Need your thoughts on being an ABAPer

Hi all...it's been a month since i started my first job after i graduated. And so happen when i joined, the company is in the final stages of a SAP project. So for the time being, my boss wants me to do ABAP. So far, i've only managed to develop 2 programs (that luckily met the consultant's approval and was transported), tried to do a BADI (unsuccessfully, so had to give it back), did several MM-related stuff my senior assigned me to do and later, i'm suppose to conduct a training class for key users for MM.
My boss mentioned that he wants me to do ABAP, MM and PM. I'm wondering...do you think its possible for me to cope with all that?
And i want to know what would be required of me and what actually is part of my job when i start touching on MM and PM?
I have no prior experience (in terms of application) in SAP, especially in MM and PM...however i did attend the course for ABAP Workbench (TAW 10 & 12)...but regrettably i failed in my first attempt (however, i'm saving up now so that i can re-attempt it again)...i'm starting to get worried...it being my first job and all...
Just want to know your thoughts...especially those of you that have been doing SAP for many years...

OK where do I start? It is not an easy question, particularly when this is your first job. You haven't experienced different avenues available out there. So getting stuck with one may be difficult. Also, you haven't told us what your background is and your interests are as far as a career is concerned.
SAP started as an ERP solutions company and has amassed vast knowledge of business processes accross various industries. From being a single product company(R2 to R3), it has evolved into a multi-product company but eveything to do with business processes. All its products are catering to the needs of business around the world. So if your inclination is towards learning business processes and understanding the flavors of it and if you have a deep interest in keenly observing the trends in business, then SAP is the company to stick with. Now coming to ABAP: ABAP itself is evolving into a wholistic development software from being a purely business software. It is including the open standards of object oriented programming, yet not compromising on its core business enabling strengths. You can no longer take comfort in the fact that you know ABAP. You have to have basic knowledge of XML, HTML, Java etc as web browser is fast becoming the defactor UI for all applications.
In order to be good in ABAP, you also need good foundation in databases and business processes. If you are technically oriented, it doesn't matter whether you are MM or PP focussed, because ABAP is ABAP. But still knowing what the business flow is, how producing something in PP effects inventory in MM and how a product moves from raw material to finished product to sales is also very important for being a successful ABAPer. After all you are using ABAP to provide business solutions and if you don't understand your requirement, then there is not point in knowing all the syntax that is there in ABAP.
I can go on and on, but this needs to be an interactive one, so I will wait until you come back with more questions.
Regards,
Srinivas

