- main - earth.li

VB
by Mathew Moore 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

My names Mathew, I've been watching the VB .net story and would like to say that i also use VB2005 day by day and am happy with it, this is because it gets the job i need it to do without to much time wasted thinking about how it's done. All my users are MS users, as the company have forced that on us!?. Yes i've learn C++, done some Delphi (7 i think), but Basic has been with me since the ZX Spectrum 48K. Would love to come to the Alug meetings but will find it difficult due to hearing problems. As I understand it MS do allow code from the MSIL to run as native code but you have to create an image from the code (never actually do it), the documentation say that MSIL allows code to be JIT'ed for the target at runtime with optimzation thrown in. All that said I would like to learn C# just to look good on my CV. But learning how to code for a linux box would be a very good plus for me. Mat By the way, the C# book thing, any library can loan you a book for about 6 to 9 weeks in total this should give you time to see if that's the one for you to buy nor not, costing you nothing if it's not

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PHP rounding
by Mark Rogers 14 Oct '09

14 Oct '09

Can anyone explain this code's output? <?php $x = (15/100) * 10.7; $y = 1.605; var_dump($x, $y, round($x,2), round($y,2),round(1.605,2)); ?> Result: float(1.605) float(1.605) float(1.6) float(1.61) float(1.61) In other words there is a difference between the values of $x and $y where they should both be 1.605 (and var_dump shows them both to be 1.605). I assume this is because $x isn't really 1.605, but something very close to (and slightly below) 1.605 due to a rounding issue, so rounding to 2 decimal places causes it to round down not up. But I'm not sure how to change the code to give the correct results? (15/100 you may notice as VAT; this is a VAT calculation, therefore I'm kinda duty bound to get the right result!) -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450C Registered in England (0456 0902) @ 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Hi
by steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk 13 Oct '09

13 Oct '09

Hi, I'm Steve, I've been aware of ALUG for a while but never got round to signing up to the mailing lists. I've finally got round to it (obviously!) I've been using Linux for several years, I started with Fedora (FC3 I think), then swapped to Ubuntu. I used to be a programmer, but that was using Windows. I've not done any programming for Linux yet - I expect to try it one day, when I get some time! Regards Steve

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Re: [ALUG] PHP rounding
by Mark Rogers 12 Oct '09

12 Oct '09

I initially replied to James direct, as his email came to me not the list. This was my reply to him. His email to me wasn't exactly the same as his mail to the list so the quotes below won't match his list mails, but they're close enough. James Taylor wrote: > The problem here I believe is the .7 part of the 10.7. Try looking > into http://us2.php.net/manual/en/ref.bc.php if you require better > precision. (http://us2.php.net/manual/en/language.types.float.php has > a big warning box on it). > I thought the BC libraries would be my saviour, but: bcdiv("160.5",100,2) gives "1.60", which surprised me, given that 160.5 is now a string. (160.5 is 15 * 10.7). Unless the scale isn't supposed to round (making it equivalent to floor) in which case I can't see how I can then perform the rounding later without resorting to floating point maths at some stage. > Just out of interest, why do you round, and not floor or ceil (where > required?). I thought for tax you always rounded up (this is just my > own jumbled memories and might not be relevant or apply). > My understanding (and I'm neither lawyer nor accountant, and just write the code to meet the spec I'm given) is that there are lots of ways you can do VAT, but one way is to round each line on the invoice to the nearest pence (which is what we do), and another is to calculate the VAT against the ex-VAT subtotal (in which case you round up). However, the direction of rounding is presumably not significant in itself; I am sure there are calculations that could leave me rounding something like 1.70 up to 1.71 because 1.70 was actually a floating point value ever-so-slightly over 1.70. > Another quick solution is to try and move away from floats as your > currency - instead of representing things in pounds, we represent our > values in pennies, meaning we avoid using the decimal part - the > decimal part is ignored for the raw values: > We always do this for code we write from scratch; not least because its more reliable to store the pence value in a database and uses less storage space. But this code is something I'm maintaining and it supports currencies where there are more than 2 decimal places that are relevant, and it stores things as floats throughout. My idea to do a 2-stage rounding is easily proved to be a bad idea, btw: 1.6449 should round to 1.64, but if I round to 3dp then to 2dp I get 1.645 then 1.65 -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) @ 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Norwich Pub Meet Thursday 8th October.
by Montmorency 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

