merblog

Using VueScan to Digitize old Year book Photos

I love Facebook, just for the fact alone that it allows me to scan and tag friends in old photos. Some of my earlier scan's were not so great but as time goes by and my Facebook friends list grows bigger, I making sure I put a little more effort into it. Sometimes it's a Black and White, sometimes it's an old 60's photo. Each requires a new technique. I used to scan directly into Photoshop with Twain aquire but now I use mainly VueScan.

Some of the things I love about VueScan software by Hamrick is that it is easy to use, it works well with different operating systems and scanners (I'm using a Canon Canoscan 9900F with Mac OS 10.4.11) and the customer support is amazing.

For scanning year books I set it to Magazine as the media type, I increase the Descreen dpi, I scan in at a high resolution, then I take it down using the Percent under image size in Photoshop to about 10 mgs and then do my retouching, I take it down some more and save it at 3 mgs.

But what I appreciated the most about VueScan is my license covers me for 4 computers and at 10PM on a Wednesday night they were able to through email resend me my license info so I could set an additional computer up.

Note: One of the things I had to do when I started was go into the VueScan properties and check off 'Open Using Rosetta'. It's either because my scanner is old or my operating system is old.

Trials and Tribulations with my latest Cognos 8.4.1 Install (64-bit 2003 R2)

Started a new Install this week, Cognos 8.4.1 BI, Planning and Metrics upgrade on a Windows 2003 R2 64-bit machine. Thought I would document and share a few of my notes here.

First I did a little research -

http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/data/cognos/support/en/products/Cognos84_64-bit_Jan2009.pdf

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/info-agility/taking-a-bigger-byte-of-bi-win64-cognos-bi-experiences-tips-39279

http://sebastianmai.blogspot.com/2009/08/ibm-cognos-84-bi-64-bit-vs-32-bit.html

Then I downloaded and unzipped (with 7-zip) the 64-bit Cognos Installers -

I checked that IIS 6.0 64-bit was installed as well as Java being up to date -

Next I Installed the BI Server. My impulse with Cognos Installing is to go with the defaults initially just to get it up and running quickly, then change things later. One of the defaults here being including the Cognos Content Store database -

Funny thing was, that after installing it, I went to test it in Cognos Configuration (Note, the default password and user name are Cognos, Cognos) and I received this error message -

Content Manager failed to connect to the content store.

The connection string is 'jdbc:derby://localhost:1527/cm'.

So like most people these days, I did a query online for the error and pulled up this page which surprising had the answer for me -

http://businessintelligence.ittoolbox.com/groups/technical-functional/cognos8-l/cognos-content-database-1913803

Reply from xtedx on 4/23/2008 2:05 AM

Hi Arjun

The first time you install it, the cognos content database service is not set up yet. So just start the services using Cognos Configurator, no need to click test.Then it will show you that it registers "Cognos Content Database" Service and starts it.When this service is up and running, you can click test if you want, it will pass the test.

I had somehow missed the step where you select the 'IBM Cognos Content Database' in Cognos Configuration and click start prior to testing the connection.

So now everything works so far and next I'm going to configure the web server...

Cognos Metrics Studio Scorecard User Overview

This is a  presentation I made recently for some executives to give them a first taste of what IBM Cognos Metric Studio Scorecard application can do for them. It is an overview of the interface and basic user features.

Cognos scorecard overview

View more presentations from Marie T.

BTW, http://www.slideshare.net is a great way to embed your powerpoint slide shows into your blog.

Setting up the Cognos Metrics Manager Samples - Part 2

Part 2: Set up connections to the databases in Cognos.

This next part is quick, it is just setting up three connections to the databases in Cognos Connection. There is also a step at the end where you initialize the metric store and create a new metric package.

Step 1 - Set up connections to the sample databases GOSALES, GOSALESDW

Open up Cognos Connection go under Launch in the far right and select Cognos Administration.

