Housekeeping

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-27 06:09:24

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery ...

It appears your latest batch of Bans runs from GabrielaVi through Jbest865

I'll set the Verify to work between those two usernames.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-28 07:42:50

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery

Completed Sequence for ID: 12900
Total Command Lines found: 112
Total input Lines in script: 341
Total input Lines in data: 4454
Number of ID's processed: 100
Starting Number: 12801
Last Number of Run: 12900
Summary for Web Automation Report for 07-28-2021 at 09:29:56
Average time of Loop from Main form: 00:01:30
8 Date Exceptions were recorded.
Total time of Processing: 02:32:09
Total time Program was Active: 10:31:00

I'll start a Verify run for the next group of 100 shortly.

Update at 12:28

Working on Mouse Trainer ....

This is definitely "Inside Baseball" ... I don't expect anyone to read it or care about it.

It's for the record ... SearchTerm:Hide a form

The current design of Mouse Trainer depends upon the ability to display (show) a form or hide it ...

I had to write a simple study program to understand what's going on ....

It turns out that the function to hide a form is simply changing the "visible" property to false.

That action does not change the display properties of the form

Thus, an active form can have WindowState of "normal", "minimized" or "maximized", and it can be "Visible" or "Not Visible"

While the default mode for the Reference Frame Form (which allows mouse position to be measured) is Maximized, I'm planning to allow for "Normal", for those operators who have only one monitor and still want to perform some web browser automation.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-07-28 10:34:27)

SpaceNut · 2021-07-28 20:27:45

Tonight's completed homework assignment has been to unban 9601 through to 9700 and the get some sleep.

Have a work project to convert from several paper forms to creating these electronically as the only data on these forms after weathering effects is the control number and that has no value without the information that it once had. So by creating a data base from the same inputting of information to produce a printed form rather than a written one; we can then pull back the data via the control number that would produce the information that we need to be able to take care of the item the form is on.

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-28 20:54:51

For SpaceNut re 1403...

Congratulations on finished the group through 9700!

Little glimpses of life at the company/organization where you've been helping with spreadsheets and other data systems give me the impression this may be an organization that goes back to the founding of the Nation. If that impression is correct, it is no wonder the procedures involve paper forms that can weather. That technology was reliable 200+ years ago and there's been little reason to change it.

You used the term "database" but I'm wondering if this is another spreadsheet?

A database is quite a different structure from a spreadsheet.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-29 07:30:30

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery

Your work with the finishing process brings the ID's in the Display Case up to 9700.

WBA finished a run to 13,000 last night. I went to FluxBB.org to report the milestone and found it offline again.

FYI ... the first pass through the alphabet is finished ... we are now back in the "I" section.

The Username last upgraded last night was: ipexawones

We have 19,633 accounts in the system, so 6,633 remain for review. I expect we'll end up with 633 ID's of "real" people (or close to that number)

There is a set of ID's with one post that were banned but not upgraded because it requires your personal attention to confirm they were spammers.

We've made (I think) remarkable progress over the past months, but we'll be at this for a bit longer.

I'll start a verify run for tonight's upgrade to 13,100 shortly. This verifies the usernames collected are still in the User's table.

The names are from a pool of users with zero posts. That pool included members who had not been banned at the time.

Following the verify run, I'll run a script that confirms the Usernames are in the Bans table.

This is necessary because we are starting over at the low end of the alphabet, and I want the program to stop when if finds the last username you've had a chance to ban.

Update at 11;29 local time

The verification procedures have shown they are worth doing ...

One username dropped out during the Verify users table step.
Now one more dropped out during the verify Bans step.

That one in Bans would certainly be someone you decided to keep.

The names going into tonight's run are all zero posts, still in users, and in Bans table.

***
I am now turning back to Mouse Trainer to iron out some pesky flow problems.

I now think there is a good chance the AACKeys program is reading the operating system video properties in an attempt to calculate the distance to go in the virtual coordinate system.

I have seen 2.1 show up as a ratio between physical and virtual systems consistently at the start of a run.

Eventually the system accepts 2.6+ as the correct ratio.

Screen 1 on this system is set to 1024x768 and Screen 2 is the same.

There is probably a screen density setting that explains the 2.1 ratios.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-07-29 09:38:19)

SpaceNut · 2021-07-29 19:17:30

We are continually adding new topics and we have 33 pages of 50 per that have never had any responses to the initial post.
It appears that the last topic identifier was 9984 with the forums counter indicating Total number of topics: 7,678 which means the great crash lost 2306 which may be retrievable at some point.
We also have a post counter difference as this post is 183,007 with the forum Total number of posts: 178,966 which means we lost 4,041 accross the forums topics....

edit
completed unban of 9701 through 9800 this evening

Rain has been coming down quite heavy for a couple of hours now with the water accross the street now passing onto the road, hopefully it will let up soon so as to keep the water from coming down into my homes cellar...

