tuxpaint-users — General discussion list for parents and teachers using Tux Paint

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] PROBLEMS IN PRINTING

[Gloria T. W. <glo...@be...>]

Paula, where are you?
When we're ready to buy a better printer, which could be soon, I'll  
ship you my current one, an Epson CX 9400F/ink jet. Nothing wrong with  
it, but I want one that will print 11X14.

Gloria Taylor Weinberg
glo...@be...

On Oct 14, 2009, at 7:46 PM, Paula McKaig wrote:

> Thank you for replying.  I tried the 'Alt' solution and it worked on  
> the computers that I was having trouble with.  One question I  
> had....our web admin. installed from the ISD, remotely, and some  
> computers opened the Print Dialog Box, and a few did not.  Why would  
> those not allow the print box when others did?  :)
>
> I tried looking for the 'config.' file and found what you were  
> talking about.  Our computers at school are frozen until the admin  
> wants to add something, so I would imagine if I wanted to  
> permanently change those settings, they would have to unthaw those  
> computers, change the settings to be permanent and then refreeze them.
>
> Thanks again!  My students are really having fun with the program.   
> Unfortunately,  I do not have a 'color' printer at my disposal.  I  
> don't know why the school is dragging it's feet.  I'm almost tempted  
> to get a small ink jet just for the colors for the Kindergarten!  :)
>
> Paula
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:26 PM, Bill Kendrick <nb...@so...> wrote:
> (Paula posted from a non-subscribed email address.  In case she's  
> still
> not subscribed, you'll probably want to Cc her in any reply, to ensure
> she actually sees it :^) )
>
> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:16:48PM -0400, Paula McKaig wrote:
> >    HAS ANYONE HAD PROBLEMS BRINGING UP A PRINT DIALOG BOX IN ORDER  
> TO PRINT
> >    PICTURES?
>
> It would help to know what platform you're on: Windows, Mac or Linux?
> And are you using the latest version of Tux Paint?  (version 0.9.21)
> (The version number appears on the splash/title screen.)
>
> In all versions, holding the [Alt] ([Option] on Mac keyboards) key
> while clicking the "Print" button in Tux Paint's toolbox should  
> cause the
> dialog to appear.  However, it's possible to _disable_ this feature
> (to prevent kids from altering the printer configuration).
>
> It's not disabled by default, but you might want to run the "Tux  
> Paint Config."
> tool that comes with Tux Paint[*] and check in its "Printing" tab.
> You'll want the "Show Printer Dialog" setting to be one of the first
> two options ("Only when [Alt] modifier key is held", or
> "Always show printer dialog", if you want the dialog to always appear,
> without needing to hold [Alt]).
>
> Good luck!
>
> [*] On Linux, "Tux Paint Config." is usually in a separate package  
> from the
>    core "Tux Paint" program.  On all platforms, Tux Paint Config. is  
> simply
>    providing an easier way to create a configuration file that you  
> could
>    also edit by hand using a text editor like Windows' "Notepad", if  
> you're
>    desperate. :)
>
> --
> -bill!
> Sent from my computer
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Come build with us! The BlackBerry(R) Developer Conference in SF, CA
> is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart  
> your
> developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and  
> stay
> ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9 - 12, 2009. Register now!
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconference_______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] PROBLEMS IN PRINTING

[Paula M. <pam...@up...>]

Thank you for replying.  I tried the 'Alt' solution and it worked on the
computers that I was having trouble with.  One question I had....our web
admin. installed from the ISD, remotely, and some computers opened the Print
Dialog Box, and a few did not.  Why would those not allow the print box when
others did?  :)

I tried looking for the 'config.' file and found what you were talking
about.  Our computers at school are frozen until the admin wants to add
something, so I would imagine if I wanted to permanently change those
settings, they would have to unthaw those computers, change the settings to
be permanent and then refreeze them.

Thanks again!  My students are really having fun with the program.
Unfortunately,  I do not have a 'color' printer at my disposal.  I don't
know why the school is dragging it's feet.  I'm almost tempted to get a
small ink jet just for the colors for the Kindergarten!  :)

Paula

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:26 PM, Bill Kendrick <nb...@so...> wrote:

> (Paula posted from a non-subscribed email address.  In case she's still
> not subscribed, you'll probably want to Cc her in any reply, to ensure
> she actually sees it :^) )
>
> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:16:48PM -0400, Paula McKaig wrote:
> >    HAS ANYONE HAD PROBLEMS BRINGING UP A PRINT DIALOG BOX IN ORDER TO
> PRINT
> >    PICTURES?
>
> It would help to know what platform you're on: Windows, Mac or Linux?
> And are you using the latest version of Tux Paint?  (version 0.9.21)
> (The version number appears on the splash/title screen.)
>
> In all versions, holding the [Alt] ([Option] on Mac keyboards) key
> while clicking the "Print" button in Tux Paint's toolbox should cause the
> dialog to appear.  However, it's possible to _disable_ this feature
> (to prevent kids from altering the printer configuration).
>
> It's not disabled by default, but you might want to run the "Tux Paint
> Config."
> tool that comes with Tux Paint[*] and check in its "Printing" tab.
> You'll want the "Show Printer Dialog" setting to be one of the first
> two options ("Only when [Alt] modifier key is held", or
> "Always show printer dialog", if you want the dialog to always appear,
> without needing to hold [Alt]).
>
> Good luck!
>
> [*] On Linux, "Tux Paint Config." is usually in a separate package from the
>    core "Tux Paint" program.  On all platforms, Tux Paint Config. is simply
>    providing an easier way to create a configuration file that you could
>    also edit by hand using a text editor like Windows' "Notepad", if you're
>    desperate. :)
>
> --
> -bill!
> Sent from my computer
>

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] PROBLEMS IN PRINTING

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

(Paula posted from a non-subscribed email address.  In case she's still
not subscribed, you'll probably want to Cc her in any reply, to ensure
she actually sees it :^) )

On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 08:16:48PM -0400, Paula McKaig wrote:
>    HAS ANYONE HAD PROBLEMS BRINGING UP A PRINT DIALOG BOX IN ORDER TO PRINT
>    PICTURES?

It would help to know what platform you're on: Windows, Mac or Linux?
And are you using the latest version of Tux Paint?  (version 0.9.21)
(The version number appears on the splash/title screen.)

In all versions, holding the [Alt] ([Option] on Mac keyboards) key
while clicking the "Print" button in Tux Paint's toolbox should cause the
dialog to appear.  However, it's possible to _disable_ this feature
(to prevent kids from altering the printer configuration).

It's not disabled by default, but you might want to run the "Tux Paint Config."
tool that comes with Tux Paint[*] and check in its "Printing" tab.
You'll want the "Show Printer Dialog" setting to be one of the first
two options ("Only when [Alt] modifier key is held", or
"Always show printer dialog", if you want the dialog to always appear,
without needing to hold [Alt]).

Good luck!

[*] On Linux, "Tux Paint Config." is usually in a separate package from the
    core "Tux Paint" program.  On all platforms, Tux Paint Config. is simply
    providing an easier way to create a configuration file that you could
    also edit by hand using a text editor like Windows' "Notepad", if you're
    desperate. :)

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

[Tuxpaint-users] PROBLEMS IN PRINTING

[Paula M. <pam...@up...>]

HAS ANYONE HAD PROBLEMS BRINGING UP A PRINT DIALOG BOX IN ORDER TO PRINT
PICTURES?

PAULA
TECH TEACHER

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Kid Pix templates - anyone have any?

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

On Thu, Oct 08, 2009 at 12:17:57PM -0400, Gloria Taylor Weinberg wrote:
> Bill, you are a fine human being.

As is John Popplewell! :)  He whipped together an app for Windows
(well, it's a DOS program) that converts KPX to PNG.

I've placed it, along with my shell script for Linux users, here:

  ftp://ftp.tuxpaint.org/unix/x/tuxpaint/kpx2png/

-bill!

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Kid Pix templates - anyone have any?

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

On Thu, Oct 08, 2009 at 06:00:23PM +0100, John Popplewell wrote:
> Oh, go on then :-) Send them to me with any info you've gleaned about
> the format and I'll have a crack at it. I've recently been fiddling with
> saving PNG files out on Windows and I'm sure I can peek at some JPEG
> loading code from somewhere.

I posted about it to the 'tuxpaint-devel' mailing list yesterday, but
it pretty much looks like:

  * 60 bytes of header junk that can be thrown away
    (looks like Apple Mac OS resource fork stuff)
  * a JPEG image
  * more stuff (e.g., a thumbnail, also as a JPEG) that can safely thrown away

So I just remove the first 60 bytes, loaded the file as a JPEG, and saved
it back out as a PNG.  (Or, in the case of what I'm doing internally in
Tux Paint now, to support KPX files: I simply pass the JPEG along to the
image-loading routines, and it loads it as a Starter image!)


> Would a command-line program that converted all *.kpx files in a
> directory be sufficient?

I believe so!  I think, for this school at least, they'd be happy enough
with a one-time conversion, and then they can move to Tux Paint.


> PS I'd bundle the source and any associated files for it, with it

That'd be awesome.  Thanks!

-bill!

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Kid Pix templates - anyone have any?

[John P. <jo...@jo...>]

On Thu, Oct 08, 2009 at 09:06:52AM -0700, Bill Kendrick wrote:
> 
><snip!>
> I've also asked around for a stop-gap solution: a way for this school to,
> on Windows, extract the JPEGs from inside their KPXs files and convert
> them to PNGs for Tux Paint.  (If anyone here has some technical skill on
> Windows and would like to help, let me know!)
> 

Hi,

Oh, go on then :-) Send them to me with any info you've gleaned about
the format and I'll have a crack at it. I've recently been fiddling with
saving PNG files out on Windows and I'm sure I can peek at some JPEG
loading code from somewhere.

