What is this Category?
The WordPress-list-heirarchical-categories feature has a bug that means that parent categories must have at least one post or the categories underneath won’t be displayed. SOOOOO….. Here’s the obligatory post for this category…
This category is used to hold reviews for all of the books I read each year.
What is this Category?
The WordPress-list-heirarchical-categories feature has a bug that means that parent categories must have at least one post or the categories underneath won’t be displayed. SOOOOO….. Here’s the obligatory post for this category…
These categories will Show information about me as a person. Who I am, what I do, what I like, how I think. It’s a bit risky putting all this out there in the wild, but people that know me know that I don’t often hold back at the artificial bondaries others have put up…
This routine does the same thing as the Windows Network Repair function, but from the command prompt. Now why is this important? Well, it is VERY important when you have effected network changes, or physically had someone detach the computer from one network and attach it to another. When this is done, the computer has to know to forget everything it knew about the old network and learn what it can from the new network. Double clicking on a short cut to this batch file can take care of that and it is much simpler than leading someone through the steps to get to the network repair option.
Concepts Demonstrated: Network manipulation
Concepts Demonstrated: Quiet Parameter
::@Echo off ::************************************************************************* :: This Batch file performs the rough equivelant of a Windows XP SP1 :: Network Connection Repair. :: :: Usage: :: NetworkRepair <-- Prompts for permission & repairs all networks :: NetworkRepair [ConnectionName] <-- Prompts & repairs one network :: NetworkRepair Quiet <-- Does Not Prompt (Quiet is Case Sensitive) :: NetworkRepair Quiet [ConnectionName] <-- Repairs only one network :: :: A Windows Network Connection Repair (Right click on the Local Area :: Connection and choose Repair) performs a series of commands that allows :: a computer to rebuild a its connection to the network. The commands :: that are invoked by Repair are included below in their command-line :: equivalents. The only current difference is that the Repair process :: first checks whether DHCP is enabled and then, if enabled, it issues a :: broadcast renew to refresh the IP address. This will cause the :: computer to accept a lease from *any* DHCP server that is on the network. :: You cannot do that from the command line. In contrast, a unicast renew :: (as done through ipconfig /renew) will only renew the existing lease :: from the currently used DHCP server. I've tried to work around that :: difference calling ipconfig /release. Hopefully, putting the :: ipconfig /renew further down in the batch file will cause a broadcast :: request for a new IP address. I do not know if that will happen or not. :: In any case, this would only affect the behavior of the repair if your :: network has multiple DHCP servers. :: :: In addition, a normal repair is performed for one connection at a time. :: This batch file will repair all network connections unless you specify :: the mask to use for finding the correct networks. Like so: :: NetworkRepair Wi* <-- Repair any connection that has its name :: starting with "Wi" :: NetworkRepair Quiet *Con* <-- Quietly repair all connections with, :: "Con" anywhere in the name. Examples :: include "Local Area Connection 1" or :: "Local Area Connection 2":: :: NetworkRepair quiet <-- Repair all networks named "quiet" :: :: :: Author - Brian Layman :: Created - 5/29/2003 :: Last Modified - 7/27/2005 :: :: License - If this helps you - Great! Use it, modify it share it. :: :: Indemnity - You're playing with network settings and clearing caches. :: That means that if your settings are messed up on this computer or any :: of your network servers or routers, running this batch may cause it to :: see even fewer network resources from this computer. This batch file :: makes the computer forget everything it ever knew about the way the :: network was working before. When it asks the routers and servers for new :: information, that information must be correct for your problem to go away. :: :: Use this batch file at your own risk. I'm only calling built-in Windows :: commands, but if a typo or service pack change affects what this routine :: does, it is not my fault. In fact, you should just stop right now and :: not run this file. For if it causes blue smoke to be emitted from your :: network card, if it resets your home site to HowToKillMyBoss.com, or if :: it makes your sister break up with her lawyer boyfriend and start dating :: a caver, it is not my fault. (Actually that last one might be an :: improvement, but it is still not my fault.) :: :: Uses - This routine allows you to automate switching from one network :: connection to another simply by double-clicking a link on the desktop. :: It may also be useful in performing quick repairs of network connections :: rather than guiding your relative/friend/spouse through the process over :: the phone. :: :: Donations - If this batch file really helps you out, feel free to make a $5 :: (US) donation via Paypal to Brian@TheCodeCave.com or just send a Thank :: You via email to that