Recent Posts

226

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 20, 2019, 02:04 AM »

I've updated sWeather to work with the new API but I'd like to get a bit of testing done before releasing it fully.  If you're up to it, make a backup of your sWeather folder and grab the interim build from here:

http://www.dcmembers...eather_v1.7.5.27.zip
http://www.dcmembers...eather_v1.7.5.34.zip
http://www.dcmembers...eather_v1.7.5.35.zip

Please read the following changelog and let me know how this version works for you:

    + Added support for the new Yahoo! Weather API.  The old API was retired on
      2019-01-03.  The new API seems slower than the previous one but I don't
      know if it's because of the new OAuth requirement for this new API or
      something else.  Whatever...it works, so please be patient with it and
      apologies for any inconvenience.
    + Hovering over the "Full forecast", "Radar", and "Powered by Yahoo!" links
      shows their URL in the statusbar.  (Thanks, Drugwash)
    + Right-clicking the "Full forecast", "Radar", and "Powered by Yahoo!" links
      gives the option of copying the URL to the clipboard.
    + Added "Minimize to tray" option.  (Thanks, Drugwash)
    + Added menu option to display raw weather data.
    + Added tooltips to statusbar icons.
    * Eliminated dependencies on resources.dll and temp directory.
    - Took out the WOEID search feature because the new API doesn't support that
      currently.  Had to go back to the old method of manually getting the WOEID
      from the URL of a location on the main weather.yahoo.com website.  Yuck,
      what a travesty.  >=[
    ! Right-click clipboard context menu was broken.
    ! Fixed an extra line in one of the tray tooltips.  (Thanks, Drugwash)

227

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 17, 2019, 04:55 PM »

I haven't heard back from Yahoo! so I sent them another email.   

228

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA - The Name Game

« Last post by skwire on January 17, 2019, 10:01 AM »

Maybe I'll have to get some tips from you sometime!

-BGM (January 16, 2019, 08:41 AM)

Sure thing.   

229

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA - The Name Game

« Last post by skwire on January 16, 2019, 01:22 AM »

Holy necro-thread revival.   

What language did you write this in? I'm guessing C++.  It's very neat and trim and fast.

-BGM (January 15, 2019, 10:45 PM)

Everything I've written and released on this site is written in AutoHotkey.

230

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 16, 2019, 01:20 AM »

Hi, Mboxer511, and welcome to the DonationCoder site.   

If I understood correctly you mentioned there is a possibility that we could get our own individual API for free that we could use with your software? If that is the case could you explain how we could go about doing that? I would have no problem applying for an individual API and using it with your software so I could get it working again on my computer.

-Mboxer511 (January 16, 2019, 01:16 AM)

The individual API key thing applied only if I changed sWeather to use OpenWeatherMap's API which, at this point, I have no plans to do.

231

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 15, 2019, 11:51 PM »

Please forgive me, Jody, my philosophy of life is very wrong: I think everything should be free. I'm too idealistic and naive.

-Drugwash (January 13, 2019, 01:49 AM)

Brother, there is no need for an apology.  I don't think your philosophy of life is, as you put it, wrong.  Given the world we live in, I don't think it's very realistic, but it's not wrong.

Another bad side of mine is that I'm always grateful by default for everything that's offered for free but I rarely express it, considering it implied, which is - unfortunately - not always the case.

-Drugwash (January 13, 2019, 01:49 AM)

Please don't worry about it.  As mouser knows, I am not the type of person that writes software for any type of accolades.  I was brought up with the saying, "If a friend asks for help, you help them."  The satisfaction I get from being able to share what I'm capable of is enough for me.  In fact, it makes me quite uncomfortable to toot my own horn or to directly solicit donations.  That said, every donation makes me feel utterly humbled that somebody would part with their own money for something I've offered for free.

And pointing out bugs or asking for features doesn't help at all,

-Drugwash (January 13, 2019, 01:49 AM)

Quite the opposite, actually.  Without bug reports and feature requests, my applications would not be what they are.

although all that is just out of this darn innate perfectionism - the desire to see a good thing better, to help its creator, not to do myself a favor.

-Drugwash (January 13, 2019, 01:49 AM)

And that's how I take them.  I like fixing things and making them better, so please keep on reporting bugs and requesting features.  I'll do my best to get to them...or tell you no.  Hahaha.   

So thank you Jody for everything you've done and still doing for us all, for free. And hopefully you'll find a way to get this script working again, firstly for yourself. Good luck! 

-Drugwash (January 13, 2019, 01:49 AM)

You are most welcome.  And, yes, I hope like hell I hear back from Yahoo! and get sWeather working again.  It's one of my favourite apps and I, myself, use it daily.

As to the original topic.  If sWeather is dead, then so be it.

