Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 September 15

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September 15

Survey tool (Not Google Spreadsheets)?

Hi, I was wondering if any of you have used any survey tool. I'm trying to gather information for an online community, but I have some needs. I did find some online survey tools (Typeform and SurveyMonkey), but they lock some of these features, such as logic conditioning (if "yes", then "this"; else, "answer this instead"), behind a paywall.

The survey is separated in "segments" - basic information like age and sex, opinion about the community, socio-political-economical opinion, and many optional segments. Each "segment" has a "sub-question". Some times they will be just about age, but if I'm asking about political opinion, I will first ask the user X. If X = 1 (True), then the questions below this "sub-segment" have to be answered. Otherwise, he'll answer the next "segment".

Although I'm looking for an online survey tool, please give the names even if said tool is paid, or self-hosted. I would very much like an online solution for this and meets these criteria (only the bold are really necessary, the rest are "nice to have":

1. 1. Allows for online collaboration;
2. 2. Has logical conditioning - A user can skip sub-questions, or entire segments of questions;
3. 3. Provides local analysis of the data provided;

Nice to have:

1. 4. It is possible to export the data (doesnt really matter how);
2. 5. Documentation!
3. 6. Users can answers using either desktop or a phone (the community was around 60 % phones - 40 % desktop in the last survey)

I'm pretty sure I'm asking a lot... And yes, I'm searching for this "perfect tool" on other sites too. It's just that I find these features, but I'm limited in users (I'm pretty sure I'll get ~10,000 answers) that can answer, or other features are off until I pay. My country's currency is weak against US$, that's the problem. Anything up to $20 starts to get a bit... costly, for someone that doesn't make any income. We (I'm not alone in this) are willing to use Google Spreadsheets, it's just that it would take more time for everyone. User:Tetizeraz. Send me a ✉️ ! 02:48, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Boot from CD (Windows 7)

I have a computer that was giving "windows recovered from an unexpected error" every couple of days so I decided to do a clean install of Windows 7 from a CD. I got it to do that, but when it got Windows up, it wouldn't connect to the internet and it said "no network adapter found". The networking is built in, so probably the driver is missing. So I tried to do it again, but now I can't get it to boot from the CD. The BIOS says:

HP Computer setup, then I selected Storage and Boot Order on the menu. It gives:

• EFI Boot Services
  • Windows Boot Manager
  • USB floppy/CD
  • USB HD
  • ATAPI CD/DVD drive
• Legacy Boot Services
  • ATAPI CD/DVD drive
  • USB floppy/CD
  • HD
    • USB HD
    • SATA0
  • Network controller

I selected ATAPI CD/DVD under Legacy, but it would not boot from the Windows CD. Is there something else I should select there? Is there something else to try? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:22, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Call me Captain Hindsight, but I wouldn't reload the O/S because of "windows recovered from an unexpected error" messages every couple of days. I get those every time I do a hard reboot (using the power switch), which I must do when it runs out of memory. That's not a real error, just it's inability to handle a hard reboot. StuRat (talk) 03:39, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Well, it would also reboot and then give that message (I failed to mention that). (It has 32GB of RAM). I need the computer to run for much longer periods without rebooting. 03:43, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

(ec)

• I have another idea, if there isn't something better. I have another similar Windows 7 computer - I can clone its drive to this one. The problem is with the Windows license, though. The CD I used was originally installed on a computer that is long gone, but when I was installing, it asked for the license key, and it would not accept the one with the CD (the defunct computer used it). I bought this computer refurbished and it has a Windows 7 sticker but it said that key was invalid too. Is there a legal way to get the license to work? Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 03:41, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Well, way back when Windows 10 was launched, everyone with Windows 7 or 8 keys could transfer them ans "register" with Microsoft online. I'm guessing this is not your case, since it's a OEM key? Can you check your hotmail/outlook account with Microsoft? User:Tetizeraz. Send me a ✉️ ! 12:11, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

I don't know what kind of key it is - I have one with the Win7CD and the one on the sticker doesn't work. There must have been another one on the HDD, but I wiped it. I don't have a hotmail or outlook account. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 15:45, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Are you sure the CD you have is actually a bootable Windows installer? Windows 7 could not fit on a CD, so I'd double check what you actually have. It may be some weird recovery thing pr a CD which relies on content stored in some recovery partition on the computer which you may have destroued, which admittedly either way should still boot but who knows what it is and if it's up to the job. I'd concentrate on trying to get a proper, bootable Windows 7 installer DVD first rather than messing around with this CD. Nil Einne (talk) 19:16, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

Actually it is a DVD. It is an upgrade from Vista. After I wiped the HD, it did boot from the DVD. It sort of installed, but it says that there is no network adapter (probably missing the driver) and now I can't get it to boot from the DVD. I'm thinking about buying a Windows 10 disk, but it doesn't seem like I would be able to boot from it to install it. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 20:08, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

Commodore PET errors for mistyped commands

What would a Commodore PET return if I mistyped LOAD as LAOD in e.g. LAOD "PROGRAM NAME"? What were common program names that a kid might tool around in? What would be the error if LOAD was typed correctly and the program name was mistyped? Thanks! --178.170.142.159 (talk) 13:10, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

