Vreau sa precizez de la inceput ca packul este in principiu conceput pentru XP Professional SP2, putand exista unele probleme pe Home edition.

True Transparency este principalul modul upgradat si care functioneaza fara a mai bloca windows explorer. Nu este ceva extrem de functional, insa da un aspect deosebit ferestrelor. In cazul aplicatiei Y!Messenger, bordura transparenta se suprapune celei native ale aplicatiei, in loc sa o substituie. Pentru cei mai pretentiosi, acesta poate fi considerat un inconvenient vizual, singurul de altfel.

Winflip este mult imbunatatit. Atat timp cat taskbarul nu este transparent, acesta va fi vizibil in momentul lansarii winflip.

Visual Tooltip se apropie cel mai mult de aplicatia similara din Vista, cu mult mai mult decat o facea versiunea inclusa in Vistamizer. La mouse-over, pentru orice aplicatie sau fereastra minimizata in taskbar apare un thumbnail, cu dimensiune reglabila, si eventual insotit de titlul ferestrei ( optiune care ocupa spatiu si am dezactivat-o din optiuni ). Thumbnails-urile pot fi mutate cu mouse-ul si, eventual, grupate pe un dockbar propriu aplicatiei, intocmai ca in Vista.

Vista Orb se integreaza in sfarsit in taskbar, recreand in totalitate aspectul taskbarului din Vista. Personal il consider la fel de inutil, neavand decat un rol estetic.

Pack-ul mai contine un Rocket-dock similar dockbar-urilor pe care le-am amintit in celelalte articole, dar care nu cuprinde un modul weather ca in cazul ObjectDock. Aveti insa la dispozitie o multitudine de skinuri intre care puteti alege, in functie de gustul fiecarui utilizator.

Ca o alternativa la Vista sidebar, in acest pack este inclus Rainbar-ul ( Vista Rainmeter Sidebar ), pe care il utilizez si eu. De asemenea contine modului Vista Drive Status si screensaver-ul cu logo-ul de Vista.

Styler-ul este si el imbunatatit in ceea ce priveste functionalitatea. Cu el puteti aplica diversele skinuri de windows disponibile.

Y’zShadow aplica umbre ferestrelor. Daca alegeti o culoare pentru umbra, veti obtine efect tip neon-glow. Marimea si directia umbrei poate fi modificata si puteti seta diferente intre umbra unei ferestre active si a uneia inactive. Nu recomand aplicatia pe calculatoarele cu placi video slabe si cu putina memorie RAM.

Cum puteti observa in primele screen-shot-uri, programul are un mod de instalare extrem de simplu. Spre deosebire de Vistamizer el nu porneste in mod automat nici una din aplicatiile incluse, plasand in schimb toate shortcut-urile necesare pe desktop. Aplicatiile pe care recomand sa le utilizati sunt cele specificate mai sus, aveti la dispozitie si cateva visual-styles, dar si o aplicatie cu totul noua pe care va las s-o descoperiti singuri. In momentul in care stabiliti aplicatiile care vor rula o data cu pornirea windows-ului, si care nu au optiune speciala “run at start-up”, mutati shortcut-urile respective in folderul Start-up din Documents and Settings/Programs. Restul iconitelor ramase pe desktop pot fi sterse.

Programul contine un patcher special care inlocuieste un dll al windows-ului (uxTheme.dll). Utilizarea patcherului este foarte simpla si este necesara pentru a aplica skinul de Vista. Originalul acestui dll il gasiti in Windows/system32. Tot acolo se va afla un back-up al fisierului in cazul in care experimentul nu reuseste si windows-ul da eroare. Pentru a-l restaura, stergeti uxtheme.dll si redenumiti uxtheme.backup schimband “backup” in “dll”. Din acest motiv nu recomand instalarea acestui pack pe un XP Home edition. In principiu, in XP Professional, aplicarea modulului ViStart decurge fara probleme si fara a fi nevoie de patcher. In caz contrar, recomand instalarea initiala a aplicatiei StyleXP, sau a unui alt modul UxTheme Patcher.

Vista Magic Pack nu schimba cursoarele si iconitele existente, si nici logon-ul sau bootscreen-ul. Pentru a modifica si aceste elemente, lansati instalarea Vistamizer-ului si lasati debifata complet casuta din dreptul Apps. Enjoy!

E un pack complet, schimba bootscreen-ul , log-on-ul, iconitele, taskbarul, start menu, instaleaza un sidebar tip vista si aduce ca noutate efectele vista de transparenta si schimbarea 3D intre ferestre.

Cu toate acestea, packul are cateva mici defecte, sesizate de multi utilizatori si pe care va sfatuiesc sa le eliminati de la instalare. Cel mai important - transparenta sau componenta TrueTransparency. Aceasta face ca title-bar-ul ferestrelor sa devina in totalitate transparent. Deocamdata TrueTransparency nu functioneaza corect, ferestrele se blocheaza deseori, nu se mai pot misca si intr-un final nu se mai poate da click pe nimic, nici macar suficient cat sa se dea restart din windows. Un alt bug - VistaOrb. Practic, din dorinta ca taskbarul sa fie identic cu cel de vista, s-a inventat in Vistamizer un modul care instaleaza un shortcut pentru start menu sub forma butonului de start din vista, adica rotund, pentru a compensa faptul ca taskbarul nu a putut fi modelat in modul in care apare in Vista. Acest buton este vizibil separat de taskbar, putand fi chiar mutat din loc accidental, si, pe langa aspectul inestetic, se dovedeste a fi complet inutil.

Astfel, in momentul in care instalati vistamizer, va va apare o lista in care sa bifati componentele pe care le doriti instalate. Bifati apps, si din sublista debifati TrueTransparency si Viorb.

