tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112014472024-03-14T04:42:13.499+08:00Naaman's LifeGrail's personal weblog on Life, the Universe and Everything ... Completely random.Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-76021328771390111942011-04-19T19:42:00.001+08:002011-04-19T19:42:15.607+08:00A Problem with Capitalism<span xmlns=''><p>I have had this nagging irritation that capitalism is fundamentally flawed for some time, but haven't had a good way to articulate it till now. It seems to me today that capitalism makes the assumption that it can provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people, by in turn assuming that people are rational and will work in their own self-interest. The aggregate of that rational self-interest will be seen in demand curves and these curves drive capitalism.<br /></p><p>The problem with this is that it confuses needs with desires. Like a kid, we assume that what we desire is what we need. And that the demand represented in a demand curve will answer needs humans have. Sadly, more often than not that curve represents not needs but wants, and not necessarily even very valid wants. <br /></p><p>It's the job of a marketer to generate demand, and he or she does so by generating a want, and then helping us persuade ourselves that this is a need. Consequently, all my childhood, I needed the latest pair of Nike running shoes … despite the fact it would never answer any real need I had, and would be constructed in a sweat shop. This didn't provide the greatest good for the great number, merely fulfilling a whim for some, while injuring others. Today I need to update my phone every year because, well, I need too, despite the cost in natural resources and pollution that doing so wrecks. Again, not the greatest good for the greatest number.<br /></p><p>So in the end capitalism is irrational and against our ultimate self-interest. It serves only to feed money from those with the greatest need to those with the least. Not good, since it seems to be the new religion of most of the world.<br /></p><p>Probably not new thinking, but new to me.</p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-9401197197181206642011-03-15T12:44:00.001+08:002011-03-15T12:44:58.867+08:00The Biggest Tsunami ever!<span xmlns=''><p>Without underestimating the suffering of those in Japan, Christchurch, Haiti and other earthquake ravaged places at present, we are still all lucky it was not worse. As the media have drummed into us, this was a mega quake, measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, and it generated a devastating tsunami with waves up to 10 metres high (<a href='http://video.l3.fbcdn.net/cfs-l3-snc6/81489/34/1605260179420_2624.mp4?oh=ac31b4d8738221641ba490396dc19636&oe=4D7F9F00&l3s=20110313100648&l3e=20110315101648&lh=0a6cfa5eeaecd6dc12abf'>incredible video here</a>). In 1953 in Alaska, an earthquake measured at 8.3 on the Richter scale generated a tsunami. The wave that hit reached a height of 524 metres. I'll repeat that. <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Lituya_Bay_megatsunami'>524 metres of water</a> crashing down! Putting that in perspective, that's higher than the Empire State building!</p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-51232187791401645202011-03-02T14:32:00.001+08:002011-03-02T14:32:27.449+08:00BMW Hates Me!<span xmlns=''><p>My new car arrived recently, after much waiting and delay. However, it seems that there is a conspiracy to get me. In my old car (a now very dilapidated Honda Legend) I had one accident (a young driver decided that that whole right of way thing on round-abouts is for sissys, and decided to drive through me rather than wait their turn). That's it in over 10 years of driving that car. Since I got my new car 6 months ago, I have been hit twice. Both times by ladies working in the mental health field, both times by drivers of the BMW X series of vehicles. <br /></p><p>The first time, a driver of a BMW X3 convinced herself that the bumping, grinding sensation as she backed from her position at stop lights (!) into a parallel park beside my vehicle was unlikely to be related to my car being between her and the car park, and that me honking and waving to get her to stop was nothing more than the raving of deranged tailgater (seriously, in heavy traffic, with cars backed up behind us, she decided it was a good time to leave the intersection backwards, not forwards).<br /></p><p>The second time, a driver of a BMW X5 forgot a couple of important details of the road. Firstly, red light means stop, not go. Secondly, that cars stopped in front of me means stop as well, irrespective of what any pesky light may be saying. <br /></p><p>Anyway, long and short of it is that I have had BMW X vehicles attempting to wipe off both my front and rear bumpers in the less than 4 months I have been driving my new car. But I can see the pattern now, and I'm ready for it. Not sure whether the next one will be an X7 or and X9 (depends on which pattern of progression is happening here), but I expect and BMW X something to T-bone me from the side.</p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-47154996434253402062011-02-28T13:34:00.003+08:002011-02-28T13:39:39.166+08:00Where Will the Next Big One Strike?<span xmlns=""> <p>Just quickly, great Infographic out at <a href="http://www.good.is/">Good</a> crystallising a lot of <a href="http://www.good.is/post/transparency-where-will-the-next-earthquake-hit/">earthquake related data</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.good.is/post/transparency-where-will-the-next-earthquake-hit/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 387px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578610432196098690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KW5hnoVSosQ/TWs0oZ9WOoI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/NuxnuHSk2ZI/s200/Earthquake.png" /></a></p><p> </p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-467830157053902672011-02-28T11:37:00.005+08:002011-02-28T11:41:11.979+08:00Going PlacesA long time ago (back in early 2007), I wrote brief post about <a href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2007/04/ive-been-everywhere-man.html">some of the places I've been blessed to visit</a>. Been to a few more now, and have added Spain, Russia, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Japan and China to my list. Pretty happy with that<span style="text-decoration: underline;">.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCountries/worldmap?visited=CAUSMXCUBRPEMAFRDEGRITRUESUKVAILJOTRKHCNIDJPMYPHSGTHVNAUFJNZ"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 177px;" src="http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCountries/worldmap?visited=CAUSMXCUBRPEMAFRDEGRITRUESUKVAILJOTRKHCNIDJPMYPHSGTHVNAUFJNZ" alt="" border="0" /></a>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-18137420053555621932011-02-15T10:30:00.001+08:002011-02-15T10:30:14.092+08:00Fix for Outlook 2010 Signature Problem<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-size:10pt'>Found a solution to a very frustrating Microsoft Outlook 2010 problem <a href='http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/outlook/thread/ea1451d3-5e94-4bf9-a76d-83452160fe24/'>here</a>. On Windows 7, running Office 2010, the signature pane becomes totally inaccessible. The button to allow you edit your signature is there, but it does nothing. Finally found a fix for this today (desperation gave my Google wings). It requires editing the contents of two keys paths in the Registry. The two keys are:<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style='font-size:10pt'>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\LocalServer32<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-size:10pt'>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\LocalServer32<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-size:10pt'>Within these key paths there are two keys that appear:<br /></span></p><ul style='margin-left: 39pt'><li><span style='font-size:10pt'>(Default)<br /></span></li><li><span style='font-size:10pt'>LocalServer32<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-size:10pt'>On my machine the (Default) key had a value of C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office14\OUTLOOK.EXE and the LocalServer32 key had a value of 1^V8!!!!!!!!PZKSkOUTLOOKFiles>tF{~$3Q]c@qPX6MxaTO5 (or something like that). All four of these values need to be changed to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\Outlook.exe and Outlook rebooted. And then everything should just work, like magic! And so far, no nasty side effects!