Anping
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What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 11, 2017 11:10:31 GMT
Using artistic license, I can see how a simple mosque such as the one pictured here might evolve into what is shown on the stamp. I've just looked at this again and the postcard's description is wrong. This is not a mosque, it's a tomb (can't recall whose it is at the moment; possibly Sheikh Said). The location is Steamer Point just by the Prince of Wales landing pier. All the activity may be connected either with the arrival of a dignitary; possibly royalty. OR, more likely, this is a festival of remembrance for the entombed. I've just unearthed a small group of photographs that were printed by J.M. Coutinho, who produced a lot of these postcards. It appears that the following photo was taken from the same vantage point as the postcard, although somewhat later. Notice the change from horse drawn carriages to motor vehicles. Strangely, this photograph and all the others have had a stamp attached and cancelled all with the same date. The stamps used are all different values and were those available before Aden issued their own in 1937 (the Dhow issue).
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 11, 2017 2:39:22 GMT
Well between you and me, I have used them just the once. But I was interested in another opinion. I did benefit from a 'first time buyer' (£55) discount plus a 20% reduction on a relisted item; plus the standard no buyer fee; plus zero postage & handling fee. So I did rather well. Dealing with them by email is impressive as they are very responsive. But for my own collecting interest, I do find their estimates somewhat high and some of the quality of the material a little below my expectations for the price listed. Occasionally, their descriptions are confusing and images rather small. But I guess this is the price you pay for postal auctions, where lots can't be examined personally. The above quote was in connection with Universal Philatelic Auctions (UPA) here in the UK. Well having received the usual post-auction email about unsold lots in their latest sale, I ended up placing a bid on one of them. This was only my second time bidding with UPA (both being on unsold lots). The lot in question was reduced by 20% on the original estimate and that was the figure I submitted. I won it and it arrived a couple of days ago, again with no postage and handling fee. The lot only comprised two stamps, both from the Hong Kong QEII 1962 Annigoni portrait definitives. These were the glazed paper varieties of the $2 and $10. The latter is a scarce beast (reflected in a high catalogue price), as it was produced in the final weeks before the series changed to a different watermark. Although the glazed paper doesn't show in a scan, here's the $10 anyway: Unfortunately, the $2 wasn't what it was claimed to be. And that's the trouble with bidding blind in a postal auction (there wasn't a photo of the lot, not that it would help with identification anyway). I only bid based on the lot's description of condition as 'very fine'. (?) So folks, I have contacted UPA about the problem, which they have acknowledged. Although I'm confident they will rectify the matter one way or another, it is frustrating. I guess I should be grateful that it wasn't the $10 that was wrongly identified; this is only the second used copy I have seen in about 30 years. So all I need now is to get a mint copy. That shouldn't be a problem; it's a mere £2250
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 11, 2017 0:26:11 GMT
This GB set arrived today as I stumbled across an article about them somewhere and bought them. This 2008 Rescue at Sea issue is a fine looking set depicting the various aspects of air-sea rescue. At first glance this seems quite a normal set. But look at the top and bottom perforations: If a pair of the stamps are placed one above the other, a pattern emerges: The detail reveals the Morse Code for SOS (Save Our Souls) repeated across the horizontal perfs. Rather a clever and unusual design!
