My 1st experience with LiveCycle Designer

I was introduced to the world of LiveCycle Designer for the first time last week. I needed to design an interactive form template that a non-computer savvy person could use, but still had a professional layout design. This being my first go, I googled it.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found the Forms section of Acrobat would take me to LiveCycle Designer to do exactly what I need! I found that I could design a layout in Illustrator, (don't have InDesign at work), save it as a PDF and open it with Acrobat. Once open in Acrobat, just go under Forms, Create New and you can than select "Start with an existing document". This allows you convert an existing file into an interactive form (which is clearly labeled). From there you will go through a few prompts and it opens LiveCycle Designer. Once inside Livecycle Designer then you can manipulate the form to whatever you might need. I only needed 6 text fields, with multiple design styles to lay over my background design. The help files made it extremely easy to figure out how to add the style and control to each text field. Then you just save it as whatever PDF Version you like, and it is ready to go. It is completely interactive in acrobat reader, just point, click and type. Perfect for the reluctant computer user who doesn't even like to check their email. So in a relatively short amount of time I was able to create what I needed and learned a good bit about what LiveCycle Designer is capable of. Overall I was impressed. So if you ever get a chance check it out.

Alert: Incorrect Version of CS4 Master Collection (Win only)

If you ordered and downloaded CS4 already, you may want to check out the email that was sent by Adobe to buyers and make sure you are using the correct software:

Dear Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection customer,
We have discovered an issue that affects a recent purchase you made from
the Adobe Online Store. Unfortunately, we inadvertently posted a nearly
final version of Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection for Windows,
rather than the final version, for purchase and download. We wanted to
alert you to the problem and let you know how to fix it. We appreciate
your recent purchase of CS4 Master Collection and apologize deeply for
the inconvenience this issue may cause you.

BACKGROUND
If you purchased and downloaded CS4 Master Collection for Windows from
the Adobe Online Store between 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Tuesday,
October 14 and 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday, October 16, you
received an older version of the software and not the final version. No
other versions of CS4 Master Collection—whether available in
shrink-wrapped retail boxes or on volume licensing media sets—were
affected. We have now removed the incorrect version from the Adobe Store
and replaced it with the correct final version of CS4 Master Collection
for Windows.

HOW TO CORRECT THE ISSUE
Nearly final versions of software are not intended for production
workflows. We strongly recommend that you replace the build you
previously downloaded as soon as possible. Here are the steps to to
take:
If you have downloaded the software without installing it, please delete
the files from your system. You will then be able to download the
corrected version to replace it.
If you have already installed Creative Suite 4 Master Collection, you
must uninstall the software. Otherwise, when you download and install
the final version, you will see an error message and the installation
will stop.
To uninstall the software, do the following:
On Windows XP, open the Windows Control Panel and double-click Add or
Remove Programs. Select the product that you want to uninstall, click
Change/Remove, and then follow the onscreen instructions.
On Windows Vista, open the Windows Control Panel and double-click
Programs and Features. Select the product that you want to uninstall,
click Uninstall/Change, and then follow the onscreen instructions.
Then download the updated version of CS4 Master Collection: Go to the
Adobe Store in your region, click Your Purchases, click Your Downloads,
log in with your Adobe ID and password, and then initiate a new
download.
If you prefer not to download the software again, we would be happy to
send you a complimentary DVD set for CS4 Master Collection for Windows.
Please contact Adobe Customer Service to place your request:
In North America, call Adobe Customer Service at 800-833-6687.
In other regions, locate the Adobe Customer Service number for your
region at www.adobe.com/support/contact.

We regret any inconvenience or confusion this issue may cause you. We
appreciate your purchase of CS4 Master Collection for Windows and want
you to have a productive and satisfying experience using the software.
Please accept our sincerest apology.

Sincerely,
The Adobe Online Store Team

Recap: CPOSC 2008 (Central PA Open Source Conference)

I had the good fortune of attending the CPOSC 2008 (Central PA Open Source Conference) this past Sunday in Harrisburg, PA. This is their first year and they did a great job with the organization of everything and especially of garnering well-qualified speakers. Tickets were a bargin at $29 each and included breakfast, lunch and a snack too.

There were a lot of presentations to choose from but I attended the following:

• Using Drupal — Christian Pearce

• CakePHP: A Primer — Vikram Dighe

• Javascript now works:An Introduction to jQuery — Nathan Powell

• Running your business on Enterprise Open Source Software — Terry Johnson

• Getting Involved in an Open Source Project — Bob Igo

• Architecting a Community: How Mozdev Runs and Grows — Douglas Warner

I really felt like I picked up a lot of great information...and it didn't hurt that the food was good (and plentiful - Thanks Anteil) and I even won a door prize! If you can attend next year, I'd highly recommend it. It's great day for learning, networking and supporting the Open Source Community.

