GW 1.0: Greetings Workshop Readme.doc (155874)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Greetings Workshop

This article was previously published under Q155874

SUMMARY

The information below is contained in the file titled Readme.doc. This file is located in the Greetings Workshop directory and can be found in the Greetings Workshop program group.

NOTE: This Readme document refers to the Microsoft Download Service (MSDL). As of 12/31/1998, the MSDL service is no longer available. To download support files, visit one of the following Microsoft Internet sites:

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Greetings Workshop

Supplemental Information File

Thank you for purchasing Microsoft Greetings Workshop. This file will help
you get the most out of Greetings Workshop.

You can print this file by opening it in any Windows word processing
program and choosing the Print command from the File menu. To read this
file on screen, use the Page Down and Page Up keys on your keyboard.

Table of Contents
-----------------

 1. Installation tips

 2. Video cards and display problems

 3. CD-ROM problems

 4. Audio problems

 5. Printing problems

 6. Printing tips

 7. Saving your projects

 8. Working with photographs

 9. Using modems for online access

10. Making Projects with Hallmark Connections special paper

The following are a few suggested solutions for common problems encountered
while using Greetings Workshop:

  1. Installation tips

      *Shut down other applications
      -----------------------------

      It is best to shut down other applications before running Setup as
      Setup installs system files that may be shared with other
      applications.

      *Free hard disk space on your computer
      --------------------------------------

      If the install program indicates that there is not enough disk space
      on the drive you want to install Greetings Workshop, either make room
      on that drive (by deleting files), or choose another drive before
      attempting installation again.

      If you've made the above change, and you still can not install
      Greetings Workshop, check to see if the following is the cause of
      your problem.

      *Verify disk space on the drive containing Windows
      --------------------------------------------------

      Even if there is enough disk space on the drive you want to install
      Greetings Workshop, there may not be enough disk space on the drive
      containing Windows. This is a problem because Greetings Workshop
      installs all of it's utilities, fonts, graphic filters, and system
      files on the Windows drive. Therefore, you need at least 12 MB of
      space on the drive containing Windows in order to install Greetings
      Workshop.

      *Setup may take a while
      -----------------------

      If the setup process is taking a long time, it doesn't necessarily
      mean there is a problem. As long as there is occasional movement on
      the setup progress bar, Setup is working correctly.  Greetings
      Workshop is rich in content which increases the installation time.

      *Online registration
      --------------------

      Online registration requires that your computer has a correctly
      installed modem. Please refer to Windows documentation on how to
      check for, and install a modem on your computer.

      If the online registration for Greetings Workshop does not work, the
      only way to try again is to re-run the setup program.  If the problem
      continues, please use the postal registration card included in the
      Greetings Workshop box.

      *Log in as administrator on Windows NT 4.0
      ------------------------------------------

      In some cases, Greetings Workshop will not install correctly on a
      Windows NT system when you are logged on as a user.  To work around
      this, log in as an administrator before running Setup. Greetings
      Workshop runs on Windows NT, version 4.0 or higher.

      *Reinstall Greetings Workshop if you uninstall Office95
      -------------------------------------------------------

      Uninstalling Office95 removes some shared components that are needed
      by Greetings Workshop. If you uninstall Office95 from your computer,
      be sure to re-install Greetings Workshop prior to using it again.

  2. Video cards and display problems

      Greetings Workshop will not run in 16-color mode.  However, if you
      have a VGA-only video card or monitor, you can change to a higher
      color mode, such as 256 colors, which is the minimum requirement to
      run Greetings Workshop. Refer to your Windows documentation for
      instructions on changing to a higher color mode.

      Your system may already have a driver installed that displays 256
      colors or more. For instructions on how to determine what video
      driver you have installed, or how to install or change drivers, refer
      to your Windows documentation.

      If you are having additional display problems, try doing the
      following:

       1. Close down other applications to ensure you have enough memory.

       2. Switch to a driver supplied by Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, or
          better.

       3. Change to a different display mode. An alternative to using a
          different driver, is to change your video mode to a standard
          video mode such as 640x480 resolution with 256 colors.

