Christopher Stoll

Flash Game: eGunnery

2009-11-07T16:06:00.000-05:00

This is a game that I made back in 2000 called eGunnery. At the time we were looking for a way to get some online attention for our Army National Guard unit, so I thought that making a gunnery simulation would help. Check it out, but keep in mind that I made it almost 10 years ago! There are multiple levels, so if you are good enough you will get to continue on. It will no longer keep track of high scores, that data was being stored on a server where I worked at the time, but other than that it seems to still work.

2009 GLBC Christmas Ale Homage

2009-11-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Tis the season to drink Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale, so I thought it would be a good time to summarize the articles that I have written pertaining to it. My homage to the best holiday beer ever made.

2008 replica Christmas Ale recipe (named Odinzale)
Calculation of how many calories are in Christmas Ale in 2008
2009 replica Christmas Ale recipe
Also, my guidelines for drinking homebrew

Internal Corporate Advertising

2009-11-06T06:15:00.000-05:00

It is hard to get the word out at large companies. Even companies who try to disseminate information have a hard time getting the right information into the right employees hands. Some firms have company-wide meetings to disseminate important information that has broad appeal, and then use newsletter, intranets, and mass emails to spread other information. The problem is that people become overwhelmed with information and end up not seeing the small things that they may actually be concerned about in the flood of irrelevant information.

Newsletters are great, but the information is not targeted, and many people quit reading them because they don't feel there is value in doing so. The same thing happens with intranets, they work great in the beginning, but as the variety of topics increase people find it harder to focus on the content they are interested in. And, mass emails are many time sent directly to the trash bin.

So how can a large company target the dissemination of information? How can a company effectively share the knowledge of its employees?

Read my possible solutions after the jump.

I was in a meeting discussing this subject one day when an idea struck me. Our company attempts to block external advertisers as a courtesy (or to save bandwidth) when user browse the internet, and the blocked content is replaced with a notice that it has been blocked. I thought that instead of simply telling the user that the content had bee blocked, we should replace the external ad with one of our own. Instead of seeing the advertisement for Coca-Cola or the "advertisement removed" banner, why not show the users an advertisement for a new internal HR benefit or show them a tip on how to build widgets faster.

As I thought about this concept another idea came to me, we should also place targeted internal ads on our intranet. Then, when a user searches for help on Word they get their search results as well as an "advertisement" that provides a link to our companies document templates or documentation standards.

To make this effective the company would need to have an efficient central location for finding information (perhaps a Google Search Appliance, or similar technology), otherwise employees will continue to waste time digging for material in the various locations that they think it may be located and miss our attempts to help them.

Veteran employees have an advantage when it comes to finding information in a large company because they have the experience to know where to look. New employees could get up to speed faster and information would flow between departments faster with a centralized searching system that also uses targeted advertising to guide people in the right direction.

jQuery and FlexBox Cause AJAX Autocomplete Mania

2009-11-05T09:13:00.004-05:00

A while ago I converted the select boxes for one of our web applications to use an AJAX driven, autocomplete input that grabs suggestions from the database. I used jQuery and the FlexBox plugin as described in my post comparing the functionality of jQuery and MooTools. Since then I have had requests to change most of the other applications to use this technology; the users absolutely love it.

For our internal web apps, one of the most common fields is the employee select field. We are using single sign-on, so we know who is entering the data, but we need to also present a list of other users as well. Many of these applications are used at multiple facilities, and normally a user will only want to see information relevant to that facility. Which is good since it allows for the presentation of a select list filtered by location. Without this we would have to generate select drop-downs containing all users from all facilities, which is thousands of users. But, since the Great Recesion, more people are working in cross-facility roles and the need for a complete list has grown. The solution to this problem has been the AJAX driven autocomplete inputs.

I have been reusing the same snippet of code for multiple appliations, and decided to share it here as well. It can be found after the jump.

In the head of the HTML document:

In the HTML form:

<input type="text" id="clockNbr" name="clockNbr" size="10" />
Search for clock by name: <div id="fb_user_clocknbr"></div>

or, for ColdFusion

<cfinput type="text" id="clockNbr" name="clockNbr" size="10" required="Yes" message="The clock Number is required">
Search for clock by name: <div id="fb_user_clocknbr"></div>

SAP SmartForms Checklist

2009-10-21T06:15:00.003-04:00

We currently have a project underway to implement SAP at one of our facilities in Mexico, and for this project I am responsible for getting all of the shipping labels created using SAP SmartForms. I must create a huge number of labels, so I have many labels moving through various stages of development. In order to keep track of each label and ensure that nothing gets missed I have created a simple checklist.

We use a formal service request (help desk) system in which I must create proper requests. The system only supports plain text, so that is what my checklist is. I simply copy this checklist template into one of the service request fields and then change the "O"s to "X"s when an item is completed. I also fill in certain values after they are defined so that I have a reference. Otherwise the team and I could confuse which message types go to which customer.

