FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  351 (18/02/03)

Q

In-built navigation systems for cars are expensive options.  Is there software and hardware available to allow a laptop computer to serve the same function with the advantage of a big screen, flexibility to have it in whichever car one is driving and I suspect at a fraction of the cost?

David Pankhurst

A

There’s a wide range of GPS (global positioning by satellite) receivers, plug-in cards and software available for laptops and pocket PCs, have a look at http://www.expansys.com/d_gps.asp for an overview of features and prices. However, by the time you add up the cost and inconvenience of rigging everything up, and hiding it all away when you park the car, it might be cheaper and simpler to opt for a self-contained handheld unit and a dash-mount kit. In general the displays are not as large as dedicated in-car units buy you can quickly detach the unit and slip it into your pocket and use it when you’re out walking.

Q

My query concerns the packaging of printer cartridge replacements. Looking for a replacement cartridge I suddenly discovered that the box for HP DeskJet cartridges carries a date. The use by dates seem very short, how crucial are they?

Philip Plakeland

A

HP tells me that install and use by dates have the same broad meaning as those on food items, namely that the cartridge isn’t going to suddenly become unusable on the expiration day, but take it as a warning and use it as soon as possible, preferably within 6 months. Once the pack is opened and the cartridge installed it should be used within 6 months.

Q

Is it permissible to have both a FAT32 and a FAT16 hard disc in the same computer, running at the same time? I have an old hard disc with a particular programme on it, which the installation CD will not let me install on the new hard disc. I therefore would like to hook up the older disc as a slave to the current one but am not sure if FAT32 and FAT16 could both be accessed by Windows ME running on the new disc. The older disc is from a system running Windows 95a.

Andrew Miller

A

Yes, you can mix hard discs with different File Allocation Tables – the disc’s filing system -- on the same computer, but not on the same drive, so go ahead.

Q

I have come across a requirement to do the opposite of OCR: I wish to export a text-based file, e.g. an MSWord document, to an image format, page by page. It seems that a virtual printer driver is the answer.  Is such a thing
available anywhere?
Ted Eilley

A

PostScript is the industry-standard graphics file format and you can trick Word into using it simply by installing a PostScript printer driver (My Computer > Printers > Add Printer); there’s plenty to choose from in the Apple section. Once that’s done go to Print on Word’s File menu, make sure the new printer is selected and tick the box ‘Print to File’. Give the file a name, ensure the file has the extension ‘*.eps’ (encapsulated PostScript), choose a location for the file on your hard disc or floppy and it’s done!

Q

I am trying to upload the names, address and telephone numbers held in an old Casio onto a Pocket PC. This is done in two stages. Firstly, uploading into an access database and then uploading that into the pocket PC (Compaq iPAQ). I can upload the data successfully into Access but the address data is shown as a single line with the ^ character shown where there should be a new line. I can manually delete the ^ character and replace it with Ctl + Enter, but there are many hundreds to do. I have tried to use the Replace command in Access but I cannot find how to enter Ctl+Enter into the 'replace with' field. I have searched the Character Map but am unable to find these two keys listed. Is there a way round this, or will I have to resign myself to a very long editing exercise?

Derek Heath

A

Open the file in MS Word, you can then use Replace on the Edit menu to make the changes Click the More button, then Special, which gives you the option to replace a character with a manual Line Break. You can then save it as a text file and import it directly into the pocket PC or open it in Access.

Q

I saw your question about printing out help files (F!F!F! 348, January 28th). I have used a program called "hlp2rtf" quite successfully a couple of times. This converts help files to RTF (rich text format), which Word can open without problems. You can download it from: 

http://www.programmersheaven.com/

zone16/cat292/1822.htm

Peter Brown

A

Thanks for that useful tip

Q 

My computers calculator is dark grey in colour with numerals are mid-blue and control keys red, even with prescribed spectacles it is impossible for me to see the decimal point and the minus sign. Is there any way to change the colour of the numerals or the calculator? 

Raymond Nickerson

A

You can change the display attributes from Control Panel (Display > Appearance > Scheme) maybe one of the high-visibility schemes will help, but these changes will be applied globally to all applications, which you may not want. A simpler alterative would to be download one of the many freeware calculators, simply type ‘freeware calculator’ in a search engine like google.com. Mini Calculator from: www.iati.ee/~serge183/ MicroTools4U/IndexF.html

Looks very promising and virtually all of the display properties can be easily customised by right-clicking on the toolbar and selecting Colours.

Q

I have been using Netscape Webmail for a number of years now but would like to use Outlook (and/or Outlook Express) as my primary e-mail service.  I know how to import the e-mail from my ISP's e-mail service into Outlook but could you please tell me how to get Outlook to import my Netscape e-mail if, in fact, it can be done.

Brian French

A

It can, open Outlook Express then go to Import on the file menu and select Messages and click on Netscape Mail at the bottom of the list and follow the prompts.

Q

Do you know of anyone who can transcribe the discs from my worn out Amstrad 9512 on to Windows 95/98? 

Lorraine Knowles, Seaford, East Sussex

A

Various companies offer a disc transcription service for Amstrad discs, see:

www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/lux/lconv.html

www.btinternet.com/

~pinboardcomputers/transf.htm

www.pcwking.freeserve.co.uk/helpage3.html

The other solution is to use a direct connection between your Amstrad and PC and use a program such as LocoLink to transfer the files, details of this and other useful Amstrad resources can be found at: http://www.locoscript.com/