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    * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
    package com.lightdev.lib.util;
    * An interface classes interested to receive events from objects
    * of class <code>InfoThread</code> need to implement.
    * @author Ulrich Hilger
    * @author Light Development
    * @author <a href="http://www.lightdev.com">http://www.lightdev.com</a>
    * @author <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
    * @author published under the terms and conditions of the
    *      GNU General Public License,
    *      for details see file gpl.txt in the distribution
    *      package of this software
    * @version Version 1, October 13, 2004
    public interface InfoThreadListener {
       * method to receive a status change notification from a thread
       * @param thread InfoThread  the thread which status changed
       * @param fromStatus int  the status which the thread had before the change
       * @param toStatus int  the status which the thread has now
      public void threadStatusChanged(InfoThread thread, int fromStatus, int toStatus);
       * method to receive a notification about the progress of a thread
       * @param thread InfoThread  the thread which notified about its progress
       * @param progressValue long  the value (e.g. 10 if 100 percent completed, 20 of 1 million files processed, etc.)
      public void threadProgress(InfoThread thread, long progressValue, long maxValue);
       * method to receive a notifiaction about the fact that an exception occurred in a thread
       * @param thread InfoThread  the thread for which an exception occurred
       * @param e Exception  the exception that occurred
      public void threadException(InfoThread thread, Exception e);
    }This is class AudioFileDescriptor
    * Light Development Java Library
    * Copyright (C) 2004 Ulrich Hilger
    * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
    * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
    * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
    * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
    * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    * GNU General Public License for more details.
    * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
    package com.lightdev.lib.audio;
    import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
    import java.io.IOException;
    import java.io.RandomAccessFile;
    import java.io.Serializable;
    import java.text.DecimalFormat;
    * This class models characteristics of an audio file such as the absolute path
    * of the file, its tag contents (if any) and the play duration, etc.
    * <p>See <a href="http://www.id3.org">http://www.id3.org</a> for details about
    * ID3 tags.</p>
    * @author Ulrich Hilger
    * @author Light Development
    * @author <a href="http://www.lightdev.com">http://www.lightdev.com</a>
    * @author <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
    * @author published under the terms and conditions of the
    *      GNU General Public License,
    *      for details see file gpl.txt in the distribution
    *      package of this software
    * @version Version 1, October 13, 2004
    public class AudioFileDescriptor implements Serializable, Comparable {
      public AudioFileDescriptor(String absolutePath) throws FileNotFoundException, IOException {
        load(absolutePath);
      public boolean equals(Object o) {
        if(o != null && o instanceof AudioFileDescriptor) {
          return ((AudioFileDescriptor) o).getAbsolutePath().equalsIgnoreCase(this.getAbsolutePath());
        else {
          return false;
      public void load(String absolutePath) throws FileNotFoundException, IOException {
        this.absolutePath = absolutePath;
        RandomAccessFile rf = new RandomAccessFile(absolutePath, "r");
        if(id3v11Tag == null) {
          id3v11Tag = new ID3v11Tag(rf, false);
        else {
          id3v11Tag.readTag(rf, rf.length() - 128);
        rf.close();
      public String getAbsolutePath() {
        return absolutePath;
      public ID3v11Tag getID3v11Tag() {
        return id3v11Tag;
      public void setID3v11Tag(ID3v11Tag tag) {
        this.id3v11Tag = tag;
      public String toString() {
        DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat("00");
        return id3v11Tag.getArtist() + ", " + id3v11Tag.getAlbum() + " - " +
            df.format(id3v11Tag.getTrackNumber()) + " " + id3v11Tag.getTitle();
       * Compares this object with the specified object for order.
       * @param o the Object to be compared.
       * @return a negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this object is less than, equal to,
       *   or greater than the specified object.
       * @todo Implement this java.lang.Comparable method
      public int compareTo(Object o) {
        return toString().compareTo(o.toString());
      private String absolutePath;
      private ID3v11Tag id3v11Tag;
      private transient long duration = -1;
      private transient int type = TYPE_UNKNOWN;
      public static final transient int TYPE_UNKNOWN = 0;
      public static final transient int TYPE_MP3 = 1;
    }This is class ID3V11Tag into which the data is actually stored