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-29 19:55:31

For SpaceNut re #1406

Thanks for the details about counts in various categories!

One possibility that might account for a few of the 'missing' posts is that they can be deleted, as (for example) when they are moved from one topic to another. i believe the process creates a new post number, and deleted the old one, leaving it vacant.

The system only adds to the index. (as far as i know).

***
The Internet must be choppy this evening ... WBA started but only completed 19 before it halted.
***
More heavy seas, apparently ... this time the halt was at 66 >> restarted

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-07-30 05:38:31)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-30 20:02:25

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery...

In this new phase, in which WBA works with usernames you have individually examined and moved into the Bans table, or not as you decide, I am applying two validation procedures before performing update.

Given a list of usernames that have zero posts, the first step is to insure 100 names are still in the Users table.

The second step is to insure that the names that came out of step 1 are in the Bans table.

The output of step 2 is fed into the Update step.

However, the update step ** still ** performs a check to be sure the username still has zero posts.

The reason for this is that since the usernames were collected some time ago, a user might have posted something.

If that happens the username will be left in place for your review at some future time.

Tonight's run will start shortly.

We are heading for 13200. last night's Internet conditions were choppy. It will be interesting to see how things go on a Friday night, when I would expect usage to be up.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-07-30 20:04:13)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-31 08:56:41

For SpaceNut re Recovery ...

WBA reached 13200 last night after a couple of hiccups.

Verify runs for the next push to 13300 were completed. All 100 usernames are still in the Users table and also in the Bans table.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-31 10:46:40

For SpaceNut re Internet service via radio

Starry.com appears to be an internet service that offers wireless internet service, and avoids the cost of cable or telephone lines.

I stumbled across it while investigating Internet options in my area.

It may not be available in your location, because it sounds from your comments as though you and your family live a distance from major cities.

Never-the-less, it is easy to check to see if the service is available in your area.

The introductory price of $25 per month for 200 Mbps is stunning, if it's for real.

There does appear to be some money behind the venture, because the web site has lots of bells and whistles.

For all I know, that may be all it has, but at least it's worth investigating.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2021-07-31 12:44:30

The cost for watching just TV is silly stupid in price as they tend to be regional companies and they do not share the poles which the wiring is connected from. The add internet onto that and you will be approaching for a bundle $200 a month.

cleared 9801 to 9900 from the banned list and they are now ready for use.

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-31 13:55:42

For SpaceNut re #1411

Congratulations on finishing the set through 9700. !!!

FYI ... Starry.com does not use poles ... it is a wireless service ... that is why you probably don't have it available if you live well away from a city.

They are (apparently) trying to deal with the last mile problem by using special purpose frequencies. This is not a wi-fi service ... The router you get from them is a receiver at their proprietary frequency, combined with encryption, so they can secure their service from theft.

You may be able to access the service at your place of employment, if it is a good sized city, which could be the case in New Hampshire.

They want a credit card to enroll as a first time customer, so I'm going to pick up a pre-paid card today to use for that. At this point I don't trust them with my workaday credit card.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-31 18:52:37

From time to time members of this forum debate the economy on Earth.

Inflation is a serious problem for folks on fixed incomes.

A force that works counter to inflation is the combination of technical advance and competition.

I just experienced a compelling example of that counter force at work, and I'd like to take a moment to describe it.

SearchTerm:inflation countered by market forces (innovation and competition)

For a number of years, I subscribed to a cell phone service that was needed for my work at the time, which involved on call duty. After that rigorous phase of employment came to a merciful end, I kept the pager and cell phone for less stressful consulting. The cost of the cell phone was (about) $30 throughout that period and right up until a few months ago, so I would presume that the provider was dealing with inflation by holding costs down on their end, so the service could be provided at a steady $30 per month.

A few months ago, I allowed myself to be persuaded (by relatives and acquaintances) to try a fancy smart phone, which cost $60 per month, with lots of bells and whistles and (relatively) unlimited data flows.

After gaining some experience with the smart phone, I realized I do not need all those bells and whistles, so I asked my provider to return me to a flip phone. It turns out the primitive service I'd been using was so obsolete the company no longer offers it. Instead, for that very same $30 per month, they offered a modern digital flip phone.

I am astonished at the capabilities of this device. It is superior to the ancient flip phone in just about every way.

The point I'd like to make is that while inflation has continued throughout this entire period (going back to before 2000) the service provided has steadily improved by leaps and bounds.

