I want something that works with batch files to automate transfer of
data files from desktop to laptop & vice versa via USB flash drive
* Windows doesn't provide an option to only copy
over newer files.
* Windows 10 seems to be faulty, typically not copying a folder that
already exists. I have to delete the old folder by hand or the
copy/replace doesn't work.
Newyana2,
* Windows doesn't provide an option to only copy
over newer files.
I don't know if Win10 still has XCopy, but it seems that it can do that :
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
* Windows 10 seems to be faulty, typically not copying a folder that
already exists. I have to delete the old folder by hand or the
copy/replace doesn't work.
an ownership problem ?
R.Wieser wrote:That's why someone suggested robocopy, it can do that.
I don't know if Win10 still has XCopy, but it seems that it can do that :Â Â That's not quite what I want. I usually want to just copy
  /D:m-d-y    Copies files changed on or after the specified date. >>                If no date is given, copies only those files whose
               source time is newer than the destination time.
files that don't already exist in the redundant backup. That
was part of the reason for the script: So that I can send 18
missing photos to the redundant photo folder without also
copying over the other 1,200.
Newyana2,
* Windows doesn't provide an option to only copy
over newer files.
I don't know if Win10 still has XCopy, but it seems that it can do that :
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
* Windows 10 seems to be faulty, typically not copying a folder that
already exists. I have to delete the old folder by hand or the
copy/replace doesn't work.
an ownership problem ?
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
I use third party software SyncBackFree:
That's not quite what I want. I usually want to just copy
files that don't already exist in the redundant backup.
So that I can send 18 missing photos to the redundant photo
folder without also copying over the other 1,200.
For me, personally, life is too short for command line. I write scripts
so that next time I do the same thing it will be effortless.
...an ownership problem ?
No. I don't know what it is.
when dropping a folder into a data partition that already has that folder,
I get no popup asking whether I want to overwrite.
Knuttle,
I use third party software SyncBackFree:
Don't tell me. I wrote my own file-backup program. :-) (Why ? Because I wanted to know if I could)
Newyana2,
I've never really done much of this. You're backing up daily?
No, its a monthly thing on that an USB drive. Though I've got an USB stick on which I backup my "high change" (source) files a bit more frequently (using vbscript, checking for newer files :-) ).
So much is longterm data. Photos, tech info, reference materials,
For me its mostly the latter two. Hence the monthly.
Along with disk images, I periodically put copies of all that in a safe
deposit box.
Following the "a backup on the same 'puter isn't a backup. A backup stored in the same building isn't a backup either" saying I see. :-)
On Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:12:05 +0100, Dual Boot Windows <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
[quoted text muted]
users prefer GUI version.
<https://fastcopy.jp/>
Does xcopy/xxcopy still work?
I want something that works with batch files to automate transfer of
data files from desktop to laptop & vice versa via USB flash drive.
I've never really done much of this. You're backing up daily?
So much is longterm data. Photos, tech info, reference materials,
Along with disk images, I periodically put copies of all that in a safe deposit box.
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
On 3/31/2025 9:47 AM, R.Wieser wrote:
Newyana2,That's not quite what I want. I usually want to just copy
* Windows doesn't provide an option to only copy
over newer files.
I don't know if Win10 still has XCopy, but it seems that it can do that :
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
files that don't already exist in the redundant backup. That
was part of the reason for the script: So that I can send 18
missing photos to the redundant photo folder without also
copying over the other 1,200.
For me, personally, life is too short for command line. I write
scripts so that next time I do the same thing it will be effortless.
But I know that some people prefer commandline. I was just putting
it out there. Script is vastly more flexible and easier once the
script is written. But not everyone wants to learn scripting.
On Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:54:31 -0400, Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam>
wrote:
On 3/31/2025 9:47 AM, R.Wieser wrote:
Newyana2,That's not quite what I want. I usually want to just copy
* Windows doesn't provide an option to only copy
over newer files.
I don't know if Win10 still has XCopy, but it seems that it can do that : >>>
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
files that don't already exist in the redundant backup. That
was part of the reason for the script: So that I can send 18
missing photos to the redundant photo folder without also
copying over the other 1,200.
For me, personally, life is too short for command line. I write
scripts so that next time I do the same thing it will be effortless.
But I know that some people prefer commandline. I was just putting
it out there. Script is vastly more flexible and easier once the
script is written. But not everyone wants to learn scripting.
