Week 08, 2000 ,Svenson

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21-02 to 27-02

MM-lii     Monday

2000-02-21

There is frost again, -3°C, with lots of ice to be removed from my car. It remains dry with just a few tentative starts of drizzle but no real rain.

Theo and Ronny were occupied the whole day by a TeleSales and Progress workshop.

I handled a problem from Loek. Well I mean I spent my day on it. The problem is that it sits between OLI and OMSI-3. OLI handles the logistics while OMSI-3 handles ordering and invoicing. The problem is that some items cannot be ordered because they have ,in OLI, a successor item defined that isn't yet active. The message the user gets indicates that the item he enters is superseded and that there is no more stock for it. I think it is an OLI problem but I will have to prove that. By thoroughly analyzing some of their programs.

I did set up a mail account for my brother. With the iTool web account you get three mail addresses free, one fixed and two that you set up yourself. I had set up one originally on the server but I never logged on to it. The problem mainly is that I am used to Netscape Communicator for my mail and the few times I tried to set it up to connect to an alternative mail account it promptly forgot all the other mail settings. It clearly behaves as a single box program. It is probably me doing something wrong of course but then the help isn't clear enough to tell me what.
I configured Outlook Express, which comes free with Win98. And it worked for the new account. I had tried previously to use OE to access another account (svenson at freegates.be) but that didn't (and still doesn't) work.

MM-liii     Tuesday

2000-02-22

An itsy bitsy frost on my car, at 0°C, and a dry day. Not sunny however and the temperature doesn't get over the 3°C mark. So the weather is holding.

The workshop continues so I am largely undisturbed. I don't get 'in the code' however. Like a writer who has "almost finished" a chapter but cannot find a fitting finale. I do solve some programs.

Somewhere in the afternoon I get a call from Jan. Just to indicate that the Americans have done his job (testing) and they approve the adaptation on the filling routine for the Statistics file (the duplicate S3 problem). So I close the problem report and send the program to Belgium. The problem was solved on the third (2000/02/03) and, because it was urgent, I spent time on it that I should have spent on the V9 problems. Jan should have tested it ASAP but instead he did send it over to America. It was urgent, so it took him 19 days before reporting back that it is OK.
Yeah, managers.

The mail account for my brother works sending and receiving. I only have to set up a shortcut on my desktop so he doesn't have to search for it.

I had about an hour to spare this evening so I finished the hardware side of the new box. As I mentioned some days/?/weeks ago I am assembling that from spare parts, left over from various old boxes and some experiments. One of these was a Western Digital 6.4GB disk. Last time I remarked that the AMD K6-2 /300 was defect so I used a 200MHz AMD K6 (from Pat). Now I find that the hard disk is defect as well. It does spin up but the BIOS never finds it. I just happen to have a new IBM 22GB disk gathering dust and when I try that, on the same cable and power the BIOS finds it and identifies it. I don't plan to use the IBM in this box so I pull it out again and replace it with a 13GB Quantum Fireball which I have already used in Aria.
This booted the box right into Linux but of course the hardware is totally different so after the loading screens from Caldera I don't get anything. But it proves that the disk is recognized. The defect disk is just from last year so maybe It is still under warranty so maybe I can swap it (if I just can find the invoice).
All that in about an hour and a half. I wonder sometimes how these magazine reviewers do it when they say it just took them five minutes to install a disk. Pick it up and connect the cables maybe but screwing it in is then probably not included. That is not as easy as it sound, you got to hold the drive in one hand, aligning the holes for screws to the holes in the case, then you pick up a screw and a screwdriver (which inevitably is out of reach) and try to get the screw in without dropping it in the case. It doesn't take a lot of skill, no degrees requires, just a bit dexterity, but it is not that easy either. Definitively not when you do it in a mini or smallish midi tower case.

A full report later.

MM-liv     Wednesday

2000-02-23

It is getting warm again, 1°C this morning, rising to around 10°C. Probably due to all the sun I had to keep out of my screen.

I had a much more productive day. I finished the last of the II/DR problems. There remains one program that doesn't use the II or DR files but does relate to the Invoice address (II) and Delivery address (DR). I am not sure if it has to be changed or not (I hope not because it is used extensively so any change is going to affect a lot of other programs).

