3.0

It's payware, if that's an issue.  Occasionally it turns up on PTFB Pro on Bits du Jour.

4
General Software Discussion / Re: batch scripting
« on: May 20, 2024, 05:26 PM »
i was doing a lot of grepping and it was causing a toll on my hands typing all the extra characters.
[...]
now i'm wondering if i can make it so i just run it once, and i can just type the grep search words over and over again ?
[...]
without having to type g each time.
[...]
its been so long i cant remember what this stuff is even called in batch to search how to script it.

There are still a few batch file resources on the web, e.g.


Don't overlook that even the Windows CMD prompt has line recall and editing.  When you've issued a command, and it's been executed, press Up Arrow to recall it, edit the line if necessary and press Enter to issue the modified command.  Take Command (payware) and its plain text console mode version TCC/LE (freeware) are far better. You get many more features than Microsoft ever dreamt of.  JP Soft seem to have replaced TCC/LE with TCC-RT : Free TCC Runtime for Batch Files, which I haven't tried.  Also, you should probably look at PowerShell, which also I haven't tried.

5
i have a list of filenames, and my friend has a list of filenames. we are trying to organize and sort and compare our lists of filenames. but the two lists are too different for most string comparing tools.

I see Vic is on the task, but I think what you're asking for is usually called fuzzy string matching.  Try a Web search, there seems plenty of Python work on it, and take a look at Comparing Strings Is Easy With FuzzyWuzzy.

6
trackball mice

If you like trackballs, take a look at Trackball Mouse .org reviews (if you haven't already).  One caveat; amongst others, he likes the Kensington Expert Mouse.  It's a big device.  You need quite big hands to be really comfortable with it.

7
He really, really needs to write the Automation chapter of Help  :)

I just saw on Reddit that the app has been updated again, and then noticed there's been a start on the Automation chapter.

He said that v.2 was a very big update, and that the Automation chapter was/will be tantamount to a tutorial on programming.

He's very responsive to comments, which is a nice change in this world of big arrogant corporations.

8
Whilst rootling around for better web clipping, I came across Upnote.

The thread has moved on, with no further comment on Upnote?

9
Living Room / M-Discs; any experience of these?
« on: February 06, 2024, 03:10 PM »
I only recently heard about M-Discs, M-DISCw, which are claimed to be much more durable than standard CDs/DVDs.

Does anyone have any experience of these, please?

10
General Software Discussion / Re: Notepad Based Calculators
« on: January 02, 2024, 04:28 PM »
You might also like to look at EDI - TEXTEDITORWarning - I haven't tried it.  From the Features List:

Edi FREE
With Edi FREE you can mail merge into multiple PDF files and send them as an email.

Edi FREE is a professional spreadsheet and a word processor program.

You may use Edi FREE without registration and without any obligations at no cost, as long as you wish, even for commercial purposes.
In case, more functionality is needed - you can upgrade to Edi PRO.

Bit du Jour are offering a discount on the Pro version.  It needs .NET, if that bothers you.  I think their main point is that the word processor and spreadsheet functions are much better integrated than Microsoft Office.

11
General Software Discussion / Re: Notepad Based Calculators
« on: December 30, 2023, 03:31 PM »
Did you forget you started a similar thread here before - notepad calculator?

Did CalcTape not suit you?

12
General Software Discussion / Re: Undelete utilities - differences?
« on: December 08, 2023, 04:46 PM »
A few people, here and elsewhere, recommended GetDataBack so I went for it and it did the job, relatively quickly too.

I see it's still the same price ($79), last updated a year ago (my version from 2021 was 5.55, now at 5.61). Dont know if they do a trial.

Thanks!  They do offer a trial.  $79 is substantial, but they offer a lifetime license.

Best of luck, whatever route you take...

The query was prompted by talking to someone who couldn't get her photos off an SD card.  She'd been constantly re-using the card that came with the camera, and hadn't copied any of the files off it for quite a while.  When she did try, neither she nor her husband could retrieve anything, it looked like everything had been deleted.  At that point I thought of undelete utilities, as a hedge against problems. In their case the problem was worse, and probably insurmountable, as both their computers eventually said the card was corrupted.  I'd guess that even forensic IT might struggle to get anything useful from a corrupted card.  There's a moral in there somewhere...

13
General Software Discussion / Undelete utilities - differences?
« on: December 05, 2023, 04:45 PM »
A number of utilities claim to be able to undelete deleted files.  Some claim to retrieve data from formatted or even damaged media.

Apart from things like cost, speed and convenience, is there much difference between the various programs?  Are they all using much the same methods, with much the same results?

14
I see it's had another update two days ago: https://www.alomware.../toolbox-changes.txt

The dedication is definitely up there! :up:

He really, really needs to write the Automation chapter of Help  :)

15
Some screenshot programs can use delayed capture
Like Screenshot Capture...

Also PicPick (free for personal use), ShareX (free) and HyperSnap (shareware).  ShareX can be run from the command line (don't know about the others), which might be another way of making a delayed screenshot.

I think my brain just doesn't work the way Mouser's Screenshot Captor does.  Maybe it's the amount of customisation.  Some programs include everything but the kitchen sink. Mouser gives you a choice of kitchen sinks to suit all decors...

16
Is it vital to use keystrokes?

Some screenshot programs can use delayed capture, e.g. FastStone Capture (low-cost payware and very good).  Have you tried delayed capture, which might give you time to move the cursor out of your region of interest before the capture happens?

