Root Access

um question. how do I figure out the command for blanking my display in WIndows? I have a app launcher, and I want to create a new command to blank my monitor.

I think I'll search and then ask on SU - could be a good question

Simon Sheehan

I'd like to know as well

Journeyman Geek

@studiohack: by blanking, do you mean switch off?

Simon Sheehan

12:21 AM

Since google searches mostly bring up errors

studiohack

@JourneymanGeek yeah

Journeyman Geek

howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/… ;p

studiohack

I'm possibly switching app launchers, one has that built in, the other doesn't. so for multiple purposes, I want to know

Journeyman Geek

more specifically nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html

Simon Sheehan

“C:\path\to\nircmd.exe” cmdwait 1000 monitor off

Well thats handy to know

Journeyman Geek

12:22 AM

yes, but you'd need to install nircmd

studiohack

ah, I need NirCMD again :P

Journeyman Geek

and for gott's sake, CUSTOM PATHS!

studiohack

freaky @JourneymanGeek, you just suggested it

what?

Journeyman Geek

lol

@studiohack: i did. earlier

If you have commonly used CLI apps, create a folder, add it to path, throw it in there

then you don't need to worry about the /path/to/ nonsense ;p

Simon Sheehan

Definitely need to take the laptop to school tomorrow... the Pentium 4 is killing my work flow

studiohack

12:23 AM

@JourneymanGeek not sure what you mean?

is that related with copying it into the Windows Directory?

Journeyman Geek

@studiohack: If you add a folder (say c:/pathtools/) to your path, you can simply type in commandfoo, anywhere, instead of c:/pathtools/commandfoo

Its the 'proper' way to do it

devcha.com/2006/12/adding-folder-to-environment-path-under.html

studiohack

Now I'm massively confused

Journeyman Geek

instead of moving everything to windows, where it dosen't belong, you create a folder with the same effect

then you can put in utils there, and have the same effect as throwing them into the windows directory

studiohack

basically create a folder just for Nircmd? and put it somewhere permanent? say my docs?

Journeyman Geek

and simply copy them over should you need to

ya, pretty much, and add it to your path

and you can throw other things there too

studiohack

12:27 AM

my path? confused, sorry

Journeyman Geek

hm

Simon Sheehan

hey, i wrote a blog post on it!

One second!

studiohack

I create a new path, separate from Windows?

@SimonSheehan what?

okay

Journeyman Geek

Ok... now, the reason that you can run something that's in the windows folder is the windows folder is in 'path'

Simon Sheehan

Super User Blog: QoTW: How do I set PATH and other environment variables?

Posted by Simon Sheehan on June 6th, 2011

Being an avid computer user for years now, the PATH is something that has crossed me quite a few times now. So when I saw this question, it was time to put my learning hat on.

So now that we know what the PATH is, where are these things set? With a quick look around, I found it was easily found on Windows 7, by simply popping open the Start Menu and typing in “Environment.” The first option was Edit environment variables for your account. Click it, and here we are:

Let’s say I wanted to add my own, for a folder I frequently visit. I shall use eclipse for example. Currently my eclipse folder is located in C:UsersSimoneclipse. I hit NEW, and add in this: …

Journeyman Geek

12:27 AM

yes, that!

studiohack

@JourneymanGeek okay

@SimonSheehan checking it out, thanks! :)

Simon Sheehan

:) Blog to the rescue

All the images are broken currently

Journeyman Geek

@SimonSheehan: the images seem broken

oops ;p

studiohack

@SimonSheehan because of the migration

blame @RebeccaChernoff and @Zypher

:P

Simon Sheehan

No, its my fault

Their all dropbox links, I cleaned my dropbox up and organized it.

Rebecca Chernoff

12:29 AM

you're hotlinking from the blog to your own dropbox?

studiohack

really?

> C:UsersSimoneclipse

Simon Sheehan

It was a long time ago before I had image upload options.

