PLEASE READ: The Forum is broken. Again.

[Steve Rindsberg]

If you're viewing this in your web browser, you're missing out.

Because of a problem in the web forum software, many of the messages
(including a large percentage of the answers to your questions) don't appear
here.

To see ALL the questions and answers, click here or copy and paste this url
into your browser:

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.powerpoint

If that doesn't work, try visit this page for other options:

The PowerPoint Newsgroup
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00275.htm

 

[Dale Fye]

Steve,

I recognize that the web app is not the preferred method for viewing the
microsoft news groups. Unfortunately, I'm unable to use Outlook Express or
the 2007 equivalent (don't even know what it is) at the office, so I'm stuck
with the web. When the MS web site gets like this, I frequently turn to one
of the other web based new groups. You would think that MS could get their
office/community site working properly.

I used to be able to search by my name and at least see my posts from that
day at the top of the list. Now, I'm lucky if that days posts even show up
in the search results.

I've also never understood why they cannot sort the search results by date.
I understand that this takes a little bit more processing, but for usability,
I really hate having to browse through search results that are not sorted by
date.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Heh ... it bit me again. I replied to you in the newsgroup, Dale, but then
realized you'd never see it. At least not until MS fixes things. Rats.

Visit the link to the PPT FAQ I posted originally. It now includes a direct
link to Google Groups where you can view all of the posts to this newsgroup,
not just the ones that come from the web view.

And you can view it in your browser. <g>


--
PowerPoint FAQ
http://www.pptfaq.com/
==
PPTools - Add-ins for PowerPoint
http://www.pptools.com/

 

[Mel]

FWIW, I've been using Google Groups for years and have been happy with
it for the most part. (I followed it over from when it was Deja-news
and Google improved it a lot.) I mainly like the ability to search.
But I liked the immediacy of postings with seeing the Usenet group
directly with a browser such as Outlook express. So, I used one for
searching and the other for reading and posting. But now that AT&T
dropped newshosting <boo!!!>, I can't get it directly. I'll have to
pay a third party provider such as GigaNews if I want to do that (or
dump AT&T).

Anyone with suggestions for a good newsgroup provider? <g>

-Melina

 

[Mel]

That shouldn't be the case.  As far as I know, the ISP I connect to thenet
through offers nothing in the way of newsgroups.  I just connect directly to:

msnews.microsoft.com

I think the whole address is: news://msnews.microsoft.com, right?
(FAQ00275). I'm pretty sure the prefix "designates a Usenet
news server protocol, requiring a news host provider. That explains
that with or without the prefix, I get nothing because my connection
can't find a news server with my provider. They cut them out due to
the high expense of maintaining the servers (but blamed it on porn).
Who is your provider? You might have Usenet hosting but not know it. I
spoke to AT&T once long ago about it and they didn't even know what it
was, yet they had it - I found out on my own.

-Melina

 

[Mel]

Right.  But if you're using a newsreader, it'd assume the part.

I've included the bit in the link on the FAQ so that it launches
whatever newsreader client's installed on your system when you click the
link.


Your provider doesn't need to supply the server.  

http://someaddress-- if there's a web server at someaddress, you get the
web page if you plug that into your browser

news://someaddress -- if there'sa news server at someadress, you get the
newsgroup if you plug the address into your newsreader client app.


I've logged onto the net through all manner of ISPs/providers and have
never been unable to access msnews via a newsreader.  

Now what *might* be happening is that your ISP is blocking common ports, which'd prevent you from accessing news servers at all.  Some
corporate networks block news as well.  

Try this ... drop to a command prompt and type:

telnet msnews.microsoft.com 119

If the screen clears and you get

200 NNTP Service 6.0.3790.3959 Version: 6.0.3790.3959 Posting Allowed

you know you've got a clear path to the news server here.

If you don't connect, then most likely something's blocking it at your end
or your ISPs.

Either way, type QUIT when you're done to exit the telnet session.


==============================
PPT Frequently Asked Questionshttp://www.pptfaq.com/

PPTools add-ins for PowerPointhttp://www.pptools.com/

Steve, what newsreader are you using? I dumped mine since loosing
Usenet but formerly had NewsRover. I still have Outlook Express
however. They require an NNTP server, so how are you putting an
address directly in? FireFox and IE stand still when I enter the
address directly too. Clicking the link starts my web browser, which
does no good, of course.

 

[saskabush]

I use Thunderbird for my newsgroups not Firefox. Under Tools - Account
Settings I add an account and one of the choices is newsgroup account
and then just configure from there.

Randy

 

[Mel]

I use Thunderbird for my newsgroups not Firefox. Under Tools - Account
Settings I add an account and one of the choices is newsgroup account
and then just configure from there.

Randy

But in your newsreader, isn't account setup asking for an NNTP server?

 

[saskabush]

But in your newsreader, isn't account setup asking for an NNTP server?

Yes. I entered msnews.microsoft.com and then created account
"powerpoint" and then "subscribe" to the powerpoint group in
microsoft.public

Randy

 

[Mel]

Yes. I entered msnews.microsoft.com and then created account
"powerpoint" and then "subscribe" to the powerpoint group in
microsoft.public

Randy

Oh, ok, I'm in. <g> OE took msnews.microsoft.com as a news server.
Cool. Thanks, guys.

-Melina

 

[Mel]

So will any other right-thinking newsreader, btw.

No, it was my right-thinking that was wrong. <g> I think most news
servers are secured for paying subscribers. I hadn't seen one free for
so long I didn't think about the address you were giving as being an
actual news server NNTP address. I actually have set up lots of news
accounts in readers in the past, but they weren't free server
addresses. I didn't put it together that I could go direct to an MS
news server for free. See, I just get all excited and confused when it
comes to something free. <g>

-Melina