> Just a heads-up about the pub-meet tomorrow in the Coach and Horses, Thorpe Road. A table for ALUB has been booked. It is a large table, on the left- hand side of the glassed-in section at the rear of the pub. 7pm ish onwards. Montmorency montmorency(a)ukfsn.org bellphegore(a)nerdshack.com

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HP Photosmart R507 can't be mounted
by Jenny Hopkins 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

And even worse - now I've sent it to alug social list! Oh someone shoot me now, please! .... Sorry Mark - I just realised that I sent this mail to you a few days ago rather than the alug list. 2009/9/29 MJ Ray <mjr(a)phonecoop.coop>: > Jenny Hopkins wrote: >> I've got a problem with an HP Photosmart R507 camera on an ubuntu >> jaunty system. The camera is set to behave as a disk drive. When >> plugged into a debian system it is assigned to be /dev/hdc1 and can be >> mounted. However, with the ubuntu, it won't assign a device. here is >> the tail of dmesg: >> >> [14522.580027] usb 4-4: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4 >> [14522.805646] usb 4-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice >> [14522.815803] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices >> [14522.840286] usb-storage: device found at 4 >> [14522.840295] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning >> >> lsusb shows the camera listed. > > Doesn't matter. It's not recognising it as a SCSI disk. It would show > something like: > > scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access CBM Flash Disk 5.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 > usb-storage: device scan complete > > Does it complete the scan? The only time i have anything like that was after reboot, when i got: [ 22.880604] scsi scan: INQUIRY result too short (5), using 36 [ 22.880618] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access HP PhotoSmart R507 A001 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 [ 22.896587] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] 498176 512-byte hardware sectors: (255 MB/243 MiB) [ 22.901837] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off [ 22.901846] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 0f 00 00 00 [ 22.901853] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through [ 22.921851] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] 498176 512-byte hardware sectors: (255 MB/243 MiB) [ 22.928857] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off [ 22.928865] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 0f 00 00 00 [ 22.928870] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through [ 22.928883] sdb: sdb1 [ 22.948024] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk [ 22.948163] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0 However trying to mount either sdb1 or sg0 denied they existed. Otherwise the plugging and unplugging of the camera just shows: [14522.580027] usb 4-4: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4 [14522.805646] usb 4-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice [14522.815803] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices [14522.840286] usb-storage: device found at 4 [14522.840295] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning and it never does. >Have you any suspicious-looking stalled > processes? Can you remove the USB devices and rmmod usb-storage or > does it complain that the module is in use? If so, something has > failed badly in the USB drivers and only a reboot will clear it, in my > experience. > The above reboot info suggests this could be a pointer. I'll check for stalled processes and do the rmmod things you suggest when i'm next in the same room as the camera and ubuntu over the next few days. > I've one camera (the Nisis DV4) which refuses to work on one > workstation in a similar way at the moment. I'm sure it used to work. > I think some USB devices are less than perfect and different kernel > versions trigger the problems. > >> I'm puzzled that lsmod doesn't show any e/ohci_usb type modules and >> won't probe for them, but maybe this is an ubuntu thing. > > "Won't probe for them"? Do you have the .ko files in /lib/modules? > Anyway, I don't think that's related. > Ok, I'll ignore it then. Thanks for the pointers - it would be great to go there and fix it instead of flapping around again. Someone muttered something about firmware - would there be any way i can check that out? Many thanks, Jenny

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[ALUG Announce] Alug Norwich 2nd Thursday Pub Meet 8th October @ The Coach & Horses
by Adam Bower 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- Dear ALUG, This months second Thursday social meeting of ALUG will take place on 8th October 2009 at The Coach and Horses (82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk/ ). This is our second meeting in the Coach and Horses and it offers food, a good selection of real beer (including takeouts!) and reasonably good connections for travel and parking. There should be people there from 8pm, hopefully someone will bring a Tux to aid people in recognising us. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Thanks Adam -- jabberid = quinophex(a)jabber.earth.li ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Delays at earth.li?
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

