Go Ask Debbie

Password Security Tips

2011-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Word this week spread across the country as the Arizona Department of Public Safety was hacked by the groups LultSec and Anonymous. And the thing that saddens me most is that one of the officers actually had the password "12345."

Passwords are setup for a reason. With certain jobs there are security risks of which you need to be aware. I'm sure the department will be undergoing much needed password training over the next few weeks.

When using a typical password length of 8 characters, the times listed below are how long it would take for your password to be hacked by anything from a typical Pentium to a Supercomputer.

Using Only Numerals = Instant
Using UPPER and lower case letters = 3-1/2 minutes
Using UPPER, lower, and numerals = 60-1/2 hours
Using UPPER, lower, numerals, and special characters = 83-1/2 days

The above examples are cracked when using Supercomputers. When using a typical fast PC, the numbers are as follows:

Using Only Numerals = Instant
Using UPPER and lower case letters = 35 minutes
Using UPPER, lower, and numerals = 253 days
Using UPPER, lower, numerals, and special characters = 23 years

You can easily see that the more complicated the password, using a mix of upper, lower, numerals, and special characters, the harder it is to hack.

I know it seems difficult and I know everyone wants to yell at the IT personnel telling you to do this. However, there really is a reason!

Please read and share my article about password safety. It may save you one day!

Click here to read the article and ensure you are using a strong password.

Excel Properties

2011-06-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever sent an Excel spreadsheet to someone whom asks you details on when the worksheet was created or other details?

Well, this tip shows you how to add some basic contact and worksheet information for yourself and others. Excel Properties allows users to search for spreadsheets and access some other details of the file including the Author, Company, and like information. Excel 2007 allows "Comments" to be added for further reference and details.

To add information to the Excel Properties, follow these steps.

Click on the "Office Button," hover to "Prepare," and click on the "Properties" option.

HINT: For Excel 2003 and earlier (and for 2010), click on the "File" Menu/Tab and select "Properties."

In Excel 2007 and 2010, the "Properties" window opens above the worksheet fields.

Information such as phone number, email, formulas, or other information may be added for reference.

In Excel 2003 and earlier, the "Properties" window opens as a pop-up window.

Notice that the "Properties" window prefills the "Author" field as the user of the said computer.

In Excel 2007 and 2010, click on the "Document Properties" drop-down and select "Advanced Properties" to add further information.

This window appears similar to Excel 2003 and earlier versions.

If this window is chosen, you will need to click on the "OK" button when completed.

Simply save the workbook and the added information is saved with the workbook.

When sending Excel spreadsheets to others, this information is stored for their reference.

Outlook Quick Tip: Navigation Pane

2011-06-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Quickly turn the Navigation Pane On or Off by pressing "ALT + F1" and keep more room for reading emails.

This is such an easy tip, but can provide much more room in the Outlook window.

Outlook Calendar Tip: Date Picker

2011-06-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

To quickly view specific days next to each other, follow this tip.

Click on the date in the "Date Picker" window. This is the small calendar(s) usually on the left side of the screen.

Hold the "CTRL" key to select non-consecutive multiple days while clicking on each date.

As you click, each date will appear next to each other in the Calendar view.

It's that simple.

Start Outlook in a Folder other than Inbox

2011-06-04T08:52:00.001-07:00

Many people I've trained use the Outlook Calendar to schedule their day. So, this tip is dedicated to those that would like to start Outlook in a folder other than the Inbox.

Click on the "Tools" menu and select "Options."

Click on the "Other" tab.

Click on the "Advanced Options" button in the "General" area.

Click on the "Browse" button in the "Startup in this folder" field.

See image below.

Highlight the folder you want (in our Example above, we would select the "Calendar" folder) and click on the "OK" button.

The next time Outlook is started, the "Calendar" folder will open first.

You may change this option at any time, depending on your usage.

Outlook Send a Message to a Category

2011-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've shown how to use the Category feature in the past; but other than sorting, some users aren't sure how else to use this feature.

Let's say you've setup a Category for your son's sports team. When you need to send a message to the team, simply filter your Outlook Contacts by typing the Category name in the "Look For" field and press "Enter."

When the names in the Category appear, press "CTRL A" to select all of the contacts. Choose "Actions" from the menu and select the "New Message to Contact" option.

All email addresses within the Category appear in the "To" field of a new email message window.

Type your Subject Line and email message and press the "Send" button.

It's that simple!

Excel Quick Tip

2011-05-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Press "CTRL ~" to display all formulas.

Not only does this provide a quick view of the formula in the first cell, but it shows all formulas in the entire spreadsheet. This can be used to quickly see information without having to scroll to the cell and view the formula in the formula bar.

Press "CTRL ~" again to hide the formulas and return to the standard view.

Outlook Calendar Tip

2011-05-06T10:42:00.005-07:00

I've shown many different ways of changing the appearance of Outlook; but this one is easy and used by many people I've trained over the years - I just had to share it with everyone.

When using the Calendar in Outlook, the default time periods are 30 minute intervals. But, what if you have appointments or other scheduled items that need to be broken down into 15 minute intervals?

Follow this tip to learn how.

With the Calendar open, simply right-click in any blank area.

Select the "Other Settings" menu item.

Click on the "Time Scale" drop down arrow and select the time interval you want to appear.

Notice the interval options are from 1 to 60 minutes. Personalize Outlook's Calendar to fit your needs.

Click on the "OK" button to save the changes.

It's that simple.

NOTE: The only views that show the new time intervals are the "Day" and "Work Week." Or any other personalized views that show the default intervals.

Word 2007 Spacing Tip

2011-04-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

Joe, of Aeroflex asks, "I have a Word 2007 document and I want to see the spacing above the first line at the top of each page. Some of the pages show the space and some do not."
Thanks for your question Joe!

Yes, Word 2007 is a bit different than previous versions of Word and the best way to add spacing above the first line at the top of each page is to use Styles.

The styles are located on the "Home" tab. Preset styles, such as Headers, will add spacing above the line. If you do not like any of the preset styles, simply click on the drop down arrow (the very bottom on the scroll bar - it says "More" when you hover the mouse over it) and select "Apply Styles."

In the window that appears, you may select a style to base your new style on and then select the "Modify" button.

This takes you to the old window for Style Formatting. Change any formatting you would like by clicking on the "Format" button at the bottom of the window.

Click "OK" until you return to the document and the new style will be added to the Style Gallery.

There is the possibility of using paragraph formatting as well. I'll cover this in next week's email.

I hope this helps!
If you have a question, simply click here to send me your questions. I'll post as many answers as I can in the following Tips e-mail.

Excel 2007 Watch Window

2011-04-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

If you're like many Excel fanatics, you probably deal with large spreadsheets and multiple cells containing formulas.

Excel 2007 has a great new feature that lets you "watch" cell contents as they change. If numbers are added, subtracted, and changed, these specific cells are probably something you'd have to remember to review in previous versions of Excel.

To turn on the "Watch Window," follow these steps.

Highlight the cells you want to "Watch."

Click on the "Formula" tab and select the "Watch Window" button in the "Formula Auditing" group.

Click on the "Add Watch" button.

Since the cells were highlighted, simply click on the "OK" button and the cells will be added to the "Watch Window."

Now when you make changes to the spreadsheet, the "Watch Window" shows you the changes to the cells you added to the list.

If you accidentally close the "Watch Window," simply click on the "Formula" tab and then the "Watch Window" button to open it again.

Word 2007 Tip

2011-04-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

Do you use the Highlighter in Word? Highlighting in Word can be helpful for pointing out certain words and phrases; but it doesn't print very well.

There is a somewhat simple way to hide the Highlighter for printing.

Click on the "Office" button and select the "Word Options" button.

Click on "Display" on the left menu.

Clear the "Show Highlighters" checkbox.

Click on the "OK" button to save the changes and return to your document.

The Highlighters are now hidden. Print as needed.

Remember to repeat the steps above to unhide the Highlighters. This time select the "Show Highlighters" checkbox.

Excel 2007 Quick Tip

2011-04-01T10:32:00.001-07:00

Many of you have seen the improvements made in Excel 2007; but most users have still not learned all of the handy new features.

One of these new features is located in the "Recent Documents" area.

We've all seen the recent documents list and I've shown ways to change the number of recent documents as well as turning them on and off.

But, did you know you can "Pin" specific documents to the "Recent Documents" list?

To do so, simply click on the "Office" button to bring up the "Recent Documents" list.

Move the mouse to the spreadsheet you want to keep on this list permanently and click on the "Pin" icon on the right side of the spreadsheet name.

See image below.

The spreadsheet will remain on the list as more spreadsheets are added.

HINT: This is an Office 2007 feature and may be used in Word 2007, PowerPoint 2007, etc.

To "unpin" the spreadsheet, simply click on the "Pin" icon again to "unpin" the spreadsheet from the list.

PowerPoint Animation Tip

2011-03-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Animations in PowerPoint can get your point across, when not overdone. With PowerPoint 2007, it is easy to add sound to an animation and now users have the ability to edit the volume of the particular sound.