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
where dirINFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).
where cmdC:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
where copyINFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).
where moveINFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).
where netC:\Windows\System32\net.exe
It's also a *dangerous* program. If you mirror (/mir) an empty folder to
a full folder, the full folder can be erased.
On 30/03/2025 00:03, T wrote:
Hi All,
It use to be robo copy for a mass copy of a
directory. Does that still exist? Or is
there something better?
Many thanks,
-T
You can use FastCopy GUI program. It has a cmd line built in but Windows users prefer GUI version.
<https://fastcopy.jp/>
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
On 4/1/2025 1:00 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
Big topic. I guess a lot of it depends on what you're used to.
For people who started with DOS, commandline feels natural.
And it can do some complex things. I try to avoid it because
it's relatively limited and combines coding with doing, by which
I mean, every time I want to do something I have to remember
or look up the exact syntax I'll need. So I have to write the code
every time, so to speak. The whole point of scripting for me is
so that I only have to do something once. Next time I only have
to double-click or drag-drop.
On Tue, 1 Apr 2025 09:26:02 -0400, Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam>
wrote:
On 4/1/2025 1:00 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
Big topic. I guess a lot of it depends on what you're used to.
For people who started with DOS, commandline feels natural.
And it can do some complex things. I try to avoid it because
it's relatively limited and combines coding with doing, by which
I mean, every time I want to do something I have to remember
or look up the exact syntax I'll need. So I have to write the code
every time, so to speak. The whole point of scripting for me is
so that I only have to do something once. Next time I only have
to double-click or drag-drop.
I'm not sure what you're saying here.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
echo %errorlevel%1 # Om my! My copy did not proceed.
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
In scripting, you have to be careful with "volatile" items...
like an %errorlevel% . They must be copied before they
are lost,
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
Directory of D:\
Tue, 03/18/2025 09:56 AM 252,122 paulcopy64.exe
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
Paul,
In scripting, you have to be careful with "volatile" items...
like an %errorlevel% . They must be copied before they
are lost,
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
Directory of D:\
Tue, 03/18/2025 09:56 AM 252,122 paulcopy64.exe
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
On the other hand, you should not contuinue (after the failed copy) when you are getting an error ...
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
The whole point of scripting for me is
so that I only have to do something once. Next time I only have
to double-click or drag-drop.
I'm not sure what you're saying here.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
Advanced -> Advanced -> Advanced -> Advanced?
On the other hand, you should not contuinue (after the failed copy) when you are getting an error ...
On Wed, 4/2/2025 2:50 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Tue, 1 Apr 2025 09:26:02 -0400, Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam>
wrote:
On 4/1/2025 1:00 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
Big topic. I guess a lot of it depends on what you're used to.
For people who started with DOS, commandline feels natural.
And it can do some complex things. I try to avoid it because
it's relatively limited and combines coding with doing, by which
I mean, every time I want to do something I have to remember
or look up the exact syntax I'll need. So I have to write the code
every time, so to speak. The whole point of scripting for me is
so that I only have to do something once. Next time I only have
to double-click or drag-drop.
I'm not sure what you're saying here.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
When those .bat files copy things, do you check
the "error number" to see if the copy
was successful ?
Scripting is "programming", and the same things I would
have to check when writing a C language program, those
are still issues when running a (so-called OS) copy program.
That return() is on main().
/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -I/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include
-o paulcopy64.exe paulcopy64.c
Anyone who can cook up a command line like that...
You don't ask questions. :)
As I said at the start, life is too short for commandline.
Newyana2,
As I said at the start, life is too short for commandline.
How do you keep tabs on the progress of your scripts ?
Personally I like seeing a long-running script telling me what its currently doing. And the easiest way is to run the (VB)Script in a console so that
you can see what its outputting - without having to press the "OK" button on everything it outputs.
Though that doesn't mean you can't start them by double-clicking or dropping files/folders onto them.
%BD%\tasm32b /d?BaseName=%1 /d??Resource="%RD%" /t /kh10000 /l /m2
/i%HD%\Inc /i%HD%\Dll /i%HD%\DBG %1
Paul,
That return() is on main().
Yes, and ?
