Good thing they don't charge by the word.

To keep a series of post about a subject of interest, I print them to PDF files using software like PDF Creator from Sourceforge

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Using this software you can print multiple messages to the same PDF file. The file can then be name to reference the topic of the messages.

RUN....it's the attack of the quotation marks""""""""""""""

I bet that key is worn smooth on his keyboard. Maybe it is a trojan that took over his computer and inserts random quotes into his posts?

mownie,
That's a lot of space devoted to explain something as simple as cut + paste and not entirely accurate, or common practice with most people.

Short blocks of text or script can be edited with wordpad - since that was Microsoft's intent. Most people though, use MS Word + Corel WordPerfect for composing/editing larger blocks of text and multi-page documents.

Adobe Acrobat is commonly used for taking snapshots of web pages, text blocks or digital images, transferring to other programs or for reformatting into PDFs, a universal format used by most business' in web communications today. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop is the choice for transferring and processing photos, jpgs and many other digital images used in forums and websites. I couldn't imagine functioning without any of these tools in today's world.

I may also be overestimating the experience of others on these forums, seeing as though computer knowledge is not a prerequisite for grounds maintenance. But, it does seem that the above is basic stuff . . . grade school kids today know about.

BTW - what's with all those quotation marks? The overuse of quotes makes for very disruptive and tense reading.

h,mmmm - gotta defend Mownie just a tad, here.

Mownie, with all the excellent info you have imparted to countless bewildered tractor users, I - for one - can put up with any/all of yer punctuation preferences... with a big smile.
From some of the other lengthy threads you've been involved with , I can see what prompted you to post up this "info-keeping-organizing-etc. 101" subj. Hope the right readers get the right drift. :)

This week - Cut and Paste for Dummies
Week 2 - How to Correctly Use Punctuation for Dummies
Week 3 - Paragraphs for Dummies

When first reading the title of this thread, I thought it read: Using copy and paste for anal retention.

Actually, even though I'm unfamiliar with the OP's posting history, that seems to be more in context to the material. ;-)

metal said:
"This week - Cut and Paste for Dummies
Week 2 - How to Correctly Use Punctuation for Dummies
Week 3 - Paragraphs for Dummies"

OK, OK, I'm on-board. So question is, who's going to do weeks 2 and 3?? (just kidding mownie!)

Abalone! I just try to be c*aritable and I get confronted by a bunc* of devil's advocates. Actually, my "quotation marks" key is in fine s*ape. It's t*e * key t*at *as worn away, so I couldn't tell anyone to go to *ell if I wanted to.

We're just giving you heck mownie. You know we love ya!

