Add captions for images

By Adam Cogan in Frontpage 0 Comment

Microsoft Word currently supports attaching captions to embedded images, as seen in the following screenshot. This cannot be done with embedded images in Microsoft FrontPage, however. It would be useful if users could add captions to FrontPage images as well.

Figure: Microsoft Word's image pop-up menu includes Caption command

Figure: Microsoft Word’s image pop-up menu includes Caption command

Load MRU (Most Recently Used) lists as a background process during Save or Delete

By Adam Cogan in Office 0 Comment

During the process of saving a file to a machine, Microsoft Office applications will try to load recently used files.
This can cause an unnecessary delay when the machine is not connected to the network that a previous project was saved on; after a certain period it times out and goes on to save the file.
The temporary fix to this is regularly clearing the MRU lists.

As stated by Microsoft Support, following these steps to clear MRU lists of Microsoft Access, Excel, PhotoDraw, PowerPoint, and Word:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  2. Clear the Recently used files check box, and then click OK.

    Figure: Example of clearing MRU lists in Microsoft Word

  3. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  4. Select the Recently used files check box, and then click OK.

    Figure: Example of checking MRU lists in Microsoft Word

This is a common issue in a lot of applications; freezes are usually caused by trying to access a network resource that is not available. MRU processes should be executed as background threads so that they dont lock up the main UI and leave the developer waiting.

Adding “Created By” and “Updated By” fields for contact information

By Adam Cogan in Outlook Express 0 Comment

I want to know who created this contact and who updated the information for this contact, it should have “Created By” and “Updated By” fields.

Figure: Contact information

Figure: Contact information

Suggestion: Adding “Created By” and “Updated By” fields for contact information, and automatic save the logon user to the fields after a contact information was created or updated

We have a rule for checking your database about this, please see Do you have standard Tables and Columns?

 

Storing all settings in the Store Location directory

By Adam Cogan in Outlook Express 0 Comment

Outlook Express is aimed at home users. The file & settings transfer wizard allows users to transfer addresses between computers. However, it is very difficult when changing computers to keep all your mail and newsgroups from your old computer.

The current ‘Files and settings transfer wizard’ is inadequate in transferring mail, news groups and setting between machines.

Figure: Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Figure: Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

Suggestion: All settings be kept in the Store Location directory. This would make moving to another PC as easy as clicking on the “Store Folder” button.

Figure: Store Location Folder

Figure: Store Location Folder

For more information on this topic see your addition article: “When changing computers, how can I keep all my mail and newsgroups from my old computer?”

Help me work with the Macros via XML

By Adam Cogan in Access 0 Comment

I wish could copy the text via a button “Edit Macro XML”… And the XML was formatted nicely :-)

Figure: Add a menu item "View XML"

Figure: Add a menu item “View XML”

    < ?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" standalone="no"?>
    < DataMacros xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/accessservices/2009/11/application">< DataMacro Event="AfterUpdate">
    < Statements>< ConditionalBlock>< If>< Condition>[Table1].[Salary]>50000< /Condition>< Statements>< EditRecord>< Data/>
    < Statements>< Action Name="SetField">< Argument Name="Field">Table1.Notes< /Argument>< Argument Name="Value">
    "he is paid too much"
    < /Argument>< /Action>< /Statements>< /EditRecord>< /Statements>< /If>
    < Else>< Statements>< EditRecord>< Data/>< Statements>< Action Name="SetField">< Argument Name="Field">Table1.Notes
    < /Argument>< Argument Name="Value">"too little"< /Argument>< /Action>< /Statements>< /EditRecord>< /Statements>< /Else><
     /ConditionalBlock>< /Statements>
    < /DataMacro>< /DataMacros>

Figure: This ugly URL should be changed to nicely formatted XML