Helpful Hints

Automatically Rip (copy) a Music CD to your Windows 7 Computer

2012-01-03T18:46:00.000-05:00

Follow the steps below to Rip (copy) music from a CD to your Windows 7 computer:

Before beginning the steps below, make sure you are connected to the internet. When your computer is connected to the Internet, the Player attempts to retrieve media information about the tracks being ripped from an online database. The Player then adds the information to the files during ripping.

1. Click the Start button.

2. Type Windows Media Player in the search box.

3. Click Windows Media Player to open the program.

4. On the Menu bar, click Tools and then Options. (Note: if you don’t see the menu bar, it might be hidden. Click Organize > Layout > Show Menu bar to show the Menu bar.)

5. In the Options window, click the Rip Music tab.

6. Click the checkbox: “Rip CD automatically”

7. Click the checkbox: “Eject CD after ripping”

8. OPTIONAL: change the save location, file name, format, or audio quality on the Rip Music tab.

9. Click OK.

10. Insert a music CD to copy.

11. If Autoplay opens or another program opens to play the CD, click the X to close it. Windows Media player must remain open.

12. You should see the names of each music track and the program will automatically begin ripping each track. If you don’t want to copy every track, uncheck the box in front of the track.

13. When the entire CD has finished copying, the CD will automatically eject if you selected that option above.

14. To copy another music CD, just insert it and repeat steps 11 and 12 above.

15. Now you can remove the CD and locate the music you just ripped by clicking Music in the navigation pane on the left. Double-click to open a folder and then double-click a song title to play a song.

Notes:
If you do not see your music listed in Windows Media Player, click Start > My Music and locate the folder containing the music you ripped. Double-click on the folder to open it and then double-click the song title to play.

Windows XP also allows you to Rip a music CD but the instructions are slightly different.

Internet Browsers - why you need 2...

2011-11-29T15:32:00.001-05:00

Recently I've had some issues with my current browser -Internet Explorer 9. I couldn't edit my own website and on certain websites I was not able to save my user name and password so that I don't have to type it every time I visit the site. When I tried the same tasks using Firefox 8...no problem!

Every browser is different so you should check them out and see which one works best for you. The browsers are free so it's a good idea to download at least 2 so that if you have a problem with one, you can easily switch to another.

Only 1 browser can be your DEFAULT browser, which means when you click on an internet link from your email or other program, the DEFAULT browser opens. (Usually when you open a browser that is not your DEFAULT browser, you will be asked if you want to make the current browser your DEFAULT browser. If you want to change your DEFAULT browser to the browser you just opened, click YES when prompted.)

Most PC's come with Internet Explorer already installed. To download additional browsers, check out the following websites:

firefox.com

https://www.google.com/chrome/

Create a Chart in Microsoft Excel with 1 Keystroke

2011-11-01T02:00:00.007-04:00

If you want to create a simple column chart in Microsoft Excel, do this:

Click anywhere within the data you wish to chart and press the
F11 key (function key at the top of your keyboard).

This action works nicely if your data is consecutive with no blank rows
or columns between the data. If your data is NOT consecutive, you will
need to select the data BEFORE pressing the F11 key.

The chart below is the result of clicking in any cell above and pressing F11.

Click on the chart below to enlarge the chart.

What’s [Compatibility Mode]?

2011-10-01T07:35:00.001-04:00

If you are using MS Office 2007 or 2010, and you view a file that was created in an earlier version of MS Office, you will see [Compatibility Mode] next to the file name in the title bar.

While in [Compatibility Mode], the tools that are new in your version of Office will not be available. Just convert the file to the current version to be able to use the new tools. Here’s how:

1. View the file you want to convert.

2. Do ONE of the following:
a. In Office 2007 – click the Office Button in the top left corner.
b. In Office 2010 – click the File tab on the Ribbon.

3. Click Convert.
4. The following message appears:

5. Click OK.

NOTE: It is not necessary to convert a file unless you want to use the new features in the program to edit the file.

How to make a document READ-ONLY

2011-09-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Prevent someone from accidentally changing your Word or WordPad document…

Make the document READ-ONLY

If you set the attributes of a document to READ-ONLY, when you open the document, the Title bar (at the top of the window) will show the name of the document along with the words [READ-ONLY].

This means you can make changes, but when you go to save the document, the program will require you to save the file with a new name or location to prevent over-writing the original document.

