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4826

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 30, 2010, 05:03 PM »

hehe - Been thinkin' about this a bit huh? - I was pondering something much the same but using a custom file extension and file header check (both already exist). Then playable tone files could be created to play through the PC speaker.

The chances of this going (way) out of scope quickly are high ... But I'm thinking.

4827

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 30, 2010, 09:41 AM »

I use T-Clock 2010 but I don't have external speaker. 
My wish: Allow user to use PC Speaker's beep for hourly chime. 

-erikts (December 29, 2010, 08:22 PM)

I can't guarantee a time-line, but I will look into it as an option.

4828

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 29, 2010, 12:47 PM »

if you want to add super simple optional update checking, im happy to help show you how to use dcuhelper.

-mouser (December 28, 2010, 04:35 PM)

I'm thinking I should probably have an installer before I go that route. But I'll keep it in mind as is is something I'd been toying with doing.

4829

Living Room / Re: So, when you're working, do you...

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 29, 2010, 12:38 PM »

I like it quiet (save for the hum of many fans), and dark (or dimly lit). The older I get the harder it is to focus ... I have enough problems distracting myself with tangents.

4830

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 28, 2010, 01:31 PM »

Btw.: no need to restrict the Alarm labelling  on sound files, this also works great with all other applications:
   

-xcopy (December 28, 2010, 01:10 PM)

lol ...I never thought of trying that. But will make a note to explore it as an option in the future.

While time did not allow for the inclusion of the display timers feature you requested in the current build. I'm still looking into it as an option ... This is why Kazuto Soto's TClock Lite has now been included in the T-Clock history page. I'm trying to make sure all of the relevant previous authors (TClock did branch a few times) get proper credit.

4831

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 28, 2010, 12:42 PM »

In keeping with the "I'm running out of time" theme, I slapped together a quickie (rush job) website for the (semi) final release of T-Clock 2010 with screen shots and general info.

4832

Living Room / Re: Naming and Shaming Bad Forums with Bad Ethics

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 28, 2010, 12:24 PM »

It's often been wisely said that what you say isn't nearly as important as how you say it. Therein lying the rub. In a form of communication that is exclusively text based, the inflection applied to the words in the posters head doesn't necessarily (ever) translate well to the reader. This can cause frustration (which is quite rare in IT...) to be perceived as rudeness even tho it was not actually the intent.

So as Gwen7 mentioned a bit of understanding goes a long way... (Well said G)

I add this as a continuation of my earlier post in the defense of the "stupid" question. As most of us aren't really all that bright when we hit topics that are outside of our respective skill-sets. I myself have asked a few questions here at DC that were for-all-intent-and-purpose dumber than hell. But I did so in the hopes that someone would give me a gentile kick in the right direction...and that it may just help some other poor sap who couldn't quite muster the stones to put on the dunce cap for a bit.

4833

Living Room / Re: Naming and Shaming Bad Forums with Bad Ethics

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 27, 2010, 10:19 AM »

One problem with manuals is they're not always free or available. As an example, our company paid $15,000 for a phone system, which came with a service & support contract, and zero documentation (which is still an ongoing battle that will not end until I win).

One's stress level can easily effect how "dumb" a question they will field. Like if you are on-site, with a client breathing down your neck, and you have to shit something brillient...now! - We've all been there - Especially when dealing with a new, proprietary, or both system. There is then a tendency to do a broad hip-shot question (that sounds stupid...) in the hopes of finding somebody that is familiar with said system ... So they can help you formulate the right question, and get an answer. e.g. Manuals are only helpful if you either have a specific question, or sufficient time to read the entire thing from cover to cover.

RTFM doesn't have to be mean:
Read
The
Furnished
Manual
 

4834

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2010, 02:04 PM »

That sounds like a great (from-the-streets) human interest story for KewlAid...

4835

Living Room / Re: Need a New Mouse

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 26, 2010, 10:00 AM »

I've never been a fan of wireless devices as I frequently have far too many things on my mind to be trying to remember to charge a slew of widgets. Hard wired = powered at all times and ready for input. Any device that (isn't tethered) can be walked off with, can be lost, and that's hardly convenient IMO).

I've used these Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical for years. They're cheap, simple, require no accessory software, and just work regardless of what machine/OS I connect them to.

I tend to appreciate things that really are effectively idiot simple.

