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Post moved here: Fixing Java apps within TWM’s using wmname

Post moved here: Tiling Window Managers reprise

Post moved here: Tiling Window Managers

Since Elemental Audio have changed hands to Roger Nichols Digital, Inc (shockingly poor name by the way), all their original plugins, such as Eqium and Firium have changed name and been given slight updates (mainly just the inclusion of a few shoddy presets).

Eqium is now known as UNIQUEL-IZER and Firium known as FREQUAL-IZER (well at least they’re coherent with their bad names).

But what if, after “upgrading”, you want to use your original nicely crafted presets? Unfortunately, the new plugins use new preset formats and won’t load your originals. However, I was looking at the preset files to Equim, opened them up in Notepad2 (best program ever) and all they are are standard XML files. I made a preset with the new plugin and they use the same XML format. So basically all I did was nick the header and end element labels, updated the old ones with the new file extension and they work fine!

Here’s an example:

<!–©2002 Elemental Audio Systems, www.elementalaudio.com–> <uniquelizer_filter_settings version=”Roger Nichols Digital UNIQUEL-IZER Settings v1.0″> [INSERT .eqm source here] </uniquelizer_filter_settings>

After getting to grips with the basics of Ubuntu, I thought I might aswell have a try a Gutsy – the new (currently beta) upgrade to Ubuntu.

One of the biggest gripes with Feisty was that it didn’t detect my Laptop graphics (monitor) native resolution. I solved that by using the endless amount of help avaliable:

I have the Intel i915GM onboard graphics chipset and although the drivers are already included in the distro, there is extra work to be done for it to run at native resolution. Luckily I found some documentation explaining the process here:https://help.ubuntu.com/community/i915Driver

I then ran the autoi915 script and all seems fine!

Gutsy however now implements the modeset changing in xorg, outofthebox (as I understand). So 915resolution has been made redundant. If your upgrading from Feisty (like most people will be), you will need to reconfigure your xorg.conf for the new settings:

1.  Make sure “xserver-xorg-video-intel” is installed (search in Synaptic)
2. Remove 915resolution – I chose remove completely
3. Remove Auto915resolution (startup script – if you used it): Terminal > cd /etc/rc2.d sudo rm S08startupscript cd /etc/init.d sudo rm auto915resolutionScript
4. At that point, I restarted just to check if the resolution had changed (from native) – and it did
5. Now run Terminal > sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
6. This will reconfigure your xorg.conf file. Run through the process as normal, it’s worth reading the description of whats about to be changed, if in doubt, leave the field blank. In the video driver screen, select “Intel” instead of “i810 or i915″.
7. Restart and your resolution should be correct!

If you haven’t heard of Ubuntu yet, it’s a flavour of Linux that’s based on Debian. To save me the time of writing out why you should be using Ubuntu instead of Windows (or anything else for that matter), all you need to do is have a browse round here: http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/

The first thing  you should be thinking of is  have a try of Ubuntu by running it as a Live CD. Just change your BIOS settings to enable booting from CD and you’ll be there . If your happy, next you should be looking at backing up. Instead, I was looking to upgrade my XP install by using a customised XP disk with nLite:

Deciding To Use Ubuntu

• Created a new XP Slipstream disk that contained 64KB cluster size fix – XPSP2 does not normally allow installation on anything other than 4KB Cluster Size. Unfortunately, the “fix” didn’t work and I was displayed Page_Fault Stop Error’s. Even after rebooting, the error appeared, stopping me from continuing with the XP installation. Possible casue for this could have been: I didn’t delete and recreate the Temp Partition after installing Windows and assigning the pagefile to it. Currently, we haven’t found a way of installing Windows on anything but 4KB, but the Temp Partition (w/ 64KB) WILL work if recreated as above. Also note that Windows will only install to a PRIMARY partition and you can only have 4 primary partitions (remembering that an extended partition uses up a primary partition slot).

If creating a NTFS TEMP partition for XP (by setting up partitions before installing Windows), make sure you delete it and re-create it after Windows has installed

So I had to find a way of reformatting the drive without using a Windows tool. I was going to use Ubuntu’s FDISK (during Live CD use), but instead thought it would be a better idea to make the jump and actually convert to Ubuntu instead. I briefly looked up on Linux software equivalents and came to the conclusion that I would only need to use XP again for Cubase (& no Linux drivers for EMU 1616m) and possibly for games.