In pack este inclus si un soft care duce transparenta mai departe decat o face, nativ,Vista. Glass2k poate face orice fereastra, fie de windows explorer, fie de browser sau aplicatie, oricat de transparenta doriti, si mai mult, poate pastra in memorie aceste setari. Puteti alege sa activati aceste optiuni atunci cand dati un click dreapta pe orice fereastra, sau puteti alege la fel de bine ca aceste optiuni sa nu apara. Pe iconita Glass2k, care apare in tray, se da click dreapta Settings, se bifeaza Auto-remember every window’s transparency settings, si apoi se alege enabled pentru right click transparency pop-up dupa care mai jos se alege un shortcut. Puteti, de asemenea, sa alegeti cat de transparent va doriti sa fie taskbarul.

WinFlip este aplicatia care va ofera posibilitatea de a alege intre ferestrele deschise in modul in care o puteti face in Vista. Atuul aplicatiei de windows care permite acest lucru este faptul ca o puteti actiona fie facand un cerc cu mousul pe ecran, fie apasand pe scroll de pe mouse ( alegeti intre cele doua modalitati dand click dreapta si Options pe iconita WinFlip din tray ). Fata de aplicatia de vista insa, taskbarul si orice altceva aflat pe desktop (sidebar, gadgeturi ) dispare, fiind vizibil doar un desktop blurat si mai intunecat. Aplicatia insa este una folositoare in special pentru cei care deschid multe ferestre si doresc sa navigheze intre ele intr-un mod in care cel mai important e ca pot vedea foarte bine ce anume aleg.

Cu vistamizer nu mai aveti nevoie de StyleXP pentru a schimba skinurile. Pe langa faptul ca include cateva skinuri suplimentare celor de Vista, puteti instala cu usurinta orice alt skin descarcat din internet. Nu puteti insa modifica si bootscreen-ul sau logon-ul, neavand un soft special care sa execute schimbari in modulele kernel.

Vistamizer se gaseste freeware pe internet si apare la orice cautare Google. Cel mai nou modul este 2.5.2.0. Eu prefer insa modulul 2.0.0.0, sau eventual 2.2 care sunt mult mai stabile. Enjoy!

Windows XP users have not really seen a lot of love theme-wise from Microsoft since the release of the operating system. A measly handful of official themes have been released by Microsoft and the trend seems to continue for Windows Vista users. There is not really a reason to not to supply customers with fresh themes for their operating systems. If you look on the Internet you find many resources that cater to the needs of users who want to change the default themes.

Official themes on the other hand have the advantage of being signed meaning that there is no need to tamper with the uxtheme.dll file that protects the operating system from unofficial themes. Vishal over at Ask VG discovered a new signed Windows XP theme that is also compatible with Windows Server 2003 that can be installed without changing system files.

He discovered the theme in the Windows Embedded Standard CTP Refresh distribution and provided download links to it. The theme is supplied as a self extracting executable that installs the theme in the right location in Windows. The theme can then be selected from the Themes tab in the Display Properties.

(via ghacks.net)

A new survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit finds that companies need to use more web 2.0 tools to attract millennial customers. Web 2.0 tools are next generation web experiences like blogs, pod casts and social networking sites. Think social web experiences.

SDA Asia has a nice write-up:

A new global survey shows that whilst most companies have a sophisticated understanding of what it would take to adapt to Enterprise 2.0 tools, they are not ready to change their customer engagement model by leveraging social networking, peer marketing, better onlinesupport, text messaging and blogging, costing them a great deal as they are not able to serve a new wave of consumers from the Millennial Generation.

What does this have to do with recruit millennails to your campus? Everything!

A millennial selects a college using the same tools they might purchase a cell phone: they research itonline, talk to their social network (online and off) and make a buying decision based on the facts on the ground.

It doesn't matter if you consider your college an instituion of education that will naturaly attract those seeking knowledge. That isn't the case for 90%+ of your students. Rather, you are selling a brand to a potential customer (the student, the millennial).

So how do you change your marketing strategy?

Easy. The SDA article does a great job of getting to the core of the solution, the three 3 Cs to attractingmillennials: "convenience, customization, and community." Make a list of every individual activity you and your team does, from open houses to emails, for recruitment. For each item, ask yourself, does this offer convenience, customization, or community?

If the answer is no, can you change the activity to align it with one of these categories? If you can't,should you still do it?

• Vista High PX
  (By the way, CrystalXP.net has a huge collection of icon suites)

• Vista Style Glass Folders
  (More suites from this artist: Jordan-Michael.com)

• Refresh CL
  (This designer has a more icon sets at his site here: blog.tpdkdesign.net)

• Sleek XP: Software
  (More from this designer at deviantART: deleket.deviantart.com)

You can find a whole bunch more great icons at the following links:

• 20+ Free And Fresh Icon Sets
• 35 (Really) Incredible Free Icon Sets
• Icons For Your Desktop and Icons For Your Web Designs
• VistaIcons.com

When we click the Start button, we are taken to a page with the License Acceptance. We check “Accept” at the bottom and proceed to the next step. Now we have a system check, which has to ensure all files have the necessary permissions and the server is compatible with our installation. All options must be green “OK”. Only after this we can proceed next.Step 3 is the most important in the setup process. We have to specify the database configuration:

For Host Name we use localhost. This is our server’s default name. In Database Name we specify the database we have already created. Mind to specify your full database name, which includes your account name with Siteground - e.g. “accountusername_sugarcrm”. For User name we use again the already created and added to the database user - its full name including our account name. Last we specify the password for the database user.
We leave unchecked Create database and Create user because we have already done it. It is not necessary to check Drop and recreate existing SugarCRM tables because we are doing a clean installation. If you prefer, you can check the “Populate database with demo data” button. This would be useful if you want to explore a working system and you intend only to test the current installation. Otherwise it may confuse you because you would have to delete all the data later.
Next page can be left with the values populated by default. You have to specify only your administrator’s password for the application and retype it.

