Being the kind of person who likes to adapt, change, and implement better solutions, particularly for myself, I created a list of features I would like to see in my GTD-PHP installation. One of the first problems I had with the existing system was that it does not support importing Inbox items from a real mail Inbox.

I did some research and came across an existing mail importer, however this required directly piping mail from SMTP into the php script, which I could not do on my host (or would prefer not to do).

I decided to build my own POP3 Importer of Inbox items and decided to learn PHP and imap_open. I built it as an addon to GTD-PHP that could be called to do an import, however I am still going to extend it so that in the GTD-PHP header additional headers can be called (ones that identify if new items have been added to an Inbox so I can get feedback of when somebody mails into that account).

<?php
//Script to insert e-mails into GTD-PHP inbox.
//These are loaded from a pop3 account
//The account info and other options are configured in the config.php file
//$config['addons']['pop3inbox']=array(
//        "link"=>"addons/pop3inbox/import.php",
//        'title'=>"Import POP3 Mail", 'label'=>"Import Inbox",
//        'where'=>'item.php?type=i','when'=>'after',
//        'options'=>array("user"   => 'gtduser',
//                         "pass"   => 'gtdpass',
//                         "server" => 'mail.server.com',
//                         "port"   => '995',
//                         "type"   => '/pop3/ssl/novalidate-cert',
//                         "delete" => true)
//                         );
//Subject becomes title
//From & Body becomes description
$title='Import POP3 Inbox';
include_once 'header.php';
 
$msoptions = $addon['options'];
 
mysql_connect($config['host'],$config['user'],$config['pass']);
mysql_select_db($config['db']);
 
$imap = imap_open("{".$msoptions['server'].":".$msoptions['port'].$msoptions['type']."}INBOX", $msoptions['user'], $msoptions['pass']);
if (!$imap) {
   print_r(imap_errors());
} else {
  $num_msg = imap_num_msg($imap);
  include_once('gtdfuncs.php'); 
  echo "importing ".$num_msg." messages<br>";
  echo "<div class='success'>\n";
  for ($i = $num_msg; $i > 0; $i--)
  {
    // empty vars
    $from = "";
    $subject = "";
    $headers = "";
    $message = "";
 
    $header = imap_headerinfo($imap, $i, 80, 80);
 
    $from = $header->fromaddress;
    $subject = $header->fetchsubject;
    $date    = date('YmdHis', $header->udate);
 
    $message=imap_body($imap, $i);
    $message="From: ".$from."\n\n".$message;
 
    mysql_query("INSERT INTO `".$config['prefix']."items` ( `itemId` , `title` , `description` , `desiredOutcome` )VALUES (NULL , '$subject', '$message', NULL);");
  mysql_query("INSERT INTO `".$config['prefix']."itemstatus` (`itemId`, `dateCreated`, `lastModified`, `dateCompleted`) VALUES (NULL, '".date($config["datemask"])."', NOW(), NULL);");
    mysql_query("INSERT INTO `".$config['prefix']."itemattributes` ( `itemId` , `type` , `isSomeday` , `categoryId` , `contextId` , `timeframeId` , `deadline` , `repeat` , `suppress` , `suppressUntil` )VALUES (NULL , 'i', 'n', '0', '0', '0', NULL , '0', 'n', NULL);");
 
    echo "Imported '".stripslashes(escapeChars($subject)),"' into Inbox<br />\n";
    if ($msoptions['delete'])
      imap_delete($imap, $i);
  }
  echo "</div>";
  if ($msoptions['delete'])
    imap_expunge($imap);
  imap_close($imap);
}
include_once 'footer.php';
?>

Works pretty well at this point. Though I am having problems getting mail into that POP3 account. Will have to work further on that today

Cheers, Chris.

The past few months have also seen my University Graduation 3 days after my Daughters Birth, Family Visits, Job Applications, Job Interviews, and finally Permanency in my Servers Position.

Aside from that I have been working with some friends on converting the old TA Server to the C# .Net/Python version (PyTA). I have also been busy in mapping out my development goals and objectives for the coming months and years.