-TechTeacher (January 15, 2019, 04:26 PM)

It's not dead until I say so...and I haven't said so.   

I think that 'free' is often misinterpreted, especially on the side of the receiver.  'Free' is never free, the costs are either absorbed by someone else, or are in a form that you don't immediately realize.  People thought that Facebook was free.  They were wrong.  They were buying the ability to use Facebook with their privacy.  In the same way, skwire offers these programs for free, but he absorbs the cost, whether he does it because he wants to or not, it takes his time and resources.

-wraith808 (January 15, 2019, 09:05 PM)

Beautifully put, wraith808.  Yes, programming does cost me time, resources, and more grey hair.  However, I accept that fully and cheerfully, otherwise I wouldn't do it.

I think if more people thought about things in that way, they might be more appreciative (and in some cases skeptical) of the people that provide free things.

-wraith808 (January 15, 2019, 09:05 PM)

It's all good.  All good.   

FWIW, I offer my programs as freeware for the following reasons:

• I thoroughly enjoy programming.  It's a great feeling to be able to create something useful for myself and others.
• It's my way of giving back to the internet, at large, for all the other freeware I've used myself over the years.
• IMHO, I have a knack for taking somebody's idea for a piece of software and making it into something tangible for them.  This is the whole idea behind our Coding Snacks forum and I one-hundred percent love doing this for people.
• As I mentioned before, offering my software as freeware means that, though I try to do so, I am not obligated to provide any type of support, bug fixes, feature requests, etc.  I have a family, a full-time job, and plenty of other hobbies that (mostly, haha  ) come first.

232

General Software Discussion / Re: Portable Menu launcher colour rectangles

« Last post by skwire on January 13, 2019, 07:39 PM »

You might be able to use Ath's WinButtons program.

http://www.dcmembers...download/winbuttons/

233

Finished Programs / Re: DONE: Tool that lists digitally signed files from a folder/disk

« Last post by skwire on January 13, 2019, 07:16 PM »

Hi, WarsawPact1955, and welcome to the DonationCoder site.   

I'm not sure this is doable due to SigcheckGUI being a GUI wrapper around the already-compiled sigcheck.exe, but I have need for the full Subject Name to be displayed rather than just the final CN of the Subject Name.  sigcheck.exe doesn't do this.  Is SigcheckGUI calling any Crypto APIs, itself, such that it could be made to do this?

-WarsawPact1955 (January 13, 2019, 07:07 PM)

No, SigcheckGUI doesn't use any crypto APIs on its own.  If sigcheck.exe doesn't show it, SigcheckGUI isn't going to be able to, either.

234

Post New Requests Here / Re: Folder Organizer/Sorter

« Last post by skwire on January 13, 2019, 02:50 PM »

I might be mistaken here, but aren't most zip files a collection of files that are meant to stay together?  A typical install zip would probably contain the EXE file, maybe a readme.txt, maybe a readme.md, possibly an INI file, etc.  Separating those into individual folders doesn't make a whole lot of sense, IMO.  Am I missing something here?

235

Post New Requests Here / Re: Folder Organizer/Sorter

« Last post by skwire on January 13, 2019, 01:01 PM »

@Shades & @wraith808: I think you're missing the key ask of the OP...and that's to scan within ZIP/RAR/7z files and make decisions based on the compressed files.  I don't think any of the aforementioned file sorters do that.

236

Skwire Empire / Re: sWeather Stopped Working on New Year.

« Last post by skwire on January 12, 2019, 05:18 PM »

I chipped in $20 yesterday for encouragement however it turns out, I suggest you all do the same, it was a nice piece of software that I enjoyed all day long every day, to keep tabs on my weather, and all my family's weather.

-cgrandgent (January 12, 2019, 04:34 PM)

I saw the donation come in and a Paypal reply was on my todo list but I'll thank you here instead.  Thank you!

Yahoo ought buy it if they were smart, but obviously that is in doubt.

-cgrandgent (January 12, 2019, 04:34 PM)

Ha, I should be so lucky.     Hopefully, I hear something back early this week so I can get started on an update.

237

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 12, 2019, 05:13 PM »

Looking here one realizes that whatever is still "free" in this world will not be so for much longer.

-Drugwash (January 11, 2019, 07:23 AM)

*shrug* See my explanation below.