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
On 4/2/2025 10:19 AM, R.Wieser wrote:
%BD%\tasm32b /d?BaseName=%1 /d??Resource="%RD%" /t /kh10000 /l /m2
/i%HD%\Inc /i%HD%\Dll /i%HD%\DBG %1
Oh, boy. It looks like I'll have to call in some Perl nuts for backup.
Generally I just use error trapping and show a msgbox at the end: "Done."
If I want a report then I put that in the script. for instance,
my file copy script generates a text file listing what was
copied.
%BD%\tasm32b /d?BaseName=%1 /d??Resource="%RD%" /t /kh10000 /l /m2
/i%HD%\Inc /i%HD%\Dll /i%HD%\DBG %1
Oh, boy. It looks like I'll have to call in some Perl nuts for backup.
That return() is on main().
Yes, and ?
It's the same as exit().
Execution does not continue past that point.
Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
On Wed, 4/2/2025 2:50 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Tue, 1 Apr 2025 09:26:02 -0400, Newyana2 <newyana@invalid.nospam>
wrote:
On 4/1/2025 1:00 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I've hitherto uased batch files, which are a form of scripting.
Is there a better tool to use for this?
Big topic. I guess a lot of it depends on what you're used to.
For people who started with DOS, commandline feels natural.
And it can do some complex things. I try to avoid it because
it's relatively limited and combines coding with doing, by which
I mean, every time I want to do something I have to remember
or look up the exact syntax I'll need. So I have to write the code
every time, so to speak. The whole point of scripting for me is
so that I only have to do something once. Next time I only have
to double-click or drag-drop.
I'm not sure what you're saying here.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
When those .bat files copy things, do you check
the "error number" to see if the copy
was successful ?
Note that (this part of) the discussion is for .bat files which mainly contain a single 'complicated' command, so the user does not have to
remember the complicated command, but just the name of hir .bat file.
For *such* a .bat file, if the command fails, it will give the same error(s) as if the command was typed manually, so there's no need for checking the error number.
Scripting is "programming", and the same things I would
have to check when writing a C language program, those
are still issues when running a (so-called OS) copy program.
Yes, scripting - i.e. also .bat files - is "programming", but for
simple .bat files, such are under discussion here, there's no need to
make things more complicated than just putting the 'complicated' command
in a .bat file.
[...]
What kinds of things do you do that need console reporting
mid-script?
Paul,
That return() is on main().
Yes, and ?
It's the same as exit().
Execution does not continue past that point.
Your example doesn't show a "return()" of any kind. Nor a "main()" for that matter...
Bad examples are bad. :-(
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
On Wed, 4/2/2025 11:03 AM, Newyana2 wrote:
What kinds of things do you do that need console reporting
mid-script?
For long running scripts, you could use a bit of progress indication.
What percent done.
In the old days, this was the entering of dots on the screen.
And my favorites were always the programming efforts where
the "dots went off the side of the screen". Such attention
to detail :-) The people doing that, didn't know the terminal
in that case, didn't have autowrap. (Yes, there were actually
terminal emulators *that* crude.)
In my Robocopy command, you can see I like to use the output
as a form of progress indication, as well as making a
permanent log.
robocopy Y:\ F:\ /mir /COPYALL /dcopy:t /XJ /r:3 /w:2 /zb /np /tee /v /log:robocopy_y_to_f.log
/tee # Log to screen, log to file
/v # Verbose
/log:robocopy_y_to_f.log # Each run gets a logfile (for unique src:dest pairs)
You don't actually look at that. The idea is, you open a Terminal, paste
the command, then... watch that the run has started OK. Iconify. Open
the Terminal after ten minutes, inspect and see it's still on target. Iconify. You can use Task Manager or the disk LED, to identify the
command is thoroughly done.
Paul
On Wed, 4/2/2025 8:41 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:[...]
Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:
On Wed, 4/2/2025 2:50 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I'm not sure what you're saying here.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
When those .bat files copy things, do you check
the "error number" to see if the copy
was successful ?
Note that (this part of) the discussion is for .bat files which mainly contain a single 'complicated' command, so the user does not have to remember the complicated command, but just the name of hir .bat file.
For *such* a .bat file, if the command fails, it will give the same error(s) as if the command was typed manually, so there's no need for checking the error number.
Scripting is "programming", and the same things I would
have to check when writing a C language program, those
are still issues when running a (so-called OS) copy program.