       4. Obtain updated drivers from your video card manufacturer. Most
          problems can be fixed by obtaining new drivers.  Contact the
          manufacturer of your video card to determine if there are newer
          versions available. The phone number should be in the manuals
          that came with your video card or personal computer.  Another
          option for obtaining updated drivers is the Microsoft Download
          service, an electronic bulletin board that can be accessed via a
          modem at (425) 936-MSDL (425-936-6735).

  3. CD-ROM problems

      NOTE: Do not remove the Greetings Workshop compact disc from your
      CD-ROM drive while running Greetings Workshop. If Greetings Workshop
      cannot find the data files required to run, you will see an error
      message prompting you to correct the problem by inserting the
      Greetings Workshop CD.

      To find the source of the problem

       1. Make sure the Greetings Workshop compact disc is correctly
          inserted into the CD-ROM drive.

       2. Ensure that the CD is clean of dust or marks. Clean the CD with a
          dry cloth.

       3. Check for conflicts with your CD-ROM by clicking on the My
          Computer icon on the Windows desktop with the right mouse button
          and selecting Properties. On the System Properties screen select
          the Device Manager tab and look for the CD-ROM in the list. If it
          appears with an exclamation point to the right of it, there is a
          conflict with the hardware setup, and you should check the
          manuals that came with your CD-ROM drive for information on
          setting up your CD-ROM.

      If you still see an error message after checking the points above,
      check the manuals that came with your CD-ROM drive for information on
      how a CD-ROM is to be set up, or contact the company that supplied
      the CD-ROM drive.

  4. Audio problems

      *Sound Does Not Play At All
      ---------------------------

      If the volume is turned up and you do not hear sound, something may
      be wrong with your audio card installation. Check to see that the
      audio card drivers are installed correctly and reinstall them if
      necessary. You can do this by running media player from the
      Accessories group and playing a .WAV file (from the Start menu item
      on the task bar, click on Programs, then click on Accessories).

      In addition, check the following:

       1. Are the speakers plugged in to the computer and connected to the
          batteries, or to the power outlet?

       2. Check the volume control on the speaker itself.

       3. Check the volume control in Windows by clicking on the speaker
          icon on the far right hand side of the Start bar on Windows
          Desktop.

       4. Do you hear sounds in other programs? If not, make sure you have
          a properly installed sound card by checking the sound card manual
          or by calling the sound card manufacturer for help.  If yes, then
          contact Microsoft Product Support using the contact information
          in the Greetings Workshop companion booklet.

      *To find out if you have a sound card
      -------------------------------------

       1. Right click on My Computer.

       2. Click Properties, then click the Device Manager tab. If you have
          a sound card, it will be listed in the Device Manager box. If you
          do not have one, it will not be listed.

      *Sound Plays But It Is Distorted Or "Fuzzy"
      -------------------------------------------

      Sound distortion is often caused by playing sounds at a higher volume
      than your speakers are able to handle. You can adjust the volume in
      one of two ways:

       1. Turn the volume dial on the back of your sound card (in the rear
          of the computer where the speakers plug in).

       2. Change the volume control in Windows by clicking on the speaker
          icon on the far right hand side of the Start bar on Windows
          Desktop.

      *Sounds Are Cut Off
      -------------------

      Most audio cards play one sound at a time; therefore, other sound-
      producing programs could interrupt the sounds from Greetings
      Workshop. If you suspect you have such a program, do not run it at
      the same time as the Greetings Workshop.

      *Error Message:  "No Wave Device That Can Play Files..."
      --------------------------------------------------------

      If you get the above error message, you should open the Control
      Panel, choose Add/Remove programs, select Windows setup, then choose
      Audio Compression from the Multimedia section.

  5. Printing problems

      Printers differ in their ability to print fonts, graphics, spacing,
      alignment, and character formats; thus, the appearance of your
      printed project may vary greatly from printer to printer.  If you
      encounter problems while printing from Greetings Workshop, such as no
      printout, low print quality, or missing text, there are several ways
      to troubleshoot the problem.

      NOTE: If the printer displays a message or an error indicator, see
      your printer manual for information on how to correct the problem.

