QUATTRO Q & A AND TIPS TERMINOLOGY PROBLEMS - What is a "spreadsheet" strictly spreaking ( in 123 lingo ) the "spreadsheet" is the 123 program and a "worksheet" is the data. In Quattro lingo "spreadsheet" refers to both the software program and the associated data, as a "spreadsheet file" EDITING/DATA ENTRY Problem: I do {End}{Down} and my cursor stops on a blank cell Problem: My @COUNT gives me a count too high Solution: You may have pressed space bar to 'erase' a cell. This caused many problems with Lotus 2.0 Problem: I can't enter addresses. It keeps beeping. Solution: Addresses typically begin with a number. You must precede them with a label prefix. Similarly you will need to precede telephone numbers and social security numbers with a label prefix. Anything you enter that resembles a formula should be prefixed with a label prefix if you don't want it treated as a formula. Problem: I can't enter dates. I just get numbers. Solution: Type then enter your date MM/DD/YY Problem: There is a noticeable pause every time I enter a value or label. Solution: Turn recalculation to manual until data entry is complete. Problem: i want to enter the decimal equivalent of a fraction ( eg, 1.125 rather than 1 1/8 ) but when I enter a formula it stays as a formula Solution: Enter the formula 1 1/8, then press the F2 {Edit} key followed immediately by the F9 {Calc} key to convert this to a value Problem: Pointing to cells doesn't work. I can only point to one before it stops. Solution: Pointing terminates as soon as the {Enter} key is pressed. They must repeatedly press + or & every time the cell selector returns to the cell where the formula is being built. Problem: I can't enter big numbers. It gives me an error. Solution: 1) Are you entering commas? You can't include commas when entering numbers, even if the cell display format is set to comma causing commas to be shown. 2) How big is the number? Do you see asterisks rather than a number in that cell? When a number is wider than the column you will just get asterisks. Widen the column. This is best done by selecting /Column Width and USING THE CURSOR keys to make the column just wide enough. Problem: I can't enter numbers. It gives me an error. Solution: Are you entering dollar amounts? Are you typing the dollar sign? You can't include the dollar sign when entering amounts, even if the cell display format is set to currency causing dollar signs to be shown. Problem: When I press F2{Edit} my cell contents appear on the bottom. Is there anyway to have it show on top? Solution: Yes. Type /, L, D (This will toggle your descriptor line from bottom to top and back again.) MACROS Problem: Macro worksheet fails mysteriously when copies and/or moves are done by block names Solution: A move using named blocks will cause at least the top left coordinate to overlap. The destination block will become ERR. Problem: How do I get Quattro to run Lotus 1-2-3 macros? Solution: You must set up you 123 User Interface. To install the User Interface Type /, D, S, M, A, 123.ALT, S, A ,/ , U, {Esc}, F, O, EXIT Now you can toggle between your Quattro and 123 User Interfaces by Typing /, D, S, M, S, A OR M Problem: How can I get Quattro to record keystrokes that can be read by Lotus? Solution: By selecting /, D, S, C, M, K Quattro will record keystrokes only, which can be read by Lotus. Problem: How does Quattro help me write macros? Solution: Quattro helps you in several ways. 1) Transcript -- records your keystrokes to file periodically. If your system crashes before you saved your file. You can go to transcript and "replay" your keystrokes to a certain point to recover what was lost. For more information see Macros, Add-Ins. 2) Record -- records your keystrokes to a specified location within your spreadsheet (as opposed to writing to a file using transcript). To invoke Record mode type or . Also 3) brings up an menu of macro equivelent commands which will paste directly to your spreadsheet just by pointing to a selection with your cursor keys and pressing . PRINTING Problem: Only prints part of the block you want Solution: Revise your print block ( eg, after extending the data area ) Problem: Printing does not begin at the top of the page Solution: Select Align before printing The proper steps are : 1. set paper to top of form ( top of page ) 2. then select Align Problem: Align is selected but the printer still does not begin printing in the proper location Solution: Sometimes the printer will be confused as to what is top of form -- the sure fire way to be certain is: 1. align the papaper 2. turn the printer off and back on again 3. select Align Problem: Losing some of the printout, near the top or bottom of the page, when you print. Solution: Some printers cannot print near the bottom or top of a page (eg, a laser printer). In some cases what you print will simply not appear or will appear only partially. Problem: Printing gets "out of alignment", that is, lines you expect to print on one page print on another Solution: 1) Some printers will NOT allow you to print near the bottom or top of a page (especially daisy wheel printers because with cut-sheet paper it is hard to firmly grasp the paper). The printer may skip to the top of the next page when you attempt to print near the bottom. The solution here is to set the margins so you don't print too close to the bottom ( stay at least three lines away from the top/bottom if you are having problems ) 2) Some printers have settings to specify other than 66 lines per page ( eg, British A4 size paper is longer than 11" ). Check that the page length of the printer is set to the same as Quattro. Problem: Trying to print near the bottom of the page. I know that the printer can print right across the performation, and the top and bottom margins are set to give the largest print size possible. Solution: Must select the Unformatted option to eliminate the rows reserved for the footer and header. Problem: Footer on last page doesn't appear. Solution: Do a Page advance before quitting printed to force the