Software Gadgets

.CHM files are the “compiled HTML” files used for most Windows Help files. If you use Windows, they are easy to read. If you use Linux, it is not so easy. While there are several programs that will read and display CHM files, none of the work all that well for me. So I was very happy to discover CHM Reader for Firefox today.

CHM Reader is a Firefox extension that opens and displays .CHM files. While it is not perfect (text resizing that sticks from page to page would be very nice, for example), it works better than any other CHM file reader I’ve tried for Linux. It will even work when I click on a CHM file in Nautilus after I selected “Open with Other Application” then “Use a custom command” and typed “firefox chm:%U” in the input box.

This extension will work on either Linux or Windows (but apparently not on MacOS). Of course, if you use Windows, you don’t really need it unless you just want to do everything you possibly can in Firefox. However, if you use Linux and still need to use Windows CHM help files (many e-books come in this format, for example), the Firefox CHM Reader extension is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Operating System: Windows and Linux and using Firefox
Price: Free
Web Site: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3235

Tags: firefox, windows, linux, CHM, Compiled Help Files

I’ve posted about TrueCrypt before (here and here). Encryption software like TrueCrypt has become even more important with all the reports of stolen laptops full of private business data, not to mention new government powers to snoop into computers many governments around the world are giving themselves. Everyone needs a way to keep their (or their employer’s) private data private. TrueCrypt is a free and open source way to do so. Truecrypt 6.0 has a number of new features:

* Parallelized encryption/decryption on multi-core processors (or multi-processor systems). Increase in encryption/decryption speed is directly proportional to the number of cores and/or processors.

For example, if your computer has a quad-core processor, encryption and decryption will be four times faster than on a single-core processor with equivalent specifications (likewise, it will be twice faster on dual-core processors, etc.)

* Ability to create and run an encrypted hidden operating system whose existence is impossible to prove (provided that certain guidelines are followed). For more information, see the section Hidden Operating System. (Windows Vista/XP/2008/2003)

For security reasons, when a hidden operating system is running, TrueCrypt ensures that all local unencrypted filesystems and non-hidden TrueCrypt volumes are read-only. (Data is allowed to be written to filesystems within hidden TrueCrypt volumes.)

Note: We recommend that hidden volumes are mounted only when a hidden operating system is running. For more information, see the subsection Security Precautions Pertaining to Hidden Volumes.

* On Windows Vista and Windows 2008, it is now possible to encrypt an entire system drive even if it contains extended/logical partitions. (Note that on Windows XP you can encrypt an entire system drive as well, but it must contain only primary partitions.)

* New volume format that increases reliability, performance and expandability:

o Each volume created by this or later versions of TrueCrypt will contain an embedded backup header (located at the end of the volume). Note that it is impossible to mount a volume when its header is damaged (the header contains an encrypted master key). Therefore, embedded backup headers significantly reduce this risk. Also note that a backup header is not a copy of the original volume header because it is encrypted with a different header key derived using a different salt. For more information, see the subsection Tools > Restore Volume Header.

Note: If the user fails to supply the correct password (and/or keyfiles) twice in a row when trying to mount a volume, TrueCrypt will automatically try to mount the volume using the embedded backup header (in addition to trying to mount it using the primary header) each subsequent time that the user attempts to mount the volume (until he or she clicks Cancel). If TrueCrypt fails to decrypt the primary header and then decrypts the embedded backup header successfully (with the same password and/or keyfiles), the volume is mounted and the user is warned that the volume header is damaged (and informed as to how to repair it).

o The size of the volume header area has been increased to 128 KB. This will allow implementation of new features and improvements in future versions and ensures that performance will not be impaired when a TrueCrypt volume is stored on a file system or device that uses a sector size greater than 512 bytes (the start of the data area will always be aligned with the start of a host-filesystem/physical sector).

For more information about the new volume format, see the section TrueCrypt Volume Format Specification.

Note: Volumes created by previous versions of TrueCrypt can be mounted using this version of TrueCrypt.

* Parallelized header key derivation on multi-core processors (one algorithm per core/thread). As a result, mounting is several times faster on multi-core processors. (Windows)

* Ability to create hidden volumes under Mac OS X and Linux.

* On Linux, TrueCrypt now uses native kernel cryptographic services (by default) for volumes encrypted in XTS mode. This increases read/write speed in most cases. However, the FUSE driver must still be used when the volume is encrypted in a deprecated mode of operation (LRW or CBC), or when mounting an outer volume with hidden-volume protection, or when using an old version of the Linux kernel that does not support XTS mode. (Linux)

Operating System: Windows, Linux, MacOS
Price: Free
Web Site: http://www.truecrypt.org/

Tags: truecrypt, windows, linux, freeware, privacy

Go-oo is a fork of the free Open Office office suite with improved compatibility with Microsoft Office formats and a number of other improvements and tweaks, including speeding up the startup time. That along makes this branch worth looking at for anyone already using Open Office.

