Bend in the Weather

Wine is a way to run native Windows applications without Windows.

The Wine project have been able to replicate the APIs required to run quite a number of applications under their environment.

It's one way you can run your legacy Windows applications under your Linux desktop.

I daily run Wine for a number of applications for business:

• Windows Lotus Notes for my office Email/Office Databases - it's not as crappy as the native Linux one then.
• Internet Explorer 6 for those pesky websites that refuse to run without IE (many customer client websites).
• Microsoft Office for some complicated files that get garbled by OpenOffice (but that number is decreasing with every release!)

Other good news about Wine is that 1.0 is just about out the door. (Don't be fooled by the low number - these guys are perfectionists, and it's been a long, long running project!)

Here's the blurb off their website:

Friends, vintners, penguins, lend me your ears:

We come not to praise Windows, but to celebrate our increasing independence from it.

The final release candidate for Wine 1.0 will appear this Friday (13th), and barring catastrophe, Wine 1.0 itself will be released a few days later.

I recently blogged about how hard it is for many small businesses to move off Windows. One way they can (particularly those that are on pre-Vista desktops and don't wish to go to Vista) is to utilise Wine for those legacy business Windows applications that need to run.

This way they can keep their functionality, but move to a more secure, less restrictive (licensing) operating system and a better and more richer computing experience in my opinion.

I recently attempted to see if I could run MYOB under Wine. Currently Pauline is stuck on Windows, due to her requirement to run MYOB to do our company books. MYOB ran under Wine without a hitch.

Well... until I went to print. It went off to the dark printing gods and spat out an empty plain page -- no matter what I printed. And thus is the reason for this blog post.


If anyone does business accounting, you realise printing is a key feature. Many hectares of forests from the Amazon are destroyed each year keeping up with the legal requirement of keeping financial records. (Personally we print a lot to PDF -- but still, under Wine this was failing for us!).

Scroll through many Linux forums/help sites and you'll hear people whining and complaining about printing under Wine. It seems to have also increased with the introduction of CUPS. From what I could see people where having problems printing to a physical printer most of the time, even though their CUPS printers correctly are represented and available in Wine. (This is exactly what I was seeing -- just blank pages printed).

Unfortunately this was going to be a show-stopper. Without a way to print (paper or electronically) for MYOB the idea was dead in the water. I didn't want to run Windows XP in a virtual machine (more on that in my next post over the following days).

I decided to sit down and take a bit of a fiddle (that's a technical term!)

Really -- if CUPS-PDF didn't work, nor did my native printers attached; even a Postscript file would be sufficient (I could then feed that into ps2pdf or something similar if I really wanted it in PDF format for Emailing, or just print the Postscript file directly to the printer).

I found that within the printing application I could create a virtual printer that printed a postscript file directly to a file in Linux. Okay, that works fine under Linux... Now the big test, did it print fine with MYOB running under Wine?

I could see the printer fine (as I could with all the other CUPS printers previously). I bit my bottom lip and hit print. Low and behold... a working report!

Even better I could link the Postscript printer to the CUPS-PDF printer and it would convert it auto-magically into a PDF for me.

I since tested a range of applications under Wine and they all seem to be printing.

So if you need to print in Wine and don't want a headache, try the local Postscript virtual printer hack. It works well.

For those that want to replicate it, here is a series of pictures showing the Postscript printer properties.
And if you still don't believe.... here is some sample print jobs:

• An example MYOB Invoice printed from Wine
• An example MYOB Report printed from Wine
• The sample test print from Linux

So have fun and happy printing from within Wine.

There are many reasons people are stuck on Windows.

For small businesses the main reason is their accounting software.
Like it or not, since the introduction of GST and BAS the days of the shoe-box accounting have disappeared. Every business that wants to keep accurate financial records requires an computerized accounting system.

In Australia, The introduction of GST and BAS has made it difficult for these same people to move over to Linux.
The two most popular Small Business Accounting packages are MYOB and QuickBooks. Both products support the Australian market and handle submissions to the ATO.

Many small businesses look for software that can handle base accounting (less then 25 invoices a week) and an integrated simple payroll module that can pay their employees (1-5 typically).

