I can't make my text appear in blue either, though I could probably find out how to do that the same way I found out how to make text appear in italics and include links or pictures in posts - by going View - Source and seeing how the HTML code handles such things. I work with computers a lot, and although I don't work with HTML it's not much of a leap to figuring out what bits of HTML do. I think I heard about the View - Source thing from friends.

Actually, the first few times I put a picture in a post I had to mail the code to my clever girlfriend to check I'd got it right. The Dirty Vicar is not infallible.

Ur

10 PRINT "starry is better at pooters than rickyt"
20 UR something about 10 = FALSE...?

ARGH! SYNTAX ERROR!
ABORT, RETRY, FAIL?

Bloody pooters.

[I]Italics[/I]
[B]Bold[/B]
[U]Underline[/U]

For images they must be on the web somewhere and end in jpg. To find out the address of an image left click on the image and then the properties tag will list the address. Ctr C the address eg http://www.zpub.com/un/pope/papaeast-s.jpg and write it like this to paste an image:

[img SRC="http://www.zpub.com/un/pope/papaeast-s.jpg"]

That’s all I know me = computer bonehead

I http://home.graffiti.net/runmdc/crazy_heart.gif POINTLESS GEEK STUFF!

Pinefox how do you get a book published?

As others have said, once you start it's easy to pick up the basics.

If you want your own weblog, sign up at Blogger and you can use a free blogspot host.

To update your weblog, consists of two parts: the template editor, and the weblog posts editor part. Indeed the weblog posts editor has automatic buttons, to do bold, italic and even add URL.

The physical process about how books are made I haven't a clue about - I only know a bit about a) negotiating with publishers and b) typing the text. I think you'll agree that these, while in their own terms potentially complex, are more 'basic' skills than the computer ones you're talking about.

Also Tom E: thanks for answering the question, which was "WHY are you computer experts?", not "HOW do computers work?". The latter kind of advice is testimony to a) ILx people's goodwill and willingness to share expertise, b) the complexity of the machines.

Graham: I think you are being modest. Your redesign of ILX shows you to be one of the most talented programmers on ILX, at least as far as I can see. I would guess that your prowess at these things outstrips most other posters'.

In our (my) working life time, offices have gone from being places where there was maybe one computer and a printer to places where everyone is hooked up, via their terminal, to internal and external networks, not to mention the interweb. Either through personal interest, office training or practicality, a lot of people now know far more about how computers, their languages, their hardware and software work (in much the same way that people who have a car end up knowing a bit about how engines work, I guess). This kind of multi-skilling (deskilling?) is common in most modern jobs, apart, it would seem, from modern university lecturers, whose work unusually still involves talking to people and reading and writing on bits of paper. I'm sure there would probably be short courses for faculty to help you learn this stuff.

Actually, the above is probably only true for people in their thirties. Ver kids today learn html while they're still on farley's rusks, don't they?

Me? I did do a course in HTML as part of my MSc years ago but I think even if I hadn't I would have picked it up. Just natural curiosity about computery things.

God I want some rusks.

Rusks rusks rusks.

What's a computer?

I learnt a bit of HTML for that. And I was stuck in a tiny village and BORED OUT OF MY MIND...

Also NUMBER FIVE IS ALIVE! That was all done with compuders don't you know (also a complicated system of mirrors and pulleys and soap)

The Nipper and others do seem to assume a kind of osmosis effect: hanging around computers makes you find out about them (?). But doesn't this underestimate their complexity? The skills involved, let alone the frigging machines themselves, are very specific and intricate - beyond a certain level, I doubt that you just 'pick them up'.

Other example of failed osmosis: I have been eating TONS OF FOOD for many years but still know nothing about it; also I have been hanging around kitchens for many years, eg. at parties, but can hardly cook anything. For that matter, I have been in tons of cars but will never be able to drive one.

Perhaps this is to say that those of you who are experts are underestimating the level of your expertise.

(i cannot do left<=>right so this is harder than cookery obv)

I was, until recently (geologically speaking), a Computer Programmer By Trade, but I only have a smattering of magic blue writing skillz. My resistance to learning HMTL was the opposite of the PF's - as a lofty software developer (who was secretly quite bad at sw dev'mt) I imagined it must be so easy (all those web-sites run by - ha! - morons) that it couldn't possibly be worth my time to look into it.

This is also why I cannot swim or ride a bike. (I am part-fish/invented the spoke).

