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Posted @ 12:33 AM EST
I mostly did research on .NET (Compact) Framework and what it can provide for my senior design project to be used for
developing a program for a Pocket PC 2003 PDA. There's not much change nor difference in programming, so everything that I know
from programming and finishing Ultimate Rebate Tracker really helps speeding up developing a program for
my senior design project. Later today, I'll finish up the GUI design. Wow, this proves to be very quick. The researched that I done
was for networking (e.g. send and receive data). That was the only thing I don't know how. I've already found some sample code to
take a look at and find out what's going on with each line of code.
The only problem is that later today, finishing up the GUI is the furthest I can go with the Pocket PC 2003 program. The
networking part of the program however, will not be attached just yet, as I have yet to get the design parameters from other group
members of my senior design project team. However, I will be fooling around with the networking code to make sure that I get a head
start on sending and receiving data. Well, that's as much as my senior design project involvement is going to be for the time being,
as nothing major has been completed by my other team members. Will have to get in touch with them later on in a couple of weeks to
find out where our senior design project is going.
Well, Friday basically looks like finishing up the program's GUI, and then the weekend hits. Saturday, I will be away for a
friend's wedding. Come Sunday, a relaxing day for me to do nothing productive and take on some entertainment activities. When
Monday comes around, some productivity in the mix will happen. Most likely playing around with the network code. If I don't feel
like coding, I might do some updates with my website. Well, that's my three day outlook. Time for me to get some sleep. I'm now
trying to cut back staying up so late, as it's unnecessary now.
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Posted @ 8:00 PM EST
After one week of hiatus, I'm back. I took a one week vacation of drifting off into space. Well, sort of. More of I took the
time to do other things other than sitting on my buttocks all day and program. I managed to watch old movies (read: yesteryear's
movies), read old magazines (read: a nice collection of monthly magazines that I haven't touched since last semester's school
started), and watched three seasons of Family Guy on DVDs. That was some nice entertainment. Funny how I couldn't decide what to do
first when I wanted to take a week long break from doing anything productive. I didn't know what to do first Thursday night after
releasing a demo of Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Had to argue with my brain for many minutes on what to do.
After watching all three seasons of Family Guy and experienced the extras on the DVD, I decided to write a review for the Family
Guy DVDs that I've watched. So, here it is: Family Guy DVD Volume 1 & 2 review. So score one new
addition to my website. Wow, a new editorial out of no where for my website. About time. Long overdue for a new editorial.
Anyhow, since I wrapped up my 1 week short summer vacation break time early last night after finishing volume 2 of Family Guy,
I now have to move onto the next programming project that I have to do during this summer. That is, write a program for a Pocket PC.
This shouldn't take too long, as I only have to design the GUI for my senior design project. My group has yet to begun doing
anything productive, so I guess I'll start first with a prototype GUI program. After finishing this short programming project, I
shall return and start giving my website its long overdue series of new editorials, updates, etc...
Even after that, I plan on taking more breaks, as there are other DVD sets that I want to watch (I own DVD sets for a reason
you know), more old movies, more magazines to go through, and other things to do besides sit on my buttocks and program away
through the day. Well, time to be productive once more and start programming away for my senior design project.
Funny how earlier today preparing to write the Pocket PC program, I was going to use
eMbedded Visual
C++ 4.0, spent some time to work around an installation bug. After installing, I didn't bother to use it, and realized that I
forgot that I can just use Visual C# (.NET Compact Framework) to develop the program instead of Visual C++ style. So I immediately
uninstalled eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 and prepared myself to program later tonight. All the hype about using eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0
during the spring semester, now I turn my back on it, knowing that C# is a heck lot easier to program than C++. In your face C++.
I'm giving C# more love than C++. Hehehehehe.
I gave my website a little update. Updated My Computers section, and shuffled the
News Archive files around to make it neater. I hope I didn't break anything while shuffling the HTML files
around.
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Posted @ 8:45 PM EST
The release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker Demo is now available. Please go
here to get Ultimate Rebate Tracker Demo. The Ultimate Rebate
Tracker programming project took a very lengthy time to complete. About time it is complete. I wonder when can I ever go on my
summer break... Hmmm. I believe not any time soon. Sigh, another programming project is around the corner. So sad. No summer
vacation at all. Been programming since my summer break started on May 12, 2004.