<br /></span></p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-38972536685079238602010-11-17T14:16:00.001+08:002010-11-17T14:19:15.871+08:00The Really Simple Toggle iPhone App I Want<span xmlns=''><p>OK, so we went ahead and got iPhone 4s for work. Mostly all good, although a little bit bigger and more fragile than our sturdy Nokia E71s. And the whole millions of apps things is sort of handy. However, there is 1 app I really want and just can't find. Actually, make that 2. I want an app that is simply a toggle button. All it does is switches tethering on and off. And another one for Bluetooth. In other words, want to be able to touch on an icon on the home screen and Bluetooth switches on, touch again and its off. Better yet if the icon can indicate whether it's on or off. Come on someone, write this already. I reckon lots of other people would be willing to pay for this app.</p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-21417954734157581822010-04-13T23:24:00.002+08:002010-04-13T23:46:41.042+08:00JZX110 Mark II Fortuna by Modellista InformationI went digging through some old sites and then used the <a href="http://www.archive.org/web/web.php">Wayback Machine</a> to find the original content of the sites (now lost) and then used Google Translate to translate the content into an approximation of English. Long winded, I know. But I couldn't find this information anywhere else.<br /><span xmlns=""><p>This info is mainly from the <a href="https://www.toyota.co.jp/">Toyota Japan</a> site, back in 2002-2004. And yes, the color coding is tricky and doesn't make much sense. I think they mean this:<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">■</span> Special Features (<span style="color: rgb(192, 80, 77);">red</span>)<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">■</span> Standard (<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">blue</span>)<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">■</span> Optional (<span style="color: rgb(255, 192, 0);">yellow</span>)<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">■</span> Dealer installed options (by Moderisuta) (<span style="color: rgb(128, 100, 162);">purple</span>)<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SReywRQrI/AAAAAAAAAJA/S5us0tgiUtc/s1600/JZX110a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SReywRQrI/AAAAAAAAAJA/S5us0tgiUtc/s400/JZX110a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459648606486217394" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SRpG-Rp6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/iWeqeZ1QMMs/s1600/JZX110b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SRpG-Rp6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/iWeqeZ1QMMs/s400/JZX110b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459648783712364450" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SR0UdcFLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/qQVmzPVADpg/s1600/JZX110c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/S8SR0UdcFLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/qQVmzPVADpg/s400/JZX110c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459648976311293106" border="0" /></a> </p><p></p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-65555777728172139762010-04-13T23:04:00.001+08:002010-04-13T23:04:30.739+08:00Is this a warning?<span xmlns=''><p>Is it just me or have there been a lot of large-ish earthquakes this year? Haiti, Chile, Indonesia and now, <a href='http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/california-see-uptick-in-sizeable-earthquakes-since-the-mexicali-temblor.html'>this</a>. Are we being warned? A quote from this article out of the LA Times:<br /></p><blockquote><p>"The number of quakes greater than magnitude 4.0 in Southern California and Baja California has increased significantly in 2010. There have been 70 such quakes so far this year, the most of any year in the last decade. And it's only April. There were 30 in 2009 and 29 in 2008. Seismologists said they are studying the uptick but cannot fully explain it."<br /></p></blockquote><p>Be ready!</p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-86555123645394364232009-12-23T11:19:00.001+08:002009-12-23T11:19:55.926+08:00Making Stuff Happen<span xmlns=''><p>Sometimes stuff doesn't seem to happen in a timely manner in MOSS. Sometimes you just need to give it a bit of a kick along. Here is a little command to do just that. <br /></p><p>Stsadm –o execadmsvcjobs<br /></p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-34710011335490868492009-09-24T12:09:00.001+08:002009-09-24T12:09:12.394+08:00How to move Microsoft SharePoint databases from one SQL server to another<span xmlns=''><p><a name='9002689783144770181'/>I have been using Ahmed Ammar's excellent instructions for moving MOSS databases. However, I noticed I could only find them in the Google cache, so I have taken the liberty of repeating them in total here, with a couple of notes from me. Ahmed, let me know if you want me to take this down, but folks, in the interests of preserving a very useful resource, here are Ahmed's instructions.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p>Step 1 – <strong>Move</strong><br /> <strong>SharePoint_AdminContent</strong><br /> </p><p>Step 2 – <strong>Move</strong> Sharepoint_Config <strong>database</strong><br /> </p><p>Step 3 – <strong>Move</strong> all other site collection databases <br /></p><p>Step 4 – Restore Indexers and SSP (Shared Service Provider)<br /></p><p>Step 5 – Correct configuration <strong>database</strong>.<br /></p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Shortcuts</strong></span>: <br /></p><p>SSP: SharePoint Service Provider<br/>CA: Central Administration<br/>RDP: Remote Desktop<br/>MOSSSRV: Web Front server hosting SharePoint central administration and web service.<br/>OLDSQL: SQL server you want to <strong>move</strong> DBs from.<br/>NEWSQL: SQL server you want to <strong>move</strong> DBs to.<br /></p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Prerequisite:</strong></span><br /> </p><p>Write down version of your SharePoint farm.<br /></p><p>New SQL server needs to have mixed security mode set and TCPIP access enabled.<br /></p><p>Local SQL user is required for DB access and creation, together with domain search account, that will perform crawling.<br /></p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Topology</strong></span><br /> </p><p>MOSS 2007 SP2 – ver. 12.0.0.6421 with two servers in a farm. (Win2k3 and W2k8 32 bit systems)<br /></p><p>One web front end hosting CA and second SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition.<br /></p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Step 1 – Move Sharepoint_AdminContent database</strong></span><br /> </p><p>Central Administration website is stored in <strong>Sharepoint_AdminContent</strong><br /> <strong>Database</strong>, thus it cannot be moved from administration interface, however you can see it there under its web application.<br /></p><p>0, Login to OLDSQL and make backups of all databases related to SharePoint farm to shared folder.<br /></p><p>1, Put DB offline using CA - Application Management – Content Databases – select proper web application "SharePoint Central Administration V3" and change <strong>database</strong> status offline.<br /></p><p>DO NOT CHECK REMOVE!!!<br /></p><p>2, Login to MOSSSRV server using RDP<br /></p><p>(I recommend you to create BAT files with commands, in case you mistype character and close CMD.EXE window by mistake.)<br /></p><p>Launch <strong>prepare</strong> to <strong>move</strong> command from CMD.EXE or BAT file:<br /></p><p>STSADM –o preparetomove –contentdb OLDMOSS:SharePoint_AdminConfig_0245-87547-a547f" –site http://mosssrv:4235<br /></p><p> After Operation completed successfully, disconnect DB using:<br /></p><p>STSADM –o deletecontentdb –url "http://mosssrv:4235" –databasename "SharePoint_AdminConfig_0245-5698-485-asd21"<br /></p><p>3, Switch to OLDSQL server and in SQL Management studio backup <em>SharePoint_AdminContent_2254-sdsa454-45454</em><br /> <strong>database</strong>.<br /></p><p>After backup, copy this DB to NEWSQL and restore <strong>database</strong>. Now it's the best time to rename <strong>database</strong> just to "<strong>SharePoint_AdminContent</strong>" and get rid of GUID.<br /></p><p>4, Go back to MOSSSRV and launch attach DB command :<br /></p><p>STSADM –o addcontentdb –url http://mosssrv:4235 –databasename "SharePoint_AdminConfig" -databaseserver "NEWSQL"<br /></p><p>5, After operation completed appear, launch command iisreset /noforce.<br /></p><p>6, Check <a href='http://mosssrv:4235/'>http://mosssrv:4235</a> – e.g. CA website if it is functioning. <br /></p><p> Now you moved <strong>Sharepoint_AdminContent</strong><br /> <strong>database</strong> and renamed it to more understandable name.<br /></p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Step 2 - Move Sharepoint_Config database</strong></span><br /> </p><p>Most difficult part from SharePoint structure view is moving Sharepoint_Content <strong>database</strong>. This is the first <strong>database</strong> created and holds settings of your Sharepoint structures.<br /></p><p>1,Go to OLDSQL and backup Sharepoint_Content <strong>database</strong> with suffix "before_move" for example "SharePoint_Config_before_move.bak"<br /></p><p>2, Go to MOSSSRV and launch command to disconnect <strong>database</strong> from server :<br /></p><p>Psconfig.exe –cmd configdb –disconnect<br /></p><p>3, Go to OLDSQL server and in SQL Management studio backup <em>SharePoint_Config</em><br /> <strong>database</strong>.<br /></p><p>After backup, copy this DB to NEWSQL and restore <strong>database</strong>. <br /></p><p>4, Connect <strong>database</strong> back to sharepoint farm using :<br /></p><p>psconfig.exe -cmd configdb -connect -server "newsql" -<strong>database</strong> "SharePoint_Config" -dbuser "mossdbcreate" -dbpassword "Aaa123456" -user "DOMAIN\USER" -password "user_password"<br /></p><p>Notes: <br /></p><p>· <em>mossdbcreate</em> user is local NEWSQL user with permission to create DB. <br /></p><p>· <em>DOMAIN\USER </em>is user that was set as Sharepoint Administrator. ( I used domain admin account for all these operations.)<br /></p><p>· Your new <em>"<strong>SharePoint_AdminContent</strong>" </em><strong>database</strong> will be used automatically.<br /></p><p>Naaman's Life Note:<br /></p><p>This didn't work for me, so in the end I ran the following command, which worked:<br /></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><strong><em>psconfig.exe -cmd configdb -connect -server "newsql" -database "SharePoint_Config" -user "DOMAIN\USER" -password "user_password"<br /></em></strong></p><p>5, Launch Sharepoint Technology wizard and provision new CA :<br /></p><p>· Choose "No do not disconnect" and click NEXT,<br /></p><p>· Change the port to the same you had before e.g. 4235 in our case !! and leave NTLM and click NEXT<br /></p><p>· Wizard will now display summary page (already filled with NEWSQL name) and will start creating CA website.After finish it will open you CA website.<br /></p><p>Browse around to check everything is functioning…try SSP Admin page for example.<br /></p><p>Now we almost finished <strong>move</strong> of Sharepoin_Config DB, but this step needs to be finished as described in last step. ( You may notice, that in Operations – Server in Farm is written OLDSQL as home of configuration <strong>database</strong>.)<br /></p><p> <br /> </p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Step 3 - Move all SharePoint Site Collection Content Databases</strong></span><br /> </p><p>Now <strong>move</strong> all production "normal" databases. <br /></p><p>1, restore your production DBs from step 0 to NEWSQL or backup them all again at OLDSQL and restore in NEWSQL.<br /></p><p>2, Go to CA – Application Management – Content DB <br /></p><p>3, Change the web application from the drop down list appropriately.<br /></p><p>4, open content DB, write down its name, select "<em>offline</em>" and check "<em>Remove Content <strong>Database</strong></em>". (If <strong>database</strong> was created using special account use that account to delete it).<br /></p><p>5, After removal, click "Add Content <strong>Database</strong>" and add the same <strong>database</strong> but from NEWSQL.<br /></p><p> <br /> </p><p>Repeat these steps for all your production databases.<br /></p><p>Note: Some sources are recommending to use chain : preparetoremove > disconnect > connect (same as in <strong>Sharepoint_AdminContent</strong>) to <strong>move</strong> all content databases. This is probably needed, if you are moving databases to different farm environment and not to the same Sharepoint_Config <strong>database</strong>. It has something to do with site and DB GUID. <br /></p><p> <br /> </p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Step 4 – Restore SSP</strong></span><br /> </p><p>Shared Service Provider – is a feature of Sharepoint Farm and you will not found it by WSS. As name is saying it goes about services, that could be shared in a farm. For example crawling (or indexing or searching) could be configured here and one server can perform crawling and its searchDB could be then used be then used by other servers in a farm.<br /></p><p>1, Go to OLDSQL and backup SharedServiceProved_DB (in fact I do not know default name, but there are two databases for SSP – one is content and second is search.) <br /></p><p>Then go to NEWSQL and restore this DB. There is no reason to restore search DB, because it will be created anyway.<br /></p><p>2, Open CA - In order to restore SSP from a <strong>database</strong> you need to enable indexers. This is done in Operations – Servers on Farm – Office SharePoint Server Search.<br /></p><p>You need to provide content access account – see prerequisites. You can then leave default name of search DB – WSS_SEARCH_MOSSSRV. <br /></p><p>3, In the same menu enable also second Office search service.