David Allens Getting Things Done

In order to better manage my time and my priorities I have been implementing and reviewing David Allen’s “Getting Things Done”, and have been operating my own install of GTD-PHP. I have been using this to manage all aspects of my life, from professional to personal projects. This has allowed me a lot greater control of my personal and professional life and allowed me to manage my time far more effectively than ever before. Currently in this system I am managing 100 Active Projects, 44 Someday/Maybe Projects, and within those I have currently 147 Actions within those. I am still in the process of determining Next actions for some of these projects, but at least having visibility of all these things I need to do has given me greater control of managing the most important of these. Most of the projects without next actions are someday/maybe projects, and the others that are not could be put in someday/maybe until such time as I have time to process their next actions. I definitely encourage anybody to try this method of organisation, time management, prioritisation because it has helped me to lower my stress and be able to switch off from work when I get home. Just note that it does tend to increase the likelihood of adding more projects to your list than you started out doing .

Aside from this I have been attempting to build an Application Audit script at work that will pull the NAL objects from our system through LDAP. I have started coding this type of script now as a class which is in a .vbs file and then for implementing its use I have started using .wsf files to include and execute the required code. This adds to the usability of my existing code and makes my code far more acccessible for reuse in other applications. I had already started writing these types of classes before for my Ini File Handler, but previously I had been including the VBScript files internally using a manual Include function:

Function Include(vbsFile)
   Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   If fso.FileExists(vbsFile) Then
      Set f = fso.OpenTextFile(vbsFile)
      s = f.ReadAll()
      f.Close
      ExecuteGlobal s
   End If
End Function

The .wsf include method is so much cleaner:

<script language="VBScript" src="Applications.vbs"/>

When I have managed to get my projects and actions further under control I will have to provide updates. I have some plans for the XNA in a Day series which I started with breakout, but that is some way off. I am also planning on overhauling some of my previous projects and actually actioning them.

Cheers, Chris.

First, I have been travelling a fair bit for my wife, as we are getting many scans and specialist appointments. The pregnancy has not been going as well as it could have been, but at least things are looking positive now. Understandably the requirement to have enough “stuff” set up for baby, who should be here very soon, has taken much of my time.

Secondly, the job in which I am currently sitting has been advertised for Permanency. This of course requires my time for writing the application. Hopefully the fact that I sit in the position currently will put me in a good position, especially considering in the current economic climate that there might be the newly skilled unemployed seeking to get into my role.

Those are the two major time sinks that I have at the moment, although there are a few other smaller sinks. Bare with me while I push to get back on track with development .

Cheers, Chris.

I have actually done a fair bit of work on the design, even to the point of having a UML model and having the class inheritance already worked out, and all the class shells having been created in the project. The issue is with explaining where I am and how I got to this point. So, in order to break the drought I started talking about the procrastination that is present in order to force the flow of ideas to continue.

Procrastination is one of my demons, both in initiating a project, and completing a project. The causes are usually to do with planning, scope, or being otherwise occupied. Scope is the simplest aspect to resolve in that features can be cut so as to reduce the required workload. Planning is where the majority of decisions regarding the direction of the project can be considered with regard to the desired scope of the project. A properly planned project should have adequate (and achievable) milestones, and a clear scope outlining desired functionality, and most importantly the undesired functionality. By identifying “features” that you do not want in the final project you can help to avoid feature creep.

The final issue regarding project procrastination is a hard one to resolve. These days things are hectic with work, family, friends, activities, study, and a lot more pressures bearing down on our limited workday. Planning plays some role in this as well, as by scheduling time in which to actually do project work removes some of the excuse of avoiding the project work.

So, having now written about my own procrastination, it is time now to start on my project. Thanks for reading.

Cheers, Chris.

Next things to consider doing will be: kickboards in the kitchen need replacing, carpets upstairs need replacing, a fresh coat of paint – and a more sophisticated choice of colour, stairwell needs to be sanded back and properly varnished. It will probably be another 6 months to a year before any other works can be started, so it may be a while.

Cheers, Chris.