Both QuickBooks and MYOB operate as closed-source commercial software that runs on Windows (and on Mac - in the case of MYOB). They also integrate heavily into Microsoft Office.

Both business models expect customers to fork our between $500 - $800 for the initial purchase, and anywhere from $200- $500 annually to get 'updates'. For any small business this is a hefty investment just to keep up with the legal requirements of running their business. Calling for support can also attract additional fees on top of the yearly retainer.

As such, many are fearful to move on, but have a love-hate relationship with their accounting software provider. They feel cheated and ripped off (and rightly so). This duopoly has created a handsome cash-cow for both software makers.

The current extortion model used by MYOB and Quicken is best explained by Turbo Cash's explaination (a GPL Windows Accounting package). Unfortunately TurboCash is Windows software and contains no Australian payroll module.

Unfortunately, I am yet to see an OSS Linux accounting software that handles all the features required for an Australian business:

1. Handles Australian Taxation - including GST and BAS reporting/lodging
2. Handles Australian Payroll - including PAYG and Superannuation

The introduction of both these two options would see thousands migrate off Windows (it's often the only reason cited for not running Linux), and adopt a new accounting package.

There is both Ledger-SQL and LedgerSMB (a fork of the former) that handle accounting and can be customized to handle GST. Yet, they don't do anything to address BAS reporting/lodging or have a payroll module. As such, both are unsuitable for the Australian SMB market without further heavy lifting.

Their is commercial software like SAGE AccPac available, yet it's quite expensive and more geared towards a medium sized business and thus out of the price range for most small businesses.

One OSS project that did look indeed promising was SYMBOL (Surf Your Money Books On Line). It was written by an accountant from Western Australia and licensed under the BSD license.

I have been in Email discussion with the developer Edward Metcalfe, but it appears he has now moved on from the project and as such the project has stalled. Looking at the CVS repository the last update was unfortunately 13 months ago.

However, the software is indeed functional and delivers on the two items listed above (Australian Taxation/Payroll). Whilst you would need to update the PAYG tax tables (no real show-stopper), it should do the job admirably. ComputerWorld actually ran an article on SYMBOL in Februrary 2007.

Those interested in SYMBOL, will find it is a web-based application so accounting can be down via a regular browser (making it suitable on either Mac/Windows/Linux clients) It runs on a PostgreSQL backend and uses Perl/CGI for the front-end. It also is multi-user based. (One thing software like MYOB and Quicken charge an arm and a leg for!)

The fear of running SYMBOL though in it's current form is that it is unmaintained. It's likely the current government or subsequent ones will indeed look at overhauling the payroll and corporate tax systems (as opposed to just an implementation of the Goods and Services Tax). This would mean that any software a small business adopts would need to address these modification.

The ATO has worked to provide great documentation on the complex tax scheme we have in Australia for software developers. Their Software Developers Website gives test case scenarios and formulas to write compliant and competing software.

I'm in two minds:

1. Do I run SYMBOL and either start maintaining it or fork it?
2. Do I use a lot of the program logic, and spawn a completely new project?

Ideally I would love to see a AJAXed based web-version of the application with a modern interface using either the Yahoo UI or the Dojo Toolkit's Dijit and DojoX interfaces.
Either solution would provide an excellent interface and provide the user with an experience that matched a local fat client. Using a web framework like Django and a PostgreSQL database underneath, would make for a solid backend.

I think there is a market for an excellent OSS product to capture the market and knock off this duopoly. However I suspect it will take some committed individuals to pull it off. From the grumblings you hear frequently from small business owners there is a ready market to ditch their over-priced software once a viable and supported solution arises.

Here are some interesting facts about the Australian Small Business Market:

• There are about 1.2 million small businesses in Australia employing around 3.3 million people.
• During the past decade, small businesses have created an estimated 660,000 new jobs.
• 42% of all goods exporters are small businesses.
• 25% of the Australian GDP (estimated in 2006 at $1 trillion dollars) comes from small business.

That's a lot of potential users of an OSS product!