Yes, scripting - i.e. also .bat files - is "programming", but for
simple .bat files, such are under discussion here, there's no need to
make things more complicated than just putting the 'complicated' command
in a .bat file.
[...]
Well, someone is expressing an interest in scripting, and I don't
want them picking up any bad habits.
I use a different approach than Steve, for one-liners. I have
a separate notes file in the backup area, and all the one-liners
are copy/pasted in there. Copy a line from that file, into a
separate Notepad, edit the details as required, then paste it raw
into the Terminal window, and then all the side effects are visible
on the screen.
It's like code inspection, doing it that way. Anything moving data
around, deserves extra eyeballs.
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
When those .bat files copy things, do you check
the "error number" to see if the copy
was successful ?
Scripting is "programming", and the same things I would
have to check when writing a C language program, those
are still issues when running a (so-called OS) copy program.
Here, my personal copy program returns a value of "1", if the source file cannot be opened. This clause was written by an AI by the way.
"It doesn't have to make sense", as the AI would tell you :-)
What the AI didn't tell me, is there is a bug in one of the
library routines I should know about.
# part of paulcopy64.exe source code... Mostly written by an AI.
# I only fix them up and make them work. The comment is written by the AI.
// Open the source file in binary mode
FILE *source = fopen64(argv[1], "rb");
if (!source) {
perror("Error opening source file");
return 1;
}
Now, we test in a Command Prompt, and see if the returned integer
error code, is arriving OK or not. It is. If each error has a
different integer number, you can tell the error types apart,
with numeric checks of %errorlevel% .
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
echo %errorlevel%1 # Om my! My copy did not proceed.
Making a batch file is not "just making a laundry list".
It needs conditional checks (somehow) of each
stage of the operation. And in my C program snippet, you can see
the AI is doing the same thing. The AI assumes I will be scripting
calls to "paulcopy64.exe" and scripting needs the number, to check
the program run went OK.
In scripting, you have to be careful with "volatile" items
like an %errorlevel% . They must be copied before they are lost,
by the next utility program loading its success or failure status
into that single variable in the shell.
Look at the following and note my handling mistake. The error result
from the "dir" command, has overwritten the "1" left in the %errorlevel% . There was no error in the "dir" run and the result from it is "0".
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
Directory of D:\
Tue, 03/18/2025 09:56 AM 252,122 paulcopy64.exe
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
The paulcopy64.exe was actually compiled on Ubuntu 23.04
as a cross compile, as I have not managed to get a good
mingw64 for Windows set up here. So I just cross-compiled
it, and that is why the program is 252,122 bytes, when it
should be a lot smaller for a dumb copy program.
# Asking Ubuntu to make a 64-bit version of a Windows EXE (a PE32+ EXE file). # The FILE_OFFSET_BITS is to enable 64 bit long length fields and stuff.
# The compiler package (effectively a script) must be installed for the executable
# of the compiler, to be found. "x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc" does not exist by default.
# This allows my program to have "gobs" of RAM, compiling it this way :-)
/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -I/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include -o paulcopy64.exe paulcopy64.c
Paul
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
In scripting, you have to be careful with "volatile" items...
like an %errorlevel% . They must be copied before they
are lost,
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
Directory of D:\
Tue, 03/18/2025 09:56 AM 252,122 paulcopy64.exe
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
Um, that was a code snippet.
On Wed, 02 Apr 2025 08:50:34 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
You left out one very big thing to remember: whenever you change
which files are synched by one of those .bat files, you must remember
to change the other three. Having to do redundant maintenance is a
fruitful source of bugs.
I know, it's your files and you will surely remember to do the extra
work. It's a pain to do it four times, but probably not a major pain.
Being a fanatic about avoiding duplicate maintenance, I went a
different way. I have one file (fdrv.btm) for synching all files, and
a second (usb.btm) for synching just the small subset of files that I
work on often. Each of those requires an argument /frompc or /topc to >determine the direction of the copy, and accepts additional options
like /L. A separate file (robowrap.btm) is called by usb.btm or
fdrv.btm. It uses /frompc or /topc and other arguments passed by the
two main files, adds always-used arguments like /XO and the log file,
calls robocopy, and checks the return status.
On Wed, 4/2/2025 2:50 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
I have four batch files:
dsk2flsh.bat
flsh2lap.bat
lap2flsh.bat
flsh2dsk.bat
I only have to remember the exact syntax when I make the batch files,
and after that I I have to remember is the name of the batch file.
