Archive for July, 2004
The Rule of Four
Just borrowed The Rule of Four from the library. I’m hooked.
I’m told it is similar, but better, to The Da Vinci code which I loved.
Michele started reading it aswell, and because we are both hooked we had to go and buy a copy. We spent the afternoon together reading it in a cafe.
STREXTRACT()
I’m almost too embarassed to mention this…
I found a VFP function STREXTRACT() for extracting text from a string.
Yep, I have the following code all over the place:
nStart = AT(‘Starting text’, cString)
nEnd = AT(‘End text’, cString)
cSubString = SUBSTR(cString, nStart, nEnd – nStart)
which can now be replaced with:
cSubString = STREXTRACT(cString, ‘Starting text’, ‘End text’)
The Rule of Four
Just borrowed The Rule of Four from the library. I’m hooked.
I’m told it is similar, but better, to The Da Vinci code which I loved.
Michele started reading it aswell, and because we are both hooked we had to go and buy a copy. We spent the afternoon together reading it in a cafe.
STREXTRACT()
I’m almost too embarassed to mention this…
I found a VFP function STREXTRACT() for extracting text from a string.
Yep, I have the following code all over the place:
nStart = AT(‘Starting text’, cString)
nEnd = AT(‘End text’, cString)
cSubString = SUBSTR(cString, nStart, nEnd – nStart)
which can now be replaced with:
cSubString = STREXTRACT(cString, ‘Starting text’, ‘End text’)
Bill Gates breakfast transcript
Here’s a transcript of the Bill Gates breakfast mentioned in my post back in June
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2004/06-28Australia.asp
Bill Gates breakfast transcript
Here’s a transcript of the Bill Gates breakfast mentioned in my post back in June
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2004/06-28Australia.asp
Moving back end rules to the middle tier
Traditionally I have been putting a lot of the admin business logic (eg auditing, recent changes logs) in the back end, but I’m wondering if I should be moving it to the middle tier.
Let me give you a simple example. In SQL I log the last change to a record in a field using an update [...]
Moving back end rules to the middle tier
Traditionally I have been putting a lot of the admin business logic (eg auditing, recent changes logs) in the back end, but I’m wondering if I should be moving it to the middle tier.
Let me give you a simple example. In SQL I log the last change to a record in a field using an update [...]
Too much doing not enough finishing
The usual problem – why can’t people finish projects?
At work we do so much great stuff: clever design, efficient development, reasonable testing, but then we drop the ball when it comes to managing the client.
A client rang me to say they were disappointed with one of the projects we did recently – it was all [...]
Steve Vai concert
Steve Vai played Sydney last night. Awesome show. This is the third time I’ve seen him in Sydney. Billy was on bass, Tony MacAlpine on guitars/keyboards, Dave on guitars and Jeremy on drums. Tight band. Nice show. Come back anytime Steve.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Too much doing not enough finishing
The usual problem – why can’t people finish projects?
At work we do so much great stuff: clever design, efficient development, reasonable testing, but then we drop the ball when it comes to managing the client.
A client rang me to say they were disappointed with one of the projects we did recently – it was [...]
Steve Vai concert
Steve Vai played Sydney last night. Awesome show. This is the third time I’ve seen him in Sydney. Billy was on bass, Tony MacAlpine on guitars/keyboards, Dave on guitars and Jeremy on drums. Tight band. Nice show. Come back anytime Steve.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )The Power of Balance
During my holidays I had a chance to read a few books. Some were on time management (eg Brian Tracy books) and others were on Alexander Technique (I’ve been taking lessons to help with my back problems – yep those long hours in front of a monitor take their toll if you don’t look after [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )OzFox 2004
OzFox 2004 preparation
I’ve been doing some more organising for OzFox this last week after returning from holidays.
Things are coming along nicely. Now that the admin stuff is mostly sorted I am starting to organise the fun stuff eg the Sydney tourist attractions for our overseas visitors, conference dinners, bonus talks etc.
I am really looking forward [...]
Jemma has gone back home
You’ll remember my newest niece post back in June. Well she has gone back home to Minnesota now. Here’s a piccy:
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )VFP COM object recompile can’t find include file
I made some simple changes to a VFP COM project prg file the other day, but when I recompiled I kept getting errors that it couldn’t find certain variables (eg COMATTRIB_READONLY which is defined in an include file).
This occurred in VFP8 and VFP9.
To cut a long story short – manually deleted all the fxp files. [...]
VFP9 Refresh problem
I’ve been having a few page refresh problems with VFP9.
I’m updating one of my programs to run in VFP9. In VFP8 page displays have been fine, but under 9 they don’t always refresh. If I manually add a .Refresh() to objects after doing something (eg adding records to a grid) it is fine, but this is [...]
The Power of Balance
During my holidays I had a chance to read a few books. Some were on time management (eg Brian Tracy books) and others were on Alexander Technique (I’ve been taking lessons to help with my back problems – yep those long hours in front of a monitor take their toll if you don’t look after [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )OzFox 2004
OzFox 2004 preparation
I’ve been doing some more organising for OzFox this last week after returning from holidays.
Things are coming along nicely. Now that the admin stuff is mostly sorted I am starting to organise the fun stuff eg the Sydney tourist attractions for our overseas visitors, conference dinners, bonus talks etc.
I am really looking forward [...]
Jemma has gone back home
You’ll remember my newest niece post back in June. Well she has gone back home to Minnesota now. Here’s a piccy:
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )VFP COM object recompile can’t find include file
I made some simple changes to a VFP COM project prg file the other day, but when I recompiled I kept getting errors that it couldn’t find certain variables (eg COMATTRIB_READONLY which is defined in an include file).
This occurred in VFP8 and VFP9.
To cut a long story short – manually deleted all the fxp files. [...]
VFP9 Refresh problem
I’ve been having a few page refresh problems with VFP9.
I’m updating one of my programs to run in VFP9. In VFP8 page displays have been fine, but under 9 they don’t always refresh. If I manually add a .Refresh() to objects after doing something (eg adding records to a grid) it is fine, but this is [...]
On swearing
I’m going to try to cut down on my swearing.
My close friends will know I have a bit of problem with how much swearing and carrying on I do. Others will be surprised I guess, because I manage to put on an exterior of self control in this regard. But the ‘real’ me struggles with [...]
Design patterns
I’m reading a book Andrew Coates lent me called C# Design Patterns (James W Cooper). This idea of design patterns is fascinating. It has been around for a while, but I’m sure is one of those topics that gets put in the ‘nice, but I don’t have time for it’ basket.
I’m embarrassed to say [...]
Back from the farm
Back home from visiting my dad after his operation. He’s had a recent cancer scare (see my earlier post) and is now living with a new appreciation of things.
He’s looking really good. He’s lost a bit of weight and is looking pretty trim. He’s well rested, although a bit sore still, and is very positive. [...]
On swearing
I’m going to try to cut down on my swearing.
My close friends will know I have a bit of problem with how much swearing and carrying on I do. Others will be surprised I guess, because I manage to put on an exterior of self control in this regard. But the ‘real’ me struggles with [...]
Design patterns
I’m reading a book Andrew Coates lent me called C# Design Patterns (James W Cooper). This idea of design patterns is fascinating. It has been around for a while, but I’m sure is one of those topics that gets put in the ‘nice, but I don’t have time for it’ basket.
I’m embarrassed to say [...]
Back from the farm
Back home from visiting my dad after his operation. He’s had a recent cancer scare (see my earlier post) and is now living with a new appreciation of things.
He’s looking really good. He’s lost a bit of weight and is looking pretty trim. He’s well rested, although a bit sore still, and is very positive. [...]
