Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2006 August 6

Photoshop and Video Ram
For a long time I've thought that modern graphics cards could adequately support any 2d intensive tasks that I could throw at it. But lately I've been hearing from my peers in the design community that Adobe Photoshop needs a healthy amount of Vram. At first I thought this was just the same age old misconception that has been thrown around for years until a friend of mine swapped out his Radeon 9600 with a Geforce 6800 and reported that he could paint more smoothly with the brush tool. I'm certain that he's using Photoshop version 9 (CS2) and he essentially went from 128 megabytes of Vram to 256. However, I'm not entirely convinced that lack of Vram was the problem. I've been speculating that it could have been due to bad drivers on ATI's part. Or perhaps, they are so focused on 3d they have neglected the 2d issues. Can anyone confirm or deny this? The main reason I'm asking this question is because I'd like to upgrade my computer soon. Preferably I want something that will run Photoshop flawlessly and a little bit of Maya on the side, even if that means using a workstation class card.
 * I fail to see how your video card has any effect on Photoshop, which is a CPU-heavy program. --mboverload @ 01:12, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, I forgot to include this: it pertains to redraw problems when editing, which is the same thing my friend had. Scroll down to solution number nine.
 * I seem to be mistaken. --mboverload @ 02:06, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

That's what I thought too, but I also thought "that can't be right." It doesn't make sense that photoshop's own tech docs prior to CS2 denied the importance of Vram and that 128mb - 256mb would make that much of a difference on such an easy task (or so I believe). BTW, I'm using photoshop for illustration, so I'm basically just using the brush engine. Brush lag on an 8k x 8k image is the only real concern.

c++ error 4430
The following lines: struct SAutoListNode {	CRentedAuto Auto; int type; SAutoListNode *link; }; typedef SAutoListNode* NodePtr; typedef SAutoListNode Node; NodePtr head; head = new Node; head->link = NULL;

are giving me these errors: error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int error C2040: 'head' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'NodePtr' error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert from 'Node *' to 'int' There is no context in which this conversion is possible

error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '->' error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int error C2040: 'head' : 'int' differs in levels of indirection from 'NodePtr' Please help.


 * You don't say what compiler you are using. It's obviously Microsoft Visual C++, but which version isn't clear. This compiles for me with some minor changes using Visual C++ 2003. The changes are to put the code into a procedure, and to define CRentedAuto. Here is the code with the minor changes:

class CRentedAuto {}; struct SAutoListNode { 	CRentedAuto Auto; int type; SAutoListNode *link; }; typedef SAutoListNode* NodePtr; typedef SAutoListNode Node;

void test { NodePtr head; head = new Node; head->link = NULL; } Thank you for formatting it and thanks for the help, the problem went away after i put the last 2 line in my main, but it won't get back the last 3 hours of my life:(


 * I took the liberty of formatting your question for readability.-gadfium 05:54, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

Timed shutdowns on Windows XP.
I need my Windows XP to shut down -- regardless of unsaved documents, other users logged on, etc -- every day at 7:00 AM, and I need to know it'll work. I've tried telling Task Scheduler to run c:\windows\system32\shutdown.exe -f -s every day at 7AM -- and that didn't work. I've tried telling it to run a batch file containing the same command -- that didn't work either. I really need to get this working, so what can I do?


 * Make sure that your selecting the right user account (probably yours) in Scheduled Tasks Wizard while adding the shutdown task, if there are multple accounts on that PC.  FOZ 


 * I did run it as myself -- I am an administrator on the machine, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?


 * Does your Windows have Service Pack 2? Check out the size of shutdown.exe; 17,920 bytes = bad, needs a newer one. Weregerbil 14:39, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I forgot to mention how it didn't work; it ran, and Windows was shut down, but it remains on the "It is now safe to shut down your computer" screen, without actually powering-off the machine.

