Tech Lense

firebird.msg not found

2011-09-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

D:\firebird\bin>isql -u sysdba -p masterkey D:\firebird\OpUtilsDB.fdb
can't format message 17:0 -- message file D:\firebird\firebird.msg not found
unavailable database
can't format message 17:3 -- message file D:\firebird\firebird.msg not found
SQL> exit;

To solve this problem,

Stop if you have any firebird instances running
Change the value of the var 'CreateInternalWindow' as 1 in firebird/firebird.conf
Start firebird (run fbserver -a from firebird/bin)
Then run the isql command

Setting character set for tomcat requests and responses

2010-12-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

To set character set for your tomcat requests and responses, add param URIEncoding="UTF-8" (if you need your character set to be UTF-8) in the Connector tag of server.xml.

To start firebird in windows

2010-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

Run command fbserver.exe -a from the firebird/bin directory (Note: firebird dir is the firebird installation dir - the name could differ with the version)

Call a js function using a string variable having the function name

2009-12-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

Hope the following coding snippet helps to know how :

<script>
testFCall();
function testFCall()
{
setTimeout('testCall(109)',0);
}

function testCall(val)
{
alert('val : '+val);
}
<script>

Run os commands from java + print error messages

2009-10-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

private void runProcess() throws Exception
{
try
{
Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
Process process = rt.exec("cmd /c cp C:\\work\\dev\\test.txt C:\\work\\dev\\test1.txt");
BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(process.getInputStream()));

String line = null;

while ((line = input.readLine()) != null)
{
System.out.println(line);
}

int exitVal = process.waitFor();
if (exitVal != 0)
{
input = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(process.getErrorStream()));
line = null;

while ((line = input.readLine()) != null)
{
System.out.println(line);
}
}
}
catch (Exception e)
{
System.out.println(e.toString());
e.printStackTrace();
}
}

cvs command to see the status in a single line

2009-06-23T06:10:00.001-07:00

We can use the command - 'cvs status'. But it is too verbose. You may not need all those details all the time.
To see the status in a single line do - cvs -q -n update


Courtesy :

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/211819/is-there-a-way-to-get-a-short-cvs-status-from-command-line

Nebeans debugger msg : delete method not implemented

2009-06-19T08:45:00.001-07:00

When I apply code changes using netbeans debugger, i get this message :

The virtual machine does not support this operation: delete method not implemented

and I am not able to apply my code changes.

The problem was :
I had another file where i had added a method and had not compiled. so not able to apply code changes. (debugger does not allow adding new methods. If you add or remove a method [or any other type of class member] you have to compile the code before using debugger).

Form submit in FireFox and IE

2009-06-15T08:09:00.001-07:00

I am using FireFox 3 and IE 7 for my development.

For form submit, FF uses post as the default method. IE sends params as post only if specified in the <form> tag.

Installing Ubuntu

2009-04-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

I got an Ubuntu DVD sent to me right from Ubuntu.

Since I had a half forgetten 'experience' of installing linux in the past, I assumed I should be 'very careful' while installing linux since I thought I should not make wrong choices.

So started 'planning' before installing. I studied from internet regarding
1. the partitions that I need to make
2. size and filesystems for partitions etc.

All my preparations went waste I should say.

Installing ubuntu was incredibly easier. All you have to do is just to make your system boot with the Ubuntu CD. Thats it. Ubuntu takes care of the installation. All you have to do is just watch the screen for a few mins and give your (very few) decisions then and there. It was easier than installing Ms Windows. Writing this post with Ubuntu - firefox.

Thank you Ubuntu Teams.

Will write more on my experience with Ubuntu - the 'linux for human beings'.

A wonderful post about technology

2008-12-09T20:31:00.000-08:00

You find the beginning of the post here :

Technology: OK, but you will pay for me right?
Human: Sure! Will do.
Technology: Will you also update me from time to time?
Human: OK, I can do that.

............................................ read it here!

IE handles memory better than firefox?

2008-12-02T06:20:00.001-08:00

As i was working in my laptop, i felt the system went slower. When I examined the task manager (windows), i found that the highest amount of memory was held by firefox (312 MB). I closed firefox and re-opened it. I wanted to examine how firefox gulps up memory - with zoho mail. Here is the result.

Note : zoho mail opens a new browser window for every compose. I used IE 7 and Firefox 3.