***"We're just giving you heck mownie. You know we love ya!"***
:^) Yeah, I know. The entire scenario plays out like a typical day at the job for me. You guys could be working in the next bay, wearing a different set of clothes, combing your hair differently (what? you don't got hair?), and the banter would be about the same! It's all good! A friend once said, "Blend in and stay low, you will be safe. Stick your head above the crowd and you will become a target."
.....................................................
***"That's a lot of space devoted to explain something as simple as cut + paste and not entirely accurate, or common practice with most people."***
"lot of space"? Yes, but I don't embrace the "minimalist" point of view when it comes time to explain things to someone who may or may not have any basic understanding of the subject.
"something as simple as cut + paste" While lots of individuals may be able to aver that all people in "their circle" learned copy & paste in pre-kindergarten, there are still people buying their very first computer, and trying to make sense of it all.......every day. I work with some people who have never owned or used a computer, and these guys are still good technicians. So imagine how it might seem to them being "exposed" for the first time, to something as "mundane" as copy and paste.
"not entirely accurate" As "accurate" as I know of, and I find that everything I explained "works for me". In regard to "accurate".......this might be a good time to double check the title of the thread.
"common practice with most people."
Hmmmm. That one is at best, "subjective opinion". I have no way of knowing what is "common practice with most people" and it would be hard to prove "yay or nay".
"Most people though, use MS Word + Corel WordPerfect for composing/editing larger blocks of text and multi-page documents."
May be true for you, but I believe most people will use the software that came "pre-packaged" in their computer by the computer OEM. If a person is fortunate enough (that too, is subjective) to buy, or "order", their computer with the software mentioned, that person would be able to exploit the finer details and capabilities availed by the program.
I would hazard to guess that a lot of people buy a computer and NEVER purchase, or otherwise acquire, additional software.
..........................................................
***"Adobe Acrobat is commonly used for taking snapshots of web pages, text blocks or digital images, transferring to other programs or for reformatting into PDFs, a universal format used by most business' in web communications today. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop is the choice for transferring and processing photos, jpgs and many other digital images used in forums and websites. I couldn't imagine functioning without any of these tools in today's world."***
***"I may also be overestimating the experience of others on these forums, seeing as though computer knowledge is not a prerequisite for grounds maintenance. But, it does seem that the above is basic stuff . . . grade school kids today know about."***
***" When first reading the title of this thread, I thought it read: Using copy and paste for anal retention.
Actually, even though I'm unfamiliar with the OP's posting history, that seems to be more in context to the material."***
Yes, you actually underscore many of the points that prompted me to attempt a thread aimed at helping other people of the "computer nouveau riche" community. While I enjoy humor as much as the next person, I still infer a sense of hauteur and condescension in some of your remarks. But that too is opinion and constitutes no problem. You have the right.
........................................................
***"BTW - what's with all those quotation marks? The overuse of quotes makes for very disruptive and tense reading."***
Whenever I use "quotation marks" to enclose words or phrases, I am attempting to "emphasize", or "get the reader to focus" on that particular word or phrase as being "key" in the text, or otherwise needing to be "noticed". I actually had no idea that your life might become "disrupted and tense", just because I use "quotation marks" like a "machine gun". Sheesh! Talk about "anal retentive".
.....................................................
I stuck my head up and offered some tips in the spirit of "one dummy to another dummy" type of "pep talk". Some people will try new things with a bit of encouragement, especially if the "encourager" makes plain, or "implies", that they too, were once in the same situation, and overcame their "limitations"
.....................................................
"Regarding" "my" "excessive use" of "quotation marks", is there "an available" "software suite" that "detects & deletes" "quotation marks"???? I "suggest" you "buy it & try it" so you can "calm down". "Keep on.......smilin' through the rain, laughing at the pain."

4150 characters, 794 words and 45 sentences to respond line-for-line to one post . . . please don't expect a retort of that length. Anal retentive, indeed . . . and yes, I used one of my separately "acquired" software programs to do that count after copy + pasting your tome into the program.

BTW, sarcastic humor requires the use of "hauteur and condescension", so do you really "enjoy humor as much as the next person"?

Damn - can't believe I used two sets of quotation marks in one sentence!

***"sarcastic humor requires the use of "hauteur and condescension", so do you really "enjoy humor as much as the next person"?"***
Indeed I do! All's fair. "Touche!", sir (or madamoiselle).

Actually, it's a good thing to be anal retentive. In fact, those who aren't tend to mess their pants.

"sir (or madamoiselle)."

sir please - or else I've been mis-leading the wife all these years.

hmmm . . . sir-archdiver . . . now that's hauteur. I just might change my moniker. ;^)

Well I have attention deficit so can not get thru long posts but I do have a neat little program I have used for years called ClipMate that allows you to copy any number of items rather than just one where the next copy deletes the previous one. It is my handiest program. With ClipMate, all clips are saved until you decide to delete them.

Walt Conner

My apologies to all for my being a "wordacious" (not a word, but it has a nice ring) individual. But, you have to accept that some folks just have more to say about something than others. I like to think that the long, drawn out passages will eventually help someone to understand a subject (unlike when a politician makes a similar statement, and leaves EVERYBODY baffled and confused.) I appreciate that there are a multitude of options available for those who desire to "advance and enhance" the utility, productivity, and creativity of their computer, but I encounter quite a few people who have computers and do not use them but for the basic e-mail and web browsing. I like a bit more bells and whistles and certainly am always receptive to learning something new. In regard to learning "computerese", my total time using a computer amounts to less than 5 years. I mean I had never even touched a mouse (except the 4-legged ones) before I finally bought my first computer. When I say "One dummy to another dummy", I'm addressing the novice computer user, not the "old salts" or the folks that began chewing on a mouse when they "cut their first tooth". So, if anybody thought I created this thread to display my "computer prowess", I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. I was just musing about whether any other readers might have even considered utilizing their computer's innate abilities for "capturing and storing" data for their future use, both online, and offline, instead of having to "re-invent" the wheel every time they wanted to read something again. I didn't mean to imply that everybody else had no skills, or were computer illiterate, or anything like that. To put my thread into some kind of perspective regarding my intent: Last week, I discovered that one of my friends (whom I thought was "very capable" in computer use) had no idea what "Print Screen" or "screen shot" was, nor how to accomplish that operation. And so, it seems that you never know which "key pecker" could use a tip.

