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Recent Posts

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3676
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Teaser: CrazyLittleFingers
« Last post by app103 on December 14, 2008, 07:37 PM »
One of the easiest ways to restrict mouse usage is to use a USB mouse and unplug it and put it in a locked drawer.

I was thinking how this would be good if it autolaunched after a certain length of system idle time, in case you step away and forget to run it.

If you would like to use it, I did create a utility for that awhile back: http://appsapps.info/idlestart.php
3677
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: DecClock [1.4.3.0 released]
« Last post by app103 on December 14, 2008, 08:41 AM »
Could an option be added to base it on UTC?

And perhaps a mini display suitable for keeping on the desktop, like in my DClock application, and let the user select which method is displayed in it. (I don't think the binary one would be suitable for this, though, because of the amount of screen space it would take up)
3678
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: Lacuna Launcher
« Last post by app103 on December 14, 2008, 04:42 AM »
I just tested it with relative paths, and as is, it does work as long as the ll.exe file is at the root of the USB drive, or anything in the list that is the same or subfolder of its location. I still would like it if someone else would test it with their collection of USB stuff and let me know how it works for them, before I declare it portable.
3679
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: DecClock [1.4.3.0 released]
« Last post by app103 on December 14, 2008, 03:42 AM »
I have a question about this, before I download it:

When exactly does a day begin? Does it use midnight as represented in my local time zone or does it use midnight UTC? (I am hoping UTC, since that will save me a lot of work granting a friend's wish)

It would be nice if everyone that used this had the exact same time represented on their clock, no matter where in the world they are, and unaffected by stupid things like DST.

This was a request a friend made awhile back and wanted me to make a clock much like yours, but with these additional requirements.
3680
The whole idea of Coding Snacks, small applications that can be created in about an hour or so, was born on this forum, with generous coders donating their time and skills to make these wonderful little freeware tools for others to enjoy.

How about applying the same concept, but in a way that anyone can donate their time and skills to help other people?

This idea was born on FriendFeed, started by directeur, but anyone can participate. You don't need to be a FriendFeed member.

Here's the idea: We all have a spare hour during the week. Yes, we all do. What if everyone of us helps others with his knowledge? Give a free hour of your time. Help others with what you know.
freehour.jpg

The list of those that have pledged to offer free help to anyone that needs it includes many skills, among them personal trainer, soap making, research, programming, photography, proofreading, knitting, computer repair advice, etc. It's quite an impressive list already, containing a number of highly skilled professionals.

You can help too.

Everyone knows something that not everyone else does. You can offer to help in any area you are good at, no matter what that skill is. Just add your name, contact info, a little bit about the skills you have and what kind of help you are willing to offer, to the Free Hour wiki.

But it's not enough to have all these generous people willing to donate their time and skills, without people for them to actually help. So, if you need a bit of help with something, look over the list and see if there is someone qualified for what you need, and feel free to contact them.


3681
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Teaser: LifeSaver diary application
« Last post by app103 on December 13, 2008, 08:58 AM »
If you'd like to make an installer, I really like this one and it's quite easy to use.

http://www.advancedinstaller.com

For most, the free version is plenty.

You don't get asked to pay unless you try to use a feature that is locked in the free version.
3682
Living Room / Re: Finally a DonationCoder.com License Key for Time Travelers..
« Last post by app103 on December 12, 2008, 11:21 PM »
Please note that lifetime licenses will soon be eliminated and a monthly subscription will be required to continue reading the forums at donationcoder.com
</sarcasm>

The monthly subscription fee will be on a sliding scale, based on your sarcasm level, with Josh paying the highest fee.

Those without a sense of humor and lacking sarcastic wit will be able to continue to read the forum for free.
3683
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Release: Lacuna Launcher
« Last post by app103 on December 12, 2008, 11:14 PM »
Well, there really isn't anywhere to drag & drop it.

And it can use any .txt file list, not just list.txt

I don't suppose that was a request for a notepad application that would place the path to the files dropped into it, was it?
3684
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / Re: NANY 2009 Rewards
« Last post by app103 on December 12, 2008, 10:14 PM »
I like that hoodie with the zipper, but does it come in gray?

