Recent Posts

6576

Developer's Corner / Re: Wanted: Comparison of code beautifiers

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2009, 04:45 PM »

For what it's worth I did use astyle a bit with Visual C++ 6.  It did the job from the command line but I never figured a way to have it work in the IDE.  I got so used to DelForEx checking my code in Delphi that it's tough to do without something similar.  Visual Studio had a built-in one that worked on selected blocks.  I got by with that.  But for reformatting a whole file, such as code found on web sites or done in a different style, astyle was ok.

For AHK I found that by backing off Scite to 1.73 and disabling folding, I could run the Tidy utility I mentioned to take care of capitalization, then use the built-in Indent Checker command to fix the braces if needed.  2 steps but better than loading an output file and renaming.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Second Taskbar On Single Monitor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2009, 04:31 PM »

Thanks for the reply.  The heaviest I got into Linux was Slackware 3.0. I played around a bit with Redhat and Mandrake but that Slackware made you find out what scripts you needed to work in /etc and subdirectories.  Back then some of the mouse stuff drove me crazy and I tried to set it up as much like Windows as I could.  Now I find some of the things Linux users took for granted I'm using in Windows, such as drag the mouse to copy to clipboard.  I hate going through a bunch of drags, menus, and clicks just to copy a line from a web page to clipboard.  In Firefox I use AutoCopy but for reasons I'll never fathom Opera still doesn't have anything similar. I still can't bring myself to launch on single click.  Guess I'll never get the Dos/Windows/OS2 background out of my psyche. 



My main focus has been getting all the icons off the desktop.  Finally I have both my machines set up so that AutoArrange cannot victimize me!!  That's why I've been messing with RocketDock, FARR and some home made launcher stuff.

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General Software Discussion / Tray 2.5.0.3

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2009, 04:24 PM »

Tray 2.5.0.3 may be downloaded here:

http://www.favessoft.com/downloads.html

edit: (was test request but I have more info - see last post)

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Second Taskbar On Single Monitor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2009, 01:56 PM »

It would be nice if Windows let you detach the notification area as a floating panel.  Then you could just turn Taskbar off and use RocketDock.  You probably already looked at it but there was some stuff on RocketDock site about replacing the Taskbar and just using RocketDock.  The quirky bit seems to be the notification area.  Plus I don't think it allows 2 instances.

I notice in W7 I'd like to be able to restrict running programs to an area so that when you hover the mouse and get that big preview, it doesn't cover RocketDock.  At this point I changed the hover time so the preview isn't triggered.  It just shows the text in a caption. Moving RocketDock along a vertical edge of the screen has the side effect that the icons you want to click most you have to reach way up to the top of the screen.

I wish one of these launch panels would come up with an Icon Order Flipper so you can reverse the order of icons by a check box.  Then moving from horizontal to vertical and back would be practical.

Out of curiosity, why 2 taskbars?

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General Software Discussion / Re: Any XP users switching to Windows 7 yet?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2009, 01:41 PM »

For just about every normal game and application, I haven't been able to feel a speed hit when running 32bit applications under a 64bit OS (this is perceived speed, I haven't bothered to run anything resembling a scientific benchmark) - and things in general has felt a bit smoother running 64bit.

-f0dder (November 19, 2009, 04:23 PM)

That was my feeling when I got my quad with Vista64 SP1 8 GB ram.  I wish there were more 64 bit apps around so I could look at memory consumption and other factors.  I noticed when I compiled my AHK scripts as 64 bit the working set was much larger.  Maybe page size issues or perhaps it's just a quirk of the AHK compiler.  I have no quibbles with this OS other than I set Superfetch to only cache system boot files in order to minimize HD running on.

edit: btw I haven't noticed any issues with Vista64 with SP1.  I use the shell copy.  I found no need to use dedicated copy apps for general purpose copy.  Unfortunately I can't get Vista 32 bit pre SP1 to take the service pack so it looks like I'll wait for W7 SP1 to put on that machine.  Unless I hit the lottery and get one of those Intel i7 things with TB ram LN2 cooled or something.

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Developer's Corner / Re: Wanted: Comparison of code beautifiers

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2009, 04:32 PM »

LIkewise if anyone knows of good ones for AHK I'd appreciate it.  Right now the closest I've found is Auto-Syntax-Tidy v12.  But it's not consistent.

I'm looking for a beautifier, preferably in-editor, to hit a button and reformat the code sort of like DelForEx in Delphi... not just syntax highlight.

