Recent Posts

576

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Don't miss the excellent Metaproducts Inquiry today (Sept 1st) on GOTD

« Last post by Steven Avery on September 01, 2011, 11:19 PM »

Hi,

The program is pretty, and Metaproducts is usually good.
Some concerns

First I uninstalled a few year old version I was not using (and which, even though it was .. I think .. GAOTD, it thought it was evaluation). It was sloppy in registry and path leftover cleaned up by Revo.

===========

The GAOTD people were harsh but a few points seem valid.

Standard vs. Professional
http://www.metaprodu.../mp/custom.asp?id=29

What is omitted in "Standard" seems pretty basic, although they discussed the print option and you use a right-click workaround.  Not sure if it is the same thing. However, a $50 version that is weaker or crippled on printing ?? .. It does not seem like the Standard Pro-thing is done right.

Similar to whatever is missing in plugin capability.  A pro version should have some fancy features, the standard $50 versions should not lack basics.

The question of turning the program off is fundamental.  Something that uses resources should have a quiet disabled mode one click away.

Maybe here the users have a savvier perspective. I am wary of getting involved, will it be worth the effort ?

Steven

577

General Software Discussion / Re: Flexible List (data) Management - ListPro and the Alternatives

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 30, 2011, 08:27 PM »

Hi,

2 things come to mind.  There should be a full web help system.  Not the internal.  Since you do not want to divert your current position to read. Not sure how strong that is.

I created a new grid.  Added some fields to the field list (Tools-Field Properties), Check "shown" (for that grid) and save.  They do not show and the check is gone when I go back into Tools-Field Properties.  This seems odd, as I approached it intuitively.

Shalom,
Steven

578

General Software Discussion / Re: Flexible List (data) Management - ListPro and the Alternatives

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 30, 2011, 06:15 PM »

Hi,

Ok, the sample mode helps.  An interesting way of working with fields globally, and checking off the ones that are being used in that grid (table). And then pulling them together with a sort toggle on top.  First time I've seen that type of global field idea in action.  

So for really unique fields in individual tables I can see that you might want to use field names like -
SNNUM - (serial #)
SNEXP  - (exp date)
etc.  
however if you have a Software company database you may be able to do a type of linking ?
SONUM -

Does InfoQube have any such relational views built in, where you are pulling from two grids ?
ie. Keyed relational lookups ?

Do you use the same field in multiple grids for inheritance?  But they really are simply two distinct fields with the same attribute.  

GRID1-NAME  
GRID2-NAME  

The idea being to have less field level definitions.
I understand that is the x-normal form idea these days .

Anyway I am ready to add a few tables.  

In the long run I can definitely see this as a part of a 3-tier approach if you are a data-person.

LISTPRO - Simple and Go (for PC, I use a clamshell phone and have no interest in IBerryDroidPads.
INFOQUBE - Dynamic Everything Centerpiece
(Programming Language) - the full-blown enchilada

By programming language I mean Alpha5, WinDev, Magic, NaviCat,etc. on MYSQL, etc.

Can we create any SQL databases in INFOQUBE for multi-access (access within INFOQUBE but also from external programs ?)

Anyway, the goal is that InfoQube is your central normative repository. The other two ideas are the extremes for special cases.  

Is that sort of clear ?

** Thanks for the Sample Suggestion. **

 I can see that many folks would simply build up or down from the Sample for their main PIM-ish Qube. Right ? I am tempted to go that route.  And then start fresh with a specialty project that really is unrelated later on its own Qube.

Steven

579

General Software Discussion / Re: editor or wp (on disk) to give rtf code for web forums

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 30, 2011, 02:23 AM »

Hi,

Well I'll probably load Net 4.0 and give it a whirl. I'll probably look for that Net tool that tells you about all the versions on your disk. Net you can't clean up as well as Java, you gotta live with a couple of versions at one time.

If the editor works good, I will use it a lot.

Does your editor have me writing on a page that is in color and font mode rather than <-code-> style mode ? That is my key issue, and it looked ok at a glance.  I was surprised with the alternative to be writing in <codeland> even if the application of the code is by pressing buttons.

