Level Up - Windows 8: How to Create a Batch File

Batch (*.bat) files are useful because they allow you to save and reuse commands for the command prompt (or CLI, command-line interface). Also, it is easier to send multiple commands at once, fix typos, and edit the commands.

Batch files are available for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Any command that you can put in the CLI, you should be able to put into the BAT file.


Method 1:
- Right-click on your desktop (or in File Explorer), and select New->Text Document. Now, rename the file to something ending with .bat.


Method 2:
- Open Notepad, then when you save the file, make sure to end it with ".bat".

Saving a Batch file requires a .bat ending.

Test the Batch file:
Now that you have the BAT file, you can easily test that it works by putting in the following code, then double-click to run the file.

echo Hello, World!

Here's some more things you can try out: Windows Command Prompt Cheat Sheet


Note: If method 1 didn't work for you, then try method 2.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Idea: Reusable Fast Food Bags (Problems Solutions, and More)

There is a lot of waste coming from every purchase of fast food - bags, boxes, wrappers, etc.

What if, instead of throwing everything away every time, we could use a reusable bag, just like the trend is starting at grocery stores?

One problem with this is that the bag may get dirty over time from the french fries, grease, and other materials.
Some solutions:
 - Recycle the bag after it has been used so many times.
 - Wash the bag.
 - Have better wrappers for food put inside of bag.
 - Make it a self-cleaning bag. Read more.

The above handles at least the to-go bag.

Another problem is the wrappers and boxes that the main sandwiches/hamburgers go in. Even if they are made out of paper or cardboard, they are still thrown away. So, how do you make a reusable box if it keeps getting dirty/soiled by the sandwich.

Solution: Add a super hydrophobic and/or another non-stick surface to it. Here's one example for superhydrophobic. As for non-stick, I've seen a few videos of ketchup (and more things) not sticking to the insides of bottles or other places with the added non-stick surface.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Aerodynamic Cars

Is a car with smooth sides the most aerodynamic it could be?

A golf ball has dimples for a reason. They already tried smooth spheres, but the ones with dimples floated longer and went farther more easily. [http://www.livescience.com/32446-why-do-golf-balls-have-dimples.html]

The newest track suits (I read about this at least a year ago) also have small dimples on it rather than being perfectly smooth in order to shave a few hundredths of a second off. [http://www.gizmag.com/nike-pro-turbospeed-golf-ball-track-uniform/22520/]

Update: I just did a search for "cars with dimples" and found that MythBusters already did this. Mythbuster results showed a 11% increase in MPG (miles per gallon). =D
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/dimpled-car-minimyth.htm

~ Simply Advanced ~

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How to Save Money When Upgrading GameMaker

GameMaker is a great cross-platform game development tool. It is great for making 2D games very fast and with one code base, GameMaker can export to all major platforms, including Windows Phone, Windows 8, Android, iOS, Linux (Ubuntu), Mac, HTML5 and more. GameMaker is well worth its price.

But, I'm here to save you more money. Myself and others have purchased the GameMaker: Studio Standard version ($49) and wanted to upgrade to GameMaker: Studio Professional version ($99).

If you have purchased the standard version, then the professional version will only cost $50. What you need is your standard version's license key to save money. If you don't have it, then retrieve it at: http://www.yoyogames.com/my_licences

Then, when you go to the Buy Professional page. You can input your license key to save money on the upgrade. Click Upgrade as soon as enter the key. See picture below.

Save money when upgrading.

As soon as you click Upgrade the total price will be updated to show changes. Congrats, you just saved $50!

You can save money when upgrading from any [paid] version of GameMaker when using this method. This includes going from GameMaker Lite (8.1) to GameMaker: Studios.

Official GameMaker License Upgrades Summary

~ Simply Advanced ~

ps - There's another deal going on now for the GameMaker: Studio Master Collection version. Typically, it is $499. But, until the March 31th, it will be on sale for $199 for Professional users. So, about $300 total. More details: http://www.yoyogames.com/news/145

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App to Clipboard Multiple Items

I may have mentioned this before, but just now I thought of a good way to do this on a desktop computer. If there is anybody else who would like to save multiple items to their clipboard, then please email me or contact me via Google Plus.

I believe this can help me while programming, and I'm sure there are other uses for it too.

The first version would just have the ability to copy different text to multiple clipboards, then future versions would have the ability to save anything.

~ Simply Advanced ~

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Procrastination Versus Doing Dishes

tldr: Every time, I clean my dishes right after I finish eating or cooking. I don't care for doing the dishes, but I dislike procrastination even more.

• Dishes are easier to clean right after eating.
• I'm going to wash my hands after eating. So, by combining hand washing and doing dishes together I save time by only having to dry my hands once.
• This saves me from procrastinating on other works in the future because my areas are already clean.
• I have clean dishes for next time I eat sitting in the dish rack. Grabbing a dish from the dish rack is faster than open and closing a cabinet. Bonus quick seconds add up.

It feels good knowing that I have a clear mind so that I can focus 100% of my brain power on just a single activity. I wouldn't want it any other way.

~ Simply Advanced ~

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My Android Apps | My Windows Phone Apps | My Computer/Programming Blog