Quick update:
Finished coding the intranet at work today. It does some pretty clever things - basically logs an IT issue, writes that into a database and emails myself and the originator with the reference code and the type of issue and description, etc. Then I get a list of unassigned tasks, (which they are by default,) which I can assign to timeslots.
This links into a calendar which displays on the main page, the current month, broken down by day with whatever reference codes I have assigned on each day displayed. You can click on a day and it pops up a new window which displays all the assigned tasks for that day, in order of time to be seen to, with reference codes and a description of the problem shown for each.
If their reference code isn't shown, they can go forward month by month through the calendar, or their is a search function that they can type their reference into and it will bring up any available information.
It then writes the assigned timeslot to the database and emails the originator to tell them when to expect to be seen. I do the work, then I can give the task a status, such as 'in progress' or 'closed' if I've fixed the issue.
If I choose closed, it emails the originator to tell them the issue is closed and to get back in touch if they need further assistance and strikes a line through the reference code on the calendar to show it's been done.
Not bad for someone who doesn't consider himself a programmer. It's all robust too - like if someone misses a part of a form, it'll tell them to go back and fill it in. I didn't make it particularly secure though, as it doewn't need to be - it's only for work people, not the internet at large, but I could have done fairly easily. Tomorrow I test it with whatever issues come my way, so for once I'm actually hoping for problems!
In other news, I finally resurrected my old webcomic, Exotic Soup! I've started drawing the whole thing in Photoshop using my graphics tablet and it's made things quicker and I'm more able to play with the style a bit.
Unfortunately I can't get onto webcomicsnation from home at the moment, (not sure why,) so I can't post it there yet, BUT - I created a page for it on Facebook: Exotic Soup on Facebook! so you can get a sneak peek at the new one now, in colour!
Don't forget to become a fan!
Lastly for now, I told Ortus about my game of 'Tea Darts' game and I've decided to share it with you all.
You need:
One mug per person.
One teabag per person. (Preferably pyramid bags... more later.)
One counter or work surface.
One kettle.
A reasonable sized kitchen.
Set up the kettle on the counter and the mug in front of it, with a gap between them. The mug should ideally be approx 10-15 cm from the kettle, with the same distance in front of it to the edge of the counter.
Put just enough water in for each person.
Click the kettle on.
Retire to approx. 2M distance.
Collect your teabag - pyramid bags are best because you can get the leaves on the bottom and pull the top corner to make a more aerodynamic, 'teardrop' shape. (I tend to twist the top so it's thinner, with all the leaves in a ball at the bottom. This is within acceptable standards for teabag tampering.)
Now throw the teabag at the mug - the normal method of throwing is to go up and over - high enough that if you keep your eye on the mug, the teabag will disappear above your line of sight for a moment.
Throw as many times as you can until the kettle boils. As long as the shot has left your hand before the kettle clicks off, the shot counts.
If there is more than one player, the other players are encouraged to commentate in whatever style they see fit (I hear Barry Davis in my head, but only when I'm playing...) - but no physical psyche-outs please.
Scoring:
If you hit the counter anywhere deemed reasonably close to the mug, you get 10 points.
If you hit the kettle, or other appliance, e.g. toaster, you lose 10 points.
If your teabag ends up on the floor, you lose 20 points AND you still have to use the teabag to make your cuppa. (That tends to improve the aim.)
If it falls off the counter onto somewhere else - i.e. a lower shelf, cupboard or anywhere that is lower than the counter but not on the floor, you lose 10 points.
If you hit the rim of the mug and it makes an audible noise, this is known as a 'Ching' (if you've got ceramic mugs it should make that noise,) and you earn 500 points. (I like high scoring games as opposed to 1-1 draws etc.) If it then falls on the floor etc after hitting the rim, the usual rules apply.
If you manage to get the bag in the cup, you earn 1000 points
I'll leave you with a sketch:
Finished coding the intranet at work today. It does some pretty clever things - basically logs an IT issue, writes that into a database and emails myself and the originator with the reference code and the type of issue and description, etc. Then I get a list of unassigned tasks, (which they are by default,) which I can assign to timeslots.
