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I have been dual-booting my ACER notebook with Windows XP and Xandros OCE (open circulation edition) 3.0.2 for the past 2 years. I can’t remember when was my last login to Xandros, as Xandros has stopped supporting their OCE since few months back.

Most of their package repository was not updated, and if I were to update or upgrade my Xandros, I have to dig into their forum site to manually install the packages that I want to use. Tried to play with Backports, but I don’t think I am that geeky. So, most of the software packages in my Xandros was “outdated” - even my Firefox was stuck with version 1.5.

I tried to install Ubuntu 7.10 aka Gutsy Gibbon, but found bugs during manual installation, and have to abort the installation process half way through. I was a bit disappointed with that, after reading a lot of good reviews about Gutsy Gibbon and the smoothness of the installation. It did not stopped me from getting my ACER new Linux soul though…

I tried to install Mandriva 2008, using a free DVD that I received with my monthly LinuxForYou magazine, November 2007 issue, but failed to get the installer running as the text-mode installer has a bug, and my ACER notebook does not support graphical installer. Sigh…

Did some homework and surfed Distrowatch to get feedback on the best Linux distro to replace my Xandros, and found out that PCLinuxOS is the highest hit page ranking. I downloaded the cd image of PCLinuxOS, burned it on a cd and run it first as a live cd.

I must say that the process was really easy. Live cd showed KDE with a dedicated button for installation (similar with Ubuntu). Running PCLinuxOS live cd was smooth, and I could get all my hardware running out of the box. Setting up the network for internet was also easy, no problem in internet connection, although I was using live cd.

The installation process for PCLinixOS is also easy. It has a graphical installer, which detected all my hard drive, including the reiserfs partition which Xandros lived. By installing PCLinuxOS, my LILO bootloader which was created by Xandros was replaced by a new and more beautiful GRUB bootloader by PCLinuxOS, and I still can boot my Windows!!!

The best thing about PCLinuxOS is the Beryl 3D (now have merge with compiz) desktop presentation. After upgrading it with Synaptic in my PCLinuxOS, my desktop behave really differently, and I don’t think my XP can do it…

drizad :: Nov.27.2007 :: Linux :: 3 Comments »

On tweaking Windows, I found these 3 open source and free desktop enhancing tools few weeks back. They are small, and does not need huge resources to run.

Folder Size for Windows
I have been using Folder Size for Windows for the past few months, with version 2.3. Brian did a good job to upgrade it to version 2.4, and I have to tell you that it only works with Windows XP. He did have a problem with Vista, and said that there won’t be any Folder Size for Windows Vista.

Features:

1. Don’t have to switch to another program to see folder sizes. It’s always there when you’re viewing your folders (even in Open and Save file dialog boxes, you can change the view), and it’s a great visual cue to help you find the one you’re looking for. Not just for disk cleanup, but for any time you need to choose a folder.
2. No scanning phase before you can start. As soon as you display the Folder Size column, you’ll see sizes immediately. Large folders will continue to scan in the background while you browse your folders.
3. Explorer will automatically update the folder size column in real-time. No more manual rescanning.
4. Background scans won’t monopolize your disk. When Folder Size detects that other programs are doing a lot of reading to and writing from the hard disk being scanned, the background scanning will wait for the other programs to finish.
5. If you don’t show the Folder Size column for a while, it won’t forget what it’s already scanned, but the background scanner doesn’t stay active. It won’t waste any CPU time maintaining the cache on your P2P sharing or gaming machine that’s always changing files.

Launchy
The winner for Sourceforge.net 2007 Community Choice Awards for Best New Project, Launchy is a free windows utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager.

Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes!

It even has become a great feature in Lifehacker, with lots and lots of tips and tweaks on how to enhance the usage of Launchy. I personally loves Launchy, even more after knowing how to tweak the software with Lifehacker.