Would a command-line program that converted all *.kpx files in a
directory be sufficient?

cheers,
John
PS I'd bundle the source and any associated files for it, with it

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Kid Pix templates - anyone have any?

[Gloria T. W. <glo...@be...>]

Bill, you are a fine human being.
Gloria

On Oct 8, 2009, at 12:06 PM, Bill Kendrick wrote:

>
> A school contacted me yesterday saying that they're forced to move
> away from Kid Pix, since they're switching their computer lab to
> thin clients, which Kid Pix apparently can't work on.  They're looking
> at Tux Paint, but wanted to make sure they can keep using the  
> templates
> they had made in Kid Pix.
>
> Knowing nothing about Kid Pix, I asked them what the templates in  
> Kid Pix do,
> and it sounds a lot like "Starters" in Tux Paint.  I searched the  
> web a
> little to see if I could find examples of templates, but mostly found
> "Error 404: Page not found", and some small GIF files.
>
> I asked the teacher if she could send me some example templates, and
> she sent along some files with the extension ".kpx".  Examining them,
> I discovered they're just JPEGs with some extra wrapper info and
> a thumbnail -- at least, the one's she sent.
>
> I was wondering if anyone out here on 'tuxpaint-users' has any Kid Pix
> templates they'd be willing to share, so I can take a peek and see  
> if there's
> any variation in what they look like on the inside.
>
> In the meantime, based on the four or five KPX files that this  
> teacher sent,
> I was able to add KPX support to Tux Paint's "Starters" feature,  
> which will
> be available in the next release!  (Which won't be any time soon.)
>
> I've also asked around for a stop-gap solution: a way for this  
> school to,
> on Windows, extract the JPEGs from inside their KPXs files and convert
> them to PNGs for Tux Paint.  (If anyone here has some technical  
> skill on
> Windows and would like to help, let me know!)
>
> -- 
> -bill!
> Sent from my computer
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Come build with us! The BlackBerry(R) Developer Conference in SF, CA
> is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart  
> your
> developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and  
> stay
> ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9 - 12, 2009. Register now!
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconference
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

[Tuxpaint-users] Kid Pix templates - anyone have any?

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

A school contacted me yesterday saying that they're forced to move
away from Kid Pix, since they're switching their computer lab to
thin clients, which Kid Pix apparently can't work on.  They're looking
at Tux Paint, but wanted to make sure they can keep using the templates
they had made in Kid Pix.

Knowing nothing about Kid Pix, I asked them what the templates in Kid Pix do,
and it sounds a lot like "Starters" in Tux Paint.  I searched the web a
little to see if I could find examples of templates, but mostly found
"Error 404: Page not found", and some small GIF files.

I asked the teacher if she could send me some example templates, and
she sent along some files with the extension ".kpx".  Examining them,
I discovered they're just JPEGs with some extra wrapper info and
a thumbnail -- at least, the one's she sent.

I was wondering if anyone out here on 'tuxpaint-users' has any Kid Pix
templates they'd be willing to share, so I can take a peek and see if there's
any variation in what they look like on the inside.

In the meantime, based on the four or five KPX files that this teacher sent,
I was able to add KPX support to Tux Paint's "Starters" feature, which will
be available in the next release!  (Which won't be any time soon.)

I've also asked around for a stop-gap solution: a way for this school to,
on Windows, extract the JPEGs from inside their KPXs files and convert
them to PNGs for Tux Paint.  (If anyone here has some technical skill on
Windows and would like to help, let me know!)

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[henry t. <tor...@ya...>]

So just use one installation of Tux for all users...

I have my own copy on the I:// drive for example because I can install stuff there just so long as it doesn't ask the windows registry to recognize it.

That would be good... I wasn't really sure how the computer worked with that regard... would one machine be supporting the entire 20 something class for example..?. I gather it won't work that way.

So I put the shortcut into my Art Class Directory

then I create a few different versions of the shortcut for each unique condition I want

"Tux 5th Grade" or "Tux 1st Grade" 

What will that look like? can you paste in an example?

Or I suppose I could just create a new installation of Tux  on the drive for each condition and then fiddle with the folders in the DATA folder... RIGHT?

Thanks for your time John.

~Henry

--- On Thu, 9/17/09, John Popplewell <jo...@jo...> wrote:

From: John Popplewell <jo...@jo...>
Subject: Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query
To: "Discussion list for parents and teachers using Tux Paint" <tux...@li...>
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 10:48 PM

Hi Henry,

the easiest thing to do is to make a short-cut to the Tux Paint
executable that will appear on all the desktops, however that is done.

Then change the short-cut 'Target' to include the appropriate
command-line arguments for Tux Paint. You can use %USERNAME% variables
in the short-cut and they will be expanded for each user/workstation.