Of course if you really want to change the original document, just remove the READ-ONLY property BEFORE you open the file.

Here’s how to make a document READ-ONLY:

1. Locate the file but DO NOT OPEN IT.

2. Right-click on the file name.

3. Click PROPERTIES.

4. On the GENERAL tab, click the check-box for READ-ONLY.

5. Click OK.

Internet Explorer 9 - Where did all my tools go?

2011-07-31T20:10:00.000-04:00

This hint applies to Windows 7 or Vista users

If you’ve upgraded your browser to
Internet Explorer 9 you will notice several changes.

Microsoft has uncluttered the browser by hiding many of the tools that were previously displayed. Listed below are a few of the changes.

Back button - this button used to have a down arrow next to it so that you could view and quickly return to any of the previous web pages in the current browsing session. Now you just right-click on the Back button (arrow) and you will see the previous web pages.
Favorites and History - Click the Star icon in the top right corner of the browser.
Print, Save Web pages, and many other options - Click the Tools icon (next to the Star) in the top right corner of the browser.
Menu bar, Favorites bar, Command bar - Right click in a blank area next to the browser tabs and select the desired option. Note: You can also right-click on the Home, Star, or Tools icon.

NEW - Windows 7 (this is cool!)

Pin a website to the Taskbar - Open Internet Explorer 9 and view the website you want to pin. Click and drag the website icon from the address bar, down to the taskbar. When you see the text, "Pin to taskbar", release the icon. When you close the browser, the icon for the web page remains pinned to the taskbar. Click once on the icon on the taskbar to view the webpage.

How to Insert a Logo or Picture into Your GMAIL Signature

2011-07-01T05:35:00.000-04:00

If you have a Gmail account for email and you have set up a signature, you might want to insert a logo or picture along with your signature. The following instructions explain how to do this. It is a 2-step process. First you must share the logo or picture on a public website. I suggest: www.min.us . Then you can copy and paste the link to the graphic into your Gmail settings. Follow the steps below.

Setup Min.US Account & Upload Logo

1. Go to www.min.us (use Firefox or Chrome browser, not Internet Explorer)

2. Click Join, in the top right corner.

3. Complete the required fields.

4. Click Start Sharing.

5. Click Select.

6. Locate the logo or picture to upload. Double-click on the file name.

7. The logo is uploaded:

8. Click Share.

9. Select the link in the Direct Link box and copy it (Press Ctrl+c).

10. Log into your GMAIL account.

11. Click on Settings> Mail Settings, in the upper right corner. Scroll down to Signature. (Note: These instructions assume you have already created an HTML or rich text Signature.)

12. Click the cursor after your signature, where you want to place the logo/picture.

13. Click the Add Image icon:

14. Paste (click Ctrl+v) the Direct Link from above, into the Image URL field

15. Click OK.

16. Scroll down on the Google Settings page and click Save Changes.

17. Try it out!

INSERT & PASTE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN EXCEL

2011-06-01T05:30:00.000-04:00

Excel Users – here’s a cool feature for pasting rows or columns of data into a spreadsheet that already contains data, without overwriting the existing data …

1. Select the rows or columns of data you wish to cut or copy.

2. Cut or copy the data (press Ctrl+x to cut, Ctrl+c to copy or right-click on the selected data and click CUT or COPY).

3. Click on the cell, row, or column heading where you want to paste the data.

4. Right-click on the cell, row, or column heading and click “Insert Cut/Copied Cells”.

5. If you selected an entire row or column, the existing data will shift and insert the cut/copied data. If you did not select the entire row/column, but just specific cells, you might see a dialog box asking you how to shift the existing data if there is surrounding data that wasn’t originally selected.

QR Codes & Smart Phones

2011-05-01T10:15:00.000-04:00

Quick Response Codes are the latest technology rage! Learn more about creating your own QR Codes and scanning with your Smart Phone.
About QR Codes
QR Codes are bar codes that can store phone numbers, URL's, email addresses and much more alphanumeric data. They are internationally standardized. These codes are similar to the bar codes that you see on products for scanning prices; however QR codes hold a lot more information. These codes can store up to 4296 characters!

Smart Phones (cell phones that can access the internet) have free apps that can scan QR Codes. If your Smart Phone doesn’t have a QR scanner, search for “qr code scanner” from your Smart Phone Market place. I like the free app, Quick Mark. You can download it from www.quickmark.cn .