    * Light Development Java Library
    * Copyright (C) 2004 Ulrich Hilger
    * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
    * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
    * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
    * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
    * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    * GNU General Public License for more details.
    * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
    package com.lightdev.lib.audio;
    import java.io.File;
    import java.io.RandomAccessFile;
    import java.io.IOException;
    import java.io.Serializable;
    import java.text.DecimalFormat;
    * This class is a very simple implementation of an ID3v11Tag. It models an ID3 tag
    * pretty much the same way as it is physically stored inside an audio file.
    * <p>See <a href="http://www.id3.org">http://www.id3.org</a> for details about
    * ID3 tags.</p>
    * @author Ulrich Hilger
    * @author Light Development
    * @author <a href="http://www.lightdev.com">http://www.lightdev.com</a>
    * @author <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
    * @author published under the terms and conditions of the
    *      GNU General Public License,
    *      for details see file gpl.txt in the distribution
    *      package of this software
    * @version Version 1, October 13, 2004
    public class ID3v11Tag implements Serializable, Comparable {
       * construct an ID3v11Tag and read tag content from a given file
       * <p>This constructor can be used for cases where a RandomAccessFile has already
       * been opened and will be closed elsewhere</p>
       * @param rf RandomAccessFile  the open file to read from
       * @param isAtTagStartPos boolean  true, if the file pointer is at the
       * position where the ID3 tag starts; when false, the pointer is positioned accordingly here
       * @throws IOException
      public ID3v11Tag(RandomAccessFile rf, boolean isAtTagStartPos) throws IOException {
        if(isAtTagStartPos) {
          readTag(rf);
        else {
          readTag(rf, rf.length() - 128);
       * construct an ID3v11Tag and read tag content from a file at a given location
       * <p>This constructor opens and closes the audio file for reading</p>
       * @param absolutePath String  the absolute path to the audio file to open
       * @throws IOException
      public ID3v11Tag(String absolutePath) throws IOException {
        RandomAccessFile rf = new RandomAccessFile(absolutePath, "r");
        readTag(rf, rf.length() - 128);
        rf.close();
       * construct an ID3v11Tag and read tag content from a given file
       * <p>This constructor opens and closes the audio file for reading</p>
       * @param audioFile File  the audio file to read from
       * @throws IOException
      public ID3v11Tag(File audioFile) throws IOException {
        this(audioFile.getAbsolutePath());
       * get a string representation of this object
       * @return String
      public String toString() {
        DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat("00");
        return getArtist() + ", " + getAlbum() + " - " + df.format(getTrackNumber()) + " " + getTitle();
       * position to file pointer and read the tag
       * @param rf RandomAccessFile  the file to read from
       * @param jumpPos long  the position to jump to (the tag start position)
       * @throws IOException
      public void readTag(RandomAccessFile rf, long jumpPos) throws IOException {
        rf.seek(jumpPos);
        readTag(rf);
       * read the tag from a given file, assuming the file pointer to be at the tag start position
       * @param rf RandomAccessFile  the file to read from
       * @throws IOException
      public void readTag(RandomAccessFile rf) throws IOException {
        rf.read(tagBuf);
        if(tag.equalsIgnoreCase(new String(tagBuf))) {
          rf.read(title);
          rf.read(artist);
          rf.read(album);
          rf.read(year);
          rf.read(comment);
          rf.read(trackNo);
          rf.read(genre);
      public String getTitle() {
        return new String(title).trim();
      public String getArtist() {
        return new String(artist).trim();
      public String getAlbum() {
        return new String(album).trim();
      public String getYear() {
        return new String(year).trim();
      public String getComment() {
        return new String(comment).trim();
      public int getGenreId() {
        try {
          int id = new Byte(genre[0]).intValue();
          if(id < GENRE_ID_MIN || id > GENRE_ID_MAX) {
            return GENRE_ID_OTHER;
          else {
            return id;
        catch(Exception ex) {
          return GENRE_ID_OTHER;
      public String getGenreName() {
        return genreNames[getGenreId()];
      public int getTrackNumber() {
        try {
          return (int) trackNo[0];
        catch(Exception e) {
          return 0;
       * Compares this object with the specified object for order.
       * @param o the Object to be compared.
       * @return a negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this object is less than, equal to,
       *                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