* OpenXML / DOCX support: Go-oo provides a built-in .docx (MS Office 2007) import filter.
* OpenXML / XLSX support: Go-oo provides a built-in .xlsx (MS Office 2007) import filter.
* OpenXML / PPTX support: Go-oo provides a built-in .pptx (MS Office 2007) import filter.
* SVG support: Go-oo provides a built-in SVG import filter.
* 3D transitions: Go-oo on Linux provides built-in 3D transitions within presentations.
* Rich fields support: Go-oo provides a powerful and interoperable fields implementation with nesting, in-place editing, multiple fonts & nested conditionals.
* Unix systray quick-starter: Go-oo can run in the background for a lightning second start.
* Calc solver: Go-oo has a linear optimization solver that can optimize a cell value based on arbitrary constraints, built into Calc.
* Improved Excel interoperability: Go-oo has improved interoperability with Excel, such as the ability to implicitly convert strings to numbers as context demands.
* VBA support: Go-oo provides VBA macro support for OpenOffice.org.
* GStreamer integration: Go-oo on Linux supports multimedia content using the GStreamer multimedia framework.
* Mono integration: Go-oo allows UNO automation with Mono, permitting automation from many languages such as C#, Boo, and more!
* Text Grid rendering: Go-oo renders Chinese much more pleasantly, using a familiar text grid.
* MS-Works import: Go-oo supports MS-Works files.
* Improved EMF rendering: Go-oo renders EMF+ content, giving a far better view of embedded drawings.
* WordPerfect Graphics import: Go-oo imports graphics in the WordPerfect WPG format which supplements Go-oo’s WordPerfect importer.
* T602 import: Go-oo supports T602 files.

This fork of Office Office looks like it is well worth trying, especially if you need the improved Microsoft Office compatibility.

Operating System: Windows, Linux
Price: Free
Web Site: http://go-oo.org/

Tags: windows, linus, freeware, Go-oo, Open Office fork

Find and Run Robot (FARR) is a program for Windows users who are keyboard maniacs — it uses an adaptive “live search” function to rapidly find programs and documents on your computer as you type.

Press your chosen hotkey to display the FARR window, then just start typing the first letters of the application you want to launch and the results appear instantly. Hit enter to launch the top result, or refine your search with special modifiers and commands.

FARR also lets you quickly run web searches, send email, manipulate files, control on-screen windows, and much more. Build and share custom commands or install plugins to add tons of new features, like live search features for your clipboard history and your internet bookmarks; a popup a calculator with history tape and persistent variables; and many more.

Some of FARR’s features include:

* Ready to run, right out-of-the-box with no configuration needed.
* The most customizable application of its kind, for those who love to tweak settings.
* Caches programs you launch for instantaneous repeat searches and adaptive scoring.
* Comes with dozens of built-in special alias commands that allow you to perform tons of different web searches and other operations.
* Create and share (xml) alias packs with your friends or download them from our site to add custom commands and menus.
* Install (open source) plugins to add advanced functionality.
* A dozen plugins are available at launch time, including a powerful clipboard monitor and searcher; a live calculator with history tape and persistant variables; a bookmark searcher plugin that supports firefox, internet explorer, and opera; plugins to manage running processes, uninstall programs, change the default printer, control external applications, and more.
* Low system overhead, fully portable and runnable from a USB thumbdrive, and doesn’t mess with your registry.
* Drag+Drop results from the result view; quick right click to access file system properties or advanced functions.
* No file indices are used, so results are always up to date with minimal memory use.
* Choose from dozens of skins and customize the fonts sizes of all graphical elements of the user interface, or turn off skins completely and revert to default Windows user interface. Choose between a compact small-icon mode, or an easy-to-read large icon mode.
* Full directory browsing function with live search filtering — manually browse and locate the files you are looking for.
* Customizable toolbar for common functions and operations (optional; with drag+drop support).
* Automatic updating for main program and plugins (optional).
* Customize hotkey triggers to launch and perform specific searches, or copy selected text to the clipboard at launch .
* Fully documented and actively developed with new features being added regularly based on user requests on the the Donationcoder forum.
* Completely free; Donationcoder signup requested and donation recommended — your donations fund continued development! Donations are not required, however.

A much more detailed list of interesting features and FARR details can be found here. FARR is the best windows “keyboard quick launcher” I’ve ever used. Sadly, there is nothing as powerful written for Linux.

Operating System: Windows
Price: Free
Web Site: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/findrun/

Tags: free, windows, keyboard launch, keyboard search

AutoHotKey is one of the few windows programs I have really missed using Linux. While it had a lot of power, I used it mainly for its “hot string” abilities. I’d type =btw and AutoHotKey would replace “=btw” with “by the way.” Linux didn’t seem to have anything that could easily replace that feature of AutoHotKey. That was annoying, but I learned to live without it.

No longer. I’ve discovered Snippits, a small Ruby program written by Ben Kudria. According to Ben, “This is Ruby text expansion program – it will type text for you. It uses ‘snippits’, small text files with a simple syntax to determine what to type. However, snippits can be very powerful, since they can contain embedded Ruby, special keys (Control, Shift, Up, etc), and can contain a cursor placement instructions.” It’s not quite as easy to set up (and a bit less handy to use) as AutoHotKey, but it works. I can type “btw”, press F6 (the key can be changed), and “btw” is replaced by “by the way” in just most Linux GUI programs where the feature would be useful.

Operating System: Linux
Price: Free
Web Site: http://ben.kudria.net/code/snippits

Tags: linux, autohotkey, macro, text replacement, freeware