With 2 black & white cats that shed black hairs all over white clothing and white hairs all over black clothing, the only way I can stop them from shedding is to wear gray.  :P
3685
N.A.N.Y. 2009 / NANY 2009 Release: Lacuna Launcher
« Last post by app103 on December 12, 2008, 02:58 PM »
NANY 2009 Entry Information

ll.png

Application Name Lacuna Launcher
Version 1.0.0
Short Description Open multiple files with a single click, set delay for launching, set a pause between launches. Also can be used as a portable launcher.
Supported OSes WinAll (as far as I know)
Web Page http://appsapps.info/lacunalauncher.php
Download Link http://appsapps.info...s/LacunaLauncher.zip
Version History
  • v1.0.0 initial release - December 12, 2008
  • + Spanish translation of readme - February 21, 2009
Author app103


Description
Have you ever wished you had more control over the way applications are launched? Maybe setting a delay for launching applications at startup? How about spacing out the launching with a pause in between each one? Or control the order in which applications are opened? Or perhaps you just want to launch many applications with a single shortcut?

Features
Lacuna Launcher will allow you to set a group of files to be opened with a single shortcut by creating a text file with the paths to all the files you wish to open.

You can include
  • applications (.exe)
  • shortcuts (.lnk)
  • internet shortcuts (.url)
  • images
  • music
  • movies
  • anything that is a file on your system that you wish to open

You can also set an initial delay time that it will wait before opening files, as well as a pause time that it will wait between files it launches.

Planned Features
None planned at this time.

Usage
Installation
Just unzip to its own folder.

Using the Application
Open the included "list.txt" file in notepad and make a list with the paths to files you want to open. Place one per line. You can add as many as you like. (a sample entry that opens Notepad on XP has been included as a guide - you may remove that line)

NOTE: If you want to launch files with command line parameters, create a shortcut with the parameters set, and use the path to the shortcut file (.lnk) in the list, instead of a direct path to the application.
Web pages can be launched through the use of .url files.

When you want to launch the entire group, just click the "ll.exe" file (or a shortcut to it) and they will all be launched, one right after the other, in the same order that they appear in the list.

The command line parameters give you more control over timing of the launches by allowing you to set an initial delay time and a pause time between each one, and the ability to create multiple lists and specify which you would like to use. (see the included README.txt for more information)

You can set up multiple lists for various tasks, and place shortcuts on your desktop or Quicklaunch, or use it from the Run dialog.

the format is
[full path to Lacuna Launcher] [full path to text file to be used] [initial delay (in seconds)] [pause time between items (in seconds)]

Note: there is a space between each one and the order listed is important! You must use all parameters. You must also enclose any paths that contain spaces in quotes.

Examples:

"C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\ll.exe" "C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\list.txt" 60 10

"C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\ll.exe" "C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\different list.txt" 0 5

"C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\ll.exe" "C:\Program Files\Lacuna Launcher\another list.txt" 0 0

ll-run.png

Let's say you have a number of tools that you need to launch to do a particular job, like maybe webdesign. You could list all the paths to all the tools you use for this, your page builder, Photoshop, various browsers, etc., in a .txt file, place a shortcut on your desktop (with command line parameters) and use Lacuna Launcher to launch them all with a single click.

You can place a shortcut with command line parameters in your startup folder, include the paths to all of
the applications you want to start in your list, and then remove all of the other shortcuts from the folder,
leaving only Lacuna Launcher's shortcut.

ll-shortcut.png

Uninstallation
Just delete  ll.exe, list.txt, readme.txt, and any shortcuts and additional lists you may have created.

Known Issues
This has not been tested in Vista. I can't guarantee it will work as described. If it does, please let me know.
User reports says it works just fine.

It may or may not work with relative paths in the "list.txt" file, so I am not sure if it can be used as a portable launcher. If you try it and it works, please let me know.
It does work with relative paths and can be used as a portable launcher when placed at the root of your portable drive.

