VBA Macro - Split/Parse CSV Strings

Option Explicit

Public Sub splitCSV(targetCell As range)

    Dim row As Integer
    row = targetCell.row
    
    Dim col As Integer
    col = targetCell.Column
    
    Dim source As String
    source = targetCell.Text
    
    Dim count As Integer
    count = 0
    
    Dim startPos As Integer
    startPos = 1
    
    Dim nextCommaPos As Integer
    
    Dim exitLoop As Boolean
    exitLoop = False
    While (exitLoop = False)
    
        Dim commaPos As Integer
        commaPos = InStr(startPos, source, ",")
        
        Dim token As String
                
        If (commaPos = 0) Then
            exitLoop = True
        Else
        
            If (startPos = 1) Then
                commaPos = 0
            End If
        
            nextCommaPos = InStr(commaPos + 1, source, ",")
            
            If (nextCommaPos = 0) Then
                nextCommaPos = Len(source) + 1
            End If
                
            token = Mid(source, commaPos + 1, nextCommaPos - commaPos - 1)
            count = count + 1
            
            Cells(row, col + count).Value = token
            
            If (startPos <> 1) Then
                startPos = commaPos + 1
            Else
                startPos = 2
            End If
        
        
        End If
    Wend

End Sub

Public Sub SplitSelection()

    Application.ScreenUpdating = False

    Dim sel As range
    Set sel = Selection
    
    Dim row As Integer
    For row = sel.row To (sel.row + sel.Rows.count - 1)
    
        Dim targetCell As range
        Set targetCell = Cells(row, sel.Column)
        Call splitCSV(targetCell)
    
    Next row

    Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

Drivers

DriverGuide.com

OS Java Plotting

http://java-source.net/open-source/charting-and-reporting/birt

Install IBM Lotus Symphony on Ubuntu

HowTo For 8.04

Installing SQL Server 2005, VS 2008 & Reporting Services under Vista

SQL Server 2005

VS 2008


Installing SQL Server 2005 on Vista

Installing Reporting Services under Vista\\\

IIS7 Notes for SQL Server 2005 under Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920201


Installing IIS 7.0 on Windows Vista

Mielie Bread Recipe

2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tin creamed sweetcorn
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons melted butter
½ cup milk

Sift flour, salt, baking powder. Add sugar. Beat eggs, add milk, sweetcorn and (cool) melted butter and mix. Gradually add liquid mixture to dry ingredients, stirring to ensure smoothness.
Bake at 1800 C for approx. 35 minutes, reduce temperature to 1400 and cook for a further 15-25 minutes until set.

Crumpet Recipe

1 egg
2 Tablespoons sugar
pinch salt
1 cup flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup milk
2 Tablespoons oil

Beat egg and sugar till light and fluffy. Add milk. Sift salt, flour and baking powder. Gradually add egg and milk mixture, stirring to keep batter smooth. Lastly, gently stir in oil. Do not beat as this will destroy baking powder action. Cook in lightly greased pre-heated pan on a medium-high temperature.

Marie Biscuit Fudge Recipe

Ingredients

1 pkt. crushed Marie biscuits
250g butter
1 egg
1 pkt. icing sugar
3 level Tablespoons of cocoa

large, shallow dish

Method

1. crush biscuits
2. beat egg
3. melt butter
4. add cocoa and beaten egg to molten butter
5. mix in icing sugar and crushed biscuits
6. stir well - until icing sugar is melted and biscuits are evenly mixed
7. grease a large shallow dish with butter, until there is a thin layer across the whole interior surface
8. pour the fudge mixture into the greased dish
9. refrigerate - for 6 to 8 hours
10. during cooling, when the fudge has started to set, but still not yet rock hard, cut into squares

Peanut Butter Biscuit Recipe

125 grams butter 1 ½ cups flour
½ cup brown sugar ¾ teaspoon bicarb.
½ cup white sugar ¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg (beaten) ½ cup peanut butter
½ teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 2000 C . Grease baking sheet. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and essence and beat well. Sift dry ingredients and add to cream mixture. Mix well. Add peanut butter to form a soft dough. Roll out and flatten on floured surface. Cut biscuits into desired shapes. Bake for 5-20 minutes. Cool.

Date Loaf Recipe

1 cup chopped dates
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
1 rounded teaspoon butter
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ cup chopped nuts/raising/mixed fruit
1 egg

Pour boiling water over bicarb. Pour over chopped dates while fizzy. Mix well to soften dates. Add butter, sugar, nuts/raising and beaten egg, stirring well with each addition. Separately, sift flour and salt. Add to date mixture when cool. Bake in loaf pan at 1800 C for 45-60 minutes.

Banana Loaf Recipe

2 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ lb. butter or 3 tablespoons cooking oil
3 cups flour
4 ripe bananas, mashed with a little lemon juice
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons bakiing powder
½ teaspoon bicarb. of soda
½ teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar i.e. mix and beat till creamy. Add eggs, beat well. Then add bananas, mashed with a fork. Dissolve bicarb in 1 tablespoon hot water. Add enough milk to fill one cup. Sift dry ingredients together. Add alternately with milk to egg mixture. Bake in greased tin/2 tins at 180o C for 1 hr. or until done. Makes one big or two smaller loaves.

Pasta Recipe

Home made pasta

250 g (= 2¼ cups) bread (durum wheat) flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 small eggs (beaten)
1 tablespoon olive oil

sift flour and salt into
add egss and oil
knead and roll (with pin) to a homogeneous paste
wrap paste in cling film
age for 30 minutes
roll & cut pasta to size
dry pieces by laying on an adsorbent surface (e.g. paper towl) for 30 minutes
cook in boiling salted water for 3-5 minutes

Basil Pesto Recipe

How to Make Pesto like an Italian Grandmother

One key to perfect pesto is chopping all the ingredients by hand, preferably with a sharp mezzaluna or knife. I gave my double-bladed mezzaluna to a friend last year because it was collecting dust (I also didn't like how ingredients would get stuck between the blades), but have a large half-moon shaped pizza cutter that works like a dream. Francesca's mom even approved and said it cut her chopping time in half. This pesto will keep a bit in the refrigerator, but it really hits its peak when served soon after it is made.

