10+ things that are broken in Access 2007 [and how to fix some of them]

Some things here that I'd not heard about as well as fixes to others. Great article, Jody!

10+ things that are broken in Access 2007: "

If you switch to Access 2007, you’ll encounter more than just a radical new interface. As Susan Harkins explains, some things are just plain broken. See what you can hotfix and what you’ll have to live with.

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New software versions never ship bug-free, and Access 2007 is no exception. A number of things don’t work as you expect. A few things don’t work at all. Although there are too many issues to list here, we’ll look at some of the problems that might be troublesome to most users at some time or another.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Access 2007 loses printer specification

Access associates reports with the default printer when you create it. However, you can save a non-default printer to a report via the Page Setup dialog box. Unfortunately, Access 2007 loses that setting and sends the report to the default printer. Interestingly, if the non-default printer was set using a previous version, it still works. Download and install the hotfix.

#2: Where oh where has my Spell Check gone?

The decision to make Spell Check invisible probably annoys me more than any other change. I wish I could whine, ‘Oh my God’ like Janice on the 90s sitcom Friends. Spell Check isn’t exactly broken — it’s just hard to find. Then, when you do find it, it isn’t always available. At least you can still press F7 to check spelling. Or you might want to add Spell Check to the Quick Access toolbar to keep it handy:

1. Click the Office button.


2. Click Access Options (at the bottom right).


3. Choose Customize.


4. Select Popular Commands from the Choose Commands From list.


5. Scroll down and select Spelling, as shown in Figure A.


6. Click Add.


7. Click OK.


8. Now the Spell Check feature is readily available via the Quick Access toolbar, shown in Figure B.

Figure A

Figure B

Even with the feature accessible, it won’t work all the time. If you save and close an object, Spell Check is often available when you reopen the object. That shouldn’t be necessary, but I’ve run into it several times.

#3: Some shortcut menus are broken

Subform shortcut menus, also known as context menus, don’t work in Access 2007. In earlier versions, a right-click displays a context-sensitive menu. Download and install the hotfix to get subform shortcut menus back.

#4: There’s no more single-click browsing

Now here’s one that’s sure to confuse most users. In earlier versions, you could hold down the Previous and Next navigation buttons in a form’s Navigation toolbar to quickly cycle through all the records. This behavior is similar to clicking the First or Last button, but you can actually see Access cycling through the records. This behavior is totally gone in Access 2007 and there’s no fix for it. It’s just gone.

#5: Don’t go changing…

I haven’t been able to re-create this one, but I’ve seen reports that Access 2007 won’t let you change a text box to a label. Now, realistically, I don’t imagine you’d want to do this too often, but it’s strange enough to warrant reporting. In Design view, right-click a text box and choose Label from the Change To command. Then, save the form. If Access 2007 crashes, you have the bug. Just delete the text box and manually add a label.

#6: Date Picker enabled, despite setting

Access 2007 automatically adds the Date Picker to Date/Time controls, making it easier for users to enter and change date values. In Design view, you can set the Date/Time field’s Show Date Picker property to No to inhibit this enhancement. In other words, if you set this property to No, none of the inheriting objects will display the Date Picker — except it doesn’t work consistently. Specifically, queries still show the Date Picker. There’s no fix for it, and my guess is, it’ll stay broken.

#7: Name conflicts may occur

Access 2007 doesn’t handle forms that share the same name as a table or query, which was never a problem in earlier versions. It’s supposed to, but it doesn’t. You might get one of two errors if a form is named the same as a table or query:

• The expression On Click you entered as the event property setting produced the following error: The expression you entered refers to an object that is closed or doesn’t exist.


• The expression may not result in the name of a macro, the name of a user-defined function, or [Event Procedure]. There may have been an error evaluation the function, event, or macro.

This problem takes a bit of work to fix:

1. Click the Office button and then click Access Options.


2. Choose Current Database.


3. Check Perform Name AutoCorrect in the Name AutoCorrect Options section, as shown in Figure C, and click OK.


4. Close and reopen the database.


5. Right-click the form in the Navigation Pane and choose Rename.


6. Enter a new name for the form.


7. Click Save on the Quick Access toolbar. Or close the form and click Yes when prompted to save.

Figure C

#8: When is old new?