We click Next and we’re taken to a page in which we have to confirm our settings until now. Here you should have no problems and just proceed with next. Then the installation is performed and you should see at the bottom:
“Your system is now installed and configured for use. You will need to log in for the first time using the “admin” user name and the password you entered during setup.”
Finally you have the opportunity to register your installation. This would be helpful for the developers and their future plans. If you are not interested you just click Finish at the bottom.
Well done! This is the end of the SugarCRM installation process and you are automatically redirected to your default start page.

Posted by: MiracleStudios.us

· Customize your SugarCRM application
· Add your own components in the form of module tabs and dashlets
· Modify the look and feel of SugarCRM
· Add new fields to SugarCRM
· Develop, test, and use SugarCRM in a safe environment
· Incorporate third-party modules into your site
· Develop your own modules from scratch
· Develop a custom workflow within SugarCRM
· Optimize the performance of SugarCRM implementations

Chapter 1 is a smooth introduction to customizing Sugar CRM.
In Chapter 2, you will start to customize the SugarCRM application itself, and you will be able to add your own components in the form of module tabs and dashlets.
In Chapter 3, you will learn how to modify the look and feel of SugarCRM. This chapter also shows how to add new fields to SugarCRM.
Chapter 4 looks at the interfaces, and how to use them effectively in your customizations.
Chapter 5 includes database schematic diagrams, showing the relationships between each table in the database and the other tables.
Chapter 6 covers complete database schematics for the SugarCRM application, providing full details on each table.
In Chapter 7, you will learn how to develop, test, and use SugarCRM in a safe environment using a development server, a test server, and a live server.
In Chapter 8, you will learn to incorporate third-party modules into your site and develop your own modules from scratch.
Chapter 9 deals with developing a custom workflow within SugarCRM.
In Chapter 10, you will see various techniques for optimizing the performance of a SugarCRM implementation, and a few
more ways of extending the application.
Approach
The book is structured as:
· An overview of the architecture of the application and database, how it all fits together
· A module development tutorial, showing the essential steps for hooking your module into the SugarCRM infrastructure
· A section of common customizations that can be performed against the codebase

Who this book is written for
The book is for PHP developers working with SugarCRM, who want to extend its capabilities. Readers should have a basic knowledge of SugarCRM as the book does not cover installation and usage of SugarCRM. This can be gained from Implementing SugarCRM.

Posted by: MiracleStudios.us

Излезе The GIMP v2.6 [оценка на редактора-6/6]
Поредната важна стъпка в развитието на многоплатформения графичен редактор с отворен код The GNU Image Manipulation Program(накратко GIMP) бе направена с това издание. Накратко:

GIMP 2.6 е важно издание от гледна точка на разработчиците. То включва промени по потребителския интерфейс(UI), които поправят някои от най-често получените  оплаквания, както и екпериментална интеграция на GEGL, the graph based image processing library, която в последствие ще внедри високо битова наситеност/дълбочина(high bit-depth) и  недеструктивно редактиране(non-destructive editing) в GIMP. Многобройните промени са:

• Toolbox Menubar Removed
• Toolbox and Docks are Utility windows
• Ability to Pan Beyond Image Border
• Renamed Dialogs menu to Windows.
• Keep a list of recently closed Docks and allow reopening them.
• Make opening images in already running GIMP instances work better on Windows.
• You can now enter the image zoom ratio directly in the status bar.
• Added support for using online help instead of a locally installed GIMP Help package.
• Make it possible to lock tabs in docks to prevent accidental moving.

Излезе Miranda IM v0.7.10 [оценка на редактора-6/6]
Miranda IM, заедно с Pidgin и още няколко подобни проекта с отворен код са най-функционалните инстантни месинджъри(IM) в последните години. Те са в непрестанна разработка и са практически швейцарските ножчета в поддръжката на най-голям брой IM протоколи сред комерсиалните си събратя като MSN, AIM и дори патентования протокол със затворен код на Skype. Настоящата версия(v0.7.10) включва предимно поправки по стабилността и минорни поправки по поддръжката на MSN, ICQ и Gadu-Gadu протоколите. Най-добрата му страна е възможността за използване на персонализирани кожи за contact list-а, препоръчвам секцията в deviantART за Miranda IM skins като добро място, от което можете да си изтеглите нови кожи. Ето три примера за качествени кожи - Latte IM, Rino Skin и Miranda NION. Дори успях да намеря и кратък урок на английски, ако имате желание сами да си създадете скин за Миранда. Докопах се и до още една полезна връзка, с линкове относно създаването на скинове(кожи)/визуални теми за WinAmp, WMP, BSPlayer, VLC media player, Sony Ericsson GSMs, Nokia GSMs, Motorola GSMs, Opera v9.5+ browser, Mozilla Firefox 3+ browser, ICQ, Miranda IM и Yahoo! Messenger. :D
[IM е вид Computer mediated communication]

Miranda IM е мултипротоколен клиент за моментална комуникация(instant messaging client) за Windows. Лекотата му към системни ресурси, изключителната му бързина и това, че не изисква инсталация и може да бъде поместен на една флопи дискета или USB драйв, го прави много мобилен и удобен. Включвайки мощна plugin-базирана структурна рамка и славейки се с над 350 плъгина, Miranda IM е един от най-гъвкавите and и податливи на персонализация(customization) месиджинг клиенти на планетата. Можете да видите как някои потребителите са персонализирали Miranda IM от секцията със скрийншоти от сайта на програмата.
Поддръжка на протоколите:

• AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
• Gadu-Gadu
• IAX (Inter-Asterisk Exchange)
• ICQ
• IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
• Jabber
• MSN
• Netsend
• Tlen
• Yahoo
• и други...
  Поддържани операционни системи:

• Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT / 2000 / 2003 / XP / Vista

Apophysis 2.08 BETA [оценка на редактора-6/6]
Apophysis се превърна в един от най-популярните и използвани генератори на фрактални изображения чрез програмиране на параметрите им. След излизането на версия 2.02 все още не са се появили нови стабилни издания, затова се налага използването на бета версиите, последната от които е именно 2.08. Благодарение на многото си почитатели и автори на фрактали(най-вече от deviantART.com), програмата се сдоби с 3D хак, с който функционалността й се разшири значително. Примери за това, на което е способна програмата при наличие на добър Apophysis програмист, мощен компютър и няколкочасово рендване се намират в изобилие в deviantART.

ASCII Generator dotNET(ascgen2) v0.9.6 [оценка на редактора-6/6]
Наследникът на най-добрата програма от този сорт в миналото се  превръща в абсолютният победител в надпреварата за титлата best ASCII art generator ever! ASCII art е термин, с който се обозначава тип изкуство, при което чрез буквите от азбуката и допълнителни символи се представя визуално картина. Работата на тази програма е именно да улесни и автоматизира процеса по превръщането на произволно изображение в текстови формат, с помощта на интуитивна палитра от настройки и инструменти(избор на шрифт и символи, които да се използват, настройка на контраст, превю и т.н.). Настоящата версия 0.9.6 е доста стабилна и се държи чудесно дори при работа с по-големи изображения. Приложението дава възможност да запазите резултата като текстови документ(*.txt) или изображение, като се поддържат и черно-бели и цветни изходни резултати. Урок за използване на програмата е наличен от уебсайта й. Дори ще си направя труда скоро лично да я преведа на български. :)
СЪВЕТ: Ако ще поставяте ASCII art в чат(например в Skype), първо премахнете празният знак от списъка със символи, които ползвате и го заменете с друг(например с "_"), защото чат програмите често пренебрегват празното пространство при поставяне(Paste). За Skype - изберете за шрифт Tahoma Regular с големина 8, защото по принцип точно тези настройки използва Скайп(освен ако не сте ги променили чрез опцията Font до Emoticons в чат прозореца), макар че промяната им се отразява само на вас, а не на потребителят, с когото си чатите.

CamStudio 2 [оценка на редактора-6/6]
И тази програма е с отворен код. Попаднах на нейно ревю при преглед на един много полезен блог. CamStudio служи за направата на видео файл на това, което правите с операционната система и отворени приложения(т.н. Screen Recording Software). Може да се натъкнете на малък проблем при опит да прегледате генерирания .swf файл, но в сайта е описано подробно как бързо да го отстраните, пък и това ще бъде напълно поправено в следващата версия. :) Програмата е много малка(около 1.3MB) и макар да е сравнително елементарна, е и доста мощна - позволява следните функции:

• записване на видео (region, fixed region или full screen)
• записване на аудио (от микрофон или тонколони)
• поставяне на текстови обяснителни бележки/забележки/коментари/анотации - стрелки, балончета, други форми (много полезни при създаването на видео уроци/video tutorials/)
• експорт/конвертиране към Flash (.swf файлове)
• персонализиране на keyboard shortcuts("горещите клавиши за бърз достъп")

Друга безплатна програма от този вид, която горещо препоръчвам е DebugMode's Wink, която е дори още по-мощна и богата на функции.

Synergy [оценка на редактора-5/6]
Поредната убийствена програмка с отворен код. Със Synergy можете да "слеете" при управление на мишката и клавиатурата два десктоп операционни системи и така да влачите курсора от края на екрана на единия монитор в другия! Програмата е изключително полезна при наличие на мултиекранна среда на един компютър или за управление на друг от разстояние. Позволява дори общ clipborard за копиране/поставяне от едната в другата ОС с пълна поддръжка на Unicode! Освен това можете да синхронизирате пускането и изключването на скрийнсейвъри и дори да въвеждате само веднъж парола за влизане в две операционни системи(при подходящи настройки)! И всичко това, благодарение на идеите на The Free Software Foundation и Движението за Свободен софтуер! За в бъдеще програмата ще стане още по-добра, стабилна и безпроблемна, а междувременно сайтът й разполага с достатъчно информация за правилното й конфигуриране и има кого да попитате ако сте в затруднение(но първо потърсете решението в документацията).  :)

ДРУГИ ПРЕПРЪЧАНИ ПРОГРАМИ
Източник: чрез българския сайт winAddons.com
BurnAware Free 2.1.4 - безплатна CD/DVD/Blu-ray записвачка с много функции
InfraRecorder - още един CD/DVD/ISO image-burner, но open-source; има интерфейс и на български
CDBurnerXP - още един много мощен безплатен CD/DVD/Blu-ray/ISO image-burner
AutoQ3D Community 1.38 - 3D софтуер, напомня ми на по-мощния си събрат Blender
CrossLoop 2.31 - безпроблемно споделяне на десктоп среди(desktop sharing)
Active Pixels 3.05 - графичен редактор, може би ще е съперник на Paint.NET? [официален уебсайт] 
aTuner 1.9.83 - за бърза и лека настройка на 3D конфигурацията на компютър, OpenGL и DirectX
SababaDC - далеч по-мощна и функционална от програмата за P2P споделяне на файлове DC++, а и нейн по-бърз мод :) [малко помощ - operating a hub]
Artweaver v0.5.5 - могъщата безплатна алтернатива на Corel Painter XI, за реалистично рисуване с поддръжка на множество различни инструменти; работи и с графични таблети(Wacom). Личен любимец на автора, наред с The GIMP 2.6+, Paint.NET v3.36+ и други... :)

