Messages

276

General Software Discussion / Re: excel tool - cloud or home base?

« on: October 30, 2015, 07:19 AM »

As your data is web-based, you'd be better off using a web-scraping tool to collect the data, instead of manually reading the numbers from your screen.

-Ath (October 30, 2015, 02:40 AM)

Yep, your right. Thanks.  Any tool you recommend?
.
I can see 3 possibilities.  Easy front end, do it all myself.  Some scripting, I learn the specifics.  Hire it out. Definitely i would prefer to do it myself in-house and if the tool cost a bit, that's ok.

Of course, I have to also up my spreadsheet savvy, once the data is available (there is a uniform SKU for linking) so that part of the question remains.

Steven

277

General Software Discussion / Re: Nirsoft's Antivirus Hall of Shame

« on: October 29, 2015, 06:52 PM »

Remember, Nirsoft is the situation of using low-level tools, like reading the masked password. The company has a great reputation, but the only way I can think that could really work with a lot of companies would be if his programs were on the company white-list registry with a checksum approach. That is asking a lot.  Otherwise the programs do things that you want to be warned about.  However, you should be informed, not scared.

278

General Software Discussion / excel tool - cloud or home base?

« on: October 29, 2015, 06:26 PM »

Hi,

I have an unusual, important and mildly unique need that is probably best native to a spreadsheet app. (Although I always would consider a database or programming-macro tool alternative.)

This is an application that could be one person at a desk, or it may be shared.  If we share it, that would of course be one bonus of using a cloud app.  And Google Sheets would have an inside track since we are already sharing some stuff in Google Apps for Biz.

=============================

Looking around: here are some of the alternatives:

PC
Excel
LibreOffice Calc  (or Apache OpenOffice)

Cloud
Google Sheets
Excel Web Application
Zoho Sheets

=============================

THE PUZZLE

We have an unusual pricing method and problem.  The vendor who sends us prices can change his % markup.  And he does not tell us when he does, and he does not give us a download option.  The total number of items is about 200, it could go up if we could streamline the pricing, and about 50 of those have to be watched like a hawk.  At least once a week, since small changes can mean a real difference.  So, no matter what, we have to go into his web site, and extract current data out, one item at a time. (One item on its own page.)  Yes, we have requested some help from them finding an easier method, and will do so more in the future. At this time, it is as it is.

The spot where we put in our tiered prices is dependent on the vendor (that spot does have CSV import/export), so we have to do some manual checking of what is the current % and how does it compare.

To automate this we probably want to put the current two (actually three, a changing spot price is involved that can even change in the middle of the data input session) factors of the items from the difficult source into a spreadsheet (perhaps twice a week, we are in a volatile and sensitive market) and then have the spreadsheet calculate the % and tell us which %s are different than the last time we did this.  Then we would adjust those by hand.  The final adjustment could even potentially be programmed automatically, but that is not so important.

Without this automated, it takes too many hours per week, even for a skilled person who understands the whole thing.  Automated would still require some handwork, much less though.   Plus we want to keep the data from one review to the next, and also the archived history.

You can see that this may be a bit tricky for anybody other than an Excel Whiz. 

WHICH TOOL?

Does that mean I should use Excel (or LibreOffice Calcs) for stronger macros and stuff like that?  Will it be easier than the cloud?  I noticed that Google Calcs says they don't have macros but they do have some script language.  It sounds to me that it might be cumbersome to work that way.

Hmm.. thinking about it, it might be nice to put the data in a MYSQL type of database, if I could find the right tool for data entry and programming and printing. This would be like my Alpha5 or Filemaker or Access thoughts.

WHO? HOW?

If anybody is really skilled on this stuff, helping set it up might actually be a little remote gig. You can send me a msg.  I am a programmer-techie of sort, but my Excel background is minimal.

Should I just buckle down and learn some spreadsheet macro language?  Should I consider the old Alpha 5, Filemaker, Access alternatives to setting this up?  Or some other tool that can through up fields, take screen input, work with the data file and do calcs?  Should I just seek help?

Steven

279

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: October 28, 2015, 12:20 PM »

Hi,

Yes, I actually accessed the old notes in that type of way, from an earlier backup.  The backup, however does not have a lot of recent tweaking.

