Working with Excel from Ruby is a pain, but it certainly can be done. The hangup is that to write a generic script to work with Excel, would be quite difficult. A custom script would work excellent, but a custom script is a lot of work and time for both parties.

I'm assuming working with Numbers would be the same pain, if not more, because Apple Script might have to be involved as well.

The issues with both are you, the user, telling Ruby, where the fields are in the spreadsheet. A user interface could be made to to make the mapping easy, but that's a whole project in and of itself. And, the code would have to be cross platform to be done right, which means dual pathing.

So, a text file would be easiest. A database would be second easiest, but a heck of a lot more work.

That's the kind of Wine shop I would want to shop in! Good job!

Todd

Materials don't have layers. Faces and edges have layers and materials.

Todd

For quick and easy testing, you can dump all the needed libraries into /Plugins. Make a backup of /Plugins first, so putting it back to original status is a no brainer.

It's possible.

Well, this is the 4th in a long list of no-access messages gotten through GG.

#1: It thought I was a hacker, so I had to manually enter an alphanum code from an image each time I used my bookmark to go to the forum.

#2: Group archive unavailable. Try again later.

#3: Server not available.

And now, drum roll please..

#4: click on a post to from the Discussion list in order to reply to it, and I get this message:

Todd

What's amazing to me are two things. First, the lack of communications from Google on this whole thing, not letting us know when outtages are going to occur, when features will be implemented, etc. And then yesterday (haven't checked yet today), but most of the SU related GGroups were unavailable, and several times I got a window that said the server wasn't available. Hello!!

Perhaps we can chalk this up to big company bureaucracy and/or complacency as Alan suggests.

Either way, I don't get it.

Todd

I watched it. I didn't get it. What language are they speaking?

Todd

@juanv.soler said:

out of date this clip, then

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iEAGmBRC1dc

That's funny!

I hear ya Mike. I've had my MacPro since December 2006, and I LOVE IT! Like you say - not one glitch.

I like Mac's so much, I bought a Macbook (2.1ghz, 2GB Duo - "white") in June. I got Airport Express too. Awesome.

Now, I have 2 macs and 2 windows machine (well, 3... well, er, 4 but they are usually turned off and are older machines)

Todd

I'm in the process of letting one go myself. walkinfurniture dot com. After I finished a cherry Study project back in 2002, and I considered it to be "walk in furniture", I reserved the domain. But, alas, I'm no longer in that line of work.

Todd

Bummer. I was thinking I could feed my Ruby code through it.

Bad URL. What kind of code is it supposed to be checking?

Todd

Adobe and Alibre and hosting a seminar in Houston next week, showing the integration between Alibre and Acrobat 3D.

I'm about 1/2 thinking about going to it.

Anyone using Alibre?

Todd Burch

Susan, Smustard got hit with this just two weeks ago. Here's the email. It's a scam, and if they don't get you in round one, the try the "protection" approach in round two.

Todd

@unknownuser said:

From: jake.shen [mailto:jake.shen@govidc.org.cn]
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 8:14 PM
To: Smustard
Subject: Re: (瑞星提示-此邮件可能是垃圾邮件)RE: URGENT - dispute of network domain name and trademark

Dear Rick Wilson,

Thanks for your letter.As soon as receive the application of AoMeiXin(Beijing) Investment Co., Ltd., we checked "smustard"was your company's registered trademark.(http://www.smustard.com have been registered by you), That's why we sent email to you. We don't hope the domains be registered under your unknown.

But the registration is open in China , AoMeiXin(Beijing) Investment Co., Ltd. has right to apply for the available domain names. As a domain name registrar, we have no right to dispute their application. As the company whose trademark relates to the applied domains, you own the preferential rights to register them. So we sent email to inform your company to protect your interest. If you think Speed company's application will effect your benefit,we can help your company dispute their application and then register them in your own name.So please confirm whether you need to reserve your rights.

Waiting for your further reply as soon as possible. If any question, do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

Jake Shen

jake.shen
2007-08-27
发件人： Smustard
发送时间： 2007-08-26 13:00:51
收件人： 'jake.shen'
主题： (瑞星提示-此邮件可能是垃圾邮件)RE: URGENT - dispute of network domain name and trademark

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

We did not authorize AoMeiXin(Beijing) Investment Co (or any other company) to register domain names that use our trademarked name.

Thank you,
Rick Wilson
smustard.com

From: jake.shen [mailto:jake.shen@govidc.org.cn]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 10:35 PM
To: info
Subject: URGENT - dispute of network domain name and trademark

Dear CEO;

We are registration service authorized by CHINAGOV（THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE STATE COMMISSION OFFICE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM）in China,I have something need to confirm with you,We formally received an application,One company which called "AoMeiXin(Beijing) Investment Co., Ltd."are applying to register "smustard"as Internet Brands and English domain names " http://www.smustard.cn http://www.smustard.net.cn http://www.smustard.org.cn http://www.smustard.com.cn " on August 23, 2007,After our initial examination,we found that the Internet Brands applied for registration are as same as your company's name and trademark,These days we are dealing with it,hope to get the affirmation from your company,If your company has not authorized the aforesaid company to register these,Please contact us as soon as possible.

In addition,we hereby affirm that our time limit for dissent application is 15 days,If your company files no dissent within the time limit,we will unconditionally approve the application submitted by "AoMeiXin(Beijing)Investment Co.,Ltd".

Best Regards,

Jake Shen

Shanghai IDC Network Information & Technology Co.,Ltd
ADD:A601, Block 2,ShanghaiWithub White-cat Science Park No.641 TianshanRoad ,Shanghai,China
Tel: +86-21-5175 0338*0325
Fax: +86-21-5175 0301
website:www.govidc.org.cn
E-mail:jake.shen@govidc.org.cn

It seems to happy. Or, is that a banana in its pocket?

Todd

I'm glad you all see the humor - it was meant to be funny as a spoof on the names. It does take some people a while to get it, and when they do - they chuckle. I was IMing with Google support the other day, Brad, and he asked about it too - "what does it mean?". He chuckled too when all I said was "Sketchup.... Smustard.... Duh!".

We have it defined in the FAQ somewhere - but who reads those?

Todd

Yes, I too noticed several posts disappeared today.

Todd

For two years (Nov. 2002 to Dec 2004) I was in the market of making and selling "well-designed, locally produced products". Living in my upper middle class, 2 story 3600 square foot house in a planned community, I starved.

If I would have been living in a cardboard lean-to, I might have done very well for myself.

I learned during that time that people wanted their "thing" fast. Cheap "solid goods" can usually be produced faster than non-cheap solid goods. I would get at least 50 calls a month for things. 49 out of 50 potential clients would start their sentence with "I'm looking for something 'simple'". I quickly learned that 'simple' was their diplomatic way saying 'cheap'. In other works, they didn't want to me to expend a lot of design thought, or to put a product through too many engineering or QA processes - just get it done, don't spend a lot of time on it, I don't care what materials you use, or why, I just want it now, and cheap. However, that 50th call did care about these things.

So, in answer to your question - there is a market for "well-designed, locally produced products" today, but the much bigger market is the other one.

Todd

Not mine. I know nothing about it.

Todd

Todd Burch