Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

[code lang="php"]$binary_image = drupal_http_request($url);[/code]

After checking the response code to make sure it was successful, use the Drupal function file_save_data() to physically store the file into whatever directory you want to store the image file in.

[code lang="php"]
if ($binary_image->code == 200) {
$filepath = file_save_data($binary_image->data, $save_to, FILE_EXISTS_RENAME);
if ($filepath !== 0) {
// attach other relevant information as well
$fileinfo['filepath'] = $filepath;
$fileinfo['filesize'] = filesize($save_to);
$fileinfo = array_merge($fileinfo, getimagesize($save_to));
return $fileinfo;
}
[/code]

The physical file should be saved but just because you’ve saved the file in the directory does not mean that Drupal is aware of the file. In order for that to happen, you also need the mime type, the file size, and the filepath and manually insert into a node. Once you’ve got those, you can create a node and insert those values along with the rest into it.

[code lang="php"]

// create a node
// add the file's information into the node
$node['field_thumbnail'] = array(
array(
'list' => 1,
'data' => array(
'alt' => '',
'title' => '',
),
'fid' => $fid,
'uid' => $user->uid,
'filename' => $resource['logo_file'],
'filepath' => 'files/_thumbnails/'.$resource['logo_file'],
'filemime' => $info['mime'],
'filesize' => $info['filesize'],
'status' => 1,
'timestamp' => time(),
'alt' => '',
'title' => '',
'upload' => '',
),
[/code]

This will make Drupal recognize your files. Everything should be gravy. Hope this works for you.

By the way, for all of you already on Drupal 7(lucky you), file_save_data() saves the data and automatically updates the database with the file information.

I tweeted about the fact Microsoft was running a marketing campaign that gives a web site user a chance at winning ten grand. The catch? You will only be able to use Microsoft IE8. Leaving the obvious user agent switching hacks aside, I was still shocked that Microsoft thought this was in anyway good marketing so I tweeted about it.

Within a few hours, Microsoft’s Twitter account re-tweeted my rant about their ten grand contest. :-O I don’t really know what they were trying to go for here but it certainly had my co-workers and I laughing hard about it. My best explanation for this is that MS had a Twitter bot that scanned all tweets with the word Microsoft. Too bad they didn’t see the word fail right next to it.

I tried to get Microsoft to RT another not-so-flattering message but it didn’t work again. Ah well.

Good ole’ Microsoft. <sigh>

It helps you record your solutions and store it in one centralized location. How many times have you come across the same problem when working and not recall that pivotal eureka moment that let you arrive at your solution? Even if your solution is not made explicity in your notebook, even retracing  the steps taken to achieve your answer will help you jog your memory faster than anything else can.

Engineering notebooks can help you to reveal previous trends. The items that wasn’t so obvious when you are in the thick of it. Things such as individual workflow habits and the effort spent on each task.

Documents a history of work as evidence Working in a creative role, it is sometimes hard to quantify your level of effort against a certain task or group of tasks. When it comes to software development, it seems there are always items that have not been taken into account of in the official project plan. We’ve all been there. There’s always “that one other thing” you have to do before you get into the main task at hand. Before you know it , the level of effort it takes to accomplish the periphery tasks snowball out of control. Next thing you know, your boss is hovering over your desk demanding to know why a task that was slated for half a day has been unresolved for a week. An engineering notebook can help you persuade them by showing them exactly how much effort is going into finding a solution. (Of course, it’s your job to estimate tasks responsibly but that’s another topic altogether).

You can set up your engineering notebook with as much flexibility as you require. Honestly, any notebook would do but what works for me are unlined spine-bound notebooks.  I feel that unlined ones are important because they allow me the flexibility to use the writing space any way I choose to. Doodle, scratch out, mindmap – it’s up to you. Marble composition books are nice but I personally went with a higher class of notebook(I am a bit of a snob when it comes to this sort of stuff). The Moleskine Cahier was my choice because I am such a big fan of Moleskine and their legacy. So, when I came across their soft-cover notebook series I knew it would be perfect for what I needed. A little bit on the pricey side but well worth it if you’re into quality. $16.00 will get you a package of 3.

On a typical day, I start off my entry in my notebook by writing the date at the top. Page numbers work for some but I like making my table of contents using dates as my points of reference instead of page numbers. That way once you complete a significant milestone, you can put the starting date and ending date in your table of contents along with a brief description of the milestone as your description. Most people make checklists of tasks to do for the day. This can either be a list of pending tasks or just an aggressive three-point agenda that simply has to get done. Another common thing to do is to start providing a small summary of a sizable activity you are doing. I find that the extra mental effort involved in writing down clearly of what I am doing, why I am doing it, and what the expected result is keeps me focused and motivated to push ahead with the task. It’s important to make these messages meaningful. We don’t need any pointless essays or formal pseudocode. Likewise, engineering notebooks should not be a place to collect meeting notes. Use scraps of paper or a mini-legal pad for that. Once you have had time to internalize the meeting notes, then you should record whatever you feel is relevant to your individual workflow. Test results, case studies, and task-switching events are all acceptable items to place in your notebook as well. Remember that what you are trying to go for here is to capture the thought process involved in solving a particular problem. Don’t worry about seizing every minutiae of work into your notebook. It’s there if you need it and you are encouraged to use it.

In the end, the fact remains that you always need to be ready to capture valuable ideas when it hits you. Those precious flashes of insight come too far and few between. They cannot be forced out into stark reality, only encouraged. By keeping a recorded design journal, you’ll be able to document your work activities, encourage creative thinking and maybe even catch a glimpse of your next great idea hidden just between the lines. What are some ways that you record your design work?

Google Maps – whether it it is finding the best way to Junior’s cheesecake or figuring out where to get the next E train, Google Maps has earned a place on the first page of my iPhone after this trip. The fact that you can map driving, walking, and metro directions is still completely mind-boggling to me. The ability to swoop down and peek at some real panoramic street view photos is also really helpful when you want to verify that you’re headed to the right place.

Twitterific – Whether I want to broadcast where I was going next, get tips on what I should be checking out in the city, or sharing some quick pictures with my friends, Twitterific is the one tool I used to do it all. What I really liked was Twitterific’s camera feature which allows you to use the built-in iPhone camera interface to send photos right up to Twitpic.com. It also helped me to keep in touch with friends when I am on the go.

Safari – The best mobile browser on the market did not fail to disappoint. Safari proved it’s worth on my phone when I needed to find out phone numbers for the nearest Apple store or when I needed to take a break and check out the latest articles on dzone.com,

These iPhone apps made a huge difference in my nyc vacation. The time that I saved and that sense of security I felt knowing that any piece of information was available to me at anytime(except for when on the subway) really made me feel much more comfortable traversing Manhattan even though I was a complete stranger to it. Now if only I can get my cousins to admit the same thing.

I am learning to live in the present here and now. Here’s to a great year for all of us.