Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 July 23

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July 23

Linux software

Does Ubuntu Linux have software similar to Microsoft Office? If so, how simalar are they and where can i get it?--Randoman412 00:11, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Yes believe it or not it actually come with it on the CD, it's called OpenOffice.org. --antilived^{T | C | G} 07:33, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Chapter Splitting in Handbrake.

I ripped the ISO file from a DVD with DVD Decrypter. I would like to encode it to mpeg-4(using the Windows version of Handbrake). I want to would like to have each chapter split to a new video, but I don't know how. Any help is appreciated. Thannks. QWERTY | Dvorak 00:38, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

You could rip it into one file, then use Windows Movie maker to take it apart?

I don't think wmm can work with mp4. I fiddled with the settings and figured it out. QWERTY | Dvorak 04:31, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

SD cards and whatnot

I wasn't sure when I read the article, so I just wanted to confirm a couple of things...now, is SDHC only compatible with the products listed there? Is any old SD card compatible with the Wii? And what's the highest-capacity regular SD card (that is, not SDHC) being manufactured? Thanks.--The Ninth Bright Shiner 02:37, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

(q1)There could be other compatible products. GB 04:49, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

(q2)Looking at the Nintendo information, old SD cards are compatible with Wii, but newer bigger cards may not be. They say that cards 2 GB or less could work, as long as they are not too slow[1]. GB 04:43, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

(q3)2 GB or 2,147,483,648 bytes (its 2.147 GB!). There are bigger 4GB SD cards that are not SDHC, but they are not regular or standard. They will not work with the Wii. GB 04:49, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I wish manufacturers of storage would begin differentiating between gigabytes and gibibytes (and all other similar prefixes). It's a horrible historical hangover that is becoming more of an issue with the vaster storage capacities we have nowadays. Capuchin 08:39, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Alright then. Thanks a lot!--The Ninth Bright Shiner 18:48, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Perl Code

With the replace command in perl s/what is find/what to replace it with/; how do you tell perl that the forward slash is meant to be there (eg. s/Bob/Larry/Bob or Larry/; ). --Chris ^g 05:28, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

s/Bob\/Larry/Bob or Larry/, or s#Bob/Larry#Bob or Larry#.

Thanks I'll use s/Bob\/Larry/Bob or Larry/ becouse in my IDE s#Bob/Larry#Bob or Larry# would come out as a comment. --Chris ^g 06:50, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi Chris G, you can use any characters you want. For example:

   s^find this^replace with this^;
   s@find this@replace with this@;
   s{find this}{replace with this};

all of these will work as you'd expect. For more details, go see Delimiter#Regular_expression_syntax. HTH. dr.ef.tymac 07:52, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Please do see Leaning toothpick syndrome. As explained above, if your expressins include a lot of literal "/" characters, an alternate delimiter character can be much more readable.

Atlant 12:31, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Mame play

How do you play roms on Mame?--124.184.126.8 09:16, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

有没有华文的 LexisNexis?

--59.189.64.229 12:07, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

http://research.lexisnexis.com.cn/ — Matt Eason ^{(Talk • Contribs)} 14:22, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Every LexisNexis problem I've encountered required a complete file deletion (including manual delete from the registry) and then a reinstall. -- Kainaw^(what?) 15:23, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

List of OS' while booting How do I change this?

When turning on my computer, I've got a choice of two operative systems to choose from before loading up windows. I had to reinstall Windows Vista after having a problem, and it looks like the old one is still in the menu. So when I turn on my PC, I've got an option to load into "Microsoft Windows Vista" and "Microsoft Windows Vista"... and the second "Vista" doesn't work and just hangs the computer. How do I go about removing this second "Vista"? It auto-chooses the first one after 30 seconds, but honestly it's really annoying. I had this problem on a windows XP system, but I don't know my way around Vista and was hoping I could get some help. Thanks, --GTPoompt(talk) 12:10, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Start > Run, "msconfig". Boot > select old version, "Delete" and then restart. XP et al. had a text file you could edit for this (\boot.ini), but Vista's is this miniregistry you have to use BCD or msconfig for. 68.39.174.238 13:12, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Thanks :] --GTPoompt(talk) 17:13, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

having trouble with microsoft window popping up.

