Showing posts with label how-to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how-to. Show all posts

Thursday, February 03, 2022

How to fix Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12 missing asset prop in Cities Skylines as reported by Loading Screen Mod on Steam Workshop

The Steam Workshop for Cities: Skylines is full of buildings, props and other game assets that are uploaded by "content creators" (aka, users who make their own content for the game).  The problem with Steam Workshop is that many assets come and go all the time.  It's difficult to keep up.  If you subscribe to an asset, that asset can be removed from the Workshop for a number of reasons, and you'll never be notified.  You'll just have to notice the empty lot or missing decoration while playing the game.

The problem is compounded when you subscribe to a building that uses other content creator props.  The props can be removed while your subscribed building is still available for you.  This issue causes a silent error when opening your cities.  In turn, this can drastically slow down how long it takes to open your cities (saved games) within the game.

Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12 missing asset

I use the Loading Screen Mod (or its temporary replacement for Airport DLC) which let's me see such errors.  A strange one that keeps popping up is the missing asset of "Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12".  Even with all Workshop assets turned off, this error still pops up and slows down the opening of saved games.  

After looking into the issue, I discovered that the content creator renamed the asset, but other content creators that used the asset didn't update their own assets in kind.  In my case, the commonly subscribed building H2 4x4 Chinatown Temenent uses the originally named asset and was never updated to use its new name.

The Fix

I fixed the issue for myself.  In the Asset Editor, I opened a similar asset named "Soldyne's Fruit Stand v1" and then saved it as "Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12".  Because the name was already used on the Workshop, and I cannot reupload this new asset for everyone else.  Workshop still recognizes it as the original asset and its original creator.  So, you'll have to do this for yourself in one of two ways.

Open "Soldyne's Fruit Stand v1" within Asset Editor and save it as "Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12"

If you don't want to edit assets directly.  Perhaps you may prefer to just download a fix instead.  I can provide the fix via the following PC file management workaround.  First, be sure to exit the game.  Then, download the attached zip file (at the bottom of this article).  It contains the renamed asset.  Unzip it to your folder here:  

%installfolder%:\Users\%yourwindowsusername%\AppData\Local\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Addons\Assets

For example:

C:\Users\brainfive\AppData\Local\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Addons\Assets

Soldyne's Fruit Stand v12.zip

Once I created this replacement asset, the error was gone.

Note: there are no affiliate links in this article.

Friday, January 29, 2021

How to find your US representatives and tweet them

Twitter is a fact of life in politics these days in USA.  Fortunately, that gives us an opportunity to contact our representatives on an open platform in a manner that is sorta like an open letter, with a limit of 240 characters.  Contacting your representatives at both the state and federal level is fairly easy, and can even be grouped together into one tweet.  The information below is meant for both experienced users (who can skip over comments on how to tweet) and new users.

All you need is a Twitter account and the Twitter handles of your representatives.

Once you have a Twitter account, get the names of your representatives.  

  • For your representative in the US House of Representatives, goto the Find Your Representative website. 
  • For your representatives in the US Senate, goto the Senate state map and click on your state.
  • For your representatives within your state, do a Google search for "find my legislator [your state here]", without the quotes and replacing "[you state here]" with the state in which you live.  One of the first two links in the search results should get you to the websites to find both your local state Representative and Senator.  Although this step is optional, it is still important to let the political parties know at all levels where the people stand.
Once you have the names of your representatives, do a Google search for each person's Twitter account using the search phrase "official twitter account [representative's first and last name] [your state, if applicable]", again without the quotes and replace "[representative's first and last name]" with your representative's first and last name.  If the representative is at the state level, be sure to add your state to the end.  You'll have to do this once for each person.  



Typically, the first item in the search results will give you the link to the person's Twitter account profile page.  Look for the @ tag.  This is their Twitter handle.  In my case, one of my US Senators Twitter handle is @Hickenlooper.  


Don't worry if one or more of your representatives are not members of your political party.  That doesn't matter for this activity.

Create your tweet within the Twitter App or website.  Keep the statement simple, clear and to-the-point.  Brevity is important since your tweet is limited to 240 characters, and a portion of that limit will be consumed by your representatives' Twitter handles.