Create QR Codes
Want to create your own QR code? Go to www.qrstuff.com to create QR codes for free! It’s easy…

1. Select the type of QR code to make.

2. Complete the required Content information.

3. Click “Download this image” (found under the QR Code preview)

4. Click Save (IE 8) or Save As (IE 9) and choose a Save location. Note: In Internet Explorer version 9, click the down arrow next to Save to select Save As, otherwise the file goes to the default Download folder.

Use your QR Code
Insert your QR Code like you would insert a picture. Add it to an email, Word document, or any other program that allows pictures.
Advantage of QR Codes over Hyperlinks
QR Codes can be added to print material. Anyone with a Smart Phone can quickly access the information in the QR code.

Quickly locate information on a web page by using the “FIND” option!

2011-03-31T05:35:00.001-04:00

If you open a webpage and can’t easily find the information you want, use the “Find” option to quickly locate key words on the web page you are viewing.

1. View the webpage with Internet Explorer.

2. Click “Edit” (from the Menu bar) and then “Find on this page”, or press Ctrl+f to open the “Find” search box.

3. Type a key word into the box.

4. Press ENTER on your keyboard.

5. If a match is found, the word will be highlighted on the page. The number of matches found will display to the right of the search box.

In the screenshot below, "training" was typed in the Find box. Training is highlighted at the bottom of the webpage.

Quickly Select Large Amounts of Data with the Control Key

2011-03-01T05:09:00.000-05:00

The Control key on your keyboard allows you to quickly select large amounts of data in Microsoft Word or Excel. Here's how:

To select the entire file:

In Word, open the document, press and hold the Ctrl key, and tap the letter A. Release both keys (Ctrl+A). The entire document should be selected.
In Excel, if all your data is consecutive, click anywhere inside the data BEFORE pressing Ctrl+A. This selects only the data and not the remaining blank cells. If you click in a blank cell outside your data and then press Ctrl+A, the entire worksheet is selected.

To select part of the file to the end:

Open the file, click your mouse where you want to begin the selection, press and hold the Ctrl and Shift keys together, and tap the End key. Release all 3 keys (Ctrl+Shift+End).

The method above works in both Word and Excel, but if you don't want to select all columns in Excel try this:

Select the beginning row of data over to the last column you want to include. If you only want to include 1 column, select the beginning cell. Press Ctrl+Shift+↓

EXAMPLES:
Your Excel spreadsheet has data in columns A - F and rows 1 - 2000.

To select all the data from A1:F2000, click in cell A1 and press Ctrl+A.
To select the data in cells A2:F2000, click in cell A2 and press Ctrl+Shift+End
To select only the data in column A, click in cell A1 and press Ctrl+Shift+↓

Use the CTRL key to Copy

2011-02-01T06:18:00.000-05:00

The Ctrl (control) key on your keyboard has many functions. Use it with your mouse to copy text or pictures in MS Word, or cells of data in MS Excel.

It works in most Microsoft Office programs! Here's how:

First select (highlight) what you want to copy.
Press and hold the CTRL key on your keyboard. (There are two CTRL keys. It doesn't matter which one you hold.)
Click and drag the selected item with your mouse to another location on the screen while holding down the CTRL key.
Next release the mouse and CTRL key. A copy of the selected item will appear leaving the original intact.

TRY IT!

System Restore

2011-01-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

With so many people experiencing computer problems, I want to remind you of a Windows tool that will return your system files and settings to an earlier point in time when your computer was working properly, without affecting personal files or email.

For example, if you have just downloaded a new program OR your computer automatically downloaded updates and now your computer isn’t working properly, you can use “System Restore” to restore your computer back to the way it was BEFORE the updates.

“System Restore” is available in Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

Follow the steps below to run System Restore:

Locate System Restore on your computer.

In Windows XP or VISTA- Click START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > SYSTEM RESTORE.
In Windows 7 - Click START and then Type "SYSTEM RESTORE" in the search box. Click SYSTEM RESTORE.

The SYSTEM RESTORE wizard opens.
Follow the instructions in the wizard.
Allow ample time for your computer to restore to a previous restore point.

Notes:

If restoring your computer to a previous point in time does not resolve your computer problem, you can reverse the system restore back to the current settings.
System Restore does not affect your personal files or email.

