Recent Posts

376

General Software Discussion / Re: Open dos window from here

« Last post by AndyM on August 13, 2009, 07:10 PM »

Try hitting Alt-Enter to restore the window from full-screen.  Then right click the icon on the left side of the title bar and select "Properties".  On the Options tab Display Options (Window vs Full Screen) is at the upper right.

When you exit, you are asked if you want to apply the changes to just the current window or all future command windows ...

377

General Software Discussion / Re: Help! Outlook Express problem.

« Last post by AndyM on July 21, 2009, 01:43 PM »

There have been problems reported with Outlook Express after updating to IE8, although your problem isn't one I've read about.

Does the onset of your problem coincide with updating to IE8?

378

General Software Discussion / Re: ms word question - how to align already type decimal numbers

« Last post by AndyM on July 03, 2009, 11:07 PM »

in MS Word, in order to align decimal numbers according to their decimal point, we need to first set a decimal tab stop and then go to that point via TAB key and start typing, and the alignment will be on the fly as we write

however I need to do that type of alignment in an already typed list of decimal numbers

how can I do that?

-kalos (July 01, 2009, 04:01 AM)

I assume you are looking for a quick way to do this to a long list of numbers (if it was short, you could have inserted the decimal tabs manually)

Is each number in the list in a separate line followed by a paragraph mark, with no punctuation
other than the decimal point and possibly commas?

Are there any tabs at present?

Are there any tab stops set at present?

If it's just the list of numbers, each followed by a paragraph or end-line mark, you can do a search and replace, searching for the paragraph or end-line mark and replacing it with a paragraph/end-line mark followed by  a tab.  This will put a tab before each number (except the first).  Then select the whole list and put a decimal tab stop where you want it right/left-wise (I like using the tab bar at the top for this sort of thing, but you can also use the tab dialog).

This list should snap to your tab stop, with all the decimal points directly underneath.

379

General Software Discussion / Re: Text Form Fields in MS Office

« Last post by AndyM on July 02, 2009, 09:05 PM »

but is there a menu command about this function? (even if it's not by default visible and must be added)

-kalos (July 02, 2009, 12:59 PM)

which of the commands specifically? regardless, you will be able to find them by following yksyks' instructions.

Also, when you are in the "customize" mode (after selecting Customize in yksyks' list), you can drag a button from a toolbar onto a menu or different toolbar , or a menu selection to a tool bar or other menu location.  Hold down the Control key when you do this if you want to copy the command instead of move it.

So if you want any of the commands that are on the forms toolbar to be someplace else, you can just move/copy them in "customize" mode.

380

General Software Discussion / Re: Text Form Fields in MS Office

« Last post by AndyM on July 02, 2009, 11:29 AM »

Some commands are in menus, some in context (right click) menus, some in toolbars, many in a combination, some in none (but can be added). 

It's easy to change menu entries and toolbar buttons in Word 2003, so if you want a menu to include commands that are by default in a toolbar button, that is easy (check Help).

381

General Software Discussion / Re: software to learn MS Office

« Last post by AndyM on June 25, 2009, 12:48 PM »

google "Excel tutorials" or "Word tutorials"

382

General Software Discussion / Re: easy saving text

« Last post by AndyM on June 24, 2009, 08:27 AM »

Here's a simple AutoHotkey script that has 3 textfiles (ListA, ListB, ListC).  Marked text will be appended with a hotkey (Alt-Shift-a for ListA, Alt-Shift-s for ListB, Alt-Shift-d for ListC)

You must manually create the folder in which the 3 list files reside (in my case D:\X\MISC\Lists)

You select whatever text you like and hit the appropriate hotkey to append to one of the text files.

This is crude, no error handling, use at your own risk.

