Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2010 June 28

= June 28 =

super-arduino?
I'm wondering what low powered embedded computers exist that are more powerful than Arduinos (8-bit AVR with 1k of ram, using a few milliwatts of power) but less battery hungry and expensive than something like a Gumstix (600 mhz Xscale processor with 64 meg or so, using around 1 watt). I'm imagining something like a 20 mhz Arm7 with 256k, using maybe 1/10th of a watt. Any suggestions? 75.57.243.88 (talk) 07:52, 28 June 2010 (UTC)


 * If you're already using an Arduino then some compatible boards with an ARM in instead are listed at the end of the Arduino page. Dmcq (talk) 18:28, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

AppleDouble and how to extract a JPEG from it
Hi, I received a JPEG file from a Mac user, which, according to the "file" command, is not a regular JPEG, but rather wrapped in an AppleDouble file. How can I extract the JPEG on a Linux system? GIMP and KuickShow (oh? still red?) refuse to open the file in its present form. -- 188.98.143.119 (talk) 11:03, 28 June 2010 (UTC)
 * According to the article, if it's an AppleDouble file then the datafork shouldn't be any different from normal. Are you sure you aren't trying to open the resource fork? How did you receive this file and are you sure it was sent and received properly? Alternatively is it possible the tool is misidentifying it as a AppleDouble file when it is an AppleSingle file? Nil Einne (talk) 11:28, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

.NET (C#) questions by ramasubramanian k

 * 1) What is .NET?
 * 2) Does C#2 support Internet Information Services
 * 3) What is the difference between attribute and a delegate?
 * 4) What is the difference between thread and process?
 * 5) What are the definitions of stack and heap?
 * 6) What is the purpose and function of sne.exe?
 * 7) What is the purpose and function of GacUtil.exe?
 * 8) What is the definition of interface?
 * 9) What is the definition of reflection?
 * 10) What are different stages in the life cycle of a page?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ramji70 (talk • contribs) 12:03, 28 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Have you looked at the C Sharp (programming language) article or the many articles about these topics on the web? Google search is your friend here, just type in your query and up come various things to look at. Dmcq (talk) 13:20, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

Sanity check - awful way to provide program update?
My Panasonic camcorder came with software for extracting the resulting movie files from it. When I follow the link provided by the in-built update function, I am taken here: here, they ask me to download three files, one of which is a .bat extension file which appears to contain instructions to shunt the other two together into an .exe file. Why not just provide the single .exe file??? Further, when I double click on the .bat file as instructed, it opens in Notepad. Useless!!! (I'm using Windows 7) --89.243.142.223 (talk) 21:59, 28 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I think they're trying to circumvent problems arising from corporate firewalls that prevent download of executables. It seems like a daft idea, because the .000 file will almost certainly be recognised as an .EXE regardless (as it has all the PE header info anyway) and surely any such system will also want to block .BAT files. And of course lots of people won't be able to get the .BAT to run, as you describe, thwarting the whole process. I can't think of a genuinely good reason. -- Finlay McWalter • Talk 22:07, 28 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Work in IT, and that's darnest thing I'm seen in awhile. I took a shower trying to think of why the hell they would do that but could not think of one. I can't get over the fact that the first file is EXACTLY 40MB (to the byte). Wonder if that's a clue... Like McWalter I can imagine absolutely no reason for this. Damn. --mboverload @ 02:13, 29 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Just in case anyone stumbles across this post while looking for a solution to the same or a similar problem, I opened a DOS window, changed directory to the required folder (cd C:\Users\Sean\Desktop\New folder) and then copied and pasted the instructions from the .bat file (copy /b "HDWriterAEUpdate(2_0L142).000"+"HDWriterAEUpdate(2_0L142).001" "HDWriterAEUpdate(2_0L142).exe") and now I have my .exe. :) 89.243.131.70 (talk) 09:00, 29 June 2010 (UTC)


 * I've seen this thing before, I strongly suspect it has more to do with concerns about people having problems downloading large files then EXE problems. A big clue which I quickly confirmed is their other files show something similar e.g. (albeit 20mb) & . Was more common in the olden days before download managers and broadband were widely available but I some people still do it (I remember a Gigabyte download which did something similar). Of course the size ranges nowadays are higher then people used to use anyway. Most people would use some sort of archiving with multiple part support rather then simple file splitting, since it would allow corruption and other problems to be more easily detected and handled. As an aside this the the norm still for usenet and original releases from most Warez groups (including software, movies etc) although again multiplart archives nearly always RAR. This sort of things is also useful for distributing files via e-mail or sharing services which limit the maximum file size. Nil Einne (talk) 14:36, 29 June 2010 (UTC)


 * The file splitting program hjsplit, which I have used a few times, creates extensions .000, .001, etc. People use programs like hjsplit when files are too large for a single download or a single e-mail attachment or a single floppy disc, etc. In fact iirc the default size for hjsplit was 1.4MB which fits 1 floppy disc. Too recombine the parts you can use a hjsplit option, or use the ms-dos/windows command copy with the /b option, or the Unix cat command. 195.35.160.133 (talk) 13:45, 1 July 2010 (UTC) Martin.
 * There are probably thousands of different file splitting programs (from experience). Many of them do just do the 001, 002, 003. A perhaps mostly irrelevant fact, 7zip archiving actually doesn't function much different from file splitting programs. Unlike RAR for example, which include a header etc so they will be recognised as an RAR file, 7zip does not, and instead just cuts the file up. Nil Einne (talk) 13:55, 2 July 2010 (UTC)


 * I had a similar problem trying to run a .bat file using Windows 7 (Notepad comes up). Another way to run it is to change directory and then type the filename (or drag its icon) into the DOS window and press Enter. --jh51681 (talk) 07:33, 30 June 2010 (UTC)