itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada
1 edit |  ShawCalc: keep track of your modem usage!
For those of you who need to track their modem usage that have been monitored by Shaw, here's the calc you need: Shawcalc. 
It keeps track of the last 30 days of usage. See the FAQ of this forum for more info on "How does Shaw calculate your monthly total?" --> »Shaw FAQ's »How does Shaw calculate your monthly total?
Very useful tool for heavy downloaders like me who has SOHO account and just cannot exceed 50 gigs/month.
How to use ShawCalc:
1-You select the date
2-Enter the modem usage as shown by Shaw (on »secure.shaw.ca)
3-Press enter. It then shows in the left field and will keep the info in a dat file (in the same directory as shawcalc.exe), so there is no need to save as it does automatically.
4-It makes the total for the last 30 days. This way you make sure you wont get a call from Shaw AUP.
Limitations:
1-Cannot retrieve the info from Shaw automatically.
2-Cannot be run from your hard-disk root.
3-Doesn't select the current date by default (should be fix soon) 
I have tested the shawcalc.exe file on WinXP Pro sp1a and i didn't need to use the installer witch includes the VB runtimes. If you ever get a error message asking for ocx or dll files, simply use the installer.
Hope this thread will be made as a sticky or be part of the Shaw FAQ) of dslreports/shaw to help other users of Shaw Internet High-Speed.
Any comments are welcome. 
Regards,
StRath
[EDIT] Have adjusted the spelling. Will add screenshot soon. |
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Elanzer9
join:2003-12-07
Kamloops, BC | haha
»members.shaw.ca/elanzer/shawbw.png
I think april is around the time where I discovered bittorrent.. |
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itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada
| reply to itsa
ShawCalc 0.1 New version!
This is an update of ShawCalc!
I consider this release the latest one, since it does everything i need!
Enjoy!
StRath |
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komal
join:2003-02-16 | Wouldn't a txt file accomplish the same thing? You've still got to input info, only difference is that it paints a pretty graph. |
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Mbrown2480
join:2001-03-20
Vancouver, BC | reply to itsa
Re: ShawCalc: keep track of your modem usage!
That is a major improvement over the initial release.
Have you tried to get together with the Shaw web design team to see how you could input your username and password to pick up the amounts automatically? |
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rodst
Premium
join:2002-10-06
Victoria, BC
| reply to itsa
Not exactly sure what this does that a spread sheet wouldn't do? But anyway, I installed the app and noticed that you can't edit the value for the dates, if you enter the wrong value and make a mistake, the only thing you can do is add another amount for that date.
--
RDS Computer Systems |
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comm3
join:2003-10-12
Burnaby, BC | reply to Mbrown2480
he should use php, would be better than downloading a program. |
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komal
join:2003-02-16
1 edit | said by comm3  :
he should use php, would be better than downloading a program.
To create graphics? That's isn't very easy.
Reason for edit: Spelling error |
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itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada
| reply to itsa
In reply to....
@komal: i have done my totals manually in notepad for like 3 months, and i got tired of it, so here's a tool to do it automatically.
@Mbrown2480: Yeah, we tought of it (to get together with the Shaw web design). Im gonna send them an email and see what happens.
@rodst: You mean a spread sheet in Microsoft Office Excel? i dont use the Office suite 
@comm: It's not easy to do php... and at this point, Shaw should do something about their meter...
Hope you guys enjoy ShawCalc.
PS Is there a way to spread the word that a tool like this one is available? 'cause for now, only people through this forum have access to it...
StRath,
Regards |
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comm3
join:2003-10-12
Burnaby, BC | php is pretty easy, thier manual is great. ive made about 3 mini apps, if you take your time and hang out on irc.freenode.net #php ask questions etc, you should be able to create it, and there are tons of material on the internet. |
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komal
join:2003-02-16
| said by comm3 :
php is pretty easy, thier manual is great. ive made about 3 mini apps, if you take your time and hang out on irc.freenode.net #php ask questions etc, you should be able to create it, and there are tons of material on the internet.
Simple stuff is easy, I know, I've been working wiht PHP for 2-3 years now, ever since I saw a simple tutorial online. You don't make apps with PHP, unless you use PHP-GTK which we all know you didn't mean. Besides that, creating graphics with PHP is a hassle, fairly time consuming, and would be a far more stupid solution than an app. It would require the user to install PHP as well as webserver capable of using PHP, which would end up eating more system resources than a simple app. |
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komal
join:2003-02-16
| reply to itsa
said by itsa :
@komal: i have done my totals manually in notepad for like 3 months, and i got tired of it, so here's a tool to do it automatically.
What I'm trying to say, is that aren't you still manually entering the totals? Doesn't this app just convert that in to a picture for you? Correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't downloaded it, shaw has never flagged me, so I'm not 100% sure about what this app does. |
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comm3
join:2003-10-12
Burnaby, BC
| reply to komal
3 tools more or less what I should have said, if something can be done in php other than vc, then its a lot easier for users to access. They don't have to host it, you can, I can host it tons of places, if you know anyone that runs a box with php.
www.dnsstuff.com is quite amazing, and extremely easy to use, because its php you don't have to download a program and run it, you just go to the webpage, which also allows you to use it anywhere, like at the library, or on site. |
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itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada
| reply to komal
Hope this explains
Screenshot |
What I'm trying to say, is that aren't you still manually entering the totals?
That's what this little app is for, I'm entering only what i get from secure.shaw.ca and the app makes the total for me. No more hassle. Means: minus the 30th entry and add the new one so it only keeps the last 30 days. Much more easier than doing all manually in notepad.
Im including a screenshot to my post. In my example, i have only 29 values.. but tomorrow, i'll have 30... and the day after, i'll still have 30... |
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itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada | reply to itsa
Contacting Shaw via email....
What is the best email to use if i want to contact Shaw to let them know about ShawCalc?
I wanna make sure my email gets read and the word spreaded.
Regards |
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Mbrown2480
join:2001-03-20
Vancouver, BC | reply to itsa
Re: ShawCalc: keep track of your modem usage!
I don't think Shaw is involved with software distribution. |
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comm3
join:2003-10-12
Burnaby, BC
| reply to itsa
Re: Contacting Shaw via email....
I don't think they would collaborate with you about it, they would also want to do something in php, or asp, since the counters would be all online. I also bet they don't care, and will steal your idea |
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Mbrown2480
join:2001-03-20
Vancouver, BC
| said by comm3 :
I also bet they don't care, and will steal your idea
LOL |
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itsa
join:2003-11-25
Canada
| LOL!!!
But they do care when we go over their non-sense limit!
Anyway, even if they steal my idea, you guys will know i was the first with the idea
They should defenitely upgrade their not-so-usefull meter!
Regards |
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comm3
join:2003-10-12
Burnaby, BC | I bet its just as simple as polling a devie with snmp, and get stats on the modem, they might have to write up php scripts for that. |
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