|
Wow, we're getting a lot of feedback these days. That's great! But it also
means that we may not be able to publish every single one we get. We will
try to do so.
Also, I just want to clarify the fact that, although we love to get feedback
and will do whatever we can to clarify any issues mentioned in our
articles,
we don't always have time to answer those folks who submit general support
questions that are not related to published articles.
If possible, we'll try to publish an article when we realize there are issues
out there in which folks need help. But we may not have time to provide an
email reply back to every specific technical issue asked when it does not
directly relate to an article in TechTrax. If you need technical support
help, be sure to read this article:
How To Get Help
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=124
Now...let's get on with some of the feedback we received this last month...
Feeback from Dian Chapman, TechTrax Editor, Chicago...
Thanks to D. H. Cesare for finding and reporting to us a broken link in a
recent article. If you find a mistake or broken link in TechTrax, please
don't hesitate to report it to us so we can fix the problem. You won't
hurt our feelings! <smile> We do our best to provide accurate articles
and appreciate the help! Hey, nobody's perfect! <wink>
Feedback...
Karen Waters from NYC writes...
Hi Dian, I love TechTrax! I don't know how you do it, but thanks to your writers
because each month I find something great to help me use my computer better.
But I was curious if the dog on the cover of this issue is one of yours?
I didn't see it on your web site. And sorry to hear you had to say goodbye
to your other dog. So sad. Keep up the great work.
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Thanks for the thanks, Karen, and the wonderful words to our writers. Yes,
we have some terrific folks here sharing their time and knowledge to
help others! Glad to hear you are finding useful info in our articles.
No, that beautiful pooch on the cover of the January
issue is not one of
my Barker
Gang. But I feel like a step mom to that dog. She,
Leia,
belongs to one of my best buds, Susan
Daffron. Susan is a retired MVP
who is also a writer and editor of several tech books and runs her own
consulting company, Logical
Expressions. Susan is also the person who designs all our TechTrax covers.
And thanks to her programmer hubby, James Byrd, we have this cool application
in which to publish TechTrax...he created
this magazine publishing software!
As for Leia...she's one of FOUR way cool dogs who belong to Susan
and James. Her own Hound Pack pose as models for many of their endeavors.
You can see/read more about these beautiful hounds at their page on MouseTrax
Pet Lovers. See: http://www.mousetrax.com/Pet_Suz.html.
(They even have their own bunk beds, which just kills me!<lol>)
Feedback...
A reader writes...
I am using XP IE version 6. You direct readers to the SEARCH PAGE and SEARCH
BAR values in the registry key. There is no SEARCH BAR value in that registry
key. I found the SEARCH PAGE and changed the address as directed buy that
does not make Google my default search engine. Your instructions are incorrect.
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Hi...
It's a rare thing that Vic publish an article that
provided instructions that were incorrect. A typo maybe, but
I know he does check all his fixes. So I just went to the article and
attempted to set it up in my IE 6 on my XP system. Worked just fine for
me.
I found the keys no problem, set the settings per the article and it
all worked just as he said it would.
Plus, Google themselves have seen fit to list
Vic's article in their own 20/20 search...listing articles related to
Google (http://www.2020search.com/9891/search/results.php?Keywords=google%20interne
t%20explorer&source=kanoodle). So I'm sure there's some issue we
can sort out.
I've passed your comments on to Vic to see if he might have some
further insight. However, at this point I would have to suggest
that you check to make sure you are under the correct key, as you may
be mistaken when following his directions.
If Vic has any further suggestions for you, I'll pass them along.
Reply...
Vic Ferri, author of
Making
Google Your Default Internet Explorer Search Engine, writes...
It works!
All I can recommend is that if he is at the right key and the
value does not exist, to create it. Right click a blank
area in the right hand pane, choose New>String value and name it Search
Bar.
Reader's Reply...