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 9, 2017 17:23:17 GMT
Sorry Ryan , just to rub salt in the wound; here's a strip of five $50 of the unwatermarked issue that I found in my pending file (which is almost as big as my collection now; I'm so lazy). If you're having problems getting some of these, I might be able to help.You could message me: PS. I hope to use your rather refined description 'noodly squiggles' in my album write-up.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 8, 2017 23:24:02 GMT
Below is the 1982 set of mint definitives (wmk w14; Multiple Crown CA Diagonal). SG 415 to SG 430. Designed by A. Hacker and printed by Harrison. There are actually two sets here, which I married for display purposes using the cylinder colour selvedge of one set, to another ordinary set. Although these at first glance appear to be bi-colour printings, it would seem three colours were used; the vignette being a darker shade than the surrounding ornaments and country inscription. Values 10c to $2: Values $5 to $50; two examples with wmk 'crown to right': In 1985, the same design was issued but this time with no watermark. This reissue caught collectors off guard, particularly as the number of values (16) in the set remained the same. However, the 30c bluish violet value had in fact been dropped and a $1.70 bright blue and bright green value introduced. This second issue is priced about one third higher than the first by Gibbons. The new $1.70 value:
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Anping
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What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 7, 2017 23:30:25 GMT
Here is the 1982 set of used definitives (wmk w14; Multiple Crown CA Diagonal). SG 415 to SG 430. Designed by A. Hacker and printed by Harrison. My favourite QE definitive set because of the striking colours and the harmony of the design: Close ups of the $20 & $50 reveal the stylised forms of the British Lion and the Chinese Dragon:
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 5, 2017 1:28:22 GMT
Also for those who collect pristine Cancel To Order (CTO) used stamps, they do not want the gum disturbed like mint stamps with no previous hinge marks. Well, thank you for my 'fact of the day'; I never knowed that. I had assumed collectors soaked CTO's to remove the gum.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 5, 2017 1:15:23 GMT
Descriptions like ...,"Mint, Hinged". From an old listing I saved: You know, I hadn't realised how versatile a $1000 stamp could be. You can write down all the wallpaper hanging calculations AND wipe up that coffee stain too. PS. I've just realised I'm derailing this thread, from 'Significance of NH.....' Oh dear!
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 5, 2017 0:38:15 GMT
( NOTE: I am not a "purist" and use the term "mint" to mean the stamp is unused, without fault, with full original gum, although it may have been previously hinged; a purist (correctly) uses "mint" to mean "post office fresh" with pristine gum). Well you may have stirred up another pot of treacle there.... The misuse of the term mint drives me to distraction too. Descriptions like (and I see these every day on eBluff), "Mint, NG (meaning no gum), trimmed wing margin (or trimmed perfs)". Well it ain't bleedin' mint then, is it?
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 4, 2017 22:04:15 GMT
Bobby,
I was looking at some auction stamps on 'another' forum just yesterday and the seller described his used stamps as NH. Which in that context suggests to me that they had 'no hinge'; or in other words the hinges had either been removed or never had hinges attached. Either way this is of no consequence to me.
Here in the UK, the term NH for used stamps is virtually never used and seems to have emanated from across the pond. I just find the use of NH an unnecessary distraction because it seems to mean something different to different people.
Perhaps someone could explain what the obsession is with hinges on used stamps anyway as this has always puzzled me; particularly on low value stamps. Is this some relatively new fashion or fad which has gathered momentum?
I would accept that there are exceptions in instances where a used stamp has a hinge that might be disguising a fault. But then again more often it is the gum remainder and foxing (rust) that could have more of an adverse effect. In that instance I would want that to actually be mentioned in the description and ideally accompanied with a scan.
Just my 0.01534 pence worth (at current exchange rate).
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 4, 2017 11:16:36 GMT
Thank you all for your very helpful replies. The model shown by tomiseksj , looks very much like the one I have at the moment. It would seem that the main criticism of these small usb units is their weight. So many users complain that due to the lightweight and inferior plastic construction, most don't remain static when adjusted and so can't retain focus. This I have found with mine. I have had a look at the Celestron as recommended by @falshung . Surprisingly, this can actually be bought in the UK, but as usual here, we get spanked by import duties. The cheapest for the 'pro' model is £100. The nice feature is the 'snap shot' button which is not on the body of the scope itself. Obviously the 5mp camera capability is a considerable improvement on the others. Ryan said: You are undoubtedly right. However, I have done very little of this type of identification and don't really have enough experience to be certain of what I find. I need to be absolutely sure about some of my GVI HK collection because the catalogue pricing between some chalk faced papers and ordinary are extreme. Expensive mistakes can easily be made. See a couple of examples below:
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 3, 2017 23:30:51 GMT
Early last year I bought a second hand USB x400 magnification microscope. Although it arrived complete and in very good order, there was a problem with it. The inbuilt LED lights, which are supposed to have variable illumination, kept adjusting intermittently; and even shutting off.
I guess this is why this was sold off. I paid very little for it, so this is no great loss. When it worked, it did what I needed.
I have read countless reviews about the seemingly endless variations of these products, but just end up totally 'product blind'. There are so many similar products out there many of which are probably Chinese made clones. It would seem that many of these claim to have variable magnification, which is certainly untrue, based on user reviews.