However there are now good notes on both data files that want to be rejoined. ** Probably has to be done by hand.** Maybe using an intermediary word document program, and then going from one file to the other.  If you know of any other way, please let me know. Granted, there may not be enough purpose for this type of techie request, and there is no sky falling down.

========================

btw, I also had a question on the Internet keeping of the notes. (So that they can be accessed on my ipad, I tried it for a week or two and found it "ok", not great but reasonable.) I thought I had paid for a year, until 2/2016 by Paypal (sent you a note privately on this)  but then it expired quickly, and I wrote you an email. Did not see a response.  I let it go since I am happy with the usb sneakernet method, even though it leaves the ipad out of the loop. 

Can you help me unravel those questions? I have been on the road a month so my communication has been spotty, we can use the Donationcoder message method.  I know you try hard to take care of everything well.

==================

From daily usage it would be very good if you instituted the enhancement to have the search show the full "path".  That is the biggest encumbrance to full usage as a note system.  You "find" what you are looking for but then have to do a lot of searching to really find exactly where it is.

Thanks!

Steven

280

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: October 26, 2015, 06:53 PM »

Earlier I wondered about a merge.  I somehow deleted or lost some note branches (I was doing clean up.) Plus I emptied the trash.  There were some notes on an earlier file that I would like to get into the master one.

Any ideas?

281

General Software Discussion / Re: moving data from desktop to laptop

« on: May 06, 2015, 11:15 AM »

I'm in good shape now.  I lugged the home puter and terminal and keyboard and mouse into a hotel room and backed up a bunch of stuff to a Passport (it would have needed a USB or internal card for wireless).  Then from Passport to wireless.

Some other issues are floating around, but for now I'm ok.

282

General Software Discussion / moving data from desktop to laptop

« on: May 03, 2015, 11:07 PM »

The laptop is a Dell Windows 7 Home Premium, picked up inexpensively.

The desktop is my home puter, but I am in between places, without the FIOS connection.

Is there a way to connect by USB or something (or the old Laplink cables) by just turning
on the desktop.  And then use a file manager to transfer?

Or do i have to haul the whole puter, with monitor, keyboard and mouse, and get it online.
And do all the Dells of the last few years have a built-in wireless?  So that the xfer is reasonably easy.

Thanks!

Steven

283

General Software Discussion / Re: on the road again - remote windows access from chromebook, tablet, library-hotel

« on: March 04, 2015, 01:39 AM »

After I wrote this, I noticed that PortableApps has a Teamviewer app.
http://portableapps..../teamviewer_portable
After setting up a USB with PortableApps and Teamviewer (easy, except first I want to set it up also for Linux multiboot with utilities to carry with) that will help for anything that takes USB with Windows, especially the library and hotel situation.

Then this seems to help with the Chromebook.

How to Run Windows Software on a Chromebook
http://www.howtogeek...are-on-a-chromebook/

Except .. so far the Airpad did not find the Windows system open (same account, waiting for entering key).  I'll try the Chromebook in the AM.

284

General Software Discussion / Re: on the road again - remote windows access from chromebook, tablet, library-hotel

« on: March 03, 2015, 02:01 PM »

As long as there is nothing overly difficult in the setup, that is what I meant  .

285

General Software Discussion / on the road again - remote windows access from chromebook, tablet, library-hotel

« on: March 03, 2015, 09:15 AM »

The main puter is at home base. While some stuff is in the cloud or synced or portable, the home puter remains very helpful to access.

 Let's assume good wireless access, allowing that the Airpad and Android abilities to work through phone data often comes in handy, especially for map driving gps good natural restaurant finding times.

When I have a good laptop handy, the answer is simple. Either load the stuff, windows and programs, on the laptop. And use Teamviewer for remote access. My Verizon to Eudora email especially stays home and likes remote access.  Yes, I use gmail, but more as an auxiliary, and all my gmail accounts forward to the home base.

At the moment, no good laptop. So what are recommended options for remote access?

1) airpad or android.  For various reasons I see this as an auxiliary use, but I would give one app or web method a try. Maybe we have a thread.

2) chromebook - this would need some web connection, unless I did one of the chromebook fakeoutslike like downloading an app or installing Linux.  Big advantage .. Good mouse and keyboard.  Setting up an ad hoc local printer ...problematic.

3) library-hotel. - here printing would be easier.  Any good web oriented tools? They would also apply to the chromebook.

