So you've had your computer for a while now, does it seem to be taking longer to do the things it used to do easily? Do you get frustrated waiting for that printout or for the PC to boot up? What's changed? Do computers wear out?
Well apart from the inevitable hardware failure, your computer doesn't age or slow down like we do. It will do the same jobs the same way until it dies. The perception you have of your computer slowing down is more likely to be as a result of your needs changing. Maybe your workload has increased, or you've installed the latest operating system or applications that happen to be more demanding of your CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory resources. Whatever the case, once you feel that your computer is no longer meeting your needs a decision needs to be made. Replace or upgrade?
Upgrading components in a PC can be a viable and cost affective way of breathing new life into your computer. Some examples of this are:
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If you are running out of hard disk storage space a new drive can be installed and the content of your existing drive transferred without the need to reload software. Why waste time continually moving and deleting files manually when relief is at hand.
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Most computers sold over 12 months ago would have been sold with 64Mb or less of RAM but the norm is now 128Mb RAM! Memory modules are easy to install and the benefits of extra memory can even outweigh those of a CPU upgrade.
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If you rely on a CD Drive or CD Writer you might find the latest hardware will alleviate some of the time spent waiting for your CD to load or burn. CD drives are now 52 speed and the latest CDR writers can write at 24 speed.
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Deskjet and Inkjet printers are cheaper and faster than ever so simply replacing your old printer may do the trick.
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The alternative to upgrading is to replace your entire PC. While this can be a costly exercise, in some cases it may be the only option. If your computer is more than a few years old the hardware may not be compatible with new CPUs, motherboards or even hard drives. Buying a new PC will give you the option of passing your old PC on to someone who may not require the same computing power as you.
If you would like some advice or prices on upgrades or new PCs then call John Newman in our Network Service division on (03) 9682-3122.
How do I keep a copy of a timetable open while editing another one?
It is often useful to have a copy of one timetable open while you are editing another one. The copy timetable will not update, but at least you can get an idea of what swaps or moves are possible.
To have a copy of a timetable open while editing another one:
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Go to TOOLS>TIMETABLES
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Open out the branch on the tree-view that contains the timetable for which you wish to have a copy open
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Select the timetable you wish to copy
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Change into EDIT mode
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Right-click on the timetable and select COPY TIMETABLE
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Locate the timetable you wish to edit
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EDIT the timetable
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To view a timetable that has been copied, simply click anywhere in the window of that timetable.
If the copied timetable is not visible, go to the WINDOW menu, select WINDOW LIST and select the copied timetable you wish to view from this list.
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How do I use the Filter function in Excel?
In a previous newsletter we discussed how to copy grids to Excel and, if needed, use the Sort function to sort the resultant data. Here is another method of confining the visible data using the Filter function:
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Copy the required grid to Excel using the FILE>EXPORT>GRIDS TO EXCEL menu.
Remember that some pop-up windows may not allow you to access the File menu. In these cases there is usually a right click menu that will have a "View in Excel" option.
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Once your grid has been exported to Excel go to the DATA menu and select FILTER>AUTO FILTER
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A drop-arrow will appear in all the column headers
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Click on the drop-arrow and select the appropriate FILTER
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You can alter the column widths, hide columns, add borders etc before printing the Excel spreadsheet
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"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there."
Indira Gandhi
Regards,
Robert Bakker
Computer Techniques P/L
Phone: +61 3 9699 9777
Fax: +61 3 9690 2802
Email: firstclass@human-edge.com.au
Human Edge adheres to a policy of not sending unsolicited (SPAM) e-mail. You are receiving this e-mail because you are listed as a contact for a product or service that our organisation provides or have requested that this service be activated for you. If you are receiving this message in error or wish to have our records changed please advise us via return e-mail or call us on +61 3 9690 5044
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