Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 May 18

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May 18

Excel Drop-down List

Why is the drop-down list in this Form Control combo box extending so far to the left?
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B09luWdqkhltZ1ZmVV81SHVtX2M
The formatting controls don't offer any way of modifying anything other than the size of the box at the top. Rojomoke (talk) 14:36, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Excel 2010 on Windows 7 Rojomoke (talk) 14:38, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Because there is a problem with the program. 65.49.68.158 (talk) 15:43, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Try different screen resolutions. I've had various programs that messed up at different resolutions. Also, be sure you haven't changed the computer's default font size, as many programs don't support that properly. StuRat (talk) 21:22, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Some other thoughts. Could those list items be padded with spaces ? If fixed length strings are used, it might feel the need to display the trailing spaces. StuRat (talk) 01:36, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

IP address

Thread retitled from "IP adress".

How does the internet knows all ip adresses? for example when I send a packet to 208.80.152.201 (wikipedia). If I changed my Ip adress how packets still reach me?
It is possible to identify a computer as another ip adress? (2 computers (on different networks) with the same IP) 190.60.93.218 (talk) 16:23, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

I am revising the heading of this section from "IP adress" to "IP address", in harmony with WP:TPOC, point 13 (Section headings). Please see the correct spelling at IP address.

—Wavelength (talk) 17:01, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Roughly speaking, Internet routers know which IP address ranges are assigned to each ISP, and your ISP's routers know which address in that range is assigned to you. Your IP address may change frequently (if it's dynamically assigned), but only your ISP needs to keep track of that. -- BenRG (talk) 17:56, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

This can help 190.158.212.204 (talk) 00:57, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

How do you search for files in Linux?

How do you tell it to search for a keyword inside any file and depict the results on a clickable list of files? I know that grep exists, but can it produce a list of files like Windows does? OsmanRF34 (talk) 17:27, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Yes, if you use your desktop environment’s file manager; for example Nautilus in GNOME and Dolphin in KDE (I couldn't tell you why they're both named after sea life now, presumably the KDE guys were jealous and had to have it!. ¦ Reisio (talk) 18:14, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

And how do you do that in Unity? — Preceding unsigned comment added by OsmanRF34 (talk • contribs) 20:30, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

http://www.ubuntu.com/tour/img/menu/icon-folder.png http://help.ubuntu.com/12.04/ubuntu-help/files-search.html ¦ Reisio (talk) 21:01, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

So, obviously you don't know the answer. The search function there doesn't search inside the files. The "help" page you linked to says explicitly: "narrow your results by location and file type". There is nothing there about inside the files. — Preceding unsigned comment added by OsmanRF34 (talk • contribs) 21:08, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Use gnome-search-tool (which if this is a new install you'll need to install yourself; if you've upgraded from an older Ubuntu you might already have it). It has all kinds of options for searching given filenames, paths, file contents, modify dates, file sizes, owners, and other stuff. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 21:48, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Thanks Finlay. OsmanRF34 (talk) 22:16, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Wireless router

I can connect to the internet from my laptop via my router and i can connect to the router from my desktop but not to the internet. Why might that be?. Do i need to set up the router to accept more than one computer? Ive tried all the obvious things but the desktop wont connect to the internet whatever i do with the ip addresses. I am using a netgear adaptor and a HUAWEI router.--78.150.230.59 (talk) 19:18, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

To be clear, you're attempting to use a wireless connection from both the laptop and the desktop?
Why not use a cable for the desktop?
Make sure the adapter supports all the protocols the router is setup to use.
¦ Reisio (talk) 21:06, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

My desktop is upstairs and the phone socket and therefore router is downstairs.--78.150.230.59 (talk) 21:12, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

I assure you there are wires running between your downstairs and upstairs, and that it's a relatively simple procedure to add another wire (with a few provisos [namely: don't poke any live wires]). ¦ Reisio (talk) 00:39, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

That may be the solution if i cant get the wireless to work but i would lke to avoid trying ti thread phone extension cables thro the ceilng etc.--78.150.230.59 (talk) 12:58, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

It’s simple. :) ¦ Reisio (talk) 19:17, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

You may have a similar problem to a few questions above (#Connecting to wireless network). Try the couple of things I suggest there and tell us how you get on. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 21:50, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

And check ipconfig/ifconfig (as described above) to make sure you don't just have a Link-local address (the ranges for these are in that article); if you have a LLA rather than a NAT address like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x then you most likely aren't providing the correct network key (or have specified the wrong kind of secure authentication scheme). -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 22:43, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

When i do ipconfig, i get an autoconfig ip address 169.254.94.125 with subnet 255.255.0.0. There is no connection specific DNS suffix listed neither is a default gateway listed. Does that mean something is not set correctly?--78.150.230.59 (talk) 12:01, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

Yes, it probably means that the Wi-Fi Protected Access key you're providing is wrong. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 13:54, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

I dont seem to be able to find asny ref to WiFi protection in the setup panels. Is that key the same as the normal network key.--78.150.230.59 (talk) 14:09, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

Yes, that's right. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 14:18, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

HELP MY MINECRAFT IS MESSED UP!

HOW DO I GO BACK TO REGULAR FIRST PERSON?

F5 ¦ Reisio (talk) 21:03, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

RTM! 190.158.212.204 (talk) 01:08, 19 May 2012 (UTC)