OVER 2 YOU 226 (12/04/05)

NUMBERED TICKETS

I produce tickets using Microsoft Publisher 2002 for events and outings organised by my local Women’s Institute.  I create them in File > Page Setup > Custom and print 6 or 8 to the page. However, it is often necessary for the tickets to be numbered.  Is it possible to number tickets in Publisher, or can anyone suggest a better method?

Chris Moore, Colchester

There are at least two add-on templates that I am aware of for Microsoft Publisher for producing numbered tickets. The ‘Three-per Page’ and ‘Ten per Page’ templates have flexible numbering arrangements and are very easy to use. Instructions are included in the Zip files, which are free and can be found alongside many other useful templates at: http://desktoppublishing.com/templ_mspub.html

Christine Hayes, via email

If your correspondent can’t find a tool for Publisher then there is no shortage of stand-alone shareware and freeware utilities for producing numbered tickets. You will find a good assortment of likely candidates at the following web site: www.sharewareconnection.com/titles/tickets.htm

 I haven’t tried them but from the write-ups I suspect that several of them will easily fit the bill.

Trevor Archer, via email

The following works for me in Office 2000, so I presume it will work in the 2002 version. Open a new Excel workbook. In cell A1 of Sheet1 type a name for the list.  In A2 and A3 enter the first and second numbers of your series). Highlight these two cells, point to the dot at the bottom right of the selection so that the cell pointer changes to a cross, and drag down to produce a list of the required numbers.

Save the workbook and then close it. In Publisher, open your ticket file. Open a text frame where the number is to go. Choose Mail Merge / Open Data Source. Click on "Merge information from another type of file". Change "Files of Type" to Microsoft Excel. Navigate to the data file produced earlier, highlight it and click on Open. Reply Yes to the first-row query. In the next window, enter "Sheet1" and click on OK. In the next window, the field name is highlighted. Click on "Insert", then "Close". Right-click on the field name, and format as required. Click on File/Print Merge. Click OK to print...

Alan Wilmshurst, Crowborough, East Sussex

GOLF SCORES

I am using a Microsoft Works spreadsheet to record the scores in a new Stableford (points) competition at my Golf Club. It involves adding the points scored by each competitor for each month, January - December. The winner is decided by the BEST 8 monthly scores out of a possible 12.  At present, my 'Total' column (O) has the formula of ‘SUM’ any of the previous 12 monthly columns (C -N).  When September arrives I will need a formula for Column ‘O’, which counts the values and for more than 8 simply sums the best 8, discarding any surplus lowest values.  My knowledge of formula construction (ordering, separators, etc) has proved insufficient. Can anyone suggest how can it be done?

Lyndon Dunley, via email

I had a similar problem, needing to summarize the 5 best scores over the year in a monthly bridge competition. The BEST score in the array C9:N9 is LARGE(C9:N9,1), the second BEST LARGE(C9:N9,2) and so on to LARGE(C9:N9,5). In Mr Dunley's case, all he has to do is to enter this formula 8 times for his array of Stableford scores and add them up for a total or an average.

Roger Morton, via email

TALKING BLOOD SUGAR MONITOR

I have a friend who is an insulin dependant diabetic and is also blind. Until recently she had a meter for testing her blood sugar, which gave a spoken (audio) result. This meter is now broken; she has been unable to find a suitable replacement and has to rely on friends and neighbours reading her meter. I wonder if any readers have a solution?

Clive Hardy, Wimborne, Dorset

A new talking blood glucose meter will be coming on to the British market shortly. CDx Ltd, Medical Supplies in Sunderland (tel. 0191-564 2036) has been able to source a meter made in Hungary, and should be available shortly. The unit has now been licensed for use in the UK. The test strips have been accepted onto the Drug Tariff and approved by the in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) industry and is currently part way through the process of getting the strips approved for provision through the NHS on prescription. This process probably will take about 6 more weeks.

Adrian Rowe, via email

Have a word with mynacorp@aol.com for information on their 'speaking blood sugar monitors. I contacted them a while ago for a blind neighbour and also dealt with Nurse, Ann Eel at Anneel@diabetes.org.uk who is very involved with this topic.

Roy Wiggins, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

I am a keen collector of silver sugar tongs (‘nips’ or ‘bows’ as they are sometimes called). Ninety percent of my 120 strong collection are English Hallmarked, and normally identifiable. However, I have some from European countries plus the USA, Russia and Argentina etc., and I am looking for a source of information to identify and explain foreign markings. I have not been able to find any books on foreign silver, although UK marks are well documented. Can anyone suggest a web site?

David Bennett, Allestree

With the Cricket Season almost upon us, I wonder if any of your readers can suggest any freeware/shareware software that would make my life as Treasurer of my local Club easier - such as a very simple accounts package/spreadsheet template to help keep track of

receipts and payments as well as helping to manage the bar (and stock) more effectively.

Rob Prill