Go under Data Source Connections and click on the New Database icon.

 

Enter great_outdoors_sales in the name field and click Next.

 

Of course choose Microsoft SQL Server as the Type of connection.

Then put in the SQL Server name, the Database name, the Signon info and test the connection.

Do the same thing for the great_outdoors_warehouse.

Then do the go_metrics Data Source connection.

When this one gets to the finish screen check off the Create a Metric Package box.

 

Enter the name GO Metrics.

Choose the Default Deployment and on the next screens the Standard Calendar with Years, Quarters and Months.

 

Enter the date as shown and click Initialize.

Hopefully it all works out and you get to this screen where I checked off the open in Metric Studio option.

Next is Part 3: The Metric Studio content.

Setting up the Cognos Metrics Manager Samples - Part 1

Part 1: Create and populate the databases in SQL.

Well, setting up the samples is not so easy, simply because the directions are not very clear. Here is the path I followed to get it going -

Step 1 - Set up the sample databases GOSALES, GOSALESDW

I'm using SQL Server 2005 so I go to SQL Server Management Studio, right click New Database, then enter the name GOSALES or GOSALESDW and click okay.

Then I right mouse click on the Database name and select Tasks -> Restore -> Database. I choose the Restore from File option and click Add.

Making sure I select the All Files File type from the drop down, I choose my unzipped GOSALES sample file and click okay.

I put a check mark next to the Restore check box.

And head over to the Options page where I check off the Overwrite the existing database option.

 

Hopefully this part at least is an easy success.

 

Step 2 - Create the GOMETRICS Metric Store.

Now, I don't know why Cognos tells you to create the metric store database in SQL using the command line prompt versus the SQL Server Management Studio, but I am just going to shut up, not ask too many questions and do it their way ;-).

I have to close SQL Server Management Studio and open it again to refresh it so I can see the new database.

Installing Cognos 8.3 BI is easier than ever.

Installing all the Cognos BI components on my work laptop has gotten oh so much easier than when I first started out 10 years or so ago. I remember in 1999 when Upfront and IWR were a hassle getting them to work together on my laptop let alone on the server. Now things like making sure your Hard drive is NTFS or the cognos.com is in the domain properties, is all in the past as it should be. There were times when it would take me several days to get things working. Now it takes only a few hours.

Tonight I started my install of Cognos 8.3 on my Windows XP laptop at 7PM. First thing I did was make sure I had my IIS installed. 

 

Then I put on SQL Server 2005.

 

I choose the Default instance, the Local System Account and the Mixed Mode options.

When that all finishes I set up my Content Store database in SQL Server Management Studio.

Then I install the Cognos installers with the BI Server being first and by accepting all the defaults and allowing the creation of all new directories. I expand the options and make sure they are all checked off such as with the BI Server Install, the Content Database (even though I delete this later).

 

I didn't bother installing the Composite Server or Transformer this time but I do install the Samples.

Then I configure my Virtual Directories in IIS (cognos83, cgi-bin, images). I choose Read, Run and Browse for Cognos83 and cgi-bin. For images I choose just Read and Browse.

Then I start up Cognos Configuration and Delete the Cognos content database.

And I add my SQL Server Cognos Content Database.

Then I click on the small pencil icon and enter my SQL user name and passcode (e.g sa).

 

Right click to test, then click at the top Local Configuration and choose Save, then Run.

Hopefully you get a success message.

Then you can open your browser and type http://localhost/cognos83

I'm going to do another blog post in the next few days with the steps of setting up Metrics Manager samples.

If there is anyone out there reading, give me a shout!

Night Night!

Tips for Taking Great Home Marketing Pictures

One of the most critical elements for preparing any effective real estate marketing effort is pictures.  Home buyers want to ‘shop around’ using the pictures they’ve seen, even if they have seen the actual house; and many buyers won’t even consider looking at a house if there are not any ‘pre-view’ pictures available.  Attractive pictures will help get a “SOLD” sign on the home quicker, make the client happy, and put a commission in the agent’s pocket.

