johnph77's Blog

On the road for the next 2-1/2 weeks - tournaments on consecutive weekends.

Work is slogging - not enough work being accomplished for the effort expended. I'll carry some mods to the project to do while on the road but I'm not sure how successful that's going to be. What has been accomplished since the teardown looks good and the client likes it. There's a way to go, though, before I start getting paid again.

I've done some other small jobs, mostly web pages, which were well-received. There's still some work to do with these but that'll be ongoing and will not require major rebuilds.

Back from Tampa. Finished 3rd of 10 in the tournament. Nice, considering we were in 6th place starting the final round, and I was playing with someone with whom I had never paired with previously.

Coded viewing files and quality assurance files with the project before I left. QA files worked great. Viewing files didn't. It turned out there was one - read ONE - punctuation error in the code for the viewing files. Finally found it tonight after pulling all my hair out. Well, I just don't have to visit a barber shop for a while..... There may be an expansion of the work required, in which case I won't have to worry about employment for a long time. In any case, I'm preparing the restructuring necessary should this become a fact.

All else is well.

Haven't been here in over six months.The project I was working on suffered a major setback when the laptop computer on which I was storing most of the latest accumulated data was stolen. I was able to purchase a new laptop and recover most of the older data from an external hard drive but it took over two months to replace the data held on the stolen computer. Needless to say, the client wasn't happy, and we eventually came to a parting of the ways.

I then picked up some work from a client I had previously worked with, but had taken their work fully in-house - until now. Another long-term project, but difficult to quantify. I know how much progress is being made but have no idea how much longer the job will last. Oh, well, it's not like I need the work, but it's good to be busy and occupied. For me, the worst thing in the world is being bored, and I seldom am.

Then, earlier this week, I received a call from the first client wanting to know how much of the old data I had retained and asking if I would be willing to come back to work for him. It seems the person he hired to replace me had made a total hash of things. I haven't responded yet, but I think I still have all of the project information, up to the point where we parted, stored on the external hard drive. I'm not sure I want to work for him again, and I know I don't have all the software I need to continue. I also still have the paperwork, though, so who knows?

Anyway, I leave for Tampa FL for a tournament next Tuesday - I've been on the road for pinochle tournaments, as usual - that didn't stop.

All is well.

Off to Charlotte this AM for another tournament. Will stop off for a week on the way back to spend some time with friends.

Project has sufferd a major setback - more on my return.

Home from Detroit. We finished 5th out of 36 pair - good, but one place out of the money. Good, because we got nearly the maximum out of what we were dealt. Nothing spectacular, just good, steady play.

Worked on Phase III ".pdf" files while away. One complete, ready for the word processor, the other ready to go. Found errata in the original files (another error trap works as intended), corrected and uploaded same. Maybe a day to rest, then back to the mines to continue work on Phase IV. I'm satisfied.

Underway later this AM to Detroit MI for tournament. Back next week for three days, then gone again for two more weeks.

Phase IV goes slowly, but goes. I keep getting sidetracked by other needs. No idea what I'll work on when gone - I'll see how I feel. Phase IV will probably have priority, then ".pdf" files for Phase III.

Old desktop bit the dust. No idea what went wrong - it went down, couldn't be restarted. Is not the power supply, though - tested that out. I had just finished transferring some necessary files from it, but there may have been some lottery and keno related files that needed to be transferred. I'll take stock on my return, but doubt if I'll put any more money into the old computer.

Gruntwork part of Phase III virtually complete. I still have to perform display error checks on some of the existing files but that'll be easy enough. The data is sound. I'll be preparing the files for uploading over the weekend. ".pdf" files will have to wait - about two months before their completion - but the HTML files will be sent and posted. Actual generation of the ".pdf" files may become a road project. It'll have to be a choice between Phase IV initial data entry and the ".pdf" files, though.....

New software due in next week, and the conversion to the new computers will hopefully be complete. The new laptop is the main data processor for right now, but that may change.

I'm hoping that, with the completion of the base processing of Phase IV, that the need for the generation of additional paperwork will cease. At least that's what I'm proposing to the client. I'm almost sure I can process the existing data from within the computer and not have to have - or submit - the hard copy.

I've been working on this project for about a year and a half. Not very much output has been realized given the work performed. I had originally planned on completing Phase IV in about 16 months from inception but spreadsheet development, providing for a fourfold expansion of this project from the original specifications, proposals for the next project, the development of the ".pdf" format, and other things have slowed the output. All in all, though, it's going well - I think.

Speaking of spreadsheet development, I moved some spreadsheets from the old computers to the new ones yesterday and opened them - for the first time in over a year. Advanced planning on these may have just paid off - in a big way. Data transfer to them by block should be possible - a massive timesaver, and evidently what I had in mind when I developed them. Some formula manipulation will still be necessary in some areas but the overall concept still looks great.

If all goes as planned, there will be a radical increase in submitted output vs. time involved after Phase IV is complete, and I'd like to have that done by November. I'm optimistic.

Started well enough to lead in both tournaments, then cards soured. Finished 4th in Cleveland (in the money), 5th in Lake Harmony. Won and placed well enough in a couple of minis. Good fun, good people, old friends - a mix guaranteed to produce a good time. Great trip.

