Recent Posts

2976

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: Requesting baby cody

« Last post by app103 on January 14, 2010, 02:55 PM »

Baby cody SHOULD (*nudge* app103 *nudge*) be in route to afghanistan where he will be on a country wide tour and flying over a combat zone. He might get a purple heart while here

-Josh (January 14, 2010, 02:47 PM)

'Tis true! Baby Cody said he didn't like being called a chicken and plans on showing you what kind of bird he really is. 

He insists on bringing you a little present to set the proper friendship tone and perhaps persuade you to reconsider any ideas you may have of cooking him up like the bird you accused him of being. (sounds a little chicken-like, if you ask me)

So, he will be packing his bags tonight and I'll be sending him on his way after a small shopping trip on the way to the post office, tomorrow. 

2977

Living Room / Boxed PC games market 'gone by 2011'

« Last post by app103 on January 13, 2010, 04:06 PM »

1C’s international publishing director Darryl Still has accused retail of failing to support boxed PC games.

The industry veteran says that by refusing to stock certain games and moving PC titles to the back of the store, retail is forcing publishers to head towards digital distribution. And that PC games software will be sold entirely through digital channels by next year.

“In the PC market at the moment the growth in digital is phenomenal,” said Still.

“If PC games manage to get listed at retail, then they’re rarely getting any exposure because they’re appearing at the back of the store.

“There is still demand, but retail is forcing PC games out. Digital is fantastic, and we’re very pleased with it. But it is not us as the developers and publishers driving products to digital – it is because the options for the PC at retail are so limited.

http://www.mcvuk.com...-market-gone-by-2011

2978

General Software Discussion / Re: ToolTipFixer 2.0 for Windows < Vista

« Last post by app103 on January 11, 2010, 09:04 AM »

Yeah, please do not take my posting as an attack at you. It is just something that urks me. I see lots of people complain about .net dependencies but none of them provide rationale as to why.

-Josh (January 11, 2010, 07:07 AM)

This is actually very relevant information that could have an impact on whether I can run it or not.

Unless it's an older version of .NET it probably isn't supported on a 9x machine. And on a really low spec machine like my snail, one has to run any .NET apps right after a fresh reboot, before running anything else, otherwise it takes forever to load and may not load properly. Once they are loaded, however, they usually aren't that bad. (much better than Java apps)

2979

General Software Discussion / Re: ToolTipFixer 2.0 for Windows < Vista

« Last post by app103 on January 10, 2010, 02:18 PM »

What about the TTFH (ToolTip From Hell), aka the one that JUST WONT GO AWAY!!!! is there a fix for that?

-Josh (January 10, 2010, 01:34 PM)

Oh, I hate when that happens. That's about the only good thing about the problem I have on the WinME machine. It gets rid of those too.  

the app stays running and registers as a service but the working set memory is very low, around 1200k with virtually no file reads or writes. I wouldn't think you would experience any performance degradation, but if you do the app is very easy to uninstall.

-Apathetic_Coding (January 10, 2010, 02:04 PM)

It's a 9x machine, there are no services like you have with an NT based version of Windows. And it only has 64mb of RAM, which is why I asked if it had to run in the background. Even small apps that don't use much* can be a real strain when you have enough of them, so I don't like to run anything unnecessary.

_{*"Not much" is relative to what you have. When you have "not much" to begin with, then it can be a bigger chunk of resources when compared with a system that has specs that would be considered normal, by today's standards.}

2980

General Software Discussion / Re: ToolTipFixer 2.0 for Windows < Vista

« Last post by app103 on January 10, 2010, 01:28 PM »

Is something that has to stay running in the background at all times?

I have an old slow WinME machine that has had a tooltip issue for many years, but not one of tooltips showing behind the taskbar. The issue I have had is tooltips failing to show at all, anywhere, in any app. They just suddenly stop working, then later start working again. I have never been able to figure out what is triggering it or how to fix it.

One of the apps I wrote even had a feature added to it specifically because of this problem. My clock application has the option to show the date in a dialog, for use when my tooltips stop working.

I wonder if this utility could help, but then again if it has to stay running in the background at all times, it wouldn't be too useful on that really low spec machine.

2981

Post New Requests Here / Re: Display-drivers stretching hack for small screens

« Last post by app103 on January 08, 2010, 07:28 AM »

Have you tried an application that can create virtual desktops?

