These Things Are Sent to Try Us...

With the date for the my thesis publication fast approaching, I have, inevitably, run into problems.

The publisher has asked for .pdf files of the print-ready copy, with accompanying printouts.  All very straightforward, you might think.  But every time I try printing out the final copy, the margins are off-centre.  This happened first with my printer at home, so I thought it was a printer problem.  I then tried repeating the exercise with the super-duper printer at work and achieved the same result.  The screen version looked perfect, so I checked the printer settings in Adobe, in case I'd left the paper type as Letter, or I'd scaled it wrong.

All the settings were correct, so I went back to the Microsoft Word version.  Same problem.  Looks good on the screen, but it just won't print properly.  Checked Page Setup.  Absolutely perfect.  Margins were fine, printer settings fine, etc.  So I replaced the Adobe version, just in case, but when I printed this out, I got exactly the same result.  I was at a loss.  Now, I'm not very good with IT, so I asked The Boss for help (he's quite handy with this kind of thing).  He studied.  He tinkered.  But not even he could solve the problem.

I have contacted the publisher to see if he's ever come across anything like it.  But so far I've heard nothing from him, and it's getting a bit close to the deadline for my liking.  

On a brighter note...

For three years I have slaved to get this thing sorted out.  It has taken up every teabreak and every lunch hour getting drawings converted into Adobe Illustrator and getting the text formatted, etc.  Now I'm free, so  I can now do other things with my time.  Today, I looked up more Bronze Age cists and started reading a book.  Okay, so it's an archaeological textbook, but it's proving to be quite a good read nonetheless.  It's Prehistoric Pottery in Britain and Ireland by Alex Gibson; not only is it a comprehensive and very helpful guide to the subject, it's also eminently readable.   So if you ever feel the need to find out about Beakers, Food Vessels, and Collared Urns, or if you really feel inclined to learn why 'Rinyo-Clacton' is now called Grooved Ware, then this is the book for you.  If not, well, what can I say?  Get a life.  Start taking an interest in your ancestors' cooking pots and beer mugs.  It's worth it.  Honestly.

 

These Things Are Sent to Try Us...

With the date for the my thesis publication fast approaching, I have, inevitably, run into problems.

The publisher has asked for .pdf files of the print-ready copy, with accompanying printouts.  All very straightforward, you might think.  But every time I try printing out the final copy, the margins are off-centre.  This happened first with my printer at home, so I thought it was a printer problem.  I then tried repeating the exercise with the super-duper printer at work and achieved the same result.  The screen version looked perfect, so I checked the printer settings in Adobe, in case I'd left the paper type as Letter, or I'd scaled it wrong.

All the settings were correct, so I went back to the Microsoft Word version.  Same problem.  Looks good on the screen, but it just won't print properly.  Checked Page Setup.  Absolutely perfect.  Margins were fine, printer settings fine, etc.  So I replaced the Adobe version, just in case, but when I printed this out, I got exactly the same result.  I was at a loss.  Now, I'm not very good with IT, so I asked The Boss for help (he's quite handy with this kind of thing).  He studied.  He tinkered.  But not even he could solve the problem.

I have contacted the publisher to see if he's ever come across anything like it.  But so far I've heard nothing from him, and it's getting a bit close to the deadline for my liking.  

On a brighter note...

For three years I have slaved to get this thing sorted out.  It has taken up every teabreak and every lunch hour getting drawings converted into Adobe Illustrator and getting the text formatted, etc.  Now I'm free, so  I can now do other things with my time.  Today, I looked up more Bronze Age cists and started reading a book.  Okay, so it's an archaeological textbook, but it's proving to be quite a good read nonetheless.  It's Prehistoric Pottery in Britain and Ireland by Alex Gibson; not only is it a comprehensive and very helpful guide to the subject, it's also eminently readable.   So if you ever feel the need to find out about Beakers, Food Vessels, and Collared Urns, or if you really feel inclined to learn why 'Rinyo-Clacton' is now called Grooved Ware, then this is the book for you.  If not, well, what can I say?  Get a life.  Start taking an interest in your ancestors' cooking pots and beer mugs.  It's worth it.  Honestly.