Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data projector

G'day mates,

I was at a meeting the other day when a colleague attempted to
demonstrate the workings and features of a database he is developing
in MS Access. The projector being used was one of those
textbook-sized Dell models which have generally given good service
locally according to the bloke who looks after such things. The
database was running on a Dell laptop PC under Windows XP Pro.

Now, the projected desktop was fine; the Access menus were crisp and
readable; but when any reports were opened they projected as
unreadable "pixellated" characters that were scarcely even
recognisable as text!

The text on-screen was perfectly clear (albeit in a pretty small font)
but it just wouldn't display as readable text.

It obviously wasn't that the projector couldn't handle fine detail
because another presentation went off without problems, and that one
included some photographic images which projected with full clarity.

I always assumed these **** data projectors just projected an "image"
of the screen, but there's obviously more to it than that. It seems
they have just enough in-built intelligence to stuff things up!

Anyone here know what is the likely cause of this problem?
Can anything be done to avoid it?

Cheers, Phred.

--
ppnerkDELETE@THISyahoo.com.INVALID

Usually this is a result of not running the projector at its native
resolution. Most will interpolate for a higher resolution but look like
crap on detail.

For example, if the native res is 1024x768, running it at 1280x1024
might work, but not well.

Native res is likely 1024x768 or 800x600. Experiment


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phred [mailtopnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com]
> Posted At: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 5:43 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data
> projector
> Subject: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data projector
>
> G'day mates,
>
> I was at a meeting the other day when a colleague attempted to
> demonstrate the workings and features of a database he is developing
> in MS Access. The projector being used was one of those
> textbook-sized Dell models which have generally given good service
> locally according to the bloke who looks after such things. The
> database was running on a Dell laptop PC under Windows XP Pro.
>
> Now, the projected desktop was fine; the Access menus were crisp and
> readable; but when any reports were opened they projected as
> unreadable "pixellated" characters that were scarcely even
> recognisable as text!
>
> The text on-screen was perfectly clear (albeit in a pretty small font)
> but it just wouldn't display as readable text.
>
> It obviously wasn't that the projector couldn't handle fine detail
> because another presentation went off without problems, and that one
> included some photographic images which projected with full clarity.
>
> I always assumed these **** data projectors just projected an "image"
> of the screen, but there's obviously more to it than that. It seems
> they have just enough in-built intelligence to stuff things up!
>
> Anyone here know what is the likely cause of this problem?
> Can anything be done to avoid it?
>
> Cheers, Phred.
>
> --
> ppnerkDELETE@THISyahoo.com.INVALID

In article <B5941E633D8A446E99055B7A7F66CBE4@M2010>, "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote:
>Usually this is a result of not running the projector at its native
>resolution. Most will interpolate for a higher resolution but look like
>crap on detail.

While I originally considered that possibility, I don't understand how
photographic images could look "perfect" but the text in an Access
report form was unreadable. I would expect there to be *far* more
fine detail in a JPG, for example, than in even small font text.

>For example, if the native res is 1024x768, running it at 1280x1024
>might work, but not well.

I presume that is the same sort of problem one has with the new
flatscreen monitors?

>Native res is likely 1024x768 or 800x600. Experiment
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Phred [mailtopnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com]
>> Posted At: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 5:43 AM
>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>> Conversation: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data
>> projector
>> Subject: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data projector
>>
>> G'day mates,
>>
>> I was at a meeting the other day when a colleague attempted to
>> demonstrate the workings and features of a database he is developing
>> in MS Access. The projector being used was one of those
>> textbook-sized Dell models which have generally given good service
>> locally according to the bloke who looks after such things. The
>> database was running on a Dell laptop PC under Windows XP Pro.
>>
>> Now, the projected desktop was fine; the Access menus were crisp and
>> readable; but when any reports were opened they projected as
>> unreadable "pixellated" characters that were scarcely even
>> recognisable as text!
>>
>> The text on-screen was perfectly clear (albeit in a pretty small font)
>> but it just wouldn't display as readable text.
>>
>> It obviously wasn't that the projector couldn't handle fine detail
>> because another presentation went off without problems, and that one
>> included some photographic images which projected with full clarity.
>>
>> I always assumed these **** data projectors just projected an "image"
>> of the screen, but there's obviously more to it than that. It seems
>> they have just enough in-built intelligence to stuff things up!
>>
>> Anyone here know what is the likely cause of this problem?
>> Can anything be done to avoid it?
>>
>> Cheers, Phred.
>>
>> --
>> ppnerkDELETE@THISyahoo.com.INVALID
>

Cheers, Phred.

--
ppnerkDELETE@THISyahoo.com.INVALID

Phred <ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com> wrote:
> G'day mates,
>
> I was at a meeting the other day when a colleague attempted to
> demonstrate the workings and features of a database he is developing
> in MS Access. The projector being used was one of those
> textbook-sized Dell models which have generally given good service
> locally according to the bloke who looks after such things. The
> database was running on a Dell laptop PC under Windows XP Pro.
>
> Now, the projected desktop was fine; the Access menus were crisp and
> readable; but when any reports were opened they projected as
> unreadable "pixellated" characters that were scarcely even
> recognisable as text!
>
> The text on-screen was perfectly clear (albeit in a pretty small font)
> but it just wouldn't display as readable text.
>
> It obviously wasn't that the projector couldn't handle fine detail
> because another presentation went off without problems, and that one
> included some photographic images which projected with full clarity.
>
> I always assumed these **** data projectors just projected an "image"
> of the screen, but there's obviously more to it than that. It seems
> they have just enough in-built intelligence to stuff things up!
>
> Anyone here know what is the likely cause of this problem?

Likely its just the small font used.

Easy to test that possibility with some basic font pages.

> Can anything be done to avoid it?

Increase the font size used in the report.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phred [mailtopnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com]
> Posted At: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:45 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data
> projector
> Subject: RE: Weird problem with Microsoft Access and Dell data
> projector
>
> In article <B5941E633D8A446E99055B7A7F66CBE4@M2010>, "Tom Scales"
> <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Usually this is a result of not running the projector at its native
> >resolution. Most will interpolate for a higher resolution but look
> like
> >crap on detail.
>
> While I originally considered that possibility, I don't understand how
> photographic images could look "perfect" but the text in an Access
> report form was unreadable. I would expect there to be *far* more
> fine detail in a JPG, for example, than in even small font text.
>
> >For example, if the native res is 1024x768, running it at 1280x1024
> >might work, but not well.
>
> I presume that is the same sort of problem one has with the new
> flatscreen monitors?
>
> >Native res is likely 1024x768 or 800x600. Experiment
> >
>

Basically yes, same problem. Photos won't show it at all because
interpolation isn't even noticeable. Small text is a disaster.