I suspect a lot of OSS developers do a fair amount of moon-lighting and as such require a way to invoice for their work. (Consulting may be your day time job also to pay for the bills, and OSS coding your passion and after hours work!).

So what are your thoughts?
Is there enough interest in getting up an OSS Accounting+Payroll solution for Australian small businesses?

On Tuesday, Internode announced that they are now mirroring Sourceforge.

This is fantastic news for all OSS lovers down here in Australia.

Whilst we have had the up and down again service from Optus for some time, it's great to have an alternative. (Having said that - I don't see Optus being offered on Sourceforge any more? Has Optus mirroring disappeared again?)

Even better, customers of Internode will actually get those downloads for free now. (Whilst I don't download Gb's of data each month of Sourceforge, I do grab things regularly off it! -- and every little bit helps.) More importantly, having a speedy mirror to grab code off is what counts.

It's great to see Internode -- a company that uses a lot of OSS software in their service delivery give back to the community that makes it happen.

Their range of free mirrored content is quite appealing. They run their own download mirror site and for a Linux lover there is a huge selection of distros, and updates mirrored. Even better it supports rsync so you can grab your updates quickly and easily! Add to it, now Sourceforge and MajorGeeks (for Windows software lovers). I regularly make use of their free streaming radio content. They have stuff also for gamers (who's got the time ?! ) as well as some other content. You can take a peep here.

The Sourceforge content is hosted here: http://internode.dl.sourceforge.net/ but you'll need to use the Sourceforge website to pick a download, then select Adelaide, Australia from the list of download options. (The direct link to the Internode mirror isn't browsable).


After reviewing this post, it does sound like an advert for Internode!
Having said that, I've used a bunch of ISPs over the years, and I haven't been happier than I am now with Internode.

The service is always faultless, 13-NODE (Tech support) is answered always promptly by someone who actually understands technical details (and not a messenger service for a tech team).
I've even had technical staff diagnose and fix routing issues whilst I've been on the phone with them!

So if you're in the market for a new ISP, give them a go. Sure, they aren't the cheapest ISP going around, but they are probably the best technical ISP and have some real added bonuses for OSS fans.

Tip: For those that do wish to sign up with Internode, one way to pickup an ongoing discount of 15% is to register as a SAGE-AU member. Get the benefits of being a SAGE-AU member -- and cheaper Internet access. (You will need a valid SAGE-AU membership number to be entitled to the discount).
For me, the cost of the SAGE-AU membership is less than the discount.. so I come out ahead!

We can all dream!

How many times do you get sent MS-Word, MS-Excel or MS-Powerpoint files?
Whilst OpenOffice does an excellent job opening them all, I would prefer them all in an open format natively.

It appears the Dutch may come to the rescue and make that dream a reality.

Reading through IDABC website it appears that the Dutch Council of State are going to open-source an application they have written that allows you to convert flawlessly between Microsoft Office <-> Open Office. It can also convert -> PDF.

At present, the only minor hiccup is images generated to PDF are a little 'darker'.

Really, I am happy to just get MS Office -> OpenOffice.

Really the European approach to OSS is a beacon of light that hopefully is adopted across all regions. The days of proprietry file formats are quickly disappearing. For future generations and long term storage Open Standards in file formats in mandatory.

History will look back at the stand the EU has made against Microsoft and show that their stance was the under swell that pushed many in that direction.

It's great to see South Africa has also filed their appeal against the OOXML becoming an ISO standard. It does show there are some people left within ISO that still have a back-bone and conscience.

South Africa challenges the validity of the final vote that we contend was based upon inadequate information resulting from poorly conducted BRM. Moreover, we challenge the validity of a process that, from beginning to end, required all parties involved to analyze far too much information in far too little time, involved a BRM that did not remotely provide enough time to perform the appointed purpose of that procedure, and for which an arbitrary time limitation was imposed to discuss and resolve a significant number of substantial responses, despite the Directives for not requiring any such limitation as to duration.

It is our opinion that the process followed during all stages of this fast track has harmed the reputations of both ISO and the IEC and brought the processes enshrined in the Directives into disrepute, and that this negative publicity has, in turn, also harmed the reputations of all member bodies of ISO and the IEC.

