ChadSmiley Blog » Windows

Windows Settings

ChadSmiley — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:41:27 +0000

Required

ZoneAlarm – firewall
TweakUI – for adjusting those hard to find Windows settings
Command Prompt Here – DOS Prompt from current folder
Sizer – Set window size
TrayIt – Minimizes applications to system tray so they can stay open.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
OpenOffice.org – document, spreedsheet, and presentation
StaskSwitchXP – advanced task management utility by adding visual styles to the dialogand also enhances it by displaying thumbnail preview of the application that will be switched to
Google Talk – so you all can talk to me (chadsmiley)
Media Monkey – Media player
AVG Free – anti-virus software
FastStone – download with or without installer!!
Capture – Flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility
Photo Resizer – Image converter / resizer
Image Viewer – Image browser -really cool if you have two monitors
Wink – Tutorial and Presentation creation software
Firefox (custom options, include developer tools)
Cobian Backup – simple with many options for backing up files. I even use it to backup my thumb drive and memory cards

Evaluating

Wax – video compositing and special effects software
Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall – so far, it has been OK. Catches more because it determines how applications are launched, example: Firefox launched from the start menu than being launched from Lotus Notes.

Notusing

Comodo Firewall – caught things that I could not say always allow

Backup Solution

ChadSmiley — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:00:00 +0000

I am looking for a backup solution for a couple of (small) companies. I am currently looking at either finding a web based solution or creating my own solution at home. Yes, the better solution would be to have an outside company handle the backup, but they do not want to have big monthly expenses. I currently use Cobian Backup which has everything that I need and is simple to use.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Pocket PC Settings

ChadSmiley — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:27:00 +0000

My current Pocket PC settings are out, along with my Windows settings

Windows Settings

ChadSmiley — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:47:00 +0000

I have been doing some documenting of what my current Windows PC has for settings and here is what I have so far. I plan on creating a couple more like this so if you don’t see them just remind … Continue reading →

Some Software to Consider

ChadSmiley — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:05:00 +0000

I have been working with Wink to make some screencasts, this is the best freeware that I have been able to find. LaunchBarCommander took some time getting use to but I could be a time saver. Just like any program from DonationCoder there are many options to meet everyone’s needs. If you are looking to have some fun with someone consider Dr. Windows.

HotKeys by qliner

ChadSmiley — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:00:00 +0000

Kevin wrote about his Favorite Windows Shortcut Keys my favorite is the Win-L. I have added a few more using hotkeys by qliner . One of the really nice features is you can see the keyboard and the icon associated with it, you might get sick of holding down the Windows key though!

The other very nice feature is the run as, it is a little different than Windows Run As because it as a default user. The other benefit is easy of running explorer.exe using the Run As, which is not possible with Windows.

The volume control is kind of nice also.

Line Break Class

ChadSmiley — Tue, 23 May 2006 13:43:00 +0000

Simple class to get the necessary characters to create a line break. The line break is needed for prompts, input, and others. There is not much to explain once you see the available methods:

Public   Sub  new  (   )  As  String 
Public   Function  getLineBreakSession (  Session As  NotesSession   )  As  String
Public   Function  getLineBreak (   )  As  String 
Public   Function  getWindows (   )  As  String
Public   Function  getMacintosh (   )  As  String
Public   Function  getUnix (   )  As String
Public   Function  getLinux (   )  As  String

The first code block is the traditional LotusScript coding where you will need to create an instance of LineBreak in order to use it. The second follows the concept of simulating an abstract concept. This allows LineBreak.getLineBreak() to be called from anywhere at any time as long as the class is included.

Line Break

 Option Declare
 
'/**
' *	Determines what line break to use base on the platform.
' *	
' *	@author	Chad Schelfhout ( http:///www.chadsmiley.com)
' * @since		1.0.0
' */
Class LineBreak
	Private pSession As notesSession
'/**
' *	Constructor
' */
	Public Sub new ( )
		Set pSession = New NotesSession
	End Sub
'/**
' *	Get the type of line break based off the current session
' */
	Public Function getLineBreakSession( Session As NotesSession )As String
		Set pSession = Session
		getLineBreakSession = getLineBreak()
	End Function
'/**
' * determines the current line break based off the current platform
' */
	Public Function getLineBreak() As String
		If pSession Is Nothing Then
			Set pSession = New NotesSession()
		End If
		Select Case pSession.Platform()
		Case "Windows/32":
			getLineBreak = getWindows()
		Case "Macintosh":
			getLineBreak = getMacintosh()
		Case "Unix":
			getLineBreak = getUnix()
		Case "Linux":
			getLineBreak = getLinux()
		End Select
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Windows line break
' */
	Public Function getWindows() As String
		getWindows = Chr$(13) & Chr$(10)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Mac line break
' */
	Public Function getMacintosh() As String
		getMacintosh = Chr$(13)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Unix line break
' */
	Public Function getUnix() As String
		getUnix = Chr$(10)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Linx line break
' */
	Public Function getLinux() As String
		getLinux = Chr$(10)
	End Function
End Class

