Forum Announcement, Click Here to Read More From EA_Cade.
All That Work For NOTHING!
GalacticGal
Posts: 28,570 Member
This is totally and completely off-topic. No, I didn't lose my game. No, my Sim didn't suddenly die. I've attempted about 2-3 times recently to compile all of the chapters of my latest novel into one file. The intention? To create a PDF file out of it so I can side-load it onto my Nook. There I can re-read it and see what typos or other such errors still remain. However, instead of it just taking a bit of time (we're talking a few hours) to copy and paste the chapters, in order, only to find out something weird has happened. I found out I had accidentally copied and pasted a few chapters more than once. Face/palm. I finally resorted to making a list of them. As each one is pasted and saved, I take a highlighter to it, so I know where I left off. I did catch myself pasting the same chapter, even so. 
However, yesterday, after taking a few weeks' break off of this task, I began again. Printed out a brand new list, after inserting the new chapter I added. Then, instead of using one of the prior files. I started completely fresh. Title page, inside cover blurb, dedication page, etc. I did this all by hand over copying and pasting, as I'm worried some of the files I pulled from my other computer have corrupted. I got quite a way through it, yesterday, all but about the last ten chapters, when suddenly the program wouldn't allow me to copy, let alone paste. I was tired, so I simply saved what I had and shut down.
At one point today, I decided to give it another go. I opened the errant chapter to take a look at the codes. I didn't see anything amiss. But, I decided, I'll see if I can simply key it in by hand. I put in the chapter number and heading and the first line. All was well. Then on a whim, I decided to see if I could copy and paste the rest of it in segments. Well, that worked for a time, too. Then I got near the end, those last few pesky paragraphs. I blocked them, copied and pasted, only to find the first word in the top paragraph was missing.
Tried to key it in by hand, but the program decided, no. It wouldn't move the cursor, but just kept bouncing to the bottom of the page. I shrugged and decided to move on from there, thinking, I'll correct it at another time. Got all the way down to the epilogue. I'm thinking yay, okay.
I have no idea what happened next. I thought I hit save. But the file is EMPTY. All of that work for NOTHING! I'm vexed to say the least. I went back and played my game for a bit more. I'll have my hubby look at the file (which is what I should have done up front, since he offered) and see if he can determine just what is amiss with this chapter. Then, once the problem is eliminated, or I key it into a new file by hand, I'll try to create the PDF file on another day. Oi!
Thank you for letting me vent.
However, yesterday, after taking a few weeks' break off of this task, I began again. Printed out a brand new list, after inserting the new chapter I added. Then, instead of using one of the prior files. I started completely fresh. Title page, inside cover blurb, dedication page, etc. I did this all by hand over copying and pasting, as I'm worried some of the files I pulled from my other computer have corrupted. I got quite a way through it, yesterday, all but about the last ten chapters, when suddenly the program wouldn't allow me to copy, let alone paste. I was tired, so I simply saved what I had and shut down.
At one point today, I decided to give it another go. I opened the errant chapter to take a look at the codes. I didn't see anything amiss. But, I decided, I'll see if I can simply key it in by hand. I put in the chapter number and heading and the first line. All was well. Then on a whim, I decided to see if I could copy and paste the rest of it in segments. Well, that worked for a time, too. Then I got near the end, those last few pesky paragraphs. I blocked them, copied and pasted, only to find the first word in the top paragraph was missing.
Tried to key it in by hand, but the program decided, no. It wouldn't move the cursor, but just kept bouncing to the bottom of the page. I shrugged and decided to move on from there, thinking, I'll correct it at another time. Got all the way down to the epilogue. I'm thinking yay, okay.I have no idea what happened next. I thought I hit save. But the file is EMPTY. All of that work for NOTHING! I'm vexed to say the least. I went back and played my game for a bit more. I'll have my hubby look at the file (which is what I should have done up front, since he offered) and see if he can determine just what is amiss with this chapter. Then, once the problem is eliminated, or I key it into a new file by hand, I'll try to create the PDF file on another day. Oi!
Thank you for letting me vent.
You can download (free) all three volumes of my Night Whispers Star Trek Fanfiction here: http://galacticgal.deviantart.com/gallery/ You'll need to have a pdf reader. New websites: http://www.trekkiefanfiction.com/st-tos.php
http://www.getfreeebooks.com/star-trek-original-series-fan-fiction-trilogy/
http://www.getfreeebooks.com/star-trek-original-series-fan-fiction-trilogy/
0
Comments
The brand new Word Perfect X8. Just as an update, I deleted that 'fresh' file to start the entire process over yet again. I managed to get the entire book into a file, made the PDF and will shortly side-load it onto my Nook. What a trial it was, however. It's got to be me. We have a saying around my household, "Operator Malfunction". I did catch myself copying the wrong chapter, despite my having a list. So, I simply took things slow and easy. Sometimes, I believe I get going too fast, get slightly distracted and 'lose' my place. Or, my late brother was 'messing' with me from the great beyond. It was the anniversary of his decease, after all. And it would be so like him … Love ya, Marc.
P.S. I really like your siggie. You appear to be a connoisseur of words.
http://www.getfreeebooks.com/star-trek-original-series-fan-fiction-trilogy/