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Newsletter(s)
Don’t use Windows 2000
Windows 2000 has several bugs that cause problems for DOS
based programs as is our accounting software. The screen
display is diminished to 2/3 of a normal screen and network
printers will not work when hooked-up in the prescribed way.
Until further notice, I recommend that if you get a new computer
have it set-up with Windows 95 or Windows 98.
I have written 2 letters to Microsoft on this issue and
after six weeks they have not responded. I suppose that
this is not an oversight, but done intentionally to force
developers to upgrade to their latest products. I am now
determining how I will convert our systems to pure Windows,
but I have told them that I need time to do that and would
appreciate it if their new Windows version would continue
to support their older products in the interim.
I say again- BACK-UP BACK-UP BACK-UP BACK-UP BACK-UP BACK-UP
I know I harp on this too much for some of you, but I
have yet another example of why it is a good idea to have
a standard back-up routine. (Name withheld to protect the
not so innocent) recently lost a hard disk drive and hadn’t
backed-up in almost a year. The disk was sent to a recovery
company in Virginia. The price to recover was originally
quoted as $2000.00…it ended –up $5100.00… all important data recovered, fortunately. The alternatives-
Diskette back-up: $10.00 for 3 sets of disks 10-15 minutes
of attended time per back-up
Zip disk back-up: $120.00 $36.00 for 3 disks 3-15 minutes
of unattended time per back-up
CD-rw back-up: $150.00 $ 5.00 for 3 CDs 2-12 minutes of
unattended time per back-up
Costs are approximate and times to back-up will vary depending
upon size. I still recommend at least 3 sets of disks that
are rotated each time and done daily or at least as often
as you enter data and are not willing to reenter it! Keep
annual back-ups permanently, perhaps 2 sets. There are
back-up commands on your disk already that I can help you
modify to back-up all companies and even word processing,
spreadsheet and other data.
E-mail option available when producing mailing labels
With our Look-up system you can set-up e-mail addresses
and fax phone numbers for customers and vendors. Then
with Microsoft Outlook you can alternatively send by
e-mail or with WinFaxPro 10.0 you can send faxes instead
of by postal mail. You are given a priority choice to
send by whichever method suits your customer. (i.e.,
if they have an e-mail address or fax number on file
it will prepare to send that way or it will make a mailing
label.)
I need your e-mail address
If you received this by postal mail and you have an e-mail
address please send it to dick@lswfc.com.
This serves the purpose for me stated in the above paragraph,
but also gives me an easy way to send you changes and fixes
to programs. I can send them to you and you can easily
download them onto your program directory.
Too many unused reports piling-up? Archive is the answer.
I know there are reports you print that you perhaps almost
never use, but print just-in-case they are needed later.
A better idea, especially with disk space more available
now than ever, is to archive the reports on disk with the
ability to view or print them as needed. We do this with
three things-
- Command to create the place to store information
It may be stored on hard disk, floppy, zip disk or
CD.
- When printing the report, specify that it is to go
to a D-Disk file and enter the directory name and
file name where it is to be stored (ex: 01\02\GLSALES
will put GLSALES.RT in the sub-directory 01\02 which
stands
for 2001, February, where all reports are archived for
Feb 2001.)
- The program to view and print archived reports
was delivered with last year’s update, but has been enhanced
since. I will send you the latest copy if you want to
use this method of storage.
Call for assistance to set-up this procedure.
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