Excel HT Ticket Maker rev. 4.1.2 (9/2/04)

[MikeWh]

OK. Folks.... the much-anticipated release of The Excel Semi-Automated Ticket Maker [EDIT] v4.1.2 is finally here.

Although this has been made available completely free-of-charge, some people have graciously offered to donate $$$, as a thanks and sign of good will. If you feel so compelled, please feel free to contribute through Secure PayPal (you can even use a credit card): Click HERE ----> Donate to MikeWh!

You can get the files at
Jason Hilton's web site.
(latest release number will be in my sig)

There are several bugs reported in this version. A few are discussed here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...67#post4737267

[MikeWh]

In the interest of supporting the new version in this new thread, here is a quote from the previous thread about this new version:

Why not have 2 separate versions, one for PC and one for Mac? How many people are going to be moving the tickets between two platforms?

It's bad enough just maintaining this one workbook. If it were split between two platforms, Rick would have to support the Mac side completely, as I don't have a Mac.... and I don't want two versions getting out of sync, either. I think Rick's addressed what he could within this newest version.

I will be posting different compressed files for Mac and Windows users however, as the compression programs aren't cross-platform compatible....

[Jason Hilton]

I know this is the last thing you want to hear. but...
I have a bit of a problem.... Is this some setting im missing or is Excel 2003 not liking the ticket maker?
The good news is... I am mirroring your ticket maker on www.jasonhilton.us/ticket.htm with 80GB of bandwidth.

Don't use Mike's Bandwidth.

DOWNLOAD HERE: www.jasonhilton.us/ticket.htm

[scottyb]

Mike,

I gotta tell ya, I'm computer illiterate and this is one of the coolest things I' seen. You are an absolute STAR!!!!! This may be easy for you, but I was so excited about the first version I printed one to show my wife and now you do this. Thanks for your time and effort from all the people that know nothing about computers and get ALL of the enjoyment from people like you

THANK YOU!!

Scott

[KOSletten]

Thanks Mike!

[hdtvluvr]

I've sent the Mac compressed file (.sea) to Mike. He should make it accessible soon.

Rick

[MikeWh]

Jason--

I have a bit of a problem.... Is this some setting im missing or is Excel 2003 not liking the ticket maker?

OUCH! That's not good at all!! I didn't have ANY beta testers using Excel 2003. I was a little bit worried about that! I'll have to see if I can find 2003 to try and debug. In the meantime, I hope you can still use the later worksheets within the workbook to still get some use out of the new version.... I'll PM you.

[MikeWh]

Quick note to any Excel 2003 users--- You won't be able to navigate the initial "ticket type selection" pages. I'll have to see if I can get a workaround for you.

[jdollison]

I have anxiously awaited this. I stayed up late just to check this out. WOW! You guys deserve alot of credit for this. I am impressed.

Thank you.

[MikeWh]

Thanks for the kind words, Scott. The funny thing is... I work for one of the world's largest computer consulting, integration, and outsourcing companies.... The people I work with would put my programming skills to shame. I work with some SERIOUS alpha-geeks.

[D_B_0673]

SUPERB, I don't think there is any more you could possibly do with this unless you want to pesonally make the popcorn at each theater. This is great and thanks again

[MikeWh]

I actually found a bug already! I don't know how this crept in there... I swear I had tested this....

In this particular type-selection sheet:
"Basic Ticket without Seating, LARGE vs. Basic Ticket without Seating, SMALL,"
if you select one of the two ticket types, you will be moved directly to printing options and past the design step. From the printing page, just click on the "Back to Ticket Design" button in the upper left. It'll take you back to the design page.

This is easy for me to fix, but I'm going to wait, until I can find out more about the problems with Excel 2003..... stay tuned.

[bugman72]

Hey Mike, is there any way to be able to add the watermarked background images like Jason Hilton did from inside Excel? If I copy the ticket and paste it into Photoshop, the text is still blurry and pixellated. It would be really nice to be able to print all 5 tickets from Excel with the watermarked image in place.