Let's hope this appeal isn't squashed in a face-saving exercise by ISO. The entire ISO process surrounding the adoption was flawed from the start with many unethical breaches of conduct undertaken during the whole voting process.

I think the recent Dilbert comic is something many computer geeks often face.



Whilst I personally haven't experienced the 'date and dump support' that Dilbert refers to hear, I do see close resemblances of it enough to annoy me.

First off let me explain the personal tech support I don't mind.
I don't mind helping friends and family out. Indeed I enjoy it. This brings me a sense of accomplishment and I love watching the light-bulbs go on when I explain a technical concept or show them how to resolve the same issue in future.
For me, family tech support is not a burden at all and something I don't mind.

Those close enough to me to receive support, don't normally just have their issue 'fixed', but an explanation of what occurred, how to resolve it in future and how to mitigate it from ever happening again.

I only recently moved my Aunt from Windows (which she's quite proficient on) across to Linux. She's now running a dual boot Windows XP and Ubuntu 8.04 system.
She has been going great guns! She's got all her peripherals working correctly (monitor/video, card reader, printer and scanner). The only bug bear we currently have is her Palm Zire 21. Though it appears a little more tweaking we will have Palm USB Syncing sorted out.

She's already finding replacement applications under Linux to do away with those she's used under Windows. And we're in the process of moving her data over.

In the long term, we'll probably remove most of the applications off Windows XP and then shrink the partition size down so she can have a larger Linux partition. There will be a few applications that are Windows only and for that she'll more than likely keep a Windows XP partition for those legacy applications (that or we migrate them into a Virtualized Windows machine using something like KVM or VMWare). Some of her 3-D FPS games however are Windows only (and not even available under Wine) -- so Windows on a real partition does have some merit here.

In that sense my Aunt has taken the lead, she's done a lot of ground work and is experimenting and learning at the same time. I love to encourage that and assist her when needed. It's fantastic watching the journey of self-discovery in relation to Linux.

It's these types of jobs (Windows or Linux) I love to see...

Those who can be bothered to take ownership of their own problem and want guidance on how to resolve it, I'm more than happy to assist!

Now, onto the types of personal support I don't like.

How many of you attend a social gathering of someone you know and whilst mingling you're introduced to someone you have never met before?

You're either introduced by your common acquaintance as the 'computer insert phrase here like guru/genius/geek/nerd'. The conversation then quickly swings to one of the following themes:

• I am thinking of buying a new computer...
• Can you get me a new computer cheap?
• Do you have a copy of insert either a Microsoft product or other proprietary software?
• Something is wrong... (goes on to explain how they have porn adverts adverts popping up on their screen).
• I clicked on this link/Email. (goes on to explain that ever since his computer does weird things -- basically infected by a virus/trojan/is now part of a zombie network).
• Where can I download (goes on to say they want pirated software/music/videos).

I have learnt over the years how to brush these off. Not because I can't help. Not because I'm an angry person but mainly if I don't I would find that every waking hour I would be doing personal technical support.

Anyone who works in tech support in any capacity knows that their most precise item is time (Something sadly we appear to have less and less of these days).

These naive people (it's not really there fault, granted ... but some thinking prior to speaking would help!) don't realize just how offending it can be.

Seriously, I didn't study for years and hone my skills over thousands of countless hours so I can be your walking technical wizard that you can wave over "your" issue at your whim!

Those that expect me to sit down and fix their computer for hours at a time... they are the ones I want to drop, they end up becoming multiple offenders, and never actually learn.

So is this a common occurrence for others as well?
Have you learnt how to shake of those needy tech support whores that never want anything more than you to solve their problem and aren't interested in fixing it themselves?

Seriously, what is it with computer tech support? I have friends that are plumbers, mechanics, electricians, chiropractors, lawyers and a range of other professions. I don't get them to fix my taps, car, lights, back, etc all on their personal time and for free. Why is tech support expected to be?

Seriously, I don't want to do it outside hours for a fee anyway. I'm busy enough with work, homelife and attempting to build a house anyway.