Recent Posts

5526

Circle Dock / Re: circledock DELETED ALL MY FILES! help!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 04, 2010, 12:58 PM »

for the programmers out there, as has been pointed out by others in this thread, if you get the brilliant idea of adding a function to your program that involves deleting the contents of a folder, you should stop what you are doing, take a break from the computer, and jump into an ice cold shower.  it's just a recipe for disaster, and no matter how clever you try to be, the chances of something going wrong are just way to high to offset any convenience that might be gained.  the solution, if you need the directory emptied, is as veign suggests, and as i understand circledock does now, is simply to tell the user to go empty the directory on their own.

-mouser (February 04, 2010, 11:26 AM)

One of the in-house billing applications I wrote creates two copies of each bill it generates, one in an archive on the server, and one view only temporary copy in the user's Temp directory ... User's Temp is automatically cleared on program exit - by design... Which folder actually gets cleared at run-time ... is an oddly random affair. Fortunately the truly critical information is stored in a SQL db so nothing (critically) important is really lost.

Moral being (as Mouser above states) Programmatic Auto-Delete Bites.

5527

Developer's Corner / Re: developers cheatsheets

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 04, 2010, 05:46 AM »

That does look handy, Thank You!

5528

Living Room / Re: Just how many Hitler videos does the world need?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 02, 2010, 05:26 PM »

Maybe someone can make one of these hitler videos about DonationCoder?  Told from the standpoint of someone angry about having to donate? or else told from the opposite standpoint, of a coder upset that people aren't donating enough?  Or ranting about Cody the mascot? Or ranting about the posts of one of the long-time members of the forum?

-mouser (February 02, 2010, 09:19 AM)

Why not do Hitler having a melt down because DC is providing custom programming free, instead of charging a kings ransom for it like a "proper" (blood sucking) corporate machine.

5529

Living Room / Re: exchange 2003 and blackberry

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 02, 2010, 05:56 AM »

It's my understanding that this functionality is native to the device. It uses the same RPC over HTTP MAPI connection that the Windows mobile (with Outlook) devices do. So if OWA (Outlook Web Access) is enabled/exposed/available to the web as an option, the BlackBerry can/will connect there too (in much the same fashion).

5530

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: KidsMenu - a shell replacement for kids

« Last post by Stoic Joker on February 01, 2010, 05:44 AM »

Now that's a cool idea. While I usually deal with business networks, I'll have to keep this in mind for the occasional "What about little Johnny" questions.

5531

Developer's Corner / Re: TimeDatePicker (Out Of) Control

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 30, 2010, 06:53 PM »

(Granted it's working now, but...) Either I'm completely retarded or somebody at MS needs to be beaten with a claw hammer.

Here's my train of thought:

SYSTEMTIME st[2]; <- array of two Items st[0] & st[1]

Which allows the assumption that:
GDTR_MIN = element 1 or st[0]
GDTR_MAX = element 2 or st[1]

So... (I'll drop to using only one control for clarity) ...This Should Work:

GetLocalTime(&st[0]); populate ele1
GetLocalTime(&st[1]); populate ele2

DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MIN, &st[0]);
DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MAX, &st[1]);

But it doesn't - However...

GetLocalTime(&st[1]); populate ele2 only

DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MIN, &st[0]);
DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MAX, &st[1]);

Results in MIN working & MAX Failing

Now the weird part...

GetLocalTime(&st[1]); Once again populate ele2 only

DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MIN, &st[1]);
DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MAX, &st[0]);

Results in both MIN & MAX Working, even tho st[0] is pointing at an empty array element.


...Now can anybody explain this? ...or do I need to go get a hammer?

5532

Developer's Corner / TimeDatePicker (Out Of) Control

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 30, 2010, 03:10 PM »

Okay, as usual I'm working with pure Win32 API C++...

I'm trying to set the maximum selectable date for a DateTimePicker (Calendar) control - and it ain't working.

MSDN Says:

hwndDT
Handle to a DTP control.
flags
Value that specifies which range values are valid. This value can be a combination of the following:
GDTR_MIN
The first element in the SYSTEMTIME structure array is valid and will be used to set the minimum allowable system time.
GDTR_MAX
The second element in the SYSTEMTIME structure array is valid and will be used to set the maximum allowable system time.
lpSysTimeArray
Pointer to a two-element array of SYSTEMTIME structures. The first element of the SYSTEMTIME array contains the minimum allowable time. The second element of the SYSTEMTIME array contains the maximum allowable time. It is not necessary to fill an array element that is not specified in the flags parameter.

More on the bold part later...

