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Can't change background color of text object

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    #1

    Can't change background color of text object

    This has been going on for awhile, but now it's important that I address the issue. When I try to change the background color or font color of a text object, I get an "illegal operation" message, then "Alpha5 caused a General Protection Fault in module MACXW4.DRV at 0006:000026f3", then A5 shuts down. I tried using a Rich Text Object, with a black indented border, black font on grey background. When I saved & viewed the form, no text showed up, and the grey was blurred down to below the object. (I had moved the object slightly, but saved after the move.) Also, I couldn't see how to vertically align the text within its borders as you can do with a plain text object.

    I'd prefer using the regular text object, because I don't really understand Rich Text Objects, anyway. I don't need to mix fonts within an individual object. One more clue: when the Illegal Operation msg appears, you can see only 3 colors in the dropdown list -- I think they are White, Blue, and Red. Does this mean that the program can't find all its available colors? My Windows colors are all available in other programs.

    I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong, or the exact steps involved, because it's important that I create an attractive form to present to the person who will review it. It's hard to blow somebody's socks off if you can't even do something that seems so simple!

    As an aside, and a hint to other novices, I have wasted hours searching the internet for some clipart to use in my forms, because my own (PrintMaster) didn't have anything applicable to some of the forms I'm trying to create. (I'd thought they had to be bitmaps.) I had not tried OLE, because the manual only mentions spreadsheets & documents as examples. In desperation, I hit the OLE object button, and it sweetly gave me a dropdown list including MS Word Clipart, and took me right to my Insert Clipart list, & all I had to do was pick (doubleclick) one of the many objects that filled the bill perfectly!

    Now, if I can just find someone to tell me how to add the colors I want for text objects, I will have had a great day.

    Thanks to all,
    Randi


    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: Can't change background color of text object

    Is MACXW4.DRV your video driver? Does the vendor have a newer, better one or can you work with the adapter set as generic SVGA for the time being?

    Comment

      #3
      RE: Can't change background color of text object

      Sandy,
      I don't know whether MACXW4.DRV is my video driver or not. How can I find out? As for the vendor, we can pretty much forget them, for they are Compaq, and if you want to have the worst Customer-NO-Service experience nightmare of your lifetime, just buy a computer from them online. I have an almost 2-yr-old Compaq Presario 4800, 350 mg, RAM 64mg. I am sorry that I am unable to respond to your last clause due to ignorance, i.e., "... work with the adapter set as generic SVGA for the time being."

      Thank you for your response,
      Randi

      Comment

        #4
        RE: Can't change background color of text object

        Carol, if you're using Windows 98 you can find out what specific driver your system is using with your video adapter by examining the "properties" of the display adapter listed in the Device Manager.

        If this is unfamiliar ground to you, I recommend you get tech support to assist. If Compaq is unresponsive, perhaps a local pc vendor or support group could be found?

        An experienced tech should be able to quickly determine whether a newer version of your video driver is recommended by Compaq. Often this is a matter of downloading the latest version and installing it in your system.

        Good luck.

        -- tom cone

        Comment

          #5
          RE: Can't change background color of text object

          This error message comes from your ATI video driver:

          The message shows that A5v4 is writing into the memory allocation reserved by this particular accelerator driver.
          and causing the GPF.

          DIB Engine ATI Accelerator driver.

          Some people have reported fixing these type of errors by
          downloading more current drivers. You can go to the Web
          and find ATI's web site, find your video board--see above
          on how to find it, and then on the ATI web site follow the directions.

          Good luck.

          Comment

            #6
            RE: Can't change background color of text object

            I would suggest trying the generic video driver first to see if a change helps. Rightclick on your desktop, Properties, Settings, Advanced, Adapter. Write down the adapter name (next to the little card graphic) to be certain you can reverse the next step cleanly. Then push the Change button, Next, Display, Next, Show all hardware, and choose Standard display types from the top of the list, Super VGA, Next, etc.

            If this fixes the error, consider staying that way (easy) or looking for a better driver. Take a look at http://web14.compaq.com/falco/sp_list2.asp. It's the driver page for the Presario 4800. The middle entry under display looks helpful.

            If the generic drivr doesn't help, you can use the first process to reselect your old driver. It should show up when the "Show all hardware" button does.

            Comment

              #7
              RE: Can't change background color of text object

              Sandy, Tom, & Elliot:

              Thanks for all the help! I will try out the suggestions, & see what works for me. Although my Compaq came with Win95 installed (Compaq told me they'd upgrade me free once they got Win98 configured for Compaqs -- which they did not do), I know that something will work.

              But here's something I tried that DID work, & though it's not exactly what I wanted it looks pretty good. I made a plain box, then put a text box inside it, in about 1/10 inch from the borders. Then I selected the outside box, and it let me color it -- all the colors were listed, & I picked blue. Then the whole thing was blue, because the text box was transparent. I changed it to solid & colored it white. So now it looks very nice, & I may leave it that way. I don't know why this is working now, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth! I know one thing I did different was to NOT use Indentation on either box.

              I realize that colored backgrounds for forms & the text upon them is anathema to some people, and they'd think a "descriptive icon" was totally rinky-dink. But I feel that after a dozen or so exposures to different forms, the user starts to get a subconscious "feel" for where he is, without even necessarily knowing how he got to be so smart so fast. He'll be instantly alerted when he hits the wrong button without thinking, and lands in the wrong place. As for the icons, this will be used by people w/almost no computer experience, possibly even some with English as a second language; so they need all the help I can give them.

              But I know you guys understand the above, or you wouldn't have bothered to answer this post. Thank you for doing so!

              -Randi

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