Goodies To Go! Newsletter #377

Featured this week:

 

*   Goodies Thoughts - Over the Top
*   Q & A Goodies
*   Discussion Goodies
*   News Goodies
*   Feedback Goodies
*   Windows Tech Goodie of the Week 
*   And Remember This...

 

 

 

Over the Top

 

It has come to my attention recently, that some of the vendors upon whom we all rely so much for the safety of our systems' software and data are taking their jobs very, very seriously.  So much so, in fact, that they sometimes protect us from ourselves by preventing us from doing something we really want to do.

 

The vendors I'm talking about are those who sell us "Internet Security" software bundles.  Many of the recent offerings of these products include any of a variety of "smart" technologies that detect maliciousnesses by behavior.  Basically, they look for things that are behaving like intruders, viruses or the like, and block them.

 

This is all well and good until you try to do something yourself that starts to look like a bad guy to your security software.  At this point, you are blocked yourself.

 

To be fair, they all also seem to have a means to specify an action that is to be deemed acceptable, but it is frequently very far from apparent what, exactly, the action is that you wish to have allowed.  If you are running a game, for example, or visiting a company site that has "special software" that is downloaded and installed automatically, it is quite likely that you do not have sufficient information in advance to be able to specify the exception you wish to allow.

 

While this security software may be good for many, it is now a bit over the top for many other users.  It has become a little to clever for its own good.

 

I have found several circumstances recently where it has become necessary to remove the security package and replace it with some much simpler safety precautions.  Most of these circumstances have cropped up in small business offices where the staff using the computers may not be quite so familiar with the machines they are running and therefore dont feel quite so comfortable creation "exceptions".

 

It has also happened to friends of mine who are game enthusiasts, however.  In this case they are very familiar with the workings of the games they play, but are not so much into the workings of their computers in general.  "I just want it to work, and to keep working," they tell me.

 

Sometimes, simpler is better.  Next week, I'll outline what I feel is a simple but effective, security strategy for these situations.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

- Vince Barnes

 

 

 

 

 

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Q & A Goodies
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Questions are taken from submissions to our Community
Mentors. You can ask a Mentor a question by going to
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/mentors/

 

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X                        X
X   Please take note:    X
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We have had a number of people indicate that their email client programs are interpreting code examples in this newsletter as actual HTML code instead of text.  To overcome this problem and to enable everyone to read the newsletter, there is a period after the "<" in each tag.  If you cut and paste to try out code examples, please remember to remove the periods.  Wherever we intend you to use "<." in your code, the example will show "<..".  In this way, you will be safely able to use a global edit to change "<." to "<".  Thanks to all of you for your patience with this; if this technique creates an undue problem for you however, please let us know via our feedback address (see Feedback, below).

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers

 

Q. I have a webpage that has a navigation bar on the left, and want that navigation bar to always be visible no matter how far a user scrolls down the page.  Do I need a frame, or do I need JavaScript?

 

A. Take a look at this site:
http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex1/index.html
They have many navigation menus you can use. Just keep in mind that not all of the menus will work with all of the browsers. Choose one that says it will work with all of them unless you have a captured audience and know that they all use a particular browser.

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers

 

Q. Do you know of any commands that will not display the password as you type it, or put in a series of asterisks, while still keeping the data so that it can be compared to the values in a database?

 

A. HTML has a password form field that displays asterisks.
<.input type="password" name="var name" size="40" maxlength="80" value="default value">

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers
 
Q. I have some experience with HTML and JavaScript, but I recently visited a site that had a bunch of applet windows that popped up and disappeared.  I would love to know how to get that.

 

A. What you were looking at was actually a Java Applet.  This is very different from JavaScript - they are barely even related (except that they can both be used on the web).  A Java Applet is like a program and JavaScript is what it's name implies, a scripting language.  The only way to get something like that is to see if the developer at that site would be willing to share it with you.

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers
    
Q. I would like to make a word a clickable link to to another word...... such as 1st Th 5:17 clickable to the scripture.

 

A. You can set an anchor that will bring up a certain part of the page where the word is.
<. A name="1st_th517">  is placed by the word.
<.a href="#1st_th517">Th 5:17<./a>  is placed as the link

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers
    
Q. I've been using the <.BASE FONT=3> command within the head tags thinking that would "fix" the page fonts at a certain size, but it doesn't. Is there any way to "fix" font size to the way I need it for my designs to work?

