Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. What was your most most difficult programming task?

What was your most most difficult programming task?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
comhelptutorialquestion
10 Posts 7 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • J Offline
    J Offline
    John Fisher
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Hi, I was just curious about what "brick walls" other people had run into while programming. About 2 months ago, I finally figured out how to load ActiveX objects from MSWord output .rtf files. This had been something I wanted for over a year, but nothing I could find mentioned that MS stuck extra information in front of the actual data. (We had a hackish solution that I really hated, which loaded the RTF file into a RichEdit control, then got the object from there.) So, as I was working on something else entirely, it just hit me that the extra info could be some sort of property information about the control stored in the same fashion as control properties. That assumption was correct, and once I moved the pointer past the appropriate (variable) number of bytes, OleLoad() finally worked as the RTF specs said it should! So, what have other people run into? John

    T C C E 4 Replies Last reply
    0
    • J John Fisher

      Hi, I was just curious about what "brick walls" other people had run into while programming. About 2 months ago, I finally figured out how to load ActiveX objects from MSWord output .rtf files. This had been something I wanted for over a year, but nothing I could find mentioned that MS stuck extra information in front of the actual data. (We had a hackish solution that I really hated, which loaded the RTF file into a RichEdit control, then got the object from there.) So, as I was working on something else entirely, it just hit me that the extra info could be some sort of property information about the control stored in the same fashion as control properties. That assumption was correct, and once I moved the pointer past the appropriate (variable) number of bytes, OleLoad() finally worked as the RTF specs said it should! So, what have other people run into? John

      T Offline
      T Offline
      Tomasz Sowinski
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Back in late 80's I was writing a program on Atari 800 XL and had to use every bit of RAM. The machine had 64K memory space; RAM and ROM were overlapping at some adresses. You had to control the memory banks by storing appropriate bits in output port, address of which I don't remember now, so please don't ask me for deeper details. The problem was that sometimes my Atari hung up when switching RAM and ROM. Of course I was turning masked and unmasked interrupts off to avoid such problems. After a long night, I've figured out the solution - I had to add a few (2 or 3) NOPs after the switch; everything went smoothly. It was in the pre-internet era, so there was no CodeProject or even a newsgroup to ask questions. Additional difficulty was that I had to reload my program from tape each after each hangup. The transmission speed was 600 baud - at least I had some time to get the homework done and proceed in the school. Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • J John Fisher

        Hi, I was just curious about what "brick walls" other people had run into while programming. About 2 months ago, I finally figured out how to load ActiveX objects from MSWord output .rtf files. This had been something I wanted for over a year, but nothing I could find mentioned that MS stuck extra information in front of the actual data. (We had a hackish solution that I really hated, which loaded the RTF file into a RichEdit control, then got the object from there.) So, as I was working on something else entirely, it just hit me that the extra info could be some sort of property information about the control stored in the same fashion as control properties. That assumption was correct, and once I moved the pointer past the appropriate (variable) number of bytes, OleLoad() finally worked as the RTF specs said it should! So, what have other people run into? John

        C Offline
        C Offline
        CMFC6 0VS NETUser
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        I have had some trouble but for only a day at most then I found answer. I am working now on a project that I need to compute 4 number into two numbers then use 2 new numbers and then save the numbers. Later get the 2 numbers use them agian then compute the 4 numbers back out. I started working on this in august and still havn't gotten aanything yet. I am trying adding to compute the 4 numbers and subtraction the uncompute the 4 numbers right now. I am also using a small counter and all numbers are whole number and zero and above. My math skills are only at algebra in college. I could also use some help. Thank you. Real World Coding:      POP& BuyAPop(Money ADollar){...};

        E 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • C CMFC6 0VS NETUser

          I have had some trouble but for only a day at most then I found answer. I am working now on a project that I need to compute 4 number into two numbers then use 2 new numbers and then save the numbers. Later get the 2 numbers use them agian then compute the 4 numbers back out. I started working on this in august and still havn't gotten aanything yet. I am trying adding to compute the 4 numbers and subtraction the uncompute the 4 numbers right now. I am also using a small counter and all numbers are whole number and zero and above. My math skills are only at algebra in college. I could also use some help. Thank you. Real World Coding:      POP& BuyAPop(Money ADollar){...};

          E Offline
          E Offline
          Eric Sanchez
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          As far as I know making 4 numbers into 2 is not possible. Actually it is, but turning 2 into 4 is not. If that was the case, compressors like ZIP would use it to reduce every file by half. However, you can make 4 numbers into into three (not 2) and back easily using multiple equations.

          A C 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • E Eric Sanchez

            As far as I know making 4 numbers into 2 is not possible. Actually it is, but turning 2 into 4 is not. If that was the case, compressors like ZIP would use it to reduce every file by half. However, you can make 4 numbers into into three (not 2) and back easily using multiple equations.