Steven

580

General Software Discussion / Re: Flexible List (data) Management - ListPro and the Alternatives

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 30, 2011, 02:15 AM »

Hi,

Afaik, Excel generally thinks of one spreadsheet at a time, and then navigating to another.  ListPro keeps your dozens of tables handy at one-click.  So that is a real conceptual difference.  Maybe you could emulate that a bit with an Excel add-on, but it is straining the bucket.

** The ListPro HTML Export I just tried and then looked at the resulting file in Firefox (simply by clicking the file). The results were impressive and that might really help with my printing concern on the more involved "lists" (tables). **

InfoQube is going to have a hard time getting into quick data mode.  
Maybe after some real careful, attentive learning.

I think my main curiousity is whether any other simple-moderate List programs compete with ListPro as flexible database design and quick data entry modules. Who are * close * in that regard yet better in printing.

So far I have not seen any List-ToDo-PIM that really relates to data as flexibly as ListPro.  Only database programs and in the long run InfoQube so far.  And database programs have the similar overhead-environment-cost issues as Excel.  Remember, ListPro starts with an Explorer folder-list function ready to go, like the note programs Keynote, RightNote, TreedbNote.  A big plus.

Shalom,
Steven

581

General Software Discussion / Re: Flexible List (data) Management - ListPro and the Alternatives

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 29, 2011, 10:52 PM »

Hi Folks,

It is fun to work with InfoQube. I think there needs to be a little tutorial about setting up a item quickly in a grid and defining the fields, etc. for heads-down data entry, record by record. To the beginner it could be rather daunting.

===========

As for Excel and its equivalents, I simply have an innate aversion.  I realize that it can fake out a lot of stuff (we use it with information downloaded from the iSeries mini data to do user-defined reports on inventory.  Maybe some day I will play with it for simple list stuff, but it is only over a bunch of resistance .

Shalom,
Steven

582

Found Deals and Discounts / Website Realizer on Bits du Jour today 8-29-2011

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 29, 2011, 09:25 PM »

Hi,

Remember, Bits goes past midnite EST now, till 3AM.

Website Realizer
Create Websites With No Programming Skills
http://www.bitsdujou...re/website-realizer/

Fairly new no programming web site software, the people who use it
are happy, especially about support and such..  SiteSpinner, WeBuilder
and some others are better known.

The site of the product, built with the software.

Website Realizer 
http://www.websitere...lizer.com/index.html

Which has a crisp look and feel.

Anybody use it ?  Your thoughts ?

Steven

583

General Software Discussion / Flexible List (data) Management - ListPro and the Alternatives

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 29, 2011, 06:26 PM »

Hi Folks,

In this thread we were discussing "flat-file" list management of serial #s.
   
Serial Key Storage for Windows
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=25868.0

TucknDar and I mentioned :

ListPro by Ilium
http://www.iliumsoft.com/listpro

And I realized that the reason I liked it for the purpose is that it is able to function:

*** not with the specialty of a task manager or a planner or project manager ..***

 but simply as a "FLEXIBLE LIST MANAGER" -- which is a type of flexible database function.

ie. It is strong on the database idea of quickly designing your own fields to meet the needs. And heads-up data entry.  I went back and looked at the traditional "ToDos" such as ToDoList of AbstractSpoon and TaskCoach and realized that they would have great difficulties in this type of flexible list management. They are really very different. They are "thinking" in their terms of dates and times and categories ... and have a hard time giving you a tabula rasa ... and building up many different types of lists.

The point is that field design, and placement, and sorting, in ListPro is flexible, powerful and extremely quick.

ListPro can do some minor calendar and reminder and planning and project functions, but if you really look for that, then the other programs are better, as are various PIM and Calendar paradigm programs.

So the question comes, is ListPro the leader of the pack ?  Short of the one alternative .. your own custom design with MySQL or Alpha5 or some some database project.  The database idea is fine if you want to tie tables together, but if you are not doing that, it could be slower and overkill and harder to establish and quick-launch.

So I wondered if some of the other List management software was similarly capable to ListPro.  
 (this is quick, local heads-down data entry, not web entry).

Quick To-Do (Capstralia) mentions flexible printing and
Swift To-Do (Dextronet-sometimes on Bits) came to mind
-------------

MyBase
MyLifeOrganized (these two may be two bulky)

Maybe InfoQube ?

================

Others like:

Priorganizer  
AgendaAtOnce - seem pre-designed too much for Task and PIM rather than for flexible list management.