There is something strange happening in Belgium. The Daily House Keeping (DHK) is a series of batch jobs that run at night. One of these jobs is intended to transfer invoices to the financial system (Posting to General Ledger). No records got posted during the two last nights and yet the job logs show that the DHK did start and finish without error messages. I double and triple checked the program. And then checked it some more but there is no way that the program can run without posting those invoices . I advised Robert to change the job to get an extensive logging on the next run. We will see tomorrow but I smell a black hole here .

Jan should pass by late for some testing so I stayed later than planned. He doesn't come so I go home extra late. The advantage is that I had time enough to read all the daynotes. It is becoming rare that I get to read them all on one day (to many daynoters and too little time)

I am going to post early (if I get a connection, which could be a problem before 23h00) and see if I can get something installed on that new box. If not I'll be in bed early.

I also realized that I am not changing my tag line daily. Lack of time and inspiration but also lack of memory, I just forget it. notice the static tag line ->>

MM-lv     Thursday

2000-02-24

It remains warm, 3°C in the morning but with far less sun and even a few short spells of rain.

I did solve the last of the II/DR problems and updated the documentation. I notice that OLI still has some programs to finish on the list so while it has taken a lot longer than I expected I am not the last to finish.

At around noon I got a call from Robert, Belgium, to ask if I had done something about the problem he reported yesterday. No, I hadn't done anything. I had recommended him to change the logging so we should get some more details, and I was waiting for this logging. I don't know if he actually change the logging but the reason for his call was that the problem had solved itself.
I am not principally opposed to self solving problems but it does not make me feel comfortable. Hey this is on an AS/400, not some sort of Windows thunking stuff, so there is no reason for software to behave Microsoft-y. My guess is that the DHK used some wrong setting or library list but without full comprehensive logging it is not possible to find out.

Theo asked me to pass the layout and a data sample from the code File (CD) to Rutger. He should then pass a selection of OPRS (I haven't got a clue what that stands for) data back to us pre formatted in the right file layout for importing to the AS/400. So I make a selection using the Query tool and mail that to Rutger. I even add a field definition file (xxx.FDF). Rutger is heading the Microsoft Competence Center (MCC) (I know it is a contradiction but I didn't make up that name) and of course doesn't recognized the fdf. Later I get into a discussion with one of his team and the end result is that we get an Excel sheet with three columns filled with data for the first three fields in our file. The rest is too difficult for them. So I convert it from XLS to TXT and send it over to the AS/400 where I make up the content for the other fields. Just a short conversion program is all it takes. The data that they supply is highly suspect however. It should contain a code-type, a code and a description but for about half of the records the code is blank. The code is the most important part of the file.
If we don't get a reasonable file I think I am going to persuade Theo to pass me the full OPRS file so I can make my own selection and extraction from it.
I guess the problem is that the people over at the MCC don't know what data to expect, for them anything could be acceptable, they are working completely out of context in this case

I didn't go to bed early yesterday and yet I didn't install anything on the new box. The evening came and went in a single instant it seems. Well I cannot remember what I actually did so it could well have been a single instant.

MM-lvi     Friday

2000-02-25

I know I was busy today but with what? Any one's guess is as good as mine. I remember assisting Robert (Belgium) on the phone with a printing problem. And I discussed the problem from Loek with Frank, from OLI. He will pick it up. And I handled some mail. And I started on the Project and Accounting problem, not that I did get far with someone unexpectedly closing down the AS/400.

Ah yes. I tried to help Wilbert with the PC he is installing for the Progress guys who will (attempt) to get a web application, based on our TeleSales program, ready. The machine is a Tulip (P166, 98MB and 8Gb disk) and we need to install WinNT on it. The disk is new and Wilbert wants to set it up in some 2GB partitions. The strange thing is that the FDISK from DOS 6.22 doesn't see more than 16MB of the disk. WE want to get the partitions formatted in FAT but using the FDISK and FORMAT from DOS 7 (from Win95 OSR2) he always gets FAT32, regardless of the size we choose. That is why we try out all the DOS versions we have handy ( MS DOS 5.0, 6.0 and 6.22) without success. In the end Tom gets the 2GB partitions by using FDISK from DOS 7.0 but selecting not to use the 'large disk' option. The warning you get claims you can only make 512MB partitions, but once past this warning it happily creates the 2GB partition which subsequently gets FORMAT-ed (DOS 7.0) in FAT. The problem was (probably) that we didn't have a normal DOS boot disk with all the required tools on it, the disks we used were cobbled together by copying all the programs from various computer. I have never seen so many "Incorrect DOS version" messages on one day as now.
The strangest thing is that the format command (DOS7.0) works different depending on the way the disk is partitioned. I never had such problems at home (but then I don't use MS DOS but DR DOS when I need DOS).