This is the Big Lie that kept the software industry afloat for about 20 years. People don't realize how EASY things like HTML actually are.

the difficulty comes with everything else - you need to organise files (something someone who just sticks everything in My Documents probably can't do), know about relative paths for linking, need to be able to ftp files to a server, need to edit files more precisely than Word lets you - means using something more akin to notepad than word. yes, you could do everything in Word and then Save As HTML but you'd end up with horrible html. i wouldn't trust it any more than i'd trust babelfish to translate anything into french.

this lower level knowledge requirement is a sticking point in a lot of cases.

andy
"Meet Mike - he swims like a fish..." 8)

a funny thing i noticed is that students in my old department all started having "minimalist" web pages with just blue links on a white background. (actually, i think one student started it.)

another is that i overhead my professor explaining the concept behind object oriented programming as focussing on nouns as opposed to verbs, which in turn might get people thinking about how language is structured.

Nicky D = learned German at school

Tom E = read Teach-Yourself-German

The Nipper = works with Germans

The Pinefox = je ne comprends pas

Steady Mike = George Steiner

Select if, during that process, you embarrassed yourself with numerous non-functional HTML fiascos.

Lookitme I'm the Pinefox and I can do it too!

-- the pinefox (pinefox@hotmail.com), September 9th, 2002.

I did a degree in Computer Science just a few years back to get a job in that area, so I learned a bit of HTML there; but mostly I just picked it up. I think the people who are saying that it's easy may have a different background from PF - its paradigms and mental models are not ones with which PF is familiar, so it may not appear at all easy. This isn't to do with intelligence (he is clearly an exceptionally intelligent man) but with learnt expertise. I got some contemptuous reactions when I started at university, because there was loads of stuff that I didn't know that all of the young students did (I was in my late 30s and hadn't used a computer until the '90s). I was top of the class all the way through by a mile, but even at the end there were things that 90% of the class knew and I didn't - we had such different backgrounds, in relation to computers. I don't know PF's in this regard (or any other regard, come to that), but he may be in the position I was several years ago, though obviously without embarking on studying the subject.

I still don't have a webdesign clue.

test

I am reviving it now to say: my www computer has got screwed up, when I pressed a button or something, so that the things at the bottom of the screen that tell you what other programs are running keep disappearing. They appear again if I put the Mouse over them. Then a few seconds later they disappear. How can I make them reappear for good? I find it disorientating, I think, not to have them visible.

I fear that even if I turn the machine off, the problems will recur.

But seriously, right-click on your taskbar, choose properties, then unselect "Auto-hide the taskbar".

Is the taskbar the thing (that used to be) at the bottom of the screen?

Is "keep the taskbar on top of other windows" checked? Make sure it is.

If I can get it, I should try dragging it, then?

I think the thing was checked, that you suggested.

If those settings seem to be set correctly, try setting them wrong, clicking OK, seeing if anything changes, then set them right again/

I suppose I could try restarting the computer as you suggest.

It seems unfortunate that computers are like this: you do something without knowing it, which is debilitating - and then there are no means to rectify it. Yes - that seems unfortunate.

But that's just like real life!!

Seeing as you are all computer experts (TM), I would still appreciate the advice that would solve this problem for me.

Solution:

a) close all your programs
b) move the mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen, and see if it changes into a double-headed arrow pointing up and down
c) hold down the left button and move the mouse up until the taskbar reappears

If the pointer doesn't change in b), then I'm wrong.

I am not sure about the closing programs bit. You mean, close ilx, for instance? Why is this necessary to your plan?

At the bottom of the screen, so far, no, that is not happening. The arrow sometimes goes left to right, but not up and down.

I am quite serious in my appeal for advice, here. Any more available, I would appreciate it.

Press the windows key again to make your taskbar appear. Once it does keep your mouse over it. Right click your right mouse button over the grey area to show a menu. This menu may have an option that says "lock taaskbar" - if it does, click it. Otherwise click "properties" then a new window will apear. This will have a checkbox option for "Auto hide" - uncheck that (click the wee tick to remove it). Then click 'ok' or 'apply'.

I think.

Pinefox, once you've finished sorting your computer, could you can pass on some of your knowedge of the written word? Anything on avoiding redundancy would be helpful.

I give up :-(

Actually, someone already mentioned that.

And restarting the PC which was gonna be my next suggestion.

Yes, I clicked taskbar always on top.

And today I restarted the computer.

I think that this all started with me pressing some keys - Return a couple of times? - and suddenly the www screen had enlarged and swallowed the taskbar, which (as I say) since then only comes back sporadically or momentarily. So I suppose I think that there must be a combination of keys that will bring it back.

It also does not help if the subject patient supplicant continues doing helpful things without being prompted.