With most, I tend to doubt that their design is as flexible and quick for dozens of lists.  
The point is you have to be able to end up with many totally different table designs.  
Without going through any hoops.

================

LISTPRO

Folder (multi-level .. by drag-and-drop)
  Lists (the individual designed tables)
    Items - (columns within the table .. with flexible and quick field creation and sorting within the Item.)
      Fields - String, Category, Number, Yes/No, Date. 3-State, Linked (hot link)
               - Notes fields

The category field functions as an auxiliary table where you quickly choose an existing category or create a new one.

===

The design idea is superb.  

You end up tweaking your list (data base) super-quick.  The list can be some type of todo or calender, or your accounts or expenses, or your books or the posts you plan to answer or just about anything.  You get a real confidence that you will design quickly, without headache, and data entry is fast.

It does work very nicely as a "ToDo" list when you design a table for that. (They have templates too.)

*** The one big lack is that the printing is only servicable.  ***

And one important point of lists is to print them out. You can landscape, but you can not quickly say .. print those eight fields.  It breaks the fields off to a second page on overflow.  Since you are able to use the scroll bar on data entry .. wide -- you can end up with long rows.

Flexible printing is a real need. Possibly the workaround is FinePrint or PriPrinter and making sure the 1st page is what you want and deleting the other when it is wide-field. 

================

LISTPRO MAJOR LIMITATION
1) Flexible Printing --> along with
2) Automated Printing - saving a print procedure of various lists.

(1) is the big lack.

LISTPRO MAJOR IMPROVEMENT
Tab structure would help, - giving another dimension to your overall view.

Also, no web forum, no immediate developer response.
Email goes to somebody who sends it to the developers.

================

So, are there any List management softwares that are similarly capable, with good printing ?

DATABASE
Short of database programs (or if you use a database, which one and why ?)

How about InfoQube and others that are unique ?

Your thoughts appreciated.

Steven

584

General Software Discussion / Re: editor or wp (on disk) to give rtf code for web forums

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 29, 2011, 08:56 AM »

Hi,

I'm struggling a bit with the installer.
Does it want Net 4.0 ?

Steven

585

General Software Discussion / Re: backup software - file-by-file sets

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 29, 2011, 06:50 AM »

Hi,

And a little-known but excellent prog (which I have recommended before) is : Uranium Backup - many features and versions.

-joiwind (August 28, 2011, 03:43 AM)

Yes, I saw that Uranium had some solid fans.  And looking at the features it looks like the extras in the paid versions are largely extras that would not apply to a home backup to an external disk (unlike FBackup and Syncback where the free is simply emaciated).  CNet has an interesting set of comments.

With the possible exception of the VSS issue, which is probably not really an issue to a standard data backup (an interesting question is when a note or PIM or regular application app really locks a file, does that affect our backups ? And is VSS the solution ? Any experts ?).  

The Uranium folks also have a remote access software called Supremo that looks at a glance interesting.

I'll likely add them to the front post, which is focusing on free backup software that is ready for primetime along with a couple of low-cost highly respected programs that are popular in the freeware-shareware worlds.

Has anybody succeeded in using some of these softwares in native "backup set" mode to do cloud backups ? Much of the cloud backup software is klunky or obstrusive, I like Drivehq because it works with a very nice, solid dual pane file manager interface ... afaik it still does not have the "backup sets" idea.  If folks have succeeded in using these softwares to cloud backups very successfully, please share away.

====================

Possibly worthy of a try on the simple level:

Back4sure - Ulrich Krebs .. also has a calender program .. freeware
http://www.ukrebs-software.de/
http://lifehacker.co...files-to-a-usb-drive

====================

For backup urls this is fairly recent and extensive, not much jumps out.
http://www.techplex....hronization-160.html

====================

And Zback looks like a nice add-on to the portable arena:
http://titan.fsb.hr/~dzorc/zback.html
http://www.techrepub...e-backup-system/1808

One of those sync-backup tools.

====================

Steven

586

General Software Discussion / Re: editor or wp (on disk) to give rtf code for web forums

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 28, 2011, 02:34 AM »

Hi,

Thanks. Interesting.

So far I have not figured out how to get the hotkey to bring text back and forth.
Although I can cut-and-paste. I gather the point of TEA is simply to automate
the moving of the text back and forth from the window in focus to the editor and
then back, using the hotkey. 

