Recent Posts

2451

General Software Discussion / Re: Autoreplace in clipboard

« Last post by rjbull on October 10, 2007, 09:25 AM »

i should add some extra search and replace slots shouldn't i? i'll put it on my todo list.

-mouser (October 09, 2007, 10:17 AM)

Thanks!   

are you saying the external tools configuration is still not working for you,

The external tools configuration is working for me - once I picked the right tool     Maybe I'm not good enough to get MTR (32-bit version of MiniTrue) to work here, or maybe its LFN handling is too restricted.

or you are wanting to do something else besides what the current system is designed to do?

In a way, yes.  I'd like to be able to add external tools to the Formatting Presets menu on the pop-up, which doesn't seem to be currently possible.

Are you aware of the following:

• It seems impossible to delete a formatting preset.
• CHS has two rather different uses of the word "Preset" - one in the sense used here, and another from the main menu, where it means the appearance of the main window.

2452

General Software Discussion / Re: Autoreplace in clipboard

« Last post by rjbull on October 09, 2007, 05:36 AM »

• CHS doesn't have a way to auto-apply formatting every time you copy something to clipboard per se, BUT you can do it all in one step!  Just select the text in question and then trigger the text formatting preset (rather than copy first) -- see more detailed instructions below.
• But what it will do is let you create+configure a whole bunch of different custom search+replace/reformat/etc presets and show them on a quick pop-up menu for you to apply to text you have just captured while you paste it.
• It comes with some of these text formatting presets that do things like convert the case of the text just copied.

-mouser (October 08, 2007, 08:46 AM)

Mouser,

CHS comes with a rich set of features for twiddling text, especially if you want to clean up e-mails etc.  But it only has a single search-and-replace slot, so you can only change one string per preset, and you can't add external user-defined tools to a preset, as far as I can see.  Is that right?  That's what I was after in this thread: Configuring CHS user tools

At that time I was trying to use A. Pipkin's "Ministry of Truth" utility (developed on Linux, I suspect), and couldn't get it to work because it doesn't understand Windows LFNs properly - pity, because it's powerful and otherwise works well:
MiniTrue home page
MiniTrue enthusiast: Eric Pement's SED page - scroll down to Console/command-line apps
On no account overlook Eric Pement's supplementary tricks and traps page

Unable to make MiniTrue work properly, I changed to a SED script... but it would be much more useful if it could be incorporated into a CHS preset.  Currently, I've just put the same SED script into TED Notepad as a user-defined text filter.

2453

Best Dialog Extender / Re: Enhanced File Dialog

« Last post by rjbull on October 08, 2007, 10:05 AM »

I knew you can have favourite folders because I have a version of them...

-rjbull (October 07, 2007, 05:17 PM)

so...
what's with the favourite folders then 

But is there a way of changing whats on the list on the left of open/save box ?????
or
to paraphrase
what/how favourite folders? 

-tomos (October 08, 2007, 02:23 AM)

are they from win explorer?

EDIT: "I knew you can have favourite folders because I have a version of them" or
did you just mean you have the standard version..(i.e My Comp, My Docs, etc)

-tomos (October 08, 2007, 05:02 AM)

PowerPro has lots of ways of adding and tracking favourite folders; it's an infinitely configurable program.  I've only got a simple version because I don't understand the complex ones.  Quoting from Powerpro's Help:

Favorite folders lists for
file open/save dialogs

PowerPro can help you maintain and use lists of favorite folders for standard open/save dialogs. You can manually maintain a list of favorite folders; you can have PowerPro capture folders as you use them in open/save dialogs; and you can combine these two approaches to have an integrated list of both manually set favorite folders and recently used folders.
You can display favorite folders in a menu or a bar (or both); see bottom of this help topic for more on bars.
MS Office does not use standard open/save dialogs. PowerPro can recognize these dialogs and send favorite folders to them for your favorite list, but it cannot capture the folder used from these dialogs.

In my case, when an Opoen files dialog box appears, PowerPro automatically pops up a short list of very frequently used folders.  Pressing a hotkey gives me a second, larger list of less frequently accessed folders.

Does that explain anything...  or were you just having a silly five minutes? 

2454

Best Dialog Extender / Re: Enhanced File Dialog

« Last post by rjbull on October 08, 2007, 03:48 AM »

If you want an enlarged dialog box and favorite folders then you can do both using Powerpro. This is mine:

-edbro (October 07, 2007, 01:56 PM)

edbro,

I knew you can have favourite folders because I have a version of them, but how do you use PowerPro to enlarge dialog boxes?

TIA...

