Sorcerer Software Users Newsletter Issue 0203 Welcome to our monthly newsletter, covering the latest updates, tips, and user questions about our software programs. If you have an issue or question you would like to see addressed in a future newsletter, either by me or by your fellow users, please email me and I'll include it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 31, 2002 CONTENTS: 1. The Abacus 2. Envelope Printer 3. CD Stripper 4. An interesting web site... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Abacus http://www.TheAbacus.biz Ever since releasing version 3.0 of the Abacus, we have been getting a lot of questions about how to upgrade and use unlock codes. I thought this would be a good time to go over these issues, especially for those of you who are thinking about upgrading or are uncertain how to go about it. First I need to just explain a few issues. The installation program for version 3.0 ("abacus30.exe") can be downloaded from our web site, and will install the Abacus for you. In the process of doing so it should delete the files used by version 2.1 (if you are upgrading), but if Word is open or even if it has been recently used, the old Abacus files may not be deleted successfully. This can cause a conflict with installation of version 3.0, and also with its operation. Second, version 3.0 requires a different unlock code. The version 2.1 unlock codes WILL NOT work with version 3.0, so if you wish to upgrade you will need a new unlock code. If you are a current user of version 2.1, you can obtain a new unlock code for half price ($10). Now... here are the upgrade problems that seem to come up the most. If you upgrade to version 3.0 and suddenly Abacus isn't working right, it's probably because something in the above paragraphs (deletion of old files or installation of new ones) went wrong. Here's how to check on and fix the problem: 1. Close Word and reboot Windows. Make sure you DON'T open Word after you reboot Windows. 2. Do a search on your computer ("Start->Find->Files or Folders") for the files "abacus.dot" and "abacus.dll". Delete all copies of these files that you find. You are doing this to get rid of any remnants of version 2.1 that may still be on your hard drive. 3. Now run the version 3.0 installation program ("abacus30.exe"). This will install the new "abacus.dot" file, which is the program itself, and its support file, "abacus30.dll". It will also create the "c:\abacus" folder if it doesn't already exist, and copy the Uninstall program and Readme file to your hard drive in this folder. If problems continue, it may be that Word's "normal.dot" file or some other Word files are corrupt, or that Microsoft Works is also present on the computer and conflicting with Word operation. To resolve these problems: 1. Close Word and rename the file "normal.dot" to "OldNormal.dot". Then restart Word. Although Word needs the "normal.dot" file to operate properly, it will now just create a new, non-corrupt one. 2. To fix Word problems, you may be able to run the Detect and Repair application. Access this (in Word 2000 and 2002) by clicking on "Help->Detect and Repair". If this doesn't solve the problem, you may have to re-install Word, or even delete Word and then re-install it. 3. Delete MS Works. If you already have Office on your computer, there is little need to also have Works, which will just take up space on your hard drive. So if you don't need Works, consider getting rid of it. After doing so, you may then need to re-install Word if you're still having trouble. To read more about these problems and their solutions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web site at: http://www.TheAbacus.biz/trouble.htm The current Abacus build is 020306. If you have an earlier build of version 3.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Envelope Printer http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/envelope.htm Several users have told me they would like to place an optional image anywhere on the envelope. Currently you are restricted to putting one only in the upper left corner, right next to the return address. But with the release of our latest build of the Envelope Printer, you can now move and resize the image. To place a BMP image on your envelope, you must first select an image using the Envelope Options screen ("Options->Envelope"). In the lower right section of this screen, select the image you want to use by clicking on the "Add Image" button. Then check the "Display image" box so the program knows that it's supposed to show the image on your envelope. Click on "OK". Now if you click on the Print Preview button ("Print->Print Preview"), you will see your image next to the return address. To move it just grab it with the mouse, hold the left mouse button down, and drag it to its new location. Then release the mouse button. To resize the image, place the mouse cursor over the right or the bottom margin of the image, press the left mouse button, and drag again. Release the mouse button when the image is resized to meet your needs. You're now ready to print. If you want to save the image, its size and its position, click on the image "Save" selection. You will find this in gray text underneath the stamp on the Print Preview screen. If you move the mouse down from the stamp toward the bottom of the Print Preview screen, you will highlight the "Print", "Save", "Refresh", and "Reset" options. The Print option will print the envelope as you have it configured. The Refresh option will update the screen. The Reset option places the image back to its original position and size next to the return address. To then save this reset image position, click on "Save". If you do elect to "Save", the image, its size and its position will apply the next time you start the program. The current Envelope Printer build is 020322 of version 6.1. If you have an earlier build of version 6.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build and version. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CD Stripper http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/cdstrip.htm Some of our users have noticed that the new version (4.0) of CD Stripper does not include certain features found in previous versions of the program. Specifically we have removed the capability of recording from other sources and the option of converting external files from WAV to MP3 format. However these features are still available, and are free to registered users of the CD Stripper. We have just moved these features out of CD Stripper and into their own programs. These other programs, like CD Stripper, require an unlock code. But registered CD Stripper users can use their unlock code on these other programs. Currently available programs include: MultiMedia Jukebox: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/mmjbox40.zip Audio Recorder: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/audio.zip WAV2MP3: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/wav2mp3.zip The current CD Stripper build is 020102. If you have an earlier build of version 4.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An interesting web site... for travelers, is: http://www.orbitz.com Recently chosen by Smart Business magazine as their "Top pick" among online travel sites, Orbitz offers the best prices and selections on airfares, hotels, and car rentals. I used it recently and found navigation to be simple. Having used both Expedia and Travelocity in the past, I find Orbitz to be a worthwhile improvement and worthy of your time and effort next time you need online travel assistance. Do you know of an interesting site you would like to share? Let me know about it and I'll put it in a future newsletter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's all, folks. Look for our next newsletter in about 4 weeks... -- Bill bill@sorcerersoftware.com Sorcerer Software http://www.sorcerersoftware.com To read all the old newsletters, go to: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/archives.htm To be removed from our mailing list, send me an email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.