If you are interested, you can see the checklist after the jump.

O => Create SmartForm ____
O ==> Build form, layout
O ==> Barcode check
O ===> Remove special characters
O ===> Convert to upper case
O ===> Remove spaces
O ==> Mulitple paper sizes
O ===> DIN A4 format
O ===> /SGD/BC_SSF_PAGEFORMAT2
O ===> /SGD/BC_SSF_GENERATE
O ===> /SGD/BC0036_SSF_PAGEFORMAT
O ===> ED1 > SPAD
O ===> ED1 > ZSFPF
O ===> ED1 > ZSFNU
O ===> ED1 > ZSFTRY
O ==> Printer Settings
O ===> /SGD/BC_SSF_NUTZEN
O ===> /SGD/BC0036_SSF_TRAY
O => Create Output Type
O ==> ED1 > NACE
O ===> V2 (ZLnn) ____
O ====> Master (ENTRY)
O ====> Single (ENTRY_KLT)
O ====> schemata
O ===> V6 (ZL{nn-20}) ____
O ====> Master (ENTRY)
O ====> Single (ENTRY_KLT)
O ====> schemata
O ==> Classification
O ===> ED1 > CL20N
<===> <===> <===> <===> <===>
O => Transport to Quality ____
O ==> Create and release transpport
O ==> Request transport signature
O ==> Transported, date ____
O ==> Printer settings
O ===> EQ1 > SPAD
O ===> EQ1 > SM30 > /SGD/BC_SSF_CNTL
O ===> EQ1 > SM30 > /SGD/BC_SSF_TRAY
O ==> Classification
O ===> EQ1 > CL20N
<===> <===> <===> <===> <===>
O => Transport to Production
O ==> Create and release transpport
O ==> Request transport signature
O ==> Transported, date ____
O ==> Printer settings
O ===> EP1 > SPAD
O ===> EP1 > SM30 > /SGD/BC_SSF_CNTL
O ===> EP1 > SM30 > /SGD/BC_SSF_TRAY
O ==> Classification
O ===> EP1 > CL20N

SAP Exit for PA30

2009-10-19T07:00:00.027-04:00

I recently had to write a small exit for HR that would set certain default values, and then make sure that each group could only be selected from once. Below is the ABAP code that I used to accomplish this small task.

EXIT_SAPFP50M_001 > ZXPADU01

data:
i0025 like p0025

* stollcri -- 2009-10-05 -- SR1182496
if innnn-infty = '0025'.
CALL METHOD cl_hr_pnnnn_type_cast=>prelp_to_pnnnn
  EXPORTING
   prelp = innnn
  IMPORTING
   pnnnn = i0025.

i0025-pkt01 = '1'.
i0025-pkt02 = '1'.
i0025-pkt03 = '1'.
i0025-pkt04 = '1'.
i0025-pkt05 = '1'.
i0025-pkt06 = '1'.

CALL METHOD cl_hr_pnnnn_type_cast=>pnnnn_to_prelp
  EXPORTING
   pnnnn = i0025
  IMPORTING
   prelp = innnn.
endif.

(more after the jump)

EXIT_SAPFP50M_002 > ZXPADU02

data:
i0025 like p0025

* stollcri -- 2009-10-05 -- SR1182496
when '0025'.
IF sy-tcode(2) EQ 'PA'.
  DATA: ikrt type BUKRT,
   iecount type i,
   iocount type i.

CALL METHOD cl_hr_pnnnn_type_cast=>prelp_to_pnnnn
  EXPORTING
   prelp = innnn
  IMPORTING
   pnnnn = i0025.

* this should only be for the US, check the number !!!
IF i001p-molga = '10'.
  clear iecount.
  clear iocount.
  DO 6 TIMES VARYING ikrt FROM i0025-KRT01 NEXT i0025-KRT02.
   case ikrt(1).
   when 'E'.
   iecount = iecount + 1.
   when 'O'.
   iocount = iocount + 1.
   endcase.
  ENDDO.
endif.

i0025-pkt01 = '1'.
i0025-pkt02 = '1'.
i0025-pkt03 = '1'.
i0025-pkt04 = '1'.
i0025-pkt05 = '1'.
i0025-pkt06 = '1'.

CALL METHOD cl_hr_pnnnn_type_cast=>pnnnn_to_prelp
  EXPORTING
   pnnnn = i0025
  IMPORTING
   prelp = innnn.

IF iecount > 1 or iocount > 1.
  MESSAGE e016(rp) WITH 'Multiple Unique Appraisal Criteria Selection not possible'.
endif.
ENDIF.

New Features in Windows XP

2009-10-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

I know that Windows 7 will be available for retail sale in a few days, but my company is still using Window XP. And, unfrotunately, many people are still limiting themseleves to skills that they learned with Windows 95 and NT.