The technique here is: chop a bit, add some ingredients, chop some more. I think part of the reason she does it this way (instead of chopping everything all at once) is because some things get chopped into oblivion, while some not as much - it encourages specturm of cut sizes throughout the pesto contributing to the overall texture. All told, the chopping took me a leisurely twenty to thirty minutes, I wasn't in any particular rush.

You'll notice this recipe doesn't have any added salt (just the saltiness from the cheese), make sure your pasta water is well salted if you are going to use this pesto on pasta or the overall flavor profile will fall flat. Also, be sure to adjust for seasoning before serving. With food this simple, you need to get the seasoning right.

1 large bunch of basil, leaves only, washed and dried

3 medium cloves of garlic

one small handful of raw pine nuts

roughly 3/4 cup Parmesan, loosely packed and FRESHLY GRATED

A few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

Special equipment: large mezzaluna for chopping

Start chopping the garlic along with about 1/3 of the basil leaves. Once this is loosely chopped add more basil, chop some more, add the rest of the basil, chop some more. I scrape and chop, gather and chop. At this point the basil and garlic should be a very fine mince. Add about half the pine nuts, chop. Add the rest of the pine nuts, chop. Add half of the Parmesan, chop. Add the rest of the Parmesan, and chop. In the end you want a chop so fine that you can press all the ingredients into a basil "cake" - see the photo up above. Transfer the pesto "cake" to a small bowl (not much bigger than the cake). Cover with a bit of olive oil, it doesn't take much, just a few tablespoons.

You can set this aside or place it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Just before serving give the pesto a quick stir to incorporate some of the oil into the basil. She occasionally thins the pesto with a splash of pasta water for more coverage, but for our gnocchi this wasn't necessary.

Makes about 1 cup.

SciPy

Anders Andreasen's two-part piece on graphing with SciPy
part 1
part 2

Data Visualisation in Linux

See Tims Jones' IBM white paper on the subject.

log4net - Force New (Specified) Log File

private static readonly ILog alog = LogManager.GetLogger("AlgoLogger");

public void SwitchToNewUniqueAlgoLogFile(long scheduleID)
{
        ILoggerRepository logRepos = LogManager.GetRepository();
        IAppender[] logAppenders = logRepos.GetAppenders();

        string targetAppenderName = "myAppender"

        // first find the logger we are actually looking for

        for (int i = 0; i < logAppenders.Length; i++)
        {
                IAppender appender = logAppenders[i];

                if (appender.Name == targetAppenderName )
                {
                    // cast generic appender to our type
                    RollingFileAppender rfa = appender as RollingFileAppender;
                    
                    // get full name of current log file 
                    string oldFName = rfa.File;

                    // extract path
                    int indexOfLastSlash = oldFName.LastIndexOf(@"\");
                    string path = oldFName.Substring(0, indexOfLastSlash + 1);

                    // generate new log file name
                    string newLogFileName = "newLog.txt"
                    string newFullFileName = path + newLogFileName;

                    // set new file name
                    rfa.File = newFullFileName;
                    
                    // indicate to change
                    rfa.ActivateOptions();

                    break;
                }
            }
        }

Switching Log-Files During Logging



private static readonly ILog alog = LogManager.GetLogger("AlgoLogger");

public void SwitchToNewUniqueAlgoLogFile(long scheduleID)
{
ILoggerRepository logRepos = LogManager.GetRepository();
IAppender[] logAppenders = logRepos.GetAppenders();

string targetAppenderName = "myAppender"

// first find the logger we are actually looking for

for (int i = 0; i < logAppenders.Length; i++)
{
IAppender appender = logAppenders[i];

if (appender.Name == targetAppenderName )
{
// cast generic appender to our type
RollingFileAppender rfa = appender as RollingFileAppender;
string oldFName = rfa.File;
int indexOfLastSlash = oldFName.LastIndexOf(@"\");
string path = oldFName.Substring(0, indexOfLastSlash + 1);

// generate new log file name

string scheduleName = SQLHandler.GetScheduleName(scheduleID);

string newLogFileName = "newLog.txt"
string newFullFileName = path + newLogFileName ;

rfa.File = newFullFileName;
rfa.ActivateOptions();

break;
}
}
}



Debugging Python

The standard python includes includes a debug module : PDB
Python Docs Entry @ doc.python.org

Cheat Sheet

reqd to use the debugger
= import pdb

define breakpoint
= pdb.set_trace()
halts program execution, and drops you into the debugger console

commands available within debugger console
n = execute next line of code, making entire method call
s = execute next line, stepping into any method calls
c = continue to next break point
q = quit
!xxxxx = execute python instruction xxxxx

Tutorials
- Ayman Hourieh Blog Post
- Steve Ferg Blog Post
- SonTek / John Anderson Blog Post

C# Object.CompareTo(otherOb)

big.CompareTo(small) = 1
self.CompareTo(self) = 0
small.CompareTo(big) = -1

UNIX Time Standard

WikiPedia
"Unix time, or POSIX time, is a system for describing points in time, defined as the number of seconds elapsed since midnight proleptic Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) of January 1, 1970, not counting leap seconds."