On my computer everything works fine except that the microsoft window keeps popping up saying that Windows Explorer has stopped working, then another box says Windows Explorer is restarting, so it acts like it is and the desktop and the start window goes away for about 5 seconds then comes back and the cycle repeats itself. Do you know what has caused it and why it keeps happening? It just started and I scanned for viruses and it says I have none. I did spy sweeper and it found a Trojan Horse, I guess that was a virus and quarantined it. Do you think this is happening because of that? Please Help.

Thanks, Monica

One thing that works wonders in XP is the System Restore under Accessories|System Tools. Use this to restore windows to a point in time when Explorer did not do this. It could have been a virus that has corrupted some of your system files. Then again with Windows it could be anything. Sandman30s 22:14, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Yes, it is very likely that the Trojan is the source of the problem. Like Sandman says, though, it could be anything. Windows Explorer fails and restarts for me too when I switch between My Documents and Windows Media Player within the first few seconds of a song. HYENASTE 22:42, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Recycle Bin

The 'Recycle Bin' on my PC is unable to store any deleted files/folders ... It's always empty ! What might be the problem ? How to fix it ? (OS : WXP) Thanking you in anticipation --Pupunwiki 15:18, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Right click on the Recycle Bin and check that you have space allocated for deleted files and that the 'Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted' is not checked. Lanfear's Bane

Yeah, I checked it out ... There is far more space than required for the bin, & the 'Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted' box is not checked, and the problem remains the same ... ANY OTHER WAY TO FIX IT ? Thanks for answering...--Pupunwiki 15:54, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

The files you're deleting are stored locally on your machine (for example, on the C: drive), right? 'Cause files on shared volumes ared usually immediately deleted rather than being placed in the recycle bin.

Atlant 16:24, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I have a workaround for you: create your own recycle bin. Create a folder on the desktop with the appropriate name, and drag anything you want to get rid of there, then delete the original. This will give you a safe copy, if you decide you need something back. StuRat 18:08, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

That won't work with files that are on "shares", which is probably why the real Windows recycle bin doesn't work with shares either. Making it work right (as in the Macintosh operating system where every volume has a "trashes" folder) would have required more than a few moments slap-dash work so Microsoft didn't bother.

Atlant 11:52, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

bit torrent files

thanx for answering my previos question , so i downloaded the ABC bit torrent program and downloaded an ebook but i cant open it . when i clicked on properties the file type was bitTorrent so why cant i open it which program do i have to download to view it--Angelofwrath 15:23, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Try running ABC and selecting New or Open? Or when it prompts you that the file is unrecognised go to the 'Select programme for a list' and choose ABC, your computer should then associate the programme with bittorrent files. Lanfear's Bane

can abc display pics , i thought it only downloaded stuffAngelofwrath 03:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

If the file type is bitTorrent then you didn't download the file, you just downloaded the reference to the file — files with the .torrent extension are just instructions for the bitTorrent client as to where the file is, how big it is, etc.; it is not the file itself. I think what you want is a bitTorrent client like BitComet or Azerus. Get one of those, then use those files to open the .torrent file, and then it should download the file you want. --24.147.86.187 01:36, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Chess by email viewer?

Hello, I am planning to play chess-by-email with a friend, but before we can start, we need a free program or webservice that can show any given board position after the move list is copied and pasted. Does anyone know where I can find such a program?

(If this is the wrong area to ask about this, please mention it.)