We have countless people who use the Windows desktop as their main storage location. The desktop is where they store documents, links and even small programs. The problem with this is that once the desktop gets full it gets hard to find what find anything. So, to resolve that problem people organize their desktop icons. And, that works great until the user logs in to a PC with a smaller resolution screen, then all the icons get rearranged. To solve this problem our users found a nice little third party application.

I believe that software should not be used to replace user education, so I decided to create some training material regarding the organization features built into Windows XP. I simply created an image that shows the organizational features that are built in to Windows XP.

Just in case any one else finds themselves in this same situation, the image is after the jump.

Imitation Christmas Ale 2009

2009-10-17T14:45:00.019-04:00

Almost three months ago I brewed up another batch of my Imitation Christmas Ale, and I forgot to write a post about it. But, since that batch is long gone I am considering brewing up another batch and thought that it would be a good time to write up the revised recipe.

I am definitely getting better at this recipe, and this version is much closer to my target, but I still have some things I would like to improve. I would like to add a little more spice flavor and bitterness, so in the next batch I am considering adding some spices and hops to the secondary. Also, the bottled brew was barely carbonated, but the taste was still good. It could probably use a little more time to age. But, as any brewer knows, it is hard to keep yours hands off of beer in the bottle.

The beer was best served at around 50 degrees, and tasted great at cellar temperatures. It did exhibit chill haze (and loss of flavor) at refrigerator temperatures. This would be a good brew to drink on a cold winter day.

The recipe is after the jump.

OG: 1.088
FG: 1.022
ABV: 8.65 %
IBU's: 30.02
Calories: 288

Volume: 5 Gallons
Color: 10.0 SRM

Primary: 5 days @ 70°F
Secondary: 10 days @ 70°F
Aging: 14 days @ 72°F

Grains & Adjuncts
1.00 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L
1.00 lbs Honey
1.00 lbs Honey Malt
3.00 lbs Extra Light Dry Extract
3.30 lbs Muntons ME Light
2.00 lbs Amber Dry Extract

Hops
0.25 ozs Cascade - 45 mins
0.50 ozs Cascade (leaf) - 45 mins
1.00 ozs Williamette (leaf) - 45 mins
1.00 ozs Williamette (leaf) - 15 mins
0.50 ozs Cascade (leaf) - 15 mins

Yeasts
1.0 pkg American Ale - Wyeast Labs 1056

Additions
0.50 oz Cinnamon Stick - 15 mins / Boil
0.25 oz Clove, whole - 15 mins / Boil

(I used iBrewMaster for the iPhone to record this data)

Napoleon was the "Son of the Revolution"

2009-10-17T11:30:00.005-04:00

Please don't plagiarize my work, your instructor will know. If you can find it, so can he/she (I can see by looking at the logs for my site). Thanks.

If the life and career of Napoleon Bonaparte is examined in a vacuum, then it would certainly appear that he was a demagogue and dictator who simply imposed his will upon subjected peoples. But, it would be naïve to judge this great leader without considering the world around him, the events that led up to his rule, and the ultimate effects of his decisions. In light of those circumstances it is reasonable to assert that Napoleon was the “son of the Revolution”, and that he liberated Europeans from reactionary and monarchical rule.

Napoleon started at the lowest possible rung on the ladder where his ascension to greatness would still be possible. If he were any lower in the socio-economic system then he would have not been able to obtain the education necessary to achieve greatness. His rise to power is equivalent to what we call the “American Dream”, and his actions show that he understood the importance of this sort of meritocracy. Napoleon is often quoted as saying, “La carrière ouverte aux talents", which roughly means “careers open to the talented.” And, his rule certainly spread this sort of republican ideology that was ingrained in the French revolution.

Napoleon’s actions leading up to and on the 18th of Brumaire were not consistent with republicanism, but they put him in a position where he could enact reforms that would bring some closure to the French Revolution and bring in an equitable government that was the real goal of the revolution. He reconciled the problems with the Catholic Church, improved education, brought meritocracy to government, reformed the tax code, and implemented his civil code.

When Napoleon latter gave himself the title of emperor many people were disappointed. This was seen as taking France back from a republic to a monarchy, but the practical effect was probably not so bad. Napoleon ostensibly did this to erode the Bourbon family’s claim to the throne, and this logic is somewhat reasonable considering that the other monarchs in Europe would have been happy to reinstitute the monarchy and help solidify their own standing. With Napoleon as emperor the French people lost their republic, but they maintained many of the ideals that they fought for in the revolution. In fact, when the Bourbon family was eventually restored in 1814, not only was franchise for the impotent Chamber of Deputies limited to about one percent of the population, but the king attempted to go back to many of the pre-revolutionary policies.

Napoleon also helped to spread the ideas of the French Revolution beyond France’s borders. The Napoleonic wars tore down aristocracies and kingdoms, then replaced them with nation-states whose people were infused with a sense of pride in who they were rather than who their lord was. The sense of nationality that made people want to be free of Napoleon would not have even existed without Napoleon redrawing Europe.