If you need a little help getting paths to files, there are many utilities you can install that will add an option to your Explorer context menu to copy a file's path to your clipboard. ClipboardPath is just one freeware option that you may use.


02-02-2009 edited for clarification on a few points.
3686
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: OnScreen Display for Mute Status
« Last post by app103 on December 11, 2008, 12:15 AM »
Yes, they are.
3687
Living Room / Re: I had the strangest dream last night...
« Last post by app103 on December 10, 2008, 04:36 PM »
I found something interesting that I thought would be best shared in this thread, since the idea of an interface that mimics the real world was an essential part of the dream.

Take a look at BumpTop 3D: http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=M0ODskdEPnQ
3688
Find And Run Robot / Re: Start menu links open as text files?
« Last post by app103 on December 10, 2008, 06:08 AM »
just a note to myself to check out: http://www.ureader.c.../message/234985.aspx

Thanks! I needed this info.  :)
3689
Living Room / Re: How will the Earth end?
« Last post by app103 on December 09, 2008, 07:39 PM »
My evil demon cat steals cash. We are not sure where he hides it. I think he buys nuclear weapons online while I am asleep and hides them in N. Korea.

When the time comes, and he leads all cats in a plot to take over the world, don't make him angry. Just give him a can of 9-lives Tuna Selects and run for your life while he is distracted.
3690
Living Room / Re: A rant on religiousness about OSes
« Last post by app103 on December 09, 2008, 07:29 PM »
app103: which Visual Basic applications are you currently running? :)

Weather Watcher (I had to go digging in Process Explorer to figure it out)

The developer sure went out of his way to make sure the GUI didn't look like a typical VB6 app.  :D

SNAG-00010.png
3691
Living Room / Re: A rant on religiousness about OSes
« Last post by app103 on December 09, 2008, 06:55 PM »
Windows XP just let me know what it thought about the direction this thread is headed:

unspecified error.png

 ;D

3692
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: OnScreen Display for Mute Status
« Last post by app103 on December 09, 2008, 05:52 PM »
I have the original and the latest one. Both of them have the same problem with staying on top. They both drop behind other windows. They even drop behind my desktop widgets if I click my desktop, and I have the widgets set to BottomMost (pinned to desktop).

This should not be happening.
3693
Living Room / Re: A rant on religiousness about OSes
« Last post by app103 on December 09, 2008, 03:09 PM »
Once someone gets religious, then others feel they have to defend their choice (even if they weren't religious about it, their image has been attacked, intiming that they are morons/heretics for using something else. Hard to shut up after that)

As someone that has a WinME machine and has put up with a lot of insults and assumptions over the years, I want to thank you for saying this.

I have been ranting for a long time about how people are not their OS and how an OS does not determine the value of a human life.

But too many don't hear me and continue to make assumptions about other people based on the OS they run (or their hardware). And the resulting behavior can be quite abusive.

I have put up with people that thought my mind was as slow as the 233mhz CPU in my old machine, that thought I deserved to be treated as less than human because of the OS I run on it, that thought there was something wrong with me because I wouldn't install something newer, such as 2k, XP, or some sort of Linux, as if by magic, a change of mind by me would suddenly make drivers available so I could run something else. (it doesn't work like that)

I have even put up with people who fling insults based on Microsoft's end of life policies, that think since Microsoft isn't supporting the old OS's any more, nobody should (meaning me, as a software developer, as if they had some right to dictate that) acting as if suddenly there was a PC fairy that was going around replacing old machines in the middle of the night (for free) so that people could run something still supported, or as if everyone had big wads of cash to waste on new hardware and didn't have to make due with what they had. They never understand that for some, it comes down to a choice between the necessities of life (food, shelter, etc) and a newer computer. Some are lucky to even have the luxury of old "junk". (remember that OLPC exists for a reason)

I have put up with nasty attitudes of software developers that refuse to fix bugs (or even acknowledge them) because they were reported by a 9x user, and I even was blamed for those bugs on occasion, as if using 9x made me too stupid to know how to run their software. And statements like "I don't support 9x and if it crashes, you deserve it. Upgrade your OS, you idiot!". And no apologies when XP/Vista users start reporting the same issues a week later.