Ah, Mownie, some days it just don't pay to try to help folks out. Ya give a guy's car a jump start and somebody comes along to tell ya how ya shoulda done it.

Now, what I do is .... somethin different.
The kinda tractor you oughtta buy is ... what I have.
The amount of money you oughtta spend is ... a coupla grand more than you said your budget is.
The time ya oughtta buy a new tractor is ... whatever season it ain't right now.
The best engine is ... somethin' other than a Kohler, B&S, Yamaha, Tecumseh, Honda, etc. etc.
The best oil is ... synthetic (if you're usin' dino) or dino (if yer usin' the artificial stuff).
The best filter is ... whichever your local dealer charges the most for.
The best time to mow is ... in January.
If you have a quarter acre to mow you need a ... 72-inch-cut ZTR with 30 HP diesel engine.
You should change yer oil ... every 30 minutes.
The best tire for your MTD is ... Michelin radial.

I could go on, but I don't wanta tell EVERYTHING I know.

Thanks 12G, nice "grouping" on them there buckshot.

OMG, where do I start...to think my idle comment sparked this hotheaded commentary, lol, boy am I glad some of you who favor terse and boring passages in their descriptive prose have not read the novels that I have written on this forum to expostulate on my mower's ailments...which mownie has picked up and RUN with...

I have to defend Mownie, here, because it is precisely his willingness to expound on details that makes his posts informative, AND exceedingly helpful. I learned more in a week about my mower's basic fuel and electric systems than I have in the ten years I have been dinking around with it...and I am definitely an amateur. Mownie's eloquent and colorful descriptions really make the problems and the solutions clear, and no one of course is ever beyond correction or clarification for that matter!

As far as the quotes...they serve a vital function in separating the "quoted" from the response, especially when you are like me, and mownie, and tend to ramble on about this or that, and it helps to REFERENCE the passage that he is about to comment on. Guess some of you never really learned the mechanics of goood writing and the use of punctuation to illuminate your efforts to communicate??? Besides, aren't you talking about *****ASTERISKS??****** those are NOT "QUOTES" !!

In my opinion it is very helpful to have that text set apart from the answer or comment or whatever.

Finally, Mownie, I think this is a very helpful thread to anyone who in fact is NOT aware of the cut-and-paste basics of computer-ese, which I suspect from reading posts in ALL CAPS and mis-typed words and stuff like that, and that a lot of folks who DON'T dabble in computers use these forums because someone suggested they try. And in the end it IS a FORUM, and if the info is too elementary to be useful to you, you can proceed to more complex dialogue as it suits you...whereas if you DON'T know stuff like cut and paste, it could be a pretty handy gadget when someone opens your eyes to it. SO in the spirit of assistance that these forums are supposed to offer, mownie's post on this subject is in effect very useful, or is bound to be for someone, and that is why it is there. There are folks out there that will surely be helped.

Finally, oh, i said that already, in general cut-and-pasting of elements relevant to your search for a solution when gathered in the course of surfing this forum is indeed a good idea, especially if it pertains to your particular make and model of mower or engine. Now to find those little tidbits out there again...

SO Thanks, mownie; every once in awhile an innocent and well-intentioned attempt to be helpful sparks a major outpouring of public opinion. The beauty of the human condition, lol. And 12G, YES, you said it Bud! Should be up there in top Tractor Forum posts! I think I will cut and paste THAT little gem, to start!

