Adding
Filenames to Footers
A handy way to remember a file's name and where it is stored on
your computer is by having the info printed out on the document.
Adding
More Toolbuttons
The toolbuttons available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other
programs are quick ways to accomplish tasks. But there are many
more toolbuttons--probably more than you ever imagined!
Changing
Default Font in Word
Not so many users know they can change the font that every new
Word document is based on. Knowing how to do this eliminates changing
from Times New Roman (the font Word by default is set to use)
each time you start a new document.
Character
Spacing
Making titles, subtitles, headers, or any text stand out from
the rest is what character spacing can do.
Defining
Where Word Looks for Files
Life would be easier if, when opening saved documents, Word "knew"
to focus on a frequently-accessed folder. Well, life CAN be easier!
By changing one of Word's options, you can have Word focus immediately
on any specific folder when going to the command File, Open.
Finding
Files from within Word
Have you ever gone to File, Open and were unable to find
the file you wanted? Well, on that dialog box you can access a
handy search utility.
Keeping
Words Together
Typing along, sometimes at the end of sentences you find words
belonging together don't stay together. For instance, typing "February
9, 2002" near the end of a sentence, there is no guarantee
the date will remain together now or later when editing. No guarantee
unless you know the solution.
Inserting
Comments in Word
If you're working on a Word document and would like to leave notes
or reminders within the document, then Word's comment feature
is ready to help. If you are creating or editing a document with
other people, the comment feature can help there, too; comments
inserted by various people are identified as to who wrote what.
So, the comments feature is really great for collaborative projects.
Inserting
Date or Time
If you often
need the current date or time in a document, some keyboard shortcuts.
Keyboard
Access to Menus
Taking your hand from the keyboard to click on a menu item like
File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. is unnecessary. If you
tire of moving to the mouse, here's how you can avoid it.
Line
Numbering
Line numbering--not the same as list numbering--is handy in many
scenarios. If you're writing a document and want to discuss it
with someone else, number the document for maybe a clearer, smoother
discussion. If you're drafting a document, line numbers can help
in navigating, cutting and pasting--basically, in getting to where
you want to go when editing. Line numbering: turn it on for the
next report, article, term paper, handout, proposal, minutes to
a meeting, or contract you open in Word. Every line will have
a unique label.
Page
Borders
Word's page borders
can draw attention to
your message whether it's a flyer,
a letter, or an agenda. Add ice cream cones, pyramids, palm
trees or a myriad of other designs.
Print
Preview Editing
Word's Print
Preview mode is a familiar place to many. But do you know you
can edit a document without leaving that Preview environment?
Quicker
Undo/Redo
Many know about the left pointing arrow Undo button for wiping
out changes in Word, Excel and other software, and also the right
pointing arrow Redo button for retrieving what was wiped out.
These functions can be lifesavers! But there is a faster way to
do both.
Underline
Styles
A quick way to underline in Word is to select text then go to
the Underline button: But for more than generic underlining use
the Format, Fonts command.
Using
Word's Thesaurus
Do you ever get tired of common, ordinary, mundane words? Could
your writing stand some excitement now and then? A little spice?
Maybe some gentle challenges for the reader (with clarity and
precision and maintaining interest remaining your ultimate goals)?
Word's thesaurus is at your fingertips.
Useful
Text Boxes
Have you ever
been working in Word and wished you could put some text in a "weird"
place. Maybe up in the upper left corner of the page. Or maybe
in the right margin. Somewhere where clicking the mouse or pressing
the Enter key just won't let you go. Or, in Excel, maybe a chart
needs some notations about its series, scope, or implications
for the future. Knowing about text boxes, you can do all of the
above.
Using
Word's Version Feature
When opening
an existing Word document and making changes to it, it's easy
enough to save the file with a new name, preserving the original
under the old name. However, going to File, Save As over
and over for preservation purposes results in multiple files.
And, down the road, will you know whether meeting1.doc
is the original file or the #1 in quality? Word's version feature
to the rescue!
Excel Tips
Adding
Filenames to Footers
A handy way to remember a file's name and where it is stored on
your computer is by having the info printed out on the document.
Adding
More Toolbuttons
The toolbuttons available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other
programs are quick ways to accomplish tasks. But there are many
more toolbuttons--probably more than you ever imagined! And it's
quite easy to have them, too, at your fingertips.
Clarifying
Content with Conditional Formatting
Scrolling through a spreadsheet of black and white data can be
tedious. Better analysis and conclusions might be drawn with conditional
formatting applied. Excel's conditional formatting means numbers
or text meeting certain criteria can jump out and grab you in
red, blue, green, purple . . .
Coloring
Rows Quickly
Working with large spreadsheets, eyes can stray to the wrong row
or wrong column. Using color can help. And here's a fast way to
get the job done.
Defining
Where Excel Looks for Files
Life would be easier if, when opening saved documents, Excel "knew"
to focus on a frequently-accessed folder. Well, life CAN be easier!
