Wizmo: Have Windows go to sleep on commad

I can’t find the original blog post which pointed out Wizmo. But, it’s a command line utility which handles a lot of the shutdown/restart/sleep mode capabilities of windows. I needed it to turn my monitors off when I leave home.

When I go out I like to turn off my monitors. It would be nice to think I was saving electricity, but really I just want to save the monitors. Unfortunately, when I turn off the monitors all of my open windows rearrange themselves onto a single screen. My setup isn’t normal, so I wouldn’t expect for any software or hardware vendor to accommodate it.

However, Wizmo is able to handle the problem. By creating a simple desktop shortcut, I can turn off all the screens without any of the problems which DisplayPort creates.

The command line shortcut:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Wizmo\wizmo.exe" monoff

Technorati Tags: wizmo,3 display,tri head,3 head,3 monitors,power off,turn off,sleep

jBreadCrumb: 0.3.0

http://code.google.com/p/jbreadcrumb/

jBreadCrumb gains the ability to start working in a Web 2.0 world. The addition of methods for ‘add’, ‘remove’, and ‘clear’ allows for a webpage which dynamically loads content into a sub-div or iframe to also update the breadcrumb trail. It’s definitely not perfect, but allows for breadcrumbs to start becoming a dynamic part of the webpage design.

The new methods can be used by:

(*note: #addBreadCrumb, #removeBreadCrumb, and #clearBreadCrumb are input buttons on the page. #breadCrumbAdd is the breadcrumb list element to update.)

Add:

The options are:

• text: (required) the text to display on screen.
• url: (optional, default: ‘#’) the url to apply to the hyperlink
• index: (optional, default: add the breadcrumb to the end of the list) the position to place to breadcrumb (1 based index)

$('#addBreadCrumb').click(function(e) {
    var options    = {
        text: $('#addDisplayValue').val(),
        url: $('#addUrl').val(),
        index: $('#addIndex').val()
    };

    $('#breadCrumbAdd').jBreadCrumb('add',options);

    e.preventDefault();
});

Remove:

The options are:

• index: (optional, default: the last breadcrumb) the position to remove (1 based index)

$('#removeBreadCrumb').click(function(e) {
    var    options    = {
        index: $('#removeIndex').val()
    };
    $('#breadCrumbAdd').jBreadCrumb('remove',options);
    e.preventDefault();
});

Clear:

$('#clearBreadCrumb').click(function(e) {
    $('#breadCrumbAdd').jBreadCrumb('clear');
    e.preventDefault();
});

These functions are useful for my usages. But, do they do what you need?

Using JSONP with ASP.NET MVC

(I am using the Beta 2 of ASP.NET MVC. It isn’t supposed to be ready for production; but it seems pretty stable.)

Earlier today I needed create some Cross Domain javascript requests. At first I tried to use the ASP.NET MVC JsonResult to provide data for these requests, but the serialized objects that were returned were unable to be used through JSONP (the cross domain javascript).

After a little research on StackOverflow (what a great site), I was able to find some JSONP code to use. This was a real timesaver, and it was documented to boot.

The creators of this code posted their code at:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/758879/asp-net-mvc-returning-jsonp

http://blogorama.nerdworks.in/entry-EnablingJSONPcallsonASPNETMVC.aspx

I’ve added a small update. Just enough to make the Controller handle the new ASP.NET MVC 2 JsonRequestBehavior. I hope someone will improve on this code and add an “extensions” library to allow for Jsonp to be available in all controllers without using the JsonpController or JsonpFilterAttribute.

JsonpResult.cs:

using System;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using System.Web.Script.Serialization;

namespace Ucsb.Sa.Enterprise.Utility.Web.Mvc
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A Jsonp wrapper for the JsonResult.
    /// 
    ///    Created by:
    /// stimms (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/758879/asp-net-mvc-returning-jsonp)
    /// Ranju V (http://blogorama.nerdworks.in/entry-EnablingJSONPcallsonASPNETMVC.aspx)
    /// </summary>
    public class JsonpResult : JsonResult
    {

        #region constructor

        /// <summary>
        /// Initializes a new instance of <see cref="JsonpResult" />.
        /// </summary>
        public JsonpResult()
        {
            //    http://compactprivacypolicy.org/compact_token_reference.htm
            CompactPolicy    = "NON DSP COR STP COM";
        }

        #endregion

        #region properties

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the javascript callback function that is
        /// to be invoked in the resulting script output.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The callback function name.</value>
        public string Callback { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets or sets the compact policy values. By default the compact policy
        /// says "We provide noinformation to 3rd party sources".
        /// </summary>
        public string CompactPolicy { get; set; }

        #endregion

        #region methods

        /// <summary>
        /// Enables processing of the result of an action method by a
        /// custom type that inherits from <see cref="T:System.Web.Mvc.ActionResult"/>.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="context">The context within which the
        /// result is executed.</param>
        public override void ExecuteResult(ControllerContext context)
        {
            if (context == null)
            {
                throw new ArgumentNullException("context");
            }