Napoleon has many critics, but most of the criticisms seem somewhat hollow to me. Napoleon is criticized for waging so much war. But, in all likelihood these wars would have been unavoidable. The other European monarchies would have loved to bring their system of leadership back to France, and would have conceivably made advances without Napoleons strong presence. Most of the Napoleonic Wars were arguably a result of the coalitions formed against France for those reasons. Napoleon was the central figure of the wars, so his name gets placed on them, and thus he takes an unfair percentage of the blame.

Napoleon and his opponents were harsh, but it is my view that Napoleon had the people’s welfare in mind. He was the son of the French Revolution, but the progenitor of European revolutions.

Originally written October 5th, 2009

SAP Quick Cut and Paste

2009-10-16T17:45:00.000-04:00

I recently had a user call and ask why he couldn't copy and paste properly inside of SAP, it was working properly outside of SAP. So, I took a look at his problem and saw that everytime he highlighted some text it would automatically unhighlight itself. After looking through some of his settings I noticed that he had "quick cut and paste" enabled.

To change this setting you must click the "Customize Local Layout" button on the toolbar, and the check or uncheck "Quick Cut and Paste."

This copies text as soon as you highlight it and helps with areas where you would normally have to use Ctrl-y prior to copying. But, it causes some unexpected behavior in areas where you would normally not have to use Ctrl-y. I recomend that if you are in an area of the system where Ctrl-y is necessary a lot that you turn it on, but turn it back off when you are done.

Multi-line ABAP Comments

2009-09-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

In ABAP there is no multi-line comment delimiter, and even the single line comment delimiter is somewhat confusing. If you type an asterisk ('*') in the first character of the line, then that line is considered a comment. If you want to place a comment after some code on a line, then you must use a double quotation mark ('"').

The only practical way to write ABAP code is inside of SAP itself, and the ABAP editor provides a "better" way to do multi-line comments. In the ABAP editor you can create mult-line comments by highlighting a block of text and using "comment" option in the right-click menu. Though all this really does is turn every selected line into a single line comment.

Local SAP Printing

2009-08-04T20:26:00.000-04:00

With our SAP installation we have many printers defined all over the world, but sometimes we don't want to print to a real printer. Especially in IT, we can do a lot of prints to test things, and it is much more environmentally friendly (and cheaper) to print to an electronic file. For our installation there is only one way to do this, using the local SAP print daemon.

We have a specially configured printer named LOCL that will print to the default printer on the local computer using the local SAPLPD. And this is great until you need to print barcodes, there is a problem rendering them correctly probably due to the fonts. To get around this problem we also have a local post script printing option, but it is not very well known.

Instead of using the printer LOCL, we use the printer LOCO (LOCL_PS in the test systems). There is a catch to using this printer, which is probably why it isn't used more often. You must have a local printer set up with the name SAP_POST (SAP_PS for the test systems) that is configured to print to file. When you request a print on LOCO the local SAP line printer daemon searches for the SAP_POST printer and then sends postscript output to it. The system asks you for a file name, and voila, you have a post script file.

Of course the next problem is what to do with the post script file. To view it I installed Ghostscript and GhostView. And that works well for me. But, when other people need to view these outputs I have to assume that they do not have any postscript viewer installed. So, from inside of GhostView I print the label to PDF.

And that is the simplest method I have found for generating PDF output of prints containing special items such as barcodes.

iPhone Brewing App

2009-08-02T15:28:00.007-04:00

This weekend I was planning for my next batch of Odinzale, and I decided that I would check the iPhone app store again for a good brewing application. As luck would have it I found two.

Brew Pal

The first application I found is called Brew Pal (iTunes). This application has a ton of features, most importantly is the ability to create recipes. It allows you to enter all your grains, hops, yeast, and other adjuncts and then it automatically calculates gravities, color, bitterness, and more. Each item type is on a sepperate screen, and it does not allow you to add your own ingredients. While the list is fairly comprehensive, I couldn't add Honey in a way that impact the original gravity.

Brew Pal also has many useful brewing tools, such as carbonation table, flavor estimator, color estimator, hydrometer calculator, and refractometer calculator. And, the tool that I liked the most, the beer style guides. It also has brewing timers and a feature to email recipe information as a very nicely formatted email. Though the email function is clunky. You must enter your email address into the setup area, and then the email is mailed to you from someplace outside of your iPhone or iPod.

But, I found the interface to be gimmicky and prone to many small glitches. Sometimes the list items would have icons for deleting, and other times they wouldn't. The list themselves also acted strangely sometimes. Even though I wasn't crazy about the interface, the tools that it made available made me feel as if my $.99 wasn't wasted.

iBrewMaster

The second application that I found is called iBrewMaster (iTunes). The first thing that I noticed was that iBrewMaster's interface appears to be much more "standard", and just less clunky. The next difference I noticed was the efficiency of the workflow.