While testing download, ran into some problems packaging in the final setup. Would've been many minutes sooner, but I had to
fix the problem.
Posted @ 8:07 PM EST
I am currently in the phase of updating my website for release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker Demo. So
come back in about 30 minutes or so, and it should be available for evaulation.
Posted @ 3:30 AM EST
I have finished transforming Ultimate Rebate Tracker into demo mode, e.g. shareware software. Sigh,
I'm tired right now to continue on. I have exhausted myself. Need some sleep right now. When I wake up sometime today, I will
package up the demo and have it on the Internet.
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Posted @ 11:57 PM EST
That was some grueling work I did. Everything in the code looks good to go. 16 objects finalized. The packaging setup and help
documentation finalization will be done right before release. Can't do those ahead of time, because right now, I'm converting
Ultimate Rebate Tracker over to demo mode. The focus for tonight will be converting over to demo mode,
packaging the demo program, and putting it on the Internet. The licensed version is already done, but not packaged just yet. It can
be packaged at a later time. Getting the Ultimate Rebate Tracker demo out tomorrow is high priority right
now. So far, it looks like I will definitely be able to get this program out on the Internet tomorrow.
I would advise to check back sometime late Thursday (tomorrow) to give me some time to get Ultimate
Rebate Tracker demo up on the Internet. Providing download is one thing, but I also have to change the layout of
Ultimate Rebate Tracker's web page as well.
Okay, that is enough from me now. I'm going back to programming and get Ultimate Rebate Tracker demo
ready for tomorrow's big release date. It's about time too. I have no time frame set for the program's release, although I bet it's
going to be late in the day my time when I get it up and ready.
Posted @ 2:51 PM EST
Here are the statistics of my finalization: 11 objects in the main program, 5 in the registration, 3 in packaging setup
process, 1 for help documentations. 5 objects finalized, 15 more things to go. It's going at a decent pace. Not too slow, not too
fast. It's not going fast because I end up creating some optimizations that I can do and make things go a bit faster. I'm also
adding in missing features if I end up running into something that should be included. These little optimizations and adding in
minor stuff goes a long way to make Ultimate Rebate Tracker look really polished. Well, that's the update
at the current moment. Back to finalization I go.
Posted @ 3:30 AM EST
I have finished my first pass on changing (and fixing) codes in Ultimate Rebate Tracker. I will do a
second (final and a very through one) pass later today to catch anything I missed when finalizing codes and documentations from the
first pass. After the finalization task, I will move on to test the program and the documentation. Packaging will come next and
then release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker. I would suspect that Ultimate Rebate Tracker
will see release on Thursday, June 17, 2004.
Only thing holding me back now is doing the second pass to verify that finalization has been applied and completed. As I just
mentioned, I want to do a thorough one. The first pass only focused on critical areas of the coding. The second pass will have me
comb through the entire 10,000+ lines of code to make sure that they're good for public release. Not that I'll actually take my
sweet time with 10,000+ lines of code, but I'll make sure that I don't start optimizing every little code that I run into when I'm
suppose to just modify the code for public release.
Well, time for me to get some sleep, then wake up to complete the finalization of Ultimate Rebate Tracker
. Hopefully, this is the last time I have to guess for a release date for Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Let
Thursday, June 17, 2004 be the release date... Hopefully. Pray.
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Posted @ 11:55 PM EST
Those were a lot of changes to the code that I made to Ultimate Rebate Tracker just for public
release. Still going at it moments ago. I now take the time to make an update for the night. My progress with finalizing the code
so far is still continuing. I haven't seen the end of it, but I'm pushing for it. I'm also testing while I finalize, so it's two
phases at one time. Many minor changes with this and that to the program and to the help documentations. The help documentations
are implemented with ease (I hope with no errors). Well, back to finalizing the codes and documentation.
Posted @ 4:54 PM EST
Depending on how fast I'm finalizing everything, Ultimate Rebate Tracker will be released sometime
this week. Right now (and have been doing), I'm doing an overview of what needs to be changed in each set of program coding. After
that, I move in and change this and that. Also in the mix of changes, I'm integrating the leftovers that were left out (e.g. help
documentations) into Ultimate Rebate Tracker program. So here are the three phases that I have to go
through in order to see Ultimate Rebate Tracker released:
Finalizing phase: making sure nothing is incomplete nor left out. Must integrate everything that was left out on purpose.