By changing one of Excel's options, you can have Excel focus immediately
on any specific folder when going to the command File, Open.
Finding
Files from within Excel
Have you ever gone to File, Open and were unable to find
the file you wanted. Well, on that dialog box (example below)
you can access a handy search utility.
Formulas
Reference What?
There is a neat tool to help clarify any given cell's relationships
with existing cells: its precedents and dependents. And what are
those? Precedents are what cells an active cell references in
its own formula. Dependents are cell(s) that depend on (or reference)
the active cell.
How
Many Days Until . . .?
Want to know how many days until Christmas or until your birthday
or until retirement? In Excel, create a formula using a special
function called Days360.
Inserting
Date or Time
If you often
need the current date or time in a document, some keyboard shortcuts.
Keyboard
Access to Menus
Taking your hand from the keyboard to click on a menu item like
File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. is unnecessary. If you
tire of moving to the mouse, here's how you can avoid it.
Preventing
Changes to Spreadsheets
After working to get an Excel spreadsheet perfect--creating formulas
that reference other cells and perhaps using many of the other
neat features like If statements or Lookup--you don't want it
all inadvertently changed by either yourself or someone else.
There are ways to prevent changes to the whole spreadsheet or
to just part of it.
Quicker
Undo/Redo
Many know about the left pointing arrow Undo button for wiping
out changes in Word, Excel and other software, and also the right
pointing arrow Redo button for retrieving what was wiped out.
These functions can be lifesavers! But there is a faster way to
do both.
Repeating
Rows (like Column Labels) at Top of Printouts
When printing out a lengthy spreadsheet spanning more than one
page, making sense of it can be difficult. Knowing how to repeat
rows--like the column labels--at the top of pages is one action
to make printouts more clear.
Selecting
Cells by Type
Working on an Excel spreadsheet, maybe you want to quickly see
all cells containing formulas. Or maybe all cells with constants.
Or maybe all with conditional formats. You can select cells with
certain content or settings from the Edit, Go To command.
Style
Changes to Workbooks
Excel's Format, Style command is a quick route to changing
all worksheets in a workbook.
Useful
Text Boxes
Have you ever
been working in Word and wished you could put some text in a "weird"
place. Maybe up in the upper left corner of the page. Or maybe
in the right margin. Somewhere where clicking the mouse or pressing
the Enter key just won't let you go. Or, in Excel, maybe a chart
needs some notations about its series, scope, or implications
for the future. Knowing about text boxes, you can do all of the
above.
Worksheet
Navigation
Excel lets you have up to 255 worksheets in a workbook (file).
But of course the display area for the worksheet tabs is limited
in size. If you have a file with 15 worksheets, chances are you
won't see them all in the worksheet tab area at the bottom of
the window. But there are several tricks for getting quickly to
those worksheets.
PowerPoint
Tips
Adding
More Toolbuttons
The toolbuttons available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other
programs are quick ways to accomplish tasks. But there are many
more toolbuttons--probably more than you ever imagined! And it's
quite easy to have them, too, at your fingertips.
Custom
Backgrounds Using Clipart
Tired of the old familiar PowerPoint
templates for adding color and design to presentations? There
are several ways to create your own. The way discussed here uses
clipart--with a little tampering.
Defining
Where PowerPoint Looks for Files
Life would be easier if, when opening saved documents, PowerPoint
"knew" to focus on a frequently-accessed folder. Well, life CAN
be easier! By changing one of PowerPoint's options, you can have
PowerPoint focus immediately on any specific folder when going
to the command File, Open.
Finding
Files from within PowerPoint
Have you ever gone to File, Open and were unable to find
the file you wanted? Well, on that dialog box you can access a
handy search utility.
Inserting
Date or Time
If you often
need the current date or time in a document, some keyboard shortcuts.
Keyboard
Access to Menus
Taking your hand from the keyboard to click on a menu item like
File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. is unnecessary. If you
tire of moving to the mouse, here's how you can avoid it.
Numbered
Bullets in PowerPoint
It's not really easy to get numbered bullets in PowerPoint 97--without
the add-in this tip describes. Sure you can do them manually,
line-by-line, using the command Format, Bullets and the appropriate
font type. But that is far too difficult to do and edit the list
once finished.
Outline
or Brainstorm using PowerPoint
PowerPoint is for more than presentations. Have a project
looming or a paper assigned and don't know where it will lead?
Microsoft PowerPoint's outlining side can help.
Quicker
Undo/Redo
Many know about the left pointing arrow Undo button for wiping
out changes in Word, Excel and other software, and also the right
pointing arrow Redo button for retrieving what was wiped out.
These functions can be lifesavers! But there is a faster way to
do both.
Scrolling
Credits During a Slide Show
Scrolling text
is what you see at the end of most movies. The director, film
crew, casting, special effects people, actors, etc. are quickly
credited as the text moves up and off the screen. You can simulate
this effect on a PowerPoint slide.
