Recently, I had a Java project that needed to encode a set of numbers and I needed a fixed number of digits used for each number. I found the DecimalFormat class a good solution for my needs.

Here is a snippet of code to show a simple way to format a number with a fixed number of digits.

import java.text.DecimalFormat;

class TestEncoder
{
        public static void main(String[] args)
        {
                // This program expects one integer 
                // argument and places it in the num1 
                // variable. This program is not very 
                // robust as to watch for no arguments
                // or to check if the argument is not 
                // an integer.
                String num1 = args[0];
                String output;

                // This creates the Decimal Format instance 
                // and assigns the formatting that we want 
                // to use, in this case three characters .
                DecimalFormat dfmt = 
                             new DecimalFormat("000");

                // This does the work of formatting the number
                // passed in on the command line to be at least
                // three digits. 
                output = dfmt.format(new Integer(num1));
               
                // This just displays the results of the 
                // dfmt.format(new Integer(num1)) command.
                System.out.println("Output: " + output);
}
}

The Decimal format allows for many more formatting options for numbers.

Make sure to look a the API docs for the version of Java that you are using:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/api/java/text/DecimalFormat.html

Tags: formatting, Java

Motorola DCT6412 (Comcast DVR) 30-second skip

I have a Tivo and missed the 30 second skip that was available and I found that the same was available with the Comcast Cable remote.

1) Press the button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.

2) Press and hold the button until the button blinks twice.

3) Type in the code 994. The button will blink twice.

4) Press (do not hold) the button

5) Type in the code 00173 (for 30 second Skip).

6) Press whatever button you want to map the skip, I used the help button as I have never used it myself.

Welcome to 30 second skipping.