Hi, I have just (08:40 BST, 30 Sept) received Sam Tuke's posting dated Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:02:04 +0000. The successive headers encapsulating the delay are: Received: from col0-omc1-s16.col0.hotmail.com ([65.55.34.26]) by the.earth.li with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from <samtuke(a)hotmail.com>) id 1MrZio-0005vC-VR for main(a)lists.alug.org.uk; Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:02:07 +0100 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=the.earth.li) by the.earth.li with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from <main-bounces(a)lists.alug.org.uk>) id 1Mstm5-0003BE-Tq; Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:38:57 +0100 This isn't the first time recently that I've noticed substantial delays, though not on the 4-day scale until today. Is there a problem? Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 30-Sep-09 Time: 08:58:01 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Backup/Recovery Options
by Alex Scotton 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hi there, I have seen this matter arise under a slightly different context many times on this mailing list and am sure a Google search will produce tonnes of results; however i thought I'd get some recommendations and some easy options for backing up my Linux OS: I would like to create an image of the Ubuntu 9.04 system running on my desktop PC, so that in the event I mess something up I can return to a system, that is already setup and 'tweaked', as apposed to dropping the install disk back in and starting again.. I would also like to look into doing this for other ubuntu pcs over the network and hosting these recovery images on my desktop pc... Would be awesome to have some sort of semi-automated process to recovering these images from the grub. Anyways cheers in advance for your help Alex Scotton

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HP Photosmart R507 can't be mounted
by Jenny Hopkins 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hullo List, I've got a problem with an HP Photosmart R507 camera on an ubuntu jaunty system. The camera is set to behave as a disk drive. When plugged into a debian system it is assigned to be /dev/hdc1 and can be mounted. However, with the ubuntu, it won't assign a device. here is the tail of dmesg: [14522.580027] usb 4-4: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4 [14522.805646] usb 4-4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice [14522.815803] scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices [14522.840286] usb-storage: device found at 4 [14522.840295] usb-storage: waiting for device to settle before scanning lsusb shows the camera listed. The running modules after this show: Module Size Used by vfat 18816 0 fat 58272 1 vfat binfmt_misc 16776 1 ppdev 15620 0 bridge 56212 0 stp 10500 1 bridge bnep 20224 2 video 25360 0 output 11008 1 video input_polldev 11912 0 nfsd 228012 17 auth_rpcgss 42144 1 nfsd exportfs 12416 1 nfsd nfs 266600 2 lockd 74284 2 nfsd,nfs nfs_acl 11136 2 nfsd,nfs sunrpc 195552 23 nfsd,auth_rpcgss,nfs,lockd,nfs_acl lp 17156 0 parport 42220 2 ppdev,lp snd_hda_intel 434100 3 snd_pcm_oss 46336 0 snd_mixer_oss 22656 1 snd_pcm_oss snd_pcm 83076 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss snd_seq_dummy 10756 0 snd_seq_oss 37760 0 snd_seq_midi 14336 0 snd_rawmidi 29696 1 snd_seq_midi snd_seq_midi_event 15104 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi snd_seq 56880 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event snd_timer 29704 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq snd_seq_device 14988 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq pcspkr 10496 0 snd 62756 15 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device shpchp 40212 0 soundcore 15200 1 snd snd_page_alloc 16904 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm usb_storage 99648 0 usblp 20224 0 usbhid 42336 0 forcedeth 61712 0 fbcon 46112 0 tileblit 10752 1 fbcon font 16384 1 fbcon bitblit 13824 1 fbcon softcursor 9984 1 bitblit (sorry about large list...) I've been googling for hours, and the closest thing I have found is a bug report in libgphoto_2 here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libgphoto2/+bug/355998 but the bug is reported fixed and the version being used is 2.4.2-0ubuntu4. I'm puzzled that lsmod doesn't show any e/ohci_usb type modules and won't probe for them, but maybe this is an ubuntu thing. Any hints warmly welcomed. Thanks, Jenny

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sharing a dvd writer amongst linux boxen
by Jenny Hopkins 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

Hullo, erm, again.... Out of curiosity: If I have a debian server (no X window system installed) that has a cd/dvd burning drive on the same intranet as a debian client that has no dvd burner, is there any method known to man or beast that can allow the server drive to be shared? First, I'm not sure how to include the drive in exports, as surely it isn't mountable with just a blank medium in it? Secondly, if I could somehow do the latter, how would I tell the dvd burning GUI that the medium to be used is an nfs mounted share? Thanks, Jenny

