Unix sed, Python CsvKit under Windows Scripting Host (WSH); Problems and solutions

This is a just a short article that described problem and finding I encountered in one of my project and were wishing that what I found can be useful to someone following a similar path as me - A short side track: Nerds or people like me working and sharing knowledge, a lot of times, were overlooked as been anti-social and less of charity or volunteering to the society. I for one, would like to pass and dispatch the messages that we, the nerd and genuine hard worker, are to be proud of our contribution to the society and world for making the world a better place.

Back to the topic.

I were involved in a Windows automation project and were writing most of my code in VBA. However, with my knowledge about the Unix way of doing things, it makes totally sense for me wanting to run some tasks through some Unix utilities program. As we all know, Unix way basically means command lines. Fortunately, Windows did not fore go the access to command lines. For VBA, there are the general Shell() command. But that is not the only option for VBA. With Microsoft COM infrastructure, VBA programmer has access to wide variety of objects. One of them is the Windows Scripting Host. By accessing to Windows Scripting Host, programmer can have better control of the DOS-shell/command-line environment.

While I was happily using the Windows Scripting Host to carry out my command line tasks, I notice that for most Windows/DOS based programs they all run great until I try to run some Unix utilities that were ported over to the Windows/DOS world.

Before I go on, I would like to point out that I did not spend a lot of time trying to figure out every single issues, so please bear with me for not be able to provide all possible solutions and explanations. 

One Unix utility I used is the sed command from the MinGW/msys. I was able to verify its functionality by running some test directly under the Windows/DOS command line after removing some conflicting search paths from the PATH environment variables - for example, in my system, I also have Qt and GNAT installed.

After verifying the sed under that Windows/DOS command line, I invoked it through the Windows Scripting Host via VBA. The command failed with a return code of 2, which, for sed, could just mean errors during execution or , for DOS, could mean file not found. By testing with non-existing command, we know the Windows Scripting Host do recognize the sed command. By testing with simple 'sed -help 2>file', I realize it may have something to do with the shall's interpretation/parsing of command line. This lead me to the thought of using the Cmd.exe /C to run the sed. By running 'Cmd.exe /C sed ...  ' under the Windows Scripting Host, everything worked out. The other command I run into the same problem is the Python CsvKit commands. Again, running with Cmd.exe solve the problem. At this point, I can't say I understand the problem. My hint is that it may have something to do with the redirection of the standard output since all my Unix and Python commands used the redirection.

A better replication function:rep() for R

This article is to propose a new approach to the R replication function rep(). At this point, I am not fluent in creating R packages and would not, for a while, create the package even though I will try to provide the code I have in mind.

First of all, let's review the current implementation of the R replication function rep() in my own words:
  rep(Vctr,times=Vctr1,each=n,length.out=N)

Each element in Vctr is repeat n times if Vctr1 do not exist. Otherwise, the times each element is repeated is specified by Vctr1. However, if times is a number, the Vctr is repeated that number of times. length.out disregard times, each element is repeated n times and repeated again until length.out is reached. 

From my description above, I see that when 'times' is a vector, its elements controls how the corresponding element in Vctr are repeated. But not when 'times' is degraded to a number - it then control the number of times the 'Vctr' is repeated. On the other hand, the 'each', as a number, it also controls the number of times each element in Vctr are repeated. With these info, it just logical for me to want to reconsider the situation when 'times' is just a number. It just seems more logical to me to consider this as a special case where all elements in Vctr are to be repeated the same amount of 'times'. i.e.
    Vctr1= 5 := c(5, 5, 5, ...).
With this equivalency, I also like to propose the switch the meaning of  'times' and 'each' so that the 'each' now describes how many times each of the elements in Vctr should be repeated. With the meaning of the new 'each' been settled, we should now reconsider the meaning of the new 'times'.

The newly proposed meaning for 'times' will be the times to repeat the sequence generated by the 'each'. The new meaning for length.out would be designated as the maximum length of the eventual output.

With the proposed changes outlined above, here are few examples to demonstrate the new new-rep() function.