And didnt understand imgur.

studiohack

@SimonSheehan oh okay. :P

@RebeccaChernoff never mind :)

Simon Sheehan

So that's entirely my fault, I will clean it up ASAP

Journeyman Geek

@studiohack: github.com/bmatzelle/gow/wiki this adds itself to path, so say, the *nix ls just works, and can be used where dir is

studiohack

12:31 AM

@SimonSheehan okay, let me know... I'll re read it with the screenshots, as I'm slightly confused :P

Simon Sheehan

Once I've reinstalled dropbox to rescue the images anyway

Rebecca Chernoff

ok

Simon Sheehan

Sorry about that guys.

studiohack

no worries, glad we caught it @SimonSheehan

Rebecca Chernoff

but can we still blame me? ya know, because we can. q:

studiohack

12:31 AM

sure, sure!

Simon Sheehan

@RebeccaChernoff Yeah I noticed it about a week ago :/

Journeyman Geek

@studiohack: what version of windows are you on?

studiohack

@JourneymanGeek Win7

Journeyman Geek

go to control panel -> system -> edit environment variable

take a look at "Path" there

thats basically anything that runs sans exact path

studiohack

so variable name is what I'll type in order to get to NirCmd?

like %Nir%

and the value is the path?

or is that the folder

Paul

12:48 AM

The folder

Like journeyman suggested, it is good to solve this once, so create a c:\utils folder, add it to your path, and stick nircmd, procmon, 7z or whatever else you use in this folder

Then forever more it will Just Work™

studiohack

I don't understand how adding exe's to that will work?

I just type what to get it to work? why wouldn't I create a shortcut or search for it?

Paul

This is really so that you can run these things from Start/Run or from cmd without typing in the path

studiohack

do I edit PATH or create new?

Paul

edit PATH, the existing entries in the path are vital

So just add it to the end

(note that all this is optional to your original question)

studiohack

sorry... this is epicly confusing. I can't get the same answer anywhere. In the box that comes up in Win7, I can edit or do New

PATH is blank for me, when I hit edit, the value fields are empty

typing %PATH% takes me to my user folder

Simon Sheehan

1:01 AM

Holy, RAM is REALLY cheap

crucial.com/store/…

Rebecca Chernoff

@studiohack are you editing variables for yourself or System?

studiohack

@RebeccaChernoff myself at the moment, but I'm so very confused

PATH is blank for user

Rebecca Chernoff

yeah, but check the bottom System section (:

studiohack

@SimonSheehan about half off what DDR2 is

@RebeccaChernoff yeah, but all that's there is Path which points to something AMD related

as in, the only path related thing is Path

Rebecca Chernoff

mm, also, I thought of an app category I need your excellent recommendations for! (:

studiohack

1:05 AM

okay! someting to get my mind of all this PATH stuff :P

Rebecca Chernoff

ocr scanning + tagging stuff so I can scan bills and such in...don't want just folders...want to be able to assign multiple tags...but want the ocr included in searching (:

I dunno what you're trying to do...just jumping in the middle q:

studiohack

@RebeccaChernoff hmmm.... never found anything good for OCRing, then again, I haven't used OCR - I'll look around

do you want something that actually makes the image text searchable or just something to scan images and tag with?

Rebecca Chernoff

@studiohack there you go being worthless again q:

studiohack

@RebeccaChernoff I'm not a business user :) at work, we used one, but I can't remember the name of it and I'm not sure if it has tagging capabilities

Rebecca Chernoff

it'd be nice for full ocr/text searching...just because that'd mean it's less I'd have to put in a notes field or something like that

I do want tagging - [2012] [Uverse] [utilities] all on the same bill for instance

or categories, or whatever

studiohack

1:11 AM

complicated to search for - you mind if I ask on SU, or would you like to ask (and get rep ;P)

Rebecca Chernoff

I've been searching on things like "digital filing"...turns up some. most seem to charge out the wazoo for cloud backup

studiohack

I'm trying to find a "receipt OCR" system

Rebecca Chernoff

yeah, receipts...bills...filing...several use cases could fit

studiohack

@RebeccaChernoff one option - though I don't think you want an online solution - shoeboxed.com

and I don't think it quite fits your criteria

$400! looks cool: neat.com/products/neatdesk

Rebecca Chernoff

well, this is certainly going to include personal/sensitive data...

online backup would obviously be great...but security is definitely a concern

I mean, I'm thinking of things like my tax returns (ssn), bank statements (credit card number) etc.

studiohack

1:16 AM

right...

any of the two look okay?

