Note: Use at your own risk – it worked for me
I’ve tested it on hotfix17 and 19 – it works fine for both. Note that you still need to run the console commands.

The batch file will automatically apply HotFix17 or 19 of Quickr 8.1. To use it:
1. Unzip the hotfix19 (8.1-Quickr-Domino-HF19-ENGLISH.zip) to c:\hf19
2. Open a command prompt and run the batch file with an extension being the root of Domino
e.g. c:\hf19.bat c:\domino

It’ll copy all the files to the correct directories for you… saves typos and about an hour of pain. Note it doesn’t do the quickr connector – the connector install is simple – just two files to replace…

Quickr 8.1 hotfix batch file

This guide is a visual reference and checklist for anyone doing a Sametime installation. The guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step set of installation screenshots for administrators, along with a collection of hints & tips. It is complementary to existing product documentation and the infocenter. 

Sections:

1. Checklist
2. Domino installation
3. Domino configuration
4. Notes, designer and admin client installation
5. Configuring Domino for Sametime 7.5.1
6. Sametime 7.5.1 installation
7. Configuration of Sametime 7.5.1
8. Installation Sametime 7.5.1 cumulative fix 1
9. Testing the installation

 A checklist, flowchart and collection of references are provided at the end of the document. Hope you find it useful… 

< Sametime 7.5.1 Install Blitz v1.3 pdf download>  

A Cows of a leather initiative

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teflon tape

Wrapping this around the joystick does the job very effectively. The balltop stays on securely and won’t budge no matter how much battering. Wrap the plumbing tape around the shaft thread area a few times and then tighten on the balltop.  There is a screw underneath the shaft (see picture) that allows you to safely put counter pressure while screwing in the balltop. You need to undo the 4 screw on the PCB. Be careful – there are 4 washers and screws underneath that can fall out.  

If you don’t have access to the screw underneath to secure while fastening, then use a pair of pliers to hold it. But make sure you don’t scratch the shaft. Put a piece of rubber or something soft around the shaft for protection.

 

 

Be extra careful to protect the shaft if securing with pliers

The entire process should only take a few minutes. Good luck!

The IPAC is a great tool to replace keyboard and joystick hacks. For those with terrible soldering skills like mine, the IPAC is a neat and versatile solution. Yes it costs a bit – but you won’t look back. I seem to be singing the praises for Ultimarc all the time – but it is another really well made product

Another option is the KeyWiz from GroovyGear. But I digress. I also use Ultimarc’s Ultrastik 360. With this combination of the IPAC and Ultrastik I have complete programmatic control of all inputs and movements. The Ultrastik is connected via USB as is recognised as a joystick rather than keyboard mappings. The Ultrastik however also provides an Output control mode that can be connected to an IPAC allowing the IPAC to register movements as keys. So games that don’t support joysticks are no problem.

So here is the scenario that can be problematic. MA as a frontend launches a game, say a DOS game or ZX Spectrum game that has unique key requirements (e.g. ‘q’ is up, ‘a’ is down, and ‘o’ and ‘p’ are left and right respectively while ’5′ starts the game). So when MA launches the game you need to tell the IPAC and Ultrastik what mappings to use. This is only possible with a batch file. And when the game is completed to reset the mappings so that MA movements work.

Now lets take an example – you use Spectaculator for the ZX Spectrum – this is a tried and tested solution. You can apply these issues to many other emulators but they are especially relevant in DOS games that are ‘batched’ into MA.

Some issues exist:

1. Spectaculator does not have a neat exit (Alt-F, x)
2. MA does not run post emulator batch lines if you use its exit hook
3. Spectaculator has no key remapping capabilities
4. Lots of games mappings are not yet known

EmuZWin is another Spectrum emulator that can use the ‘Esc’ key to exit. With this, reprogramming the IPAC worked fine – the EmuZWin program exits and the batch file runs through its commands to the end, during which the IPAC is reset to base MAME settings and then the screen returns to the MA interface. Post emulator batch lines to reset IPAC ran successfully. the But Spectaculator has better emulation support…so back to Spectaculator…

Using the MA exit hook with the same batch file for Spectaculator as I did for EmuZWin – this does not happen – MA does not run any post emulator batch lines. I tried all permutations that MA provides – and batch file options e.g. using for example:

\>start Spectaculator.exe

instead of:

\>Spectaculator.exe

results in the whole batch script running through past the emulator (the emulator runs, but post-emulator commands are run before the emulator exits). This is bad. Also fiddling with the options to force closing other applications made no difference.