    Hi Franck,
    thank you, mate. I did what you suggested (changed class attached) but that did not change the mentioned behaviour.
    The first run is approximately 75 seconds with Java option -Xms40m and approx. double without, the second run and all subsequent runs are only 2-3 seconds each (!!!) even when terminating and re-starting the application between thread runs.
    I'm pretty clueless about that, any more help on this anyone?
    Thanks a lot and best regards
    Ulrich
    PS: BTW, I forgot to post the class that is filled with data by class CollectionThread, so here it is
    * Light Development Playlist Editor
    * Copyright (C) 2004 Ulrich Hilger
    * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
    * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
    * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
    * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
    * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    * GNU General Public License for more details.
    * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
    package com.lightdev.app.playlisteditor.data;
    import java.io.File;
    import com.lightdev.lib.audio.ID3v11Tag;
    import javax.sound.sampled.UnsupportedAudioFileException;
    import java.io.IOException;
    import java.io.Serializable;
    import com.lightdev.lib.audio.AudioFileDescriptor;
    import com.lightdev.lib.ui.SortListModel;
    import java.util.Iterator;
    * Storage model for audio data.
    * <p>
    * <code>AudioDataModel</code> can be used to store ID3 tag data collected from
    * a directory with audio files to perform queries and reports on the found data.
    * </p>
    * <p>See <a href="http://www.id3.org">http://www.id3.org</a> for details about
    * ID3 tags.</p>
    * @author Ulrich Hilger
    * @author Light Development
    * @author <a href="http://www.lightdev.com">http://www.lightdev.com</a>
    * @author <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
    * @author published under the terms and conditions of the
    *      GNU General Public License,
    *      for details see file gpl.txt in the distribution
    *      package of this software as well as any licensing notes
    *      inside this documentation
    * @version 1, October 15, 2004
    public class AudioDataModel extends SortListModel implements Serializable {
       * constructor
      public AudioDataModel() {
       * add an audio track from a given audio file
       * <p>This will attempt to read ID3 tag data from the file.</p>
       * @param audioFile File  the file to add audio data for
       * @throws IOException
      public void addTrack(File audioFile) throws IOException {
        AudioFileDescriptor afd = new AudioFileDescriptor(audioFile.getAbsolutePath());
        if (!data.contains(afd)) {
          data.add(afd);
       * get all tracks for agiven combination of genre name, artist name and album name. Any of
       * the parameters may be null or AudioDataModel.FILTER_ALL
       * <p>Ugly code, I know, but it simply hard codes all combinations of the the mentioned
       * parameters. Any more elegant implementations welcome.</p>
       * @param genreName String  a genre name to get tracks for
       * @param artistName String  an artist name to get tracks for
       * @param albumName String  an album name to get tracks for
       * @return SortListModel   the found tracks in a list model
      public SortListModel getTracks(String genreName, String artistName, String albumName) {
        SortListModel foundTracks = new SortListModel();
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while(e.hasNext()) {
          AudioFileDescriptor afd = (AudioFileDescriptor) e.next();
          ID3v11Tag tag = afd.getID3v11Tag();
          if(genreName == null || genreName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
            if(artistName == null || artistName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
              if (tag.getAlbum().equalsIgnoreCase(albumName))
                foundTracks.add(afd);
            else {
              if(albumName == null || albumName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
                if (tag.getArtist().equalsIgnoreCase(artistName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
              else {
                if (tag.getArtist().equalsIgnoreCase(artistName) &&
                    tag.getAlbum().equalsIgnoreCase(albumName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
          else {
            if(artistName == null || artistName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
              if(albumName == null || albumName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
                if (tag.getGenreName().equalsIgnoreCase(genreName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
              else {
                if (tag.getGenreName().equalsIgnoreCase(genreName) &&
                    tag.getAlbum().equalsIgnoreCase(albumName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
            else {
              if(albumName == null || albumName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
                if (tag.getGenreName().equalsIgnoreCase(genreName) &&
                    tag.getArtist().equalsIgnoreCase(artistName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
              else {
                if (tag.getGenreName().equalsIgnoreCase(genreName) &&
                    tag.getArtist().equalsIgnoreCase(artistName) &&
                    tag.getAlbum().equalsIgnoreCase(albumName))
                  foundTracks.add(afd);
        foundTracks.sort();
        return foundTracks;
       * list all artists in this model
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listArtists() {
        SortListModel artists = new SortListModel();
        artists.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String artistName = tag.getArtist();
          if (artists.indexOf(artistName) < 0) {
            artists.add(artistName);
        artists.sort();
        return artists;
       * list all artists in this model having titles belonging to a given genre
       * @param genreName String  name of the genre artists are searched for
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listArtists(String genreName) {
        SortListModel artists = new SortListModel();
        artists.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String artistName = tag.getArtist();
          String genre = tag.getGenreName();
          if (artists.indexOf(artistName) < 0 && genre.equalsIgnoreCase(genreName)) {
            artists.add(artistName);
        artists.sort();
        return artists;
       * list all genres in this model
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listGenres() {
