Keeping the file size of a PowerPoint presentation containing mainly images has always been a time consuming task, copying every image to be in the presentation, saving them to an appropriate size and resolution keeping the quality of the image sharp but the file size small. If this process is ignored (often it is) presentations can become slow, jumpy and in the worst case have big delays between slides.

This has now been addressed it the latest version of the software with the facility to change the size and resolution allowing images to be added at any size, reduced and cropped once the presentation is complete.

This feature can be found by selecting an image, selecting Format, select Compress Pictures.

Then you have several options depending on the purpose for presentation. Be aware this cannot be undone so if you want to email the presentation but also print it make a version for each.

If you want to rename multiple files eg, site photos etc, I have recently been using a nifty little piece of Freeware I found on the web called ‘1-4a Rename’. The executable file is stored in Computers and IT and can simply be copied onto your desktop.

Very easy to use, just use the inbuilt explorer to locate your files, fill in the ‘replace’ or ‘Insert/append’ fields as required and select ‘Start’. Job done.

You can also change case if you so desire.

My spies at the Pen Shop tell me that our old friends ROTRING are no more. Our careless disregard for the sheer beauty of the hand drawing in favour of the mechanistic impersonal computer has caused their inevitable demise.

A few fountain pens still available going cheap - and hang on to those rapidograph nibs - they’ll be worth a fortune one day

Steve Elwen has finally cracked the problem of blank areas when PDFing A1 drawings: do not use the polygonal viewports that are standard in our templates! Create a rectangular viewport instead, and your problems will be sorted. No more blank areas.

But if you don’t know what I’m talking about and you’ve never had the problem, don’t worry. It doesn’t apply to all computers, and we’re still not quite sure why…

Can I just remind everyone that there is a Links section to this site, which does exactly as it says on the tab. There are links to the websites of many companies that we work with and other interesting little websites. Please have a look, click on some and add any sites you feel we are missing. Are you working with a company that isn’t on here? Add it in! But what’s that I hear? How do I add a link Mr Blog Administrator? Well I’m glad you asked, because it’s easy.

• Log in the the blog, just as if you were going to write a post.
• Click on the Links section on the pale blue bar at the top. 
• Click on the Add Link option.
• Copy/type the full web address of the link in to the URL box.
• Enter the name of the company/website in the Link Name box.
• Pick a suitable category from the pull-down list.
• Click on Add Link.

And there you go, easy. Go crazy, give it a whirl.

Here’s a handy little tip for people who suddenly notice that the z-coordinates in their drawing aren’t quite as close to 0 as they should be.

There is a file called flattenez.lsp, which I have put on both servers, that will pretty much obliterate all the z-coordinates in a drawing. To run the file you need full AutoCAD (not LT). Type ‘appload’ as a command then browse to the ACAD Settings folder on the server and double-click on flattenez.lsp. Now you can type ‘flatten’ in the drawing and your worries will be over.

Veterens of the ‘other’ flattn.lsp will notice that this one isn’t quite so polite - it doesn’t ask what you want flattening, and it doesn’t ask twice… use with caution. On the other hand, it does work very effectively. Combine this with explode and smash (another .lsp) and 3D topographical surveys will weep 2-dimensional tears at your feet.

Any problems. just email me.