Recent Posts

4676

Post New Requests Here / Re: i need an icon for my apacer sd card!

« Last post by app103 on April 24, 2007, 01:51 AM »

thanks again, app! how did you do it?

-lanux128 (April 24, 2007, 12:28 AM)

You're welcome.

How did I do it? magic 

No, seriously...

• I opened the image you supplied in Paintshop Pro
  
• replaced the white background with neon pink
  
• cropped it as small as I could
  
• resized to 99 pixels in height
  
• reduced colors to 256
  
• saved as a .bmp
  
• imported it into Microangelo at custom size of 99x99
  
• replaced neon pink with transparent
  
• added a few more sizes
  
• saved as .ico

All very simple & fast to do. The image didn't have complicated edges.

4677

Post New Requests Here / Re: i need an icon for my apacer sd card!

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 11:33 PM »

Here ya go 

Enjoy!

4678

Post New Requests Here / Re: i need an icon for my apacer sd card!

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 11:14 PM »

I'll have it for you in a few 

4679

Living Room / Re: OK - lets get to know each other... who are you, what do you do, where from?

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 11:55 AM »

Welcome to the site catloversun.

Hi! I guess you could call me a "newbie",  but I hope you won't because I hate that word! lol 

-catloversun (April 23, 2007, 10:36 AM)

'Newbie' is a much better word than 'n00b'. 

Besides...everyone is a newbie in the beginning. Nothing wrong with it.

4680

Developer's Corner / Re: Setup program for apps created with Visual C# Express

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 11:45 AM »

While reading about this topic, I continue to get the impression that as time progresses, it will become less and less likely that a setup will need to install the Framework on a target machine.  Vista ships with the framework installed, and I imagine future versions of Windows will as well.

-kyrathaba (April 23, 2007, 10:48 AM)

Not true. Doesn't Vista ship with 2.0 framework? What about when you start developing things that need 3.0 framework?

This may continue to be a need otherwise you will end up with the same horrors many VB developers had with missing runtime files.

4681

Post New Requests Here / DONE: DriveKeysAtoZ

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 09:32 AM »

I seem to have filled my own request...with my first ahk script:



DriveKeysAtoZ:

Key combo of Right Ctrl + <letter from A to Z> will open Explorer to the root of that drive.

If you don't have a drive of that letter or if it is an empty removable media drive, it will tell you that you don't have a drive of that letter.

NOTE:
The combination of Right Ctrl and any other key will not work on 9x (sorry).
I am willing to change it if someone can come up with a better key to use instead of the Right Ctrl key. I only chose that one because it's least likely to conflict with any of my existing application hotkeys or my typing style.



Thank you jgpaiva and skrommel for your help.

Download it here.

4682

Developer's Corner / Re: Windows Activation - When installing from an image

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 06:02 AM »

One final thought - if you are shipping out server + lots of computers isn't this exactly what MS set up the corporate license scheme for? As I understand it with a corporate license each machine is not activated individually. It should be cheaper than individual XP licenses too.

-Carol Haynes (April 23, 2007, 05:46 AM)

Actually, that wouldn't be legal because a corporate license isn't for outside your own company. If the pc's were staying within the company in which joto works for, that would be fine. But shipping all pc's with the same corporate license issued to the compant joto works for isn't.

Another option that would work with corporate licenses and be legal, would be if you had an individual corporate license for each company you are selling pc's to. I don't know how easy it is to buy a corporate license on behalf of another company, though.

Joto: what your company is doing in essence makes it an OEM. There should be some type of support from Microsoft to OEM's for answering questions like this. Have you called Bill yet?

4683

Developer's Corner / Re: Windows Activation - When installing from an image

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 05:43 AM »

I am sure there has to be a simple, legal solution to this. I don't think big OEM's like HP or Dell have to deal with the "4 activation restriction with one image" problem.

What if you activate the master pc before making the image? Then on the pc's you roll out, you could use a key changer tool to change the serial to the one that is supposed to be for that machine.

