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Electric Quilt 4 Frequently Asked Questions

 

I opened an EQ3 project and saved it in EQ4. But why don't I see it on my project list?
You may think you're saving it in EQ4, but if you'll look a bit further, you'll see you're really saving it back in EQ3.

If you just click on Save, you save it back in the same directory you got it in -- that's the EQ3 PRJ folder.
Instead, do this:

1. Open the EQ3 project.
2. Choose Save As from the FILE menu. The Save in dialog box pops up -- you see a project folder, but please remember that is the PRJ folder in EQ3, as you'll see.
3. Click on the down arrow beside the Save in box, to drop down the list of choices. You'll see that you are looking at the EQ3 PRJ folder.
4. Scroll up to C:, click to open C.
5. Find EQ4. Click to open EQ4.
6. Find the PRJ folder. Click to open it.
7. Click on the Save button.

Your EQ3 project is now saved in the EQ3 PRJ folder.

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How do I delete a project?
You can delete projects from the Win 95/98 Desktop, or from inside EQ4.

From your Win 95/98 Desktop you can delete one, or many, projects:

1. Double-click on My Computer.
2. Double-click on C: drive (or the drive on which you installed EQ4).
3. Double-click on the EQ4 folder.
4. Double-click on the PRJ folder.
5. Click on the project you want to delete. (Or, hold down your keyboard CTRL key as you click on project after project.)
6. On the FILE menu, choose Delete. You will be asked if you are sure you want to send the project(s) to the Recycle bin.
7. Click on Yes.

From EQ4 you can delete one project at a time.

1. On the FILE menu, choose Open.
2. Click on the folder in the bottom-left marked "Click here to open a project not listed above." This takes you to where you can navigate through Windows files.
3. Click on the project you want to delete, to highlight it.
4. Press your keyboard Delete key. You will be asked if you are sure you want to send the project to the Recycle bin.
5. Click on Yes.

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Why does my deleted project still appear in the project list?
The name still appears there until you use other projects. The "most recently used" list shows you just that — the five projects you used most recently. Once you've used five other projects, these new names will replace the ones you see now in your "most recently used" list. This means your deleted project name will disappear from the list after you've used other projects.

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If I import a bitmap, does it become a permanent part of my saved project?
If you import a bitmap to trace, that bitmap does not stay with the project file. It is only there for you to trace over as you draw a block. The bitmap does not become a permanent part of your project.

If, however, you import a bitmap to use as a fabric, it goes into your Fabric & Colorpalette, and therefore gets saved permanetly with your project when you save your project.

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How do I send a project to a friend who has EQ4?
You can send the project by postal mail (on a floppy disk) or on-line, by E-mail.

To send an EQ3 or EQ4 project to a friend on a floppy disk:

1. Be in EQ3 or EQ4. Have the project open. (You know the project is open if you see the project name at the bottom- left (in EQ3) or the top-left (in EQ4) of your screen.)
2. Have a formatted floppy disk in your floppy drive.
3. Choose Save As from the PROJECTS menu.
4. Type this: A:\NAME (or type B:\NAME if your floppy drive is B drive). [NAME just stands for the name of your project. So if your project name is stars you would type: A:\STARS. The project will be saved on your floppy disk.
5. Remove the disk from your floppy disk and package it carefully for mailing. You can put the disk in a disk mailer. You can cut cardboard disk-size and sandwich the disk between cardboard sheets. You can wrap bubble-wrap around the disk.
6. Mail the disk. When your friend receives the disk she should put the disk into her floppy drive, get into EQ4, and choose open from the PROJECTS menu. Follow the steps on page 10 of the EQ4 Design Cookbook, "Opening a Project Saved on a Floppy Disk."

To send an EQ3 or EQ4 project to a friend via E-mail:

These directions depend on the browser software you use. I will give directions for using Netscape and America Online.

Sending a project from Netscape:

1. Have the project saved normally in EQ3 or EQ4.
2. Get into your Netscape mail program.
3. Write your E-mail message, as you would normally.
4. Then, to attach your project file to that message, click on MESSAGE on the top menu bar.
5. Choose Attach File. You will see the Attach File dialog box.
6. Click on the down arrow beside the "Look in" box.
7. Look for C:\ and click on it to highlight it. (Or substitute another drive letter if EQ is not installed on C drive.) You'll see folders below.
8. Double-click on the EQ3 or EQ4 folder.
9. Double-click on the PRJ folder.
10. Double-click on the name of the project you want to send. The full project file gets attached to your message, and you'll be back looking at your message screen.
11. Send the message as you usually do.

Sending a project from America Online:

1. Have the project saved normally in EQ3 or EQ4.
2. Get into your Mail program, go to Compose Mail.
3. Write your message, then, to attach your project file to that message, click on the ATTACH icon (Paper Clip).
4. Double-click on C:\. (Or the drive EQ is on.)
5. Double-click on EQ3 or EQ4.
6. Double-click on PRJ.
7. Double-click on the name of the project you want to send. You will see that name on the compose mail screen. You'll also see the Attach button change to Detach (which you can use if you change your mind about sending a file).
8. Send the message as you usually do.