Thanks for your speedy reply. I am certain you are correct about how careful
Vic is with his articles. With the diversity of computers and software
out there I should not have accused him/you of printing false information, my
apologies. However, I have thoroughly followed the directions
that Vic recommends. I am certain I am using Windows XP (Professional v5.1)
and IE6. I am positive I am in the correct Key Directory of HKEY..USERS\........Main. I
was able to find the Search Page value and change the address. Since
the list is in alphabetical order the Search Bar value
should be located directly above it or pretty darn close,
but I can assure you it is located nowhere in the list on my computer.
I was also able to locate, without any problem, the
UPDATE section Key
which directs you to change the Use Search Assistant
value to No. I don't
know why the Search Bar value is not in my list but it
is my problem, not yours. Thanks
again.
Reader's further reply...
Dian,
Thanks for your reply. I happened upon a page at google that let's you
download a file and the file makes all the changes for you so I'm a happy camper
once again (isn't this another case of Microsoft abusing it's monopoly power
once again?). Thanks for all your help, you guys do a great job there. Here's
the link (http://www.google.com/options/defaults.html#default).
Feedback...
Kiron Mateti from Dayton, Ohio writes...
I have edited the registry to make Google my default search engine, but whenever
I restart my computer everything changes back to my original settings. How
do I make this change permanent?
Reply...
Vic Ferri, author of
Making
Google Your Default Internet Explorer Search Engine, writes...
You didn't mention which operating system and IE version you are using but
if it is XP and IE 6, then it is essential that you disable the IE Search
Assistant and - ooopsie doopsy - I made an error in the name of the value
to create in my article, to do this.
At the end of the article I state the value to create is Use Search Assistant,
which is wrong. The value to create is Use Search Asst Set it to no as
stated in the article.
Or try this (without the reg edit) Click the Search button and then choose
Change Preferences.
Then click Change Internet Search Behavior and choose "Classic Internet
Search" and "google"
If no go, try this (for whatever version of IE you are using) Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL
In the right hand pane, look for a string value named "provider" (create
it if it doesn't exist) Double click it and enter gogl as the value.
Log off and log in again to be sure the changes take effect.
Hope that helps!
vic
Feedback...
Svend Nykjær from Denmark writes...
Hi Dian, Maybe you have already written about this - if you have, I've missed
it. If you haven't, would it be an idea to advertise it a bit?
Here goes:
Whenever I begin to prepare a document where the subject requires more than
just an obvious and easy structuring, I am so glad that Word has the
Outline function: In the blank document, go View > Outline, and you have
a very effective notepad where you can structure your subject by typing,
indenting and shuffling around.
Best of all: because you will be using Heading 1, 2, 3 etc., you will
have structured your document when your brainstorming is over - all your
headings and your TOC will be almost complete (another argument why it's
best to use those default headings).
I'm very pleased with that function, and it also helps me when I just
need to get a few things straight. Wondering if there are other uses
for it? Being an MVP, do you know if there is any hope that the master
document function could be debugged to work as it was intended to (the
combination of Outline and Master document would be very strong)?
Reply
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Thanks for sharing the tip, Svend. I agree with you totally! Yes, the
Outline view is wonderful for setting up documents. I use it all the
time. Particularly when laying out Project Management issues, it's great
for helping me sort out all those beginning issues in one view! And for
those folks who want to pass their outlines to slides, a quick click will
pass a Word doc outline into PPT to create instant slides. Very handy!
As for Master Docs, well, the Microsoft MVP summit is approaching this
year (in April), so I'll be sure to pass along your comments to the Word
development team. (Although I do know that many of them ARE subscribers
to TechTrax. Yes folks...many Microsoft product managers and developers
read your comments right here in TechTrax!)
Master docs actually CAN work for you...but, yes, it still has some
issues. To be honest, I haven't mess with it much in Word 2003. Guess
it's time I give it a run for it's money! I do have to create a lot of
customized training manuals and other manual-type documents. So I
suppose I should bite the bullet and see how well Word 2003 handles these
docs. Each version has gotten better. But you do have to use caution.
Have a system that runs well and make sure you keep up with removing
any crashed TEMP files so they don't interfer with Word's operation.
Keep a backup of your Normal.dot, just in case it becomes corrupt. And
use caution scrolling around all over the place if you have a very large
document with lots of links, fields and images.