Though the basic concept is the same, the operation of iBrewMaster is a little different than that of Brew Pal. With iBrewMaster you either choose one of the pre-loaded recipes (pictured on the right) or enter your own recipe and then create batches. I like the ability to track the recipe batch from beginning to end, and it would be especially helpful for those that might have multiple batches at various stages.

I started by adding my recipe for imitation Christmas Ale, and I found the interface to be much more streamlined and intuitive than that of Brew Pal. There is a list of all your recipes, and when you wish to add another you click edit and then add a recipe. On the edit screen you can easily change the header information and add, modify or delete components of the recipe. The developer, Joe Cannici, managed to cram a lot of information and editing ability into a small area. It helps you see the complete recipe very quickly

iBreMaster also comes pre-loaded with many grains, hops, and yeast types, but it also allows you to add your own.

There were two downsides to iBrewMaster. First, I could not find an easy way to share my recipe. It would be nice if there was a button to dump the recipe into a draft email right on my iPhone. Secondly, it did not estimate the color. When I first started brewing I tended to create brews that were much darker than I intended, and I have since become very good at double checking the color estimate with a pencil and paper. But, it would be nice to have it automatically calculated for me (it could be place, right under the efficiency, that seems to be the only blank spot on the recipe screen). (see the update below)

At $4.99 iBrewMaster is a bit more expensive than Brew Pal, but the difference is worth it to me. For managing recipes and tracking batches, I highly recommend iBrewMaster. But, since it is only $.99, I also recommend Brew Pal for the multitude of tools that it offers.

Update, 2009-08-04: A developer from iBrewMaster recently saw this post and contacted me about it. He informed me that future versions of the application will resolve some minor bugs, add automatic color calculations, and also offer some sort of email functionality. If I heard right, it sounded like he expected these features to be available sometime in late September, just in time for fall brewing. That will make this a solid 5 star app in my book.

iPhone: Jailbreaking and Hacking

2009-07-31T09:17:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week Ars Technica reported that Apple is claiming that jailbreaking iPhones could crash cell phone towers. Then, yesterday, security researchers reported that they could take control of iPhones via special SMS text messages. And, these two stories connected for me.

I haven't been able to find any details of the iPhone hack, but from what I gather the special SMS messages cannot be sent from a factory iPhone only from a jail broken one (or presumably a PC with an air card)

Maybe the reason that Apple has not patched this bug is that they are looking for this intersection. I would assume that though it might be technically possible to take out all iPhones in the world, the probability is low. I would imagine that if a carrier saw a patterned flood of text messages they would intervene. Assuming the real impact of this security hole is marginal, it might make it easier for Apple to convince the government that people should not be jail breaking the iPhone. The fear of hackers hijacking phones could also steer public opinion on jail breaking, making it easier to steer government. Most people don't know or care about baseband hacking, but no one wants their cell phone hacked into.

SAP Printed Label Sizes

2009-07-29T21:44:00.000-04:00

Working for an international company may require setting a printer to print labels (or other types of paper) in multiple standard sizes (e.g. A4 and LETTER). This can be accomplished through SPAD in the tray configuration screen.

Because of limitations in SmartForms we have to take several steps when designing labels to allow output of multiple label sizes. All labels are initially designed in A4 format since it is longer than LETTER. In SPAD the alternate paper size, in our case LETTER, should be assigned to the first paper tray.

If the transaction SPAD is not available, due to security restrictions, then the tray assignments can be viewed using SE16. The table TSP03T shows the output device's tray assignments.

Fear of the Union

2009-07-22T19:17:00.004-04:00

When I started working for my current employer about nine years ago, I didn't think much of the fact that it was an automotive supplier which was not unionized. But as time went on I began to understand the significance. The company was well run. Most of the managers were capable and not simply promoted due to "time in service". The employees were also taken care of. There were many employee programs that you would expect to find at a company on Fortune's list of 100 best companies to work for, though we were to small to be on that list. The employee portion of healthcare was low, there was an annual profit sharing, quarterly bonuses, and numerous other small bonuses and perks. No union would be able to offer the employees anything better than what they already had. But, while I was away beating back the scourge of terrorism, something changed.

Our company has always been owned by a German company of the same name. The parent company would give guidance, but local management appeared to have significant leeway in it's personnel procedures. It stands to reason that they didn't have an interest in American labor economics which is drastically different from theirs.

The German parent company was owned evenly by two separate companies, who did not seem to meddle in the business. And rightfully so, the company was very profitable. But, when one of those companies decided to sell their stake the other happily bought them out.

The other company that bought out our parent company also had operations in North America. The principle difference was that their operations were headquartered in the South. This didn't seem so bad until we started to learn more about this company. They seemed to have at least a few managers who were promoted to their highest level of incompetence, and they certainly did not treat their workers as well. It would seem that they could get away with it since they were located in a right-to-work state. We knew it would only be a matter of time before we started to feel this.