Reopen Last Browsing Session

2010-12-01T05:15:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Internet Explorer version 8 remembers the last webpage (or open tabs) that you were viewing when you closed your browser? So if you accidentally close your browsing session, you can quickly return to it when you reopen Internet Explorer by following the steps below:

Open Internet Explorer (version 8).
From the Menu bar or Toolbar, click Tools> Reopen last browsing session.

Easily Switch Between Web Pages Using Tabs

2010-11-01T01:38:00.006-04:00

If you’d like to keep a web page open while viewing a different webpage, just open each web page in a separate tab using Internet Explorer.

First, open a webpage you wish to view (using Internet Explorer).

2. Next, click on the blank tab (to the right of the tab you are currently viewing.)
3. A new tab appears. In the address bar, type the address for the next website you wish to view and press ENTER.

4. Now you will see two tabs displaying the name of each website. Click the tab for the website you wish to view.
5. Repeat steps 2 & 3 to open additional tabs.
6. To close a single tab, click the tab and then click the "X" on the tab.

Use Print Preview to Shrink a Microsoft Word Document

2010-10-01T04:59:00.000-04:00

If your Word document is just a few lines too long to fit onto one page, you can use a command on the Print Preview window to quickly shrink the document to 1 page. This command is available in Word 2002, 2003, and 2007. In 2010 the option is not available in the new Print Preview (on the File tab); however, you can customize the ribbon and add the command “Preview and Print” to a new or existing group.

1. To shrink your Word document to 1 page, open Print Preview.

Shortcut: press & release the following keys simultaneously: Alt+Ctrl+I (for Word 2010 you will have to select the Preview and Print command after you add it to the ribbon.)

2. Click the command:

Shrink to Fit (Word 2002 -2003)
Shrink One Page (Word 2007 – 2010)

Note: If your document is too long for Word to shrink it, a message will display:

Windows Key Shortcuts for Windows 7, Vista and XP

2010-09-01T03:00:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered about that funny looking key on your keyboard (next to the ALT key) that looks like a 4-pane window?

It's called the Windows (Logo) key!

Press the Windows key and it opens or closes the Start Menu.  The Windows key allows you to use your keyboard to perform actions where you would otherwise use your mouse.
To use the Windows key in combination with another key, press and hold the Windows key while you tap the second key. Release all keys immediately.

Some of the popular Windows key shortcuts are listed below. The first group of shortcuts works in all 3 operating systems - Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

PRESS:                              RESULT:

Windows key                   Open or close the Start menu
Windows key +D            Display the desktop
Windows key +M             Minimize all windows
Windows key +Shift+M Restore minimized windows to the desktop
Windows key +E             Open Computer or My Computer
Windows key +F             Search for a file or folder
Windows key +L             Lock your computer or switch users

The next group of shortcuts works in Windows 7 & Vista only:

Windows key +T  - Cycle through programs on the taskbar

Windows key +number - Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program. For example: press Window key+1 to open the first program on the Taskbar.

Shift+Windows key +number - Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key +Tab - Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D

Ctrl+Windows key +Tab - Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D

Windows key +X - Open Windows Mobility Center

This final group of shortcuts is for Windows 7 only:

Windows key +Spacebar            Preview the desktop
Windows key +Up Arrow            Maximize the window
Windows key +Left Arrow          Maximize the window to the left
Windows key +Right Arrow       Maximize the window to the right
Windows key +P                        Choose a presentation display mode

Click & Drag: Move or Copy?

2010-08-01T03:08:00.002-04:00

When you click & drag a file from one location to another, have you noticed that sometimes the file “moves” to the new location and sometimes a “copy” is created and the original stays in place?

It’s really not a mystery why this happens…it depends on where you drag the file.

• If you drag the file to a location on the same drive, the file moves.
• If you drag the file to a different drive, a copy is created.

For example, if you drag a file from your computer’s hard drive (C:) to a USB flash drive, a copy is created. But if you drag that same file on your hard drive to a different folder on your hard drive, the file moves to the new location.

But what if you want to create a copy when the computer wants to move the file, or you want to move a file when the computer wants to copy the file? Remember to do 1 thing before you drag, and you will have complete control over the outcome:

RIGHT-CLICK & DRAG THE FILE (instead of left-click & drag). When you release the mouse, a menu displays for you to select MOVE HERE or COPY HERE.

