Archive for the 'Software' Category

Onfolio Integrated Reader & Content Collector

Pluck used to be my RSS reader.  I chose Pluck because I wanted a reader that was integrated into Internet Explorer.  But Pluck developed problems: notifications of new postings that didn’t exist, Pluck server outages, unresponsive to support requests.  With Pluck no longer responding to queries and no longer mentioning their RSS reader product on their web site, I went on the hunt for a new IE-integrated reader.

It didn’t take too long to come across Onfolio:

Onfolio is the easiest way to collect, organize and share your online research.  Onfolio is an add-in for the Windows Live Toolbar that helps you collect and organize online content, read RSS news feeds, and share content in emails, blogs and documents. With Onfolio, you get all of these tools built into your browser for simplicity. Whether you are planning a trip, looking for a job, investigating a major purchase, or simply looking for a better way to keep up with the news that interests you, Onfolio will help you be more efficient, thorough and organized.
http://www.onfolio.com/product/toolbaraddin/

Onfolio Screen Shot

I’ve been using Onfolio for a few weeks now and, so far, I love it.  The only problem is that your feeds are not centralized (i.e. not tied into an online account).  However, I expect that problem to be cured by Microsoft (yes, Microsoft, who recently acquired Onfolio and have made it an add-in for Windows Live Toolbar).

Others have posted articles describing Onfolio in more detail.  Check out: Onfolio - Two Thumbs Up and Microsoft Onfolio is a recommended MSN Toolbar add-in.

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Proprietary Software is not Anti-Social

According to David Sugar (author of the GNU Bayonne telephony platform):

“Some choose to believe they have a right to develop software with the help of and knowledge found in the world at large, and yet deny that same right to others … As such, I personally see the question of proprietary software as anti-social …”
http://www.ddj.com/191800299

I could not disagree more. If proprietary software is anti-social then does that not make all other proprietary products anti-social? What makes a software product, borne of creativity, innovation, and intellect, different from other products derived from the same efforts?  Haven’t most products invented and constructed by mankind been borne of “knowledge found in the world at large”?

What’s your view?

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HL7 Insight Beta 1.1 Released

Beta 1.1 of HL7 Insight has been released with the following new cosmetic features:

  • Added ability to change the font size and the font type (fixed width only).
  • Now supports word wrap; can be toggled on or off.
  • Added ability to change the message display colors, including: background color, HL7 encoding character colors, field text color, and segment ID color.
  • When started will restore the HL7 Insight window to the previous position and size.

You can download HL7 Insight Beta 1.1 here.  Going forward, I will also place HL7 Insight releases on a separate “HL7 Insight” web page.

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HL7 Insight

Do you work with HL7 2.X messages and need to decipher field content? Ever spend time counting segment fields in HL7 2.X messages trying to locate and understand content of interest? If so, then HL7 Insight will help save you time, giving you quick insight into your HL7 message content. Summary of features:

  • Load an HL7 message, point the mouse at segments and fields of interest, and receive instant tooltip-style feedback, including: segment ID, field number, field length, optionality, and detailed data type information;
  • Supports all HL7 2.X versions up to and including version 2.5;
  • Supports HL7 message “batches” (note: the BSH and FSH segments are not currently supported and must be excluded from the batch before displaying in HL7 Insight);
  • Colorizes the HL7 message text;

Sample HL7 Insight screen shots:

HL7 Insight Screen Shot 1

HL7 Insight Screen Shot 2

The HL7 Insight tool is currently in beta and has not yet been extensively tested with all HL7 2.X versions. Please let me know if you encounter any bugs/issues or if you have any questions and/or suggestions. After installation please see the file “ReleaseNotes.txt” for a list of known issues.

You can download beta 1 of HL7 Insight here.

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