Quoting the arguments can be a bit messy, can't quite remember how it
goes, but I've had mapped network drives working in the past with a
users pictures stored on the server in the users directory. The same
should work for stamps, but I've never tried that,

Hope that helps,

regards,
John Popplewell

On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 11:08:07AM -0700, henry taylor wrote:
> 
> Thanks again Bill...
>  
> I have some time today to DO this...
>  
> SO--where or when do I do it?
>  
> Each work station is connected to the network
>  
> I have an accessible tux directory installed on my I:// drive
>  
> Do I need to write in the code for each installation on each machine
> then? Create a bat file? (VERY "old school" - probably not eh?)   I
> notice that the Tux Configuration program has a way of specifying
> where the data folder is or which data folder to use... but-- I tried
> it, and it wasn't working for me.... Hmmmm...    thanks again.
> 


> --- On Thu, 7/30/09, Bill Kendrick <nb...@so...> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> >  The question arises: Is there an easy way to set up this year so that
> >  different grades have access to different sets of stamps.
> 
> Yes.  Right now, Tux Paint looks in two places for data files
> (stamps, starters and brushes):  a system-wide location, and
> a user-specific location.
> 
> The latter is, obviously, user-specific.  Just like the folder where
> Tux Paint saves its files.  A while back, we made it possible to specify
> a different user data directory, just like we've been able to specify
> a different saved files directory.
> 
> It's the "datadir" option, versus the "savedir" option (which used to
> control _both_).
> 
> 
> Simply create folders somewhere (on a network drive?  or just duplicate
> them across the systems), e.g., "grade1", "grade2", etc.
> 
> Within each, create "stamps" subfolders.  Then put the stamps within.
> You can even categorize them by creating subdirectories.
> The students will be able to page through each category using the left/right
> arrow buttons, at the bottom of the Stamps list on the right side of the
> Tux Paint window.
> 
> Give the "--datadir" command-line option to Tux Paint, telling it which
> stamp folder to look at.
> 
> Note that right now it's not possible to ask Tux Paint to _not_ load
> the system-wide stamps, if you have them installed.  In the future, we
> should think about providing ways to specify paths to add/remove,
> for each data catagory.  They could be stacked up.
> 
> e.g.:
>   tuxpaint --nosystemstamps --stampsdir /path/to/some --stampsdir /path/to/more
> 
> And, of course, also provide a sane way of specifying these options within
> configuration files.  And THEN provide ways to 'include' config files
> from within each other, and/or provide a list of them on the command-line:
> 
>   tuxpaint --config accessibility-enhancements.cfg --config grade1.cfg
> 
> 
> 
>       
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Come build with us! The BlackBerry&reg; Developer Conference in SF, CA
> is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your
> developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay 
> ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register now!
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come build with us! The BlackBerry&reg; Developer Conference in SF, CA
is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your
developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay 
ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9-12, 2009. Register now!
http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf
_______________________________________________
Tuxpaint-users mailing list
Tux...@li...
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users



      

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[John P. <jo...@jo...>]

Hi Henry,

the easiest thing to do is to make a short-cut to the Tux Paint
executable that will appear on all the desktops, however that is done.

Then change the short-cut 'Target' to include the appropriate
command-line arguments for Tux Paint. You can use %USERNAME% variables
in the short-cut and they will be expanded for each user/workstation.

Quoting the arguments can be a bit messy, can't quite remember how it
goes, but I've had mapped network drives working in the past with a
users pictures stored on the server in the users directory. The same
should work for stamps, but I've never tried that,

Hope that helps,

regards,
John Popplewell

On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 11:08:07AM -0700, henry taylor wrote:
> 
> Thanks again Bill...
>  
> I have some time today to DO this...
>  
> SO--where or when do I do it?
>  
> Each work station is connected to the network
>  
> I have an accessible tux directory installed on my I:// drive
>  
> Do I need to write in the code for each installation on each machine
> then? Create a bat file? (VERY "old school" - probably not eh?)   I
> notice that the Tux Configuration program has a way of specifying
> where the data folder is or which data folder to use... but-- I tried
> it, and it wasn't working for me.... Hmmmm...    thanks again.
> 