When you edit a value, that control’s OldValue property equals the control’s previous value until you save the record. In other words, OldValue equals the value that Access restores if you undo a change (by pressing Ctrl + Z or choosing Undo from the Edit menu).

Access 2007’s combo box control has a bug in this area: A bound combo’s OldValue property will return the current value and not the old value when the combo is bound to 2007’s new multivalue field.

This bug is going to be a serious problem if you need this functionality. As far as I know, there’s no fix. My best advice is to capture the current value as a static variable instead of using OldValue.

#9: Rich text is unavailable in subforms

Microsoft has added rich text capability to 2007 text controls — sometimes. Okay, the truth is, the capability is there, but you might not know how to put it to work because the Format ribbon is unavailable in Form View. However, you can use the tools in the Font group — sometimes. This group is disabled for subforms. What all that means is you can’t assign formats to a rich text control in a subform using a tool or menu. You can, however, highlight the text and use keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + B for bold and Ctrl + U for underscore. Since this is more a result of tool placement and not an actual bug, I doubt Microsoft will fix it.

#10: Memo fields are flaky

Memo fields have always been a bit buggy if you did anything besides enter lots of characters. 2007 memo fields have two problems:

• If you change the Append Only property to No, Access 2007 wipes out the column’s history. Don’t expect a fix for this because this is by design and not a bug, according to Microsoft.


• Running a query that contains a GROUP BY clause on a Memo field against a list in Windows SharePoint Services may corrupt the data in the Memo field. For now, Microsoft suggests you use a Text field instead of a Memo field, which doesn’t really help if you actually need a Memo field. And if you don’t need a Memo field, why would you be using one?

#11: It just doesn’t add up!

For several versions, you’ve been able to add fields in Datasheet view. In Access 2007, a new table created in this manner comes complete with an ID field, and as you add fields to the new table, Access increments the first ID value by 1. Surprise! For instance, if you add three fields before you save the table, the ID value is 3, as shown in Figure D.

Figure D

There are three simple workarounds:

• Add a second row before you add fields to the table.


• Save the table before you add a field to the table.


• Avoid creating tables in Datasheet view (the best solution).

#12: Layout view crashes Access 2007

If you change a control’s Control Source property in Layout view, Access 2007 may close unexpectedly (crash!). You may or may not get one of the following error messages, and neither really helps:

• Microsoft Office Access has stopped working.

• Microsoft Office Access has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

For now, the simplest workaround is to change the Control Source property in Design view.

#13: Vista users aren’t immune

If you install more than one version of Access under Windows Vista, you’ll run into trouble. It’s a Registry problem: Regardless of which version you open, Access uses the library registered last. Interestingly, Access 2007 will run, after a quick installation fix.

There are numerous and complicated workarounds, but the best solution is to avoid installing multiple versions of Access on Vista. Better yet, just avoid Vista altogether.

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Susan Sales Harkins is an independent consultant and the author of several articles and books on database technologies. Her most recent book is Mastering Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express, with Mike Gunderloy, published by Sybex. Other collaborations with Gunderloy are Automating Microsoft Access 2003 with VBA, Upgrader’s Guide to Microsoft Office System 2003, ICDL Exam Cram 2, and Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Access 2003, all published by Que. Currently, Susan volunteers as the Publications Director for Database Advisors. You can reach her at ssharkins@gmail.com.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Widget Checks Your Apps for Updates

Widget Checks Your Apps for Updates: "Here's something I've missed since OS 9: a wee program that checks if your other programs are up to date. The App Update widget compares your programs against the listings at Apple, Version Tracker, and MacUpdate, and then offers download links to the programs that are outdated. It generated a few 'false positives,' but also reminded me of a..."

(Via Clippings.)

10.5: Enable https on 10.5's Apache2 web server

10.5: Enable https on 10.5's Apache2 web server: "This short how-to explains how to get HTTPS/SSL working on Leopard, which uses apache2. First, follow the steps in this hint, but instead of following Step 5, do the following:

• Edit /private/etc/apache2/httpd.conf, and uncomment the following line (it's line 473 in my installation):

  Include /private/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-ssl.conf

• Edit /private/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-ssl.conf, and make sure that:
  • SSLCertificateFile points to newcert.pem
  • SSLCertificateKeyFile points to webserver.nopass.key
  • SSLCACertificateFile points to cacert.pem
  • SSLCARevocationPath points to demoCA/crl
  Be sure to include the full pathnames for each entry. Optionally...
  

