Recent Posts

1726

General Software Discussion / Re: BeyondCompare 3 Released

« Last post by Dormouse on August 01, 2008, 05:38 AM »

You could use BC2 for 30 days, but it only counts days that you actually started the program. So even though I've used it quite a lot I still have days left and I will certainly demo BC3 and try and get it bought at work.

-justice (August 01, 2008, 03:42 AM)

And, if you use Windows and Linux, I assume that you can effectively extend the trial to 60 days.

Haven't tried the prog at all yet, but I probably will. Does look rather expensive for the amount of use I would get from it though - unless there is a big discount, of course (I did notice the price looking very reasonable for 100+ users; a DC members discount would produce 100+ new users, no?)

1727

General Software Discussion / Re: Merging Word documents

« Last post by Dormouse on August 01, 2008, 05:20 AM »

Chapter by Chapter[/url]' (CbC) can be helpful in a situation like yours. This app could be used to add individual files in a treeview (see pic) then output them as one single big file.

-lanux128 (July 31, 2008, 08:55 PM)

Hadn't known about this, seemed interesting, so I tried it.

Works, but concatenating Word (.doc files not 2007 format) is all it does (with a helpful note section at the bottom of the page for each file). Produces a concatenated .doc file which can be worked on in word. Only works with .doc files (well, can use RTF files, but cannot mix doc and RTF files).

I checked the box to make it appear in the taskbar, but never succeeded in getting it there. Which made finding it again a pain when it was overlaid with other windows. SOLVED - For new settings to take effect, the program has to be rebooted. I thought I had done this by closing it and restarting it from the file system, but I hadn't. It was sitting in the system tray all the time (so I didn't really need to change the settings anyway  ).

Also needs all the files to be in the same folder it is set up to work in. It doesn't seem possible to change this setting after installation.

Still, it does meet the OP's need, and surely, if everything is in the same file, it shouldn't be too much work to restyle the document.

1728

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: YourFonts - Generate a font based on your handwriting

« Last post by Dormouse on July 30, 2008, 04:09 AM »

Had to resize because scanning was to PDF & I found it needed to be an image format, so I converted & then had to resize because the prog would not take the original size. Next time, I'll change the settings and scan to jpg.

That guidance is fine - except I didn't see it when I tried it. Don't know how/why I missed it.

1729

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: YourFonts - Generate a font based on your handwriting

« Last post by Dormouse on July 30, 2008, 01:47 AM »

Well, with Deozaan's form I'll give it another go.

And the last time I tried, I had to do a lot of tweaking to get it to the right pixel size. Once it stops being a free demo, I think that nearly all the resizing ought to be done on the server, just with guidelines about ideal file size and pixel sizes (and a maximum file size limit for uploads). And some guidance about how to write in the template. I'd think ease of use would be important.

1730

Living Room / Re: Cuil search engine

« Last post by Dormouse on July 29, 2008, 06:28 PM »

But the level of negativity and pro google comments sounded little childish to me First of all the engine has just launched other day. I would ask you to refresh your memory about when google came out. Probably Cuil`s results are better than Google`s first day results. It takes time to create sensible results.

-kartal (July 29, 2008, 11:40 AM)

As I said, I do remember when Google launched (with rather less publicity that Cuil have managed) and it was a better search engine from the beginning. That's why it was able to grow so quickly.

I don't think that my comments have been particularly pro Google. I do think it is the best search engine at the moment, but I'm not sure that the search results are as well selected as they were a few years ago. I also dislike the default 10 results on a page. I do like the various specialist search facilities and also think that they have been one of the most innovative big IT companies over the last few years, but I will be very quick to look at any alternative that looks as if it might be better.

1731

Living Room / Re: Cuil search engine

« Last post by Dormouse on July 29, 2008, 03:01 AM »

Also comparing search results to google is not very scientific either. Google search results are irrelevant anyways. There is no "industry standard" results database.

-kartal (July 28, 2008, 10:49 PM)

That's the reason for using a term, where I know BOTH what the results should be AND can check it against Google.

1732

Living Room / Re: Cuil search engine

« Last post by Dormouse on July 28, 2008, 05:05 PM »

Agree with all.

Very slow,
Too few results on each page,
Doesn't get the main sites relating to the search (I checked with a term where I have the main websites).

I remember trying Google when it was first launched and virtually unknown. It was much faster and produced better results than the other engines I was using at the time. And the plain pages made it much easier to scan. I immediately switched to Google as my first choice searcher. If someone does it better, I think the market would be there for them - but there's no prize for being nearly as good. And Cuil isn't anywhere near as good. ATM at least.