Ако се питате какви статии следват, ето малка доза от това, което предстои(когато е публикувано):

• Софтуерни дебри, част 2-ра
• Урок по персонализация на WinXP - Визуални теми; десктоп уиджети, допълнителни програми и хакове за пълен контрол над външния вид на WinXP (Customization & personalization of WinXP - Visual Styles/Themes, desktop widgets & further programs to extend XP's functionality)
• [offtopic] Този блог ще се сдобие със собствен домейн в следващите месеци. Това ще ми позволи повече контрол в/у външният му вид, както и върху съдържанието му. :) Надявам се да стане по-четен и качеството на публикациите ми да нарастне стремглаво. Възнамерявам да поканя и още автори, както и най-вече да се самоъпдейтна умствено и да подобря уменията си за качествено писане. :D Не се безпокойте - старият домейн ще редиректва(пренасочва) към новия адрес. :)

П.П. Ако забележите някакви правописни грешки или имате да кажете нещо по темата, заповядайте - коментирайте с формата надолу. Ако е възможно, бъдете легитимни и сложете инфо за обратна връзка. :)

1. Customizarile prezentate sunt DOAR pentru XP ( fie home edition fie professional )

2. Pentru a arata exact ca in fotografii, am folosit combinatia tuturor softurilor prezentate. Apar unele conflicte intre FlyakiteOSX si orice alta transformare ulterioara a desktopului asa ca e necesara multa atentie la instalare. Astfel ar fi ideal ca la instalarea FlyakiteOSX sa nu fie bifate si visual styles pentru cine doreste sa ramana cu aspectul de Vista. In plus Vistamizerul instaleaza automat si alte cateva skinuri pentru diverse preferinte. Pentru a obtine skinul verde de vista cu taskbar albastru am aplicat un simplu Visual Style despre care nu am pomenit dar voi vorbi intr-un articol viitor.

3. Voi publica pentru fiecare in parte, daca e necesar, modul de instalare insotit de eventuale print screen-uri

De la descoperirea aplicatiei Style XP de la TGT Soft, care schimba doar skinul windows-ului, am cautat de-a lungul timpului aplicatii cat mai sofisticate care sa schimbe mai mult decat un simplu skin.

O data cu aparitia Windows Longhorn si mai tarziu cu lansarea oficiala a Windows Vista, au aparut inevitabil si aplicatiile care dadeau XP-ului aspectul de vista. Multi coderi au inclus in packurile de windows temele de Vista in mod implicit.

La ora actuala, pentru un efect vizual maxim, exista cateva packuri disponibile freeware pe internet si pe care le pot cataloga ca fiind cele mai bune.

Personal am utilizat mai multe astfel de packuri simultan, pastrand de la fiecare caracteristicile care m-au interesat.

Pe primul loc in topul customizatoarelor se afla Vistamizer. Acest pack face mult mai mult decat sa schimbe skinul windowsului. Are cateva aplicatii care realmente transforma GUI intr-unul extrem de apropiat de experienta Vista. Pe langa sidebarul binecunoscut, are doua componente principale care dau acel Vista feeling - Winflip care la actionare permite faimoasa tridimensionalizare a ferestrelor din vista ( si care fata de vista e mult mai usor de actionat - fie cu un gest circular al mousului pe desktop, fie apasand scroll-ul ) si un modul care schimba meniul Start facandu-l aproape identic cu meniul de Vista. Vine, intr-adevar si cu iconitele aferente, si cu Vista soundscheme.

Pe locul doi, venind tare din urma, cu un look and feel slick and smooth cum spun americanii, FlyakiteOSX. Nu am experimentat realmente un Mac dar cu siguranta schema de sunete a acestui pack e superioara Vistamizerului. In plus, include o bara in care intra automat ferestrele sau aplicatiile minimizate. Datorita Vistamizerului toate ferestrele minimizate fie in taskbar sau in aceasta bara pot fi vizualizate ca miniaturi la un simplu mouseover.

Un prim dockbar foarte cunoscut a fost Vista Inspirat. De fapt packul in sine instala si un skin si un logon, putin impresionante. Evolutia acestuia o aduce ObjectDock care vine cu un sidebar cu 3 optiuni suplimentare: o iconita de weather care la mouseover deschide si un 5 day forecast, posibilitatea de a incorpora ferestrele si aplicatiile minimizate, si posibilitatea de a-i schimba aspectul si transparenta.

Daca Vista sidebar tinde sa devina monotona, alternativa vine de la Rainbar. Similara in proportie de 90% cu vista sidebar si celelalte asemenea, Rainbar-ul are un inconvenient major - setarea gadgetului de weathercast se face greoi si de multe ori fara succes. In primul rand nu recunoaste multe daca nu toate codurile ZIP de la noi. In rest insa , dupa cum veti vedea si in imagini, contine bare de informatii pentru fiecare drive ( informatii care nu se dau in cazul barelor similare din vista sidebar ), si contine shortcut-urile implicite catre fiecare drive in parte. Cu alte cuvinte dand click pe iconita care reprezinta o partitie, se intra in partitia respectiva.

Cum Rainbar-ul este aproape imposibil de configurat in ceea ce priveste weather gadget, am cautat o alternativa. Ceea ce am gasit mi-a intrecut asteptarile. Yahoo gadgets este in opinia mea cea mai buna optiune pentru a aseza pe desktop gadgeturi care intrunesc toate conditiile de utilitate, performanta si stil. Personal am utilizat weather gadget-ul, pentru ca nu il aveam functional in sidebar, mail checker-ul care imi spune cate mailuri am primite si necitite de la ultima verificare a mailului, Moonphase care imi aseaza imaginea lunii pe desktop si imi spune in ce faza se afla, si cel mai util - un ceas digital enorm si rosu care se vede din avion cum se spune.

