PHP: yahoo finance to xml

wrote a simple PHP script to get quotes data from yahoo finance and format it into XML format.

sample: http://psalmhundred.net/experiment/stocks.php?s=adbe,goog,aapl,msft

OR



references:
http://www.gummy-stuff.org/Yahoo-data.htm

Flash: Weather RSS feed

Flash & XML: namespace

sample RSS feed: http://weather.yahooapis.com/forecastrss?w=1062605&u=c

to access elements that are using namespace.
eg.:

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
 <rss version="2.0" xmlns:yweather="http://xml.weather.yahoo.com/ns/rss/1.0" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#">
 <channel>
 ...
 <item>
 ...
  <yweather:condition text="Partly Cloudy" code="30" temp="31" date="Sun, 25 Jul 2010 7:00 pm SGT" />
 ...
  </item>
 ...
  </channel>
  </rss>

gotta use the Namespace class and the :: operator

eg.:

var xml:XML = new XML(loader.data);
var ns:Namespace = xml.namespace("yweather");
trace(xml.channel.item.ns::condition.@text);

Flash Particles effect

Novint Falcon used in Flash

Getting x, y, z coordinates and buttons status:


Using Flash to output force feedback to haptic device:

winsock 2: recv with select

needed to use recv in synchronous mode. but it is a blocking call.
so google a bit and found select.

code segment:

fd_set sockets;
TIMEVAL waitTime;

void Receive()
{
 // gotta call select() to check if there is incoming packet
  sockets.fd_count = 1;
 sockets.fd_array[0] = ClientSocket;

// time to expire for select call. since it is blocking too.
  waitTime.tv_sec = 0; // seconds
 waitTime.tv_usec = 100; // micro seconds

 // check if any of the listening sockets has incoming data
// returns number of sockets in fd_set that has incoming data
 int result = select(NULL, &sockets, NULL, NULL, &waitTime);

 int iResult = result;
 if(result > 0)
 {
  // blocking call
  iResult = recv(ClientSocket, recvbuf, recvbuflen, 0);
  if(iResult > 0)
  {
   printf("Bytes received: %d\n", iResult);
   printf("Recv: %s\n", recvbuf);
  }
  else if(iResult == 0)
  {
   //printf("Nothing received\n");
  }
  else 
  {
   printf("recv failed: %d\n", WSAGetLastError());
  }
 }
 return iResult;
}

libxml2: XML parsing using C/C++

http://www.xmlsoft.org/

require some modification:
xmlversion.h

/**
 * LIBXML_ICONV_ENABLED:
 *
 * Whether iconv support is available
 */
#if 0 // instead of 1
#define LIBXML_ICONV_ENABLED
#endif

iconv.dll required. got it at: http://www.gnupg.org/download/iconv.en.html

xmlTextReaderPtr reader;
 char xml[200] = "<root><child1><child2 attr=\"123\" attr2=\"test\">hello world</child2></child1></root>";
 printf("%s\n", xml);
 cout << "Read XML from memory...\n";
 reader = xmlReaderForMemory(xml, strlen(xml), "", NULL, 0);
 if (reader != NULL) {
  // loop to read nodes
  int ret;
  const xmlChar *name, *value;
  ret = xmlTextReaderRead(reader);
  while(ret == 1)
  {
   name = xmlTextReaderConstName(reader);
   value = xmlTextReaderConstValue(reader);
   printf("%s=%s\n", name, value);

// attributes
   ret = xmlTextReaderHasAttributes(reader);
   if(ret == 1)
   {
    // has attributes
    attrName = xmlCharStrdup("attr");
    attrValue = xmlTextReaderGetAttribute(reader, attrName);
    int attr = atoi((const char *) attrValue);

    printf("attr=%d\n", attr);

   }

   ret = xmlTextReaderRead(reader);
  }
  
  cout << "Freeing XML reader...\n";
        xmlFreeTextReader(reader);

    }

Wiimote with 3D interaction

OpenGL: Stereoscopic rendering

Source: http://www.orthostereo.com/geometryopengl.html

Example:

GLvoid display(GLvoid)
{
  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK);                                   //draw into both back buffers
  glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);      //clear color and depth buffers

  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK_LEFT);                              //draw into back left buffer
  glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
  glLoadIdentity();                                        //reset modelview matrix
  gluLookAt(-IOD/2,                                        //set camera position  x=-IOD/2
            0.0,                                           //                     y=0.0
            0.0,                                           //                     z=0.0
            0.0,                                           //set camera "look at" x=0.0
            0.0,                                           //                     y=0.0
            screenZ,                                       //                     z=screenplane
            0.0,                                           //set camera up vector x=0.0
            1.0,                                           //                     y=1.0
            0.0);                                          //                     z=0.0
  
  glPushMatrix();
  {
    glTranslatef(0.0, 0.0, depthZ);                        //translate to screenplane
    drawscene();
  }
  glPopMatrix();

