Installing OpenOffice.org 3 on Intrepid (1st try)

Finally have the time to do a dry run of OpenOffice.org (OOo) 3.0 on Kubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid). There is the choice of using the OOo main stream or from the Canonical Personal Package Archives (PPA).

OpenOffice.org is a total remake of the popular Office productivity suite in the open source software (OSS) world that is available on Linux and MS Windows.

Installation from OpenOffice.org main stream (works)
Step 1: Download from the openoffice.org (As of today, I have OOo300m9 installed)
Step 2: Extract all of the files.
tar -xvzf /home/nicholas/software/OOo_3.0.0_LinuxIntel_install_en-US_deb.tar.gz

Step 3: Install all of the deb files.
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
sudo dpkg -i desktop-integration/*.deb

Done. Everything works fine but first thing I notice is that it saves in ODF 1.2 format which is not compatible with previous OOo2.x versions. The Extension Manager did not work with either Sun's JRE or OpenJDK's JRE.

FAILED Installation procedure for PPA (currently not working!)
Note: On 3rd Jan 2009, Kubuntu provided the same OOo3 for upgrade in its mainstream. Same results here.
Step 1: Choose Kmenu ->Applications ->Adept
Step 2: Select sources. Here choose the Third-Party Software tab and choose Add..
Enter the source as

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ubuntu intrepid main

Step 3: Click Close. The update will begin immediately and when completed the software upgrade applet will be lighted. Choose to upgrade all.

Installing back OOo 2.4.1

1. Completely remove OOo3 and the PPA source list.

2. Install the OOo 2.4.1

sudo apt-get install openoffice.org

3. Install other OOo 2.4.1 Desktop specific components (optional)

sudo apt-get install openoffice.org-gnome
OR
sudo apt-get install openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org2-thesaurus-en-us pstoedit kde-icons-crystal crystalcursors xfig ivtools-bin tgif transfig

4. Install additional stuff (optional)

sudo apt-get install libxerces2-java-doc openoffice.org-help-2.4 openoffice.org-hyphenation openoffice.org2-thesaurus openclipart-openoffice.org pstoedit libmyodbc odbc-postgresql libsqliteodbc tdsodbc mdbtools libmysql-java libpg-java openoffice.org-gcj openoffice.org-report-builder openoffice.org-style-industrial openoffice.org-style-hicontrast

Photos and Gwenview

Introduction
Just tried to view photos from the dolphin file manager. Default of Kubuntu Intrepid is to launch Gwenview 2.1.3 which is rather new to me.

It is a nice basic tool that still uses KDE3. This may explain why the Gwenview plugin did not detect the KDE Image Plugins Interface (KIPI) which is kipi-plugins version 0.1.5-1ubuntu2 at the moment. It still doesnt show the EXIF info of photos. Keyboard short cuts are still not completely incorporated for faster navigations.

The main configuration files are:

• gwenview.rc
• gwenviewui.rc
  

View mode

The photo name and size is displayed on the right sidebar. Other functions are found on the right sidebar to edit the image and to manage file operations such as move and copy photos. I have not found a way to move to next photo without going to the browse mode. The PgUp and PgDn keys did not function as I'd like it to. I need to click on the flimstrip (enabled by choosing the "Thumbnail Bar" button) to allow the right and left arrow keys to move between photos.

The slider bar at the bottom allows a neat quick a zoom feature.

Gwenview in view mode.

Browse mode
Allows quick access to all photos. This includes basic editing features of rotation, mirror, flip, resize and crop.

Gwenview in browse mode.

Gwenview was not attractive enough at first glance but it takes time for one to grow interest in it.

How to add Screensavers in KDE4.1

Installing KDE screensaver

KDE 4 in KUbuntu 8.10 is slightly different from KDE3. This example of installing a screen saver called KCometen will help to expose the various method of how KDE 4 works.

Step 1. Download KCometen41.0.3 from http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/KCometen4?content=87586

Step 2. Compile and build the screen saver binaries.

