Owner/Admin

Joined on June 12th of '03
Lives in Drexel Hill, PA
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | AIM | Posts: 12801

One of our members (rudog) has created a trail calculator appropriately named 'Rudog TrailSYM', which he is sharing as freeware. If you're interested, please download the zipfile in the 2nd post and respond with any comments or suggestions.

More inside

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Owner/Admin

Joined on June 12th of '03
Lives in Drexel Hill, PA
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | AIM | Posts: 12801

The zipfile contains the application itself (no installation required) and an HTML file with instructions on how to use. Note that this will only work on Windows machines (XP or Vista, possibly some older versions).

Rake and Trail are some of the most discussed an elusive topics on the boards, and with all the variables involved a piece of software would be a blessing to many. To make sure that nothing is overlooked in the calculations, please post any comments or suggestions you have in working with the application.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work in progress, so use at your own risk and doublecheck any results.

Attachment: trailsym_v1.1.zip
This has been downloaded 452 time(s).

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Owner/Admin

Joined on June 12th of '03
Lives in Drexel Hill, PA
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | AIM | Posts: 12801

FULL INSTALL:

Download here

Instructions:
1. Create a temp directory to unzip this file since several dependancy files will be unzipped. You can use your Download directory, but it will get clutered with these files.
2. Run the "setup.exe" and follow the instructions. If any files are flagged as replacing a newer file, use the newer file and do not install the older file. You will be prompted during the installation.

Feedback is appreciated.



==========================================

[Note: the comments below have been added to v1.1]

My initial comments are more in the user interface than the actual calculations. While the helpfile contains explanations of the variables, it would be nice to make them more visual in the application itself. The addition of a tooltip/explanation on the input fields would be very useful, as will any colorchange in the image (to make the variable visible).

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First name is Jeff
Joined on January 7th of '05
Lives in CDB land, TN
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 2116

I did download it and poked in some numbers and it looked like it will do what it is supposed to do. Cool if ya ask me.
Thanks for posting.

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First name is Jeff
Joined on January 7th of '05
Lives in CDB land, TN
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 2116

Bad man

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First name is Jeff
Joined on January 7th of '05
Lives in CDB land, TN
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 2116

I did some more numbers input and found the max front tire is 30"

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First name is Rudy
Joined on November 2nd of '08
Lives in Savoy, TX
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 368

Thanx for the input Tam. I've got more color selections added. Moving parts, offsets, and highlight color selection. To actually highlight the variable is tricky to create a usefull graphic representation, but I'll work on that while I sleep.

I've got ToolTips for all of the input and output boxes and the buttons. I even added a setting to turn them off. I didn't put 'em in cause they get in the way. They're there now.

Red, thanx for the compliment. It's a work in progress. At least until I get work that pays me my money.

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First name is jason
Joined on November 11th of '08
Lives in benton, TN
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | SITE Posts: 202

i thin k its great stuff will help trumendously on my build

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First name is ben
Joined on January 5th of '09
Lives in perth western australia, Australia
Local time: 03:16 AM
PM Posts: 42

wont work. whats an efw document?

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Premium Member

First name is wayne
Joined on July 8th of '07
Lives in fenwick ontario, Canada
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | SITE Posts: 639

try on two computers wont work! any tricks to this?

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First name is Rudy
Joined on November 2nd of '08
Lives in Savoy, TX
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 368

Guys. Thanx for all the input. I've been answering PM's and e-mails non-stop and it's encouraging for now. Input is GOOD! PM/email bad reviews to me evn if you put 'em here.

If you can't get the software to work, I need 2 pcs of info:
1. What operating system are you using?
it will only work on MS Windows Vista. 50-50 on XP. Some have had problems running even with MS Office pre installed. I need to figure this out.

2. Do you have MS Office installed?
This may not work after all.

When the preliminary Beta Testing produces some major changes, I will ask Tam to update the download to v1.1 and add a full install for the people with problems.

It has been suggested that I ask for donations. I originally wanted to, but couldn't manage all of the aspects. For this I was offered help. I will never expect money, besides it's too late now.

If this takes off, I may rewrite in PYthon and anyone will be able to use it on any WIN32/MAC/Linux/UNIX system. Just a peak at where this could go. For now I'm getting rich with praise and glory that is being righteously passed on.

(EDIT - Just found out someone is using it in Linux from the command promt "wine" etc... by adding
MSVBVM60.DLL & MSCOMCT2.OCX
to the same directory as TrailSYM.exe.)

Last edited by rudog on 01-25-2009 at 05:17 PM

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Premium Member

First name is wayne
Joined on July 8th of '07
Lives in fenwick ontario, Canada
Local time: 02:16 PM
PM | SITE Posts: 639

i am going to try again later the computer is running with xp . i dont have a problem with a donation. i have not seen it yet but know a lot of work when into it. it will help this on this new build for the proper trail thanks

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First name is Chris
Joined on October 16th of '04
Lives in Saskatchewan, Canada
Local time: 01:16 PM
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what's it written in and why does it depend on MS Office being installed?

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First name is Rudy
Joined on November 2nd of '08
Lives in Savoy, TX
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 368

It was written in Visual Basic (VB6). I thought 10 years ago that basic would die, but with active web pages andinternet stuff, it found a new home. It's still not good for mass distribution like this, but it's what I know.

My main concern is to get this to as many people as possible without having to learn a new language. The problem with VB is that it requires the VB runtime dll to do it's thing. MS Office uses the VBA runtime dll to do scripting.

I have an install shield setup that will work on all MS Windows32 systems, but it requires that all files be added to the registry. If you don't like software and uninstall it, you can't get rid of those registry entries. I copy my registry before installing any software and if I uninstall, I replace the registry entirely and clean windows with another software. It's a pain in the but, but I guess I'm havin' flashbacks to DOS where you delete it and it's gone.

Last edited by rudog on 01-26-2009 at 01:04 AM

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First name is Rudy
Joined on November 2nd of '08
Lives in Savoy, TX
Local time: 01:16 PM
PM Posts: 368

Wayne,

Donations are not being accepted at this time. This is my gift to those who can use it.

Enjoy,
Rudy

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