<br /></p><p>4, Go back to SSP Administration page – now choose "Restore SSP"<br /></p><p> Fill the form with existing DB name you restored to NEWSQL and click OK.<br /></p><p>Note : Restoration and provisioning process of new SSP could take long time.<br /></p><p>You can also get into trouble here, especially if SharePoint's versions are different. You need to be sure, you are restoring SSP from same version of SharePoint system. <br /></p><p>5, After successful finish you should see two providers. Now, by clicking "Change associations" change association of old SSP's web applications to new one.<br /></p><p>6, By clicking on "Change Default SSP" you change default SSP to restored one.<br /></p><p>7, Delete old SSP with option "and delete the associated databases". After clicking OK, un-provisioning of old SSP will occur and it takes a lot of time. May be you will need to restart IIS with /noforce if system will stop responding.<br /></p><p>Now you are done with moving all the databases. Before continuing, please double-check all content databases are transferred. You can stop SQL Server service on OLDSQL and check all sites and CA.<br /></p><p> <br /> </p><p><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>Step 5 – Correct configuration database</strong></span><br /> </p><p>As you may noticed, no one told Sharepoint_Config, that configuration <strong>database</strong> is not on old server, but someplace else. In fact this should be done by disconnecting and connecting operations done by SharePoint Wizard, but system writes, that config DB is still on OLDSQL in CA.<br /></p><p>Fact is, system is now using NEWSQL for SharepointConfig, but some sub-systems may not work, because somewhere is still written OLDSQL. <br /></p><p>In my case, creating site collection from stsadm in new contentdb was issuing error, that DB is not accessible. Unfortunately, system did not write which DB, so I naturally thought it was NEWSQL, that is not accessible and I have bad credentials, but content DB was created, so what was wrong??<br /></p><p>I then started OLDSQL resp. SQL service there is tried again.<br /></p><p>So I looked at NEWSQL – directly into SharePoint_Config <strong>database</strong> and find out you have to change Name in first row in dbo.Objects table, where OLDSQL still resides.<br /></p><p>I did it using "New Query" button in SQL Management studio and executing this SQL command.<br /></p><p>update dbo.Objects set Name = replace(Name, 'oldsql','newsql.ccc.com')<br /></p><p>Note : You cannot use newsql name only, because then system reports an error. My workaround was to use FQDN e.g. with dns name like MS's favorite contoso.local - it is unique in table, and still valid for the system. Probably you can create DNS A record and use this one instead. It will anyway point to same location.<br /></p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-79434733830589313952009-09-24T12:02:00.001+08:002009-09-24T12:02:08.652+08:00Sharepoint Migration<span xmlns=''><p>Currently working on migrating the databases for a MOSS 2007 install from one SQL Server to another. To be more precise, I am moving the database from one instance on one node of a clustered SQL Server to the clustered instance of the SQL Server itself. Anyway, have been working though Ammed Ammar's excellent instructions (I found them <a href='http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:AjUZhlE8bpQJ:ahmed-ammar.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-move-microsoft-sharepoint.html+move+SharePoint_AdminContent+prepare+database&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk'>here</a>). Had moved my Admin_Content db, and was in the process of moving the Config db when I hit a roadblock. Was using the psconfig.exe command to reconnect to my now migrated Config database and kept on getting the dreaded "The server parameter specified with the configdb command is invalid. Failed to connect to the database server or the database name does not exist. Ensure the database server exists, is a Sql server, and that you have the appropriate permissions to access the database server. To diagnose the problem, review the extended error information located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\LOGS\PSCDiagnostics_9_24_2009_11_5_7_53_419108824.log. Please consult the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard help for additional information regarding database server security configuration and network access." error ... <br /></p><p>Couldn't work out the appropriate username and password to connect to the database for this command ... I finally found a solution by fluke. Ammed suggest the following command to reconnect the config database: <br /></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><span style='color:#1f497d'>psconfig.exe -cmd configdb -connect -server "newsql" -database "SharePoint_Config" -dbuser "mossdbcreate" -dbpassword "Aaa123456" -user "DOMAIN\USER" -password "user_password"<br /></span></p><p>If that doesn't work, try running the cmd exe from your mossdbcreate account using "runas /user:Doman\mossdbcreate /noprofile cmd.exe" and then use the following simplification of the psconfig command:<br /></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><span style='color:#1f497d'>psconfig.exe -cmd configdb -connect -server "newsql" -database "SharePoint_Config" -user "DOMAIN\USER" -password "user_password"<br /></span></p><p>Worked for me, anyway. Let me know if it helps you out.<br /></p></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-33456844320941549882009-09-11T12:01:00.004+08:002009-09-11T15:14:33.029+08:00Monopoly City Streets Housing<span xmlns=""><p>Just done some analysis on the rates of return from houses in the new Monopoly City Streets. It seems to me that the City Centre Cottage is the best building to build if you are not running out of space.<br /></p><div><table style="border-collapse: collapse;" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width: 171px;"><col style="width: 100px;"><col style="width: 111px;"><col style="width: 111px;"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:white;"><strong>Building</strong></span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:white;"><strong>Price (1000s)</strong></span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:white;"><strong>Return (1000s)</strong></span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:white;"><strong>Rate of Return</strong></span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Green House</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">50</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">9</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">18.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(217, 150, 148) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color: rgb(99, 37, 35);">City Centre Cottage</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: rgb(99, 37, 35);">75</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: rgb(99, 37, 35);">14</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: rgb(99, 37, 35);">18.667%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Cane Top Multiplex</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">150</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">23</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">15.333%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">The Sentinel</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">175</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">28</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">16.