Help regarding Word Documents

[Sammael Bard]

My ole laptop went bust and I had to dig deep to get a new one. I just want to know a few things regarding word docs and stuff and hope y'all can help me.


1. I use British English. I have a problem with the spelling part, where the default Word setting is in U.S. English.

So, humour is rejected for humor and so on.

How can I change the default setting to British English?

2. Is there any way I can synchronize all of my word documents stored in different places?

I usually store my documents in a flash-drive and the laptop. When I write, I plug in the flash-drive and type away and save it when I'm done. But the document is only updated for the flash-drive and not the laptop.

Is there any way similar documents on the laptop can be saved along with the ones on my flash-drive? I'm kinda lazy to update every part that I have to write in two places every time.


All, if any, help is greatly appreciated.

 

[oggbashan]

Saving?

Use 'Save As' twice - once for the laptop, once for the flashdrive.

To avoid confusing yourself, use a version code in the title e.g. mystory06.

Whenever you save, update the numeral so 07,08 etc. Then you shouldn't get confused between different states of the same story. When you finally finish it either title it with no numerals i.e. mystory or replace the numerals with 'final' - mystoryfinal

 

[oggbashan]

British English?

Go to Review and then Set Language to English (United Kingdom).

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My ole laptop went bust and I had to dig deep to get a new one. I just want to know a few things regarding word docs and stuff and hope y'all can help me.


1. I use British English. I have a problem with the spelling part, where the default Word setting is in U.S. English.

So, humour is rejected for humor and so on.

How can I change the default setting to British English?

In word option and this depends on what version of word you use as to where you find this. I use Word 2003, so I click on the office symbol in the upper left corner and at the bottom of the dialog click on Word Options.

Then on the first option, Popular, click on the language settings button. You change the default language there. In lower dddw select your primary language.

For other versions of word, prior to 2000, you click the language at the bottom of the window to change the language settings.

2. Is there any way I can synchronize all of my word documents stored in different places?

I usually store my documents in a flash-drive and the laptop. When I write, I plug in the flash-drive and type away and save it when I'm done. But the document is only updated for the flash-drive and not the laptop.

Is there any way similar documents on the laptop can be saved along with the ones on my flash-drive? I'm kinda lazy to update every part that I have to write in two places every time.


All, if any, help is greatly appreciated.

Short answer for this is...no. Or not to my knowledge.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

British English?

Go to Review and then Set Language to English (United Kingdom).

What version of word/office is that?

There is now select language on the review tab in Word 2003.

ETA: Okay, found it...it's just an ICON next to Thesaurus.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Saving?

Use 'Save As' twice - once for the laptop, once for the flashdrive.

To avoid confusing yourself, use a version code in the title e.g. mystory06.

Whenever you save, update the numeral so 07,08 etc. Then you shouldn't get confused between different states of the same story. When you finally finish it either title it with no numerals i.e. mystory or replace the numerals with 'final' - mystoryfinal

I use "Save" most of the times. That way, the story keeps getting updated. When I feel that my plot is bifurcating in a major way/needs amendment, I use "Save As" and continue from the better looking part.

I usually dedicate entire folders to longer stories. Each of them have a separate Word Document containing Premise of the story, Major scenes that I have to include and the story itself. I replace the folders on the Laptop after a week or so to keep them updated.

That is kinda tiresome.

 

[DEGE]

I've wanted to add the idea that Google Docs online edition gave me a very satisfying result. Besides having my story available for editing everywhere (even in my smartphone) it has a built in speller that helps a lot. It acts like an online backup for me, but I do always save a local copy just in case.

I think there is were cloud computing is going and given you have any browser with ********** capability you won't need Ms Word to edit. Maybe it's not the same for those who are used to Ms Word, but once you got used to it is very convenient.

Just my point of view as I use it for Spanish speaking writing.

DEGE

 

[Sammael Bard]

British English?

Go to Review and then Set Language to English (United Kingdom).