Well I was busy but mostly with unproductive things. I did clear some, OK a lot, of paper from my desk and organized some other things so with luck I can get a good productive day on Monday. (And it looks likely that I get all the remaining V9 things finished by Friday. :-)

MM-lvii     Saturday

2000-02-26

It is back to freezing. Lightly, just -3°C, but still. Actually the weather is fantastic now, open sky, not a cloud to be seen and a mild wind. That means sun which drives up the day temperature; all the way to 12°C. The forecast is for more of the same tomorrow. Joy.

Shopping again. This time the Zip drive arrived (it has been sitting in the shop since Monday but the shop isn't open when I am home during the week).

I work in the garden during the afternoon, mostly pruning the Firethorn bushes. Perfect weather for garden jobs. When I stop my hands are full of punctures from the thorns. These are very though and long, piercing even the thick gloves I am wearing.

A long time ago (almost two years) I had a network at home. It was a 10BaseT network with one hub and never more than three computers connected. It wasn't set up as it should either, being more of a "see if I can do this" job than anything else.
Then about a year ago I started moving computer stuff up to the attic. I did break up the network and never bothered to connect the computers up again. Part of the reason is that I am only using two computers daily one on the attic (Miona) and one in my bedroom (Harper) and I cannot string a wire between them (unless I disconnect it every time I close the trapdoor to the attic). On the attic I have been assembling some new boxes but they never were there to be used so once finished the moved out and a new box took its place. Another part is lack of time (why invest time in something that is not going to be used)
Now I have Oswal semi permanently installed so I tried to put up a network between Oswal and Miona. Without much success up to now.

The network card in Miona is an older Intel (Ether Express or something) card, ISA and with 10BaseT and 10Base2 connectors (RJ45 and coax). It worked on the old network (under OS/2) but now, with Win98 it didn't want to cooperate. I pulled it out and replaced it with a new D-Link 10/100 card and this installed without problem. So I have a network again. Just 2 boxes with Win98 connected via a 100BaseT hub (5 ports).

The biggest problem actually was finding a power outlet for the converter for the hub. Like most external toys these days the power converter is a single block that plugs directly into an outlet. I am using outlet strips, some with an on/off switch. Being bigger than a standard plug this prevents you from using the outlet(s) just beside it. I need 11 separate outlets (2 computers, 2 screens, 2 sets of speakers, 1 modem*, 1 hub*, 1 Zip drive, 1 desk spot, 1 clock-radio) I have 6 fixed outlets and two strips of 4 outlets each (each strip steals an available outlet for its own input of course. The result is that I have only one outlet free and, due to a power-brick I cannot use it. When I want to download images from my camera or when I am testing a box I have to unplug some other device first.
I know someone who would call this a Pifle.

MM-lviii     Sunday

2000-02-27

Its is freezing again this morning (-2C) but once the sun get up the temperature climbs to 15C. Another glorious spring day. Well not really spring yet, only the snowdrops and a few crocuses are in flower, but nature is testing. Buds are thickening :-) and the grass is getting longer :-(.

Dry, windless and cold weather make of course good running weather. To enjoy it I extend the course to more than 10Km ( I am not sure about the real distance because I run parts, ex along the railroad, where I cannot measure the distance by driving along). I slow down on the last part because I feel the stitch in my left foot again. It is only during a few steps but I do slow down, the last time I had that it kept me from running two weeks and I don't want to repeat that.

The beautiful weather it not to be spilled so I keep myself busy in the garden during the afternoon (yea and I get more splinters in my fingers).

While running up and down the garden, passing my car each time I notice that the front tires are worn down. O dear, only about one millimeter of the profile remains (2mm is the legal minimum). No wonder I was having problems keeping the car turning in corners. Normally I change my tires long before they reach the legal limit because I exercise them seriously, and with the speeds I keep while cornering I do really need good tires. I have an appointment for maintenance on the 7th so I'll order new tires for then.

Computers used to be fun but it won't be long anymore before all the fun is gone. Case in point the Zip drive I bought yesterday. This is an external 250MB USB drive ,with a nice translucent casing (even the USB cable is translucent). If I hadn't tried to access it before plugging it there wouldn't be anything to report. Clean, without problems, easy. So now I can report that an USB Zip drive will not work, ... , if you don't connect it.