Convert FLV to MP3 - uBuntu

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
ffmpeg -i /suorcefile_path/sourcefile.flv -ab 128k /path/file.mp3

Source

may need to get ffmpeg from non-os repos because of non-os nature of format

Evolution - GMail POP

http://tuxicity.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/howto-set-up-gmail-in-evolution-gnomes-mail-client-and-organizer/

http://cviorel.easyblog.ro/2008/11/05/nokia-n73-synchronization-with-opensync-under-ubuntu-804/
http://sidrit.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/nokia-e61i-sync-with-evolution-on-ubuntu-804/
http://discussions.europe.nokia.com/discussions/board/message?board.id=smartphones&message.id=94045

Set GRUB Default Boot Option

config file = /boot/grub/menu.lst

edit line
## default num
...
default 0

change default number (generally to 4 for std ubuntu/win dual boot)

for karmic koala (9-10), the config file is /etc/default/grub
and change GRUB_DEFAULT=4

in either case, follow up with

update-grub

Source = HowToGeek

XML

Intro/Tuts
WikiPedia Entry
W3 Schools
JavaCommerce Intro
Garshol Intro
XML.com Tech Intro

Official W3C Spec

mySQL - Python

Official mySQL Site on Integration

MySQLdb is an interface for connecting to a MySQL database server from Python. It implements the Python Database API v2.0, and is built on top of the MySQL C API.

Writing MySQL Scripts with Python DB-API
SourceForge mySQL-Python Home
PEP 249 : Python Database API Specification v2.0

DOWNLOAD
MySQL for Python [SourceForge]

Installing & Configuring MySQL

excellent BASIC MYSQL CONFIGURATION

(typical) LOCATION OF mySQL CONFIG FILE [=my.cnf]
= /etc/mysql/my.cnf

LOG ON TO MYSQL CONSOLE
> mysql - u user -p

drop database syntax

How to change the mysql database location

LIST DATABASES
> mysqlshow -u root -p

CREATE DATABASE
1
2
3

SHUTDOWN SERVER
mysqladmin -u root -p shutdown

---

Information Schema Tables [official mysql ref]

The schema 'information_schema' contains the meta-data for the db server

TO QUERY ALL TABLES CONTAINED IN DB test
> select *
> from information_schema.tables
> where table_schema = 'test';

Thai Green Curry Recipe

THAI GREEN CURRY

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp green curry paste (according to taste)
1 tbsp soft dark brown sugar
1-2 thick stalks lemongrass, fat ends bashed with a rolling pin (optional)
750g skinless, boneless chicken, cut into chunks (use breast and/or leg meat)
6-8 lime leaves, torn into pieces (if unavailable, use the grated zest of 1 lime)
400ml coconut milk
good shake Thai fish sauce or light soy sauce
small handful coriander, roughly chopped
1 lime, juice only

Method

1. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan. Add the green curry paste and sugar and cook over a fairly high heat for about a minute, stirring with the lemongrass, if using. Reduce the heat slightly and stir in the chicken pieces and lime leaves or zest until coated in the paste. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce or soy sauce and bring to a simmer, cooking for 25-30 minutes until thickened slightly. Stir in the coriander and lime juice. Check for seasoning, adding more fish sauce or soy sauce if needed.

2. The curry is now best left to sit for a few minutes so the sauce becomes creamier. You will also taste the true flavours of the curry paste ingredients when it's slightly cooler. Serve with lots of fragrant Thai jasmine rice.

THAI GREEN CURRY PASTE

Ingredients

4-6 medium green chillies, de-seeded and roughly chopped
2 shallots, roughly chopped
5cm/2in piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 garlic cloves, crushed
small bunch of fresh coriander, stalks and roots attached if possible
2 lemongrass stalks, chopped (if unavailable, use 2 tbsp dried)
1 lime, grated zest and juice
8 kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces (if unavailable, use the grated zest of
1 extra lime)
2.5cm/1in piece galangal, peeled and chopped (if available)
1 tbsp coriander seeds, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp black peppercorns, crushed
2 tsp Thai fish sauce or light soy sauce
3 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blitz to a paste. Use straight away or store in a jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. This quantity is enough for a curry for 8 people.

Tip:

When your curry is cooked, if you think it is too spicy, add some more sugar; if it isn't spicy enough, fry a little more curry paste in some oil for a minute or two and add to the sauce.

C# Code Optimisation

Code Project


7 Ways to Optimize

Re-Using .DEB Packages

[select saving of downloaded packages]

Downloaded packages saved to /var/cache

http://www.go2linux.org/debian-ubuntu-package-proxy-server

Finding/Locating Files in Linux

find
locate
whereis
which

original source

Log4Net - load config from file and demo basic log

public class Program
{
    private static readonly log4net.ILog alog = LogManager.GetLogger("AlgoLogger");

    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo(@"C:\this\that\log4net.config");
        log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure(fInfo);

        Klass klass = new Klass();
        klass.LogStuff();
    }
}

public class Klass
{
    private static readonly log4net.ILog alog = LogManager.GetLogger("AlgoLogger");

    public void LogStuff()
    {
        string logStr = "log info";
        alog.Debug(logStr);
    }
}


log4net.config XML file

[?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?]
[log4net]
  [appender name="ConsoleAppender" type="log4net.Appender.ConsoleAppender" ]
    [layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"]
      [conversionPattern value="%date [%thread] %-5level %logger [%ndc] - %message%newline" /]
    [/layout]
  [/appender]

  [appender name="RollingFile" type="log4net.Appender.RollingFileAppender"]
    [file value="log-file.txt" /]
    [appendToFile value="true" /]
    [maximumFileSize value="1024KB" /]
    [maxSizeRollBackups value="10" /]
    [rollingStyle value="Size" /]
    [layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"]
      [conversionPattern value="%date %level %thread %logger - %message%newline" /]
    [/layout]
  [/appender]

 [!--
  [root]
    [level value="ALL" /]
    [appender-ref ref="RollingFile" /]
  [/root]
--]

 [logger name="AlgoLogger"]
    [level value="ALL" /]
    [appender-ref ref="AlgoAppender" /]
  [/logger]

[/log4net]

Retaining WhiteSpace When Posting Python Code

To post python code in a blog (html) and retain the line whitespace that is required in order for the code to remain unambiguous, simply enclose your code within pre html tag block.