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">High Reach Place</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">200</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">33</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">16.500%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Nova Tower Block</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">300</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">51</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">17.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">PolyHedron Plaza</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">400</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">66</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">16.500%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">The Grid Building</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">500</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">85</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">17.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Four Sided Fortress</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">600</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">95</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">15.833%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Nori Place</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">750</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">104</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">13.867%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Honeycomb Complex</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">900</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">123</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">13.667%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Blanco Bastion</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">1100</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">142</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">12.909%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">The Photat Building</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">1500</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">180</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">12.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Cubix Quarters</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">2000</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">180</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">9.000%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Opaque Overlook</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">2800</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">209</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">7.464%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Tri-Rectangle Tower</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">3900</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">228</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">5.846%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(184, 204, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Spear End Summit</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">5000</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">247</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none none solid; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">4.940%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(220, 230, 241) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; height: 20px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;"><td style="border-style: none solid none none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p><span style="color:black;">Unbounded Megaplex</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid none none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">6000</span></p></td><td style="border-style: none solid none none; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">266</span></p></td><td style="border: medium none ; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px;" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color:black;">4.433%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span><br />Update: OK, just made the discovery that the amount you make for properties has an effect on the return. It appears that the higher the value of the street the greater the return on the building. So rental returns will depend on having high quality streets. Even so, the City Centre Cottage still remains the building with the best return. I am making 60% on mine!Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-5830373852794420542009-03-10T12:17:00.007+09:002009-03-10T13:06:35.063+09:00Sharepoint Regional Settings or the Saga of the Non US Date Format<div style="font-family: arial;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size:78%;">Actually, this is a rather short saga. Today I've been struggling with the fact that WSS 3.0 (this post does not apply to MOSS), by default uses American date formats (MM.dd.YYYY), and that there seemed to be no way to change this. However, I just happened to be wandering through the LAYOUTS folder in the 12 hive (don't ask me what I was doing there) and found a file called regionalsetng.aspx. Turns out, if you open your Central Administration site and alter the path to point to this file (eg http://myserver:12345/_layouts/regionalsetng.aspx), bingo, you get Regional Settings. It is rather bizarre that there appears to be no link to this page from anywhere. Kind of like the mysterious 13 floor on lots of buildings. Or not.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: </span>Not sure why this happens, but a regional change made at the top of a Site Collection will not necessarily populate right through the sites below. Sometimes each site must be opened and the regional settings changed there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/SbXdfuls7XI/AAAAAAAAAI0/RGhn0inkXYM/s1600-h/RegionalSettings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/SbXdfuls7XI/AAAAAAAAAI0/RGhn0inkXYM/s320/RegionalSettings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311394872705215858" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-50677369516717472912009-03-09T10:34:00.004+09:002009-03-09T10:39:16.977+09:00Site Collections in MOSS 2007<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Been setting up MOSS lately, primarily to serve as a file system replacement. Due to the large volume of files going in, we felt that it just might be a good idea to break the volume of files up into separate site collections. One of the big advantages of creating a separate site collection for each block of files or part of the business is that each site collection, unlike a site, can have its own database on SQL. Site collections can also be recycled and restored independently of each other. The way to tell MOSS to create a site collection with its own database is to use STADM and use a command similar to the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote>stsadm.exe -o createsiteinnewdb -url "http://myMOSSsite/sitecollectionname" -owneremail "owners.email@mycompany.com" -ownerlogin "mydomain\my.superuserlogin" -sitetemplate "thesitetemplate_I_want_to_use#1" -title "MyCollectionName" -databaseserver "mySQLserver\myMOSSinstance" -databasename "WSS_Content_sitecollectionname"</blockquote></span></span></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-12924664936860177912009-03-04T17:00:00.008+09:002009-05-05T17:46:46.144+08:00ASUS U/UX Notebook Series Announced<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >As some of you may know, I am on the hunt