Sorting out hundreds
of complex pages can be a little trying on a poor running system.
If you're careful, it can work for you. But if you're concerned, then I'd
have to suggest you go with the RD fields, which is explained in
this article: Compiling Sub Docs (TOC and Index): www.mousetrax.com/mastdoc.html.
Feedback...
Jo Ann Kurtz from Staunton, Virginia writes...
I would like to have my radio off when I enter the internet. How can I do
that?
Reply
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
As we explained in the September 2003 issue of TechTrax, under Feedback,
you can turn off the AOL radio by following the instructions below.
**********************************
AOL radio has an auto-launch feature that launches it when you sign on.
Here's how to turn it off.
To turn Radio@AOL Auto-Launch off:
Start Radio@AOL (AOL Keyword: Radio).
Click Radio Setup, and then click the Auto-Launch Preference tab.
Click the check box next to Play Radio@AOL automatically when I sign
on to AOL to clear it.
Click Save.
**********************************
Feedback...
Bernie Robin from Destin, Fl. writes...
The Aol Radio large icon comes on screen everytime I start the computer-it
stuck on step 3 and hangs there for several minutes before I can get to the
e-mail. I just want to rid of this icon from coming on. I have try with several
techs. no luck.
Reply
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Sorry you're having problems, Bernie. If you read the instructions previous
post, above, hopefully, turning off the radio will help your problem.
If not, I can only suggest that you contact AOL to try to get some support
from them. It appears a lot of people have problems with the AOL Radio.
Feedback
Joel Brown from Greenville SC, writes...
RE: System Configuration Utility.
I would like to find an article that
gives information on removing lines from the startup tab in Windows XP versus
just unchecking a box.
Reply...
Greg
Chapman, System Engineer, writes...
That's not a bad idea. Here's a quickie place to find most of these entries
in the registry and simply delete the entries you don't like.
Warning: I highly recommend you make a backup of the entries before
deleting them. Just open Regedit and navigate to -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
At that key, you'll see most of the values that are on that startup tab.
Editor Note: This feedback was in reference to an article
we have in TechTrax regarding System Configuration Utility. For those
interested to read the original information, see this link: http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=106
Feedback..
Betty Chatt from Hyden Ky writes...
I signed up for screen saver a long while ago, now i want to unscribe
and i can't delete it. It says i need a screen saver code, where can
i find the code?
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Wow...that's a tricky one, Betty. We'd need a lot more information about
the program. Yes, there are some tricky programs out there these days. They
offer you great stuff and then suck you in and you have to go through a lot
to shake loose!
If you can provide some further information about the program, the name
of it or the company that makes it, the type of "subscription" it
is and/or the web site where you found it...MAYBE we can help you.
Editor's Note: We haven't yet heard back from Betty,
but do know, folks, that it's important to read the fine print. And
if you do sign up for something, I'd suggest you keep a file or email
folder with codes, so you can keep the information handy to unwrap
yourself from their grip when ready. If you use Outlook, take advantage
of the Notes feature to leave yourself electronic post-its with
information such as how to unsubscribe or uninstall things to which
you have subscribed.
Feedback...
A reader writes...
Every now and then i would like to print out an article from your Ezine. (so
i can mull it over on the 45 minute bus ride to and from work!!). Some of the
articles will not print all the text, deleting the right margin on an A4 sheet,
(despite having reduced the margin of 2 mm left and right). Are the articles
available in word to download? NB. My subscription just gives me an Email notification
of new issues, I did not want the text only word version.
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
Yes, sometimes it can be difficult printing TechTrax articles. I haven't
yet had time to figure out the magic process to get them all correct,
yet. A tip is to use Print Preview to see if it will print properly.
Due to some wide images, some articles do not properly resize in a browser,
so it causes them to print over the page limits and lost text.
However,
I do know that you can just open an article and hit Ctrl
+ A to select
all the text. Then copy/paste the article into a Word doc. It will
drop in wrapped in a table.
But you can select the table and choose Table > Convert
table to text to remove it and better align the text on the page.