In word option and this depends on what version of word you use as to where you find this. I use Word 2003, so I click on the office symbol in the upper left corner and at the bottom of the dialog click on Word Options.

Then on the first option, Popular, click on the language settings button. You change the default language there. In lower dddw select your primary language.

For other versions of word, prior to 2000, you click the language at the bottom of the window to change the language settings.

Thanks for the help. "Humour" isn't being rejected now.

 

[Sammael Bard]

I've wanted to add the idea that Google Docs online edition gave me a very satisfying result. Besides having my story available for editing everywhere (even in my smartphone) it has a built in speller that helps a lot. It acts like an online backup for me, but I do always save a local copy just in case.

I think there is were cloud computing is going and given you have any browser with ********** capability you won't need Ms Word to edit. Maybe it's not the same for those who are used to Ms Word, but once you got used to it is very convenient.

Just my point of view as I use it for Spanish speaking writing.

DEGE

I haven't started using Google based services. I'm leery of them snooping into every private documents and "Help" the user accordingly. Some of the things go way beyond privacy breach.

I'm not connected to the internet all the time. So having a cloud based backup will require me to connect every time, which I don't want to.

I do understand the convenience of Google Docs and stuff, but I'd like to stick to my trusty MS Doc and Co.

 

[TxRad]

I use "Save" most of the times. That way, the story keeps getting updated. When I feel that my plot is bifurcating in a major way/needs amendment, I use "Save As" and continue from the better looking part.

I usually dedicate entire folders to longer stories. Each of them have a separate Word Document containing Premise of the story, Major scenes that I have to include and the story itself. I replace the folders on the Laptop after a week or so to keep them updated.

That is kinda tiresome.

Try this: Everyday Auto Backup

I write on my thumb drive and with this program I have a writing backup folder that i backup to ever so often. I can set up a time length or do it manually. I can also set it up to do one folder or the whole writing section. Or even set up different ones to save one section or another.

When I switch computers i backup the latest to the new computer.

 

[Handley_Page]

Try this: Everyday Auto Backup

I write on my thumb drive and with this program I have a writing backup folder that i backup to ever so often. I can set up a time length or do it manually. I can also set it up to do one folder or the whole writing section. Or even set up different ones to save one section or another.

When I switch computers i backup the latest to the new computer.

Now that what I d'call Useful.

But I think (from a brief look at the website) that it's a lot more than that.

 

[TxRad]

Now that what I d'call Useful.

But I think (from a brief look at the website) that it's a lot more than that.

I downloaded the free version and it works great.

 

[DeYaKen]

I haven't started using Google based services. I'm leery of them snooping into every private documents and "Help" the user accordingly. Some of the things go way beyond privacy breach.

I'm not connected to the internet all the time. So having a cloud based backup will require me to connect every time, which I don't want to.

I do understand the convenience of Google Docs and stuff, but I'd like to stick to my trusty MS Doc and Co.

Just a suggestion but why don't you use dropbox instead of a pen drive. Once youve loaded the program you just save to the dropbox folder. That gives you two copies of the file, one on your hard drive and one in the cloud. If your puter dies you can bring your work back to any web enabled machine.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Note to Thumbdrive/Flashdrive users:

Reads from the drive are free. Writes (including deletes) are not.

Writes are limited, in some cases as low as 10,000 write/erase(s) per cell. In other cases as much as 1,000,000 per cell. Use a flash drive as the source of you word docs, unless you have the auto save functionality turned off, can result in a write cycle every couple of minutes. Now with 1,000,000 write/erase cycles it will take a very long time to run out and start having dead cells on the drive.

Safer: Do the writing on you HDD and copy your work to the flash at the end of the day or when you stop writing for the day.

As for how long a flashdrive will hold data...flashdrives are so new that the estimate is around 27 years, although some estimates are as low a 10 years.

I might go with the 10 year estimate as the chips used are getting smaller and smaller with a higher density.