The 'pre' tag yields a fixed-width (monospace) font, and preserves spaces and line-breaks.

<pre>

def doStuff(i):
    print()
    for z in range(i):
        print(z)    

c = 4

for z in range(c):
    doStuff(z)

</pre>

IT Business Analyst Knowledge Areas

Database - Normal forms
xml schema, Domain Model
PIM vs PSM
Zachmann FrameWork
IDEF1X
UML 2.0

Solution Documentation

1. User Story (The main stories the application will implement, stories start higher level and then drill down into details “I want to add blocks”)

2. Use Cases (The use cases are driven from the user stories, each use case must tie up to a user story. Use cases describe the various different ways the user can for example “Add blocks at top”, “Add blocks at bottom”, “Add blocks at specific position in existing list”)

3. Functional Requirements (Validation rules, formatting rules, business rules not fitting into use cases, and then rules coming from use cases, each functional requirement should be tied to a use case and user story)

4. Activity Diagrams (Only include these if a use case or functional requirement requires complicated logic flow – complicated is anything where you have a if/else or loop type logic)

5. Test plan (This is a list of all tests you would perform to check that all the functional requirements are matched. Each functional requirement must have an associated test)

The above makes up the functional specification for an application.

You could also include user interface screen mock ups, with examples of data. We find these really helpful aswell.

Linux Python BlueTooth Dev

The official Linux BlueTooth protocol stack.
BlueZ
ubuntu pkg = bluez

A cross-platform Python Bluetooth API.
Light Blue
ubuntu pkg = python-lightblue

Python wrappers for bluetooth system resources.
Google PyBluez
ubuntu pkg = python-bluez

Open source implementation of the Object Exchange (OBEX) Protocol
Open OBEX
ubuntu pkg = openobex-apps

---

bug with my broadcom bluetooth usb dongle
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-bluetooth/+bug/133690

(almost) Everything you wanted to know about linux and the net, but were afraid to ask

Eric Raymond's (esr@thyrsus.com) document "describes the working basics of PC-class computers, Unix-like operating systems, and the Internet in non-technical language."

Greg 'o Keefe's (gcokeefe@postoffice.utas.edu.au) brief "description of what happens in a Linux system, from the time that you turn on the power, to the time that you log in and get a bash prompt."

Renewal of Driver's Licences @ Selected SA Postal Offices

GARDEN VIEW
BEDFORD GARDENS
BEDFORD SHOPPING CENTRE, CNR SMITH & BRADFORD ST, GARDENVIEW
WITS CENTRAL
BEDFORDVIEW

BRIXTON
BRIXTON
121 HIGH ST
WITS CENTRAL
JOHANNESBURG

TSHIAWELO
CHAWELO
989 SIBASA ST
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

DIEPKLOOF
DIEPKLOOF
7451 EBEN CUYLER DR
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

DUBE
DUBE
2224 MAHALEFELE ST
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

ELDORADOPARK
ELDORADOPARK
CIRCLE ROAD
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

ZOLA
EMDENI NORTH
DOPSONPOINT CENTRE MOHAJANE STREET DOBSONVILLE EXT 3
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

RANDBURG
FERNDALE
SANLAM CENTRE, LOWER LEVEL,
NORTHWEST RAND
RANDBURG

JOUBERTPARK
JOUBERT PARK
THE BRIDGE CENTRE CNR BLOCK NOORD, WANDERERS KING GEORGE & KOCH STR
WITS CENTRAL
JOUBERT PARK

KLIPTOWN
KLIPTOWN
WALTER SISULU MALL SHOP 5 VALLEY ROAD
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

KIASHA PARK
LENASIA SOUTH
CNR GOLDEN HIGHWAY & WIMBELDON
SOUTHWEST RAND
LENASIA

MARAISBURG
MARAISBURG
CNR 7TH AVE & 10TH ST
NORTHWEST RAND
ROODEPOORT

MEADOWLANDS
MEADOWLANDS
HACK RD, CIRCLE
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

ORLANDO
ORLANDO
6515 MOOKI ST
SOUTHWEST RAND
SOWETO

CRESTA
RANDBURG
CRESTA CENTRE BEYERS NAUDE DRIVE CRESTA
NORTHWEST RAND
RANDBURG

SOUTH GATE
SOUTH GATE
SOUTHGATE MALL CNR COLUMBINE AVE & RIFLE RANGE RD MONDEOR JHB
WITS CENTRAL
JOHANNESBURG

PROTEA GLEN
PROTEA GLEN
PROTEA GLEN NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE WILD CHESTNUT STR PROTEA GLEN SOWETO
SOUTHWEST RAND
JOHANNESBURG

SUNNINGHILL WEST
SUNNINGHILL
SHOP NO LL14SUNNINGHILL SHOPPING CENTRE EDISON CRESCENT SUNNINGHILL ERF 96/97
NORTHWEST RAND
RIVONIA

HALFWAYHOUSE
MIDRAND
SHOP 111 BOULDERS SHOPPING CENTRE OLD PRETORIA ROAD
NORTHWEST RAND
HALFWAY HOUSE

MARSHALLTOWN
JOHANNESBURG
C/O FOX AND SAUER STREET

BRYANSTON
BRYANSTON
THE POSTHOUSE C/R MAIN AND BRUTON DRIVE

SOUTHWEST RAND
ROODEPORT
VAN WYK ST 24 ROODEPOORT 1724

Reverting the Head Revision to a Previous Revision with Tortoise SVN

CodeRenaissance

To roll back a file, start by right clicking on it and selecting Show Log.
Once you have the log open, right click on the desired version of your file.
Upon selecting this Tortoise SVN will notify you that it is doing a reverse merge into your working copy; click yes.
Commit the file (or make changes and commit) and you're done.

