Tips for brainstorming...

Interesting read, from both positive and negative viewpoints -

1. Use brainstorming to combine and extend ideas, not just to harvest ideas.

2. Don't bother if people live in fear.

3. Do individual brainstorming before and after group sessions.

4. Brainstorming sessions are worthless unless they are woven with other work practices.

5. Brainstorming requires skill and experience both to do and, especially, to facilitate.

6. A good brainstorming session is competitive—in the right way.

7. Use brainstorming sessions for more than just generating good ideas.

8. Follow the rules, or don't call it a brainstorm.

Read more here - http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2006/id20060726_517774.htm?chan=innovation_innovation+++design_innovation+and+design+lead

in reference to:

"8. Follow the rules, or don't call it a brainstorm."
- Eight Tips for Better Brainstorming (view on Google Sidewiki)

winscp vs cuteftp

I recently had an experience of transferring relatively larger files from a windows box to linux one.

I had some files which were ranging from 2.1 GB to 4.x GB. The company traditionally uses cuteftp to transfer (read ftp) files across servers. So I started with that anyway.

However, all my transfer attempts were failing. After transferring 2 GB of data, cuteftp would end the transfer and give away some or other error message. I figured that this was happening only to files which were larger in size. And this transfer consumed more than hour or so before it failed.

Google couldnt help a lot, so, finally i got down to winscp. And, it worked out so well. Not only the transfers didnt fail, but they finished within minutes, instead of the hours and hours spent by cuteftp.

Perhaps its some setting somewhere in cuteftp that I couldnt find, but the whole experience has left me more inclined towards the open source community.

Thanks a ton guys .. :)

in reference to: Download WinSCP from SourceForge.net (view on Google Sidewiki)

Blank Subject Reminder in Outlook...

1. Open your outlook.

2. Press Alt+F11. This opens the Visual Basic editor and then Press Ctrl+R which in turn open Project-Project 1 (left side).

3. On the Left Pane, one can see "Microsoft Outlook Objects" or "Project1", expand this. Now one can see the "ThisOutLookSession".

4. Double click on "ThisOutLookSession". It will open up a code pane.

5. Copy and Paste the attached code in the right pane. (Code Pane) and save it.

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, Cancel As Boolean)

Dim strSubject As String
strSubject = Item.Subject
If Len(Trim(strSubject)) = 0 Then
Prompt$ = "Subject is Empty. Are you sure you want to send the Mail?"
If MsgBox(Prompt$, vbYesNo + vbQuestion + vbMsgBoxSetForeground, "Check for Subject") = vbNo Then
Cancel = True
End If
End If
End Sub

For this you need to create a digital certificate. Go to http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HP052495581033.aspx to see how to do it. Name your certificate whatever you like e.g No_Subject.

Once that’s done go back to the code window, click Tools, Digital Signature, Choose - and choose that signature you just created. Hit ok, save this project, close it. Close Outlook completely too.

Start up Outlook, you get the security box; click always trust running this macro thing. And you’re done! Try sending a message without body, you’ll get an alert. Now even if you restart outlook it’ll still work.

Courtesy a colleague, Mukesh.

The Printable CEO™ Series

I have used this time tracking tool in past also, and always find it handy to keep notes in this format. Helps keep focus.

David Seah - The Printable CEO™ Series

Ensode - Free PDF Unlock Online Utility (Beta)

I got this Gartner group report about Magic quadrant Data Warehouse technology.  I wanted to print it so that I can read it at leisure, but the pdf was locked for printing, even for copying.

I googled for "unlock pdf files" and the first hit I got was this link. 

Just give it your locked pdf file and it generates an unlocked pdf for you in the new browser window.

Ensode - Free PDF Unlock Online Utility (Beta)

cool stuff..

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