  

  "
  
  
  

  (Via Clippings.)

Phone Systems....

There is something about phone systems that mandates fairly significant bumps during implementation. I've neither heard of one nor been a part of one that has gone without incident--they all seem to be far bumpier than they ought be. It's really quite quizzical; no matter how much you or the phone service plan, it seems fraught with challenges and once again, in the midst of migrating to another system, even moving to a hosted solution, we hit lots of bumps on the way. Is it me or is it.... PHONES???

10+ priorities for testing critical systems

10+ priorities for testing critical systems: "

Testing is essential to make sure that systems function as expected, but the process can be complex and overwhelming. Rick Vanover looks at some testing strategies that will help you focus on what’s important and make your installations and upgrades go smoothly.

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IT folks grumble at arduous inventories of test plans and scenarios, but the fact is that testing should be made a priority for critical systems. So what can we do to make testing effective and through? Here are 10 things to stress for your test environments to save surprises and present credible test results.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Make your test environment represent the live environment

Having a test environment that’s quite different from the real environment is not effective. A good example is a Windows Active Directory domain. A domain with highly customized Group Policy configurations, complex DNS configurations, multiple domain trusts, many group memberships, and a large number of account objects is not representative of a separate domain that is empty and has no real configuration. Virtualization is a good option here: You can promote a domain controller on a virtual machine, move it to an isolated network for the testing, and then remove it from the live domain.

#2: Have multiple disciplines of the test achieve the same result

In outlining the steps of a test, identify components that can be tested two different ways to obtain the same result. For example, if you are considering going to a new version of Windows Active directory, within the test environment perform an Active Directory authoritative restore and a system backup restore to ensure that they both bring the system back to a workable state. This can be beneficial if, in the real world, one mechanism fails. Another strategy is to have one person prepare the test plan and another person implement to ensure that the plan is clear and that nothing is taken for granted or assumed in the testing.

#3: Test the rollback!

For test plans that revolve around an upgrade or enhancement to an existing system, you should test the reversion process. You can also test this multiple ways depending on the context of the upgrade. Some strategies include removing a hard drive in RAID 1 configurations (the removed hard drive would be unchanged), a full restore from a backup, uninstall functionality of the upgrade, database backups, or simply using new equipment only, with the current system turned off during the upgrade.

#4: Don’t proceed without the testing

If situations arise that cut into the test phase, take a stance that the testing is an important part of the overall project. Depending on the situation, this may be a difficult case to make or it may have political consequences. If it boils down to someone else deciding you can’t do the testing but you’ll have to take the blame if it does not work, raise the red flag!

#5: Remember the goal of testing: No surprises during a go-live

Surprises are the last thing you want during a go-live. Thorough (representative) testing helps prevent any ‘learning experiences’ when the new system is in use. Of course testing can’t be 100 percent like the actual environment, so there is always the risk of something new arising. For example, if you are testing a new version of a software product with a simple security model that may have every user configured with more permissions than required, when you go live, the security model will need adjustments to meet operational requirements. This can cost valuable time and introduce risk. Thorough testing would have a documented procedure for the security configuration or scripts to run to configure the live system as used in the test environment.

#6: Use pre-existing resources and testing standards

We may not all be certified testers, but we can leverage existing resources to deliver a credible test for our IT environments. Some good starting points include the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation and a quick Internet search for sample test plans. If you do not have rigid requirements for testing, you will have some freedom in developing your test plan. Be sure to give the plan much thought and be comprehensive. The Sara Ford blog on MSDN gives a good perspective on how to develop a test specification, which is slightly different from a test plan.

#7: Assume nothing

Sure, your testing will provide an exercise in the rudimentary tasks associated with your environment — but some small pieces of functionality may be affected by an upgrade. Depending on your project, this can include extra options, permissions changes, and log file changes. This can come into play if you have built monitoring around a system’s log file behavior. If there is slight a change in the way the log is written after an upgrade, the monitoring system may need a review. By going through the steps, even for the elementary tasks, the risk of little things getting in the way with the project as a whole are reduced.