$ apt-get install build-essential kdebase-workspace-dev libqt4-opengl-dev

$ cd /home/nicholas/sources/kcometen4-1.0.3/CMakeFiles

$ cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local

-- Found Qt-Version 4.4.3 (using /usr/bin/qmake)

-- Found X11: /usr/lib/libX11.so

-- Found Threads: TRUE

-- Found Automoc4: /usr/bin/automoc4

-- Found Perl: /usr/bin/perl

-- Found KDE 4.1 include dir: /usr/include

-- Found KDE 4.1 library dir: /usr/lib

-- Found KDE4 kconfig_compiler preprocessor: /usr/bin/kconfig_compiler

-- Found automoc4: /usr/bin/automoc4

-- Found QtOpenGL: /usr/lib/libQtOpenGL.so

-- Found QtOpenGL includes: /usr/include/qt4/QtOpenGL

-- Found KScreenSaver include: /usr/include/kscreensaver.h

-- Configuring done

-- Generating done

-- Build files have been written to: /home/oscc/sources/kcometen4-1.0.3

$ cd ..

$ make

[100%] Built target kcometen4.kss

make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/oscc/sources/kcometen4-1.0.3'

/usr/bin/cmake -E cmake_progress_start /home/oscc/sources/kcometen4-1.0.3/CMakeFiles 0

$ sudo make install

Step 3. Install the screen saver

/usr/bin/cmake -P cmake_install.cmake

-- Install configuration: "Debugfull"

-- Installing: /usr/local/bin/kcometen4.kss

-- Installing: /usr/local/share/apps/kcometen4/pixmaps/lightmap.png

-- Installing: /usr/local/share/apps/kcometen4/pixmaps/particle.png

-- Installing: /usr/local/share/kde4/services/ScreenSavers/kcometen4.desktop

-- Installing: /usr/local/share/man/man1/kcometen4.kss.1

Step 4. Edit the KDE4 configuration to use recently added screen saver. Follow changes to this by rebuilding the KDE4 system configuration cache.

Create the path for all users by adding your local installation prefix to /etc/kde4rc configuration.

$ sudo vi /etc/kde4rc

[Directories]

prefixes=/usr/local

$ sudo kbuildsycoca4

Step 5. Test and use the newly installed screen saver.

Ensure that the System Settings window is closed until your managed to reach this step.

You can test the screen saver by typing the screensaver name.

$ kcometen4.kss --setup

To apply the screensaver, open KDE System Settings, choose Desktop ->Screen Saver, look for Kcometen4.

Kubuntu 8.10 and Bluetooth

I am working on having the handset bluetooth to pair with my Kubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid) via a bluetooth dongle. Purpose was to transfer files and use the remote control.

Kubuntu have installed the bluetooth stack called bluez by default. Kubuntu currently adviced to use the Gnome file transfer tool and it works. I am having reservations to keep this, cause the last time I did something similiar, nautilus and lots of other Gnome stuff was installed which made the KDE wobbly. E.g. sometimes the Nautilus gets launched instead of Konqueror or Dolphin.

Here are steps I have taken (bluetooth not fully working yet)
Verify that the Bluez stack is functioning
$ hcitool scan
Scanning ...
00:3E:E5:88:88:88 K810i tboxmy


Install the File transfer utility
sudo apt-get install obexftp scmxx

Install the CMAKE and Kubuntu development tools. Download kdebase-workspace-dev (~27Mb), CMAKE (~20Mb) and install.
$ sudo apt-get install kdebase-workspace-dev
$ sudo apt-get install cmake

Download KDEbluetooth4 (not included in Kubuntu Intrepid) from www.kde-aps.org then extract kdebludetooth4 and install.