  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK_RIGHT);                             //draw into back right buffer
  glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
  glLoadIdentity();                                        //reset modelview matrix
  gluLookAt(IOD/2, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, screenZ,            //as for left buffer with camera position at:
            0.0, 1.0, 0.0);                                //                     (IOD/2, 0.0, 0.0)

  glPushMatrix();
  {
    glTranslatef(0.0, 0.0, depthZ);                        //translate to screenplane
    drawscene();
  }
  glPopMatrix();
  
  glutSwapBuffers();
}

XNA: higher refresh rate

public Game1()
{
graphics = new GraphicsDeviceManager(this);
Content.RootDirectory = "Content";
this.TargetElapsedTime = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(8);
this.IsFixedTimeStep = false;
graphics.SynchronizeWithVerticalRetrace = false;
this.IsMouseVisible = true;

}

XNA: 3D and 2D

Gotta reset settings when mixing 3D and 2D content

http://forums.xna.com/forums/t/48583.aspx

eg.:

// to reset settings for 3D drawing
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.DepthBufferEnable = true;
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.AlphaBlendEnable = false;
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.AlphaTestEnable = false; 

            DrawModel(gameShip);
            
            spriteBatch.Begin();

            // Draw Hello World
            string output = "FPS: " + fps;

            // Find the center of the string
            //Vector2 FontOrigin = Font1.MeasureString(output) / 2;
            Vector2 FontOrigin = FontPos;
            // Draw the string
            //spriteBatch.DrawString(Font1, output, FontPos, Color.LightGreen,
              //  0, FontOrigin, 1.0f, SpriteEffects.None, 0.5f);
            spriteBatch.DrawString(Font1, output, FontPos, Color.LightGreen);
            spriteBatch.End();

C++: cin & gets

hmmm.. couldn't get cin and gets to work together.
if cin is used before gets, gets will not wait for user input get the string, due to the "\n" character.
if it's the other way round, it will work. but this is not useful in the general sense if your program needs both string and number input.

so in general, use gets and then use "stdlib.h" data conversion functions, eg.: atoi, string -> int

Example:

/*
simple C++ program
*/

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstring>
#include <stdlib.h>
using namespace std;

// a c++ program starts with main

int main()
{
 int score;
 int i;
 char str[200];
 char c;
 c = 'c';
 
 cout << "Enter a number from 1 to 10: " ;
 gets_s(str);
 score = atoi(str);

 cout << "Enter your name: ";
 gets_s( str);
 for(i = 0; i<score; i++){
  cout << c <<"++ is cool and so is " << str << "; score: " << score << "\n";
 }
 return 0;
}

panoramic pic - 1st attempt

sigh.. took the shots in a rush with a baby in the babybjorn tugging at the camera.
exposure inconsistent, horizon tilted, people moving and thus at different locations in different shots, etc.

3ds max plugin wizard with visual studio 2008 express

1a. Copy the 3ds "maxsdk" to D:\ drive or other location where there are no user permission issues.

1. Open the 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz file (in the 3dsmaxPluginWizard directory root) in a text editor and edit the ABSOLUTE PATH parameter to reflect the new location of the 3dsmaxPluginWizard root directory. Do not add a backslash after the directory name.

Param="ABSOLUTE_PATH = [Absolute Path Location of 3dsmaxPluginWizard Root Directory]"

1b. Edit 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz with a text editor, eg.: Notepad.
change line 2: Wizard=VsWizard.VsWizardEngine.9.0

2. Copy the following files from the 3dsmaxPluginWizard root to the 'VC\VCProjects' directory under your Visual Studio installation (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCProjects):

3dsmaxPluginWizard.ico
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsdir
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz

If you are using Visual Studio Express Edition, you need to copy the files listed above to the 'VC\Express\VCProjects' folder.


3. At this point the 3ds Max Plugin Wizard project should appear under File menu:New:Projects:Visual C++ Projects in Visual Studio.

CSS: rounded edge / corner box

CSS:

.mainbody {
 border-right-width: 1px;
 border-left-width: 1px;
 border-right-style: solid;
 border-left-style: solid;
 border-right-color: #CCC;
 border-left-color: #CCC;
 padding-right: 10px;
 padding-left: 10px;
}
.topcenter {
 border-top-width: 1px;
 border-top-style: solid;
 border-top-color: #CCC;
}
.bottomcenter {
 border-bottom-width: 1px;
 border-bottom-style: solid;
 border-bottom-color: #CCC;
 height: 4px;
}
.topleft {
 background-image: url(images/corners_topleft.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: left top;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
 float: left;
}
.topright {
 background-image: url(images/corners_topright.gif);
 background-position: right top;
 float: right;
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
}
.bottomright {
 background-image: url(images/corners_bottomright.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: right top;
 float: right;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
}
.bottomleft {
 background-image: url(images/corners_bottomleft.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: left top;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
 float: left;
}
.topbottom {
 height: 5px;
}

HTML:

<div>
<div class="topbottom">
<div class="topleft"></div>
<div class="topright"></div>
<div class="topcenter"></div>
</div>
<div class="mainbody">content</div>
<div class="topbottom">
<div class="bottomleft"></div>
<div class="bottomright"></div>
<div class="bottomcenter"></div>
</div>
</div>

Maya Plugin wizard for Visual C++ express edition 2008 setup

1. Unzip the MayaPluginWizard2.0.zip file in the maya installation folder, eg.: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2008\devkit\pluginwizard

2. Copy the following files to the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\Express\VCProjects" directory:
MayaPluginWizard.vsdir
MayaPluginWizard.vsz
MayaPluginWizard.ico

2b. Edit MayaPluginWizard.vsz with a text editor, eg.: Notepad.
change line 2: Wizard=VsWizard.VsWizardEngine.9.0

2c. create a folder "MayaPlugInWizard" in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\Express\VCProjects"

2d. move "MayaPluginWizard.vsdir" into this new folder.