for a new notebook to replace my geriatric Sony Vaio SZ (it's had a hard life). Engadget is reporting that ASUS has announced 2 new notebook series, one of which (the U series) looks pretty good to me. There is little information available on these machines, although from the picture here (note the numberpad) it seems that the UX series will include a 15 inch, and be very sleek and glossy. It also appears that at a minimum it will have:<br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Slot loading optical drive (according to Engadget)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">At least 2 USB ports</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> HDMI port</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Network port</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Headphone and line in jacks</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Backlit chicklet keyboard with numberpad</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Ambient light sensor</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >The U series on the other hand looks like having the following specs:<br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> A 12 inch (U20), a 14 inch (U80) and a 15 inch (U50) options to be available</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Backlit chicklet keyboard</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Normal tray loading optical drive</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Inbuilt webcam</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Ambient light sensor</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Updated: The 12 inch U20 (pictured here), will include:<br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Intel Core 2 Solo SU3300</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Mobile Intel GS45 Chipset</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Up to 4Gb RAM</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> 2.5 inch HDD up to 500Gb</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> DVD Super Multi Drive</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Built in 1.2 M web cam</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Less than 2 kg</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >The 15 inch U50 will, according to Engadget include:<br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> An Intel Core 2 Duo processor</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> NVIDIA GeForce G105M</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Up to 500GB HDD</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"> Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Both series include what is described as "a frame inspired by the curvature of a butterfly's wings", which sounds pretty lame, but looks like this! So far so good. Let's hope they come up with goods ... 12 inch, internal optical drive, GPU and less than 1.8kg.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update - Late April: </span>Looks like these may, emphasize, may have been released somewhere. AVING is reporting that the <a href="http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=124617">ASUS U/UX Series have been released</a> in Korea. Meanwhile, NordicHardware thinks the <a href="http://www.nordichardware.com/news,9122.html">U series, the UZ series and the Edge series</a> will be "presented" (whatever that means) at Computex in July. NordicHardware also suggests that the UX series are high end notebooks, while the U will be midrange. Too little information, too slowly,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update 2 - May 4:</span> ASUS in the Philippines has apparently released a news update on <a href="http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?id=13442&cid=9">the U Series</a>, with a very entertaining photo. I say apparently because Hardware Zone sites the Philippino Asus site, but I can't find the information on it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update 3 - May 5:</span> Sigh! Doesn't look like either the <a href="http://www.asus.com/News.aspx?N_ID=bpGXggq6Sk4k09ea">U Series or the UX Series</a> will make the grade. ASUS have just released specs and those that are light enough to meet my criteria (sub 2Kg) lack a discreet GPU. What do we need to do to get a non-Sony, GPU and optical drive equipped sub 2Kg notebook?<br /></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-14790541471029064212009-02-12T10:08:00.003+09:002009-02-12T10:20:33.214+09:00Two Big Lies<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in 2006, I posted about </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2006/05/strong-delusion.html">the Anglican church selling out on evolution</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Today, the SMH reports the Catholic church has done likewise. Two big lies really.<br /><br />Firstly, that evolution is compatible with the bible ... despite Jesus apparently endorsing Moses' literal view of creation.<br /><br />Secondly, that the church cares about what the Bible or God think. After all, why concern yourself over God's word when you consider yourself </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.space.net.au/%7Enethow/Sede/encyclicals/Leo13/L13PRAEC.HTM">God On Earth</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> (see the start of the 5th paragraph of the Encyclical Letter Præclara Gratulationis Publicæ of Pope Leo XIII).</span></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-49529055792010518112008-11-12T17:08:00.002+09:002009-03-04T17:01:13.401+09:00Groove and Sharepoint Integration in Office 14<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size:78%;">I was talking to someone in the know about the development path that Microsoft's Office suite is heading down, and they let drop a very interesting piece of information. Apparently, in Office 14, the Sharepoint client will be Groove. This makes great sense, and means that document storage and collaboration is starting to get similar tools to mail. I envisage a Outlook style interface for documents that allows for seamless collaboration, dissemination and backup.</span><br /></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-5123092436921399412008-09-23T17:18:00.003+08:002008-09-23T17:38:04.409+08:00The World's Best Coffee Makers<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">OK, so the title is a little misleading. You may have got here thinking you were going to be regaled with tales of daring baristas who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the java brewing contests of yore. Sadly, I am going to tell you about what I believe is the best coffee making </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">machine</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> in the world ... and even then I have caveats on that. The best coffee making machine in the world under $1000 dollars.