Each week, Lotus's Product Support receives thousands of phone calls about 1-2-3. Many of these questions are asked frequently. The following is a list of the "Top Twenty" asked by Lotus dealers and Product Support's answers to these frequent questions. We hope they will provide the timely and concise information that you need. Worksheet Q: What is the internal precision of 1-2-3? A: 1-2-3 has internal precision of 15 decimal places. Q: Sometimes when I use functions that compare or evaluate numbers, the comparison comes up false, even though the numbers on the screen are equal. Why? A: This happens because 1-2-3 stores all numbers internally to 15 decimal places and rounds off only the displayed number. Thus 2.00 on the screen could actually be 2.0001 internally; comparing this to 2.00 exactly will come up false. The solution is to use the @ROUND function to round off numbers to exact amounts -- especially important if the numbers are a result of calculations using division, sine, cosine, square root, etc. which often change the very last decimal place by one digit or so. Q: I've followed your instructions exactly, but I still can't get my hard disk to go past the Access System Menu. A: The 1-2-3 System Disk is still copy protected. Therefore, when you get to the Access System Menu, place the System Disk in the floppy drive and press [Return]. Q: Please explain the benefits and limitations of subdirectories. Release 1A documentation states "limited" use of DOS 2.0 tree directories. What does this mean? A: Subdirectories are created in DOS 2.0 by the MAKE DIRECTORY command. Subdirectories allow better organization and the ability to store a larger number of files on the hard disk. Their limitation in 1-2-3 is that you can't use the DOS PATH command to find files. Q: When I design a large worksheet, the constant recalculation slows me down considerably. Is there anything I can do to speed things up? A: Yes. Switch to manual recalculation and your problem will be solved. The correct keystrokes are /WGRM. This will suppress recalculation until the user presses [CALC]. Q: Does 1-2-3 support alpha character string functions? A: No, it does not. Q: When I attempt to retrieve a file, I get the error 'Range Name Already Exists.' A: This is caused by trying to retrieve, under Release 1, a Release 1A- created file containing graph names. To solve the problem, go back to Release 1A, delete the graph names and resave the file. Then retrieve it under Release 1. Q: Why is it that when retrieving a file, the number of bytes free found when executing /WS does not decrement by the same amount as the file? I checked the size in the FILE MANAGER before retrieving it. A: Due to additional overhead, the size of a file once brought into RAM is larger than the size found when using the FILE MANAGER or DOS DIR command. Q: I have Release 1A with a Hercules card. When I write a macro and access a graph via the /GNU command, I cannot return control to my macro without pressing another key. What is the problem? A: When using the Hercules card, it is necessary to press a key in order to continue execution of a macro. This is not the case, by the way, with a two-monitor system. Q: When using the financial functions @PMT, @NPV, @PV and @FV, are the payments based on beginning or end of period payments? A: The functions assume end of period payments. PrintGraph Q: After I have printed out my graph, I can't get it back up to modify it. Why? I saved it? A: In order to be able to modify a graph, one must use the /GRAPH NAME CREATE option. This will save the coordinates of the graph within the worksheet. One can create several graphs within one worksheet in this way. You must do a /FILE SAVE in order to save these coordinates. Separate from these options is /GRAPH SAVE. This will create a picture file of the graph that is saved independent of the worksheet. This picture file is the one you print with the Printgraph Disk. Q: When I use six legends on my graphs, why do they run off the page? A: When you have six legends, you can only make very small legend titles. The solution is to decrease the length of the legends to a 1 or 2 letter key. Q: Can I blank out the Y-axis label that says "Thousands," "Millions," etc.? A: No. This scaling is done internally and cannot be overridden by the user. Translation Q: With Release 1A I tried to translate a 1-2-3 file to dBase II. It seems to translate correctly, but the dBase file is all garbage. What is wrong? A: When translating the entire .WKS file, the field headings must be in Row 1 of the spreadsheet. Q: What type of files will 1-2-3 accept? A: 1-2-3 will accept any one of the following data formats: WKS -- Standard 1-2-3 binary file DIF -- Data Interchange Format ASCII -- American Standard Interchange Format VC -- Visicalc file DBF -- dBase II files Installation Q: Do I have to put DOS on my disks? A: It is not necessary to put DOS on your 1-2-3 disks as long as you aren't using using the FILE MANAGER or DISK MANAGER programs, both of which use DOS commands. An example is the DISK MANAGER'S "Prepare" option which uses the DOS FORMAT command. To use the FILE or DISK MANAGER, DOS must be copied via the installation procedure. Q: If I install my 1-2-3 disk for use with a Compaq, does that mean I cannot use it on the IBM? A: No. It just means you must reinstall the disks for the IBM prior to reuse on the IBM. There is no problem with reinstalling drivers as often as