#8: Use project management to coordinate testing

Having project management and a management sponsor will give credibility to your testing. It will allow other areas in the organization to understand that the testing is essential, and your management will have a better idea of the testing steps. Simply saying that you’re testing the new version of XYZ is not as effective as engaging the project plan with management, sharing the status of the test plan, and collaborating on the testing with multiple parties. Ensure that the test plan document is available to the project management or management sponsor for an ongoing view into the progress; this will enable them to have a good idea of the work and challenges related to the testing you have laid out.

#9: Ensure that test failures are repeatable

Almost every test plan will incur some part of a test that results in a failure. With test systems, many administrators may be testing at once or changing configuration, which may effect the testing. Should a failure occur within the testing, note it and attempt to repeat it. Further, seek other testers to perform the test to see if it fails for them as well. If the failure or issue is critical to the overall success of the project, engage support resources of the product to identify the issue if possible. Depending on the scope of the failure, the overall project may not need to be stopped, and this identification process can get expectations in line to the end-state.

#10: Test with a different environment

If you’re making the effort to provide quality testing, think ahead to some of the challenges you may face. This may include lesser systems running more roles, doubling or halving your workload, integrating another company, or changing a core part of your IT environment. This may be perceived as scope creep in the test process, but if you engage project management and your direct management, you may be able to make the case to allocate time and resources to test other scenarios.

#11: Hold onto your test environment

If you’ve gone to all the effort of creating a full test environment, why not hang onto it for ongoing testing? This could be a test environment that is used to test version updates and core functionality changes or to provide a training environment. Just be aware that there may be licensing considerations with a test environment for continued use.

How do you test?

There are many ways to approach test environments, but incorporating these tips into creating your testing strategies will help equip you for successful installations and upgrades. Share your own testing priorities below.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Street Date: Petaluma Boulevard, Petaluma - San Francisco Chronicle

Street Date: Petaluma Boulevard, Petaluma - San Francisco Chronicle: "

Street Date: Petaluma Boulevard, Petaluma
San Francisco Chronicle'- 3 hours ago
This road meanders through downtown Petaluma, where thoughtfully preserved Victorian and early 20th century buildings house restaurants, cafes, antique stores, specialty shops and galleries.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Mad man, Deke McClelland, drops 101 Photoshop Tips in Five Minutes

Mad man, Deke McClelland, drops 101 Photoshop Tips in Five Minutes: "If you can keep up with the frenetic pace, Deke McClelland will teach you over 101 Photoshop Tips in Five Minutes... seriously. Most of the tips are key-command explanations but there are indeed a few gems hidden in amongst the rest.



[read more at MacMerc.com]

"

(Via MacMerc.com.)

Solar Panel on the 'Stream

I finally did it--I got a solar kit for the Airstream and installed it over the weekend. It was a pretty easy installation and not too many surprises during the project and it was easy enough and actually kind of fun.

I researched lots of different kits and settled on the AM Solar's AM-100-22B kit. They're super to deal with and walk you through everything in getting the right parts. It was shipped quickly packaged impeccably with lots of attention to detail. If I were to recommend that they do anything differently it would be that they post the instructions online so that you can readily read-up on the instructions the night before on your laptop.

It probably took me about 5 hours in total to install it, and I went the route of using the 3M adhesive as opposed to screwing it into the roof. I was apprehensive at first but after applying it, I have no doubts the stuff will hold on to the roof. I did just in case mount the panel to roof mounts along the ribs of the trailer so I can always run a screw or rivet should it seem necessary. Probably the biggest hassle was running the power from the roof down to the factory pre-wire area behind the fridge--it was a bear to get the new panel wire down behind the fridge and I could have pulled the fridge to do it but I didn't.

Today I had a brief chance to check the charging status and not in an optimal position it was charging at 5.8 amps which I consider to be very satisfactory--I believe this should be ample for keeping the batteries charged under most circumstances unless we're really using the power (i.e., lots of furnace time or lots of time using all the halogen lamps).

This is likely to be the biggest upgrade/modification I do on the trailer for some time as there isn't a whole lot more that I would want to do for some time.