First, the healthcare was changed. The burden of the cost was gradually shifted to the employees. Granted this would "bring them in line with the industry standard", but it would cut into people's real wages. To help offset this pay reduction the also raised the 401k match from 50% to 100%. Of course I ran the numbers and found that I would make out on the deal, but there would be many lower paid employees who would not. Since healthcare costs are equal for all employees, but 401k matching is dependant upon salary, the higher the salary the more you made out on the switch.

Next came the sick day policy. Previously were allowed twelve sick days in a floating twelve month period, which seemed to be very fair. Under the new policy, four sick days in a twelve month period would result in a warning and after the fifth day the employee would be ineligible for any raise. At seven days the employee would be placed on probation and automatically terminated at nine sick days.

Numerous other small changes have occurred, and these have been affecting the ethos of the Ohio based portion of the company.

In my early years of college I had a labor economics professor who said that the unionization of a firm many times signifies a failure of management. As we started to take on their human resources policies, this lecture came back to me and I hypothesized that the Ohio company could unionize if these practices kept up. Fortunately for our firm, the recession took hold and people could see unemployment rising. With unemployment over 10%, most people are just happy to have a job.

But, now that American national politics are controlled wholly by the democrats, who have historically been sympathetic to labor, the company seems to be getting a little nervous. It would seem that once the financial crisis has passed the government will be able to enact more pro labor legislation. The latest company newsletter has an article entitled "Know Your Rights - Get Union Facts", in which the company warns the employees about the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

The article "exposes" the fact that union dues could cost a person $500 a year. But, in reality, that may be less than the monetary losses caused to some Ohio employees by the new headquarter's HR policies.

In fairness, my managers have more than compensated me for any real income losses, and I would certainly not be interested in unionizing. But, mine is only one department, and it's an office department where most of the people are on salary.

From my perspective, the headquarters should look at the culture of their Ohio division to see how to stave off unionization. The Ohio division has had the large unions in its neighborhood since it was fonded over 30 years ago, and successfully fended them off by treating employees very well. Writing articles in the employee newsletter most likely won't be enough.

Busy Summer

2009-07-11T15:53:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't written any posts in a while, but I have been busy.

In June I started taking college classes again in the evening, then there was the family vacation, and now I'm in class again. And, it's summer. So, when I am not busy reading or doing homework I am outside with the boys. I do have some things to say, but I won't have much time to write about them until August when summer session is over.

Just in case you were wondering what happened.

Portfolio Flashback

2009-05-12T22:13:00.005-04:00

I recently wanted to contact my previous employer, so I went to their website to check if the phone number had changed. I found that they were still running the website that I created for them way back in 2000.

At the time I made this website Macromedia Flash was becoming vogue, so you will notice the Flash intro movie. And, if you dig even further, you will find the Flash based knowledge base that I created. At the time I was using PHP for the server-side language, but you will only see that on the contact page and the knowledge base login page.

There must have been some changes since I left, a few pages cannot be found and some of the pages have been modified. If you decide to check out the site and notice something that doesn't fit with the overall look, then that is something added after I left. Also, if you look at the source and notice that the generator tag says "Microsoft FrontPage 2.0", that must be because the page was modified after I left. Even back then I preferred to handcraft my pages and thus had a slight distaste for FrontPage.

Plastech Consulting Inc.

Creating a SAP Transport

2009-04-23T20:44:00.000-04:00

SAP uses a three stage development cycle (at least where I work) which requires developers to make changes in the development system and then users to test the changes in the test system before they can be released into production. In order for changes to get from one system to the next a transport must be made. This post will detail the steps required to create a SAP transport.

The first step is opening the transport manager, which is transaction SE09, in the development system. On the selection screen enter the desired user name and click display. Then, you click on the new request button and choose either customizing or workbench. On the next screen we have special format that we use for the short description:

aannnnnnnn_bb_d_wwyy_description

aa -- SR for helpdesk service request or CR for a project generated request
nnnnnnnn -- The request number
bb -- the system, LE for logistics execution, MM for material management, etc.
d -- C for customizing or W for workbench
ww -- the calendar week
yy -- the year

Now we have a request number that can be entered after we save a change using SPRO (for customizing) or after we active an ABAP program or SmartForm.

After the change is assigned to the transport number we go back into SE09, click on the customizing or workbench task click the "Release directly" button (or hit F9). This will prompt to document you change. Once documenting is complete it must be saved. Next, click the request and click "Release directly" again. For programming changes a code review will be necessary, otherwise you will be taken directly to the project selection screen. There is a folder for each of the different SAP areas, and underneath those folders are more folders for the type of change, select the appropriate change type.

Now the transport is nearly ready. At our company we use the RealTech transport manager (transaction code /RTC/TM). Once in the transport manager the author name must be filled in, then hitting enter will open the transport workflow monitor. Items show up here every half hour. Once it shows up, highlighting the line and clicking the "Next status" button (down arrow) will move it to the signature queue. For our company we must now send an email to one of the people who are authorized to sign off on the change and they will release it.

The system will then transport the changes.