Once an object has been added, select it and click on the "Custom Animation" button in the "Animation" group on the "Animations" tab.

Select an animation from the "Add Effect" button and make any settings needed for the specific animation.

Once added, simply double-click on the animation in the "Custom Animation" wizard on the right side of the screen.

This window allows users to add sound and set some other specific settings.

Click on the "Sounds" drop down to select a sound. Once the sound has been selected, simply click on the "speaker" icon to the right of the drop down. Edit the volume by clicking the slider up or down.

Once set, click on the "OK" button to save the changes and return to the PowerPoint presentation.

Excel Cell Reference Tip

2011-02-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

By default, Excel uses the "A1" format when referring to cells. This means that the "A" is the Column and the "1" is the Row that is being referred to. Most Excel users understand this; but some spreadsheet programs do not use this referencing.

Instead, other programs use the "R1C1" format when referencing cells. Excel allows for this format as well.

To specify the format you want to use, follow these steps.

Excel 2007:

Click on the "Office" button and select the "Excel Options" button.

Select the "Formulas" tab on the left menu.

Check the "R1C1 reference style" checkbox in the "Working with Formulas" section and click the "OK" button to save the changes.

Excel 2003:
Click on the "Tools" menu and select the "Options" menu item. Follow the above instructions from here.

Excel 2010:
Click on the "File" tab and select the "Excel Options" button. Follow the above instructions from here.

Notice the Column Headers are now numbers instead of letters.

NOTE: If you prefer the "A1" formatting and need to change Excel back to this preference, simply follow the above steps and uncheck the "R1C1" checkbox.

Outlook Printing Tip

2011-02-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

How many times have you clicked on the "Print" button in Outlook only to have 4 or 5 or more pages print? And you really only wanted the first page of the e-mail - you know, the part that showed on your Preview Pane.

I've spoken of this tip before in relation to Word and Excel; but it also applies to Outlook.

Click and drag the mouse to highlight the area you want to print.

Click on "File | Print"and in the Print Dialog window, click on the "Selection" option within the "Page Range" area. See the image below.

Click on the "Print" button to print. Only the highlighted selection of the e-mail will print. This tip can save you a lot of wasted paper and ink.

NOTE: Depending on the version of Outlook, you will need to double-click to open the e-mail prior to highlighting and selecting "File | Print."

Outlook Archive Tip

2011-02-04T23:47:00.000-07:00

When Outlook is first setup, the default Auto-Archive is 6 months. This means that e-mails dated 6 months ago will automatically be moved into the "Archive" folder.

This saves space in your .PST file; which is the file that contains your e-mail account information - all e-mails in the user account folder.

There are a few ways to change the Archive settings; however, for most people, Auto-Archive is probably best.

But, what if you send and receive a hundred or more e-mails a day? This could add up to quite a bit of e-mails in your folders and can slow Outlook down.

Simply change the "Auto-Archive" settings to a smaller time period. Follow these steps to do so.

Click on the "File" menu and select the "Options" menu item.

Click on the "Other" tab.

Click on the "AutoArchive" button.

Ensure that the "Archive or Delete old items" is checked.

Once it is checked, select any of the options below to setup the AutoArchive to the time period you want.

Click on the "OK" button to save the changes and exit the window.

Click on the "OK" button to close the "Options" window and return to Outlook.

Excel Quick Tip

2011-01-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

If you've ever needed to copy information in an Excel spreadsheet (who hasn't, right?), then this Quick Tip will become one of your favorites.

Let's say you have information in Cell A5 that needs to be copied into Cell A6.

With the cursor in Cell A6, simply press "CTRL + D."

It's that simple!

Excel Green Triangle

2011-01-10T14:49:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the little green triangle in the upper left corner of a cell in Excel?

What is this green triangle?

It simply tells you that something is wrong with the formula in the cell. It may not create an error message; but when you click on the green triangle, you'll see a yellow exclamation point.

Click on the drop down next to the yellow exclamation point and Excel will provide some possible answers.

If you have Excel 2007 or 2010, the yellow exclamation point provides you with a "trace error" function which helps follow the formula to find out where there may be a mistake.

Understand these "smart tags" like the green triangle and you'll be able to correct errors without a lot of frustration.

Outlook Quick Tip

2011-01-07T23:33:00.001-07:00

Would you like more room on the Outlook Desktop? If so, did you know you can turn the Navigation Pane On or Off, as needed?

Simply press "ALT + F1" to toggle the Navigation Pane On or Off.

Turn it "Off" when you need more space or turn it "On" when you need to see folders.

It's that simple!

Outlook Field Chooser Tip

2010-12-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

Many people are familiar with online e-mail accounts that provide access from anywhere you have Internet access. These accounts include Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and others.

If you like the options with selecting multiple e-mails and performing a function (such as Delete or Move), then you'll probably like this tip.

To create a "Check Box" field in Outlook, follow these steps.

Right-click on the Field Header Row.

Select the "Field Chooser" option from the menu.

The "Field Chooser" window opens to the left. In the window, click on the "New" button in the lower left corner.

Type a Name for the field. In this example, we used "CheckBox."

Select "Yes/No" in the "Type" field and leave the format as "Icon."

Click on the "OK" button and close the "Field Chooser" window.

Click and drag the new field onto the Field Header Row. (The gray area at the top of the e-mail list. It's the row that includes the words "From," "Subject," and others.)

Close the Field Chooser window.

Notice the new field is now available, but may not have a checkbox until one has been selected.

Select any and all of the e-mails with the "CheckBox" field and then sort by the column by clicking on the column header.

Now that the e-mails are sorted, you may select them all using the"Shift" key and then press the "Delete" key or move them to a folder you wish.

NOTE: If the field does not allow you to check the box, you will need to turn on the "In Field Editing." To do so, right-click on the Header Row and select "Customize Current View." Click on the "Other Settings" button and select the check box "Allow in-cell editing." Click the "OK" buttons to save the changes and return to Outlook.

Tab Browser Tip

2010-12-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

In the newer versions of Internet Explorer, FireFox, and other Tab Browsers, windows are now opened within Tabs.

Not everyone I know has converted to Tab Browsers and even if they have, they still may not use the Tabs. The Tabs help run windows more efficiently and thus, users can browse the Internet a bit faster.

But, what if you open a lot of Tabs and then only need to use one? It can be tedious to close each individual Tab by clicking on the "X" in the upper right corner of each Tab.

However, there is a MUCH easier way!

Simply right-click on the Tab you wish to retain. On the shortcut menu that opens, select the "Close Other Tabs" option.

All other Tabs are closed and the only remaining Tab is the Tab in which you right-clicked.

It's that simple!

Word 2007 Quick Tip

2010-12-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

Word 2007 has a handy feature that can quickly decrease your document by one page, if needed.

Let's say you have a 5 page document, but you need it to be 4 pages to fit into a specific book or presentation.

Click on the "Office" button, hover to "Print" and select the "Print Preview" option.

In the "Print Preview" window, click on the "Shrink One Page" button in the "Preview" group of the ribbon.

The document automatically reduces the size and spacing of the text slightly to decrease the document by one page.

NOTE: If your document requires specific size fonts, you may not want to use this option.

High Tech Gifts for Kids for the Holidays

2010-11-13T21:05:00.007-07:00

This Christmas kids are going high-tech. A recent survey by The Telegraph, UK, lists Apple products at the top of the list. The survey results show the following top 10 high tech gifts, as requested by 2,138 children surveyed.

1) iPhone 4 (14%)

2) iPod touch (13%)

3) iPad (12%)

4) Kinect for Xbox (6%)

5) Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters / Kung Zhu Hamsters (5%)

6) Flip Video Camera (4%)

7) Toy Story 3 Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear (4%)

8) PlayStation Move (4%)

9) LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 Video Game (3%)

10) Barbie Video Girl (3%)

Each of these gadgets may or may not be appropriate for children of all ages.

Click here to read a more detailed list as well as my recommendations on age appropriateness.

PowerPoint Subliminal Messages

2010-11-05T21:09:00.001-07:00

Used in the right circumstances, subliminal messages can be humorous. With PowerPoint, it is very easy to create subliminal messages during a presentation.

Read more...

Go Ask Debbie - November 2010 Newsletter

2010-11-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have just posted the Go Ask Debbie November 2010 Newsletter.

Click here to read.

Word Numbering Tip

2010-10-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

How many times have you had a numbered list in Word and then decided you needed a paragraph of text in the middle of the numbered list? Did the numbering start over at "1?"

Depending on when you numbered the list and when you entered the paragraph, the list may start over at the number "1."

If this happens, simply right-click on the numbered item after the inserted paragraph. The shortcut menu appears.

Select "Continue Numbering" from the menu.

The numbered list will continue from the last number prior to the inserted paragraph.

October is National Cyber Safety Awareness Month

2010-10-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

October is National Cyber Safety Awareness Month and that means education for not only children, but parents as well. A national survey showed that only between 4 and 8 percent of adults could correctly identify chat acronyms.