I believe this would be a legal use for a tool that was originally made for illegal purposes. The illegal way to use a tool like that would be to use a key generator to come up with an illegal key you use with the key changer...which you wouldn't be doing in this case. You would be using legal keys instead.

I would suggest if you do decide to try this, that you find out how to make your own key changer...to eliminate the risk of introducing any malware to the pc's during the process.

4684

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: little AHK tool to force Windows to do what it should

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 05:05 AM »

ok...figured out how to get it to open in My Computer:

[Select]

#e::Run ::{20d04fe0-3aea-1069-a2d8-08002b30309d}  ; Opens the "My Computer" folder.

Try adding /e,<path>.

[Select]

#c:Run,Explorer.exe /e,C:\
#d:Run,Explorer.exe /e,D:\
#e:Run,Explorer.exe /e,E:\

Skrommel

-skrommel (April 23, 2007, 04:56 AM)

There has to be something better than 25 lines to handle this...no?

And what happens if I add a drive that doesn't exist and someone hits that key combo?

4685

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: little AHK tool to force Windows to do what it should

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 04:27 AM »

[Select]

#e::Run,explorer

-jgpaiva (April 23, 2007, 03:47 AM)

It works (yay!), but it always opens to the My Documents folder instead of My Computer, which is what I would rather have. Any way of being able to specify that? 

4686

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: little AHK tool to force Windows to do what it should

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 04:03 AM »

[Select]

#e::Run,explorer

As for the letters, i think it'd be a bit easier if you said which letters you'd like it to work.
(i don't think i can recognize if there are any disks or not).
I recoment '<' to be the 'something' you mentioned, since it's not that much used. (notice that it'd still work alone, it just wouldn't work for repetition).

-jgpaiva (April 23, 2007, 03:47 AM)

thanks....I'll have to test and see if this works and get back to you.

As for the drive letters, I don't know what kind of error handling is in ahk and what would happen if you tried a key combo for a drive that didn't exist. That was the only reason why I said that.

I have drive letters from C - T on this pc...but sometimes they can go as high as X (maybe even higher in the future). It depends what hard drive I have in the external caddy and if it is switched on or not...or how many virtual drives I have mounted...or what PC I am using.

The other pc runs 9x and has drive letters from A - J (no B), but that fluctuates, too, for the same reasons.

4687

Post New Requests Here / DONE: DriveKeysAtoZ

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 03:34 AM »

This little tool sounds rather redundant, but I really do have a need for it.

Something that will open Explorer when I hit Win+E.

I am not sure why, and I don't think I will ever find out why, but Win+E doesn't open Explorer like it should.

I know you can over-ride the Win key and make a combo like Win+E do something else other than open Explorer, but can you make Win+E open Explorer, by force, with an ahk script when Windows decides that it doesn't want to do that any more?

I sure could use a little utility that would do that. 

Or even better:

How about one that when I hit [something] + a letter, it will open Explorer to that drive letter (if it exists) AND fix the Win+E problem?


[edited by Wordzilla to change topic name, as per topic starter's request]

4688

General Software Discussion / Re: RANT: High Software Prices!

« Last post by app103 on April 23, 2007, 03:02 AM »

[app103]: "Can you name 1 program that has been released in the last 5 years that is actually so good that it is worth having at any price (or even worth pirating)?"

Now that depends on how you use your computer. In the last five years? Hmmm. For me, it'd be UltraEdit and XYplorer, although not sure either qualifies for the 5-year limit. So how about VMware Workstation? That's worth more than $189 cost for a lot of people who use it and need it in today's OS environment. (But then VMware has probably been around a long time, too.)

AutoHotkey!

-zridling (April 23, 2007, 02:19 AM)

I would have to disagree with UltraEdit when PSPad exists...and is free, even for commercial use. (although I have always loved Notepad2 and never needed a hex editor till the other day and I downloaded HxD)

I have never used an application like XYplorer so I can't really say anything about that except what I will say about your next example: VMware Workstation

For those that use and need it, the price is really good...I will agree with that. But what if they decide to double the price tomorrow? or triple it? Is it still worth the price? (my keywords were 'at any price') Would you pay to upgrade yours or stick with the older version?