> --- On Thu, 7/30/09, Bill Kendrick <nb...@so...> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> >  The question arises: Is there an easy way to set up this year so that
> >  different grades have access to different sets of stamps.
> 
> Yes.  Right now, Tux Paint looks in two places for data files
> (stamps, starters and brushes):  a system-wide location, and
> a user-specific location.
> 
> The latter is, obviously, user-specific.  Just like the folder where
> Tux Paint saves its files.  A while back, we made it possible to specify
> a different user data directory, just like we've been able to specify
> a different saved files directory.
> 
> It's the "datadir" option, versus the "savedir" option (which used to
> control _both_).
> 
> 
> Simply create folders somewhere (on a network drive?  or just duplicate
> them across the systems), e.g., "grade1", "grade2", etc.
> 
> Within each, create "stamps" subfolders.  Then put the stamps within.
> You can even categorize them by creating subdirectories.
> The students will be able to page through each category using the left/right
> arrow buttons, at the bottom of the Stamps list on the right side of the
> Tux Paint window.
> 
> Give the "--datadir" command-line option to Tux Paint, telling it which
> stamp folder to look at.
> 
> Note that right now it's not possible to ask Tux Paint to _not_ load
> the system-wide stamps, if you have them installed.  In the future, we
> should think about providing ways to specify paths to add/remove,
> for each data catagory.  They could be stacked up.
> 
> e.g.:
>   tuxpaint --nosystemstamps --stampsdir /path/to/some --stampsdir /path/to/more
> 
> And, of course, also provide a sane way of specifying these options within
> configuration files.  And THEN provide ways to 'include' config files
> from within each other, and/or provide a list of them on the command-line:
> 
>   tuxpaint --config accessibility-enhancements.cfg --config grade1.cfg
> 
> 
> 
>       
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Come build with us! The BlackBerry&reg; Developer Conference in SF, CA
> is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your
> developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay 
> ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9&#45;12, 2009. Register now&#33;
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconf
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[henry t. <tor...@ya...>]

Thanks again Bill...
 
I have some time today to DO this...
 
SO--where or when do I do it?
 
Each work station is connected to the network
 
I have an accessible tux directory installed on my I:// drive
 
Do I need to write in the code for each installation on each machine then? Create a bat file? (VERY "old school" - probably not eh?)
 
I notice that the Tux Configuration program has a way of specifying where the data folder is or which data folder to use... but-- I tried it, and it wasn't working for me.... Hmmmm...
 
thanks again.

--- On Thu, 7/30/09, Bill Kendrick <nb...@so...> wrote:



>  The question arises: Is there an easy way to set up this year so that
>  different grades have access to different sets of stamps.

Yes.  Right now, Tux Paint looks in two places for data files
(stamps, starters and brushes):  a system-wide location, and
a user-specific location.

The latter is, obviously, user-specific.  Just like the folder where
Tux Paint saves its files.  A while back, we made it possible to specify
a different user data directory, just like we've been able to specify
a different saved files directory.

It's the "datadir" option, versus the "savedir" option (which used to
control _both_).


Simply create folders somewhere (on a network drive?  or just duplicate
them across the systems), e.g., "grade1", "grade2", etc.

Within each, create "stamps" subfolders.  Then put the stamps within.
You can even categorize them by creating subdirectories.
The students will be able to page through each category using the left/right
arrow buttons, at the bottom of the Stamps list on the right side of the
Tux Paint window.

Give the "--datadir" command-line option to Tux Paint, telling it which
stamp folder to look at.

Note that right now it's not possible to ask Tux Paint to _not_ load
the system-wide stamps, if you have them installed.  In the future, we
should think about providing ways to specify paths to add/remove,
for each data catagory.  They could be stacked up.

e.g.:
  tuxpaint --nosystemstamps --stampsdir /path/to/some --stampsdir /path/to/more

And, of course, also provide a sane way of specifying these options within
configuration files.  And THEN provide ways to 'include' config files
from within each other, and/or provide a list of them on the command-line:

  tuxpaint --config accessibility-enhancements.cfg --config grade1.cfg



      

[Tuxpaint-users] [fwd] On K-12 Open Source Community: Two Great Conference Opportunities for Open Source in K-12

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

I received the following from the "K-12 Open Source Community" group
on ning.com.  If anyone out there would like to attend one of these
two conferences as a representative of Tux Paint or Tux4Kids in general,
let me know!


----- Forwarded message from K-12 Open Source Community -----

Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 05:33:50 +0000 (GMT)
From: K-12 Open Source Community
Subject: On K-12 Open Source Community: Two Great Conference Opportunities for Open
 Source in K-12

A message to all members of K-12 Open Source Community

OK, here are two great opportunities around Open Source Software for
K-12 that are coming up SOON!

1. The K-12 Open Minds Conference in Indiana, which had an uncertain
future after changes in the Indiana Department of Ed, is BACK ON! Not
only is it on, but the format is changing in some really GREAT ways.

First, the conference is now free. Really, free. No registration fee. :)

Second, Michigan City Area Schools are hosting the event
(significantly contributing to the "fre part!). So join us on October
6th and 7th, 2009 in Michigan City (Indiana) for the third annual K-12
Open Minds Conference about Open Source in K-12 Education.

Third, the conference will now include both formal sessions and
informal sessions--including conversations and gatherings around
topics of interest in various areas of Open Source. So come to learn
and/or present, and to share experiences and projects related to open
technologies on a variety of topics such as teaching and learning,
leadership, and technical issues.

Conference Website: http://k12openminds.org to register (presenters
still wanted and very much encouraged!)


2. For the fourth year in a row, the 2010 Computer Using Educators
(CUE) annual conference will have an Open Source Pavilion and formal
speaker series. Yeah for CUE!