        SortListModel genres = new SortListModel();
        genres.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String genreName = tag.getGenreName();
          if (genres.indexOf(genreName) < 0) {
            genres.add(genreName);
        genres.sort();
        return genres;
       * list all albums in this model
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listAlbums() {
        SortListModel albums = new SortListModel();
        albums.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String albumName = tag.getAlbum();
          if (albums.indexOf(albumName) < 0) {
            albums.add(albumName);
        albums.sort();
        return albums;
       * list all albums in this model having titles belonging to a given genre
       * @param genreName String  name of the genre albums are searched for
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listAlbums(String genreName) {
        SortListModel albums = new SortListModel();
        albums.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String albumName = tag.getAlbum();
          String genre = tag.getGenreName();
          if (albums.indexOf(albumName) < 0 && genre.equalsIgnoreCase(genreName)) {
            albums.add(albumName);
        albums.sort();
        return albums;
       * list all albums in this model having titles belonging to a given genre and artist
       * @param genreName String  name of the genre albums are searched for
       * @param artistName String  name of the artist albums are searched for
       * @return SortListModel
      public SortListModel listAlbums(String genreName, String artistName) {
        SortListModel albums = new SortListModel();
        albums.add(FILTER_ALL);
        Iterator e = data.iterator();
        while (e.hasNext()) {
          ID3v11Tag tag = ((AudioFileDescriptor) e.next()).getID3v11Tag();
          String albumName = tag.getAlbum();
          String genre = tag.getGenreName();
          String artist = tag.getArtist();
          if(genreName == null || genreName.equalsIgnoreCase(FILTER_ALL)) {
            if (albums.indexOf(albumName) < 0 &&
                artist.equalsIgnoreCase(artistName))
              albums.add(albumName);
          else {
            if (albums.indexOf(albumName) < 0 &&
                genre.equalsIgnoreCase(genreName) &&
                artist.equalsIgnoreCase(artistName))
              albums.add(albumName);
        albums.sort();
        return albums;
       * get the number of audio tracks stored in this data model
       * @return int  the number of tracks
      public int getTrackCount() {
        return data.size();
      /** constant to select all items of a given part */
      public static final String FILTER_ALL = "    all";
    }...and here the changed CollectionThread now caching found File objects in a vector
    * Light Development Playlist Editor
    * Copyright (C) 2004 Ulrich Hilger
    * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
    * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
    * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
    * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
    * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    * GNU General Public License for more details.
    * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
    package com.lightdev.app.playlisteditor.data;
    import com.lightdev.lib.util.InfoThread;
    import java.io.File;
    import java.util.Vector;
    import java.util.Enumeration;
    * A class to collect audio data from a given storage location.
    * <p>
    * <code>CollectionThread</code> uses ID3 tag information to gain data.
    * </p>
    * <p>See <a href="http://www.id3.org">http://www.id3.org</a> for details about
    * ID3 tags.</p>
    * @author Ulrich Hilger
    * @author Light Development
    * @author <a href="http://www.lightdev.com">http://www.lightdev.com</a>
    * @author <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
    * @author published under the terms and conditions of the
    *      GNU General Public License,
    *      for details see file gpl.txt in the distribution
    *      package of this software as well as any licensing notes
    *      inside this documentation
    * @version 1, October 13, 2004
    public class CollectionThread extends InfoThread {
       * constructor
       * @param model  AudioDataModel  the data model to collect data to
      public CollectionThread(AudioDataModel model) {
        this.model = model;
       * constructor, creates a new empty AudioDataModel
      public CollectionThread() {
        this(new AudioDataModel());
       * set the data model to collect data to
       * @param model AudioDataModel  the model to collect data to
      public void setModel(AudioDataModel model) {
        this.model = model;
       * get the data model associated to this thread
       * @return AudioDataModel  the data model
      public AudioDataModel getModel() {
        return model;
       * set the directory to collect data from
       * @param rootDir File  the directory to collect data from
      public void setRootDirectory(File rootDir) {
        this.rootDir = rootDir;
       * this is the method to prepare a thread to run.
      protected void prepareThread() {
        maxValue = -1;
        filesProcessed = 0;
        innerCount = 0;
        fileList = new Vector();
       * do the actual work of this thread, i.e. iterate through a given directory
       * structure and collect audio data
       * @return boolean  true, if work is left
      protected boolean work() {
        boolean workIsLeft = true;
        if(getStatus() < STATUS_HALT_PENDING) {
          countElements(rootDir.listFiles());
        if(getStatus() < STATUS_HALT_PENDING) {
          workIsLeft = collect(); //collect(rootDir.listFiles());
          fileList.clear();
          fileList = null;
        return workIsLeft;
       * count the elements in a given file array including its subdirectories
       * @param files File[]
      private void countElements(File[] files) {
        int i = 0;
        while (i < files.length && getStatus() < STATUS_HALT_PENDING) {
          File file = files;
    if (file.isDirectory()) {
    countElements(file.listFiles());
    else {
    fileList.add(file);
    i++;
    maxValue++;
    * read data into model
    * @param files File[] the file array representing the content of a given directory
    * @return boolean true, if work is left
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  • I need your help with a decision to use iPhoto.  I have been a PC user since the mid 1980's and more recently have used ACDSee to manage my photo images and Photoshop to edit them.  I have used ProShow Gold to create slideshows.  I am comfortable with my

