Dynamic Linking of Map & Spreadsheet

The following instructions allows the map generated by GPSVisualizer to be dynamically linked with the spreadsheet that generated the original data. This means that all changes made to the 'control' spreadsheet will automatically appear in the map every time it is reloaded.  Very cool, again many thanks to: Adam Schneider.

Accessing the spreadsheet:

1. The file should be saved as a doc.google.com/spreadsheet and formatted with lat, long and other data as necessary to generate the popups
2. Open the file, Goto File, Publish to the Web, Start publishing now or Republish now (if the file is already published)
3. Copy, <ctrl>C the resulting URL for pasting into the GPSVisualizer script

Building the Map:

1. Next we go to the GPSVisualizer site and goto Make a Google map from a GPS file
2. Paste <ctrl>V the Spreadsheet URL into the Or a URL that the map will load dynamically box in the lower left corner
3. Expand the WayPoint Options section and changes as necessary, including;
4. Icon:
5. Default color marker:
6. Synthesize name: {name}
7. Synthesize description: Contact: {contact}<br>Phone: {phone} generates a custom form in the popup
8. Press Draw the Map button and cross your fingers
9. Goto the resulting map and then select the save your Google map link and save the file with an appropriate name & as a simple .HTML file
10. That file can now be opened in your browser, and ever time you update the spreadsheet, and press Republish now the map file will update with the new data (after you Reload the map page)

It's like Magic!

 
Or a URL that the map will load dynamically: Os r 


a URL that the map will load dynamica

Signing an emailed form

I've been receiving a lot of NDAs and other forms for which people want my 'John Hancock' signature.  Some have gone as far as insisting that I print the form, sign it and then scan it back to them! Talk about a pain.
So I found a great way to provide an image of your signature that can be placed on the form.
The form need to be in .PDF format and you need to open it in PREVIEW.  Then follow the instructions below, and you get something like this:

Sign a PDF document
You can take a picture of your handwritten signature and then add it to any PDF document.

HideTake a picture of a signature
Choose Preview > Preferences, click Signatures, and then click Create Signature.
If a signature already exists, you can choose the Create Signature command from the Signature pop-up menu in the Annotations toolbar.

Follow the instructions displayed on screen.
Make sure your signature fills the box on the left and sits on the blue baseline.
When the signature preview looks correct, click Accept.

Sign a document
Click Annotate in the toolbar, if you don’t see the annotations bar.
From the Signature pop-up menu, choose a signature.
Click the location where you want the signature to appear.
If you click a line, Preview shrinks the signature, if necessary, to fit on it.

Common Xcode erros & their remedies

Here are a few of the errors that I've come across, their descriptions and fixes;

*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '*** -predicateFormat cannot be sent to an abstract object of class NSPredicate: Create a concrete instance!'*** 
This error comes up when you try to pass an invalid method or value the an object

Thread 1: EXC_BAD_ACCESS(code=1, address= 0xb1f034fe
This error is usually from trying to access a deallocated object

what's in a widget

This is a great widget that I would like to create.  What's it written in?

The executable was signed with invalid entitlements.

This classic error with the following text;

The entitlements specified in your application’s Code Signing Entitlements file do not match those specified in your provisioning profile.

you need to make sure they are the same.

• Goto Xcode-Window-Organizer-Devices and then goto the connected device's Provisioning Profiles tab.
• Note the name of the currently valid profile;
• In Xcode goto program-target-Project-Build Settings-Code Signing and copy the appropriate profile name into the Code Signing Identity field and also in it's children

Recompile & Off You Go!