This links into a calendar which displays on the main page, the current month, broken down by day with whatever reference codes I have assigned on each day displayed. You can click on a day and it pops up a new window which displays all the assigned tasks for that day, in order of time to be seen to, with reference codes and a description of the problem shown for each.
If their reference code isn't shown, they can go forward month by month through the calendar, or their is a search function that they can type their reference into and it will bring up any available information.
It then writes the assigned timeslot to the database and emails the originator to tell them when to expect to be seen. I do the work, then I can give the task a status, such as 'in progress' or 'closed' if I've fixed the issue.
If I choose closed, it emails the originator to tell them the issue is closed and to get back in touch if they need further assistance and strikes a line through the reference code on the calendar to show it's been done.
Not bad for someone who doesn't consider himself a programmer. It's all robust too - like if someone misses a part of a form, it'll tell them to go back and fill it in. I didn't make it particularly secure though, as it doewn't need to be - it's only for work people, not the internet at large, but I could have done fairly easily. Tomorrow I test it with whatever issues come my way, so for once I'm actually hoping for problems!
In other news, I finally resurrected my old webcomic, Exotic Soup! I've started drawing the whole thing in Photoshop using my graphics tablet and it's made things quicker and I'm more able to play with the style a bit.
Unfortunately I can't get onto webcomicsnation from home at the moment, (not sure why,) so I can't post it there yet, BUT - I created a page for it on Facebook: Exotic Soup on Facebook! so you can get a sneak peek at the new one now, in colour!
Don't forget to become a fan!
Lastly for now, I told Ortus about my game of 'Tea Darts' game and I've decided to share it with you all.
You need:
One mug per person.
One teabag per person. (Preferably pyramid bags... more later.)
One counter or work surface.
One kettle.
A reasonable sized kitchen.
Set up the kettle on the counter and the mug in front of it, with a gap between them. The mug should ideally be approx 10-15 cm from the kettle, with the same distance in front of it to the edge of the counter.
Put just enough water in for each person.
Click the kettle on.
Retire to approx. 2M distance.
Collect your teabag - pyramid bags are best because you can get the leaves on the bottom and pull the top corner to make a more aerodynamic, 'teardrop' shape. (I tend to twist the top so it's thinner, with all the leaves in a ball at the bottom. This is within acceptable standards for teabag tampering.)
Now throw the teabag at the mug - the normal method of throwing is to go up and over - high enough that if you keep your eye on the mug, the teabag will disappear above your line of sight for a moment.
Throw as many times as you can until the kettle boils. As long as the shot has left your hand before the kettle clicks off, the shot counts.
If there is more than one player, the other players are encouraged to commentate in whatever style they see fit (I hear Barry Davis in my head, but only when I'm playing...) - but no physical psyche-outs please.
Scoring:
If you hit the counter anywhere deemed reasonably close to the mug, you get 10 points.
If you hit the kettle, or other appliance, e.g. toaster, you lose 10 points.
If your teabag ends up on the floor, you lose 20 points AND you still have to use the teabag to make your cuppa. (That tends to improve the aim.)
If it falls off the counter onto somewhere else - i.e. a lower shelf, cupboard or anywhere that is lower than the counter but not on the floor, you lose 10 points.
If you hit the rim of the mug and it makes an audible noise, this is known as a 'Ching' (if you've got ceramic mugs it should make that noise,) and you earn 500 points. (I like high scoring games as opposed to 1-1 draws etc.) If it then falls on the floor etc after hitting the rim, the usual rules apply.
If you manage to get the bag in the cup, you earn 1000 points
I'll leave you with a sketch:
VIEW 11 of 11 COMMENTS
The best part about it will be when we actually get Barry Davies in to do the commentary, and you can bully and harangue him for not commentating right (i.e. as it is in your head). You can have a stick to hit and poke him with.