            HttpResponseBase response = context.HttpContext.Response;

            if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(ContentType))
            {
                response.ContentType = ContentType;
            }
            else
            {
                response.ContentType = "application/json";
            }
            if (ContentEncoding != null)
            {
                response.ContentEncoding = ContentEncoding;
            }

            if ( string.IsNullOrEmpty( Callback ) )
            {
                Callback = context.HttpContext.Request.QueryString["callback"];    

                if ( string.IsNullOrEmpty( Callback ) )
                {
                    Callback = context.HttpContext.Request.QueryString["jsoncallback"];    
                }
            }

            if( string.IsNullOrEmpty( CompactPolicy ) == false )
            {
                // TODO: uncomment when we get an IIS 7 server
                //response.Headers.Add( "compact-policy", CompactPolicy );
            }

            if (Data != null)
            {
                // The JavaScriptSerializer type was marked as obsolete prior to .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
#pragma warning disable 0618
                var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
                var ser            = serializer.Serialize(Data);
                response.Write(Callback + "(" + ser + ")");
#pragma warning restore 0618
            }
        }

        #endregion

    }

}

JsonFilterAttribute.cs:

using System;
using System.Web.Mvc;

namespace Ucsb.Sa.Enterprise.Utility.Web.Mvc
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A Jsonp attribute to override older JsonResult objects.
    /// 
    ///    Created by:
    /// stimms (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/758879/asp-net-mvc-returning-jsonp)
    /// Ranju V (http://blogorama.nerdworks.in/entry-EnablingJSONPcallsonASPNETMVC.aspx)
    /// </summary>
    public class JsonpFilterAttribute : ActionFilterAttribute
    {
        public override void OnActionExecuted(ActionExecutedContext filterContext)
        {
            if(filterContext == null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException("filterContext");

            //
            // see if this request included a "callback" querystring parameter
            //
            string callback = filterContext.HttpContext.Request.QueryString["callback"];
            if (callback != null && callback.Length > 0)
            {
                //
                // ensure that the result is a "JsonResult"
                //
                JsonResult result = filterContext.Result as JsonResult;
                if (result == null)
                {
                    throw new InvalidOperationException("JsonpFilterAttribute must be applied only " +
                        "on controllers and actions that return a JsonResult object.");
                }

                filterContext.Result = new JsonpResult
                {
                    ContentEncoding = result.ContentEncoding,
                    ContentType = result.ContentType,
                    Data = result.Data,
                    Callback = callback
                };
            }
        }
    }
}

JsonController.cs:

using System.Text;
using System.Web.Mvc;

namespace Ucsb.Sa.Enterprise.Utility.Web.Mvc
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Controller which adds Jsonp ActionResults to the base Controller.
    /// 
    ///    Created by:
    /// stimms (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/758879/asp-net-mvc-returning-jsonp)
    /// Ranju V (http://blogorama.nerdworks.in/entry-EnablingJSONPcallsonASPNETMVC.aspx)
    /// </summary>
    public abstract class JsonpController : Controller
    {

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal JsonpResult Jsonp(object data)
        {
            return Jsonp(data, null /* contentType */);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <param name="behavior">Allow Get requests.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal JsonpResult Jsonp(object data, JsonRequestBehavior behavior )
        {
            return Jsonp(data, null /* contentType */, behavior );
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <param name="contentType">The contentType to return.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal JsonpResult Jsonp(object data, string contentType)
        {
            return Jsonp(data, contentType, null);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <param name="contentType">The contentType to return.</param>
        /// <param name="behavior">Allow Get requests.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal JsonpResult Jsonp(object data, string contentType, JsonRequestBehavior behavior)
        {
            return Jsonp(data, contentType, null, behavior);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <param name="contentType">The contentType to return.</param>
        /// <param name="contentEncoding">The contentEncoding type.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal virtual JsonpResult Jsonp(object data, string contentType, Encoding contentEncoding)
        {
            return Jsonp( data, contentType, contentEncoding, JsonRequestBehavior.DenyGet );
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates and returns a Jsonp result.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="data">The data/object to serialize.</param>
        /// <param name="contentType">The contentType to return.</param>
        /// <param name="contentEncoding">The contentEncoding type.</param>
        /// <param name="behavior">Allow Get requests.</param>
        /// <returns>A Jsonp ActionResult.</returns>
        protected internal virtual JsonpResult Jsonp(object data, string contentType, Encoding contentEncoding, JsonRequestBehavior behavior)
        {
            return new JsonpResult
            {
                Data = data,
                ContentType = contentType,
                ContentEncoding = contentEncoding,
                JsonRequestBehavior = behavior
            };
        }

    }
}

I hope this helps others get around the JSONP problem until ASP.NET MVC implements a standard method for this.

