Recent Posts

476

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 26, 2005, 08:19 PM »

I install FindRun and everything works fine.  After some period of time (honestly don't know what it is exactly) upon starting my computer, the FindRun window is up, the pause/break key does nothing, and when I click on the "X" to close it, it shuts down completely.  Evidently, it is not being run from the tray at all.  I have no real clue what causes it.  I can get around the problem, like you said, by clearing the startup group and restarting/setting FindRun to start at startup.  That's all I've got right now... if I can think of anything I'll let you know.

Kevin

477

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 26, 2005, 04:36 PM »

Hey mouser, don't know if this was addressed in the new build, but FindRun still is giving that startup weirdness.  It could also be because I didnt uninstall reinstall, but just thought I'd let you know.

Kevin

478

Unfinished Requests / Re: IDEA: Duplicate files in a single click

« Last post by kfitting on July 26, 2005, 06:28 AM »

Ever tried FileTargets by Moon Software?  I think I found out it about on these forums so you guys may already be aware of it.  Dont know that it does exactly what you want, but it allows you to have easy access for copying or moving files to specific folders.  Just an idea.  Also, mouser, it may be a good piece of software to look at to get ideas for your own context menu tool. 

http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp

Kevin

479

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 25, 2005, 10:45 AM »

Yeah mouseclick and alt-tab would be ideal, but... dont know how that would work either!

Kevin

480

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 25, 2005, 09:34 AM »

No I dont use the right-click menu... that would involve moving my hands off the keyboard! Here are the steps:

1 Hit pause/break to bring up findrun
2 Start typing name of program
3 hit number key (FindRun goes away)
4 While program is launching, hit Pause/Break
5 Start typing name of second program
6 hit number key (FindRun goes away)

The problem is that from steps 3 to about 5, the other program is launching.  In the middle of step 5 the launched app suddenly and violently grabs focus requiring you to restart the process.  There are a few times when I'll start FindRUn, start typing the name of a program, then remember something I wanted to do in another app.  THis is where the keeping focus becomes an issue.  However these times are very few and far between. 

If you add the ability to hold down a modifier when launching an app, I wont complain, and it will be nice during those times when I know I will be launching a few apps in quick succession.  My point was that sometimes the reason I start launching a second app is because the first one is taking some time to start.  In this case, I wouldnt have hit the modifier, and FIndrun would already be minimized, negating your modifier solution. 
How often does this happen?  Not often, that's why I say I'm happy with having an option to make FindRun always retain focus.  I also kind of like your four second timeout idea (FindRun can lose focus after being open for four seconds).  This allows me the time to do a quick search (without being interrupted), but if I dont know the name of the file and my search takes a tad longer, I can bring up another window to find the filename, then open with FindRun.

HOpe that helps.  Ask again if you still dont understand my convoluted process!

Kevin

481

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 25, 2005, 08:14 AM »

Incidentally mouser, something I just thought of.  Currently, only members can download the newer versions, which is fine.  But, I just remembered that v12 still has the "duplicates bug."  Unless v19+ comes out for the general public soon it may be worthwhile to release a quick fix to v12 since this bug renders FindRun rather clunky.  NO other enhancements, just the duplicates thing.  Just a thought, take it for what it's worth!

Kevin

482

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 25, 2005, 08:11 AM »

Sorry, my bad on the hotkey thing...  I accidentally clicked on the use less resources exe. 

Let me explain the whole focus issue.  I dont leave FindRun open often, it is only open while I'm launching apps.  However, some programs take a couple seconds to run, so if I want two programs (or more) open, I will launch one via FindRun and then while that app is coming up start launching the second one.  If the first app is allowed to steal focus from FindRun, I cant launch the second one without reclicking on the window and retyping. 

Now, to your last question.  Let me see if I understand you correctly.  You are saying that if you hold down the control key while pressing a number to launch an app, FindRun stays open (with focus)?  I think this is ok... but so far I like your current solution (have to play with it some more though).  The only problem I have with using a modifier key to launch apps is that it cuts down on the simplicity. It also forces me to know ahead of time whether I want to open more than one app (something I dont always know!). 

