Author: deuts

Automating Google Sheets Downloads to Excel: A Simple PHP Script

In the digital age, managing data efficiently is crucial. Google Sheets, a widely used tool for collaborative data management, sometimes needs to be converted into different formats for further processing. One common requirement is to download a publicly shared Google Sheet as an XLSX file, which can then be used in Excel for advanced data analysis. Here’s a handy PHP script that automates this process.

Why Automate Google Sheets Downloads?

Downloading Google Sheets manually can be tedious, especially if the data is updated frequently. Automating the download process ensures that you always have the latest data in your desired format without repetitive manual effort. Additionally, the XLSX format is compatible with Excel’s powerful features like Power Query, making it easier to transform and analyze data. Read more to learn more »

Multiple Retirement Fund Managers

It is not necessary that a company maintains more than one fund manager for its retirements fund. But nothing prohibits them from keeping more than one either.

Maintaining two fund managers for retirement funds can have both advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

  1. Diversification of expertise: Having two fund managers can provide diversification in terms of investment styles, strategies, and expertise. Each manager may bring unique skills and perspectives to the table, potentially leading to better risk management and overall performance.
  2. Risk management: By spreading your retirement funds across two different fund managers, you reduce the risk of being too heavily reliant on the decisions of a single manager. If one manager underperforms or makes poor investment choices, the impact on your portfolio may be less severe.

Disadvantages:

  1. Increased complexity: Managing retirement funds with two separate fund managers can add complexity to your investment strategy. It may require more time and effort to coordinate and monitor the performance of both managers effectively.
  2. Potential for conflicting strategies: Fund managers may have different investment philosophies or objectives that could potentially lead to conflicting strategies within your portfolio. This could result in inconsistencies in your overall investment approach and hinder your ability to achieve your retirement goals.
  3. Higher costs: Employing two fund managers may lead to higher management fees and expenses, ultimately reducing the returns on your investment. This additional cost could eat into your overall retirement savings over time.

Ultimately, the decision to maintain two fund managers for retirement funds should be based on your specific financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment preferences. It’s essential to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages to determine if this approach aligns with your retirement planning objectives.

Selfhosted Docker apps for Documentation

There are things you want documented, especially when you’re dealing with detailed guidelines and you want to put them in one central repository for future reference. If you’re looking for a selfhosted solution, here are some of the great Docker apps:

  • Bookstack
  • Dokuwiki
  • Wiki.JS
  • WikiDocs – simple wiki style
  • Codex Docs – for Notion style writing
  • HedgeDoc
  • Flatnotes

VBA code to refresh an Excel table generated by a power query

Disclaimer: I’m not good at Excel VBA. That’s why I take advantage of ChatGPT to generate the code for me.

The requirements

Here are my requirements:

  1. When I hit the button, refresh the table called AgingTable in the Aging sheet
  2. The AgingTable  is connected to a Power Query called the same name: AgingTable
  3. Since the AgingTable query is a big table and runs several transformation, it may take a while for the query to finish
  4. However, before proceeding to the next script in the VBA I want it to wait for the query to complete

Continue reading VBA code to refresh an Excel table generated by a power query

I’m looking for a Syncthing alternative

I liked Syncthing because it is capable of storing encrypted files at rest while running an instance in a VPS. However, my recent experience with it has been less than optimal.

For example, in my VPS I’m always stuck at the login screen while trying to access the GUI to manage my synced folders:

Syncthing stuck in login screen

Meanwhile, in local server, it says the folder is out of sync:

Folder indicates it is Out of Sync

Although if you examine closely the files, they are indeed synced. Clicking on the Out of Sync Items further are 366 pages of nothing!

Out of Sync 366 pages of nothing

If you know of an alternative that’s more reliable than Syncthing, please do let me know in the comments below.

Generate list of all available characters in Power Query

When you generate a list like for example {1 .. 10}, you’ll get:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Or for {"A" .. "Z"} you’ll get:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What if you want to generate all the available characters in your US English keyboard?

I’m not sure if this is already an exhaustive list, but when I try {"!".. "}"} I’m getting:

! " # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . / 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 : ; < = > ? @ A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [ \ ] ^ _ ` a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z { | }

Why an IPv6 only VPS is not for me

In the world of Virtual Private Servers (VPS), there are affordable options that operate exclusively on the IPv6 protocol. This is because IPv4 addresses are becoming scarcer and more expensive. However, there are a couple of reasons why an IPv6-only VPS might not align with your preferences:

  1. IPv6 Connection Requirement for SSH Access:
    • One of the primary drawbacks of opting for an IPv6-only VPS is the necessity for an IPv6 connection to access and manage the server via SSH (Secure Shell). Unlike traditional IPv4 VPS, IPv6-only VPS requires a compatible IPv6 network infrastructure. This can be a significant hurdle for those who primarily use IPv4 connections.
  2. Docker Limitations with IPv6:
    • If you rely on Docker for your work and projects, it’s important to note that most Docker image repositories today, including Github, do not fully support IPv6 at this time. This means you may encounter challenges when trying to pull container images from repositories if you opt for an IPv6-only VPS.

In summary, while IPv6-only VPS options can be cost-effective and are in line with the trend of IPv6 adoption, they might not align with your personal preferences, especially if you prefer working with IPv4 connections and rely on Docker for your projects. It’s worth considering VPS options that support IPv4 or have dual-stack capabilities to better match your preferences and requirements

The Perfect YouTube Video Length: 10 Minutes

In the vast landscape of online content, YouTube stands as an undeniable giant. With over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, the platform offers an extensive array of videos covering everything from educational content to entertainment, vlogs to music. As creators strive to capture their audience’s attention and maximize watch time, the question of video length becomes pivotal. Is there an ideal duration that strikes the balance between engagement and viewer retention?

I would argue that Youtube videos should only be 8 to 12 minutes long,  and that the 10-minute mark might just be the sweet spot. Beyond that, I’d rather just click Next.

Continue reading The Perfect YouTube Video Length: 10 Minutes