Test phase: make sure that everything is a complete package before release.
Release phase: Upload the packages to somewhere for download, set up webpages.
Like I said earlier, it depends how fast I finalize everything. Even after that, testing begins. Testing will take some time if
I run into unresolved issues. Right now, there are no issues. Everything works fine, for now. I would expect a release date at the
earliest tomorrow given that I don't run into problems. Yeah right, like no problems ever arise.
Oh well, I will update my progress as I go on, to let you guys know where I'm currently at each phase.
Posted @ 3:35 PM EST
Thinking about it when I went to sleep, I decided to not use the solution and not to modify the functions, as that will add too
much headache. So that saved me some time. I am now moving to the next task and finalize the code, split up the code between
licensed and demo. This will take some time for preparation. Changing a few variables in the code isn't all that it takes for demo
code. I got to do more than that. Well, I'll update on my progress and the expected release date. While you take the time to wait
for Ultimate Rebate Tracker, download
.NET Framework 1.1 ahead of time (or you can get it from
Windows Update). That should keep you a bit busy until I finish the preparation to release Ultimate Rebate
Tracker.
Posted @ 12:28 AM EST
It turns out that I ran into a potential solution that I can employ to solve the problem I encountered yesterday night while
programming Ultimate Rebate Tracker, as posted in my 2:24 AM post yesterday. I'll give the potential
solution a try to see if it works. If it works, I'll go ahead and modify some functions. Most likely, it'll work, so it'll add a
few grueling hours to programming and add some delaying time to releasing the demo. Instead of starting to change the program into
demo mode, I in turn went back and added some changes to the program and updated the documentations. Just swapping tasks, that's
all. I'm bound to do it, just working out of order, which I usually do anyways. Anyhow, I'm going to get some early sleep, then
program in the morning, instead of always doing so after noon time. Not that I get more programming time, it'll just help my eyes
not to get murdered by the darkness that surrounds me while I program at night. Well, time to go to bed and get up to program later
in the morning.
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Posted @ 5:10 PM EST
Well, I am now in the demo coding phase. So release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker is soon. Quite possibly
tomorrow if I get everything finished by tonight.
Posted @ 2:24 AM EST
I've decided to scrap partial of the idea within the licensing scheme that had me modifying some functions. It didn't work out
as I wanted to, which was spitting out errors. After I fixed the errors, the result that I wanted from it didn't work out correctly.
So I will just focus on finishing up the licensing scheme and then move onto making the program go public as soon as possible. The
turn of events just made me able to release Ultimate Rebate Tracker at a quicker pace. Well, I'm going to
bed now. Will think about how I'm going to manage the information with the licensing stuff and then code it when I wake up. I'll
also have to think what code needs to change to turn it into a demo (not too challenging).
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Posted @ 11:00 PM EST
Well, here's the update for the night. Doing the update early and then spend the time afterwards working on programming
Ultimate Rebate Tracker. I am still working with the licensing scheme. Because of the licensing scheme, I
will have to modify some functions. This shouldn't take long, as I already have a basis example done somewhere else in the program
that I can reference back and forth if I run into trouble. Although before copying and pasting bits and pieces, I'll have to see if
I can optimize it somehow and cut back some coding. This will add more time for completion, but if it cuts down unnecessary codes,
then so be it.
After all that mess, I can then recode the Ultimate Rebate Tracker to be in demo mode and release it
to the public for download. Many more days until Ultimate Rebate Tracker will be released. I expect to be
done with modifying functions by tomorrow and demo coding right afterwards. Well, time to get busy and code some more.
Posted @ 5:52 PM EST
I integrated the licensing check into Ultimate Rebate Tracker with success. Now to tweak it to work as
perfectly as possible with little problems. After this, I'm getting closer to releasing Ultimate Rebate
Tracker. I was pondering, if I should release the Ultimate Rebate Tracker demo first, and then continue
refining the licensed Ultimate Rebate Tracker and then release it to those who decides to register. But I
thought to myself, I'll just drop that option and just finish everything at once so that they're in sync. Technically, everything
depends on each other, and I don't want to release one chunk now, one chunk later.