Here's an example:

The message is simple, short but contains enough information to get the point across.  In your tweet, you can add more detail until you reach 240 character limit.  Once you post your tweet, you cannot edit it.  If you find a typo or wish to change it, you'll need to delete your tweet and create a new tweet.

If you already have a well established Twitter account with a number of followers, then receiving likes and retweets by your followers will help bring attention to your tweet.

Happy grassrooting

Also read: 

Wednesday, February 06, 2019

Kindle Oasis 2017 Tips, Part 2: Screenshots

As with most devices these days, you can take screenshots on the Kindle Oasis.  It's not something I actually expected to be possible until I discovered someone else posting about it.  With every Android or iPhone device, I always have to find and remember the special button combination.

Depending on the device, the button combinations aren't reliable for 100% of the time, due to various reasons.  Sometimes the button combination is difficult to press because of the awkward position of the buttons to each other.  Sometimes the combination is just unusual and super easy to forget.

Kindle Oasis 2017 is none of that.  It's super easy.  You simply touch the upper right and lower left of the screen at the same time.  The screen will quickly flicker.  No other immediate indication occurs.

The screenshots are saved to the main folder on the Kindle Oasis as png with the date and time as the file name, such as "screenshot_2019_02_06-0700.png".  When you plug your USB into Kindle Oasis and a computer, you'll see the png files interlaced between similarly named .txt that describe the png file.  I'm not sure the value of these extra txt files.

The png files can be copied/moved from the Kindle Oasis to the computer with normal Windows File Manager interaction.  My previous tip was possible due to this functionality.



Kindle Oasis 2017 Tips
Making the Home Screen More Homey
Screenshots

Monday, February 04, 2019

Kindle Oasis 2017 Tips, Part 1: Making the Home Screen More Homey

I own an original Kindle.  It is an awkward, yet suprizingly powerful beast.  It didn't take much to form it into a tool of self-expression.  I've not used that device in a long time.  This isn't because I grew tired of it.  Rather, it got put into storage somewhere and I only have a vague idea of where it's at.  In the time its been in storage, it has become an archaic device.  The interface and shape was always very clumsy, even by 2008 standards.

So, I jumped on the Kindle Oasis bandwagon, finally.

The design of the Kindle Oasis 2017 (or is that Kindle Oasis 2, or II or 7", or 9th Generation)...   ...you know, I'm going interrupt myself right here to mention that the Kindle Oasis edition from 2017 has an Amazon page name that reads like a bad Craigslist ad.  The official name for the specific edition I purchased is supposedly just "Kindle Oasis".  The Amazon page is titled "Kindle Oasis E-reader – Champagne Gold, 7" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi), Waterproof, Built-In Audible, 32 GB, Wi-Fi - with Special Offers".

However, the problem with that is you cannot differentiate my Kindle Oasis from the first "Kindle Oasis" of the 8th Generation, which is also just called "Kindle Oasis".  Also, if the generation is such an important factor, why isn't that included in the name?  Very confusion in a very unnecessary way.

Anyway, back to the design of the 7", 9th Generation Kindle Oasis 2017 2/II (whatever it's called).  The design is mostly streamlined.  It is odd in one way.  It has two thicknesses, which makes it easier to hold in your right hand, but makes it a bit awkward for some accessories, such as cases.

OK, enough of the unintentional review.  On to the tip.

Changing your home screen

The original Kindle didn't have ads.  It didn't try to sell me anything directly.  It was easy to buy stuff, but it wasn't in your face.  The Kindle Oasis is constantly trying to sell you books.  The lock screen is an ad.  The home screen has several ads of various subtleties.

Well, there's a way to change your home screen so that it is not ad focused.  Instead, your library is the center, and the ads are mostly out of the way.

It is important to note that Kindle Oasis menus have changed a bit.  Some other online guides for this have never been updated.  This is why I've made this guide.  My guide is current up to January 2019.

My original home:


Touch the vertical ellipsis button (the three vertical dots icon) in the upper right corner of the screen to bring up your More Options menu:


Select Settings.  This brings up the Settings page:


Select Device Options.  This brings up the Device Options page:


Select Advanced Options.  This brings up the Advanced Options page:


Select Home & Library.  This brings up the Home & Library page:


Select Home Screen View to turn off the setting:


Select home button in upper left.  This will bring you to your newly minted home page.  The new home page just displays your library...with a small ad at the bottom.  I'll cover more about that little ad in a future article.