Madison Meadows Middle School conducted a “Cyber Bullying” educational night for parents on Monday and will be hosting another meeting next week for the students. The presentation is part of the Arizona Attorney General office’s “Internet Safety Guide for Parents.”

First and foremost, parents must talk to children openly. Let them know about Internet dangers and that people aren’t always whom they say they are. Something that sounds innocent can turn into something dangerous.

Help children understand that anything posted online can never been undone. Even if a picture was posted and then deleted, someone could have printed it or shared it with someone prior to it being deleted. The Internet is not a place to post things that would normally be kept in a diary. Private thoughts and subjects should be kept in a private place, like a diary or within the family.

If your child wants to create a blog or join a social network, help them understand that blogs and social media are places to share thoughts and comments about particular topics in which they have interest. However, the child should never share any personal information such as real name, address, school, phone number, or family information. Even something as innocent as posting that the family is going on vacation can open up the fact that the house may be empty for a specific time period.

Parents can install software filtering out adult content, but often children know more about computers these days than do the parents and you risk the possibility of the child uninstalling or hacking the computer to get around these security features. Nothing can replace open communication between parents and children.

Some alarming facts that every parent should know were shared in the Meadows’ meeting and are posted in the Internet Safety Guide, also available online at http://www.azag.gov/.

1 in 7 young people has received unwanted sexual solicitations online.

One third of these solicitations (31%) were aggressive and involved attempted, offline contact with youth.

In more than one quarter (27%) of incidents solicitors asked youth for sexual photographs of themselves.

1 in 3 young people has been exposed to sexually explicit materials online without seeking or expecting them.

1 in 11 young people has been threatened or harassed online.

The Arizona Attorney General’s office is available to present training on Internet Safety to any church, school, or community group. Contact the office at 602-542-2123 or 800-352-8431.

Please treat National Cyber Safety Awareness Month as time to educate yourself by researching online and to communicate with children about cyber safety.

Dismissing Reminders in Outlook

2010-10-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

Why would you want to dismiss reminders you ask?

How many times have you gone on vacation only to come back a week later and open Outlook with hundreds of reminders popping up?

Instead, follow these steps to turn them off while on vacation.

Click on "Tools," "Options."

Click on the "Other" tab and click on the "Advanced" button.

Remove the check for "Display Reminders."

NOTE: Depending on the version of Outlook, you may need to click on the "Reminder Options" button to get to the dialog with the "Display Reminders" option.

Click on the "OK" button to save the changes and return to Outlook.

This will delete any and all past due reminders as well as any reminders while you are on vacation.

When you return from vacation, don't forget to turn it back on!

HINT: You may want to send yourself an e-mail for the day you return. Before hitting the "Send" button, click on the "Options" button and select "Do Not Deliver Before" and place the date you return in the date field. Click the "OK" button and send the e-mail.

Go Ask Debbie - October 2010 Newsletter

2010-10-01T07:55:00.001-07:00

I have just published the Go Ask Debbie October 2010 Newsletter.

Click here to read.

Green Word Tip

2010-09-24T21:15:00.001-07:00

Have you ever printed a document only to remember that you forgot to print that one last line? Save a tree and save some ink with this tip.

Instead of reprinting the entire page, print only the last line.

First, open the document and insert text of the last line.

Next, highlight the rest of the text on the page and change the format to "White" text.

Insert the printed page (the one with the missing line) into the printer.

Finally, select "File" and then "Print." On the "Print Dialog" window, type in the page number and click on the "OK" button to print.

HINT: Word 2007, click on the "Office" button, hover to "Print" and select the "Print" option. Follow the steps above once the "Print Dialog" window opens.

Since white text does not print, the only thing that will print is the last line. Now, the entire page is printed correctly and you've saved some paper and ink.

Word Tables Tip: Delete the Blank Page After Table

2010-09-17T21:12:00.002-07:00

John wrote, "Why does a blank page print after my table?"

This is caused as Word inserts a "Return" after every table created. There are a few ways of handling this.

First, select only the pages you want to print. For example, if the table is on Page 14 of your document, print only pages 1 through 14. This will stop Page 15 (the blank page) from printing. Do this by selecting "File Print" and in the "Print" dialog window, type 1-14 in the "Pages" field.

You could change the margins, but often when this happens is when you've created a table specifically formatted for specialty paper such as labels.

Another easy way is to change the size of the font for the Paragraph marker (or "Return").

First, if you cannot see the Return, turn on your "Show/Hide" by clicking on the "Paragraph" button on the standard toolbar.

Highlight the "Return" and change the font to something very small, such as "4 point," by clicking on the font size on the formatting toolbar and changing the number to "4."

Change Gridline Colors in Excel 2007

2010-09-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

This is a happy little feature that was added in Excel 2007. Now you have the ability to change gridline colors in Excel 2007.

To do so, follow these steps:

Click on the "Office" button and click on the "Excel Options" button.

Select the "Advanced" tab from the left menu and scroll to the "Display Options for this Worksheet" area. The gridline color option is located in the second section of "Display Options."

Click on the drop down to select a color. Choose any color you want.

Click on the "OK" button to save the changes and exit the "Excel Options" window.

The gridline colors are now as you selected.

HINT: This may be helpful for situations where you have changed the background color to something light blue; thus, making the gridlines non-viewable.

Here's the caveat: only the selected worksheet is changed. To change each sheet, you must select each sheet name from the drop down by the "Display Options" header and then change its corresponding color.

NOTE: Each new worksheet will display the gridline colors as the default light blue color. You are not changing the default by selecting this option.

It's that simple to change gridline colors in Excel 2007.

7 Easy steps to create an Excel Macro - Slideshow

2010-09-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

In this easy to follow slideshow, I show you the 7 easy steps to create an Excel macro.

Macros can be overwhelming, but when you take it step by step it really is simple.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Change Excel to International View

2010-09-08T13:30:00.001-07:00

Intrenational users sometimes view things differently than here in the US. But, did you know you can change Excel to International View?

Here's how:

Click on the "Tools" menu and select "Options."

Click on the "International" tab and select the "Right to Left" checkbox. If you want the current spreadsheet to change as well, click on the checkbox for "View current spreadsheet right to left" also.

All future spreadsheets will change to "Right to Left" view with Cell A1 on the right side of the screen as well as the row numbers.

To change it back, simply uncheck the above selections and click on the "Left to Right."

As always, make sure you click on the "OK" button to save the changes and close the "Options" window.

It's that simple!

Facebook Places - Privacy settings that are not private

2010-08-26T21:16:00.001-07:00

This week, Facebook added a feature called "Places" where users may post their current location, using a mobile device.

Facebook hasn't exactly excited its users when it comes to Privacy Settings and I think they missed on this one too. "Places" is enabled by default. And, not only is it enabled, but the Privacy Settings allows "Friends" to post another Friend's location. To me, these are privacy settings that are not private.

If you don't like people knowing every move you make, I would recommend changing the settings.

To do so, follow these steps:

Click on "Accounts" on the upper right corner of Facebook and select "Privacy Settings."

In the Privacy Settings window, click on "Customize" on the lower part of the screen.

In the "Things I Share" section, scroll to "Places I check in to" and change the option to "Me Only."

Then, uncheck the "Include me in 'People Here Now' after I check in" dialog box. (See screen shot below)

In my opinion, Facebook should have changed the default setting. But, I don't work for Facebook, I'm only here to provide tips to computer users. So, I hope this helps with everyone's privacy.

***UPDATE 8/27/2010***
There is another option in the section below "Things others share." The safest option is to select "Disable" from the "Friends can check me into Places" drop down.

Watch movies on your iPod

2010-08-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Do you watch movies on your iPod? And do you want to watch music videos? If you love gadgets and have an iPod with movie capabilities, you'll want to add as many movies and music videos to your library as you can. The iPod has a great video screen, maybe smaller than some of the new smartphones, like the iPhone, but it's still a nice portable device for music and movies.

But, did you know that you don't need to purchase movies through iTunes? iTunes can be a great resource for music and movies, but what if you find a movie on YouTube that you want to place on your iPod?

It's actually very simple.

There are many ways to convert movies for the iPod, but I'm going to give an example using one of the most used players. A name you're probably familiar with, Real Player.

If you do not already have Real Player installed on your computer, download and install Real Player.

Now, you can do this many ways, but we'll provide the example of downloading a movie from sites such as YouTube.

First and foremost, make sure the movie does not have any copyrights. Movies and Videos on sites like YouTube that are copyrighted will not allow for downloading. However, I am not a lawyer and you always need to be responsible when using any sort of "sharing" website.

That said, visit YouTube and find the movie or music video you want to download.

When Real Player is set as your default player, a small pop-up menu appears in the upper right corner of the video. Click on the "Download this video" link.

Real Player's downloader window opens and begins downloading.

HINT: If you wish to download and convert more than one movie or video, download all files first before continuing to the next step of conversion.