Getting away to Bodega Bay - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Getting away to Bodega Bay - Santa Rosa Press Democrat: "

Getting away to Bodega Bay
Santa Rosa Press Democrat'- 52 minutes ago
By MEG McCONAHEY Brittany and Grace, 15 months, Diego of Novato play with cousin Tug Diego, 18 months and his mother Amy of Petaluma at their campsite on Wrights Beach north of Bodega Bay.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Mac Apple Remote Desktop Security Hole Temporary Fix

Mac Megasite posted a temporary fix for the much-reported and recently discovered Mac security hole for which exploits are already coming out.

Cool Technology of the Week

Cool Technology of the Week: "In the days of TDMA cell phones, BIDMC was an early innovator with in-building cellular communications. We worked with AT&T and Ericsson to install their Digital Wireless Office Services (DWOS), which enabled employee cell phones to roam on our internal cellular network. Here's how it worked.

Imagine that a employee drove from home and made a call from their personal cell phone. That call travelled over the AT&T network, was paid for by the employee and used the 7 digit phone number on their cell phone. As the employee walked into a Beth Israel Deaconess building, control of the phone was transferred to the internal cellular system. Calls were routed through the PBX, the hospital paid for the calls via its negotiated rates, and standard hospital 5 digit dialing worked to and from the phone. Anyone calling the employee's desk phone was routed to the cell phone.

Ericsson discontinued its DWOS product as cell phone technology evolved to GSM/GPRS/EDGE.

Now, a new generation of products which converges fixed desk phones and mobile phones (called Fixed-Mobile Convergence) is emerging. The idea is similar to DWOS. Employees carry one device that serves as their mobile and desk phone. This one device is seamlessly integrated into the PBX. The infrastructure provides low cost voice connectivity while on campus by avoiding cellular charges. It's the Cool Technology of the Week.

There are two leading products in this space are (in alphabetical order, no preference indicated) Agito Networks' RoamAnywhere Mobility Router and DiVitas Environment Aware Roaming Technology

Here's how they work:

Agito
Nokia/Symbian phones (the only phones currently supported) run an Agito client which determines how best to connect to the Agito server that is connected to your enterprise PBX and your enterprise data network. Agito also interfaces to Cisco's Call Manager, providing device monitoring and management via the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

DiVitas
Windows Mobile or Nokia/Symbian phones run a DiVitas client which uses Environment Aware Roaming Technology to switch between a WiFi or Cellular carrier and connect back to a DiVitas server appliance connected to the enterprise PBX.

The technology is cool and promises one device connectivity, eliminating the desktop phone. The downside is that few handsets are currently supported (i.e. my Blackberry 8320 has WiFi and GSM/GPRS/EDGE but cannot run with Agito or DiVitas). Also dual mode phones really drain the battery when in WiFi mode.

This is a technology to watch, since I believe in a parsimony of gadgets. Getting rid of my desk phone would be great."

(Via Clippings.)

Wired Tips on B&W Photos

Basic article on converting digital photos to black and white on Wired.

SMART needs a third option - Marin Independent-Journal

Ah, those of us on the 101 North corridor can only dream....

SMART needs a third option - Marin Independent-Journal: "

SMART needs a third option
Marin Independent-Journal'- 18 minutes ago
THE CURRENT DEBATE over the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit commuter train appears to be either a 'do it' or a 'do not do it' choice.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Remote Support for Windows

I came across a neat little application that's free for basic remote desktop support from one Windows computer to another called CrossLoop. While I've read that your mileage may vary, particularly with Vista, it's still a pretty slick little application. I've tried the native Remote Assistance built into Windows and it's a bit cumbersome and the performance varies wildly.

For my consulting I have an account with GoToAssist (now a Citrix company) and it's more polished and has more tools for assisting users but it's not cheap. If you're doing this as a business, I prefer GoToAssist but if you're the resident computer guy in the family and you have to help out the father/brother/mother/etc, CrossLoop is probably a good solution.

Berkeley Priuses

The Economist posted an article today about the study of environmentally green locales. Unsurprisingly they found that green actions beget other green actions. Berkeley and much of Marin county have some of the highest green areas in California, nonetheless the United States. It would seem there is a certain competitiveness of being green at the moment. Not surprisingly, they also found that Bakersfield and Folsom are at the bottom of California's scale and I can confirm the greater Folsom area from personal observations--it would seem that El Dorado Hills and Folsom are oblivious to rising energy/fuel costs as the parking lots of the overpriced shops are littered with large SUVs.