Granted, I may be in the minority on this type of usage, so I dont know how worthwhile it is to spend a lot of time on it.  I would be perfectly happy with an option to have FindRun always grab focus (as it is in v16) and provide other options with modifiers if others want it.  The number of times I have run into problems with FindRun grabbing focus are much much less than the number of times another program has grabbed focus prematurely. 

Let me know if I read you right and also what you think. 

Kevin

483

Find And Run Robot / Re: Version 1.05.19 now available for members

« Last post by kfitting on July 25, 2005, 06:43 AM »

Bug reporting:

- Hotkey doesnt seem to be responding on my machine.  I typed one in and unchecked Pause/Break, but pause/break still brings up FindRun

Other than that, seems ok. I love the new focus feature so far.  Nice implementation!

Kevin

484

Find And Run Robot / Re: new v1.05.16 full setup now available on member download page

« Last post by kfitting on July 24, 2005, 09:12 PM »

Hey mouser, could you make a non-setup-requiring copy as well?  IT people seem to not like us installing programs all over their machines.  Especially if those programs will help make us more productive.  Frustrating, really!  If you don't want to, that's fine, I'll just install, copy directory, and then uninstall again.

Kevin

485

Unfinished Requests / Re: Update on 7/15 Coding Snack Weekend - and a prize for skrommel

« Last post by kfitting on July 24, 2005, 01:50 PM »

I also have recently started using AutoHotkey (been using AutoIt and Shortkeys before this)... I've found that upon intial startup (AutoHotKey that is) it consumes about 1.5 meg of ram.  I have a number of hotkeys/expand text things in the startup script and mem usage stays around 1.5 meg even while using them.  If I try to edit the script or do anything else, mem usage jumps up to about 3.5 meg and remains there until I close AutoHotKey and restart.  Like others said, the functionality does make up for a little more mem usage and, like mouser said... 3 megs!?  Just some info I've gathered.

Kevin

486

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Clipboard access error

« Last post by kfitting on July 23, 2005, 05:48 AM »

Just so you're aware mouser, I still get that database access error even after a reboot.  I havent tried a reinstall yet (I'll be out of town most of the weekend) but I will eventually. 

Kevin

487

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Clipboard access error

« Last post by kfitting on July 22, 2005, 07:41 PM »

Don't know that I've had that one, but I did get this one at least twice:

DBISAM Engine Error # 11013 Access denied to table 'ClipHistory'

Only happens on CHS startup.  Usually goes away, though it isnt this last time... it just keeps on giving the error.   [later] yeah it just keeps on giving that error.  Don't know whats up.  Last time it went away after one error message. I'll keep watching it.

Kevin

488

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: AdMuncher 20% discount code (advertisement blocker)

« Last post by kfitting on July 22, 2005, 08:02 AM »

How long does this discount apply for?

Kevin

489

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Features?

« Last post by kfitting on July 22, 2005, 05:33 AM »

Ahhhh, there's an idea.  If you could easily export into hierarchical notes programs (spelling is completely arbitrary) that would solve a lot of problems.  You could clip notes all day long, then sift through them and store them when you get a chance. 

I was thinking this morning and realized that if you go to a tree structure for clip types (something I agree with) you have a notes program built in whether you want it or not.  Therefore, I say go for it... especially if you add the ability to export to a full notes manager. 

Sounds awesome, thanks for the discussion.

KEvin

490

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Features?

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 09:05 PM »

Sorry, I'll go to bed soon.  But the thought just occured to me... what about export?  Could you maybe export all clips (or subsets in csv or mysql or rtf or or html or xml or jpeg or <insert format here>?  Not all those formats are practical, but it may be neat at some point to export your whole history.  Maybe it wouldnt... probably wouldnt find out until it's too late!

kevin

491

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Features?

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 08:59 PM »

Well.... as I said above that is up to you.  Also as I said above, I agree that it doesn't seem a far stretch.  However, also as I said, I use Keynote, and do not plan on switching.  NOT that this could not be useful to others!  I am NOT trying to squelch the idea!  But, I would rather see an intermediary program.  One that focused more on easy capture, quick formatting, and being able to quickly call up another program (or perhaps more importantly, a file) to seamlessly paste the information where you wanted it.  Maybe you could have your cake and eat it too.  Perhaps you could have a notes software and an intermediary side by side.  I dont know!  Those are my thoughts.  