Ditto
Ditto is an extension to the standard windows clipboard. It saves each item placed on the clipboard allowing you access to any of those items at a later time. Ditto allows you to save any type of information that can be put on the clipboard, text, images, html, custom format, etc…

I use Ditto a lot when writing and editing HTML code using Nvu (now Kompozer). Although I have migrated fully to Wordpress, I still have few websites that I created using Nvu. Most of the time I hand coded the HTML pages and uses a lot of copy and paste feature. At this stage, Ditto plays a big role on things that I copied to the clipboard.

Features:

1. Easy to use interface
2. Search and paste previous copy entries
3. Keep multiple computer’s clipboards in sync
4. Data is encrypted when sent over the network
5. Accessed from tray icon or global hot key
6. Select entry by double click, enter key or drag drop
7. Paste into any window that excepts standard copy/paste entries
8. Display thumbnail of copied images in list
9. Full Unicode support (display foreign characters)
10. UTF-8 support for language files (create language files in any language)
11. It’s portable also!

drizad :: Nov.24.2007 :: Desktop :: No Comments »

I have been using jGnash for the past few month to manage my financial statement. However, I have not been very keen to use the software properly, (I just installed it as a trial and error basis) until last week when I realize that I have to do something to get the most out of my jGnash.

Yesterday, I decided to try to import all my financial statement that I have, mostly online statements, into jGnash. It looks easy at the beginning by just exporting the statement to QIF file, and import it directly to jGnash; but it actually not. Most of the time, I have to run “trial and error” before I could get the correct data field transfered into jGnash. A lot of issues occurred along the process, but fortunately, I could manage it after cracking “the geek brain” out of me.

These would be the challenges that I face during the process:

1. I would like to import my Google Adsense income statement to jGnash. Unfortunately, Google can only export the data as a comma separated value (CSV) file. As I need the data to be transferred straight to jGnash, I would have to do either manually (which will be very time consuming) or just convert the CSV file to QIF.
2. Importing my Paypal statement into jGnash is not as straightforward as it looks like. Although Paypal can export my statement to QIF, the file that it produces does not seems to be able to be “compatible” during the importing process.
3. The worst issues that I faced was my Maybank2u.com account. It’s my online bank and credit card account. It seems that I could not export the statement out easily, as they don’t have “export” feature, let alone CSV or QIF converter! I have to print the statement out (as PDF), and have to enter the data manually. Maybank will charge me RM10 if I were to request my bank statement printed out, have to wait for a few days before the statement ready, and have to go to the specific Maybank branch here in Kota Kinabalu to get the statement. Sigh…
4. Similar thing happened with my E*trade account. I could not export the statement out directly to jGnash, and they provide a PDF files of my monthly statement to be printed out. Another additional burden to enter the data manually into jGnash.

The solution for *some* of the challenges that I face above:

1. On exporting CSV file into jGnash: Use CALC2QIF to convert CSV file to QIF. You have to have Open Office installed in your computer first before you install CALC2QIF, because CALC2QIF is a macro for Open Office. It can convert almost all Open Office Calc data into QIF for easy import to jGnash.
   1. The installation for CALC2QIF is very straightforward. Download the ZIP file, extract it and just click calc2qif.sxc.
      

      

   2. It will automatically open your Open Office Calc with a security warning, saying that you are opening a document with macros. You don’t have to worry as the macros you are running is safe.

      

      

   3. You can choose where you would like CALC2QIF situated. I prefer it to be as one of the features in “Top Menu”.

      

   4. To convert your CSV file with this macros in Open Office, just click on the “calc2qif” tab on the main menu. A window will open and show the parameters that can be changed. You should arrange your data according to column that is sorted by type of field.
2. I use the step above to transfer my Google Adsense statement to jGnash, as Google just provide .CSV file download for the report.
3. For Paypal, I think there was some *bugs* with jGnash. The QIF file that Paypal produce does not seems to be behaving properly while in the process of importing. During the second stage of importing, at “2. Modify QIF transactions”, the changing of “Account” could not be done. I end up exporting Paypal statement to CSV and convert it to QIF with CALC2QIF…

   

4. For my Maybank2u.com and E*trade account - I have to transfer the data manually…

drizad :: Nov.14.2007 :: Accounting :: 1 Comment »

In relation to my previous post about using third party plugin for GIMP, I had some comments, stating that there was an issue on plugin.dll file. The Adobe Photoshop plugin (pspi.exe) could not function properly due to the absence of plugin.dll file.