1733

Living Room / Re: Computer problem, maybe you can help

« Last post by Dormouse on July 27, 2008, 06:07 PM »

Given the apparently awful state of the computer - and the number of things that might have happened - I'd suggest a swapping in strategy rather than a swapping out one. In other words, I'd take each component (including cables), one at a time, and swap (or add) them to a known working system. That should at least isolate the components that don't work with the exception of the mobo.

1734

General Software Discussion / Re: freedownloadaday strikes again

« Last post by Dormouse on July 25, 2008, 08:48 AM »

My only problem is that ACB tends to freeze while loading my Downloads folder. Then again, the folder is > 2 GB in size...

-anne_r (July 25, 2008, 07:56 AM)

My main D/L folder is over 20 GB, and I access it a lot. I don't think I'll try ACB.

1735

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 22, 2008, 02:55 PM »

I'm not having any problems with it.

-Dormouse (July 14, 2008, 03:09 AM)

Spoke too soon. Still often crashes when I add a program/link. Sometimes will work 2+ times in a row without crashing, sometimes crashes 2+ times without adding a link, but usually crashes the first time I try to add a link but works fine when I restart and add the same link again. Mildly irritating, but I can add all the links I want.

And I use it all the time, having switched one of my mouse buttons to hiding/unhiding it. So thanks.

1736

Official Announcements / Re: DonationCoder/Veign Programming Contest Results Posted

« Last post by Dormouse on July 22, 2008, 02:38 PM »

Congratulations to everyone 
Amazing achievements in the timescales.

And HUGE thanks to Chris for setting up a competition that produced the VIP CircleDock.

1737

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Titan Backup 2.0 Free for Registered users - applies to 1.2 free from Giveaway

« Last post by Dormouse on July 22, 2008, 11:17 AM »

Titan Backup 2.1 is available from Giveaway of the Day.

-lanux128 (July 22, 2008, 10:19 AM)

I got it last time on GAOTD. And downloaded this upgrade from the Neobyte website and installed it without any need to revisit GAOTD. Perfectly respectable backup solution it has seemed to me, though I do have a few different types.

1738

Living Room / Re: Advice: Never use your ISP provided email address

« Last post by Dormouse on July 20, 2008, 04:52 AM »

Let's say that somedumbsite.com wants me to sign up for an account before I can access the content, but I'm not too sure how true they are to their privacy policy. I'm paying $10 a year to register mydomain.com. I also have a Gmail account which is [email protected]

-Deozaan (July 19, 2008, 06:02 PM)

I have my own domains & emails & Gmail - but just for this temporary email, I'll use pookmail or equivalent to give me an address just for 24 hours.

1739

Found Deals and Discounts / Liquid Story Binder (2.91) on GiveAwayOfTheDay

« Last post by Dormouse on July 18, 2008, 02:10 AM »

Nearly 24 hours still left.

Good prog for those who have a use for it (though no drag and drop).

1740

General Software Discussion / Re: NewEgg

« Last post by Dormouse on July 17, 2008, 07:44 AM »

Is it really so unusual to want to buy something (a gift, perhaps) and have it shipped directly to another address?

-mrainey (July 17, 2008, 07:10 AM)

I don't think it is at all unusual. It's just that there's a higher rate of theft and risk to the retailer when things are shipped to another address. So firms on tight margins can easily decide that they cannot afford to have that business on those margins.

1741

General Software Discussion / Re: NewEgg

« Last post by Dormouse on July 17, 2008, 02:20 AM »

This is EXACTLY why I will never use NewEgg again!  While the service was great, the prices outstanding, and the selection unbeatable - I just can't accept that their method of "protecting my credit card" is the best (or even desireable) way. 

-steeladept (July 17, 2008, 12:12 AM)

Your problem is precisely the reason that you were attracted to them in the first place. They keep their prices so low (with service etc good) precisely by reducing or cutting out all unnecessary risks and costs. And one of those risks is delivery to another address, that unfortunately you find necessary. In the context of their business as a whole, they have obviously decided that they are better off without customers who require that service.

1742

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 14, 2008, 03:17 AM »

I'm going to be rewriting Circle Dock from scratch with a better program design

-VideoInPicture (July 14, 2008, 01:21 AM)

Sort of very good to hear this (keen on a better design  , slightly impatient for developments  ). Very, very happy to hear that you will continue developing it  .

It's very nice to have something entirely designed around the mouse for those of us who use the mouse most of the time.

