September 2, 2010 in Debian Linux by Rajendra

Migration to Debian linux from Windows Vista – Day 1

Since I have started developing web applications, it was my dream to migrate to Linux OS some day. But due to the lack of knowledge and to avoid the pain of configuring and installing everything, I avoided this shift, or you can say that I am afraid of moving to Linux.

But now after working as a developer for 10 years (actually more than that), I thought that this is the time I am ready to make the switch. I am running a Dell Inspiron 64 bit Core2Duo desktop with 4GB of RAM, and ample of disk space. So I thought to give it a shot and make my machine dual boot to try it out. Then as many of us do, I started researching on the best linux distros available today from a programmers and learners point of view.

I came to know many of the unheard names like Slackware (one of the oldest linux distros) and Arch Linux, the best recommended for learning linux. In the beginning my first choice was Arch Linux but when I reviewed more about the software and installation then I thought that I am not ready for this one. Then after some more research I found that “Debian” GNU/Linux, will be best one for me.

Then came the question, wheater to install 64 bit version or 32 bit. As I have a 64 bit machine I preferred to go with the 64 bit version. Although I found some user comments about non availability of packaged software for 64 bit Linux OS. I thought that it would not be difficult to compile the software from source for my version. But what happened next is the topic of next post in this series.

I have downloaded the net-installable amd64 version of Debian Lenny. Ran the setup.exe from windows, it installed the Debian installer and asked to restart the machine to start the setup. So I did the restart and I felt good to see a graphical setup program like we are used to in Windows. Although there are many options to chose like – Expert Install, Graphical, Text based etc. Along with option to select many parameters before beginning the installation.

The first few screens were usual time, location and keyboard settings. Then came the partition options. I chose ti resize my windows partition to get the space for Linux partition. Now to resize the partition on my 500GB hard disk with around 150GB of content took more than 2 hours. Yes… it is a very long time.

After that I selected the option to auto-create the required partitions and Debian Installer created a root partition and a swap partition assigning around 5% percent of whole space for the Linux partition.

Now came the next big step and a little confusing one – Select the source mirror to fetch the software for installation. I am India so obviously I selected India as my country (but actually this is not always a good choice, as the program window already suggested), it gave me two options and I chose one.

Then is started downloading the software packages list. Believe me I have made wrong choice above and it took more than 45 minutes to complete the download only to tell me that – the list is not fetched completely and there is no software available for installation. But it was a great option in the installer that at any step you can go back to any previous step and change your settings.

I went back and select US as country and from the list of mirrors selected the one with domain name as “mit”. Then it again started to download the list of software packages and now this completed within 15 minutes and successfully.  From the software select and install option i chose to install Standard System and Desktop environment.

Now it began the software download which was around 800 files (799 to be exact). This took more than 4 hours to download the complete software packages on my 512kbps BSNL unlimited broadband connection. And yes I went to bed in the morning, as then I was not sure how much time it is going to take.

This was I have ended my first day with Linux installation.

July 25, 2010 in Quick Fixes, Web Development by Rajendra

MySql Dump Using a PHP Script

When you need to take a backup of a large MySql database, then “mysqldump” command come most handy and does the task in few seconds. But for that we need to access the web server or database through SSH. And database access in 99% cases is not allowed from remote location for security reasons.

I found myself in such situation recently and PhpMyAdmin export feature was not working due to script timeout or memory issues. So I googled for this and after 15-20 minutes of searching I found this very useful and working small script for the job.


$User = ""; // Put New user -- CPanel user or MySQL user with All permissions is fine.
$Password = ""; // Put New Password
$DatabaseName = ""; // Put Database name
$File = ""; // Put the complete path here -- /home/user/database.sql for example
$Results = shell_exec( "mysqldump --allow-keywords --opt -u$User -p$Password $DatabaseName > $File");


Just upload the file on the web server and execute it. Do remember to specify the path of the file so that it is accessible from the web e.g. provide any path which is inside public_html or www folder on most servers.

It will take just few seconds for 300-400MB database and then you can download the file and use it as you like.

June 3, 2010 in Quick Fixes by Rajendra

Changing field separater in CSV files

Many times it is needed to save excel sheet as Comma Separated Value (CSV) text file to import in the MySql database. Usually when you save file as CSV file the fields are separated by “,”; but sometimes this causes problems in field separation if the content also contains comma.

To define a unique field for your CSV file field separator in your Windows Vista/XP systems, follow the following steps:

1. Open control panel.
2. Open “Regional and Language Options”.
3. In “Formats” tab click “Customize This format”.
4. Then in the list separator text box enter the desired field separator and click “ok”.
5. Click “Ok”.

Now when you save your excel file as CSV, the new field separators will be used.

May 23, 2010 in Blog, Quick Fixes by Rajendra

Updating Nokia E72 phone software

I just bought a Nokia E72, and like most of the people, when I came to know that the firmware has updates, I tried updating the phone software. As given in the manual, I tried installing Nokia PC suite which asked me to install Nokia Software updater in order to update the phone software from PC.

But when I tried connecting my device with my PC, though it connected in USB mode, but it kept asking to connect the device in PC Suite mode, while my Nokia phone was in PC Suite mode only. I tried connecting disconnecting multiple times, but with the same result. I am using Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit operating system. I do not know if that is causing an issue with the Nokia PC suite. I tried Googling but there was not much help available.

Then I accidentally landed on the, Nokia.co.in support page to check for software updates for my PC software. I thought if there were some issue with the software then they (Nokia guys) might have fixed it in new releases. But I found that I already have the latest software.