Once the movie or video has been completely downloaded, click on the drop down arrow "Copy to iPod." The default on the drop down is probably "Copy to iPad," but if you click on the drop down arrow, a list is provided. Select "more devices" if you do not see the "Copy to iPod" and search in the more devices list for the iPod option.

Another window opens beginning the conversion process. Depending on the length of the movie or video, this may take some time.

Once completed, iTunes opens with the file added to your library.

It's really that simple.

Enjoy your music, your movies, and your videos all on your iPod - I do!

Go Ask Debbie - August 2010 Newsletter

2010-08-01T13:31:00.001-07:00

I have just posted the August Newsletter for Go Ask Debbie.

Click here to read.

Remove Track Changes in Word

2010-07-29T23:30:00.002-07:00

Tracking can be used when documents are shared between customers and clients, for example. When a person on one end makes changes, the person on the other end can see exactly what changes were made. This can be especially helpful during negotiations between two parties. Each side can see what the other side deleted or added.

However, let's say you need to send your resume to a prospective boss. You probably would not want them to see edits and revisions that you made to your resume. If tracking was turned on and the hiring company has their view tracked changes on, they could see everything. Maybe not the most professional look for your resume.

Follow these steps to clear all comments, edits, revisions, and anything else you do not want shared.

Word 2007:

Click on the "Office" button, move to "Prepare" and select "Inspect Document."

Uncheck or check the appropriate areas you want inspected and click on the "Inspect" button at the bottom of the window.

Word will open another window showing you items that you may want to remove.

Click on the "Remove All" button next to the items you wish to remove.

Click on the "Close" button to save the changes and close the Inspect window.

Word 2003:

Click on the "View" menu, hover to "Toolbars" and select "Reviewing."

To accept or reject all changes at once, click the arrow next to "Accept All Changes in Document" or "Reject All Changes in Document."

Tracking changes can be useful, when needed. When not needed, you may want to remove them to have your documents look more professional and hide personal information.

Outlook Date Picker

2010-07-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

If you need to view specific dates on a calendar, you can do so quickly by using the Outlook "Date Picker" area.

When you are in the Calendar in Outlook, the left hand side of the screen is filled with the current month and the next two months, in mini calendar form. This area is called the "Date Picker."

Simply click and drag your mouse over the dates you wish to view. Now in a split-second, the calendar will show you those specific dates.

See the picture below (I've highlighted the dates August 3-5):

Excel: Convert Times into Decimals

2010-07-16T14:47:00.002-07:00

Many companies use Excel to track timesheets. Employees may not know that the Human Resources Department needs to track time within quarter hours. Some may even want to track in smaller increments.

Here is a quick formula to use so that employees do not have to convert the hours and minutes themselves.

Type this formula (where A1 is the cell containing the time)

=HOUR(A1) (MINUTE(A1)/60)

This will convert 12:35 (time) into 12.58 (decimal).

Then, you might even setup the timesheet to subtract the starting and ending times to calculate the number of hours worked, using the decimal fields.
HINT: Hide these formulas from user forms. You only need to have employees type in the times and not worry about the decimals.

Go Ask Debbie - July 2010 Newsletter

2010-07-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've just published Go Ask Debbie's July 2010 Newsletter.

Click here to read the Newsletter.

iPhone 4G preorders suspended

2010-06-17T18:17:00.002-07:00

Interesting News - click here to read more...

How to trade in your iPhone 3G

2010-06-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

With the release of the iPhone 4G later this month, many people are looking into options for upgrading.

Check out this article on how to trade in your iPhone 3G.

Print Word Documents in Reverse Order

2010-06-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had the need to print in reverse order? Microsoft Word allows you to print in reverse order, when needed.

Word 2003 (and earlier versions)

1) Click on Tools | Options
2) Click on the "Print" Tab
3) Click the checkbox for "Reverse Print Order"
4) Click OK to exit and save the settings

Now when you choose to print a document, it will be printed in reverse order. (i.e. If you have a 20 page document, page 20 will print, then 19, etc.)

Word 2007

1) Click the Office icon in the upper left corner
2) Click on the "Word Options" button in the lower part of the screen
3) In the Word Options screen, click on the "Advanced" Tab
4) Scroll down to the Print area and click on the checkbox "Print pages in reverse order"
5) Click OK to exit and save your changes

With any version, when you are ready to print documents in normal order (i.e. 1 through 20, printing page 1 first), you will need to "uncheck" the box.

It's that simple!

Go Ask Debbie - June 2010 Newsletter

2010-06-01T12:22:00.002-07:00

I've just published Go Ask Debbie's June 2010 Newsletter.

Click here to read the Newsletter.

How do I use AutoFilter in Excel?

2010-05-30T20:31:00.001-07:00

Have you ever searched an entire Excel spreadsheet for data that matched certain criteria?

Use the AutoFilter in Excel and you will be able to find data much quicker.

To do so, simply follow these easy steps:

Excel 2007:
With your list open, click on the "Data" Tab on the Ribbon. On the Data Tab, simply click the "Filter" button.

Notice your data Headers all have Drop Down Arrows next to them.

Now, simply click on the Drop Down Arrow of the Header (or Column) that contains the data in which you wish to search.

You may search for a specific item from the Drop Down list OR you may click on "Number Filters" from the Drop Down and another sub-menu will appear giving you options to search on items Greater than a particular number, etc.

Excel 2003:
Click on the Data Menu and choose "AutoFilter" and then follow the steps above.

It's that simple!

How to Change the Default Font in Outlook

2010-05-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

Many people do not like the Outlook Default Font of Arial. This font is a default because it is easiest to read and is a standard font that will work correctly within most e-mail software programs.

However, if you wish to change the Default Font, you may do so very simply.

To do so, follow these simple steps:

Click on Tools | Options.

Click on the Mail Format Tab.

On the Mail Format Tab, click on "Fonts".

Once in the Fonts Window, you have some options. You may choose to change ALL Fonts or just one or two. Click on Choose Font to change any of the font options: New Messages, Reply and Forwarded Messages, and Messages in Plain Text.

Once you've made your changes, continue to click OK until you are back in your Outlook Window.

It's that simple!

PowerPoint Master Slides

2010-05-20T23:00:00.032-07:00

PowerPoint has the option for "Headers and Footers" much like Word and Excel. However, it is very limited.

To create Headers and Footers that are not limited, use Master Slides.

To do so, follow these steps:

PowerPoint 2003 (and older):

Click View | Master and choose which Masters you wish to apply your changes.

Once in the Master, you may add whatever you wish to appear on every slide. For example, you may wish to add a Logo in the background and you may wish to add a Header and/or Footer. Just remember that everything you place on the Master Slide will appear on every slide.

Once you've made your changes or additions, remember to click on View and go back to "Normal". This will ensure you are no longer working in the Master Slides.

PowerPoint 2007:

Click on the "View" Ribbon and choose the Master Slide you wish to apply your changes.

As with 2003, make any changes and additions you wish and they will appear on every slide. However, there is a small difference in 2007: you can make changes to each layout style within the Master Slides.

Now, your PowerPoint presentations can and will look very professional. It's that simple!

Change Windows Folder Image

2010-05-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

With all of the folders people create these days, it can sometimes seem very difficult to find a particular folder when searching. This is especially true when searching through the "My Pictures" folder.

However, there is an easy solution. You can change the Folder Image.

The default image for a folder is the picture of a folder. However, the Folder Image is just that, an image.

If you would like to change a particular folder image, follow these simple steps:

1) Right-click on the Folder and choose "Properties"

2) In the Properties window, click on the "Customize" Tab

3) Click on "Choose Picture" and find a picture in your computer that you'd like to use for this particular folder.

4) Click "OK" and notice the changed Folder image.

Continue to do this for any folders you wish to change. It's that simple!

Go Ask Debbie - May 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the link to the latest Go Ask Debbie Newsletter. With Go Ask Debbie, you'll find training and tips on many popular computer software programs, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Intuit QuickBooks, and more!

http://campaigns.ratepoint.com/campaigns/1f9cbefd5824e3ee65c28cf4cee188e1

"I don't own a computer, how do I get started?"

2010-04-30T18:11:00.002-07:00

Statistics show that 76% of the United States population owns a computer. Keep in mind that many people may own two (2) or more computers, and the numbers may amaze you even more.

Many people ask me "how do I get started?" If you've never used a computer, you may need to start at a different level than someone who has a computer at work, but not one at home.

OBVIOUSLY, this post is either for people that have a computer AT WORK or for people to print and give to friends and family that do not have a computer, but want to get started...

In this post, I'd like to give a few helpful tips on where to get started and what to do if you would like to purchase a computer for your home and/or if you would like to get started on the Internet.

First, you need to decide what you will be using the computer for.

Will you use it to create documents or type information? Will you use it for e-mail and the Internet?
If you are new to computers, this information may even be Foreign to you. If you wish to communicate with your family, you will need e-mail and possibly the Internet. E-mail, for beginners, is an electronic method of writing letters to friends and family.