Thanks for any ideas. Btw, this is written on airpad using wireless at Bean & Bean ... So I am not opposed to tablets.

286

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: March 03, 2015, 07:45 AM »

.
Undue .. oops .. undo ... just undoes the last thing, such as a text change or deletion.  This is more common in word processing programs and is an editing function.  Revert one step.
.
note "Title" centered capability (you can put in dot to create the result now) ....  The Title of the note is left justified.  Esthetically you might like it in the center.  One way of achieving that now by hand is with a dot and then spaces.   A "center title" option would be nice.  Depends a bit on whether the toolbox supports it.
.
========================

IMPORTANT
.
Notes Browser memoboard header (Title, Due, Tags, etc.) layout - default global setting ...
The layout of the columns (Title - Due - Tags) I think are now done memoboard by memoboard.  Generally I want my own specified layout, e.g. I may not be using tags much so that is on the right.  I may want to always have the memoboard column over to the left.  I want to set it up in one spot globally.  "Apply to all memoboards".  (Then it would be nice to be able to change it for an individual one.  But even simply the "Apply to all" would be the real need, I doubt that I would ever change one.)  I did not see this function.
.
In that column for the header that is "memoboard", allow full Notezilla path (folders-->subfolders) ...
this is also important.  In my picture above where the "memoboard" would be "Donationcoder Discussions" I would like the global option to say instead the path, which is -
   My Puter --> "Donationcoder Discussions"
Thus, if I end up with 200 or 500 memoboards, I can find it right away.
.
===============================

Skins be less than global .. e.g. for memoboard (forget this one, "skins" are fine.  I think they are simply really "(additional) Memoboard backgrounds".  ) Is that right?  The term skins usually has a wider use.  No problemo.

Thanks!

Steven

 

287

General Software Discussion / Re: Launch any windows application on the cloud (online)

« on: March 02, 2015, 06:50 AM »

As for online, that would be a Microsoft implementation.

Windows in the Cloud?
http://wctechblog.com/?p=3749

They would expand Office365 to include much more.  However, getting Windows in the cloud through a back door, outside
of Microsoft, is unlikely.  

As MilesAhead points out, there are possibilities to run Windows programs outside of the normal platform, on a desktop,
maybe a tablet.

Steven

288

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: March 02, 2015, 04:55 AM »

 This reminds me that I should learn some of the tricks for posting pics.
 Anyway, here is the new memoboard page.
 
 Any Notezilla competitor has to be able to give a similar clear visual representation of an "issue".
 OneNote can allow rectangles to hold each note, but my quick check was not too happy with the visual nature of the result.

 

289

General Software Discussion / Re: Launch any windows application on the cloud (online)

« on: March 02, 2015, 04:25 AM »

Architecturally, not possible, Windows apps are linked to the Windows OS.

Chromebooks are designed to get as close to that as possible, by encouraging you to open up apps that are cloud-based from the Chrome browser.  I think it is a good idea for some limited uses, also for  light research and writing on the run, since you can have decent keyboard and mouse and apps in a very inexpensive and light notebook (I paid $125 for mine used, but figure $250.)

They are beginning to kludge "Apps" from Android into the Chromebook (also a Linux dual-boot), but for the full Windows gamut of apps, you need a Windows Netbook or Laptop or Desktop.  Maybe a Windows tablet, you have to ask someone using one of those.

Steven

290

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: March 02, 2015, 04:09 AM »

First, the searching.
Notezilla is pretty good on the searching.  
A note browser "answer" comes up to the search, and then you can look at one at a time. Es suficiente, since a lot of Notezilla as a full-blown note systems is based on the tree hierarchy.  

Here is the results of a search for "Donationcoder" on my current Notezilla "NotesBrowser".  
The one note that is showing is the first row, but I can quickly see the 2nd, 3rd row etc.
(My major desired enhancement here is that the "Memoboard" column should have the option to show the whole path to the specific memoboard.  Also I think the titles are not in the search.)

Note that the fact that each individual note can selectively be placed to pop up on webpages is a nice part of the integration ("Windows" on the columns). I am using that aspect more than more.

Next I will show you a new memoboard (page) in action. One that I am just setting up, active notes on Donationcoder threads -- "Donationcoder Discussions".

291

Living Room / has the google book search by time gone bonkers?