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Cutting to the chase, I believe that the Rancilio Silvia fills the role of world's best coffee maker admirably. The reasons for my bold statement are as follows:</span><br /></span><ol style="font-family: arial;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">It sells for under $1000 dollars ($750 Aussie dollars in approx in these parts)<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Despite the price, it will give a shot almost as good as a full commercial unit worth 5 times the price</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">It's not one of these automated, all bells and whistles type machines, that flawlessly grinds, magically steams and produces terrible coffee - The coffee that comes out is totally up to the skill of the person driving</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">It's a coffee machine that really teaches you how to make coffee. Refer Point 3<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">It's a rubust little thing. I've had mine for over 3 years, and it just had it's first service today ... and all it required was a washer replaced and a descale. To quote CoffeeGeek, it's <a href="http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia/gscace">robust and built like a tank</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">You can make steamed milk properly with it. None of this frustrating nerk-nerk-nerk of the nasty little units on most department store shelves. This thing really gets the milk spinning</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Point 6 is possible because unlike most cheaper machines, the Rancilio has a little boiler that it uses for heating the water and producing the steam, not a thermablock</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Despite all that has been mentioned above, it still looks pretty good in a square kind of silvery way<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you want some more information, Greg Pullman of Pullman's Tampers fame, reviews the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.coffeetamper.com.au/kb/reviews/sunbeam-silvia/">Rancilio Silvia</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> here and compares it with the top of the range Sunbeam. Worth a read. If you've got the time, read my post on <a href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2008/08/steaming-trick-for-awesome-milk.html">steaming milk (with a Rancilio</a> of course), and an old Boing Boing post on <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/09/espresso-crema-shots.html">Miss Silvia</a>.</span></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-52702617212383558242008-09-12T12:17:00.005+08:002008-09-12T12:31:41.358+08:00The (Internet) Toast of Town<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Those of you who have such empty and vapid lives that you have read some of my older posts will realise that I have an unhealthy interest in </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2005/12/toasty-fascination.html">high tech toasters</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and in particular, "</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2005/08/dream.html">the internet toaster</a><span style="font-family:arial;">". In fact I have been posting on this very subject since 2005. So of course, my interest was piqued by a post on the appropriately named (for this topic) <a href="http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/09/11/internet-connected-toaster-burns-news-into-bread/">CrunchGear </a>and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14665971@N05/2846100234/">other </a><a href="http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/09/11/wacky_toaster/">places </a>about a <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/09/scan_toaster_prints_text_photos_from_the_internet_onto_your_bread-2.html">toaster design concept </a>that can print toast whatever you want on your thick, crisp and heavily buttered. I say make it happen, Electrolux. But make it wireless with a app that allows you to pick an RSS feed or weather report or something similar to be printed on said crisp and warmed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Other posts on this stomach warming subject can be found </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://infosthetics.com/archives/2005/12/ambient_weather_toaster_visualization.html">here </a><span style="font-family:arial;">and </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.embeddedarm.com/software/arm-netbsd-toaster.php">here</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Incidentally, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2235.html">Hobbes Internet Timeline </a><span style="font-family:arial;">refers to an Internet enabled toaster as far back as 1990.</span></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-79658468023201687142008-08-29T14:38:00.004+08:002008-08-29T14:44:09.769+08:00New Largest House in the World<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Back in March 08, I addressed the subject of the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2008/03/worlds-biggest-house.html">World's Largest House</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. Bizarrely, this post became the most popular on my blog, and has stayed in the top 3 most frequently hit pages every day since then. At the time, I noted that the Biltmore House built by the Vanderbilt family was most likely the largest private home in the world.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/SLeaFnZEY-I/AAAAAAAAAIg/to2OpPkb75A/s1600-h/617.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 120px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6aeMhnyROdw/SLeaFnZEY-I/AAAAAAAAAIg/to2OpPkb75A/s200/617.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239826112733012962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">However, it appears that an India business man has taken umbrage at this post and decided to claim the crown of the owner of the world's biggest home. He is none other than Mukesh Ambani, and he is building a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/05/02/2008-05-02_home_sweet_skyscraper_indian_billionaire.html">400,000 square foot home</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in Mumbai, India. Now, I did a quick conversion and that works out at over 37,000 square metres of home sweet home (<a href="http://www.metric-conversions.org/area/square-feet-to-square-meters.htm">conversion tool online here</a>).<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Apparently, this is to be spread across 27 stories and will include 3 helicopter pads, the hanging gardens of Mumbai, a yoga studio and a private ice palace. It will also have a staff of over 600.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukesh_Ambani">Mukesh Ambani</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > is listed on Wikipedia as being the world's 5th richest man, and he made his money (US$43 billion and counting) in </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/05/worlds-richest-billionaires-billionaires08-cx_lk_0305all_slide_6.html?thisSpeed=15000">petro-chemicals</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, according to Forbes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So there you have it. The new biggest house in the world. Videos of <a href="http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/mukesh-ambanis-new-home-antilia/">the biggest house</a> here.</span><br /></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-5096203617776404992008-08-11T13:30:00.002+08:002008-08-11T13:41:42.369+08:00Steaming Trick for Awesome Milk<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I haven't written many posts on coffee or recently, so thought I would rectify that with this brief post. Given I am still developing my "<a href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2007/04/making-perfect-milk-with-miss-silvia.html">milk steaming skillz</a>" (I'm a level 6 Milk Steamer with a +3 Jug of Steaming ;), I need all the help I can to get that velvety smooth texture that one wants on ones milk. One snag I often find is that I am still mucking about trying to stretch and texture the milk by the point it gets hot, and figuring that burnt milk is worse than poorly textured milk, I usually give up at that point. I know I have already mentioned this, but its worth mentioning again ... to give myself a bit more time, not only do I make sure that the milk is cold to start with, but I keep the jug in the freezer till needed. I reckon that using a frozen jug gives me an extra 5 seconds or so texturing the milk. Give it a try and let me know if it helps.