Messages

1501

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: StarBurn 11 on GiveawayoftheDay today (Jan 11 2009)

« on: January 11, 2009, 10:44 AM »

I got Starburn last time it was on GAOTD. I have lots of burning software, but tend to use Starburn a lot. Not that I do anything esoteric though.

1502

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for random map generator.

« on: January 10, 2009, 10:14 PM »

Hmmm. I suspect that if you start taking an interest in the mapmaking and software, a lot of potential writing time will be occupied with that.

If you want to use the software to make maps, you must first gather your images/textures. Can be done free but there are also libraries available for $$$.

RPG mapping progs, as Shades suggests, are probably the cheapest and easiest way to go.

CC3 combines vector graphics and bitmaps which means it is very good at scaling from small to very large areas. Best software if you will want to switch between different levels of detail. Fractal Mapper is also good for continents etc.

Free programs at this scale have idiosyncracies or aren't as easy to work with.
AutoRealm is not the easiest to use, but does come with a library of symbols.
MapX has a few idiosyncracies (eg no undo), but can be made to produce almost any type of map if you have the images available.

An alternative approach is to use Image Editing programs such as PhotoShop or The GIMP.

There are many subtle techniques for making very impressive maps as you will see from the CG site or Dundjinni Map Competitions. You can spend years just playing around with these, as I suspect many people do.

I would still suggest that you get yourself a map and concentrate on writing, if that's what your ultimate output is going to be.

1503

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for random map generator.

« on: January 10, 2009, 04:57 PM »

OK.

In my experience, random map generators aren't that good so I would tend to avoid them - though it does depend on the quality you want.
I do understand you not wanting to do it yourself - though it would not be that difficult.
In that case, I suggest that you borrow/pinch one from someone else that they have already done. It should not be difficult to get permission to use maps from most non-commercial map makers.
Two sites you might look at are Cartographers Guild and RPGMapShare. The first will contain plenty of links to other sites you might try.

1504

Living Room / Re: New here, is there's any accounting or billing software - here or elsewhere

« on: January 10, 2009, 01:06 PM »

I do have experience of big accounting type solutions (and still have Quickbooks and TurboCash installed) and there are areas where they really come into their own.

They are fairly essential if there is a lot of inventory to manage (especially  if they are, or form part of, products for sale), if there are lots of products, high numbers of transactions, a need to monitor balances, a general need for lots of reports, a need to keep on tax issues etc. They are OK for invoicing etc, but no better than many other solutions.

What I wouldn't use them for (again) is a situation where the business is essentially selling hours/minutes of time. Too complex, too unrelated to the main activity. So I might well consider TDL2 for this type of use in future. Or InfoQube (SQLnotes) if it has timers. Or one of the many commercial packages out there for that sort of job, if any of them met my sepcific needs at the time.

1505

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for random map generator.

« on: January 10, 2009, 09:43 AM »

Why do you want it to generate random maps?

What sorts of images/features/terrain do you want it to show?

1506

Living Room / Re: New here, is there's any accounting or billing software - here or elsewhere

« on: January 10, 2009, 08:57 AM »

I'm not sure if the free version of the MS app allows time tracking.

One frequently used free  open source accounting application is TurboCash

But you don't need an accounting application just to do timing, billing and recording receipts. You could even use a ToDoList prog like AbstractSpoon's ToDoList2; it has a timer; you can easily record a variety of activities and monies received or spent (but would probably need to export to spreadsheet for addition and reports) and bills - but links to them easily available in TDL. I'm not really suggesting you do this (what works best will depend on your overall needs), just saying that your list of needs is not necessarily best met by accounting progs as they have lots of features you may never use.

1507

Living Room / Re: eBook readers

« on: January 10, 2009, 08:26 AM »

what is the best suited way to read pdfs?

I constantly hear they are for printing

-Paul Keith (January 10, 2009, 07:30 AM)

... paper  

1508

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 10, 2009, 06:13 AM »

Calimanjaro and Gemx and both looks like they are abandonware.

-kartal (January 09, 2009, 04:47 PM)

I agree about Calimanjaro - though he did reduce the price once, so it hadn't been completely abandoned,and can still be bought.

I think it is a bit unkind about GemX. The website, forum etc is a completely new version as is the pricing scheme. Forum is not very active and they don't respond as often as they might to questions (and no response to yours), but they do respond to some - and even put up some images of parts of the version in development (eg the mailer) in answers. So, I don't think it has been abandoned. I wouldn't buy it unless it does what you want now though even with its being the last day of their 2 for 1 sale today.

1509

General Software Discussion / Re: windows 7 beta available for free Jan 9 (!)

« on: January 09, 2009, 02:03 PM »

I thought I saw 3pm mentioned somewhere.

1510

General Software Discussion / Re: simple & easy way to exchange sensitive information?

« on: January 09, 2009, 03:23 AM »

Why not set up a free Fastmail email address setup

-nogojoe (January 09, 2009, 02:09 AM)

For me, I simply wouldn't trust the security of unencrypted email.

