How to use Core Data with multiple Store Files
Sometimes it can be useful to split your Core Data Store File across multiple files. For example, one file could live on the local file system, while the other could live in iCloud. We can do this by telling the Xcode Model Editor to add more than one Configuration, each of which can be allocated certain Entities. Each Configuration can be configured to use a separate store file. Consider this example code which is provided by the Xcode 4.6 templates to initiate the Persistent Store Coordinator: // Single Store – original code provided...
read moreHow to style the Tumblr Widget Sidebar Plugin
I’ve been recently using Tumblr more to post sketches from all kinds of devices, and naturally I wanted to embed them in some of my websites’ sidebars. I found the extremely helpful Tumblr Widget plugin by Gabriel Roth for this: install, drag in the widget add Tumblr URL. Done! I wanted my images to be in a size that the widget didn’t offer, so I did some tweaking – perhaps it’ll help if you’re in a similar situation. Tweak the Image Size My sidebar is 250px wide, but the plugin only offers either 100px or...
read moreMySQL Replication Troubleshooting
Sometimes things don’t work out with replication. When I first started experimenting with it I thought this was a “setup and forget about it” kind of job. Experience has shown though that you have to regularly triple check and see if things may have broken (despite a good and once working setup). Let’s take a look at what you can do when your Slave isn’t replicating anymore. If you want to know more about how to setup replication, have a look at my previous article in which I explain how this works. Master...
read moreHow to setup MySQL Master/Slave Replication with existing data
This is a step-by-step guide on how to replicate an existing MySQL server. The server is live and contains data and needs a constant backup companion. Many tutorials focus on how to setup replication when no data is present on the system. That’s an ideal solution if you’re building a new setup, but in case you’ve got a server that already has data present then here’s how to accomplish the this: setup your existing MySQL server (with data) as a Master export all your databases and user accounts create a slave and import...
read moreHow to install CentOS 6 on a Samsung NC10
Today was a rather exciting day for me: I’ve successfully turned my aging Samsung NC10 Netbook into an internal server in our office. I bought the little guy in 2009 and he’s been my trusty companion on many jobs before I got an iPad. He still works fine, even though Windows XP was getting weird of late – and admittedly I hadn’t even turned him on in over 8 months. Now my trusty pal is running CentOS 6.4 while sitting quietly in a corner next to the modem, serving as an internal Linux server. This is great for testing...
read moreHow to switch SketchBook Pro 6 into Full Screen Mode
The Mac version of Autodesk’s SketchBook Pro 6 works well on small screen – but since real estate is limited, there is a way to switch the app to Full Screen Mode. Rather than the double-arrow in the top right corner though, you’ll have to use the shortcut OPTION+CTRL+J Don’t ask me why, it’s not very well documented for such an intuitive app. And since I keep forgetting how to do this, here it is in writing. Thanks to Eric from Autodesk for this tip (discussion)
read moreHow to create an NSDate object
The easiest way to create an NSDate object is to create “right now” with our convenience method date: NSDate *myDate = [NSDate date]; But if you want to create a date object with a date such as your birthday it gets a little bit trickier, and – more importantly – much less obvious. To do this, we need to create an NSDateFormatter, tell the formatter how to expect the date, and then use its convenience method dateFromString to create the date: NSDateFormatter *formatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc]init];...
read moreHow to display the full month from an NSDate (such as “February”)
There was me thinking I’d have to whip out NSDateComponents and NSCalendar – but my mind works too complicated at times. All we need to do this is our good friend the NSDateFormatter and the Unicode Date Format MMMM – let’s check it out: // create today's date NSDate *myDate = [NSDate date]; // create a date formatter and set its format NSDateFormatter *formatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc]init]; formatter.dateFormat = @"MMMM"; NSLog(@"The current month is %@", [formatter...
read moreHow to create Linkshare Affiliate Links to iTunes Products
One of the worst ever interfaces i have ever come across is that of Rakuten LinkShare. Even before they’ve been bought by Japanese giant Rakuten it was bad, and it hasn’t been improved since I’ve signed up with them in 2008. Lucky for us we don’t have to use their interface to get links to iTunes Products – we can use the standard good looking and well working iTunes Link Maker. All we need is go there via LinkShare, which will embed our affiliate code. Here’s how to do this step by step: 1.) Login to...
read moreHow to create a UIBarButtonItem in code and make it call a method
Some things are really easy to do via a Storyboard – but when you want to create the same thing in code I frequently forget how to do it. Turns out it’s equally simple: this example assumes you have a View Controller which is embedded in a Navigation Controller (so it already has a UINavigationBar at the top). Here’s how you add a button to it, set the title and target, and tell it what to do when it’s pressed: – (void) viewDidLoad { [super viewDidLoad]; // first we create a button and set it's properties...
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