[SLUG] Re: ECDL

[Al Girling]

Pete Redwood wrote:
> On Monday 03 October 2005 12:15, scarborough-request at mailman.lug.org.uk wrote:
> > My comments regarding ECDL are not related to the course being
> > exclusively based on MS products.  I agree whole heartedly that much can
> > be learnt whether you use MS Office or OpenOffice.org or Abiword etc.
> > The problem I have is where you can fail if you don't use specific
> > methods to achieve the desired results.  By this I mean you can fail if
> > you use Control-s to save instead of using the mouse to click File >
> > Save.  I realise this is more likely caused by the limits of the
> > course/exam software than a deliberate attempt to make people use the
> > mouse over the keyboard.  Surely the object is to ensure that people
> > passing ECDL have the knowledge to use each piece of software
> > productively than simply following a set of instructions parrot fashion.
> > I've heard numerous examples of people being forced to use a particular
> > methods which will slow productivity.
> Wholeheartedly agree with that Al. It would seem that the folks who write 
> these things have no knowledge of anything outside Microsoft. Strange though, 
> since when I took the RSA equivalents some twelve years ago we used all sorts 
> of software - whatever was available, and it didn't include MS Word. Still 
> when both the Department for Education & Science and the Learning & Skills 
> Council are only prepared to provide downloads for Microsoft users, on the 
> basis that others constitute a tiny minority (their words!) you realise where 
> the exam boards are coming from. 

I think it's fair to say that the authorities in general dance to an MS
tune. :(

>                                  Part of my working time is spent converting 
> MS formatted stuff (Access databses) for use on Macs (running OSX of course)

I'm surprised at this.  I was under the impression that Mac OSX was
fully compatible with MS Office, NTFS write etc.  Or is it just Access
you need to convert?  I think I'm right to say that Access has to be
bought extra to Office unless you buy the Pro version, so this sort of
makes sense.

> >Any idea why Kmail is inserting | symbols in my original message?
> >Are you using a seperate text editor?
> No. I do sometimes, but not for these. Whereabouts in the message do pipes 
> appear? If it is at the beginning of each line Kmail actually inserts ">", (a 
> greater than) which triggers green text to make it stand out. (I've spelled 
> it in case your client converts it.) Does that explain it?

The extra symbols are between the two spaces I use between sentences
(old fashioned I know, but I was taught by an old fashioned typist).  It
only happens during the Vim session when I edit a mail and they're not
displayed in Mutt, so I'd not worry about it.  I've not seen it from any
other kmail users I know and was curious.

> BTW thanks for pointing out that I forgot to change the subject line!! It's 
> often something I overlook.

No problem.  Old habits from when I was mailing list admin here.

Toodle pip,

Al

-- 

Al Girling

GPG: key ID 0xD826BCE9
Home page:                  <http://al.sdf-eu.org>
Linux User: #290080         <http://counter.li.org>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: Digital signature
Url : http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/scarborough/attachments/20051004/04d8659c/attachment.bin