A RECIPE MAKEOVER (to import into MasterCook)

Below is a conversation where a fellow user is having troubles importing a Word Document file (*.doc) into MasterCook. Sometimes an explanation given to someone helps others, so I'll share in hopes that it may help you.

Here's a list of problems with the original recipe and what needs to be done to fix them:

1. They are not in the correct format.
2. There are fraction symbols within the ingredients.
3. There are blank spaces at the beginning of lines, etc. that will cause problems.
4. MasterCook can NOT import *.doc files.

After receiving an attached *.doc file from a user the follow conversation took place.

There are many problems with your attached DOC file. First of all NONE of the recipes are in a format ready to import into MasterCook. They MUST look like this:

@@@@@
Recipe Title

1/2 cup this
1 cup that

Many paragraphs of directions go here.

Using the above example recipe, the 5 @ symbols tell MasterCook when a new recipe begins. You MUST use them in front of EVERY recipe. The completely blank lines (no spaces or tabs, etc.) between recipe parts signify to MasterCook when a new recipe section begins.

You MUST get these recipes OUT OF WORD. Open your Doc file. Select All and Copy. Open Windows Notepad (NOT wordpad!) and paste them into Notepad.

Another problem with your recipes is the format of the ingredient units of measure. You have recipes that use symbols for fractions rather than the three-character fractions. Your recipe ingredients look like this:

½ c. picante sauce

and they MUST look like this instead:

1/2 cup picante sauce

So, you'll need to go through every recipe and fix those, too. Perhaps use Word's Find/Replace before you copy/paste into Notepad.

Some of your recipes have a blank space in front of lines, e.g.:

 CHILI CON QUESO BITES

instead of this:

CHILI CON QUESO BITES

So, you MUST go through and delete all these spaces, too. This is EXTREMELY important.

After you have all of your recipes in this format within a *.txt file in Notepad, you are ready to select IMPORT from the File menu in MasterCook and direct it to this *.txt file where you have formatted all the recipes correctly. MasterCook will then import them into the program.

MasterCook can only import ONE text file at a time. However, you can have several recipes within a text file, and they ALL will import at once.

Below is a BEFORE and AFTER example of one of the recipes. Perhaps it will help you in formatting the others correctly.

BEFORE:

 CHILI CON QUESO BITES

1 Point     18 Servings (1 Piece)
52 Calories     0 g. Fiber     3 g. Fat

FROM:  www.aimeesadventures.com


4 medium eggs
½ c. picante sauce
¼ c. flour
2 t. chili powder
¾ c. RF shredded cheddar cheese
1 green onion


Preheat oven to 400.  Spray 18 muffin pan cups with butter-flavored
 Pam.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl mix eggs, picante sauce, flour and chili powder.  Stir
 in cheese and onion. 

Spoon evenly into each cup.

Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.  

Serve warm or at room temperature with FF sour cream for additional
 points.  

AFTER:

@@@@@
CHILI CON QUESO BITES

4 medium eggs
1/2 cup picante sauce
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 cup RF shredded cheddar cheese
1 green onion

Preheat oven to 400. Spray 18 muffin pan cups with butter-flavored Pam. Set aside.

In a medium bowl mix eggs, picante sauce, flour and chili powder. Stir in cheese and onion.

Spoon evenly into each cup.

Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm or at room temperature with FF sour cream for additional points.

1 Point 18 Servings (1 Piece)
52 Calories 0 g. Fiber 3 g. Fat

FROM: www.aimeesadventures.com