Aug
15
Ubuntu Users Around the World
August 15, 2007 | By: UbuntuLinuxHelp | Leave a Comment
Posted in Editorials
Aug
11
30 Dollars, 30 Minutes, 1 Nice Fileserver
August 11, 2007 | By: UbuntuLinuxHelp | 27 Comments
Posted in Hands On, How To
When I'm working, I like to listen to music (which I stream over the local network). I also often download ISO images of Ubuntu CD's, Ultimate Boot CD, etc. The problem comes when I have to power down my main computer. If I have an ISO downloading from Ubuntu or somewhere else, I cannot power down. Needless to say, that was an annoyance as I did not want to leave my main computer on when I was not using it. Not anymore!
I picked up a small used PC that would make a great mini-fileserver with a small footprint; so it can be hidden away. The best part is I got it for only $30 (CAN) - An old IBM Aptiva. The added benefit that this smaller unit uses less energy than my main computer is also a nice bonus (and I don't need to leave a monitor connected to it either).
Here's a snapshot:
Here's what came with it:
- AMD 500MHz CPU
- 256MB RAM
- 10GB HDD
- 40x CDROM
- 1.44 FDD
What was my mission?
A file server that could Read more
Aug
11
Simple apt-get to Keep Your Ubuntu System Clean.
August 11, 2007 | By: UbuntuLinuxHelp | Leave a Comment
Posted in How To
I received a couple questions this morning about "apt-get" and thought they were good in the sense that the answer helped to alleviate a couple of my personal annoyances. What are these annoyances? Well...
When I use "apt-get remove" the package is removed, but all the associated extra libraries (dependencies) are not. Additionally if I use apt-get to install a package, I always get the current package (in retrospect I'll rename this as a benefit!), but sometimes I need to install an earlier version of a package.
Resolving these two issues is relatively easy, here's how we can remove the dependencies (if you know they are not needed) along with the package:
apt-get -D remove the_name_of_the_package
And the simple way to install earlier versions of a package (let's say "your_package1.2.3"):
apt-get install your_package=1.2.3
Very easy!
Remember to have your repositories updated to be able to install the packages you are looking for. Another article (link below) takes the repository step to a different level. In a nutshell it contains pretty much all the software repositories for Ubuntu Feisty (7.04) that could be found. You can read about that here: "The Best Ubuntu Linux Repository List"
Aug
10
Easy PDF Creation in Ubuntu Linux.
August 10, 2007 | By: UbuntuLinuxHelp | 3 Comments
Posted in How To
When I was still a Windows user. I found it easy to create PDF documents through the use of software such as Adobe Distiller, Cute PDF Writer and so on...
After switching to Ubuntu, I was a little unsure how to do this until I installed OpenOffice which made PDF creation simple by using the file menu "Export as PDF" option. My problem was that I occasionally needed to do the same thing while using other applications.
Here is a simpler, effective solution. The "cups-pdf" (printing) can simply add that enhanced feature to your Ubuntu installation. To install it, type (in a terminal):
sudo apt-get install cups-pdf
You need to change file access using chmod.
The chmod command allows you to alter access rights to files and directories. All files and directories have security permissions that grant the user particular groups’ or all other users’ access. You will need to change the file permissions using this command:
sudo chmod +s /usr/lib/cups/backend/cups-pdf
Now all that remains is to set-up the CUPS PDF Printer by installing a new (PDF) printer:
Go to System --> Administration --> Printers --> New Printer
Select "Local Pinter"
Okay, use detected printer - "PDF Printer"
Select the "Printer Driver"
Manufacturer - "Generic"
Model - "Postscript Colour Printer"
Name - "postscript-printer-PDF"
Now click "Apply"
You're done!
To use the new PDF printer, select whatever the print function is for the application you're using and then select that postscript-printer-PDF printer to create your PDF document. Unless specified, (I really don't remember when I changed it), I'm sure I recall that there should be a /pdf directory where the PDF documents will be save to.
Changing the location where PDF documents are saved to, is a simple edit away...
gksudo gedit /etc/cups/cups-pdf.conf
Find "Out ${HOME}/PDF"
and change that entry to read as:
Out ${HOME}/whatever_directory_name_you_want_to_type_here
and simply restart the service to use the new settings (with that changed directory location) like this:
sudo /etc/init.d/cupsys restart
Voilà! - Easier to do than this post may make it seem!
Aug
10
The Easy Way Save DVD Audio to MP3.
August 10, 2007 | By: UbuntuLinuxHelp | 3 Comments
Posted in How To
I was asked earlier if there is a way to capture or save the audio on DVD's to MP3 (I prefer ogg, which also works using this method). While I have no idea of the legality (with regards to saving audio tracks off a DVD), you should therefore check the laws in your area before using this method. After much Googling I also, you will need a transcoder (lsdvd) to do this.
If you already have lsdvd installed on your system, you can skip the first step.
To install lsdvd, run the following command from a terminal:
sudo apt-get install lsdvd transcode
After installing you will be using lsdvd to find the audio tracks (usually they are longer in length). Use this command
lsdvd
You will see text output to your terminal that will look similar (in structure) to this:
Title: 01, Length: 02:17:23 Chapters: 24, Cells: 25, Audio streams: 02, Subpictures: 01
Title: 02, Length: 00:19:12 Chapters: 02, Cells: 02, Audio streams: 01, Subpictures: 00
Title: 03, Length: 00:13:43 Chapters: 02, Cells: 02, Audio streams: 01, Subpictures: 00
Title: 04, Length: 00:00:13 Chapters: 02, Cells: 02, Audio streams: 01, Subpictures: 00
Longest track: 1
So, we've established that the audio is in track 01. To extract all the audio to an MP3 file, we would type this command (in the terminal):
transcode -i /dev/dvd -x dvd -T 1,-1 -a 0 -y raw -m complete_audio.mp3
To do this in ogg, just enter:
transcode -i /dev/dvd -x dvd -T 1,-1 -a 0 -y ogg -m complete_audio.ogg
or for wave is:
transcode -i /dev/dvd -x dvd -T 1,-1 -a 0 -y wav -m complete_audio.wav
If for example, you are interested in the audio of only one chapter (and you know it's chapter 3), then you can save the audio just from chapter 3 by typing:
transcode -i /dev/dvd -x dvd -T 1,3,1 -a 0 -y raw -m audio_chapter_3.mp3
What do all the switches mean?
Using this example "transcode -i /dev/dvd -x dvd -T 1,3,1 -a 0 -y raw -m audio_chapter_3.mp3":
On my system the DVD physical player is: /dev/dvd therefore "-i" specifies the input device (which is the DVD player). That is why we type "-i /dev/dvd".
-x specifies the type of input (which is a DVD). That is why we type "-x dvd".
-T 1,3,1 refers to the title "T", the chapter "3" and camera angle "1".
-a is the audio track "0"
-y is the output format "raw" (mp3).
-m is the output file "audio_chapter_3.mp3"
While I personally am by no means an expert, I've found this works well. Also, helpful is the "The definitive DVD backup resource" found at Doom9 here: www.doom9.org