Does anyone have positive experience of using a particular make/model? I only need this to accurately check for chalk faced papers, which means I need to get close enough to see 'cratering' or 'bubbling' of the chalk (clay) surface.
The variability and reliability of the LED illumination is essential. The unit must be able to sit firmly on a desk, and be capable of being fed a stamp and holding it flat.
I know that 'we gets what we pays for' as far as quality/price is concerned. But I'm looking for a happy medium here. I don't want to pay big money, which probably eliminates a true variable magnification option. And I don't need to see the hairs on the knees of a flea.
I'd be grateful for anyone's views.
PS
Wasn't sure where to post this. So please feel free to move it if necessary.
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Anping
Departed
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 2, 2017 19:01:49 GMT
Perhaps this is the key point, although it does not seem to be explicitly stated: Scott lists the stamp duty issues if they were also used for postage, but not if they were only ever used for fiscal purposes. This is also true of the Gibbons catalogue. Yes, that's correct.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 2, 2017 17:30:20 GMT
I'm sure Ryan is right; this was cancelled at Aden Camp. The mosque is I think another example of the designers having to look outside the confines of Aden proper, for a respectable landmark. This may be from Seiyun or Shihr & Mukalla, if it exists at all.
Aden itself was not a picturesque place having evolved from an extinct volcano; just sand and rocks. The phrase 'the barren rocks of Aden' comes to mind, which found its way into a famous Scottish song, shown in this 'video' (still shots):
This is how I remember it; I saw rain and grass only once in 18 months - the grass lasted three days.
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Anping
Departed
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 2, 2017 10:19:30 GMT
Anping , I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived back home today, and I checked my 2006 Scott Catalogue for a listing on these HK Contract Note stamps. Sorry to say that Scott does not include them in the listings. Beryllium Guy , I actually wasn't expecting them to be in Scott. If those were to be included, then the whole raft of stamp duty issues would have to be in there as well (QV through QEII). In fact, Ryan has asked about the one publication that does cover these: There is a substantial section dedicated to Hong Kong in Barefoot, although my copy is a now little outdated. As yet I haven't checked the QEII section in there, as it is probable that the article (Page 1) I posted earlier, has much more detail. I refrained from showing all 4 pages, as I felt it may have been too intense for the casual observer. I can of course show the remainder if wanted. Yang does not list these either, which I'm relieved about. I am not a great fan of this catalogue because of the continual repetition of errors, typos and poor English; issue after issue. Why do they not invest is the use of an English proof reader? And just a couple of observations about these QE issues: Some years ago, these were virtually given away by dealers as they seemed to be in abundance and were considered back of the book fodder. More recently, collectors hamstrung by the high prices of postal issues have been seeking out subsidiary material that is both obtainable and affordable. This is one such example. However, the greater demand for these has pushed the prices up considerably. The examples I have shown were bought by me from one dealer, who listed these at .99p per pair regardless of face value. But I was lucky. There is one particular UK eBay seller/dealer who specialises in Commonwealth revenues, and prices these individually. Just this week he listed some priced between £2.95 to £17.50 each (and that's just up to the $60 value). Some of those I bought had face values up to $100 and $200. Looking on Hipstamp, the pricing is somewhat similar, for those I saw from New Zealand sellers. So based on the sheer numbers of printing variations (five I think), assembling a collection of these now is itself becoming financially prohibitive for many.
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Anping
Departed
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 1, 2017 12:43:02 GMT
Thanks for the information and that link. The image shown of the booklet in that article has just caused me to think that I have one somewhere; it does look very familiar. If I do have one, it will no doubt surface when I'm not looking for it.
