Archive for June, 2008
A quick way to create a blank text file
The primary job done by the touch command in UNIX or Linux is to update the time stamps on files. However, it also has another function: creating an empty text file where you are "touching" a file that doesn’t exist. This has its uses, particularly when you want to reduce the amount of pointing and clicking [...]
Error: User does not have appropriate authorization level for library xxxx
In a world where write access to a folder or directory is controlled by permission settings at the operating system level, a ready answer for when you get the above message in your log when creating a SAS data set would be to check your access. However, if you are working in Windows and your access [...]
Quickly surveying free disk space on UNIX and Linux
Keeping an eye on disk space on a Solaris server is important for me at work while keeping the same top level overview is good for my use of Linux at home too. Luckily, there’s a simple command that delivers the goods: df -h 2>/dev/null The "df -h" piece is what delivers the statistics while [...]
A bumpy ride
Yesterday, this blog got a bumpy ride from its hosting provider, Fasthosts. For several hours, it was down and there have been occasional errors returned since then. I’ll be keeping an eye on this but I hope that things stabilise sooner rather than later. There’s no question of moving things lock, stock and barrel at [...]
Site NewsFirefox 3, RealPlayer, Ubuntu and BBC’s iPlayer
With the record attempt due today for Firefox 3 downloads, I thought that it would be a good time for me to update my advice for getting BBC’s iPlayer going in Firefox running on Ubuntu. First, you need RealPlayer 11 for Linux. Once downloaded, the file RealPlayer11GOLD.bin needs to be made executable before running it [...]
An option for when BBC’s iPlayer will not allow you to “Listen Again”
Following my move to Firefox 3, the BBC’s iPlayer became problematical again. I eventually sorted it after a fashion but I am noting an option for the frustrated before talking more about that. Finding the links to the ram files for the BBC’s Listen Again service can be a nightmare because of the Beeb’s reliance [...]