Then I found a short tip mentioned there which described the process of updating the phone software from the phone itself, while the actual software updater asks to use PC updater to update the phone software. It is very simple as given below:

1. Key *#0000# into your phone’s home screen.
2. Select Options > Check for updates.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts until your update is complete!

And that is it. I tried it and it worked. My PC still does not recognize the PC suite mode of the device, but now I do not have any urgent need to do that. They might fix it in near future, but untill then I can update my phone software without it .

April 12, 2010 in Quick Fixes, Web Development by Rajendra

Issue of wierd characters in a dynamic PHP web page

When using special characters in UTF-8 character encoding, sometimes when you read something from mysql database then it is not displayed properly on the web page. Many of you like me may try to change the character encoding of the HTML page to ISO-8859-1, that may work sometimes but this is not the proper solution to the problem.

Irrespective of the character encoding used by MySql to store the text data, when you query something using SQL it returns the data encoded in the latin charset. This is defined in the mysql config files, as described below:

The character_set_results system variable indicates the character set in which the server returns query results to the client. This includes result data such as column values, and result metadata such as column names.

To change the character encoding to UTF8 or other, you need to use “mysql_set_charset()” mysql function in PHP. Pass the correct encoding name required and now future mysql queries will return result using new encoding.

March 9, 2010 in Quick Fixes by Rajendra

Outlook error – Cannot start Microsoft outlook, Cannot open the outlook window.

I just faced this error message and the easy fix was to run following command:

Start >> Run

outlook.exe /resetnavpane

Voila it started working!

January 31, 2010 in Free Productivity Tools by Rajendra

Skype Voice Call Recorder in MP3 format

If you are working with clients abroad, then chances are that you use Skype call features to communicate with them. While text based chat has an advantage of logging everything, which you can even search and refer later, as and when required. Skype voice calls does not have this ability, this is the main reason, when someone asks me to make a call I try to avoid it, if possible.

But sometimes, it is very useful and necessity to make a call. Then either you have to make quick notes during the call to remember important points OR try to memorize the things. Here comes the need for a call recorder, so when you talk on Skype you can concentrate on the talk and not on making notes.

While there are many recorder applications available as Skype extras, all of them are either paid or limited by call time. While looking for a free solution for this, I landed on  “MP3 Skype Recorder”, which is a free windows application. Just download and install it. It will record all voice calls on Skype automatically without your interference and after the call ends, you can save the file with proper file name.

It sits in the system tray where you can start or stop the call recording. When call recording is on then all call are recorded automatically and saved. While you still can not search inside the call content (I do not  know if that is possible as of now). You can refer to the call and listen to it in your favorite mp3 player. I found it quite useful and hope the same for you.

You can visit the MP3 Skype Recorder website for more information and application download.

January 29, 2010 in Education by Rajendra

Great presentation style of Steve Jobs

If you have watched Apple CEO Steve Jobs presenting Apple’s new products. Then chances are you have noted the enthusiasm and energy he brings on the stage. He talks about every small feature like it is the greatest thing in this world. The crisp, well compiled and well presented key notes of the Apple product launch are itself a great excitement for me.

Even if you are not keen follower of technology products and even though you never have to deal or buy any apple product – Then also I request everyone to watch the keynote presentations of Steve, and I am sure you will learn something about – how to project a product and describe its features, and even more how to make a successful presentation.

The keynote made available on the Apple website on the product page.

January 27, 2010 in Technology News by Rajendra

The hype around Apple Tablet

In few hours, Apple is going to release there much awaited touch screen tablet PC in few hours from now, if the hype to be believed. I am regular follower of techcrunch.com and zdnet.com and since last many days everyone is talking and discussing about this event. They are so excited that everyone is sharing their thought about the features they can expect from Apple products – even remedy from Cancer, can you believe this.

Apple is famous for keeping secrets and sue  anyone who broke it out,  this itself creates lots of hype about their products. Everyone keeps guessing and it is a fact that they just leave us amazed with their products. The presentation style of Steve Jobs is already acclaimed lots of praise for crisp and concise points.

I am keeping my fingers crossed…

Update: The tablet is launched and the most shocking factor was not the tablet (obviously named iPad) itself but the price. Yes Apple announced that the new iPad base model will be sold at just USD499 and top model will be USD829.  That is quite cheep looking at the high pricing of other apple products. But the iPad does not have any other great features. It is just and iPod touch with big screen of 9.7 inches, that’s it.

January 25, 2010 in Web Applications by Rajendra

The (not so) Great Google Wave

The day I first heard about Google Wave I was very excited like most of you and tried to experience the service. Then I came to know that it is not still open for public and I need to be invited from some one who already has a Google wave account. And I was surprised yesterday when one of my friend invited me from out of the blue to join Google Wave.

I did not took a second and ride on the wave. It is great as told by Google in their loooooooooooooonnnng developer preview video. It has all new features which we have not even thought of. I do not know how the folks at Google think out of the box and do something new every time. But this is for what Google pays to them huge checks every month.

Anyway I am just getting hold of the things and thinking how I can use it to communicate with others.

We can also develop customized tools called Gadgets to add new services using Google Wave API. It is another new platform after iPhone and Android where all developers will flock to get the early advantage. This will be another money laundering cow for all developers. Something new to work with and earn money for providing services to enhance the web experience for everyone.

But I am worried that existing Google services like gmail, calendar and Google talk among others are not integrated with it. May be they are giving some time to stabilize the system then add new features and old services. I will be waiting for this to happen. After all if it becomes the default communication tool in future then I would not like to go to gmail to access my thousands of email that i have collected in last 5 years. They must make that accessible from wave, if they want the existing Google users to switch to wave.