BBCEditor - I also got two Online-Armor prompts about connecting to another computer.

Then the biggest question.  I seem to be editing BBCEditor in the code mode,
and it shows up in the finished rtf mode.  I like to edit in that finished rtf mode.
Now I understand I create the code mode by using color and underline buttons,
etc.  However my comfort zone is to type in colored rtf text, and see the
code in the other window, which is the reverse I think.

Shalom,
Steven

587

General Software Discussion / backup software - file-by-file sets

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 27, 2011, 08:56 PM »

Hi Folks,

This study was originally on a Living Room discussion:
What Happened to Genie Backup Manager?
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=27713.0

=================

Agree on Backup4All, they make FBackup too, which I think is their other-branded free version, last I checked. Good solid company.  The difference is here: http://www.fbackup.com/compare/ FBackup is only servicable, you will probably want to go to a Backup4All version if you like in the long run. They also have Backup2all.

Agree on Cobian.  If I remember, he does one thing on incremental backups a bit differently, so read up in that case.  Issues may involve stuff like empty folders. (Which may not apply as much if you define full backup sets).

And don't ferget Easeus.  A Chinese company, yet surprisingly visible at times and now in the backup realm, with free versions, Giveawayoftheday, etc.  For straight file backup I would give them a try.  This one may have originally been image oriented, but it looks sensible on file-by-file sets.

If I remember, Syncback can work very well as a backup as well as synchronization, so it may be up there also.

Some of these even have active forums, and generally the free version is going to be quite hefty (Cobian is all free).

Caution, generally either do these backups in native format or easy-read like .zip.  If they are real proprietary, without a native alternative, I would avoid the company. When you have a terabyte backup disk, you can do your own occasional delete and compression is far less a need.

And I remember some other Chinese company was doing something with Genie's Backup software, I think that was Titan. It was all vague and mysterious a couple of years back, I would consider it a non-issue. (CORRECTION: this may be the GFI-Titan situation, and may be unrelated to Genie)

Since we have at least three-four excellent alternatives out there. Plus a dozen or two more for consideration, mostly shareware, yet I have tried to give the ones with the best "sense" above, all the companies but Easeus were given above by other posters.

Remember too, that some software that you think of as image (ugh, I consider a disk crash a warning to reinstall that Op System from scratch and only do images from shortly after Op Sys install) may also have decent file-by-file modes.  Paragon and Macrium (oops, these have file and folder mode only in paid) etc.  Or they may allow viewing and file-by-file restore from the image. However I think generally you will get a crisper feel from a program that was designed for backup sets.

===================================

File-by-file set backup (not image, cloud possibilities not examined)

Easeus - http://www.todo-back...-backup-software.htm (free is hefty, webforum)
Cobian - http://www.educ.umu....ian/cobianbackup.htm  (100% free - webforum)

Free Version is not as strong.
Backup4ALL - http://www.backup4all.com/ (forum) - FBackup - http://www.fbackup.com/ (forum)
Syncback - http://www.2brightsp...re/freeware-hub.html (free lacks many features)

Add-ons: looking at reviews.  All basically free.

German companies
Personal Backup - http://personal-back...home.de/index-e.html (free, nice look, no forum)
Backup Maker - http://tinyurl.com/44ytevg  (free version= no comm use, forum)
ZDBackup - http://www.z-dbackup.com/backup.html (free=no comm use, no forum, confirm if translated)
Ace Backup - http://www.acebackup.com/   (fully free, web forum) (proprietary or "as is" native)

Cautions
Comodo - http://www.backup.comodo.com/ (beware of toolbars, gimmicks - has webforum)

If you are not already happy with a paid version, probably one of the 4 to 6x fully free are going to be fine, but which one ?  

Backup4all, especially on a special, however, should always be considered. Keep in mind that there are a number of competent $50 programs (not listed here). Backup4all is simply friendly and well-known in our neck of the woods, working with the shareware and freeware folks , and with specials and various pricing products.

These have not all been checked on issues like :

proprietary format (and super-large zip files)
compression and non-compression alternative
scheduling,
set flexibility,
backup media,
cloud possibility,
ease-of-use,
validation,
incremental-differential,
unicode,
restore capability
VSS - copying open files
system file capabilities
stability
warning messages, logs
network capability
support  
etc.  