By the way, the error in the write-up (NSP instead of NSD) is not mine. I bought the page as is.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 1, 2017 11:32:22 GMT
Bumped to show subject introduction in first post.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Aug 1, 2017 1:34:24 GMT
I don't know how common stamp exhibition perfins are, but I thought I might just show these GB 1978 National Stamp Day examples. As the text states, the were only available at the venue. The block shows the 9p 'The Tower of London' value. Perhaps LB1 might have some insight:
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 30, 2017 17:33:20 GMT
Another selection of Stamp Duty Contract Note stamps; but these are the overprinted revalued versions:
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 30, 2017 2:24:50 GMT
Here is a selection of Stamp Duty Contract Note stamps up to the value of $200. These have not yet been checked for issue types, which differ in the number of shading lines at the top of the Queen's head. Firstly, here is an edited extract of a Page 1 of a 4 page paper, just to give a basic overview: These are a bit cluttered as they are just in a working stock page: The rather vivid colours makes identification a bit more difficult; as does the misplacement of a few of the overprints.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 18:26:08 GMT
Well how very strange. Both these forged postmark eBay items have been ended early by the seller; "because there was an error in the listing". These were terminated yesterday.
I used the word strange, because that's the second time that eBay items have been withdrawn after I posted them here; even though I hadn't named the seller.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 16:57:08 GMT
To do a particular job repeatedly with DOS one can create a "Batch" file with the commands contained. Execute the Batch file and the commands within are executed. Somehow I think I should keep things as simple as possible just for the moment. I had read about these batch processes somewhere before; but thanks for the info. Anyway, Ryan has scared me off with the story about his uncle.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 11:58:52 GMT
The original DOS standards don't allow for periods in the middle of filenames like we can have nowadays, so it's not such a surprise that your filename change doesn't work easily. I say easily, because there's most likely a way around it with further codes, but it probably takes longer to figure out the magic codes than it does to just change those files manually. I suspected that the use of a period in the filename may have had something to do with it. I was actually just putting the rename command 'through its paces'. I don't have file names of that format, but I'd guess that some do, particularly as the use of the period in filenames was the norm in OS mainframe systems; e.g. BBL.TEMP.SORT.FILE1 etc.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 11:50:06 GMT
I can't find any reference on TSF to another of these tiny islands, namely Easdale. This would appear to be one of those used in Clive Feigenbaum's portfolio. I have a few color separation sheets which I'll try to find and post in another thread.
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Anping
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 11:23:18 GMT
Jerry,
Thanks for that tip for pasting the folder into the 'cmd' line. It does seem to encase the drive/path/folder name in quotes though, which I removed. Perhaps it works with them but I find the process of working out the correct syntax tedious. It would be useful if one could copy and paste sections of commands previously input from within the actual 'Dos screen', instead of having to retype them.
Thanks too for the link, which is very useful.
Well I've had some success at testing the rename command. I created a new folder, as Ryan suggested, and put a few files in there. The rename worked for the string I wanted ("HK_" to "HK "). What does NOT work is this experimental rename of files with period within the start of a filename: ren "HK.*" "HK *". This results in the filename having a space inserted before the period, for example: HK.$1 becomes HK .$1.
There is no mention of this in the MS-Dos Command line overview (in the link).
Curious.
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Anping
Departed
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 3:43:55 GMT
Thank you so much Ryan for the enormous effort. As you noticed I did manage to wobble through some of the command prompt commands (I've never done anything in my pc's bowels before). Your suggestion about the quotes is worth trying. It's a bit frustrating not knowing the syntax strings that are permissible, as the Help command is somewhat brief. I shall keep a copy of your screen shot 'opus', as there is a lot of useful stuff to learn. You never know, I might learn to use my beast properly. I've only owned pc's for about 18 years, so I'm a bit of a novice. Thanks again old bean.
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 2:53:46 GMT
Thank you P..GS, I've downloaded this, but will have to get my head round the syntax and which fields I need to use.
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Anping
Departed
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Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 1:20:17 GMT
Hi Mick,
I've worked out how to change the directory in the command prompt but the rename command (ren AA* BB* - the actual syntax I'm using is: ren HK_* HK *) results in a 'file not found' response.
I can't figure why this is, as there are loads of 'HK_' files.
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 25, 2017 1:07:25 GMT
Thank you Mick. I'll have a go at that in the morning. I'll report back as soon as I've made a pig's ear of it.
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Anping
Departed
Rest in Peace
Posts: 533
What I collect: Hong Kong, Aden & States & odd stuff I like.
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Post by Anping on Jul 24, 2017 22:18:46 GMT
Is there some method for changing, for example, all the files in a folder that are prefixed with 'AA' to 'BB', without renaming files individually?
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