Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 December 31

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[edit] December 31

[edit] Python error message

I'm writing a bit in python using the NumPy module arrays. Every time I try to take the transpose of an array I get the message built-in method transpose of numpy.ndarray object at 0x012B2CB0, but no transpose. The number at the end (I take to be the memory pointer) changes. I'm running Python 2.5. Any thoughts as to what is going on or how to fix it? Thanks, --TeaDrinker (talk) 03:05, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Wow, silly mistake. I figured it out (I forgot the parens at the end of the x.transpose()). D'oh! --TeaDrinker (talk) 03:09, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wii: 16:9 progressive w/component, what's the resolution?

When I set my Wii to an aspect ratio of 16:9, and progressive scan, what's the output resolution? I have a TV whose native resolution is 1920x1080, so it's hard to tell what the output resolution is, and I've looked at a number of places but can't seem to decide on a definitive answer. So what does the Wii output when I set it to 16:9 and progressive? --Silvaran (talk) 04:44, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Since the Wii isn't HD-capable, it outputs at SDTV resolution of 480p or 576i (no 576p T.T, but if your TV has a good deinterlacer the higher resolution of 576i will look better than 480p). It does its widescreen through anamorphic widescreen so the effective horizontal resolution is reduced somewhat. --antilivedT | C | G 09:56, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] My computer screen goes dark

I was using GOB Player for watching movies. while playing dvd from HDD, I changed the themes of the windows from windows XP to Windows classic. Suddenly my computer screen went black with all text disappeared but the icons alone remained visible. I tried booting with my most recent settings worked option and tried safe mode, but nothing seems to be solving my issue. Suince I can't see text, I can't change the themes or display properties at all. Also I can't go to system restore too....Everything except the icons remain complete dark. This happens only after the user settings are loaded. The welcome screen is fine. I tried logging on to different user, but no change. Please help me. I use windows XP SP2.My pc is dual core 3GHz,1 GB ram,256MB video card,160GB HDD. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.164.61.222 (talk) 08:56, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

That's an interesting problem. There are a variety of things I'd suggest but most of them require that you can see text on the screen. I'm especially surprised about safe mode not working though -- Did I understand correctly, that you tried safe mode, and it still showed you a black screen with no text? Equazcion •✗/C • 16:16, 31 Dec 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Designation at the top of the product

I have seen in many products where there is a designation or a symbol "R". This is shown at the top right corner of the name of the product/manufacturer name. For example if you take intel CPU, then it has something like this "INTEL R DUAL CORE 3.0GHz CPU R". See this link.[1]. There is a term R at the top of the name. What does this mean?. Real? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.164.61.222 (talk) 09:05, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

That's the registered trademark symbol, normally an R in a circle, but sometimes reduced to an R in parentheses, or even a plain R, when handled as ASCII. --tcsetattr (talk / contribs) 09:15, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Bah, you beat me to it. Nice! --Ouro (blah blah) 09:16, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Yeah: ® - you also see ™. It's a similar deal to a copyright symbol. SteveBaker (talk) 16:08, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Programming

I have already taken a basic C++ (to pointers and inheritence), and a data structure course. But, I am interested in expanding my knowledge in programming, which includes creating softwares with nice interfaces, sophisticated web pages... I tried to search on the net for a start, but I got lost between CGI, GUI, PHP, SQL... Could someone direct me and advise me were I should start? Thank you. 212.98.136.42 (talk) 16:29, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