« on: March 01, 2015, 05:32 PM »

I've used it a thousand times.

google book search
Search tools--> Any time --> Custom range

Today I was looking in google books for "yahweh" in books ...
 (trying to find out the first usages of this name, with the precise spelling)

I also tried "heavenly witnesses" (a search I have done many times).

When I place all the books in the search it comes up fine:
   36,500 for "yahweh"
       791 for "heavenly witnesses"

Then I was limiting the dates ... and generally the books did not come up.
Please, one or two .. try it and let me know if it works for you.
e.g. put in 19th century ... or put in 1500 to 1990.

Temporarily I could use "sort by date" for a fakeout but that would require navigating to the last page.
There is a "reset search tools" but that will undo the date.

This is puzzling since I have used these date searches for years.  
Yes I tried a second browser (Firefox and Chrome) and I used the "reset" and then a redo of the date.

Steven

292

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: March 01, 2015, 02:34 AM »

The author Logan had made a point here:

OrangeNote – A Smart Note Taker & Clipboard Manager
http://www.makeuseof...ard-manager-desktop/

Feb, 2010
"gave up on the .NET framework because of too many problems with it (performance, memory issues, and just overall limitations and annoyances)."

They said that:

"Update: The developer sent us an email requesting us to put up a small comment saying that the app is again being actively developed. He has also released an upgrade. Check it out"

And that was the April, 2010 update.

I did not see and RTF editor referenced, so I passed for my use.  Also it did not really seem to have a memoboard that was functional like Notezilla.


Steven

293

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: February 28, 2015, 06:40 AM »

Here are three more small enhancements:

Date format in memoboard (e.g. allow date, not necessarily date plus time)
Possibly similar options on the note date, although not an issue for me, shows date only.

Ctrl-F bring up the search box (this is a habit thing)

Search should include the titles (looks like it passes that up now.)

294

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup4all discount on Upgrades [until 2015-03-01]

« on: February 28, 2015, 01:01 AM »

Used the Backup4All forum.
http://forum.backup4...the-cloud-t1819.html

Tried the suggestion to switch the browser that enters Amazon S3.
Tried Opera and it worked.

Good enuf.  Now I will do the upgrade today (before 3/1).

It is possible that one of my freeware backup programs has similar functionality,
but a backup program that looks solid and saves sets and schedules and such for $20 is fine by me.
The support forum helps.

Steven

295

General Software Discussion / Re: stickies Notezilla memoboard as full-blown personal note system

« on: February 26, 2015, 03:00 AM »

Here are two more major ones that would make Notezilla visible for prime time, ie. more people would consider it for a full-blown note system.

==========================

6) multiple files available through a File->Open command

Currently the .ini file holds the information given in Advanced-->Preferences-->Advanced

Thus in my system I have:
  DataFolder=D:\Apps\Notezilla\Data
  BackupFolder=D:\Apps\Notezilla\Backup
Instead of the default spots.

I'm not sure if the .ini file itself can be moved (e.g. by a parameter in the shortcut)

So in my Windows 7 system the Notezilla.ini file is at its standard spot:
     c:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming\Conceptworld\Notezilla\

So if I have multiple .db files, I can look at one at a time by renaming data files, and/or renaming .ini files.
A File-Open command would be much more appropriate.

==========================

7) Similar to this in being a functional help, increased versatility, would be a .db merge command.  One that allows one .db file to be added to another, under a new specified folder name. This would allow you to have available very easily a file that you had at another location or another now-dormant computer.

Is there a Navicat style utility for the SQLite .db files?  
Or more specifically something like this:

Database Content Compare and Merge Tool
http://www.altova.co...se-compare-tool.html

I plan to try out this solution on test files.

====================

This is very good, at least, for looking at the database structure.

DB Browser for SQLite
http://sqlitebrowser.org/

Although looking at data (again, duplicate test files only) hit some potential snags, eg:

"A table in this database requires a special collation function 'NOCASE' that this
application can't provide without further knowledge.
If you choose to proceed, be aware bad things can happen to your database.
Create a backup!"

==========================

Only today am I trying out the "Skins".

They are explained here:
http://www.conceptwo...ownloading-Importing

And the download site is:
http://www.conceptwo....com/Notezilla/Skins

At one point I complained about not having some backgrounds like corkboard, that plaint is now inoperative!  
(Well there should be a corkboard memoboard, which is not quite cartonboard.)