The Commodore PET used Commodore BASIC, which is a variation on Microsoft BASIC. So, for the first case, I would think it would say "COMMAND NOT FOUND". Less sure of second case. StuRat (talk) 13:22, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Going back a long way in my memory to when I had a Commodore Plus/4, which also used Commodore BASIC: mistyping commands as, for example, PRONT "HELLO!" would result in the output ?SYNTAX ERROR followed by the usual "READY." and blinking cursor below it. That would cover the first scenario; not sure about the second. Hassocks5489 (Floreat Hova!) 13:43, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

I think the second one would be "FILE NOT FOUND". There is a list here. It's too long ago for me to remember. Dbfirs 16:40, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Also, a follow up question, why do some photographs show the interface with entirely uppercase letters and others entirely lowercase letters? --178.170.142.159 (talk) 14:48, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

If it is a photo of the actual machine, the text should be uppercase. If it is a pic of an emulator (eg Vice-XPet), then the text will likely be in lowercase. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 16:25, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

The PETSCII character map had two modes. Only one of the modes could do lowercase.

Even when it was in the mode that had lowercase letters, in the early PET machines upper and lower were reversed. You had to press Shift to the the lowercase, instead of vice-versa.

Check out the PET FAQ that covers this and much more.

ApLundell (talk) 21:47, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Accessibility option for fat fingers ?

When typing, I regularly hit the wrong key. Normally, this is not a problem, I just fix it when I proofread it. But certain keys, like CAPS LOCK, CTRL, ALT, etc., mess things up royally. So, is there some way to make those keys not register, say, unless I hold them down for a few seconds ? Windows 7, 64 bit edition. StuRat (talk) 21:57, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

This explains how to disable Caps Lock: [1]. I'm not aware of any way to leave it enabled but only take effect after holding it down for a period of time. I don't understand exactly what you want to do with CTRL and ALT, since those keys don't do anything on their own, and only have an effect if you hold one of them down while pressing another key. So you already need to hold them down for them to take effect (at least long enough to press another key). You may also want to look into the Accessibility Options in Windows 7 -- if there are any "public" ways to do what you want, they'll probably be in there. CodeTalker (talk) 23:01, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

I do hit some other letter at the same time as <CTRL> or <ALT>, such as the letter I was actually trying to hit. Or, I may be trying to get a capital by holding <SHIFT> down while hitting some letter, but I'm actually holding down <CTRL> while hitting that letter. StuRat (talk) 23:37, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

There are numerous guides on how to disable keys disable certain keys on keyboard windows 7. My suggestion is to disable the caps lock key, the CTRL and ALT keys, and any other keys you have an issue with. Then setup keyboard macros to replace their functions how to setup keyboard macros windows 7, so pressing SHIFT+Q+P could be caps lock for instance, and pressing caps lock would do nothing. Α Guy into Books™ § (Message) -  09:35, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

That first link is just a Google search. I tried downloading one of them and it didn't seem to be for Windows 7 and was for an on-screen keyboard, not a physical one. Most of the Microsoft advice seems gauged towards setting a foreign language keyboard. Do you have a specific site to recommend ? StuRat (talk) 12:44, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

Well I guess you're getting weird results for some reason. The 3rd link in the Google Search for me is [2] which clearly refers to Windows 7 although it's only useful if you have a keyboard with driver software that lets you disable keys. The second link is [3] which links to [4] which is for Windows 7, and others. Nil Einne (talk) 19:07, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

I downloaded that and went to page 6, which is supposed to be about deleting keys. I didn't see any specific mention of Windows 7, but it does seem to require a utility called "IntelliType Pro", which I don't have. Seems odd that they don't say that up front. StuRat (talk) 19:16, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

You're saying you think a single, short document with 3 interelated main topics which mentions Windows 7 multiple times in the second topic is going to otherwise mention something which does not apply to Windows 7 without making it clear it decided to randomly refer to another version of Windows? Also that document refers to "My Favourites" keys and under the first topic says "or IntelliType Pro features to better fit your work style". It looks to me a lot like a document that was intended for certain Microsoft Keyboards or maybe some sort of special Microsoft approved computer. There's a very good chance it was mostly intended to be provided with these keyboards or whatever and perhaps linked from support pages for these keyboards so it wouldn't necessary occur to the document writers, or even if it did they still may find it unncessary, to make it clear the document is primarily for whatever Microsoft keyboards or whatever it was provided for. (Microsoft general support pages are normally clearer on this point.) Search engines are wonderful things, but they can find stuff which is somewhat out of context. Nil Einne (talk) 19:31, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

I would have expected a title like "Changing keyboard key definitions in Windows 7, using the IntelliType Pro utility". StuRat (talk) 22:20, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

