Snippets from Previous Meetings
- Sheryl has a Hewlett Packard portable serial printer, suitable for an older laptop.
- Also a variety of computers (desktop and laptop), mainly serial.
E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS
Sheryl led a session in which various e-mail applications were discussed, and explained the different methods of attaching files to messages. These vary between the applications, with some being easier than others. We were reminded of the need to consider the size of attachments, especially images, as these can take a long time for the recipient to download.
Also mentioned was the unfavourable practice of sending a message as an attachment to the main message, when with very little extra effort it could be incorporated into the main message. Good manners applies to our e-mail as much as to our convertional correspondence or conversation!
E-mail attachments, both received and sent, can contain unknown nasties! As Sheryl explained, MacUsers can receive some viruses from PC users which DON't affect Macs, but which CAN be unknowingly passed on from Macs to PCs, so up-to-date virus-checking is important. Symantec now specifies which viruses affect Macs - visit the following site for info on the recent Kles Virus:
[ http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/num.nsf/docid/2002041911334611 ]
FLASH-IT
This old but useful freeware control panel enables a variety of ways of making a screen capture (ie. making an image of what is visible on the screen). Although the Mac Operating System itself enables screen capture (see below), Flash-It allows a variety of options such as copying directly to the Clipboard or Scrapbook and assigning hotkeys of choice. You can copy the entire screen, rectangular sections, irregularly-shaped areas or separate windows, and either include or exclude the cursor in the image (useful if writing instructions).
Note:- Flash-It images are saved as PICT format files, which must be converted (to JPEG or similar) if e-mailing them to PC users.
A copy of Flash-It was attached to the minutes.
MacOS Screen Capture Without Flash-It, you can make screen captures to the Clipboard by using the following key combinations:
- Cmd-Shift-3 : captures entire screen
- Cmd-shift-4 : captures a rectangular section
- Cmd-Shift-4-Capslock : captures a window
DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING
Les Lamb kindly brought along his digital video camera and editing hardware, and intended to give a demonstration of their use, but unfortunately the editor didn't want to talk to the monitor, which effectively prevented us from seeing what it was able to accomplish! Les tendered his apologies for this malfunction, as the gear operates perfectly at home! [...don't worry Les, some law says that that sort of thing is bound to happen when demonstrating! Thank you for your efforts - we may be able to see it another time.]
MacBASICS - APPLEWORKS DRAWING
Tony briefly explained some aspects of using the Tools Panel in AppleWorks 6 Drawing. The formatting buttons (fill, line and text color) and palette buttons at the foot of the Tools Panel can be used for changing the appearance of graphics, 'boxes' and headings. The scope of these is further expanded by customising them by using the Show Accents panel (from Window menu).
NOTICE:
Macintosh User Groups in NZ
At the recent MUG conference in Wellington it was decided to institute a new nationwide organisation, tentatively named the Macintosh User Groups in New Zealand :MUGiNZ (muggins!). A number of people present put their names forward to become part of the steering committee to set up this organisation.
Graeme Moffatt, the Chairman of MUGiNZ, has invited AMUG to have have one (or more members) on this national committee. If you are interested, please contact either Barry or Tony for details.
REMINDER
Next meeting is on August 30 at 7:30 pm - ALL WELCOME - BRING A FRIEND
Next AMUG Daytime Meeting is on Monday 19 August at 10:30 am, at Dave Morrow's home, 9 Hillsden Place (off Wai-iti Rd). Please phone Barry (03) 688 3612, prior to the meeting.
[Committee Meeting on Mactropolis: Tuesday August 20 at 9:00pm.]
Happy MacComputing..... Regards to all....
Tony Climo
Secretary, Aoraki MacIntosh Users Group