Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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We often get "standard" questions which can be resolved by reading this simple information sheet. Please try the techniques suggested. If you still have a problem please tell us (remind us that you've already received this FAQ message) and we'll get back to you.

1. Getting to www.homepublish.com

Do not use a search engine such as Yahoo to go to any web address if you already have the web address or URL. Use the browser's own address field which is near the top of the screen. Most browsers, e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape automatically boot up a Webpage first. For many people this is Yahoo. Yahoo is not a search engine. It is a site register. Sites have to be registered with Yahoo and they are entered manually. As such, registration with Yahoo can take months.

If you have a web address (www.webaddress.com, etc) then use the browser's own address field to get to the site. This is what browsers do. The browser's address field is usually below the tool bar near the top of the page.

 2. Downloading our free Part One Manual.

Go to the downloads page of the site by clicking the link on page one.

Read the script. Half way down the script you are invited to click a file called TEST.PDF

Click this. If you can read the message then it means that you have a correct version of adobe acrobat reader on your hard drive. Please note that our files have been prepared using ADOBE ACROBAT VERSION 4. YOU WILL NEED ADOBE READER VERSION 4 OR HIGHER. Earlier versions of adobe reader may not colour-scan correctly or have blank pages. If TEST.PDF does not work, or your version of the reader is version 3 or less, then go directly to www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html and follow the instructions to download.

The adobe reader is being used more and more. Most software manuals are now on CD using adobe, so it would be wise to get a copy. It's free.

Click the blue hyperlink called PART ONE. A file called MANUAL.EXE will now start to download.

(This is an executable zip file. A Zip file is a standard document that has been compressed using a programme called WinZip. Compressed documents are smaller than their originals and don't take as long to download. You may need WinZip to uncompress the document. Nearly all computers have WinZip but if not, go to www.winzip.com and download a free trial copy.)

Imagine that the file MANUAL.EXE is an envelope. Inside this envelope is a letter called Revbook1.pdf which is what you want to read. It is a two stage process. The first part is to receive the envelope, the second is to open it and read the letter.

As the file MANUAL.EXE downloads you will be asked where to put it on your computer. We suggest your desktop as this is easy to find. When the download is complete you will find this file on your desktop. This means your "envelope" has been delivered. Now you have to open it.

Double click this file and a box called WinZip Self Extractor will appear telling you where the "letter" file inside it (called Revbook1.pdf) will be stored on your computer. By default it will go to your windows temp directory OR your My Documents directory. The box will tell you. You can alter the destination by simply altering the path in the box. Now click UNZIP and the letter file Revbook1.pdf will be uncompressed and sent to the relevant directory. This takes only seconds. When complete you can click CLOSE.

Now go to the directory C\windows\temp and look for the file Revbook1.pdf Alternatively click START>FIND>FILES OR FOLDERS and search for Revbook1.pdf

When you get to this file double-click it and adobe reader will boot up automatically revealing the part one manual. No password is needed for this book.

The process is the same for the free preview of book two. In this case, the filename that will be unzipped is called Revbook2preview.pdf

3. If you use an Apple Mac, and TEST.PDF works successfully when you try it, then notice that we have added two new ways of downloading the example newsletter and session one manual. If you go to the downloads page on our site (click the free downloads button on the home page) and click the links marked PDF Newsletter or PDF Manual, the items will boot up adobe reader immediately and you will see them on screen. Now click the save icon on the adobe tool bar (NOT the browser tool bar). You will know if it's the correct icon when it prompts you to type in a filename before saving it to your disk. The prompt will say *.pdf (note it reads pdf, not html).

This system is slightly longer but avoids using WinZip which won't work with Mac computers.

4. Problems with adobe.

There isn't a software package known to man that doesn't have bugs in it and Adobe is no exception. Adobe works fine on 99% of computers. Problems have been encountered on machines running Epsom printer drivers, and also some machines that already have Adobe Distiller installed. In such circumstances, buyers can get print-outs direct from us at cost price of printing, packing and posting (£5.00 per 60 page set).

5. Error Message "Could not find the colorspace named Cs8"

According to Adobe's own support section this error message only appears when trying to view certain pdf files using reader version 2. Check which version of adobe acrobat reader you are using and upgrade to the latest version by going to www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Blank pictures and/or warnings about "color separation CS8" are usually caused by using an older version of adobe, rather than version four. 

This should cure the problem. If not it means your system has problems with the current version of adobe and/or there is a clash with the printer set up. You may need to opt for the hard copy version.

6. Email downloads of pdf and exe files.

Email was designed to send text which it traditionally uses MIME to code. Most email programmes do not search the file type with the result that binary files, such as used by exe (executable files) and pdf (portable document format files) are wrongly decoded and do not work as a consequence. This can often be hidden by using a zip file but the best way of transferring any pdf or exe file is by downloading direct from a website, or by FTP.

7. Printing PDF file Problems

Sometimes, files prepared as Adobe pdf files don't print properly on your printer. For more information go to the support section at www.adobe.com. For your convenience the following link takes you to a copy of Adobe's print trouble-shooting page: (Please note that graphics and pictures are missing but they are not relevant.)
<Print Trouble Shooter>

For additional help go to 

www.instantbookstore.com/Download_help.htm

and look at the Download-Help link.

If you have problems get back to us with a short, but exact description of the problem.

Best regards