Thanks, 24.177.7.128 15:46, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I'm short on time to look, but, I would suggest trying out [2] - they usually have good freeware like that. You could also try a google search download chess. The Evil Spartan 00:24, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Don't forget that you can have a real board at each end, and use that instead. I find a real board somehow more satisfying. StuRat 18:04, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Torrents

How come using torrents is legal and allowed? I'd figure it be illegal...getting programs and movies for free I mean...What's happening there? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.48.106.68 (talk • contribs) 12:50, 23 July 2007

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing communications protocol. It's not the protocol that's illegal, just the content. A lot of people use BitTorrent for perfectly legal things, for example, ISO images of linux installation media. -- JSBillings 17:15, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

A torrent is just a way to distribute files. It just so happens that many of them are illegal in some countries. A lot of large updates/patches/drivers/freeware/shareware files are distributed by torrent to lessen the load on the company's server. Don't take this as legal advice though. --GTPoompt(talk) 17:17, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

In US caselaw the distinction between content and method is not concrete. See the most recent/infamous case relating to this: MGM Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd. --24.147.86.187 20:27, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

You can use search engines to find places on the internet to get programs and movies for free. Does that mean that search engines and the internet should be illegal? There are plenty of legal uses for torrents. lvlarx 20:40, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

The search engine analogy is not one I'd prefer to describe it as, since you could equate that to a phone book, while BitTorrent is like a car dealership, and downloading illegal content is like buying a car from the car dealership to transport drugs. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 00:47, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

And in the Grokster case, Grokster was like a car dealership advertising its cars for use in illicit transport of controlled substances. --Damian Yerrick (talk | stalk) 21:27, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

The MAFIAA has been somewhat successful in shutting down torrent search sites despite them not hosting any infringing content.. see IsoHunt#Lawsuit, this news article, and the long arm of the mafiaa coercing swedish officials to raid thepiratebay despite America's petty IP laws not applying in sweden. --froth^t 16:37, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Problem with Java

Hi all (again):

I've been trying to get Java working on my linux machine. I wrote the following program:

      public class Mycode
      {
          public static void main()
          {
              System.out.println("Hello, World!"); 
          }
      }

in a file called Mycode.java. I compiled with "javac Mycode.java" and it created a file called Mycode.class. Then, I used the command "java Mycode". However, the following happened:

      > javac Mycode.java
      > ls
      Mycode.class  Mycode.java
      > java Mycode
             Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError:
             Mycode (Unsupported major.minor version 49.0)
             at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass0(Native Method)
             at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(Unknown Source)
             at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
             at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
             at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
             at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
             at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClassInternal(Unknown Source)
      >

Can anyone tell me what the problem is? It compliled OK, so I'm not sure what's wrong. Thanks again! --Waldsen 17:47, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

You may have a path problem, whereby javac is of a (considerably) later version than the java runtime executable - run "java -version" and "javac -version" : while they don't (at all) need to be the same version, on a basic installation you'd expect them to be, and it'd be curious to discover why they aren't. Secondly, I'd worry that (by means symbolic links) one of the two programs (java and javac) is from the JDK/JRE and one isn't (most likely, a synonym for some part of gcj). So I'd follow the path of `which java` back to the actual ELF binary, and make sure both java and javac come from the same source. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:02, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Hmm, that is fairly funny. I've found that when I have java compiler errors, there's almost always one of two reasons: 1) capitalization. Mycode!=MyCode. You look good here. 2) Path problems. Like Finlay says, you might be running one version of javac, and another for java. In fact, it seems likely, as linux often comes equipped with a java runtime environment, and it would be right in your path. Agreed; find the right version of java to run. The Evil Spartan 00:23, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

A5 printing.

I have something on a Microsoft Word document that I would like to print as one A5 page on either side of a landscape A4 piece of paper, so I can then cut the paper in half and staple it back together in the right order. Is there any way of doing this?

Many printer drivers do this; do print, pick properties, and search around in the result dialog for something called "layout" or "page layout". Where it is, and what it's called, varies between printers. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:20, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

It's almost certainly not called "A5" or anything like that, btw, but something like "2 per page" or something. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:24, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

OK, I've found that. Thanks. Now, is there anything I can do to get it to print pages 2 and 3 on one side and 1 and 4 on the other side?