Auto-Syntax-Tidy v12 does it, but sometimes it indents the braces so that they don't line up with the first character in the statement above(it indents the braces an extra level sometimes, sometimes not. If I have to go back and out-dent manually then that kills the reason for using it.)

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Living Room / Re: Choosing a new PC package for a relative.. Post your recommendations

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2009, 01:25 PM »

 

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General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2009, 01:23 PM »

Sounds quite interesting... I wonder why they do this.

-Tuxman (November 19, 2009, 01:06 PM)

Dunno' but mentioning the QuickLaunch reminds me of another launch tip or trick.  Name your QuickLaunch shortcuts with short names, then put the QuickLaunch folder in the Path.  Say you have your favorited editor's shortcut named "edit", if you open a command prompt and type edit, the shortcut will be launched if cmd.exe doesn't find another executable first.

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General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2009, 01:19 PM »

I use a hodge podge:

FreeCommander for opening media files with an info app, subtitle utility, player, skwire's PlayTime etc. since I have those tools in the toolbar configured to open the selected file.

In Vista I use QuickLaunch.

I use my own ReOpen mostly to reopen folders.  If I type a substring that's not in the list I hit ^c and that brings up Everything Search and enters the substring.  A middle mouse click on the desktop brings up the pop-up window.  No taking my hand off the mouse unless I want to type a search string.

For launching with highlighted text such as opening another browser I use my own Selector.

I made 6 categories of folders for application shortcuts.  I had these in a folder on the desktop, but I moved it to Documents so that it's hidden and put the 6 categories on RocketDock.  Not a single desktop icon now.  I don't care if AutoArrange is on or off anymore!

FARR.

Everything Search.

7stacks.  Just gives more room on the QuickLaunch or Taskbar.  The apps I use most I put in categories such as Internet, Editors, Media(such as Imgburn and encoding apps), File Handling such as FreeCommander, my own Hotkey utilities.  An ordinary folder could do the same but the pop-up glass panel looks cool and it's free so why not?


The Windows Start Menu is the last resort.  Usually to look for a Readme file or an uninstall that may not be in the Programs and Features list.

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Living Room / Re: Choosing a new PC package for a relative.. Post your recommendations

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2009, 12:56 PM »

If they insist on having a computer at home I'd encourage them to get a Mac.  That way when they have a problem I can say "Gee! I'd love to help you out but I've never used a Mac.  You know more about it than I do!"

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General Software Discussion / Re: Some FavesSoft Hotkey programs updated for Windows 7

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2009, 09:01 PM »

Called EmptyWorkingSet to reduce the memory footprint in several additional utilities:

TopmostToggle
SourceSnap
Control-EnterVista
HalfShell

All the latest versions may be downloaded via the link in the first post.

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Living Room / Re: Hidden Netflix Marathon Gems to Watch Online

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2009, 07:13 PM »

Speaking of this play online... anyone know if there are any controls to adjust brightness or other picture characteristics?  I tried one film that was so dark I could only see vague shadows of motion.  I don't see any picture controls such as you have on PC software players for brightness, contrast, etc..

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Developer's Corner / Re: What's your Programming Language?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2009, 01:57 AM »

Still I prefer them hidden just like what James Gosling preferred...  
you seem to be a C++ expert... can you give us an important use of pointers

-jeremejazz (November 17, 2009, 11:43 PM)

One use would be implementing the language with the hidden pointers. In the beginning many of the OOP languages were just front ends that spit out C source code since C compilers were most likely to exist for the target platform.

The C++ virtual functions themselves are just a jump table of function pointers with some type checking.  And of course COM takes that to another level.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Has anyone discovered any cool Windows 7 third-party utilities?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2009, 01:39 AM »

There are some software lists here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/

It'oriented to Seven compatible rather than Seven required though.

-MilesAhead (November 16, 2009, 04:36 PM)

Just out of curiosity...has anybody run into an app or utility that is Windows 7 specific - or is it too early for that?