-rjbull (October 07, 2007, 05:17 PM)

Configure > GUI control / Enlarge file open/save dialogs

-tomos (October 08, 2007, 02:23 AM)

Thanks, tomos, I should have looked...   

2455

Best Dialog Extender / Re: Enhanced File Dialog

« Last post by rjbull on October 07, 2007, 05:17 PM »

If you want an enlarged dialog box and favorite folders then you can do both using Powerpro. This is mine:

-edbro (October 07, 2007, 01:56 PM)

edbro,

I knew you can have favourite folders because I have a version of them, but how do you use PowerPro to enlarge dialog boxes?

TIA...

2456

General Software Discussion / Re: Autoreplace in clipboard

« Last post by rjbull on October 07, 2007, 05:09 PM »

This sounds like something mouser's Clipboard Help+Spell is designed to do, though. But I don't think it (currently) has this feature

-TucknDar (October 07, 2007, 04:43 PM)

Not running CHS on this computer, so can't check - but CHS allows you to add your own filters, so you could use something like a SED script or one of the command-line search and replace tools.  This won't be completely seamless, as the OP seems to want.  You'd have to pop up CHS's main window and choose the filter, but, that method allows you as many search and replace pairs as you want.

If you want seamless, take a look at Clippy - you need the beta - one of its operations is given as

Name: Search and replace
Description: Replaces all occurrences of a string with another string.
Number in ini file: 28
Parameters: search string, replace string

Don't know if that's only one string or whether you can define multiple strings.

Boxer Software's TextMonkey is in similar vein, but more powerful; it comes in both payware and cut-down freeware versions.  Search and replace is a built-in function.  It allows up to four search-and-replace pairs.

2457

DcUpdater / Proxy

« Last post by rjbull on October 05, 2007, 05:22 AM »

Disclaimer - not sure what I'm talking about here   

I just tried running DC Updater for the first time, and it kept failing.  Although there could be other reasons - like operator failure    I suspect this is because it's behind a proxy.  I tried setting the proxy in the configuration, but no joy.  The proxy is of the form

http://nn.nnn.nn.nnn:8086/proxy.pac

note the file at the end.

Please can DCUpdater allow this kind of proxy setting?  Or, perhaps better, crib an idea from Martin Aignesberger's WebSite-Watcher and other programs, to have an option where DCUpdater interrogates IE for what proxy it's using, and uses that?

2458

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by rjbull on October 03, 2007, 06:11 AM »

I prefer Executor. It works like launchy/FARR/Slickrun.

-[deXter] (October 02, 2007, 09:14 PM)

The configuration set-up screenshots make it look complicated.  How do you compare it to FARR and SlickRun?  SlickRun, at least, looks comparatively simple on the surface.

Also, I see Executor has "limited functionality" on Win9x which I still use at home   

2459

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for an E-Mail Client which can be run on an USB Stick

« Last post by rjbull on October 03, 2007, 06:03 AM »

(Better explain to Carol, BATPOWER_UK was FidoNet echomail.  [...]  None of it was anything to do with "The Bat".)

-npopuk (October 02, 2007, 11:50 AM)

Oops, I overlooked possible confusion there   

The defaults leave it on the server and only downloads the first 100 lines of each message, but you can change everything. 

Thanks - sounds good!

There's no database (messagebase to the FidoNetters amongst us!).  Messages for each account are saved in a file as plain text (if you want to!).

Just like Fidonet *.MSG   

Makes it beautifully easy to interrogate old mail, even if you give up the program.

I should think desktop search engines like Copernic can easily index simple files like that.  I see that Archivarius can index Squish message bases, but oddly that's the only native Fidonet format it mentions.

2460

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for an E-Mail Client which can be run on an USB Stick

« Last post by rjbull on October 03, 2007, 05:49 AM »

I thought all POP clients had a 'leave a copy on the server' option - you usually set it up in the account set up section.

Surely the Bat has that option too?

-Carol Haynes (October 02, 2007, 05:31 AM)

Wasn't very clear  what I was asking, was nPOPuk's default to leave everything on the server but not to save anything to local drive unless specifically requested.  With TB! you automatically save everything to your local HD.   It has endless options for leaving/selectively deleting from the server, depending on your requirements.

2461

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by rjbull on October 03, 2007, 05:39 AM »

You could use the Locate32 Plug-in for farr -- no more waiting since everything is indexed, if you wish.

-Armando (October 02, 2007, 11:51 PM)

At some point you have to update Locate32's index, though.  You can do it on demand, but I run it twice a day via the scheduler, a tip originally from BrotherS I think.