My setup:

• 1xIPAC (and WinIPAC)
• 2xUltrastiks (and UltraMap software)
• AutoHotKey

Enter AutoHotKey … AutoHotKey is a free and powerful utility that enables you to map a key to a set of events, tasks, key presses etc on a PC. It can for example manipulate the state of a window to hide it or make it active. It’s been used with the Johnny5 CP viewer succesfully. To use it, download it, install it and create a small file with an AHK extension in Notepad, that maps a key to a specific function. Initially I told AutoHotKey to map the ‘Numeric Keypad 0′ button to ‘Alt-F, X’ to simulate using the menu in Spectaculator on exit.

Numpad0:: ;when zero on the numeric keypad is pressed…
Send !f{x} ;send an ‘Alt-F’, followed by ‘x’ keypress
sleep 3000 ;take a short breather while Spectaculator exits and the IPAC and Ultrastik are reprogrammed
Send {ESC down} ;press the Escape key
sleep 1500 ; for 1.5 seconds – making sure MA knows its time to resurface
Send {Esc up} ;enough escape
return ;you’re done

This worked, but it looked messy. The menu flashes briefly. So I found an alternative that is neat. AutoHotKey has a close Window command.

Numpad1:: ;when numeric keypad 1 pressed
SetTitleMatchMode 2 ;set the accuracy of the title of the window to easy (otherwise it has to be exact!!)
WinClose Spectaculator ;close Spectaculator – in task bar usually shows as xxxx.tza – Spectaculator
sleep 3000 ; wait for 3 seconds – the batch file is reprogramming the IPAC and Ultrastik to generic settings
Send {ESC down} ; Escape key is pressed for 1.5 seconds
sleep 1500 ; this I have found to be a robut way to get MA to restart
Send {Esc up}
return

So if you write a simple batch file to launch Spectaculator (change the launch in MA configuration to point to the .bat file rather than Spectaculator).

Here is the associated batch file that programs the IPAC and Ultrastik with the correct game using the %1 variable.
The trickery with the batch file is simply to avoid any prompts by the Ultrastik or IPAC when a mapping file is not found.

1. Default mapping file for emulator is stored for Ultrastik/IPAC
2. Default mapping file for emulator is overridden if a customized game mapping exists (/y parameter overrides any prompts)
3. Program Ultrastik and IPAC with the default file
4. Run the emulator (until AutoHotKey button pressed whereupon it continues with the script)
5. Replace the default mapping file for emulator with the generic mapping file – emulator default is now reset
6. Reprogram the IPAC and Ultrastik with Maximus Arcade friendly mappings – MAME keys is good default for IPAC
7. Return to MA

The batch file:

rem ————————————-
rem —— 1 IPAC programming ———
rem ————————————-
e:
cd\Emulators\Computers\ZXSpectrum\ipac
copy /y %~n1.ipc default.ipc
e:\frontend\WINIPAC.exe e:\Emulators\Computers\ZXSpectrum\ipac\default.ipc

rem ————————————-
rem —— 2 Ultrastik programming —–
rem ————————————-
cd\emulators\computers\zxspectrum\ultrastik
copy /y %~n1.ugc default.ugc
e:\frontend\ultrastik\ultramap.exe e:\emulators\computers\zxspectrum\ultrastik\default.ugc

rem ————————————-
rem —– 3 Run EmuZWin ————–
rem ————————————-
cd\emulators\computers\zx\gamepack\
E:\Emulators\Computers\ZX\spectaculator.exe %~n1.zip

rem ————————————-
rem —– 4 Reset generic defaults ——
rem ————————————-
cd\Emulators\Computers\ZXSpectrum\ipac\
copy /y generic.ipc default.ipc
cd\emulators\computers\zxspectrum\ultrastik\
copy /y generic.ugc default.ugc

rem ————————————-
rem —– 5 reprogram to defaults ——-
rem ————————————-
e:\frontend\WINIPAC.exe E:\frontend\ipac\default.ipc
cd\frontend\ultrastik\
ultramap.exe default.ugc

Overall – this solutions works really well. It’s reliable and flexible. It still would be better if there were some way of using ‘ini’ mapping files in either IPAC or Spectaculator. Right now the IPAC has a great programming tool in WinIPAC to reprogram itself, but ini files provide so much more control. EmuZWin provides a keyboard mapping option – but its keyboard mapping file, like the IPAC’s is not readible as an ini file. Good news is the Ultrastik’s ugc format is readable in notepad. If you have any similar issues with any frontend – consider using AutoHotKey.

