Interactive Llama

The writer, Stewart O’Nan, once said “The two hardest things about writing are starting and not stopping.” Programming at its essentials is writing. When I’m wearing my web developer hat, it seems that I spend over a quarter of my time browsing around the OS-X Finder. So what better way to start programming then having a file framework. Not only can you start more quickly, but your structure will stay consistent. Think of the last time you edited someone else’s project and that person placed all their files in one folder. Oh, the horror!

Introduction to my file framework

The guiding principle for my file framework is:

Either precisely title all files with hierarchical prefixes or create sub folders to categorize your files.

With video projects and print projects that output to one file, file organization isn’t as essential. With web design, you do not want the files you publish getting mixed up with your source files. Yes, we all have at least once uploaded a 100MB Photoshop file to the online server and wondered why it was taking so long. This file framework focuses on web production and output. (more…)

Adobe Illustrator CS3 crashed every time I tried to print to a CD on my Epson Stylus Photo R220. I decided to re-install Adobe Illustrator CS3. I did an uninstall with the uninstaller found in /Applications/Utilites/Adobe Installers. I then tried to re-install Adobe Illustrator CS3 with the installation DVD. Twenty minutes into the installation, it said
“Please insert Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit 2 to continue installation” I googled the error and found this Adobe support page, Message “Please insert Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit 2 to continue installation” when you install, reinstall or repair a CS3 Suite or CS3 application (Mac OS) I could not find a “Add or Remove Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit 2 alias” in /Applications/Utilites/Adobe Installers, so I decided to re-install the whole suite!

One of my co-workers warned that I needed to completely remove CS3 preferences, plists, and all those other files that OS-X applications install but never remove!!! I finally found this Adobe Support page, Remove CS3 prerelease software (Creative Suite and individual applications). I figured that it would remove release software, too. I believe that it does, but be sure you know what you doing when you use it. This script runs from the terminal, so it mainly a UNIX shell script that deletes folders and files.

I am now back to Illustrator 13.0.0 instead of 13.0.2, but only after more than six hours of uninstalling and re-installing Adobe Creative Suite !

I finally found the stupidiest Apple OS X bug. I was copying mp3s to a small USB drive (thumbdrive/jumpdrive) and OS X copied 8 out of the 10 files. It stopped at 8 because the drive was full.

BUT THEN, Apple’s OS deleted the first 8 files that would fit on the drive. I then had to remember that it was eight files that would fit on the drive and copy only those.

–Stephen M. James
www.smjdesign.com