      *When the printer does not print at all
      ---------------------------------------

      When a printer does not print at all, the cause is often mechanical:

       1. Check that the printer is plugged in and turned on.

       2. Check that the correct port is specified for your printer. Most
          printers are connected to the LPT1 port on your computer.

       3. Make sure that you have the correct cable for your printer and
          that the cable is connected properly.

       4. Try printing from another application, such as Word. If you are
          not able to print, and your printer is turned on and correctly
          connected, refer to your printer manual for further assistance.
          If you are able to print, contact Microsoft Product Support using
          the contact information in the Greetings Workshop companion
          booklet.

       5. Check to ensure that you are using the correct printer driver.
          Refer to the documentation that came with your printer or contact
          the printer manufacturer.

       6. Check your printer setup: click Start, Settings, and then
          Printers. Verify the printer information displayed. Click on the
          General tab and try printing a test page from this dialog. Click
          on Details tab and verify port and driver settings.

      *Graphics could be clipped or may not print on some printers
      ------------------------------------------------------------

      Some printer drivers have difficulty printing some graphics. An
      updated printer driver often corrects the problem.  Contact the
      printer manufacturer to obtain the latest printer drivers for your
      printer.

      In addition, Canon printers may 'clip' graphics (part of the graphic
      does not print). If you are using a Canon printer, using the latest
      printer driver may help correct the problem.

      *Printing issues with HP DeskJet 600 Series Printers
      ----------------------------------------------------

      If you are using the default settings for an HP DeskJet 600 Series
      (version 7.0 or 8.0), the Windows95 spooler (a Windows print queue)
      might crash while printing.  You can minimize this problem by
      changing the settings of your printer by doing the following:

       1. In the Windows desktop click on Start, Settings, then on
          Printers. You will see the printers folder.

       2. Click the Right button on the printer. Then click on Properties
          menu item. The properties dialog for your printer is displayed.

       3. Click on the Details tab. Then click on Spool Settings button
          near the bottom of the dialog. The Spool settings dialog will
          come up.

       4. In the drop-down list next to Spool data format, click on RAW .
          Click the OK button, then click the OK button again from the
          properties dialog.

       5. Restart your computer. Start Greetings Workshop and print you
          project again.

      This change will reduce the occurrence of a spooler crash.  If you
      encounter this crash even after making these changes, switch off your
      computer and restart the computer again.  Doing so may further reduce
      the chance of spooler crash.

      *Printing Large Bitmaps on HP DeskJet printers
      ----------------------------------------------

      If you insert a bitmap picture in your design and then increase it's
      size to fit the entire page (or larger), the picture may not print at
      all on HP DeskJet printers.  (This problem does not happen with
      graphics that are used as backgrounds.)  If this occurs, reduce the
      size of the picture that is not printing, and attempt to print your
      project again.

      Another way to fix this problem is to change the way data is sent to
      your printer. Please refer to Printing issues with HP DeskJet 600
      Series Printers for instructions on how to change the Spool data
      format of your printer.

      *Lighter color text might not print with some printers
      ------------------------------------------------------

      Some printers print lighter colored fonts as white, thus causing the
      text to 'disappear.'  If this is the case,  try use a darker font in
      your project and print again.

      *Borders might be clipped with some printers
      --------------------------------------------

      Greetings Workshop will alert you about a border (or any other item)
      that is in the unprintable area of the paper. However, some printer
      drivers provide misinformation about it's unprintable region.  As a
      result, portions of your border may not be printed correctly, or at
      all. Should you encounter this problem, reduce the border's size and
      print again.

      *HP DeskJet 660C printers do not print rotated text correctly
      -------------------------------------------------------------

      This problem occurs specifically with the version 7.0 printer driver.
      If you are using HP DeskJet660C printer, you must have the latest
      printer driver from Hewlett Packard to correctly print projects
      containing rotated text.

      *One pixel gap between the border and background
      ------------------------------------------------

      Greetings Workshop paints any borders in your project after painting
      the background. There is a one pixel gap between the interior edge of
      the border and the outer edge of the background. With most projects,
      this gap is not noticeable.  If this gap is noticeable, you can
      reduce the visual effect of the gap by selecting backgrounds and
      borders that are similar in color.

