OVER 2 YOU 244 (16/08/05)

GRAPH

I need to be able to manipulate graphs that are on web pages. These can usually be copied as images into a word processor, but they stay as images. Is there a program that would allow one to follow the line on the graph with the cursor and then record the X & Y values, into a table, say, by pressing Enter. The values could then be manipulated as required.

C. Cadman, via email

There are several utilities that can do this sort of thing but I suggest that your correspondent has a look at FindGraph, which in my experience is easy to use and capable of very good results. Although this is a paid-for program there’s no obligation to buy as you can download a free trial version. For more details go to: www.uniphiz.com/findgraph.htm

Melvyn Graham, via email

The program UnGraph is designed to extract X, Y data from graph or other images. In most cases it is just a case of clicking on the beginning of a line and letting the automatic line-follower do its stuff. UnGraph can even follow lines which go round 360 degrees so, for example, map contours can be converted to their data values. A free demo version can be downloaded from: www.biosoft.com

John Lamble, via email

I feel sure there must be a way to automate the process but you can use PaintShop Pro to plot the position of the lines on a graph. All you have to do is open the image of the graph and place the cursor on the line and the X and Y axis position values appear in the bottom left hand corner of the screen, which you can then note down.

Beth Markam, via email

GRAVE MATTERS

I wish to compile a searchable record of a country Churchyard, logging details of plot numbers and deceased (family name etc.) with additional data, perhaps on sub-pages, for dates, ages and other persons etc., commemorated on the stone. Can anyone recommend a program or database style, which would have the ability to store over 1200-1500 records and yet rapidly find individual records on request, as well as being simple to compile?

E. Wilkinson, via email

It seems to me that Word will do this as well as anything. Either as a narrative text or a table or a list. Word can also put a list into alphabetical or chronological order, depending on how

the writer chooses to set it out. It can also treat a narrative text as a list; all you have to do is start each paragraph with the key word/date. Word can also of course find any item. (Slightly more sophisticated, whole classes of item can be given their own colour/font, and Word can be asked to find these.)

Michael Scuffil, via email

Surely this is a job for Access the Microsoft database program. It is simple to use and more than capable of a task like this. Access is part of the Microsoft Office suite and copies can be picked up quite cheaply from ebay, providing you don’t mind a version that is a year or two out of date (but it will still work perfectly well).

Kenneth Salmond, via email

Could you pass onto E. Wilkinson an example of Grave Records (in Excel) that we use? Extra columns may be added for more information. We are able to sort by name, age and contents of each grave. We split out total records into sections to cover a number of years for ease of use. Excel has 65536 lines but the file size depends on how much RAM is available.

James Marginson, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

Can anyone recommend any web sites for buying and selling second-hand school uniforms? It's that time of the year again when I need to refit three kids and dispose of their redundant or outgrown clothes!  I've looked at ebay but it is too vague and doesn't allow searching by school.  Any ideas?

Kate Warner

I am trying to locate my best man of almost 50 years ago. I have used Yahoo's ‘people.yahoo.com’ which has provided me with 200 names appropriate to the person concerned. I wish to send a simple email to all of these, enquiring if the recipient is the chap I am seeking. How can I do this without having to prepare and despatch 200 separate emails? Does someone have a tried and tested solution? Those people who flood us with Spam must have a method.

Phillip J. Corbett, Aylesbury.