Mai exista pe un ultim loc, si asta pentru ca nu are multe functii, un Ubuntu transformation pack, pentru cei care apreciaza look-ul acestei platforme de Linux. Contine o singura functie importanta inafara de skinul de Ubuntu si anume desktop cube care roteste intre desktop si o fereastra deschisa pe forma unui cub. Atat timp cat nu exista doua desktopuri virtuale activate, aplicatia este inutila.

Pentru un mai bun control al skinurilor dar mai ales al bootscreenurilor si logonurilor recomand in continuare Style Xp. Contine si o mare varietate de screensavere similare multora din cele disponibile in Ubuntu. Pentru screensaverul flury, apelati la FlyakiteOSX.

So what are the shortcuts then?  Well select the Drafting pulldown, see the command for level has LL after it well that's the 2-key shortcut to invoke that command.  Give it a week and you'll find that the commands you use most will be easy to remember.  Just a note that revit works on a hot 2-key system, meaning that you don't need to escape out of the previous command to start another, just enter the 2-button shortcut and it changes to that command.  (You can define 1 button shortcuts as well, this works well to assign functions to your mouse, see my list below.)

Did I mention that you can add you own? (Customize revit you ask?)  Revit has a simple .txt file that defines all the shortcuts.  Assuming you installed to the default directory it's located here: C:\Program Files\Revit Structure 2009\Program\KeyboardShortcuts.txt (architecture is in a simialr location).  This file is pretty straight forward to figure out, it simply defines every command use a semi-colon to comment out a command you don't want to use.  Revit will need to be re-started in order for the newly defined shortcut file to be re-read and the new commands to become available.

Below, I've included the shortcuts I've made & use.  Feel free to copy the whole section and paste it to the bottom of your base file. (Of course you'll backup the original first right?)  Are there some commands that you use that I don't have or a better key combination that makes more sense?

; other alternates
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------
;  KEVIN'S KEYS
; last update: Sep. 26, 2008
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------
; !!IMPORTANT!!
; 
; use a ; to comment out the following commands
;
;"DE" menu:"Edit-Delete"
;"CO" menu:"Edit-Copy"
;"EX" menu:"Edit-Group-Exclude Member"
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------
"NP" menu:"File-New-Project"
"NF" menu:"File-New-Family"
"QQ" menu:"File-Close"
"LF" menu:"File-Load from Library-Load Family"
"SF" menu:"File-Save to Library-Save Family"
"SG" menu:"File-Save to Library-Save Group"
"SV" menu:"File-Save to Library-Save Views"
"IV" menu:"File-Insert from File-Views"
"I2" menu:"File-Insert from File-2D Elements"
"PU" menu:"File-Purge Unused"
"IA" menu:"File-Import/Link-CAD Formats"
"IM" menu:"File-Import/Link-Image"
"IR" menu:"File-Import/Link-Revit"
"ID" menu:"File-Import/Link-Link DWF Markup Set"
"XA" menu:"File-Export-CAD Formats"
"XW" menu:"File-Export-Walkthrough"
"XS" menu:"File-Export-Schedule"
"X2" menu:"File-Publish DWF-2D DWF"
"X3" menu:"File-Publish DWF-3D DWF"
"xf" menu:"File-Export-3ds Max (FBX)"
"MR" menu:"File-Manage Links"
"RI" menu:"File-Raster Images"
"ws" menu:"File-Worksets"
;
"PC" menu:"Edit-Paste Aligned-Current View"
"PL" menu:"Edit-Paste Aligned-Select Levels by Name"
;
"co" menu:"View-New-Callout"
"ns" menu:"View-New-Section"
"DV" menu:"View-New-Drafting View"
"ca" menu:"View-New-Camera"
"sh" menu:"View-New-Sheet"
"AC" menu:"View-Activate View"
"DA" menu:"View-Deactivate View"
;
"MC" menu:"Modelling-Component"
"BM" menu:"Modelling-Structural-Beam"
"NM" menu:"Modelling-Create"
"RL" menu:"Modelling-Reference Lines"
"ex" menu:"Modelling-Solid Form-Solid Extrusion"
;
"wo" menu:"Drafting-Masking Region"
"ha" menu:"Drafting-Filled Region"
"TT" menu:"Drafting-Text"
"DC" menu:"Drafting-Detail Component"
"RC" menu:"Drafting-Revision Cloud"
"SY" menu:"Drafting-Symbol"
;
"WP" menu:"Tools-Work Plane-Set Work Plane"
"TM" menu:"Tools-Tape Measure"
"JG" menu:"Tools-Join Geometry"
"UJ" menu:"Tools-Unjoin Geometry"
"CG" menu:"Tools-Cut Geometry"
;
"MT" menu:"Settings-Materials"
"OS" menu:"Settings-Object Styles"
"PH" menu:"Settings-Phases"
"RV" menu:"Settings-Revisions"
"VT" menu:"Settings-View Templates"
"FT" menu:"Settings-Family Types"
"PI" menu:"Settings-Project Information"
;
"WT" menu:"Window-Tile"
"WC" menu:"Window-Close Hidden Windows"
;
"He" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Hide Element"
"Ie" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Isolate Element"
"HC" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Hide Category"
"IC" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Isolate Category"
"AP" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Apply Hide/Isolate to View"
"HR" menu:"View-Temporary Hide/Isolate-Reset Temporary Hide/Isolate"
"de" menu:"View-Hide in view-Elements"
"dc" menu:"View-Hide in view-Category"
"rh" menu:"View-Reveal Hidden Elements"
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------
; Single keys, assignable to mouse buttons
;
"@" menu:"View-Zoom-Zoom To Fit"
"!" menu:"Window-Tile"
"#" menu:"View-Reveal Hidden Elements"
"+" menu:"Edit-Properties"
"`" menu:"View-View Properties"
"-" menu:"View-Visibility/Graphics"
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------
; F-Keys (do not include "'s)
;
;These are programmable but are a bit quirky
; already in use: F5 & F7
; seem to not work: F10
; 
;---------------------------------------------------
;---------------------------------------------------