-40hz (November 16, 2009, 10:52 PM)

I haven't other than tuners. The only thing I've seen is Jump List support.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Move Start button and Systray

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2009, 09:33 PM »

I don't know if this works in XP but in Vista I made my Taskbar double height and used this tweak to have icons rather than buttons:

http://www.vistax64....ar-icons.html?filter[11]=Taskbar Start Menu


You end up with quite a bit of free space in the middle and have plenty of room for Quick Launch and Task Tray.  I use RocketDock and 7stacks to keep the Quick Launch from filling up.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Has anyone discovered any cool Windows 7 third-party utilities?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2009, 04:36 PM »

There are some software lists here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/

It'oriented to Seven compatible rather than Seven required though.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 15, 2009, 01:51 PM »

I made another modification so that only the state of Scroll Lock is restored from how it was on program start.  Caps lock or Num Lock may be changed by the user while the program is running.  Plus the utility only changes Scroll Lock.  That's what it should restore.  I posted a modified script with all my changes.  Here's the link:

http://www.autohotke....php?p=310813#310813

A link right to the zip file so you won't have to fix the word wrap:

http://www.autohotke.../HDDMonitorMAmod.zip

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Developer's Corner / Re: What's your Programming Language?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 15, 2009, 01:14 PM »

On the idea of different languages being suited for different tasks, that was the appeal that got me into COM.  Then the .NET promised mixing and matching to do different parts of a task in the suitable language.  Now we also have to contend with 32 bit vs. 64 bit loadable libraries or assemblies or in process servers or whatever.

Maybe what we need is JITE instead of JIT?  Just In Time Encrypted compiler.  That way you can distribute the code as compilable source without "giving it away."  The host machine knows if it is 32 bit or 64 bit and a bunch of other things about itself.  It should compile the loadable libraries and the main executables with the same Bitness and calling conventions.  No more thunks.  The program and associated libraries could be "compiled" as part of the install process.  I dunno', I'm not that far into my coffee yet so strange ideas are to be expected.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 13, 2009, 06:35 PM »

I added one more tweak by calling EmptyWorkingSet on program startup. I edited the post that's referenced by the link in my previous post.  Should be obvious where to edit the script. It's just a one line tweak.

edit: especially on this type of utility, where it doesn't allocate memory for arrays or displaying dialogs or windows, it's worthwhile.  On my Vista64 Task Manager shows it using 900 KB and less as opposed to 1.9 MB without the call.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 12, 2009, 12:59 PM »

So far it seems ok.  I'm making a 3 GB zip out of my download folder.



edit:  hmmm, messes up Caps Lock.  At least on my PC the caps lock only lights when you first press.  As soon as scroll lock lights it kills the caps lock indicator. Does the same on both machines but I use a kvma switch.  HP keyboard.  Almost got a good one there.  

edit2: I made a simple modification and now it works great on my PCs.  Just substitute my modified StartLED section for the one in the original script.  The original only got the keyboard LED state on program start-up instead of checking it on every timer loop.


http://www.autohotke....php?p=310017#310017

edit3: I tried adding command line param for polls per second, range 2 to 10 or 2 to 5, but at least on my machines the CAPS lock seems to get confused if polling is greater than 2 times per second.  So looks like that good enough for my usage.

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 12, 2009, 12:52 PM »

Lights the LED on my Vista64 and W7 32 bit.  See how it goes:

http://www.autohotke...orum/topic17954.html

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 12, 2009, 12:40 PM »

Guess this was a previous topic.  I'm going to try the ahk script mentioned.

https://www.donation...67.msg80721#msg80721

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Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Fun with Scroll Lock LED

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 12, 2009, 12:30 PM »

My favorite apps in this vein would use the Scroll Lock LED as a hard drive activity indicator.

-Innuendo (November 11, 2009, 09:32 AM)

Just found this on Softpedia.  Haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to.

http://www.softpedia...dLed-Indicator.shtml

edit: bummer, just noticed it has a nag screen.  But I might as well try it to see how it looks.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox 3.5.5/3.6 Beta 2 - Netflix and Silverlight - watch online

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 10, 2009, 07:06 PM »

Just updated Firefox 3.6 with the built in updater to 3.6 Beta 2.  Now Netflix video is working.

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General Software Discussion / Re: VirtualProtect

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 09, 2009, 03:41 PM »

The thing that makes me uneasy about trying it is hooking into the rebooting process. I don't know how well that's going to work if you get hit with a real nasty.  First thing they target is the boot system.

-MilesAhead (November 09, 2009, 02:18 PM)

How many pieces of malware have targeted the boot system since the 16bit DOS days? Adding itself to (some form of) autorun doesn't count, bootsector or NTLDR patching does

-f0dder (November 09, 2009, 02:22 PM)

Well, the one that got me deleted my C: partition.  It wasn't going to boot then.  The trick is to leave the machine in a state worth using.  Like most engineering problems, it's a two-edged sword.