Reader Reports 

Kimeldorf's First Aid

A Troubleshooting Guide For Os X Running On An Imac 800 (Flat Panel)

Part 5 of a 6 Part Series

By Martin Kimeldorf - Kimeldorf@attbi.com

With contributions from Andy Muir, Pat Gallagher

Introduction

These notes were compiled after one month of working with my Imac, navigating OS X and troubleshooting the complexities of MS office, Adobe Distiller and other third party software. I ended up having to restore my hard drive twice. I researched first aid methods consulting books, articles, with input from authors and experts online.

These are personal notes and should be taken as suggestions only, rather than as expert advice. I am not a computer expert, just an author and teacher. Use my first aid notes at your own risk, nothing is guaranteed. In fact, I have found out that well-intentioned advice about a cure can sometimes be worse than the original disease. Back up all critical files before trying anything in this document!!

PROBLEMS IN SINGLE OR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS WORD

To do after re-install

Once you get your settings just right, remove and archive copies of the User Data, Template, and Preferences (Espeically Office Setting 10, normal template) --Then use these virgin items when the old must be replaced.

Minor things to avoid

Only use command on title bar to freeze program

Pictures come up as noise lines in color especially if in a cell Re-insert and remove from a cell

Where do you keep settings for keyboard commands--office settings 10?

Replacing preferences, templates etc or settings Turn off all Office apps when you are you replacing replacement files, templates, preferences, autorecovery

Could not install Hotmail-Entourage update?

--didn't need update... already installed

Doc crashes and you need the copy

Auto recovered files in User Data folder. Turn off word first
remove these files and start them up Don't remove these files while word is on.

Insert Cross-reference is quirky when scroll or update it won't...click in scroll area and it returns tot he top.

• 1) Click once and wait for it to catch up
• 2) click several times to move off
• 3) Select an item down from the first item listed.

Sometimes Quits when I drag text to another place?

• 1) Save as new file and use this new one.
• 2) cut & paste
• 3) Avoid dragging into cells or with pictures

Helper box won't go away, is empty

--click on desktop and back on document---brings back assistant

Mail--random signature don't comes up on it's own?

--go to account, select options, select random

WORD OUTPUTS HUGE PDF FILE

Problem

A two page word document with a 296 KB jpeg file. When went to output it to pdf it ballooned up to 3.5 MB and was unable to be sent as an attachment to several people who rely on dial up accounts (the f ile was too big for the dial up account) This did not happen in other programs such as Applwork which outputted the file to a 312 KB PDF file.

Work around:

You will need to first turn the document into a PS (postscript file) and then use Acrobat distiller in OS 9 to turn the PS file into a PDF file. Here are the steps:

First set add postscript printer

• 1) Add to print center the generic post script printer
• 2) select postscript printer

Then use output

• 3) go to print and select output option as postscript file, not pdf
• 4) Take resulting file over to distiller, which is best run by rebooting in OS 9.
• 5) Use distiller to convert ps file to pdf file. Voila!
• 4/17/02 Rada said I continue with my 2 call count for sending in fix for pdf

Adobe

Save as RTF and it produces everything as single line break??? --would Omnipage do a better job?

Where should I keep Acrobat--OS 9 appls or OS X?

Look For Part 6 Tomorrow