And AutoHotkey...congratulations...you found one!
Yes...it is worth any price. Let's celebrate and be happy it's free. 

4689

Developer's Corner / Re: Online Marketing for Beginners

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 09:54 PM »

Curious.. why is this in the developers section?

-mitzevo (April 22, 2007, 11:14 AM)

the description for this section:

Discuss programmer / entrepreneur / web-design related issues

I though it fit here, based on this section's description. If it's in the wrong place, I am sure mouser will move it.

Online marketing involves general marketing.. copy writing, etc. plus the net extra's such as seo, ppc, articles, blogging, and a load of other stuff... online marketing isn't just about seo.. i mean how is seo gonna help if you copy sux.. etc. 

-mitzevo (April 22, 2007, 11:14 AM)

He mentions a lot of that in his article. 

4690

Developer's Corner / Re: 28.8k, 33.6k, and 56k Modem Emulator

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 09:30 PM »

Haha, cute

-f0dder (April 22, 2007, 04:07 PM)

I posted 2 links today from the same site. If I provide a screenshot of the page for both, and mouser decides to blog them, then they will seem to have the same image as the thumbnail and that wouldn't look so good on the blog.

So I decided to open up Paintshop Pro and take a photo of the monitor from my slow pc and do something creative and appropriate with it.

The result is Laggy the Snail...he moves at a blazing dialup speed of 33.6k. 

I like the image enough to work on it bit more at some point....he may make appearances in future posts. 

4691

Living Room / Re: Funny small software company names

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 09:19 PM »

Curt: If you are using Internet Explorer, or any IE based browser like Maxthon AOLex, etc, you may not be able to access flash files directly and have them load. They might have to be embedded in a page for IE to show them.

I have had this problem with flash files for years, in IE based browsers.

It loads fine in Firefox & Opera though.

4692

General Software Discussion / Re: RANT: High Software Prices!

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 02:53 PM »

I just realized something...

With the exception of about 2-3 programs, everything I have on this pc is either more than 5 years old, free, open source, donationware, or payware I got free by legal means (won it or gift or came with pc), or something I wrote myself.

I have Office 97...who uses that any more? I can't afford a newer version. And I wouldn't use it enough to get my money's worth out of it even if I could afford it. So on this pc, when the need to use something like that came up, I downloaded Open Office, because the MS Works that came with the pc failed at opening a file properly.

I have Paintshop Pro 7...I can't afford to upgrade...and I don't like the newer ones any way. I think the current version is 10.

I have Snagit 5.2...I could upgrade to a max of 5.4 for free, but even that is so old that they don't even offer a download for it on the site any more. But it does what I need it to, so it doesn't matter to me. I think the current version is 8.

The list goes on & on (I used to have a lot more money to burn at one time, but not any more).

I think I stopped buying commercial software for a few reasons:

• I was stuck on a really old pc for a long time because my good one died and I couldn't afford to replace it and the old one can't really run all the newer bloated programs.
  
• I have a belief that new doesn't always mean improved.
  
• I developed a love for small, well made, single purpose utilities. (they are usually free)
  
• I don't have any pocket change to spare. I live where the cost of living is high and jobs are hard to come by and the pay is low. If it's not the basic necessities of food, shelter, and utilities, then it's considered a luxury to me.
  
• I am afraid to buy something and then 6 months later regret it.

I have never regretted a donation I have made to a developer. I don't view it as paying for something. I view it as a thank you gift to a person that has created something I appreciate. I never regret giving a gift.

I have donated to developers that I haven't even tried their software. Something about the whole thing just seemed right at the time. I appreciated their effort or something else about them, personally.


I have one question for everyone:

Can you name 1 program that has been released in the last 5 years that is actually so good that it is worth having at any price (or even worth pirating)?

I can't think of 1.