Which SmartForm is Used for a Message Type

2009-04-17T21:38:00.001-04:00

It is possible to use SE16 to determine the name of a SmartForm form used by a specific message type. In SE16, view the table TNAPR and make your selection criteria. I normally pick my output type (KSCHL = ZLnn), and my application (KAPPL = V2 for Shipping or V6 for Handling Units). Once you hit F8, you will see the list of results. Under the column "Form name" (SFORM), you will see the name of the SmartForm used for the desired label or output type.

Orman Says Don't Pay Off Debt

2009-04-16T21:06:00.001-04:00

Suze Orman recently told Oprah's viewers to only pay the minimum on their credit cards and start saving the money that they would otherwise be paying. But, is this really good advice?

I should explain that I am generally not a big fan of people who make their living by giving broad financial advice that changes from year to year [and many times looks bad in retrospect].

First, though some rules of thumbs are useful (save money for a rainy day), I don't generally care for blanket advice that intends to cover a specific topic (save money by not paying off credit cards). My situation could vary enough from the average that following specific commodity advice could cause adverse effects.

Secondly, it would seem that for these people to continue to generate income they must keep selling books. And, if the books that they sell are not fundamentally sound, then that would necessitate selling a new book each year. I understand that as our world evolves and laws change updated advice is sometimes necessary. But, if the situation evolves so rapidly as to necessitate a new book every year, then is the information even still relevant by the time it is published? Furthermore, what is the expiration of the book or when should an individual quite following the given advice? I would assume that the suggestion would be to by the latest book every time it comes out.

Part of the reason that I like the Bad Money Advice blog is that Frank, the author, points out flaws in these peoples' reasoning. He has even recently written a couple articles about Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan (and part 2).

When it comes to financial advice, I am still a fan of Poor Richard and Benjamin Graham.

With all that said, lets turn back to the issue of not paying off your credit cards. I will quickly sum up what I think her reasoning is: The credit card industry is only interested in protecting itself from you, so you shouldn't worry about paying them first, they'll just end up screwing you. When you eventually get laid off, the credit card companies will close your no-balance card and you won't have any money for food since you paid them instead of saving. However, she does say that if you already have an emergency fund then you should focus on paying off debt.

Maybe I am crazy, I am doing the complete opposite of what she is recommending. My emergency fund is not as high as it should be, yet I am focusing on paying off the remainder of my credit debt first. I do, however, have some reasons for my approach. Maybe Suze will read this post and help me out by highlighting my flaws.

First, my wife and I both work, and if either one of us were laid off we would be able to pay all of our bills on one salary, including minimum payments on credit cards. If we were so unfortunate that both of us were laid off, we could still pay all of our bills, at least temporarily, based on what we could expect from unemployment. And, neither of those scenarios take into account any adjustments to expenses that we obviously make in the event of a job loss. (e.g. I would be forced to make a 100% switch from GLBC to PBR)

Obviously, I must not be in Mrs. Orman's target audience. My credit limits have so far not gone down, and my credit ratting has actually gone up slightly (and, maybe her target audience wouldn't drink PBR). I am not poor, but I am by no means rich, just one of the many middle class workers in Ohio.

From my perspective, it just seems better to pay off my remaining credit card debt now, I will have to do it eventually. The longer I wait the bigger it grows. If I can pay it off prior to getting laid off, then that is one less expense hanging over my head. In my situation, it seems logical to pay off my 8% credit card debt rather than save at a potentially inflation lagging 2%.

Now, what should you do? Like I said, I don't like blanket advice, what you need to do depends upon your situation. Therefore, the best advice that I could give is to do a "stress test" of your own finances. Open up a spreadsheet program (preferably OpenOffice since it is the frugal choice), and start figuring out scenarios. Examine what your household budget would look like under varying conditions.

But, then again, my advice doesn't make a very good sound bite.

SAP Data Browser Field Text

2009-04-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

In SE16, by default, the selection screen displays the database field names. This may be good if you are a developer who is familiar with all the database column names, but it makes selection difficult for most people. It is nice to see the description of each of these fields, and there is a simple setting to allow this. From the "Settings" menu select "User parameters...", then on the "Data Browser" tab in the "Keyword" area, select "Filed text" rather than "Field Name".

Chris' Ohio BBQ Sauce

2009-04-13T21:17:00.004-04:00

In the US we buy a lot of factory made food because we Americans are very busy [some outside of the USA might say lazy] people. I also purchase my share of convenience items, but there are a few items that I really hate to buy.

Croutons. These are essentially stale bits of bread that should be selling for a discount, but when sealed in a bag with some cheap spices they can go for a pretty penny.

Spice rubs. These seem to frequently contain 95% salt, 4% pepper, and 1% spice. Yet, they are priced higher than simple salt and pepper. For the same price you can buy a big box of kosher salt that will: last for a year, work on almost any food, and yield nearly the same results in improved taste.