Proprietary format, VSS, stability and validation are the most intrinsic to the safe backup process.

Do your due diligence on the features and program on which you focus.  You find something special, or a deal-breaker, share here.

On free programs that are limited you have to check also about file size limitations. e.g. DFIncBackup Home, a decent program not included, has a 8 Gig zip file size limit (formerly 2 Gigs). Also single huge zip files have sometimes caused headaches, (report: Comodo).  Nicest is the alternative to do native format or a zip-type that does not do huge files.

===================================

Open Source - Areca gets by far the most mention with the group above

Areca - http://www.areca-backup.org/
JaBack - http://www.hiteksoft...e.com/jaba/index.htm
backupPC - http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/
Bonkey - http://sites.google....ite/thebackupmonkey/ (cloud specialist)
Delta Copy - http://www.aboutmyip...MyXApp/DeltaCopy.jsp (Windows front end to rsync)

Open Source - Enterprise oriented
zmanda - http://amanda.zmanda.com/ (community-enterprise)
bacula - http://www.bacula.org/en/
NasBackup - http://www.nasbackup...om/wiki/Introduction

Portable
Toucan - http://portableapps....pps/utilities/toucan

===================================

Forums for main group + Areca

Backup4all - http://www.backup4all.com/forum/
FBackup =- http://www.fbackup.com/forum/
Easeus - http://forum.easeus....m/viewforum.php?f=14
Cobian - http://www.cobiansoft.com/forum/
Syncback - http://2brightsparks.com/bb/
Ace Backup - http://www.acebit.co...um/viewforum.php?f=8
Backup Maker - https://www.ascomp.d...ndex.php?showforum=2
Comodo - https://forums.comod...modo-backup-cb-b5.0/
Areca - http://sourceforge.n...rojects/areca/forums

===================================

Here is a suggestion.
A comparative review of Backup4All-FBackup .. Cobian .. Easeus .. Syncback.
(Maybe there is a good review out there, or at least a nice help, like from Gizmo.)

Or some similar list.

===================================

Gizmo
Best Free Backup Program (2008-2011) - excellent comments
http://www.techsuppo...-free-backup-program
More free backup software
http://www.techsuppo...ndations-reviews.htm

Ghacks - Free Backup Software – Best Windows Backup Software Programs (2009)
http://www.ghacks.ne...p-software-programs/

Free Data Backup & Restore Software Programs Reviews
http://www.isoftware...re-programs-reviews/

FreewareGenius and DonationCoder I have not find any one super-spot yet.

=======================================

My summary view :

Freebies
Cobian - good yet unusual, almost quirky reputation, many really happy users, some give up
Easeus - worthy of a try at file-by-file, may be a bit feature slim on file-by-file

Areca - good techie try

The four German companies are little known, and seem to be generally high-quality and free.

Personal Backup
Backup Maker
ZDBackup
Ace Backup

$ 30-50
Backup4all - reliable, friendly, $ version with specials, many of us may have licenses

Skipping the other $50 paid programs, since they probably generally do not beat Backup4all.
One worthy paid competitor is Syncback Pro.

======================

FBackup - slim on free
Syncback - slim on free
Comodo - pass (not so much because of this software, but the Comodo tude)

======================

Shalom,
Steven Avery

588

Living Room / Re: What Happened to Genie Backup Manager?

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 27, 2011, 02:55 PM »

Post moved to:
General Software Discussion
backup software - file-by-file sets
https://www.donation...?topic=27785.new#new

589

General Software Discussion / editor or wp (on disk) to give rtf code for web forums

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 27, 2011, 02:33 PM »

Hi Folks,

Sometimes I post on a forum whose editor lost its color formatting capability.  Yet it still reads the formatting code properly (bold, italics underline, color, size, maybe font .. color and bold and italics are what I mostly use). So I can go to another forum, prepare a post, change it with the toggle mode to code-level and then copy that code over.  

However, I would rather do it in an editor on disk.  Is that easy in Atlantis or Abiword or RightNote or TreeDbNotes or KeyNote or OpenOffice or this or that ? Or perhaps a code editor ?  Something nice and light.  I may end up using this to save a copy as well, as forums vary on archiving, per google and crashing threads.