1511

General Software Discussion / Re: simple & easy way to exchange sensitive information?

« on: January 08, 2009, 01:48 PM »

For a once only use, I thought it would be possible to have an openable/unopenable switch. Once it has been opened it records the fact and can't ever be opened again.

For a cycle, there would be say 10 pre-programmed passwords. Once each one had been used, the program would need the next to open. At the end of the 10 it could either terminate (like once only) or switch back to the first.

1512

General Software Discussion / Re: simple & easy way to exchange sensitive information?

« on: January 08, 2009, 01:27 PM »

I was thinking more about this & thought that it might be useful if the program had a once-only or list of passwords that it cycled through. That would mean that the password could be given to someone to access the information, but that it would not work on a second occasion. Doesn't really matter then if the friend records it as it would no longer work, so long as they did use it immediately.

1513

General Software Discussion / Re: simple & easy way to exchange sensitive information?

« on: January 08, 2009, 06:39 AM »

The problem with anything they open on their computer is where that info might be saved or recorded. You'd want them not to have a clipboard (if they might copy and paste some content) or to autosave it anywhere. Obviously, fSekrit is designed to do this. An alternative, depending on the data, might be a vault or a password manager program such as Keepass which they could load on their machine and you could send them the database. Password by phone will be more secure (though might need a few tries if they make an error) since nothing will be recorded.

In a situation like this there is a tension between strong passwords and being easily remembered by someone who did not invent it. Possibly a passphrase with punctuation would work best.

It all depends on exactly how secure you need it to be and what you think the realistic sources of risk are.

Sending card details to a friend is a real risk if something goes wrong because any losses may not be covered by the card company if they think that doing that was imprudent.

1514

Circle Dock / Re: Feature request : middle click launch shortcut and let CircleDock opened

« on: January 05, 2009, 09:01 AM »

I have DC Open/Close assigned to a spare mouse button. Stays open when I call it until I choose to hide it. No problem.

1515

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 03, 2009, 01:52 PM »

I've no idea about their future plans. There had been a previous suggestion that they create links with the iPhone - ie it should basically be ical subscription - but there was no response at the time. Same suggestion has been made again, and they say they are considering possibilities but no promises. I suspect that they are fairly early in the design cycle and haven't got round to the detailed features. I also suspect they are looking as something akin to a complete rewrite of the basic structure and so it will be hard to know now how much of what is there in current version will make it through to the end. This is just my own suspicion (no evidence).

1516

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 02, 2009, 08:35 PM »

EssentialPIM Pro claims to be able to sync with Google Calendar (which is an ical/ics implementation). Maybe there would be a way of doing it through that? Not sure how easy it would be since Google only claim to sync with Apple/Sunbird ical implementations.And Pro isn't a cheap app if all you are wanting from it is the ability to subscribe to a year planner. I found the whole search for year planners really tedious, and I didn't even want ics subscription (though I did want ideally to be able to see longer periods than a year).

1517

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« on: January 02, 2009, 02:47 PM »

Does SqlNotes have this kind of calendar view?

Yearly planner

-kartal (January 02, 2009, 01:40 PM)

According to this answer, all is planned -

This is sort of off topic, but I've just made a wishlist for Calendar functionality HERE, and wondered whether IQ is likely to be able to do any of that. It seems to me to be the sort of databsase driven program that might.

-Dormouse (October 22, 2008, 08:51 AM)

I would say all is planned except:

I would like to be able to drag new items on to previous items and have the previous item automatically made into a folder with the same name and containing the new item(s)).

-Dormouse (October 22, 2008, 08:46 AM)

Instead of the item being made into a folder, the item would have sub-items (1 sub-item for each dragged item), in keeping with the IQ concept

-PPLandry (October 22, 2008, 08:56 AM)

 - but not yet present. I think

1518

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 02, 2009, 02:40 PM »

All I need is a yearly planner calendar tool(So far I failed to find any app). I just realize that it would be overkill for me to buy Gemx just for that feature considering its price. I mean it looks like nice piece of app but really beyond more than what I need. Also it cannot subscribe to ics calendar whic is a big minus for me.

Btw I realy think that its is budgeting modul is unnecessarily complicated. I tried entering some spendings , but I got confused about how to handle all the interface. All I needed was to enter couple dollars and items to see how it works out and I gave up.

-kartal (January 02, 2009, 01:19 PM)

Purely as a year planner, I much prefer Calimanjaro.

I also think that the value of the GemX product is all about its having many functions, so if you only want it for one it would be overkill. Financially, $49 for two copies is quite a good deal even for just one component, if you really want that component (of course, this is only true if you have someone to share the cost with and it does assume there is a component you really want). I've been playing with it for a while and have only recently got into more heavy usage. I've not got into the spreadsheet/budgeting module yet; had thought I'd have no use for it and that its fixed column names were too restrictive, but have started to see how it might be useful to me. Many of the sections I haven't used at all (yet).