Sun 16 Sep 2007 21:32:43

Ubuntu Changeover Log

Backing Up From Windows

• Backed up all obvious folders, like My Documents etc. • Backed up various application settings and profiles • Safely moved all non-redudant backups to external hard-drive

Formatting Drive

After backing up, I decided that I wanted to have my 2 years in use hard-drive completely formatted:

• First booted Ubuntu using the Live CD • Securely formatted the hard-drive using: sudo shred -n1 -v /dev/hda • Reboot and run the Ubuntu Installer • Manually Partition as:

Extended : - Linux Swap 1.5GB - / (Root) Linux 20GB - /home 30GB • Finish the install • Boot to XP (Slipstream CD) • Create 2 further partitions (they are created as Primary):

Primary: – Windows 2.9GB Primary: – Programs 18GB

Recovering Linux Boot Manager

After Windows has been installed, it installs it’s own bootloader, which hides our Linux install from the system. To allow us to boot back into Linux, follow the following link:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows?action=show&redirect=RecoverGrub 

Used this for the Windows entry:

title Microsoft Windows XP Home root (hd0,1) makeactive chainloader +1

Ubuntu Installed

• Now Ubuntu is installed, I am looking for user guides to help ease the transition. • Picked up a few (rather out-of-date) Linux books from the Library. • Got a good eBook • Got .docx to work in OO using: http://www.sigmundvoid.com/?p=81& http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-150393.html

Installed Opera 9.5 This was hard as I used my XP backup that had D:\Opera\ for the paths used. Had to manually change the paths to their new linux equivelents; in the GUI and by editing the .adr files. Opera kept re-creating folders/files outside of the new profile folder, but I managed to replace all the old paths eventually. Remember, all paths used by Opera can be checked by enterring opera:about

When updating programs (such as new Opera builds) in Ubuntu, (after running the .deb file) it will automatically detect that there was a previous version and will replace/update it perfectly.

• To add items to the Start Bar; goto: /home/tom/.opera/toolbar and enter manually • To remove “Search With…” after update: /usr/share/opera/locale/english.lng

• Installed Automatix

Laptop Drivers For Linux

Graphics: Intel i915GM – Stock Driver Version: Intel VGA driver 6.14.10.4250 Audio: Conexant – Stock Driver Version: Conexant Audio driver 6.13.10.8335

I have the Intel i915GM onboard graphics chipset and although the drivers are already included in the distro, there is extra work to be done for it to run at native resolution. Luckily I found some documentation explaining the process here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/i915Driver

I then ran the autoi915 script and all seems fine!

Fonts

I thought that even after changing my default resolution back to the monitor’s native, the fonts still looked quite bad. Firstly, I had to find change my DPI to 96 following this guide:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=99808&postcount=1 

Using: DisplaySize 338 211 # 1280×800 96dpi

After running the xdpyinfo | grep resolution command, my dpi would never be 96×96. After searching around, I found there is a bug in the xorg.config file. I followed the fix here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2663087&postcount=19 

and all was well.

Instead of following the rest of that guide, I found a script that automates installing MS fonts for a great look: http://www.stchman.com/ms_fonts.html 

I later installed Lucida Console manually. I have now changed the system fonts (in System/Preferance/Font) to Tahoma 8.25 (the default XP) for all system fonts except Fixed Width Font to Lucida Console 10.

Ubuntu Control Panel

• (Dis)abled Desktop Effects (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DesktopEffects?highlight=%28effects%29%7C%28desktop%29) • Set UK as default Keyboard • Added Control Panel to preferences • Changed Opera to default browser • Changed Power settings (Change the “Regard system as idle” in screensaver to 1 minute for shorter times) • Changed Mouse Pointer to White Glass (2nd size) and increased the acceleration slightly • Disabled System Beep

Programs Uninstalled

• Totem Player • Tomboy Notes • Games • Gaim • Evolution Mail • Bittorrent

Programs Installed

• Opera • VLC • Automatix • DocX for OO • Pidgin (The new Gaim) • Flash Plugin • VLC and Plugin • Installed HOSTS Adblock file – http://www.hosts-file.net/?s=Download • 7-Zip • Unrar (non free) • Brightside – Top Left: Mute, Bottom Left: Desktop, Top Right: Off, Bottom Right: Screensaver Switch to adjecent workspace and wrap on • The new OpenOffice – follow this: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/openoffice.org/+bug/93002/comments/12 • Converted Office 2007 Templates – find out how to put document properties title • Moblock (PeerGuardian) • Workrave (Caused Crash?!) • TuxGuitar (Guitar Pro)

TO-DO

• Clear Type Opera • Get Wireless Going • Find out why Ubuntu crashes when the EMU-1616 is in • Find out how to uninstall Firefox • Sort out services • Sort out Pigeon (it’s out of date) • Sort out Backups • Update favourite software with Ubuntu’s alternatives

Just come back from Kent and thought it was about time I updated the TVStudios website. The latest news of the Lineup project and an example track have been posted up.

Next, I’m working on updating the news system and creating some proper php templates (instead of the basic html they are at the moment). Also some photos of the gear should be up soon!

