OVER 2 YOU, 055 (08/11/01)

CROSSWORD SOLVERS

Is there a CD-ROM, of interest to Crossword Puzzle players that gives classified lists, alphabetically and numerically, covering such subjects as Authors, Artists, Animals, Capitals, and Counties etc.? There are many books, but the best ones I have are getting worn, and are difficult to find.

R. A. Bown, via email

Perhaps the best dictionary software available is the Star Crossword Dictionary. This has an extensive gazetteer as well as a vast word-list. The best thing about the software is that you can search for words when you only have a few letters to go on. All you have to do is enter a question mark for the unknown letters. I have been using this dictionary for the past 6 months and I can certainly recommend it. Some of the entries are rather US-centred but all the answers are there if you have patience. It is available for $25 from http://www.crosswordstar.com/

Derek Harrison, The Crossword Centre,

I suggest the 'Crossword Compiler' CD-Rom by Anthony Lewis. The disc includes crossword composing software along with several dictionaries and many word lists. The software can be used for crossword solving, which I expect is what R A Brown is looking for. A free demo download of the application, without any word lists, can be obtained from: http://www.netword.demon.co.uk
Roger King,

OLD RECORDS

I inherited some very old records from my Grandparents. Some are single sided, some have original price labels attached (1p and a farthing) etc. I would like to catalogue these and if possible attach a value before it is my turn to pass them on.  Can anyone suggest how best to proceed?
I. Newlove, via email

I have been collecting/researching old records for about 30 years so I feel I could assist I. Newlove. The "prices" mentioned are in fact the fees for copyright control stamps - the records would have been much more expensive. There seems no way round making a list of titles/artistes, but there would be shortcuts in this; and as to value, that's a minefield (selling or buying, auction or dealer etc.) but I could advise generally.

John Goslin,

WINDOWS BACKUP

I have some very important files backed up with what I believe was the Windows 3.1 version of Backup. The files on the floppies have names in the format Cc90217a.001 through to Cc90217a.010 and can no longer be recognised by the version of Backup now found on Windows 95 and 98. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the 3.1 Backup or, failing that, how I can decompress these archived files?

Barry Riley, via email

To restore backups made with Windows 3.1 Barry Riley needs mwbackup.exe, which can be downloaded from http://www.powerload.fsnet.co.uk/msdos.htm

David Hodson,

MUSIC TRANSPOSITION

I am an amateur singer, singing in local concerts and music festivals.  From time to time I find a piece of music which I would like to perform, but would prefer it in another key. Rather than having to go to an experienced musician and ask for it to be transposed up or down I would prefer to do this myself, but I do not have the knowledge to do this. Is there software available to enable me to produce instant key changes to any given piece, and hopefully a scale of keys from highest to lowest?                              

K.T Naughton, via email

The best way to transpose music is to use the facility in Sibelius music software. Music can be transposed into any key with a button press and printed with professional quality. By using Photoscore, a musical form of OCR, (from Neuratron software) you can scan the pages of the original. This will both scan and read the original pages; any errors of reading can be corrected, and then imported into Sibelius at the press of a button Details of both programs are on the Sibelius site (www/sibelius.com). I use them both regularly; though the technology for reading scanned music is still imperfect, and you need a really good quality music.

Ian Graham-Jones, Emsworth, Hants

Music Publisher from Braeburn Software (www.braeburn.co.uk) is useful in transposition of music. Using the optional Scanning module, it is possible to scan music into the program and then transpose it to any required key.

M. M. Bates,

I have been using Capella. Amongst other things, it will allow him to write the original score, change to any other key and play it back until he finds a key to suit him. For further info visit www.software-partners.co.uk. He will be able to download the program and try it out, but not print it (until he has paid up!).
P F Tinker, Fenny Compton

A shareware program called Musiceaze (available from www.tucows.com), lets you write music simply using word-processing techniques and it transposes and plays back the music you have input.

Peter Sweetmore,

Transposing music is easy. The only problem is that you must first get the music into your computer. Some expensive programs let you acquire the music by scanning.  The alternative is to enter it note by note. This is a rather laborious task but I do this regularly and it becomes easier and quicker with practice.

