April 2005 - main

OOo
by Bob Dove 23 Apr '05

23 Apr '05

Hi Guys, OOo v.2.0 is available from website - not sure whether full or beta or whether Linux (surely?) or Win. It is promised for May in an editorial in a Linux mag I browsed in the only place in Colchester you can browse Linux - W.H.Smiths. So, what should be my first step in migrating from MS? Partition my hard drive? How??? I understand Linux wants two partitions so do I divide my HD, half each for Win and Linux, then re-partition the Linux lump? The instructions with a Linux prog disk seem extraordinarily complicated. Like it wants to frighten me away rather than induce me to dip my toes! I have one of these bootable disks with a working Linux but it only appears to see the apps on the disk and built in - Mandrake I think. Cheers, BD. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.13 - Release Date: 16/04/2005

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[Rebecca@vbug.co.uk: Speaker Opportunity with Anglian LUG]
by Adam Bower 23 Apr '05

23 Apr '05

Hi all, Um, this came to the main-admin address today, I'm not quite sure what to make of it, any ideas? We did have an email about a talk from Graham Parker on a similar subject (Windows and .net) a few months back but I think that we talked about it on irc, and then forgot about it. Adam ----- Forwarded message from Rebecca Bursnall <Rebecca(a)vbug.co.uk> ----- From: Rebecca Bursnall <Rebecca(a)vbug.co.uk> To: "'main-admin(a)lists.alug.org.uk'" <main-admin(a)lists.alug.org.uk> Subject: Speaker Opportunity with Anglian LUG Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 14:11:28 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Hi A colleague of mine, Graham Parker, is looking to reach out further into the community this year. In particular he is looking for speaking engagements with Linux user groups on the subject of Windows Platform Integration through the use of Web Services. He has delivered a number of talks around the UK in the last few years and delivered Talk 1 attached to the JSIG (see www.jsig.com) in December 2004 and Talk 2 to Doncaster & Scunthorpe Linux UG in February 2005 and Aylesbury Linux User Group in March 2005. Do you have an opportunity this year for him to come and speak to your audience? Best wishes Rebecca Rebecca Bursnall VBUG Events Manager Tel: 01753 648555 Fax: 01753 647222 Email: rebecca(a)vbug.co.uk www.vbug.net Check out all forthcoming VBUG events at http://www.vbug.net/events/default.asp <<DCG Standard Talk Outline.txt>> About these Sessions: --------------------- I am looking to come to talk to your audience so that they can express their views honestly, ask challenging questions and share perspectives with their peers on a series of today's important modern technology challenges when it comes to working with .NET and Windows. Talk 1: Integrating J2EE with .NET The only other major contender besides Java for the hearts and minds of software developers is Microsoft?s .NET initiative. In this session we will see Why Java/J2EE Developers might be interested in knowing more about .NET? All the major elements of .NET will be covered; including the CLR, Visual Studio .NET and language support. As far as Java/J2EE .NET integration points are concerned Web Services are certainly the key features but what are the other options? We?ll explore the basic elements of.NET Smart Clients, highlighting some of the benefits of Windows Forms and office integration. We?ll also cover the key advances in deployment and security. We?ll hook up a simple Smart Client application to a contract exposed by a publicly available Web Service and look at the C# Code automatically created. Talk 2: Windows Platform Integration It is now a well-accepted fact that most IT infrastructures are made up of a variety of platforms and environments, rather than the homogenous ?one vendor? vision. This reality means it makes sense for IT professionals and developers to build up their knowledge of other technologies beyond their current core skills. Instead of re-igniting the well known platform wars; in this session we will take a more practial approach. As far as platform integration is concerned, Web Services are probably the most discussed example. But what are the other options? We?ll start by building a simple .NET web service. And go on to hook up a simple application to the contract exposed by this service, looking at the automatically generated code that results. There will be time for questions and maybe we'll even let off a bit of steam about certain platform frustrations. About Graham Parker: Graham Parker worked on various versions of Unix for ICL after graduating in 1990. He joined VBUG in 1994 and was Chairman of the group from 1997 until 2005. He is a co-founder and principal of DevTrain ? a .NET focused training company see http://www.devtrain.co.uk/. ----- End forwarded message ----- -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li AFFS || http://www.affs.org.uk/ || Not a filesystem