    I need your help with a decision to use iPhoto.  I have been a PC user since the mid 1980’s and more recently have used ACDSee to manage my photo images and Photoshop to edit them.  I have used ProShow Gold to create slideshows.  I am comfortable with my own folder and file naming conventions. I currently have over 23,000 images of which around 60% are scans going back 75 years.  Since I keep a copy of the originals, the storage requirements for over 46,000 images is huge.  180GB plus.
    I now have a Macbook Pro and will add an iMac when the new models arrive.  For my photos, I want to stay with Photoshop which also gives me the Bridge.  The only obvious reason to use iPhoto is to take advantage of Faces and the link to iMovie to make slideshows.  What am I missing and is using iPhoto worth the effort?
    If I choose to use iPhoto, I am not certain whether I need to load the originals and the edited versions. I suspect that just the latter is sufficient.  If I set PhotoShop as my external editor, I presume that iPhoto will keep track of all changes moving forward.  However, over 23,000 images in iPhoto makes me twitchy and they are appear hidden within iPhoto.  In the past, I have experienced syncing problems with, and database errors in, large databases.  If I break up the images into a number of projects, I loose the value of Faces reaching back over time.
    Some guidance and insight would be appreciated.  I have a number of Faces questions which I will save for later. 

    Bridge and Photoshop is a common file-based management system. (Not sure why you'd have used ACDSEE as well as Bridge.) In any event, it's on the way out. You won't be using it in 5 years time.
    Up to this the lack of processing power on your computer left no choice but to organise this way. But file based organisation is as sensible as organising a Shoe Warehouse based on the colour of the boxes. It's also ultimately data-destructive.
    Modern systems are Database driven. Files are managed, Images imported, virtual versions, lossless processing and unlimited editing are the way forward.
    For a Photographer Photoshop is overkill. It's an enormously powerful app, a staple of the Graphic Designers' trade. A Photographer uses maybe 15% to 20% of its capability.
    Apps like iPhoto, Lightroom, Aperture are the way forward - for photographers. There's the 20% of Photoshop that shooters actually use, coupled with management and lossless processing. Pop over to the Aperture or Lightroom forums (on the Adobe site) and one comment shows up over and over again... "Since I started using Aperture/ Lightroom I hardly ever use Photoshop any more..." and if there is a job that these apps can do, then the (much) cheaper Elements will do it.
    The change is not easy though, especially if you have a long-standing and well thought out filing system of your own. The first thing I would strongly advise is that you experiment before making any decisions. So I would create a Library, import 300 or 400 shots and play. You might as well do this in iPhoto to begin with - though if you’re a serious hobbyist or a Pro then you'll find yourself looking further afield pretty soon. iPhoto is good for the family snapper, taking shots at birthdays and sharing them with friends and family.
    Next: If you're going to successfully use these apps you need to make a leap: Your files are not your Photos.
    The illustration I use is as follows: In my iTunes Library I have a file called 'Let_it_Be_The_Beatles.mp3'. So what is that, exactly? It's not the song. The Beatles never wrote an mp3. They wrote a tune and lyrics. They recorded it and a copy of that recording is stored in the mp3 file. So the file is just a container for the recording. That container is designed in a specific way attuned to the characteristics and requirements of the data. Hence, mp3.
    Similarly, that Jpeg is not your photo, it's a container designed to hold that kind of data. iPhoto is all about the data and not about the container. So, regardless of where you choose to store the file, iPhoto will manage the photo, edit the photo, add metadata to the Photo but never touch the file. If you choose to export - unless you specifically choose to export the original - iPhoto will export the Photo into a new container - a new file containing the photo.
    When you process an image in iPhoto the file is never touched, instead your decisions are recorded in the database. When you view the image then the Master is presented with these decisions applied to it. That's why it's lossless. You can also have multiple versions and waste no disk space because they are all just listings in the database.
    These apps replace the Finder (File Browser) for managing your Photos. They become the Go-To app for anything to do with your photos. They replace Bridge too as they become a front-end for Photoshop.
    So, want to use a photo for something - Export it. Choose the format, size and quality you want and there it is. If you're emailing, uploading to websites then these apps have a "good enough for most things" version called the Preview - this will be missing some metadata.
    So it's a big change from a file-based to Photo-based management, from editing files to processing Photos and it's worth thinking it through before you decide.