Sometimes I compose in Eudora, it would compose and usually cut-and-paste nicely (forums vary some) the rtf formatted text (which won't work for my problem forum, it needs the underlying code). And the Eudora "view source" level seems to be for incoming mail and too cluttered. And while Eudora has decent search, I would rather archive in a special folder-smart thing.

So far, I looked in RightNote, but did not see a "view source" type of button. I could write the developer, I was quite impressed with the bar and help layouts overall.

Your thoughts appreciated.

=================

Oh, it should be able to take my pics from Abbyy Screenshot Reader, that are passed through the clipboard.

=================

Shalom,
Steven

590

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 27, 2011, 12:11 PM »

Hi Folks,

Since the link for CobIT is simply the .exe here is the link from Luis Cobian's website.

CobianSoft - Obsolete Software
http://www.educ.umu....~cobian/obsolete.htm
CobIT is a collection of internet utilities, organized and implemented into an easy to use interface. The program is fully multi-threaded and all the utilities can be used at the same time, independently of each other. The program contains several utilities: Ping, Trace route, DNS resolver, Whois, Finger, Quote , Echo and Time client. Favorite addresses and all settings all saved.

Listed as "Obsolete Software" but still may be as good as most anything out there. From Cobian Backup and other software Luis Cobian has a good reputation as a freeware coder.

Shalom,
Steven

591

General Software Discussion / Re: Serial Key Storage for Windows

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 26, 2011, 09:48 AM »

Hi,

I use ListPro. Not free, and not specifically for this purpose, but as the name suggests it's ideal for lists of any kind.

-TucknDar (February 26, 2011, 01:27 PM)

 I just want to second this suggestion.  I've rarely seen a program that is designed for such quick heads-up entry (including adding/modifying fields) and sorting and creating categories and stuff like that.

It has limitations in calendar (one date only) and projects and stuff like that ..  however it surely is more than sufficient for many needs .  

Folder
  Lists
    Items - with flexible and quick field creation and sorting within the Item.
      Fields - String, Category, Number, Yes/No, Date. 3 State, Linked (hot link)

Predefined Item-field formats ca save a spot of time, too.

Printing so far seems adequate. An area that could be improved.  
They could have a forum, too.

SOME LIMITATIONS (afaik)
A tab structure would help, as always, giving another dimension to your overall view.
Limited highlight color, and some bold and maybe font, limited in the RTF
Afaik ... no Dropbox-style or Google-output web integration
Could use built-in or user-defined field masks (e.g. SS# nnn-nn-nnnn)
No email or some sort of alarm reminder (Hi-Task pleasantly did that for me on a trial)
No Auto-Save

And maybe, as in most programs, missing is "saving" your own procedures (e.g. printing five lists) which you would have to do with an external macro.

Or you could make a list to remind you of the procedure !

I've played with AbstractSpoon's ToDoList and TaskCoach and they may be far better for certain things (e.g. multi-level programming projects with Abstract) and some other programs were definitely good for this List-ToDo thing  .. but so far I have to give ListPro a very strong heads up !  When you have super-quick speed in entry and design, combined with quick sorting/search - you are far more likely to do an actual list.

Curious if others have tried.  
Anything else even close in quick design and input entry combined with some heft ?

30 day trial .. then $20 .. if you like it, you are not going to be concerned much about the cash.

Overall, I think tabs are the one big thing that would act as a major improvement, allowing multiple trees in one file on one data entry screen ( e.g. MyPuter, Forums, Biz, Bible, Personal ).  Right now those are distinct moving down the explorer side or .. (what you do not want generally) .. separate files.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

592

General Software Discussion / Re: Cnet's Download.com and the installer scam

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 25, 2011, 09:29 AM »

Hi Folks,

Snapfiles makes you go back one level to details, and then has a link to the publisher.  I think that is sufficient.  As long as I do not have to google around for the url.

FileForum is excellent on this.  Right with download are two links, one to the publisher, one to the publisher-software.

(Based on a quick check.)

These are the two that I have most trusted over the years, yet you can still see some shlock elements. Fileforum with the Registry Booster ad on page 1, Snapfiles featuring StopZilla.  However, they have good user reviews, and they are not ad-bloated.  Almost always helpful, Snapfiles has less quantity.

Some others like Tucows and Major Geeks have been 2nd tier. Plus many other specialty sites, such as the freeware sites. It is true that CNet has been an important player, if they lose a lot of business, both publishers and user complaints, they will have to reconsider.

