PSPad Text Diff Feature and Dreamweaver 5+
Jan 20th
PSPad has an excellent text diff feature, but when I added PSPad to Dreamweaver (Edit > Preferences > File Compare) it wouldn’t let me add the “-d” argument:
The application you chose for file comparison does not exist. Enter a valid path for the application or click Browse to select it.
Unfortunately for Dreamweaver, we loyal PSPad users need that argument to go into PSPad’s full Text Diff or File Compare (DW) mode. That’s the only way we’ll see synchronized scrolling and the highlighting of changes between the files.
The good news is there’s a simple workaround. Open regedit (Start Menu > Run > “regedit”) and click thru to this path “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Dreamweaver CS5.5\Diff”. In this key change the “DiffPath” value to the full path for PSPad including the “-d” argument. It should look similar to “C:\Program Files (x86)\PSPad\PSPad.exe -d”. Note: the registry location would differ if you’re on another version of Dreamweaver; mine is Dreamweaver CS5.5, and the PSPad path would change if you did not install it to the default location.
Pirox Waypoints to Honorbuddy Hotspots (and Vice-Versa!)
Mar 7th
Two updates:
- The app will now convert waypoints to hotspots and vice-versa. When converting to Pirox it will label every entry as “z=”. Adding a number after the “z” is up to you for now =)
- I renamed the app to PHb. I don’t think I changed the window’s name… oh well. It’s still going to be called PHb!
- Comment with any issues or accolades.
Original post:
I wrote this little converter for a friend that plays World of Warcraft. It’s pretty simple really and could easily be a web app, but I wanted to write a web form. Just paste in Pirox waypoints, click Convert, and it will convert them to Honorbuddy hotspots. The Copy button will copy the results to your clipboard, and Clear will, you guessed it, clear the results.
Enjoy!
Just one song…
Nov 29th
If you had the chance to learn how to play one song from your favorite musician, what would it be? I want to know artist, song, and instrument!
Classer: MySQL Tables to PHP Classes
Nov 2nd
I wrote a quick little app in PHP to quickly generate generic class files for MySQL database tables. The app requires ADODb and Smarty to be located in a parent directory. The config file has all the settings.
The app will create class methods like Select, SelectAll, Insert, Update, and Delete. Tables with primary keys will require the key to process Updates and Deletes. It’s still very much a work in progress. I wrote it to give myself a good base-model to be used when applying an MVC architecture in a project.
HTML5 Paint Demo
Oct 3rd
I created an HTML5 canvas demo to see how it can handle a whiteboarding app idea I’ve hatched. Check it out.
Walgreen, J&J, and CVS Pharmacy hit with an FDA Warning Letter
Oct 3rd
All three were hit with FDA Warning Letters regarding the anticavity mouthwash these companies sell. The label states the mouthwash will prevent cavities and gum disease, but these claims apparently cannot be made given the active ingredient on the label.
The products are still clearly safe. This type of letter usually requires a labeling change as the FDA does not want the consumer to be misguided in understanding what the product offers.
Products are not pulled off the shelf for such offenses.
The companies are typically required to respond to FDA findings in 15 days, or as otherwise stated in the letter.
Products effected -
- Listerine Total Care Anticavity Mouthwash (Jonhson & Johnson)
- CVS Complete Care Anticavity Mouthwash
- Walgreen Mouth Rinse Full Action
Reference -
Cycling in Montgomery and Bucks
Jun 15th
While doing a training ride on Monday, some douche actually pulled in front of me on Hilltown Pike, put on his hazard lights (causing me to come to a screeching halt) and got out of his Silence of the Lambs van to cut flowers on the side of the road. That pipe smoker couldn’t let me go another 20 fucking feet; making an already hairy ride even more dangerous. Thanks fuck face. I hope the fire department found your van rolled over and on fire next to your freshly cut flowers. That was harsh… I really don’t give a shit.
Because of the complete lack of local bike paths, I have to ride the streets of Montgomery and Bucks county to get my training in. Unfortunately, the times I ride during the week are usually from 5-7PM during the summer. I don’t like doing it any more than people like driving around me, but I do my absolute best to hug the shoulder which I really don’t have to do. I have seen less courteous cyclist take their full 3-6 feet. I beginning to learn why they do that, and it’s not that they are being discourteous at all. It’s to give them the room they need to maneuver when some asshole decides to squeeze between them and oncoming traffic. I know having to wait to drive around a cyclist could literally delay somebody from their destination a full 5-6 seconds.
Lesson here is that I will do my best to stay off busy roads, and I will take my full legally allotted space. If you can’t get around me, too bad. Don’t mistake me for someone who actually gives shit.
iPhone 3G Touchscreen Issues
Jun 7th
Somehow, my 3G’s screen got all fux0r3d up. I had bad pixels that resembled the Big Dipper, and a dark colored blotch in the middle of the screen. With a white background it was quite pronounced. The issues were probably the result of countless training rides on my bike. I leave it in the back of my jersey so sweat, jostling, and 2-years of heavy usage probably took their toll. I may have sat on it once too… or twice.
I took her into the Apple Store, and yet again I was treated with nothing but first class service. Within 10 minutes of my appointment, I was given a new display and it looked great. I didn’t get to run a full gamut of tests, but the first few motions and touches were fine.
The next day I noticed the a big problem. The screen would occasionally not respond to touch. I first thought the phone was locking up, but it turns out the Home and Lock buttons worked fine during the lockups. I tested using Angry Birds since it requires constant touching and sure enough I would have periods with essentially a dead screen. The dead times only seem to last a 10-15 seconds, but the trouble is there’s not surefire way to fix the issue. Games aren’t the only time I’ll have issues. I’ve also had them during and after a phone call, and while text-ing.
I have another appointment today, WWDC day. It will be interesting to see if they give me another display or if they just replace the phone. The latter may be bit of a dream, but it’s what I am going to shoot for. I can’t miss another client’s call because I can’t slide to answer the call!
UPDATE: Brought it to the Apple store and they replaced the screen. A week later I brought it back again because the screen was occasionally unresponsive. Apple replaced the phone with another 3G (boooo! I wanted a 3Gs). All-in-all a good experience and now I have an iPhone 4 on the way. I’m a phone whore and I know it.
Face-time
May 24th
I find 40 hours in the office to be a complete waste of time. If I hear the phrase “face-time” again, I may lose my lunch. Truth is the majority of successful companies today don’t treat their employees like children, but rather give them the flexibility to work on their terms. The truth is in the proverbial “pudding.” If results are not there, then additional measures may need to be taken, but giving your employees a feeling of independence and a trust will not only build morale but will keep them loyal. Sure, some people like to come into the office, and so they should. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it shouldn’t take away from the people that need to work from home a couple of days. When I work from home I find myself working earilier in the morning and even longer into the evening. Why? Because I don’t have to commute which consumes nearly 2.5 hours of my day. It’s a win for me and my clients.
I almost forgot to mention meetings. How am I going to look busy unless I have meetings scheduled all day? It’s a shame an employee’s productivity is sometimes judged on the number of meetings they have, but they should be held to a complete minimum. When used as fluff meetings are inefficient and nonproductive. They don’t only cost you an hour, but it also cost the attendees and hour. What’s wrong with an email or two? Has a meeting ever solved an immediate need for the business? Unless it’s an emergency situation, of course not. Meetings usually result in one thing, more meetings, more lost time, more money wasted.