This blog has been temporarily mothballed while PinkAxolotl is under development.

In the meantime, anyone requiring software development services from mid-April 2008 onward can contact me directly using the email link provided on this page, or Skype me (paul.coddington) to discuss options.

   Comments [1]  

You may receive the following error message when you try to import an image from your scanner into your graphics application:

"This application has failed to start because rmslantc.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."

or

"Unable to open TWAIN source."

This problem occurs when the system path environment variable exceeds the maximum character length expected by the CanoScan driver.

The system path is a list of folders, separated by semicolons, that identifies which folders the system should search when looking for executable files.  Although 2048 characters are permitted, the CanoScan driver fails when the system path is between 700 and 800 characters.

Many applications append their installation folders to the system path, and it is not uncommon to see system paths exceeding 1000 characters in length.

A quick workaround is to prefix the CanoScan TWAIN folder to the system path.  If this does not resolve the problem, it may be necessary to determine experimentally which path components can be safely removed.

For application developers, the system path length can be significantly reduced by removing all references to command line compilers, libraries and utilities.  A task-specific command prompt shortcut can be added to the Start Menu, extending the system path as required using a batch file to modify the command prompt environment.

Links

CanoScan 9550F Color Image Scanner
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article KB832978

   Comments [1]  Photography

Meyer-Rochow, V.B.; Coddington, P.E. 2003. "Eyes and vision in the torrentfish Cheimarrichthys fosteri." In: Fish Adaptations (Val, A.L.; Kapoor, B.G. eds.), Chapter 15, pp. 337-381, Science Publishers: Enfield (USA) and Plymouth (UK).

ISBN 1-57808-249-8

"When water characteristics change, fish have to adjust physiologically to these alterations in their habitat in order to survive as a biological identity. Physiological adaptation is a dynamic and never-ending process that has resulted in myriad fish groups adapting to the vast environmental diversity existing on the Earth. Moreover, adaptively modified organisms acquire greater ability to exploit the full range of natural environment, by adopting new modes of life in many situations. This book is a 'voyage' through Fish Adaptations, including new and not readily available information."

Abstract

Over the last 50 years, much work has been done on the visual ecology, physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, histology and behaviour of fishes. All of these aspects have been studied in detail for a great number of species.

Although it is known that most fish are dependent on vision in many aspects of their lives, very little work of this nature has been done on fishes from New Zealand waters. That which has been done is concerned only with marine species. No information on the visual physiology of any of our native freshwater fishes has been available to date.

This study is intended to bridge the gap, providing information which is complimentary to existing ecological data and acting as a basic foundation on which related, more specialized, projects may build. To this end, the interrelated disciplines of histology, electrophysiology and biochemistry are used to provide as broad a view as possible.

The current state of knowledge concerning torrentfish habitat, life-cycle and feeding habits is reviewed, taking into account the prevailing photic conditions of the waters in which torrentfish are found. Selected aspects of torrentfish biology are discussed in terms of visual function, highlighting those areas where a physiological investigation is essential to a proper understanding of this species. Some informal observations on torrentfish behaviour are included for consideration.

Links

NIWA Atlas of New Zealand Freshwater Fishes

   Comments [2]  Biology | Publications