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View Full Version : Pete's Tech Tips - Do as I say, not as I do!


Peter Lambert
12-04-2006, 12:20 AM
Have been working on several flipcharts all evening, not closing and not saving files frequently. Well of course you know what's coming - the computer crashed :mad:
Thank goodness for Activstudio's flipchart recovery application [clap]

One thing I have found is this. Whatever application you are working with, the longer you go without saving your file, the greater the chance for a crash. (Of course, like many of us, I only save my work frequently after the computer crashes!) :rolleyes:

Windows has a problem with what it calls system resources. Even though you have a lot of RAM and hard drive space, the longer you work, the more your system resources are drained. When your system resources get low, your computer gets unstable and crashes are the result.

Some things I do when working with important flipcharts. Save often. If things are getting slower and slower (a sign that your system resources are getting low), save the document and shut down Activstudio or Activprimary. Sometimes it is even good to reboot your computer. Then you start out with maximum system resources. I have seen system resources get so low, that the pen/annotation tool refuses to mark the flipchart page! A sure sign resources are running low!

Try not to have other applications open that you are not using. These use system resources even though they are not in use.

If you have imported a lot of bitmap images, even though you have deleted them, or are not using them, a copy of the entire image may be retained in the clipboard or system memory because you may want to use Undo. Scans are generally enormous files, I always reduce their size in my graphics editing program. Sizing images in Activstudio doesn't reduce their file size only their dimensions on screen.

So do as I say - not as I do - and SAVE OFTEN! ;)

If you have any tech tips or advice to other users out there, why not share them here? +wave+

sartley
12-04-2006, 09:28 AM
And following on from Pete's very wise and useful tech tips - having had the Windows screen of death a month ago :eek: :eek: when my PC would not even recognise I had a C drive :eek: :eek: :eek: , if you have lots of "valuable" resources, it is worthwhile backing up to a large USB memory stick - which seem to be coming down in price all the time, or to an external hard drive.

Another thought re scanned images and bitmaps. I have on occasions used the camera tool to capture the scanned image/bitmap, deleted the picture and retained the scan, then as Pete suggests, do a reboot to maximise system resources.

Cliff Farrand
12-04-2006, 09:32 AM
Is there milage in adding a feature request to our own software of automatic save routines like Word does - I have no idea how complex that is or whether it is worth it - but to anyone who has experienced data loss as a result of a crash - autosave quite often saves the day on Office applications.

Dug
12-04-2006, 10:38 AM
I remember using Acorn computers 15 years ago which had minimal RAM and if you were dealing with large files like pictures they would pretty much grind to a halt. One solution was to manually reallocate system resources to or from certain applications in order to allow you to continue to work. Wondered if such a thing was posiible in windows as it might save a reboot etc.

Margaret Allen
12-04-2006, 01:29 PM
One of the main reasons I requested an additional "save" format for AP2 - in other words the fact that you can now just "save" the same as AS2 by just clicking on the word save from the drop down was for exactly that reason.

Before in AP you had to go through the "save as" journey each time.

[clap]

daverosthorn
12-04-2006, 03:02 PM
it is worthwhile backing up to a large USB memory stick - which seem to be coming down in price all the time, or to an external hard drive.

Or to a DVD-RW or CD-RW!

daverosthorn
12-04-2006, 03:04 PM
I press Ctrl+S every 5-10 mins. It's something that I've gotten used to and now do it automatically. :cool:

sartley
12-04-2006, 06:43 PM
Me too! It saves hours of angst!

kpbooth
17-04-2006, 02:39 AM
Here's a thought... I use this when helping large groups of teachers to create flipcharts in a workshop. Set the countdown timer to go off every 10 minutes; this will remind everyone in the room to save when they hear it. (It works when you are by yourself also...)

Laura OHalloran
18-04-2006, 01:32 PM
Or.... just use a MAC!! {}

Laura :p

Mike Dawson
19-04-2006, 03:05 AM
Or.... just use a MAC!! {}

Laura :p

You tell 'em, laura! :D

davidlloyd
26-04-2006, 01:09 PM
I second Laura [clap] It's so good not being a lone voice in Promethean UK anymore!