You know you're a web designer if...

So I couldn't resist posting a few of these and a link to the entire article...

You know you're a web designer...

• If you make a mistake in real life and mentally press Command/Ctrl+Z, then you're a web designer.
• If you get mad at your friend for not using Firefox, then you're a web designer.
• If you start naming fonts of store’s titles in the mall, then you're a web designer.

More at:
http://www.thuiven.com/index.php/notebook-entry/you_know_youre_a_web_designer_if/

FlashDevelop - Open Source Flash

FlashDevelop is a popular open source ActionScript 2/3 and web development environment. FlashDevelop seemlessly integrates with Adobe Flash IDE, Adobe Flex SDK, MTASC, haXe and swfmill.

More at: http://osflash.org/flashdevelop

PS3 firmware 2.50 adds support for Flash 9

FINALLY! Those of us with Play Station 3 can see Flash 9!!! Unfortunately, trying to watch Hulu.com was a bit glitchy and at one point it crashed our machine. But still....it's a good start.

A good article on this:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10066912-1.html

Winter Wonderland Flash Animation Contest

What could be better than building awesome Flash animations? What about building great Flash animations that reward you with up to $1,000 and a free copy of the Adobe CS4 Creative Suite (Production or Web)?

Create a Flash animation no longer than two minutes in length about winter, the winter season or holidays in winter. Contest closes November 15th and voting begins the next day! There are five different prizes, so best of luck.

More information and contest rules at:
http://www.thisismyurl.com/featured/winter-wonderland-flash-animation-contest/

Flash Player 10 released

Download Adobe Flash Player 10 today for a fresh look at the web

JobOp: Web Portfolio Manager - Harrisburg

Web Portfolio Manager Job Description:

Our client, a leader in the educational and financial industry, is looking for a competent individual who is responsible for overall management and accountability of their 15+ public Internet sites and intranet sites. Our client's responsibility is to promote access to education assistance and make it easier for students to navigate through their multiple services/sites. This would require managing multiple web sites at an enterprise level, understanding information architecture on the web, web design and writing on the web as well as be able to present information on an executive level.

On a day-to-day basis, this individual will be responsible for:
*Developing short and long-term strategies for each web site as well as the overall portfolio;maintains roadmaps to plan and execute against individual initiatives.
*Understands the goals of the organization, various lines of business and other constituencies and how these are fulfilled by the web site portfolio.
*Oversees the development, production, and ongoing maintenance of all web assets to realize usability and business value.
*Ensures site content is delivered in a timely manner, consistent with voice, brand and established standards of usability and information design and adheres to style guidelines.
*Ensures site information architectures are user-centric, scalable, intuitive and easy to use.
*Serves as an advocate for the web site strategy.
*Negotiate priorities and solution design with senior management.
*Supervises staff (team of 3-Web Content Specialist and two UI Developers) to achieve goals and objectives.
*Organize and prioritize production releases for the public web sites.
*Presents ideas and concepts to cross-functional teams for validation and buy in and incorporates feedback.
*Consults with User Experience Designers, Marketing, and Communications Managers to coordinate design and development efforts.

To be qualified for this position, individuals should possess the following:
*Experience managing large, consumer-facing web sites in a corporate setting.
*1 yr management experience leading teams to generate and fulfill web development and marketing strategies.
*Strong understanding of web site design, development and web concepts.
*HTML and any Web technologies.
*Experience with information architecture, content development, web technologies, and general web best-practices.
*Experience using qualitative and quantitative data to drive improvements.
*Experience with web marketing campaigns, including direct to consumer campaigns and results measurement.
*Experience organizing and prioritizing change requests and production releases.
*Experience setting and managing development and implementation of standards and procedures.
*Experience with Web 2.0 technologies and how it applies to UI design and concepts and how they can enhance usability and business value.
*Ability to manage multiple staff and ongoing projects.

Highly Desired:
*Experience with usability techniques and information mapping.
*Experience with requirements analysis.
*Experience with design patterns.
*Experience managing outside venders.
*Formal project management experience.
*Experience with web content management systems

This position is a contract-to-hire position and our client is looking to bring on someone full-time. All applicants must be able to personally interview. We are unable to provide relocation expenses.