Some things to do:

• Use AutoHotKey to show a picture of the Control Panel keys. AutoHotKey should be able to easily pause the game (Spectaculator uses the Pause key to pause), and then load the graphic. Any keybutton will return the user to the game – a 2 second or so wait and Spectaculator is unpaused. Should be a breeze.
• Should make the AutoHotKey launch and exit from the batch file, so that the specific routine it follows is game or emulator specific. I might want to write an exit routine for ‘Leisure Suit Larry’ for example, I’d have an AHK file for each batch PC game and for each emulator that needs it. Emulators allow for a consistent way to close game inside their window. PC games do not have an emulator container envelope, so would need unique AHK files. Doable methinks.
• Try and hide the Spectaculator launch screen and menu bar that opens up briefly when its started

Update!!!

A post was made in the Maximus forum with a grand little update to this routine. Instead of my file juggling to check for the missing file, there is a simple batch file command – IF EXIST. So much simpler!!! I need to update my batch file with this and will post this as soon as I get a moments peace from work.

A little hobby I have is building an arcade cabinet. I’m not alone on this – there are thousands out there doing it (http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_examples.php).

The analogue UltraStik 360

I recently purchased two Ultrastik’s (http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html) from Ultimarc. They are versatile, easy to setup, accurate, reliable and provide a wonderful feel for gaming. I highly recommend one if you are interested in building an arcade cabinet or control panel. And Ultimarc’s service is legendary.

There is a good review on the Ultrastik on the RetroBlast site: http://www.retroblast.com/Hardware/Ultimarc-UltraStik-360-Review.php

These were to replace the leaf joysticks I had. Leaf joysticks are authentic, but lack two key things for me:

1. They are either on or off – requiring two metal parts to contact
2. They’re limited to 8 ways
3. They need a restrictor plate to control movement in four way mode

Let me explain. So underneath these things are two ‘leaves’ of metal. Ever played a game in the arcades and angrily banged the cabinet because the machine refuses to respond to a movement in a very critical part of a game. The leaves can bend and warp and getting them to respond perfectly, even a brand spanking new one is an art form – for me anyway. Aarghh

They’re limited to 8 ways. Now that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but lots of games support 16 directions or more. And lastly a restrictor plate is used in a way that car gears are setup. As you change gears, a template exists that guides the shaft and your movement through the gears, instead of a just a big open space. In 4 way games a restrictor is important, as the diagonals are not seen as movements, so there are ‘dead spots’. The restrictor would prevent the diagonal movements and guide you to where you intended (e.g. up or left).

Switch joysticks
Switch joysticks are another type of joystick, with simple switches detecting movements. They feel ‘non-industrial’ IMHO and fake, make clicky noises and just rub against the retro purist grain. They are also generally on or off. Some of them can be switched between 8 and 4 way mode with a quick pull and twist of the shaft.

Switches underneath a switch joystick

The analogue Ultrastik

Some new joysticks use optical type sensors instead of basic switches to detect movement. These provide a better feel than standard switch joysticks. Some of these offer more control – in the form of acceleration – by detecting pressure. The ones I know of are referred to as 49way joysticks – offering a 7×7 matrix grid upon which movement can be detected.

The Ultrastik can detect the pressure exerted by the amount of movement (e.g. hard left or light left) and allow for acceleration in a game, in much the way a trackball or mouse can. It uses an optical type setup – no contacts but sensors that monitor the precise movements of a magnetic ball underneath the joystick. It’s similar to mouse movement – try moving a mouse with zero acceleration. It’s a natural movement we’re comfortable with. In fact the Ultrastik can replace the mouse’s movement quite well. It’s great for point and click adventure games.