My Code (relevent parts only):

Code: C++ [Select]

1. SYSTEMTIME st[2]; // Used to Set Maximum DateTimePicker Control Date
2.                  // That should give me a 2 element array of 0 & 1
3.  GetLocalTime(&st[1]); // This is Today...There IS NO Tomorrow...
4.  DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_ANALDATE), GDTR_MIN, &st[1]);
5.  DateTime_SetRange(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDCDT_CRS_PRODATE),  GDTR_MAX, &st[1]);

Now, no matter WTF I do GDTR_MAX has no effect. Regardless of how I try to define this mythical array element 2 item... GDTR_MIN works fine, even if (as mentioned above) array element is left empty. I have to be able to (lock out cheaters) set the Maxamum selectable date to the current day. Code above works perfectly for the minimum date value (even tho it should not), and has no effect on the max.

Note: ultimately both controls will be set to/with/by GDTR_MAX only... I'm only using GDTR_MIN for testing/demonstration purposes.


What Am I Missing?!?!?!?

5533

General Software Discussion / Re: Software support - am I losing my mind?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 30, 2010, 07:49 AM »

The Spell Checker Ate My Password - I gotta write that one down. Definitely one if the weirdest issues I heard of.

5534

Living Room / Re: Yea, I won't be getting an iPad anytime soon

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2010, 10:26 PM »

The most interesting thing about Apple's several useless crap is the press. I really wonder what all these journalists get for writing positively about anything starting with "i".

A very expensive, crippled iPhone, right?

-Tuxman (January 28, 2010, 09:35 PM)

Well, that and they all get to iHump each other at in the iBall.

5535

General Software Discussion / Re: Software support - am I losing my mind?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2010, 04:59 PM »

Are you losing your mind? No. But I suspect that you soon will if you keep trying to get through that (Tier 1) front line "Tech Support" ruse. Obviously mwb1100 is on to something as the responses are way to "mechanical" to be an actual person (Nobody is that   ing thick).

I'd scour their website for a phone number and get a real live breathing person on the phone.

5536

General Software Discussion / Re: What would life be like without Windows?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2010, 02:39 PM »

Do I detect a hint of Jalousie...

-Stoic Joker (January 28, 2010, 10:50 AM)

Nice one, it can be your claim to frame.

-cranioscopical (January 28, 2010, 01:48 PM)

I vie for the glass ceiling, yet he's sill on top.

5537

General Software Discussion / Re: What would life be like without Windows?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 28, 2010, 10:50 AM »

Do I detect a hint of Jalousie...

5538

Developer's Corner / Re: What's your *favorite* programming language and *why* ?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 27, 2010, 04:26 PM »

I'd rather deal with the OS having the framework installed rather than the "DLL Hell" I had to endure with VB6 (shudders).  And the idiosyncracies of the language...

-wraith808 (January 27, 2010, 02:41 PM)

I'll second that one, I automatically pass on anything coded in VB as it always ends up being a nightmare to deal with.

5539

General Software Discussion / Re: Scumbags Hall of Shame

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 27, 2010, 09:01 AM »

Any chance I can get you to expand on that a bit? A friend recommended their DVD/Audio copy/riping software to me the other day ...(some friends are brighter that others)... I haven't tried any of it yet, and am thinking perhaps I should not given your comment.

-Stoic Joker (January 26, 2010, 11:15 AM)

They keep churning out versions with NO major changes and require more money every time they do for the upgrades.  The software is bloated, and the tech support is non-existent. Not to mention if you buy ONE product you get spammed up to 20 times a day from them alone trying to get you to spend more, and you also notice a rise in the amount of spam mails you get a day from others.  They also pay folks to spam blogs, forums, and email to sell software.

-y0himba (January 27, 2010, 07:24 AM)

Excellent, thank you [Delete] ...that's off my to-do list now.

5540

Developer's Corner / Re: What's your *favorite* programming language and *why* ?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 27, 2010, 05:55 AM »

I can't say I have a favorite language at this point.. If you had asked me 10 years ago I would have said C++.  I still use C++ more than any other language, and have used it for over two decades now.  But I can't bring myself to say it's my favorite language because i've spent the last decade looking for a replacement language that I could really fall in love with, and still haven't found one.

-mouser (January 26, 2010, 11:48 PM)

Not to mention you aspire to create your own programming language, which kinda puts you in a slightly different category (league) than (most of) the rest of us...

For me C++ is a definite hands down favorite. I get cranky if I have to code in anything else.

5541

Developer's Corner / Re: What's your *favorite* programming language and *why* ?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 26, 2010, 03:00 PM »

Ouch.  That was worse than the original joke.

-wraith808 (January 26, 2010, 02:20 PM)

Yeah, that one definitely warrants a prize of some kind.

5542

General Software Discussion / Re: Scumbags Hall of Shame

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 26, 2010, 11:42 AM »

I am so glad to see Xilisoft on that list.

-y0himba (January 26, 2010, 08:01 AM)

Any chance I can get you to expand on that a bit? A friend recommended their DVD/Audio copy/riping software to me the other day ...

