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Information Technology

Save PDFs with one Click in FileMaker

It suddenly came to me that I could probably automate a process I do every time I purchase something for work. Every time I create a purchase order, I then go to Print and choose “Save as PDF” and then browse to “~/Documents/Purchase Orders/<<Current Fiscal Year Expressed as Hebrew Year>>/<<PO#>> – <<Supplier>>.pdf” I did a quick second of Googling and found this. So I took that and modified it slightly… Set Variable [$year; Value:If(Month ( Purchase Orders::Date ) > 6; Year ( Purchase Orders::Date ) + 3761; Year ( Purchase Orders::Date ) + 3760)] Set Variable [$path; Value:”filemac:/Macintosh HD/Users/<<username>>/Documents/Purchase Orders/” & $year & “/” & Purchase Orders::PO# & ” –… Read More »Save PDFs with one Click in FileMaker

OS X Server Mavericks

Today was supposed to be an easy day. I was telecommuting. I began my day at waking up at the usual time, instead of commuting to work, I went swimming. I got back home for 9 am and got to work. I was a maniac, getting everything I needed done. My to do list was completely checked off by 1:30. So what did I do? I started on tomorrow’s to do list. I had an appointment scheduled that I knew would get in the way of those tasks, so I thought I’d start them. Task 1: Back up both Macintosh servers. Task 2: Install OS X 10.9 Mavericks Task 3:… Read More »OS X Server Mavericks

Onion Paywall version 2.0

It seems 99% of the visitors to my blog are looking for ways to get around the Onion paywall. I posted about it a while ago in this post. Turns out it has changed. Here’s the updated instructions… Once AdBlock is installed, click on the Adblock icon and choose Options. Click Customize, and click edit beside the manual section. Paste the following in and save. theonion.com##div[style*=”background-image”][style*=”width: 100%”] ##img[src=”http://s.ppjol.net/static/fb/fancy_close.png”] ##a[id=”gregbox-signInTab”] ##div[id=”gregbox-outer”] www.theonion.com##IFRAME[id=”ppUI”][src=”https://ui.ppjol.com/lightbox/lightbox_ui.html?start”] www.theonion.com##DIV[id=”pressplusOverlay”] This also resolves an issue I had with Tumblr and “background-image” where it would prevent your browser from rendering Tumblr correctly.

eSATA

Mac Pro eSATA

I recently purchased the 2012 Mac Pro. Not the brand-spankin-new Mac Pro that looks like a subwoofer. The giant Mac Pro which does a poor job at replacing the XServe. I needed eSATA, but sadly the Mac Pro doesn’t have either an eSATA port, or a Thunderbolt port. I could use PCI and get an eSATA card, but that’s pricey. Instead I found NewerTech makes an eSATA extender cable. Basically it takes a spare eSATA port on the board, and makes it external, and it’s only $25. Not bad. The instructions are incredible. It gives you the choice. Pre-2008 Mac Pro, or the 2008 Mac Pro… umm, I have the… Read More »Mac Pro eSATA

Database disk image is malformed

I really like Google Drive. I’ve been using Google Docs for years, and when they modified it to Google Drive, I celebrated. Free syncing, all the features of Docs plus Dropbox… sweet. One of my coworkers started using it intensely, and over the Christmas break it didn’t sync for two weeks. When he got in, Google Drive just plainly didn’t work. He was getting the error message “database disk image is malformed.” Huh? We tested it on another machine, it worked. Reinstalled Google Drive. Disassociated the account, reassociated it. etc etc. Nothing worked. Even deleted the com.google.drive.plist files in the ~/Library/Preferences folder. When I was on the phone with Google… Read More »Database disk image is malformed

The Onion Paywall

Update (2014/04/01):  This doesn’t seem to work anymore, check out this updated post, or see comments…. I’m not a big fan of advertisements. I’m also not a big fan of paywalls. Seeing as I do want companies to make money from their content, I’m a horrible person for finding ways around both these things. I’m worse because I’m sharing. AdBlock for Google Chrome does a great job at removing ads from everything. However, the Onion paywall is still a problem. I’m also worried about how Canadian newspapers are about to begin paywalls. I had a workaround to The Onion’s paywall, that worked well, until a few months ago. With some… Read More »The Onion Paywall

Oh no! iPhone

A few days ago I realized that I haven’t changed my iPhone password since I first purchased the device a year and a half ago. So I did what any normal person would do, I changed my password. After that I spent two days typing in my old password, getting rejected, and putting in the new password. No problem. I’d get used to the password. I was out at the Horseshoe Tavern with two thirds of Daniel, Fred, and Julie, and a friend of Julie’s from Hot Docs1. I was using my phone, I was still entering the wrong password initially and then putting in the right one, and all… Read More »Oh no! iPhone

Apple Wifi Menu

Apple doesn’t always like to document things. Did you know that when you option-click on the wifi menu it gives you this…

Another Day

Passport I woke up this morning, it was around 3:30. I didn’t want to wake up that early but I did. So I put on my GSD1 hat. I waited around until it was a reasonable time, and then I headed to the Passport Canada office in Scarborough2. After waiting way too long, they processed my paperwork, and OH YEAH! I’ll be getting a passport. Apple Connect 2012 From there, I went up to Steeles and joined Apple Connect 2012 after the opening talk. I don’t really know what I missed, but oh well. What I do know I missed was breakfast, and after having lunch and dinner there… OH… Read More »Another Day

ARR! SINK!

Nerds! Please tell me I’m not the only one who shouts out “ARR!” like a pirate when I use rsync. ARR, sync matey! The sad thing is that this wasn’t the only time I was shouting “ARR!” Apparently whenever I use Final Cut Pro X and need to use the Range Selection tool, as I’m pressing the “r” key, I of course need to shout “ARR!” Now it’s time to cut the blooper reel, because you can’t let your boss get away with saying, “and really get dirty.”