Image Editor Experiment - Vista (LONG post)

[PurpHaze]

Bear with me if you're on dial-up connection. I recently purchased a new computer that's running Vista and am working the bugs out... and yes, there are a LOT of bugs with Vista.

Although Vista contains an image transfer/editing program it is not one that allows you to change the compression ratio of saved pictures. I was using IrfanView on my old computer (running XP) that allows me to set the compression ratio and not bring out the Picture Compression Police. :)

However... running IrfanView on my new computer apparently brings up compatibility issues and locks the Vista computer up... thoroughly. No way to escape the lock-up without actually turning off the computer's power and rebooting. I can't even bring up Task Manager in order to force the shut-down of IrfanView. :cry:

Downloaded a copy of Picasa-2 ("Vista rated") and it has an export feature to other file folders on the system or to e-mail where compression ratios can be set without messing with my original pictures that are usually 1.5 MB each. I leave all my original pictures in their original file sizes because it allows me greater flexibility when printing them on good photo paper and very large sizes if I wish to. So far Picasa-2 has worked flawlessly without locking up Vista so I'm moving on to posting them up on this forum. :clapping:

Here's a couple of pictures of a full day's work yesterday on a major construction project of a new office/multi-purpose building, main line rerouted and a major snafu on wiring. System has been rewired MANY times over the past 40+ years as new buildings, concrete fire lanes and other changes have been made on this relatively small site. I traced out many of the problems with the 521 but eventually could not R&D everything due to extreme electrical interference. It was finally decided that we will establish a completely new wiring route to connect with the various segments of the system.

We were working side-by-side with the contractor who was establishing a new trench for the main gas connection to the school and we knew our main core of wires from the controller crossed the path of their work before it got further out and then started going in multiple directions including doubling back, sudden direction changes, etc. Since the entire area will be under building hardscaping and concrete fire lane for about 150' it was imperative that we reestablish a valid wiring route to reconnect the field (40' away), kindergarten (300' away) and new POC/wiring (180' away) for zones that will be added in another area where new portables never had irrigation.

If this works I'll post up some other general pictures of the construction as it goes along until I get the compression ratio right.

[PurpHaze]

More general pictures of the construction site.

Freaking site was fenced off and someone forgot to have gates included. We're having to park out front and carry everything in. Our mowers cannot even get onto the site to mow the field/building areas unaffected by the construction. :dizzy:

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Pics are great here. Last one was 67.8kb. Of course I'm cable internet.

[PurpHaze]

Thanks Pete. I have the Picasa2 export compression ratio set at 80% for right now so I'll stick with that for awhile and see how it manages.

[Kiril]

Get rid of Vista, load XP or linux onto that new system. Don't feed the monster!!

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Get rid of Vista, load XP or linux onto that new system. Don't feed the monster!!

Comments like this make me realize how thankful I am to be a 20 year plus apple user and clueless as to what this is even all about.

[Mike Leary]

Comments like this make me realize how thankful I am to be a 20 year plus apple user and clueless as to what this is even all about.

Ain't it wonderfull!:dizzy:

[Wet_Boots]

Vista should have a 'compatibility mode' that would allow the running of XP-only programs, analagous to XP's 'compatibility mode' for running Windows 98 programs.

[PurpHaze]

Vista should have a 'compatibility mode' that would allow the running of XP-only programs, analagous to XP's 'compatibility mode' for running Windows 98 programs.

On any downloaded/CD .exe program install file you can right click in Vista and tell it to install to XP compatibility mode. However, I was looking for one that would work directly with Vista as things are much faster then. So far, so good. I might try IrfanView in XP compatibility mode just for the heck of it later. One thing I really enjoy about IV is its ability to add text boxes to pictures as this is of great benefit when doing reports at work. However, I still have IV on my computer at work and that's where 99% of my photo reports are generated so it would be no big deal to not have access to it at home.

[Dirty Water]

I run XP on my work laptop, as Microsoft development pays my bills, and I can't bite the hand that feeds me.

But I'm posting this from my Ubuntu Linux desktop machine.

[Wet_Boots]

Ubuntu? Bwana! Tarmangani code with forked tongue.

[PurpHaze]

I thought he'd gone "holy roller" on us and was speaking in tongues. :)

[Dirty Water]

Comments like this make me realize how thankful I am to be a 20 year plus apple user and clueless as to what this is even all about.

I seem to recall similar growing pains with the transition from OS 9 to OS X. As well as the transition from PPC to intel macs.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I seem to recall similar growing pains with the transition from OS 9 to OS X. As well as the transition from PPC to intel macs.

So this is sort of what is going on here. Something I went through many years ago. Mac uses Intel now? Whatayaknow Seriously though the mac percentage of the computer market is the fastest growing segment is my understanding. Primo operating systems eventually get rewarded.

[Wet_Boots]

Who wants to upgrade? I almost have Windows 98 figured out, so I want to bask in the glow.

[Dirty Water]

Who wants to upgrade? I almost have Windows 98 figured out, so I want to bask in the glow.

I won't upgrade until they have a hot dog stand theme for Vista.

Good old Win 3.1. I have fond memories of you.

[Kiril]

Damn man, are you trying to blind me?

[PurpHaze]

Who wants to upgrade? I almost have Windows 98 figured out, so I want to bask in the glow.

No wonder you're still on dial-up. :laugh:

[PurpHaze]

Had the chance yesterday to load IrfanView and then try and run it in the XP compatibility mode. My computer puked. Apparently my new OS configuration just doesn't like it so I'll stick with Picasa since it at least works fine within the Vista environment.