[Select]

#SingleInstance,Force

;Three hotkeys (Alt-Shift-a,s,d), each appends
;to a different list (ListA,B,C)
;Alter hotkeys and filenames to suit
;Path to (folder) to filename must exist,
;but if filename doesn't exist, it will be created


;Alt-Shift-a appends marked test to ListA
+!a::
Send, ^c
FileAppend, %clipboard%`r`n, D:\X\MISC\Lists\ListA
return

;Alt-Shift-s appends marked test to ListB
+!s::
Send, ^c
FileAppend, %clipboard%`r`n, D:\X\MISC\Lists\ListB
return

;Alt-Shift-d appends marked test to ListC
+!d::
Send, ^c
FileAppend, %clipboard%`r`n, D:\X\MISC\Lists\ListC
return

383

General Software Discussion / Re: easy saving text

« Last post by AndyM on June 23, 2009, 08:20 PM »

You could do this with AutoHotkey (append a linefeed and the selected text to a textfile)

384

Coding Snacks / Re: easy to locate current working folder(s)... and file(s) i suppose

« Last post by AndyM on June 18, 2009, 11:27 AM »

when i use the open/save dialog box from inside an application, there will be an automatic or very quick way of navigating to the 'project' folder i'm currently working with.

-nudone (August 01, 2007, 06:53 AM)

I just stumbled across this thread so I offer this in partial response to the op in case any might find it useful.

Here's VBA code (assign to a button, menu, and/or hotkey) to open an explorer window to the location of the current file in Word and Excel.

for Word:

[Select]

Sub OpenCurrentFolder()
On Error Resume Next
Dim CurFold As String
Dim CurFile As String

CurFold = Application.ActiveWindow.Document.Path
CurFile = Application.ActiveDocument.Name

Call Shell("c:\windows\explorer.exe /e, " & CurFold & ",/select," & CurFold & "\" & CurFile, vbNormalFocus)

End Sub

For Excel:

[Select]

Sub OpenCurrentFolder()
On Error Resume Next
Dim CurFold As String
Dim CurFile As String

CurFold = Application.ActiveWorkbook.Path
CurFile = Application.ActiveWorkbook.Name

Call Shell("c:\windows\explorer.exe /e, " & CurFold & ",/select," & CurFold & "\" & CurFile, vbNormalFocus)


End Sub

I do a lot of work in Word and Excel and often have files opened from other than an open Explorer window.  It's handy to open the current folder with a click on a toolbar button.

385

General Software Discussion / Re: PDF viewers which don't lock the file

« Last post by AndyM on June 17, 2009, 12:24 PM »

Because I want to edit the paper I am working on, recompile it, and check the results without having to close the reader and reopen it every time.

-alexey_r (June 17, 2009, 11:19 AM)

Why can't you just close and re-open the file without exiting the reader?

386

General Software Discussion / Re: What is your prefered source of registry tweaks?

« Last post by AndyM on June 13, 2009, 01:51 PM »

the allure is with editing the registry on modern Windows systems.

-Innuendo (June 13, 2009, 09:55 AM)

modifying right-click (context) menus

387

General Software Discussion / Re: which simple tool to use to add watermarks to own images

« Last post by AndyM on June 13, 2009, 08:46 AM »

Fineprint will add a watermark to any print job (plus does a lot of other stuff).  Not free but worth the money.

388

General Software Discussion / Re: Best macro program to click a toolbar button, and...

« Last post by AndyM on June 12, 2009, 08:00 AM »

Macro Express (shareware) will click buttons.  I use both AutoHotkey and Macro Express.  Generally for this sort of thing Macro Express is faster and easier.

389

General Software Discussion / Re: MP3 Info Extension?

« Last post by AndyM on June 11, 2009, 10:12 AM »

you could have a window full of MP3s open and could tell at a glance which ones were the low bit-rate ones that needed replacing with better versions.

-Innuendo (June 11, 2009, 09:20 AM)

Explorer may not change the icon, but you could sort (in Details view) by bitrate.  You could tell at a glance which were high and which were low.  If you "Show in Groups" it will be even more obvious.

390

Living Room / Re: Good TV series. What do you watch? I used to watch Lost to unwind need successor

« Last post by AndyM on June 06, 2009, 10:50 AM »

I used to watch Lost to unwind, need successor.