needed. Hardware Q: What are the correct HP 7470A pin settings? A: IBM 1 -- 1 HP 2 -- 3 3 -- 2 7 -- 7 5 -- 6 -- 20 Tie 5, 6 together, connect to 20. Q: I have just bought Release 1A of 1-2-3. My system has 128K of RAM. The Tutor Disk is not working properly. Halfway through I get an "Out of Memory" message. What is wrong? A: Release 1A of 1-2-3 requires 192K of RAM to operate whereas Release 1 only required 128K. The higher minimum memory requirement is a result of additional capability added to 1-2-3 and support of DOS 2.0, an operating system substantially larger than DOS 1.1. Worksheet Q: Whenever I try to use data labels with my pie graph, the graph will not accept them. What is wrong? A: Data labels per se are not supported with pie charts. To achieve the same effect, select /Graph X. Then specify a range containing the labels you want for your pie slices. Q: Can I use the same field headings for more than one column when I am creating a data base? A: No. 1-2-3 uses field names to identify data in the Data Query command. It cannot distinguish between duplicate headings. Field names must be unique. Q: Can 1-2-3 be displayed in 40 or 132 column modes? A: No. 1-2-3 runs only in standard 80 column mode. Q: Where does the "e" come from when doing an @EXP(X)? A: The letter "e" is a mathematical constant, 2.718, the base of the natural logarithm. The function @EXP(X) will give the value of "e" raised to the exponent "X", that is, e x. If you simply want to raise a number to a given power, simply enter the number, a caret and then the power. Three raised to the fourth power is expressed as 3^4. PrintGraph Q: Is it possible to print a graph even though I am not able to view it? A: Yes, provided you have a graph-supported printer or plotter. Q: How many graphs can be queued for printing? A: There is no known absolute limit. Product Support has talked with individuals who have been able to queue over 25 graphs. Q: What graphics devices does 1-2-3 support? A: Here's the list of supported hard copy devices for Release 1A. NOTES: The Graphics Printer Library (12/83) supports all devices shown below for the IBM PC and XT, COMPAQ, Texas Instruments PC and WANG PC. Devices preceded by an asterisk (*) are supported only by the Graphics Printer Library for the above-named computers; they are not supported by Release 1A's Device Library itself. Devices shown without an asterisk are supported by 1-2-3 Release 1A's Device Library and, for the above-named PC's only, by the Graphics Printer Library. *Amdek Amplot II Plotter Anadex 9620A Silent Scribe Printer *C. Itoh Prowriter Printer - 8510 Series *Calcomp Model 84 Plotter *Canon A-1210 Color Ink Jet Printer *DEC LA100 Printer *Diablo Series C Color Ink Jet Printer Enter Sweet P Plotter Epson FX 80 & *FX 100 (4 densities) Epson MX 80 and MX 100 with Graftrax Plus (3 densities) *Genicom/GE 3000 Series Black & White and Color Printers HP 7470 Plotter *7475A Plotter (A & B size paper) *Houston Instruments DMP-29 Plotter IBM Matrix Graphics Printer (4 densities) *IBM XY/749 Plotter IDS Prism 80 & 132 Color Printer *Inforunner Riteman Printer (3 densities) *Infoscribe 1200 Printer (2 densities) *MPI PrintMate 150 NEC 8023 Printer Okidata Microline Series Printers *Printek 920 Printer *Printronix MVP 150B Printer Strobe Model 100 and *Model 200 Plotters *TI 850 Printer *Toshiba P1350 Printer *Transtar 315 Color Printer For the DEC RAINBOW 100 and 100+, the following devices only are currently supported: DEC LA50 Printer DEC LA100 Printer HP7470A Plotter Q: I have an Okidata 84 running with Release 1A. The worksheet prints fine, but I cannot get the graphs to work. A: You need a STEP 2 PROM upgrade. Okidata 84's manufactured before February 1983 require the new PROM to function properly. Q: My PRINTGRAPH menu tells me I have an FX 80 printer. I have configured the system for my printer, but it does not retain the information. A: FX 80 is the default entry for this item. When you configure a device for PRINTGRAPH, move the cursor to highlight your printer choice and hit the [space bar]. Be certain that you see "#" just to the left of your choice. Then confirm your choice by hitting [Enter]. If you wish to make this printer/plotter your new default graphics device, continue by choosing Configure, Save and Replace. Q: When I print a graph, my titles get truncated. Is this normal? A: Yes. The maximum number of characters that can be used in a title varies, though you can usually get 36 or 37 depending on the font and case. Q: I cannot seem to get my HP7470A Plotter to work with Serial Port 2. What is my problem? A: THE HP7470A works only through Serial Port 1 with 1-2-3. Q: Why is it that the scaling of a graph is different when I print the graph from when I view the graph? A: The .PIC file created to print a graph is much more precise than the graph seen through /GV. This may, at times, result in a slightly altered scale. Translation Q: Where can I get the standards for Data Interchange Format? A: DIF Clearing House, PO Box 638, Newton, MA 02162. The approximate charge for technical specs is $6. Hardware Q: Does 1-2-3 need a double-sided drive with Release 1A? A: Yes, this drive capacity is needed for the 1-2-3 System Disk. Q: What machines will 1-2-3 run on? A: See 1-2-3 Release News in the World of Lotus Other Q: Do we sell parts of the 1-2-3 package separately? A: As is common in the software industry, we do not offer parts of the product for sale.