Python, JDBC, Filemaker 11

I was trying to connect to our Filemaker 11 database here on the excavation. We were running Filemaker Server 11 until the power supply to the server computer died. So now we’re just sharing the Database from a Filemaker 11 client runnning on another computer. Anyway I was trying to see if I could get Python to connect and allow for some handy scripting with the database. I found these instructions, which seemed good but didn’t work Filmaker 11. So I did some hunting around. For one, the jdbc driver has changed it’s now called fmjdbc.jar and not surprisingly the methods have changed as well, so I’m offering a little update on those instructions for Filemaker 11:

# You'll probably need to set your Java Home env var before running:
# $ export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java (or where ever yours is)
import jaydebeapi
import jpype

URL = 'jdbc:filemaker://10.21.41.26/Your Database'

jar = r'/opt/drivers/fmjdbc.jar' #path to driver
args='-Djava.class.path=%s' % jar # this will depend a lot on your platform
jvm_path = jpype.getDefaultJVMPath()
jpype.startJVM(jvm_path, args)

conn = jaydebeapi.connect('com.filemaker.jdbc.Driver',
URL, 'username', 'pw')
curs = conn.cursor()

curs.execute('''select * from LabHead''')
print curs.fetchall()[:100]

The two main changes are to the URL and the connection method. That should work hopefully. Alas I wasn’t able to connect as the Filemaker 11 Client only allows local JDBC connections (utterly stupid!) and I couldn’t get jpype to start on Windows. But running this all from my linux computer came back with an error about not being local so I would assume it would work if you were or if you were running the full server which allowed remote connections.

Wedding

I’ve created a new website along with my fiancée to provide information about our wedding and give a shot at co-blogging.

See Hayley and Willis’ Wedding Weblog.

Vignette

This a shot of my dining nook table taken with the camera on my fancy smart phone.  So why the fake Polaroid frame and artsy lens effect?  I’m not sure; it looks better this way.  I think part of the appeal is the recognition that the phones camera takes a certain quality of photo not quite real, yet aesthetically unsatisfactory.

Sun stretched cat

Here’s my cat stretching in the sun.

Here’s some progress on Grad Schools:

• Got into Berkeley, visiting early March.
• Invited to attend Brown “Prospective Students Day” at the end of February.
• Invited to visit UMichigan for same deal after a Skype interview.
• Still waiting on the rest…

Earlgreyspresso

I decided today to try grinding up some Earl Grey tea… here’s the tea in the grinder.

Here it is ground into a fine mist and packed into the espresso pot.

And here’s the Espressotea in a mug. Verdict: not very good, way too bitter.

I did a quick google search and whipped up a simple chart in Google Docs of which spelling was better; “teaspresso” wins out.

I also baked some bread while I was make the “teaspresso”. This is still the yeast from the hard cider I made back in November.

Back again

So I’m attempting to start this up again. Here’s a shot of some Tomato plants (and a mysterious squash) that I just transplanted around. I’ll have to take two or three out of the larger pot when they get bigger. I want to try and use the space in front of my windows more intensively and grow a lot more food (we’ll see how far I get).

Some of the things I’ve been doing recently

• Brewing my own cider
• Baking bred from the gunk at the bottom of said cider
• Hayley and I made a batch of castile soap

Hopefully I’ll be able to document more of these projects as they come along. Some things I’ve been thinking about recently

• Urban Homesteading (I’ve a great book, here’s a website: http://pathtofreedom.com/)
• Building tiny houses http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

Drying Pasta

I made some pasta a while ago and hung it on a plant stand to dry. I wanted to try making pasta and then cooking it later to see if you can get closer to the taste of store bought pasta rather than softer fresh made pasta.

I went to a talk last night at Harvard by Jason Ur entitled “Fresh Evidence on the Origin of Cities in Ancient Mesopotamia”. It was quite good, Jason Ur is always a good speaker and keeps lectures engaging and interesting throughout. I had seen some of his evidence before, namely the work he did with the pottery scatter around Tell Brak but I hadn’t seen the most recent results of the excavations off the main mound.

