OVER 2 YOU 194 (24/08/04)

KNOTTY PROBLEM

I am interested in knots and have managed to find books about knots and rope work at my local library but I am wondering if there are any CD-ROMs or websites (though I not at present connected to the Internet) that deal with this subject as I have no idea where else to look?

Arthur Brewer, via email

I am the President of the International Guild of Knot Tyers, an organisation set up in 1982 to promote interest in knots and knotting. We have a website www.igkt.net, where he will be able to find out about membership, books that are available, events and to visit several online galleries of members' photographs of their work. There's even a forum where he can get in touch with other knot nuts. There are just over 1200 members around the world, about 500 of whom are on the Internet. The Guild publishes a quarterly magazine called Knotting Matters, which contains articles about knots and knotting, members' letters, an events calendar etc.

Jeff Wyatt, Bedfordshire, England

As a Scout leader I must point Arthur in the direction of the Scout Association's resource site, ScoutBase.org.uk, where you will find all sorts on knots and a CD ROM showing how to tie 20 of the more basic knots - www.sbuk.org.uk/info.centre/

catalog.php?cat=233n.

He may also find www.scoutingresources.org.uk/

knots_index.html and www.tollesburysc.co.uk/Knots/

Knots_gallery.htm helpful, the latter of which has some animations of knot tying.
John Tunnicliffe, via email

The Erith & Crayford Scouts' website have an animated knot section and can be found at

http://www.ecscoutnet.co.uk/information/knots/index.html

Tim Harlow, via email

We are Fullertons Booksearch and are happy to do a search for any books on knots. We think we can find between 10 and 20 different titles and there is no obligation to purchase. The Internet does its bit, but we have 13 years of  'other' contacts as well! Write to : The Duke's house, Moorgate Road,Hindringham,Fakenham.NR21 0PT.   Tel: 01328 87 87 81.   Fax:  01328 87 87 82.  Email:  fullertons.books@virgin.net. Sorry, no website yet, but one is under construction.

Humphrey Boon, via email

EXCEL ANNOYANCE

Using Excel I am frustrated by the limits of three conditions under "Conditional Formatting" and seven nested formulae. I use conditional formatting to ascribe different colours to parts of a horizontal bar used for planning and need more than three. A seven-deep nested formula is also seriously restricting. I've tried QuattroPro12 and OpenOffice and searched the discussion pages without luck. Any suggestions?

Michael Falter, via email

In the early 1970's IBM -- then in much the same dominant position as Microsoft are today -- reputedly had two stock answers to problems. The first was that ‘you shouldn't have tried to do it that way’ and the other one was that ‘they'd had the same problem when they tried it’…

The limit of seven nested formulae is easily circumvented. There's no need to put everything into one cell. Use extra cells in a hidden column (or row or sheet) - it makes the creation and troubleshooting of complex formulae much easier, particularly if they need to be changed later.

Similarly why use conditional formatting? It's not easy to see exactly what the requirements are but couldn't they be met by using Excel to create a chart instead? It's very flexible and there's a much wider range of colours and labels etc.

John Bushby, via email

CALENDAR GIRL

I would like to create a calendar of my wife's watercolour paintings. We have PaintShop Pro 7, and I bought the Calendar Constructor program but I cannot find out how I can get the two, to work together. I really would like to print the calendar in A3 format, which of course I cannot do at home, but I would like to try and build as much of it as I can on a CD before trying to find a printer to finish it of for me. Has anyone managed to do this or can pass on any helpful tips, advice or recommendations?

Irvine Young, via email  

There is a website that allows you to upload your images and they will send you back the pro quality calendar. They also make cards and things like that. www.create-a-gift.co.uk

Phil Leach, via email

UP IN THE AIR OVER BOOKINGS

I am a pilot and have access to club aircraft, along with many other members. The problem is that if a pilot wants to fly, at short notice, there is no easy way to find out if the aircraft is available, if the secretary is not contactable. Can anyone suggest a program, package or a way to set up a website, with access to a private page, that would display a diary of who has booked the aircraft, when it is scheduled for maintenance, any new snags, general messages, etc?

Brian Mellor, via email

I have the answer. Go to www.online-diary.co.uk, you can have as many diaries as you
like for no extra cost. You can see in real time if a plane is booked or not. You can use e-mail, text messaging or Fax to keep track of the planes. Just set up a diary for each one and allow other people in the group to book on line.
Steve Webb, via email

Take a look at "Colin's Free Group Booking System" at http://www.colindocketty.co.uk/BSflyer.htm

This is a system written by an IT consultant who is also a private pilot.

Paul Lautman, Southsea

CAN YOU HELP?

I am looking for a database program to mark and calculate the scores for an orienteering type competition that is easy to use and that can be used in a stand-alone capacity as not every one wants to load whole programs onto their computers. I've already devised a routine using Excel, which works well for me, but is a little complicated for others to use.

Mike Rennie, via email

I have a number of Magic Lantern Glass slides, specifically of early railway locomotives (2.25 inches square positive negative type) that I would like to catalogue. I would like to download these digitally on to my PC via my scanner, if that is possible! I have experimented with a light over the slide placed on the open lid of the scanner and can get an image that unfortunately does not do the slide print justice. Has anyone been successful in producing prints from glass slides of this type, if so can they give me any advice?

Peter White, Richmond, North Yorkshire!