From Ubuntu to Windows 7

A couple years ago I swore that I would never pay for an Operating System again. It just seemed pointless. No matter what Operating System you choose (Windows, Mac, Linux) you would always have problems. And I hated the idea that I was paying for those problems. So, I made a deal with my workplace (which is a Microsoft shop); if they provided me with an operating system for home then I would remote in when needed. This was just a polite gesture on both of our parts. I was going to remote in anyways and they knew I was going to remote in. So, they were kind enough to provide me with a Windows XP Home copy to use for remote desktoping.

However, at the time, I had already switched to Ubuntu as my home environment. So, Windows XP was loaded up in a VMWare virtual machine (I have used the free version of VMWare for over 6 years and am a big supporter of their virtual software … it’s easy to use and easy to install).

But, after 7+ years of using Linux/Ubuntu as my home Operating System I have switched back to Windows 7. It wasn’t an easy transition because there are a lot of command line features that I loved in Ubuntu which aren’t replicated in Windows. PowerShell (for Windows) really helps bridge the gap, but it’s not the same. The best analogy I can come up with is …

* using the Linux command line is like talking to a college valedictorian. They get it right away.

* using Window’s Poweshell is like talking to a high school valedictorian. They know what your talking about, but you have to be verbose.

* using Window’s normal command line is like talking to a retarded (“mentally-disabled”) high schooler. It doesn’t matter how many times you try to explain it, they still won’t get it.

The switch over was pretty painless. I was able to copy almost all the files I wanted to keep onto a thumb drive, because most of my work was replicated online (For the less Linux established this is a slight at Windows … Linus Torvalds, “Only wimps use tape backup: _real_ men just upload their important stuff on ftp, and let the rest of the world mirror it”).

I was able to get up and running on Windows 7 within less than an hour. So, good on ya’ Windows. The only thing that I had a problem with was rebooting the system. Apparently the Windows copy I bought did something really spectacular!!

Buying a real version of Windows still seems, to me, like paying for an Operating System with problems. So, I choose the cheapest option I could find for my purposes. I wanted to remote desktop into work, and I wanted to make that remote desktop experience the best possible. Only Windows 7 Ultimate had the feature to remote desktop with multiple displays, so I bought Ultimate (a waste of money for 99% of users). But, I didn’t want to pay full price; so I bought a “System Builders” version. The system builder version comes with a couple of ridiculous stipulations which all boil down to one point: You will NOT get support from Microsoft if something goes wrong. It is about $100 cheaper to buy this version, but if something doesn’t work then you need to be really good with Google.

Of course, I had a problem right off the bat. The System Builders version doesn’t overwrite the MBR. Which means, if you restart the system, it will use your old MBR and hang if that MBR doesn’t point to anything usable. Since I had Ubuntu installed before, the MBR was a GRUB loader and pointed to a non-existent partition (since I erased/overwrote all the partitions with the Windows install).

If you have Linux installed on the system, your normal boot sector won’t be overwritten. That makes the “System Builders” version of Windows the perfect installer for dual-boot users. Unfortunately, I wasn’t trying to be a dual-boot user. So, after some searching on the Microsoft website I was able to find a MBR installer. The searching only took about 20 minutes (about 1/10th the amount of time it takes to solve a linux problem), so I was pretty happy with the easy install and quick fixes.

AFTK explanation …

So, not posting to a blog which is rarely read is not a big deal. And, I’m not going to say this was any different.

I stopped posting when I found out that I had to learn SAP for a new Student Information System (SIS) at UCSB. It was supposed to take at least a year to learn SAP and another year to implement a UCSB SIS system. Fortunately, after two months we found out that all the promises that SAP gave us were wrong (the salesman lied, whats new). Their SIS system could not handle UCSB’s grading or graduation logic.

Within the two months of training on SAP I did learn all that anyone really needs to know about SAP. STAY AWAY! STAY FAR AWAY! It is a mainframe system that was too big to translate into the new world; so SAP decided to replicate the mainframe environment into a pseudo virtual machine. If you want to speed things up, then add more hardware and deploy more virtual machines. That will load balance the systems. Of course, it doesn’t help solve the central issue … SAP is slow. Really slow! And, it also doesn’t help that the system is still based on a mainframe. Which means modern day web programming is like pulling teeth from a lion. Hard and your efforts usually get butchered in the process. (for you SAP developers out there, /se80 … WTF!!!)

After that I started going full time on an imaging project in .NET. Our division decided to use Atalasoft’s DotNet Imaging for both the Windows and Web frameworks. It’s a pretty well developed product considering the application space. But, it’s far from “easy to use”. I have been working on the web side, and I hope to put up some posts on how to use the product with ASP.NET MVC within the next couple weeks. Atalasoft doesn’t officially support ASP.NET MVC, but they are very excited about the idea of integration; so they have provided some support during the process (the sales team seemed excited; but I dare not mention MVC within the support requests). All-in-all Atalasoft has a product which deals with a difficult area of web development and they are trying to do the best they can with the resources they have.

Other than that, I’m trying to find time to develop a jQuery breadcrumb plugin (http://code.google.com/p/jbreadcrumb/). I’m not finding much time to work on it … but, plugins are a step-by-step process.