One suggestion I would make for the future is hierarchical folders of applications, which can either be opened or closed (as on a folder tree). This is partly as a way of only having the icons I might use right now being visible, but also as a way of grouping icons (otherwise the prog seems to move them about every time the settings are changed).

1743

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 14, 2008, 03:09 AM »

Let me know if this new version helps out.

-VideoInPicture (July 14, 2008, 01:10 AM)

I'de downloaded and installed it (had to copy across the settings from 9.0, but that seemed to work fine).

I'm not having any problems with it. Can't be totally sure that is because of the upgrade as I downloaded .Net 3.5 from scratch (repair installation) which put it back to default, unpatched settings and didn't seem to have any (many?) problems after that.

1744

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 13, 2008, 06:06 AM »

Eric I hope you won't take this the wrong way -- but I really cannot wait until you decide to sink your teeth into a project that has a little more practical use and is little less of a proof-of-concept thing. 

-mouser (July 13, 2008, 05:27 AM)

I have to say, I would like this project developed beyond the proof-of-concept stage as I see it having a lot of practical use for me. I can see that I might no longer 'need' Object or Rocket docks. OTOH, I do understand that keyboard whizzes might not see the point at all.

PS - the rotation with the mouse scroll button is very, very cool when it is on the edge of the screen.

PPS - I have to agree with Mouser. Seems incredible to me (admittedly a non-programmer) that you can do this in 2 weeks. Not just for the technical skill, but the quality of the ideas behind the program & its implementation.

1745

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 13, 2008, 05:04 AM »

I have .Net 3.5; XP Pro, fully patched.

I'm not that surprised that there appear to be interactions as all these progs potentially call the same processes at the same time. I have Object Dock, Rocket Dock, True Launch Bar, RecentX and Vista Start Menu all installed. Object Dock disappears the most often, but occasionally all the others do too. Just restarted the machine, so will see how it goes now. Will also see if I can start acquiring error messages.

Have started Circle Dock again. Rocket Dock continued to work. TLB & Object Dock did not. However, when I clicked somewhere on screen, they both started working again even though Circle Dock was visible. Problem with Circle Dock sometimes crashing when adding icons remains.

Very much appreciate it is at proof of concept stage
ATM, on the Process Explorer lists,
Object Dock takes 120820k Virtual Size & 10676k Virtual Set
Rocket Dock 77796 & 17436
RecentX 114696 & 30936
Vista Start Menu 123116 & 31668
All fairly typical values; Rocket Dock has rather more icons than Object Dock & is what I use most often.
Circle Dock has 161476 & 40040. I agree that looks OK for its state of development when compared to the others.

1746

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 12, 2008, 05:42 PM »

I have reports from some users that the program crashes when they try to add a icon/link to the dock and no useful error message pops up.

-VideoInPicture (July 12, 2008, 04:18 PM)

Yep, I've got this.
Also seems to have disabled ObjectDock (but not RocketDock) and my taskbar (True Launch Bar) is not accessible when Circle Dock is active.

Later Observations
Well, behaviour a bit inconsistent. Have been able to add icons/links - sometimes it crashes CircleDock, sometimes it doesn't. ObjectDock returned when I restarted it and seemed to function fine then (I have noticed previously that ObjectDock seems to crash/disappear more often than RocketDock), but usually won't open when CircleDock is active. TLB never opens when Circle Dock is active.

Memory usage seems high though, and rotating the circle/spiral seems to make a huge hit on the CPU.

Still seems very nice though. Especially for a 0.9.

1747

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 12, 2008, 05:27 PM »

Very nice idea. 
Downloading it now.

1748

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on July 12, 2008, 05:19 PM »

I don't really understand why so many people have so much mess

-fenixproductions (July 12, 2008, 09:47 AM)

They have a good memory, so don't need to spend extra time organising things or putting them away or clicking through a hierarchy.

1749

General Software Discussion / Re: Lotus symphony (not covered in the giant word processor roundup) released free

« Last post by Dormouse on July 06, 2008, 06:45 PM »

Old name. But new version based on Open Office.

Never saw any reason to try it out instead of Open Office, Star Office.

1750

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: doPDF (pdf creator) - Freeware

« Last post by Dormouse on July 05, 2008, 10:01 AM »

Get it from http://www.novapdf.c...istration.php?src=15

-Curt (July 05, 2008, 07:12 AM)

That's for the registration - which does get the key. But the prog download from VNU does not work - and the key does not work with other versions of Lite.