Using symbolic link for Dropbox to sync files/folders in any location of the computer

As I mentioned before, Dropbox is a fantastic service to sync, backup, share and publish our files over the Internet. It provides free Cloud storage between 2GB-10GB and many prefer Dropbox than Windows Live Mesh 2011 for more flexibility and interoperability.

However, the files/folders must reside in the local Dropbox folder in order for them to be able to sync, backup, share and/or publish with Dropbox service.

Anyhow, it is easy to sync the folders outside Dropbox folder, with the use of symbolic link (a.k.a. symlink or softlink).

Note: Symbolic link is not available in Windows 2003, Windows XP or earlier, but you can use Junction to serve the same purpose. You can download the Junction.exe utility made available by SysInternals here.

Example: To let Dropbox to sync the folder C:\Users\Public\Documents in Windows.

Step 1: Run Command Prompt with Administrator rights. The Administrator rights is required to make symbolic link in Windows Vista or Windows 7.

To do this, click on Start logo, expand All programs > Accesories and right click on Command Prompt. Then select "Run as administrator".

Step 2: Move the entire folder into your Dropbox folder.

C:> move C:\Users\Public\Documents C:\Users\Myself\Dropbox

Step 3: Create a directory symbolic link (or junction for Win XP/2000/2003) at the original location to link to the folder which moved into Dropbox folder.

For Win Vista or Win 7 or above:

C:> mklink /d C:\Users\Public\Documents C:\Users\Myself\Dropbox\Documents


Note: The "/d" option is for making directory/folder link. Otherwise, the command will create a file link.

For Win XP or Win 2003 or below:

C:> junction C:\Users\Public\Documents C:\Users\Myself\Dropbox\Documents

You are done. Now, the Documents is synchronized in your Dropbox account, at the same time, you can still access it from its original location as normal.
 
Example: To let Dropbox to sync the folder /home/Myself/Documents in Linux/Unix.
 
Step 1: Open the Terminal window if you are in X-Window. For Ubuntu, it is in Applications > Accesories > Terminal.
 
Step 2: Move the entire folder into your Dropbox folder.


$ mv /home/Myself/Documents /home/Dropbox/Documents
 
If you don't have write permission in /home/Dropbox directory, you might want to use chmod to set the permission correctly, or use sudo to perform the move with root permission.
 
$ sudo mv /home/Myself/Documents /home/Dropbox/Documents


Step 3: Create a directory symbolic link at the original location to link to the folder which moved into Dropbox folder. Note that for Linux/Unix, the position of the source and target in the link command argument is the other way round.
 
$ ln -s /home/Dropbox/Documents /home/Myself/Documents
 
Note: The "-s" option is for softlink creation. Otherwise, the command will create a hardlink.
 
You are done.

Auspicious dates for signing contract, register for marriage, etc. in 2011

Here is the list of auspicious dates in year 2011 for signing contract, signing offer letter, register for marriage, receiving religious baptism, and other similar agreement-related activities. It is produced based on the Chinese almanac Tong Shu.

Note that 14 February 2011 which is the Saint Valentine's day, is also one of the auspicious dates in the list. Hence it is auspicious to register for marriage on that day, except for couple which either one of them was born in the year of Horse. 25 December 2011 which is the Christmas day is also in the list.

Other interesting auspicious datea are 11 January 2011, which can be written as 11-1-11, and 1 November 2011, which can be writeen as 1-11-11.

Bear in mind that although the Tong Shu is a compilation of Chinese astrology and calendaring studies gathering wisdom of thousands of years, we should use it wisely and rationally, but not be too superstitious on it.

Related articles:

• Auspicious dates for wedding/marriage in 2011
• Inauspicious dates to avoid for wedding/marriage in 2011
• Auspicious dates for wedding/marriage in 2012
• Inauspicious dates to avoid for wedding/marriage in 2012
• Auspicious dates for moving to new house/office in 2011
• Auspicious dates for baby first haircut (Mundan) in 2011
• Auspicious dates for house warming, open house, party, gathering, etc. in 2011
• Auspicious dates for marriage proposal or engagement in 2011 
• Auspicious dates for opening business in 2011
• Auspicious dates for starting new job/post/assignment in 2011 
• Auspicious dates in 2011 for getting a baby
• Auspicious dates for renovation in 2011

Facebook going to shutdown on 15 March 2011? True or not?

I believe by now you might have gotten the shocking message saying that Mark Zuckerberg announced in a so-called "press conference outside his Palo Alto office" announcing the shutdown of his popular social network website Facebook on 15 March 2011 as "managing the site has become too stressful".

Are you concerned?

Well, I believe the possibility for this to really happen is only 0.5%, and 99.5% chance for it to be a hoax.

Why I say so?

• If it is really announced in a press conference, this news is not likely to be only reported by a single not-so-famous website (originator). Perhaps that website intended to gain publicity by starting this kind of rumours.
• Although Facebook is not public listed, it has quite a number of investors and shareholders, and Mark Zuckerberg only holds about a quarter of the total shares. As such, Mark Zuckerberg cannot simply end the business of Facebook for whatever reason, without nods from the other shareholders and investors.
• There is no such official announcement in Facebook website at all.

Anyhow, think about it, if Facebook is really to be gone, how are you going to be affected then? If you really can't live without it, this is really an alarming sign. Beware...