Snippets from Previous Meetings
FOR SALE
Sheryl Roberts has 'heaps of nice second-hand Macs' for sale. For a variety of models (including iMacs) and prices. She also has software at reduced prices; Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge @ $49.95, Disney Pixar Monsters Mania @ $59.95, Clip Art Library @ $29.95 and more.
Contact Sheryl
Apple Road Show
Sheryl mentioned the Apple Road Show is on next week in Dunedin on Tuesday 2nd September at 4 - 5.30pm and in Christchurch on Thursday 4th September at the same time. The new G5 will be shown.
Robin said he had visited the Netscape Homepage which has given it rave a reviews. Adobe Photoshop is one program which runs 70% - 200% better than ever before.
Mactropolis
Sheryl introduced some Card creator clip art from Mactropolis.
SESSIONS
Portable Document Format - PDF
A member asked about using the program Print to PDF and Sheryl explained the ease of use in OSX which comes with it built in. You just go to Print and 'Save As' and choose PDF for the list of options available.
For those who use OS9, Elizabeth demonstrated how first you had to go to the chooser and select PDF as the printer instead of your usual printer. After that when you go to print a document and until you change it back documents will automatically print to PDF. Note: The Program 'Print to PDF' must be installed on your computer. It is available on Mactropolis.
When you go to send a document or pic to the printer, the Print to PDF a Print to PDF window appears instead of your usual printer window. Click Preferences as the default page size is always on the US paper setting and you have to change it to A4. Another window which can make a difference in the size of a file saved, depending on what the file contains, is under misc. The lowest resolution is 70 and it ranges to 300, 600 and the largest is 1500.
Sheryl made an important point for those running OSX in that it will open PDFs in 'Preview' and you have to select PDF in the preferences so as the computer knows what you want selected as the program to open PDFs. If you do not do this the computer will resave it as a preview file and if you sent it onto someone else they would not be able to open it unless they also had OSX and Preview.
A number of discussions on topics arose to which members contributed, especially Sheryl with her superior expertise.
Apple Works Preferences
There was discussion on Apple Works Preferences and how you can change versions of files in the 'Save As' under the file menu.
Aladdin DropStuffª and Stuffit Expander
In case you do not have an Alias their icons handy, Aladdin DropStuff» and Stuffit Expander are to be found in the Alladin folder which is in the Internet utilities folder. Sheryl said that by dropping a file onto Aladdin DropStuff» you will also make a compressed file which is better for sending some files over the Internet. This depends on the file type. It is excellent for Word or Excel files for instance, but of no real advantage for JPEG files as they are already compressed. Stuffit Expander is as the name implies used to expand the file again.
Burning to a CD
If you want to add more files to a CD choose 'Session'. This allows you to add more at a later date.
Graphic Converter
Sheryl explained how Graphic Converter is a good shareware program for graphics in answer to a question about file sizes of photos for the internet.
With Graphic Converter you can change the file size and convert it to a JPEG. JPEGs are compressed and able to be opened by any computer.
To check your file size choose 'Get info', (Quick keys - Apple I)
To reduce photographs you can trim select portions and remove unwanted portions of pictures or photographs at the same time. Some programs call this crop.
Sheryl pointed out that some programs produce bigger files than others. iMovie will give you a bigger file size than from another porgram. Programs do vary. 200kb is OK for E-mail. Barry remarked that Graphic Converter was recently upgraded for the 1st time in a number of years.
The Homepage for Graphic Converter with information and a PDF instruction manual for downloading are here: www.lemkesoft.de/en/index.htm
For the latest reviews check the links from our Reviews page
Keyboard Tip
Option + Click will close all windows when you are closing a window ad wish to close all others.
File name
In OSX you have the option of having the file name beside instead of underneath files.
To change this, go to 'View' when you have the window open which you want to change. You can select text size and label position and other options such as select all windows if you want the preferences for all your open windows.
Search Engines
- Various search engines were discussed.
- http://www.google.co.nz/
- http://au.yahoo.com/
- http://www.dogpile.com/
- http://www.yahooligans.com/ Sheryl said Yahooligans is very safe for kids. She recounted an incident in a school class where a search for sperm whale brought up unwelcome results. They now use yahooligans for searching on the internet.
- Sherlock is of course Apple's own search engine. The latest version will only search on the Internet unlike previous versions which could also search on your HD.
- http://au.yahoo.com/
Reunion Updater
Sheryl informed members that 8.0.4 is the new update version and fixes some glitches. It is only 1Mb.
Dave demonstrated the new version. How to add photos, where to see family names etc. New versions have facilities for modern families including step sisters and brothers.
Over 1000 people were listed in Reunion on the computer Sheryl brought to the meeting. She said Reunion is a data base where the computer does the sorting for you. Also you can have it notify you of birthdays up to 10 days prior.
Spamguard
A member mentioned the amount of unwanted spam had increased and Sheryl recommended Spamguard.
New Apple Keyboard
Sheryl showed us the new Apple Keyboard which is smaller and has the ports at the top
Claris and AppleWorks Draw
Robin demonstrated his old but loved version of Claris Draw and showed us business cards he had produced. It does not work so well on the new OSX.
Barry showed how the newer AppleWorks Draw has kept the pace up and the changing operating systems
REMINDER
Next AMUG Evening meeting will be on Friday September 26
Next AMUG Daytime Meeting No arrangement as yet
[Committee Meeting on Mactropolis: Tuesday September 16 at 9:00pm
In the absence of Tony Regards to all.....
Lea Hullett
Secretary: Tony Climo, Aoraki MacIntosh Users Group