Messages

7676

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Finally perfected my download commenter after only 8 years

« on: February 12, 2009, 11:22 AM »

I wanted to have a convenient way to add comments to files I downloaded.  Since 2001 I've messed around with various schemes revolving around a Property Page shell extension where you can type or paste in a comment for the file.  After only 8 years I think I have it the way I want it!!

TipOff

To make it easier to use the shell extension in Vista64 get Half Shell also.

(They are both fully functional donation-ware.  No nag screens.)

7677

Assembly / Re: What version of assembly? Any

« on: February 12, 2009, 09:29 AM »

Thanks a lot for this tip -- perhaps I can remain relatively unsinged

-ewemoa (February 11, 2009, 11:40 PM)

Another thing you can do if you program in other languages, some allow embedded asm statements or procedures/functions.  That can give you a testbed of a running program and you just code a function in asm.  Gives an idea of how the pushes and pops work with parameters, stack setup etc..

7678

Assembly / Re: What version of assembly? Any

« on: February 11, 2009, 05:17 PM »

You can compile a MessageBox() to less than a kb under FASM

Ehtyar.

-Ehtyar (February 11, 2009, 03:57 PM)

It's probably the same.  It's been several years since I used it.  All it does is invoke the function in the dll so I don't think there's too many ways to make that smaller.

The main nice feature is the Windows headers and I seem to remember there was some cool lookup function that made it easy to get the params to a lot of win functions.  But my memory has faded.

7679

Assembly / Re: What version of assembly? Any

« on: February 11, 2009, 01:59 PM »

Masm32 is also fun to play with.  What makes it fun is that it includes Windows headers and macros to make it simpler to get started doing Windows apps.  iirc there's a 32 bit example that pops up an OK dialog that assembles to 5 kb(since all it does is call the windows dll to do it.) 

It has an "Invoke" syntax that you can use if you hate typing all the pushes and pops.

I think the last time I messed with it was using Win98 but it seems to still be out there.

7680

Post New Requests Here / Re: Remember removed programs

« on: February 10, 2009, 04:43 PM »

Curt, this isn't exactly what you asked for but you encouraged me to update and streamline CommentConfig.  The result is TipOff

It still has the Property Comment Tab to edit comments for any file, but now a data file is made in the same folder to reduce the memory footprint.  Plus it includes a little converter program to output a simple TreePad .hjt file that can be imported and edited with TreePad Lite. Tooltips display the comment for supported archive file types.

With this scheme it's much easier to transport folders with comments to external drives and onto different machines. Plus TreePad seems to have a good following so I doubt it will go away anytime soon.

Edit: To remove the need to run the converter from the command line I added a button to the Comment Property Page.  I think I might even use this thing myself now!!

7681

Post New Requests Here / Re: Remember removed programs

« on: February 08, 2009, 01:29 PM »

Hmmmmmmmmm I've started messing with Treepad Lite.  Pretty easy use and it does primitive searches on entire trees.  You could search on features that way.  Only thing is after you install or download something you need to be in the habit of firing it up and making an entry.

Still, for free it ain't bad.

7682

Post New Requests Here / Re: Remember removed programs

« on: February 08, 2009, 11:25 AM »

It sounds like what you want is a free database.  I wrote a utility to comment files I download.  You may be able to use it somewhat for this purpose until you find an exact match or somebody codes it for you.

Here's the description

http://www.favessoft.com/comment.html

edit: I googled and I think I'm going to give Treepad Lite a try.  From the description it looks to be totally portable.  Can carry on a key drive or whatever.

7683

Post New Requests Here / Re: Maintaining Windows explorer Detail view

« on: February 06, 2009, 10:49 AM »

This registry fix might help

http://club.cdfreaks...-view-setting-88230/

7684

General Software Discussion / Re: How much trouble is a 64-bit OS right now?

« on: February 06, 2009, 10:36 AM »

urlwolf - live with 64-bit Vista is just fine, in my experience. My two-bits is go with either Vista or with XP - who knows what Windows 7 will wind up looking like?

-Darwin (February 06, 2009, 07:23 AM)

Yup.  And even little things you take for granted, like printing to a USB printer might not work.  I tried 32 bit W7 and it didn't like serving the driver of my USB printer over the Lan.  Plus when you see raves about W7 you have to remember the beta everyone is playing with is the Ultimate edition.