Using RSS feeds for Craigslist Searches

I think RSS is one of the greatest Web 2.0 technologies out there. You can use it for so many things and one of my favorites is notifications on searches on Craigslist. I've been subscribing to various RSS feeds for over 3 years now and it's a huge time saver and has the ability to help me keep current on things.

Anytime you do a search on Craigslist, you'll see a small RSS link on the bottom right hand corner of the results page. If you click on that link it'll display the RSS feed for that particular search. You can then add that feed to your RSS reader (such as Outlook 2007, IE7, Safari, FireFox, etc.) and you'll automatically be notified anytime something new meeting those criteria comes up. There are instructions here.

Seven open-source Mac apps you need right now

Seven open-source Mac apps you need right now: "CIO.com looks at seven enterprise-ready open-source solutions that are must-haves for Mac users in the workplace.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Using Social Networking to Better Your Life

Read this article on Pick The Brain this morning. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/6-ways-social-media-can-improve-your-life/ I've had discussions with friends who don't want their kids to have e-mail accounts or cell phones and have been stupefied by it and have tried to explain that keeping up with these things is a new part of the social interaction.

How Petaluma became a city - Petaluma Argus Courier

The Petaluma paper has a neat collection of stories relating to the history of Petaluma. Check 'em out.

How Petaluma became a city - Petaluma Argus Courier: "

How Petaluma became a city
Petaluma Argus Courier'- 4 hours ago
In 1858, Petaluma was a bustling, fast-growing community that was clearly looking for permanence on the banks of its commercial river.
New art at City Hall! Petaluma Argus Courier
all 2 news articles

"

(Via Clippings.)

New Favorite Imaging Software

In the world of imaging computers for redistribution there are a handful of options. Of course, like many utilities of this nature there are two greatly stratified layers--lots of stuff under $100, most of it junk, and a few enterprise players like LANDesk, Altiris, ZenWorks, and Microsoft's SMS.

A lot of mid-sized companies aren't ready to bite the bullet and spend the tens of thousands of dollars to get one of the enterprise suites but they need something more than Norton Ghost. While I still haven't found that ideal middle ground for clients, I do now have replacement for Ghost and that is Acronis True Image. I purchased it last week and it's really a slick imaging piece of software. The images with normal compression are almost half the size of Norton Ghost's images and it's really slick to use. Our Lenovo laptop build with all updates, A/V, the I386 directory, and Office 2003 complete are less than 4 GB and can be loaded onto a CD. The imaging portion of it is worth the price alone but there's a console as well that I've not even looked at yet. So far it's been flawless.

Windows XP SP3 Update

Microsoft recently update the MVLS site with a version of Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 3 included. Unfortunately they didn't make it a bootable ISO to readily burn to a disc but thanks to Nero I was able to create a bootable disc and install XP SP3 with it on new installs. Saves a TON of time and works great.

How to Change Your Own Oil in a Jiffy

How to Change Your Own Oil in a Jiffy: "Waiting around at Jiffy Lube for someone to change your oil is overrated. Wired.com's How-To Wiki shows do-it-yourselfers how to clean the grease out of your engine in six easy steps.

"

(Via Wired: Top Stories.)

10 tips for becoming a gentlemanly exec

Well, I fall short on a couple of these but it's a fun read :-)

10 tips for becoming a gentlemanly exec: "

In a recent article in the London Times, William Drew asks, ‘Is the gentleman a dying breed?’ In the piece, Drew quotes Yann Debelle de Montby, brand director at Alfred Dunhill, the tony men’s outfitter. ‘Being a true gentleman,’ he says, ‘means being gallant and generous. One can be gentle but remain firm, determined and retain a great sense of humour.’

But does the gentleman have a place in today’s go-go, go get-’em business world? Drew thinks yes. ‘Old-fashioned good manners — holding open doors, standing up when someone enters the room, asking questions of others rather than talking about yourself, ensuring that you compliment your host generously and so on — are an entry point for respectful behavior,’ he notes. ‘But it’s more about your overall manner towards others: how one conducts oneself not only socially, but also in business, in relationships and in public.’

But being a modern-day gentlemen in business is about more than just being nice for nice’s sake, especially when the chips are down. Says luxury goods retailer, Trevor Pickett: ‘When your back’s against the wall in any industry you fall back on the relationships that you have built with people. You can’t do that if you’ve just screwed them on price, for example. That’s just not the way we do things.’

