I’ve been waiting for WordPress 3.0, as I am very happy with WordPress and know there are tons of things improved and added in the new version. Can’t wait to update my installation, starting next week!

And, this is what I really like:

“Developers and network admins will appreciate the long-awaited merge of MU and WordPress, creating the new multi-site functionality which makes it possible to run one blog or ten million from the same installation.” Read more about this release.

Every 6-12 months, consider cracking open your computer case. In addition to: 1. Backing up your files regularly, 2. Optimizing your hard drive(s), and 3. Updating your security software, it’s also important to clean the hardware.

By unclogging the air vents and removing sticky dust from your computer components, you are extending the life of your computer and preventing your hardware from burning out due to overheating. The airflow inside your computer case, in particular, is designed to keep everything cool. Dust (and other stuff) can eventually block the flow of air and cause a major failure.

Microsoft has a decent “How To” page that describes the cleaning process. Especially if you keep your computer on the floor, this process is a MUST DO!

While you have the computer open, you may also consider upgrading the memory (aka RAM) – it’s a simple task that can speed up your machine without a significant investment in time or money. Opening the computer can be a pain, so accomplishing everything at once is ideal. Microsoft covers that base, too. Might as well take a peek!

Over the weekend, I worked on two computers from my local public library. These computers are used for the Children’s Library area and offer educational games for children of all ages. The computers are somewhat old (2002) and slow, but run these simple little games just fine. The project included: cleaning the inside of the computers, reinstalling Windows XP Home, installing a virtual CD application, installing educational software, installing Windows SteadyState.

What we learned on this project:

• Windows XP takes HOURS to install. I probably should have found a source installation that had everything up to Service Pack 3. Meh. I forgot all about that.
• Virtual CD drives are terrific. There are several applications out there, but I like PowerISO. This allows me to create a virtual jukebox of all the games without requiring the CD to be inserted.
• Windows SteadyState is pretty nice. It locks down the computer so that designated users cannot make any changes. There are many options to customize for this purpose. Perfect for kids… and libraries! The worst part is that it’s only compatible with XP and Vista. Microsoft dumped it with Windows 7 and removed a comparable “Guest Mode” from their retail product when it was launched. I hope it reappears in a service pack.
• Storing your computer on the floor is a BAD idea, particularly on carpeting. There was so much dust inside the computers! Everything had a blanket on it. I was surprised nothing burned out. Very surprised.

Previously, these computers were attached to network storage that allowed the games to be accessed across a network. While this worked well, it required two extra pieces of hardware that were eliminated by the virtual CD application – less power consumption, and less chance of something going wrong. As it turns out, the file server deleted its contents, for an unknown reason, and that’s why I was called in to begin with. It was fun consolidating everything and creating a more effective environment for the Children’s Library. Not only was my solution virtually maintenance-free, but it’s more green, too!

It’s live! http://westcentralwildcats.org/

What we learned to do via this project:

1. Install & configure MySQL and phpMyAdmin on a Windows platform.
2. Install WordPress on a Windows platform and on GoDaddy (blech).
3. Hack WordPress themes to accommodate multiple sidebars.
4. Create WordPress themes in Artisteer.
5. Create Flash movies with SwishMax.
6. Script in PHP.

Doing all these things for the first time slowed things down a little, but now that’s we’re done it’s smooth sailing from here!

All I want to do is put an image on the bottom-right of my page, in the sidebar. Within WordPress, if I add the Text widget to my sidebar, it takes on the Artisteer theme’s style. This is by design. But, I don’t want any style at all. I just want the image to appear, centered.

How can I strip out the CSS style from a particular widget, then?

1. Check the Artisteer theme file functions.php for this code:

   if (function_exists(‘register_sidebars’)) {
        register_sidebars(3, array(
             ‘before_widget’ => ‘<div id=”%1$s” >’.'<!— BEGIN Widget —>’,
             ‘before_title’ => ‘<!— BEGIN WidgetTitle —>’,
             ‘after_title’ => ‘<!— END WidgetTitle —>’,
             ‘after_widget’ => ‘<!— END Widget —>’.'</div>’
        ));
   }

   <div id=”%1$s”> This code will give the widget’s containing DIV element an id value for use in the theme’s CSS. The value, here, is generated by WordPress and corresponds to the widget being used.    

2. Add a widget to your page with the content to be displayed. In my case, I just put in some HTML for an image using the “Text” widget.
     