So that leaves me to try and finish the licensing scheme by tonight, wrap up the documentations, setup packaging and then
finally release Ultimate Rebate Tracker to the public for download. It'll be sometime this week, cannot
give exact date, because this licensing scheme needs to be tweaked to work according to my specifications. A lot of coding tonight
and probably into tomorrow until I finish up this licensing scheme.
Well, that's the updates for Ultimate Rebate Tracker development plan for today. Will update once again
later tonight with my programming progress.
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Posted @ 11:54 PM EST
Wow, today was a heavy dose of personal activities. Today even felt like a Sunday, but only a Saturday. I didn't get to work on
Ultimate Rebate Tracker much at all. I just worked on a bit where I left off last night to integrate the
licensing scheme for Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Will be able to finish it off tomorrow (Sunday) and continue
on my way to finish up Ultimate Rebate Tracker and have it released soon enough. Well, that's pretty much
it for today, as other part of my life demanded more attention than my development side.
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Posted @ 10:30 PM EST
About freaking time I got done with the other half. In fact, I had to scrap my original idea and take another route that I know
that worked for sure. Was getting annoyed why the original idea couldn't work, so I just took up the other route and got it finished
moments ago. Now to clean up the code to make it look all pretty. Now I can move on after I clean up the code.
- Testing of installation and licensing.
- Finalize documentation.
- Finalize program structure.
- Finalize setup package.
- Release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker.
That is all I have left. About to begin #1 after the code clean up. I can definitely see Ultimate Rebate
Tracker be released sometime next week, which would be about mid-June.
Posted @ 3:42 PM EST
Half of the registration development coding has been done. Now to do the other half. After I get done with the other half, it's
going to be all down hill from there on. The second half should be done by this evening, since it took me about a couple of hours
to implement the first half. Funny how I couldn't understand anything last night, but this afternoon after a very lengthy good
amount of sleep, I was about to crunch out the code and understand it.
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Posted @ 10:09 PM EST
Well, so much for hope. I was distracted the entire afternoon into the evening. I was about to take my finished part and take
it to the next level to complete it, but never got a chance. But tomorrow I will definitely have time all to myself as the guests
go off visiting places. Right now, I'm quite full from the eat out with the guests, trying to understand the hard part of
developing the code is slowly being absorbed into my brain right now. I've got about two hours until I go to bed. Going to get some
good sleep tonight, since this morning, I woke up quite early and lost half of my normal sleeping hours.
Posted @ 1:23 PM EST
At this point in time, I have finished coding in the part to collect licensing information for
Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Now to merge the collected information into Ultimate Rebate Tracker and to
test to see how good it works. I expect to be finished by tonight, given that guests who arrived this morning serves no distraction
to my Ultimate Rebate Tracker development. Will update as progress goes on. Time to get some lunch.
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Posted @ 7:31 PM EST
Due to two power outages one right after another when power was restored, I lost some development time. Now to play some catch
up.
Posted @ 4:55 PM EST
I have updated the pictures. These new updated pictures of Ultimate Rebate Tracker were taken
from my help documentations for Ultimate Rebate Tracker, as these should be the final version pictures
showing what Ultimate Rebate Tracker currently looks like. Don't drool too much now.
Posted @ 4:30 PM EST
In a short while later, I will post up new pictures of Ultimate Rebate Tracker, as the old pictures
are a bit different from what it currently looks like. Not too much, but I've added a few differences into
Ultimate Rebate Tracker.
Posted @ 4:00 PM EST
Big oops. Striking out the old news post below made at 4:32 AM, what appears to be a goof on my end. Below was written at 4:32
in the morning, and sleep was afterwards, so you'll just have to excuse me for my mistake. Hehehehe. Anyhow, it's suppose to be that
Ultimate Rebate Tracker has been done already and not for collecting registration data only. That was the goof in the post
below. The post below was suppose to be about the licensing program for Ultimate Rebate Tracker. So here's the correction:
This is what I have left for Ultimate Rebate Tracker: I need to create a program that collects
registration data for the licensing Ultimate Rebate Tracker usage. The program is almost complete. This program will have two
tasks: 1. To detect if .NET Framework 1.1 needed to be installed. 2. Collect registration data that will be used to create the
licensing. I shall be done with the program later today. I have already got an idea how I'm devising my license scheme. The
registration program is the start of it. Well, my current tasks are the following:
- Development of licensing scheme.