When those .bat files copy things, do you check
the "error number" to see if the copy
was successful ?
Scripting is "programming", and the same things I would
have to check when writing a C language program, those
are still issues when running a (so-called OS) copy program.
Here, my personal copy program returns a value of "1", if the source file >cannot be opened. This clause was written by an AI by the way.
"It doesn't have to make sense", as the AI would tell you :-)
What the AI didn't tell me, is there is a bug in one of the
library routines I should know about.
...Sometimes ... the file copied from the flash drive to the
computer will not open.
You need to post the content of your batch file(s). Don't
expect people here to have ESP to read your mind.
I haven't really run into such situations. On rare occasions I
might have a script where I'm surprised at the slow speed. But
I just optimize as much as possible and live with it. Usually scripts
like that are one-time operations.
I have found some surprising details about speed with VBS.
For example, with a lot of text it's much faster to put each small
string into an array and then run a Join than to keep concatenating
little strings past the point of petty cash memory reserveed by WSH.
Another surprising difference is that if a lot of string operations
are to be done then it's good to convert it to UCase or LCase
first.
Once I've done those kinds of optimizations, and I know the
script works, I'm happy to just let it do its work. I don't need
to see a progress bar. I could, theoretically, set up a GUI progress
bar, but even if I cared, getting accurate percentage of progress
is usually not possible.
Paul,
[quote]
In scripting, you have to be careful with "volatile" items...
like an %errorlevel% . They must be copied before they
are lost,
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
dirVolume in drive D
Directory of D:\
Tue, 03/18/2025 09:56 AM 252,122 paulcopy64.exe
echo %errorlevel%0 # Oops! I lost my copy failure code.
On the other hand, you should not contuinue (after the failed copy) when
you are getting an error ...
[/quote]
Um, that was a code snippet.
I seem to be missing something.. Could you point out your "code snippet" in the above ?
Yes, thats quoted from my reply to you talking about %errorlevel% losing its failure code.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
if ERRORLEVEL 1 echo Does this print?Does this print?
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
if ERRORLEVEL 0 echo Does this print?Does this print?
paulcopy64 a bError opening source file: No such file or directory
echo %errorlevel%1
paulcopy64 a bfile_size = 0
echo %errorlevel%0
myscript.batError opening source file: No such file or directory
myscript.batfile_size = 0
myscript.batError opening source file: No such file or directory
myscript.batError opening source file: No such file or directory
myscript.batError opening source file: No such file or directory
I seem to be missing something.. Could you point out your "code snippet"
in
the above ?
Yes, thats quoted from my reply to you talking about %errorlevel% losing
its
failure code.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
So as it turns out, it's more complicated than I thought. There is
ERRORLEVEL
and %errorlevel% does not actually exist.
The OS is chock full of examples of "energy waste working up data
for progress indicators" and "indicators that were nuts".
I like the CHKDSK one that says "15 minute remaining" and one
second later, the command run is finished. Now, that's a progress
indicator.
On 03/04/2025 04:24, Steve Hayes wrote:
My problems have been with the target file.
Sometimes, after the batch file has called the copy program (xxcopy in
the case of the desktop computer, Robocopy in the case of the laptop),
the file copied from the flash drive to the computer will not open.
When that has happened, I have recopied the file using Norton
Commander, and then it has opened.
You need to post the content of your batch file(s). Don't expect people
here to have ESP to read your mind. We are in 2025 and witchcraft, magic
and religion is never practised unless you are a politician.
* if applications can be called "apps" surely utilities can be called
"utes"?
The error I referred to appears to be in one of the utes* called by
the batch file.
* if applications can be called "apps" surely utilities can be called
"utes"?
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
[...]
* if applications can be called "apps" surely utilities can be called
"utes"?
Utes are big things and apps are normally small things. But you can
call anything, anything you like, so 'utes' it is! :-)
<https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3A+ute>
On 3 Apr 2025 15:06:34 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
[...]
* if applications can be called "apps" surely utilities can be called
"utes"?
Utes are big things and apps are normally small things. But you can
call anything, anything you like, so 'utes' it is! :-)
<https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3A+ute>
That's in AusE. We call those "bakkies" in SAfE.
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:Just to muddy the waters,
On 3 Apr 2025 15:06:34 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
[...]