At least when it comes to the notes themselves.
Although I would still like more flexibility on the white background which is the full memoboard background.

You get to applying the skin to a note by the Appearance toolbar button. I had missed using that.

==========================

Steven

296

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup4all discount on Upgrades [until 2015-03-01]

« on: February 25, 2015, 01:02 AM »

My first attempt in the cloud is their Amazon S3 implementation.  You end up in an arcane S3 world.  I was able to create the access key and secret access key fairly easily.  Then it wants a bucket, or says it will create one.  Nahhh.. And the error messages are wrong (Backup4all says the name must be unique even when you offer a crazy name that is definitely unique).

"TVfs Error
Bucket names must be unique across the entire Amazon S3.
Please select another bucket name."

Maybe you are supposed to go into the Amazon Dashboard and implement policies, but that does not make a lot of sense (I set up one user in an attempt to create buckets, with similar results.).

This is meant for the common user?

=================

Earlier they used a WebDrive product.  This process is apparently now supposed to be more native not requiring the webdrive thing.

==================

Similarly, Azure/OneDrive is supposed to have a key.  Not very obvious how that is set up.

Steven

297

General Software Discussion / Re: email notifiers (whew)

« on: February 21, 2015, 11:08 PM »

I'm not going to go with PopTrayU.  The developer is fine, but I hit an error in functioning once and to often I wait with a circular Windows icon. I don't think it is as stable and robust as I need.  This might be a function of the abandon and restart by another programmer history of the open source program.

Pop Peeper and Gmail Notifier Pro both get high marks.  Jeff from Pop Peeper was very helpful on private email.  Both have forums.

Gmail Notifier Pro - the 4-minute gap
http://gmailnotifier...c.php?f=4&t=1875

With the iOS I forward the gmail to the [email protected] email. Then I am told there are good alarm settings built right in. Checking that now (a sound, nothing persistent.)  The tablets are actually more important in the long run since the user can have them nearby even when out to lunch.

Not sure about Android.

Steven

298

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« on: February 21, 2015, 09:59 AM »

Coming to this discussion late.  Only read the first few pages and this one, so far.

With Bitcoin being used primarily in internet gambling and involving a wasteful set-up application by a geek oligarchy (mining bitcoins) I find it rather an absurd and funky-wrong attempt to have an alternate medium of exchange. With a bit of a ponzi investment element and dubious internals. (There is no there there.)   The early attendees can do good financially if they can find ways to cash out, which is the nature of ponzi.  If they hold everything, they risk everything.

If you want to speculate at this point, it is a bit like day trading, with far less possibility of a sensible strategy. Except, I gather, that you can not afford to make small transactions, due to transaction fees.

And I am a big fan of bullion and real estate as real money and value.  My view: it is hard to say that gold or silver is overvalued or undervalued.  One ounce of either remains at 1 oz a year later. It is the price, volume and confidence in the fiat currencies that varies.  The bullion remains the same.

If you, or a friend or relative, puts some wallpaper money into bullion, it never changes. If the price goes down, that's ok.  If you lose, you win. Since, up to that time, we have not had an economic collapse and hyperinflation .. yet.  Whatever little stash of green is around is still valuable.

=================

If there is a time when Bitcoin has the same amount of convertibility as decent credit card points (transferable gift cards for Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Barnes and Noble) let me know and I will rethink the above.

Steven

299

Living Room / Re: Preloaded spyware, courtesy Lenovo

« on: February 21, 2015, 09:02 AM »

Are you saying that you overwrite their OS with the installation media that comes with the hardware?  
If so, do they supply CDs, or do you burn them, or have another source?  If from Lenovo, these are clean unlike the PCs they sent out?

Just want to have a clearer explanation.
Clearly overwriting with Mint is another story.

Steven

300

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Backup4all discount on Upgrades [until 2015-03-01]

« on: February 20, 2015, 06:13 PM »

Good tip. My Professional Version 3 license was 2008, and has always been a good program.

Now version 5 for $21, and clearly some cloud backup savvy. Looks good. This is the only backup
software that I have actually purchased so far.

You actually choose the vendor:

Plimus - paypro global - avangate - shareit.
Decisions, decisions.

Steven