Required Skills for Web Portfolio Manager Job:

• 1 YEAR MGMT. OF WEB DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING STRATEGIES
• WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES AND HTML
• STAFF & ON-GOING PROJECT MANAGEMENT

About TEKsystems:

Join TEKsystems^® and get your career on the fast track. As the leading technology staffing and services firm, we are passionate about deploying high-caliber IT and communications expertise. To satisfy our constant need for expertise, we actively seek talented Technical Professionals with all levels of information technology and communications skills. TEKsystems knows that every professional has different needs, so we'll work together to determine a suitable benefits package. We offer options to our Technical Professionals that could include: a health plan, 401k, provisions for vacation and holiday pay, and technical and professional training. With a foundation as the nation's largest IT staffing firm, we've become a billion-dollar services company by blending superior client service with an unrivaled ability to source and manage talent to precise specifications, resulting in successful technology executions. Allegis Group and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers. M/F/D/V

Now shipping: Adobe Creative Suite 4

According to Adobe.com's homepage, CS4 is now shipping!

http://www.adobe.com/

Photoshop CS4 Photomerge

I am very excited about the release of Creative Suite 4. I especially can not wait to dive into some of the new features available with Photoshop CS4. This is tutorial video that covers one of the new features I am looking forward to using, the Photomerge Feature!

Photoshop CS4 Photomerge

Adobe Flex 3 author Joey Lott to speak in Harrisburg for CPAUG and CPFUG

Adobe Flex 3 author Joey Lott
Presents "How To Architect Flex Applications"

Hosted by: Central PA Adobe User Group (CPAUG) & Central PA Flash User Group (CPFUG)

Date & Time: October 10, 2008 at 6PM

Seating is Limited. There is no cost but you MUST RSVP by October 9th by emailing cpaugmanager@gmail.com

Location:
471 JPLwick Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Joey Lott's newest book, Programming Flex 3, will be available for purchase at the event.

About Adobe Flex 3:
Flex is a highly productive, free open source framework for building and maintaining expressive web applications that deploy consistently on all major browsers, desktops, and operating systems. More about Flex 3 at www.adobe.com/products/flex

How To Architect Flex Applications:
When building Flex applications the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You may know how to work with the pieces of Flex (layout, styling components, data components, etc.) but it's still rather easy to get tangled up and frustrated when trying to stitch the piece together into a coherent application. In this presentation we'll look at strategies you can use to build Flex applications in the best way possible. Rather than presenting one boiler plate solution as the "right way" this presentation looks at the bigger picture and common patterns you can employ.

Help promote the event and make it a huge success!

informIT.com 40% UG Discount

Use discount code UGDiscount to SAVE 40% on your next purchase!

To begin receiving the discount on all informIT.com purchases, simply follow these easy steps:

1. Go to www.informit.com/join and sign in or create an account

2. Enter the following member code: UGDiscount

3. Start saving on informIT.com

Printable Flyer available too on MS books.

Instant Eyedropper Grabs Any Color from Your Screen

This Lifehacker article introduces you to "Instant Eyedropper" a Windows app that allows you to pull colors from anywhere on your screen. Pretty handy!

There's additional tips for using the Photoshop eyedropper tool as such and works for Windows and Mac users: http://lifehacker.com/software/photoshop/photoshop-tip-grab-colors-from-anywhere-on-your-desktop-162204.php

Contest to award $100,000 to one tech biz in PA Counties

A state-funded economic development entity will award $100,000 to help a technology-oriented company grow in this region.

The award is a four-fold increase in prize money from previous Big Idea Business Plan contests held by Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA.

Interested entrepreneurs can go to http://www.cnp.benfranklin.org/vif/100k for rules, entry forms and information. Dec. 17 is the deadline to apply.

To qualify, entrepreneurs must have a marketable business idea, less than $500,000 in sales year to date for 2008 and less than $500,000 for all of 2007. The company must have fewer than 50 employees and have not received previous Ben Franklin Technology Partnership funding.

Preferred industry sectors include, but are not limited to, nanotechnology, green technologies, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, medical devices, information technology and software.

Applicants must have business operations or be willing to start a business in any one of 32 participating counties, including Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Erie, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Perry, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren and York.

More at:
http://blog.pennlive.com/business/2008/10/contest_to_award_100000_to_one.html

Introduction to Adobe Air from NETTUTS

Great way to get a grasp on AIR from NETTUTS:
http://nettuts.com/misc/introduction-to-adobe-air/

JobOp: Web Portfolio Manager - Harrisburg

Web Portfolio Manager Job Description:

TEKsystems^® customer in Harrisburg, PA area is in need of a user interface web, portfolio manager to join a six month contract to hire opportunity. This position requires this manager to develop short and long term strategy for each website as well as overall portfolio. Applicants should feel comfortable working in a professional business setting.

Individuals for consideration will have RECENT professional experience managing large, consumer-facing websites in a corporate setting. Management of leading teams to generate and fulfill web development and marketing strategies. Traditional web development knowledge to include: CSS, AJAX, JAVASCRIPT and WEB 2.0 is important. Candidates will be an intricate part of the web design/development over the course of a permanent duration. A strong background working with web marketing, UI design and web usability is necessary.