4836

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2010, 03:00 PM »

Greetings
    As is also noted in the version history. It occured to me that 12/23/2010 is the end of 2010 ... So I either need to release this thing or change the name. So... the now currently posted build 90 is not (supposed-to-be...) a beta. So while 90 is to be the final build of 2010 ... the Suggestion Box is still open.

   The most important part of build 90 is the the Fuzzy Font bugg has been killed by adding a Font Quality option to the Clock Text Tab. This allows newer OS's to use the newer ClearType font rendering options, and eliminates the need for me to try and pick a (hard-coded) best rendering option for all OS's across-the-board ... Mainly because there isn't one. So, pictures being better than words...:







   The most fun addition (at least for me) was the request for a more visual alarm event in the form of a bouncing window. This conjured up an image of a Jack Russel Terrier (small highly energetic dog) boncing wildly in an almost cartoonish fashion...Which is an image I could not get out of my head.

    So, I added it.



   There is a good bit of granularity in the bouncing behavior but the chosen defaults seem to me to work the best. The ricocheting (Dialoggie) window does pull focus so simply hitting enter will stop it ... But then you can't read it. This is why the default behavior has the window bouncing for 3 seconds, and then stopping (center screen) for 3 seconds to give the user time to read and respond to it. Both Bounce and Pause (Paws...) periods are adjustable as are the speed, movement (delta), direction (skew),  and nature (Randomize Bounce Height) of the Alarm window's antics.

4837

Living Room / Re: Softlayer Caves on Wikileaks Mirror

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2010, 02:16 PM »

And faced with the absence of widespread public protest and resistance, most governments have chosen to interpret this silence as a token of consent and approval for the direction they're taking.

-40hz (December 23, 2010, 11:16 AM)

Quote true, a "shining example" of this is the one remaining (minority) segment of the population for whom discrimination is not only acceptable, but encouraged. That minority being Smokers:

They (we...) are repeatedly hit with tax after tax levied for the purpose of monetarily crippling them (us...) out of existence.
They are repeatedly and publicly shamed by dogmatic propaganda.
They are forced out into inclement weather for "Health Reasons".
They are fined for being themselves in public.


Now, before anybody starts with the but? but? buts? ... Think really hard about this one key point. Right now in some cities you can be fined up-wards of $500 just for smoking a cigarette in a public park (e.g. outside, in a field, nowhere near anybody). Now...

With that as a precedent, in 20 years, what else won't you be allowed to do in the park?

4838

Living Room / Re: Softlayer Caves on Wikileaks Mirror

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 23, 2010, 10:10 AM »

The 9/11 attacks were intended to destroy the so-called American Way of Life. Considering how much this country has abandoned its principles and beliefs in the wake of that, I'm inclined to think they succeeded.

Sad truth: despite the fact it may fly the same flag, the country that now calls itself The United States of America is not the same nation that existed before the passage of the Patriot Act, .

-40hz (December 23, 2010, 08:34 AM)

Agreed, we seem to be on the brink of our own version of the Dark Ages.

4839

Living Room / Re: OpenBSD: Only two remote holes [...] - the rest come from inside?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 22, 2010, 10:49 AM »

I think there's too many people thinking, and not enough people knowing what actually went into said proverbial stew.

4840

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 22, 2010, 10:44 AM »

Also a few who can't afford an ipad no matter who says what. Context of why or why not is not always clear.

-Bamse (December 22, 2010, 10:12 AM)

Completely off the chain cost of ownership sounds like a good reason to (not do it) me. You pay $1,000 for a device that you then have to pay, and pay, and pay to use. Oh hell no ... I expect that kind of crap from an auto loan, but a game box isn't supposed to be a major purchase.

4841

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 22, 2010, 08:28 AM »

Yay! I am not the only sane person on this planet after all!

-worstje (December 22, 2010, 07:08 AM)

Yes Indeed, thre are still a few of us around.

4842

Living Room / Re: Scorecard Research Survey (NSFW) - Ed. Wordpress hacked?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 21, 2010, 07:25 PM »

This was the WP response I got:

Hi,

...
Regards,

James | Happiness Engineer | WordPress.com and IntenseDebate

-Renegade (December 21, 2010, 09:23 AM)

So, I just gotta ask... WTF is a Happiness Engineer?!? Is his computer surrounded by brightly colored flowers and fluffy bunnies?