[atlantar6]

Very very nice. I just downloaded 2.x yesterday and thought THAT was cool but it's got nothing on this one! Now if I can just make some free popcorn tickets I'll be set!

[reaper]

I expeerienced the problem you just described as well. At first, I thought it was something I did wrong. Pushing the back button worked fine though.

reaper

[hdtvluvr]

Mike,
Did you get the compressed Mac file?

Rick

[drsimnal]

Wow. This program is awesome. Now I need to find a name for my theater!

[Dan S]

Excellent Job, I've been off the forum for a long time and to come back to see somehting like this gets the home theater bug rolling for the upcoming winter months. Once again excellent Job and thank you!
Dan

[lee jordan]

Thanks Mike for all your hard work and for making this available to all of us. I must be doing something wrong, I'm having a problem going from one screen to the next - after I choose the picture it doesn't take me to the next screen to edit the ticket. Then after I have chosen a color it doesn't print the same color I have chosen. Please help. OOps I found my mistake concerning the color, not a problem.

[reaper]

MikeWh already mentioned that he is aware of the first bug you just described...

[MikeWh]

BugMan--

is there any way to be able to add the watermarked background images like Jason Hilton did from inside Excel?

Unfortunately, Excel cannot do that. It's really a painting type of function, and it requires you to edit that background image in a paint program anyways (regular posters don't have the aspect ratio that would look right if pasted into the ticket, without editing).

If I copy the ticket and paste it into Photoshop, the text is still blurry and pixellated.

Try it again, but don't COPY and PASTE--- use the SAVE AS GIF button and then open up the saved GIF file in PhotoShop. See if that produces a better ticket image (it does for me). The saved GIF file should appear in the same directory that the Excel workbook is running.

[MikeWh]

Rick-- I know I got the email, but I'm having a bit of a problem with getting the attachment. My home computer has email filterting software on it, and it hangs during the d/l and scanning process... I've also got some memory problems (hey... don't we all!?!)... so I wasn't able to get the file last night. I was planning on trying again later today (Friday).

[dbroome]

I have xl2003 (and a couple other versions as well) and some programming experience if I can be of any help. Looks great so far!

[DomNY]

Mike,
I just downloaded the new version and in 5 minutes had a set of 5 tickets with cover pics for Kill Bill printed. You did an outstanding job on this. I think you have way too much time on your hands.
Thanks for the new version. I really liked the old one but I LOVE this one !!!!
Dom

[Geddy]

Thanks Mike. This is a great idea. Thanks for all the work and time you spent.

[MartyJ]

Mike,
Thanks for all your hard work.
Much Appreciated.

[htomei22]

Mike,

Great, great job. Just started fiddling with this newest version and absolutely love it. Big improvement over the earlier versions, which were terrific in their own right.

htomei

[jmhays]

Mike,
Excellent job on the ltest version!! You have out done yourself once again.

[MikeWh]

I fixed the previous bug I noted (it was actually on two different pages) and have hopefully fixed the problem that Jason reported. I've sent him the link for the files, and he should hopefully be able to post the fixed versions soon.

If you haven't downloaded the files for 4.1, then you should probably wait for 4.1.1.

Thanks everyone for all the positive responses. If anyone has any problems, please be sure to post your issues/questions here.

Mike

[MikeWh]

dbroome-- thanks for the offer. Hopefully, this will be the last version I do in Excel... it's not the best way to deliver this sort of thing.... but it just grew from a much simpler Excel spreadsheet in version 1. I'll hopefully port this over to a different platform, so people don't have to own Excel! If you see any problems with Excel 2003 and the soon-to-be-released 4.1.1, then please be sure to post a note here.

DomNY--

I think you have way too much time on your hands.

If you only knew.... I have about 10 projects going on right now, a home office that need to be cleaned up, and movies to watch.... I'm just glad I got this release done. It was a lot more work than I had hoped, but I learned a BUNCH in the process...