My advice? Show instead of tell. People are in a hurry, and will copy-paste what's available. When that code happens to be crappy, that's what gets spread around. And then it gets spread around even more. It's like pollen. Is there a place in the code that has a high amount of "foot traffic"? A place where, if you put good code in, that it has a higher chance of getting copied around? If so, try putting some there. Set the example. Make it obvious what the code's doing so that it has a higher chance of being spread.

Eh... maybe 50 jobs. And the number of jobs keeps on growing too...

Wow: Looks like my question is akin to smacking a wasp nest with a cricket bat. Glad to see it sparked some convo. So with what I found that was suggested by Harold and Luc, it seems like I could get away with just a simple priority list and just do the fat jobs first. There are no dependencies (job x has to be done before job y), so there's nothing stopping me from doing the jobs in any order. But I'm not sold that this is the way to achieve the quickest completion time. I might be wrong but there might be some cases where this wouldn't work. So I'll have to look around a little more--fortunately the links and ideas given were a good step toward what I was looking for.

All, I'm in need of an algorithm that I have no idea about comparing it to other algorithms. Imagine if you had a set of wooden blocks, all the same thickness but differing in lengths. The goal is to stack all of the blocks in such a way that the total length of this "wall" is the shortest length possible. There would be a different result depending on if you stack the wall 2, 3, 4, or N blocks high. The wall doesn't have to be perfectly straight on both sides either. Not sure what this is even similar to, and would appreciate some guidance. I'd also appreciate knowing where some of you look for information about algs, because it seems like I can never find a comprehensive site containing the names, applications and descriptions of common or more obscure ones. If any of you want to give up your sources, your secrets are moderately safe with me :) Thanks, Michael Fritzius

Yes, I'd forgotten about these. So, thanks a lot--now I have to get something to clean the drool from between my keys :laugh: Michael Fritzius

All, I was rooting through a electronics magazine today and found an ad about Plug Computers (www.plugcomputer.org). Basically it's a standalone computer, that looks about the size of a wall wart, that literally plugs in. It comes with Linux and basically gives a framework for whatever you might want to do network-wise. Anybody ever mess with these? I'm seriously considering finding one to play with. Michael Fritzius

Hey all, I've been reading articles lately regarding software used for checking to see what a computer is being used for--things like logging where internet traffic is headed, logging chat sessions, keystrokes, etc. And before I open this can of worms, this is in regards to personal home computers, not computers out in the wild. I'm definitely not trying to start up an argument here--I'd just like to hear what your thoughts are on this type of thing and why you believe the way you do about it. Here at CP we've got a wide amount of disciplines, cultural and ideological views, so I want to tap it. Do you think this kind of software has its place and can be helpful somehow? Do you think it's an invasion of privacy even if it's within your own home? Do you think this is totally outrageous and peoples' privacy should be hands-off? Torpedo away! Michael Fritzius

Hi Giorgi, Thanks for the links. I got to looking at your stuff and other things that are similar. I think it has got me pointed in the right direction but I'll need time to figure out the code. If I have any other questions would you mind if I email you directly? Thanks, Michael Fritzius

I look forward to replies too. Didn't want to post in a more frequented forum and be way off topic though so who knows when someone will give an answer :) Also, I tried that same kind of operation with my phone. I've got a Samsung C417 and it turns out that the bluetooth on that phone has been crippled down to only operate with the headset profile. My wife's phone does all the fancy stuff that I wish my phone did. Perhaps your Motorola is of the crippled down variety. Do you have a way of testing against another dongle or something on another computer?

Hi all, I recently got a hold of a USB bluetooth dongle and have been able to interface it with a phone to transfer media. Very cool. But as a huge nerd my next thought is "What else can I do with this thing?" I'd like to be able to get another dongle and just run information between two points. This is a stepping stone for another group of wireless projects that are in mind, but the basics need to be covered first. So I have a bank of questions that hopefully lead me in the right direction: The dongle I have came with drivers to run the device. Things like bulk transfers, file transfers, pairing with different device profiles, everything. There's an interface that can be brought up that lets you connect to devices that you've trusted in the past. I understand the hardware inside the dongle could be nonstandard. Is there a way for me to get at the code in these drivers and see how these types of operations are done? The device is obviously a USB device, so info and commands should be able to be sent to the port itself and whatever hardware is attached to it. Haven't seen much in the way of sending data to a USB port. Any help there? Finally, short of any other solutions, is there some kind of development kit out there that allows complete noobs like myself develop applications to send information off the wire? Thanks a ton for your time--I really appreciate coming on here and getting answers for obscure questions :) Take care, Michael Fritzius