>new-rep(1:5,each=2,times=1,length.out=13)
[1] 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5

>new-rep(1:5,each=2,times=2,length.out=13)
[1] 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 1 1 2

>new-rep(1:5,each=c(1,2,3,2,1),times=1,length.out=13)
[1] 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5

>new-rep(1:5,each=c(1,2,3,2,1),times=2,length.out=13)
[1] 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 1 2 2 3

Can we create all that can be done with the old rep() function? - yes!
Can we create something that is not possible to create with the old rep() function? - yes

Possible algorithm:

new-rep <- function (Vctr,each,times,length.out) {
    if length(each)==1 { # if each exist and just a number
        each <- rep(each,times=length(Vctr))  # expand each
    }
    Rslt <- rep(Vctr, times=each);
    Rslt <- rep(Rslt, times=times);
    Lngth <- length(Rslt);
    if (is.numeric(length.out))  {
     if (length.out&tl;Lngth) Lngth <- length.out;
    }
    Rslt[1:Lngth];
}

Appreciate your thoughts and possible creation of package.

Labels for ACS Pums csv download - Data Ferrett to the rescure

US Census Bureau conducts the American Community Survey (ACS) annually. One of the data product that made available to the public is the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, that can be used by researchers to derive statistical results.

The PUMS data were made available in two formats: SAS and CSV file format. The SAS file format is a proprietary file format and contains long text that give meaning to shortened mnemonic for variables and categorical values. The CSV file format, on the other hand, is  supported by almost all software but does not contain helping texts. US Census Bureau does provide document in pdf or text format that describes the mnemonics used. However, the pdf and the text format isn't the easiest to use for statistical software.

Personally, I believe the XML format is ideal to store the description info for mnemonics and I have suggested this approach to ACS help group. In the mean time, I discovered that the Data Ferrett application provided by the Census Bureau can serve as an alternative source for the XML file. By selecting all variables using the Data Ferrett and save the session to a local file, you obtained an XML file that contains the descriptions and the mnemonics.

By using XSLT, people can easily construct statements that, when run by statistical software, will assign descriptions to mnemonics.

* A side note, at this point, the XML file generated by the Data Ferrett isn't perfect. The & sing isn't correctly coded accounting to XML standard and some XSLT software may complain about the file. This, however, can easily corrected by search and replace the & sign.

UI Design for Viewing Data - Relate Table to Chart

User Interface Design is always an innovation art. It connects human behavior with icy cold machine code.

In the world of data analysis, charts and tables are gateways to human. Charts communicate size and quantities to human via human's natural perception of the world. However, when multiple facets of data are presented, relating size and quantities to facets becoming a burden to human. Tables, on the other hand, relate multiple faceted data in concise form to human sacrificing the advantage of human's natural perceptions for size and quantities.

The proposed user interface design is based on the above observations about tables and charts. The interface begin by presenting a data table to user with the associate charts: (Two flavor of charts are presented - vertical and horizontal bar)

Inst.	Men	Women	Total
Univ	14,059	15,407	29,466
NCTA	97	102	199
UNK	1,876	2,406	4,282
UNL	8,059	7,588	15,647
UNMC	758	1,387	2,145
UNO	3,269	3,924	7,193
Stat Col.	2,020	2,727	4,747
CSC	660	941	1,601
PSC	350	446	796
WSC	1,010	1,340	2,350
Comm. Col.	6,619	7,095	13,714
CCC	822	1,171	1,993
MCC	1,594	1,945	3,539

 

It is obvious that these charts are difficult to comprehend with the mixed facets of institutional and sectional totals. The idea behind the design, however, is to provide user with channel tools that can channel desired data to the the chart. Various ways can be used to select the desired data. For example, using drop-down list, checkboxes in context menu, or text/regular-expression based filtering to channel the desired data. Visual feedback can be provided to user by hiding or highlighting the data table. Possible filtering results are presented below:

Microsoft OUTLOOK Recurring Event ACCESS VBA code

Microsoft Outlook provides a nice calendar program that allows people to track events. The Outlook, like all other components in the Microsoft Office suite, also provides program interfaces (API) for programmer to extend their use of the program.

In our office, we try to pull these info into our databases. For normal events, the code is straightforward since it is stored in a day by day basis. For recurring events, however, in practical, it can't be stored in a day by day basis since some recurring events don't have an end day. This, therefore, presents a challenge when try to pull in calendar events on a day by day basis. Basically, the program need to go through each recurring event and, based on the pattern of each recurring event, generates the day and time of each occurrences and find out if any of the occurrences fall inside the specific time period of interest.

Below are codes that I devised and I hope it is of value to someone - please provide adequate credit statement if you do adopt and find the code useful.

Few words about the program:

• xCDO is an object that provides access to database.
• PrmtrTyp, Prmtr are just for me to extend code in the future. 1 and "" are normally used.
• BgnDt, and EndDt specify the period of interest.
• xAppntmnt is the Appointment object of Outlook.
• xHC is simply my version of the VBA collection object. It allows to set entries via StItm() function and retrieve value via RdItm() function.
• The handling of yearly recurring events is to be amended.

