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OVER 2 YOU, 134 (10/06/03)
SAFARI DINNERS
I organize an
annual Safari Dinner, 48 people attend and are divided in six groups of eight
(4 couples) for each course. We have three courses, and for each course
each couple must sit with a different set of couples. I've tried to find
a formula or method on both Access and Excel, without success. Can anyone
help, please?
Trevor
Waddington, via email
There is a MS Access
database called Diners at www.dbtogo.co.uk
that has up to 12 people seated at up to 9 tables. Diners can be seated
automatically and easily rearranged. It can be downloaded and tested for free.
David Hodge
Using Excel, with the
couples numbered 1 to 24, in row 1, cells A B C D put couples 1, 2, 3, 4
this is the first table. Repeat with couples 5, 6, 7, and 8 in row 2
and so on until you have a 6 by 4 arrangement for the first course. For the second
course: insert an empty cell in B1 moving all couples down one place. Cut and
paste couple 22 from B7 to the empty B1. Use the same process to move the
couples in column C down 2 places and column D down 3 places. This gives
the arrangement for second course. For the third course, repeat the process
using the 2nd course arrangement as the starting point but move column D down
FOUR places (rather than three) to ensure no repeat pairings.
Elaine Gardner
For a table plan of up to
five courses, please see www.jamesgriff.co.uk/over2you
James Griffiths
The following instructions
will allow construction of an Excel spreadsheet, which can then be used either
to import into Access as a table, then generating a report or export the Access
name data to Excel and paste alongside the table/course order.
Data set up - Start Column A headed 'Diners' and enter 1 - 48 going down the rows, then enter 'TC1', 'TC2', 'TC3' for each of the next 3 columns (B-D) for each of the Table Course placements 1 - 3.
The first course is straightforward - with the Diners (1 - 48) in Column A, simply enter 1 for the first 8 diners (for table 1) then 2 for the next 8 diners ending in 6 for diners 41 - 48.
Second Course, enter 1 for the first couple (Diners 1 & 2), then 2 for the next couple and so on up to couple 11 & 12 who are at table 6. Then start numbering again in the same fashion from 1 to 6 until you have allocated a table number for all 48 diners.
Third and final course - start as per the second course with 1 for diners 1 & 2 up to diners 11 & 12 taking table number 6. Then use 4 for diners
13 & 14 and start again at 1 for diners 15 & 16 up to diners 23 & 24 taking 5.
Diners 25 & 26 then also take 5 with 6 for 27 & 28. Continue to allocate table
numbers 1 to 4 up to and including diners 35 & 36. Then 37 & 3 8 taking 6 with
39 & 40 a 5 and 41 & 42 a 6. Finish off the table allocation with tables 1-3 for diners
43-48.
Tim Preston, via e-mail
I don't believe a computer
is necessary to solve this problem. I worked it out in a few minutes using pen
and paper. As
there are 24 couples I numbered each couple from 1 to 24 and laid them out
in the following format:
1 5 9
13 17 21
2 6 10
14 18 22
3 7 11
15 19 23
4 8 12
16 20 24
This is first course
sitting. For second course sitting use the above numbers sequentially
horizontally and placing them vertically gives the following sequence:
1 17 10
3 19 12
5 21 14
7 23 16
9 2
18 11 4 20
13 6
22 15 8 24
For third course take the
first set of number diagonally and again place them vertically
and this will give the following sequence for the third course:
1 5 9
13 17 21
6 10
14 18 22
2
11 15 19
23 3 7
16 20 24
4 8 12
Roger Desforges
This is akin to the way
that players move in Duplicate Bridge tournaments. A simple
movement can be worked out manually and a computer program does not help.
In principle an
easy method is for one couple to remain stationary at each table, for
another couple to move one table after each course, the third couple
to move 2 tables in the same direction and the fourth to move 3 tables.
Unfortunately this
simple concept does not work perfectly for 6 tables and for the third
course the fourth pair must move four tables instead of three to
avoid sitting with another couple again.
If we name the 24
couples a to x then the resulting plan will be as follows:
Table
1 Table 2 Table 3 Table
4 Table 5 Table 6
abcd efgh
ijkl
mnop qrst uvwx
avsp ebwt
ifcx
mjgd qnkh urol
arkx
evod ibsh mfwl qicp ungt
David Beever
DIM DISPLAY
The display on
my aging Toshiba laptop has been growing steadily dimmer over the past year or
so. I’ve been quoted a ridiculous amount (£350) for a complete new LCD screen
but surely all that needs replacing is a small light bulb or bulbs inside the
screen? I can’t believe they’re not replaceable, if so can anyone recommend a
source or someone who can carry out this sort of repair?
Mary Paton, via
email
I had precisely
the same problem with my Tosh laptop and after a great deal of research
discovered that the light in a LCD screen comes from a cold cathode fluorescent
(CCF) tube. This can be replaced, though it is quite a fiddly job. The tube is
thin and fragile and you will need to be able to solder the wires at each end.
I managed to
obtain a suitable CCF tube from an incredibly helpful firm in Germany called
Palmzip (http://www.palmzip.de/backlight/e/shopcfle.htm).
You need to tell them the length and diameter of the tube (they stock hundreds
of types), so the display will have to be dismantled first. It’s not difficult
but I wouldn’t try it unless you know what you are doing and have some suitable
tools, like a tiny Philips screwdriver. My replacement tube cost €36 (about
£25), including shipping and VAT and was delivered in a couple of days.
FISH TANK
A few weeks
ago, whilst visiting a relative in Hull we visited a local computer fair. One
stall had a lot of exotic PC cases with lights etc., but one in particular
caught my eye, it was designed to look like a fish tank, with artificial fish
swimming around inside. I regret not buying it at the time but now I cannot
find a source of these cases, can anyone help?
They can be purchased from
Compucentre, Queen Street, Haverhill in Suffolk.
David Turner
SITES FOR SORE EYES
I suffer with AMD or ARMD
which stands for Age related Macular Degeneration and wonder if any of your
readers know of a suitable website where I could get advice? I am prepared to
take part in research and would be grateful for the help
D Golten, via email
Dr A P Adamis is co-founder
and senior vice president of an American company called Eyetech. They research
into eye disease and one of his main areas is AMD. They have a drug in stage 3
(I think) clinical trial, which may be useful in treatment of AMD. Their website
is http://eyetk.com. He also does a lot of work
in collaboration with the university of Ulster into immunological diseases of
the eye; you could try phoning them and ask for the department of
ophthalmology. There is also information on the above website about AMD.
Claire Thomson
CAN YOU HELP?
I organise the field plan
for our village fete with approx 150 stalls, fairground rides, main ring etc.
Is there a program available, preferably freeware or shareware, that would
enable me to compile a database of stallholders with information (address,
phone number etc), and which I could link to a layout of the field so that I
can allocate pitches to each stallholder, without either duplication or
omissions. Maybe it is possible using Excel or Access, but I have not been able
to work it out.
James Freemam, via email
Can anyone recommend a
method of making a PC 'speak' as each key is pressed? This would be
invaluable for fast-but-inaccurate 'touchers' like me and many others I
guess.
William Hooke, via
email
I prepare a newsletter for
my local golf club using Microsoft Publisher and we have attempted to despatch
copies to 200 plus members, who are on e-mail. Because of the wide range of
recipients' computer systems, from Windows 95 to Windows XP and more, to date
this has had to go out on a text-only basis with the resultant loss of our
Castle logo and the clipart pictures I insert. Can anyone
recommend a method that each and every
recipient will be able read?
Paul Middleton, via
email
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