HelpDesk

Ian Sharpe introduces the files that accompany this month's Q&A column

Copy this month's files to your hard drive

Democode.bas – Outlook 2000/2002

This is the sample code for the HelpDesk Extra article on programming Outlook. Either open it in Notepad or import it into Outlook as follows: Open Outlook. Press [Alt]+[F11]. Right-click Project1... on the upper left and select Import File. Navigate to and select Democode.bas. Macros may be added to toolbar buttons by closing the VBA editor and in Outlook right-click a toolbar. Select Customise. On the Commands tab pick Macros. In the list on the right, drag the required macro on to a toolbar.

Remote shutdown demo for Excel

Load the file RemoteShutdown.xls from the XLRemoteShutdown folder. Rename _CloseYourFiles.txt to CloseYourFiles.txt. Watch for up to 30 seconds and you should be warned to close the spreadsheet. Whatever you do, it will save and close anyway after five minutes. Attempts to open it again will be prevented until CloseYourFiles.txt is removed or renamed. Works in Excel 97 onwards.

Active Server Watch log file reader

The log file reader is in the Excel file ReadASWlog.xls. Just enter the full path to the log file in cell B1 and push the button.

Testsite folder

Updated demo files that demonstrate how a site's pages can clothe themselves in frames when a visitor arrives without going through the framset page. The two protected pages, page3.htm and page4.htm, use different methods. Both work, but page4.htm has the advantage of not trapping the Back button. Click here to try it. Some browsers won't handle the system properly when run from a local disk, so you may need to upload the files to your web space.

PCs for good causes - don't dump, donate!

Surplus computer equipment frequently gathers dust in cupboards and attics or ends up in landfill sites.

This is a dreadful waste. Organisations working for the benefit of schools and disadvantaged people in the UK and abroad can recycle old computers and peripherals to the enormous advantage of the recipients.

Make no mistake, that old 486 could help change or save lives.

Below is a list of charities (or link pages to charities) that you can contact if you have equipment to donate.

If you know of others, please get in touch. The conditions under which organisations will be listed can be read here.

Disclaimer
Even Charity Commission registration does not guarantee that an organisation or its members are fully honest and acceptably efficient. While credentials are necessary for inclusion here and to the best of my knowledge the organisations listed are above board, neither I nor Future Publishing can take responsibility for their actions or the consequences of your dealings with them.

Help on the Internet

The HelpDesk Internet Site List is a searchable database of links to places where you can get drivers, useful files, documents, programs or tips and advice.

Copy the Internet sites list to your hard drive

After copying, make a bookmark to hsnet.htm in c:\pcplus\sites so you can access it from within your browser. If you want to use my search engine for your own purposes, a generic version that can be adapted to different applications appeared in issue 183 of PC Plus. This is available for download under the name I-Search from my web site at www.iansharpe.com.

If you want to use the list itself, generally I'm amenable but there are conditions attached and the list is copyrighted so you must obtain permission first.

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Contacting HelpDesk

Got a problem, or a tip that will help other readers? Then send it to ian.sharpe@futurenet.co.uk, or by terrestrial mail to the address in the magazine. I read every message and your input could feature in a future HelpDesk but regrettably I cannot answer queries personally.

Please do not send attachments more than a few dozen K in size. If a file is available for download it is better to tell me the URL rather than to mail it (other people may have had the same idea). Due to the risk of viruses, please do not send messages as attached documents. Plain, unformatted text is preferred. Read receipts are not processed. Thank you!

Guidance on submitting questions may be read here.