And it didn't stop when I got a new machine and took advantage of Dell's free XP downgrade offer. I started catching crap from Vista lovers for not using Vista, and from Linux lovers for not wiping it and installing Linux, and Mac lovers for buying a PC instead of a Mac.


I'm a Mac? I'm a PC?

Despite what Apple and Microsoft would want you to believe, the answer is no!

We are human beings, and when the OS subject comes up, I would appreciate it if everyone would remember that.
3694
Developer's Corner / The All Day Coding Dojo
« Last post by app103 on December 08, 2008, 11:29 AM »
A month ago, I ran an "All Day Coding Dojo" event as part of the London Games Festival Fringe 2008. The idea is to run a complete game development project in a single day so that the attendees can experience working in a team and discover first hand the trials and tribulations of making a game.

Brighton Coding Dojo

I first experienced Coding Dojos at the Brighton Coding Dojo. These were held in the evening and lasted a couple of hours. This worked well for forming a disparate group of people. I tried this at work with my team, but we found that work intruded to easily and people found it hard to concentrate.

All Day Coding Dojo format

This is a new term that I have coined. As part of my Agile/Scrum process we operate a "Gold Day" where developers are allowed to do any work they want to for a whole day every two-week sprint. This is somewhat akin to the Google 10%. I decided to run an All Day Coding Dojo which would act as a mini Agile/Scrum project.



from friendfeed
3695
Living Room / Re: I had the strangest dream last night...
« Last post by app103 on December 07, 2008, 06:52 AM »
If it were 2D and Microsoft, it would have been considered a nightmare.  :D

msBob.jpg
3696
General Software Discussion / Re: XP SP3 blocks .NET security patches
« Last post by app103 on December 06, 2008, 08:18 PM »
This is a new machine I purchased in October and my Windows CD is XP SP3, so I didn't have to download and install the service pack like a lot of other people.

I had no issues with downloading and installing .NET 1.1 or 2.0 from Windows Update. Both were offered to me and installed without a hitch.

I just noticed though, that I didn't have .NET 3.0 or 3.5 installed and went to Windows update. Neither one of them were offered.

So I did a search and found the full installers for them. When you install 3.5, you get 3.0 sp1 and 2.0 sp1, too. You won't need to go hunt down those versions.

Now if you want the installer for 3.5, it's here (direct download for full package)

And those of you looking for 3.5 sp1, you'll find it here (direct download for full package)

I had no issues installing the full package.

The other download they offer is a small bootstrapper that downloads it for you, and that one seemed to have some issues with getting stuck while downloading the necessary files. It kept stopping and starting over, and redownloading every time it hit 6MB, with the progressbar going backwards instead of forwards. So I quit it and got the full one instead.

For those of you that have to update your Windows Installer to 3.1 first, you'll find that here.
3697
Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!
« Last post by app103 on December 06, 2008, 06:47 PM »
For the guitar hero inside you, Queen and Pachabel would be impressed. (Warning: crank it!)

Did you see Youtube Live when funtwo came out with a guitar shaped like Korea and played it with Joe Satriani?
3699
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: OnScreen Display for Mute Status
« Last post by app103 on December 06, 2008, 09:07 AM »
hmmm...I thought it was working properly again, but I was wrong. It is still dropping behind other widows.  :(
3700
General Software Discussion / Re: Is XP really that good?
« Last post by app103 on December 05, 2008, 09:40 PM »
This just in: Dell is charging $150 to downgrade to XP!

"Essentially how it works is the customer prepays for an upgrade to Vista Ultimate in exchange for a preinstalled copy of Windows XP Professional."

Dell, you suck.

Dell is giving XP away for free right now, with Vista Business. You just have to know where to look. Stay away from the home user stuff and head to the small business section of the site and customize your machine. You won't get a crapware bundle, either. Just look for that word "FREE".  ;)

SNAG-00008.png
http://www.dell.com/...0~1791344&page=1
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