Marianna

How can I capture Google Earth as a video file while it focuses in to a requested point of interest?

Have you done that? Any good advice regarding must-do, don't-do, watch out, don't bother?

Thanks

Subject: Multi-conductor cable for outdoor use. I am told that if the wires are stranded then the cable is more susceptible to lightening strikes then if the wires were solid. Is that true? can you please explain why?

I am looking for a laboratory in North America / Canada which can make material degradation tests on Polycarbonate (Lexan).

The MPS430 was once praised to be THE micro controller for ultra low power applications.

Are there now other MCUs on the market, with similar specification (especially low voltage and low power)?

Lets say, I use several ICs of type ISD2500, and they all play the same song. How can I make sure they all play exactly at the same speed? Can this be controlled through pin "XCLK", and how?

Or are there sound chips that can specifically be synchronised?

I want to create a folder, and .xls files in it, but not only once, but repeatedly (updates), without having to delete that folder (and its content), just overwrite it. This is how I do that:

On Error Resume Next

MkDir path & "\Annual by Name"

On Error GoTo 0

'

<more code>

'

For x = 1 to <whatever>

ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("INS Annual Template").Copy

Application.DisplayAlerts = False

ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs path & "\Annual by Name\" & DiffNames(x) & ".xls"

ActiveWorkbook.Close

Application.DisplayAlerts = True

'

Next x

For previous applications, where there were less than 20 files in that folder, this works perfectly.

Now I have 30-80 files, and every time x > twentysomething, I am getting "Excel has to close, do you want to tell Microsoft...." (as if that helps, ha-ha).

There is no compiler error, or subscript out of range.

What's going on? Do I need to set anything to Nothing or Nil, or alike?

In itself, this would be easy, BUT .....

1) I don't know in which folder the User keeps that workbook, and

2) The workbook name is only partly known, the rest is wild-card.

That's why - in my code - I ask the user to open one of the workbooks, so that I can determine the path name.

But I need to check whether he/she really did. In plain English, I try to test:

If Workbook "<unknown path-name>\Payroll for <wild-card>.xls" is open, then determine its path....else complain....

I know that wild-card should be " * ", but "\Payroll*.xls" doesn't seem to work.

Any advice?

If I operate a controller device near a flammable or explosive material storage tank, then surely, that control box must have a safety rating which is supposed to ensure no sparks or anything like that can occur.

What is that rating called ( I mean, like IP rating for dust and water),

and do you know a link where I can read about it? Thanks.

Sheet1 has a button, and when I click on it then it should run the Private Sub Create_Route_Click()

When I run the form from within VB, it works perfectly.

But when I click the button, then it starts to run, but gives me an error when it tries to copy Sheet1. Why?

Extract from VB code:

Private Sub Create_Route_Click()

Dim XL As Excel.Application

Set XL = Excel.Application

Dim WB As Excel.Workbook

'Dim <all other variables>...

'

Sheets("Sheet1").Select

Sheets("Sheet1").Copy Before:=Sheets(2) ' error occurs here

' tons of more code follows, which works perfectly....

End Sub

So I place the Excel application OLE icon on my Delphi Form1, and go like this:

uses

{all the others and}, OleServer, Excel97;

.

procedure Form1.write_to_excel;

begin

ExcelApplication1.Visible [0]:= TRUE;

ExcelApplication1.Workbooks.Add (Null, 0);

RangeE:= ExcelApplication1.Range['A1', 'A1'];

RangeE.Value:= 'blah-blah';

.

{many more entries and formatting of cells....}

end;

This works well, BUT - after I repeat several times opening such Excel application, and closing it again (using Excel Close icon), Excel starts to hang at some point: It opens the toolbar, but not the sheet, and the computer hangs.

Workaround: Close Excel, close my Delphi application, open manually a blank Excel application, close it again. After that, all works again.... for a while.

What am I missing? Do I need to "destroy/exit/close" Excel in my Delphi code separately? If yes, how?

Looking at ascii tables on The Web, Delete = 127 and Full-stop = 46. But when I capture the Word on my keyboard, then I get Delete = 46, and Full-stop = 190

What am I missing here? How can I be sure my Applet works on every keyboard? ( Using Delphi Pascal: TForm1.KeyDown(Sender: TObject; var Key: Word;).

Under what conditions is the use of a varistor preferred over a zener diode when it comes to over-voltage protection?

This is what I ultimately want to have: Incoming call - caller identification (number only) - compare this with a list of numbers I (manually) had entered. If the calling number matches one on the list, then change the ring tone, or give me a logic output I can do something (audible) with.

The idea is, that I do not have to run to the phone, find my glasses, look at the caller ID display, compare it with my list, only to find out that it is that resort company yet again.....(for example).

PC based solutions have the disadvantage that the PC must be powered up.

Does that exist, or what can you suggest?

I have sufficient electronics knowledge to build one, but why re-invent the wheel if the concept already exists - actually, I'm too lazy.... ;-)

This is what I ultimately want to have: Incoming call - caller identification (number only) - compare this with a list of numbers I (manually) had entered. If the calling number matches one on the list, then change the ring tone, or give me a logic output I can do something (audible) with.

The idea is, that I do not have to run to the phone, find my glasses, look at the caller ID display, compare it with my list, only to find out that it is that resort company yet again.....(for example).

PC based solutions have the disadvantage that the PC must be powered up.

Does that exist, or what can you suggest?

I have sufficient electronics knowledge to build one, but why re-invent the wheel if the concept already exists - actually, I'm too lazy.... ;-)

Although the tractor seems to run and work as usual, there is a noise in or around one rear tire as if there are metal parts tumbling around ?inside? the wheel.

Imagine a handful of bolts in a round plastic container, rolling on the floor.

What on earth could that be?

I mean the one that has a flexble, and axial movable wire inside a spring-wound wire.

Used as (mechanical) remote camera trigger, or in hand brakes on bicycles, or for (vehicle) choke activation, and so on....

Forget computer games, Wii, Xbox and all that....

From your point of view, is there a "classic" or educational toy (with some electronic inside) missing on the market?

Forget computer games, Wii, Xbox and all that....

From your point of view, is there a "classic" toy (with some electronic inside) missing on the market?

I have a Bosch WFF2000 washer, meant for 240V 50Hz, but I run it at 220V 60Hz. That works fine, but the discharge pump always rattles for a few seconds (no, there is no coin or something in it), and then it eventually "gets the message" and works properly....for about 2-3 years, when it dies. I can't seem to find a 220/240V 60Hz discharge pump for this model, and before I have again a 50Hz pump shipped from Europe (for the next 2-3years of rattling away) I wonder whether there is something "better" I can do....?