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Linux Political Party
by Nick Daniels 21 Apr '05

21 Apr '05

Hi A bit off topic, but found this regarding Labour Manifesto: Finally, a small section headed "Copyright in a digital age" may or may not be ominous. "We will modernise copyright and other forms of protection of intellectual property rights so that they are appropriate for the digital age," it says. Which is something we're all in favour of, but we fear they may disagree with us on what is "appropriate". It continues: "We will use our presidency of the EU [this expires on 31st December, so we'll hear about it very soon] to look at how to ensure content creators can protect their innovations in a digital age. Piracy is a growing threat and we will work with industry to protect against it." This does not sound like good news, necessarily. Still anything that might stop Alastair Campbell's minions nicking other people's dossiers off the Internet surely isn't all bad. ® http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/14/labour_2005_manifesto/ Regards Nick Daniels

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Next Social Meeting: The Reindeer, Dereham Road, Norwich: Thurs 14th April from 8pm
by Brett Parker 19 Apr '05

19 Apr '05

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi all, Just a quick reminder that there's the usual second thursday Norwich social meeting tommorow (Thurs 14th April, 2005), starting from 8pm in The Reindeer. I'll be the hairy one with a pint in my hand :) Hope to see lots of you there. For those who don't know where The Reindeer is, the directions can be found at: http://www.alug.org.uk/venues/reindeer.html Thanks, - -- Brett Parker web: http://www.sommitrealweird.co.uk/ email: iDunno(a)sommitrealweird.co.uk -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.0 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFCXXYwEh8oWxevnjQRAk+zAKDJhzbwe7jturUsWqSzcgkSzdgMngCgwLT8 Tjm2WVqiFKUIYKGhjpkkQak= =sCL9 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: main digest, Vol 3 #503 - 17 msgs
by Bob Dove 19 Apr '05

19 Apr '05

Hi Guys, Sorry if I upset someone by using the MS/OE reply system. I know no better - tho' I suppose I could create new message - but then you may not know to what I refer??? Anyway, I didn't realise the whole digest would be sent back - I'll try harder! Any of you guys using Firefox? Can you tell me why I can't close it (v.1.0) and disconnect from web. I have to switch my machine off and reboot to kill the connection! Best regards, Bob Dove (henceforth BD) -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.13 - Release Date: 16/04/2005

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tail ender's progress
by d922989 19 Apr '05

19 Apr '05

It took me a long time but I finally have my first install running KDE and here is my first post from a non-Bill system. So far my feeling is that it was well worth the hours of googling to get here. KDE seems to be add to, rather than obscure, the interface with my machine. And add me to the virtual desktops fan club already. Now, being a mere user of applications with 'productivity' stuff to get done I will need to get Open Office but first I suppose I should upgrade this 2.2.20 idepci to Sarge. More trials ahead then but worth it for the sense of learning and gradual empowerment that I never got with win. I think OOo 1.4 is the latest version available as debs but will 2.0 go with Debian yet? BTW1 on googling newsgroups- top posters are preferable when searching as you only get to see the initial lines of posts when viewing threads. BTW2 my first computer at school was a NASCOM 2, it ran BASIC and Z80 assembler. Home machine an Atari 800, the first to have a seperate graphics processor enabling sprites (or 'player missile graphics'). A lot of my school/ uni pals who grew up with stuff like this and other early systems mentioned on this list recently are now developers of various kinds. Where is the next generation going to come from? Rob

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Old PC's
by Bob Dove 18 Apr '05