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How do I send a project to a friend who does not have EQ4?
Send a picture, rather than a project.

You can't send a project file, because they can't open a project file unless they have EQ4. But you can take a "snapshot" and mail or E-mail it to your friend. The snapshot makes a bitmap file.

To print the bitmap file on a piece of paper to mail to your friend:

1. Have your quilt or block on the screen in EQ4.
2. Follow the first 3 steps in the directions in the EQ4 Design Cookbook, page 98, for making a snapshot.
3. Click the Print button on the Export Snapshot box (which appears when you make a snapshot). You will get a printout of your snapshot.

To send a bitmap file image of your quilt or block by E-mail to a friend:

1. Have your quilt or block on the screen in EQ4.
2. Follow the first 3 steps in the directions in the EQ4 Design Cookbook, page 98, for making a snapshot.
3. Follow the next 4 steps in the directions, under the heading "Save as bitmap file." Save the file anywhere you would like. But be sure to know where you put it. Make a note, if necessary.
4. Exit from EQ4.
5. Get into your E-mail program.
6. Write your E-mail message, as you would normally.
7. Then, to attach your bitmap file to that message, click on MESSAGE on the top menu bar. (It may be different for your E-mail program. If so, look at your E-mail software documentation for instructions on attaching a file.)
8. Choose Attach File. You will see the Attach File dialog box.
9. Click on the down arrow beside the "Look in" box. Navigate to find the folder you saved the bitmap file in (in step #3, above.)
10. Select the file by double-clicking on it. It will be attached to your message when you send the message.

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How do I rename a project?
Here's how to rename a project right in EQ4:

1. Choose Open from the FILE menu.
2. Click on the Open an Existing Project tab.
3. Click on the file folder marked "Click here to open a project not listed above."
4. Click once on the project you want to rename. This highlights the project name.
5. Click again on the project name you want to rename. This puts a box around the name.
6. Type your new name. The new name replaces the old name.
7. Click the Cancel button to close the box, with your new name saved. Or click Open to open your newly named project.

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Why didn't my block/quilt get saved in my project?
You may have saved the block or quilt one way, but not the other. When saving in EQ4 you should get in the habit of saving twice. More specifically, you need to Save in Sketchbook first and then Save (as a project). If you save before you save in Sketchbook, your blocks/quilts will not appear when you open the project later. When you save as a project, EQ4 saves whatever is in the Sketchbook.

If you do not want to save blocks as a project, you can save them in the block library (see p.56 in the EQ4 Design Cookbook). If the blocks are saved in the library, you can use them in any project.

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Why did EQ4 start saving my project, and then stop, locking the computer?

Sometimes if you are trying to save to Sketchbook, save as a project, or if you are drawing and click on the Color tab, the program will automatically save, and the save will freeze EQ4. Usually this means that EQ4 realizes something is wrong with the project you are trying to save. Most likely, it will occur when you are drawing an EasyDraw design. The most likely culprit is that lines or curves are not connected. When this happens, look for your cursor or a node to be flashing (this is where at least one problem curve or line is located).

You will have to reboot the program and possibly the system, and yes, you may lose part of your drawing. This is why it is good to get in the habit of saving often [after every new line, curve, or patch is added. You can always go back and delete these unneeded unfinished drawings later (see p. 80-81 in the EQ4 Design Cookbook)].

If you found the area where the cursor was blinking/flashing try selecting a line/curve, dragging it slightly away from its end node destination (you may find that zooming, to magnify the area, makes this easier), and releasing your mouse so EQ4 reconnects the line and the node. (Sometimes when you draw a line and drag it to the end point, it does not make the complete connection.) If the line/curve still does not connect, the problem may be due to your drawing preferences (whether you have Snap to Grid or Snap to Node selected).

Note: When partitioning curves and connecting lines to these new points it is helpful to have Snap to Node selected.

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Why do I see the message about "unreadable block" when I try to open a project?

If you open a project only to get a message saying "this project has an unreadable block," the project opens, but all your blocks and quilts are gone you will not be able to save this project.

But we now know what causes this and what to do to avoid it.

The cause: Making a fabric notecard (when you also have a block in your Sketchbook) and saving the project once.

The solution: Save the project twice.

For example, save it once as you usually do. Then, when you are asked if you want to save the project (you see this message just before exiting) click YES, and save the project again.

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Why do I get the message "NOT A VALID FILE NAME" when naming a project?Please check to see if you installed on a drive other than C drive, but did not create a folder for EQ4. If so, please delete EQ4 and reinstall. In the Choose Destination Location dialog box, click the Browse button. Change the drive letter and type EQ4 in the Path typing box. This will create a folder called EQ4. Click the OK button. You'll see a message asking if you want to create a folder. Click Yes and continue with the installation.

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