Here is 3 free ones I have found:

Virtual Dimension (open source)
VirtuaWin (open source)
Dexpot (free for personal use)

2982

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review: Breeze Cat Litter System

« Last post by app103 on January 06, 2010, 01:10 AM »

I wouldn't worry about kittens. They really will go in anything granular, sandy, or pellets. I have even seen them go in their dish of dry catfood.

The transition issues are really more for adult cats that have become used to a particular scent and texture in cat litter. Whenever you make a change from one type to another (or sometimes even one brand to another of the same type), you have to go through the process of mixing the new type with the old, weaning them off the old, otherwise they may freak out about it and start going elsewhere...like your carpet or bed.

2983

Living Room / Re: How can we *share* Donationcoder.com better in 2010?

« Last post by app103 on January 05, 2010, 05:57 PM »

One word:  Twitter (for now)

-y0himba (January 05, 2010, 05:39 PM)

We are on Twitter, already. What might be helpful is if you are following and see something interesting, retweet it so your followers can discover us.

We are also on friendfeed, and if you are following there, liking an item and commenting there can make a difference and help introduce it to more people too.

I have been thinking about facebook and cliqset, recently, but I haven't talked to mouser about it yet.

Another thing you can do is share stuff on Google Reader if you use that and have any non-dc members as followers.

Every little bit can help. Just don't go overboard. You know what is good and worth sharing. It's the stuff you like.

2984

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Startup Bully

« Last post by app103 on January 05, 2010, 02:38 AM »

This is strictly for removing shortcuts from the startup folder and it wouldn't work with shortcuts added to the quicklaunch.

I probably could make an app to do that, but I don't have a copy of outlook to test it with, nor do I have any applications that have that same behavior that you are experiencing with outlook.

Give me a few more days to finish recovering from the flu and I'll give it a shot.

2985

Living Room / Re: Ten Words You Need to Stop Misspelling

« Last post by app103 on January 02, 2010, 10:15 AM »

Oh, there's one thing I'm not 100% certain about, though: is the rule for choosing "an" that there's a vowel, or a "vowel-sound"? Iirc it's the latter.

-f0dder (January 02, 2010, 10:10 AM)

Yes, it's based on how it sounds rather than how it is spelled.

Examples: a house, an hour, a xylophone, an x-ray

2986

Living Room / Re: Ten Words You Need to Stop Misspelling

« Last post by app103 on January 02, 2010, 09:46 AM »

There is one particular grammar mistake that really irks me: a/an usage.

People that misuse them tend to fall into 2 groups:

Native English speakers that tend to overuse "a".

• Examples: a apple, a egg, a ice cream cone, a octopus, a umbrella

Non-native English speakers that tend to overuse "an".

• Examples: an ball, an computer, an shirt.

The native English speakers bother me more than the non-native ones, since this is something you should have learned early on in grammar school.

2987

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Open Menu Format

« Last post by app103 on January 02, 2010, 09:23 AM »

Your database page is a little confusing. It mentions PAD files and applications. It doesn't seem as if it was meant for submitting OMF menus.

2988

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Open Menu Format

« Last post by app103 on January 02, 2010, 08:53 AM »

Modified the specification to include three new fields:
- vegetarian
- calories
- allergy information

-Veign (December 29, 2009, 08:58 AM)

You might want to add kosher and halal to that. Some major religions have dietary laws and this info is something their adherents would want to know about various menu items.

And while something may be vegetarian (no dead animals), it may not be vegan (no animals or animal products like eggs or dairy), so you might want to add that, as well.

2989

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Final Release: Startup Bully

« Last post by app103 on January 01, 2010, 06:01 PM »

I am truly amazed it compiled and actually works, considering how I have been feeling.

I'll take care of the details when I am feeling better.

2990

Living Room / Re: What are your new years resolutions for 2010?

« Last post by app103 on January 01, 2010, 05:58 PM »

I'll beat cranioscopical to the punchline and say 1280x960. 

I made a resolution a long time ago that ended up being the only one I was ever able to keep, and I am not about to break it:

Never make any more New Year's resolutions ever again.