For programs that run normally on your computer with an nice interface, what you need is to pick a GUI toolkit. The good ones generally have two parts:
  • A C/C++ library that you link to your application that allows it to interact with the interface
  • An interactive tool to allow you do design the interface interactively - dragging and dropping buttons, sliders, menus, etc.
The usual way this works is that the interactive tool writes out some C/C++ source code that maps each 'widget' (button, slider, whatever) into a class or struct that represents that widget. Then you compile that code with your code and the library to make a working application.
One tool I'm rather fond of is 'FLTK' because it generates GUI applications that work under Windows, Linux and MacOS from a single source. With FLTK, you can (for example) create a window, place and label some buttons, sliders, etc - set their colours, the style of text (font, boldface, etc), set keyboard shortcuts - and (critically) provide the name of a "callback" function that is to be called every time the button is clicked or the slider is moved (or whatever). You write those callback functions yourself - and a 'main' that calls the FLTK library initialisation function. When you run the program, the window is opened for you - and whenever something happens with the user clicking on something - your functions are called.
There are a bazillion other GUI toolkits - some are portable - some are specific to one system - some are horrifically complex - others are too limiting. I like FLTK for it's simplicity and easy learning curve (and because it's portable). I'd recommend it as a starting point.
For web-based development, you pretty much need to abandon C++ and switch to PHP or JavaScript (or perhaps, Java itself). These two programming languages are an awful lot like C++ and you'll find them very easy to learn since you already know C++ (it took me about 3 hours to pick up enough PHP to the point where I could write the stuff I needed - JavaScript was even easier). You'll need a good book. PHP is the language that runs on the web server that writes out HTML code for the browser to display. JavaScript runs on the client computer, inside the browser, and is called (much like the FLTK library calls your C++ code) when widgets on the web page are clicked. With JavaScript, you design your GUI using HTML forms and tell each widget which JavaScript function to call when the widget is activated. For most web applications, you need both PHP and JavaScript to get the job done so plan on learning both eventually. If you don't know HTML (and possibly CSS), you'll need to learn those too.
CGI is the name for a regular binary program that's run on your web server as a result of someone clicking on a widget in one of your HTML web pages. CGI is an alternative to PHP and you can write CGI programs in C++. So, in theory, you can substitute C++ for PHP on the server side (I've done that - and I didn't enjoy it) - it's much easier to pick up the PHP language than it is to fight with getting 'CGI' programs running nicely in C++.
SQL is a database interface - forget all about it until you've mastered absolutely everything else!
So, my personal advice (and I'm sure others will differ) is: If you want to start with the desktop GUI stuff, download FLTK (it's free and there are online tutorials and sample programs to get you going) - when you've mastered it, you'll know what questions to ask in looking for something more sophisticated. If you want to start with Web-based stuff, you'll need to install PHP on your web server (do you even have your own web server?) - but JavaScript is already there in whatever browser you are using. Buy a couple of books (I used "Sams Teach Yourself PHP in 24 Hours (3rd Edition)" and "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide" - both on Amazon.com - but there are a million others out there).
SteveBaker (talk) 18:46, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
My first piece of advice would be to get away from C++. It's just too much for a beginning programmer. You'll shed a lot fewer tears if you start out with Java or Perl or Python, which have excellent base libraries, are easy to use, are fast enough for anything you're going to be doing as a beginner, and have great documentation and tuturorials available. You can come back to C++ when you're a professional and need your program to be fast as all hell or you have so many people on your team that you need the bondage and discipline to keep them in line. --Sean 23:34, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Normally, I'd agree with you - but we have here someone who already knows C++ - so I don't think the usual advice applies. SteveBaker (talk) 00:11, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Bug reporting

I found a bug in the universe. I believe it affects all users. Where do I report it so that the current code maintainer(s) can fix it? 192.30.202.18 (talk) 17:48, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Have you tried turning the universe off and on again? 81.77.136.231 (talk) 17:52, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Please do not attempt to reinstall the Universe without first making a backup. K'Thnks. SteveBaker (talk) 18:18, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Your bug is known to be fixed in the next planned major release of the Universe, but the date when it goes golden master has not yet been pinned down.
Atlant (talk) 18:29, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Maybe there's some temporary workaround we could use until then? --Ouro (blah blah) 19:42, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Just be bold and fix it yourself. --67.180.134.53 (talk) 19:50, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Assuming you have a reliable source for your change, click here to edit the article.--69.118.143.107 (talk) 14:32, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
Unless of course you mean one of these, because the edit link I provided is for the article "The Universe" or "Universe".. if your article is about another universe related subject, then just locate the article in question and press the "edit" button.--69.118.143.107 (talk) 14:34, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
It's not a bug, it's a feature. Anyway, make sure you have followed the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 17:41, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Embed code

what is meant by embed code and embed video?82.148.96.68 (talk) 18:36, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Embed video could mean that you are embedding (that is, attaching, or including, or inserting) a videoclip in another document (or the link to the video if we're talking about an online application). As for embedded code - I suppose it's code (of a programme or script) embedded (inserted) in another document, likewise. If you could provide any details as to where you got the terms from and could be more specific about what you're asking, then we (or SteveBaker) will probably be able to answer more elaborately. Cheers, Ouro (blah blah) 19:52, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
Video sites like YouTube provide code you can copy to include their videos in other webpages you create or can post HTML code on. Various sites may call this option embed code, embed video, or something similar. --Bavi H (talk) 07:47, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Robot voice has taken over my Mac!?

Earlier today i nearly dropped my keyboard, which led me to accidently press a number of keys. The result is that everything i click on now has a black box around it. Furthermore there is now a robotic voice reading out stuff, like the web address i go to and other stuff. Any idea how i make the robot shut up? it is freaking me out. Willy turner (talk) 19:40, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Go to System Preferences > Universal Access, and you should be able to disable these settings. --67.180.134.53 (talk) 19:49, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

Thank you very much, and happy new year! Willy turner (talk) 00:15, 1 January 2008 (UTC)