Windows 7 - The secret of the "Snap"

2010-07-01T00:01:00.005-04:00

Windows 7 has a new feature called “Snap” where you drag 1 open window to the right side of the screen another open window to the left and each window “Snaps” in place equally sharing the full screen. Many people who have tried the “snap” feature have had minimal success because they don’t know the trigger for making each window “snap”.

The trigger is the mouse pointer. Click and drag the title bar of each window to the right or left and when your mouse pointer touches the edge of your computer screen, release the mouse and the window "snaps" in place.

Windows XP Users
For those of you who are still using Windows XP there is a similar feature called “tile windows vertically”. Open 2 windows that you want to view side by side. Right-click on a blank area of the taskbar and select "Tile Windows Vertically" from the context menu. The windows are automatically arranged side-by-side, equally sharing the screen.

This Helpful Hint on Windows 7 “Snap,” generated the following question from a reader:

“I’ve run into an issue w/ Windows 7 that I’m sure many others have. I cannot figure out how to have two Excel files up on the screen at one time. Quite often, I need to copy and paste data from one spreadsheet into another, and I would like to use the SNAP feature to read them side by side and manually copy and paste data. But I cannot figure that out.”

ANSWER: There are a couple of options to use with Excel (which doesn’t automatically open a second window when you open a second file, as Word does.)

Option 1: (Windows 7) Open the first Excel file, then open the Excel program again (right-click on the Excel icon on the task bar and select Microsoft Excel) and then open the next file using the “Open” command. This creates 2 instances of the program and allows you to SNAP the 2 windows following the instructions above.

Option 2: Open the 2 Excel files you wish to view side-by-side. The next step varies based on the version of Excel you are using. In Excel 2007 or 2010, click the View tab on the ribbon. In the Window grouping click Arrange All. Select Vertical from the provided options and click OK. For Excel 2003 or older, click the Window menu and select Arrange… Select Vertical from the provided options and click OK.

Remove Incorrectly Typed Addresses in Outlook or Internet Explorer

2010-06-01T02:24:00.001-04:00

Have you ever mistyped a web address in Internet Explorer or an email address in Outlook?

Microsoft’s AutoComplete feature remembers both the correct and the incorrect addresses that you type.

To remove those unwanted addresses, follow the steps below:

Outlook

Create a new email message.
Start typing the name or email address you want to remove.
When the unwanted name or address appears, use the down arrow key on your keyboard to highlight the entry you wish to remove.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Internet Explorer

Begin typing the internet address in the address bar. (see screenshot below)
When the unwanted address appears, use the down arrow key on your keyboard to highlight the entry you wish to remove.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Using the Thesaurus in Microsoft Word

2010-05-01T05:45:00.000-04:00

Use your mouse to right-click on a word in your document for which you want to find a similar word.
Select Look Up... on the context menu.
The Research task pane opens on the right.
A list of similar words is displayed.
Do ONE of the following

To replace the current word in your document, right-click on a word in the Thesaurus and click Insert.
To lookup a word in the list of the Thesaurus, right-click on the word and select Look Up.

NOTE: If you want to also see a dictionary definition or pronunciation choose All Reference Books in the search location drop-down option.

Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

2010-04-01T10:08:00.000-04:00

Keyboard shortcuts save you time – no need to use your mouse!

To use the following key combinations, press and hold the Control key on your keyboard while you press the letter key & then release all keys immediately. Do not hold down the letter key.

5 Microsoft Windows Shortcuts:

Ctrl+a – selects all
Ctrl+c – copies what you have selected
Ctrl+v – pastes what you have copied
Ctrl+p – opens the printer window
Ctrl+s – saves your changes

10 Microsoft Word & Excel Shortcuts:

Ctrl+n - creates a new document or workbook
Ctrl+Home (key) - moves the cursor/cell selection to the the beginning of the document or spreadsheet
Ctrl+End (key) - moves the cursor/cell selection to the end of the document or spreadsheet
Ctrl+f - opens the Find window to find data within the document or spreadsheet
F7 (function key) - opens Spell Check
Ctrl+e - centers the selected paragraph (Word only)
Ctrl+enter (key)- creates a page break (Word only)
Shift+enter (key)- moves cursor to next line without creating a new paragraph (Word only)
Ctrl+; (semi-colon) - inserts today's date (Excel only)
Ctrl+1 (number one) - opens the Format Cells window in Excel; changes line spacing of selection to single spacing in Word.