I'll first cover those that want e-mail and Internet access. Today, computers are becoming very reasonable in price. Look to places like Wal-mart, Best Buy, and Fry's Electronics to purchase a computer. The salesman may ask you what you intend to use the computer for, as I have. But, don't entirely rely on the salesman, as they may not know the correct questions to ask or worse, they may just try to up-sell you. If you have a relative or friend that knows even a little bit about computers, you may want to take them with you.

If you plan on using your computer for e-mail and the Internet only, here are some of the basics you will need.

A computer with a processor of 2 GHz is plenty. Memory (or RAM) of 2 GB is enough. In case you will be saving pictures (that relatives and friends may e-mail you), you may want to go ahead and purchase a Hard Drive of at least 300 GB. If you purchase a Desktop computer, you will also need to purchase a Monitor, keyboard, and mouse. These are pretty basic and the salesman can help you; however, if you wear glasses or have any vision issues, you may want to get a Monitor that is at least 21". Monitors are measured similarly to how televisions used to be measured, on the diagonal.

If these terms seem Foreign to you, don't worry, you really don't need to understand them. Just make sure you keep this list with you when purchasing.

The next question you need to ask is "Will I want to take the computer with me while traveling?" If you answered "Yes" to this question, then you will probably want to buy a Laptop. Laptops are convenient and smaller than a desktop computer, as they include the Monitor, keyboard, and mouse all with the Hard Drive. Look for the same basic features I listed above.

The next thing you will need is Internet access. This will be provided by a Cable communications provider, such as Cox Communications. Call around in your local area or better yet, ask a friend. Some cable providers will have a "Bundle" package, where they include your cable, phone, and Internet all at one price; which should be cheaper than purchasing them all separately.

In my next posts, I'll be talking in more depth about the basics of getting started with computers.

Be sure and check back and "Go Ask Debbie!"

How do I scan an image to be 8-1/2x11 inches?

2010-04-29T10:43:00.001-07:00

Darlene writes, "How do I scan an image to be 8-1/2x11"? When I scan the original 8-1/2x11 image, it says it's letter size, but when I send it within the e-mail, it is VERY small."

Darlene, you're not alone. There are so many different scanners out there and even more scanning programs, that it is hard to know everything about each of them.

In this tip, you'll find some helpful things to remember and to look for in your scanning software.

First, all scanning software is different. But, the one thing you need to remember is that when using software to scan a document, most will give you an option to "e-mail" the scanned image. While this may seem the easiest option, there may be problems.

If you choose the "e-mail" option, make sure and look for any window or button that gives you more options. Many programs will show you the size that it will be sending within the e-mail. You might see a Drop-Down arrow for the size. Make sure and choose the "letter" or "8-1/2x11" size option, if that is the size you wish for your document or image.

Remember that this option will make the file size larger; so if you are sending the e-mail to someone that has a slower Internet speed, be careful with this option.

If you do not see the "size" option as a button or within a window, you may want to choose to scan the document as a "Word" file or another option may be "PDF". In these cases, you will probably need to SAVE the file to your computer first. Once you have scanned and saved to your computer, then open your e-mail and send the file as an attachment by choosing the location in which you stored the scanned image.

These tips should get you on the path to scanning documents successfully.

As usual, if you have questions, "Go Ask Debbie!"

How to Save Pictures from an E-mail

2010-04-22T12:36:00.002-07:00

Many people receive e-mails that have beautiful pictures and would like to save these pictures. But, if they are not typical attachments, how do you save them?

The answer is actually quite simple, but may take a bit longer than saving all attachments at once.

If the pictures are not attachments and you can only see them within the e-mail, they are "embedded" within the e-mail. This means that the sender has used some sort of program that creates an HTML e-mail and the pictures are actually within the programming of the HTML.

To save the pictures, simply Right-Click directly on the picture and choose "Save As". Now, simply save them in a folder where you can easily find them. Continue doing this for each picture within the e-mail. The next time you are ready to view the pictures, you do not have to open the e-mail; you may just open the folder where you saved the pictures.

It's that simple!

How to Create Screen Tips in Word

2010-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

When sending Word documents electronically, there may be some advantage to providing Screen Tips. Screen Tips are when you "hover" over a word or phrase and a Tip pops up.

These are very simple to setup, just follow these steps:

1) Select the word or phrase you wish to add the Tip
2) Right-click and choose Hyperlink
3) Click "Screen Tip"
4) In the pop-up window, simply type the text (tip) you wish to appear
5) Click "OK"
6) Type a Name for the Tip in the "Address" box and click "OK"

To test the Screen Tip, simply hover your mouse and you should see the Tip.

Computer Chat and Text Messaging Lingo

2010-04-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

As more and more people use chat rooms and text messaging, more acronyms and lingo are created. I've published lists in the past, but this list is a more thorough and updated one.

Just remember, if it's not on the list, try and read it like a sentence (much like trying to figure out a license plate).

Parents, especially, should be aware of these terms.