address and include your country of origin. :: :: MD5 - The correct MD5 is available at: :: http://www.The-WildWest.com/Queeg/NetworkRepair :: :: Enjoy! :: ::************************************************************************* :: ************************************************************************* :Quiet Check :: Check for the Quiet password. :: ************************************************************************* :: Put a bracket around the %1 to trap for empty values and to allow the :: string comparison to work if [%1] == [Quiet] GOTO :TheWorks :: ************************************************************************* :: ************************************************************************* :TheWarning :: :: Display some info about the program and also allow several ways to :: abort an accidental launch. :: :: ************************************************************************* Echo. Echo This batch file will reset your network connection. Echo. Echo. By running it you're playing with network settings and clearing caches. Echo. That means that if your settings are messed up on this computer or any Echo. of your network servers or routers, running this batch may cause it to Echo. see even fewer network resources from this computer. This batch file Echo. makes the computer forget everything it ever knew about the way the network Echo. was working before. When it asks the routers and servers for new Echo. information, that information must be correct for your problem to go away. Echo. Echo. Use this batch file at your own risk. I'm only calling built-in Windows Echo. commands, but if a typo or service pack change affects what this routine Echo. does, it is not my fault. In fact, you should just stop right now and Echo. not run this file. For if it causes blue smoke to be emitted from your Echo. network card, if it resets your home site to HowToKillMyBoss.com, or if Echo. it makes your sister break up with her lawyer boyfriend and start dating Echo. a caver, it is not my fault. (Actually that last one might be an Echo. improvement, but it is still not my fault.) Echo. @pause :: ************************************************************************* :TheWorks :: :: Let the fun begin! :: :: ************************************************************************* if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Release the DHCP lease - NOT PART OF REPAIR if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] ipconfig /release %1 if [%1] == [Quiet] ipconfig /release %2 if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Flush the ARP cache arp -d * if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Flush the NetBIOS cache nbtstat -R if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Flush the DNS cache ipconfig /flushdns if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Request a new the DHCP lease - NOT PART OF REPAIR if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] ipconfig /renew %1 if [%1] == [Quiet] ipconfig /renew %2 if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Re-register with WINS nbtstat -RR if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo. if NOT [%1] == [Quiet] Echo * Re-registers with DNS ipconfig /registerdns if [%1] == [Quiet] CLS :: ************************************************************************* :TheEnd :: :: So long and thanks for all the fish! :: :: *************************************************************************
Here’s a quick demonstration of how easy programming is in Delphi.
This small app allows you to copy text and past it again right away with it converted to proper case or upper case. This was written for a ZTree user that had a bunch of files that he wanted t rename to partially uppercase. There was no way to pick out the part of the name he wanted in upper case. So I wrote this routine to allow him to highlight part of the text, hit copy and then hit paste. And viola, he it would be fixed.
So in Delphi, how do you access the clip board? Well, it couldn’t be simpler. Just add the clipbrd unit to your uses statement like this:
[delphi]uses Clipbrd;[/delphi]
Then you can read and write to the clipboard as text like this:
[delphi]A := Clipboard.AsText;
Clipboard.AsText := A + ‘BC’;[/delphi]
Of course it is best to check that you are dealing with text befor you try to get the information back from the clipboard. That can be done like this:
[delphi]if (Clipboard.HasFormat(CF_TEXT)) then DoIt;[/delphi]
See! It is THAT straight forward. If you want to see what other clipboard formats there are, just highlight CF_TEXT in Delphi and hit F1 and you’ll get a full list.
| Value | Meaning |
| CF_TEXT | Text with a CR-LF combination at the end of each line. A null character identifies the end of the text. |
| CF_BITMAP | A Windows bitmap graphic. |
| CF_METAFILEPICT | A Windows metafile graphic. |
| CF_PICTURE | An object of type TPicture. |
| CF_COMPONENT | Any persistent object. |
So the instructions to create a full app are quite simple:
In Delphi, create a new app. In the Object Inspector, Name the main form frmCBFix, change the Border style to bsToolWindow, and change the form style to fsStayOnTop
Place a TEdit on the form and name it editCorrected text, clearing the default text value.
Add Clipbrd to the uses.
Put a TTimer on the form and double click the timer event in the Object Inspector.