Change your Folder View for Pictures

2010-03-01T04:18:00.000-05:00

When you are trying to find a specific picture on your computer, among many pictures in a folder, it is helpful to see a miniature of the picture along with its file name. You can change the View options to allow you to see a miniature of each picture. Here’s how:

Windows XP
1. Open the folder containing your pictures (usually My Pictures).

2. Click the View menu or the Views icon on the toolbar and select Thumbnails to see your pictures.

Windows VISTA

1. Open the folder containing your pictures (usually Pictures).

2. Click the arrow next to the Views option on the top bar and select Tiles, Medium Icons, Large Icons, or Extra Large Icons to see different size miniatures of each picture.

Windows 7

1. Open the folder containing your pictures (usually Pictures Library).

2. Click the arrow next to the Views option on the top bar and select Tiles, Medium Icons, Large Icons, Extra Large Icons, or Content to see different size miniatures of each picture.

Get Rid of the "Enable Macros" Notice

2010-02-01T01:25:00.008-05:00

Have you ever opened an Excel Workbook that no longer contains macros but it still prompts you to "Enable or Disable Macros"?

Here's why:
When a macro is created, Excel adds a module to the workbook to store the macro. When you delete all the macros in the workbook the module does not get deleted.
Note: A macro is a recording of a set of commands. Once a macro is recorded you can simply type the macro's name instead of typing the complicated sequence of commands, and all the commands automatically run that you have recorded.

How to delete the Module:

Open the Excel file that no longer contains the macro.
Press Alt+F11 (function key at top of keyboard) to display the Visual Basic Editor.
Near the upper-left side of the editor is the Project Explorer. This contains a hierarchical tree that shows the workbook name and the different modules in your workbook. If the Project Explorer is not visible on your screen, press Ctrl+R to display it.
Within the Project Explorer should be a folder called Modules. If it is not already open, double-click on the Modules folder to display its contents.
Right-click on a module in the folder. A menu is displayed. (See picture below.)
Choose the Remove option from the menu. You are asked if you want to export the module before removing it.
Click on the No button. The module is removed.
Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each module in the Modules folder under your workbook name.
Close the Visual Basic Editor.
Save your workbook.

At this point your workbook contains no modules, and you will not get any notification when you subsequently open it.

Having difficulty reading the small print on the Internet?

2010-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

If you are using a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can quickly zoom in on any web page to make it easier to read.

Here's how:

While viewing any web page, press and hold the Ctrl key (on your keyboard) while pushing the scroll wheel (on your mouse) away from you. Pull the wheel towards you to zoom out.

If you don't have a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can use the Zoom option under the View menu of Internet Explorer.

Another helpful hint submitted by Cook Manwiller:

Use
Control and "+", (plus) to increase size
Control and " - " (minus) to decrease size
and
Control and " 0 " (zero) to return to normal size.

Tips for Printing a Web Page

2009-12-01T03:24:00.000-05:00

When you print from the Internet you might be surprised at the results -- the page might be cut off on the right or too small to read. Web pages are NOT designed for printing. Some of the newer browsers automatically resolve this problem by shrinking the web page to fit on a standard 8 ½ x 11 page; however this can produce results where the print is very small and difficult to read.

Here are a few tips to improve your print results:

Look on the web page for a “printer-friendly” view and print from that view if it is available.

If a “Printer-friendly” view is NOT available and you are using Internet Explorer (version 7 or 8) to view the web, use the Print Preview option to make changes BEFORE you print. Print Preview allows you to see exactly how the web page(s) will look when printed and the number of pages that will print.

Click File from the menu bar and then click Print Preview. Use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen to scroll to view each page that will print.
If the text is difficult to read in Print Preview, change the direction of the paper to “Landscape” using ONE of these methods:
-- Click the Landscape button on the toolbar

-- Press ALT+L on the keyboard.

If the Print Preview is acceptable, click the Printer button on the toolbar to print the web page(s).

Having trouble opening Microsoft Word email attachments?

