[PL] 2004 VOTE DISCUSSION: FILE UTILITIES

[Sietse Fliege]

IMO, it's worse. If I'm nagged every startup, closing the nag window
becomes part of an unthinking routine. If it's intermittent, I have
to pay more attention to the nag when it appears.

I only occasionally have use for a few freeware progs that show a
startup window that you must click away.
One could use PushTheFreakin'Button to take care of that, but I don't
like to have that running all the time.
What I do is : I write an AutoIt script and use Aut2Exe to compile that
to an executable.

Writing the AutoIt script is not difficult at all, see e.g.

----------------
Run, C:\\_APPs\\Tools\\Sys\\Process\\TinyResMeter\\tinyresmeter.exe
WinWaitActive, TinyResMeter
Send, {ENTER}
Exit
----------------

TinyResMeter is pure freeware (not a freeware version of a payware
product). I don't understand why the author forces the startup window
that needs clicking away, but there you are.

1. In case of pure freeware like TinyResMeter, I like the AutoIt method.
(I now use a replacement for TinyResMeter, b.t.w.)

2. In case a freeware version of a payware product has a startup remind
screen, I personally would not mind using the AutoIt method if it can
take care of it.

3. In case of shareware, where nag screens are used to remind you that
you should pay, I do not use them, even if AutoIt could handle them.

The existence of the third category has no consequences w.r.t. my use of
the second category.

 

[ms]

omega wrote:

The PD Find utility is very good for this.

If you could, please post both versions (UUE), as I later will monitor
registry entries and can maybe use the added Ver. 5 features, as
learning goes on. These utilities give flexibility in features, a very
good thing. If you post in this thread when you get a chance to upload
to the binaries ng, it is a good reminder for me.

Mike, please forgive my taking so long to get back to this. I wanted to finish
ascertaining the regentry needs of version 5. As well as work out
what to do on the uploading question. Then I got lazy and put things off
for some days.

Regarding posting to ABF, I don't have access. So I opened a free webspace
account with port5.com [*] and uploaded there.

http://omega5.port5.com/files/2003/temp/pdfind4.zip
http://omega5.port5.com/files/2003/temp/pdfind5.zip

The pdfind4 version had fewer features, but runs standalone.

The pdfind5, it needs to be fed a minimum of one registry entry, pointing
to a DLL that it seeks out, whenever it is launched. (It doesn't use the
DLL, not unless using PDESK zip extensions, but it nevertheless bitches
if it doesn't find it.)

I like the PDFind shell integration. Particularly, having "PDFind..." on
Startmenu > Find.

Unfortunately, their shell extension DLL, it's an unusual case of one that
is not able to self-register. So I put .reg files in <pdfind5.zip>. When
merged, the pdfind menus will get integrated into your system interface.

If you tackle merging the reg files, and find that the readme and whatever
options, etc, are not clear, please let me know, so that I can try to clarify.

. . .

[*] the port5.com (no ads) webspace tip = thanks to donutbandit

--
Karen S.

PS. Small note: the exe and dlls, they don't have their own dates. So I
reset their dates, based on copyright year and version number (less
confusing to me than 2003 install dates).

Many thanks, Karen.

After I work with them, I'll report back, probably in a new thread, as
my emphasis now is "last gasp of W98 before the door closes" activity.
I have lots of patches, installed practically nothing as my W98SE works
well, my IE 5.01SP2 works OK when I use it. But IMO the W98 tip sites
will gradually fade away.

I appreciate all the work you did on these files, and will get into use
of them a little later due to the above priority. Life is never dull in
computing!

Mike Sa

Karen:
Find ver. 4 works fine, will try ver. 5 later, and thanks for your help.

Mike Sa

 

[omega]

Find ver. 4 works fine, will try ver. 5 later, and thanks for your help.

Good to hear....

Subject change (sort of). During my smallest download of the week, I thought
of you. Mempad,

http://home.mnet-online.de/horst.muc/wmem.htm#mempad

A 44k exe. Plus an .ini (no registry use). Not surprising that this author
has prevailed with small size: you might well recognize his name from what
he is known for, his batch tools.

You can see from the pic, this is a tiny notetaker - with a contents pane
on one side. It is hyperlink aware, including for local links (those
prepended with FILE: (or variations, eg FILE:\\).

If you have any interest in spending a minute with it, let me advise of one
thing that I initially found a stumble. For renaming the notes titles in the
contents pane, neither F2 nor a right-click gets you there. The only action
that works is that weird one, of clicking once, waiting, then clicking a
second time. (I expect that his next release should provide the other normal
rename methods.)

MemPad main weakness: no export options. So best for just quick transient
note-taking, since it would be inconvenient to copy out any substantial
repository of notes. I do like that I can launch it for purpose of quick
lists / notes, with it costing me nearly nothing in resources. And that it
has the type of layout I like - those left pane headings. Plus I set its
background color to a bright fuschia-hotpink, giving it character.

 

[ms]

Good to hear....

Subject change (sort of). During my smallest download of the week, I thought
of you. Mempad,

http://home.mnet-online.de/horst.muc/wmem.htm#mempad

A 44k exe. Plus an .ini (no registry use). Not surprising that this author
has prevailed with small size: you might well recognize his name from what
he is known for, his batch tools.

You can see from the pic, this is a tiny notetaker - with a contents pane
on one side. It is hyperlink aware, including for local links (those
prepended with FILE: (or variations, eg FILE:\\).

If you have any interest in spending a minute with it, let me advise of one
thing that I initially found a stumble. For renaming the notes titles in the
contents pane, neither F2 nor a right-click gets you there. The only action
that works is that weird one, of clicking once, waiting, then clicking a
second time. (I expect that his next release should provide the other normal
rename methods.)