AND there is only 1 week left to submit a proposal to speak at CUE. We
need great speaker proposals on Open Source in K-12 at this
conference, so please consider submitting to present! Please submit
online by next Friday, September 11th, at:
http://www.cue.org/conference/present.

Visit K-12 Open Source Community at: http://community.k12opensource.com


----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Fwd: HELP on opening starters (no files found)

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

Cc'ing 'melvinsdb' in my response, since I don't believe they're
subscribed to the list...

On Sat, Sep 05, 2009 at 11:00:32AM -0700, this was fwd'd to tuxpaint-users:
> Everytime I click OPEN, the files in the folder data/starters does not
> appear

As of Tux Paint 0.9.18, Starters now appear in the "New" dialog
(which makes more sense, since they're selected when creating a new picture).
You'll probably need to scroll pass the solid color options which were
also added to the "New" dialog at the same time.

<snip> 
> stderr.txt contains
> Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing get_tool_count

The errors about puzzle.dll can be ignored.  The code for that Magic
tool is in Tux Paint, but was not activated because it didn't work well.
(It's been fixed up for 0.9.22, if I recall.)


Let us know if that helps!


PS - I see you posted via Nabble.  Please note that tuxpaint-users
mailing list requires you to subscribe before you can post.
(Which is useful, otherwise you won't see people's responses unless
they specifically remember to Cc you, like I've done here!)

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

[Tuxpaint-users] Fwd: HELP on opening starters (no files found)

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

I received a moderation message about the following post to
tuxpaint-users, but when I went to approve it in the mailinglist
administration tool, I didn't see it!  So here's a cut-n-paste:

----- Begin forwarded message -----

From: melvinsdb <mrm...@ge...>
To: tux...@li...
Subject: [Tuxpaint-users] HELP on opening starters (no files found)


Hello,

I am from the Philippines and learning to use Tuxpaint for schools.

I downloaded Tuxpaint 0.9.21 and the Rubber Stamps then Installed them in
Windows XP.
Installed to Program Files/TuxPaint.

tuxpaint.cfg contains
# Generated by tuxpaint-config version 0.0.12
# savedir=C:/Documents and Settings/ADMIN/My Documents/My Pictures/TuxPaint/
startblank=yes
datadir=C:/Program Files/TuxPaint/data/

I also tried
# datadir=C:/Program Files/TuxPaint/data/

Everytime I click OPEN, the files in the folder data/starters does not
appear

How can I use the starters as templates?


stderr.txt contains
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing get_tool_count
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing get_name
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing get_icon
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing get_description
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing requires_colors
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing modes
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing set_color
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing init
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing shutdown
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing click
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing release
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing switchin
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing switchout
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing drag
Error: plugin plugins/puzzle.dll is missing api_version

Hoping for your response

Thank you

Melvin
--
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/HELP-on-opening-starters-%28no-files-found%29-tp25305214p25305214.html
Sent from the tuxpaint-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

[Tuxpaint-users] "Task" tracker created at Tux Paint's SourceForge.net project

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

Since its inception, the SourceForge.net project for 'Tux Paint' has
contained a pair of 'trackers':  one for bug reports, the other for
feature requests.

I've just added a new one:  for tasks.

  https://sourceforge.net/tracker/admin/?group_id=66938

Feel free to poke around.  I've added Caroline Ford as a Technician
(a person who can have items assigned to them) since she's been active
in the other trackers lately.  If anyone else would like to become a
Technician, just send me your SourceForge.net username.

Thanks and enjoy!

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

[Tuxpaint-users] More on 'GNU Generation'

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

GNU Generation: Bringing Pre-University Students into Free Software
Wed., August 12, 2009

http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2009/08/gnu-generation-bringing-pre-university.html


  While GNU Generation isn't the next Google Highly Open Participation
  Contest (GHOP), the two efforts have a lot in common. My name is Max
  Shinn and I am going into my junior year of high school. This summer,
  though, I'm interning with the Free Software Foundation (FSF). When I
  was participating in GHOP, I never imagined that I would be using that
  experience to start a similar project. I have been working on GNU
  Generation extensively as part of my internship with the FSF.

  GNU Generation is a growing community for young people (approx. ages
  13-18) interested in contributing to free software.


-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

[Meg J. <mjo...@so...>]

John - you're a genius!  Holding the Alt key was all that was needed.  Thanks so much.
Meg

-----Original Message-----
From: John Popplewell [mailto:jo...@jo...]
Sent: Wednesday, 12 August 2009 2:14 PM
To: Discussion list for parents and teachers using Tux Paint
Subject: Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

Hi Meg,

I believe that holding down the <ALT> key when clicking on the Tux Paint
print button will cause the printer configuration dialog to be shown.

Otherwise, delete the file 'print.cfg' which can be found in:

C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\TuxPaint  - on XP
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\TuxPaint\  - on Vista

You may need to change the 'Hidden Files and Folders' setting to be able
to see these directories.

Hope that helps,

regards,
John Popplewell.