Note to self, "apparently, Amazon really really wants me to read that Shadows of the Stone Benders series."

Kindle Oasis 2017 Tips
Making the Home Screen More Homey
Screenshots

Monday, January 09, 2017

Copying mapped network drive locations to email for someone that doesn't share your mapping

For the better part of score years, I've been fumbling around to copy mapped network folder locations to emails for those people within the same organization who do not share my network mappings.  This is particularly annoying when the files are too big or too many to simply email.

It's not obvious in Windows on how to copy the raw network location, such as \\grt.peanuts.fspt.com\Shared1$\MyPlace when that same folder is mapped on the current computer as simply S:\MyPlace.  To allow another person to see my files at MyPlace, I need to somehow copy the "UNC" or raw address, so that I can paste it into my email.

I finally discovered how to do this.  It's not hard, but discoverability is nearly zero.

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Within Windows Explorer, navigate to the network folder location that you wish to share.  (This assumes you've already set up that folder to be shareable.)
  3. Start a new email from Outlook.
  4. Make sure both Windows Explorer and your email windows are open and visible on the screen.
  5. Within Windows Explorer, right-button click and hold on any file within the shared folder, or right-button click and hold on the folder icon to the far left of the address field.
  6. Folder icon of address bar
  7. While still holding down the right-mouse button, drag the selection over to the body of your open email and release the button. A new dialog appears.
  8. Copy here dialog
  9. From this dialog, select Create Hyperlink Here.
  10. Voile!  You automatically have a hyperlink to your folder location.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Beeper Codes list (completed)

As a matter of posterity, I've compiled this list of over 460 Beeper Codes.  These are just one type of Pager Codes that I previously wrote about.  This list is different from other lists online.  There are common codes that didn't appear in other lists; and I've removed entries that are redundant to Number Look-Alikes.  Number Look-Alikes are terms spelt out in pager code, such as "43770" for "HELLO", rather than being shorthand Beeper Code.

