ems to jpg?

[Yorkie]

I wonder if your hassles with older programs such as Gimp and Picture It are due to running 64 Bit Win7?

I'm pretty cluless about computers, but when I bought this one, I explained to the local firm that built it for me that I wanted to run several older programs - one of which dates back to Win 3.1, which were deisgned to run in 16-Bit. They advised me against installing Win7 64 bit, and instead, to use 32-Bit. Also, that any programs which didn't run would proablby run in Win7 'Compatibility mode' which basically, rols back your Win7 to XP, as outlined in the link you posted Colin:

Quote:

These are your options when software is not compatible:

If the program is not compatible, then you may try to install and run the program in compatibility mode.

Use the following steps:

1) Right click on the Program
2) Click on Properties
3) Click on Compatibility tab
4) Select Run this program in compatibility mode and select Windows XP, Windows Vista or whatever operating system the program was running successfully.


Refer to the link here: Make older programs run in this version of Windows:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...of-Windows

End quote.

Many of the programs that most of us like and have got used to over the years are long since obsolete and have not had any further development as new and faster operating systems have come along, so it's not surprising that they struggle but it can be a dratted nuisance. The only way I can think of converting an EMS pic to a jpeg without things getting complicated by resorting to other programs, would be to print the picture, then scan it in and save it as a jpeg. I’ve attached an example of an EMS drawing that you sent me, which I’ve printed off, scanned and saved as a jpeg.

Dribbled Yorkie, AKA 'Confused, of Cottingham'.

[Joe]

I'm no expert either but I just can't believe that the 64-bit edition of an operating system won't run 32-bit applications.

I think Yorkie's hit on the solution with the 'Compatibility Mode' thing.

I'd certainly still be on XP if it were me.

- Joe

[Retired]

Hi,

Thank you David and I agree in that I'm finding it as you say a "dratted nuisance", we all get used to our computers and enjoy our favourite programs; I'm no exception but neither am I afraid of change if for the better; my inexperience with computer systems isn't helping either but when I drive a car I don't expect to have to learn about crankshaft regrinds etc before I can drive the car so I don't expect to have to learn all about computers simply to download a program. This is obviously too simplistic because computers change at such a rapid pace whereas an internal combustion engine only receives a few tweaks.

I learn about computers on a need to know basis because I have little interest in the workings of a computer but usually if I get annoyed enough I'll stick with a problem until I find a solution. I've now downloaded Gimp which has cheered me up a bit so for the time being I'll stick with Win7; I'm also too tight to pay so much for an O/S and not use it but boy it can surely wind me up.

When confronted with a problem I try to settle down and treat the problem as a challenge sticking with it until resolved but this week I confess my computer has irritated the life out of me when I really wanted to be doing something more useful.

What used to be so simple with XP is a lot more difficult with Win7 and thankfully I'm not on my own because the web is full of information from others having similar problems. I am however finding if I persevere and dig in I can eventually force a break through; I've been trying to download Gimp for a few days without success but now Gimp is installed; I think the problem was due to me downloading Gimp so many times previously that I was following the same procedure; from memory I've opened the Gimp website and simply hit "download"; this hasn't worked for Win7 so I then clicked on the page containing the countries and selected UK but after the usual download routine a box would appear saying the registry selection was not recognized. I finally cleared everything Gimp from my computer including downloads then this time I selected XP SP3 or higher and suddenly Gimp installed without problem? This is why I was trying to get SP2 & SP3 which I had on my old computer thinking they were needed for Win7?

Anyway Gimp is finally sorted so now I need to backtrack and learn how to convert the EMS files allowing them to be posted on forums etc.

I have previously done as you did David and printed then scanned allowing saving to Jpeg but this is so long winded especially if posting ten pictures onto a forum but as you rightly say David it does work. However since my Epson printer had such a huge appetite for cartridges I binned the printer but this was also an all in one so I lost my scanner as well so although your information is most welcome and very useful David in my case I can't make use of it.