Doing that is called "booklet" mode; some printers have more advanced booklet printing options than others. Alternatively you can reformat the document in word and have it do it, This Microsoft article describes how], although I've not tried it personally. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:36, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

SQL query

I have a set of tables which is something like the following: Table1 (table1id, table1name) Table2 (table2id, table2name) LinkTable (id, table1id, table2id)

This allows me to do a one-to-many join (each entry in table1 can be associated with multiple entries in table2 via the linktable). This is pretty standard for cases in which a single entry needs to be able to have an unlimited number of changing properties.

My question is: What is the best way to construct my SQL query if I want to select entries in Table1 which have certain combinations of properties from Table2? Say, for example, I want all records from Table1 which are associated with item 5 in Table2 via the LinkTable.

(Note: I am using MS Access and its implementation of SQL.)

For example, one way of doing this would be: SELECT * FROM Table1 WHERE table1id IN (SELECT table1id FROM LinkTable WHERE table2id=5)

Another way is: SELECT * FROM Table1 WHERE DCount("*","LinkTable","table1id=" & table1id & " AND table2id=5")>0

But using functions like DCount, DLookup, etc. is even slower.

I've thought about using JOIN clauses, but I'm not 100% sure how I'd implement that for more than one thing at a time (i.e. if I wanted all of those in Table1 associated with both items 5 and 10 from Table2).

Any thoughts as to how to do this right? The versions I've used above will work, but they are dirt slow. (And no, substantially changing the structure of the database is not an option. Work with what I have, here.) Thanks! --24.147.86.187 20:38, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

This may depend somewhat on the database engine that you're using. The number one thing you can do is to make sure that you have proper indexing on the tables (are you allowed to do that?) Failing that, on mySQL, STRAIGHT JOIN can improve query speeds, but it's the indexes that do the job. Donald Hosek 20:41, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps try 2 queries. One to reduce the multi-record table to the records you are interested in and then the second to join. I'm not sure how much more efficient Access is in processing multiple simple-queries compared to single complex ones but it may help. If you haven't alreayd setup a relationship between the two tables, index them and remove unnecessary field length (e.g. text fields set to 50 characters that only ever hold a maximum of 10 characters). Compact/repair often improves speed. You could also look at archiving records that aren't used into seperate tables. You can then have a setup for 'regular use' records that runs rapidly and a slower one for the less frequently queried results. ny156uk 21:17, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I'd go with:

SELECT * FROM Table1 
 WHERE LinkTable.table1id = Table1.table1id 
   AND LinkTable.table2id = 5;

Or:

SELECT * FROM Table1 
 WHERE LinkTable.table2id = 5
   AND LinkTable.table1id = Table1.table1id;

Try both and see if one is faster than the other. Some implementations of SQL may require that any table to be searched be included in the FROM clause, in which case you would need something like this:

SELECT LinkTable.table1id,  Table1.table1name FROM Table1,LinkTable
 WHERE LinkTable.table1id = Table1.table1id 
   AND LinkTable.table2id = 5;

Or:

SELECT LinkTable.table1id,  Table1.table1name FROM Table1,LinkTable 
 WHERE LinkTable.table2id = 5
   AND LinkTable.table1id = Table1.table1id;

StuRat 17:45, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Because you are using Access, this is a JetSQL question, not SQL. The SQL method is rather simple: "select * from table1 join linktable on table1.table1id=linktable.table1id where table2id=5". You could change "table2id=5" to something like "table2id in (5,10,13,15)" if you like. As a general rule, it is faster to join than subselect. However, JetSQL is not SQL, so the rules don't apply. -- Kainaw^(what?) 17:59, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

OK, I'll give those a shot. Thanks. I might just end up using the In operator as it turns out it works faster than I thought it did (DCount is too slow for practical use, but with the size of the recordset I am using In is fine, I think). --24.147.86.187 01:35, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

pentium M 715

How much is a used pentium m 715 worth now?