Beeper Codes
Code Definition Reference
0*0 Roh-Roh!
0*10*0 Im tired
0*17*8*1*2 Oh you ate one too OU812
0*7*1 I need a favor
00 Airhead
000 Call whenever you can
000 Time; What time is it?
000*0000 I'm online/I will be online
0000000 Bronx cheer
0001000 I'm alone right now
001 Please
001122 I don't know
0049 Accident; Something wrong
007 I've got a secret James Bond
00-88-00 Call me later
009 Going to a movie, wanna come?
0099 Going out, wanna come?
01*01*01 Don't have a cow! Term popularized by The Simpsons
010 Plans changed; I'm tired/flaking
0101 I'm tired
011 Monday
01210 I'm confused
016 Plans changed
020 Plans changed
020202 Just thinking of you
022 Tuesday
024 Going to the beach
0242 Hey lover!
033 Wednesday
04*04*04 Happy Holidays
0404 I will always love you
044 Thursday
05*05 Margaritas
055 Friday
0563 Please don't leave me
060 You are fine
064 Don't call me
066 Saturday
06644 Don't call me
07 Just kidding
07 I salute you
074 I need a favor
0741 I need a favor
0747 I need a favor
077 Sunday
07700 Ha ha ha!
080808 Kisses and hugs X and O's
09 Why dont you get a cordless
phone like regular people?
09*09*09 Let's talk
0909 It's off, canceled
099 I've got something to tell you
0990 Too late to call
0998 I have a question
1 You're the one; You the man
1*00 Im on the phone with my
significant other
1*8 I ate
1*800 I'm free - no plans tonight
10 You're perfect
10*2 You've got 10 minutes
10*2*1 Slim chance
10*20 Where are you?
10*4 Is everything OK?
10*400 Thank you
100 Come back
100*200*
300
I can't see you anymore
10000 Lets go for a swim 10,000 Leagues
Under the Sea
10000001 Miss you
1001 Prove it
1004 From your angel
101 I've got an easy question
1023 It's over
1038 Can't stop loving you
104 Come over
1040 You owe me big-time
105 Cancel
1052 LOVE!!!
107 Come back
1078 I miss the old us
108 Come over
11 Maybe
11 You're perfect
11111111 Congratulations! Resembles a
series of
exclamation marks
112233 At the club
116 I'm in trouble
1182 Come here fast
119 I'm in trouble
12*25 Merry Christmas
120 Leave
121 I need to talk to you alone
121212 Happy Birthday!
122 I want/need you?
123 I miss you
124 I'm dreaming of you
125 I'm bored
1250 Me too
1259 Me too
13 I'm having a bad day
13*30 It's getting old
1300 Going out
133 Don't forget
135 You wish
13579 This is weird
141 I'm with you
1423 I want to die
143 I love you
1432 I love you too
1432222222 I love you so much
1437 I love you forever
1443 I don't love you
1444 I hate this life
146 Good morning
1463 I miss the old you
1492 Let's go sailing
15 Whatever
15 Hugs
15*11 OK
151-  Want to join me?
15243 Be With Me
15243 I want to be with you
153 I hate you
1543 I still love you
155 Just kidding
155 I wanna go to sleep
157 Keep in touch
16 Kisses
1692 I want to
17 No; No way
1701 Live long and prosper Spock, Star Trek
171 Mad
177117 Minutes Usually preceding
a number to
indicate how long
you will be.
1776 You're sickening
178 I'll call you back later
18 Yes
180 Yesterday
180 I love you
183 I'm busy
187 You're dead/I hate you
19 Hug
19 Yes
1925 Let's go out
193 Miss Me?
193 Do you miss me?
195 See you tonight
197 I'm pissed off
2 Me too
2*2 Let's dance
2*4*6 I'm pissed off
20 Pick me up
200 Tonight
2001 You're way out there
201 Cancel previous page
2010 Later
202 Don't meet me
20-20-20 Sorry
203 And
203 Get off the phone
204 I'm/Everything OK
205 I'm on my way home
209 On my way
21 Maybe
21 Let's have a drink
210 Got your page...I understand
213 Miss me?
214 Happy Valentine's Day
214 Received your message
215 Running late
22 Be good
220 Why haven't you called
221 Where are you?
222 Your busted!; Are you busted?
2222 I'm sleepy
224 2 good 4 you
23 Te Amo I love you in
Spanish and Portuguese
23 Whatever
230 Oh yeah!
234 Just for today
235 Problem has been handled
237 Are you alone?
24 I'm Home
24*7 24 hours, 7 days a week
240 Tomorrow
243 We love you
244 My baby
245 I'm/everything is ok
2468 Your terrific
25 Hi, my crush
25 Sorry
255 I'm at a payphone, hurry
26 Te Quiero I love you in
Spanish
260 It's late, please hurry
265 Check your e-mail
27 Need you
270 Cancel previous page
280 My Sexy Baby
280 Today
285 Stay away for awhile
288 Today
288 But
288 When will I see you again?
29 You suck
290 I'm without my pager today
3 Wussup
30 This is getting old
300 Guess who?
301 Is this a bad time to call?
3011 Be careful
303 Stop playing
304 Ho Ho Ho
305 I love you back
310 I'm thinking about you
315 But
315 I miss you
32 Eat Me
320-  Wish you were here
321 Please reply
323 Let Me Hit
324 C-U-Soon
325 Hope you're feeling better
3293 Can't wait
330 You are incredible
332211 Movies