- Implementation of licensing scheme.
- Testing of licensing scheme.
- Testing of installation and licensing.
- Finalize documentation.
- Finalize program structure.
- Finalize setup package.
- Release of Ultimate Rebate Tracker.
I am currently on 1 and 2. Sigh. I need to get this thing done as soon as possible without any compromises to the quality of
Ultimate Rebate Tracker's development. Well, time for me to get some sleep.
Posted @ 4:32 AM EST
So, what have I completed so far to Ultimate Rebate Tracker? A program that collects registration data
for the licensing. The program is almost complete. This program will have two tasks: 1. To detect if .NET Framework 1.1 needed to
be installed. 2. Collect registration data that will be used to create the licensing. I shall be done with the program later today.
I have already got an idea how I'm devising my license scheme. The registration program is the start of it. Well, my current tasks
are the following for Ultimate Rebate Tracker:
- Development of licensing scheme.
- Implementation of licensing scheme.
- Testing of licensing scheme.
- Testing of installation and licensing.
- Finalize documentation.
- Finalize program structure.
- Finalize setup package.
- Release.
I am currently on 1 and 2. Sigh. I need to get this thing done as soon as possible without any compromises to the quality of
Ultimate Rebate Tracker's development. Well, time for me to get some sleep.
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Posted @ 7:07 PM EST
I just got finished with the license agreement and readme files. Now to incorporate them into the setup packaging. After that,
I'll be moving onto developing the licensing scheme.
Posted @ 2:50 AM EST
Well, that was quick. Learned everything I needed to know about Windows Installer has to offer. Now to put it to use. As of
right now, with the setup package, installing everything, including help files and the program comes to about 3.24 MB, or 2.99 MB
compressed. It's going to grow a little bit larger, as not everything has been added. Right now, here is the current development
roadmap for Ultimate Rebate Tracker:
- Write license agreement file.
- Write readme file.
- Implement them both into setup package.
- Development of licensing scheme.
- Implementation of licensing scheme.
- Testing of licensing scheme.
- Testing of installation and licensing.
- Finalize documentation.
- Finalize program structure.
- Finalize setup package.
- Release.
So that's the roadmap to Ultimate Rebate Tracker's release. It's a decent road to finish line that's for
sure. 1 through 3 are piece of cake. Would be done by later today. It's 4 through 7 that's going to be a killer, an uphill battle.
8 through 10 will be like a downhill ride from there on. So here's my estimation for completion:
1 through 3: 1 day.
4 through 7: 4-5 days.
8 through 11: 3 days.
So I'm looking at least another long week of development with Ultimate Rebate Tracker until I'm
completely finished, with speculation that is. 4 through 7 might take longer than I estimate. It only takes longer if the methods
that I implement don't work out as I want it to. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board until I get it right. Like I
said earlier, if 4 through 7 isn't working, Ultimate Rebate Tracker won't be released until it is.
Well, I've done all that I want to do for the night. So I'm going to get me some sleep and prepare for more battles with the
development of Ultimate Rebate Tracker later today.
Posted @ 1:31 AM EST
I managed to know what I was suppose to be doing with the Windows Installer without any reading earlier in the evening. Got
everything to install and uninstall. The installer adds Ultimate Rebate Tracker to the Add or Remove
Programs list as well. So the setup file is technically complete. Right now, I'm playing around with the options that it has to
offer. I'm trying to make full use of all options that are critical. I've hit most of them. Just trying to see what's left to
offer. So now I'm reading up on how to use Windows Installer to its fullest.
After I finished the Windows Installer package on my program earlier this evening, I treated myself to Xbox Halo online with
XB Connect with my friend. We played 2 on 2, and with the first group, we
toyed around with them once we were leading. Heck, my friend and I would kill the opposing team and even ourselves. Oh what fun. We
won in the end. Second group however, handed our carcasses to ourselves. They were good. We sucked against them. Now only if my
friend and I be playing this game like everyday, we'd be better than our current status, but too bad this only happens every week
or so.
