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by Ben Hosking.
Original Post: Installing Software is never easy, especially on hot days
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Feed Description: The blog looks at using Java and programming in general as it pops up in life as a Java programmer. It will have links to interesting Java articles and resources. It will also have a lot of SCJP Java 1.5 information and links as I am currently studying
I was off installing some the companies software again today. Installing is something which I have mixed feelings about.
on the one side you get to go out of the office and mainly spend the day installing some software and not really doing that much work (well it is but it's different from normal work so it isn't, if you get my meaning). You also get your petrol and lunch money.
but on the other side
you have to dress up in your suit and you always have that scary part when you are just about to put it on and think "I hope this still fits me".
you have to smile and be nice all day and talk pleasantness
you are on the front line, if something goes wrong they blame you and you have no where to hide.
Anyway back to my mission. I was up to Cannock Chase and whenever I go there it's roasting hot and today was no exception. There are two things about Cannock Chase, it's always hot and when you go into the town center it's full of weird looking people. I sat down and ate my lunch opposite a job center, I didn't see one person go in but then again who is going to go job hunting on a hot day. I wondered what I would do if I didn't have a job and probably walk around town would be pretty good to get out of the house.
Back onto the install, apart from the fact they have two installations one internal and external which means I would be doing a double install, around lunch time things were going to plan, I had just about upgraded both and was just configuring their data. If you want to see their site check it out it here
They got me to design the look of the app, which I thought I did okay with my rubbish Flash skills but then they put some crazy map layers on it. it is also acting a bit crazy after the upgrade and needs a bit more configuring but hey I did my best.
So I went to lunch and I was fairly happy and then after lunch we started to try things and it all started to go wrong, searches weren't working, no labels, hidden overview maps weren't hidden. It was a big struggle but after working all afternoon in the freezing server I finally got things to a usable state at 5:27pm and there I was in the morning thinking I would have nipped off home at about 3.30pm which is the perfect time because then there is no point going back to the office, MWHAHAHAA.
Here are a few tips I learnt about installing software today
1. if you are faced with a rack of servers and you don't know which one is the one you want and in particular which one you are meant to put the CD with your software in then go to My Computer, click on the CD drive and click Eject, the offending drive will then reveal himself.
2. Backup everything but don't just put it in a folder called back up. Put them in a logical order using version number and date, that way if you are back again later in the year you can tell what has been going on.
3. Take a USB pen, great for easily copying files to and between computers. It is also good for taking files you might need to work on back in the office. If you haven't got a USB key get your company to fork out for one. USB keys can also allow you to bring developer and configuration files from your work computer, some information that is helpful but you wouldn't want to give the customer.
4. Finally and most important, print directions back as well as two. I have got lost every time and managed to get home a different way. I had my first experience with the M6 toll road today (very nice it is too)
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