Line Break simulate abstract class

Option Declare
 
'/**
' * Global variable to simulate an abstract class that is why it is named
' * the same as the class.
' */
Dim LineBreak As LineBreak
 
'/**
' *	Determines what line break to use base on the platform.
' *	
' * @author	Chad Schelfhout ( http:///www.chadsmiley.com)
' * @since		1.0.0
' */
Class LineBreak
	Private pSession As notesSession
'/**
' *	Constructor
' */
	Public Sub new ( )
		Set pSession = New NotesSession
	End Sub
'/**
' *	Get the type of line break based off the current session
' */
	Public Function getLineBreakSession( Session As NotesSession )As String
		Set pSession = Session
		getLineBreakSession = getLineBreak()
	End Function
'/**
' * determines the current line break based off the current platform
' */
	Public Function getLineBreak() As String
		If pSession Is Nothing Then
			Set pSession = New NotesSession()
		End If
		Select Case pSession.Platform()
		Case "Windows/32":
			getLineBreak = getWindows()
		Case "Macintosh":
			getLineBreak = getMacintosh()
		Case "Unix":
			getLineBreak = getUnix()
		Case "Linux":
			getLineBreak = getLinux()
		End Select
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Windows line break
' */
	Public Function getWindows() As String
		getWindows = Chr$(13) & Chr$(10)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Mac line break
' */
	Public Function getMacintosh() As String
		getMacintosh = Chr$(13)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Unix line break
' */
	Public Function getUnix() As String
		getUnix = Chr$(10)
	End Function
'/**
' *	Returns the Linx line break
' */
	Public Function getLinux() As String
		getLinux = Chr$(10)
	End Function
End Class
'/**
' * Instanciate the global variable that will act like an abstract class
' */
Sub Initialize
	Set LineBreak = New LineBreak()
End Sub

SnT Thursday – Tray It!

ChadSmiley — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 12:47:00 +0000

This is one of small but useful tools that I have been using for some time.

allows to save precious Taskbar space for minimized windows. For each application which applies TrayIt! it creates a small icon in the System Tray. (System Tray area is located near the Clock). When application’s window is minimized this icon represents the application on the Taskbar instead of the regular “minimized rectangle”.

It is particularly useful for background tasks you typically keep running on your PC all day long like your favorite E-mail client, Real Player, etc.

Try It! has improved since my last post, it has a much nicer UI. Even though it is only in beta , it has been very stable for me and worth the risk. Here is the new improved list of applications running

I have circled the features that I have set. I am always up for single clicking instead of that double stuff, except for Lotus Notes double right click!
.

For some applications like Microsoft Active Sync or Google Talk there is already a system try icon, so selecting the option not to show in the system tray just makes sense.

iTunes sync with SD memory card

ChadSmiley — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:11:00 +0000

No, I do not have an iPod, but I would like to sync my music from iTunes to my memory card to play on my ViewSonic . I was using Windows Media Player for a while but did not like how it would sync the songs. It would sync the first songs in the list and never reach any songs at the end. I am looking for a tool that I would be able to specify recycle percentage like 10% or 20% of the songs each time I sync. Is there anything available that can do this?

Ages and versions

ChadSmiley — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 04:15:00 +0000

Should software version be more like ages? Tim commented on the way I wrote my kids ages. This might be like what Microsoft did with Windows 95 and 98.
Should software be described by how old it is not by the release or version. That would make windows 20, 25 if you want to start when it was conceived but since human ages don’t start until birth it would be 20. Here is Windows family tree Has anyone ever seen a Notes family tree?

Who ever came up with alpha and beta, and why is there not never agamma version? I just might have to have a gamma release for my next application.

Thanks, Tim for the idea.