Then just print the Word doc. In fact, this is how I do it every
month when I copy all the articles from the web into the Word doc
version that we email out to hundreds of subscribers wanting that
version.
In fact, I've recorded a quick macro that does the job for me each month.
I copy the article from the online site, Alt + Tab over to the Word doc and hit my macro. Here are the keystrokes you can use
if you'd like to create a macro like I use:
First, open TechTrax in your browser and move to the article you want and
be sure to also have a blank Word document open in Word. Copy the article
you want by:
* Selecting all the article text. To do this quickly I double click on the
first word of the title...use the side scrollbar to drag the view to
the end of the article, hold down the Shift key and click at the end
of the article...thereby selecting all the text in the article.
* I hit Ctrl + C to copy that to the clipboard.
* I hit Alt + Tab to switch over to Word
Then, the first time, I recorded the keystrokes below. Now...I simply need
to hit my macro hot keys to have the macro do all the work for me.
* (after copying the article and moving to Word, turn on the recorder the
first time and...) Hit Ctrl + V to paste the clipboard article text into
the blank Word doc. The article will paste in within a table layout,
which can still flow over the page. To fix this, continue recording the
conversion moves below.
* hit Shift+F5 to return the cursor to the original location at the top
of the article...where it was first pasted into the doc
* hit the down arrow one time to move it into the table area
* hit Alt + A, C, T to select the table
* hit Alt + A, V, B to convert the table to text, making sure you UNCHECK
the nested table conversion option, so you don't trash any table layouts
within the article
* jump back to the end of the article, using Shift + F5 again, to
jump to the previous location (the end...where you were before you jumped
to the top
* hit enter to leave a space
* stop the recorder
Now you have a macro that will do the job for you. If you want to copy over
another article, you can go copy another and run your macro to fit it
to the document.
There is a Word doc version available, but many folks have also asked
for a photo version. Not sure if I'll take the space to post that
version on MouseTrax, but I will start posting the no image doc version
each month so those who miss it can grab it from the site. I had it setup
this way when we started, but the downloads weren't many, so I removed
them to save space. However, it seems like the demand is there now...so
I'll see when I have time to do this and will post an update in an issue
of TechTrax.
As for now, you can go to the TechTrax subscription page at www.mousetrax.com/techtrax
and view/change your subscription as needed.
Feedback...
Dale Kaczmarek from Oak Lawn, Illinois, writes...
Ghost Research Society, http://www.ghostresearch.org contains pictures, case
histories and much more.
Reply...
Stacy
Chesney, author of
WWW
= Wicked, Wicked, Web! writes...
Thanks for the cool, additional Ghost information!
Feedback...
karthika joji from trivandrum/kerala/india writes...
Comments: about predefined dialog boxes,creating message dialog box-input
dialog box-custom dialog box-desigining dialog box.
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, TechTrax Editor, writes...
I'll assume this is a request to include more articles about dialog box
creation issues? We'll do what we can to provide more dialog box articles
in the future. Know that we do have some. Here's one in particular from
our first issue:
Creating
Custom Dialog Boxes. Oh, and another, slightly more advanced, about
dynamic dialogs:
Dynamic
UserForms.
Feedback...
Dan writes...
Everytime I open MS Word 2000, I get "Compile error in hidden file: NewMacros".
I do not know any programming and have tried to somewhat follow the article
on the first page here. I tried to just make a new "NewMacros" and
save it to the normal.dot but that didn't get rid off the error. Any Suggestions
would be GREATLY appreciated.
Reply...
Dian
Chapman, author of Add-ins...One
of Word's Most Common Problems writes...
Hey Dan...
Well, this is an easy one cos' I just wrote an article on this problem in
the January issue. Here's the direct URL...read it and it'll explain the
problem and offer suggestions to fix it.
Add-ins...One of Word's Most Common Problems
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=282
Reader's reply...
Purfect!!! Thanks!
Dan
Feedback
Linda K from Murwillumbah/NSW/Australia, writes...
Thanks for the code which controls printers using VBA. I've been looking for
help with code for this purpose for least 12 months.