 

A. I don't use it but it does have to be used correctly. This element can be used only within the BODY element or the HEAD element. BASEFONT should appear before any displayed text in the body of the document. It can be overridden using the FONT tag within the document. Maybe this is what is happening:
No BASEFONT size specified yet.
<.BASEFONT SIZE=4> Set the BASEFONT size.
<.FONT SIZE=2> Temporarily override the BASEFONT size.<./FONT>
Resume the BASEFONT size. End of example.
Did you try using a Cascading Style Sheet? You can manipulate the style of the font using it.
<.HEAD>
<.TITLE>CSS Example<./TITLE>
<.STYLE TYPE="text/css">
  H1 { font-size: x-large; color: red }
  H2 { font-size: large; color: blue }
<./STYLE>
<./HEAD>
The above style sheet tells the browser to show level-one headings in an extra-large, red font, and to show level-two headings in a large, blue font.

 

 

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers

 

Q. Hello, how can I use a jpeg picture of my own as
<.BODY BGCOLOR="C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\HTML\orange.jpg"> ?

 

A. The first problem is your code instructs the browser where to find the file on your PC, so it will work only on your PC. You need to use a relative URL, so you can upload your site to your server and it will still work. Typically images are in a directory called "images" which is a subdirectory of the directory which holds your HTML files, so you should create such a directory and code the background like so:
<.body background="images/orange.jpg">.
Also note the the attribute for a background image is "background." "bgcolor" is for a background color. 

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers
    
Q. I am having trouble lacing an apostrophe on my web site. How do I make the apostrophe?

 

A. You can use the ASCII code equivilent which is &#39; and it will make the apostrophe display. Code it like so:
<.p>&#39;<./p>
for just a plain apostrophe or
<.p>Karen&#39;s<./p>
To get a name with an apostrophe before the letter s.

 

 

 

*** This question was submitted to our Mentor Community.
    The answer was provided by one of our Mentor Volunteers
    
Q. I have link that is targeted to open in a new browser window.  I want to force the behaviour of the new window but cannot find out how to do so.  The behaviour I want to force is as follows:
The browser window has no nav bar, address bar etc.; the size of the browser window is dictated by me.

 

A. This script opens a new window:
<.SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript">
<.!--
window.open ('titlepage.html', 'newwindow', config='height=100,
width=400, toolbar=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=no, resizable=no,
location=no, directories=no, status=no')
-->
<./SCRIPT>
The first parameter is the file that opens in the new window, the second is the name of the window, the third is the configuration of the window like size, toolbars and such. "No" keeps them off, and "yes" includes them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussion Goodies
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Have you seen the discussion forums on the HTML Goodies website?  It's a great place to get help from others who, just like you, are developing web pages.  Many different topics appear in the forum, and a new one will appear if you create it!  Here's a sample of recent topics:

 

Layer positioning problem:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=96156

 

hidden page to be printed:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=96004

 

Css Div hide:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=96174

 

Pixel movement:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=96159

 

Opening a file based on the current date:
http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=94857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News Goodies
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Zero Day Exploit Hits Apple's OS X
[February 21, 2006] No patch yet released for highly critical flaw.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3586416

 

Microsoft Commerce Server in Beta
[February 21, 2006] The software maker issues a beta version of its e-commerce site builder.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3586406

 

Sun's Next-Gen Enterprise Java
[February 21, 2006] If you're building new enterprise Java apps, forget about J2EE. It's time for Java EE.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3586371

 

Microsoft Spruces Up System Management Tool
[February 21, 2006] System Management Server 2003 Release 2 features a custom inventory tool and new security scanning perks. 
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3586301

 

Google Admits Security Risks
[February 21, 2006] Internet giant agrees with report saying there is 'unacceptable risk' in Desktop 3 Beta for companies.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3586521

 

IBM Chip Path to Cheat Moore's Law?
[February 21, 2006] Company researchers blaze a path to extend Moore's Law for shrinking computer chips.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3586531

 

Google's Doors Still Shut to Blind
[February 17, 2006] Six months after we asked, search goliath still puts up visual barriers to registration.
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3586166

 

Microsoft Media Player Exploits Released
[February 17, 2006] Patches are losing the race against attacker exploits. 
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3586106