Drew offers 10 tips for the aspiring modern-day gentlemen (which go equally well for the modern-day gentlewoman).

Note: This article originally appeared as a post in the BNET Intercom blog. It’s also available as a PDF in the TechRepublic downloads library.

1. Some things don’t change: Say please and thank you and ask questions about other people rather than talk about yourself.


2. Be punctual. Tardiness does not make you look important, it turns you into an arrogant incompetent who thinks that his time is more important than other people’s.


3. The modern gentleman cares about the planet. Be environmentally aware (but not obnoxious about it).


4. Open doors for people and stand up when they enter a room, but do this for men as well as women. The modern gentleman doesn’t treat women like porcelain.


5. Be modest. Bragging is distinctly ungentlemanly.


6. Be a good father. Nothing is less charming than a man who leaves childcare to women.


7. Be honest about wherever you have come from in life. Pretension is spineless.


8. Flirt — with everyone. Good flirting is a form of politeness. Pay compliments and put your companion at ease.


9. Do not phone/text/check your BlackBerry incessantly.


10. Dress tidily. Whatever style you are going for, scruffiness just isn’t in.

I, for one, shall be doing my level best to flirt with everyone much more often.

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How about you?

Do you think it’s important to act like a gentleman or gentlewoman in today’s IT environment? Do your bosses, co-workers, and users typically exhibit good manners — or bad? Do you try to behave according to the principles outlined above, or do you think they represent an outmoded concept?

"

(Via Clippings.)

Jeep is Refueling America?

Just got this e-mail from Jeep. I guess this is one way of compensating for the lack of a hybrid/high mileage offering in the product line.... Jeep Guarantees $2.99/gallon fuel for 3 years if you buy a new Jeep product. Interesting....

http://www.jeep.com/en/refuel/?pid=eDirect&adid=JE806%2Djeep%5F2008eNews%5FJune&hrf=http://edirect.jeep.com/eNews_JuneHeaderImage

The 30 skills every IT person should have

Great simple summary of key IT skills, a worthwhile read. I've found that people who read these sorts of things tend to be more self-aware and introspective than those who don't....

http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/08/06/02/23FE-how-to-fire-IT-staff-skills-list_1.html

An IT manager's guide on how to be better at what you do, no matter how experienced you are


By Richard Casselberry

June 02, 2008

On MSN the other day, I noticed an article called "75 skills every man should master." It included some skills I have and some I don't. For example, I can tie a knot and hammer a nail, but frankly I can't recite a poem from memory, and bow ties still confuse me.

It was an interesting read and made me realize I could be more well-rounded than I am. To be honest, we all could be.

So in the spirit of personal growth, I developed a list of skills every IT person should have.

1. Be able to fix basic PC issues. These can be how to map a printer, back up files, or add a network card. You don't need to be an expert and understand how to overclock a CPU or hack the registry, but if you work in IT, people expect you to be able to do some things.

[ If you have IT staffers who aren't up to snuff, fire them. Learn how to do it right. ]

2. Work the help desk. Everyone, from the CIO to the senior architect, should be able to sit down at the help desk and answer the phones. Not only will you gain a new appreciation for the folks on the phones, but you will also teach them more about your process and avoid escalations in the future.

3. Do public speaking. At least once, you should present a topic to your peers. It can be as simple as a five-minute tutorial on how IM works, but being able to explain something and being comfortable enough to talk in front of a crowd is a skill you need to have. If you are nervous, partner with someone who is good at it, or do a roundtable. This way, if you get flustered, someone is there to cover for you.

4. Train someone. The best way to learn is to teach.

5. Listen more than you speak. I very rarely say something I didn't already know, but I often hear other people say things and think, "Darn, I wish I knew that last week."

6. Know basic networking. Whether you are a network engineer, a help desk technician, a business analyst, or a system administrator, you need to understand how networks work and simple troubleshooting. You should understand DNS and how to check it, as well as how to ping and trace-route machines.

7. Know basic system administration. Understand file permissions, access levels, and why machines talk to the domain controllers. You don't need to be an expert, but knowing the basics will avoid many headaches down the road.