$ cd kdebluetooth4-0.2/
$ cmake . -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr;
$ make
$ sudo make install

===output===
nicholas@tboxmy:~/sources/kdebluetooth4-0.2$ sudo make install
[ 73%] Built target kbluetooth4
[ 86%] Built target kbluetooth4-inputwizard
[100%] Built target kbluetooth4-devicemanager
Install the project...
-- Install configuration: "Debugfull"
-- Installing: /usr/bin/kbluetooth4
-- Installing: /usr/share/applications/kde4/kdebluetooth4.desktop
-- Installing: /usr/bin/kbluetooth4-inputwizard
-- Installing: /usr/bin/kbluetooth4-devicemanager
-- Up-to-date: /usr/share/icons/hicolor/16x16/apps/./kbluetooth4.png
-- Up-to-date: /usr/share/icons/hicolor/32x32/apps/./kbluetooth4.png
-- Up-to-date: /usr/share/icons/hicolor/64x64/apps/./kbluetooth4.png

===end output===

Restart bluetooth
$ sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart

Kubuntu 8.10 recording sounds

In the midst of configuring Mr Potato to use Martha's own voice, I found that the default Kubuntu 8.10 did not come with any voice recorder. Had to install one of the easier to use recorder called Audacity and its Lame libraries (this is the name of a set of MP3 and other sounds converter library). In Gnome there was the gnome recorder that was a simplified recorder but this did not work in the KDE 4 environment.

Step 1: Install Audacity
sudo apt-get install audacity

Step 2: Install the sound libraries
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-restricted-extras

Audacity was recording great and am saving files to .ogg format. The export feature allows my to save the Artist name, Track title, Album title, Track number, year, Genre, Comments.

A wierd thing, when I save and close the project (.aup), then next time I open it again the recorder gives an error. Need to manually reset back manually the recording device to OSS: /dev/dsp each time the file is opened.

Well, Martha is happy to hear her voice in Mr. Potato

Shopping - What web server are used?

Below is a list of shopping websites in Malaysia and the Web server its hosted on (8 Dec 08). It is in no particular order:
Apache 1 / Cayote:

1. Beautyholicsanonymous
2. Cari.com.my
   
3. IreneLim
4. EOE Online
5. Malaysia Central
   
6. Mydin
7. My1stop
   

Apache 2:

1. Annexe Gallery
2. Everyday
3. MyPDACafe
   
4. Shoppingnsales
5. Offernutz
6. Real Mart
   
7. Street Directory
   
8. TimeOut
9. The Curve
10. Xerie
    

MS IIS 5:

1. BlueHyppo
   
2. Sungei Wang Plaza
   
3. Sunway Pyramid

MS IIS 6:

1. 1 Utama
2. 121motor
   
3. All99.com
4. All Malaysia
   
5. Axcess
6. Business.com.my
   
7. Ikea
8. KUL
   
9. Metrojaya
10. Mines
    
11. Motor Trader
    
12. Ultimate Toys
    
13. VirtualMalaysia
    
14. VisionKL

Zope

1. Berjaya Times
   

However, I am using a method to detect web servers that is not guaranteed corect all the time.

Installing Firefox 3.0.4 source

The problem with Firefox on CentOS 5.2 and Ubuntu 8.10 is that the version displayed wrongly for the About command. It showed 1.9b3 instead of 3.0...

Posting the bug in CentOS, the next day K Singh reported fix.

Posting the bug in Ubuntu, no immediate positive response.

I am running through the source. If anyone also wants to work on this, here are the steps to get the Ubuntu/Debian source.

1. Download.
   cd ~
   sudo apt-get source firefox
   
2. Extract the source.
   cd firefox-3.0-3.0.4+nobinonly
   sudo mkdir mozilla
   sudo chown oscc.oscc mozilla
   tar -xjvf xulbrowser-3.0.4-source.tar.bz2
   
3. Compile and run from the mozilla directory
   

Installing GIMP on Kubuntu 8.10

Need to edit jpeg and other images? Install GIMP along with its tools for the most complete graphical editing solution.

Steps:
sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-help-en libgimp-perl gimp-data-extras

Details of GIMP is in http://gimp.org