Doing a cable drop in this house was a nightmare. Firstly, it’s on a slab so I couldn’t run cable below the house. Secondly, there are too many beams in the roof that cover cavity space, so I had to drill through about 4-5 inches of timber before reaching the cavity. Thirdly, there is not 1 noggin in the wall, there are two, so I had to do some massive drill bit extension to do the boring. Lastly, a couple of the extension bits I bought SUCKED! When you pull them up they ‘press’ the release mechanism, so I had extension bits in the wall with my spade bit – not fun to get out >:( .

I had never run Network cable myself before (except Coax) so crimping the RJ45 ports was a new experience. Ended up being just as easy as using the Krone tool on the phone frames at work. I figured it would be. Hopefully now that I have moved into my new home-office I can get back to work on my XNA Game Development work.

I will post up some pictures of my office once I have tidied up some of the massive piles of stuff everywhere, and covered the holes in the walls with Network wallplates.

Cheers, Chris

URLGetAuth Function

Function URLGetAuth(URL, Username, Password)
  Set Http = CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP")
  Http.Open "GET",URL,False, Username, Password
  Http.Send
  pagestatus = Http.status
  URLGetAuth = Http.responseText
End Function

The above function has been extended to wait for the GET request to finish and provide authentication. The Check for Status code 200 has been removed so that any text is returned.

URLPostAuth Function

Function URLPostAuth(URL,FormData,Boundary,Username,Password)
  Set Http = CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP")
  Http.Open "POST",URL,True, Username, Password
  Http.send FormData
  for n = 1 to 50
    If Http.readyState = 4 then exit for
    WScript.Sleep(1000)
  next
  If Http.readyState <> 4 then
    URLPostAuth = "Failed"
  else
   URLPostAuth = Http.responseText
  end if
End Function

This function has been modified so that it can do an Authenticated POST to the Modem, but also so that it waits for the POST to complete instead of doing a shell.popup. It will wait for 50 seconds before failing.

Main Code

Username = InputBox("Enter the Modem Username:","Enter Username","")
Password = InputBox("Enter the Modem Password:","Enter Password","")
IP = InputBox("Enter the Modem IP Address:","Enter IP Address","")
 
Set objRegEx = CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
objRegEx.Pattern = ".*Down.*"
Do While true
  status = URLGetAuth("http://" & IP & "/setup.cgi?next_file=Status.htm",Username,Password)
  Set colMatches = objRegEx.Execute(status)
  If colMatches.Count > 0 Then
    post = URLPostAuth("http://" & IP & "/setup.cgi?next_file=Reboot.htm", _
      "todo=reboot&h_reboot=1&this_file=Reboot.htm&next_file=index.htm&message=", _
      "",Username,Password)
  End If
Loop

Firstly the Username, Password and IP address are collected, so that they don’t need to be already in the script. After the GET is called the RegEx is used against the status page to see if “Down” is found. If the Modem is down then the Reboot POST is called. I have recreated the POST method above using the available input fields for the Reboot page.

I have now removed the loop and added this as a Scheduled Task that runs every 10 minutes. This now keeps my connection alive when things go pearshaped.

Cheers, Chris.

To get to the point, I have decided to take up where Andrew left off. Having just purchased myself a relatively inexpensive laptop, I find myself now unshackled from the desktop (as I write to you from my bed).  Now, this post is not so much to introduce the Dwarfsoft: Outside undertaking so much as to write down a few gripes I have had with this laptop, and getting to the point that I find myself at now.

The Laptop is a Compaq Presario C710TU. This is not an overly powerful machine, yet all I intend to use it for is writing code and doing an occasional build. Most of the work will be rendering text and performing Subversion Commits. One of the major drawbacks of this machine is the standard Memory size. This machine is shipped with 512MB RAM, running Windows Vista. I managed to survive for about a week using a 4GB Flash Drive and ReadyBoost to improve the performance, then I purchased 2GB of RAM.

2GB of RAM was installed, it worked great in safe mode, through memory checks, but as soon as I came to log in to Vista … BSOD. The dreaded Blue Screen had come back to plague me. So I started doing some Internet searches to track down this issue. The Error was a Page Fault by a driver attempting to access memory in a non-paged area. The driver was igdkmd32.sys. From my searching I managed to find out that many people had this issue, usually while trying to run some game or another, and yet there was no actual solution posted.