8. Know how to take a network trace. Everyone in IT should be able to fire up wireshark, netmon, snoop, or some basic network capturing tool. You don't need to understand everything in it, but you should be able to capture it to send to a network engineer to examine.

9. Know the difference between latency and bandwidth. Latency is the amount of time to get a packet back and forth; bandwidth is the maximum amount of data a link can carry. They are related, but different. A link with high-bandwidth utilization can cause latency to go higher, but if the link isn't full, adding more bandwidth can't reduce latency.

10. Script. Everyone should be able to throw a script together to get quick results. That doesn't mean you're a programmer. Real programmers put in error messages, look for abnormal behavior, and document. You don't need to do that, but you should be able to put something together to remove lines, send e-mail, or copy files.

11. Back up. Before you do anything, for your own sake, back it up.

12. Test backups. If you haven't tested restoring it, it isn't really there. Trust me.

13. Document. None of the rest of us wants to have to figure out what you did. Write it down and put it in a location everyone can find. Even if it's obvious what you did or why you did it, write it down.

14. Read "The Cuckoo's Egg." I don't get a cut from Cliff Stoll (the author), but this is probably the best security book there is -- not because it is so technical, but because it isn't.

15. Work all night on a team project. No one likes to do this, but it's part of IT. Working through a hell project that requires an all-nighter to resolve stinks, but it builds very useful camaraderie by the time it is done.

16. Run cable. It looks easy, but it isn't. Plus, you will understand why installing a new server doesn't really take five minutes -- unless, of course, you just plug in both ends and let the cable fall all over the place. Don't do that -- do it right. Label all the cables (yes, both ends), and dress them nice and neat. This will save time when there's a problem because you'll be able to see what goes where.

17. You should know some energy rules of thumb. For example: A device consuming 3.5kW of electricity requires a ton of cooling to compensate for the heat. And I really do mean a ton, not merely "a lot." Note that 3.5kW is roughly what 15 to 20 fairly new 1U and 2U servers consume. One ton of cooling requires three 10-inch-round ducts to handle the air; 30 tons of air requires a duct measuring 80 by 20 inches. Thirty tons of air is a considerable amount.

18. Manage at least one project. This way, the next time the project manager asks you for a status, you'll understand why. Ideally, you will have already sent the status report because you knew it would be asked for.

19. Understand operating costs versus capital projects. Operating costs are the costs to run the business. Capital equipment is made of assets that can have their cost spread over a time period -- say, 36 months. Operating costs are sometimes better, sometimes worse. Know which one is better -- it can make a difference between a yes and no.

20. Learn the business processes. Being able to spot improvements in the way the business is run is a great technique for gaining points. You don't need to use fancy tools; just asking a few questions and using common sense will serve you well.

21. Don't be afraid to debate something you know is wrong. But also know when to stop arguing. It's a fine line between having a good idea and being a pain in the ass.

22. If you have to go to your boss with a problem, make sure you have at least one solution.

23. There is no such thing as a dumb question, so ask it ... once. Then write down the answer so that you don't have to ask it again. If you ask the same person the same question more than twice, you're an idiot (in their eyes).

24. Even if it takes you twice as long to figure something out on your own versus asking someone else, take the time to do it yourself. You'll remember it longer. If it takes more than twice as long, ask.

25. Learn how to speak without using acronyms.

26. IT managers: Listen to your people. They know more than you. If not, get rid of them and hire smarter people. If you think you are the smartest one, resign.

27. IT managers: If you know the answer, ask the right questions for someone else to get the solution; don't just give the answer. This is hard when you know what will bring the system back up quickly and everyone in the company is waiting for it, but it will pay off in the long run. After all, you won't always be available.

28. IT managers: The first time someone does something wrong, it's not a mistake -- it's a learning experience. The next time, though, give them hell. And remember: Every day is a chance for an employee to learn something else. Make sure they learn something valuable versus learning there's a better job out there.

29. IT managers: Always give people more work than you think they can handle. People will say you are unrealistic, but everyone needs something to complain about anyway, so make it easy. Plus, there's nothing worse than looking at the clock at 2 p.m. and thinking, "I've got nothing to do, but can't leave." This way, your employees won't have that dilemma.

30. IT managers: Square pegs go in square holes. If someone works well in a team but not so effectively on their own, keep them as part of a team.

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