2991

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / NANY 2010 Final Release: Startup Bully

« Last post by app103 on January 01, 2010, 01:18 AM »

NANY 2010 Entry Information

Application Name	Startup Bully
Version	1.0.0.2
Short Description	Removes Startup folder shortcuts made by misbehaving applications
Supported OSes	Win-All
Web Page	(page not created yet)
Download Link	http://appsapps.info...ads/StartupBully.exe
System Requirements	Windows (any version) A misbehaving application
Version History	1.0.0.2 Initial release
Author	app103

Description
Every once in awhile you come across an otherwise good application with one single nasty little fault: Every time you run it, it insists on sticking a shortcut file in your Startup folder and has no option to opt out of this behavior. You delete the shortcut and the next time you run the application it comes right back.

I have found plenty of utilities that can handle preventing this sort of behavior when the application tries to add itself to startup through the registry, but none to handle when it is making actual shortcut files in the Startup folder.

Startup Bully will opt out for you by removing this unwanted shortcut each time you run the offending application.

Features

• Launches the application
• Waits a specified length of time
• Deletes the unwanted shortcut and then exits

Planned Features
none at this time



Usage
Installation
Copy StartupBully.exe to a folder somewhere on your hard drive.

Using the Application
Edit the original desktop or quicklaunch shortcut (not the unwanted startup folder one!) to the misbehaving application as follows:

• Right click and select properties.
• In the target box, edit the text as follows: [path to StartupBully.exe] [original target] [text of unwanted shortcut] [seconds to wait]

Example:

• The original target for this particular misbehaving application was "E:\Programs Installed\Friendfeed Notifier\FriendFeed\FriendFeed.exe"
• The path to my StartupBully.exe file is "E:\Programs Installed\Startup Bully\StartupBully.exe"
• The text of the shortcut the misbehaving application keeps making is "FriendFeed"

• I want it to wait 10 seconds after launching before it deletes the unwanted shortcut.

So my desktop or quicklaunch shortcut target will be this:

"E:\Programs Installed\Startup Bully\StartupBully.exe" "E:\Programs Installed\Friendfeed Notifier\FriendFeed\FriendFeed.exe" "FriendFeed" 10

Make sure to use quotes around any paths that contain spaces, quotes around the unwanted shortcut text,  and to leave a space between each parameter.

I would start with 10 seconds to give the misbehaving application a chance to load and create the unwanted shortcut. If that isn't enough time, then adjust it as necessary.

If you want the desktop or quicklaunch shortcut to have the original icon of the misbehaving application, then before you close the properties box, click the "change icon" button, browse to the original exe file of your application, select it and choose the correct icon.

When you are finished, click "Apply" and "OK".


Uninstallation
Delete StartupBully.exe and any shortcuts you made that point to it.

Known Issues
none, I hope

2992

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: Baby Cody In Belleville, NJ

« Last post by app103 on December 31, 2009, 09:13 AM »

who is the little mouse that BC seems to be ignoring (probably just guarding the coin in his beak)?

-nudone (December 31, 2009, 03:19 AM)

I am not sure if the mouse has a name...he won't tell me. He does have a twin though, stuffed with catnip instead of beanie pellets.

By the way, Baby Cody really did steal that dollar...he still has it. And him and the mouse seem to be partners in crime.

2993

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: Baby Cody In Belleville, NJ

« Last post by app103 on December 30, 2009, 02:32 PM »

I also noticed that baby cody ate all the leaves off that tree!

-mouser (December 30, 2009, 02:23 PM)

Baby Cody was upset that the tree wasn't in full bloom. He wanted to have a cherry blossom salad.

He also says it's too cold here and he wants to fly south to Josh's place till spring. (little does he know his next stop is Afghanistan!)

With all the snow and rain storms we have had here, he wasn't a very happy bird (couldn't go out and play without getting lost in all that white stuff) and he says he doesn't want to come back to the Cherry Blossom Capital of America unless there are plenty of cherry blossoms for him to snack on.

Oh, and he did manage to devour an entire loaf of pumpkin bread that was originally intended for you, mouser. He says it was really good.

2994

Site/Forum Features / Re: Updated threads in bold rather than with 'new' label

« Last post by app103 on December 25, 2009, 03:43 PM »

The "new" doesn't just mark a thread as having new posts. It has that extra functionality the regular post link doesn't have.

Clicking the link takes you to the top of page 1 in a thread. Clicking the "new" takes you to the first unread post in the thread.

On a thread with many pages, it's less clicks to click the "new" to get to where you left off.

If you merely changed the link to bold and removed the "new" then you would have only the link to take you to the first page of the thread, which would be a bit of a pain when you have a multi-page thread you have been following or participating in.

