Minecraft: Education Edition – Gallipoli World

Minecraft: Education Edition – Gallipoli World

by | May 22, 2022 | Minecraft

I wanted to create a Minecraft Gallipoli world as a resource for a teaching unit, but then found that some time ago the Auckland Museum had already created one.  Trouble was the folder structure and json files all needed some changes to them to get the world and skins to work in Minecraft:Education Edition.

Here’s how to install the Gallipoli World and packs into Minecraft: Education Edition

It took me an evening to get this right – I think the original packs weren’t up-to-date for the current version of Minecraft:EE because I could not get it done for ages. Turns out the JSON files needed some editing.

Step One

Download from here – all the ZIP file containing repacked files for Minecraft Education Edition Gallipoli world

Step Two

Unzip the archived folder
Inside you’ll see 4 files
– anzac_resources.zip
– Gallipoli.mcpack
– Gallipoli_Auckland_Museum.mcworld
– readme.txt

 

Step Three

You will need to be able to see Hidden files in File Explorer to view your AppData folder.
To do that open File Explorer and on the Ribbon click the View tab then select Hidden Items

Minecraft:Education Gallipoli world and resources

 

Copy the file – anzac_resources.zip and paste it in the location –  [Your Harddrive]\Users\[yourusername]\AppData\Roaming\Minecraft Education Edition\games\com.mojang\resource_packs

Minecraft: Education Edition Gallipoli world

Step Four

Double click – Gallipoli.mcpack and the Skin Pack will be imported into Minecraft:EE
Double click – Gallipoli_Auckland_Museum.mcworld and the Gallipoli world will be imported into Minecraft:Education Edition

Now in Minecraft: EE you will be able to open the Gallipoli in Minecraft world
You can also select a skin from the Gallipoli Skin Pack

NOTE: The Skins and Resource Pack will need to be on each users device for them to access

Gallipoli World in Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft Education Edition Gallipoli Skin Pack
Sharepoint Modern – How to add a Picture Library

Sharepoint Modern – How to add a Picture Library

by | Feb 1, 2022 | Office 365, SharePoint

I wanted to create a Picture Library in SharePoint Modern but couldn’t find it as an App to add. Here’s how I solved the problem by creating a library containing images viewable as thumbnails.

Create a Picture Library displaying Thumbnails in SharePoint Modern

  1. Create a Document Library called Photos
  2. Open the new Library Settings – go to Advanced – choose Yes to Allow Management of Content Types
  3. Go back to Library Settings – under the Content types heading – click Change New button order and default content type
  4. Deselect the Document option, then Change Position from top of Picture to 1
  5. Open the Library – Use the Tiles view to see thumbnails of the images
  6. Save this new view as All Photos then set as default view

sharepoint modern picture library solved

Tip – modify the View to display more than the 30 items by default

Cairns Ironman 70.3 Bike Leg

Cairns Ironman 70.3 Bike Leg

by | May 13, 2021 | Sport

Cairns Ironman 70.3 Bike Leg from 2020

Here’s details of the Cairns Ironman 70.3 bike leg from September 2020. The course hasn’t changed for a few years now and remains the same for 2021. You can download the GPX and FIT files below and also access the Garmin Course page.

Garmin Course – https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/58745698

Download GPX – https://cdsmythe.com/downloads/Cairns703-2020ride.gpx

Download FIT – https://cdsmythe.com/downloads/Cairnsride703-2020.fit

SOLVED: Dell Latitude asks for Bitlocker key on start up when I never set it up?

SOLVED: Dell Latitude asks for Bitlocker key on start up when I never set it up?

by | Apr 27, 2021 | Office 365, Windows

So I turned on my laptop and got the classic DOS looking error message that my battery was critically low.I have seen this before so – no problemo.  Just solve by grabbing the power pack and plug it in. So I did.

BUT – after the Dell logo appeared a new screen appeared which I have never seen, asking me to enter the Bitlocker recovery key!!!

Bitlocker Recovery Key error solved

I had heard of Bitlocker, but never used it before and certainly hadn’t set it up on this laptop. On the error page (above) I followed the instructions and logged into my Microsoft account from my phone to access the Bitlocker Key.

Once I was logged in on my phone my account clearly stated – that I haven’t setup Bitlocker……

So I started researching trying to see how to resolve this. It wasn’t pretty. Most of if not all “solutions” were to simply reinstall Windows. “SIMPLY” was not what I wanted to do. 

Solution to Bitlocker Key Error message on computer startup

So I decided to be patient – the first error was the low battery, so I decided to simply shut the laptop down and leave it on charge overnight.

Next day I started up the laptop and – all good, no more Bitlocker error, simply logged in to Windows and wrote this blog post.