The Ultrastik comes with some awesome mapping software that allows the joystick to be remapped for certain games. I’d like to this of it as a ‘soft guide’ solving the same problem a restrictor plate does but in a different way. Most joysticks require their restrictor plates to be a permanent type fit (a few allow swapping 4 way mode to 8 way mode). So restrictor plates limit the games you play to that plate setup. The soft guide approach does not. The diagonal movement you make would be guided by software, rather than by hardware to the correct movement. Having said that – you can get restrictor plates for the Ultrastik, but my experience is that they are rendered obsolete unless you have a setup that only needs one map. Only then is a restrictor plate beneficial.

The Ultrastik software provides extremely easy mapping. The software shows a 9×9 grid and a choice of a collection of grid templates. You can create new templates, but these templates will work 999/1000 times. For example, name a joystick that can happily manage Q-Bert – the 4-way diagonals only is brilliant.

Ultrastik maps

• 2-way, left and right
• 2-way, up and down
• 4-way
• 4-way, diagonals only
• 4-way, no sticky (UD Bias)
• 8-way
• 8-way, easy diagonals
• Analog
• Mouse pointer

8-way, easy diagonals

The 49 ways often referred to for these types of joysticks is simply calculated by a 7×7 type grid (although the Ultrastik has a 9×9 grid – more flexible).

Analogue joysticks can have 256×256 grid’s. There are quite a few arcade games that support analogue and 49 way joysticks. I’ve found the Ultrastik extremely versatile – and so it should be – the author of a distro of MAME – called Mame Analog – who was/is king on analog in Mame, had input into the makeup of the mapping ideas.

While the matrix offers 9×9 control – I think that’s a software control limited by need rather than capability. One of the grid’s offered is called ‘analogue’ and can be experienced in test mode – offering amazing accuracy and granularity of control of pressure. So basically my take on this is, settings above 9×9 mode and analogue mode are not supported. To make sure there is no confusion about this – its capability exceeds any gaming requirements out there.

So in analogue mode the grid is blanked out. Otherwise you use arrows, ‘sticky’ cells, and empty cells to manage movement. A collection of template maps are available – called The grid above can be remapped to provide a software driven restrictor type setup, in that the software guides the required move – for example 4 way games.

4 way and 2 way mappings

Using the software mapping

Creating the software map is easy. Choose from the list of mappings and click ‘program’. It’s instant. Done. If you’re using an arcade cabinet frontend, you don’t want to manually load a mapping, rather you want the software to reprogram based on the game configuration. This is all quite do-able – and you can get a few minor tweaks.

So this Ultrastik can do anything other joysticks can do but better and offering versatility others couldn’t dream of. For example QBert is a game that requires 4 directions diagonally. But don’t think that you can use an 8 way joysticks diagonals lines for this. The actual game uses a 4 way setup rotated 45 degrees. So most people have dedicated 4 way and 8 way and rotated joysticks on a massive control panel. Intimidating, bulky, ugly and unauthentic.

My configuration

• 2 Ultrastiks
• 18 horizontal switch pushbuttons
• Maximus Arcade
• 22â€? Samsung LCD screen
• IPAC
• PIV with 512Mb RAM
• XP
• PCI Express X1650 512Mb card
• 500W PSU (don’t undersupply – not worth damaging hdisks)

I use an IPAC (http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html) as well. While the Ultrastik comes with 8 buttons, lots of games only work with keys. Fortunately – in a moment of clarity, the developers provided both an ‘input’ and ‘output’ mode. Input mode means the buttons act as buttons 1-10 as per a normal joystick. The output mode was the moment of genius. In this mode, when the Ultrastik is connected to an IPAC, movements and buttons can be mapped to keys.

I’m running MAME for arcade games (http://www.mameworld.net ), Playstation (http://www.epsxe.com/), ZX Spectrum (http://www.spectaculator.com) , Intellivision (http://www.shiny-technologies.com/nostalgia.php ) and a host of other emulators. For emulators that use joystick type setups in a standard configuration such as MAME, Playstation and Nintendo (so I’m talking about arcade’s and consoles, but not computers) – it’s a one size fits all – for the IPAC that is. If the emulator control keys can be remapped, then the IPAC setup stays as is (using MAME keys). The Ultrastiks are still remapped however, where a remapping is available. I’ll do a specific post on this, as I’ve got this setup fine tuned.