Paste the following code into the unit replacing the automatic generated Timer1Timer procedure:
[delphi]{******************************************************************************
ProperCase
Converts a string to proper case by capitalizing each letter after a space or
punctuation. The only common punctuation not used is the apostrophe/single
quote. This avoids changing don’t to Don’T, but will sentences quoted
inside single quotes will not have their first letter capitalized.
******************************************************************************}
function ProperCase(aSrcStr: String): String;
var
Len, Index: integer;
begin
aSrcStr := Lowercase(aSrcStr);
Len := Length(aSrcStr);
aSrcStr[1] := UpperCase(string(aSrcStr[1]))[1];
for Index := 1 to Len – 1
do begin
if (aSrcStr[Index] in [‘ ‘,’$’,'”‘,'(‘,’)’,’`’,’!’,’?’,’<','!','>‘,’#’,’=’,’+’,’:’,’,’,’/’,’.’,’&’,’-‘,'{‘,’}’,'[‘,’]’,’|’])
then aSrcStr[Index + 1] := UpperCase(String(aSrcStr[Index + 1]))[1];
end;
Result := aSrcStr;
end;
{******************************************************************************
Timer1Timer
Fires periodically (orignally every 250ms), checks the clip board for text,
if it has changed, convert it to proper case and put the result in the
clipboard and the edit control.
******************************************************************************}
procedure TfrmCBFix.Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
begin // Timer1Timer
if Clipboard.HasFormat(CF_TEXT)
then begin
if (editCorrectedText.Text <> Clipboard.AsText)
then begin
editCorrectedText.Text := ProperCase(Clipboard.AsText);
Clipboard.AsText := editCorrectedText.Text;
end;
end;
end; // Timer1Timer [/delphi]
And you’re done!
Here are the files for this project:
http://www.TheCodeCave.com/downloads/delphi/CBFixerUpper.exe
http://www.TheCodeCave.com/downloads/delphi/CBFixerUpper.dpr
http://www.TheCodeCave.com/downloads/delphi/u_CBFix.dfm
http://www.TheCodeCave.com/downloads/delphi/u_CBFix.pas
Today is the last day for submissions. I hope this means there are pleanty of good themes coming out soon. Now that I know a little about this, I realize that this competition is being done the right way. In reality, appearance, which to the new WordPress user seems to all there is to themes, is MUCH less important than the underpinnings and design of the theme. In this competion, prizes are being given for How the theme was written and what features it includes. In stead of, or perhaps in addition to, the theme appearance. See here: http://kcyap.com/competition/?p=3
It would be neat if a browser could only see the categories on a blog that they are interested in. If the theme could save a cookie with a bitmap of the blogs themes, the user could ignore stuff like this that they do not care about. Why would a delphi programmer care about a possible feature I intend to maybe someday include in a theme May or May Not ever get around to writing.
The theme must be able to support pages with internal HTML.
This should be done in a way that can be made a standard for other themes and this should be relayed to the other people in the competition prior to the theme releases. This REALLY should be a standard for WordPress in general.
In order for me to create a new page at www.KnitChat.com that fits in with the current blog, all I need to do is wrap PHP or HTML in these two lines:
<?php require(dirname(__FILE__).’/includes/custompage_top_yar.php’); ?>
<?php require(dirname(__FILE__).’/includes/custompage_btm_yar.php’); ?>
If I do that, then I can put ANYTHING in there. Under the current WordPress pages lay out, you are restricted to the type of content allowed in WordPress posts. That’s insufficient if you want to create true webpages like: www.knitchat.com\fleet.php or www.knitchat.com\subscribetome.php or www.knitchat.com\useronline.php
An option would be to allow the theme options tab to do it by itself…
It would be nice if one of the categories in the blog could be marked as a “sticky” category. Then all posts in that category would always appear first. For example, the Hello World post should be the first one on this blog until it is better established.
You should be able to choose which category will be sticky.
