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August 29, 2005

Testing HBlogger

HBlogger is a Palm application by Normsoft
Aside from posting text, it allows you to post pictures that exist within the Treo.
It doesn't seem to allow for a specific title, category or excerpt. Which means, these values have to be set after the fact.
However, it does provide for the following lj tags, that I don't know what they'll do for Movable Type:
[lj user=""]
[lj comm=""]

Here is a picture taken with the Treo 600:

Interestingly enough, I know know that the Title is made of the first 30 characters.

[Posted with my trusty Treo with HBlogger]

Posted by rimblas at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)

Labels with Zebra Printers

Zebra printers are fairly common, easy to find and easy to use.

However, some Zebra printers require their own escape codes and will not print plain ASCII input.
Expanding on the foobar solution (Printing Barcodes from Oracle Apps), I have created zfoobar.

From Zebra's website:

Zebra offers the industry's broadest range of direct thermal and thermal transfer bar code printers making us the clear choice for all of your bar code label, ticket, and receipt printing needs.

ZFOOBAR is a filter/wrapper that accepts plain ASCII input and recognizes stream indicators. The input is then encapsulated with Zebra escape codes and stream indicators translated. Barcodes are handled just like with the foobar program, via a stream indicator.

Configuration and Setup

You'll need to compile the zfoobar.c file. (Or download zfoobar.zip)

Usage

Zfoobar works by recognizing a stream indicator and making a substitution with the Zebra codes that represent the barcode.

This is the form of the stream:
[ZFOOBAR;DATA=*BARCODE*]

To force a new label a spacial stream indicator needs to be used:
[ZFOOBAR;CMD=NEWLABEL]

Optionally you can have a HEIGHT parameter to specify the height of the barcode:
[ZFOOBAR;HEIGHT=77;DATA=*BARCODE*]

Posted by rimblas at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)

Printing Barcodes from Oracle Apps

Printing barcodes has always been a challenge from within Oracle Application, specially when printing ASCII only reports.
FOOBAR is a filter style program that generates 3 of 9 barcodes via PCL codes. (FOOBAR was originally developed by Allen-Sauber Consulting.)

Configuration and Setup

You'll need to compile the foobar.c file. Place it on the path so that it's available to Oracle Apps.

Setup a Driver with the following string as Argument (notice the use of the foobar executable as a filter):

cat $PROFILES$.FILENAME | foobar | lp -d$PROFILES$.PRINTER -n$PROFILES$.CONC_COPIES -t"$PROFILES$.TITLE"

Usage

Foobar works by recognizing a stream indicator and making a substitution with the PCL codes that represent the barcode.

This is the form of the stream:
[FOOBAR;DATA=*BARCODE*]

Where BARCODE is the data to represent as a barcode. Note that the valid values are upper case letters and numbers.

Optionally you can have a HEIGHT parameter to specify the height of the barcode:
[FOOBAR;HEIGHT=77;DATA=*BARCODE*]

Posted by rimblas at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)

Updated M42 timing chain tensioner

Article by Ray Pipkin :: 01 Jan 2000
Original at BMWe30.Network (direct).

The M42 timing chain is tensioned by a chain guide pushed against the chain by a hydraulic tensioner. A weak or frozen tensioner can cause timing chain noise. Replacement of the tensioner takes about ten minutes and requires only a 19 mm socket wrench.

BMW updated its original M42 tensioner with an improved version that is also used in the M44 (part no. 11 31 1 743 187). The original model is no longer available. The photo below compares the new tensioner (top, next to scale) to the original. Between the two units is a spring found in both tensioners.

The tensioner consists of a cylinder, closed at one end, having a closely fitted piston. Oil under pressure enters the port in the wall of the cylinder and, assisted by the spring, expands the piston against the chain guide.

To make it easier to install, the tensioner is sold with the spring compressed and the piston held in place by a snap ring. It takes only a slight force of about 1 newton (1/4 lbf) applied to the piston to release the spring. Once released, it can be very difficult to lock the piston back into place for installation. Avoid pressing on the piston or dropping the tensioner.

The tensioner is located behind a 19 mm hex-head cap on the right side of the cylinder block at the front of the engine, approximately 13 cm (5 inches) below the head/block interface. The photos below show its location with (1) the hex cap in place, and (2) the tensioner partially removed from the block.

To install, slide the compressed tensioner into the cylinder block with the piston end facing inward. Use a new compression washer and torque to 40 Nm. The final step in the installation procedure calls for revving the engine to 3500 rpm for 20 seconds. As this is done, the chain noise will be heard to decrease suddenly as the compressed spring is released and the tensioner is filled and expanded by the engine oil. (The compressed tensioner is released by the chain as it slaps against the chain guide during the revving process.)

Replacement of the tensioner is a simple fix that eliminates one possible source of engine noise.

Posted by rimblas at 08:21 AM | Comments (0)