The setup allows me to play all these emulators. Note that without the IPAC – computer type emulators such as the ZX Spectrum would be difficult to manage. It’s so much easier having the combination of the IPAC and the joystick.

The verdict
This is the joystick I always wanted but didn’t think was possible. The maps mean no worrying about restrictor plates (the map does ‘soft’ guiding). I can even use it as a mouse. It’s extremely accurate and seems robust. Its connected via USB – so no wiring hassles.

I’ve tried several types of joysticks and I am convinced I have the two that will last me more than the lifetime of this arcade cabinet and beyond. It means you can build your own control panel – rather than buy a whole control panel box and plonk it on an arcade cabinet (ugly). Building a control panel involves some work – but it’s loads of fun.

The Ultrastik makes building a control panel a real pleasure. The Ultrastik is not only a technology breakthrough that will set the future standard for the retro space, but is also exceptionally well put together from both a software and hardware perspective. The mapping concept makes everthing else IMHO in the market archaic and one dimensional. It’s a technology innovation that makes authentic recreation not only possible, but versatile, accurate, reliable and easy. I couldn’t imagine the thought of going back to anything else. I highly recommend this joystick. I’ll be posting more on setting up and using this joystick.

My Control Panel with 2 Ultrastik’s

1. An early start to my career

I cared little for school work in my early school years. Life was consumed by sport and my little ZX Spectrum. Playing a lot of sport helped hide my fetish for that little rubber keyboard. While I did play games on it, it was the programming world that totally absorbed me. I would spend entire weekends, through the nights, typing out long machine code listings from computer magazines. I also wrote many utilities and games (and also published a couple). The world of machine code and assembler was the biggest thrill (needed for a 3.5Mhz z80 speed demon). I was about 10 when I coded/hacked my first 3D vector based program in assembler- inspired by seeing 3D Battlezone in the arcades. It was horribly slow (no fills, and you could see the shape being slowly drawn). At the time I was battling with multiplication tables in schools… LOL.

So here’s the real confession of this part. I can’t code (anymore). Even formula language leaves me sweating. I can hack most any html and can hack Java but I’d be terrified if any nose bleed type hardcore coder looked at the source. In this profession its really frustrating not being able to code…. So I married Adeleida.

2. The walking wounded

I’m incredibly unsupple. I can’t sit cross legged – I fall backwards. I did some Karate many years ago – I found the only way to get my leg up onto the wooden beam to stretch was…. well actually I couldn’t find a way. Couldn’t even get my leg half way up. I have to stretch all the time. I get muscle stiffness all the time – especially my calves. I’d be the guy at the conference standing up stretching his calves (which was the cause of a ruptured achilles tendon) and rolling a coke can under his foot (treatment for plantar fasciitis). My body is an encyclopaedia of injuries. The reason for this (coupled with zero suppleness) is my over exuberance in sport. I love sport and whether it be soccer, squash, tennis, windsurfing or rugby, I totally commit and often over commit my body. I have bone contortions, scar tissue and swellings everywhere, and my body crackles, clicks, snaps and pops at every move I make – in ways that would make most faint. My jaw clicks and snaps (badly), my knees click, my ankles and fingers snap and my shoulders creak. I’m dreading the potential arthritic problems…

3. I’m a natural blue
I have a bad memory. If I were made to say the word say… ‘stump’ all day for 3 days in a row, write it on a blackboard Bart style, and then afterwards if you asked me what the word was, it’s quite possible I’d be completely..er… well I might not remember the word. My memory is completely erratic too. That 30 second game is the game I hate most – put my memory under pressure and I’ll forget my own name. People know this and love to watch me self-destruct during the course of the game. There are memory exercises I could follow and I guess I should. A bad memory has great perks though… Watching great movies over and over again – I think I’ve watched Silence of the Lambs about 5 times, and each time the ending was a surprise – in fact I think I’ll watch it again

4. Boy in 80′s bubble
I love retro – specifically 80′s retro. I’m a huge Depeche Mode fan, and recently just watched season one of Magnum PI. I bought the Thunderbirds (the string puppets and big vehicles) DVD collection as well as the entire Robotech collection. I was appalled recently to see some American movie comedy make a joke about a guy in a car singing to Duran’s Duran’s ‘The Reflex’. What’s wrong with that?!! I also use up considerable time loading my arcade cabinet with all 80′s consoles, computer and arcade games (ZX Spectrum,Atari, Nintendo, Sega, PC, Playstation etc). It drives my wife nuts but I keep reminding her I could be out drinking… My retro fetish only goes so far though… that 80′s look was awful – big hair, thin tie etc…rewatching MacGyver (the hair!!!) and Knight Rider (the glasses and pants) gave me the heebie jeebies… Ouch!