Now... if I can just get RainCAD transferred and it works with Vista (as claimed) then I'll be in business.

[Kiril]

Good luck with that. http://3dgamelink.net/images/emoticons/madpc.gif

[zman9119]

I have RainCAD 9 (DesignCAD version) running fine on Vista Business and Home Prem right now.

[PurpHaze]

I have RainCAD 9 (DesignCAD version) running fine on Vista Business and Home Prem right now.

Thanks... that's very encouraging since I'm running Home Premium and the RainCAD Suite 9 version is also DesignCAD based. I just need to contact them and get a machine code and I'll take the plunge. :)

[zman9119]

Did you see that RainCAD moved away from DesignCAD in there non-AutoCAD version to Autodsys IntelliCAD 2008 for the new release of RainCAD?

The big selling point is that the new version (IntelliCAD) can save and edit in native AutoCAD DWG formats. They also claim that it is thousands of times faster than the old DesignCAD setup.

I might have to upgrade this winter and see if its true. I just cant stand to jump up to the full AutoCAD\RainCAD setup right now (even though I have AutoCAD installed already on my computer).


.mz

[PurpHaze]

Saw that but didn't read the whole thing. Knew there was a joining of companies and guess they figure that's the way to go. Hopefully they keep producing it in a non- AutoCAD affordable version because that version is just soooo spendy versus the DesignCAD version for the average user. However, I imagine that big architectural houses already are using AutoCAD so it's just a natural progression.

We started out with Suite 6 several years ago and upgraded to Suite 9 last year. They did make quite a few nice improvements. Hopefully they continue this trend.

[Kiril]

Thing about AutoCAD is that it is the Adobe Acrobat of CAD software.

[YardPro]

autocad is the industry standard for computer aided design....

most design software uses autocad as it's base program...

[PurpHaze]

Just a quick update before heading off to work. Since I was having problems with "lock-up" when starting Vista I backtracked my system by removing programs one at a time to see what effect they might be playing. After I uninstalled my CA anti-virus program all went well and I was able to reload the uninstalled programs. We'll see what happens and if everything continues to work well I might install IrfanView again and see how it works.

[PurpHaze]

Finally had the chance to reload IrfanView and see if it chokes after straightening out AV lock-up of system. So far... so good. No program/system lock-up but I'll keep an eye on things.

A few pictures from a valve replacement at one of our high schools yesterday. Area used to be turf and it was completely concreted in to put up a steel storage building in the area for the auto/welding shop run by the county DOE. It's a 1" Irritrol Century Plus valve that runs tree well bubblers for some red oak trees... also completely surrounded by concrete with those fancy heavy grates.

For those that have never used a Christy B-9 box they actually don't have quite as much room in them since their sides are straighter than a standard plastic valve box.

[PurpHaze]

Last picture... Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what the special 90s are? :)

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Slip street ells? Surprised the valve split instead of the MA cracking. It looks like you glued a TOE and butted your first ell right up to the valve.

[PurpHaze]

Slip street ells? Surprised the valve split instead of the MA cracking. It looks like you glued a TOE and butted your first ell right up to the valve.

Yes on the SCH 80 butted up. The bottom ells are standard ones... it's the two top ones that are "special". :)

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Did you saw the tips to make it fit?

[PurpHaze]

Did you saw the tips to make it fit?

Damn it Peter... you're good! :)

The outlet sides of both 90s were sawed in half in order to make the connection. Didn't leave much socket but we use very good glue. When the valve activates there is zero vibration and so far everything is holding well. I told the site grounds guys to keep an eye out for water as I don't guarantee the repair.

It was a quickie repair because the red oaks were showing signs of stress since they'd received no water this year. The contractor who moved this valve out of the way of the new building hooked up the wrong zone wire (two other zones completely removed and their watering time had been zeroed out on the controller) and apparently never tested things out.

If it doesn't hold on the lateral side we have 2' of concrete between the valve box and the old fence mow strip that can be saw-cut and removed. Then we'd have enough room to do things right.

[Mike Leary]

Last picture... Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what the special 90s are? :)

Well done...a field command decision that hardly anyone would think of or have the stones to install!.:clapping:

[PurpHaze]

Well done...a field command decision that hardly anyone would think of or have the stones to install!.:clapping:

It was also a training exercise for two guys. They thought I might have lost it at first. :)

Actually... I had absolutely nothing to lose. If it holds, fine. If it doesn't hold we move along to Plan B.

[Mike Leary]

They thought I might have lost it at first. :) .

No comment,,I'm in deep enough as it is!:laugh:

[Kiril]

It was a quickie repair because the red oaks were showing signs of stress since they'd received no water this year.

A good demonstration of just how little water those trees need. 1-2 good deep waterings during summer would probably suffice. :)

[PurpHaze]

A good demonstration of just how little water those trees need. 1-2 good deep waterings during summer would probably suffice. :)

I was quite surprised also that they had held up relatively well. At least now they'll get some decent deep watering as I put them on their own special program.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Surprised! Not me

[Mike Leary]

I was quite surprised also that they had held up relatively well. At least now they'll get some decent deep watering as I put them on their own special program.

Do you use a multiple start/run time on those big boys to avoid runoff?
Heads facing the tree or...?

[Mike Leary]

Surprised! Not me

In your dreams...

[PurpHaze]

Do you use a multiple start/run time on those big boys to avoid runoff?
Heads facing the tree or...?

Two start times, 30 minutes per run. Only a single bubbler in the wells under these heavy grates and we made sure they didn't come close to running over yet provided plenty of water. Pretty deep wells too. We'll keep track of them and see what happens.