by Aaron

How to use Vista’s Search Folders (You should try them!)

If you aren’t using Vista’s Search Folders yet, you should! (At least try them!).

Here’s how to create one. I’ll use PSD files in this example. PSD files are files created by Photoshop. But you can substitute any file type as you follow along.

First, start Windows Search:

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Windows Start Button, then Search. (Or you can hold down the Windows Key and press ‘F’ as a shortcut).

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In the upper right corner, type an asterisk (*), a period (.), and then the file extension you’re searching for; in this example, I’ll type "*.psd".

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After you have finished typing the file extension, the search begins (it may start as you begin to type — don’t worry, just keep typing and the results update automatically).

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In the screen shot above you’ll see a faint green animating rectangle underneath the text, "Search Results in Indexed Locations." The search is complete when this disappears. Generally, a search shouldn’t take more than 5-10 seconds.

If you want to start over, just click the small [x] in the search text area (it’s to the right).

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When you’re happy with the search results, click the Save Search button shown above. The default file name isn’t as useful as it could be. In my example, Windows Search suggests ".psd". I’d much rather have it called "Photoshop Files." Type in a meaningful name as shown below, and click the Save button.

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What’s truly handy about a search folder is that it’s not a snapshot of the files on your drives at a certain time. It’s a live search folder that is always updated on demand.

In the Windows Explorer, there’s normally a section called "Favorite Links." I drag short cuts to the folders I most commonly use here, including Search Folders.

You can drag the favorite links area to be larger so that there’s some room. You should see a "Searches" Folder. If you select that, you’ll see the list of searches that have been saved.

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With my left mouse button held down, I selected the Photoshop Files Search on the right side, I dragged it to the Favorite Links section and released the mouse button:

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The new search folder appears and is now a permanent favorite link. You can use this like any other folder. The files that are displayed on the right side as search results are the actual files, not just copies.

I find this is an extremely easy way to manage the large collection of Photoshop files I’ve created, and scattered all over my hard drive. With just a few clicks, I can see all of the files (and even sort them by date so I can see the most recent edited files).

As a bonus, you can even drag normal folders into the favorites list. For example, I’m always using the Visual Studio Projects folder. I’ve selected it and dragged it to the list the same way as described above for Search Folders. By default, it’s named Projects.

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But, you can right-click on the folder name and select "Rename." It only changes the Favorite Link name and does not make any changes to the original folder name. The search folders are available within the standard file open/save dialogs as well. Just select your user name (your home folder), and then the Search folder:

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You’ll see a list of saved searches; just pick the one you’re interested in and the search results are displayed!

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For added power, you can use the advanced settings in the Search Window to build a more complex search.

Hope you check out search folders — they’re simple but often extremely useful. I use them and the Favorite Links every day on Vista.

Only available on Vista. Sorry XP users.

by Aaron

Where’s the Ignore Option Apple?

You duped me once Apple by making me think I needed to update Safari on one of my Windows computers. But, I’m not going to make that mistake again. I don’t want your browser. I have two browsers installed already and that’s quite enough.

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Even lowly Vista offers me an option to hide an update (just right click on the update and select Hide):

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Please play nice Apple.

Either let me hide Safari as an option or minimally, don’t try to install new software without me explicitly agreeing.

Installing new software that is subject to security issues should always be an OPT-IN for consumers, don’t decide for them. You may have some fine products Apple, but don’t force them on me.

by Aaron

Update on WordPress move …

If you were subscribed via the older link to syndication.axd (courtesy of The Blog Engine), I’ve redirected (301) that to Feedburner which I plan on keeping up to date. So, you may not need to update your subscriptions depending on how you’ve subscribed (in fact, if you’re seeing this — you don’t need to do anything :-) ).

by Aaron

SMTP Component for .NET Recommendation

I’ve been relying on the MailBee.NET SMTP Component from AfterLogic for several months now and just wanted to recommend it to anyone needing a SMTP component for your .NET development. It’s inexpensive and easy to use: 

Pop3 pop = new Pop3();
try
{
    pop.Connect(emailPop3Server, 110);
    if (_quitting) { return; }

    pop.Login(emailAccountName, emailPassword, AuthenticationMethods.Auto);
    if (_quitting) { return; }

    MailMessageCollection msgs = pop.DownloadEntireMessages();
    foreach (MailMessage m in msgs)
    {
        try
        {
            if (m.HasAttachments)
            {
                foreach (Attachment attach in m.Attachments)
                {
                    if (attach.ContentType == "image/jpeg")
                    {
                        using (MemoryStream memStream = new MemoryStream(attach.GetData()))
                        {
                            Image img = Image.FromStream(memStream);

                            if (_quitting) { return; }

                            using (MemoryStream compressedJPG = BuildJPGWithCompressionSetting(img, 60))
                            {
                                // the filename doesn't need to be meaningful, and would be better if it weren't to prevent conflicts!
                                string newFileName = string.Format("{0}.jpg", Guid.NewGuid());
                                Upload(compressedJPG, ftpSite + newFileName, ftpAccountName, ftpPassword);
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    if (attach.ContentType == "multipart/related")
                    {
                        //MimePart mp = attach.AsMimePart;
                        //MimePartCollection mpc = mp.GetAllParts();
                    }
                } // thru each attachment
            } // has attachement?
        }
        finally
        {
            m.Dispose();
        }
    }   // loop thru all the messages
}
finally
{
    if (pop != null)
    {
        pop.DeleteMessages();
        pop.Disconnect();
        pop = null;
    }
}

The above code is used in a Windows Service I’ve written to automatically connect to a specific e-mail address, download the messages, and automatically upload the attached images to an FTP Server (I’ve removed some of the security checks that my code does).

You can see though in the code how easy it is to use the component. It takes the pain out of doing SMTP development and handles a wide variety of cases that might exist (there are multiple techniques for attaching images for example).

I purchased the Single Developer License at $69 — which is a license for unlimited use of the component by me.

They also have a set of components for IMAP, POP3 and security available individually or as a package deal (although it wasn’t clear the package was necessarily as good a price).

AfterLogic has a 30 day trial available for all of their components.

Recommended.

by Aaron

Spam makes me laugh some days

Some spam makes it by the various spam filters I have in place. Occasionally, one grabs my attention as obvious spam, but still I open and scan it. Here’s one that I found funny:

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Hi to you USA Embassy! I’m not sure why the USA Embassy is in the USA, but hey, it’s so nice of them to write me!

I’m glad I’m the owner of the e-mail address, otherwise the USA Embassy might be ticked-off that I’m reading their message.

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My consignment box is in their custody? Well, how the heck did that happen? I better comply quickly so that the delivery will be effected immediately!

FedEx Express is to deliver it? Great! I love love that company company.

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$195 to get my consignment box back and so they can effect the delivery to my home address! Sweet! What a bargain!

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I guess I wasn’t fast enough — as the price has already increased to $295! That’s highway robbery — just to get my consignment box back!

I see that there’s a text question and answer available. Feel free to use that if you need to today.

But, this is the real annoying part — they forgot to include the MTCN Number I need for easy pick-up!

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It was so nice of Donald to write me as the public relation officer of the United State Embassy. Donny (may I call you that?), what happened to the other states? Can you unite when there’s only one?

We now return to our regularly scheduled blog posts.