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No keyboard and no mouse ???
by Barry Samuels 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

I have just run an update for Debian Testing, the first update for 5 days, and when I start X I have no keyboard and no mouse. The mouse pointer is displayed but won't move and using the keyboard has no effect including the alt-sysrq combinations and I can't get to a terminal using alt-F(n). I can run and close an X application remotely using ssh and I can kill the unresponsive X server remotely using ssh. I can also kill individual X applications remotely. It doesn't look as though the system is locked in any way as the clock on the bottom bar (xfce) updates and the cpu load meter also appears to be updating. I haven't the remotest idea where to start looking for this problem. Could someone please help? -- Barry Samuels http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk The Unofficial Guide to Great Britain

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Re: [ALUG] main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22
by Sam Tuke 26 Sep '09

26 Sep '09

Interesting stuff - more of a response than I would have expected. Sam. > From: main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22 > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:00:03 +0100 > > Send main mailing list submissions to > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > main-request(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > You can reach the person managing the list at > main-owner(a)lists.alug.org.uk > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of main digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > ( (Ted Harding)) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:31:01 +0100 (BST) > From: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Subject: [ALUG] FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk, man-lug(a)lists.manchester.ac.uk, > linux-users(a)lists.manchester.ac.uk, sheflug(a)sheflug.org.uk > Message-ID: <XFMail.090925203101.Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Hi Folks, > Apologies for cross-posting -- I know some of you will read this > more than once. > > No 10 has mow responded to the "No MS in Schools" petition. > See the URL below. At first reading, it may seem that they > are "kicking it into touch", but in fact if you read the > link > > "Further details of the Becta advice can be found on the > following link: > > http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35287&CFID=3039363 > > it will appear that they are not particularly sympathetic to MS. > See especially the last 3 paragraphs of that document, which to > my view of it describe a serious scam! > > Ted. > > -----FW: <E1Mr8dr-0000Wo-Jd(a)steak.ukcod.org.uk>----- > > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:07:11 +0100 > From: 10 Downing Street <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> > To: e-petition signatories <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> > Subject: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' > > http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20711 > > --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> > Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 > Date: 25-Sep-09 Time: 20:30:52 > ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------ > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > http://www.anglian.lug.org.uk/ > http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/main > > > End of main Digest, Vol 51, Issue 22 > ************************************ _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organise, edit, and share your photos. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/134665338/direct/01/

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FW: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools'
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 25 Sep '09

25 Sep '09

Hi Folks, Apologies for cross-posting -- I know some of you will read this more than once. No 10 has mow responded to the "No MS in Schools" petition. See the URL below. At first reading, it may seem that they are "kicking it into touch", but in fact if you read the link "Further details of the Becta advice can be found on the following link: http://news.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35287&CFID=3039363 it will appear that they are not particularly sympathetic to MS. See especially the last 3 paragraphs of that document, which to my view of it describe a serious scam! Ted. -----FW: <E1Mr8dr-0000Wo-Jd(a)steak.ukcod.org.uk>----- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:07:11 +0100 From: 10 Downing Street <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> To: e-petition signatories <number10(a)petitions.pm.gov.uk> Subject: Government response to petition 'nonMSschools' http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20711 --------------End of forwarded message------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 25-Sep-09 Time: 20:30:52 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Grub can't find my new kernel, when old kernel works and is in the same directory
by Srdjan Todorovic 25 Sep '09

25 Sep '09

Hi all, Decided to give Linux 2.6.31 a go to see if it fixes the annoying I/O slowness bug I've been having for a long time. Compiled it, installed the modules and copied the kernel image to the correct place in what is effectively /boot title Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.30-cfq root (hd0,1) kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.30-cfq root=/dev/sda2 title Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.31-srki root (hd0,1) kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.31srki root=/dev/sda2 The first entry works and I can boot it. The second entry does not work and I get a "Error 15: File not found" I've verified the kernel is in the same dir and the filename is correct - so no typos. Googling for this message shows some ubuntu related stuff about having to reinstall grub - I can't imagine why i'd have to do this given the previous entry works. I can't see what I'm doing wrong with the grub config - everything seems to be ok. Does grub have a size limit on the kernel image? The grub screen shows: Booting 'Slamd 64 12.2 Linux 2.6.31-srki' root (hd0,1) Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83 kernel /boot/slamd64-2.6.31srki root=/dev/sda2 Error 15: File not found Press any key to continue.... Anyone kindly offer some help please? Thanks Srdjan