Hello, I can't find what information I need, so I turn to you, the forum readers :) This program I'd like to write--I'm trying to figure out how to print on paper a grid of squares with some custom info in each square. The problem I have is twofold: How do I print the squares, and how do I print the info in the squares all centered up and looking nice? Is there a way to tell where exactly text should be printed, or am I at the mercy of the printer? Thanks for your time, Michael Fritzius

Hello again, I'm wondering, is there a way to have an event set up so that if a registry key is created, accessed or modified in much the same way a FileWatcher works? Thanks, Michael Fritzius

Hello, I've noticed that when I'm running code, everything becomes devoted to running that program. Most code I write doesn't need to do stuff all the time, just once in awhile it should do a particular operation and then become idle. What's a quick way for me to make sure my programs aren't hogging up resources? Thanks in advance, Michael Fritzius

The proper checkboxes were there, yes. But for whatever reason it now works and I don't think I changed anything. No idea what caused it to not work before. But, you were a huge help before and it's likely I did something you suggested without realizing it. So I'll give you credit anyway ;P

It was working and I wasn't getting that error mentioned in the subject. Today I was testing it and logging on from a networked machine doesn't work anymore. I don't remember changing any of the connection strings--my goal was to work with data entry and leave connection strings alone once they were established as working properly. Is there any reason why this would have worked before and not now? Thanks, Michael Fritzius

Mika, Thanks for the advice. I didn't know it, but no permissions were set up AT ALL for that user. I knew something was weird at the server side, but couldn't figure it out. The laptop can now talk with the server, and retrieve info. I'll work on table manipulation next. Unfortunately, I can't test to see if IP login will work because it's a small network here. So I may be posting for you again soon. Thanks again, Michael Fritzius

Hi all, First of all, thanks to everybody who offered much needed advice for getting the server set up on my home machine. My program can interface with the server and do some basic operations, which is exactly what was needed. Second, sorry if this is considered a repost--I posted earlier today about this but didn't get a response. Didn't know if CP sends notifications to everybody in the thread if anything at all is added to the thread, hence why I'm posting here. My question is pretty simple. I'm trying to log onto the server with a laptop using a username/password combo. What I end up with is, "Login failed for user (this computer)/Guest", where "this computer" is the computer hosting the server. I've read articles about how to fix this, and most focus on creating a login the server knows about, and using Mixed mode for remote access. But everything I've tried results in that same error message. How do I make this work? Server machine is WinXP Pro, remote machine is Vista. Thanks for any advice, Michael Fritzius P.S. Actually the next part after this will be to log into the server via the internet, using an IP address. Any tips on that would be appreciated too, so I don't have to make yet another post :)

Hi all, and thanks for all the help so far. I've successfully gotten SQL Server 2008 running on my home machine, and can make databases, add rows/columns, everything I would need for this project. Also, the program written to interface with the server at the local level works great. Now I'm trying to log onto the same server and use the program to access the server remotely, from a computer on the same network, but having no success. It gives me the following error: Login failed for user XXXX/Guest. I know the info is getting to the server just fine, because of the nature of the error, and because I ran Wireshark to see if info was getting passed, and it was. And, I've looked on Google and on here for a solution, but nothing seems to help. I know that there needs to be a username/password on the SQL server itself so it knows if it can accept the incoming connection. Already tried this, but it didn't work, so I know I did something wrong... just don't know what. If you know the answer, please help. Thanks for all your suggestions so far and take care, Michael Fritzius

Ok, so I'm trying to get SQL Express on my home machine. Already tried downloading and installing it on the work machine, but for whatever reason it didn't work. This is fine, because I don't really want to develop this project on the work PC anyway. ...and it looks like I might be over my head on this. Is SQL supposed to be this hard to install? Has anyone been successful with getting some version of the server installed and functioning properly that would be willing to walk me through the process OR point me to a tutorial on how to do it? Thanks muchly, Michael Fritzius

led mike wrote:

2. I don't understand the question. How do you get a server?

I meant how to get an SQL server running someplace. Something with a database on it that I can run my program against to check and see that the correct info is being added/read at the server. What would you recommend?