Those who lament the effects of inflation are certainly right to do so, but I offer this as an example of a counter force that I assume must be at work for a wide population, since I am just one of many customers of this provider, and there are many providers.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2021-07-31 19:00:22

My ordinary cell phone is a brick for calling and text and that is all for basic emergency calling. It cost a whole $10 to purchase and was on the cdma network. It was upgraded after having it for 10 years to the next $10 cellphone riding on a 2g network. I use 400 minutes of time for a 90 day period and pay just $40 each time I need to refill it. Thats all I have ever needed.

tahanson43206 · 2021-07-31 19:04:31

For SpaceNut re #1414 ...

The lesson that I learned this past few days is that my ancient cell phone was being carried along as a favor by the provider, even though they had developed and were offering a far superior device at the same price.

The lesson I learned may not apply to anyone else, but for sure, a provider does not have time to go through all it's accounts to find ones that could be given better service if they asked. The provider was content to leave things as they were.

It was only when I informed them I wanted to return to flip phone that they informed me the current product was light years more advanced.

Again, my experience may not apply to anyone else.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-01 07:29:58

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery

The Internet was smooth as glass last night! WBA completed all 100 usernames without a shimmy or a shake.

Completed Sequence for ID: 13300
Total Command Lines found: 112
Total input Lines in script: 341
Total input Lines in data: 4053

Number of ID's processed: 100
Starting Number: 13201
Last Number of Run: 13300
Summary for Web Automation Report for 08-01-2021 at 00:52:55
Average time of Loop from Main form: 00:01:29
17 Date Exceptions were recorded.
Total time of Processing: 02:29:34
Total time Program was Active: 02:30:57

I'll start Verify runs for the next batch shortly.

3952 usernames remain in the current pool of ID's with zero posts

It seems likely (to me at least) that we will reach 17,000 recovered spammer created ID's.

If we can keep up the present pace, we might reach that goal in 37 days (mid-September)

Since you are working at both ends of the process, I hope you can find the time and energy.

If you need to take a break, I'll be ready for that possibility.

Update at 14:02 local time ...

For SpaceNut ... we only have 83 user names that fit the criteria for today's run.

Rather than proceed, i'll wait until you have time to add a few more bans to the table.

here is where you left off: Jazestwime

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-01 12:03:18)

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-01 17:57:50

For SpaceNut re spammers...

While we wait for you to find time to add more spammers to the Bans table, I thought you might be interested in this news from Dr. Dartnell's site...

WHO IS ONLINE
In total there are 76 users online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 76 guests (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)
Most users ever online was 154 on Thu May 07, 2020 10:34 am

Earlier today I saw 121 spammers knocking at the door ... A normal contingent is between 8 and 12 persistent visitors, but every now and then waves of spammers seem to sweep through the Internet.

Your decision to block spammer registrations seems more and more sound as time goes along.

We have a viable pathway for individuals to join the forum if they are at all serious.

On the other hand, our contingent of existing members is holding steady for the time being, but a number are in their golden years.

It would be good to add a few younger members at a sustainable pace, if we can (somehow) find a way to persuade them their careers would be advanced. The initiatives by RobertDyck (Large Ship), OF1939 (17 person expedition) and by Calliban (Nuclear fission power) all seem (to me at least) to be of sufficient size and scope to deliver a full length career to those who take them on.

There are numerous other ideas for initiatives that have been given preliminary exposure in the forum.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2021-08-01 18:56:11

Just think we have converted those spammer accounts starting back in 2020/11/15 from none now to the magical roll over number of 10,000 with tonight's unban of 9901 through to 10,000 and while the conversion happened some time ago its still an achievement for NewMars still the same.

We still have quite a few guests that either are trying to get back in or we are quite popular now that spammers have gone away....

have finished with the letter j's for banning and resetting accounts to 0 that were spammers. Real accounts indicate "Account locked" that have low post counts or have not been on for a long time.

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-01 19:15:40

Congratulations n reaching a major milestone of 10,000 fully refurbished ID's!

I expect those "guests" are spammers on their (apparently eternal) troll for weak web sites!

Not all are malevolent. Some are just salespeople hawking their wares. Because Dr. Dartnell left the door open for spammers to apply for admission, they have taken to creating little tags about their products or services in the short space provided, and then they leave a web site link because that is provided. The latest such application was by someone hawking a business service of some kind. Before that it was someone hawking an online gambling service.

As you know, Dr. Dartnell NEVER grants admission to these applicants. The last person who received admission was Terraformer, and it is thanks to his petition to Dr. Dartnell to grant admission that I learned about this group, and I suspect that Terraformer used a private contact method to secure admission.

Dr. Dartnell must have something like our portal set up, although I've never had need of it.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-02 08:03:24

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery ...

WBA is on pause until you have time to add more spammers to the Bans table.

The pool of candidates with Zero posts stands at 3952

We have 83 verified candidates in the ready-to-update pool.