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ssh-agent
by Richard Lewis 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Hi ALUG, I'm trying to get ssh-agent to work properly so that I can have passwordless ssh. I've got my public key in the authorized_keys files on the relevant remote machines, and I can log in to them by just unlocking my key OK. The bit that I'm stuck with is starting ssh-agent properly. If I run urxvt, for example, under ssh-agent: $ ssh-agent urxvt I can't then run ssh-add, it says "Could not open a connection to your authentication agent." Although ps reports that the ssh-agent is running. The next thing I can't do is get ssh-agent to start my Fluxbox session. In /etc/X11/Xsession.options I have have "use-ssh-agent" (which I think is a default anyway). But I don't have any ssh-agent process running, and ssh-add reports the same error as above for a shell running under Fluxbox. (My /etc/X11/Xsession.options also has "use-session-dbus" and it seems that dbus works OK; I have a process called /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/startfluxbox. That's not exactly related, but I guess it's kind of similar.) Any ideas why this isn't working? Cheers, Richard -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis ISMS, Computing Goldsmiths, University of London Tel: +44 (0)20 7078 5134 Skype: richardjlewis JID: ironchicken(a)jabber.earth.li http://www.richard-lewis.me.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- +-------------------------------------------------------+ |Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.| |http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html | +-------------------------------------------------------+

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Debian dependency hell!!
by Ted.Harding＠manchester.ac.uk 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Hi Folks, I have hit yet another instance of having an attempt to install a Debian package run into a dead end. For the sake of another package, I need mencoder (I already have mplayer) on a Debian Etch system (regularly upgraded). So I start up Synaptic, search for mencoder (which comes up in the search list), and mark it for installation. First result: NOT AUTHENTICATED: libpostproccvs51 To be installed: libfribidi0 liblzo2-2 libpostproccvs51 and I then choose to Mark these. Result: mencoder: Depends: libdvdnav4 but it is not going to be installed Depends: libmpcdec3 but it is not installable Depends: libtwolame0 but it is not installable This "not going to be installed" and "not installable" is a block which I frequently encounter. No reasons are given as to why "it is not going to be installed" nor why "it is not installable", which leaves me clueless as to what to do about it! There is no visible "help" button in this situation. Is there any work-round for this situation? While I like Debian when using what can be installed on it, I find this situation very irritating, and I'm beggining to get fed up with it. Enough to drive me to use Ubuntu! (Which I find too glitzy and "user-oriented" [yuk] for myh taste, but at least it seems to do this kind of thing effortlessly). Comments? With thanks, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)manchester.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 23-Sep-09 Time: 19:30:31 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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Document Management Systems
by Mark Rogers 23 Sep '09

23 Sep '09

Does anyone here have any experience/recommendations for web-based document management systems? Ie: a collection of users, each with (secure) access to different sets of individual and shared documents, via a web interface. I know there are several wheels out there which I could avoid re-inventing, but I don't have any first-hand experience of any of them. -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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Corrupting address book file in icedove
by Jenny Hopkins 22 Sep '09

22 Sep '09

Hullo there, I'm having problems with a corrupting address book. One of my clients uses icedove aka thunderbird for her mail, and the address book is becoming corrupt on a daily basis. Googling has led me to a bug report in 2007 that never seemed to be resolved but i can find little else other than helpful instructions on how to uncorrupt the file. This problem started when the disk filled up to 100%, but even though space has been freed up the problem is continuing. The versions are running on lenny: ii icedove 2.0.0.22-0lenny1 free/unbranded thunderbird mail/news/rss clone ii thunderbird 1.5.0.13+1.5.0.15b.dfsg1+prepatch080614i-0etch1 Transition package for icedove rename Has anyone else experienced such a problem? Can anyone make any suggestions? System load is usually pretty small, but a large rsync file transfer does happen every lunchtime - seems to have no bearing on the random time of corruption though. Any hints welcome, Jenny

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Anyone like Bing?
by Mark Rogers 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