2995

General Software Discussion / Re: Must-have Windows Programs

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 03:24 PM »

Hello Folks. I wish I knew just what you all have forgotten. As I read over the site it is painful to feel so stupid. You talk about 100 things that you must have an I don't have a clue what they are or what you would need them for. I am always trying downloads, when I see them in, Cnet or Znet and with out exception I mess up my computer. In my effort to try and make something that works well run better I end up with a program that dozen work at all.

-rodgarnett (December 23, 2009, 03:14 PM)

Well, my list isn't the stuff YOU must have. It's the list of stuff I must have. Since I don't assume anyone knows what they all are by name alone, I included links so you can find out.

If you can't see why you would want any of them after reading what they are, don't install them. But if one sparks some interest, try it out.

Not everything in my list is meant to "make your pc run better". Some just provide me with information or make some tasks easier to do.

2996

LaunchBar Commander / Re: running exe and folders from a folder.

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 03:00 PM »

mouser is going to have to take a look at this for you.

2997

LaunchBar Commander / Re: running exe and folders from a folder.

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 10:45 AM »

LBC comes with Control Panel preconfigured and the items in it seem to work just fine on my XP SP3.

It's a folder with this set as the "root folder to display": %APPDIR%\Shortcuts\My Control Panel



I suppose you can add shortcuts to that folder for any items that are missing that you would need to access.

I don't have a My Computer on my LBC, as I prefer to have individual shortcuts to drives on the taskbar and I also use my DriveKeysAtoZ app to access drives in Explorer with hotkeys or I use Win+E for just Explorer. So I am not sure how to configure that. Mouser or someone else will have to explain that one.

As far as the issue with network folders and network shortcuts, I am not sure what to tell you about that either.

Unless mouser has a better idea, I would suggest having different toolbar configurations for both work and home, with the home one not having the extra network folder & shortcut stuff.

Or, if it's just the icons that are causing the problem, then change the icons to ones built into LBC or ones stored locally on your laptop. Then LBC won't have to go looking for them in a place that doesn't exist.

2998

General Software Discussion / Re: Must-have Windows Programs

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 09:56 AM »

I am pretty much a Windows gal, but I installed Ubuntu to give it a try. It wasn't so bad as an OS, but I really missed a lot of the Windows software that I have grown to love and depend on.

These are the applications I wished were cross-platform so I could have them in Ubuntu. Except for Trout, I haven't tried any of them in WINE. (some I won't, since I know they are too Windows-centric to work)

If I am really missing them, then to me they must be the essential must-have stuff.

• Process Explorer
• Speedfan
• Snagit and/or Screenshot Captor
• Notezilla
• OSD Mute
• DClock 2 (maybe some day I'll try to make it and all its accessories cross-platform)
• Launchbar Commander
• Filebox Extender
• Trout
• Surfulater
• Notepad2 (gedit is ok, but I really don't like tabs on my notepad)
• Ad Muncher
• PS Tray Factory
• Lacuna Launcher
• ColorCop
• Beyond Compare
• Windows Live Writer
• AutoHotKey
• Paintshop Pro 7

And these are the ones I am glad are cross-platform:

• Dropbox
• Filezilla
• Firefox
• XChat

2999

LaunchBar Commander / Re: running exe and folders from a folder.

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 08:35 AM »

I have folders containing shortcuts to applications and other folders in mine that do work.

Rather than dragging and dropping them onto the toolbar, I added it through the Preferences and Options window.

• Right click the LBC toolbar and select Configure Preferences and Options.
• Select the parent of what you want your folder button to be on the left tree.
• Click the Add Node menu at the top and select Add Child - Folder
• On the right side give it a caption, hint, icon, etc.
• At the bottom where it says Root Folder to Display, click the little folder icon and browse to your folder of shortcuts.
• If you want small icons, uncheck Large Icons.
• Click Save Changes and close the window.
• Test the new item on the toolbar to see if it does what you want.
• If all works well, go back to the Configure Preferences and Options window and click the Save All Files icon to set it permanently.

As long as there are shortcuts to folders in there, they will open the folder in Explorer. If there are actual folders in there, they will show the contents in LBC, instead.

3000

Site/Forum Features / Re: Updated threads in bold rather than with 'new' label

« Last post by app103 on December 23, 2009, 06:41 AM »

The "New" label is a link to the most recent unread post in the thread, so it's quite useful.