Computing desk
< August 25	<< Jul \| August \| Sep >>	August 27 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 26[edit]

TotoBaggins's (also known as Sean) code[edit]

Hi. I'd like to use User:TotoBaggins's code, at his user page. I think I have already downloaded Perl. What do I do now? A.Z. 02:15, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Copy and paste and let us know what errors you get back?? Mathmo ^Talk 08:04, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You save the code into a file called c:\wiki-blame.pl, and then in a command window you type the following:

cd \
perl wiki-blame.pl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:TotoBaggins 'That code on your userpage looks really useful.'

If that doesn't work, come back and tell us (verbatim) what the computer said when you tried it. --Sean 12:29, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

How do I save the code into a file called c:\wiki-blame.pl? A.Z. 16:52, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Select all of the text with your mouse, then select "Edit", then "Copy", then open "Notepad", and select "Edit", then "Paste", and then select "File", and then "Save", and type into the little box "C:\wiki-blame.pl". That should work, but I don't use Windows so it's untested. --Sean 19:36, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I saved the code into a file called C:\wiki-blame.pl.txt, I typed the text in the command window. It replied Can't open perl script "wiki-blame.pl": No such file or directory. A.Z. 02:40, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(edit conflict with dr.ef.tymac. I'll read your post now, dr.ef.tymac)I tried typing "wiki-blame.pl.txt" instead of "wiki-blame.pl", and now it responds Can't locate File/Slurp.pm in @INC (@INC contains: C:/Perl/lib C:Perl/site/lib.) at wiki-blame.pl.txt line 88. BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at wiki-blame.pl.txt line 88. A.Z. 02:55, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That means either: 1) you do not have a required add-on that perl needs in order to run the script the way it is supposed to; or 2) you have the add-on, but perl cannot find it on your machine. the "add-on" can be found here. dr.ef.tymac 03:43, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Step-by-step: Since you're on a windows box, perhaps a step-by-step walk-through can help track down the source of the problem:

step: Start Menu :: Run :: Type in :: cmd and press [Enter]
step: type in perl -v
step: check to see if you got the perl help message. If yes, perl is good, if not, you may need to re-install
step: rename "wiki-blame.pl.txt" to "wiki-blame.pl"
step: go back to the cmd window and type in perl c:\wiki-blame.pl

HTH. dr.ef.tymac 02:51, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I type cmd but when I press enter a box opens that says "Windows can't find 'cmd'." Then it suggests that I typed the wrong name. A.Z. 03:00, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I typed 'command' now and a window opened. I typed perl -v and a message appeared. A.Z. 03:01, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The message seems to be the perl help message, with the name of the website www.perl.com. A.Z. 03:03, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Ok. That verifies that your perl installation at least works properly, and the problem is with the script, or something else. dr.ef.tymac 03:46, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. Couldn't there be an easier way to do the same thing that this code does/should do? I think it would be an useful tool. A.Z. 04:58, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Sure. If someone had some spare web space that can run CGI scripts, it would be just a two-field web form. I just don't happen to have any. --Sean 13:23, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

or on *nix, using /home/az/ should work fine. --lucid 21:17, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Carbon not working properly in Mac OS X 10.4.10[edit]

I highly doubt anyone else is having this same problem, so I'm not going to ask. I'm using a 1st generation MacBook. I seem to be able to run only some PowerPC apps: the non-working ones bounce maybe once in the Dock then exit. For example, I can use LilyPond but not StarCraft. Likewise, Age of Empires II no longer works either. Neither does 2005 World Book, but as that's not really licensed for use on my Macbook (only on my iBook) I'm not terribly concerned about that. AOL Instant Messenger (4.7, build 1333 for Mac OS X) doesn't work anymore either. My HP printer's installer software doesn't work either. However, if I check "Open using Rosetta" for any Universal application, it will still open, and Activity Monitor will reveal it is running as a PowerPC process.

Here's the output that I get when I try to run AoK directly from Terminal.app:

fre-74-178:~ chris$ file /Applications/Age\ of\ Empires\ II\ Gold/Age\ of\ Empires\ II 
/Applications/Age of Empires II Gold/Age of Empires II: header for PowerPC PEF executable
fre-74-178:~ chris$ /Applications/Age\ of\ Empires\ II\ Gold/Age\ of\ Empires\ II 
-bash: /Applications/Age of Empires II Gold/Age of Empires II: cannot execute binary file

All the above programs that no longer work used to work fine. Help, please? --M1ss1ontomars2k4 04:55, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Removal of Spy Shredder[edit]

Please help. I am being bombarded by a very aggressive attempt to get me to purchase a spyware tool called Spy Shredder whenever I am on my PC. I am not a competent IT technical user, merely a browser so any simple advice would be very gratefully received. I should add that under no circumstances will I be forced or persuaded to purchase ANY product marketed so aggressively. I would rather buy a new PC first. Thanks 81.145.241.180 12:55, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't it ironic that most programs that (aggressively, mostly) advertise spyware (or virus) removal are actually classified spyware or viruses themselves? I'm guessing you've been hit by some variant of spyware that advertises an anti-spyware program to, well, remove those annoying messages. But it could be that you have this program but it wants you to buy the full version to remove apparent spyware. If this is the case, then I suggest you follow instructions here. If not, then download Ad-Aware, AVG Anti-Spyware or Spybot - Search & Destroy (I use the second one, but usually they all work well), install the program, run the program, update the program (usually a button away on the main screen of all these programs), and run a full scan. These 3 are amongst the best anti-spyware programs available, and best of all, they are free. x42bn6 Talk Mess 13:04, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Spy-Shredder itself, is classified as spyware. You need a spyware program. Google Spy Shredder for more info.Perfect Proposal ^{Speak out loud!} 19:56, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Don't you mean "you need an anti-spyware program" ? :-) StuRat 22:02, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia and money[edit]

How does Wikipedia make money? Heegoop, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

The Wikimedia Foundation is non-profit, but the money to run its various projects comes mainly from donations I think. — Matt Eason ^{(Talk  Contribs)} 21:09, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia currently makes money via an offset printing process, but hopes to upgrade to a better method, which is more difficult to detect, as soon as possible. :-) StuRat 21:58, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Money is, in fact, not Wikipedia's primary resource boon: time is. If you calculated how much per hour the people who edit on Wikipedia would be paid were they charging their "normal rates" for their time (obviously depends on skill level, education history, where they live, and everything else), you would find that revenue to be far greater than most corporations, I'm betting (meaning, more precisely, that you would consider the donated time to be equivalent with donated money). --24.147.86.187 22:03, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia is a project of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Their finance reports page is here. The vast majority of their support comes from cash and in-kind donations. The 2006 financial statement is here in PDF. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 03:24, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

itunes plus help[edit]

I accidentally put itunes plus on an album that I wish to buy but because itunes plus is on the album it is currently too expensive. How do I take itunes plus off the selections?

Thanks

142.161.235.74 20:32, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In iTunes go to Store>View My Account in the menus. Log in using your username and password. In your Account Information Screen the top thing listed should be about iTunes Plus. Click the Manage iTunes Plus button, untick the checkbox, and click the Save Changes button. All selections should now revert to the standard versions at the standard prices. --jjron 14:28, 27 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thank-you very much, very useful advice...

OUP/Basic sample[edit]

Hi,

I'm looking for a reference implementation or a sample project for OpenUP/Basic. Can anyone point me to one if it exists?

Regards, Masoud Mahanchian 22:41, 26 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]