For many years I have used a program called Noteworthy. A fully operational free evaluation version can be downloaded from www.ntworthy.com and this is so very good that I am surprised we do not see it mentioned more often.  When you have entered the music you can transpose the whole, or any part of it, into any key.   You can also play it and print it - and that's just the basic functions of a very useful program.
Jim Cooper, Banbury

I use Personal Composer, which I purchased from Chappells in New Bond Street, London. I copy songs from the printed music and can then change the key with one click. I can add words and all music symbols. I have the smallest version and can use up to 8 staves, although I rarely need more than 3 (the vocal line and the piano). Personal Composer has given good and helpful backup when needed.
Michael Morrice,

Muse, which you can download from http://www.musements.co.uk/muse
is an inexpensive music notation editor.  My customers tell me that it is exceptionally easy to use.  It allows up to 8 harmony parts. It can transpose the music up or down by any amount.  In addition to printing the music it can also play it.  This allows "proof listening" (more reliable than proof reading).  Singers first make it play their own part while they learn it and then play the other harmony parts while they sing theirs.

Laurie Griffiths,

There are two pieces of software that will solve the problem.  They are 'Band in a Box' and 'Powertracks' from PG Music.  They normally come bundled together and I cannot recommend them highly enough. I am not sure whether K.T. Naughton sings with backing tracks or with live accompaniment such as a piano. These programs will be ideal either way.
Band in a Box is an auto accompaniment package which has literally hundreds of 'styles' from Frank Sinatra to Phil Collins to String Quartets.  If the music has guitar chords written in, they are entered almost like a spreadsheet. The melody can be entered by mouse clicks (or played in from a keyboard) and the program will then harmonise it in a manner of your choice. You choose the style and the PC plays the backing. Once entered, you can change the key with a drop down menu until you find the one that suits your voice.  The track can then be recorded on tape, minidisk or CD, or transferred to midi file for sequencing. .
Bob Calver,

TV VIEWERS

Can you tell me how they determine the number of viewers looking at a particular television programme, and how can they tell how many switched off when the programme changes? These figures are regularly given in the press but I cannot see how they are arrived at.

Robin Morris, via email

David White (Over 2 You 25 October) explains how TV viewing figures are estimated, in reply to another reader's query. However, I believe that these figures are fundamentally flawed, due to the fact that the people in the sample know in advance that they are in it.  This must in many cases affect their viewing habits.  In particular, it seems certain that many people will watch more TV than they would if they were not in the sample.  This explains some of the unbelievably huge figures, sometimes up to 20 million or more, claimed for certain programmes.

Alan Pavelin,

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS

I do the bookings for our Village Hall.  There are two rooms, and I have recently put the bookings diary on "Outlook".  It is not ideal, however, and I wondered if there was another program, which could separate the bookings for the two rooms, and also produce a written hire agreement for each booking.  Ideally, the booking program should also be capable of exporting data to Quicken, which our Treasurer uses to produce the invoices and to keep the Accounts.
David Jarman, via email

RBS Software Solutions provide accounting software to the Town and Parish Council Market. They are currently developing a facilities Booking Package to handle community halls, village halls etc.  It meets the specification laid out in your correspondent's enquiry and will be available in early 2002 (possibly during January). For further details contact: enquiry@microshade.demon.co.uk
Jan Wilbur,

CAN YOU HELP?

I am planning a walk from Lands End to John O'Groats with as much as possible off road i.e. on footpaths or bridle ways. Is there a CD with printable maps or website with downloadable maps in order to avoid buying dozens of Ordnance Survey maps (excellent though they are) of which only a small part will ever be used? Roadmaps such as Routeplanner are not detailed enough. I am aware that there are guides for all of the long distance paths such as Pennine Way but this still leaves a lot of ground to be covered.

Frank Ellam, via email 

Does anyone know of a site where I can find lyrics of up to date songs with the accompanying guitar chords. My limited musical ability does not extend to working them out for myself, and I have had to resort to buying sheet music books for entire albums. Where they are available these are excellent, but contain much more detail than I need.

Mark Perkins, via email

I know we are deep into the football season but is there a site I can use to download my teams football fixtures into my calendar in Outlook?
Manhar, via email

My 12 year-old daughter is very interested in cartoons and computing - can anyone recommend any software for the generation of animated clips or just for the production of cartoon characters?

Kevin Morris, via email

In my youth we passed many happy hours as a group of co-workers playing what we called Solo, a version of Whist for four where each player had 13 cards There were several archaic calls, including misere, abundance and others which I can't quite recall. Now that I have the time I would like to find a version of this game to download so that I can play in the wee small hours to help pass my insomniac time. Can anyone help?

Terry Grant, via email