Most characters used in a font can also be accessed with an Alt Code – a kind of keyboard shortcut. The list of these shortcuts can be found in Character Map (Start\Accessories\System Tools). Select a character and copy it into your document – or look for its corresponding alt code in the bottom right hand corner. To use an alt code, hold down ALT and type the digits on the number-pad (numpad) of your keyboard, releasing ALT when you’re finished. On a Laptop, hold down the blue function key and press and press the NumLk key to turn the number-pad on (a light will show). The number-pad digits are labelled in blue on the keyboard. Useful Alt Codes

• Bullet Point – ALT+0149 or ALT+7 Further Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_codes

Old File Names and Relative Paths

Dos paths use old 8.3 file names, so if any path contains a space, you will have to find out the 8.3 version or enclose the whole path in double quotes.

8.3 file names and paths can be found by using dir /x in command prompt, e.g.

cmd.exe cd \ dir /x Volume in drive C is Home Volume Serial Number is BC55-A8B4

Directory of C:\

27/12/2005 01:19 0 AUTOEXEC.BAT 27/12/2005 01:19 0 CONFIG.SYS 24/07/2007 19:21

DOWNLO~1 Downloads

2 File(s) 0 bytes 1 Dir(s) 12,983,218,176 bytes free

DOWNLO~1 is the 8.3 path name of the folder Downloads.

Full paths that include spaces need to be enclosed by double quotes (“”), e.g.

cmd.exe cd “Downloads\My Received Files” C:\Downloads\My Received Files>

The CD Command

The CD command changes the current active directory. It allows you to move into one directory to another. For example, if you wanted to move the Windows directory, you would type:

cd Windows

If you are currently in the Windows directory and wanted to go inside a subdirectory, you would type:

cd System

Because Windows was the active directory, no other commands are needed. But if you knew you wanted to move to a subdirectory of a directory immediately you use a back slash (). So the command would be: cd Parent Directory\Subdirectory e.g.

cd Windows\System C:\Windows\System>

This is called moving into a “deep” directory. If however, you were already in a deep directory and wanted to move directly to a folder that is nearer to the root, you can include an initial back slash (). This tells the CD command to move to the root of the drive first.

C:\Downloads\My Received Files> cd \Windows\System C:\Windows\System>

Relative Paths & Parent Folders

So far, we’ve looked at moving forward in the folder (directory) tree. You can also move backwards, or “Up”, in exactly the same way as “Up One Level” we’re familiar with in the Windows GUI environment.

Typing two dots (..) move’s up one level. This is used in the same way as Relative URLs in HTML.

Typing one dot (.) refers to the current directory

You can return to the root of the drive by typing a back slash ()

Relative paths can be used with the CD command as before and can be strung together like usual, e.g.

cmd.exe C:\Documents and Settings\Tom> cd .... C:\>

Relative paths are a useful way of saving time when navigating between folders, but are good to implement in folders that can have changing paths. For example, if a person installs a game, they can install the game to a different directory than default. If a configuration file is nested within the games folders and the games folder tree remains intact, relative paths can be used in the config’s to point, for example, to an exe that is in the games root folder, i.e.

D:\Quake 3\Servers\2vs2.bat cd .. START Quake3.exe

Running A Batch File That Closes The CMD Window

Normally, whenever you run a batch file, if a program is called to launch in the batch, the command prompt will stay running and doesn’t close until the program has closed.

Adding an EXIT command to the end of the batch file is suppose to end it, but “it is important to realize that if a batch file or program is still running a program, the MS-DOS windows will not close until it has completed. Therefore a MS-DOS window may remain open either because the program stopped responding or because it’s still performing tasks.”

One way of closing the command window before the program has closed is to call the program with the START command, e.g.

@ ECHO OFF D: cd “D:\Games\Quake 3″ START Quake3.exe

If the exe file contains a space, it’s corresponding 8.1 filename will have to be used, e.g.

@ ECHO OFF D: cd “D:\Games\Quake 3″ START Quake3~1.exe

Or it is possible to “trick” the START command by typing empty double quotes before the exe and then enclosing the exe in it’s own double quotes;

@ ECHO OFF D: cd “D:\Games\Quake 3″ START “” “Quake 3.exe”

(Usually, the empty double quotes would be used to give the command prompt’s window a title) Copying The Contents Of CMD To Clipboard

In Windows XP, right click the command prompt window and press “Mark”. Now click and highlight the text you want copied and press enter.

Useful Commands:

Cmd /k                  - Keeps the command box up, good for start\run commands.
Tskill  /a              - Kills the task
Net Start               - Starts a service
Net Stop                - Stops a service
rmdir /s                - Deletes a folder
shutdown -s -f -t 10    - Shutdown PC

Here’s the result of 4 friend’s just having a good time.

http://www.myspace.com/thelineupuk

We’ve, amusingly done Pop-Punk cover’s of “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” (from the Lion King) and Backstreet Boy’s; “Larger Than Life”. We also wrote one original song.

The whole project took 1 week to complete, from recording to mastering the songs. All recordings we’re worked on by me under the TVStudio’s studio project. Please get in touch if you are interested for a low-cost, high-quality band recording service.