333 Love
333 Whats up?; How are you?
335 Your crazy
340 I owe you one
341 I like you
342 See you later
343 Call back now
345 Thank you
345987 I'm horny
346 Come back please
350 Sorry about that
36 You're cool
360 I love you back
3620 Sorry I lied
365 I'm blowing you a kiss
370 Congratulations
372 What are you doing?
375 Don't ever change
380 Your last page has me smiling
3838 Hey bebe
385 Hi Cutie/Handsome
390 Best of luck to you today
395 Please be careful out there
3999 You hurt me
400 Wanna hear something stupid?
4040 I hate you
405 I've got a secret, hehe
406 Hugs and kisses
41 Call me
410 You owe me big time
411 Call for info
411 I need info/I have a question
412 Please stay with me
414141 Sorry to bother you
415 Get an attitude adjustment
41526 Let's talk
41633 Merry Xmas
419 I don't understand
42 Fuck Me
420 It's that time!
420 You're in trouble, buddy!
4200 Losing feelings for you
423 Call me now
424 Call me back
425 Call me later
426 Call me tonight
428 Call me whenever
428 Call me tomorrow
43 Fuck You
43 You freak
430 You did it....bravo
433 Call me now
434 Feel Better
434 Hope you feel better
436 Hugs and kisses
438 Going to the beach
440 Hey clown, cheer up
444 I Want Love
444 Thinking of you
445 Ditto to your last page
45 Good night
450 Who pulled you chain?
455 Don't make me come get you
46 Hug
46*73 Goodnight, sweet dreams
460 Mind your own buisness
4678 Let's stay home
47 Good morning
470 I'm with you thru thick and thin
475 Long time no harass, hehe
477 Best friends forever
478 Just you and me
480 Let me know
485 A quick howdy to you
49 Good afternoon
490 You're in loony land
495 Go for it!
5 Hi
5*0 Are you booked?
50*50 It doesn't matter to me
500 Beep me
5020 So what
505 SOS
5150 Crazy
52 Hurry
522 Think of me
525 Going to the party
5280 Be mine
53 Thank You
533 Where are you?
5391 So, we are strangers again?
54 Never mind
54321 I'm ready to explode
55 You are a sweetheart
555 I want your sex
555 Call me
5555 I miss your voice
56 Sweet dreams
58 Happy birthday
5900 I'm sick
5971 I feel better
6 Always
6*9999999-  Get in line
60*017 Go online
60*60 I'm very happy
6000*6 Good luck
601 Happy birthday/anniversary
603 Hope your feeling better
606 Bitch
607 I miss you
609 I'm mad at you
611 I'm sorry
612 Thinking about you
6167 I am going to lunch
620 I dont know
62180 I'm grounded
629 Calling from payphone
630 Calling from cellphone
6302 I'm starting to like you
637 Always and forever
66 I'm mad
66 Let's hit the road Route 66
660 You better be ready
666 Can't go out
668 Not
67 Always and Forever
6771 Good friend/friends
69 Both ways
69 Lets get together
7 Forever; You will be in my heart
forever
70 I'm sad/depressed
700*600 Happy anniversary
7007 You're a joke
707-  LOL
710 I'm out of gas
7179 Best bud/friend
722 Don't beep me
7537 I know you don't like me
747 Let's fly
7537 I know you don't like me
757 I miss my baby
77 Friends forever
7735 Sell out
7741 Call me
789 Going to the mall
7942 From your friend
7979 Cheer up
8000 Goodbye or take care
801 I'm going over
8081 I had a bad time
811 Not a emergency, but important
815 I'll be good
8198 How about dinner?
82 Freak Me
82 Hurry
823 Thinking of you
825 Anytime
8255 Get your butt over here now
8282 Hurry up
831 I love you 8 letters, 3 words,
1 meaning
838 I know it's you
8431 I can't wait to see you
844 Can you handle me
8498 Forget it
8558 Waiting for your call
86 You're finished
86*0 Are you mad?
864 I'm home
8642 I'm gonna get even with you
87 You're late; I'm late
8800 I'll call you later
881 I forgive you
883 Beep me now
890 Leave me alone
9*09 I have good news
9*2*9 Forgive me
9*4*4*4 Are you thinking of me
9*5 It's quitting time
9*52 I screwed up
9*9*9 Only us
90 You're beautiful
90*90*90 No, no, no
90*91*92 I had a great time
9000 Repeat message
90210 Watta snob
9043 Relax
906 I'm on my way
909 I am at work
9090-  Go! Go!; Get a move on!
910 Sorry I hurt you
9103 I will try
911 Emergency
911 This is big!; This is an emergency,
call me now
9143 Do you love me?
920 Cheer up
921 I do care
922 Let's try something new
9229 Big problem
93 Grow up
9339 Some other time
9341 Do you like me?
937 Never
9428 What do you want to do?
943 Where are you?
9437 Liar
9438 Where?
9444 Are you thinking of me?
9449 Please be good
949 Why?
9500 Friends
95507 Your loss
961 Let's try again
966 Bad news
968 I'm all yours
971 I had to go…
972 I'm ready
9779 Mmmmmm
98*6 Hope you're feeling better
9810 I'm bored
9876 I'm serious
9890 Forever
99 Nighty Night
99*44*100 I'm almost totally completely
bored
9908 Can't talk now
9922 You don't care
9955 Don't do it again
9993 I'm OK