You can also find this file here: http://www.the-wildwest.com/Queeg/Batches/SearchPath.bat
:: ************************************************************************* :: SearchPath.Bat 10/31/2005 :: Written by Brian Layman (AKA Capt. Queeg) :: Visit him at http://www.thecodecave.com/ :: :: A batch written to display the program that would be run when :: a filename is typed at the command prompt. Just a demo for :: Hartmut at http://www.ztw3.com/forum/forum.cgi :: :: Usage: SearchPath ProgramName[.EXT] :: :: History: :: 10/31/2005 - BL - Created :: 11/01/2005 - BL - Removed Temp File Usage :: 02/28/2006 - BL - Changed my URL :: :: ************************************************************************* @echo Off :: All this is boiled down to one subroutine that sets a variable of the :: same name. call :SearchedFilePath %1 :: If no program is found, say so. if "%SearchedFilePath%"=="" echo There is no matching program in the search path :: If a program was found, echo its name. if NOT "%SearchedFilePath%"=="" echo %SearchedFilePath% :: Clear out our temp variable set SearchedFilePath= :: Quit GOTO :EOF :: ************************************************************************* :: ************************************************************************* :: Support procedures :: :: These routines are called with a CALL directive and the GOTO :EOF :: terminates that CALL but does not terminate the entire running of the :: batch file. :: ************************************************************************* :: ************************************************************************* :SearchedFilePath :: Returns the full path to a passed file in the searchpath :: :: Returns blank if not found. :: :: ************************************************************************* : set SearchedFilePath= :: Set the default value to blank. set SearchedFilePath= :: If there is no extension handle it if "%~x1"=="" Call :SearchWithExtensions %1&GOTO :EOF :: There is no extension, is it blank? if "%1"=="" GOTO :EOF :: So, we have an extension. That means we can do a simple search. :: %~dp$PATH:1 automatically searches the path for us. It is a :: variable set by the Call command. set SearchedFilePath=%~dp$PATH:1%1 if "%SearchedFilePath%"=="%1" set SearchedFilePath=&GOTO :EOF GOTO :EOF :: ************************************************************************* :: ************************************************************************* :SearchWithExtensions :: Iterates the extensions gathered from the PATHEXT environment :: and searches until the file is found. :: :: Returns blank if not found. :: :: ************************************************************************* :: Initialize a counter for looking at multiple search results in one line set cnt=0 :SearchLoop :: Break out after 20 checks. :: If you might have more than 20 extensions, increase this value. :: If you could find out how many periods there are in the temp file, you could optimize this. if "%cnt%"=="20" GOTO :SearchLoopCleanup set /A cnt=%cnt%+1 :: Continually search the single line file returning each sequential search result and recursively pass it to the :: SearchedFilePath routine. When we ask for a token # that doesn't exist and blank is returned, abort out. for /F "tokens=%cnt% delims=.;" %%C in ("%PATHEXT%") do call :SearchedFilePath %1.%%C if "%SearchedFilePath%"== "" GOTO :SearchLoop :SearchLoopCleanup :: Clear our Temp variable set cnt= GOTO :EOF :: *************************************************************************
By now every Delphi programmer knows about this. But for all others, here you go:
Borland has release the first version of Delphi, since Delphi 5 in 1999ish, that has been truely worth the upgrade price. Delphi 2006 (D9) pretty much guarantees the success of the company by being the ONLY compiler fill a niche (Win32 development) that MS’s move to dot .net created. Only ONE of the new MS compilers will allow you to write a Win32 bit app (VC++ still allows it but VB, VC#, VJ# etc do not Thanks Liviu! ) Delphi is IT for the next 7-10 years while Win32 apps will still be allowed (basically for the life span of Windows XP and Vista).
Having such a high quality tool that practically guaranteed sales in a totally open vertical market, left Borland’s newest poker-playing-turn-around-guy, Tod Nielsen – the newest in a string of CEOs dedicated to the destruction of Borland – no choice but to kill the company by dropping all code development tools 100 days after he took the job.
“We’re still all about development, but less about the creation of code,” Nielsen said. – HUH??????
The interesting thing is that the Delphi community user base is SO frustrated with the management decisions of the last 7 years that they have thrown up their arms and said “Fine. Do it. And good riddance.”
Read the details:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0%2C1895%2C1922016%2C00.asp
Addendum – I just found out that in the fall of 2005 a Borland stock holder (the largest?) had offered Borland 125 million for their language suites. Borland turned him down out of hand. Now a few months later, they’ve begun to think “hmmm, that was a lot of green! Let’s do it!” Of course now that they are the ones wanting to make the deal, not the buyers, they’ll be lucky to get 2/3 the original offer. Which I should be happy with I guess. It means the people buying the IDE products will have all the more money to invest in them…
Oh and if you are a news group reader, David “I” has been out on the groups lately trying to restore confidence in the product.
I still can’t beleive they’ve done this after such a succesful production release. But I guess you always clean your car just before you sell it, too.