<br /></span></span>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-26008647933825118232008-07-11T16:01:00.004+08:002008-07-11T16:06:13.896+08:00Sharepoint Workflow to Make Items Context Aware<div><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the things I have wanted since I first started working with Sharepoint 2007 is to have the documents and items in Sharepoint/MOSS be context aware. What I mean by that (and people may understand different things by "context aware") is that when an item is created or moved, the item itself knows where it now is. I want a custom column or metadata element that is automagically updated to reflect the context. For me, this mostly means having a custom column that keeps up to date with the folder a document or item is in.<br /><br />I did the normal stuff people do to get this happening. I mucked around for ages with Microsoft Office Sharepoint Designer (MOSD), trying to get the workflow wizard to build a workflow to do this. No such luck. In the end I created a custom workflow in Visual Studio 2005 to do this for me, and thought I would share the code with my vast readership (yes, you know who you are, all 3 of you). This code may seem a bit cludgey to some of you. If you can see a better way to do this, let me know. Pre-empting one comment though, every time I tried to reference </span></small></small><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">WorkflowProperties.Item.File.ParentFolder, or any variation on this, VS kindly told me that this was null. I suspect that if I try this for a document it will work, but as I use this code to make tasks context aware, there is no file object?<br /><br />This code is particularly useful, because if you copule this with my previous Sharepoint related post about <a href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2008/07/display-sharepoint-custom-columns-in.html">displaying Sharepoint custom columns in Outlook</a>, it means that you can show in Outlook the Sharepoint context of a task ... Handy!<br /><blockquote> private void logWorkflowStarted_MethodInvoking(object sender, EventArgs e)<br /> {<br /><br /> SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges(delegate()<br /> {<br /> //Default value<br /> FolderName = "Unknown";<br /> //Get the current item<br /> SPListItem listItem = WorkflowProperties.Item;<br /> //Get web reference<br /> SPWeb web = listItem.Web;<br /> //Get list reference<br /> SPList list = web.Lists[listItem.ParentList.ID];<br /> //Get URL for item<br /> string FullURL = web.Url + listItem.Url;<br /> //Get last slash<br /> int index = FullURL.LastIndexOf("/");<br /> //Set parent folder URL<br /> string parentFolderUrl = string.Empty;<br /> //If slash found<br /> if (index > -1)<br /> {<br /> //Get url of parent<br /> parentFolderUrl = FullURL.Substring(0, index);<br /> //Get folder<br /> SPFolder folder = list.RootFolder.SubFolders[parentFolderUrl];<br /><br /> if (folder.Exists)<br /> {<br /> FolderName = folder.Name;<br /> }<br /> }<br /><br /><br /> //Update folder name<br /> WorkflowProperties.Item["Project"] = FolderName;<br /> //Update document meta data<br /> try<br /> {<br /> WorkflowProperties.Item.SystemUpdate();<br /> }<br /> catch (SPException ex)<br /> {<br /> throw ex;<br /> }<br /><br /> });<br /> }</blockquote><br /></span></small></small></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-9507329356529211022008-07-07T15:21:00.002+08:002008-07-07T16:03:21.323+08:00Display Sharepoint Custom Columns in Outlook<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This little problem has been troubling me for a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2008/07/more-sharepoint-struggles.html">few days</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> and it appears I am </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.endusersharepoint.com/?p=415">not alone</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> in this. I have a number of Project Task folders, each with very similar or identical tasks within them. For example, multiple folders may have the task "Update spec", assigned to the same person. So when these tasks are synched to Outlook 2007 using the "Connect to Outlook" function in Sharepoint, these identical tasks become indistinguishable. The only way around this appeared to be to expose a custom column that gave the task some context. However, Sharepoint custom columns cannot, it appears be exposed to Outlook, as they do not match the default schema for the object in Outlook (see here for Microsoft's </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920278">lame explanation</a><span style="font-family: arial;">).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Found a way around this in the end. This solution has now been in testing for over 5 minutes and so I can conclude it is rock solid (not). Anyway ... Out of the box, Outlook will expose default columns from its own schema. So the answer is to put the context information for the task in a task column in Sharepoint that matches a default one in the Outlook task schema. Pick one that you aren't using for anything else important, perhaps like the Company column. This is called Related Company in Sharepoint. Put the context information in this, and this will be exposed as Company in Outlook. It appears you can then change the name in MOSS and still expose the information in Outlook ... although the name change itself will not be reflected in Outlook. Hope that helps.</span></span></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11201447.post-17033146895473125542008-07-03T15:03:00.002+08:002008-07-03T15:08:06.169+08:00More Sharepoint Struggles<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">Struggling with some <a href="http://grailboy.blogspot.com/2008/05/problems-uploading-documents-with.html">other </a>Sharepoint stuff at the moment. Here are a few MOSS issues that I want to answer. Drop me a note if you have the answer or find a post that does.</span></small></small><br /><ol><li><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">How to expose custom columns from Sharepoint in Outlook 2007?</span></small></small></li><li><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">Why do some folders from a synchronised Sharepoint document repository get duplicated in Outlook?</span></small></small></li><li><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">How can I add a dynamic title for a custom action in the drop down for an item? (I want to be able to progress a task's status from "In Progress" to "Complete" and so on, from the right click menu on the task's drop down menu, in Sharepoint. This means I have to be able to change the title in the drop down menu after the user clicks.)</span></small></small></li></ol><small><small><span style="font-family:arial;">No answers in sight for these questions so far but I am guessing that somewhere out there in google-space, someone has the answer.</span></small></small><br /></div>Grailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17414296743604504718noreply@blogger.com3