On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:39:10PM +1000, Meg Johnson wrote:
> I work in a computer lab which has several printers listed as
> available.  Unknowingly, children have accepted a printer option which
> is not correct and have unsuccessfully sent pictures for printing.
> Despite my specifying the correct default printer in the Windows
> control panel, Tuxpaint insists on retaining the incorrectly chosen
> printer.  Even after logging off and shutting down, the same problem
> occurs. Is there a way within the Tuxpaint program to specify which
> printer is to be used?
>
> I will appreciate your advice.
> Meg Johnson

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day
> trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on
> what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with
> Crystal Reports now.  http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day
trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on
what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with
Crystal Reports now.  http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july
_______________________________________________
Tuxpaint-users mailing list
Tux...@li...
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

[Meg J. <mjo...@so...>]

Wow - thanks for the prompt response, John.  I'll give it a try and let you know how I go!

Meg

-----Original Message-----
From: John Popplewell [mailto:jo...@jo...]
Sent: Wednesday, 12 August 2009 2:14 PM
To: Discussion list for parents and teachers using Tux Paint
Subject: Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

Hi Meg,

I believe that holding down the <ALT> key when clicking on the Tux Paint
print button will cause the printer configuration dialog to be shown.

Otherwise, delete the file 'print.cfg' which can be found in:

C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\TuxPaint  - on XP
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\TuxPaint\  - on Vista

You may need to change the 'Hidden Files and Folders' setting to be able
to see these directories.

Hope that helps,

regards,
John Popplewell.

On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:39:10PM +1000, Meg Johnson wrote:
> I work in a computer lab which has several printers listed as
> available.  Unknowingly, children have accepted a printer option which
> is not correct and have unsuccessfully sent pictures for printing.
> Despite my specifying the correct default printer in the Windows
> control panel, Tuxpaint insists on retaining the incorrectly chosen
> printer.  Even after logging off and shutting down, the same problem
> occurs. Is there a way within the Tuxpaint program to specify which
> printer is to be used?
>
> I will appreciate your advice.
> Meg Johnson

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day
> trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on
> what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with
> Crystal Reports now.  http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day
trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on
what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with
Crystal Reports now.  http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july
_______________________________________________
Tuxpaint-users mailing list
Tux...@li...
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

[John P. <jo...@jo...>]

Hi Meg,

I believe that holding down the <ALT> key when clicking on the Tux Paint
print button will cause the printer configuration dialog to be shown.

Otherwise, delete the file 'print.cfg' which can be found in:

C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\TuxPaint  - on XP
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\TuxPaint\  - on Vista

You may need to change the 'Hidden Files and Folders' setting to be able
to see these directories.

Hope that helps,

regards,
John Popplewell.

On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:39:10PM +1000, Meg Johnson wrote:
> I work in a computer lab which has several printers listed as
> available.  Unknowingly, children have accepted a printer option which
> is not correct and have unsuccessfully sent pictures for printing.
> Despite my specifying the correct default printer in the Windows
> control panel, Tuxpaint insists on retaining the incorrectly chosen
> printer.  Even after logging off and shutting down, the same problem
> occurs. Is there a way within the Tuxpaint program to specify which
> printer is to be used?
> 
> I will appreciate your advice.
> Meg Johnson

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day 
> trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on 
> what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with 
> Crystal Reports now.  http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july
> _______________________________________________
> Tuxpaint-users mailing list
> Tux...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/tuxpaint-users

[Tuxpaint-users] Sending pictures to print

[Meg J. <mjo...@so...>]

I work in a computer lab which has several printers listed as available.  Unknowingly, children have accepted a printer option which is not correct and have unsuccessfully sent pictures for printing.  Despite my specifying the correct default printer in the Windows control panel, Tuxpaint insists on retaining the incorrectly chosen printer.  Even after logging off and shutting down, the same problem occurs. Is there a way within the Tuxpaint program to specify which printer is to be used?

I will appreciate your advice.
Meg Johnson

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 09:30:55AM -0700, henry taylor wrote:
>  Back in my classroom finally thinking about "the plan" for this year.
> 
>  The question arises: Is there an easy way to set up this year so that
>  different grades have access to different sets of stamps.

Yes.  Right now, Tux Paint looks in two places for data files
(stamps, starters and brushes):  a system-wide location, and
a user-specific location.

The latter is, obviously, user-specific.  Just like the folder where
Tux Paint saves its files.  A while back, we made it possible to specify
a different user data directory, just like we've been able to specify
a different saved files directory.

It's the "datadir" option, versus the "savedir" option (which used to
control _both_).


>  I've been building a curriculum based set of stamps for different cultural
>  and art history periods and I'd like to reduce the impulse to put firemen
>  nurses and rag dolls into a project on egyptian heiroglyphics and wall
>  reliefs
> 
>  I'm thinking that I may need to have an installation of tux for each grade
>  (1-5) on each computer...