On committing the revision,the previous revision will become the head, effectively rolling-back, and chopping off the 'branch' at the desired point. (Although of course the 'branch' is there).

simple python closure example

Original taken without permission from ScratchPad.

1>>> def counter(start=0, step=1):
2  ... x = [start]
3  ... def _inc():
4  ... x[0] += step
5  ... return x[0]
6  ... return _inc
7  ...
8  >>> c = counter()
9  >>> c()
10  1
11  >>> c()
12  2
13  >>> c()
14  3

changing ubuntu splash screens

1. http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-210268.html
2. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=89916&highlight=grub+splash+screen

general linux commands

~/.bashrc is used to initialise each new shell instance

to set an environment variable, include a line analagous to

export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:/home/david/Desktop/gdata-1.3.3/src

Setting up a mySQL DataBase on uBuntu

http://www.debuntu.org/how-to-create-a-mysql-database-and-set-privileges-to-a-user

'import MySQLdb' failed

http://davidmichaelthompson.com/?p=12

duh, need to install package 'python-mysqldb', 'A Python interface to mySQL'.

Configuring Eclipse on Windows to Use With Google App Engine

Google AppEngine Link

Stationary Traffic Waves

Almost everyone in Jozi has experienced it:

You're driving along the ring-road, when suddenly you drive into the back of a traffic jam. 30 blood-boiling minutes later, you emerge out the other side, never the wiser for the cause of your delay.

Well, some mathematicians have modelled the process, which appears to involve information waves: Wired Magazine Article: Phantom Jams.

plot f, f', f'' from csv with python & matplotlib

class rawDataObj:
       
        pointCount = 0
       
        colCount = 0
        columns = []       
        colLabels = []
       
        title = ""
       
# ===========================================

class Series:   

        def __init__(self):
               
                self.x = []
                self.y = []
       
        #~ def __init__(self, xIn, yIn):
               
                #~ if (len(xIn) != len(yIn)):
                        #~ raise lengthInequalityError, "length inequality"
                       
                #~ for zidx in range(len(xIn)):
                       
                        #~ self.x.append(xIn[zidx])
                        #~ self.y.append(yIn[zidx])
                       
        # ================================
       
        def DbyDX(self, xIn, yIn):
       
                if (len(xIn) != len(yIn)):
                       
                        raise setSizeInequalityError, 'set size inequality'       

                else:       
                       
                        for zidx in range(len(xIn) - 1):       
                               
                                xVal = (xIn[zidx + 1] + xIn[zidx]) / 2.0       
                                self.x.append(xVal)
                               
                                yVal = (yIn[zidx + 1] - yIn[zidx]) / (xIn[zidx + 1] - xIn[zidx])
                                self.y.append(yVal)
       
# ===========================================

import re

def loadrawDataObjFromFile(filePathAndName="/home/david/Desktop/ptpdrh.csv", hasHeader=False):
       
        try:
                f = open(filePathAndName, 'r')
               
                one = []
                two = []
               
                eof = False
               
                retDataObj = rawDataObj()
               
                lineNum = 0
                headerLineCount = 2
               
                while (eof == False):
                       
                        line = f.readline()
                        eof = (line == "")
                       
                        if (line != ""):
                               
                                lineNum = lineNum + 1
                               
                                elements = re.split(',', line)
                               
                                # strip newline (\n escape sequence) from last field of line
                                elements[len(elements) - 1] = elements[len(elements) - 1].rstrip("\n")
                               
                                # validate column count
                                if (lineNum > headerLineCount):
                                        if (len(elements) != retDataObj.colCount):
                                                raise inconsistentColumnCountError, ('column count inconsistent at data line ' + (retDataOb.pointCount + 1))
                               
                                if (lineNum <= headerLineCount):                   
                                                                               
                                        if (lineNum == 1):
                                               
                                                retDataObj.title = line
                                               
                                        elif (lineNum == 2):
                                       
                                                retDataObj.colCount = len(elements)               
                                       
                                                for num in range(retDataObj.colCount):                       
                                                        retDataObj.columns.append([])
                                               
                                                for label in elements:                                       
                                                        retDataObj.colLabels.append(label)
                               
                                else: # if (lineNum > headerLineCount)
                                       
                                        string = ""
                                       
                                        for zidx in range(retDataObj.colCount):                                       
                                               
                                                string = elements[zidx]
                                               
                                                if (len(string) == 0):
                                                        retDataObj.columns[zidx].append(None)                                               
                                                else:
                                                        retDataObj.columns[zidx].append(float(string))
                                               
                                        retDataObj.pointCount = retDataObj.pointCount + 1
                                               
                f.close()
               
        except IOError:
                print "io exception while attempting to load raw data"
                print "from file:"
                print filePathAndName
               
               
        return retDataObj
       
# ===========================================

# ===========================================

from pylab import *

filePath = "/home/david/Desktop/FinData/"
fileName = "RSA_CPI_1981-2008.csv"
filePathAndName = filePath + fileName

dataObj = loadrawDataObjFromFile(filePathAndName, True)

#for y in range(dataObj.colCount - 1):   
#    plot(dataObj.columns[0], dataObj.columns[y + 1], label=str(dataObj.colLabels[y + 1]))

fig = figure()
fig.canvas.set_window_title(dataObj.title)

# BASE SERIES
axBase = subplot(311)
baseLabel = label=str(dataObj.colLabels[dataObj.colCount - 1])
plot(dataObj.columns[0], dataObj.columns[dataObj.colCount - 1], label="base")
legend(numpoints=1, loc="upper left")

# FIRST DERIVATIVE
d1 = Series()
d1.DbyDX(dataObj.columns[0], dataObj.columns[dataObj.colCount - 1])
axD1 = subplot(312, sharex=axBase)
plot(d1.x, d1.y, label="d/dt")
legend(numpoints=1, loc="upper left")