 

Report: Amazon Tunes Into Music Downloads
[February 17, 2006] Can the company that revolutionized book selling and set the standard for e-commerce hit a high note in subscription music?
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3586206

 

Quad-core: The Next AMD vs. Intel Battleground
[February 17, 2006] Is multi-core the new megahertz?
Read the article:
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3585966

 

 

 

 
 
 
Feedback Goodies
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Did you ever wish your newsletter was an easy two way communications medium?  Ploof! It now is!
If you would like to comment on the newsletter or expand/improve on something you have seen in here, you can now send your input to:

 

mailto:nlfeedback@htmlgoodies.com

 

We already receive a lot of email every day.  This address helps us sort out those relating specifically to this newsletter from all the rest.  When you send email to this address it may wind up being included in this section of the newsletter, to be shared with your fellow readers.  Please don't send your questions to this address.  They should be sent to our mentors: see http://www.htmlgoodies.com/mentors/

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all your feedback!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows Tech Goodie of the Week 
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Using Strongly-Typed Data Access in Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.NET 2.0

 

As this article explores, strongly-typed DataSets offer a number of advantages over alternative, loosely-typed data access techniques and, with Visual Studio 2005, creating and using strongly-typed DataSets has never been easier. Read on to learn more!

 

 

*** AND ***

 

Output Methods ASP.NET Sample Code

 

This sample examines the different ways to get the value of a variable output onto a web page at runtime. In addition to the same old Response.Write and <%= %> methods, ASP.NET throws a few new options into the mix.

 

 

*** AND ***

 

Introducing Perst, an Open Source, OO Embedded Database for .NET

 

This article serves as an introduction to Perst, an open source, OO embedded database for .NET. In addition to high performance and a modest footprint, one of Perst's greatest achievements is its tight integration with Java and C#, resulting in exceptional 'transparent persistence' and ease of use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Remember This ...
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1885 The Washington Monument was Dedicated

 

Honoring America's first president and hero of the revolutionary war, the Washington Monument was dedicated on this day in 1885.  When George Washington died in 1799 plans were made for a monument to memorialize the Father of the Country.  No plans were adopted, however, until the centennial of Washington's birth in 1832.  A design for a hollow Egyptian style obelisk made of marble and 555 feet tall, the work of architect Robert Mills, was then accepted.  Work progressed very slowly, stopping completely during the Civil War and it was not until Congress allocated $200,000 in 1876, the American Centennial, that work began in earnest.  When the completed work was dedicated in 1885, it was the tallest structure in the world.  It is still the tallest in the nation's capital, an honor that is protected by a DC law.

 

 

 

Today was also the day that in: 1431 England began the trial of Joan of Arc; 1804 Richard Trevithick successfully ran the first rail locomotive, the Penydarren locomotive, in Wales; 1857 the US issued the Flying Eagle cent coins; 1857 the US Congress outlawed foreign currency as legal tender in the US; 1874 Benjamin Disraeli replaced William Gladstone ans British Prime Minister; 1885 the Washington Monument in DC was dedicated; 1916 the Battle of Verdun began (WWI - 1 million casualties); 1922 Britain granted independence to Egypt; 1925 the first issue of "New Yorker" magazine was published; 1931 Alka Seltzer was introduced; 1947 E.H. Land demonstrated the instant developing camera in NYC; 1924 24,000 rolls of Beatles wallpaper were sent from the UK to the US; 1970 the Jackson 5 made their TV debut on American Bandstand; 1981 Peter Sutcliffe, dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper" for his murder of 13 women, was captured;  1988 actor Dudley Moore married Brogan Lane;

 

Born today were: in 1915 actress Ann Sheridan; 1924 Premier of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe; 1925 film director Sam Peckinpah; 1927 humorist Erma Bombeck; 1931 actor Larry Hagman; 1932 King Harald V of Norway; 1934 actress Rue McClanahan; 1935 actor Mark McManus; 1937 actor Gary Lockwood; 1943 record producer David Geffen; 1946 Tyne Daly; 1946 Alan Rickman; 1953 actress Christine Ebersole; 1958 singer Mary Chapin Carpenter; 1961 actor Christopher Atkins; 1966 British actress Bronwen Booth; 1971 actor Jose Solano; 1979 actress Jennifer Love Hewitt;