* if applications can be called "apps" surely utilities can be called
"utes"?
Utes are big things and apps are normally small things. But you can
call anything, anything you like, so 'utes' it is! :-)
<https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3A+ute>
That's in AusE. We call those "bakkies" in SAfE.
For this Dutchie, "bakkies" is perfectly natural.
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Yes, in future, in the off chance we get stuck in some kind of
constructive discussion, let's throw in some comments about 'utes'.
That'll teach them! :-)
My ute can beat up your ute!
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Yes, in future, in the off chance we get stuck in some kind of
constructive discussion, let's throw in some comments about 'utes'.
That'll teach them! :-)
My ute can beat up your ute!
On 4/4/2025 7:55 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
I've always disliked "apps", too. In my memory it originates
with Apple ads: "There's an app for that." Like all things
Apple, it's a bit too cute, like talking to a 12 year old girl.
But now that the term is established, at least it's a way to
distinguish compiled Win32 software executables from
Metro/WinRT/UWP applets.
Microsoft have a long history of butchering the English
language with tasteless marketing. WinME was supposed
to be pronounced, and written, "Windows Me". But they
couldn't quite swallow their own sleaze, so the logo was a
lowercase e, but as high as the M. Then there was
"solutions" as a substitute for "projects" -- marketing the
software before it's even written.
My favorite all-time gibberish: "Leveraging solutions across
the enterprise". (Translation: Using software at work.)
My favorite example of shooting themselves in the foot:
"Hailstorm" as a name for a set of online services.
Their latest obnoxious gimmick is "experiences":
"Windows also provides experiences that connect to the
internet to provide additional capabilities. These
connected experiences can help you in various ways."
It's an interesting choice. The term seems to assume
that Windows customers tend to feel that they're "missing
the boat" in their life. Numb. So all Microsoft products are
called "experiences". Not only can you write a letter with
Office365. It will enrich your life so that you don't feel like
such a loser. Always dreamed of climbing Everest or touring
the national parks, but you never got around to it? Not to
worry. You can use Outlook, which is just as good. "You
can have a rich, fulfilling life, for only 15 bucks a month."
It's an interesting choice. The term seems to assume
that Windows customers tend to feel that they're "missing
the boat" in their life. Numb. So all Microsoft products are
called "experiences". Not only can you write a letter with
Office365. It will enrich your life so that you don't feel like
such a loser. Always dreamed of climbing Everest or touring
the national parks, but you never got around to it? Not to
worry. You can use Outlook, which is just as good. "You
can have a rich, fulfilling life, for only 15 bucks a month."
On 4 Apr 2025 12:11:59 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Yes, in future, in the off chance we get stuck in some kind of
constructive discussion, let's throw in some comments about 'utes'.
That'll teach them! :-)
My ute can beat up your ute!
It's part of the fight-back against the trend to call utilities
"apps".
And then there's UX (User Experience), which usually means that
programmers and web designers are obsessed with bells and whistles and
ignore pistons and cylinders. So the main user experience is
frustration, because the damned thing doesn't actually DO anything,
but just sits on the screen preening itself.
Your computer is about to call you Emily.
https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.53040.13623743226081137.36b6be7c-6a3b-4414-b1d9-f1b3eb178dea.1e9fda02-60ba-4925-a841-ab921b2841fd?h=768
Without using Recall, CoPilot has another way of watching your desktop.
And your camera input, if you connect a camera to the PC.
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-celebrates-its-50th-anniversary-by-letting-copilot-see-what-you-see
On 4 Apr 2025 12:11:59 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Yes, in future, in the off chance we get stuck in some kind of
constructive discussion, let's throw in some comments about 'utes'.
That'll teach them! :-)
My ute can beat up your ute!
It's part of the fight-back against the trend to call utilities
"apps".
On 5/04/2025 2:20 pm, Steve Hayes wrote:
On 4 Apr 2025 12:11:59 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
But its still short for "utilities" (the U in SUV) so you can just as
easily use the abbreviation for utility programs on your computer.
Yes, in future, in the off chance we get stuck in some kind of
constructive discussion, let's throw in some comments about 'utes'.
That'll teach them! :-)
My ute can beat up your ute!
It's part of the fight-back against the trend to call utilities
"apps".
I thought 'Utilities' included Gas, Water and Electricity! ;-P
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