Kevin

After reading your reply:

Heh heh, people use the same tools so differently!  It's funny... it must also be hard to code for!!  As far as your comment on the notes program, if you made the conversion thing, you wouldnt have to worry about it accepting RTF... you'd just convert it!  I also agree with you about wanting to move and manipulate... but, I already have a lot of stuff stored in Keynote and I want to continue putting stuff there.  A trade off, certainly, but I think an intermediary program could make things a lot easier.  However, that's enough of my propaganda!  Find out what people really want!

492

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Features?

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 08:47 PM »

I think the biggest problem is what you already mentioned: user interface.  Trying to cram the features into something that comes readily to hand is tough!  That's why I like Clipomatic (sorry... you'd think I got a commission!) it stays out of the way and is unobtrusive.  The problem with it is that there is no way to access more features when you want to spend a little more time.  As far as the different groups, a tree view might be the best way to go.  Since you are using a database, could you make the tree based more on filters?  Like the new search features in Longhorn, or the email in Opera M2.  You could specify a rule and all clips meeting those rules would go into the nodes that they fit. 

One caution, and I don't necessarily think you're there yet, but where is the line between clipboard extender and note software?  It's not a clear answer, but as the author you should probably decide.  If you go towards more of a note software, you'll get requests for full text editing etc.  One thing that I would really like to see is a program that helped you gather clips (HTML, RTF, text, etc) and allowed you to put them into another program easily.  That's why I mentioned RTF to HTML conversion.  If you could copy HTML, convert to RTF, then paste it into Keynote (another program [and its successor, Keynote 2] I will tirelessly promote!) in three clicks that would be awesome!  As such, CHS would not be so much a storer of notes, but an intermediary that would allow you to format your notes and easily place them into the program of your choice.  However, any program that allows you to store anything copied to the clipboard will, without a doubt, tread the gray area as a note taking software.  Where it goes depends on your vision for it.

Sorry, I may sound retardly serious, as if the fate of the universe rests on this.  It doesn't!  (thankfully... there is a higher power to take care of this)  But, I can see this program getting pulled in all sorts of directions (sort of like FindRun).  Just something to think about!  Let me say again, CHS is an awesome start... add the Paste 'n Go functionality and I will be happier than... something very happy! 

Kevin

493

Clipboard Help+Spell / Features?

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 03:43 PM »

After playing around with CHS a little more I found these "features:"
- Bringing up the messagebox to tell how many characters are in a clip also adds a new clip with the window title of the messagebox, messagebox text, some dashes, and "OK."  Actually, I cant do this everytime... and trying to pop up a messagebox with the character count doesnt work for me.  It just brings up a blank messagebox.  Weird.  This may be me.
- Scrolling the clips scrollbox is weird.  My scrollwheel scrolls through individual entries, but the text box doesnt refresh until I click.  Also, scrolling with the mousewheel does not force the the scrollbar to move at all.  I scroll to the top clip in the box, but then I have to manually grab the scrollbar to move it to the next entry.
- OK button on dialog is down a tad far.


Suggestions:
- Perhaps you could allow the user to make up "Clip Groups."  You already have History and Favorites, but maybe it would be cool to be able to make one Personal Info, or Email Addresses.  I realize this may not be entirely necessary if you search, but it could still help organize clips.
- Helpfile.  There are so many options!

Overall, I'm impressed though.  With so many options it will definitely allow a wide range of applications. 

Kevin

494

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Paste 'n Go...

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 08:16 AM »

I think that's something that should be a format option... you would see the copied data as it's formatted in whatever program you copied from (HTML, RTF, etc) but you could choose to strip it to plain text.  Even cooler, though more involved, would be a convertor so you could go from RTF to HTML and vice versa.  But, this isnt necessary.  Having the option to keep it as it's copied would be very handy, however.

Kevin

495

Clipboard Help+Spell / Re: Paste 'n Go...

