To avoid “bad record index” messages in PageMaker, go through each style with an asterisk. Command/click each one, then press Return. This move takes away the asterisk, leaving the style pure again. If you still get the bad record index messages, read Real World PageMaker by Kvern and Roth. They cover this and many other PageMaker problems.
Maybe you have noticed that some programs will import one kind of TIFF file, but not others. That’s because everyone felt it necessary to develop their own version of TIFF. PageMaker is a big help, since Aldus was a big player in getting TIFF established. Naturally, PageMaker imports more kinds of TIFF files than almost any other program. Sorry Quark and Design Studio.
Watch it! Double clicking on a template in PageMaker opens the template, and not an untitled copy. Open templates from within PageMaker, unless you want to change the template itself. In fact, opening a template from within PageMaker gives you an option if you want to open the template, and not a copy. But the copy is the default.
Lew Nelson had an “Offending command, PostScript error…” message using driver 6.0. He changed to 5.2 driver and the problem went away. Any other 5.2 vs. 6.0 and 6.1 driver stories out there. We would like to hear about them. What is your choice and why?
In my article on Suitcase a few months ago, I said to use Set Paths so that Suitcase II could “find” your fonts. Resources from San Diego’s MUG points out that since Suitcase version II arrived, that is not necessary. It works, but it isn’t actually needed.
However, SetPaths does help your Mac find other files normally left loose in the System Folder. It leads your Mac to the folder or folders you designate in SetPaths. Finally, it is perfectly OK to use SetPaths to lead Suitcase to the fonts, so do it if you feel like it.
If your LaserWriter NT jams, try removing the paper tray and cleaning the middle section of the rubber roller with isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Manually rotate the roller to get it all clean. (Thanks, Robert Williams in Resources, San Diego CA MUG.)
Danny Goodman's new HyperCard 2.0 book, “Complete HyperCard Handbook,” is getting raves from some competent developer users or HyperCard 2.0. It covers any version of HyperCard, but marks the new stuff for easy retrieval. Gee, I wish other upgraders would listen to Danny! That is THE way to go.
Are you listening, Aldus? Microsoft?
How do you open documents which refuse to open? Use DiskTop or any utility which lets you change type and creator. Give the document a set of type and creator codes for a program which might open the document. For example, if you think it contains text, change it to MacWrite or Word document type and creator codes.
Canopener can also help you recover text. Finally, maybe you can open PageMaker and import the stubborn file. Then export it to a program which you know will work.
Know what puzzles some new Mac users? They see a Command key equivalent in a menu and think that because the character is a capital letter, they have to hold down the Shift key along with the Command key to produce the correct response. ’Tain’t so, kiddies.
That ’Tain’t in the last line above reminds me. If you leave out a letter as in it ain’t, the correct character to represent that letter is an apostrophe, or a closing single quote mark. If you have an INIT or macro installed to make you automatically type curly quotes, when you start a word with an apostrophe, you get a beginning single quote mark instead. To correctly type an apostrophe under these circumstances, type any character, then hit the single quote and type the first character to follow it. Now you have the correct apostrophe and you can go back and wipe out the “holding” character you typed.
Now that you know this, you can also watch for mistakes you may make in trying to place a curly quote at the end of a quotation. If the last character typed is a space, or you delete the ending quote mark, when you type the quote mark again, the Mac thinks you want a beginning—not an ending—quote. Backspace one more character instead, then retype it and the ending quote. Everything will now be OK.
In writing a hints column, I daily type in Command, Option and Shift key combinations. I think everyone who types these should use a single convention. My personal choices is a slash. You will seldom need a slash as the actual key to be used in a keyboard equivalent. On those few occasions, you can put additional information in parentheses next to the keystroke.
So how about Command/Option/+ or Command/Shift/B? Don’t these abbreviations get the job done?
We really need a standard here. I am more than willing to bow to better ideas, but lets get together on this, folks. My way or yours. But everyone the same way.
My favorite, as you can tell, is the slash. No pun intended here, since Slash of Guns ’n’ Roses is also my favorite—rock guitarist.
If you would like to do some neat color printing on an ImageWriter II, try Easy Color Paint 2.0, $99 retail.
What is Off-Site Backup? First off, it is what Working Software did not have in place when all of their Macs and backup disks were stolen. Off-Site Backup means you have a set of your important data disks stored at another physical location, out of danger from any fire, flood, theft or other disaster which might strike the original location.
You should be shopping your local Apple dealer for items offered mailorder. Apple dealers are painfully aware of mailorder prices, and they work hard to close the gap. If prices are really close, support your local Apple dealer. Why not sustain a good relationship with your dealer? They will understand when they just cannot compete with a mailorder price every once in a while.
If you have employees spending long hours in front of a computer screen, you had better be aware of the direction VDT law is taking. You could stave off problems by providing work breaks, adjustable monitor screens and chairs and better lighting. Do it before legislation forces you to do it along with stultifying bureaucratic reporting requirements.
If you run into a floppy with a System Folder which will not start up your Mac, you probably have a System Folder created with Apple’s installer, but customized to a different model of the Macintosh.