Does it work is if you execute it manually? This site says that "Of course, there is the shutdown.exe utility from the Windows NT Resource Kit, but shutdown.exe can only either shutdown the target machine into the state where you see the "It is now safe to turn off your computer"-dialog." Hmm, you sure this is possible? The previous link and this one both offer free programs that will shutdown your computer without using window's shutdown.exe. Can you use these? BrokenSegue 05:18, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

visual basic

 * (moved from science desk)

can any one help me regarding the code that coul change my computers desktop...ive 2 use any extra components plz help ...
 * This code should change the wallpaper, but you have to refresh the desktop by pressing F5 or right clicking and then pressing "Refresh":

Private Declare Function SystemParametersInfo Lib "user32" Alias "SystemParametersInfoA" (ByVal uAction As Long, ByVal uParam As Long, ByVal lpvParam As String, ByVal fuWinIni As Long) As Long Sub ChangeWallpaper(BMPfilename As String, UpdateRegistry As Boolean) If UpdateRegistry Then SystemParametersInfo 20, 0, BMPfilename, 1 Else SystemParametersInfo 20, 0, BMPfilename, 0 End If End Sub Private Sub Command1_Click Call ChangeWallpaper("INSERT FILE PATH OF BMP FILE HERE", True) End Sub


 * — Mets 501 (talk) 11:54, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * If you want an immediate change then you need to get down to the Windows API level, specifically SystemParametersInfo.

Private Declare Function SystemParametersInfo Lib "user32" Alias "SystemParametersInfoA" _ (ByVal uAction As Long, ByVal uParam As Long, ByVal lpvParam As String, ByVal fuWinIni As Long) As Long

Sub ChangeWallpaper(BMPfilename As String, Permanent As Boolean) If Permanent Then SystemParametersInfo 20, 0, BMPfilename, 1 Else SystemParametersInfo 20, 0, BMPfilename, 0 End If End Sub


 * Please note I don't have VB6 installed any more, so this is off the top of my head and using MSDN as the reference for the SystemParametersInfo API. --Blowdart 14:30, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

thanks for the code 2 change wallpaper... actually i was in a thought 2 get something that could change a series of pics into a gif image and then we can set the transition time ...thus we wont b required 2 refresh etc.

Servers
Hi, I was wondering something today. If you have your own web server, would that allow you to use the internet without using the phone line?
 * You don't need a server to access the Internet without the phone line. You must use cable or satellite internet to not use the phone line.  DSL uses the phone line but does not stop you from using the phone at the same time. — Mets 501  (talk) 13:30, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
 * No, a web server serves a single web site (or part of one). To connect to other web sites you would still need a phone line (or broadband, cable, mobile, wireless, satellite etc.). EdC 15:44, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * If you had your own web server you could connect to it without using the phone line, but nobody else could (and you couldn't connect to any other sites). The internet is a big, complicated form of connections between users and web servers (which are just other computers, usually specialized but essentially the same thing as a desktop machine). So you will always need connectivity of some sort if you are going to connect to any other computer than your own. You can, however, run a local web server, which sometimes has its uses (i.e. I sometimes use one to test server-side scripts without having to upload them elsewhere). --Fastfission 17:26, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

Hacker bank account
What can a hacker do with my bank account number,if he gets it by some means? --Sanjeev usa2005 14:36, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * He can do all kinds of things. He can add all the digits.  He can spray paint it on the side of a grocery store.  He can use it as a sig on his favorite message board... Do you mean, "Can a hacker steal money from my checking account with just my account number?"  Technically, yes.  It is possible to request funds from a bank with just a routing and account number.  But, you are not responsible for that.  It is also possible to create checks using a routing/account number.  You are not responsible for that either.  Bank systems work hard on eliminating such theft, but it still happens all the time.  Just talk to your bank about what you are responsible for and, if you don't like it, switch banks.  There are tons of banks. --Kainaw (talk) 16:39, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * If you have good reason to suspect someone to begin abusing your account though you should contact your bank and have them change the number. Even though you will get the funds back it is a major hassle dealing with fraud. I had someone make fake checks with my account and routing numbers on them and use them to totally drain my bank account once (the bank was clearly in error here—they didn't have my name on them at all, they were idiotic to not check to see if the name on the account matched the ones on the checks before draining the account and then charging me fees for check bouncing off of fake checks) and it took weeks to get everything back to the way it used to be (they had to investigate it, of course, to make sure I wasn't the one trying to pull a fast one on them). It is much easier to have them change the number and issue you a new card and checks, and involves a lot less paperwork. --Fastfission 17:29, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

software for video...
Hi, can you tell me a free software to convert videofiles into 3Gp formats or GSM files so i can put video into my phone.

