h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Peter, how nice to hear from you. Firstly I am a dummy as far as PCs go and although my story is on a floppy I dont know how to get it to you even though I have clicked on to contribute, I need help. I originate from Chester and know Rhyl very well and I also worked for the GPO in Chester in fact my family held the record for the largest number of the same family working for the GPO at any one time. I started as a T2B and finished as a T1, my father was a Survey officer, my two brothers were jointers and my two sisters were operators. This was back in 1948 to 56 when my pay was about £7/9/6 plus a daily allowance of 1/6s for driving.
Happy days.

Thank you Brian Heaney, ;whiskydukw

Brian

I too started as a T2B! If you can handle a pair of 81s, master the colour code, set relays, deal with a 400 pair cable, and find your way aroumd an automatic telephone exchange (as I know you must have), you are not going to have any problems in mastering a computer.

By the way, you mention sending the story to me. I am just one of the many volunteer researchers on this site.

Now, to post your story. As I said, click on 'Contribute' or (but read all this FIRST) click here http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/UserEdit?s_ww2_template_name=GeneralStory This will take you to a self-explanatory page where you can either type or paste in your story.

In your case, you will paste it in. Run the floppy and get the text on screen in Notepad. This will get rid of all formatting. Now highlight all the text by either pressing Ctrl+a or by clicking on 'Select all' in the Edit menu.

Now simply 'copy' (Ctrl+c) it and 'paste' (Ctrl+v) it into the text window. If it is longer than 3,000 words, then split it up into 'chapters' of 3,000 words. 'Ctrl' is the button on the bottom far left of your keyboard, it is usually duplicated on the far right; while holding it pressed, you press key a, c, or v as required..

You can do a word count in Word, or whatever advanced text editor you use. You can, of course, paste it in directly from Word, but I prefer Notepad which strips out all the formatting codes.

Best wishes,

Peter