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January 14

Scheduled commands in Google Assistant

I have only recently started to use mobile computing devices. I bought my first "smartphone" in December 2021, and today I have one Android phone and two Android tablets.

I'm hugely impressed by the hardware, operating system, and software, especially the applications made by Google. I'm amazed by all features and the fact that everything just works and all data is synchronized between the devices.

I have also discovered how convenient Google Assistant can be. Using this application, I can set alarms, create reminders, turn on/off my lights, and more -- all using only verbal commands.

However, the other day, I stumbled upon a bug that seems just too horrible to be true.

I asked, "Turn on all lights at 05:50". The Assistant misheard this and thought I said "Turn on all lights at 00:50".

That happens. (It'd be great if the Assistant would repeat what it heard and ask for confirmation instead of just doing what it thought I said, though.)

Now, I obviously wanted to change the incorrect time, or to remove this incorrect scheduled command and create a new, correct, scheduled command. However, this appears to be impossible. I tried saying, "Undo", but the Assistant didn't understand that. "Remove/Change the last scheduled command.", "Remove all scheduled actions.", "Show scheduled actions.", "Delete scheduled command.", "Give me a list of all things you are scheduled to do.", "What will you do at 00:50?", "View scheduled commands.". No matter what I said, the Assistant seemed to have no idea what I was talking about.

I tried, "Do NOT turn on the lights at twelve fifty", but since I sometimes struggle to find the right words when I talk, this come out as "Do NOT turn on the lights at twelve [pause] fifty". "Yes, I'll turn on the lights at 12:00", the Assistant replied.

Now I had two incorrect scheduled actions I couldn't get rid off.

Surely the Google Assistant cannot have a bug of this magnitude? What do I say if I want to change or remove a scheduled command? --Andreas Rejbrand (talk) 00:52, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Andreas Rejbrand: I found this link [1] that says you can do "Hey Google, cancel my scheduled Actions". I don't have one of those devices, so I can't try it. There is also a link there on that page to other forums for support and how to file a bug. RudolfRed (talk) 02:31, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This isn't necessarily a bug but simply just how the AI works. The Google Assistant isn't a human so it is simply listening for specific sounds. A way to prevent it is to speak very clearly so it understands you. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 15:27, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not quite sure I understand your point. I could see on the screen that the Assistant performed the required speech recognition accurately: I could see my words correctly appearing on the screen. (In fact, I am hugely impressed by the Android system's speech recognition abilities.)

Regarding phrasing and choice of words, I don't think "Remove all scheduled actions" is particularly difficult English. I even tried several synonyms.

--Andreas Rejbrand (talk) 18:19, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I mean, if a software developer since 20+ years and near-native English speaker cannot find out the right command in 20 minutes, something is not right! As a comparison, setting alarms, creating reminders, performing computations, asking questions etc. have always worked flawlessly. To me, it certainly appears that the system has a "set scheduled action" module, but no associated "enumerate", "change", or "delete" module.

Also, in case of speech UI issues, I can always start the Clock app to fix my alarm, the Reminders app to fix my reminders, etc. But to the best of my knowledge, there isn't any app with a GUI for managing scheduled actions. I did search Google Play Store hoping to find one, but to no avail. --Andreas Rejbrand (talk) 18:27, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure how to help you here then. I myself use Amazon Alexa instead of the Google Assistant. ― Blaze Wolf^Talk_{Blaze Wolf#6545} 18:30, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

This issue might be something that only happens in some regions or locales, or on some devices. I have reported the issue to Google. --Andreas Rejbrand (talk) 17:41, 16 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

MS Word Styles Blown Away When Word Restarted

This is a problem that I have been having recently with Microsoft Word. I am using Office 365, and Word says that it is version 2112. I am using Windows 10, in case that matters, because I have a four-year-old computer that runs well but is not eligible for Windows 11. I think that the problem started when Word automatically upgraded to a new version.

I have added a number of Styles to Word and think that I have saved them. I think that there are supposed to be saved in a template named normal.dot. If I make a change to one of the styles, and then Word is restarted without being shut down cleanly, on restart, I am asked whether I want to reload changes to normal.dot. So far, that is all right. However, if I say yes, I get an error message that says: Word cannot open the existing file. (C:\Users\rober\AppData\...\Normal.dotm. What then happens is that all of the styles revert to the default configuration, which means that any named styles that I have created are lost. Only the basic styles are included. I have to add any new styles all over again.

Does anyone know what causes the styles to be lost and how to preserve them? Robert McClenon (talk) 05:47, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Robert McClenon you may have a corrupt Word installation, which may require reinstalling.You can set your named styles to be the default in all Word documents (this also works if you save a template). You can do this by:

Clicking the little arrow at the bottom right of the styles panel in home
In the dialogue that pops up, click the A icon with a tick over it (Manage styles)
In the "Manage Styles" dialogue, click the "import/export" version at the bottom left
The organiser dialogue should show up, here you can select a style you want and click "Copy" to move it to normal.dotm

Here is a screenshot explaining these steps.
This support page may also be a worthwile read. — Berrely • ^Talk∕_Contribs 18:51, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

User:Berrely - Oh. I had left out that detail. I was already saving my styles into the normal.dotm template in the way that you describe. But then sometimes when Word stops and has to be restarted, the updated normal.dotm template that I have saved is blown away and replaced with the default with only four styles. I was already following the advice that you give me. So I think I will try uninstalling Word and reinstalling it. Robert McClenon (talk) 22:46, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Windows 10 LTSC

I need to buy a copy of Windows 10 LTSC (long term service channel) for controlling an automated CNC machine. As usual you can get a pirated version on The Pirate Bay but I want to stay legal.

For details on LTSC go to Windows 10 version history and search on "LTSC". See[2] for the difference between Enterprise and Iot.

It used to be true that you could buy these (you had to buy all five to be legal):

1x Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 - Upgrade License (KW4-00190)[3]
4x Microsoft Identity Manager - software assurance - 1 user CAL (NK7-00031)[4]

Those were discontinued on January 01, 2022.

Searching the CDW website, I now see:

Windows Enterprise LTSC - upgrade license - 1 device (AAA-12384-CCG)[5] -- $259.99

What I can't find is whether I still need another four CAL licenses and if so what the part number for them is. Can anyone find the actual licensing requirements for LTSC?

Also, that "MPSA" scares me. See [6]

21:51, 14 January 2022 (UTC)2600:1700:D0A0:21B0:AC32:2217:63EC:43B0 (talk)