Thanx in advance


 * Try the software that came with your phone. If you didn't get any, try google. By the way, why won't your phone accept normal MPEG files? Also, please sign your posts by typing --~ .--Frenchman113 on wheels! 21:40, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I have a question concerning video software, too. I am looking for something that can edit video (.mov, .avi, .wmv, .mp4, all the common ones) and can be used to create DVDs with menus and everything. If anyone can recommend some freeware for beginners such as myself (or perhaps a bit more advanced than beginner, as I'm a fast learner) I would appreciate it. By the way, I am using a Windows XP. Thanks--71.117.40.211 03:23, 7 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Editing video the same way photoshop edits images is very advanced stuff. That sort of thing needs professional grade software. If you just want to put some clips together, maybe a fade effect here and there, then you might try Windows Movie Maker (came with your WinXP install). I'm sure there's more, google.--Frenchman113 on wheels! 20:06, 7 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Windows Movie Maker worked just fine for what I needed to do. Thanks, Frenchman133! I tried Camtasia Studio (which is pretty good, by the way), but I didn't want to have to buy it. --71.98.6.7 16:56, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

Unicode
In the charts published by Unicode (the consortium), they have examples of each character. Why don't they simply stick together each of these character examples and make the first ever (as far as I know) full-unicode font? It doesn't seem like it would be very hard for them to do, and although very few people would have a real use for it it would probably be quite popular. So why don't they? As a related question, is there anything stopping someone else from doing the same? &mdash; D a  niel  (‽) 17:40, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Creating a decent font isn't that easy. One has to create the graphical data to construct the font, such as the line data, the splines, and so on. The question remains whether Unicode actually has this data and how consistent typographically it is. One could create a gigantic bitmap font, but hardly anyone uses bitmap fonts because they only look good at one resolution only. Dysprosia 22:29, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


 * The answer can be found on the Unicode site: "The fonts used in these charts were provided to the Unicode Consortium by a number of different font designers who own the rights to the fonts. [...] The fonts and font data used in production of the Unicode Standard may not be extracted, or used in any other way in any product or publication, without permission or license granted by the typeface owner(s)."
 * In other words, it's a licensing issue: the character examples came from existing fonts provided by a wide variety of copyright holders, and the Unicode consortium simply does not have any right to modify or redistribute many (if any) of the constituent typefaces. The exact same reason prevents anyone else from doing the same -- even if not illegal (which would depend on your specific jurisdiction and on the method you use to derive your character outlines), it would certainly be immoral to duplicate the hard work of so many other people having neither acquired permission nor offered compensation.
 * The ethical approach is that taken by Code2000, which attempts to implement original examples of each character. Sadly, since the designer was unfamiliar with the proper forms of most of the characters he was attempting to draw, the results are generally poor, but it is very useful as a fallback font for characters not available in other typefaces one owns. &mdash; Haeleth Talk 16:14, 8 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Thanks a lot. However, these answers beg the question of why Unicode allows itself to use copyrighted examples. It would make a lot more sense if they got free use typefaces, from which somebody could easily produce a full Unicode font. &mdash; D a  niel  (‽) 18:17, 9 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Which world are you living in? Consider how many code points (characters) Unicode defines. We're not talking about a–z and A–Z, but things in Cyrillic, and Greek, and Chinese, and Japanese, and Korean, and Persian, and Tibetan, and Egyptian hieroglyphics, and so on. And then there are symbols for music, and mathematics, and phonetics, and again on and on. That's an enormous amount of design work, and the Unicode samples are meant only to give a representative example. Think of all the different typefaces sold for the Latin alphabet (with some accents, numerals, and punctuation). Some people may not care if their text looks like a cut-and-paste ransom note, but a serious design is a lot of work. However, copyright law can be very strange, and typefaces are routinely copied and given new names and sold separately. So if you want to do the work of digitizing all those examples, harmonizing the shapes, choosing the kerning, and assembling the most massive font file in the history of the world, go right ahead. But don't fault the Unicode consortium for not doing this themselves; it's hard enough just defining such a massive standard. --KSmrqT 04:57, 10 August 2006 (UTC)


 * OK, OK. I know that there are millions of characters. I know that it would be a gargantuan opus. I was just wondering why Unicode could not use free fonts, and assemble them together. Regarding the possible 'ransom-note' effect, I think that it is hard to tell whether something written in Chinese is a similar style to something written in English anyway. You would only need consistency between the character sets. &mdash; D a  niel  (‽) 10:17, 10 August 2006 (UTC)