Well, I'm going to go read up and use the Windows Installer to its maximum. If I max out the options, sweet, less time spending
with the setup process.
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Posted @ 5:38 PM EST
I can now move onto working with the Windows Installer. Woo hoo! About time. Documentations is about 95% complete. The 5% left
is to be incorporated near release date.
Posted @ 2:08 PM EST
Managed to fix all the problems or issues that arise from my documentation findings. I went back and recoded the context menus.
The new method way works a heck lot cleaner with less code. Now back to finishing up the documentations.
Posted @ 1:10 AM EST
So, currently where am I with the development of Ultimate Rebate Tracker? The good news is that I'm
about 3/4 of the way done with the help documentation. The other quarter of not being complete is due to my findings while doing
the documentation for Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Findings meaning missing stuff or things that need to be
improved before writing up the documentation.
I'm glad that while I'm doing the documentation for Ultimate Rebate Tracker that I found a few bugs,
mistakes, missing functions, and layouts needing some tweaks. I've eliminated the bugs and mistakes I've found. Layout that needs
tweaking have been tweaked. The only thing that I need to do now is add in the extra stuff that I found lacking or update current
functions with updated code that does it better (e.g. context menus).
So later today, I estimate that I'll be done with the needed update to Ultimate Rebate Tracker coding
and the documentation by nightfall today. Depending if I don't find anymore bugs, problems, or features that need to exist, I will
then move onto creating an installer package for Ultimate Rebate Tracker. Hopefully all three tasks can be
completed in one day. I really need it done quickly as possible without any mistakes made. Ultimate Rebate
Tracker development is sure taking a long time to finish.
Just appreciate the fact that I'm ensuring that the initial release doesn't contain bugs or missing stuff and that it works
properly, contains appropriate documentation (hehehehe) and that it is as professionally created as possible. I'm trying to reach
the point where there are no bugs at all. But this is going to be a hard one. Can never know what bugs exist until everything is
tested for. And that's what happens when I write the documentations for Ultimate Rebate Tracker: I end up
testing a lot of things and find broken stuff. I try to test all and not to miss anything, but I have doubts that something might
have slipped through the tests.
Well, time to go at it for another hour or so until I get sleepy and head to bed and wake up and go at it again hardcore. Got to
get this done as soon as possible without any compromises. Since I truly don't know what is the release date now, I'm going to
remove it from Ultimate Rebate Tracker page. I can't lock onto a solid release date if I'm fixing and
adding last minute stuff. Weird that I'm doing all the steps partially before releasing the product and cannot stay on a fixed path.
Just got to attack at all angles I guess.
Once I get to the point that I'm really for sure that I can release Ultimate Rebate Tracker, I will
post up the date. Sorry for the delay guys and gals. It's for the best of Ultimate Rebate Tracker to be
the best (and the lengthy development cycle). I've pinned up a June release as a general hopeful release. No specific date, but I
truly hope that it doesn't take me long to finish it. Mid-June sounds about right for the program to be ultimately finished.
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Posted @ 1:39 AM EST
Due to foreseen and specially the unforeseen circumstances (not related to Ultimate Rebate Tracker
development whatsoever, just life stuff), I have to push back the release date for Ultimate Rebate Tracker.
Yesterday (Saturday) was not one of those days where I can get a lot of development time. I'm still trying to barely get half way
through the documentations. Not even there yet. That's so sad. I'm hoping that I can get the entire package complete some time
during June 6th week. If so, I have to get it done before the Thursday hits, because I'm expecting visitors. So, it's not looking
good if I want to use my time fully. So for this reason, I'm going to try and get as much documentation I can through tonight.
Well, back to work I go.
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Posted @ 3:29 AM EST
Sadly, I can't go on much longer. So I'll have to go to sleep. So far, I got the layout of the help file down. Of course,
I'm doing it in HTML. It's easier to navigate with HTML than writing the help files program compatible. The table of contents, the
topics covered are all listed and thought of. I tackled the first chapter, which is the introduction: about and requirements.
what's left are 5 more chapters to go through. Oh what fun I'll be having later today when I wake up. Sigh. Time for me to get
some sleep. Will be back at it again later today. Goodnight.
