Although I have already sent instructions to a list of folks who requested these forms, more requests are coming in. I thought it might be easier in the long run to simply post the instructions instead of answering each request separately. Forgive me for taking a short cut and simply including my original message rather than rekeying it for the list. Give me feedback if you use the forms. We create all our own agency forms on both MAC and DOS software and have been doing so for several years. I find that it takes very little time compared to the time it takes to use original agency forms and the cost of producing our own is considerably less than purchasing software. (We do not use anything special like graphics packages or typesetting/publishing, e.g. PageMaker, software, just MSWord, WordPerfect, Excel and QuattroPro. That way, our PI's can use the forms without investing in and learning "new" software.) For those of you who might like to know, by changing to creating and updating our own forms, and creating the budget forms in spreadsheets to avoid keying errors, we have increased proposal production about 75% and decreased from a staff of 6 to 3. In short, by using traditional software and "automating" the proposal preparation process, we've "saved a bundle." (If you really push me, I'll share the "bombs" with you too. There have been a few but...hey, there has to be some margin of fun in this profession.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosemary Ruff Proposal Officer School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220 VOICE: 907-474-6735 FAX: 907-474-7204 Internet: xxxxxx@ims.alaska.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (fwd) From: "Rosemary H. Ruff" <xxxxxx@ims.alaska.edu> To: 424's <xxxxxx@ovpr.uga.edu>, xxxxxx@mhs.unc.edu, xxxxxx@middlebury.edu, xxxxxx@grants.wm.edu, xxxxxx@mtsu.edu Subject: Federal Forms 424 Ok - everything is all set from this end. First I need to remind you that you will be connecting to a secure LAN by ftp. You will not be able to check directories or pathways to locate the files so it is important that you type commands exactly as I outline them for you. We are a Unix based system so all commands are case sensitive and white space must be entered as shown. The file names are: 424.dot, 424a.dot, and 424b.dot. The following are the commands you will use to retrieve the files. Do not type the [ ]'s. They are there to indicate text you should provide. ftp to: [summit.ims.alaska.edu] at the logon prompt username: [anonymous] at the password prompt: [your email address] once your logon has been confirmed - at the system prompt set the file transfer mode: [binary] at the system prompt change the directory: [cd pubs] at the system prompt: get [filename] [filename] repeat this step to retrieve all three files once files are retrieved logoff: [bye] As you execute each of the commands above you will receive confirmation that the commands have been executed. If you get an error rather than a confirmation, just retype the command at the system prompt. If you have any difficulties recovering these files, let me know by email or give me a phone call and I'll talk you through the process. (Alaska is 4 hours in time difference from Eastern Time - I won't be in my office at 8:00 am EST.) To those of you who requested these files and are old hands at electronic file transfer, I apologize for the lengthy instructions. Some folks claimed purely novice status with the process. One last thing - if you are not familiar with using MicroSoft Word templates you may want to go through the software documentation before trying to use them. On all templates there is at least one page of "creation" documentation and some advice (which I added hastily since these forms are well known to us but not to you). Those pages will print, by the way, when you have completed a document using them. I thought it would be better to give a little more documentation to you than I usually give to the PI's since I'm not close enough to call for assistance. A getting started hint: copy the forms into your WINWORD\TEMPLATE directory (do not remove the .dot extension on them). To open them and get a look at the instructions use the following commands in Word: File/New and make sure the option "document" is selected. Then select OK (enter). Also, I took the time to include some "on-line help" in the forms themselves. While in document mode, click on a form field and look for the "hint" that will appear - usually on the bottom of you screen. Not all fields have, or need, this assistance so you will only find it in a few places. (You can edit the template and add help by following the instructions in the Word Manual if you would like to do so.) If you like these forms (rudimentary as they are since I hadn't intended them for public use), let me know. Also, let me know what you like and don't like about them. I'll incorporate changes, if possible, and share the improvements with you too. Good luck. Let me know if you have problems. Rosemary