AAK = Alive And KickingAAR = At Any Rate
AAS = Alive And Smiling
ADN = Any Day Now
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
AFK = Away From the Keyboard
AFN = That's All For Now
AOTA = All Of The Above
a/s/l or asl = Age/Sex/Location - (used to ask a chatter their personal information)
AV = Avatar - Graphical representation (a picture) often used in chat rooms to depict a person that is in the room and chatting.
b4 = Before
BAK = Back At Keyboard (I'm back)
BB = Be Back
BBL = Be Back Later
BBS = Be Back Soon
BCNU = I'll Be Seeing You
b/f = Boyfriend or Best Friend (also shown as bf, B/F, or BF)
BFF = Best Friend Forever
BEG Big Evil Grin
BFN Bye For Now
BMA = Bite My A** (became popular with the Simpson's cartoon show)
boot = To get kicked out of a chat room, or have to restart the computer because you couldn't talk in the chat room anymore.
BR = Best Regards
BRB = Be Right Back
BRH = Be Right Here
BSEG = Big S**t Eatin Grin
BTA = But Then Again
BTW = By The Way
btw = BeTWeen you and me
CRS = Can't Remember S**t
CU = See You
CUS = Can't Understand S**t (stuff)
CNP = Continued in Next Post (seen more on message boards than chat)
CP = Chat Post
CUL8R = See You Later
CUOL = See You On Line
CYA = See Ya
dd, ds, dh = Darling or Dear: Dear Son, Dear Daughter, or Dear Husband. Usually exchanged in family chats.
DDSOS = Different Day, Same Old S**t
DEGT = Don't Even Go There (I don't want to talk about it)
DIKU = Do I Know You?
DIS = Did I Say
D/L, DL, d/l, dl = Downloading, or Download it.
EG = Evil Grin
EM = E-Mail
EMA = E-mail Address (example: ?ema or ema? = what is your email address)
EOT = End Of Thread (meaning end of discussion)
ez or EZ = Easy (one of the really old ones)
F2F = Face To Face
FAQ = Frequently Asked Question
FISH = First In Still Here (someone who is on line TOO much)
FITB = Fill In The Blanks
FOCL = Falling Off Chair - Laughing
Forum = What todays message boards are called
FTS = F*** This S***
*** Anything with an F in it should be questioned ***
FUBAR "Fouled" Up Beyond All Repair / Recognition
FUD = Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt
FWIW = For What It's Worth
FYI = For Your Information
GA = Go Ahead
GAL = Get A Life
gest = Gesture ... a small multimedia file played over the internet, usually expressing an emotion or comment.
g/f = Girlfriend (also shown as gf, G/F, or GF)
GFN = Gone For Now
GGOH = Gotta Get Outta Here
GMTA = Great Minds Think Alike
GR = Gotta Run
GR&D = Grinning, Running, and Ducking
GTR = Got To Run
GTRM = Going To Read Mail (leaving chat room to check email)
H&K = Hugs and Kisses
hack = person who breaks into software, or disrupts a chat room
HAGD = Have A Good Day
HAGO = Have A Good One
HB = Hurry BackHTH = Hope That Helpshuggles = Hugs
IAC = In Any Case
IB = I'm Back
IC = I See
IDN = I Don't kNow
IDK = I Don't Know
IDTS = I Don't Think So
IANAL = I'm Am Not A Lawyer (expect an uninformed opinion)
ICQ = I Seek You. A computer program used to communicate instantly over the Internet
ILU or ILY = I Love You
IM = Instant Message
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion (or In My Honest Opinion)
IMO = In My Opinion
IOH = I'm Out of Here
IOW = In Other Words
IRL = In Real Life
IYO = In Your Opinion
JAS = Just A Second
JIC = Just In Case
JK = Just Kidding
JMO = Just My Opinion
JW = Just Wondering
k, K, or kk = OK
KIT = Keep In Touch
L8R = Later
LMAO = Laughing My A** Off
LFFAO = Laughing My F***(freaking) A** Off
LOL = Laughing Out Loud
LTNS = Long Time No See
LTS = Laughing To ones Self
LY = I Love Ya
LYL = Love You Lots
MUG = Refers to a new user of that chat program, goes back to Excite VP days when the AV (or icon) that represented someone new was a picture of a coffee mug.
NE1 = Anyone
newbie = refers to a person who is new to an area or technology. Also seen as nube, nooby, nubie, nb, etc.
NFW = No Feasible (or F***ing) Way
NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard
nm, or NM = Never Mind
NP, np = No Problem
NRN = No Response Necessary, Not Right Now
NT = No Thanks
OBTW = Oh, By The Way
OIC = Oh, I See
OF = Old Fart, someone who has been around for a while
OJ or OK = Only Joking or Only Kidding
OL = the Old Lady (Mom or Wife)
OM = the Old Man (Dad or Husband)
OMG = Oh My Gosh
OT = Off Topic
oth or OTH = Off The Hook: Something is really popular, or hot. Very exciting.
otr or OTR = Off The Rack: Saying that something is outside the ordinary.
OTE = Over The Edge (beyond common sense or beyond good taste)
OTOH = On The Other Hand
OTOMH = Off the Top of My Head
OTW = On The Way ... I've sent a file to you, it's "On the way"
P911 = My parents are in the room. P=Parents, and 911=emergency, in other words either drop the subject, or watch the language.
PANS = Pretty Awesome New Stuff (often referring to computer technology)
PCMCIA = Personal Computer Memory Cards International Association
PCMCIA = People Can't Master Computer Industry Acronyms (slang)
PEBCAK = Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard
peeps = People
peep this = Hey, listen to this, I've got some interesting news.
PITA = Pain In The Ass
PLZ = Please
PMJI = Pardon Me for Jumping In (when you enter into a new conversation)
poof = when someone leaves a chat room, often seen as *poof* as in boy he *poofed* in a hurry.
POTS = Plain Old Telephone Service
POS = Parents are looking Over my Shoulder
POTS = Parents Over The Shoulder - (My parents are watching, I can't really talk)
PPL = People
QT = Cutie
RFC = Request For Comments
rl or RL = Real Life (as opposed to being online)
r m or RM = Ready Made: pre-existing
ROFL = Rolling On Floor, Laughing
ROTF = Rolling On The Floor (laughing is implied)
ROTFLMAO = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A** Off
ROTFLMFAO = Rolling On The Floor Laughing F(***ing) My A** Off
RSN = Real Soon Now
r/t = Real Time (also: RT, or rt)
RTFM = Read The "Flippin" Manual (response to beginner question on net, chat, newsgroups, etc.)
RU = aRe yoU?
SEG = S**t Eating Grin
SH = Same Here
SMS = Short Message Service (more cell phones and pagers than chat rooms and the Internet)
SN = Screen Name
SNAFU = Situation Normal, All "Fouled" Up
SO = Significant Other
SOL = S**t Out Of Luck
SOS = Same Old S**t (stuff)
SOTA = State Of The Art (latest technology)
SPST = Same Place, Same Time
SSDD = Same S**t, Different Day
STR8 = Straight (can refer to sex, or DSTR8 as in D**n Straight)
STW = Search The Web
SY = Sincerely Yours
SYL = See You Later
TAFN = That's All For Now
TC = Take Care
TFH = Thread From H*** (a topic or discussion that won't stop - esp. newsgroups)
TGIF = Thank Goodness It's Friday
THX = Thanks!
TIA = Thanks In Advance
TM = Text Message
TMI = Too Much Information
TNT = 'Til Next Time
TPS = That's Pretty Stupid
TPTB = The Powers That Be (can sometimes refer to the people that are running the chat room or server)
TRDMF = Tears Running Down My Face: Can be with either laughter, or due to saddness.
TS = Tough S**t
TSFY = Tough S**t For You
TTFN = Ta-Ta For Now
TTTT = These Things Take Time
TTYL = Talk To You Later
TY = Thank You
TYT = Take Your Time
TYVM = Thank You Very Much
VPPH = Virtual Places Page Host
US = You S**k
usa or USA = Until Sides Ache: Usually used with one of the laughter acronyms such as "lolusa" Laughing Out Loud Until my Sides Ache. I've also heard that some folks substitute ush for "Until Sides Hurt". rotflolush = rolling on the floor, laughing out loud, until my sides hurt.
UV = Unpleasant Visual
UW = yoU're Welcome
UY = Up Yours
vp or VP = Virtual Places: A brand of chat offered by Excite in the late 90s and early 2000.
WB = Welcome Back (you say this when someone returns to a chat room)
WC = WelCome
WEG = Wicked Evil Grin
WEU = What's Eating You?
WFM = Works For Me
WIIFM = What's In It For Me?
WTG = Way To Go
WTF = What The F***
WT? = What The ...? or Who the ...?
WTGP? = Want To Go Private? (move to a private chat room)
WWJD = What Would Jesus Do?
YAA = Yet Another Acronym
YBS = You'll Be Sorry
YL = Young Lady
YM = Young Man
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary
YR = Yea, Right (sarcastic)
*ys* = You Stinker
YVW = You're Very Welcome
YW = You're Welcome

Remember, this is not a complete list, but it's hard to keep up with all of the lingo. As parents find out meanings, kids keep coming up with new ones. Just try and read the acronym like a sentence (much like trying to figure out someone's license plate) and you'll probably figure them out.

Go Ask Debbie - April 2010 Newsletter

2010-04-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

How to Burn a CD using iTunes

2010-03-31T23:30:00.001-07:00

Many people think iTunes is used only to synch their iPods, but it can do so much more.

iTunes is a FREE software program you can download and use to play your music. iTunes also allows you to create Playlists and Burn CDs.

Playlists, simply put, are a compilation of music that you put together. For example: if you have five (5) different albums of music from five (5) different artists, but you only like two (2) or three (3) songs on each album, you can create a "Favorites" Playlist and place only your favorite songs from each album into the Playlist and Burn them to create a CD. Playlists are also used to organize your iPod in the same manner.

To create a Playlist, choose File | New Playlist. A folder called "New Playlist" will be created in the lower left side of your screen under "Playlists". Simply type a name for the Playlist, such as "Jamies Favorites" and press Enter to Save. Now you are ready to add songs to the Playlist.

To add songs, simply choose the songs from your "Music" folder and click and drag them to the newly created Playlist.

Once you have added all of the songs you wish to add, simply Right-Click the Playlist and choose "Burn Playlist to a CD". Depending on the version of iTunes, a window will open asking you which format you choose to create. If you will be using the CD in your car or an older CD player, you will probably want to choose "Audio CD". An Audio CD will be able to be played by most CD players. If you wish to create an "MP3 CD", some CD players may not have MP3 capability.

Choose OK and the CD will begin burning. Once completed, you will receive a message on the screen and your CD will be ejected. Make sure and label your CD and have fun listening!

As always, if you have questions, "Go Ask Debbie!"

Outlook Calendar Tip

2010-03-25T23:30:00.004-07:00

Here's another way of moving around the Calendar that may be quicker for some users.

If you have a view open that shows the mini calendars, you can open a pop-up window that will allow you to move multiple months.

Simply click on the Month/Year Header and you will receive a pop-up window with the three (3) months prior and three (3) months after. Scroll to select the Month you wish.

NOTE: DO NOT release your mouse click, as the pop-up will disappear.

Play with it, you may find it's a faster way of moving around within Outlook.

How Do I Delete MRU's?

2010-03-11T10:08:00.003-07:00

Jerry, of El Dorado, Kansas writes: "How do I delete MRU's?"

MRU's are the "Most Recently Used" files that are stored within Internet Browsers. These can include web pages and other files that used your browser to open them.

There are technical people that will tell you how to change the Windows Registry to clear these files. I'm not a big fan of anyone, even people with some technical experience, changing or editing the Windows Registry in any way, shape or form.

Here are a couple of safer ways to delete MRU's.

1) If you'd like to delete ALL Recent Documents, including Recently Accessed Documents, Programs, and Web Pages, follow these steps:

Right-click on the Start Button and choose Properties
On the Start Menu Tab, click "Customize"
Click "Clear" on the "To remove records of recently accessed documents, programs, and web pages"
Click OK on this screen and the next screen and all MRU's will be deleted (or cleared)

2) Internet Explorer lets you view certain MRU's and allows you to delete them individually. To do so, follow these steps:

Open Internet Explorer
Click on Tools | Internet Options
Click on "Settings" in the Internet Browsing area
Click on the "View Files" button and Windows Explorer will open showing you the list of History and Cookies.
Simply look for the Domain Name of the MRU you wish to Delete. Once found, click on the file and press the Delete Key.

Both of these can be a bit cumbersome, so my preference is to simply use your Favorites. When you use your Favorites, you can save all of the important web pages that you prefer. If you choose to use Favorites, then you may simply Delete your entire history in the Tools | Internet Options window. This is much faster and easier, in my opinion.

If you have a question, simply click here to send me your questions. I'll post as many answers as I can in the following Tips e-mail or on my Blog.