footer to appear. Problem: Printing is very strange when using headings ( "borders" in 123 terminology ). Part of the print block keeps repeating on every page. Solution: Problem is that the headings overlap each other, or more likely, overlap the print block. Check that there is no overlap. Problem: Can never tell whether the print block is correct since it is larger than the screen. Solution: Press the . key to move from edge to edge Problem: My printer is not on the list supported by Quattro. Can I use it? Solution: Quattro can print text to virtually any printer since it does not need to send the special graphics codes. You may be able to print graphs to your printer if it works like another popular one. Check your printer manual to see if it "emulates" another popular printer. You may need to set switches to do this. GRAPHICS Problem: Graph printing on a dot-matrix printer takes forever Solution: Print a smaller sized graph. Problem: Graph printing on a laser printer takes forever. Solution: The unfortunate fact is that a complex graph printed at 300 dpi ( dots per inch ) can take as long as 45 minutes. Problem: I can't see my graphs. Solution: Quattro requires you define at least one Series in the Graph settings. Type /, G, S, 1, Enter data for Series 1. Problem: Why can't I mix my graph types? Solution: You can, but they are limited to the following types. 1) Lines 2) Markers, 3) Combined Lines & Markers and 4) Bar (Vert. 2D Only). See Graph, Customize, Series, Overide Type Problem: Is there a way to display my graph settings? Solution: Yes. In the Graph menu (and several others) you can temporarily display your settings by pressing the keypad "+" key and "-" to eliminate it. Or you can set your default options to show you settings by typing /, D, S, C, K, Y Problem: What do I need to print a graph in Quattro? Solution: Just choose your printer default by typing /, G, P, P, 1, T. Problem: Graph printing on a pen plotter takes forever Solution: Select a hatch pattern rather than a solid fill. Pen plots simply take time. Problem: Pen plots smear Solution: This can be due to 1) worn out pen tip or 2) plotting too quickly. Recommend that you slow the plot speed. DATABASE Problem: Following a Database Extract or Unique everything below my database output area disappears. Solution: If a single row output block is selected the region below is automatically erased, even if it appears unnecessary to overwrite the rows. Solution is to create a non-single row output block if there is information in cells below. The best solution is to use the bottom left corner of the worksheet for output. Problem: Database query selection criteria and/or output field name appears to match the input block field name but Quattro doesn't place anything into the output field. Solution: The field name does not match exactly, possibly due to a trailing space! Recommend that they ALWAYS do a block copy to create the criterion and output field names, even if it is a single one only. Problem: Database query setup looks fine but I don't get the correct matches. Solution: Check that the criterion formula correctly references the 1st row of the input range. This can be tested by substituting data you know is false (or true) into the 1st range of the input row and seeing whether the criterion becomes false (or true). This supposes automatic recalculation. MEMORY CONSUMPTION Problem: Running out of memory prematurely Solution: Means to economize on memory: 1) use additional columns sparingly 2) use the repeating label prefix ( \ ) when you need to fill a cell with a character ( eg, \ * fills a cell with " * * * *" ) 3) if you repeat the same label repeatedly, and the label is more than a few characters, use a cell reference to it rather than copying the label 4) minimize the amount of comment text in the worksheet. 5) use @REPEAT Problem: Do you support Expanded Memory Specifications (EMS) and coprocessors? Solution: Yes. Quattro supports LIM 3.2 and 4.0 specs. and 8087/80287 math coprocessors and no settings need to be changed, Quattro will autodetect them both and make the necessary changes. Problem: Quattro does not let me you my expanded memory board. Solution: Check that the device driver been installed in CONFIG.SYS . Problem: Insufficient memory to hold a copy of the sort block before sorting. Afraid to sort because they will lose the original record order. Solution: Attached "record numbers" to reach row in the original sort block by using the Block Fill command. PROTECTION Problem: Protection didn't protect me. I had a worksheet corrupted. Solution: Always remember to ENABLE protection, if 123 compatibility has been selected for protection. Problem: The worksheet contains protected cells, and protection is enabled, but when the customer did a Combine Copy the cells were overwritten. Solution: Combine Copy overrides the protection setting. You must be very, very careful with combines. SORTING Problem: After I sort my database I can ERR and corrupted values. Solution: Does your database contain formula? If so you must first convert the formula to values with the Values command. GENERAL Problem: My boarders and menus don't look correct> Solution: Your deflault screen selection needs to be changed. Type /, D, C, P, Color or Monochome Problem: How do I save my Quattro files so they can be read by Lotus. Solution: By saving your file with a .WK1 extension instead of .WKQ Quattro will recognize this and automatically save in Lotus format, .DBF will create a DbaseIII file and .DB will create a Paradox file. Problem: Can I change my menus? Solution: Yes. It's called MenuBuilder. You can add, delete or customize your menus by typing /, M, L, MENUBLDR.QAI, R, Menu Builder. This will bring you to a menu which will ask you whether or not you would like to modify your menus. Problem: I don't like Quattro to remember my last menu choice. Can I make it forget (non-sticky)? Solution: Yes. By typing /, D, S, C, R, N Quattro will forget your last selection and default to the top selection of each menu.