Need Help (not Q/R)

[Lorchen]

I write the newsletter for our guild. I put in the usual articles: President's note, announcements of events, blotto, charm packs, challenges, local quilt shows, retreats,internet links for quilting, charity quilting/ requests/ needs, workshops and other guild related events. I added interview articles with the speakers/ lecturers, new members and slowly been interviewing older members.

I want to make the newsletter more interesting. I think it is getting staided and boring. I am bored with it and I write the thing. Can you think of any other information or articles you would like to read in YOUR guild newsletters. Does your guild newsletter have any special features that would be of interest. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IN YOUR Guild's NEWSLETTER?

POST COMMENTS HERE, THANKS

[Margo]

Sounds to me like you have everything very well covered. Maybe you are beginning to burn out on the job? Could you ask some of the guild members to write some articles that you could include? If it's an e-newsletter, maybe they could do short tutorials presented as a PDF file?
I'm thinking you are already writing a full length magazine. Maybe local quilt shops would want to contribute some advertising?

[PDQuilt]

I would enjoy seeing a column dealing with interesting quilting sites on the web, the podcasts that you mention, etc.

[PDQuilt]

Sounds to me like you have everything very well covered. Maybe you are beginning to burn out on the job? Could you ask some of the guild members to write some articles that you could include? If it's an e-newsletter, maybe they could do short tutorials presented as a PDF file?
I'm thinking you are already writing a full length magazine. Maybe local quilt shops would want to contribute some advertising?

Margo,

I have seen / heard of PDF FILES but do not know what they are. Where could I get one, what kind is the best? I do not have a computer or office background, and am assuming they are files used in businesses, are they easy to use? I am self taught on the computer so like things quick and easy to learn.

Any computer tips or tutoring would be helpful.
Thanks

[Margo]

Anna, I am not real computer savvy either, and I had never done one before, but when TQS asked me to do the tutorial for the Bean Bag Quilt, I realized that on my new computer, there is an option in Microsoft Word to "Save as a PDF". All I had to do was create the directions in MS Word, and attach it to an e-mail sent to Lilo.

learn/projects/

I know that Sue Garman creates all of her TQS BOMs in MS Word and they are presented here in the PDF format.
I know that's not much help to you, but maybe someone who knows can offer info about how to get the PDF software if it's not already on your computer.

[djane]

With most newer programs (MS Office 2007 or newer) you can just save a file as a pdf right from that program. There is a free program you can get off the internet call PrimoPDF that will convert files to pdf as well as Adobe software that you can buy. The easiest is just to convert from MS Office I think.

[kfstitcher]

I learn something new here everyday. I've gotten so much computer training! Thanks all!

[kfstitcher]

THANKS,

I HAVE A NEW COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS 7. I am not sure which WORD PROCESSING program I have but I will take a look later today. I think you guys saved me some BIG BUCKS... more fabric ...

THANKS AGAIN.

.

[Margo]

Yep! My new laptop runs Windows 7. I think I remember that I had to purchase Microsoft Office Word, and that's where I am able to "save as a PDF" file.

BTW...PDF stands for Portable Document Format, but I have no idea what that means... ops:

[fiquilts]

I recently purchased a netbook. I use MS Office on my other computers, but didn't want to buy MS Office for the netbook, so my son suggested I download the free version of Open Office, which I found does have a feature to save a document as a PDF file. Fi

[fiquilts]

My question is always....HOW SAFE ARE THE FREE DOWNWARE SITES... those have always been where I have gotten malware and viruses from... so I am very cautious about them.

Are they safe?

.

[SuperJudy]

My computer repair guy told me that the free computer downloads were generally safe, but any additional add-ons to that download frequently had problems. I've no had a problem since I started loading only the download.

[fiquilts]

If you look on the site openoffice.org and scroll down, you'll see it's part of Oracle. Open Office is an open source software and has been around for quite awhile. We haven't had any issues with it but that's your call, it was just a suggestion unless you prefer to buy Word.

[fiquilts]

I have WORD and PDF files are not in there at least not in my version. I am going to check with my hubby / tech guy and probably download it next weekend.

Thanks for the help.

[fiquilts]

My version of Word on my PC and laptop are from Office 2003 and don't do PDF files either. I've been happy with the version I have so far so haven't had any reason to upgrade. Whatever you do, I hope it works out for you. Fi