No idea if OpenWeatherMap provides what's needed for a direct replacement in current script, but there's nothing else in that list that could fit the bill, so I guess it's either that or nothing -

-Drugwash (January 11, 2019, 07:23 AM)

Again, though, since I don't track anything like that, I have no accurate idea how many API calls sWeather's install base uses.  However, I'm pretty positive the OpenWeatherMap free tier does not allow for the total amount of API calls that sWeather's install base would use.  Call it an educated hunch.  Regarding paying for API acces, for some of my apps I've released I do, in fact, pay out of my pocket for API access provided the fee is reasonable.  OpenWeatherMap's first paid tier is $40 per month.  While I'm happy to pay, say, ~$50/year for API access, I think $40 per month is a bit much to ask for an application I don't charge for.

because those yahoos at Yahoo, at this point, stand for nothing as far as I'm concerned.

-Drugwash (January 11, 2019, 07:23 AM)

So, this is where I differ from a lot of folks.  While I enjoy free APIs, I certainly don't expect companies to offer them.  Furthermore, if a company does offer them, and even if I use them for years, I don't get upset if a company discontinues them.  I just shrug and see if there is another option.  If there is not, I just shrug again and be thankful for the time it was freely available.  IMO, life is way too short to get all worked up over stuff like this.

I would like to say thank you for all your work over the years. This must have started as a passion project for you and turned into what it is now.

-TechTeacher (January 11, 2019, 02:01 PM)

Thank you, TechTeacher, you are very welcome.  I get an immense amount of enjoyment and satisfaction writing and releasing freeware and interacting with users.

The problem is "free". It's been that way so long that people "expect it". I've been having this same discussion in UseNet groups about posting and expectations.

-TechTeacher (January 11, 2019, 02:01 PM)

Yep, as I mentioned above, I am not the expectant or entitled type.  If it's free and suits the purpose, I'll use it.  If it goes away, I just shrug and move on.  No big deal to me.

When something is "free" for so long, it becomes a question of expectation of entitlement. Well that's not the case. The amount of time you have put in, and now the people bitching must make you feel that you have a chain and weight around your neck. I've been there on similar projects.

-TechTeacher (January 11, 2019, 02:01 PM)

I'm a really laid back guy so I never feel like it's a ball and chain but, yes, I do feel an obligation to make a good faith effort to fix bugs, fulfill feature requests, and do my general best to keep things working.  That said, since I choose to release my software as freeware, I never feel that I MUST do these things.  One gets what one pays for, eh?  I do have a full-time job that involves quite a bit of business travel, so I work on my freeware as time permits.  Conversely, this means I can also ignore things as I see fit and not feel too badly about it.  Hahahaha.   

I've contribute to "free" projects when I can (limited funds), and I you CHOOSE to continue, then I'll do the same.  I hope that you do, but remember, you have no obligation to do so. All that I ask is if you do kill it, post the fact so we might know.

-TechTeacher (January 11, 2019, 02:01 PM)

Oh, I haven't given up hope just yet.  I was looking at the "new" API and it is very similar to the original API that sWeather used when I first released it.  The original one was based on RSS feeds (without OAuth) before Yahoo! switched up to their YQL (Yahoo! Query Language) API and now it's back to RSS feeds (with OAuth, this time).  Hopefully, I hear something back this week so I can start working on things.  I don't travel this week, so I should have time once I get API access.

Noticed the N/A in my sWeather tray and saw you are working on the solution.  Just wanted to speak up and thank you for keeping your awesome little program going!

-theinfinitypoint (January 12, 2019, 03:23 AM)

Thanks, theinfinitypoint, I appreciate your kind words.   

238

Skwire Empire / Re: sWeather Stopped Working on New Year.

« Last post by skwire on January 12, 2019, 04:02 PM »

Thanks, wraith808.  raaone, as the link above states, Yahoo! discontinued the API that sWeather used.  I have applied for access to Yahoo!'s current API in hopes of getting sWeather working again.  I'm still waiting to hear back from them.

239

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 10, 2019, 03:13 PM »

Regarding scraping webpages, no, I will not do that within a publically released application.  That way madness lies.  I have neither the time, nor desire, to scrape pages and try to handle minor changes and/or differences in world regions, etc, etc.  It'll be an official API from some site or nothing.

240

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 09, 2019, 02:30 PM »

Maybe an easier (somehow) approach would be to F(orget) the API, load the corresponding web page and parse it to get the desired values. I do that for an IMDb-related script of mine, instead of F(ool)ing around with the API - that is, begging for their approval.

-Drugwash (January 09, 2019, 01:51 PM)

If it were for just a personal script, I would entertain doing that.  However, for a released app, I'll pass.  =]

241

N.A.N.Y. 2017 / Re: NANY 2017 Release: Drive Letters Tool

« Last post by skwire on January 09, 2019, 11:58 AM »

Drive Letters Tool is terrific; adds control that Windows 10 should have included in the first place.

-yossid (January 09, 2019, 10:12 AM)

Right on.  I'm glad to hear it still works in Windows 10.

Now I'm looking for a way to display all drive letters in the Windows 10 File Explorer dropdown, the way Windows Explorer used to do. does anyone know if/how that can be accomplished?