For a System Folder to work right on several Mac models, install using the “any Mac” choice. This System Folder will, however, be the largest you could install. If you will never use the disk in another Mac model, customize your install for your own Mac model.
Apple’s Macintosh IIci cache cards are experiencing a high failure rate. Apple admits defects in the cards. Hope it’s fixed by now, but caveat emptor.
OnCue has a new competitor. It’s Hand Off II. Hand Off II will even let you establish sets of related documents and applications which all open with a single click in the Hand Off II menu. It also lets you separate color and sound settings for each application.
MacWEEK compared “utility” packages for the Mac, and came up with some ratings:
• Disk repair - MacTools Deluxe (MTD)
• Floppy disk recovery - 911 Utilities or MTD
• HD recovery - Norton is 1st, followed by 911, MTD and SUM last
• Undelete files - 911
• Unititialize HD - any except 911
• Disk fragmentation - any except 911
• Lock out bad sectors - any
• Edit disks and files - MTD or SUM
• Backup - MTD or SUM
So you pays your money and you takes your choice.
What is the first thing you should do if a floppy disk goes belly up?
The right answer: lock it, make a copy and only work on the copy to recover your files.
Are your windows messy? Use Layout 1.9 and check Always Grid Drags in the Options menu. All of your icons will snap into neat rows when dragged. While you are in Layout 1.9, check out all of the other wonderful ways to modify your Finder.
When shopping for a PostScript laser printer, try to get one with the latest Adobe version. Compare version numbers before you buy.
November classes at The Computer Store, Corvallis include PageMaker Part I, 6 Nov, 10 to noon; PageMaker Part II, 13 Nov, 10 to noon; and MacTricks, 29 Nov, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Register in person or call (503) 754-0811. Get on their list for future classes.
Wanna type in Polynesian? The font is $185 from Coconut Info, Box 75460, Honolulu, HI 96836, (808) 262-6159. The font includes macrons and glottal stops. My, my.
HyperCard 2.0 will come ion two version. The bundled “free” version will not include level 5 scripting. You will pay extra, probably to Claris, for the version that lets you script.
Since the IIci has 32-bit QuickDraw built into the ROM, it will bust some games which do not like 32-bit QD.
Here is how to do a drop-cap in Word 4.0. Type the drop-cap (in this case an H) in its own paragraph. Place your cursor in the drop-cap paragraph. Go to Position… in the Format menu. Type a number into Paragraph Width. (I used a 4 for a drop-cap in this 10 point Times paragraph.) Increase the size of the drop-cap, back the rest of the paragraph onto the same line. If the space between the drop cap and the first letter of text size is too large or small, select the space and make that space a larger or smaller size.
Next, notice that the spacing between line one of the paragraph and line two is excessive. Select the entire paragraph. Go to the Paragraph item under Format and change the Line Spacing from Auto to a minus figure. For example, with 10 point type, try -11. If you don’t like the result, hike the number up or down one at a time.
Once you set alignment options in MacDraw II, the selected items stay as default until changed, so if you want to repeat an alignment just used, a simple Command/K does it. Of course you have to reset the options if those now operating no longer apply.
ATM is great, but do yourself a favor. If you have the hard disk space, install EVERY size of every font. ATM does not have to take extra time to draw any size resident in your Mac. This is a speedup idea, folks.
I just know you want a color ruler in MacWrite II. And you can have it. Choose a color while holding down the Option key. Holding down the Command key instead changes the “paper” or background color of the document.
If you use Compactor, be sure it is version 1.21 or better. Extractor should be 1.12 or better.
The “II” in a Mac II is soon to become reality. That is, an Apple II emulation mode for the Macintosh. However, the Mac in a II may beat it to the marketplace yet. A custom card for the IIGS running a 68020 Mac emulator, has ben made by Cirtech. Expect it to beat the II in a Mac to the market.
If you browse liquidator catalogs, 1200 baud modems are now less than $100. Try Comb or Danmark for starters.
Did you ever crash before saving a PageMaker document? Just go into the System Folder and pull out the file called PMF000. Rename it and open it. Chances are you may have saved almost your entire document. I have been shocked at how much of a document PageMaker is able to salvage in this way.
Do you get Out of Memory messages in MultiFinder, even with a lot of available RAM? Try loading your applications starting with the smallest one. Then, if you need memory to run another large program, quitting the latest (largest) program leaves contiguous space for the new application to run in.
If you use FDHD disks (high density), better buy Sony. First, they invented HD disks. Second, MEMCON tested all kinds of HD disks and found Sony the best. Finally, MEMCON detected flaws in many other brands of FDHD disks.
Make slides from your Mac’s screen? Here is a very abbreviated run-down.
Camera on tripod, use cable release for steadiness, shoot at 1/15th or longer time, use Ektachrome 160 or Kodachrome, use a long lens (200 is great), put a black cloth over camera and monitor like a tent, bracket exposures two stops either side of best guess exposure and be sure monitor face and camera are absolutely level with each other.
If you know a thing about photography, the above information will give you a great start.