Best applicants will be local to the south central Harrisburg area, with in 40-60 minutes or less driving distance to the work site. To qualify for this position, candidates must be organized, hard working and able to meet deadlines. Communication and leadership skills must be excellent. The team is highly involved in collaboration of the development effort.

Professional/technical references must be provided. Personal interviews will be conducted onsite in Harrisburg, PA. Compensation will be determined based on experience, benefit package and availability. Excellent benefits are offered to include comprehensive medical coverage and paid time off. Applicants will be paid as W2 contractor for the first six months, while on contract with TEKsystems. Thereafter, individuals will negotiate permanent salary and compensation package directly as per permanent hire. Those applicants who are qualified will receive a response. Please forward WORD formatted resumes to Bethany Phillips (bphillip@teksystems.com).

Required Skills for Web Portfolio Manager Job:

• WEB DEVELOPMENT
• JAVASCRIPT
• CSS
• AJAX
• JAVA
• WEB MARKETING
• WEB 2.0
• UI DESIGN
• MANAGEMENT

About TEKsystems:

Join TEKsystems^® and get your career on the fast track. As the leading technology staffing and services firm, we are passionate about deploying high-caliber IT and communications expertise. To satisfy our constant need for expertise, we actively seek talented Technical Professionals with all levels of information technology and communications skills. TEKsystems knows that every professional has different needs, so we'll work together to determine a suitable benefits package. We offer options to our Technical Professionals that could include: a health plan, 401k, provisions for vacation and holiday pay, and technical and professional training. With a foundation as the nation's largest IT staffing firm, we've become a billion-dollar services company by blending superior client service with an unrivaled ability to source and manage talent to precise specifications, resulting in successful technology executions. Allegis Group and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers. M/F/D/V

More at: http://information-technology.thingamajob.com/jobs/Pennsylvania/Web-Portfolio-Manager/1776087

Firefox Add-On: Wise Stamp - Email Signatures

I saw this the other day on Lifehacker and tried it out. It's a really easy way to add better signatures to your web-based email.

http://www.wisestamp.com/

10 Useful articles about Database design

http://woork.blogspot.com/2008/09/10-useful-articles-about-database.html

Photoshop Adjustment Layer and Retouching Tutorial with Video

http://www.acuitydesigns.net/photoshop-adjustment-layer-and-retouching-tutorial-with-video/

Flash CS4 Animating Puppets

This is a tutorial on how Flash CS4 new feature, Inverse Kenetics, works. I love this feature!

Flash CS4 Animating Puppets

Dauphin County PA - Community Recycling Day!

If you live in Dauphin County PA and you have some electronics (and more) you'd like to recycle, be sure to drop the items off this Saturday, October 4th from 9AM - 1PM at HACC .

The event allows county residents to safely dispose of unwanted electronic devices at no cost, including TVs and computers.

Bulky items such as stoves, washers and dryers will cost $25 each. Refrigerators, from which the freon has been removed, will cost $35, and household freezers, $45.

Passenger vehicle tires that have been removed from the rims and are clean will be accepted free with a limit of 10 per household. Identification will be required for tire disposal.

Some large tires will be accepted for a fee.

Wearable clothing, useable household items and toys will also be accepted for recycling.

For a complete list of call Dauphin County's recycling hotline: 780-6351, or visit Dauphin County Waste Management and Recycling.

Deke McClelland Reviews Photoshop CS4 on dekePod! New Books & New Videos on CS4, Too!

September 23 marked the announcement of Adobe's Creative Suite 4. And that means a new version of the company's flagship image editor, Photoshop. Coming just 18 months after its predecessor, is Photoshop CS4 any good?

Enter dekePod, Deke McClelland's irreverent and uncensored video series. Day and date with Adobe's announcement, Deke provides a third-party, impartial, and highly opinionated review of the new software. Titled "Photoshop CS4: Buy or Die," this episode promises to show you all facets of the program--complete with commentary--without interrupting your busy day. In just five minutes, you'll know whether you want to upgrade or not.

So watch the video, then read the transcript.
http://fyi.oreilly.com/2008/09/new-dekepod-deke-mcclelland-on.html
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/dekepod/

Remember you get 35% off on books you purchase directly from O'Reilly. Just use code DSUG when ordering online or by phone 800-998-9938.

Photographers have you visited the Focal Press website?

Photographers won't want to miss visiting the Focal Press website. They have everything from Podcasts to short tips & tricks to polish up your photos. For example, here's a "tip & trick" on Exposure compensation.