Simply create folders somewhere (on a network drive?  or just duplicate
them across the systems), e.g., "grade1", "grade2", etc.

Within each, create "stamps" subfolders.  Then put the stamps within.
You can even categorize them by creating subdirectories.
The students will be able to page through each category using the left/right
arrow buttons, at the bottom of the Stamps list on the right side of the
Tux Paint window.

Give the "--datadir" command-line option to Tux Paint, telling it which
stamp folder to look at.

Note that right now it's not possible to ask Tux Paint to _not_ load
the system-wide stamps, if you have them installed.  In the future, we
should think about providing ways to specify paths to add/remove,
for each data catagory.  They could be stacked up.

e.g.:
  tuxpaint --nosystemstamps --stampsdir /path/to/some --stampsdir /path/to/more

And, of course, also provide a sane way of specifying these options within
configuration files.  And THEN provide ways to 'include' config files
from within each other, and/or provide a list of them on the command-line:

  tuxpaint --config accessibility-enhancements.cfg --config grade1.cfg

*sigh*  If only I had more time to work on this stuff.  Maintenance and
tech support takes up what little spare time I have. :^/


>  Do we have a variety of Tux Icons available
>  anywhere? 1st graders use the green tux icon or the penguin with the
>  poarty hat maybe?

You can alway make more Tux Icons using a tool like GIMP (or Tux Paint,
possibly together with another tool, like GIMP).


Say you're on Windows... you could make Windows 'shortcuts' to the
Tux Paint executable, but each has a diff. icon, and each has a different
'--datadir C:\whatever\gradeXYZ\' option given to Tux Paint via the
command-line.


>  And FWIW are there any other art teachers out there?

I think there are.  I'd love to see a show of hands, though. ;)

-- 
-bill!
Sent from my computer

[Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[henry t. <tor...@ya...>]

 
Back in my classroom finally thinking about "the plan" for this year.
 
The question arises: Is there an easy way to set up this year so that different grades have access to different sets of stamps.
 
I've been building a curriculum based set of stamps for different cultural and art history periods and I'd like to reduce the impulse to put firemen nurses and rag dolls into a project on egyptian heiroglyphics and wall reliefs
 
I'm thinking that I may need to have an installation of tux for each grade (1-5) on each computer... Do we have a variety of Tux Icons available anywhere? 1st graders use the green tux icon or the penguin with the poarty hat maybe?
 
And FWIW are there any other art teachers out there?
 
Guy Taylor in Tucson
 
 

 

 


      

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 03:26:08PM +1000, Meg Johnson wrote:
>    Folks, I have subscribed to the Tux Paint Users mail list but have yet to
>    receive confirmation.  Meanwhile, I am very anxious to have an answer to
>    my question, so I hope you don't mind my sending a query without
>    necessarily being on board as a member.

I've subscribed Meg manually.  Hopefully she'll get messages from the list
itself, at least! :)


>    Is it possible to have any control over the saving of pictures; that is,
>    saving pictures to a particular drive rather than using the default
>    TuxPaint folder?

As Caroline said, you can probably just use the 'Tux Paint Config.'
program (called "Configure Tux Paint" in the Start menu in Windows).

Go to the "Saving" tab (near the top right), then check the checkbox
next to "Use Alternative Save Directory".  Then click the "Browse" button
under that, and select a folder to save into.

Another alternative (if you just want to get quick access to the saved
files) is to simply create a shortcut (Windows), a.k.a. alias (Mac),
a.k.a. symbolic link (Linux) to the folder where Tux Paint saves.

In other words, you can create an item on your desktop (or under
"My Documents" or wherever), call it "Tux Paint Pictures", and simply
make it point to Tux Paint's "saved" folder.

This page briefly explains where Tux Paint saves its files, on each
platform:

  http://www.tuxpaint.org/gallery/submit/

(Note that you may need to ask your file browser -- "Windows Explorer"
on Windows, "Nautilus", "Konqueror", "Dolphin", etc. on Linux,
or the "Finder" on Mac -- to show you any hidden files, before you can
actually navigate to Tux Paint's saved-files folder.)

Sorry for being long-winded, but hopefully that covers everything! :^D

-bill!
Cc'ing Meg directly, just in case she doesn't get the list message.
(Let me know if you DON'T get the 'tuxpaint-users' list copy of this,
so we can figure out what's going on with our listmail to you.)

Re: [Tuxpaint-users] Tuxpaint query

[Caroline F. <car...@go...>]

2009/7/23 Meg Johnson <mjo...@so...>:
> Folks, I have subscribed to the Tux Paint Users mail list but have yet to
> receive confirmation.  Meanwhile, I am very anxious to have an answer to my
> question, so I hope you don’t mind my sending a query without necessarily
> being on board as a member.
>
>
>
> Is it possible to have any control over the saving of pictures; that is,
> saving pictures to a particular drive rather than using the default TuxPaint
> folder?
>

Should be possible using tuxpaint config. Is this Windows?

Croline