This does seem a common problem - and a great idea for some kind of utility. You'd want the CTRL and ALT and WINDOWS keys to require a user-configurable delay (different for each - probably not much for CTRL which is easily found, but make it long for the Windows Suicide Button you use mostly to lose at games) before they have anything but a null effect (either cancelling the other keys pressed or making the letters shifted), then make distinctive but unobtrusive chimes to indicate they were active. Maybe have a real short chime to match when they are first pressed also; or the whole thing can be a soundtrack from the moment they're pressed. But maybe allow user configuration to reduce or eliminate the delay for certain combinations and have special sound effects for them, like ctrl-X, ctrl-V, ctrl-A, ctrl-Z, ctrl-Y (reverse of Z) etc. I can picture using that... Wnt (talk) 18:17, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

FilterKeys already does a configurable delay, but it's for all keys. I suspect most people either need this, or would find it too annoying even for a select number of keys so while I suspect there are programs which can do it, it's not very common. Nil Einne (talk) 18:58, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

Added link to above. Nil Einne (talk) 19:35, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

Prying keys off ?

This is my last resort. I'm thinking of removing the CAPS LOCK, and left side CTRL, WINDOWS, and ALT keys, and the right side SHIFT key. My theory is that I can then use the SHIFT key on the left side without hitting any of those special keys, and can still use those special keys (with the exception of CAPS LOCK) on the right side, where they are a safe distance from alphabetic keys (although still dangerously close to the lower row of punctuation keys). Any other suggestions ? StuRat (talk) 19:21, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

KeyTweak or SharpKeys. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 19:25, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

The first was already linked so I presume rejected above in a post StuRat replied to. The reasons fro this I don't know. Nil Einne (talk) 19:28, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

The first link says the project has been abandoned, so it wouldn't be my first choice, but I don't reject it entirely. StuRat (talk) 22:28, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

I have used both (a long time ago) and they both worked fine. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 19:38, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

You certainly don't have to go to THAT extreme. There's something called Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (I have this link in my history) which will certainly ... I think ... allow you to kill the function of any key without physically removing it. (I found out about this in a thread somewhere in the archives for this desk; but it is not very good as a compose key because it only allows compose then one other key, rather than letting you make like compose a e for (ae) etc. Wnt (talk) 19:28, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

That link doesn't list Windows 7 as supported in the System Reqs. StuRat (talk) 22:30, 16 September 2017 (UTC)

@StuRat: I ran it in Windows 8.1 recently and it worked just fine. I don't know why, but Microsoft seems to have a religion against updating its system compatibilities. "Try it and see" seems like a good rule of thumb ... whether they say it won't work or that it will. Wnt (talk) 18:19, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

There is of course always the option of improving your typing skills? 86.28.195.109 (talk) 13:48, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Since the problem is fat fingers, I would either need a larger keyboard or to have my fingers surgically altered. I would prefer the former option. StuRat (talk) 14:30, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Or a finger-diet combined with finger-excercise. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 16:13, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

I doubt it's a physical thing - most keyboards have these special keys the same size. The problem is that they are far from the "home row" used by typists. A is between Q and Z -- but hitting Windows Button a position past that is iffy, and the Control and Function keys are off the left end of the row also. Wnt (talk) 18:23, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Here are some of my most common keyboarding errors:

1) Hitting CAPS LOCK when trying for A or left SHIFT or TAB.

2) Hitting left CTRL or WINDOWS when trying for left SHIFT or when moving keyboard (it's right on the corner).

3) Hitting left WINDOWS or ALT when trying for Z.

4) Hitting left ALT when trying for X.

5) Hitting right ALT when trying for comma or period.

6) Hitting right WINDOWS when trying for period or slash.

7) Hitting MENU or right CTRL when trying for right SHIFT.

8) Hitting regular ENTER when trying for backslash, end square bracket, quote, or right SHIFT or hitting the numeric keypad ENTER when moving keyboard (it's right on the corner). Enter isn't normally as much of a problem, but on some forms it submits the form, and then it is a problem. StuRat (talk) 18:46, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Why don't keyboards come in sizes ?

People are different sizes, and their hands are different sizes, so why aren't keyboards commonly available in various sizes ? I did find this one, but it seems to lack many of the keys: [5]. StuRat (talk) 14:30, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

Hand sizes differ more than fingertipsizes. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 16:07, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

http://www.morekeyboard.com/node/11

https://www.bigkeys.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=7

http://www.specialneedscomputers.ca/index.php?l=product_list&c=163

If you google "oversized keyboard" or "large key keyboard" you'll find quite a few. (((The Quixotic Potato))) (talk) 16:12, 17 September 2017 (UTC)

If you look through those, most are either just large text labels on the same sized keyboard, or they are non-standard keyboards with missing keys or keys in different positions. Do you see any which are the standard QWERTY keyboard with function keys, numeric keypad, etc ? Actually, what I'd really like is one with the core keys the same size and location as a standard QWERTY keyboard, but with the "danger keys" (CAPS LOCK, CTRL, WINDOWS, ALT, MENU, ENTER) all offset (just as the function keys are) from the core keys. That way I could do touch typing without fear of hitting the danger keys. I've also thought that it might be nice to have covers over those keys, which must be flipped up to use them, much like detonator buttons for explosives. StuRat (talk) 18:57, 17 September 2017 (UTC)