Daily Cup of Tech

One of the things that has always annoyed me about writing scripts or applications is the fact that you have to think of and code everything. At the core of my being, I am lazy. I’d rather not do something than do it.

This is why I love the concept of UDF’s in AutoIt. With a UDF, I can take code that I’ve already written (or, even better, that someone else has already written) and immediately incorporate it into my new script with just a few lines of code!

There are about twenty excellent UDF’s that come with AutoIt but people are constantly writing new ones and making them available. In AutoIt UDF’s; A Lot of Power in One Line, I have compiled (no pun intended) a list of thirty excellent UDF’s so that you can be lazy like Wimpy but still look like Neo.

Later,

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If you’ve been curious about scripting but never felt like you could just jump in and learn it, this may be your opportunity. I am planning a number of articles about AutoIt, the freeware scripting language. I hope to post a large archive of scripts and tutorials that will allow you to become proficient at this language.

But, everything needs a beginning and this is the beginning of that archive. I have writing an article entitled Installing AutoIt. It is a step by step guide which will walk you through the entire process. It may be a bit basic for some of you that are more computer savvy but for the absolute beginner, it is a must.

Also, don’t forget this week’s poll. I really want to hear what you think.

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Everyone has secrets. From the most average Joe to the most corrupt politician, we all have at least one skeleton in the closet that we want to keep private. Or, maybe there is some personal information that is just nobody’s business but your own. Either way, it is important to keep this information under lock and key.

So, I have a couple of things for you to look at today. The first is your opportunity to have your say. On the right hand side of your screen near the bottom of the page you should see this week’s poll. I want to find out what Windows open source/freeware software everyone is using to keep these secrets private. Add your two cents worth and then watch to see how your responses match up with the other readers.

The second thing I have done is write an article on Installing TrueCrypt, my encryption software of choice. It is a very basic step by step installation of the software but I am also planning other articles about TrueCrypt in the future.

Until tomorrow, stay secure.

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Good Sunday to everyone!

When a person is sometimes stumped by an problem, they often will receive the advice, “Think outside the box!” I have to admit, this is excellent advice. But, if you were to press the advice giver on how to do this, you would probably get a blank stare. Like many different bits of advice, it is often easy to give but difficult to execute.

I have given this advice some thought and I have come up with 9 Ways to Think Outside the Box. I think you will find it to be both useful and enlightening.

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It is now official. We, as a civilization are too lazy.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I am not going to be running a marathon any time in the near future and my idea of a brisk walk is getting up off the couch to change the channel because I can’t find my TV remote.

But I draw the line at motorizing my computer mouse! And yet, this is exactly what Logitech has done! Their new mouse, called the MX Revolution has a motorized wheel that will allow you to scroll through 10,000 lines of an Excel spreadsheet in seven seconds. This may be a “technical wonder” but, one problem…nobody reads that fast!

And what about maintenance for this thing? Am I going to have to start scheduling a 100,000 click oil change for my mouse? I don’t think so.

But, hey. This is just my opinion. If you are truly interested in getting one of these things, you can purchase it though TigerDirect (US or Canada) and help out DCoT.

Until tomorrow, I am still…

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