Library Books software for Gloucestershire

Harold Chu’s Library Books software for Mac OS X tracks your borrowings and reminds you when they need returning/renewing. I had messed with an earlier version but never managed to get it to connect to the local library service. A new version was in today’s MacUpdate listing but as Gloucestershire was not included in the preset UK libraries I had another go at getting it to work. Success 🙂

So if you live in [W:Gloucestershire], are a member of the library, have a Mac and a tendency to forget to return stuff this is what you need.

Install and run the Library Books software. It only appears as a star icon in the menu bar. Click on the star icon and select Preferences. Select the Logins section and click the + button to add a new library.
From the Library drop down menu select Generic Catalogue Systems – TalisPrism / Talis Catalogue System.

The Library Books Settings Pane
The Library Books Settings Pane

In the General settings add a Name and your Borrower numbet. PIN can be left blank.

In the Catalogue section add:
Catalogue host: http://www.searchourshelves.gloucestershire.gov.uk
Library Web Page: http://www.libraries.gloucestershire.gov.uk/
Date format: dd/mm/yyyy
Click the Save button.

That’s it!

Click on the Star icon and select Update and it will fetch a list of your borrowed items. The number of items are displayed next to the star. You can make the star change colour the day before an item is due to be returned and/or add the dates to iCal so that it will also remind you.

The software is free and no more late return charges 😉

Update: The details were sent to Harold Chu the developer who says that they will added to the Preset list in future versions.

Final Cut Studio upgrade

It was quite fortuitous that the day I decided I would order an upgrade for my creaky old antiquated version 1 of Final Cut Studio was the very day Apple updated the software to the new version 3. It only took 4+ hours to install! Which was not quite as long as the 17 hours it was predicting.

17 Hour update!
17 Hour update!

So now I have a whole lot of new toys to play with and distract myself from actually finishing any of the numerous projects I have on the go 😉

Fun time with RevWeb

Runtime Revolution is about to hit version 4 which includes a plugin to enable software created with it to be run in your web browser. Get the plug in and install it!

Here is a little guess the number test game I made awhile ago but not specifically for the web. It seems to mostly work 🙂

[Update: Does not seem to like FireFox 3.5.1 on my Mac. Works with Safari, Opera and Stainless browsers]

There is a new version of the Revolution software called revMedia with which you can create your own stuff. You will need to sign up to get the Alpha Testing version. It is FREE. It is FUN.

This could turn into an all nighter 😉