Useful
Text Boxes
Have you ever
been working in Word and wished you could put some text in a "weird"
place. Maybe up in the upper left corner of the page. Or maybe
in the right margin. Somewhere where clicking the mouse or pressing
the Enter key just won't let you go. Or, in Excel, maybe a chart
needs some notations about its series, scope, or implications
for the future. Knowing about text boxes, you can do all of the
above.
Windows Tips
Create
Custom Color Schemes
Going to Start, Settings, Control Panel might be familiar for
many reason; there are alot of changes you can make from there!
(Be careful changing what you're unsure of.) One option does not
have much to do with increasing productivity--at least directly.
But it sure can ease the boredom of looking at a grey and blue
screen day in and day out. And therefore, might make your fingers
fly a little faster or get you back from lunch a little sooner.
Colors!!! Red, pink, mint green, baby blue, royal blue, sunshine
yellow, rusty brown, khaki white--they're all available for painting
your screen here, there, wherever you like.
Defrag
for Speed
Using a computer, opening files day in a day out, files become
fragrmented. This means each file ends up with "pieces" falling
here and there across your hard drive. As time goes on and a file
is opened and saved over and over, the pieces can become even
further apart. Opening such files--fragmented files--takes longer
than if all the pieces were pooled together. Defragging is a process
to bring the parts of individual files together, thus speeding
up access to them. And it's a process that should be a weekly
or perhaps a monthly routine (depending on how much you use your
PC) to maintain hard drive efficiency.
Desktop
Folder for Shortcuts
Creating desktop shortcuts for quick access to files and programs,
you may eventually view your Desktop as a cluttered mess. And
if, at any given moment, the shortcut you want is hard to find
then it's not much of a shortcut! Folders can help.
File
Extensions are Informative
Have you ever received a file, perhaps as an attachment, maybe
on a floppy or CD, and question what it is? Well, every file you
create, every file anyone else creates, has a name, true, but
a revealing part of the name is the file extension. Given a specific
file, that file's extension can lead to learning what program
you need to open it.
Finding
Files from the Start Button
Hard drives are huge these days. We’re busy. Files we’ve saved
may be saved to unlikely places. Thank goodness for Windows Find
feature.
Keyboard
Access to Menus
Taking your hand from the keyboard to click on a menu item like
File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. is unnecessary. If you
tire of moving to the mouse, here's how you can avoid it.
Shortcuts
on Desktop
Gain quick access to files and programs with shortcuts. Learn
how the Desktop can be much more than a pretty background!
Taking
Control with Windows Explorer, Part 1
Many computer users don't know how to see the files on their computers.
This tip, the first of three related tips, introduces an important
"see all" program each Windows user has on his PC.
Taking
Control with Windows Explorer, Part 2
In part 1 of Taking Control with Windows Explorer, you discover
several ways to open Windows Explorer, a great program for seeing
what's on your drive(s). In this tip, you'll learn how to create
your own folders in Explorer. Once folders exist there, then you
can save files to them when working in programs like Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, etc.
Taking
Control with Windows Explorer, Part 3
In part 1 of Taking Control with Windows Explorer, you discover
several ways to open Windows Explorer. Part 2 covers creating
your own folders. This tip, part 3, will show how to specify in
any windows program such as Word or Excel how to save to a specific
folder.
Tiling
Open Windows
Sometimes it's handy to have information in more than than one
program on the screen side by side. Maybe you want to see a Word
letter written last week and at the same the Excel spreadsheet
started yesterday. That's an easy task to accomplish.
Wonderful
Control Key
Here's a cheat sheet of Control key shortcuts to zip through everyday,
many-times-a-day, actions.
Internet/Information/Web
Pages
3
Tips for Better Internet Searching
Many Internet search tools, like Go at http://www.go.com/ or Yahoo
at http://www.yahoo.com or http://www.alltheweb.com as well as
many others, give more relevant results if you know three search
tips.
Computer
Terminology Lookup
If you occasionally are puzzled by something read or heard about
computers, a computer terminology site can explain geeky vocabulary
. The next time someone mentions "RAM" or "blue
screen of death" or "zipped files" and you wish
a definition followed the reference, head to webopedia or whatis
website.
Online
Word Tools
Let the dictionary on the bookshelf continue to gather dust. Here
are some online references to check definitions, pronunciations,
synonyms, antonyms and more.
Promoting
Your Website
Done with your website? Now tell others about it! Promoting your
website means informing others of its existence. If it's a site
of interest only to local people, then promoting may mean just
sending an email to a local group or requesting links be created
to your site from existing, familiar pages others already use.
But when your website could be of interest to others outside the
local circle, you have some work to do to reach them. You must
advertise--but not advertise the traditional route, nor the costly
route.
Translation
Services
As our population becomes more diverse, you may occasionally wish
for a translator. Several free language translation services are
available on the Internet.
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