Comments on: Publisher 97!!!!

By: tjones

tjones — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:27:44 +0000

I have seen similar errors with older software on newer OS’s and the problem was that the TEMP environment variable was pointing to C:Documents and Settingsblahblahblah. I changed the environment variable on an offending machine to point to C:Temp (after creating that folder) and everything worked well.

By: drillo

drillo — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:32:02 +0000

WOW…I am really surprised by a couple of things here….first, of course is the ageof the software in a learning environment and second is the way it is being used. Fisrt, let me say that I understand your problem with your goss intimately….I too work for a nonprofit where money is tight. I have also found that change is difficult. I would also question the way they are using the software. I have not met too many apps where opening two instances of the same app is a good idea. That is why they build in the ability to open multiple documents in the same instance. Imagine the system resources being used by running the app twice along with anything else they have going in the background.

Do yourself a favour, and remember that I have learned through several years of very hard experience, do some extensive homework on pricing and present a finished proposal for upgrading to your boss. Microsoft and most other software vendors have educational pricing and the savings are significant. In a teaching environment there is no excuse to be that far behind although I know it happens. What you end up with in the long run is students entering the workforce not able to catch up to new software and taking it on the chin in competitions for jobs. My favourite phrase when dealing with “bean counters” and senior management is “I am not here to win any popularity contests, I am just telling you what is required”. Just as a side note, the laptops/PCs should be consistant throughout the individual labs.

Best of luck to you….

Paul

By: carl0s81

carl0s81 — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 08:24:14 +0000

“If they are teaching this software, they are poorly preparing their students for what will be found out there. Sure, one of them may come across an employer who is still using 97, but they are few and far between. Most businesses cannot be more than a couple of versions behind with their software deployments, because of what others are using.”

Beleive me mate i have had the same arguments with the boss. Just re-worded, but it just leads to me getting into trouble!!

Update: I have a temporary fix. 1. incresing the VM did not work.
2. I have found that i can open the file in which pages are to be copied, copy them to the clipboard and open the template in the same publisher program (not opening another instance) and this solves it. But am not too sure if we can understand this (If teachers can teach this way).

WIll give it all a shot!! Cheers for the help so far,

Carl.

By: omen405

omen405 — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:42:59 +0000

in the old pc-laptop the reading might not be right sometimes a harddrive could read 20gb harddrive when u know u have a 40 gig .Vice a versa happens also u could have only 20 gigs but registering 40 gigs

By: stevesz

stevesz — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 02:06:50 +0000

I’m sorry that I cannot help you resolve the current problem. However, there is no excuse for your organization to be using such old software. I do work for a number of non-profit groups, and there are a plethora of programs out there that most can qualify under to get the most recent software at prices taht are at least greatly reduced, if not free except for a small administrative charge (one just got the new SQL Server for $27).

If they are teaching this software, they are poorly preparing their students for what will be found out there. Sure, one of them may come across an employer who is still using 97, but they are few and far between. Most businesses cannot be more than a couple of versions behind with their software deployments, because of what others are using.

So, once youget this problem reolved, start doing your homework to find thiese programs, and putting together a proposal for your boss and the powers that be that will show how they can keep relatively up-to-date for little cost.