3. View the source of your HTML and find the DIV container that references the widget. Mine looks like this:  <div id=”execphp-6″>
      
4. Open the CSS file in the WordPress “Appearance” editor and jump to the bottom. Add style properties for the specific widget. With Artisteer, there are automatically-generated properties that need to be overrided. By referencing the id for my widget and the class for the Artisteer style, I can force my own style to display like this:

   div#execphp-6 {
        text-align: center;
   }

div#execphp-6 .art-Block-cc {
    background-color: #ababab;
    bottom: 0px;
    top: 0px;
    right: 0px;
    left: 0px;
    padding: 0px;
}

It took me way too long to figure this out, but it works well and I am very happy!! Now I can add style-free or custom-styled widgets wherever I want.

I’ve been experimenting with Google Reader, and created a feed for ResQTek’s blog entries. You can subscribe to this feed and view the latest entries right from Google Reader. Other website feeds can be added to your Google Reader, and you can keep up-to-date with your favorite websites all in one place.

Here is the ResQTek feed.

This is also yet another way to share your blog entries with the general public. Content published publicly will be searchable by Google. We’ll see how effective it is!

For DAYS, I’ve been fighting with SwishMax, trying to get my movie clip to stay on top of all the other elements of my movie, for the duration of the movie.

I have my clip in a scene marked as “background” so that it plays for the entire timeline. But, there was one BIG problem. For some reason, with every subsequent scene, my movie control bar would fade in and out with the photos. I have three photos, each in their own scene. They fade in and out consecutively. Well, so was my movie control bar. Doh!

All I needed to do, was to set the depth of the control bar movie clip to zero and it stayed on top of all the scenes. Knowing very little ActionScript, it took me a long time to find the information. No one had this exact problem – that I could “Google,” anyway.

So here it is…

In the first frame of my background scene, all I had to add was one simple bit of script:

onFrame (1) {
   _root.mymovieclip.swapDepths(0);
}

The zero value indicates the topmost visible level of the movie.

That’s it!!! I’m so happy that’s solved. Take a peek at the movie!

Here’s what I used to find the answer:

1. Google Search
2. Deductive reasoning….
   AND…
3. SWISH TUTOR – the ultimate SWISHscript database

When to set a restore point manually:

• Before changing system settings
• Before installing a program
• Before installing hardware

NOTE: System Restore will not necessarily back up your data files (i.e., documents, e-mail, photos, music, movies, videos). You should always back up your data files to a separate storage device for safe keeping.

Read more about System Restore on Microsoft’s website for:

• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7

There are so many places on the Internet to attract attention and communicate with others. With the redesign of ResQTek’s website, it made sense to connect to people on Facebook, as well. There are three ways I could have approached this:

1. Invite all my clients and friends and family to my personal Facebook page which has a link to the ResQTek website on the info tab.
   This is a great idea, and I created a “business” list of friends within my profile settings to distinguish business and personal contacts. There is some crossover, but it allows me to connect personally as well as professionally to people I am familiar with.
    
2. Create a “Group” for ResQTek communciations and invite everyone to join.
   Since I plan to conduct business on my website, primarily, I didn’t want to have to maintain two places and/or direct visitors to two websites to participate in discussions. My company’s purpose doesn’t warrant a lot of group discussion anyway, as there are no other team members to contribute.
    
3. Create a “Fan Page” for ResQTek quips and status notes.
   This makes a lot more sense for us than #2, and allows a connection from Facebook to this website. It’s a way to draw traffic and also to reach people who frequent Facebook.

So, in all, we hope our Fan Page will help increase our website visitors, reach our clients, and improve our search rankings in the long run. If you’re not a “fan” already, become one today!

Create your own Fan Page on Facebook and don’t forget to link it to your website, and vice versa.

Over the past few years, we have been advocating the use of AVG Anti-Virus Free for personal use. While this solution is still viable, it’s always good to take a look at the ever-changing world of malware protection and reevaluate our approach.

Recently, we’ve revisited the analysis around the Web and found that a new free anti-virus product is leading the charts with performance. Avira AntiVir Personal has received many accolades over the course of 2009.

It’s easy to find several reviews that make this product superior.
Here are a few prominent examples:

• PC World (August 2009)
• CNET (April 2009)
• About.com
• AV-Comparatives (a great independent source)

Some reviews focus on the Premium version of the software, which is a paid subscription, but the anti-virus engine is the same in the free version. Those reviews should not be discounted, as the Premium version just has a few extra features.

We’ve been testing Avira AntiVir Personal here, in our office, and it runs quietly, quickly and has kept our computers protected.
We are running it on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 with no issues.

The only “con” we noticed, is a daily pop-up ad for the paid version of Avira that we disabled with these instructions.

Have questions? Please leave a comment.