 #SECOND DERIVATIVE
d2 = Series()
d2.DbyDX(d1.x, d1.y)
axD2 = subplot(313, sharex=axBase)
plot(d2.x, d2.y, label="d2/dt2")
legend(numpoints=1, loc="upper left")

#xlabel(dataObj.colLabels[0])

show()

Import & Display CSV Scatter with Python & MatPlotLib

  

class dataObject:
   
    pointCount = 0
   
    colCount = 0
    columns = []       
    colLabels = []
   
# ===========================================

import re

def loadDataObjectFromFile():

    filePath = "/home/david/Desktop/"
    fileName = "ptpdrh.csv"
    filePathAndName = filePath + fileName

    firstLineIsLabels = True

    try:
        f = open(filePathAndName, 'r')
       
        one = []
        two = []
       
        eof = False
       
        retDataObj = dataObject()
       
        isFirstLine = True
       
        while (eof == False):
           
            line = f.readline()
            eof = (line == "")
           
            if (line != ""):
               
                elements = re.split(',', line)
               
                elements[len(elements) - 1] = elements[len(elements) - 1].rstrip("\n")
               
                if (isFirstLine == False):
                    if (len(elements) != retDataObj.colCount):
                        raise inconsistentColumnCountError, ('column count inconsistent at data line ' + (retDataOb.pointCount + 1))
               
                if (isFirstLine == True):
                   
                    isFirstLine = False
                   
                    retDataObj.colCount = len(elements)               
                   
                    for num in range(retDataObj.colCount):                       
                        retDataObj.columns.append([])
                       
                    if (firstLineIsLabels == True):
                       
                        for label in elements:                                       
                            retDataObj.colLabels.append(label)
               
                else:
                   
                    string = ""
                   
                    for zidx in range(retDataObj.colCount):                                       
                       
                        string = elements[zidx]
                       
                        if (len(string) == 0):
                            retDataObj.columns[zidx].append(None)                                               
                        else:
                            retDataObj.columns[zidx].append(float(string))
                       
                    retDataObj.pointCount = retDataObj.pointCount + 1
                       
        f.close()
       
    except IOError:
        print "io exception while attempting to load raw data"
        print "from file:"
        print filePathAndName
       
       
    return retDataObj
   
# ===========================================

from pylab import *

dataObj = loadDataObjectFromFile()

titleText = "title"

for y in range(dataObj.colCount - 1):   
    plot(dataObj.columns[0], dataObj.columns[y + 1], label=str(dataObj.colLabels[y + 1]))

legend(numpoints=1)
xlabel(dataObj.colLabels[0])
ylabel("")
title(titleText)
show()

  

Howzit my China ?

For some very interesting reading on China, check out Wired News material on China.

Reading this has helped ease any misgivings I may have had about the ANC's pragmatic but possibly sub-optimal approach to foreign relations with the People's Republic of China.

I think there's plenty of room for improvement in terms of maximizing our side of the bargain, but the Chinese are definitely people you want to be involved in dialogue with at all times.

small business rules

- allocate a generous leave allowance. enforce it's all being consumed within a window period.

Durban Style Curry

1. Put oil

2. Put more oil [more oil than you would think.]

3. Fry the 'seeds' until they pop

here 'seeds' refers to
- jiru
- mustard seed
- cumin
- cardamom
- coriander
- cloves
- cinnamon
- star anise
- fennel seed
- some or other Indian herb

4. Add 'spices' and fry until they brown

here 'spices' refers to

- hot masala
- bay leaves
- chilli
- fresh ginger (finely chopped)
- ...

5. Add onions and garlic, and fry

6. Add tomatoes, other quicker cooking vegetables, potatoes and meat

in South Africa, use only 'up-to-date' brand potatoes

7. Cook on a low heat for a long time (essentially until potatoes are done)

8. Serve on a paper plate with a polysterene cup of brandy and coke

Un-Installing that unsolicited MS.NET FireFox Add-On

In order to un-install the unsolicited MS .NET Mozilla FireFox Add-On that appears after installing the 3.5 framework, follow Brad Abrahms directions:

http://blogs.msdn.com/brada/archive/2009/02/27/uninstalling-the-clickonce-support-for-firefox.aspx

Member Field Serialisation for Config Storage

using System;

using System.Reflection;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections;

namespace ConfigTester
{


public class CFG
{
public int pi = 3;
public string word = "tetragrammatron";
public TimeSpan time = new TimeSpan(1,6,6,6);

public string homeDir = @"/home/david/Desktop/";
public string configFName = "config.cfg";

public CFG()
{
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public string FieldToSerial(string fieldName, int fieldValue)
{
return string.Format("{0},{1}", fieldName, fieldValue.ToString());
}

public string FieldToSerial(string fieldName, string fieldValue)
{
return string.Format("{0},{1}", fieldName, fieldValue);
}

public string FieldToSerial(string fieldName, TimeSpan fieldValue)
{
return string.Format("{0},{1},{2},{3},{4}", fieldName, fieldValue.Days, fieldValue.Hours, fieldValue.Minutes, fieldValue.Seconds);
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public string[] FieldsToSerial()
{
ArrayList lines = new ArrayList();

Type cfgType = typeof(CFG);
FieldInfo[] fieldInfos = cfgType.GetFields();

foreach (FieldInfo fieldInfo in fieldInfos)
{
string name = fieldInfo.Name;
Type fieldType = fieldInfo.FieldType;

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(string))
{
string val = (string)(fieldInfo.GetValue(this));
lines.Add(this.FieldToSerial(name, val));
}

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(int))
{
int val = (int)(fieldInfo.GetValue(this));
lines.Add(this.FieldToSerial(name, val));
}

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(TimeSpan))
{
TimeSpan val = (TimeSpan)(fieldInfo.GetValue(this));
lines.Add(this.FieldToSerial(name, val));
}
}

int fieldCount = lines.Count;

string[] fields = new string[fieldCount];

for (int fieldNum = 1; fieldNum <= fieldCount; fieldNum++)
fields[fieldNum - 1] = (string)(lines[fieldNum - 1]);

return fields;
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public void ListFieldInfo()
{