18 Apr '05

So now we know - you are all a bunch of nerds really! PCW - what's LocoLink? I have LocoMail (which I believe is incorporated in Loco2) and LocoFile. It seems strange now, but a PCW 256 was used as 'the computer' in a multi million pound turnover company I worked for which is why I chose it when I became 'freelance.' I added a 3.5in drive and another ram chip to make it a 512. The company made a major jump from PCW to Mainframe! My first 'proper PC' was faster and more powerful than the mainframe! My local library controlled all their ins, outs, budgets and stock on an Atari and a colleague used a similar to run his graphics business. PC1512 DD. Colour screen - 3 colours, no tones! Originally 2 x 5 .25 in drives, one of which I swapped for a 3.5in 'cos the 3.5 in 720 Kb disk held twice as much data as the 5 in. I also added a 20Mb (HUGE for the day) hard card. I must dig it out of the garage and fire it up and see what happens! I also had a 1640 which had twin drives that again I modded to 5.25 and 3.5. It, like my PCW committed suicide and was replaced with a 'pre-owned' IBM desktop. I forget the ram, 8 Mb comes to mind. HD was 40 Mb. I ran Paint Shop Pro on the 1640. I have locoScript Pro on 5.25 disks - it was/is a good word processor! GEM. Digital Research GEM came with the Amstrad 1640. It was the first GUI as far as I know. Any one who has used it will recognise the folders, drop down menus and task bar as both AppleMac and Windows use the same styles. If you learnt with GEM, Windows came easy! I presume Jobs or Gates bought GEM to make their systems work! Cheers, BD. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.13 - Release Date: 16/04/2005

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Re: using X across an ssh connection - how?
by Chris Green 18 Apr '05

18 Apr '05

On Fri, Apr 15, 2005 at 08:52:02AM +0100, Chris Green wrote: > On Thu, Apr 14, 2005 at 10:30:23PM +0100, Adam Bower wrote: > > On Thu, Apr 14, 2005 at 09:29:00PM +0100, Chris Green wrote: > > > > > The ssh man pages say that ssh will set the DISPLAY environment > > > variable but it doesn't seem to do so, 'echo $DISPLAY' produces > > > nothing. > > > > > > What am I doing wrong? > > > > Does the remote end have the option "X11Forwarding yes" in the > > /etc/ssh/sshd_config file? > > > Aha, no it doesn't. Can I override that with a local config file > and/or a command line argument? (The remote machine isn't mine, it's > the hosting company where my web pages are hosted) > [Sorry, intermediate message not sent to list] OK, I've created a local config file on the remote system with "X11Forwarding yes" in it. Still no joy. When I connect using "ssh -X <remote>" there's still not DISPLAY variable set. -- Chris Green (chris(a)areti.co.uk) "Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence."

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Weekly IRC reminder
by Brett Parker 18 Apr '05

18 Apr '05

This is the automated ALUG IRC meeting reminder sent to remind you that there is an IRC meeting tonight (Monday) at 8.00pm. The meeting takes place on the irc server irc.alug.org.uk in the #alug channel. Most IRC clients should allow you to get there with the commands "/server irc.alug.org.uk" and "/join #alug". Popular IRC clients include tkirc, bitchx, xchat and EPIC on Unix, and Mirc under windows. Here are some links to help you get started with irc. Unix http://www.xchat.org/ http://freshmeat.net/ http://www.epicsol.org/ Windows http://www.mirc.com (loads of help with irc for newbies!)

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Multiple Pointing devices
by Wayne Stallwood 17 Apr '05

17 Apr '05

I have been made soft by point and click installation GUI's I think. I have acquired a broken Fujitsu P1120 sub notebook (it really is tiny) after it had coke (the drink) spilt all over it. After a lot of cleaning up and a tricky repair operation on the keyboard it is now once again operational. It probably deserves a slightly more lightweight distro (it's only a Transmeta 800) but until I have learnt more about the hardware I have installed SuSE 9.2 on it. SuSE 9.2 has done a fantastic job of discovering the hardware, all the usually tricky things are working. Suspend mode, lid switch, CPU throttling (different profiles for AC and battery power), built in wireless, battery meter. In fact only two things remain. The modem (which I am not bothered about at the moment) and the touchscreen. It has a "nipple" pointer as well and that is working fine. I can see the touchscreen device in /proc/bus/usb as follows T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=02 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=1.5 MxCh= 0 D: Ver= 1.10 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs= 1 P: Vendor=0430 ProdID=0508 Rev=11.30 S: Manufacturer=Fujitsu Takamisawa S: Product=USB Touch Panel C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=a0 MxPwr= 20mA I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=03(HID ) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=usbhid E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl=10ms The fact that the hid driver has picked it up is a positive thing, but how do I add this to my X config and would it be reasonable to expect things like tap to click to work. Also will adding this break the already configured nipple pointer or can you specify more than one active pointing device. As always any help would be appreciated.

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