I'll keep looking

you'll want stuff with like encryption too probably

Rebecca Chernoff

I've seen the neatdesk commercials. I already have a scanner(/printer combo)

studiohack

okay

too bad you can't get the software itself (Neat) @RebeccaChernoff

some of the info on the software itself: store.neat.com/index/page/product/product_id/227/product_name/…

that's an upgrade URL - looking if you can get it separately (for hopefully a lot cheaper)

Rebecca Chernoff

something somewhat promising I've found is officedrop.com

Ideally what I'd want is something I can just scan into an "inbox" of sorts, then go in and categorize weekly or something.

studiohack

@RebeccaChernoff that does look promising

Rebecca Chernoff

the free plan is too limited though >_<

I dunno about only 3 search results...and the small ocr per month

studiohack

1:22 AM

The Neat thingy is a dead end, they offer the software separate for Macs only - for Windows you have to get a scanner

neat.com/products/software

Rebecca Chernoff

weird

studiohack

sorta... offers OCR, but I don't know how organized it could be

expensify.com/#signup

see the features

Rebecca Chernoff

hmm, thought expensify was something different

studiohack

hence why I said "sorta" @RebeccaChernoff

Rebecca Chernoff

yeah, don't think it really fits

studiohack

1:29 AM

k.

PaperPort by Nuance @RebeccaChernoff: nuance.com/for-business/by-product/paperport/index.htm

for individuals is $100 (bottom of page)

Learn More

> PaperPort Anywhere, our new service for secure document access, provides the benefits of your own document website in the cloud, while delivering free mobile applications with PaperPort’s proven capabilities for desktop document management on the PC.

$110 bucks for physical copy: shop.nuance.com/… or $99 for download.

Rebecca Chernoff

does seem good. I'm a cheap-skate, so not much a fan of the $100. I wonder if its folder only though, kind seems like it.

studiohack

I'm very much of a cheap-skate myself @RebeccaChernoff, so I relate. I dislike paying for most software.

if you get it, you can use a desktop search, and keep all your bills and stuff in one folder, and just search that folder

Rebecca Chernoff

I want to be able to search on things beside ocr text though

studiohack

no tags, still a pain. maybe you could name all your Tax Returns with Taxes and when you search for taxes, you'll get it

right... I get it

asking Nuance live chat to confirm

Rebecca Chernoff

1:45 AM

OfficeDrop really does sound perfect, but it's an ongoing $100/yr sigh

studiohack

a year?! man. I hate subscription things

Rebecca Chernoff

officedrop.com/digital-filing-pricing

50 pages/mo isn't enough ongoing, and that's not counting the backfill I'd want to do. The 1gb of searchable storage would last awhile, but not forever

studiohack

fits, but expensive :(

Rebecca Chernoff

techcrunch.com/2011/04/01/… and techcrunch.com/2012/01/09/…

studiohack

well, I don't know that there is too much more out there

Rebecca Chernoff

1:59 AM

yeah ):

that surprises me

studiohack

not a priority for most people, I suspect

iglvzx

5:54 AM

Do we get spam bots that copy and paste questions from other Q&A sites? Example:

0

Q: Where Auto Summarize Tool In Word 2010?

I have been able to fine directions for finding and adding auto summarize in Word 2007, however I cannot find it anywhere in the docs or online. Please advise!

microsoft-word

soandos

good catch!

Sathya

@iglvzx plenty, not always spam bots

iglvzx

@Sathya It's strange that they would copy and paste an already solved question.

Sathya

@iglvzx people are weird.

iglvzx

@Sathya lol

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