Go Ask Debbie - March 2010 Newsletter

2010-03-01T17:58:00.001-07:00

How to Print Excel Formulas

2010-02-28T18:44:00.002-07:00

I have many students that ask me how to create a list of the most used Excel Formulas. There are a few ways...

If you want a list from Microsoft Help, just open your help by pressing F1 or use your Office Assistant. Search for Formulas and Print the Help page.

But sometimes this list isn't entirely what you want. So, you can simply create your own list of formulas and print your list for future reference.

To do so, follow these instructions.

Type a list of the common formulas you use (or use an existing spreadsheet that someone else has created).

Click Tools | Options.

Click on the VIEW Tab.

On the View Tab, check "Formulas" in the Windows Options area of the Tab.

Click OK and you will return to your spreadsheet with the Formulas showing, instead of the results.

It's that simple.

Go Ask Debbie - February 2010 Newsletter

2010-02-01T17:57:00.001-07:00

Learn Word - Personalized Bullets

2010-01-29T06:00:00.004-07:00

We've all seen it, the bullets setup in a Word document that look like someone just chose a template or clicked on the button for bullets on the toolbar. But, if you've seen bullets that have a company's logo or another word or picture, you probably think they had special programming skills... Well, it's actually very simple.

To personalize bullets in Word, follow these simple steps:

1) Highlight the text you wish to add bullets.
2) Go to Format | Bullets and Numbering
3) Click on a Bullet and click on the "Customize" button in the lower right corner of the window.

4) On the Bullet Tab, you may choose from a Character preset within Word OR click on the "Picture" button and locate a picture that you wish to use.

5) Click OK to return to your document and you will see your personalized bullets.

NOTE: If you wish to add a word, on Step 4) Click on the Number Tab and then the Customize button. Next, type in the Word you wish to have for your bullets. Click OK to return.

It really is that simple to personalize bullets in Word!

Netbook Comparisons

2010-01-21T12:45:00.002-07:00

Netbooks are the new Laptops. They are a less expensive option and provide online access to the Internet, including Webmail and many other tools you may use while on the Internet. With all of the new online software, there may not be much of a need in the future to have software installed on your computer - thus, making these Netbooks a very good choice for those "on the go."

Below are a few Netbooks. Important features you may want to compare are Battery Life, Screen Size, Memory, and WiFi compatibility. Read through them to find which one best fits your needs.

Disappearing Zeros in Excel

2010-01-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I hear this question a lot - In Excel, when I type in a number that has Zeros at the beginning (like a Zip Code), the Zeros disappear - how can I get them back?

First, you need to realize that Excel sets a format for every cell. The default format depends on the information you type, as Excel tries to read your mind. Computers are not always good mind readers.

For example: When you type text in a cell, Excel sets the format of that cell to "text". When you type a number, it sets the format of that cell to a number. So, when you type in a Zip Code of "00123", Excel tells you that there are no Zeros needed and places the number "123" in the cell.

A quick fix for this is to Right-Click the cell and choose "Format Cells." In the Format Dialog Box, choose "Custom" and in the "Type" field, type the number of digits for your numbering. So, in the Example above, you would type "00000" as Zip Codes contain five digits.

Once you click "OK", your Disappearing Zeros will Reappear!

If you have a group of cells that do not contain a specific number of digits, then you will need to use a macro. Look for future advanced training on Macros for that fix.

Online Weight Loss Tracking

2010-01-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today's resolutions for weight loss can be made a lot easier with online weight loss tracking sites. These sites provide an easy way to enter information such as food you've eaten and they often have caloric information for typical foods, including popular restaurants.

Check out some of these sites and hopefully one of them will fit your needs to meet your goals for 2010!

Spark People

Fit Day

My Health & Fitness

Med Help

Go Ask Debbie - January Newsletter

2010-01-04T14:21:00.003-07:00

Organize Your Digital Photos

2009-12-30T19:42:00.008-07:00

There are many ways to organize digital photos, but it can be overwhelming. Here are a few ways to make it a bit easier.

1. Windows makes it easy - you can select a group of photos, right-click and choose to rename them. Choose a name, such as "Christmas 2009 Photos" and Windows will rename all of them with that name and a sequential number. Not my best choice - if you're like us, you take a few different sets of pictures before you download them from your camera. But, it is a free and simple option.

2. Windows Live, by Microsoft, has a FREE downloadable program called Windows Live Photo Gallery. It allows you to tag photos and find them quickly.

3. Siren - also does bulk renaming, while allowing you to search by lots of different information that is collected from the file. It's Freeware, downloadable software.

4. Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 - one of my favorites. It's a much cheaper version of Adobe Photoshop, but it still has many features of the full version. The newest version is very user friendly and adds an organizational element that makes it very easy to create a photo album that is searchable by a lot of different information collected from the file.

Try any of these (Adobe has a Free Trial) and see which one works best for you.

Mouse-less Right-Click

2009-12-18T14:38:00.002-07:00

People are always asking me how I am so fast on the computer. My answer is that I try to keep my hands on the keyboard and avoid the mouse as much as I can. Really? Yes, really!

There are many shortcuts I have provided in my Tips and Newsletters and I will continue to do so. One easy one that many people do not know is that you can use your Keyboard to do a Mouse Right-Click. You've been told for years to Right-click whenever possible to receive shortcut menus. Well, you do not need your mouse to perform a Right-click.

Find the button below on your keyboard. It is usually located next to the CTRL button.

Simply press the ALT key and this button and the right-click (or shortcut) menu will appear.

Use your arrow keys to navigate the menu and press ENTER to select an item.

HINT: Shift + F10 also works to perform the mouse right-click.

Create Excel Forms

2009-12-11T14:43:00.001-07:00

There are a few ways to create forms within Excel. Here, I will show you (in my opinion) the easiest.

An easy example to use is a Timesheet or Expense form.

First, type in the information as you would like it captured. You may type in the line descriptions or categories for the Expenses and place colored cells for the areas in which you want users to type in their actual expense amount. Once the form is created, you will "unlock" the cells (the colored cells in my example) that you wish the user to input data.

To do this, click on Format Cells and click on the "Protection" tab. On this tab you will notice that the cells are "locked" by default. Simply uncheck the box and click OK.

Next, click on Tools Protection and choose "Protect Sheet" (or "Protect Workbook" if you are working with more than one Sheet). This will open a separate window asking you what you would like to protect. In the "Allow all users of this worksheet to" area, make sure the only item checked is "Select unlocked cells".

NOTE: When you are Protecting a Sheet or Workbook, Excel will ask you for a password. Make sure you choose a password if you do not want users to edit the form. Excel does NOT require you to use a password.

Finally, click File Save As and choose "Excel Template" from the "Save as Type" drop down. This will save your file in the default folder. If you are working on a network, be sure and get with your administrator for the exact location to save this file.

Now that you have saved your form, users will simply click File New and choose "on my computer" for the location of the template. Once the users double-click to open the template, they will only be able to type information in the unlocked cells.

Go Ask Debbie - December 2009 Newsletter

2009-12-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the December Newsletter for Go Ask Debbie. I hope you enjoy and are able to use some of the helpful tips!

http://goaskdebbie.com/Archives/GADNewsletterDec2009.pdf

Outlook Reply Button Missing

2009-11-27T14:49:00.001-07:00

I often hear people say "I no longer see the Forward, Reply, and Reply to All buttons on my emails. How do I get this information back?"

Something has happened to change your View options, thus, not showing the Standard Toolbar.

In the View menu click Toolbars and click on "Standard". This will show the Standard Toolbar with the Forward, Reply, and other buttons.

It's that simple.

Add Row Numbers in Excel

2009-11-27T14:48:00.001-07:00

There are any number of formulas you can use in column A that will return a row number.

Perhaps the easiest is to use the ROW function, like this:

=ROW( )
This formula returns the row number of the cell in which the formula appears.

If you want to offset the row number returned (for instance, if you have some headers in rows 1 and 2 and you want cell A3 to return a row value of "1", then you can modify the formula to reflect the desired adjustment:
=ROW( )-2

Of course, the ROW function isn't the only formula that will perform this function. Look for more Go Ask Debbie Tips on using Excel formulas and functions directly at Go Ask Debbie.

Add a Graphic to your Email Signature

2009-11-20T14:51:00.001-07:00

To add a little more personality to your Email Signature, you may want to add a Graphic.

It may seem complicated, but is actually quite simple. Just follow these steps:

In Outlook, go to Tools Options.

Once in the Options Dialogue Window, click on the Mail Format Tab.

On the Mail Format Tab, click on "Signatures" - the button is located at the bottom of the screen.

From there, you may Edit a Current Signature or Choose to Create a New Signature.

Once in the Signature Window, click on the "Advanced Edit" button. This will open your current HTML editor, which will be Microsoft Word for most people.

You will see your Signature open in a Word window. Place your cursor in the location you wish to place your Graphic.

Choose Insert Picture From File (assuming you are inserting something other than Clipart).