The first flashdrive I had was a 32mb drive. Used it a lot. When I finally passed it on it was taking longer and longer for the write operations. A sigh that some of the cells were degrading. It was the size of a standard USB flash drive and the memory chip inside was almost a long as the circuit board.

Now I have two 64gb flash drives in the form of mini SD cards. That's a lot of cells in a very small space. Of course, and I've always wanted to say this, we have the technology.

With the 64gb miniSD card I don't have to write as many time per cell. I keep multiple versions of the directories I save. So far I have 10 months worth of saves, with enough room for at least 10 more, before I have to erase one. So, for now, each cell used has had only one write, I have somewhere between 10,000 and 1,000,000 to go.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Try this: Everyday Auto Backup

I write on my thumb drive and with this program I have a writing backup folder that i backup to ever so often. I can set up a time length or do it manually. I can also set it up to do one folder or the whole writing section. Or even set up different ones to save one section or another.

When I switch computers i backup the latest to the new computer.

Sounds great! I'll look up into it.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Just a suggestion but why don't you use dropbox instead of a pen drive. Once youve loaded the program you just save to the dropbox folder. That gives you two copies of the file, one on your hard drive and one in the cloud. If your puter dies you can bring your work back to any web enabled machine.

Actually, I'm absolutely new to cloud computing. I have the dropbbox on my android tablet, and that's it. I used to stick to Windows XP even though Windows 7 and 8 came out as long as I could due to my own convenience. It sounds absolutely great and I'll definitely try it sometimes.

 

[Sammael Bard]

Note to Thumbdrive/Flashdrive users:

Reads from the drive are free. Writes (including deletes) are not.

Writes are limited, in some cases as low as 10,000 write/erase(s) per cell. In other cases as much as 1,000,000 per cell. Use a flash drive as the source of you word docs, unless you have the auto save functionality turned off, can result in a write cycle every couple of minutes. Now with 1,000,000 write/erase cycles it will take a very long time to run out and start having dead cells on the drive.

Safer: Do the writing on you HDD and copy your work to the flash at the end of the day or when you stop writing for the day.

Didn't know that. That's totally new info. :/

As for how long a flashdrive will hold data...flashdrives are so new that the estimate is around 27 years, although some estimates are as low a 10 years.

I might go with the 10 year estimate as the chips used are getting smaller and smaller with a higher density.

The first flashdrive I had was a 32mb drive. Used it a lot. When I finally passed it on it was taking longer and longer for the write operations. A sigh that some of the cells were degrading. It was the size of a standard USB flash drive and the memory chip inside was almost a long as the circuit board.

Now I have two 64gb flash drives in the form of mini SD cards. That's a lot of cells in a very small space. Of course, and I've always wanted to say this, we have the technology.

With the 64gb miniSD card I don't have to write as many time per cell. I keep multiple versions of the directories I save. So far I have 10 months worth of saves, with enough room for at least 10 more, before I have to erase one. So, for now, each cell used has had only one write, I have somewhere between 10,000 and 1,000,000 to go.

That went waaaaaaayy over my head, but I do get your gist which is....erm....ahhh....


*Quickly gets back to a reread*

 

[Handley_Page]

Note to Thumbdrive/Flashdrive users:

Reads from the drive are free. Writes (including deletes) are not.

.

That's the most useful bit of Technical stuff I've seen in a long time.
I've never heard of these limits and 'life' of a drive, but it does make sense.
What we'll soon need is MTBF (Mean time between Failures).

I keep my writing stuff on a separate Hard Drive.
Word is on the main HDD, but that's probably because it's where microsoft thought it should go, rather than my intent.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's the most useful bit of Technical stuff I've seen in a long time.
I've never heard of these limits and 'life' of a drive, but it does make sense.
What we'll soon need is MTBF (Mean time between Failures).

I keep my writing stuff on a separate Hard Drive.
Word is on the main HDD, but that's probably because it's where microsoft thought it should go, rather than my intent.