2009-11-01T03:11:00.003-05:00

Office 2007 attachments have a different file extension than previous versions of Microsoft Office. (The file extension is the 3 or 4 letters after the file name, for example if the file is called "Test" and it is an older Word document, it would appear as: Test.doc where "doc" is the file extension.)
Every file extension is associated with a different program so your computer knows what program to use in opening the file.
If you receive an email attachment with an “x” or an “m” at the end of the extension, it is probably a Microsoft Office 2007 file.
Example:

2007 Excel files end with: .xlsx or .xlsm (contains macros)

2007 Word files end with: .docx or .docm (contains macros)

2007 PowerPoint files end with: .pptx or .ppsx

If you are using an earlier version of Microsoft Office (i.e. 2000, 2002, or 2003) you will NOT be able to view Microsoft Office 2007 files, unless your computer has the Compatibility Pack for 2007 Office System (2007 file conversion add-on) downloaded. If you need this 2007 add-on, it can be downloaded from Microsoft.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to install all High-Priority updates from Microsoft Update before downloading the Compatibility Pack.

Computers that already have the Compatibility Pack for 2007 Office System will display it in the Add or Remove Programs under the Control Panel. (See screenshot below.)

To see if the Compatibility Pack is already installed on your computer, do the following:

Windows XP Users:

1. Click Start; Control Panel; Add or Remove Programs.

2. If you have Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office System displayed in the list, you will be able to open Office 2007 files.

Internet Explorer - Create a Shortcut to a Website

2009-10-01T03:53:00.000-04:00

Do you have a website that you like to visit frequently?

Create a shortcut on your desktop to quickly access any website.

Here's how:

Open Internet Explorer.

View the website for which you want a shortcut.

Click "File" from the menu bar and then select "Send" and "Shortcut to desktop".

Now close Internet Explorer and you will see a shortcut to the website on your desktop.

Double-click on the shortcut to open the website.

Here's an example of a shortcut to "CraigsList" :

Notes:

You must be connected to the Internet for the shortcut to open a website.

If the Menu Bar is not showing (version 8), right-click in a blank area of the toolbars and click "Menu Bar" from the list.

Don't Retype...Change Case (Microsoft Word)

2009-09-01T05:04:00.000-04:00

Do you know that if you've typed a sentence, paragraph, or entire document in a specific case like ALL CAPS and later want to change it to lower case, Title Case (first letter of each word is capitalized) or Sentence case (first letter of sentence is capitalized), you can easily change the case without retyping!

Microsoft Word 2003 and earlier:

Select the text you wish to change.

From the menu bar click Format; Change Case.

Select the case to use.

Click OK.

Microsoft Word 2007:

Select the text you wish to change.

On the Home tab, in the Font group, click the Change Case button.

Select the case to use.

Note: This option is also available in Microsoft Outlook if you are using Word as your email editor.

Microsoft Excel - Easily Switch Between Multiple Worksheets

2009-08-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

If you have an Excel workbook that contains many worksheets, you’ll find that switching between sheets can be tiresome. There is only so much room available for Excel to display the worksheet tabs, so you are often forced to scroll between the sheet’s tabs.

To quickly select a worksheet tab that is not within view:

Right-click on the worksheet scroll bars. (See screen shot on left.)
Click on the appropriate worksheet.

Note: If there are too many worksheets to display, “More Sheets…” is listed at the bottom of the menu. To view all sheets, click “More Sheets:“ to bring up the “Activate” dialogue box. Then to activate the sheet you want, simply select it from the list and click OK.

Using History in Internet Explorer v7 or v8**

2009-07-01T04:00:00.007-04:00

If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer browser to access the Internet, you can use the History tool to return to web pages that you have visited in the past 20 days. This is a helpful feature if you have forgotten the web address of a site you previously visited. (Note: The number of days that IE keeps in History can be changed. See “How to Change History”.)

How to Access History

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Click the star icon (IE v7) or click the Favorites icon (IE v8).

3. Click History. The History task pane displays.

4. Select the down arrow on the History task pane to change how you view history.

5. The following view options are available:

View by date

View by site

View by most visited

View by order visted today

6. Once you’ve chosen how you want to view History, click the page link to view a specific web page.

**If you don’t know what version of Internet Explorer you have installed, click Help, from the menu bar and then select “About Internet Explorer”. The window will open to display the version you are currently using.

How to Change History

If you want to delete the history or change the number of days that are stored in history, follow these steps:

Open Internet Explorer.

Click Tools and then select Internet Options from the menu bar.

On the General tab, locate the History section and click either Delete (to make selections to delete your history) or click Settings to specify the number of days Internet Explorer should save the list of websites you have visited.

After making your changes, click OK at the bottom of each window to save your changes.