5. On going bald

I’m going bald. Have been for a long time. I don’t like it. You meet someone you haven’t seen for some time (meaning anything more than 2 weeks) – especially friends parents and family, and their first observation is ‘gosh you’re going bald!’.
So here is the confession. I went to one of those hair clinics – cost me a fortune. For 6 months a woman would rub substances on my head while a laser would fry my brain (specifically the memory compartment – even though it’s small). I was promised amazing results. I used to upset the people there because I’d get leg cramp sitting there (you must remain ABSOLUTELY still) and the grazes from soccer on my head (don’t ask) worried the ‘stylist’.

The laser treatment is supposed to be an accelerant for the substances that are applied to the scalp. The treatment benefits continue if you continue to pay for the ointments (along with free Scientology subscriptions). I don’t have the money for this although I did initially buy the treatment. It’s been several years and I still have ointment left (I kept forgetting to take it). I think in the end I grew an extra hair follicle or two and lost another 10,000.
My wife now cuts my hair – she gives me a #2 cut. Low maintenance, neat and screams – ‘yes it’s all going you insipid moron now let’s discuss that cellulite problem of yours shall we… Has it progressed?’. No actually I’m at peace with it… but keep the baldy jokes at a minimum.

Anyway – enough of that.. I guess like many IT people I’m kinda quirky… It’s a good thing it’s only 5 secrets…I could go on…

Recently I was asked to present at a Business Partner conference on any topic I wanted (buwahahaha). So I chose to tell the story of my recent journey. Judging from the feedback, this presentation seems to have captured the imagination of other non generation Y people.
All too often presenters are desperate to provide the uber holistic overview, summary and big picture of a topic. This slideshow doesn’t try to. It provides my dubious perspective, along with a sprinkling of facts and a smattering of inconsistencies. My references were as dubious as the disclaimer is long. The slideshow and notes are attached.

Web 20 to go please – slideshow

Web 20 to go please – notes

We were both delighted by the whole experience. The event was a great success. The passion and energy these people have for the products was infectious in what felt to me to be the perfect interlude between Lotuspheres. The content was fantastic, the presenters experienced.I learnt a great deal at the event and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The passion and energy of Lotus runs deep within the roots of these individuals – it is clear to see. The event felt to me like a reunion in some way, possibly because there is much re-energising taking place within the Lotus brand, with big investments and exciting developments – Eclipse RCP, Hannover, Web 2.0 and big updates and releases coming thick and fast.

While there is lots to talk about product-wise, the stars of the show were the presenters. These are the people who have been holding the Lotus flag for some time now – during the ‘quieter’ years. The ‘we shall never surrender’ people of the Sametime and Quickplace community. They have been there during the ups and downs – always contributing, always supporting and in many cases being the product drivers. Their contributions to the community have been invaluable – and felt as far away as South Africa. It was truly an honour to be there to meet them. While a Carl ‘Winston’ Tyler may (probably) not put a flag on Everest, and a Chris Miller may (probably) not journey to the moon (his hair might spike someone in zero-g) – the journey they have taken over time and the knocks they have endured means all the same.

Thanks to all who organised the event. Those who missed out – be sure not to miss it next year. To the Collaboration University team – Instant Technologies, SNAPPS and the Novak’s for organising, Connectria , the IBM presenters, the Turtle Partnership, others and also the organisers thanks! Collaboration University team take a bow!

Hannover looks to have some interesting modifications to the address book that may make life MUCH MUCH easier. I look forward to the first beta to test this. It’s no good hiding a photo in the ‘Other’ tab. Within IBM we have a business card solution called bluepages, and I know that that photo is important part of establishing a contact.
You can see some contact related screenshots of Hannover here: Hannover contacts