I attempted to reply to these threads (on MSDN mainly) in order to shed some light on some of the poor souls who  were experiencing the issue, but for some reason the threads had been closed or locked. That was when I decided to write up here, just in case somebody else needed to find the solution to this issue.

The solution to the problem, as those of you who have worked with installation and repair of PCs for some time may already have noticed, is the driver for the Intel onboard graphics card.  The latest drivers can be obtained from Intel by going to the “Support and Downloads” section and Searching for “Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family” (This also covers the Intel 960 Chipset). By Installing this driver, the issues were resolved.

What irked me the most about this whole process is that I visited the Vendor website after resolving the issue, and the drivers up on the site are the same ones that came preinstalled with the laptop, which are now 5 months old. There have been 2 BSOD fixes to the drivers since that version, neither specifically for what I was experiencing, but it could have been an underlying issue that was resolved.

So, here ends my rant about the comprehensiveness of a vendors driver packages, but stay tuned as I bring you all up to date with the Dwarfsoft: Outside adventures after my trip to the Library, and the Hospital over the past few weeks.

Cheers, Chris.

When I first had time to continue the trench and it started raining, there was an issue with a cracked tile on the roof, so I was forced to try and fix that as best as I could in the interim to stop the rain pouring in. I have also been working on replacing all the locks, doorknobs and dead-bolts in the house to secure everything up, and replace old and worn out ones. The back-door door-knob was the first to go, as it kept “pulling out” and required a fair bit of coaxing to get back into place. My brother-in-law came over during my exam week with 3 exams to cut down some trees that are now declared pests. He has since been attempting to mulch the branches so we can take the unneeded stuff to the tip.

The fact that it is raining so much has not bothered me overly, as we are in a drought and the extra rain is going to be well appreciated by the masses. It is merely annoying that I can get almost nothing done that needs to be done considering how cold, dark and wet it is outside all of the time.

I fixed the sensor light out the front of the house by doing some rewiring back to the switch. This turned out to be a loose connection in the switch itself, which has now been remedied. The kitchen lights are still in their disfunctional state, and it appears that I need to run a fresh batch of wire from the switch to the lights.

I have bought a 4 way 75 Ω Coax Splitter for TV Arials. I intend to run the Coax to each of the bedrooms and to the laundry. Currenly there is a 2 way splitter above the corridor, which I am going to replace with the 4 ay splitter. I am then going to run two lots of 15 meter Cable (probably only 10 meters, but 15 to be safe). One will go to the ‘blue room’ in the middle of the corridor, the other will run to the two way splitter which will be above the master-bedroom/laundry area. From here I will run between 2 and 5 meters of cable down to the laundry and into the bedroom. I am also planning on doubling up the coax to the laundry/study area so I can plug in the FM and TV receiver in the computer and get better signal.

Amongst all this, I will also have to find time to start looking at next semesters uni work. I have a fair bit on in the following semester, including a Business Computing Project to manage, Enterprise System Development using Java, Web development using ASP.Net, and System Planning and Management. Three third year subjects are going to really push my time.

I have also received a job query from a friend of mine about a job doing C#/ASP.Net development for a small company in Toowoomba. This is an interesting prospect, and I will see whether I can afford to go over to that side. The do ask for an “Experienced” C#/ASP.Net developer, and currently my “experience” centers around C++, VB.Net and ASP as relevant languages. I am sure the minimal experience I have had with C#, and my current C++ and VB.Net will tie together to help me develop in C#. That is yet another chapter.

If all the above isn’t enough, it is my Birthday on Tuesday. Currently my wife is on some mission to provide a surprise or something, and as such I am going to be stuck at work until 6pm, even if I am only watching movies while I wait for her. I am not allowed to go home, and apparently I am not going to be at home for the entire weekend, which is kind of difficult for me with so much work being required at the house. I can only hope that my mood improves somewhat, as I have been in a quite foul one for some time now.

Cheers, Chris.