A quick ebay search returns (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=pentium+m+715&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1) both items are listed for less than $35 at buy-it now. I guess that means...not a lot. ny156uk 21:12, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Audio/Video

This video, its funny. I want to find the song on limewire but cannot. Is there anyway to download the video and rip the audio off it to obtain it in audio-song format? SGGH ^speak! 21:57, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

You could play the video and record the sound using sound recorder. --HughCharlesParker (talk - contribs) 23:20, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Hmm. Realplayer has a new, pay-for version where you can download videos off the net if they're not copyright protected. However, I'm not sure this video isn't. I can't advise anyone to rip content they don't own. I might say buy the CD. :) The Evil Spartan 00:20, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Download the video using anything you get in google under "youtube downloader", use SUPER to convert the flv to an AVI, then use the RAD video tools to extract the MP3. -Wooty [Woot?] [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam!] 01:30, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Why so complicated? Just download the FLV and ripout the MP4 audio... If you really need an MP3, just to it directly rather then going about a round about way like making it into an AVI Nil Einne 01:22, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Router Stuff

Hi. I'm thinking of setting up a wireless router in my home to connect another computer to my Internet connection. Will it still work if I'm using Satellite Broadband? And also, does anyone know what the power consumption of the average router would be? Thanks Mix Lord 22:40, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

A router shouldn't eat up too much electricity; at least in my estimation (not like, say, a television or a cable box). In fact, some non-wireless hubs can run without a plug. But, in any case wireless routing shouldn't be incompatible with any other kind of routing; in other words, the signal wouldn't interfere with your satellite broadband. If you're really worried, you could ask one of the professionals at the store you're using, but I'm 98% sure they'll say the two won't conflict. The Evil Spartan 00:14, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Well on the power issue it's because my parents are recent climate change converts who are starting to obsess over how much electricity things have. Would it be any easier just to set up a network with Cat5, to share Internet?

Mix Lord 00:35, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

To a first approximation, a wireless router and an ordinary Ethernet switch take the same amount of power and wireless is far easier to install and more-generally useful (says the climate change worrier who's using a wireless network right now).

Atlant 00:44, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

If you only have two computers to share, it's not too bad to share network with just Cat5. Any more computers than that, especially if you have more than 4, it's definately better to get a router. I don't believe routers use that much electricity, but you'd have to check the specs of the router to see how much power it actually uses. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 00:44, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

You should be more concerned about the increased power usage of the other computer if it's hooked up and you're using it all day :p -Wooty [Woot?] [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam!] 01:28, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

And just one more thing, I tried using a router before getting satellite broadband, on a really slow dialup connection and couldn't get the Internet to work through a network. Can it only be networked above a certain speed?

Mix Lord 01:34, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

That was likely a misconfiguration on your part. Routers can pretty much work with anything afaik. -Wooty [Woot?] [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam!] 01:35, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

One data point: Our Apple AirPort base station worked just fine when we were using dial-up. Its bult-in modem reliably automagically dialed, stayed online while we used it, and hung-up (rang off) after the selected-by-us period of inactivity. It worked very smoothly and compared to the abyssmal service we're currently getting from our current Comcast cable broadband every evening, I'd welcome that capability back!

Atlant 11:56, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Bold and italics in plain text: a suggested use for the other Unicode planes

It seems to me that (a) it would be desirable to be able to put bold and italic characters in plain text (that is, text without formatting markup other than standard control characters), and (b) this could be done using some of the many unassigned Unicode planes, by declaring that any graphical character on plane 0, 1 or 2 can be made italic by adding 3 to the plane number, bold by adding 6 and bold-italic by adding 9 (leaving planes 12 and 13 still unassigned). Would Unicode policy allow the governing body to do this? NeonMerlin 23:50, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

The philosophy of unicode is not to express formatting. In fact there is an unlimited number of ideas for formatting text: underlining, hollow characters, inverse video, blinking, strikethrough, boxed, colours, shadow, rotated, mirror image, different fonts, alignment, small or large size and more. In HTML the direction is using CSS to specify formatting. GB 00:24, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

While this may indeed be the philosophy, the existence of quite a few Unicode compatibility characters does complicate matters in practice. Nor is it always at all clear where to draw the line between presentation and semantics: one could argue that the distinction between majuscule and minuscule Latin letters is hardly greater than that between italic and roman ones, yet nobody would really want to use a charset with only one case of letters. —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 20:02, 24 July 2007 (UTC)