rick o'brien

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A minimalist approach to creating a Linux print server for Windows clients

A lot has been said and written about the adaptability ofLinux to mundane tasks such as file and print serving. Writers have relatedanecdotes about Linux boxes running unattended for months and for years withno license upgrade costs. When I needed to add a third printer to my networkof seven test...

Tags: Linux, print server, Nicholas Fong, Rick O'Brien, network, printer, Red Hat Inc., router, server

Technical articles 2004-08-17

Critical Path Analysis: The path to project enlightenment

The importance of scheduling to a project’s ultimate success cannot be over-emphasized. The "Chaos Report" by the Standish Group and a study by KPMG Canada called, "What Went Wrong? Unsuccessful Information Technology Projects," have both identified schedule overruns as a major cause of project failures.Tools such as Microsoft Project are...

Tags: analysis, Critical Path, Critical Path Analysis, database, Rick O'Brien

Technical articles 2004-03-29

TechRepublic Tutorial: Use SQLyog to manage remote MySQL databases

The pricing and licensing model for MySQL, the open source database of choice, makes it attractive to ISPs that want to offer customers a database back end as part of a hosting package. If you're planning to develop dynamic e-commerce Web sites for your clients, MySQL skills should be in...

Tags: database, MySQL, MySQL Database, Obtaining SQLyog, Rick O'Brien

Technical articles 2003-11-21

An easier way to search all the text fields in a table at once

Helping clients quickly find the records they are looking for in a table is one of the most basic requirements in any database application you build. There are many ways to accomplish this, including look-ahead combo boxes and dialog boxes that search one or more fields at a time. A...

Tags: database, Microsoft Access, Rick O'Brien, text box

Technical articles 2003-07-02

Designing databases for reporting brings clients higher return on investment

As consultants, we tend to concentrate on storing data securely and efficiently when designing database applications. This is especially true when an application is brand new.But those in management and executive positions concentrate on what the stored data can reveal about their company and how they can use that information...

Tags: database, Rick O'Brien, ROI

Technical articles 2003-06-25

Get IT Done: Solve a many-to-many relationship problem in Microsoft Access

One of my customers is an employment agency that places job candidates with clients in the financial industry. When the agency approached me about making its database application (a networked Access 2000 database with seven users) more usable, one of the problems was a very common one: how to solve...

Tags: database, Get IT Done, many-to-many relationship, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Corp., Rick O'Brien

Technical articles 2003-05-02

Design applications to help users with their tasks

A few years ago, while teaching an introductory Microsoft Access course at a technical college, I came across some very simple—and vital—lessons that have value far beyond the beginner’s classroom. My years as a consultant have shown me how these application design lessons need to be a part of the...

Tags: Rick O'Brien, QtyOnHand, QtyOnOrder

Technical articles 2003-02-24

Make requirements-gathering interviews less stressful for users

Rick O’Brien is the owner of Ontario-based Business Data Solutions. This is his first article for TechRepublic.A few years ago, the manager of a commercial property management company asked me to automate a series of lease documents in Microsoft Word to duplicate the WordPerfect 5.1 macros that had been in...

Tags: Word processors, Rick O'Brien

Technical articles 2003-01-15

Additional Resources

Negotiating skills for IT consultants

Have you ever won over a potential client with a perfect presentation but lost them at the negotiation table? Rick Freedman describes what can go wrong and how you can prevent mistakes. by Rick Freedman

Tags: Consultant, Information Technology, Client, Negotiation, Rick Freedman, Anderson, Free Trade, Finance

Blog posts 2008-12-01

Rick and Bubba Radio Show (widget)

Rick and Bubba Radio Show widget let you listen to the Rick and Bubba radio show broadcast live from 6:00AM CST to 10:00AM. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.

Tags: Release, Version

Software downloads 2007-07-30

10 songs that will make your IT day go faster

No matter how frustrating or boring a particular task happens to be, a good song can usually make it bearable. Rick Vanover shares some of the tunes that help get him through the day. by Rick Vanover

Tags: Information Technology, Artist, Rick Vanover, Song, Rick, Strategy, Recruitment & Selection, Management, Human Resources, Workforce Management

Blog posts 2008-12-01

Five years from now, how will you be watching television?

Was Conan O'Brien on to something when he commented on all these Joost or Zattoo type services that are popping up? - http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/004369.html

Tags: TVs, TV & Home Theater, ErickP72, TV

Discussion threads 2007-05-18

10 things you can do to avoid problems with your Citrix upgrade

Citrix Presentation Server and XenApp are among the best products in the application delivery space. Rick Vanover explains some of the factors to keep in mind when the time comes to upgrade your environment. by Rick Vanover

Tags: Web, Application, Upgrade, Environment, Citrix Systems Inc., Web Interface, XenApp, Rick Vanover, Citrix XenApp, Servers, Hardware

Blog posts 2008-07-27

Rick Baker Images - Rick's Picks Screen Saver 3 (zip)

Rick Baker Images - Rick's Picks Screen Saver 3 is a screensaver with 40 of Rick Baker's best images. Enjoy beautiful scenes and photos of nature. Imagine yourself in these beautiful locations. It runs on almost all Windows platforms including Windows Vista. Lots of user configurable options, such as background...

Tags: Screensaver, Rick Baker Images, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software

Software downloads 2008-11-04

Three tips for cost crunching network projects without loss of quality

With the economic climate as it is, many organizations are being pressed to do more with less, and the network is no exception. Rick Vanover offers a few ways that savings can be made on network projects. by Rick Vanover

Tags: Termination, Network, Rack, Network Equipment, Networking, Rick Vanover

Blog posts 2008-10-12

How do you manage a mobile mini-datacenter?

Every network administrator may at some point create or support a mobile collection of equipment for use between sites or at other destinations. Rick Vanover shares some strategies that can be used to manage this type of network. by Rick Vanover

Tags: Mobile, Rick Vanover, Advertising & Promotion, Marketing, Network, Mobile Equipment Collection, Mobile Equipment, Networking

Blog posts 2008-11-10

Rick Kuhn's Help Desk -- Any Directions?

I downloaded Rick Kuhn's Help Desk Access DB and I need just a little Directions. I know, guys don't normally ask for directions. The Location tab looks to be a place to setup locations or departments, but it has six buttons at the bottom -- SAM SPADE, VISUAL...

Tags: Call centers, Programming languages, LuckyLeatherneck, Rick Kuhn, help desk

Discussion threads 2007-03-29

Rick Baker Images Wallpaper (zip)

This wallpaper collection contains 30 of Rick Baker's best images. Enjoy beautiful scenes and photos of nature on your desktop. Imagine yourself in these beautiful locations. 3 different wallpaper resolutions (800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1600 x 1200) are included.

Tags: Desktops, Hardware

Software downloads 2005-08-12

I just joined your site

I just joined your site . I came across it and started reading some of your answers to various problems and liked the answers you gave.With Pc's we need all the help we can get. ...

Tags: sendcatt3@..., WELCOME ABOARD

Discussion threads 2007-07-15

10+ priorities for testing critical systems

Testing is essential to make sure that systems function as expected, but the process can be complex and overwhelming. Rick Vanover looks at some testing strategies that will help you focus on what's important and make your installations and upgrades go smoothly. by Rick Vanover

Tags: Environment, Plan, Rick Vanover

Blog posts 2008-06-26