Author Archives: Jeff Fitzsimons
Microsoft IME for Japanese Input
I’ve found the keyboard shortcuts for the Microsoft IME (Input Method Editor) to be poorly documented. I’ve tried to collect all of them here. Switching Between Input Languages These keyboard shortcuts switch between, for example, English and Japanese input languages. … Continue reading
Posted in Technology, Windows, 日本語
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Setting Global C++ Include Paths in Visual Studio 2012 (and 2013, and 2010)
Starting with Visual Studio 2010, Microsoft decided to make life hard on C++ developers. System-wide include path settings used to be accessed through Tools | Options | Projects and Solutions | VC++ Directories. However, that option is gone: Instead, the … Continue reading
Posted in Technology, Windows
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How Do I Know What Ubuntu Version Number I Have?
lsb_release -a
Posted in Linux, Technology
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Console2 and Cygwin with Solarized Color Palette
If you want to use Ethan Schoonover’s Solarized color palette with Console2 and Cygwin, here’s how: Edit the console settings file at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Console2\console.xml or %APPDATA%\Console\console.xml. Replace the <colors> … </colors> section with the following: Restart Console2. Colors in vim look … Continue reading
Posted in Cygwin, Technology, Windows
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How to Build Microsoft Detours Express (32-bit) on 64-bit Windows
Microsoft Detours Express, which is 32-bit only, can still be built on 64-bit operating systems. Here’s how: Open a 32-bit Command Prompt (C:\Windows\SysWow64\cmd.exe). Run VCVARS32.BAT VS2010: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\bin\vcvars32.bat” VS2008: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin\vcvars32.bat” Set … Continue reading
Posted in Technology, Windows
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What Exactly Are ATL’s BEGIN_COM_MAP, END_COM_MAP, and COM_INTERFACE_ENTRY Macros?
There are many places where ATL’s COM_MAP macros are documented, but I haven’t seen it plainly stated what they actually mean. Simply put, BEGIN_COM_MAP implements _InternalQueryInterface. COM_INTERFACE_ENTRY indicates that your class supports the specified interface. END_COM_MAP finishes the _InternalQueryInterface implementation. … Continue reading
Posted in C++, COM, Technology, Windows
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Skype 5.5 Cannot Display Asian Characters
After upgrading to Skype 5.5, I found that Japanese and Chinese characters showed as a series of boxes. I could type or paste them and they would be visible on the other end, but not on my end. Similarly, if … Continue reading
Posted in Technology
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Things That Suck: Ubuntu Unity
I just upgraded my virtual machine to Unity. All the negatives I’d read rang true. The interface really does seem like a poor copy of OS X, for tablets. Complaints are often dismissed with a curt suggestion to switch distributions. … Continue reading
Posted in Linux, Technology
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Virgin Mobile USA – No Data Connection (3G)
If you’ve been battling Virgin Mobile USA’s technical support drones and have been unable to get 3G data access, check that 3G data is enabled on your phone. From the main screen: Press the menu button Select Settings Select Wireless … Continue reading
Posted in Technology
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Activating a Virgin Mobile Phone in a Different Area Code – Vanilla Visa Payment Problems
As an experiment in semi-anonymity, I thought I would see if I could activate my Virgin Mobile Optimus V in a more desirable area code than my own. After a bit of research, I decided to buy a $50 Vanilla … Continue reading
Posted in Technology
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