            A Offline
            A Offline
            Andrew Peace
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            It would be possible if he was working on 4-bit numbers :). (i.e. use two BYTEs and put the first number into bits 1,2,3,4 in BYTE 1, the second into 5,6,7,8 and so on.). Obviously it's very unlikely he is using 4-bit numbers and even if he were then using this technique wouldn't make the system use less memory so it's pretty pointless). Andrew

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J John Fisher

              Hi, I was just curious about what "brick walls" other people had run into while programming. About 2 months ago, I finally figured out how to load ActiveX objects from MSWord output .rtf files. This had been something I wanted for over a year, but nothing I could find mentioned that MS stuck extra information in front of the actual data. (We had a hackish solution that I really hated, which loaded the RTF file into a RichEdit control, then got the object from there.) So, as I was working on something else entirely, it just hit me that the extra info could be some sort of property information about the control stored in the same fashion as control properties. That assumption was correct, and once I moved the pointer past the appropriate (variable) number of bytes, OleLoad() finally worked as the RTF specs said it should! So, what have other people run into? John

              C Offline
              C Offline
              Christian Graus
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Hmmm... I'd say the WORST thing that ever happened to me was also the best. I got this job on the basis I could program Windows GUI stuff. Then one day my boss tells me I am to write a transparent colour picker, so we could load decals that used colours other than magenta, and pick them in my dialog. I spent a few nights tearing my hair out before I got my head around how to build transparent masks on the fly. I had done NO Windows graphics programming, in fact no graphics programming since the Apple ][. When he saw it, he decided to add some simple drawing tools. More hair loss, more hard work. THEN he decided I was to pull the code OUT of Viewbuild and start a paint program. I spent the first three months of my paint program waiting for the brick wall I couldn't cross. I've never before or since learned so much, because I've never again had a project at work I knew so little about. All side projects were on hold, every night I was trying to learn enough that I could do my job the next day. Then Feng Yuan's 'Windows Graphics Programming' was published, after several delays ( I was sending Fatbrain daily emails at one stage ), all too late for much of what I'd had to figure out by myself ( there is not much information around when it comes to things like how to create a soft brush or do graphics filters ). THEN GDI+ came out and does internally a lot of what I have learned, making it all semi-redundant, although I'm still very glad when I use it as a 'black box' I have an idea of what is going on inside, and how to do things myself if it doesn't do exactly what I want. I felt at a brick wall stage with ATL for ages ( still not getting anywhere much with connection points ), but that's just because I only get about five hours a week to play with it. After a year I've written one COM server, and that only in the past few months. It's only the last month that I feel sudden revelation come upon me as the months of learning suddenly gel while I'm working on stuff. Just not enough hours in the day... Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • E Eric Sanchez

                As far as I know making 4 numbers into 2 is not possible. Actually it is, but turning 2 into 4 is not. If that was the case, compressors like ZIP would use it to reduce every file by half. However, you can make 4 numbers into into three (not 2) and back easily using multiple equations.

                C Offline
                C Offline
                CMFC6 0VS NETUser
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                So if I can only safely compute 4 numbers to 3 numbers can I also compute those 3 numbers to 2 numbers the go backwards 2 to 3 then 3 to 4. And if so can I get some math examples. Thanks. Real World Coding:      POP& BuyAPop(Money ADollar){...};

                E 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • C CMFC6 0VS NETUser

                  So if I can only safely compute 4 numbers to 3 numbers can I also compute those 3 numbers to 2 numbers the go backwards 2 to 3 then 3 to 4. And if so can I get some math examples. Thanks. Real World Coding:      POP& BuyAPop(Money ADollar){...};

                  E Offline
                  E Offline
                  Eric Sanchez
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I just figured out I was unable to do it. Before posting the other one, I had worked out an exapmple that apparently gave me 3 #s but now i found out that i had actually gotten 4 numbers, just didn't write it down. Sorry. You might want to ask someone in: http://forum.swarthmore.edu/dr.math/ If you look at the examples, they have solved really hard problems. Good Luck Eric

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • J John Fisher

                    Hi, I was just curious about what "brick walls" other people had run into while programming. About 2 months ago, I finally figured out how to load ActiveX objects from MSWord output .rtf files. This had been something I wanted for over a year, but nothing I could find mentioned that MS stuck extra information in front of the actual data. (We had a hackish solution that I really hated, which loaded the RTF file into a RichEdit control, then got the object from there.) So, as I was working on something else entirely, it just hit me that the extra info could be some sort of property information about the control stored in the same fashion as control properties. That assumption was correct, and once I moved the pointer past the appropriate (variable) number of bytes, OleLoad() finally worked as the RTF specs said it should! So, what have other people run into? John

                    E Offline
                    E Offline
                    ed welch
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Funny you should say that... my most recent headache involved rtf as well. I tried to get metafiles converted to rtf to displayed in the rich edit control. Eventually figured out that you have to use the older format metafiles, extended metafiles won't work. ...say, isn't rtf ment to be an "open" format? How come none of this stuff is documented? In fact all my searching has only ever found one document for rtf (the official Microsoft one) and that isn't exactly "comprehensive"

                    J 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • E ed welch

                      Funny you should say that... my most recent headache involved rtf as well. I tried to get metafiles converted to rtf to displayed in the rich edit control. Eventually figured out that you have to use the older format metafiles, extended metafiles won't work. ...say, isn't rtf ment to be an "open" format? How come none of this stuff is documented? In fact all my searching has only ever found one document for rtf (the official Microsoft one) and that isn't exactly "comprehensive"

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      John Fisher
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      ...say, isn't rtf ment to be an "open" format? How come none of this stuff is documented? In fact all my searching has only ever found one document for rtf (the official Microsoft one) and that isn't exactly "comprehensive" I've been wondering the same thing for a long time... John

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      Reply
                      • Reply as topic
                      Log in to reply
                      • Oldest to Newest
                      • Newest to Oldest
                      • Most Votes


                      • Login

                      • Don't have an account? Register

                      • Login or register to search.
                      • First post
                        Last post
                      0
                      • Categories
                      • Recent
                      • Tags
                      • Popular
                      • World
                      • Users
                      • Groups