4843

Developer's Corner / Re: Motivation For Freeware Maintenance?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 21, 2010, 06:52 PM »

If you can figure out how to get your own satisfaction from what you do, everything else is just gravy.

-mouser (December 21, 2010, 04:25 PM)

That is indeed a truly key point. The original reason for T-Clock v1.01 was just so I could still use it when I switched to a 64-bit OS. I'd been playing with the code for educational purposes for (5-ish) years and I decided to set myself a goal. I would purchase a (then) completely new dual Xeon x64 machine, but I would not allow myself to use it as my full-time primary machine, until I got the clock to run on it.

As it turned out, there never were any vista drivers for its RAID controller. So it never did become my primary machine. But It was crucial to getting the project done so I was ok with it (as it's now my server). I released the program on a whim, thinking there might be one or maybe two people out there that might be interested in a 64-bit copy. This assessment proved to be dead wrong rather quickly...

While I frequently (and currently) am behind in answering all of the Email the clock gets. I do save them all, and frequently go back through them to glean ideas for new features/options/etc. as many of them are quite good. I'm on a two week vacation for the holidays, and I intend to spend most of it futzing with the clock in the hopes of getting in done before I have to change the name... (hehe) T-Clock 2010

I stick with it because it's fun to share information with people about a shared interest. Hell, we all like using it...and we all wish I'd finish the damn thing ... That's synergy at is finest! 

4844

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 21, 2010, 08:37 AM »

The script doesn't send any pings, it just tries to open a connection to a server, (any type of server, just need an IP and port), if it can't make one within 100ms, (default value), then it fails and the script continues.  So in theory, it's not actually waiting for anything to come back unless its connection is accepted in which case the script will continue to progress in under the 100ms wait time.  I could make the 5 second delay between connection attempts shorter, (I didn't want it to get flagged by any security programs as excessive pings sometimes do), or configuable - if I took out the delay then it would attempt connections every 100ms or less.

-4wd (December 20, 2010, 11:19 PM)

Ah! (Port Connection) ...Therein lying the gotcha I mentioned at the beginning.Port Connection's do a 3-way handshake:
SYN (outbount request)
SYN-ACK (target response)
ACK (outbound acceptance)

Slamming the socket shut without the SYN-ACK requires a non-blocking raw socket connection that creates its own thread and uses select(...) to check for writability before timingout and slamming shut... (Which still isn't 100% reliable after XP SP2...) ...otherwise the default timeout (graceful closure) is in the 3-5 min range.

That's why I'd suggested using something strictly local for the initial (test) loop like a system call level iteration of the adapter statuses. While not directly related (it only pulls address info from the first adapter it finds - but you could loop it to get the others), here's an example of the type of function you would need:

Code: C++ [Select]