	Firefox	Internet Explorer
System memory before opening browsers	484 MB	484 MB
After opening browser	515 MB	506 MB
After opening zoho mail	546 MB	532 MB
After opening compose window	556 MB	542 MB
After opening compose window 2nd time	562 MB	543 MB
After opening compose window 3rd time	570 MB	541 MB
After opening compose window 4th time	583 MB	541 MB
...	...	...
After opening compose window for some more times	622 MB	541 MB

Enough care has not been taken in firefox to clear-up memory after a window is closed (or some add-ons should be causing this madness). When I tell 'firefox consumes more memory' or 'memory is not handled well in firefox', it is not a new story. But there was lots of buzz before the release of firefox 3 that lots of work has been done to handle the memory issues, but just not good enough. I use a laptop with 1 GB RAM. People using older laptops should suffer with firefox.

May be fast is not enough.

netbeans creates problem on system hybernation ?

2008-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

1. When the system goes into hybernation for a long time say - around 7-10 hours, netbeans in my system begins to pixellate. When I scroll using mouse, multiple instances of the mouse pointer is seen on the screen and it persists (image shown). This was existing for a long time.

Another problem i noticed today made me write this post.

2. Even new files are not opening after hybernation.

Even netbeans restart is not a solution. I need to restart windows.

Is there others who are having the same problem? Or am I the only one?

Crimson text editor for windows - a free, feature rich, cool, simple editor

2008-11-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

Crimson editor is a free, feature rich, cool, simple text editor for windows.

I am using only crimson editor to edit all text files like .java, .jsp, .xml, .bat etc.

It has many advance features like :

1. Macro recording and replay
2. Opening a remote file using ftp
3. Collective save

and so many other

User experience is made much simpler with say a [ctrl+X] remove the entire line if you have not selected anything in that particular line and many other similar features.

For example if you want .jspf files to follow the coloring format of jsp, you can specify so in Tools >> Preferences >> Syntax.

Explore it more for yourselves. It is available for free.

infoaxe and web memory

2008-11-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

I read an article today in 'The Hindu' about a search engine : infoaxe.com - They are boasting about having got some of the top investors invested in them. The most highlighted feature of the search engine is something called 'web memory' thru which they track the sites the user is browsing and aiming provide the 'relevant' info to the users.

I wanted to visit the website out of enthusiasm. Not able to understand why they should use a tool bar to have the user's searches in their server (and why do it only thru a toolbar?). I found the following statement from their FAQ.

Your (web) memory is private to you and protected by your infoaxe account and password. This ensures that your web memory is private to you even when you share a computer with another user.

Is the login not enough to provide privacy?

I think google already does this thru its login. If you login into google before you search, all your search is maintained in the search history. (Look for the link 'Web History' on the right top when you search using google after logging in).

How many websites will I allow to create a toolbar in my browser? Am I not using a browser to browse many websites? If i have install a toolbar for every website that provides it, will they not fill my entire browser?

In my firefox, i would not want to have any toolbar exept my bookmarks toolbar. A web user would love a good browsing experience than infoaxe!

Emergence of online applications a good opportunity for linux

2008-10-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Windows has been ruling the roost since it is widely adopted by the developer, UI designer community and hence there was a situation where you cannot find many softwares for linux equivalent to the corresponding windows softwares. Apart from this, there are lots of installation problems when it comes to linux. The problem being basically the 'know how', there is a 'lot to know' when you have to install some softwares into linux. Also since there are inumerable versions and flavours of linux, it adds a lot to installation problems.

Now almost, the problem doesn't exist. Many applications come online, particularly office, business apps.

You can even create your own form based utilites 'online' using tools like zoho creator. (Yes, you can even prefer to write code in zoho creator to create complex, powerful applications - lots of help for the same is available via forums and developer community).

Then ... why still keep paying to Microsoft [I respect microsoft so much, for the revolution it has created in the computer, software industry, still no one need to remain loyal to them, they have earned enough from all of us.] when linux can do sufficiently well enough for you? Explore!

When you use online software, you dont
1. install the software
2. maintain the software
3. upgrade the software (everyday as you check the app remains updated to the second).

Instead
1. The usage of your application is not limited to the computer/system at your home/office - online apps can be used whereever you are, at any time, provided you have internet connection (Any office still lacking an internet connection these days?).
2. Your applications and data are safer and secure since they are maintained by experts.
3. You pay only less (on demand basis) for using your apps. Most of the online softwares comes free. Many online softwares comes free for basic usage and charging nominally for usage on demand (no need to pay when you dont use, pay again when you want to use again - yes your data is retained for free when you dont use the app), thus giving you financial flexibility. You will find many such apps in www.zoho.com

Just a few points on thinking about using a free Linux instead of a costly Windows.

Google chrome - user's delight

2008-09-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

Google chrome is yet another proof that google riegns usability.

One main thing that i observed in google chrome is, it tries to give maximum viewer space for the web content reducing, hiding the browser features. The following points explain this very clearly.