Here are five quick tips for getting attractive pictures to include in your marketing campaign to get that home sold.

1)    Get a decent digital camera.  You’re in a profession with high dollar stakes involved, and the images you use should reflect that.  You do not need to invest thousands of dollars in a high-end SLR camera; however, your camera phone just doesn’t cut it to take professional-grade photographs.  Purchase a decent camera that takes shots with at least 5.1 megapixel capability, with storage cards for easy ‘reloading.’

2)    Take a lot of pictures.  And I mean a lot.  Hundreds if necessary.  Try them with and without the flash.  Take pictures from a variety of angles, even if it means just moving a few inches over.  There’s no additional cost involved if you bought the right camera in choosing which pictures to use, so give yourself plenty to choose from.

3)    Only take outside pictures on a sunny day.  Outdoor shots should be bright and cheerful, not with the sky dark and gloomy.  Wait a few days, the weather will change, and you can do the outside shots at any time of the day – but make sure you do so when the sun will be behind you, and make sure your shadow isn’t showing in the pictures!

4)    Use your flash unit sparingly, if possible.  The glare that can come off of surfaces you hadn’t even thought of can ruin a shot.  Be sure to take shots in rooms with lots of windows and mirrors on angles so the bounce-back from the flash doesn’t show up.

5)    Buy a decent image editing program.  This software is available at anywhere from $99 to thousands of dollars, but you do not need to have the high end software for your purpose.  You can create contact sheets with even the lower end software and involve the client in choosing which pictures you will use.

If you follow these basic pointers on taking photographs instead of snapshots, you will put in your arsenal an important tool for selling homes more effectively.  A picture says a thousand words, so the adage goes – and it’s true!

It's a Special Priviledge being the Photographer for your Niece's Pre-Kindergarden Class

I get to be the Class Photographer for my Niece's Nursery School on Monday. It is quite an honor. I was asked to put together a package. So I decided to keep it simple and just have my sister give out these order forms to the parents:

 

It was nice being able to use the photo I took of my niece a few months back on the form. She is going to be a model some day with all the practice she gets around me.

It is going to be a unique experience and I am very happy to have this opportunity to share in this part of her life.

Anti-Aging Photography made simple.

As you age or put on weight, you don't have to avoid having your photo taken if you have the right software techniques. Most of us are familiar with Photoshop where you can work on getting rid of your wrinkles using the Healing Brush or the Clone Stamp Tools. But I recently discovered Picnik which is linked to my Flickr account and with only a few clicks I can use their Wrinkle Remover, Insta-Thin, Sunless Tan, Mascara or Highlights tools. I will have to get to work now on a few of my Facebook photos...

Ways to get free lessons in photography

Photography is an expensive hobby or profession with so many new toys and must-have's on the market it's nice when you can find ways to save a few dollars here and there, which I am finding often comes in the form of free training. Of course nothing is ever free and there is still the overhead expense of Internet, computer and possible appleTV to consider but it's all going to pay off when you get that perfect photo someday - right?

Today is Sunday and I have spent my day listening to Podcasts though my appleTV. Some of what I have learned are that part of being a good photographer is connecting with your subjects. I learned this through listening to Episode 13 of the http://digitalphotographylife.com/ podcast called "How to Make People Like you in 90 Seconds or Less" by NicholasBoothman.com. I also now have a great new way to describe focal length from watching Episode 1 :: the Camera Obscura by The Art of Photography. Of course my Sunday is not complete without an episode of Photography 101 by Scott Wittenburg. Today's lesson 25 was on Flash Photography (http://photooneoone.blogspot.com/).

The other ways I learn are through Camera store workshops, photo clubs, author websites, meetups.com and by volunteering or shadowing professionals. I'd write more, but it's time for bed...