The T-Shirt is a staple in fashion in the United States, popularized during WWII by the American soldiers who admired the versatility of the lightweight British soldiers' undershirts. Since that time, the T-shirt has been immortalized by people like James Dean and Elvis, bringing depth to an other-wise unremarkable design. These shirts are easy and comfortable because they are button-, zipper-, collar-, and sleeve-free and soft to perfection thanks to their jersey knit.

Their Way

T-Shirt reconstruction, although it may not seem it, is a very broad subject and can be divided into the following categories:

1. No-Sew (customizing a shirt without sewing it)

2. T-construction (altering a t-shirt with a needle and thread to make it something wearable)

3. Mash-Up (using parts of different shirts to create a shirt)

4. Tee-Party (using one or more shirts AND other embellishments, such as lace, scrap fabric, buttons, zippers, patches, etc. to create a shirt)

5. Versatili-tee (using one or more shirts and other pieces to create a different article of clothing)

My Way

Surgery #1

Surgery #2

Surgery #3

In all of the above pictures: Black jeans, Zara; Suede boots, thrifted; shirts, miscellaneous, customized by me.

]]> http://queensboro.wordpress.com/?p=415 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:32:50 +0000 Kate http://queensboro.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/your-personal-logo-always-in-style/ [/caption]

Fashion Week in New York City wrapped up a while ago, but spring collections continue to appear on runways around the world as various fashion weeks make their way across the globe. This week, models have been stalking the catwalks in Paris for Paris Fashion Week. Designers are debuting their spring collections, setting the color and style trends that will eventually spread to every corner of the apparel world. While we at Queensboro tend to sell clean lines and classic shapes for customization, the cut and color of the items we offer are influenced by high style. For example, our brand new Luxury ¼ Zip Pullover is available in the colors Natural, Charcoal, Indigo, Brick and Oceana. Fall collections in stores from Sak’s all the way to Target feature these and similar earth tones and colors.

In Style: Moon Units?

Today, while avoiding reading actual news, I stumbled upon a quote appearing in the Paris Fashion Week section of the New York Times that was a bit disturbing! The quote refers to designer Nicolas Ghesquiere’s spring collection for Balenciaga:

“There is very little freedom in this collection for a personalized expression, and that has been true for a while with Mr. Ghesquiere’s work, though this season the attitude seemed more inflexible and emotionally cold.”

Ouch! The columnist elaborated, relaying that Mr. Ghesquiere’s offerings for the spring were so overloaded with novelty fabrics, shapes and textures that the clothes almost wore the individual, rather than the other way around. The outfits shown on the runways are generally pared down and re-envisioned by both the original designer, and designers putting together “house” collections of pieces for sale to the general public. The columnist covering the Balenciaga show lamented that: “…the outfits themselves cannot really be broken up without losing the effect.”

Customization Rules Everywhere but Paris

With trendhunter.com listing DIY and customization among their top fashion trends for 2008, it seems strange to me that high style designers would be offering mechanical, tricky and strange pieces that only fit with each other and can’t be mixed and matched. In a time of economic uncertainty, “workhorse” pieces that can be worn over and over again, while helping individuals express their creativity and their attitude will likely be first off the rack and into the wardrobe! Pieces that are versatile and personal will find their way into daily wear more frequently than funky, out of the ordinary, “I don’t really know what to do with this” pieces.

Queensboro fits right into the customization and DIY trend sweeping (most) of the apparel industry. With either our printing or embroidery services, we help our customers create expressive and original designs to display their individuality and their personal brand. First impressions are based almost entirely upon what a person is wearing. You could spend $3,000 on a Balenciaga top or skirt that makes you look like, ahem, a robot. Or, you could spend much less and let Queensboro help you design an artistic, custom-printed t-shirt to rival any fashion-house creation. If you want your first impression to communicate your connection to your business or company, a crisp Queensboro embroidered polo shirt or twill will go a long way toward helping you establish brand recognition.

Carrying a monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbag might communicate “I can buy the same bag everyone else has.” While carrying the Ultimate Laptop Messenger Bag with a unique logo communicates the message “I am a successful businessperson and proud of it!” It’s your choice: robot or road warrior? Follower or leader?

Oh well, random quote:

<darkpast> I thought it's inherent that the Melbourne University Motto does NOT translate to "Feed the seagulls"

Have a picture as well. Hold on while I find one.

If you must know, the fact that the image is somewhat related to the quote I posted above is purely coincidental.

Have another as a filler.

 *  ISOLATED
a) on clear details
b) on populate details

*  CASCADE
a) per-delete
b) on clear details
c) on populate details

Question: which system variables can be set by users?

Question: What are object group?
Answer: An object group is a container for a group of objects. You define an object group when you want to package related objects so you can copy or reference them in another module.

Question: What are referenced objects?

Question: Can you issue DDL in forms?
Answer: yes, but you have to use FORMS_DDL.

Restrictions: The statement you pass to FORMS_DDL may not contain bind variable

Question: What is SECURE property?