Barbecue sauce. I love a good barbecue sauce, and there are so many of them choose from depending upon your mood and the target food. There was a time when I had quite a few bottles of the stuff in my refridgerator. I had some super spicey, some sweet, some garlic, and countless other varieties. Then one day I started looking at the ingredients, they were all very similar. It seemed that there were some basic ingredients, just the order was changed. So, I decided that I would try making it on my own.

I created my own base recipe that basically contains vinegar, tomato, brown sugar, and mustard. I know, mustard is a little unconventional in barbecue sauce, but I like it. Give it a try, especially the spicy brown types. I change the quantities of these main ingredients based primarily upon the sweetness that I am trying to get. The brown sugar is important for getting that carmelization on the grill, so don't skimp too much if you are looking for that effect.

After the base is mixed up I start adding spices to get the final flavor. And, I try to set it aside for a while to let the flavors come together, but this really depends upon how much time I have.

Here is the basic list of ingredients that I use in my barbecue sauces. I'm not giving quantities, because I think it is more fun to experiment with the quantities to find the perfect balance for your tastes.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Tomato Paste (ketchup works too [if you don' mind HFCS], but then I would reduce the amount of sugar)
Brown Sugar
Mustard
Onion Powder
Garlic (pressed or powdered)
Cayenne pepper (red pepper powder)
Cinnamon powder (optional)
Anchovy paste (optional)
Liquid Smoke (optional)
Tabasco (optional, I like the chipotle style)

Some people like to add Worcester sauce, which I am not really opposed to, but most of the ingredients in Worcester sauce are already on my list.

For an Asian flavor I'll add in some soy sauce, ginger, and maybe some rice vinegar.

The possibilities are endless.

New Blog Template

2009-04-11T15:01:00.001-04:00

I have been working on customizing my Blogger template, and I thought that I was almost complete. It is published now, and I have found some glitches. Some of the colors are off, and the comments section looks terrible.

I'm working on it ...

Analysis: Consumerization of Blackberry

2009-04-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

While reading through the news today two articles caught my attention: "Businesses Need Smartphones, Especially BlackBerry" (paid subscription) and "Blackberry success with consumers defies recession". I can't read the first article because it is behind a pay wall, but it seems to suggest that Blackberry is doing well with businesses in spite of the recession. The second article speaks of how well RIM is doing with consumers despite the recession. Together it would seem that RIM is doing great in this recession, but I have my opinion of what is going on.

I wrote a post back in December of 2008 hypothesizing that iPhone sales would be somewhat driven by the recession. I should have said consumer smart phone sales would be driven, but I must have been too enamored with my iPhone. In any case, I feel that a large portion of the force behind increased consumer smart phone sales is that businesses are reducing costs.

Prior to the recession my company handed out Blackberrys to anyone with the slightest justification. Now, however, we are pulling those back for anyone without stringent justification. These people have become accustomed to having the capabilities of a smart phone in their pocket, and those who can afford the luxury are purchasing their own. My company is also pulling back regular cell phones, and this is putting more consumers in the market for phones in general. And, naturally, a certain percentage of these consumers will opt for a smart phone.

I think that Blackberry is catching more of this segment than Apple for a couple reasons. First, former business users know Blackberry and are comfortable with them. And secondly, Verizon doesn't carry the iPhone. I have spoken to numerous people who will not get an iPhone simply because they would have to switch to AT&T. If they are concerned about not getting a signal in rural America, then they are on to something. My wife had to go to Coshocton Ohio, and I went with her. Nowhere in the area did I have any sort of signal, not even a WiFi hotspot. She was fine on her Verizon phone. We were even able to get directions on her phone.

You will notice that I did not mention RIM as being a reason for it's own late success. The company had a great innovation that helped change the cellular landscape, but I don't think that they have done anything truly innovate since introducing the BlackBerry. They are now introducing phones that appear to just be re-branded copies of other successful products. They have a flip style phone, and of course the click-screen Storm.

In my eyes the Storm is a terrible knock off of the iPhone, it doesn't even have WiFi. No WiFi is a deal breaker for me. In fact, if a phone lacks WLAN capabilities, then I don't consider it a smart phone. It ties a person into using a cellular network. For anyone who has traveled outside of the United States and knows what international usage fees are should immediately understand this. My iPhone is more than a cell phone, it is a home Internet device that works off of my home wireless network. I am not certain that RIM understands my perspective on this, even though they do have some phones that offer WiFi.

Blackberry seems to be turning what they have into a sort of commodity, or they are at least competing with other commodity phones. As an investor I don't like to invest in companies that have a commodity type product, especially in the technology sector where a lot of a company's profits must go into developing the next product. From my perspective, Blackberry is heading for a long tail. Motorola and Nokia were once great cellular innovators, but they became complacent and others took them over in the market. I see a parallel with Blackbery.

So, as some are cheering the recent successes of Blackberry, I see the beginning of a long downward trend. I could be wrong, and that is alright with me, but you won't see me investing in RIM anytime soon.