-urlwolf (June 05, 2009, 12:27 PM)

Nothing wrong with what's been mentioned (except for Wraith808 who was so right but completely wrong - it's Buffy, then Angel, then Firefly )

But you've all missed the obvious one...

Alias!

391

General Software Discussion / Re: office word 2003 question

« Last post by AndyM on May 30, 2009, 10:25 PM »

You could use Insert menu/Symbol
The symbol palette that appears has a button that will let you assign a shortcut key to 'type' whatever symbol is selected in the palette.

You could use that until someone more proficient that I gives you a better answer (I don't use Word if I can help it).

-cranioscopical (May 30, 2009, 10:16 PM)

No better way.  Either use the Insert Symbol dialog or assign a hotkey.

Kalos - if you don't like an autocorrection when it happens, a Ctrl-z will undo only the autocorrection.  It takes 2 Ctrl-z's to completely undo a corrected entry - one for the autocorrection, the second to undo the original entry. 

392

What's the Best? / Re: Word document compare?

« Last post by AndyM on May 20, 2009, 11:39 AM »

Word includes tools to compare documents. 
Tools > Compare & Merge Documents..., at least in Word 2002

393

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: re-usable floating (transparent) window notifications

« Last post by AndyM on May 12, 2009, 10:22 PM »

I have a file named msgbox.exe that does some of what you want, but when I googled "msgbox.exe" I saw others that did more.

394

General Software Discussion / Re: What is better than Excel for costing a project?

« Last post by AndyM on May 11, 2009, 08:48 AM »

Switch to the Formula tab on the ribbon

Ah "ribbon", which means you are using Excel 2007.  I'm not yet (some day) but it doesn't sound like the range naming procedures have been improved.  Too bad.

395

General Software Discussion / Re: paste the last typed characters with a hotkey?

« Last post by AndyM on May 10, 2009, 07:15 PM »

how many recent typed characters do you want to paste?

396

General Software Discussion / Re: What is better than Excel for costing a project?

« Last post by AndyM on May 10, 2009, 11:45 AM »

- It is clear which component(s) should be made by each company.

Is this is really one analysis done four times (once for each item) or are there potential savings by using one manufacturer for more than one item?

- What the unit cost will be.
- What the total project cost will be.

As you said, this depends on variables, particularly volume.  Are you trying to find the least expensive total outlay, placing no more than the smallest minimum orders?  Or are you willing to spend a little more to minimize your unit cost ordering larger quantities when there is a volume discount? 

Excel is the tool I would use for this sort of analysis, but the utility of Excel does depend on how much time and experience one has with the tool.

Yours is the sort of project that could provide for a good learning experience if you have the time and inclination.

397

Living Room / Re: Enigma

« Last post by AndyM on May 07, 2009, 01:11 AM »

Not sure if I understand the problem/task.

Are you trying to create more tables based on the pattern established in the first n tables?

398

General Software Discussion / Re: autofill in EXCEL

« Last post by AndyM on May 02, 2009, 09:38 PM »

You need to have a table someplace in a worksheet that has all the info you will later want to reference.

You then reference that table in your lookup formula.

If you want "Jack", "42", and "981571" to appear when you type "Smith", then "Jack", "42", and "981571" all has to be in a table someplace to refer to.

If the info in Excel's help files isn't clear, a google search will list a multitude of primers, examples, and explanations on vlookup, hlookup, index, match, etc. (all methods of locating data in a table).

399

Coding Snacks / Re: mp3 Player

« Last post by AndyM on April 21, 2009, 11:24 AM »

from the second thread posted by brotherS:

http://mpesch3.de1.cc/1by1.html

I've been using 1x1 to play .mp3s since reading about it in that thread last month, excellent!

400

Living Room / Re: I'm bored, what to do?

« Last post by AndyM on April 19, 2009, 08:38 PM »

http://vimeo.com/moo...amp;amp;fullscreen=1

http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=JHlOvhlKPvs

http://www.youtube.c.../watch?v=e1PE0AWljn0