Whenever I decided I was going to install some Linux distro I always tried to find a hardware compatibility list to make life easier.  Same idea might be good with Windows OS.  Make sure you can get drivers for what you are likely to use.  Google around to see if there's widespread problems with that stuff even if there are drivers.

7685

General Software Discussion / Re: How much trouble is a 64-bit OS right now?

« on: February 05, 2009, 12:43 PM »

Older USB devices where they provide the driver on CD instead of hotplug seems to be the only real issue I've run into, other than cleaning off preinstalled crap.

This little 2 PC setup I have works out pretty well because stuff I can't use on the new PC I can keep running on the old machine until the software is updated or I find new freeware that does the same thing.

I've given up trying to give advice.  People have their habits and emotions locked in.  One guy asked me to take a look at his PC.  He started the thing up and windows and dialog boxes were jumping around all over the place.  I asked when was the last time he updated his anti-virus database. He replied, "it came with anti-virus, I don't have to do anything."  I think he had the machine for about 4 years at least. That was the end of that diagnostic session.

7686

Coding Snacks / Re: IDEA: the block me (when you are your own worst enemy)

« on: February 04, 2009, 07:44 PM »

I work from home most of the time nowadays, and I have a similar service to this already which has proven to be extremely effective.

It's called "my wife"

-timns (February 04, 2009, 01:28 PM)

Heh. I was going to suggest calling it MILB for Mother In Law Browser.  As soon as you try to go on a forbidden page, a video pops up with MIL giving the usual diatribe.

7687

General Software Discussion / Re: How much trouble is a 64-bit OS right now?

« on: February 04, 2009, 06:23 PM »

Darwin I get the same feel using this new PC.  It's quad core with 8 GB ram but as far as surfing the net with Firefox or opening programs it feels pretty much the same as my dual core with 32 bit Vista.  Where it shines is running a video encoder for each core.  It's fun to watch Core Temp show all 4 cores maxed out with no fan noise!! It's not sports car fast, but once you get the weight movin' it doesn't slow down.

7688

Coding Snack Guidelines / Re: IDEA: mod to Windows FileOpen and FileSave dialogs to select folder(s)

« on: February 04, 2009, 04:59 PM »

I'm thinking more from the programmer's point of view.  Something so you could pop up a folder select box for the user.  The Shell Browse Folder thing is the worst.  The standard file open dialog has all the features but they deliberately hosed it so you can't just add an option to select folders rather than files.  Don't ask me why.

Probably the closest I've seen is JVCL folder picker but it's limited to starting with a disk drive.  There's no options for selecting anything between Desktop and Computer.  The top level is just a bunch of drive letters.

7689

Coding Snack Guidelines / IDEA: mod to Windows FileOpen and FileSave dialogs to select folder(s)

« on: February 04, 2009, 10:41 AM »

I don't know about you guys but I really hate those "browse for folder" dialogs in Windows.  I know they jinxed the standard FileOpen and FileSave Windows dialogs to make it tough to subclass/inherit the behavior but I'm wondering if there's a way to mod them right through the controls using AutoIt or some other mechanism?

That clicking on the plus signs until you get down to the folder at the bottom of the tree has to go!!
Plus if you could mod the FileOpen and FileSave then you could use the PlacesBar features for often selected folders(or the folder just above, where you keep a lot of working folders etc..)

7690

General Software Discussion / Re: How much trouble is a 64-bit OS right now?

« on: February 03, 2009, 09:10 PM »

I've only been on Vista64 a few days.  Like the 32 bit it runs the HD more than XP.  Takes awhile to tone down the services and scheduled tasks, indexing etc..

afa the 32 bit shell extensions, you can use a 32 bit file manager like Free Commander, or open 32 bit shell windows.  I have an AutoHotkey freebie that opens selected folders in 32 bit explorer windows to make using shell extensions more convenient:
http://www.favessoft.com/HalfShell.zip

Just select and hit Shift-Enter

So far it seems like I've run into a lot fewer compatibility problems with this than when I got Vista 32 bit in April 2007.  I think compatible stuff is going to flow because all the new PCs over $500 are going to come with 4 GB ram minimum.

7691

Find And Run Robot / Re: Links to Review and Comments - Add yours!

« on: February 02, 2009, 04:02 PM »

I've used Slickrun for a long time but after trying FARR for a couple of days I can't stop myself from just hitting the Break key to reopen a folder or whatnot.

