MetaChat - Oh my god my head is going to explode.

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27 August 2007

Oh my god my head is going to explode. I seriously think I can feel my eyes bugging out. →[More:]

My boss (you know, the crazy one I complain about all the time?) just asked me to put in each of our client's electronic files a Word document containing their contact information. This would be in addition to the office-wide list of contact in Outlook. You know, that address book-y thing where you can put all your phone numbers.

I told her I wasn't comfortable putting information in two different places at the same time; if something changes someone will have to update both Outlook and the Word document, and mistakes start to happen. And I asked her if she knew how to do a search in her Outlook contacts (because she very well may not know how), and she nodded vaguely.

She insisted I do it.

So, in other words, she wants to be able to go into a client's file and look at a Word documnet with their phone number on it, so she doesn't have to "scroll through all the damn contacts".

I canNOT get across how frustrating working for this woman is.

post by: Specklet at: 18:42 | 14 comments

Oh, I feel your pain. But, it's so hard for the boss to admit they don't know something... My boss still cannot figure out how to find or save files to the server. And, he writes documents in email, then emails them to me to put into word. And, he doesn't know how to attach a file to email it.

And, you are so right about it not being a good idea. At least you felt able to bring it up as an issue. That's good. Course, if it all goes to heck, they will find something to point at other than boss's poor decision.

Such a pain/opportunity to learn merge? But, at least it makes you indispensable!

posted by mightshould 27 August | 18:51

OMG NOW SHE ASKED ME TO START COMING IN HALF AN HOUR EARLIER AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

posted by Specklet 27 August | 19:00

Deep breaths. What version of Word? Office 2003?

posted by Triode 27 August | 19:03

mightshould, yes. Exactly.

And she asks me to email her documents that are on the server so she can edit them herself. Whenever possible I print them out so I can edit according to her notes, but sometimes I have to email her something, watch her butcher it, go onto her desktop, overwrite what's on the server, and re-edit it.

I've tried and tried to explain to her these things.

Yes, 2003. But it doesn't matter.

posted by Specklet 27 August | 19:08

Going into work early makes the baby Jebus cry.

posted by grouse 27 August | 19:10

I feel your pain.

Is there a way to create a link to the Outlook vcard? At least you wouldn't have to update twice.

posted by desjardins 27 August | 19:13

Here's what you do: put the same information in all of the Word contacts, and see how long it takes her to realize this. Tell her if she mentions it that the contact is in Outlook, but that every time you save one of her Word docs, it writes over the initial information you put in. Then tell her that's why Outlook was created by Microsoft, to solve that Word doc bug about contact information.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 27 August | 19:20

Oh, you have it bad - WTF early!!!

*now counting lucky stars that my boss doesn't ask me to come in early* (cause I get in before him anyway)

And, IMHO don't bother to try to explain to her. (futility, that.) I have a theory that there's a point where all of us are superseded in our ability to comprehend new technology, and some bosses have already reached theirs.

I do think that this means you have become indispensable, which is both good and bad. lol

posted by mightshould 27 August | 20:07

Oh my god my head is going to explode. I seriously think I can feel my eyes bugging out.

Sounds like exploding head syndrome.

You're very upset about this so called "obnoxious" boss of yours. Riiiight. Your job sucks? Riiight.

What's really happening, physiologically?:

≡ Click to see image ≡

Happens alla time.

Just sayin'. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt. See a doctor. Stat.

posted by shane 27 August | 20:15

You should, through the magic of whatever Microsoft is calling OLE! now, be able to embed the Outlook vcard in the Word document, and then just update it in one central place. Or tell her to stop misusing technology, I dunno.

posted by cmonkey 27 August | 20:19

LT has it exactly. The man's a fucking genius, I tell you. What are the chances that she'll know it's all a load of crap?

On re-reading, I take it the electronic files to which you refer are different from the Outlook contact files. Maybe if you printed up a phone book style chart she'd be more comfortable looking up the info. Better yet, have monks put it into an illuminated manuscript. On real vellum. By candlelight.

posted by elizard 27 August | 21:49

I just spent about an hour rummaging through the MS Office Developer documentation, trying to pull off what cmonkey suggests. I'm now sure of two things:
1: Such is a thing is almost assuredly possibly doable, maybe.
2: I can't figure out how, short of starting at page 1 and learning the entire Office document object model.

This is a platinum-iridium case of "the reason it's hard to do is not because it's hard to do, but because doing it is hopelessly stoopid, and anyone who insists it should done ought to be branded a dumbass, and reprimanded for wasting Specklet's considerable talents".

posted by Triode 28 August | 01:27

I do not fucking understand people's insistence on writing EVERY FUCKING PIECE OF INFO EVAR as a Word dattachment. Just put it in the damn email.

posted by casarkos 28 August | 10:06

'word dattachment' would be a fantastic sockpuppet.

That is one insecure boss there. Sending good thoughts your way.

posted by lysdexic 28 August | 13:35

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