I've just had to do a fresh Windows install so it still has its default search engine. Too lazy to type "openoffice.org" in the address bar I typed "openoffice" and let Bing find it for me. Or at least I thought it would, but it wasn't even listed. A few ads for downloads from non-OOo sites, and few references to it, but even adding "org" to the search didn't get me there. It's hard to see how that could be unbiased results! -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0845 45 89 555 Registered in England (0456 0902) at 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

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[ALUG Announce] 3rd Monday Monthly Ipswich Social Meeting : McGintys, Northgate Street
by samwise 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

ALUG Announce Please send announcements to Announce(a)lists.alug.org.uk Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce ----- The monthly "Third Monday" ALUG Ipswich Social Meeting is back this coming Monday (21th September) at 20:00: P J McGinty & Sons 15 Northgate Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3BY Tel: 01473 251 515 Map/Directions URI: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=IP1+3BY WWW: http://pjmcginty.moonfruit.com/ McGintys pub is in the centre of Ipswich, not far from our old haunt - The Milestone. It's directly opposite the town's central library and has a reputation for good Irish beer. All are welcome, novices and experienced users. Feel free to ask for further information on the Main ALUG mailing list. Remember to call or email me, if you're arriving later and want to ensure I don't wander off, which I have a tendency to do if the turn-out hits rock-bottom ... Hope to see you there, Peter. ----- Send discussion replies to main(a)lists.alug.org.uk (Reply-To set) Unsub, change settings via http://lists.alug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/announce

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Securing grub
by Dan Hatton 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Dear All, I just frightened the life out of myself by selecting this option from my grub menu: title Gentoo Linux (rescue) root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/bzImage-2.6.28-tuxonice-r10 root=/dev/sda5 real_root=/dev/sda5 init=/bin/bb and finding it dropped me straight to a shell with root privileges, with no need to enter a password. Since the machine sometimes gets left unattended in areas other people have access to, I'd really like this not to be a possibility. But I would still like the possibility of a minimal-services, non-GUI boot. Any ideas, please? -- Thanks, Dan

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Exernal USB Drive
by Mathew Moore 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hi All I am trying to format a USB drive to ext3 or 4 but when it finishes it will not let me do any thing with it like add files. I have read it is about ownership and ubuntu root owns the files and drive and i have tried changing it but no change. any ideas thanks Mat