Posted @ 12:30 AM EST
I only wonder, can I really have Ultimate Rebate Tracker out the door even tomorrow (Sunday)? Let me
put down a list of what I need to actually do at this point:
- Write the documentations (e.g. help files). This won't be a big deal. Some screen captures and HTML coding manual is a piece
of cake for me. Could be time consuming if I see it needs to be in great details.
- Write the installer packaging. A new area for me. Must read up on how to write one and use one. I think this can be easy, as
long as I don't screw something up.
- Licensing generation. Since this program is shareware. Duh. I have to come up with a way to put a licensing into this program.
I can either make it easy or difficult, which relates to how much time is spent. I already have some ideas brewed up, so
implementing would be the only step here. If it works, great. If the licensing craps, back to the drawing board with a different
licensing scheme. If this part does not finish with my satisfaction, it isn't getting released until it gets finished and works
fairly well I might add.
- Packaging for release and setup of release. This is going to take some time to change a lot of things around so that
Ultimate Rebate Tracker can be downloaded or registered.
- Testing. Ohhh, this is an important one. I don't want to release a program that has a bug (or numbers of them) when I could just
put some little time testing before releasing.
- Any last minute decisions before releasing it... Hmmm. This would only take a few minutes to think up, but can take longer if
I actually feel like doing anything about it.
So, I believe that's the entire list to do from this point on. You think I'm able to do this in 1 day and release it on Sunday?
If so, dang, I'm not that gifted at programming. :) It may look like a short list with 6 things to do. But that translate into
many hours of work that can add up to a few days if I run into problems (which I generally do). Looks like at this point, a delay
is inevitable. The question now is, how long would the delay be? It's basically going to be however long it takes me to finish those
6 tasks listed above.
Time to get a head start now and code into the night. All coding, no sleep, forget sleep right? Hehehehe. I don't think that's
going to happen. I enjoy sleeping. Well, off to writing documentations I go.
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Posted @ 11:58 PM EST
Yes! It's about time I'm completely done coding Ultimate Rebate Tracker. I've managed to finish adding
in the context menu for each area (current, late, etc...). Took me a while to completely code in the opening files and deletion of
files selected. Funny how I have to go back, wanting to change just one little thing in an existing function, but then realizing
that one little change broke everything. I had to keep patching up the broken links and holes that I created. Boy did that took
forever to make an existing function work in a new way.
In fact, this is what mostly happens. I usually go back to an existing function and give it an upgrade, making it do more than
what it originally was called for. And of course, I usually break the function most of the time because I didn't realize that I had
to change more stuff to not create errors.
Well, time to move onto documentations and create an installer. Question is, do I need an extra day to complete? Argh. I
hate it when I have to spend most of my time to fix stuff that I broke. And I want this program out the door on Saturday. But I
don't think that this would happen because writing more code for the installer and some testing needs to be done before releasing.
We'll see how far I can get tonight and tomorrow. Knowing that when weekends come, my programming hours dwindle. I doubt I can get
enough time out of Saturday.
Well, back to creating documentation and see if I can get my hands on coding the installer.
Posted @ 12:50 AM EST
The never ending of programming Ultimate Rebate Tracker. I am now at the statistics part. I skipped
creating the context menu right now, as I'm researching how to do the quick way. I had to do some minor clean up with my code and
check to make sure that invalid input/output preventions are in place or else it can crash the program. Spot a few areas that could
use some protection from bad input. Put them in place.
Statistics area is going to be an interesting area. Too many things can be generated from the program. Well, back to work I go
on the statistics part. Lot's of text and numbers to enjoy when the program spits out the statistics. Oh the joy of statistic data!
Not that I enjoy looking at them, but I'm pretty sure there are others who just love statistics.
One note about how small my program can be compressed: under 66 KB! Wow. I wonder how much the Windows Installer can compress
down to. Right now, the program uncompressed is about 492 KB. It may be smaller or bigger once I finish up everything. Remember that
this is just the program only. I have to add documentation and the setup process to it. So we'll see where the file size stays at.
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Posted @ 3:54 PM EST
One thing I realized by now is that I'm never going to be thoroughly done with adding in the minor details to my
Ultimate Rebate Tracker program. The status bar needs to be filled up with information. That's one thing.
Statistics is still not generated because I added in more features that I would like the program to have because I was annoyed by
the lack of something that need to be there in the first place.