1. Tabs have been moved to the titlebar to achieve this.

2. Even no space as been alocated to show the chrome logo at the top-left as in any other windows app.

3. Page loading information comes and vanishes away.

Gmail loads lightening fast (may be needless to say), unlike in other browsers.

May write more as i observe more.

Firefox 3 could not install firebug 1.2

2008-06-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the error message I got when I tried to install firebug 1.2 in Firefox 3.

Firefox could not install the file at

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/downloads/file/30423/firebug-1.2.0b3-fx.xpi

because: Unexpected installation error
Review the Error Console log for more details.
-203

firefox 3 faster

2008-06-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Two main things that you wanted in a browser were speed and good memory management.
Firefox 3 has them, as far as I have seen.
Happy browsing with firefox 3, 'the best firefox yet'.

One of the other things that firefox can look into is 'text and image rendering', IE (Internet Explorer) seems to be better at that still. Things look more pleasant in IE than firefox. In this aspect even Opera is better than firefox.

why both interface and an abstract class

2008-06-03T22:18:00.001-07:00

An interface can have no implementation.

An abstract class can have some implementation as well as abstract methods which doesn't have implementation.

We have abstract classes to have the benefit of both the interface and a class.

In an abstract class, functionalities common for a module can be implemented in the methods, at the same time the methods that must be implemented by the classes specific for an operation can also be specified/enforced.

So an abstract class is an additional facility rather than a necessity, a nice to have feature in any OO language like Java.

Mint.com - online personal money management site

2008-04-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Mint.com is a free online personal money management website.
It has a cool and a very simple UI.
The weakness is, this being an online tool, this is fully pre-customized for USA.
You cannot add your own account, you have to choose from the types of accounts given there.
mint collects information directly from banks and other financial institutions -- the user has to provide the credentials - username, password etc.... -- so that the user need not re-enter data (which cannot be done if the user enters his own account). Cool. Still if the user does not belong to any of these institutions, he cannot use the site, till either mint adds the users institution or the user joins one of the institutions which mint has in list.
This could have been kept optional so that the user can use the tool like he wants.
Since this requires the tie ups with the corresponding institutions, this blocks other nationals from using this site, thus the site looses a world touch .... I feel mint has made things mandatory that are to be given as an option to the user.
Otherwise this should have become a well used tool online -- something like ... GMail.

Open in a new tab

2008-01-02T01:55:00.001-08:00

I use internet explorer 7. It gives two different for options to open links.

1. Open in a new tab (IE's new facility - looks like the big M was compelled to copy from other browsers).
2. Open in a new window (yes, it was already existing in IE).

The response to both these options is same. The link gets opened in a new window. wow.

Logging out of GMail ? Your firefox will close !

2007-12-11T00:54:00.001-08:00

The following is my firefox version.

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.11) Gecko/20071127 Firefox/2.0.0.11

Whenever I log out of gmail, firefox gets closed with the window you see on the left.

I use Windows Xp professional ed.

The 'dont have's

2007-12-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

Gmail doesn't have html signature
Gmail doesn't recieve zip files as attachment(s).

Will Opera take the place of Firefox ?

2007-10-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

(+) One thing i liked best in opera is the speed dialing.

(+) We can have 9 most clicked pages here. Whenever we want any of them we can just choose them () rather than typing them or searching for them in the bookmarks. Unlike bookmarks they dont keep staying on your browser view, they come only when you ask for a new window or a new tab. A wow to opera.

(+) Second why switched to opera is : once my system went slow, when i checked my task manager (windows) i found that firefox was taking 314 mb of my memory - of which i have already done a post : http://tech-lense.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-firefox-taking-314mb-of-our-memory.html

(+) I even found image rendering quality is better in opera than in firefox.

(+) Switching to opera from firefox was easy as well.

(-) I had one un-understandable issue with opera. A topic from my company forum (normal html) did not load in Opera. In firefox it did.

(-) In google reader, the '+' shortcut key did not work which is supposed to increase my content size in opera browser (In firefox, it is ctrl +). In most sites it works, still after increasing the size, the browser becomes sluggish and becomes slow.

(-) One more comparision to firefox : I couldn't see the horizontal slider when the content exceeded the screen size in the browser (In the page i saw, the html content did not exceed the screen size but an image in the page did). In this case too, ff is able to give the horizontal slide bar. Opera isn't.

Hope these (-) are in Opera's list to solve.

Will Opera take the place of Firefox as Firefox took the place of Internet Explorer?

Install a java game on your mobile. No help required.

2007-10-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

Two days back i was about to install a java game on my mobile phone.

I was looking for help in internet. No clear helps on how to install.

I just copied the jar of the game to my mobile thru bluetooth. When I opened the jar (the recieved message on my mobile), the phone automatically started installing it.

So the installation is automatic. No help is required.