Public Function DoRecrrngs(aCDO, BgnDt, EndDt, aAppntmnts, Ppl, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status, oAppntmnt, oPttrn
    Dim oHC As New HCllctn
   
    For Each oAppntmnt In aAppntmnts
        Set oPttrn = oAppntmnt.GetRecurrencePattern
        If oPttrn.PatternEndDate >= BgnDt Then
            status = oHC.StItm("BgnDt", BgnDt)
            status = oHC.StItm("EndDt", EndDt)
            status = oHC.StItm("IsAllDy", oAppntmnt.AllDayEvent)
            status = oHC.StItm("EvntTtl", oAppntmnt.Subject)
            status = oHC.StItm("EvntDtl", oAppntmnt.Location)
            status = oHC.StItm("Ppl", Ppl)
            status = DoRecrrng(aCDO, oHC, oPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
        End If
    Next
End Function
Public Function DoRecrrng(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status

    Select Case aPttrn.RecurrenceType
        Case 0  ' Daily
            status = DoRecrrng0_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
        Case 1  ' Weekly
            status = DoRecrrng1_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
'           status = -1111
        Case 2  ' Monthly (Day of Month)
            status = DoRecrrng2_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
'           status = -1121
        Case 3  ' MonthNth (weekday of Nth week)
            status = DoRecrrng3_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
'           status = -1131
        Case 4  ' ??
            status = -1141
        Case 5  ' Yearly (Day of Month)
            status = -1151
        Case 6  ' YearNth (Day of Nth week of Month)
            status = -1161
    End Select
    DoRecrrng = status
End Function

' Daily - assuming aPttrn.PatternEndDate >= BgnDt
Public Function DoRecrrng0_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status, tmpDt, tmpNo, NDay
    Dim BgnDt, EndDt, IsAllDy, StrtTm, EndTm, Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl

    ' Retrieve useful info to local
    BgnDt = aHC.RdItm("BgnDt"): EndDt = aHC.RdItm("EndDt")
    IsAllDy = aHC.RdItm("IsAllDy"): Ppl = aHC.RdItm("Ppl")
    StrtTm = aPttrn.StartTime: EndTm = aPttrn.EndTime
    EvntTtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntTtl")): EvntDtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntDtl"))
    NDay = aPttrn.Interval ' Every N day
    tmpDt = aPttrn.PatternStartDate
    If tmpDt < BgnDt Then
        tmpNo = DateDiff("d", tmpDt, BgnDt)
        tmpNo = tmpNo + NDay - (tmpNo Mod NDay)
        tmpDt = DateAdd("d", tmpNo, tmpDt)
    End If
    DoRecrrng0_ = 0
    Do
        If tmpDt <= EndDt Then
            DoRecrrng0_ = DoRecrrng0_ + 1
            ' save the event to db
            status = Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, IsAllDy, tmpDt + StrtTm, tmpDt + EndTm, _
                Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl)
            tmpDt = DateAdd("d", NDay, tmpDt)
        End If
    Loop Until tmpDt > EndDt
End Function

' Weekly - assuming aPttrn.PatternEndDate > BgnDt
Public Function DoRecrrng1_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status, tmpNo, tmpDt, NWk, WkDyBt, WkDyMsk
    Dim BgnDt, EndDt, IsAllDy, StrtTm, EndTm, Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl

    ' Retrieve useful info to local
    BgnDt = aHC.RdItm("BgnDt"): EndDt = aHC.RdItm("EndDt")
    IsAllDy = aHC.RdItm("IsAllDy"): Ppl = aHC.RdItm("Ppl")
    StrtTm = aPttrn.StartTime: EndTm = aPttrn.EndTime
    EvntTtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntTtl")): EvntDtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntDtl"))
    NWk = aPttrn.Interval ' Every N week
    If NWk = 0 Then NWk = 1 ' Adjust Outlook daily weekday assigned value
    ' Prepare for begin date
    tmpDt = aPttrn.PatternStartDate
    If tmpDt < BgnDt Then
        tmpNo = DateDiff("ww", tmpDt, BgnDt)
        tmpNo = tmpNo + NWk - (tmpNo Mod NWk)
        tmpDt = DateAdd("ww", tmpNo, tmpDt)
        tmpDt = DateAdd("d", 1 - DatePart("w", tmpDt), tmpDt)   ' Adjusted to Sunday
    End If
    ' Prepare weekday detection
    WkDyBt = 2 ^ (DatePart("w", tmpDt) - 1)
    WkDyMsk = aPttrn.DayOfWeekMask
    DoRecrrng1_ = 0
    Do Until tmpDt > EndDt
        If WkDyBt And WkDyMsk Then
            ' save the event to db
            status = Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, IsAllDy, tmpDt + StrtTm, tmpDt + EndTm, _
                Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl)
        End If
        If WkDyBt = 64 Then
            tmpDt = DateAdd("ww", NWk, tmpDt)
            tmpDt = DateAdd("d", 1 - DatePart("w", tmpDt), tmpDt)   ' Adjusted to Sunday
            WkDyBt = 1
        Else
            tmpDt = DateAdd("d", 1, tmpDt)
            WkDyBt = WkDyBt * 2
        End If
    Loop
End Function