Console.WriteLine();
Console.WriteLine("FIELD INFO");
Console.WriteLine();

Type cfgType = typeof(CFG);
FieldInfo[] fieldInfos = cfgType.GetFields();

foreach (FieldInfo fieldInfo in fieldInfos)
{
string name = fieldInfo.Name;
Console.WriteLine("name: {0}", name);

Type fieldType = fieldInfo.FieldType;
Console.WriteLine("type: {0}", fieldType);

object obj = fieldInfo.GetValue(this);
Console.WriteLine("value: {0}", obj.ToString());

Console.WriteLine();
}

Console.WriteLine("{0} fields", fieldInfos.Length);
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public void SerializeFields()
{
string fullFName = this.homeDir + this.configFName;

try
{
FileStream fileStream = new FileStream(fullFName, FileMode.Create);
StreamWriter streamWriter = new StreamWriter(fileStream);

this.SerializeFields(streamWriter);

streamWriter.Close();
}
catch (Exception exc)
{
throw new Exception("ConfigSaveException");
}
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public void SerializeFields(TextWriter tw)
{
string[] lines = this.FieldsToSerial();

foreach (string line in lines)
tw.WriteLine(line);
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====
// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====
// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public void LoadSerialised()
{
string fullFName = this.homeDir + this.configFName;

ArrayList lines = new ArrayList();

try
{
FileStream fileStream = new FileStream(fullFName, FileMode.Open);
StreamReader streamReader = new StreamReader(fileStream);

string line;
while ((line = streamReader.ReadLine()) != null)
lines.Add(line);

streamReader.Close();

int fieldCount = lines.Count;

string[] serials = new string[fieldCount];
for (int fieldNum = 1; fieldNum <= fieldCount; fieldNum++)
serials[fieldNum - 1] = (string)(lines[fieldNum - 1]);

this.FieldsFromSerials(serials);
}
catch (Exception exc)
{
throw new Exception("ConfigLoadException");
}
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public string StringFromSerial(string serial)
{
return serial;
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public int IntFromSerial(string serial)
{
return Convert.ToInt32(serial);
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public TimeSpan TimeSpanFromSerial(string serial)
{
string[] vals = serial.Split(',');

if (vals.Length != 4)
throw new Exception("timespan serial has incorrect number of variables");

int days = Convert.ToInt32(vals[0]);
int hrs = Convert.ToInt32(vals[1]);
int mins = Convert.ToInt32(vals[2]);
int secs = Convert.ToInt32(vals[3]);

return new TimeSpan(days, hrs, mins, secs);
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public string MatchKey(string key, string[] keys, string[] values)
{
if (keys.Length != values.Length)
throw new Exception("key count must match value count, but does not");

for (int num = 1; num <= keys.Length; num++)
if (key == keys[num - 1])
return values[num - 1];

return null;
}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

public void FieldsFromSerials(string[] serials)
{
// separate names & serialised form of fields retrieved from storage

int fieldCount = serials.Length;

string[] names = new string[fieldCount];
string[] forms = new string[fieldCount];

for (int fieldNum = 1; fieldNum <= fieldCount; fieldNum++)
{
int splitMarker = serials[fieldNum - 1].IndexOf(',');

string name = serials[fieldNum - 1].Substring(0, splitMarker);
string form = serials[fieldNum - 1].Substring(splitMarker + 1);

names[fieldNum - 1] = name;
forms[fieldNum - 1] = form;
}

// scan through this instantiated object

Type cfgType = typeof(CFG);
FieldInfo[] fieldInfos = cfgType.GetFields();

foreach (FieldInfo fieldInfo in fieldInfos)
{
string name = fieldInfo.Name;
Type fieldType = fieldInfo.FieldType;

string serialString = this.MatchKey(name, names, forms);

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(string))
{
string val = this.StringFromSerial(serialString);
fieldInfo.SetValue(this, val);
}

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(int))
{
int val = this.IntFromSerial(serialString);
fieldInfo.SetValue(this, val);
}

if (fieldInfo.FieldType == typeof(TimeSpan))
{
TimeSpan val = this.TimeSpanFromSerial(serialString);
fieldInfo.SetValue(this, val);
}
}

}

// ===== ----- ===== ----- =====

} // class
} // namespace

GTK-Sharp: Scrollable (Window) Label Example

using System;

using System.Collections;
using Gtk;

namespace gtkTest
{   
   
    public class SWinLabel
    {
        private Window topWin;
       
        private static int defWidth = 400;
        private static double phi = 1.6180339887;
        private static int defHeight = (int)( ((double)(defWidth)) / phi);       
       
        private ScrolledWindow sWin;
       
        private Label label;
        private string labelText;
       
        private string winTitleText;
       
        // ==========================================================
       
        public SWinLabel(string pWinTitleText, string rawLabelText)
        {
            winTitleText = pWinTitleText;
            topWin = new Window(winTitleText);           
           
            topWin.SetDefaultSize(defWidth, defHeight);           
            topWin.SetPosition(WindowPosition.Center); // TODO
           
            sWin = new ScrolledWindow();
            sWin.SetPolicy(Gtk.PolicyType.Always, Gtk.PolicyType.Always);
            topWin.Add(sWin);
            sWin.Show();
           
            labelText = rawLabelText;           
            label = new Label(rawLabelText);           
            sWin.AddWithViewport(label);
            label.Show();
           
            topWin.Show();
        }
       
        // ==========================================================

    }   
}

Terrorism & Self Worth

I was chatting with an intelligent young lady on Saturday, and over time became rather alarmed.