-yossid (January 09, 2019, 10:12 AM)

Since I don't have Windows 10, I'm not sure what you're referencing.  Can you provide a screenshot?

242

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 08, 2019, 09:38 PM »

Just putting this out there, have you considered supporting an alternate weather API such as OpenWeatherMap?

-dhry (January 08, 2019, 05:59 PM)

I have, and:

1) None of my software reports home or anything like that so I have no real idea of sWeather's install base.  However, based on the email feedback I get, it is one of my most popular apps.  So, based on that, and based on their verbiage, I will assume the number of API calls the free tier they offer is not nearly enough to support sWeather.

2) Changing the API would require a lot of code refactoring, which I don't have time for.  If I did do something like that, I'd probably just write an sWeather 2.0 as time allowed and require each user to get their own API key from OpenWeatherMap to get around the API call limit.

Of course, another option is to pay for API access but most of the ones I've looked at are pretty pricey and the donations I receive for my software wouldn't even begin to cover such an expense.  That said, every donation is, of course, appreciated.  =]

Personally, I don't use all of the apps I've written, but I did write sWeather for myself, and use it daily, so I'm eager to get it working again.  I hope all this helps to explain my perspective on everything.

243

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 07, 2019, 03:59 PM »

No word yet from Yahoo!, but I'm sure they've been inundated with API access requests due to these recent changes.  I'll keep you all posted.

244

Skwire Empire / Re: Release: sWeather (tray-based weather app)

« Last post by skwire on January 04, 2019, 02:31 PM »

  N/A everywhere

https://developer.yahoo.com/weather/

Important EOL Notice: As of Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, the weather.yahooapis.com and query.yahooapis.com for Yahoo Weather API will be retired.
To continue using our free Yahoo Weather APIs, use https://weather-ydn-...ahoo.com/forecastrss. Contact [email protected] for credentials to onboard to this free Yahoo Weather API service.

-worldwide (January 04, 2019, 12:16 AM)

Should I start looking for a replacement for sWeather ?
RP

-RightPaddock (January 04, 2019, 12:41 AM)

I've applied for access to the new API and am waiting to hear back.  If approved, and if I can make sWeather work with the new API, no, you won't have to look for a replacement.  If I cannot get it working with the new API, yes, you will.

245

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Allow display of program output even when Windows Desktop is locked

« Last post by skwire on January 02, 2019, 11:41 PM »

Are you allowed to set a custom screensaver of your own choosing?

-mouser (January 02, 2019, 08:05 PM)

Based on the OP's original statement of...

At our location, all of our PCs are governed by a group policy which causes a password-protected screen-saver to start after 15 minutes of inactivity.

-rd_online (January 02, 2019, 02:11 PM)

...I'd say, probably not.   

246

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Allow display of program output even when Windows Desktop is locked

« Last post by skwire on January 02, 2019, 04:43 PM »

Hi, rd_online, and welcome to the DonationCoder site.   

I am looking for a solution which will continue to display (whatever is on) the HDMI monitor even when the screensaver is running.   Put another way, whenever the PC is locked I still want the video camera output displayed on the HDMI monitor.
Anyone know of a (free) program to do this?

-rd_online (January 02, 2019, 02:11 PM)

Interesting idea, but I'm not sure if it's possible.  Let's see if anybody else has any ideas.

247

N.A.N.Y. 2019 / Re: N.A.N.Y. 2019: CurrentPrinter

« Last post by skwire on December 31, 2018, 03:59 PM »

Chris, I liked this so much that I recreated its functionality within AutoHotkey and, if you're cool with it, I'd like to add it to my sTray utility from a few NANYs ago.  I did notice your menu updates even if the default printer is changed outside of the app.  Are you checking this programatically with a hook or system message?  Or, are you using a timer to check the default printer every second or two?  That's about the only thing I have left to implement.  Cheers.

248

N.A.N.Y. 2019 / Re: [Nany 2019] Music Player [work in Progress]

« Last post by skwire on December 31, 2018, 02:28 PM »

KodeZwerg, did you ever finish this?  I'm a sucker for any new audio player that I can try.  =]

249

N.A.N.Y. 2019 / Re: N.A.N.Y. 2019: CurrentPrinter

« Last post by skwire on December 31, 2018, 12:50 PM »

Tested here and works for me.  I can see how this would be quite handy when one has access to multiple printers and/or PDF-printing options.  Thank you for sharing.

250

N.A.N.Y. 2019 / Re: N.A.N.Y. 2019: remv: Rename files (and directories) with regular expressions

« Last post by skwire on December 31, 2018, 11:58 AM »

Intriguing...and I look forward to using it in the future should the need arise.