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My first SVG

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It's a pretty common type of image. Why? For my project (recreation of an MPG-80), I need to cut a sheet of metal. Because the cut has to be precise, I choosed to use a laser cutting service. To do so, I need to produce a file (SVG) which represents the path of the laser beam. My first idea was to vectorize with Inkscape the file I created with Gimp: Gimp -> PNG file -> Inkscape -> SVG file -> FreeCAD The result was poor, because the vectorization process created a lot of path (above 2000, whereas I have only 140 objects). I definitely needed a more precise process. The idea was to create the SVG from scratch: 1- precisely measuring the coordinates of all the objects (holes) 2- creating a SVG file from scratch with Inkscape 3- importing the file in FreeCAD Fortunately, all the objects I need to cut  boxes, circles and paths (shapes bazed on Bezier curves) and all are symmetrical around vertical and horizontal axi...

Microsoft Visio: aligning the text alongside the path on connectors

In Visio, the text on the connector is always horizontal by default. When the page becomes crowdy, it might be useful to set the text alongside the connector path. On, in a more general way...   How to... In the option menu, enable the Developer Mode: File → Options → Advanced → General , check Run in developer mode Now you can left-click on any link to display the ShapeSheet In the ShapeSheet , go to the Text Transform section In the TxtAngle setting, replace the current angle (0 deg) by this formula: =ANGLEALONGPATH(Geometry1.Path,1)+IF(COS(ANGLEALONGPATH(Geometry1.Path,1))>=0,0,180°)

Comprendre les tentatives d'hameçonnage (phishing)

Pour ne pas tomber dans le piège... Je reçois depuis quelques jours des courriels très bien faits m'invitant à consulter mon compte Paypal ou m'indiquant qu'un colis n'a pu être délivré par UPS. Et le hasard fait que je reçois ce courriel justement le lendemain d'un achat. Ces courriels sont faux et ne sont que des tentatives d'hameçonnage (phishing) afin de récolter des informations personnelles. Vers où veut-on m'amener ? En passant la souris sur les liens (SANS CLIQUER !), des détails s'affichent en bas de l'écran. Le lien nous amène vers epl.paypal-communication.com/... ou epl.ups-delirery.com/... Alors, des vrais ou des faux ? Les noms de dommaines sont gérés de manière internationale, en collaboration entre les pays. Tout en haut de la pyramide se trouve un organisme américain, l'ICANN. Pour vérifier un nom de domaine, on peut recourir au service whois de l'ICANN. Est-ce que UPS est vraiment UPS ? Interrogeons l'...

A new folk

A new folk reach my studio: an EMU Proteus 2500. Comprehensive design with many bells and whistles (layering, multi-track sequencer, arpeggiator, 2 FX engines) and a huge user manual - 356 pages. I only scratched the surface so far; the built in patches are weak by nowadays standards, but the filters are still simply ... wow!

Recreating the Roland MPG80

The rackmount version of the Roland Jupiter 6 was the MKS-80, released in 1984. A dedicated programmer was then available, the MPG80. 30 years later, the MKS-80 is a sought after intrument and the MPG-80 is even rarer. My project is to recreate a MPG-80, based on modern components, Because of the position of the MPG-80 in the MIDI chain, I take this opportunity to add some goodies: - a main power switch to swith on/off both units - a upper/lower toggle switch which avoids to select it on the MKS-80 - an arpeggiator syncable on MIDI and External trigger - More memory to store paches and tones - Menu switches & LCD display to add further goodies In the original MPG-80, there is no feedback from the MKS-80. Hence, no protocol is possible (ie the MPG-80 cannot read the settings from a patch; it only sends the new values to the MKS-80). In the new version, there are 2 MIDI IN, which allows a feedback from the MKS-80. The MPG-80 can request the parameters from a...