Of course, I do also have many other progs and, on an individual basis, usually prefer those - eg
RTF Note prog - TreeDBnotes etc
Spreadsheet - Excel etc
Budget prog - Quickbooks etc
Mindmap - Conceptdraw, Edraw, XMind, Freemind, Cayra etc
TaskList - TDL, List Pro etc
Year Planner - Calimanjaro, EssentialPIM
Calendar - ???, Calimanjaro, Outlook, Spicebird; can't really say I like any of these & GemX's may be the most useful here
Contacts - I don't use heavily, same comments as for Calendar really
Password Manager - Keepass, Roboform (though only use it a little for websites so far - it's not integrated with Iron or Opera which are my most used browsers)
Browser - Opera, Iron, FF etc
Email - The Bat!, Spicebird, Thunderbird, Courier, Outlook etc
Journal - I haven't really been using one, so quite happy to use this
File Explorer - Q-Dir, Dopus, Xplorer2, etc
Calculator - haven't usually had one open, so am using this more (though there is one on TLB)
So, all in all, the value to me of the prog is its multiplicity of functions in a relatively moderate overhead. And it is portable. Because of this it is getting used more than my preferred progs for most uses and I tend to use my preferred progs most now only for the high intensity work.

1519

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 02, 2009, 06:05 AM »

CAlimanjaro is looking good except its yearly layout is vertical rather than horizontal

-kartal (January 01, 2009, 08:29 PM)

Yes, that took me aback when I first saw it too. Then I got used to it. And now it seems more intuitive than the other way. I do use a lot of different calendars in different contexts, and occasionally have to look twice because of the different orientation. One advantage of the vertical orientation is that it works better on widescreen monitors especially if you have 2 years open.

1520

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 02, 2009, 05:11 AM »

Btw I tried csv import into Gemx and it fails. It does not import anything really.

-kartal (January 01, 2009, 08:47 PM)

Thanks. Have you reported this as a problem?
It's not something I have tested.

In practice, I try to avoid most importing and exporting with all programs as it often seems more problematic than it should be. I only really test it with programs with databases I will always need access to. And I shall probably keep all my heavier duty task management in TDL. I have tested import/export from that prog - and again it has not always worked as it should have done, though I'm sure Dan would help sort out any probs if it proved necessary. As a once off, I usually find that I can fiddle around and get it to mostly work.

Now that you have raised it, I might check import/export out here, just to get a practical idea of its limits.

1521

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 01, 2009, 06:13 PM »

Calimanjaro will subscribe to a calendar & share on network or internet. Again, not a feature I have used (though I vaguely remember trying it out a long time ago). Nice range of options for how much can be displayed (up to 24 months), but nothing fancy in terms of task management etc. Not been in development for some years as far as I have seen.

1522

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for Project management timeline software

« on: January 01, 2009, 05:41 PM »

It does Outlook import/export, but can also import/export other file formats including csv and ics.

1523

Living Room / Re: Beware the Google Threat - Big Fat Ass Brother (BFAB)

« on: January 01, 2009, 10:55 AM »

Chrome is looking really good too (though I use Iron). And Picasa is close to the ideal solution for people who only want (or can only cope with) basic photo editing/preparation. And my whole family use Google Maps/Earth a lot.

And it is all free. And Google still makes a lot of money.

1524

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: The Journal - 51% Discount at Bits on 1/5/2009

« on: January 01, 2009, 10:47 AM »

So, I've had another look at The Journal.

Checking it out wasn't helped by its frequently going slow and freezing 5 times within 35 minutes of looking at it while I was also doing other things (no other running programs had any problems at all). Had to end process before restarting.

Seems to me to have far fewer options than TreeDBnotes (or Scribe, if it comes to that) though does have diary related features like timers, time passed markers, reminders etc. Wouldn't let me set up a new Journal without a password (presumably some incompatibility with my system since it presented it as an option). Export options did not seem particularly extensive to me; setting up new tabs etc quite convoluted. Not the most frequently updated prog either.

May well suit keyboard-preferring people if it has lots of keyboard shortcuts (though though didn't seem to be anywhere to edit them) - though it has fewer than TreeDB, but I prefer buttons and right-click options.

I realise you get to know more by using a prog more, but this didn't seem to offer enough gain to me to persevere with looking at it - even if it had been stable on my system.

Seems to me that, even at the discounted price, someone would need a definite need for its particular features to make it more worthwhile than a free alternative. But a lot of the effectiveness of these progs does come down to a good match between the prog and the individual's preferred ways of working and seeing things, so I can see that it might be the ideal prog for some people.

1525

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: The Journal - 51% Discount at Bits on 1/5/2009

« on: January 01, 2009, 08:04 AM »

My preference (so far) is TreeDBNotes where the free version has most of the features. I have tried all the above, but can't clearly remember why I didn't choose The Journal at the time; maybe I'll try it again. I also have Scribe as part of Do-Organiser which I'm now using quite a lot because of its integration with the other components.