1. //===========================================================================================
2. //============================================================================================
3. BOOL GetLocalIPAddressRange(SCAN_IP_STRUCT *lpsIP) {
4.         char szLocalHost[MIN_BUFF] = {0};
5.         char szNetMask[MIN_BUFF] = {0};
6.         PIP_ADAPTER_INFO pAdapterInfo;
7.  
8.   pAdapterInfo = (IP_ADAPTER_INFO *) malloc(sizeof(IP_ADAPTER_INFO));
9.   ULONG ulOutBufLen = sizeof(IP_ADAPTER_INFO);
10.  
11.    // Make an initial call to GetAdaptersInfo to get
12.   // the necessary size into the ulOutBufLen variable
13.   if(GetAdaptersInfo(pAdapterInfo, &ulOutBufLen) == ERROR_BUFFER_OVERFLOW) {
14.           free(pAdapterInfo);
15.           pAdapterInfo = (IP_ADAPTER_INFO *) malloc (ulOutBufLen);
16.   }
17.  
18.   if(GetAdaptersInfo(pAdapterInfo, &ulOutBufLen) == NO_ERROR) {
19.           if(pAdapterInfo) { // Grab the First Adapter we "See", and Run with it.
20. //                MessageBox(lpsIP->hList, pAdapter->Description, "Adapter Description", MB_OK); // Dev Mgr Name
21. //                MessageBox(lpsIP->hList, pAdapter->AdapterName, "Adapter Name", MB_OK); // Class ID
22.                   StringCbCopy(szLocalHost, MIN_BUFF, pAdapterInfo->IpAddressList.IpAddress.String);
23.                   StringCbCopy(szNetMask, MIN_BUFF, pAdapterInfo->IpAddressList.IpMask.String);
24.                   free(pAdapterInfo);
25.           }else{
26.                   return FALSE;
27.           }
28.   }
29.  
30.   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------->
31.   u_long host_addr = inet_addr(szLocalHost); //-+-//-//> Local IP Address
32.   u_long net_mask = inet_addr(szNetMask);   //-+-//-//-> LAN (Sub)NetMask
33.   u_long net_addr = host_addr & net_mask;  //-+-//-//+-+-+-+-+-> 192.168.5.0
34.   u_long bcast_addr = net_addr | (~net_mask);  //-//-+-+-+-+-+-> 192.168.5.255
35.   net_addr = ntohl(net_addr);  //-+-// Convert Network Addy to Network Byte Order,
36.   bcast_addr = ntohl(bcast_addr);  // Convert Broadcast Addy to Network Byte Order
37.                                  //-//-+-+-+-//-+-//-+-//-+-//-//-+-+-+-+-+->
38.   net_addr +=1; //-//-+-> Add 1 to Get from Network Address to First IP in Subnet,
39.   bcast_addr -=1; // Subtract 1 to Get from Broadcast Address to Last IP in Subnet
40.                           //-//-+-+-+-//-+-//-+-//-+-//-//-+-+-+-+-+->
41.   net_addr = htonl(net_addr); //-+-// Convert Network Addy Back to Host Byte Order,
42.   bcast_addr = htonl(bcast_addr); // Convert Broadcast Addy Back to Host Byte Order
43.   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------->
44.   strcpy_s(lpsIP->szStartIP, MIN_BUFF, inet_ntoa(*((struct in_addr *)&net_addr)));
45.   strcpy_s(lpsIP->szEndIP, MIN_BUFF, inet_ntoa(*((struct in_addr *)&bcast_addr)));
46.   strcpy_s(lpsIP->szNetMask, MIN_BUFF, szNetMask);
47.   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------->
48.  return TRUE;
49. }

Note: that is actually the code that Page Countster uses to get the default LM IP address range for the Scan for Printers dialog box.

Caveat: Currently it doesn't reinitialise itself to display on the logon screen if the current user logs off - that's about it.  I'm still looking at fixing this by calling it again, (probably needs higher privileges so it can display on the logon screen again).

-4wd (December 19, 2010, 10:43 PM)

Running it on logoff isn't really the issue, because the WiFi card stays on. The trick is to get it to run on wakeup from sleep/hibernation when the connection has dropped because the WiFi card was napping.

-Stoic Joker

Well, it kinda is at the moment because the instance running from the Startup script event terminates on detection of 'explorer.exe' process.  And the instance running at Logon event is terminated when the 'explorer.exe' process terminates.

So when it drops back to the logon screen, there is no NetCheck program running - this is why I would like to run it as a service if I could get the damn thing to interact with the display 

-4wd

Damn, that is a sticky one. Apparently "Allow service to interact with desktop" was depricated a while back due to the need for more complete Session 0 isolation - which quickly sinks out-of-my-depth (f0dder...?) - So the new more correct(er) way is to use two applications that pitch-N-catch. The service does the test & pitch, and the User GUI does the catch & display.

Maybe use WMI to look for (signs of life) a wake event?

4845

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2010, 10:02 PM »

I have joined my domain but now it takes forever to "run the startup script".  Like 5 or 6 minutes.

-techidave (December 20, 2010, 07:58 AM)

Here it only takes a few seconds to run it, the tooltip shows up after the login screen, however it looks like you're using the 'classic' login screen and not the newer XP Welcome type - something that I ought to of thought of but didn't      So a bit more testing.

-4wd (December 20, 2010, 05:32 PM)

When Joined to a domain XP & Vista always use the "Classic" logon GINA (Graphical Identification & Network Authorization) interface, The psudo Home Screen styled Other User option for domain members is new for 7. <-Completely off topic, but I thought I'd mention it.)

Does 5 or 6 minutes sound about right for the WiFi card init? I'm wondering if the script is waiting for the program to return. If the ping is every 5 sec, can you (just as a test value) add a sending ping X message to the prog so it's "pulse" can be checked?