Wicker Box

A while ago I found this nice wicker box on the street in providence. Its handle had frayed and broken so someone chucked it out. When I get around to it I’ll braid a new handle and turn it into a nice little picnic basket.

I really want to start contributing more to ubuntu and other open source projects that I use. I’ve been using linux exclusively on my laptop for nearly eight years now (see this early plea for help) and I feel it’s time to start giving back. Ubuntu just had a big Global Bug Jam I would’ve like to have participated. I did the 5-a-day for a bit that was fun and a good way to keep track of how much you’re getting done. But triaging alone doesn’t really seem like enough.

The most time I have and the time best spent working on open source projects is on the train. I usually have my little eeepc with me which would be great for reviewing patches and bug hunting. However the wireless is very spotty if existent at all on the commuter rail. Maybe when the next itteration of the t-mobile G-phone comes out I’ll taking the plunge then I can just tether it with my eeepc and work from wherever.

Oh I’m also trying this thing where just before I goto bed I set a timer for five minutes and tidy up my room while the timer counts down. So far it’s proven very effective. It’s just enough time to get some things in order, but not to long to feel like a chore.

More Snow/Bread

The threat of snow and freezing rain kept me home from work today. I wasn’t worried so much about getting up to Boston more that coming home this evening would be a nightmare of canceled and packed trains.

I started some bread this morning a mix of half whole wheat and white flour. I listened to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me while I kneaded the dough and stuck in the a warmed oven to let it rise. Then I got my skis and went for a quick trip down to the river and back. It wasn’t as beautiful as previous times with snow in the trees and silence, but it was still quite enjoyable. Plus since the plows hadn’t been through I managed to ski all the way from my house down to the river and back without taking my skis off to cross the roads. By the time I got back the snow had really turned to rain.

Matchbox Pinhole Camera

Following some instructions I found on the web I made a matchbox pinhole camera on Thursday night and then took photos on Friday dropped it off for developing and picked it up today. Walgreens didn’t quite know how to handle the weird format, they asked me if I wanted to see the photos before I paid for them. I was thrilled they even came out which again sort of suprised the photo person. They didn’t crop them quite right but I assume they just ran the film through the machine as if it were out of a normal 35mm camera. I told them when I dropped it off that it was going to be a bit weird. Oh well next time I’ll take it to a photo shop and have them do it.

I uploaded all the photos and you can see them here.

Fireplace

I arrived in Providence at 7:10am only ten minutes late all the way from D.C. which isn’t too bad. The ride was ok, there was a screaming baby for the first two hours in front of me who fell asleep much to everyone’s relief. It was odd stopping at Kingston, RI and having commuters get on the train. I guess they do it every day but it seemed weird after all of us on the train were in the mind set of not having been to sleep and they were ready for work. The train was nice though going through all the snow. The vestibules between the carriages filled up with snow so the conductors had to keep going by with shovels to empty them out.

Haven’t done much today besides rest, had a nice nap this morning. The rest of the day has been spent in front of the fire which I lit just after lunch. Once the sun set I decided I wasn’t going to turn on any lights. So I lit a candle and have been carrying it around with me. Did the dishes by candlelight (the old fashion way, in the sink, not the dishwasher). Going to see if I can convince my dad and sister when they get home to keep the lights off. Oh I also turned the heat way down, hopefully we can keep the fire going.

EDIT: well that failed, lights were turned on right away…

Capital City II

Woke up bright and early this morning and had a brief worship with three other people in the William Penn House. Then I walked over to the Library of Congress and had a peak at their two exhibitions and the main reading room. I have to say it has a classical elegance to it but lacks the sense of knowledge that you get when entering the British Library.

By the time I left the Library of Congress the museums on the mall were open so I popped back into the National Gallery and saw their special exhibition on Pompeii and then saw the Sackler gallery and the African Art museum; oh and had a quick walk around the National Botanical Garden. By then it was time to head to AU for the college fair.

Now I’m sitting in Penn Station free loading off some free wifi somewhere nearby. The entrance gate for this overnight train is slowly filling up with people heading up north. I’m hoping it’s not too busy so I (and everyone else) can get two seats to ourselves.