' Monthly (day of month) - assuming aPttrn.PatternEndDate > BgnDt
Public Function DoRecrrng2_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status, tmpNo, tmpDt, NMnth, NthDy
    Dim BgnDt, EndDt, IsAllDy, StrtTm, EndTm, Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl

    ' Retrieve useful info to local
    BgnDt = aHC.RdItm("BgnDt"): EndDt = aHC.RdItm("EndDt")
    IsAllDy = aHC.RdItm("IsAllDy"): Ppl = aHC.RdItm("Ppl")
    StrtTm = aPttrn.StartTime: EndTm = aPttrn.EndTime
    EvntTtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntTtl")): EvntDtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntDtl"))
    NMnth = aPttrn.Interval ' Every Nth month
    NthDy = aPttrn.DayOfMonth ' Nth day
    tmpDt = aPttrn.PatternStartDate
    If tmpDt < BgnDt Then
        tmpNo = DateDiff("m", tmpDt, BgnDt)
        tmpNo = tmpNo + NMnth - (tmpNo Mod NMnth)
        tmpDt = DateAdd("m", tmpNo, tmpDt)
    End If
    ' Adjust the date
    tmpDt = DateSerial(Year(tmpDt), Month(tmpDt), NthDy)
    ' Loop until pass EndDt
    DoRecrrng2_ = 0
    Do Until tmpDt > EndDt
        If tmpDt >= BgnDt And tmpDt <= EndDt Then ' Double sure
            DoRecrrng2_ = DoRecrrng2_ + 1
            ' save the event to db
            status = Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, IsAllDy, tmpDt + StrtTm, tmpDt + EndTm, _
                Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl)
        End If
        tmpDt = DateAdd("m", NMnth, tmpDt)
        tmpDt = DateSerial(Year(tmpDt), Month(tmpDt), NthDy)
    Loop
End Function

' MonthNth (Nth weekday) - assuming aPttrn.PatternEndDate > BgnDt
Public Function DoRecrrng3_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim status, tmpNo, tmpDt, NMnth, NthWkDy, BtNoArry(), tmpFlg
    Dim BgnDt, EndDt, IsAllDy, StrtTm, EndTm, Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl

    ' Retrieve useful info to local
    BgnDt = aHC.RdItm("BgnDt"): EndDt = aHC.RdItm("EndDt")
    IsAllDy = aHC.RdItm("IsAllDy"): Ppl = aHC.RdItm("Ppl")
    StrtTm = aPttrn.StartTime: EndTm = aPttrn.EndTime
    EvntTtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntTtl")): EvntDtl = strRplc("""", "", aHC.RdItm("EvntDtl"))
    NMnth = aPttrn.Interval ' Every Nth month
    NthWkDy = aPttrn.Instance
    tmpDt = aPttrn.PatternStartDate
    ' To the month just before BgnDt
    If tmpDt < BgnDt Then
        tmpNo = Year(BgnDt) * 12 + Month(BgnDt) - Year(tmpDt) * 12 - Month(tmpDt)
        tmpNo = tmpNo + NMnth - (tmpNo Mod NMnth)
        tmpDt = DateAdd("m", tmpNo, tmpDt)
    End If
    ' Get WkDy - MonthNth can't have multiple week day!
    tmpFlg = Lng2BtNoArry(aPttrn.DayOfWeekMask, BtNoArry, 1, "")
'   If tmpNo > 1 Then   ' weekday or weekend day
'       tmpFlg = tmpNo
'       DoRecrrng3_ = -1111 ' not handled for now
'       DoRecrrng3_ = DoRecrrng3x_(aCDO, aHC, aPttrn, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
'        Exit Function
'   End If
    tmpNo = BtNoArry(1) ' Only one can be selected
    ' Adjust the date
    If tmpFlg = 2 Or tmpFlg = 5 Then
        tmpDt = NthWrkWkndDy2Dt(NthWkDy, tmpFlg, Month(tmpDt), Year(tmpDt), 1, "")
    Else
        tmpDt = NthWkDy2Dt(NthWkDy, tmpNo, Month(tmpDt), Year(tmpDt), 1, "")
    End If
    ' Loop until pass EndDt
    DoRecrrng3_ = 0
    Do Until tmpDt > EndDt
        If tmpDt >= BgnDt And tmpDt <= EndDt Then ' Double sure
            DoRecrrng3_ = DoRecrrng3_ + 1
            ' save the event to db
            status = Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, IsAllDy, tmpDt + StrtTm, tmpDt + EndTm, _
                Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl)
        End If
        tmpDt = DateAdd("m", NMnth, tmpDt)
        If tmpFlg = 2 Or tmpFlg = 5 Then ' Adjust the date
            tmpDt = NthWrkWkndDy2Dt(NthWkDy, tmpFlg, Month(tmpDt), Year(tmpDt), 1, "")
        Else
            tmpDt = NthWkDy2Dt(NthWkDy, tmpNo, Month(tmpDt), Year(tmpDt), 1, "")
        End If
    Loop
End Function

' Give the nth workday or weekend day and return the date
'   Typ: 2(weekend day) 5(work day) other(error)
Public Function NthWrkWkndDy2Dt(aNth, aTyp, aMnth, aYr, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim tmpDt

    NthWrkWkndDy2Dt = Null
    If aNth < 5 Then
        tmpDt = DateSerial(aYr, aMnth, 1)
        Cnt = 0
        Do Until Cnt = aNth
            WkDy = DatePart("w", tmpDt)
            If aTyp = 2 And (WkDy = 1 Or WkDy = 7) Then
                Cnt = Cnt + 1
            ElseIf aTyp = 5 And WkDy > 1 And WkDy < 7 Then
                Cnt = Cnt + 1
            End If
            NthWrkWkndDy2Dt = tmpDt
            tmpDt = DateAdd("d", 1, tmpDt)
        Loop
    ElseIf aNth = 5 Then
        tmpDt = DateSerial(aYr, aMnth, LstDyAMnth(aYr, aMnth, 1, ""))
        Cnt = 0
        Do Until Cnt > 0
            WkDy = DatePart("w", tmpDt)
            If aTyp = 2 And (WkDy = 1 Or WkDy = 7) Then
                Cnt = 1
            ElseIf aTyp = 5 And WkDy > 1 And WkDy < 7 Then
                Cnt = 1
            End If
            NthWrkWkndDy2Dt = tmpDt
            tmpDt = DateAdd("d", -1, tmpDt)
        Loop
    End If
End Function

' Given nth weekday and return the date
' nth(5=last, <1 error="">5=error)
Public Function NthWkDy2Dt(aNth, aDyWk, aMnth, aYr, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim Dt

    If aNth > 5 Then
        NthWkDy2Dt = Null
        Exit Function
    End If
    ' 1st day of that month
    Dt = DateSerial(aYr, aMnth, 1)
    If aDyWk < Weekday(Dt) Then
        Dt = DateAdd("d", aNth * 7 + aDyWk - Weekday(Dt), Dt)
    Else
        Dt = DateAdd("d", (aNth - 1) * 7 + aDyWk - Weekday(Dt), Dt)
    End If
    If aMnth < Month(Dt) Then
        Dt = DateAdd("d", -7, Dt)
    End If
    NthWkDy2Dt = Dt
End Function

' BtNoArry(0)=number of bits numbers
' BtNoArry(n)=bit number + 1
' PrmtrTyp 0(reserved),
'   1(array of bit numbers where the bit is 1)
'   2(array of bits)
Public Function Lng2BtNoArry(Lng, BtNoArry, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Dim Sz, Ndx, NoItm
    Sz = Int(Log(Lng) / Log(2)) + 1
    ReDim BtNoArry(Sz)
    NoItm = 0
    If PrmtrTyp = 1 Then
        For Ndx = 1 To Sz
            If (Lng Mod 2) = 1 Then
                NoItm = NoItm + 1
                BtNoArry(NoItm) = Ndx
                Lng = Lng - 1
            End If
            Lng = Lng / 2
        Next
    Else
        For Ndx = 1 To Sz
            BtNoArry(Ndx) = Lng Mod 2
            Lng = Int(Lng / 2)
        Next
        NoItm = Sz
    End If
    BtNoArry(0) = NoItm
    Lng2BtNoArry = NoItm
End Function