However, compared to say the Avira Uniblue and Ask Toolbar fiasco, this is a little more complex. Presumably a full opt-out of damage is easy and they are well established with numbers of titles.  So they may decide to simply plow ahead.  They are not known as a personable outfit.

Ok, I notice the full opt-out will still leave junk on your disk.  So it is all pretty bad.

To the user it is simple: do not use CNET if at all possible (I had already done that when I noticed the shenanigans) and it is good to let them know you are gone.

To the publisher definitely:

1) register your complaint to CNet
2) take off any links to their download at your site

And .. make the decision to try to remove or not. I would not presume to recommend one or the other, since the decision between lost business and a bit of download hassle is close. If you do allow, a note that they are not your preferred download on your site would be helpful.

CNet will at least notice and consider, and hopefully make major changes.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

593

General Software Discussion / Re: InfoQube & TreeSheets: Information managers of the future

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 23, 2011, 01:33 AM »

Hi Folks,

Anybody able to compare RightNote and TreeDbnotes ?  

TreeDbNotes does have a real forum, RightNote is more anonymous, so it might be nice to contact the developer.  On the other hand TreeDbnotes seems to be a bit dismissive at times (e.g. on the "free" being not free issue).

Anyway, functionally both programs look quite nice, (Keynote-NF lags on look for sure) I'm sure there are a dozen major differences -- so what are they ?

==============================================

On a quick glance, the creation of a flexible table in RightNote is very impressive.  Not sure yet what type of object this table is, anyone know ?  Is such a feature possible in InfoQube ?  You just smack dab an n x n rows and columns and start typing data ! And then you adjust the sizes.  Now if that makes an SQL data base that would be especially kewl, but even simply internal to the note taker ... impressive.  Have you seen that elsewhere ? (e.g. MyBase ?)

Shalom,
Steven

594

General Software Discussion / Re: TreeSheets - an interesting and innovative note taker (freeware)

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 21, 2011, 02:48 PM »

Hi Folks,

Mostly, I use Linkman for freeform stuff, pointing me to web links with keywords.  However when I write and organize I usually want a simple explorer-style hierarchial notepad, preferably with tabs (tabs basically mean I do not have to open a different file or have long involved left side explorer looks ... it is simply an organizational dimension). Good RTF is essential. Stability too. Everything else is negotiable. Multi-folder-level comes in handy, 2 levels might be sufficienct.

Keynote I traditionally used.  Keynote-NF remains in the running.

TreenoteDB has a nicer look-and-feel, but they have a funny concept of "Free" where you really need "Free-registered" .. which is about $20. In terms of value, it's worth it, as is the Professional .. right now I do not like the misuse of the word free.

MyBase is pricey, the look is impressive, I am very tempted to give it a whiz. Any real downside other than $ ? Does it have real hefty-pizazz ?

Other contenders, most sans tabs, are TreePad, MyInfo, Whizfolders, AllMyNotes Organizer. I think these are some of the leaders in the more traditional look-and-feel.  Each has some special pizazz.

Granted InfoQube, Treesheets or another might also be really fine even in traditional mode.  If I remember InfoQube was special in your flexible field creation. How important that is for me, as more a database or PIM feature, I am not sure. If I try it, I may like it.

Sticking with the more traditional sense (straight hierarchy) and going around the thread theme, your thoughts ?  More exotic stuff is fine, as long as it is strong on the basic "Treepad" (Keynote, TreeDBnote)  look as well. 

Shalom,
Steven

595

General Software Discussion / Re: File system monitoring utilities?

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 17, 2011, 10:47 AM »

Hi,

Thanks. Good stuff to look at. I remember when we discussed why it was so hard for security software to pin culprits. And how I scanned the file dates to see what happened the day-time a .dll was put in that was causing an alarm.  (Turned out to be a proper .dll from an install of a good program that alarmed the virus program because of an obscure hook.)

Here is the XP equivalent to Stoics link
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310399

Don't see a Windows 7 equivalent on a quick check.

Without having checked, I wonder if any of the products above are using this Windows auditing feature, and then formatting, etc.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

596

General Software Discussion / calling programs from a web page

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 17, 2011, 09:42 AM »

Hi Folks,

Here is a question about browser environment utility in calling programs on your disk, other than any built-in stuff like email using :mailto .