We do have the MTBF and the MTTF of HHD's and they are sometimes a lot less than what is probably project for flash drives. Although they will be expressed in years, month, days or hours.

I just had my first ever HDD failure in over 30 years of working with computers. The drive was purchased in 2009, failed in 2014. Not a long time, but it ran all day, everyday only stopping for a short time during reboots after update were downloaded.

In that same time I have had two flash drives, both 64mb drives, purchased back 2002 an only used once a day to backup text documents from the HDD.

So, let's see...24 x (5 x 365) = 43,900 hours MTTF for my HDD. That ain't bad.

I wouldn't know how to calculate the MTTF of the flash drives. They did fail in 2008, so they lasted five years. But they were old technology. The newer FD's are probably better built. Could be.

 

[Learin]

Note to Thumbdrive/Flashdrive users:

Reads from the drive are free. Writes (including deletes) are not.

Writes are limited, in some cases as low as 10,000 write/erase(s) per cell. In other cases as much as 1,000,000 per cell. Use a flash drive as the source of you word docs, unless you have the auto save functionality turned off, can result in a write cycle every couple of minutes. Now with 1,000,000 write/erase cycles it will take a very long time to run out and start having dead cells on the drive.

Safer: Do the writing on you HDD and copy your work to the flash at the end of the day or when you stop writing for the day.

As for how long a flashdrive will hold data...flashdrives are so new that the estimate is around 27 years, although some estimates are as low a 10 years.

I might go with the 10 year estimate as the chips used are getting smaller and smaller with a higher density.

The first flashdrive I had was a 32mb drive. Used it a lot. When I finally passed it on it was taking longer and longer for the write operations. A sigh that some of the cells were degrading. It was the size of a standard USB flash drive and the memory chip inside was almost a long as the circuit board.

Now I have two 64gb flash drives in the form of mini SD cards. That's a lot of cells in a very small space. Of course, and I've always wanted to say this, we have the technology.

With the 64gb miniSD card I don't have to write as many time per cell. I keep multiple versions of the directories I save. So far I have 10 months worth of saves, with enough room for at least 10 more, before I have to erase one. So, for now, each cell used has had only one write, I have somewhere between 10,000 and 1,000,000 to go.

http://th02.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/289/1/3/zombies_eat_brains____by_gabsteve-d5i1483.jpg

 

[Zeb_Carter]

http://th02.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/289/1/3/zombies_eat_brains____by_gabsteve-d5i1483.jpg

The information is out there...you just have to look. *cue scary X Files music*

 

[Learin]

The information is out there...you just have to look. *cue scary X Files music*

I suck at crunching an info dump with numbers.


That was quite useful. I always wondered if memory devices wear off after so many virtual edits.

 

[TxRad]

I suck at crunching an info dump with numbers.


That was quite useful. I always wondered if memory devices wear off after so many virtual edits.

It really doesn't matter as most people lose their thumb drive every few years. I've lost three out of the four I've owned but I've never had a failure to read or write.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

They will never fail on the read, reads are free. Only on a write/erase.

And you might not even notice the failure as cells will fail one at a time. The tell tale will be how long it takes to write something to the thumb drive. Reads will be fast. Faster than writes. Writes will be fast to begin with, then over time they will slow down as the on board software tries to even out the cells usage.

Then maybe you lost them because they were taking so long to have data written to them. Your subconscious won out and you bought the new thumb drive with double the capacity of the old one. And now the old one languishes in the back of that bottom desk drawer where you stashed it, just in case.

 

[49greg]

Saving?

Use 'Save As' twice - once for the laptop, once for the flashdrive.

To avoid confusing yourself, use a version code in the title e.g. mystory06.

Whenever you save, update the numeral so 07,08 etc. Then you shouldn't get confused between different states of the same story. When you finally finish it either title it with no numerals i.e. mystory or replace the numerals with 'final' - mystoryfinal

That sounds like a great way to do it, saving as versions - 01 - 02 etc - I'll start doing that next story I start. Thanks.