Progress on Phase IV nothing less than astonishing - far better than I would have ever expected or even thought possible. I'll continue working on this the next trip but obvoiusly I think it's going extremely well.

More later.

Headed out tomorrow AM for tournaments, gone for two weeks.

First trip with new laptop, but wireless connections so far have had no problems. On that note, I've got my home hardwire network set up and working well.

Phase III work proceeding well (for a change). Taking the initial portion of Phase IV work on the road with me. Since I expect to be in between travel and tournaments for five days I expect to make significant inroads with this.

Still haven't gotten the new desktop set up as desired. Haven't been able to devote a lot of time to it, but more work on that when I return.

gla

I don't have many nice things to say about Vista OR Microsoft 2007 Office. The new desktop computer is not being used for project work right now - the operating system had to be reloaded and some of the software and files have yet to be re-transferred. If I weren't using it for Internet access it'd be about as useful as a boat anchor.

Why Microsoft felt it necessary to redo the file management system is way beyond me. I guess when one gets accustomed to the new system it'll be OK, but right now it's giving me fits. It isn't as easy to place transferred or downloaded files where you want them any more - the system places them where IT wants them. And there's no reasoning behind where they're placed, either.

In Word, one used to toggle between Insert/Overstrike mode simply by pressing the Insert key on the keyboard. No more. Now you need to move the mouse pointer to the control panel at the top of the screen and click on two seaprate objects each time you want to change that mode. What genius is responsible for this - and why?

Needless to say, given these problems and taking the time necessary to search for solutions for them, the project is not proceeding as quickly as I would like. Phase III proceeds, but slowly. When I go on the road later this month I'll be starting Phase IV fill files. No major problems so far.

Today I received some of the software I needed for the changeover of computers. Installed same, but not without glitches. Everything is working now, though. All of the lottery and Keno spreadsheets can be retained and reused as they currently exist - I won't have to rebuild or reprogram anything.

Found two sources for getting my printer to work with Vista, and, by combining the two methods, my printer is now driven by the new laptop. Once all the files I want to keep are taken off the old laptop, I can remove it from service. I need the space. Once the old desktop can be replaced, the new desktop can be equipped with the new driver. Right now, it's physically too far away from the printer.

As far as the project goes, Phase III is progressing, albeit more slowly than I'd like to see it. Some errors uncovered, corrected, but that's what all this is about. Had to go back and redo a section of the Phase II output, but that didn't include any the hard copy I sent off earlier.

Things are looking up.....

Conversion to new structure complete with the exception of a few minor admin details having to do with spreadsheet headers - nothing that would be published. Phase I, II ".pdf" files posted, published, sent. These phases, except for the above-mentioned details, are now virtually complete. I can get back to making progress in Phase III.

I'm on a wireless network as I write this - my first long-term foray into that area. Eventually I won't need it any more - I'm going to establish an internal network here around the hardwire connection, as I still have all four computers - two older and two newer. And, until I get all of the software issues squared away that's the way it'll stay, even though the older computers are spoken for.

It'll be back to the grind tomorrow. There's still a Keno and two lottery projects on the back burner just in case I get bored.

New desktop in, up and running. From the time it came through the door to the time I pressed the "Start" button was just over an hour (unpacking, setup, plugging in the cables, etc.), and everything worked the first time. Got to be some kind of miracle.

The new widescreen will just fit into the old workspace with less than an inch of clearance on all sides. Another miracle. It's bigger than I want, but is the smallest I could get that had the resolution I needed.

Until I get all the software I need, and the latest releases on some of it may not come around until June, the new desktop will sit on the kitchen table. It won't sit idly, though - I'll be doing some developmental work on it. Also, the driver for my printer is not yet available for Vista. If that keeps up I might have to invest in a new printer. Bummer, since the present one works just fine. But the text editor, Word and Excel work as needed.

Posted and sent one of the missing ".pdf" files earlier today. One more then I can close out Phases I and II, save reprinting of the hard copy. I'm satisfied that the changeover to the new structure is complete and is as good as I can make it.

I have a concept for some ".pdf" lottery files I want to fool around with when I get some time. I don't want to get too optimistic about it, but the smaller file size will make viewing a lot quicker. No details just as yet - still working out just how I want to do it.

Ran into first problem with Vista - no printer driver available from HP - yet. So I get to keep the old laptop and transfer files for printing until I can get a driver or buy a new printer.

Conversion of project files into new structure 90% (?) complete. File hard copies need to be reprinted, resubmitted but that can wait. Phase III pages need to be reprinted ASAP as there can be some confusion in the field names.

All else going well. I may need some minor hardware upgrades but that can wait.

Work on new ".pdf" files continues, some Phase III work being done as well. No major snags.

Looking to get new Keno files posted when time allows.

New laptop in (posting this entry on it), working fine. Screen clarity truly amazing, desktop monitor quality. Have yet to try to find its memory capabilities yet but that'll come. Really nice computer - but large. It'll go well on trips. Desktop due in Monday.

I remember it taking almost a year before I finally had the setup on both of the computers where I wanted it - probably won't take as long on these. No problems with Vista as of now but I haven't loaded much of the old software in yet. Haven't tried the LP Gadget yet but that's on the agenda.

Work goes well, if slowly. Picking up on Phase III work, ".pdf" files.