17
The very responsive author seems to have quite a few beta testers, and has been extremely busy squashing bugs and adding features.  Glad to see it made it to full release.

I hope the license isn't his downfall, too, though it's worked OK for other shareware.

EDIT:  the author points out that the unlock code is tied to the PayPal email used to purchase the code, which should deter spreading it around.

18
General Software Discussion / Re: Accessing articles from many pdfs
« on: September 26, 2023, 04:25 PM »
Thanks Target...that sure looks worth following up!
[...]
There was an application years ago that was mentioned here (qippa I think) that did some interesting things when analyzing the citations.

Qiqqa, now freeware; a forum search turns up many mentions, e.g.

Qiqqa - Reference Management System - Mini-Review

Re: make scan PDF into text searchable PDF

The main proponent of Qiqqa was the formerly prolific IainB, but he's not been here since February 2023.

19
 - re Hardware footprint:

[...] I contacted support about the PC ID and they replied that it's just a hardware hash [...]it's just to stop sharing of a purchased unlock code with others, which makes sense from an anti-piracy standpoint.

I eventually bought a license (my UserID is rjbull and I am a sofwareholic).  The author said they'd been ripped off right and left with earlier programs, and this was the only thing that helped them make money.  Shame, but one can't blame them.

I look forward to a version of the Help file that has a chapter on Automation...

20
Portable... yet wants your PC ID(s), which I take to be a hardware footprint.  I hate hardware footprints.

21
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22
General Software Discussion / Re: Accessing articles from many pdfs
« on: September 04, 2023, 05:08 PM »
RightNote has features to deal with PDFs.  From the Help file:

Indexing settings

The professional version of RightNote allows you to index attachments and links of the following file types:
.txt, .rtf, .htm/html, .doc/docx, .xls, .csv, .pdf

In the options dialog under the Indexing settings section, you can select which file types you want to be indexed by default. Further, every note has it's own setting which will override the default settings.

For example, you may want to set pdf files to not be indexed by default, since often times these can be large files, and you generally do not need the contents of these file to be indexed. If you then need a specific pdf file to be indexed, you can adjust the setting in the attachment viewer.

---------

Attachment note type

The attachment note type allows you to store any type of file in a RightNote database. For example you can store MS Word documents, Excel files and PDF Documents. If supported, the contents of the file will be indexed and made searchable.

Currently the following file types will be indexed:

txt, rtf, htm, html, doc, docx, xls, pdf.

You can open/view the file by clicking on the Open File link in the viewer. This will open the file with the default associated application for the file type, for example and xls file will be opened by MS Excel (if it is installed); a doc file will be opened by MS Word.

[...]
Note:

When you open an attachment, you are viewing a copy of the original document. If you make changes to the attachment, this will not affect the original source document.

---------

Link note type

The link note type allows you to create a link to any type of file on your computer. For example you can create links to MS Word documents, Excel files and PDF Documents. If supported, the contents of the file will be indexed and made searchable.

Currently the following file types will be indexed:

txt, rtf, htm, html, doc, docx, xls, pdf.

Note:

A link note does not store the actual contents of the file in the RightNote database. It simply points to a file on the file system (or internet url). If you open the link, you will be opening the source file pointed to by the link url.

---------

Warnings:
   A) I haven't tried it
   B) Features only in the Professional version, i.e. the payware one

23
General Software Discussion / Re: Accessing articles from many pdfs
« on: September 01, 2023, 05:55 PM »
I'm not sure this is a helpful bit of lateral thinking, but had you considered using XPDF to convert your PDFs to text?  Text would be a much more tractable format, easier to search, edit and bookmark.

24
Zombies Need Brains (ZNB) is a US small press that each year produces collections of original (no reprint) short stories from a mix of established SF&F authors and new voices found through an open submissions call. Editorial standards are rigorous, and ZNB is a SFWA-qualifying market. Each year, these books offer high-quality reading, as well as the pleasure of encountering writers new to you.  This year's Kickstarter, running until 14th September 2023, funds the following the projects:

FAMILIARS  (approx. 14 stories)
Animals have been our companions since the dawn of time, but in science fiction and fantasy, often that bond is taken one magical—or technological—step further. ...

LAST-DITCH  (approx. 14 stories)
In the heart-pounding world of espionage, it’s the spy that gets the dirty work done. ...

AMPYRIUM
Ampyrium, city of a thousand wonders! Powerful magicians called the Magnum have created a massive city contained within eight walls, each with its own portal to another world. Here, eight different magical lands collide. ...

ZNB 2023 Kickstarter
Blog post by Juliet E. McKenna (a favourite fantasy author of mine, and a contributor to ZNB anthologies)
Zombies Need Brains home page

25
General Software Discussion / Re: Form letters for medical use
« on: March 08, 2023, 05:17 PM »
I'm wondering if I can maybe suggest the use of something like a Publisher template with mailmerge fields and use the latter to call up a graphic / textbox pair, prebuilt and preformatted to be dropped into a precise position on a page / group of pages. If I can make TFLM spit out csv style data, that might work...

Just saw your Re: GS-Base Mini-Review post.  If you're thinking of the mailmerge route, Serif Affinity Publisher might be a good-value alternative to Microsoft Publisher.

Although, I have to say, I'm still not very clear on what you really want.

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