2462

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for an E-Mail Client which can be run on an USB Stick

« Last post by rjbull on October 02, 2007, 05:07 AM »

As mentioned here already, nPOPuk is included in the Floppy Office package, (It's replaced nPOP) but it may take them a few more days before their package is updated.

Greg Chapman
http://www.npopsupport.org.uk
Supporting nPOPuk - the Portable E-Mail Client.

-npopuk (October 02, 2007, 02:52 AM)

Ah haaa... the former moderator of BATPOWER_UK puts in an appearance...   

Greg,

Is nPop one of the ones that leaves the mail on the server, and you have to deliberately specify particular messages to be saved to disk, as opposed to something like TheBat! which saves everything in a database?  The no-save keep-it-on-the-server idea is sensible for a portable application, of course.

2463

What's the Best? / Re: Master Category List for the "What's the Best" section... please help finali

« Last post by rjbull on October 01, 2007, 05:46 AM »

Right now I'm looking for "the best" freeform database to keep track of disparate pieces of information. Microsoft OneNote has this idea, but almost any Microsoft solution these days requires more of a commitment to using the program than it is worth. I'm looking for something small and possibly portable and easily searchable.

-pmcg (September 28, 2007, 05:38 PM)

pcmg,

Take a look at DonationCoder's longest thread,    
General brainstorming for Note-taking software!   

2464

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for an E-Mail Client which can be run on an USB Stick

« Last post by rjbull on October 01, 2007, 05:34 AM »

If you really want to go portable, don't use an email client at all. Use a webmail client. Most ISPs today have one or more installed. And you can always use your a Gmail or Yahoo mail client to get to your "regular" email.

-tinjaw (September 30, 2007, 07:01 PM)

Mail2Web is another useful option for picking up your POP3 mail over the Web; it's been briefly mentioned in another DC thread

2465

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for an E-Mail Client which can be run on an USB Stick

« Last post by rjbull on October 01, 2007, 05:30 AM »

Floppy office is a collection of small portable utilities perfect for a USB stick, and the whole collection is actually small enough to fit on a single floppy. There are at least 15 applications in it:

MemPad (mempad.zip) - keeps little tree sytle notes with a handy index.
(handy rudimentary outliner)

-app103 (September 30, 2007, 05:50 PM)

It's worth keeping an eye on the author's Web site, as MemPad is in constant development.  Many convenient new features have been added recently.

2466

General Software Discussion / Re: Shareware that don't have freeware replacements

« Last post by rjbull on September 30, 2007, 11:38 AM »

to manage any kind of datafiles nothing works like http://www.guysoftware.com/parserat.HTML ParseRAT
I haven't found anything that comes close to it:
take a file (any file fixed length, csv,txt,HTML,dbf) use parserat and turn it into any file (csv,txt,dbf,etc...)
split fields combine fields parse names , address, city state , female? male? it will tell you.

-normeus (September 29, 2007, 11:54 PM)

Don't kow how close they get but for a free alternative, try Bruce Guthrie's Utilities

by the way the best program I use on all my computers is http://powerpro.webeddie.com/ PowerPro!!!

PowerPro   

2467

General Software Discussion / Re: Shareware that don't have freeware replacements

« Last post by rjbull on September 28, 2007, 03:45 AM »

How about in your case?

1. ClickBook - http://www.bluesquir.../products/clickbook/

-NewKreation (September 27, 2007, 02:52 PM)

I haven't tried this...  but if all you want is to print booklets, you may find that functionality already built into your printer.  We have Ricoh multifunction network printers at work, and they have duplex and several kinds of booklets already set up.  You just have to click "Properties" and pick the one you want.

2468

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by rjbull on September 28, 2007, 03:41 AM »

For someone who loves to fiddle with configuring things though, the payback is well worth it. I think I read at the site that the author was stopping further development of it.

http://powerpro.webeddie.com/

-pmcg (September 27, 2007, 02:17 PM)

Yes, that's what he has said but, he is still very active in their forums and I've seen quite a few updates since he "quit".

-edbro (September 27, 2007, 03:29 PM)

PowerPro has a boatload of third-party plugins, too.

2469

General Software Discussion / Re: RESOLVED Help please - 16 bit program woes under XP Pro Sp-2

« Last post by rjbull on September 27, 2007, 04:30 AM »

Do you have a link for Blueberry Flashback Recorder?

-rjbull (September 26, 2007, 09:31 AM)

Maybe... who's asking? Oh alright - here it is... BB Flashback website. It was featured in the Screencasting tool review here on Donationcoder and is also subject to a donationcoder discount (50%). I intitally bought the lite version but upgraded that (still discounted) to the full version a couple of days later.