One reason I wish to convert the EMS files to allow direct posting is that the drawings when printed are guaranteed to be exactly to size which is important when printing for templates; I'm not sure if the scaling would be as accurate using a scanner but then I still have a lot to learn. One thing is for sure; all this is taking up a lot of my time.

It's taken over twelve years to get my foot on the CAD ladder and as usual with my luck I've found a program EMS that I can understand and use but it is now throwing up other problems because of its unusual file format. What would be so hard in standardizing such formats?

Win7 is really strange for me to use; previously I've used Gimp to re-size/edit pictures then simply click on save a couple of times with the original Jpeg being retained but now Gimp though Win7 is changing the format into a format not recognized by forums? I can select a format as shown below in the picture but what format should I choose and will it work for posting onto forums? Jpeg isn't listed. Win7 is complicating my life and will continue to do so until I become familiar in using it?

I've just tried to add the Gimp "Format options" picture but the file size was too large so I tried adjusting the size using Gimp and once again simply clicking on Save changed the format so this time I selected "Export" which I believe has now worked as GF has accepted it; I'm having to learn the computer over again now its running Win7; previously Gimp saved Jpeg as Jpeg by clicking "Save" but now with Win7 I have to export? Simple little things keep tripping me up and are taking me ages to sort out.

I think perhaps this will be the case when trying to save EMS to a different file format but I'll kick your suggestions around to see what works?

Thanks for posting the drawing David; I can expand on this a bit. Both David and I make radio back panels and many of these panels have rows of slots; previously we've both used "Paint" to draw these slots and we both found this to be long; laborious and not very accurate especially whilst trying to add the rounded ends. However I started to learn EMS CAD and I quickly learnt how to draw these slots very accurately and at speed which I passed on to David sending David some of my early practices of using EMS CAD.

Thanks Joe. the way things have been going computer-wise for me this week I was considering returning to my five old infants school training and reverting all the way back to chalk and slate (I well remember my little slate with its wooden surround). Do infants have computers at school these days?

I'll stick with Win7 because I'm too stubborn to quit on it but its mighty frustrating.

Kind regards, Col.

   

[John M0GLN]

Hi Col,

Just been playing around with this .ems problem, I've found another way if you can to export it as a .dxf file from the CAD program, which you should be able to do, and that's to insert the .dxf file as a picture in Open Office.

Regards

John.

[Joe]

Col, you are a self-confessed numpty when it comes to computers so I know you won't mind my saying that I think you're blaming Windows 7 for problems elsewhere. That isn't going to dictate what formats you can save in: the applications, eg Gimp, will be doing that.

If you've still got the old version you used to use backed-up somewhere try running that with the compatibility thing as suggested by David.

Following your recommendation some months ago I tried Gimp and couldn't make head or tail of it. I've just tried to download it again and it won't do it for me either and this PC has XP Home on it.

Screen shots are by far the easiest way to go and another method is this. Click Start, Programs, Accessories and then Snipping Tool. This will then let you draw a box around part of the screen and save it as a JPG, eg:-

   

This was introduced with Vista so I expect 7 will have it too.

- Joe

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks John for your information; I've downloaded open office and tried to export but the picture looks entirely different to what I expected but exporting was partly successful so perhaps with more practice I'll succeed?

Thank you Joe; yes I'm a numpty but I do realize Win7 isn't fully to blame but I do believe Win7 is handling files differently to XP because I'm using the same programs as before the only difference is that I'm now using Win7 to open them so it must be quite different in some ways?

I've never noticed the "snpping tool" before Joe so many thanks for bringing my attention to it and WOW it works even with EMS CAD. It took me less than a minute to capture the gear drawing with the snipping tool saving the drawing in "Pictures". Out of curiosity Gimp opens this so this is the biggest break through so far; the picture is included as I think I can add it directly to the forum from "Pictures".

It's strange Joe that I never had the slightest problem downloading Gimp using XP and have used Gimp for years thinking it to be an excellent program.

I'm getting nearer now to what I wish to achieve but as I've been on the computer most of the day I need to knock off as my head is starting to buzz due to all the concentration.

Drat it I've lost the Open office drawing but here is the drawing using the snipping tool?

Kind regards, Col.