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 06:58 AM »

Sounds good... yeah, I think emulating Clipomatic is a good idea (though I am mostly biased here!).  One other thing I noticed is that when I copy/paste non-text things CHS inserts a blank into the window.  Ok, I havent tested this thoroughly, just with AutoCAD, but it would be handy to either not capture something CHS doesnt recognize, or display a warning about it.  Thirdly, would there be a way to capture and recognize different formating?  For example, I copied a table from Keynote (RTF) and it showed up as straight text.  Could CHS be made to recognize RTF, HTML, etc and copy and paste it as text or its native format?  (I remember someone saying they would like it to convert HTML to text since not all programs recognize HTML formatted clips.)  Just my three thoughts so far,

Kevin

496

Clipboard Help+Spell / Paste 'n Go...

« Last post by kfitting on July 21, 2005, 06:01 AM »

Hey mouser, just started looking at Clipboard Help+Spell (CHS for short... sorry, I work for the government, a place where all problems can be fixed if an acronym is assigned) and was wondering if you could include a paste shortcut.  Overall I think CHS has some awesome functionality.  THe only major thing missing is a way to easily recall the saved clips.  THe idea is based off MIke Lin's Clipomatic.  You press a hot-key (Ctrl-Alt-V, for example) and a menu pops up right above the cursor showing you a quick summary of all the currently stored clips.  You can select a clip with the mouse or with the keyboard and then, by clicking or hitting enter, it is AUTOMATICALLY pasted at the cursor.  The reason I emphasize automatically is because some programs merely copy the clip onto the clipboard, requiring yet another keypress.  Honestly, this is the one feature that makes me come back to Clipomatic despite its lack of formatting features.  A clipboard utility becomes infinitely more powerful when, using only the keyboard, you can rapidly switch back and forth between 2 or more recently copied clips.  Just a thought, other than that, great utility!!

Kevin

497

Living Room / Re: Scripting utility suggestions?

« Last post by kfitting on July 20, 2005, 08:24 PM »

Yeah I've just recently gotten into AutoIt... did some programs for work that left me astounded as to just how much can be done with it.   Echoing mouser, from skrommel's scripts it appears that AutoHotKey has just as valid a "program."  These types of programs allow even non coders like me make programs to do things that we've only dreamed about.  At work, scripting (VBA and AutoIt) allow me to focus on engineering rather than on running the associated programs (well, once I get done programming and scripting of course!). 

Just a quick question mouser; how does a "real coder" like you feel about these types of languages?  They make it relatively easy to make programs, though the programs they produce tend to be a tad bloated do to their ease of use (eg, 4 meg of memory for a simple script).  In other words, do you feel like they are dumbing down the coder base?  I think all areas have this type of thing... film photographers decry the digital because digital makes taking pictures so easy, etc.  Interested to hear your thoughts, and anyone else's for that matter.

Kevin

498

Find And Run Robot / Re: Feature Request v2 - Speeding up searches?

« Last post by kfitting on July 20, 2005, 08:09 AM »

This is different than the post above, but it has to do with speeding up searches.  mouser, do you currently check folders twice?  For example, if I have a folder entry of  C:\Misc\Mine, and then further down the list I have C:\Misc, does FindRun search \Mine again?  I was thinking about putting C:\ as my last folder entry, but it would be slow if it searched directories it's already looked in.  (that way, if the file I'm thinking of is in a different folder, I can still find it!) 

Kevin

499

General Software Discussion / Re: mst defrag questions...

« Last post by kfitting on July 19, 2005, 07:29 PM »

Something goes BUMP in the night...

Kevin

500

Best Text Editor / Re: PSPAD News

« Last post by kfitting on July 19, 2005, 02:23 PM »

I checked out the link mouser, and it appears you're right... for version 4.3.3.3.3.3.3 (ad nauseum).  However, if you go to Betanews and look at version 4.5 (http://fileforum.bet..._editor/1076948037/1) it appears slightly different.  As I said above, i dont know for certain since I dont use it, but according to Betanews, it's fixed.  Thanks though for the clarification... I didnt actually check out the PSPad website!

Kevin