-Stoic Joker (January 26, 2010, 11:15 AM)

The blog author is not so much picking on their programs as on their spam,

-Curt (January 26, 2010, 11:33 AM)

Right... Caught that part when I read the blog post ... I was wondering if y0himba had another reason for disliking the company in question.

5543

General Software Discussion / Re: Scumbags Hall of Shame

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 26, 2010, 11:15 AM »

I am so glad to see Xilisoft on that list.

-y0himba (January 26, 2010, 08:01 AM)

Any chance I can get you to expand on that a bit? A friend recommended their DVD/Audio copy/riping software to me the other day ...(some friends are brighter that others)... I haven't tried any of it yet, and am thinking perhaps I should not given your comment.

5544

Living Room / Re: Tech News Weekly: Edition 3-10

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 25, 2010, 07:49 AM »

Looking at the links SKA posted, there seems to be conflicting accounts on the initial entry point (Chenix Wang does however strike me as being a bit more pragmatic & believe-able). Not to mention that if the object is stealth it makes no sense to go through the trouble to hack the same network twice ... Especially if round 2 involves targeting something that by design is supposed to be monitored, logged, and scrutinized to the Nth power.

Most likely (to me) is to quietly slip into the VPN (because that's the (LEO's access level) gravy chute), and then use a few of the internal machines to create a tantalizing distraction of complexity. Sure G2G is tricky to get into if designed properly, but C2G (hehe) not so much. All you really need is someone with a badge & an iPhone to ask a ("support") question...and time.

5545

Finished Programs / Re: SOLVED: Redirect clicks on files of a particular type to a *specific* single file?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 24, 2010, 11:11 AM »

IMHO nobody should be playing too much with the registry, especially when it isn't (absolutely) necessary. The suggested registry changes are easy enough to change, but still...

-Shades (January 24, 2010, 09:43 AM)

I gota go with Shades on this, the whole risk/reward thing is skewed toward the danger zone if the unwind doesn't-go-as-planed...

Why not go with a tactic that offers less exposure, like changing the preferred media players normally used shortcut (a single point) to target the desired video. ...Sure it may require some fast talking to pull off, but it's a hell of a lot easier to "fix" after the joke is played.

5546

Living Room / Re: Network peeps...? i need some help :(

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 23, 2010, 09:26 AM »

ICS always struck me as being rather fragile & unsecure. Have you considered trying one of the portable access point 3G/EVDO routers? It would be a cleaner & simpler solution.

5547

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 - POST YOUR MUG PHOTOS HERE

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 22, 2010, 05:52 PM »

Well I plugged in the phone & it opened for browsing in explorer *Shrug* ...Didn't see that one comming. So here's the mug on my desk at the office:


Other things found on phone...Here's my dog Molly:


And lastly, Here's Me (making this post):

5548

General Software Discussion / Re: Strategies for using user-data folders in Windows 7?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 22, 2010, 03:08 PM »

Corporate IT departments hopefully have at least one person who has read and understands the MS white papers on how to setup a network.

Mid sized company networks (like the ones I see daily never do, and) tend to be a train wreck; growth never allows enough time for organization (until it's too late - Then I show up, and tend to sigh alot...).

Small companies (I see these too) that use work groups and working servers, are doomed. There is just no right way to do that in this day and age.

Home users can either just backup the user folder, or redirect the folders they use back into Documents (ala XP) and back that up. Or use some manner of imaging strategy as the tweaker/power user types do. For home users the method isn't really important ... the frequency is. Only exception is (in my experience) restoring from a multi session CD backup always fails. I once met a fellow with 3 complete sets of a CD backup...(9 CDs total)...all of which were full, yet failed to restore a single file. The external USB/FireWire/ESATA drives do seem to work well enough however.

I've got the purchasing managers home comp on the bench right now ... hundreds of family photos ... and a failing drive. They were going to do a backup - when they had time...

5549

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 - POST YOUR MUG PHOTOS HERE

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 22, 2010, 12:14 PM »

Took pic of cup at office with phone ...(next step)... Now we'll see how long it takes my to get it off the phone.

5550

General Software Discussion / Re: Strategies for using user-data folders in Windows 7?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on January 22, 2010, 10:28 AM »

I haven't done imaging for years, but I've been contemplating getting into it again... also, when I do a clean reinstall, I do want the format to get rid of any leftover junk and have a fragmentation-free clean slate.

I'm not really sure what you mean by leftover junk...anything on the drive that is unwanted is delete-able (I assume I'm missing something).

-Stoic Joker (January 21, 2010, 06:00 AM)

System Volume Information

-f0dder (January 22, 2010, 07:50 AM)

...Which contains one metric boat load of system recovery snapshots and etc.

Hm... For some reason I ws thinking that the install cleaned that out. *Shrug* but it can be deleted if need be. I don't do it frequently enough to quip off the top of me head, but I'll play with it this weekend if I have time.