Email Large Attachments in a Compressed Folder Using Windows XP or Vista

2009-06-01T06:33:00.000-04:00

If you have many photos or large files that you want to send to someone else via email, you may find that the attachments are too large for your ISP to send. If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can greatly reduce the size of the attachments by first creating a compressed (zipped) folder and then dragging the files you wish to send, into the compressed folder. (You can also send a Microsoft Access database using this method.) When files are inside a compressed folder, the files become compressed automatically. After you have all the files in the compressed folder, you can attach the folder following the same method you would attach a normal single file.

How to Create a Compressed Folder and Email Compressed Files or Photos

Right-click on a blank area of the Desktop.

Point to New, and then click Compressed (zipped) Folder.

A new compressed (zipped) folder is displayed on your Desktop.

Optional: while the name is highlighted, type a name for the compressed folder and press ENTER.

Locate (do not open) the files or photos that you want to place in the folder.

Click and drag the files or pictures to the compressed folder.

Open your email and attach the compressed folder.

Reprinting the Same Address on Multiple Envelopes in Microsoft Word 2003

2009-05-01T13:47:00.001-04:00

When you use the regular Envelope print option in Microsoft Word you are required to enter the address information in the provided window. Once you click the PRINT button, the window closes, so if you want to print additional envelopes with the same address, you are forced to reopen the same window and reenter the same address. Here’s a way that you can print the same address on multiple envelopes:

1. Open Microsoft Word 2003 and type the name and address on a blank sheet of paper.

2. Click the Tools menu, and then select Letters and Mailings and then Envelope & Labels.

3. The address you selected above appears in the Delivery Address section of the Envelopes and Labels window. (Click the Envelopes tab if the Labels tab is showing.)

4. Click the Options button to choose the correct envelope size and then click OK.

5. Place the envelopes in the printer.

6. Click Print.

7. To print additional envelopes with the same address, click Edit on the menu bar and then click Repeat Envelopes and Labels. (Shortcut: Press Ctrl+Y on your keyboard).

8. Repeat the last step for every additional envelope you want to print.

Note: This option is not available in Word 2007.

Change how Microsoft Word 2003/2007 Attachments Open in Email

2009-04-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

When opening a Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007 attachment from your email, Word is set to automatically open in a Reading Layout view (2003) or Full Screen Reading view (2007). This view makes reading a document more like reading a book, (looking at 2 pages, side by side) however, sometimes this view makes the document more difficult to read. If you don't want your Word attachments to automatically open in the Reading Layout view or Full Screen Reading view, you can turn off this option in either version by following the steps below specific for each version of Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word 2003

Open Microsoft Word 2003.

From the Menu bar, select Tools and then click Options.

Click the General tab on the Options dialog box.

Deselect the box "Allow starting in Reading Layout".

Click OK.

Microsoft Word 2007

Open Microsoft Word 2007.

Click the Office Button at the top left corner.

Click the Word Options button at the bottom of the window.

From the Word Options box, click Popular in the list on the left side of the window.

Deselect the option: "Open e-mail attachments in Full Screen Reading view".

Click OK.

PowerPoint Viewer 2007

2009-03-02T16:33:00.008-05:00

Are you unable to open email attachments with a PowerPoint extension (.pps, .ppsx, .ppt or .pptx)?

You don’t have to have PowerPoint on your computer to view these files. You can view the files using the free PowerPoint Viewer 2007.

Overview
PowerPoint Viewer 2007 lets you view full-featured presentations created in PowerPoint 97 and later versions. This viewer also supports opening password-protected Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. You can view and print presentations, but you cannot edit them in the PowerPoint Viewer 2007.

To download the free viewer, click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser and then click the Download button and follow the prompts.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=048dc840-14e1-467d-8dca-19d2a8fd7485

You can also use your search engine to search for PowerPoint Viewer 2007 download.

Note: PowerPointViewer.exe takes approximately 14 minutes to download if you have DSL or cable. If you are using dial-up, it takes approximately 1 hour to download.

System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP
Random access memory (RAM):
For Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4: 64 MB of RAM
For Windows XP with Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003: 128 MB of RAM
For Windows Vista: 512 MB of RAM
5 MB of available hard disk space
Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher screen resolution

Sorting Favorites in Internet Explorer

2009-03-01T09:39:00.001-05:00

Did you know that you can sort your “Favorites” in Internet Explorer? This option is hidden in the “Favorites” menu.

Click “Favorites” from the Menu bar.
Right-click on any item in the menu.
Click “Sort by Name”.

Your “Favorites” now appear in alphabetical order.