Thanks again
Reply
Jonathan
West, author of series Controlling
the Printer from Word VBA writes...
Thanks for writing in. It's great to hear when people find
the articles helpful!
- Jonathan
Feedback
A reader writes...
Comments: Hello,
1) I am trying to link to multiple charts within a worksheet. I have used
the instructions below to create a single link, and have tried to link to
different charts within the same worksheet with the instructions that were
posted to the microsoft.public.excel.charting newgroup which is posted below.
But for some reason I still cannot find a way to link Cell A1 to chart1 and
Cell A2 to chart2
Would it be possible to provide more details?
Also,
2) Would this technique allow one to link to charts in a different directory?
Thank you for your help,
Reply...
Jon
Peltier, author of
Dynamic
Charting By Dates writes...
Hi -
Dian forwarded your email to see if I could help.
You are on the right track by enlarging the range in my original code
to check more cells. In addition to coding the cell addresses ("B2:B5"),
you can name a range ("ChartLinks") and use this name in the
code. To name a range, select the range, type the name in the Name Box
(above the top left visible cell, this usually shows the address of the
active cell or the name of the selected object), and press Enter.
My code as originally written only works for charts in the same workbook
as the sheet with the event procedure, since it only processes the name
of the chart sheet. To look for a chart in another workbook, you need to
include the workbook name in square brackets, and teach the code to recognize
the workbook name.
[MyBook.xls]MyChart
[SomeOtherBook.xls]MyOtherChart
This only works for open workbooks. If the workbook might be closed, you
need to include the path, and make your code even smarter.
[C:\Documents and Settings\Jon Peltier\My Documents\MyBook.xls]MyChart
I've expanded the code to look beyond the active workbook for the charts,
as long as you tell it what workbook to look in, and where that might be
on the hard disk (or network, if you're so inclined). Put this code into
the module behind the worksheet with the list of chart links.
If you want to have several sheets with chart links, put the functions
into a regular code module instead.
Note: if a workbook with the same name as the link but in a different
path is open, the code will not look further than the open workbook, and
it will either not find the chart and tell you such, or it will find the
wrong chart in the wrong workbook. This could be coded for as well, but
not in a ten minute email response.
Here's the code:
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim myPath As String
Dim myBook As String
Dim myChart As String
If Not Intersect(Target, Range("ChartLinks")) Is Nothing Then
On Error Resume Next
myPath = GetPath(Target.Value)
myBook = GetBook(Target.Value)
myChart = GetSheet(Target.Value)
If Len(myBook) Then
If Not IsOpen(myBook) Then
Workbooks.Open myPath & "\" & myBook
End If
Workbooks(myBook) _
.Charts(myChart).Activate
Else
Charts(myChart).Activate
End If
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
MsgBox "No such chart exists.", vbCritical, _
"Chart Not Found"
End If
On Error GoTo 0
End If
End Sub
Function GetPath(sLink As String) As String
If InStr(sLink, "\") Then
GetPath = Mid(sLink, 2, InStrRev(sLink, "\") - 2)
End If
End Function
Function GetBook(sLink As String) As String
If InStr(sLink, "]") Then
If InStr(sLink, "\") Then
sLink = Mid(sLink, 2, InStr(sLink, "]") - 2)
GetBook = Mid(sLink, InStrRev(sLink, "\") + 1)
Else
GetBook = Mid(sLink, 2, InStr(sLink, "]") - 2)
End If
Else
GetBook = ""
End If
End Function
Function GetSheet(sLink As String) As String
If InStr(sLink, "]") Then
GetSheet = Mid(sLink, InStr(sLink, "]") + 1)
Else
GetSheet = sLink
End If
End Function
Function IsOpen(sBook As String) As Boolean
' Don Guillett
Dim wb As Workbook
For Each wb In Application.Workbooks
If UCase(wb.Name) = UCase(sBook) Then
IsOpen = True
Exit Function
End If
Next wb
IsOpen = False
End Function
- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/Excel/Charts/
Reader's further reply...
Thank you Jon for your help.
I was able to do what I wanted.
|
