Planetarion Forums

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 16:45

and we're learning about MS outlook
w00 h00 :\

Embroglio · 14 Oct 2003, 16:58

We did three lessons on changing font colours in word.

Mushroom · 14 Oct 2003, 17:11

On this subject, can anyone please explain to me what the diddly **** mailmerge is? Apparently it's a necessary thing for business that everyone clearly MUST know about... which is obviously why no bugger i've asked knows what it is.
I suspect it's just putting a word file into outlook via word, or something amazingly technical like that, which they have to make a special name for...

ChubbyChecker · 14 Oct 2003, 17:14

I use mailmerge to turn a spreadsheet of addresses into a sheet of address labels.
I'm not sure if it can do anything else.

Intervention · 14 Oct 2003, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroom

On this subject, can anyone please explain to me what the diddly **** mailmerge is? Apparently it's a necessary thing for business that everyone clearly MUST know about... which is obviously why no bugger i've asked knows what it is.
I suspect it's just putting a word file into outlook via word, or something amazingly technical like that, which they have to make a special name for...

It lets you create lots of generic documents quickly.

For example, if you were to create lots of party invitations then you could load all the invitee data into a database, create a generic template for the invitation then merge all the information from the database onto the templates.

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 17:20

what intervention said
i learned that almost a year ago when i took Word.

Mushroom · 14 Oct 2003, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intervention

It lets you create lots of generic documents quickly.

For example, if you were to create lots of party invitations then you could load all the invitee data into a database, create a generic template for the invitation then merge all the information from the database onto the templates.

I see
Maybe it is worth knowing about after all then...

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 17:26

in that class i made a 'congratulations! you could win $100000000!! (you won't.. but you could!)' letters.. merged with some names and addresses.. was tempted to mail them out but didn't :\

Crackmonkey · 14 Oct 2003, 18:03

You're paying someone to teach you that? Just press F1 and save yourself the money.

Dace · 14 Oct 2003, 18:12

My friend has decided to do an Economics degree.

As such he is in first year.

This however is his second degree.

The first was a Masters in some computer type thing (from Imperial).

He worked for > a year in London managing the network of some finance company.

I mention all this because he has to do a compulsary IT skills course at Uni (because he is a first year).

He told a mutual friend that he has just been taught how to save a document in word.

Due to beauracracy he is not allowed to not take the course.

Just thought id tell this story as it seemed kinda relevent.

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 18:31

we're learning powerpoint now
w00 h00 :\

i already know this stuff.. but i have to sit the course if i want to graduate. manditory and all.

KoeN · 14 Oct 2003, 19:02

2 years ago we had a course about MSaccess. 10 lessons of 1,5 hours, had to do assignments from a book that counts 300+ pages.
the day before we had to hand in the assignments i nicked 10 floppies from the teachers desk, check who made the best work. changed some stuff.
got the highest grade of the class

that was pretty funny, just as the reaction of some guy i hated who did all the work, when i told him what i did :P

XeeThot · 14 Oct 2003, 19:44

Me and two mates exploded the uni's firewall in front of the window/office teacher so we could prove him we didn't need his class

Crackmonkey · 14 Oct 2003, 20:00

Lucky for me I'm not required to take intro to computers or some other such thing.

cnaw · 14 Oct 2003, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aryn

and we're learning about MS outlook
w00 h00 :\

are you allowed the option to test out of these classes?

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 20:13

i'm writing emails
it's fun
cause i got a new email through the school
and it's got fun stuff like a translator, calendar, millions of smilies.. etc etc

Aryn · 14 Oct 2003, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnaw

are you allowed the option to test out of these classes?

no

but my teacher understands so she lets me 'play' as long as i get my work done

cnaw · 14 Oct 2003, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aryn

no

but my teacher understands so she lets me 'play' as long as i get my work done

well i guess thats a positive.

Cmdr_Cyrax · 14 Oct 2003, 20:34

Similar thing with me.
Had to do this ECDL" thing. Twas piss easy stuff, but I needed a piece of paper to say i know what I'm doing.

xtothez · 14 Oct 2003, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dace

.

In college I did a 2 year National Diploma in Computer Studies. As part of every ND course everyone has to do the 3 'Key Skills' modules - English, Maths and IT. While we were being taught about low-level assembly programming and TCP/IP networking, we got classes about how to save Word documents and format text in Bold from some bint who thinks a computer is just an expensive typewriter.

Needless to say the pub tended to get busier when that class was on.

LHC · 14 Oct 2003, 20:39

I got kicked out of college today for going to the pub during an IT lesson but I got my teachers to back me up and I'm allowed back now.

pablissimo · 14 Oct 2003, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by LHC

I got kicked out of college today for going to the pub during an IT lesson but I got my teachers to back me up and I'm allowed back now.

Sounds harsh. I know two people in our old school who'd just been to the Design Tech visiting day 'or something' whereupon large volumes of complementary wine had been imbibed, one of whom took it upon himself to try to steal* one of the computers from the lab only to be clocked, dropping aforementioned equipment and running for his life knowing full well the teacher knew who he was.

I miss our old school =(

* Yes it was in Liverpool.**
**Yes I'm aware that it upholds a certain scouse stereotype***
***Die

spunkie munkie · 14 Oct 2003, 21:25

heh some of the stuff i walked out of my old school wiht over the years include a nice projector, sewing maching, an amega, a school flag and a couple of door mats with the school name and badge on which look so nice lying outside my room

LHC · 14 Oct 2003, 21:26

I don't think they would actually uphold it, but that's what they told me, which is pretty gay considering this is the only lesson I've skipped and people skip around five a week and they do nothing.

Dante Hicks · 14 Oct 2003, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroom

Maybe it is worth knowing about after all then...

I'm not sure if you're joking, but mail-merges was one of the few useful things I learnt in secondary school.

Intervention · 14 Oct 2003, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

I'm not sure if you're joking, but mail-merges was one of the few useful things I learnt in secondary school.

Things are only useful if you have a use for them.

For a lot of people, there is no use for mail-merge.