Was converting some excel stock data into csv, and then into mysql insert commands, and needed a quick way to do this.

I’ve always found Edit Plus to be a handy, light weight text editor.. at once stage in life even using it as my main PHP IDE (use ZDE now though).. However today I found out how to do a really cool regular expression search and replace.. Example below:

Say we had the line of data:

1/08/2006,265,87654321

and we wanted it to look like:

INSERT INTO `share_item_history` (`stamp`, `value`, `volume`) VALUES ('2006-08-01',265,87654321);

you could do:
Search:

\n

Replace:

\nINSERT INTO `share_item_history` (`stamp`, `value`, `volume`) VALUES ('

and then:
Search:

n

Replace:

);\n

and then:

([0-9]*)/([0-9]*)/2006

Search:

2006-\2-\1

It could be done a lot more elegantly using more regular expressions, but I don’t have time right now..

Reference to: http://editplus.info/wiki/Regular_Expressions.

Well the laptop came today and I have to say, I am very happy with it ! Everything I expected plus more.

The screen is really nice, with the truelife colour features. It does a resolution of 1200×800, which is perfect on a 15.4″ screen.

I’ve already resized the Windows XP Pro primary partition using Paragon Partition, and then installed Ubuntu 6.1 onto the remainder of the disk. It installed without any hiccups, although during the install process it stalled, and I had to do a Ctrl-Alt-Del to kick start it.. I guess that skipped something it was stuck on, and luckily it followed on fine.

I found a guide called, Installing Ubuntu Breezy on a Dell Inspiron 6400 which I’ll use shortly to tweak it to get most of the hardware working properly, but for now it will have to wait while I find time for work, and playing WoW with the girlfriend.

Maybe I have been a bit slow to be facinated by all of this 3D desktop stuff, but I came across a video on YouTube (after doing a random search for Linux) demonstrating Linux’s 3D desktop capabilities and a touch screen.

What’s quite cool indeed is the virtual desktop’s and the switching between these. Apparently this is all done using XGL..

Microsoft’s Vista has similar sorts of eye catching desktop acrobatics (see this vista demo), but it’s hardware requirements, are through the roof. The Linux alternative can run on a P3, without a problem..

Anyway.. I’m gonna try set this up with a Linux varient, haven’t decided which distro yet, on my new laptop when it comes. Hopefully it’s not too challenging

I’ve just successfully won a bid on a almost new laptop, on EBay. It’s a DELL INSPIRON 6400 CORE DUO 1.83GHZ - 15.4″ WIDESCREEN. The specs are:

• DELL Inspiron 6400 Laptop
• Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
• Mobile Intel® CoreTM Duo T2400 1.83 GHz, 677MHz FSB. 2MB Level 2 cache
• 1GB RAM
• 128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 VIDEO
• 15.4″ Wide TFT XGA Display (1280X800)True Life
• 80GB SATA HDD
• 8X DVD+/-RW Combo Drive with dual layer write capabilities.
• XP Pro
• Integrated stereo sound
• Integrated v.92 56K capable modem
• Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
• Intel® Pro/Wireless 3945 802.11 a/b/g Mini Card Wireless
• 1 PC Card slots
• IEEE 1394
• 4-USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) compliant 4-pin connectors
• 5-in-1 Flash Memory reader (Memory Stick/ Pro, SD, MMC, xD)
• Video: 15-pin monitor connector
• S-Video: 7-pin mini-DIN connector
• Audio jacks: Stereo headphones/speakers mini-connector (same as line-out), microphone mini-connector
• Li-Ion Battery
• AC/DC Adapter.

I haven’t used ebay for a few years, and my gf has been making fun of me because for the last 4 days or so, I have been glued to it monitoring the prices of laptops on ebay, and trying to win a bid.

The last time I used ebay was back in uni days for buying various books and star trek videos.. yay but I needed a laptop for my trop to Sydney in January.. and I want to be able to sit on my bed or go outside, and do work too, rather then be confined to my desk.

I got the laptop for $1150, but if I was to buy this laptop new, it would be at least $1700 from dell.com.au with all the extras.

Anyway.. I have only just paid for it, so it will take a few days for the payment to show up at the sellers end, and for the laptop to be sent from Adelaide to Perth. Will post an update when I receive it (all things going to plan of course).