      *Canon BJC-610 printers may print banners differently
      -----------------------------------------------------

      When banners are printed on Canon BJC-610 printers, a smaller area of
      the page may be used for printing. The layout of the banner may have
      changed after you choose to print. (See Define your printer setup
      before designing a banner below.) To print banners correctly, change
      the page orientation settings of your printer to portrait instead of
      landscape.

  6. Printing tips

      Define your printer setup before designing a banner.

      Before you design a banner, set the printer you want to use to print
      the banner as your default printer.  This ensures that your banner
      prints correctly after you're finished since different printers print
      slightly differently.

      Double sided printing.

      Greetings Workshop demonstrates how to print on both sides of the
      paper, even if your printer does not support duplex printing. The
      instructions for double sided printing vary depending on the project
      type and type of printer; therefore, be sure to follow the
      instructions carefully each time you print a double sided project.

      The animation demonstrating the process of printing on both sides of
      the paper displays a graphic at the top of the diagram-this
      represents the front page of your project.  Always hold your project
      so that the front page is on top and then follow the animation.

      If you follow the instructions and get incorrect results, click on
      the Fix Printing Problems button displayed at the end of printing
      each project. Then click on the Print Test button. This will start a
      printer test that will update Greetings Workshop settings with
      information about your printer. The new information will update the
      Greetings Workshop animation to give you correct instructions.

      If you continue to have problems after following the above
      instructions, contact Microsoft Product Support using the contact
      information in the Greetings Workshop companion booklet.

      *Graphics may not print well on Dot Matrix printers
      ---------------------------------------------------

      Dot matrix printers have difficulty printing complex graphics. In
      most cases, you will get better results if you print on a ink jet or
      laser printer.

      *Use Raster Graphics for better printing
      ----------------------------------------

      Printers using HP PCL language, print graphics better if you set the
      printer to "raster graphics mode."  To set the raster graphics mode
      click Start, Settings, then Printers. Right click on the printer and
      then click on Properties. Look through the dialog box to get to the
      tab for setting Raster Graphics Mode.

      *Printing labels on a Laser printer
      -----------------------------------

      Before you print labels using a laser printer, be sure to check that
      the labels are designed for laser printers.  Using non-laser
      printable labels in a laser printer may cause damage to the printer.

      *Printing on Label Paper and Special Paper
      ------------------------------------------

      Be careful to place Label paper or Special paper in the tray facing
      the right direction and with he correct side up.  Greetings Workshop
      provides directions on how to place Special Paper and Label paper in
      the print tray. To avoid wasting paper, try printing your project on
      a blank sheet of paper to test the outcome of your printer.

      *Avoid unprintable areas
      ------------------------

      The unprintable area of your paper varies depending on the type of
      printer you are using. Greetings Workshop warns you when you have
      placed designs in the unprintable region of your paper, giving you an
      opportunity to fix things before printing.

  7. Saving your projects

      If you intend to save your project to a floppy disk, make sure that
      there is sufficient disk space available.  If Greetings Workshop does
      not allow you to save your project to disk, you should obtain a
      floppy disk with larger available free space.

  8. Working with photographs

      Greetings Workshop is designed to work with Microsoft Picture It!.
      If Microsoft Picture It! is installed on your computer, Greetings
      Workshop will look for photographs in the same folder that you use to
      save your photographs using Microsoft Picture It!. Otherwise,
      Greetings Workshop will look for photographs in the Greetings
      Workshop folder. When you want to "Add photos from somewhere else",
      then Greetings Workshop will start with My Computer folder.

  9. Using modems for online access

      If you encounter problems while accessing the Greetings Workshop Web
      Site using modem, you should use the Modem Troubleshooter in Windows
      help. It provides you with step by step instructions on how you can
      resolve modem problems.

 10. Making Projects with Hallmark Connections special paper

      Hallmark Connections Home Computer Papers can be used for creating
      greeting cards, invitations, announcements, flyers and awards that
      you design on your own. Choose the project type you want to create.
      Then click on "I want to design my own". This will offer you the
      choice of using regular paper or special paper. Click on "Special
      Paper" to create your project using Hallmark Connections Home
      Computer Papers.

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 (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1996
				

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:KB155874