  • Need your suggestion / Input about choosing Apex for new application

    Guys,
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    Following are the functionality of the application:
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    2) Each entity and CRUD processing will be roles based
    3) On various events, send email and generate XML files for interfacing with external system
    4) Scheduling report generation and normal report generation
    5) Detail audit trail of the application (doesn't depend of Ajax, but still want to point out)
    6) Various search capabilities for each entity
    7) On various event and user selection: generate PDF file which user can download / print.
    8) Many client side and server side validations.
    Based on my reading, I believe this can be easily achieved with certainly some learning curve in AJAX. (which I have to do as I lost my entire project team due to budget issues.). I have a web devleopment background using Java, JSP and Servlet for 5 years. (Nothing in last 3 years though)
    Please let me know your thoughts based on my current situation and functionality.
    Also, Do i need to buy anything to get started with apex and implementing apex full blown application (they say it's free, but just want to understand your perspective as well).
    Thank you for reading the post and your support.
    -Raj

    Guys,
    I came across oracle apex this week and started digging through the documentation and presentations. Read some forums as well. Now I believe, our application can be helpful by utilizing Apex but I would like to share high level application functionality which I am trying to implement through Apex
    Following are the functionality of the application:
    1) there will be 40 different entity in the application (create/edit/read/delete)
    2) Each entity and CRUD processing will be roles based
    3) On various events, send email and generate XML files for interfacing with external system
    4) Scheduling report generation and normal report generation
    5) Detail audit trail of the application (doesn't depend of Ajax, but still want to point out)
    6) Various search capabilities for each entity
    7) On various event and user selection: generate PDF file which user can download / print.
    8) Many client side and server side validations.
    Based on my reading, I believe this can be easily achieved with certainly some learning curve in AJAX. (which I have to do as I lost my entire project team due to budget issues.). I have a web devleopment background using Java, JSP and Servlet for 5 years. (Nothing in last 3 years though)
    Please let me know your thoughts based on my current situation and functionality.
    Also, Do i need to buy anything to get started with apex and implementing apex full blown application (they say it's free, but just want to understand your perspective as well).
    Thank you for reading the post and your support.
    -Raj

  • Just a heads up regarding iOS 7; use caution if you NEED your phone.

    Aside from the myriad things that can go wrong with a major OS upgrade like this, what has happened the last few times Apple released a major upgrade is that many people were left without a functional phone for a few hours as your phone needs to reauthorize itself with Apple after an upgrade, and those authorization servers get overloaded even if those serving the software upgrade itself do not.
    If I recall correctly, when iOS 6 was released, many peoples' phones did not authorize for an hour or two.
    I also recall that for many the upgrade process itself took multiple hours to complete, and then there were quite a few "teething" issues that needed to be worked out (one of the biggest was that Wi-Fi wouldn't work anymore, with people being asked to log into a website at Apple for which they had no login or password.)
    Likewise I recall the iTunes Match servers were swamped, so many were left with a blank music list for a day or two.
    Therefore, if you know you're going to need your phone within say three to four hours of when you plan to do the upgrade, you may want to wait until later this week when the traffic to Apple's servers slows down a bit.

    Meg St._Clair wrote:
    pdroth wrote:
    but the phone still won't print money so I don't see what the big deal is.  
    What!!??!! But they promised.....
    I think that functionality is only supported on the rumored "iPhone 5$"…

  • To report a question you need your digital receipt. what if i no longer have that??

    Hi,
    I preordered midnight memories the day that it was available and today Monday the 28th of October "Story of My LIfe was available". it says that i purchased the song and that my preorder is on the album but the song is not in my music! can someone please tell me what is happening and how i can get my song? I never received an email about my download being available, so i have no link. I have tried everything you guys have suggested above but its not working for me . Everytime i go to the download section of my music it says that i have no active downloads. Can someone please please please help me....i'd really like my song! Thanks so much!
    Also i was thinking, maybe if i cancel my order and reorder it then i can get my song. Would this be a better option? and would i get my money refunded right away?
    i was also thinking about reporting my problem to Itunes, but apparently you need your digital receipt to do that which i no longer have what do i do???