Anyway, I posted my high opinion of your app on Softpedia.  Should show up in a day or 2.

7692

Skrommel's Software / Re: Noise

« on: February 02, 2009, 03:48 PM »

@MilesAhead: Yep, I frequently use it to keep the monitor on

-jgpaiva (February 01, 2009, 08:08 AM)

Very cool.  Thank you.

7693

Skrommel's Software / Re: Noise

« on: January 31, 2009, 07:33 PM »

Then it was supposed to work.
The thing is: noise only makes simulated keypresses. This is fine for windows' default screensaver, it won't be activated. But programs that look for real keypresses will still make the screensaver start, that's why i was asking.
Not sure what's happening to you, then.

-jgpaiva (February 24, 2007, 04:10 AM)

Does it prevent power management from shutting off the monitor?  I seem to have a stubborn applet in control panel.  I use a KVMA switch and no matter how many times I set Performance Profile to all Nevers, often I get monitor kill when I jump to the other pc.  I go in and look at the settings and it's changed back to 20 minutes for monitor instead of never.  Really annoying!

7694

Developer's Corner / Re: What's the Best Programming Language For...

« on: January 28, 2009, 07:12 PM »

For messing around with Windows controls AutoIt3 may be a good place to start. It's free and scripts can be compiled into an .exe file from the explorer context menu. Plus the syntax is straight forward.  You may want to try out a few different programming languages before you install a large IDE.  This site has lists of free compilers, interpreters and IDEs:
The Free Country

I won't give any advice on web programming.  If you look at my site you'll see that I learned just enough html and css to put text and images on blocks of color.  Really minimalist. 

7695

DesktopCoral / Re: LATEST VERSION INFO THREAD - DesktopCoral- 1.03.01 - Nov 30, 2008

« on: January 25, 2009, 07:17 PM »

I must be missing something really obvious but I docked to the top of the screen and all my windows maximize to the whole desktop just as before.  I have a single monitor setup.  Just seems like I get a taskbar icon and that's all??   (mystified)

edit: ok, on the second run I'm getting some action. 

7696

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: an indication that "start-up" is finished

« on: January 25, 2009, 02:11 PM »

I've been trying to find an Idle launcher that takes hard drive activity into account.  I haven't found one yet.  Esp. on Vista the stupid explorer or other background tasks can decide they want to scan the drive for 20 minutes so it's not the time to launch a defragger.

I've been trying to find stuff about idle detection but about all I've run across is some white paper about the disk driver interacting with power saver policy yadda yadda.  Seems like some of these defraggers that defrag in the background should be detecting it somehow.  Any clues where I could look if I wanted to take a shot at it?

7697

Developer's Corner / Re: How to open topic from CHM by keyword?

« on: January 24, 2009, 11:10 AM »

You mind find this utility of interest.  I haven't tried it yet but it claims to open html help by a keyword as one of its enhancements over hh.exe:

http://www.keyworks.net/keyhh.htm

7698

Find And Run Robot / Re: FARR Error : Entry Point Not found.

« on: January 23, 2009, 10:46 PM »

I just ran into this.  I ran FARR on XP on another PC, on Vista on this PC and didn't get the error until I ran it on XP on this PC.  On XP on this PC I can see my Vista partition.  I put C:\ in search folders with 0 for subdirectory search and so far the error hasn't recurred.

Fingers crossed

7699

Developer's Corner / Re: what is __restrict keyword in c?

« on: January 23, 2009, 05:09 PM »

I think you'll find when Microsoft adds its own wrinkle it precedes it with double underscores.  If you are using MS compilers it's always a good idea to check their documention.  A good example is try  exception handling in C++.  There's the C++ exception mechanism using try..catch, then there's MS home grown Structured Exception Handling that uses __try ..except instead of try.  They are not the same.

In this case it may just be using C 'restrict' keyword in C++ as __restrict but I wouldn't take anything for granted.

Here's a simple explanation more succinct than on MS page I think:
http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/13825

(for some reason we all want to put the 'ed' on the end of restrict to get restricted.  I just did it too)

7700

Developer's Corner / Re: what is __restrict keyword in c?

« on: January 23, 2009, 01:36 PM »

Looks like it's an MS specific modifier.  I just read the entry on MS site for it here:
http://msdn.microsof...5ft82fed(VS.80).aspx

and I'm still not sure what it does.