EDIT: Just tried again with classic logon and it works OK here.  The logon prompt shows up immediately with tooltip showing up a few seconds later, both when there is and isn't a connection.  The NetCheck.exe should return immediately, (well, it does from a normal CLI), I wonder if it's possible to try running with the RunAs command, (sorry, no experience with that - perhaps SJ can help)?

-4wd (December 20, 2010, 05:32 PM)

This is one of those points where things get fuzzy. Disconnected is easy, and fully connected is easy, however, partially connected (like the not entirely initialized WiFi card) is a bitch. This is where socket behavior goes completely to shit without extreemly robust error checking. If the (above mentioned) ping X message test only counts to 1 in the 5 min script run time ... That would be a WSACleanup(...) on isle 5 after a partially fragged socket mess.

I don't suppose anyone could tell me how to set up a simple Domain that I could try and replicate this with, (I can set up another laptop as a Domain Controller under XP Pro)?

-4wd (December 20, 2010, 05:32 PM)

Active Directory Domain Controller requires Windows server (2k, 2k3, 2k8). But it's the media/network connection's behavior that's the issue, not the logon behavior.

Now if you put the wrong WEP key in your WiFi card and let it partially connect, DHCP should fail leaving you with an APIPA address and roughly the state you need to test with/for/on.

Caveat: Currently it doesn't reinitialise itself to display on the logon screen if the current user logs off - that's about it.  I'm still looking at fixing this by calling it again, (probably needs higher privileges so it can display on the logon screen again).

-4wd (December 19, 2010, 10:43 PM)

Running it on logoff isn't really the issue, because the WiFi card stays on. The trick is to get it to run on wakeup from sleep/hibernation when the connection has dropped because the WiFi card was napping.

4846

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (beta - download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 20, 2010, 09:28 AM »

Not sure, but maybe installing the previous SDK and setting VS 2010 to compile using that might do the trick.

-Jibz (December 20, 2010, 01:30 AM)

I'm still trying to give VS2k8 a fair shake as it still has one of the features (split clipboard) I've come to depend on. I can have one thing on the clipboard and still do a drag copy/move with another thing without dropping the clipboard contents...This incredibly handy feature (because I tend to loose track of where I'm at while working on-the-fly at times) was oddly missing in VS2010.

One the minus side, VS2008 can't seem to handle an external file edit for shit. Every time I change something (usually resource.h) and then let VS2k8 catchup it crashes. Which tends to have a rather adverse effect on the undo/redo history.

Now if VS2005 would work with the 2010 SDK so the manifest files would behave...that might be a solution worth looking into. I'd just have to find some info on how to do it properly so I don't turn my dev box (or VS for that matter) into a smoking crater...

4847

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (beta - download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 19, 2010, 10:17 PM »

I never really got the hang of reversing, so you're way ahead of me there. I do recall you mentioning that once before, but the how I'm unclear on. Can you be a bit more specific on the mucking around part?

4848

Living Room / Re: Obscene # of Tabs in FF

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 19, 2010, 08:07 AM »

74 tabs? That would be considered a slow day for me. I've been thinking of adding a third monitor so I can keep better track of al the crap I have going on half the time.

4849

Living Room / Re: and now the next question is about chat!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 19, 2010, 08:04 AM »

I've never been much on chatting IRL, I either have something to say, or am simply disinterested in filling the air with conversation. However I have managed to learn quite a bit by listening ... Which could be a good angle for you also. People frequently bring up things that I hadn't thought to ponder, and they can be an inroad to a worth while discussion.

4850

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (beta - download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 18, 2010, 07:24 PM »

   Okay, so after a bit of a sabbatical I finally worked up the nerve today to do the compiler downgrade swap to MSVS2008. 2010 just flat irked me, and it killed support for Windows 2000 ... Which IMO is a deal breaker.

   The newly posted beta 8.5 (build 85) is identical to the previous build except for the return of Win2k support, fixing the About Tab's text wrapping issue, and the build number. Which granted is a bit dumb, but the Win2k support thing was really bugging me.

   It appears I have 2 weeks to finish this thing before I have to change the name ... Feel free to place bets on the outcome.

@kyrathaba - Thank you, but to be honest, I'm far from a guru. There's a lot of guess work, a lot of Google, and a lot of thinks that go very badly. Tenacity and a sense of humor are my two primary "tools".