' Save outlook appointment to event table
Public Function Appntmnt2EvntTmp(aCDO, Appntmnt, Ppl, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Appntmnt2EvntTmp = Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, _
        Appntmnt.AllDayEvent, _
        Appntmnt.Start, _
        Appntmnt.End, _
        Ppl, _
        strRplc("""", "", Appntmnt.Subject), _
        strRplc("""", "", Appntmnt.Location) _
    )
End Function
' Save parameters to event table
Public Function Add2EvntTmp(aCDO, IsAllDy, TmBgn, TmEnd, Ppl, EvntTtl, EvntDtl)
    sSql = "INSERT INTO EvntTmp(AllDyEvnt, TmBgn,TmEnd,OwnrNm,EvntTtl,EvntDtl) VALUES" _
        & "(" & IsAllDy & ",""" & TmBgn & """,""" & TmEnd & """,""" & Ppl _
        & """,""" & EvntTtl & """,""" & EvntDtl & """);"
    Add2EvntTmp = aCDO.Exct(sSql, 1, "")
End Function

' return the last day of a month
' PrmtrTyp: 0(reserved) 1(implemented)
Public Function LstDyAMnth(Yr, Mnth, PrmtrTyp, Prmtr)
    Select Case Mnth
        Case 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12
            LstDyAMnth = 31
        Case 4, 6, 9, 11
            LstDyAMnth = 30
        Case 2
            LstDyAMnth = DatePart("d", DateAdd("m", 1, DateSerial(Yr, 1, 31)))
        Case Else
            LstDyAMnth = -1111
    End Select
End Function

Cannot print exception string because Exception.ToString() failed

Just to report my case of the 'Exception.ToString() Failed' error.

I was constantly working on various tasks on my machine (Windows & x64) and there would be times that I would install patches and then roll them back. 

In this particular case, I was installing a bunch of MS updates in the hope to resolve an Excel macro errors. Without success, I rolled patches back while Windows insisted to install some of the patches( I believe that I specifically asked to roll back a batch of patches, but Windows will re-install some patches after rolled back either during the shut down or the re-boot phase). 

At this point, I found that my .NET 2.0 C# code stop working. I can still compile the code but the program will simply crash without much of a clue - the compilation worked since I was able to copy the updated dll to other machines and worked just fine. I ended up testing a console program with a single WriteLine() statement. The program crashed the same way with the message 'Cannot print exception string because Exception.ToString() failed'.

I googled and there were hints that pointed to the crashed Frameworks. Even though the .NET 2.0 was failed, I was able to compiled the same code in .NET 4.0 on the same machine and it worked.I then ran into articles that state that since Windows 7 was build on .NET 2.0 and 3.5, it is impossible to install the redistributable version on Windows 7.

At that point, I was convinced that the Framework was crashed and I tried the sfc.exe in vein to fixed the problem. There seems to have a Framework tool from MS that can perform some sort of repairs. I, however, decided to check into available .net framework patches and applied them. That did the trick and the Excel, too, worked.

Possible explanation?? The only thing I can think of is that, somehow, my roll back failed the .NET 2.0, which may due to Windows insisted on install certain patches.

Failure rate on Banggood's Arduino Nano circuit board

Recently I began to experiment with Arduino - In my earlier life, I worked with electronics quite a bit.

This post is to report my experience with the failure rate of a particular product from a particular vendor - do not over interpret.

The product I evaluated is:
http://www.banggood.com/5Pcs-ATmega328P-Arduino-Compatible-Nano-V3-Improved-Version-With-USB-p-951782.html

The failure rate is 16% - 4 out of 25 Arduino nano board are bad.

* This board needs driver from:
    http://wch.cn/downloads.php?name=pro&proid=5

Problems ranging from:
1.  Unknown Device - PC recognized a USB device being attached but do not
      know what kind.

2.  No Action:
      PC does not even a USB device is being attached.
3.  Not in sync. PC recognized the Nano and allocated COM5. But when try to
      upload a program, I receive the error message:
          avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00

I will see what Banggood.com would do and report back. For now, just plan ahead and take the fail rate into your order and expecting 16% of your order could be bad.

========= Update 20150411 ========
Just got the replacement from Banggood. I am happy with their customer service.