That would amount to 40 days of additional work before we even start to look at the candidates with 1 ghost post.

Those 3952 ID's remain points of vulnerability, since they (almost all) are spammers who could return at any time.

If kbd512 were willing (and had the time) to work on the finishing process, then you could concentrate on the front end review, which only you can do.

Is the finishing process something that kbd512 could do?

We still have 3300 ID's to finish, and we would be adding 100 per day for 40 days.

Could the finishing process be automated. Perhaps kbd512 would be willing to tackle the finishing process if he could assign the task to a computer.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-02 08:05:38)

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-03 07:41:08

For SpaceNut re ID Recovery ...

WBA is on pause until you have time to add more spammers to the Bans table.

The pool of candidates with Zero posts stands at 3952

We have 83 verified candidates in the ready-to-update pool.

Finished ID's stand at 10,000

Pending ID's stand at 13,300

(th)

SpaceNut · 2021-08-03 20:21:12

Letter k*, 9 pages have been processed for conversion....

kbd512 · 2021-08-03 20:40:00

tahanson43206,

If you guys are doing this manually, just explain what manual steps you're performing and I'm sure we can automate it.

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-03 21:05:43

For kbd512 re suggestion in Post #1423

Thanks for a helpful suggestion!

A tool to automate input to a web browser would be useful, and I understand there may be commercial products that do that.

I've read about something called Selenium that apparently is designed for that purpose.

However, the specific task that you could help with is done by an Administrator, and if you are willing to take that off SpaceNut, it would help him work on the front end. What is needed is an Administrator to take converted TestID records and make them full members. I have no idea what SpaceNut is doing to accomplish that, but he might be willing to teach you if you have a bit of time now and then to help.

There are 3300 ID's that need to be upgraded to full member status, and I'll be churning out 100 per day for the next 37 days, as long as SpaceNut keeps feeding me candidates.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-03 21:06:17)

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-03 21:13:04

For SpaceNut re #1422

Thanks for sending more candidates over to the Bans table!

I'll run a quick verify for 17 usernames and if they check out, I'll set up the full 100 for tonight's run.

Update the next day: I changed my mind and decided to go with the 83 already verified candidates. A new error showed up ..

WBA only completed 12 usernames when it halted due to being unable to reach the site. That was a more than Internet chop. That was a Bermuda Triangle event!

My current plan is to verify 117 usernames for tomorrow's run, to put us back on the even century track.

***
It is good to see the monster Super Heavy engine cluster. I would imagine every one of those engines would have been tested at the McGregor test range before being mounted in the rocket.

***
WBA completed the run to 13183 ...

Completed Sequence for ID: 13383
Total Command Lines found: 112
Total input Lines in script: 341
Total input Lines in data: 3941

Number of ID's processed: 71
Starting Number: 13313
Last Number of Run: 13383
Summary for Web Automation Report for 08-04-2021 at 09:33:22
Average time of Loop from Main form: 00:01:28
13 Date Exceptions were recorded.
Total time of Processing: 01:46:10
Total time Program was Active: 01:55:38

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-04 07:35:04)

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#1401 2021-07-27 06:09:24

Re: Housekeeping

#1402 2021-07-28 07:42:50

Re: Housekeeping

#1403 2021-07-28 20:27:45

Re: Housekeeping

#1404 2021-07-28 20:54:51

Re: Housekeeping

#1405 2021-07-29 07:30:30

Re: Housekeeping

#1406 2021-07-29 19:17:30

Re: Housekeeping

#1407 2021-07-29 19:55:31

Re: Housekeeping

#1408 2021-07-30 20:02:25

Re: Housekeeping

#1409 2021-07-31 08:56:41

Re: Housekeeping

#1410 2021-07-31 10:46:40

Re: Housekeeping

#1411 2021-07-31 12:44:30

Re: Housekeeping

#1412 2021-07-31 13:55:42

Re: Housekeeping

#1413 2021-07-31 18:52:37

Re: Housekeeping

#1414 2021-07-31 19:00:22

Re: Housekeeping

#1415 2021-07-31 19:04:31

Re: Housekeeping

#1416 2021-08-01 07:29:58

Re: Housekeeping

#1417 2021-08-01 17:57:50

Re: Housekeeping

#1418 2021-08-01 18:56:11

Re: Housekeeping

#1419 2021-08-01 19:15:40

Re: Housekeeping

#1420 2021-08-02 08:03:24

Re: Housekeeping

#1421 2021-08-03 07:41:08

Re: Housekeeping

#1422 2021-08-03 20:21:12

Re: Housekeeping

#1423 2021-08-03 20:40:00

Re: Housekeeping

#1424 2021-08-03 21:05:43

Re: Housekeeping

#1425 2021-08-03 21:13:04

Re: Housekeeping

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