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DPMS trouble
by Dan Hatton 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Dear All, I've posted about this before, but I can now give a clearer description of my problem (thanks to Tim Green for a tip that helped me get there). Any suggestions as to how to make DPMS work correctly will be welcome. I have two computers (say 1 and 2), both with built-in LCD screens, plus two external monitors (A and B) that plug into VGA ports. The results of running xset dpms force off (or going to DPMS off mode via xscreensaver) are as follows: Computer 1 + no external monitor: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode. Computer 1 + monitor A: monitor A goes to DPMS off mode, built-in screen was in off mode anyway, from time computer was started with monitor A plugged in. Computer 1 + monitor B: monitor B goes to DPMS off mode, built-in screen was in off mode anyway, from time computer was started with monitor B plugged in. Computer 2 + no external monitor: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode. Computer 2 + monitor A: both built-in screen and monitor A go to DPMS off mode. Computer 2 + monitor B: built-in screen goes to DPMS off mode, monitor B stays on, complaining that I should "check signal cable". So it seems all individual components work OK, and it's the combination of computer 2 and monitor B that's problematic. In each case, the monitor behaviour when the computer is switched off altogether is the same as that in response to xset dpms force off. Thanks very much, Dan Some details that might help: Computer 1 has an Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03), and runs Fedora 9 with xorg 1.5.2-6.fc9. Computer 2 has an Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03), and runs Gentoo with xorg 7.2. Monitor A is a Samsung SyncMaster 710N. Monitor B is an LG Flatron W2234S. xorg.conf from computer 1 # Xorg configuration created by system-config-display Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "single head configuration" Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0 InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer" InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard" EndSection Section "Files" # RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the # file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally # no need to change the default. # Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together) # By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of # the X server to render fonts. FontPath "unix/:7100" EndSection Section "Module" Load "dbe" Load "extmod" Load "fbdevhw" Load "glx" Load "record" Load "freetype" Load "type1" Load "dri" EndSection Section "InputDevice" # Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1)) # Option "Xleds" "1 2 3" # To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable. # Option "XkbDisable" # To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the # lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S. # keyboard, you will probably want to use: # Option "XkbModel" "pc102" # If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use: # Option "XkbModel" "microsoft" # # Then to change the language, change the Layout setting. # For example, a german layout can be obtained with: # Option "XkbLayout" "de" # or: # Option "XkbLayout" "de" # Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys" # # If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and # control keys, use: # Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps" # Or if you just want both to be control, use: # Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps" # Identifier "Keyboard0" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "gb" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse0" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Monitor0" VendorName "Monitor Vendor" ModelName "LCD Panel 1024x768" HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5 VertRefresh 40.0 - 70.0 Option "dpms" EndSection Section "Device" # VendorName "Videocard vendor" # BoardName "VESA driver (generic)" Identifier "Videocard0" Driver "intel" BoardName "Unknown video card" EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "Videocard0" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 16 Modes "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 24 Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection EndSection Section "DRI" Group 0 Mode 0666 EndSection xorg.conf from computer 2 # Xorg configuration created by system-config-display Section "ServerFlags" Option "DontZap" "yes" Option "DontVTSwitch" "no" EndSection Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "Default Layout" Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0 InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer" InputDevice "Synaptics Mouse" "AlwaysCore" InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard0" Driver "kbd" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "gb,us(euro)" Option "XkbOptions" "grp:alt_shift_toggle" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Synaptics Mouse" Driver "synaptics" Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" Option "LeftEdge" "1700" Option "RightEdge" "5300" Option "TopEdge" "1700" Option "BottomEdge" "4200" Option "FingerLow" "25" Option "FingerHigh" "30" Option "MaxTapTime" "180" Option "MaxTapMove" "220" Option "VertScrollDelta" "100" Option "MinSpeed" "0.09" Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18" Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015" Option "SHMConfig" "on" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse0" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Monitor0" Modeline "1024x600" 48.96 1024 1064 1168 1312 600 601 604 622 -HSync +VSync # Option "Above" "Monitor1" Modeline "1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x768" 102.98 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 802 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x1024" 138.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1069 -HSync +Vsync Modeline "1280x1024" 108.88 1280 1360 1496 1712 1024 1025 1028 1060 -HSync +Vsync Option "dpms" EndSection Section "Device" Identifier "Videocard0" Driver "intel" # Option "monitor-LVDS" "Monitor0" # Option "monitor-VGA" "Monitor1" Option "Clone" "true" Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,VGA" BusID "PCI:0:2:0" # Screen 0 EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "Videocard0" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Viewport 0 0 Depth 24 Modes "1280x1024" "1024x600" "800x600" "640x480" Virtual 1280 1024 EndSubSection EndSection Section "DRI" Group 0 Mode 0666 EndSection

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Re-launched Linux User
by Richard Lewis 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi ALUG, Did anyone else notice that Linux User had disppeared from the newstands? No, neither had I. But they've recently published a re-launch issue, now under Imagine Publishing. Don't know if anyone else has read it and has any opinions? Just thought I'd voice some of mine. The features seem to be quite good, but some of the tutorials and reviews are dreadful. The hardware reviews go into no detail whatsoever. So they reviewed several netbooks in this issue, and all they did was to tell you the basic specs, tell you how they found OOo to work, and tell you what it's like to hold the thing. No objective benchmark testing or anything. But the software reviews were even worse. So bad, in fact, that I've quoted this passage from a view of Mono 2.4: "Mono 2.4 was released in March of this year. The Mono project and the DotGNU project are based on similar ideas. The fact that you can just download it and do anything with it makes it attractive to a lot of people out there who don't want to be tied down by an NDA or some other legal straitjacket which prevents them from realising their goal in writing a certain type of application. The General Public License, which is the most successful software license ever produced by any organisation anywhere, and the MIT X11 license make all of this possible." He manages to convey almost as little information in the remaining 500 words of the review. It's good for a laugh if you have a spare £6 (I still think they should drop the 'free' DVDs from these things). Though I should say again that the features (Shuttleworth interview, Jon 'Maddog' Hall on OpenMoko, Gerry Gavigan on grass-roots marketing of FLOSS) were worth reading. Best, Richard -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Richard Lewis ISMS, Computing Goldsmiths, University of London JID: ironchicken(a)jabber.earth.li http://www.richard-lewis.me.uk/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- +-------------------------------------------------------+ |Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.| |http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html | +-------------------------------------------------------+

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