    Deauthorize all, then authorize the active computers.
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  • IP telephony problem in a big shop | Need your help

    Hello everybody,
    I have an issue to solve regarding an IP telephony problem. My company will send me to France to fix this problem. But most of my knowledge are in routing and switching, I have almost no knowledge in IP telephony ( Theory only). I think the problem is not really difficult but I still need your advices to know where to start and what to do.
    Futher down is a summary of the e-mails I received from the shop in France from the employees who are working there. France Telecom is the ISP.
    1 e-mail:The problem is the connection between the ISDN lines provided by France Telecom and the IPBX installed by our shop.
    2 e-mail:The problem isn't the physical line itself. The problem is that they ( France telecom) do not route all the numbers out to the ISDN line they installed. The number ending with 1212 get routed to the ISDN NT and that number actually works. But the rest of the number series does not get terminated in that ISDN NT. Calling those other number result in an error message being read in French. That can only come from France Telecom.
    3 e-mail:We cannot solve this problem because it is not the system which has an error. Carl has been in Bordeaux and has checked the ISND line at that is working, but the number series for Bordeaux is missing in the system from France Telecom, the only existing number is 1212. The rest of the numbers are missing for French Telecom and is therefore not working. Either we have been informed of a wrong number series +33 5 34 32 12 04 to 13 or France Telecom has not delivered what they should.
    4 e-mail:I checked again with France Telecom and they confirmed that everything is delivered and ok from their side.
    They gave us the number series +33 5 34 32 12 04 to 13 with main number (headnumber) is +33 5 34 32 12 12 (exactly as in Paris where we are n° series from +33 1 53 25 13 70 to +33 1 53 25 13 89 with the headnumber is +33 1 53 25 13 70).
    That's the reason why you find only the +33 5 34 32 12 12 arriving into the IPBX, it's because you then have to program in our IPBX the other n° we want to use (+33 5 34 32 12 04/ 05/ 06/ 07/ …10/ 13/…) within the number series granted by France Telecom.
    But this can be done only by us because we installed our own IPBX.
    5 e-mail:Even though the other numbers aren't programmed into the IPBX, we should still get some sort of ISDN Layer 1 activity when calling one of the other numbers (fx. the 07number). That never happens, which means the numbers are somehow impeded from France Telecom.
    When we call one of the number, we get an error message in French. If the traffic was hitting the IPBX, then that couldn't happen. That speak originates from France Telecom and we have never gotten any explanation as to why it's even there.
    I will really apreciate your help. Where do you think the problem comes from? Is that really France Telecom whose empeded the series number(do not route the numbers)? What should I check/do, configure?
    Thanks a lot for your help to all of you.
    Aitaseller

    Already replied in "IP Telepho9ny".
    Please do not open duplicate threads.

  • Moving from Oracle to SAP--need your help

    Dear All SAP Professionals
    I have 6 years experience in Oracle Development (forms&reports); and i intend to start my new path with sales and distribution in SAP ERP v.6.
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    >
    Julius Bussche wrote:
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    Hmmm.

  • Apple Pay "Your card is being activated" text does not go away...

    Hello,
    I added 4 cards to my Passbook - 2 of them say "Ready for Apple Pay" and the other 2 (Wells Fargo) say "Your card is being activated". I contacted the bank and they say those 2 cards are ACTIVE WITH APPLE PAY. They told me to call Apple. Has anyone seen this? I don't want to get into a payment situation and have the card rejected.
    Thanks.

    Thanks for the replies....
    Next day - phone still shows Wells Fargo cards are "Activating - your card is being activated""
    * Restart - done with no change
    * Re-add - No. My Bank said both cards are ACTIVE with Apple Pay so there is no need to do that. They said it is an Apple glitch (this is only with my 2 Wells Fargo cards - AMEX / BoA show "ready for Apple Pay")
    * I have not used the cards yet. The merchants in my area are so behind the times - nobody yet accepts Apple Pay in my neck of the woods in Florida.
    Anyone have this situation that fixed it?
    Thanks & Happy New Year!

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