Took me some time to come up with a clever idea of how to save the program's window size, avoiding the common minimize and
maximize problem. This can be enabled or disabled. I also added the rebates count in each section. Can't believe I didn't have that
in somewhere to begin with. Now it's in the program. I stuck the rebates count in each tab's heading. It can be enabled or disabled.
I've also added the option that when you search for rebate files, if you want to have it opened up, then sure, it'll open up
automatically once you double click on the search's results. Of course, this can be disabled or enabled.
So, this is what I have for today: Make the status bar display useful things. After that, come up with a context menu for each
listing area for mass opening or deletion. Can't have users do each command one by one right after another, requiring the rebate
form being displayed. Once that's finished, I can then move onto statistics.
I don't think there are any more minor features that I can add at this point. So I'm done. I've been adding minor features
non-stop since a few days ago to make the program feel fully equipped. And this leads me to delay to getting to the bigger things
that I need to do to the program (*cough* statistics, documentation, installation packaging *cough*). But I'm pretty sure the
options and features would be appreciated for being there. I know I am, because seeing lack of just annoys the heck out of me.
Well, back to some more programming. But first, got to get me some lunch. I'm starving. Hehehehe.
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Posted @ 11:40 PM EST
All but one thing has yet to be implemented at this current time of posting up the news. That is the statistics. I have yet to
put a lay out for the statistics. It'll be done a little bit later tonight after my Xbox Halo beating for the night. Gotta take a
break from all the programming lately. Got to take out some of the stress online.
Posted @ 12:57 AM EST
I actually took the time to do other things around the house today. Did some reading and clean ups. Boy, that's a lot of work
for the clean up part. Sadly, it's not finished, as there's more boxes to cut down and recycle, things to throw out, etc. Every day
life tasks never end. I will begin to work on Ultimate Rebate Tracker again later today and finish up the
minor features and then move on to the next. Well, time to get some rest.
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Posted @ 5:23 PM EST
Ultimate Rebate Tracker program coding is going nicely right now. Added in a bunch of validation checks
to prevent invalid inputs. I have also implemented the rebate's status update manually along to having it done automatically at
start up of the program. I've got at least five more things in my mind to implement before I move on to the next stage: writing the
documentation for the program. I doubt that I'd be finished by tonight. Most likely by tomorrow night.
Posted @ 4:00 AM EST
The entire Ultimate Rebate Tracker program at this stage in time works perfectly. No problems have
cropped up. Rebates can be moved back and forth from one place to another. Stable at this point. Here are the current program
polishing that I'm heading up right now:
- Calendar viewer: bring up to view calendar. Beats using Window's clock/date as one (or at least that's what I use).
- Rebate listing viewer: instead of reusing the rebate form, I'm going to create a separate windows form for displaying rebate
listing values.
- Rebate status checking (e.g. late). I need to add a process that does it automatically and manually.
- Refining automation options. Adding more options to have filled in the rebate forms. Wouldn't really know why having more than
what I have implemented already, but I bet someone would find it useful.
- Refining statistics collection. For those who just love to stare at numbers.
Those listed above are currently on my development list. Today's progress went by nicely. I was able to finish up having the program
done to the point where I can test adding rebates, moving them around, saving them, manipulating them, etc. I was happy. In
addition to getting it working perfectly, I went ahead and added a couple things to the program that I didn't at first want in.
First of all, the progress window. I would rather skipped this and let the program do it faster rather than count while doing its
task, as it wastes some CPU clock cycles. But who knows, maybe someone out there with a slow computer wouldn't see how I see it.
When I completed the progress window, that thing loaded up for a split second and it was gone instantly. Yes, my computer is fast.
Hehehe. I find it useless right now, but we'll see if I should remove it later on. Another was manually re-adjusting the column
headers option. When loading rebates at the start, it'll re-adjust the column headers' width automatically to either fit the
contents or the header title. But later on, if a lot of things get added or removed, one would like to resize the column headers.
Well, just by pressing Ctrl+H away would re-adjust all the columns for best fit. I love the feature. And not to forget, yeah, the
usual code optimizations here and there, and some program polishing. :)
Well, that's the update for the night. Time to get some sleep and get back at it and finish off a whole boat load of
implementations that I want to add (and finish off completely) to the program.
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