She was convinced of the following points:

1. The world economy is in a state of collapse.
2. Total ecological holocaust is imminent.
3. Her and her peers, raised to believe that great things were within their reach, should accept their inevitable mediocrity.

On the topic of potential and achievement, I felt that this attitude and the crisis of identity crisis it speaks of, seems to be a direct result from having a top-down / one-to-many media distribution system and the related one-to-many mass production of consumable and semi-durable goods.

This girl felt that she had to do something great, I can only think in order to acquire status or a sense of worth, in order to _justify_ her existence.

As a result of the top-down nature of society this girl does not receive animal satisfaction through co-operative interaction with members of her community, and cannot derive an immediate sense of self-worth as result of the clear and obvious benefit the ramifications of her existence, specifically the fruits of her labour, render to others whom _she_ values.

Unfortunately the likelihood of her successfully emerging from the herd to a position of rarity is made all the more unlikely by the top-down winner-takes-all nature of the current social model.

Thus, she effectively exhibits what I, knowing nothing of Marx, would guess to be classical workers alienation.

Using Gtk-Sharp in VS2008 - .DLL Path & Assembly Reference Issues

Get the .msi windows installer from the Mono project page:
http://www.mono-project.com/Gtk-Sharp_Installer_for_.NET_Framework

After running the installer, I found that it incorrectly appended the system Path variable, forgetting to add a trailing '\', resulting in VS2008 failing to find .dll's, and throwing a DllNotFoundException [Unable to load DLL 'libglib-2.0-0.dll'].

After fixing this, you're good to go.

Just remember to add references to the following assemblies

glib-sharp
atk-sharp
gtk-sharp

in your project.


Some useful links on the subject:

http://www.ondotnet.com/pub/a/dotnet/2004/08/09/gtk_mono.htm?page=last&x-order=date

GTK-Sharp: Scrollable (Window) Table Example

using System;
using Gtk;

namespace gtkTest
{   
   
    public class WinTable
    {
       
        private Gtk.ScrolledWindow sWinRef;
        private Table table;
       
        private uint rowCount, colCount, rowSpacing, colSpacing;
       
        // ==========================================================
       
        public WinTable(uint pRowCount, uint pColCount, uint pRowSpacing, uint pColSpacing, Gtk.ScrolledWindow pSWinRef)
        {
            sWinRef = pSWinRef;           
           
            rowCount = pRowCount;
            colCount = pColCount;
           
            rowSpacing = pRowSpacing;
            colSpacing = pColSpacing;
           
            bool homogeneous = true;
            table = new Table (rowCount, colCount, homogeneous);           
           
            for (uint rowNum = 1; rowNum <= rowCount; rowNum++)
                table.SetRowSpacing(rowNum - 1, rowSpacing);               
               
            for (uint colNum = 1; colNum <= colCount; colNum++)       
                table.SetColSpacing(colNum - 1, colSpacing);
           
            sWinRef.AddWithViewport(table);
        }
       
        // ==========================================================       
       
        /* for e.g. = 2 x 2 table, say (horiz,vert), then
               
                (0,0)    (1,0)    (2,0)
               
                (0,1)    (1,1)    (2,1)
               
                (0,2)    (1,2)    (2,2)
               
        */
           
        public void PackWidgetAtXY(Widget widget, uint x, uint y)
        {
            uint leftAttach = x - 1;
            uint rightAttach = x;
            uint topAttach = y - 1;
            uint bottomAttach = y;
           
            //Gtk.AttachOptions xOptions = new Gtk.AttachOptions(); // fill, shrink, expand           

            table.Attach(widget, leftAttach, rightAttach, topAttach, bottomAttach);
            widget.Show();
        }
       
        // ==========================================================
       
        public void Demo()
        {
       
        for (uint rowNum = 1; rowNum <= rowCount; rowNum++)
            for (uint colNum = 1; colNum <= colCount; colNum++)
            {
                string text = "one\ntwo\nthree\nfour";
                Label label = new Label(text);               
                this.PackWidgetAtXY(label, rowNum, colNum);               
            }   
           
            this.table.Show();
        }
       
       
        // ==========================================================
    }


//####################################################

public partial class MainWindow: Gtk.Window
{   
    public MainWindow (): base (Gtk.WindowType.Toplevel)
    {
        Build ();
    }
   
    protected void OnDeleteEvent (object sender, DeleteEventArgs a)
    {
        Application.Quit ();
        a.RetVal = true;
    }
}

//####################################################

class MainClass
    {
        public static void Main (string[] args)
        {
            Application.Init ();
            MainWindow mainWin = new MainWindow ();
           
            uint rowCount = 8, colCount = 7;           
            uint rowSpacing = 80, colSpacing = 200;
           
            mainWin.ShowAll();           
           
            Window priWin = new Window("Primary Window");
            priWin.SetDefaultSize(250, 200);
            priWin.SetPosition(WindowPosition.Center);           
                       
            Gtk.ScrolledWindow sWin = new Gtk.ScrolledWindow();
            sWin.SetPolicy(Gtk.PolicyType.Always, Gtk.PolicyType.Always);
           
            priWin.Add(sWin);
            sWin.Show();           
           
            WinTable winTable = new WinTable(rowCount, colCount, rowSpacing, colSpacing, sWin);
            winTable.Demo();           
           
            priWin.Show();
           
            Application.Run ();
        }
    }

}

ubuntu 9.04 audio fiddling

On having trouble getting sound to work under rhythmbox after installing uBuntu 9.04 on my old Fujitsu-Siemens, I found the following directions very useful:

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/sound-solutions-for-ubuntu-904-jaunty-users.html

ubuntu 9.04 audio codecs

sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs libxine1-ffmpeg gxine mencoder mpeg2dec 

to fix skype 'problem with audio playback' in ubuntu 9.04

• killall pulseaudio
• sudo apt-get remove pulseaudio
• sudo apt-get install esound
• sudo rm /etc/X11/Xsession.d/70pulseaudio