MemPad main weakness: no export options. So best for just quick transient
note-taking, since it would be inconvenient to copy out any substantial
repository of notes. I do like that I can launch it for purpose of quick
lists / notes, with it costing me nearly nothing in resources. And that it
has the type of layout I like - those left pane headings. Plus I set its
background color to a bright fuschia-hotpink, giving it character.

Thanks, I bookmarked the site, several nice utilities. I will try the
idea of Mempad. Most of the time, my data from the net starts as a HTML
format, I convert to text, normally I just cut'paste to a temp file,
then sort into other files.

Below are my favorites regarding calendars, etc. Each has different
features.
---------------------
Calendar Program
Version 2.2 373 KB folder, executable
November 2003
Hanford
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.geocities.com/cgopg
Note: Move exe to final location to run first time, or do reg editing
Data can be entered directly into the calendar and print. Calculates the
number of days/weeks between two dates. Can setup special events
---------------------
Gidget's DateFinder
Version 1.2 235 kb executable
Green Gator Software
http://www.alligatorpit.com/win95.html
(e-mail address removed)
2000 A simple date calculator. Input a starting date, tell it to add or
subtract any number of days, and click calculate.
---------------------
DateDiff
Version 1.1 615 KB executable
September 1, 2003
Eric Schreiber
(e-mail address removed)
www.kobayashi.com
DateDiff is a Windows program that calculates the number of days (and
also hours, minutes, and seconds) between any two dates.
Select a date on each of the calendars, and the program will
automatically calculate the number of days apart they are. It also
calculates the number of hours, minutes, and seconds the two dates are.
It doesn't matter which of the calendars has the older date.
--------------
Z World Clock
Version 4.01 143 kb executable
1 May 1998
Zada Solutions
http://www.zada.com.au/worldclock.htm
It shows the date/time for twelve locations around the world. Display
the time in 12-hour or 24-hour format. You can nudge the time forward or
backward to ask 'what if' questions. There is no need to know anything
about GMT or time zones, simply select the cities you want from the list
of 1,250 cities in 192 countries.

I have a small hard drive, but not too concerned about executable file
size if below 700 KB or so.

Mike Sa

 

[omega]

Thanks, I bookmarked the site, several nice utilities. I will try the
idea of Mempad. Most of the time, my data from the net starts as a HTML
format, I convert to text, normally I just cut'paste to a temp file,
then sort into other files.

For an information repository of web sourced data, it wouldn't serve too far.
I view its potential as a light listmaker. One example would be as a todo
within a simple project. Eg: 1. Download from xxxx, 2. install vv & yy, 3.
questions on the prog's operations , 4. local screenshot link. Not beyond,
into volume or complexity. I was mostly admiring how tiny it was while being
functional. And having a simple and pleasant layout.

For data that comes from the web, I often want not pages, but parts of pages.
Avoiding extra tables and unrelated page parts. When it's a Mozilla browser
that I have running, I benefit by saving into Mercury Editor. Its "paste as
HTML" feature.
http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/mercuryeditor.asp

.. . .

Your following calendars list, I gather it was inspired after having noted
that Horst likes to write tools dealing with dates....

Below are my favorites regarding calendars, etc. Each has different
features.
---------------------
Calendar Program
Version 2.2 373 KB folder, executable
November 2003
Hanford
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.geocities.com/cgopg
Note: Move exe to final location to run first time, or do reg editing
Data can be entered directly into the calendar and print. Calculates the
number of days/weeks between two dates. Can setup special events
---------------------
Gidget's DateFinder
Version 1.2 235 kb executable
Green Gator Software
http://www.alligatorpit.com/win95.html
(e-mail address removed)
2000 A simple date calculator. Input a starting date, tell it to add or
subtract any number of days, and click calculate.
---------------------
DateDiff
Version 1.1 615 KB executable
September 1, 2003
Eric Schreiber
(e-mail address removed)
www.kobayashi.com
DateDiff is a Windows program that calculates the number of days (and
also hours, minutes, and seconds) between any two dates.
Select a date on each of the calendars, and the program will
automatically calculate the number of days apart they are. It also
calculates the number of hours, minutes, and seconds the two dates are.
It doesn't matter which of the calendars has the older date.
--------------
Z World Clock
Version 4.01 143 kb executable
1 May 1998
Zada Solutions
http://www.zada.com.au/worldclock.htm
It shows the date/time for twelve locations around the world. Display
the time in 12-hour or 24-hour format. You can nudge the time forward or
backward to ask 'what if' questions. There is no need to know anything
about GMT or time zones, simply select the cities you want from the list
of 1,250 cities in 192 countries.

I bet you're organized. My best accomplishment on dates is to know what day
of the week it is, and which obligations I cannot weasel out of. I do have
a dates need for the matter of my realworld todo list (consumer hassles,
chores, accounting records, errands, etc). A program that automatically
changes the date, each time the list is launched. The list items will remain
static, but the automatic new date can make it seem like a fresh start. The
new due date would be the one it calculates as the numeric equivalent of
Manana.

I have a small hard drive, but not too concerned about executable file
size if below 700 KB or so.

My notebook drive is very small, 6gb, and I've had to uninstall most office
suites, and some other large apps. These days I keep hooked up full-time
one of my removable drives (80gb), and take it with me most everywhere,
but it's slightly slower for running programs. My local has room left for
programs that need a few megabytes. Those which head into 30+ mb, that's
another matter. Now, as far as total number of programs on the small drive,
I haven't counted lately, yet I bet that between the two of us, we've got
/thousands/ of programs using a collective total of less than 2gb.