FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 173 (05/08/99)

OFF WORK?

I have two problems, which I would really appreciate some help with. Firstly, when using both Internet Explorer 4.0 and Outlook Express, provided by Freeserve, it takes about 5 minutes for the phone line to disengage when I click ‘Work Offline’. Is there a quicker way to come off line or is this a ploy by Freeserve to rack up ever heftier phone bills? Second, I recently tried to print Tee-shirt transfers using special film on my HP DeskJet 870Cxi printer, compiling the text in Word 97. How do make the text print in mirror image so that it will come out the right way round when the transfer is ironed onto a Tee-shirt?

Mary Swords

A

'Work Offline' doesn't mean disconnect, it's an option that allows you to use your browser without connecting to the Internet. The five-minute delay before disconnecting is almost certainly the connection 'timing out' because of inactivity. The simplest way to disconnect when using Internet Explorer is to double-click on the little double monitor icon that appears on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, when you are on line. This will bring up a dialogue box, click on the Disconnect button. You can use the same method in Outlook Express but it's easier to check the 'Hang up when finished' option on the dialogue box that appears when you are sending or receiving email.

You can create text effects like mirror writing using the WordArt feature in Word. You need to have the Drawing toolbar on your desktop; either right-click into an empty area on the top toolbar panel and select it from the menu or click on Toolbars on the View menu and select it from there. Open a blank page in Page View mode and click on the large letter 'A' on the Drawing toolbar. Select a style, click on it and then OK. In the dialogue window that appears compose your text, choose a typeface and font size. When you have finished go to the Draw button on the Drawing toolbar, click on Rotate or Flip and select Flip Horizontal.

OPEN AND SHUT CASE

Regarding the query from Les Johnson's letter (F!F!F! July 22nd) I would like to suggest a method for closing down a series of windows that have been opened via My Computer. Select the most recently opened window, and hold down the shift key. Closing that window will then also close all the previous ones. Another possibility is to set Windows so that when you open a new window via My Computer, the old one is automatically closed - this way there will only ever be one such window open. This is set by going to view/options/folder in My Computer.
Adam Thorn

A

Thanks to you and many others for that useful tip.

FRACTION INACTION
Using Windows 98; How can I show fractions? Going to Insert then Symbol shows only three fractions. I recall a method in F!F!F! using the formula \f(a.b), but I can't remember how to use it.

Leslie Major

A

The equation Field code method allows you to create any vulgar fraction. Go to Insert > Field > Equations and Formulas, select EQ in the right hand pane and type '\f(a,b)' after EQ, where a and b are the enumerator and dividend. However, it won't work if the cursor is in the middle of some text. You have to place the cursor on an empty line then when the fraction appears you can move it into body text using drag and drop.

SOCKET SENSE
Do I have to switch off my computer every time I plug the modem into the phone socket and unplug it from the phone socket? The layout of the house makes it inconvenient to have the modem plugged in all the time. I have an internal modem.
David Cowie

A

It's okay to connect and disconnect the modem plug when the PC is on, providing you're not on-line at the time. However it would be much better to leave it plugged in all the time (except during thunderstorms) have you thought about using a double socket or an extension cable?

SLIPPED DISC

The stainless steel sliding protective cover has become detached from a floppy disk in my A drive. The disk popped out as per normal, but left the metal cover inside. I have fiddled around gingerly not wanting to damage it, without success. Do you have any bright ideas as to how I may extract the errant cover?
Frank Beer

A

You will have to dismantle the drive, or have an engineer look at it. If you try to extract the cover through the slot you'll almost certainly damage the mechanism or read/write heads. It's not a difficult job. Once you've removed the PC's lid locate the drive. Observe the usual anti-static precautions (leave the PC plugged in but switched off at the socket and touch the metal case frequently); disconnect the power and data leads from the back of the drive. Note the polarity of the flat ribbon cable, one edge should be marked with a red stripe. The drive is normally held in place by four screws, two each side. Once they've been removed the drive should slide out through the front of the machine. The top panel on most floppy drives is held in place by indented clips, one on each corner. Gently prise the sides of the panel away from the chassis with a small screwdriver and the cover should come off and you'll be able to get at the innards. You may have to remove the front panel, this is also held in place by spring clips. If the drive is damaged it's not worth repairing; new ones can be brought for as little as £10.

KEY QUESTION

I noticed the query about typewriter style keyboards for the PC (F!F!F! July 22). I was also accustomed to traditional typing; I used to have the same problem with the PC keyboard. I recommend a utility called Winkey, produced by DataGem Corporation. It enables you to configure the ctrl, shift and caps lock key to have a number of alternative functions; e.g. you can set it to act like a
typewriter. A beta of the 32-bit version (for Windows 95/98/2000) is available from their web site: http://www.datagem.com
Alan Winstanley

Thanks for that

SKIP TRICK?

My CD player changes tracks about every two minutes, skipping to the next in order. Why? I have Windows 98 with a sound system that seems to work perfectly otherwise.
Norman Leigh

A

Track skipping can be caused by dirt on the optical pickup, try using a cleaner disc in the drive.

HIDDEN NUMBER

I would like to put the telephone number that is automatically dialled when I go on line onto my "Friends and Family" list with BT. How do I find this number? Can I bring it up on screen and if so how?
Margaret King

A

Go to My Computer, double-click on Dial-Up Networking and in the Window that opens right-click on your ISP connection icon. Select Properties from the list and the phone number will appear on the General tab. Alternatively, if you are using Outlook Express, go to the Tools menu and click on Accounts. Click once on your account name to highlight it, select the Properties button, go to the Connection tab and click on the Properties button.