3. Copy the "MayaPluginWizard" directory to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCWizards".

4. Start Microsoft Visual Studio 8 and invoke File -> New -> Project -> Visual C++ Projects and select MayaPluginWizard.

5. Enter a name and solution name and select the OK button.

6. Fill in the information for the "Plug-in setup" screen and then select the "Plug-in type" and "Included libraries" links to also enter the required information.

7. The project will be created and then the solution can updated and built.

Simple Stereo 3d Anaglpyh example

Download FLA

import flash.display.*;
import flash.events.*;
import flash.geom.*;
import flash.utils.*;

// Picture is a movie clip symbol in the Library
var loader:Picture = new Picture();
var loader2:Picture = new Picture();
var scene:Sprite = new Sprite();  

// for drawing scene from left eye view
var left:Bitmap = new Bitmap();
// for drawing scene from right eye view
var right:Bitmap = new Bitmap();
// background for correct blending
var bg:Sprite = new Sprite();

var leftData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight);
var rightData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight);

var distance:Number = 4; // left-right eye distance


init();
prepareStereo();

function prepareStereo():void
{
 left.blendMode = BlendMode.SCREEN;
 // right eye = green and blue channel
 right.transform.colorTransform = new ColorTransform(0, 1, 1, 1);
 // left eye = red channel
 left.transform.colorTransform = new ColorTransform(1, 0, 0, 1);
 left.bitmapData = leftData;
 right.bitmapData = rightData;
 setBackground();
 this.addChild(right);
 this.addChild(left);
 // set the UI textbox and label to the top
 this.setChildIndex(ui_mc, this.numChildren-1);
}
function setBackground(color:int = 0):void{
 bg.graphics.beginFill(color);
 bg.graphics.drawRect(-2000, -2000, 4000, 4000);
}
function init():void{
 loader.x = 200;
 loader.y = 200;
 loader2.y = 200;
 loader2.z = 300;
 stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, move);
 this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update);
 scene.addChild(bg);
 
 scene.addChild(loader2);
 scene.addChild(loader);
 ui_mc.distance_txt.text = String(distance);
}
function update(e:Event):void{
 // clear screen
 rightData.fillRect(rightData.rect, 0xFFFFFF);
 leftData.fillRect(rightData.rect, 0xFFFFFF);
 distance = Number(ui_mc.distance_txt.text);
 loader.x -= distance / 2; // move scene to the left for right eye
 loader2.x -= distance / 2;
 rightData.draw(scene);
 loader.x += distance; // move scene to the right for left eye
 loader2.x += distance;
 leftData.draw(scene);
 loader.x -= distance / 2; // move scene back to original position
 loader2.x -= distance / 2;
}
function move(e:MouseEvent):void
{
 loader.rotationY = (mouseY*2/stage.stageHeight - 1) * 60;
 loader2.rotationY = (1-mouseY*2/stage.stageHeight) * 60;
 loader.x = stage.stageWidth - mouseX;
 loader2.x = mouseX;
}
 

EasyPHP issues with Windows 7

Thanks to Ryan for the following post:
http://ryan.rawswift.com/2009/09/20/easyphp-on-64-bit-windows-7-how-to-fix-apache-and-mysql-problem/

summary of the above post:
issue 1 for Apache:
Apache cannot be runned: another Web server use the Web port
or port is blocked by firewall.
solution:
- Click the EasyPHP icon beside “Apache” button.
- Click “Configure” then click “EasyPHP“.
- Uncheck “Check server’s TCP port before starting” then click “Apply” button and then “Close” button.
- Click “Apache” button and then click “Start“.

issue 2 for MySQL:
Unexpected end of MySql... See log file?
solution:
- Go to “Computer“, open/view Drive C, then double click “Program Files (x86)“.
- Right click on “EasyPHP5.3.0” folder then click “Properties“.
- On “Security” tab click “Edit…” button.
- Select the user that you are currently using.
- Under “Permissions for Users” box, tick “Full control” on “Allow” column.
- And then click “OK” button to apply the changes.

Thanks, Ryan. it works for me.

Flash: Matrix calculation

FlashVars: sending variables into Flash from HTML/PHP

in HTML containing SWF:
...
AC_FL_RunContent(
...,
'flashVars','myVariable=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>'
); //end AC code

...
<param name="movie" value="live_stream.swf?myVariable=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>" />
<embed src="live_stream.swf?src=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>" ... >

in FLA/AS:
access variable thru:
this.loaderInfo.parameters["myVariable"]