-Darwin (September 26, 2007, 03:13 PM)

Thanks, Darwin.  I tried Googling Blueberry Flashback Recorder and didn't get any useful hits, so had to ask.  At those prices, I'm not surprised I didn't remember it from earlier DC posts! 

2470

General Software Discussion / Re: SharpKeys: Nice Donationware Key Mapper

« Last post by rjbull on September 27, 2007, 04:24 AM »

Don't overlook OkayKeeBees by Jackass JoeJoe.  Doesn't solve everything, but I don't think it messes with the Registry either (could be wrong here).

-rjbull (September 26, 2007, 09:22 AM)

The page says it uses a global hook and not the registry... this is okay for testing purposes (and interesting if you're stuck with NT4 - I might be having a good look at this app), but for permanent remapping on >= win2k, I'd certainly use the built-in remapping functionality through registry key instead.

-f0dder (September 26, 2007, 09:37 AM)

I don't disagree, but I'm terrified of the Registry, and in any case I can't edit the Registry of the computer I use at work - the one I use most - because of corporate security policy.  OkayKeeBees helped out quite a bit until I discovered the real cause of the problem.

I'm in the UK.  And the computer was set to a U.S. keyboard....    

2471

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by rjbull on September 27, 2007, 04:18 AM »

I mostly use PowerPro because it's the only one I know. FARR sounds like its worth a look since so many of you use it. PowerPro is cool because it is so configurable and yet easy to use.

-pmcg (September 26, 2007, 09:49 PM)

PowerPro has a FARR-style "Run Box Tiny" built into it as shipped, and there's a more powerful version in a script called Advanced Run Box, ARB.  I've briefly tried the latter - and it looks like a whole lot more work than FARR...

2472

General Software Discussion / Re: RESOLVED Help please - 16 bit program woes under XP Pro Sp-2

« Last post by rjbull on September 26, 2007, 09:31 AM »

Blueberry Flashback Recorder in order to be able to read the error message it flashes by in a millisecond:

-Darwin (September 22, 2007, 04:25 PM)

Darwin,

Do you have a link for Blueberry Flashback Recorder?

TIA...

2473

General Software Discussion / Re: SharpKeys: Nice Donationware Key Mapper

« Last post by rjbull on September 26, 2007, 09:22 AM »

Don't overlook OkayKeeBees by Jackass JoeJoe.  Doesn't solve everything, but I don't think it messes with the Registry either (could be wrong here).

2474

FARR Plugins and Aliases / Locate32 Plugin for FARR by Okke

« Last post by rjbull on September 26, 2007, 09:18 AM »

@cettolox:

Mmh, it's very strange. If locate.exe by itself (at a commandprompt for instance) doesn't work it looks like a problem
with locate, not with the plugin. The plugin depends on the output of locate.exe. As far as I can tell locate.exe uses
the same databases as the graphical client by default. So you should get output at the commandprompt at least.

Maybe someone else has some tips regarding this?

-Okke (September 26, 2007, 08:10 AM)

Maybe this, from the Locate32 Web site, is relevant?

A "daily" update 3.0.7.8190 is realeased containing couple of fixes. Update is available here. Edit 19.9.2007: locate.exe in this package does not work. You can take locate.exe from the package of the version 3.0.7.7010 and use it.

Janne has released a newer version now, Locate32 3.0.7.9220.  That's what I'm using and it seems to work.

2475

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by rjbull on September 26, 2007, 04:00 AM »

Martin Aignesberger - author of WebSite Watcher, Local Website Archive, AIM-Notebook, AM-Deadlink, and very generous friend of DonationCoder - has just released Portable Start Menu, a freeware launcher for USB sticks:

Portable Start Menu is a simple and free start menu application that can be installed on USB sticks or local PCs.

Organize your programs in a simple menu system and launch them via a tray icon. If you close Portable Start Menu on an USB-Stick, running applications can be closed automatically, too.

Main features:

    * Organize and launch applications via a tray menu
    * Closes running applications on USB-Sticks automatically
    * Checks if an application has been changed before execution
    * Runs on USB-Sticks without leaving any traces on a host PC
    * Portable Start Menu is Freeware

Additional functions on USB sticks:

    * Create an autorun file to automatically launch Portable Start Menu
    * Close running applications when you exit Portable Start Menu

How to install Portable Start Menu on an USB stick:
Simply run the installer and enter the drive letter with setup directoy of your USB stick (for example K:\PSMenu).

   Portable Start Menu 1.0  -   25-Sep-2007  -   1 MB

System: Win9x/Me/NT4/2000/2003/XP/Vista
License: Freeware