Browser security by default limits access to the disk.
So eg. if you have a url like:

C:\Program Files\TaskCoach\taskcoach.exe

Placed in a browser bar, it will ask you if you want to save or cancel the file, it will not run the file.
However, on your own system, with your own decisions this is a bit of overkill.

e.g. if you had a Linkshelf, Symbaloo, Netvibes or your own custom web-page, you can not, by default, open the program. (Or go to, focus on, the program already opened.) You can of course use the Start Menu or the Desktop or Linkman. However, a web page has advantages, grouping things together, little notes, etc. .. possibly this advantage exists in some specialty program launchers, but that involves a special install, training and a customization. If you have multiple PCs using the same general c:\program files locations, a web page would work for all of them). 

Now I was researching this for work, since some programs these days will take mini-computer apps and run them inside a browser, and thus you can have decent PC integration with programs running off a totally different system (e.g. iSeries RPG-Open Access apps, maybe a Linux box with Oracle, or Magic Software running on various platforms). Once you bypass the security limitation you can call your word processing program for that customer, or any other program. (Generally it will be a one-way call, but that is sufficient.)  This local integration is on top of the web integration of Google maps and docs etc.  One of the advantages of these programs working as an RIA, rich internet apps.

So, after a little discussion, I saw that it is not so difficult, but slightly techie to bypass those limitations.  This is an example of what I found:

=============================================

Your default email program opens from a browser with the mailto: protocol.
More involved interaction, to work with the security controls on browser limitations to local files, probably involves:

Register protocol
http://kb.mozillazin...rg/Register_protocol

@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Application\\program.exe\" \"%1\""

Registering an Application to a URL Protocol
http://msdn.microsof...14%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

=============================================

Do our techies here work with this, or something similar, to use a web page as the front end to their programs.

Your thoughts and insights appreciated.

Thanks.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

597

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Hard Disk Sentinel 40% off

« Last post by Steven Avery on August 03, 2011, 07:06 PM »

The standard edition is todays Bits Du Jour special (Aug 3, 2011)

Hard Disk Sentinel Standard Edition
http://www.bitsdujou.../hard-disk-sentinel/

Steven

598

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bitdefender Total Security , IS or AV for only $9,95

« Last post by Steven Avery on July 28, 2011, 01:53 PM »

Hi Folks,

In my case I will probably install BitDefender on one puter, and Outpost on another (home/work) and then see if one is happier than the other after some time.

Afaik, both are real companies, with reasonable integrity, without some of the pitfalls that I have seen with, among others, Comodo, Avira and Kaspersky over the years.   And without being the big cumbersome guys.

Kewl .. I did the Total Security.  Does that include everything in the other two products ?

Thanks for the headsup ! 

Shalom,
Steven Avery

599

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bitdefender Total Security , IS or AV for only $9,95

« Last post by Steven Avery on July 27, 2011, 09:26 PM »

Hi Folks,

Impressive.  Any comments on BitDefender ? Maybe check Wilders and DSL Reports. I think they are at least good to very good.

And if you want to stock up on good internet security suites, you could use this paid purchase to then help you get a free Outpost license.

Not happy with your current Internet security suite?
Get a free Competitive Upgrade to Outpost Security Suite!
http://www.agnitum.c...grade-to-outpost.php

I'm interested, now that I do not trust Avira (Uniblue and tricky toolbar nonsense) and Online Armor is owned by Emsi.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

600

General Software Discussion / Re: Another one 'bytes' the dust

« Last post by Steven Avery on July 26, 2011, 01:58 AM »

Hi Folks,

Thus, there are legitimate reasons why upgrades and patches tend to be system-dedicated. Last week I had a very long evening bringing an iSeries from 5.4 to 7.1 with various PTF and license stuff involved as well, first the 5.4 had to be patched to allow the 7.1 !  And sometimes the patch is a two-step, the first patch reboot allows the second reboot and further patches. (I ferget the name they had for that.)

The number of systems that actually need real-time non-boot patching is probably small.  And even the best implementations could be problematic.  How would Linux avoid similar dependencies as referenced in the Windows article ?  It may be that this technology is handy for small security patches that can check for dependencies.

However, I understand that this type of thing is a major problem or attack on the open source OS and utilities, with Oracle acting as the bully.

Shalom,
Steven