OK I'm ready, all you people of few words, bring it on...!!! =)

Ok, ahem, the "quotes" might be "excessive" but they DO serve a purpose...gee why didn' I notice there were so MANY...in that lovely passage???? A quote is a loaded piece of punctuation, you know?

If kssue and mownie were my consultants and all their time was billed to my clients - I would certainly be out of business in a month.

People who seek assistance on a tractor forum want helpful information in as few words as necessary - not pointless and irrelevant rants with superfluous punctuation. Less IS more guys . . . Good grief!

ok, Sir Arch-diver, point taken; thanks for the haughty compliment. I know that I myself tend to ramble, but there ARE times when the details provided and explanations of basic motor and mechanical principles are extremely helpful to non-mechanic amateurs like me, who don't have a clue what we are up against, and yet have the desire to master the machine in order to use it and care for it properly...since we also don't have the means to fork out big bucks to someone who likely won't tell us all we need is something that costs ten dollars and a little elbow grease and common sense. Also nice to know the difference between something that is fixable and something that really IS best left to the experts. So I would rather have too much info that I can skim thru and find what I need, than to be left scratching my head and wondering what the heck they meant by THAT?? Or what the &%$#!! are they talking about?

If you consider an attempt at thorough explanation a pointless and irrelevant rant, then I wouldn't want to waste your precious and likely expensive time by assuming you know what I am talking about. In the end a lack of information can be just as time-consuming and expensive as excess when it takes you down the wrong path and creates more problems down the road. I can only say there have been countless times in a various posts where the expert has to ask the OP for further details in order to correctly diagnose the problem and provide relevant advice. Some things require a little more time and explanation, which I personally think is well-spent after all is said and done, if the problem is fixed the first time around. And I also appreciate a sense of humor thoroughout the ordeal, myself, when the reason we are all here on this forum to begin with is that we are frustrated and unhappy lawn-tractor owners with a problem we can't solve, if we are not the "experts" giving the answers.

Don't think I would spend nearly as much time expounding on this stuff if I was billing someone for my time...which by the way NONE of the experts on this forum are...we are all mooching to save a buck here and some do it with more verbal overkill than others, witness this, but the fact remains that the advice provided is immensely helpful in most cases and we should all be thankful we can partake regardless of the number of words expended.

Sue,
I will venture to guess that you're a Kansas politician - or aspire to be. Very few people I know of, choose to use so many words to express so little. ;)

I'm beginning to sound like a troll. Believe me, it was not my intention when I searched for info here. Like most who stumble upon this forum, I was simply searching for info about maintaining my tractor - obviously, I also have peeves and a low tolerance of certain things. :-) No harm, no foul.

***"No harm, no foul."***
True enough. Since I was the one who initiated this thread, might I suggest that all of us, having aired our differences and preferrences, return to the mundane activity of exploring maintenance to L&G tractors and related peripheral components. I cannot (and don't want to) change my "style" any more than a "leopard can change his spots", whatever be the chagrine to individual readers. And while I can appreciate that some folks might agree with my style, I don't want this to become a "Yay mownie" or "Get mownie" thread. As I said already, some folks just have more to say than others. Thanks to all respondants. Now, don't we have some machines that need our attention?:^)

Sir Archdiver, lol, hey no offense taken, I just tend to be very defensive in general where my verbal overkill nature is concerned, heh heh. It is just tremendous fun trading jabs that have nothing to do with the original post (sorry mownie, still a noble attempt on the original topic in my opinion), and you really do have a point about us verbally prolific posters...

Funny that you should think me a political activist type; KS is typically the land of right-wing conservatives (prejudiced comment likely to bring another politically-charged onslaught...but not really that far off the truth) and boy I run as far as I can get from that camp, and from politics in general. But guess maybe my relatively liberal upbringing makes me a little more inclined to voice my opinions...and they are merely that...

ANYWAY, Mownie, carry on, your posts have been immensely helpful to a lot of people, and we do salute your selfless devotion to the cause...I am expostulating a lot right now because I can't even GET to my mower right now (garage door malfunction) to carry on with the biz of fixing it so do apologize for fueling (no pun intended) the silly debate here! We love ya and appreciate ya, regardless of your writing habits!

I can put up with mownie because he actually does have knowledge that is helpful to this forum, kssue on the other hand...