deploying Flash Player on OS X using Apple Remote Desktop

So, all computer suites now have outdated flash players. To deploy I found it VERY difficult to find the official solution. Adobe tend to want each computer to be installed by a user:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/enterprise_deployment.html


But of course students log in and do not have permission to install! Luckily someone found a quick solution here. Turns out the flash installer (.app!!!) comes with a pkg file. Solved. (haven't tried it yet!!)

Just tried it on OS X 10.6 and worked perfectly!!

Don't know why this isn't documented very much.

Basically:

1. download flash player
2. right click on the install flash player.app file and select "Show package contents"
3. go to Contents > Resources > Adobe Flash Player.pkg
4. copy this and use Apple Remote Desktop to deploy!

Cheers


The latest news is that you're best off applying for the latest distribution, which involves filling out a small form, confirming your email address, and then waiting for approval. Takes about 1 hour. Here's a link:

http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/players/flash-player-distribution.html

They then send you a link to the installer (pkg file) Yay!

Joomla 3 and MAMP

So, just trying to start a new site in Joomla 3. On the first page one of the items says this:

Magic Quotes GPC Off

No

It basically won't install unless Magic Quotes GPC is turned off.

Found the answer here by humvee

All other answers were pointing towards fooling Joomla into thinking that either it didn't need GPC turned off, or that it needs the feature turned on. The correct way would of course to have the system setup to how joomla would need it (hence the verification stage here).

Basically, found php.ini in two folders:
Applications/MAMP/bin/php/:
php5.2.17
php5.3.6
/config/php.ini

in 5.3.6 I only found the following lines:

; Magic quotes
;
; Use Sybase-style magic quotes (escape ' with '' instead of \').
magic_quotes_sybase = Off

in 5.2.17 I found these more promising lines:

; Magic quotes
;
; Magic quotes for incoming GET/POST/Cookie data.
magic_quotes_gpc = On
; Magic quotes for runtime-generated data, e.g. data from SQL, from exec(), etc.
magic_quotes_runtime = Off  
; Use Sybase-style magic quotes (escape ' with '' instead of \').
magic_quotes_sybase = Off 

I edited the line in 5.2.17 to no avail. I also looked in MAMP which said it was using php 5.3.6 anyway.

I looked on MAMP's website and found that the latest version of MAMP comes with version 5.4.4. I also read that PHP 5.4.4 has depricated Magic Quotes! as of 5.3.

So, the easier solution would be simply to upgrade MAMP.

After doing so I found that I had to put my MYSQL password in for MAMP to be able to use mysql. In these files (found in a previous blog):

1. Go to MAMP/bin/mamp/index.php and change the password bit
2. Got to MAMP/bin/MyPHPAdmin/config.inc.php and change the password bit in here too

Done!!!
Joomla 3 worked after this.

Joomla drop down menus

So I want to create drop down menus. Not having done this on a basic website it's worth looking at "Son of Suckerfish". Here's a nice article they've written for htmldog.com.

So, the best way is to do it with the template, but another way might be to use extensions. Ive found this one called "Matic Menu" which looks very nice.

Art tool light looks quite easy to implement. Only trouble is that it applies to alltemplates. I'd rather have it only switch on for the template it was meant for.

Joomla Template selector

So I would like an extension which will allow users to select which template they would like. Eventually I would like an extension which would allow users to create and upload templates which users could then select.

First off I am trying Template Selector.

Well, it works exactly like it says on the box. Only had a little trouble working it, but it's my fault.

1. download
2. install
3. go to Extensions > Plugin Manager
1. switch it on
4. go to Extensions > Module Manager
1. switch it on
2. activate for all pages
3. select which templates to select

Done

Only issue is that you need to make sure the position the module is in is present in all the templates it will be switched between.

To take it back to the default template simply delete the cookies in the web browser.

Joomla ecommerce extentions

So I now need to start thinking about eCommerce and what is the easiest way of eCommerce with Joomla. Having a quick look I found JoomShopping which looked very easy indeed. I shall write notes down here to help remember things.

A quick look gives great first impressions. It's taken about 10 mins to:

• install
• setup category
• setup item
• create menu item which shows the categories
• tested buying
• paypal appears to be an option but needs looking into

Converting PDF pages into pictures (OS X Mac)

So one thing I wanted to do recently was to have all the pages of a 20 page pdf file as individual picture files. But how to do this?

Well, I found information on this forum. Half way down gr8tfly says to:

1. load up the pdf file (i loaded in Preview)
2. File > Print
3. Click on PDF at the bottom left of the print dialogue box

1. 
   
4. Select "Save PDF to iPhoto"
5. Click "Print"
6. Open up iPhoto
7. Eventually it'll load the pages in as pictures. You can drag these out of iPhoto and do whatever you want with them.

In theory, Save PDF to ......... should work, but for some reason it wouldn't ask me which folder to save it all in. Easier to work out with iPhoto.

HP Designjet 130 IP Address

One of the most annoying things I have to deal with is printers' IP addresses. This is especially difficult if the printer doesn't have a screen. Take the HP Designjet 130. It actually has a screen, but cannot represent digits. Not only this, but on top of this, it only has 3 buttons, none of which mention "setup". So, when the computer cannot send jobs to the printer how do you find out what is wrong? Well:

1. load up a browser window and browse to the last known IP address of the printer...
1. no response.
2. ping the IP address which you think it has......
1. no response.
3. hold in the power button (while it's switched on) and press the paper feed button 4 times!!!!!!!
1. it should print some (not sure how many) pages of information. 1st one has IP address.

I do remember wanting to write this down about 7 months ago but I can't find it anywhere. Anyway, here it is.

P.S. 

HP, could you please make the instruction number 3 in the list above more self-explanatory. i.e. have a button or just hold in the power button for setup printouts. 4 button presses is over the top.