4693

Developer's Corner / 28.8k, 33.6k, and 56k Modem Emulator

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 12:37 PM »

Some designers have taken the rise of broadband to mean that graphic intensive pages are now acceptable, that 600k Flash intros are suddenly desirable, and that otherwise bombarding the user with bandwidth-hungry sites is commendable. Sadly, plenty of users are still on dial-up, using 28k, 33.6k or 56k modems, and it's all too easy to forget that when you're surfing on a high speed office connection or even your home broadband.

This guy has made available a throttled proxy, to allow you to experience what it would be like to view your site on various dialup speeds.

http://www.ilovejack...rces/modem-emulator/

4694

Developer's Corner / Online Marketing for Beginners

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 11:06 AM »

A somewhat humorous, yet informative introduction to search engine optimization and online marketing.

It is amazing how many people hire online marketers without the faintest idea of what online marketers actually do. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is fairly simple - SEOs will try and improve your site's performance, usually by trying to leverage their knowledge of how search engines work and tricks they can use to make sites seem more relevant than they actually are to specific keywords.

Marketing online, though, need not have anything to do with search engines. Search engines are irrelevant - good positions and traffic are a by-product of effective online marketing.

Unfortunately, after educating a client on what online marketing is, they usually assume that if they pay you a few hundred pounds, you can make their site compete with the very best out there.

http://www.ilovejack...eting-for-beginners/

4695

Living Room / Re: Windows XP Annoyance: ToolTip pop-ups

« Last post by app103 on April 22, 2007, 12:26 AM »

I have the opposite problem. I lose my tooltips periodically, systemwide. I thought this was a 9x specific problem for a long time and then I got XP and found out that isn't the case.

I don't just lose them on the taskbar...I lose them for everything.

-app103 (April 06, 2007, 04:31 AM)

April, if you loose the tooltips again, you will most likely be able to make them come back if you dis- and en- able the feature by using X-Setup Pro 9 in Classic mode > Appearance > Explorer > Content Display Settings > Explorer /Desktop ToolTip Options.

-Curt (April 08, 2007, 03:29 PM)

On 9x I can't do it, but on XP the easiest way for me to get them back is to kill & restart Explorer....then use PS Tray Factory to get all my tray icons back. Works every time. 

On 9x, if I am patient, they will come back later...all on their own (or I could reboot).

It annoys me most when I can't figure out which tray icon is which, when some look alike...or when I can't figure out which component is which on the palette in Delphi.

btw...I just noticed that they are missing again...time for me to go kill Explorer...again. 

4696

N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: DC Forum Post Notifier Lite (a.k.a. Pop-Up Cody) - v1.1.39 - January 30, 2007

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2007, 07:39 AM »

This is pretty cool! 

One small problem I haven't seen mentioned yet:

The links to posts open in the default browser, which is nice, but if the post contains a link and you click it, it opens in IE (yuck!)

Screenshot:


Oh...and autorun at startup would be better for current user and not local machine. It's more polite. There could be other users on a pc that might not appreciate this application as much as we do. 

And I have a feature request for the Pro version, if possible:

Ability to mark a post as read.

4697

Living Room / Re: Funny small software company names

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2007, 06:05 AM »

I always thought this site was funny:

http://www.illfuckinghostit.com/

To see what it used to look like:

http://web.archive.o...llfuckinghostit.com/

4698

Living Room / Re: Funny small software company names

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2007, 04:37 AM »

Also, I forgot that one of our DC members created Shitware.net, a great site for railing away at various programs.

-zridling (April 21, 2007, 04:07 AM)

and the theme song:

http://image.nartbox.../swf/040121_dung.swf

 

4699

Living Room / Re: Funny small software company names

« Last post by app103 on April 21, 2007, 03:07 AM »

oh how cute!  

Maybe I should change mine from App's Apps to A Crazy Lady That Doesn't Want a 'Real Job' and build my website with a panoramic photo of t-shirts on my clothesline.

4700

General Software Discussion / Re: RANT: High Software Prices!

« Last post by app103 on April 20, 2007, 08:02 PM »

I think i smell a new software license:

"ComplainWare:
You may use this software freely as long as you don't gripe about it.  If you want to gripe you must pay our licensing fee of $1 per gripe."

-mouser (April 20, 2007, 07:08 PM)