Question: What are the types of triggers and how the sequence of firing in text item
Answer: Triggers can be classified as Key Triggers, Mouse Triggers ,Navigational Triggers.
Key Triggers: Key Triggers are fired as a result of Key action.e.g :: Key-next-field, Key-up,Key-Down
Mouse Triggers: Mouse Triggers are fired as a result of the mouse navigation.e.g. When-mouse-button-presed,when-mouse-doubleclicked,etc
Navigational Triggers :: These Triggers are fired as a result of Navigation. E.g :  Post-Text-item,Pre-text-item.
We also have event triggers like when –new-form-instance and when-new-block-instance. We cannot call restricted procedures like go_to(‘my_block.first_item’) in the Navigational triggers But can use them in the Key-next-item.

Question: Can you store pictures in database? How?

Question: What are property classes? Can property classes have trigger?

Question: If you have property class attached to an item and you have same trigger written for the item.  Which will fire first?
Answer: Item level trigger fires , If item level trigger fires, property level trigger won't fire. Triggers at the lowest level are always given the first preference. The item level trigger fires first and then the block and then the Form level trigger.
 
Question: What are record groups?  Can record groups created at run-time?

 Shivmohan Purohit

I always forget about this when I'm reformatting my computer, so I thought it might be nice to post it somewhere that I (and you) can find it somewhat easily.

For the time being, XPize does not properly patch uxtheme.dll to allow custom visual styles in Windows XP SP3, though XPize v5 is coming out soon, and that might change.

Here's the link to the new uxtheme patcher called UXTender:

http://www.msfn.org/board/UXTender-12-t116237.html

Question: What are the Pct Free and Pct Used

Question: What is Row Chaining

Question: What is a 2 Phase Commit
Answer: Two Phase commit is used in distributed data base systems. This is useful to maintain the integrity of the database so that all the users see the same values. It contains DML statements or Remote Procedural calls that reference a remote object. There are basically 2 phases in a 2 phase commit.
a) Prepare Phase :: Global coordinator asks participants to prepare
b) Commit  Phase ::

Question: What are mutating tables

Question:  What are Codd Rules
Answer:  Codd Rules describe the ideal nature of a RDBMS. No RDBMS satisfies all the 12 codd rules and Oracle Satisfies 11 of the 12 rules and is the only Rdbms to satisfy the maximum number of rules.

Question: What is the Difference between a post query and a pre query

Question:  Deleting the Duplicate rows in the table

Question: Can U disable database trigger? How?
Answer: Yes. With respect to table
     ALTER TABLE TABLE
     [   DISABLE all_trigger ]

Question: What is pseudo columns ? Name them?
Answer:  A pseudocolumn behaves like a table column, but is not actually stored in the table.  You can select from pseudocolumns, but you cannot insert, update, or delete their values. 

Question:  What is clustered index?

Question:  What are attributes of cursor?

Question: Can you use select in FROM clause of SQL select?
Answer:  Yes.

Site 1

Site 2

I'll start by posting some images of just how personalized my computer is. Although I won't really display everything I have, but the most important anyway. [Note: click on the images for the full resolution image.]

First off, my desktop.

This simply displays my current wallpaper. It's Hatsune Miku from the Vocaloid 2 application. You can already see from my taskbar that I'm not using the standard themes that come pre-packaged with Windows XP (yes, I'm using XP). This is just me using msstyles which basically allows me to add my own themes to XP (this is dumbing it down a lot).

Next on the menu:

My start menu. Also another item affected by the theme or "skin" as it's more commonly called.

Here's my foobar:

foobar2000 is basically a music player which is highly cutomisable and free (and better than iTunes, which goes without saying, since a person capable of singing in the shower is better than iTunes). I switched to foobar2k after years of using winamp simply because foobar has better asian character support, i.e. it can display Japanese and Chinese characters properly. While winamp could do the same thing, it didn't work for long. Usually after awhile (hours or even minutes) the songs with Asian characters will suddenly stop working. Considering the number of songs I have that fall in this category, I decided to switch. Regarding the customizations, there isn't much there. I just tweaked the colours and layout of the panels.

Here we have my rainmeter:

Despite being called "Rainmeter", it does not display the weather (it can, I think, just that I don't need that function). The functions I set it to display include the amount of space left on my downloads partition for one of my hard disks, my upload/download speeds, ram usage and CPU usage. It's just there mainly for show more than convenience, really (though lately I tend to rely on them more). Can't remember how I changed the theme, but it's all online. Google is your friend :3

This is my ObjectDock bar:

Similar to the docks that can be found on Apple's OSX, this is the Windows version. While it tends to eat your memory, considering how powerful my computer is, it's not a problem :) Over here I'm just using a pre-loaded theme which more or less matches the msstyle skin I'm using.

And here is the set:

With everything (except foobar) on display.

I used to have a cool little application which allowed me to add shadows to my windows, but I disabled it for some reason or other. It was quite awhile ago.

Have some extras:

This was my IRC client the way it looked earlier this year. As you can guess, I'm Junereth.

This is the client now:

The difference here is that I've changed the layout slightly, my nick is now Prodigal instead of Junereth, and my lines are in white text on a cyan (light blue in my client) background. This IRC client (UPP) took awhile to get used to in the sense that I was given a whole lot more room to fiddle with things. I probably won't explain how IRC works, since it takes awhile to actually teach, nor will I go into details as to what scripts I'm using etc. Just accept the fact that it does a whole lot more than your "Windows Live Messenger", which you might have noticed does not have a place on my computer (look at my desktop's system tray, bottom right corner of the image). I suppose a certain level of geekism is required to utilize UPP and IRC more fully, but it's not compulsory :P ]]> http://technophantasm.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/digg/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:36:00 +0000 junereth http://technophantasm.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/digg/ Due to my tendency to surf Digg when I'm bored, I have added a nifty links list to post some of the stories that caught my attention.

WARNING: High Geekiness Threat Detected