I did some Googling and found out some very interesting facts about plugin.dll. Apparently, plugin.dll is a proprietary file that belongs to Photoshop. By having this file, you could actually use Adobe Photoshop plugin with Paint Shop Pro and even Irfanview.

I remember that I have once installed Adobe Photoshop before, and plugin.dll may still be inside my notebook. However, when I do search for the file, I could not find it. Funny…  I wonder how did my .8bf file running smoothly WITHOUT plugin.dll?

If you face similar problem, I would suggest that you grab Plugin.dll from various sources from around the net:

1. Download it from Dlldump.com.
2. Download it from Paint Shop Pro User Group.
3. Download it from Irfanview Plugins website.

**Although these websites offer plugin.dll for download, it is basically illegal to do it, because it is part of Adobe applications and has a copyright.

I also came across msvcrt10.dll file that is also required for Adobe Photoshop plugin to be running smoothly in GIMP. I have mine in C:\WINDOWS\system32. You may need to download and install it in the same directory to minimize the chances of your Adobe Photoshop third party plugin error…

Can you get your .8bf file running with the above tweaks?

drizad :: Nov.05.2007 :: Editors :: 10 Comments »

If you use to see screen recording presentation by any internet marketer, you must have came across Camtasia Studio, the well known proprietary screen recorder for demos, presentation and training. I was interested on that piece of software at the beginning, but when I saw the price tag of the software, I almost fainted. (Yes, it costs whooping $299 for the license). It happened a year ago. I never looked back to their website since then.

Until yesterday, when I decided to use the software for my next internet project. As an open source fan, I Googled “open source camtasia“. To my surprised, osalt.com pop up and revealed CamStudio.org. CamStudio is a free alternative and open source software for Camtasia Studio. And guess what? It’s free. If you are looking for an option for the hefty priced Camtasia, why not downloading CamStudio for a test run.

So, what is actually CamStudio?

Using “CamStudio - Free Streaming Video Desktop Recording Software” as the tagline, CamStudio are able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs).

In short, it is the best free tool for you to create any demos, presentations and training for your viewers from Windows. For Linux users, you may want to check out xvidcap.

Where can I get Camstudio?

As usual, you can download your copy of CamStudio from Sourceforge.net. Camstudio.org is their official website, and I would suggest that you read CamStudio’s blog to get updates on the software. Thanks to Nick Smith (the developer), for sharing his work.

What can I do with CamStudio?

• You can use it to create demonstration videos for any software program
• Or how about creating a set of videos answering your most frequently asked questions?
• You can create video tutorials for school or college class
• You can use it to record a recurring problem with your computer so you can show technical support people
• You can use it to create video-based information products you can sell
• You can even use it to record new tricks and techniques you discover on your favourite software program, before you forget them

So, how does it look like?

Upon running the software, the above window will pop up. I must say that the menu and navigation of the software is very straightforward. You can almost record your desktop screenshot almost instantly by clicking the red button.

However, I would advice you to read their “Help” section first, as it contains all the important information on how to optimize the usage of your presentation using CamStudio.

May I see CamStudio in action?

Well, I know, we like screenshots. So, I have recorded my screenshot using CamStudio for 40 seconds, just to give you an idea how does it look like.

Apology for the audio and video quality. It was just a test. The video clip becomes like that because:

1. I did not manage to set up my microphone (the sound quality is bad) and my soundcard.
2. The screenshot that I made was a full screen view. YouTube resized the video after the upload.

Anyway, it is just a preview. You can do mush better than what I did. And I suggest that you get one for yourself!

drizad :: Nov.03.2007 :: Video Capture :: 1 Comment »