So I saw this post by lifehacker some time ago and as is my habit, I marked it to view later and decided to check into it when I had some time.

Today, I had a little time.

I have figured out (after reading page 2 of this article) how to create password-protected pdf files using a free script and Automator. Here is how I did it…

NB: I am not a command-line junkie, so I went with the automator scripting style, if you love the command control, read here for how to work that out.

Start by downloading this script.

Then just double click to extract the installation package and double click that to install the package itself.

Easy, right?

Next you need to hit up Automator to set up the workflow. Check out this giant skitch’ed screenshot of how to set it up. It should be fairly straightforward, but let me know if it’s confusing. (click pic for full size)

So try it out once you’ve got it set up! It worked great for me once I tweaked it like you see it.

I also have the workflow here for you to download, set up just like I have it, if you’d like.

add_password_to_pdf.zip

So the simple, easy set up works like this…

1. Download pdfauxinfo. Install same.

2. Download my Automator workflow.

3. Run the workflow, select the file, and click run. Done.

On a side note, I did try this on both my mac and my pc, and both platforms ask for a password before opening and limit access, depending on how you configure it.

I am not calling this method foolproof and I am sure it is easily hacked. Truth is I am happy to have learned more about Automator. Have fun!

All screenshots are done using Skitch.

Ok so I’ve been playing with this Jing software for a bit now and don’t really like it. At least, not in comparison to screencast-o-matic.com, that is. Here’s why…

1. The files it saves are as a .swf file. What the heck am I going to do with that? I am sure there is a magical way to convert it, but I couldn’t figure it out, at least not in the few minutes I browsed Zamzar and media-convert.com.

2. It runs in a kind of weird way. When I finally got it going, it showed up as a little gold orb in the top right. I had to force it to use a menu bar so I’d know what the heck to do.

So Jing gets temporarily discarded from the list of cool tools, at least for me. If I wasn’t so web-based I might consider using it. Oh yeah, and a less than two minute screen capture weighs in at over 20 mb. Yeesh!

I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. This just may be the answer. The problem is I am having loads of trouble with OS X and desparately need a reinstall when I get back to the states. I install the program and then it won’t run. Surely this is a problem with my system.

Some Mac junkie go try this, huh?

Oh, it’s also available for Windows, but I’ve used Camstudio for a long time and it works nicely.

Jing Project: Visual conversation starts here. Mac or Windows.

Update: Linktribution: Cybernetnews.

Ok so call me behind the times, I didn’t know what a Tumble (b)log was.

Made popular by Tumblr, a tumble blog seems to be a bit like an extended version of twitter, in that it is a blog that is intended to house short bursts of text, quotes, pictures, videos, and the like. It’s not designed for long, drawn-out posts typically seen in most blogs (albeit not this one, much!)

I installed Gelato in minutes, once I realized I had one setting wrong. I am playing with it now. Find my installation at…ok so my install doesn’t work, although I was able to see the inside workings. It seems fun, but I do a bit of this now, so no need to duplicate. Maybe good for kids, though, not sure. You decide.

Link: gelato cms

Go read the official WordPress release post for the entire list of changes. Some of the tasty ones include Blogger imports and widget support at the core level.

I have not upgraded yet, but plan to soon, I’ll let you know how it goes. Or you can use the link below to hit the download page.

WordPress › Download

So the upgrade to WordPress 2.1 went flawlessly! All my plugins work, although I am having an odd issue with Akismet that I have yet to solve. No worries, I use Spam Karma 2 so Akismet was really just a second line of defense.

I followed the instructions to the letter, and backed up EVERYTHING just in case.

I don’t see a major change, but do like the ability to change the front page to a static page, although that was possible using a plugin before.

I am avoiding upgrading the NextGenTeachers blog for now because of an issue with FeedWordpress. It’s patchable, but with our first show coming out soon I don’t want to risk a meltdown.

I have been joking recently that I would love to run Ubuntu and Windows in a situation akin to the Mac/Windows relationship possible through Parallels.

Trouble is I don’t want to erase my current Windows installation.

I have Ubuntu installed on a laptop, VMWare server brought in (see earlier posts), and Windows XP Home SP2. Works nicely!

Now onto my desktop, where I have had Windows XP Pro running for years. I have three hard drives, with over 150GB of used space of stuff I don’t want to lose. It’s the digital archive of my life. Needless to say, this article caught my attention.

Ubuntu Installation Now Easier than Ever in Windows – CyberNet News: Keeping you plugged in!

Just look at this screenshot!

The homepage for the Prototype project will tell you more about this idea. For more opinion, go read the Cybernet news article mentioned above.

I might try this! If I get brave, I’ll keep you posted on the progress!

Technorati Tags: christophercraft, ubuntu, windows, prototype

I had been a little frustrated with Nvu of late. Now I don’t do a whole heck of a lot of web design these days. If I am looking at code, it is probably within the context of a content management system. I may hack a sidebar here, or call a function there, but long gone are my days of staring at a blank notepad screen typing out html code. I am glad I have that experience, as it helps me put together quick and dirty pages when all I need to do is embed a quick tutorial video. Heck, Google video did the encoding code for me, so all I did is wrap it in html, title, and body tags, center it up and I was golden.

When I was working on my new entry portal to be used when folks want to find me (yikes!) I naturally turned away from those evil proprietary softwares (which I really just don’t own and looked for an open source solution. Along came, Nvu, a solid WYSIWYG based editor. Except it is a little frustrating due to a couple minor bugs.

Enter KompoZer. They bill themselves as “Nvu’s unofficial bug-fix release”. KompoZer is available for all three platforms. Enjoy (mostly) bug-free web editing!

Caught this in my dashboard, and inside of fifteen minutes I upgraded three blogs.

WordPress 2.0.6 has been released, roughly a day ago and sports a few bug fixes and security releases.

Their upgrade directions indicate a process involving deleting directories, backup up and the like. Me, I’m a bit wreckless.

All I did is extract the file on my machine and FileZilla’d it straight up, knowing that it would not overwrite my config.php file (since WP doesn’t ship with one preconfigured). Nor were my plugins in danger, save for the fact that they would be infected by close contact with the Hello Dolly plugin that ships with WP. All I can hope is that it was the Carol Channing (I met her) version of Hello Dolly.

Anyhoo, it works flawlessly as far as I can tell. The sites look the same and it threw no errors. It copied in record time and doesn’t seem to show any ill effect (nor any positive effect, but hey).

So go upgrade! Security risks are abound for the late adopter!