Hope it’s helpful for someone and hope you didn’t have to “simply” reinstall Windows. And all your apps. And download key documents.

Other Bitlocker Troubleshooting Links (for various devices)

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Favourite Apps I use on Windows

Favourite Apps I use on Windows

by | Apr 14, 2021 | apps, Windows

As a software trainer I am frequently asked what apps I use to get done what I need to. Or during a training session I will use an app and it will get someone’s attention.

Here’s a list of my preferred apps and their uses:

 

the best screen recorder screencast-o-matic

Screen Recording and Publishing – Screencast – O – Matic

Screencast-o-matic is my goto for screen recording and publishing. It’s affordable for the full features, the built in editor enables me to easily zoom, annotate, blur etc my videos, and I can easily save them to OneDrive or publish directly to my YouTube channel.  I have it installed on my iPad and iPhone as well to record training. Paid plan gives me unlimited recording length and access to royalty free images and video clips to use as well.

I pay $48 annually for the Solo Premier plan which for me is great value for money for a core tool in my role.

 

the best Windows screenshot software - ShareX

Screenshots and Editing – ShareX

ShareX is a free screenshot program with a massive amount of features. Full list on their website. My typical use would be to capture a screenshot and edit it using tools such as – blur, pixelate, highlight, outline circle/square, add arrows, labels, stickers Step numbers.  Then save to OneDrive. It has more than I need. Totally free. App sits in the Quick Launch tray for easy access.

ShareX is a free software.

 

best color picker app - Instant Eyedropper

Colour Picking Tool – Instant Eyedropper

Instant Eyedropper is a free colour detection tool that I use to identify and copy to my clipboard a colour on the screen that I click on. I use it a lot to match colours when designing and creating images, logos and websites. Super useful and sits in the Quick Launch tray, click it then mouse over a colour on your screen, one click and that colour code is in your clipboard ready to paste.

Instant Eyedropper is free software.

 

OneNote app - vis cdsmythe.com

Note Taking and Record Keeping – OneNote

OneNote is what I use to record information. I create notebooks for different areas of life and in each notebook divide it into sections which contains pages for topics. For example in my Personal notebook I have a section for Warranties and create a new page in that section each time I buy a product with a warranty. I simply take a photo of the receipt and insert it into the page.  Fully searchable, it makes finding those instructions, recipes, car details, manuals, flight itinerarys and anything recorded, easy to access.  Plus it is available on all my devices. So whether I am on my iPad, iPhone or computer I can get it all, with note changes syncing so the latest is always available.

OneNote is included in my $99 Office 365 subscription.

 

Disk management - Treesize free

Disk Space Management – TreeSize Free

TreeSize Free is a free little utility which helps me find where my disk storage space has gone. It will scan the directory you tell it (eg. C: ) and list folders with the Gigs or Megs of data stored in them. From there you can drill down into any folder to identify what is taking up space. Useful, I dont use it every day and to be honest as I write this Im wondering if there is something in Windows which does this – and if not – why not?

I use the free version Treesize Free (there is also a Pro version)

 

best windows password creator and wallet vault

Password Management – LastPass

LastPass – I pay to get the Premium account for this which enables me to have LastPass installed on an unlimited number of devices. Phones, iPads, work and personal computers.  Changes to passwords and my password vault sync across these devices so I am always up to date. I use it mostly to generate hard passwords and remembering them when I sign up to something online.

I use the $54 per annum Premium version.

best video download app 4k video downloader

Video Downloader – 4K Video Downloader

I prefer to download some videos and use them in presentations rather than linking to them, so I know they are available and will play when required! 4K Video Downloader is an app I pay for, cost me one off $15 and I can use it on two computers. I don’t use it every week, but it lets me download videos or video playlists to my computer really easily.

$15 one off registration for 2 computers.

Best remote software realvnc vnc server viewer

Remote Computer Access – RealVNC

I do some messing about with RaspberryPI devices and sometimes have to access them remotely. I also have a desktop setup at home and a PC media centre connected to my TV. Instead of accessing these computers all individually I installed VNC Server on each of them, then VNC Viewer onto the computers that I would use to access those from. It means wherever I am connected I can access those computers if needed.

I use the free versions of VNC Server and VNC Viewer to get this done.

 

How to use ublock origin

Web Browser Content Blocking plugin – uBlock Origin

I use uBlock Origin, a web browser plugin to block content I’d rather not see. This includes adverts, tracking and malware sites.  I use it in Firefox, Edge and Chrome. It’s nice and easy to turn off it a website is getting content blocked that you need to see – just turn it off for that site and refresh the page.