Edit the size of your graphic, if needed. Click on the Save Icon within Word. And click the OK buttons all the way back to your Tools Options window. At this point, Outlook defaults your current signature for New Messages - choose the appropriate options you wish and click OK.

Now your Signature has a Graphic and looks more professional!

PowerPoint Presentation Shortcuts

2009-11-20T14:50:00.001-07:00

Most people know how to scroll through a PowerPoint Presentation using the Mouse to move Forward from Screen to Screen. However, when it comes to other things, most people tend to get stuck.

Here are some very easy Keyboard Shortcuts that will help you move through your presentation like a Pro!

Press N: Moves you to the next slide.
Press P: Moves you to the previous slide.
Enter the slide number, press ENTER: Moves you to that specific slide.
Press ESC: Cancels a slide show.
Press B: Blanks your presentation with a black screen. Press B again to return.
Press W: Blanks your presentation with a white screen. Press W again to return.
Press SHIFT+F10: Displays the shortcut menu.

Transpose Columns in Excel

2009-11-13T14:57:00.001-07:00

Sometimes data that you have in Columns may look better in Rows, or vice versa.

To transpose Columns to Rows (or Rows to Columns) in Excel, is very easy. To do this, follow these simple steps:

1. Highlight the data you wish to transpose.

2. Click the Copy button.

3. Click into an empty cell (Note: it must be in a location separate from your current data or you may run into problems).

4. Right-click and choose "Paste Special".

5. On the Paste Special sub-menu, click the "Transpose" check box and click OK.

Remember, for this to work your data must truly be in a data format. If there are Blank Rows or Columns and/or the data is all in One Column or Row, the Transpose feature will not know what to do with your data.

Outlook Fax Numbers as E-mails

2009-11-13T14:56:00.001-07:00

How many times have you tried to send an e-mail, only to have a FAX number show up in the E-mail field? Since Outlook is setup to FAX electronically, FAX numbers will show up when trying to send e-mails.

To avoid this, try one of these options:

1. Type the FAX number for your Contacts in a field OTHER than the FAX field.

OR

2. Type an Alpha Character in front of the Fax number (such as: FAX623-555-1111). This will trick Outlook into thinking this is not a valid Fax number and will stop it from appearing in your E-mails.

OR

3. There are software programs you can purchase that will automatically do this for you, but there will be a cost involved. So, I recommend one of the above "quick-fixes".

Outlook 2007 Calendar Invitation Bug

2009-11-09T12:57:00.002-07:00

When updating a Calendar Invitation, there are times you do not want to Send the Update to everyone invited. With prior versions of Outlook, you were given options when Saving. Unfortunately, Outlook 2007 missed this crucial step.

Let's say, for example, you want to add some Notes that you do not want all Attendees to see.

If clicking the X to close the form does not offer the "Save, no updates" option, follow these steps:

Click Save.

Choose the "Don't save but keep open" option.

Click X to close.

Choose the "Don't Save" option.

Open the meeting - it should have your Notes saved but no update gets sent. Hopefully this will be fixed in the next version of Outlook.

Edit a PowerPoint Show

2009-11-06T14:58:00.001-07:00

Have you ever received a .PPS file and wanted to change it or open it directly in PowerPoint?

You can do this a few different ways, but one fast way is to Right-Click on the File Name (MySlideShow.pps for example) and choose "Rename".

Rename the file with .PPT (MySlideShow.ppt) as the file extension, replacing the .PPS.

Now, when you double-click the file, it will open using PowerPoint and you may edit the file from there.

Join Cells in Excel

2009-10-23T15:02:00.001-07:00

Do you need a Full Name field to import into a particular program? But, you only have First Name and Last Name fields in Excel? There are many times when you need to Merge or Join Cells in Excel - this tip shows you how easy it really is:

Insert a New Column.
Type =CONCATENATE(Cell1,Cell2,etc)

Using the formula above, here is an example of the results:
Cell1 Cell2 Cell3 RESULTS
Go Ask Debbie GoAskDebbie

If these are the results you wish, simply Copy the formula down the column to include all rows you wish.

But, let's say you need a Space or a Comma between each of the cells once they have been merged. To do this, type your formula as follows:

=CONCATENATE(Cell1," ",Cell2," ",etc)

This would create the following result from the above scenario "Go Ask Debbie". Notice now there are spaces between the cell contents.

Get creative this can help you create many different types of results.

More Word Shortcut Keys

2009-10-23T15:01:00.001-07:00

If you enjoy shortcuts (who wouldn't?), here are some more Shortcut Keys that will help you become faster in Word.

Ctrl + K = Insert hyperlink
Ctrl + Z = Undo
Ctrl + Y = Redo
Ctrl + L = Aligns the line or selected text to the left
Ctrl + E = Aligns the line or selected text to the center
Ctrl + R = Aligns the line or selected text to the right
Ctrl + M = Indent the paragraph

Practice these handy tips and you may forget about your mouse :)

Use PowerPoint to Create a Photo Presentation

2009-10-16T21:21:00.001-07:00

Everyone has probably received an e-mail (or a thousand) of a PowerPoint Slideshow Presentation showing off Beautiful Pictures, right?!

Well, you can do this very easily by following these steps:

With PowerPoint open, click on Insert Picture Photo Album (in PowerPoint 2007, choose "Photo Album" from the Insert Tab).

In the dialog box that opens, you will choose your photos by clicking on the "File/Disk" button.

Browse to locate your pictures (it will help to have these organized into a folder prior to opening PowerPoint).

Insert the photos and choose the Layout, Frame, and Template styles.

Once you are ready, click on "Create".

You have now created the Slideshow!

However, not all people will have PowerPoint, so if you plan on sending the Photo Presentation via e-mail, you may want to "Save As" a ".pps" file type. This format will open using any Internet Browser.

Create Your Own Shortcuts

2009-10-16T21:19:00.003-07:00

If you're not an expert, it can take many clicks and a lot of menu navigations to perform basic tasks. With shortcut keys, you can speed up your working pace without lifting your hands from the keyboard.

In Word, you can create your own keyboard shortcuts! For example, if you are using the "Word Count" feature often, you can assign any key combination like Alt+W to run the Word Count command.

Follow these simple steps to create your own shortcuts keys for your favorite command:

Go to the Tools menu and click on Customize. (Hint: In Word 2007, the Customize Option is located on the "Office" button)

In the dialog box that opens, click on the "Keyboard..." button.

A list of all the categories of commands will appear on the left side of a new dialog box.

Click on the Category that contains the command which you want to assign a shortcut key.

From the right side, choose the Command you want to assign a keyboard shortcut and then Type or

Click the key combination you want to use to create the shortcut.

Now click on the Assign button and then click Close.

Now, when you are ready to perform the command, simply use your Shortcut Keys that you just setup.

Change E-mail Format

2009-10-09T21:24:00.001-07:00

Do you send e-mails to someone on a mobile device? They probably will be able to read your e-mails easier if you send them as "plain text". You can setup their e-mail account so that they always receive your e-mails as plain text, without you having to remember each time you send them an e-mail.

To do so, follow these simple steps:

Open your Contacts Folder in Outlook.

Double-click the desired contact.

Double-click the email address in the top right section of the contact. (You may have to click the drop down to select an alternate address)

From the "Internet Format" drop down, choose "Send Plain Text only".

Click OK.

Save and Close the Contact.

Now the recipient will always receive your e-mails as plain text.

Outlook Calendar Count Down

2009-10-07T20:58:00.014-07:00

Outlook doesn't support creating calendar items that countdown (or count up) to a specific date. You'll need to create each item individually. The easiest way to do this is outside of Outlook, using a program like Excel, and import the file to the Calendar. You can use this method with any version of Excel and Outlook, although some steps might be slightly different in older versions of either program.

If you have another spreadsheet program, such as Works, you may need to save it as a CSV or text file to import into Outlook.

Create your series in a spreadsheet program - Excel makes it very easy because it allows you to drag and fill cells in a series, changing the numbers in each row. At the very least you need two columns, Date and Subject. (Outlook uses "Start Date" as the name of the date field.)

Tip: A Categories field will make it easier to delete the items if you make a mistake when importing. If you want to use other fields, create one sample record in an new calendar folder and export it to Excel so you know what fields you need. This will eliminate the need to map fields during the import process.

To begin with "today" in Excel, press Ctrl+; (semi-colon) in the first data row of the date column.

Select the cell and drag down to fill the column with consecutive dates, stopping at the date you are counting down to. Common Excel tricks such as entering two non-consecutive dates in a column and dragging allows you to create a pattern, such as weekly or every other day. (You can use this with birthdays too.) If the fill doesn't use a series, click on the Smart tag and choose series.

Go to the last date and enter your subject line. Use a number as the first or last character and Excel will complete the series when you drag. Either type the subject line twice or drag it up one cell and change the 0 to 2, as in the screenshot.

Select both cells in the subject column and drag up. Excel will complete the series.

Select the entire used range and type a name for it in the named range field above column A.

Save and close the workbook.

Now it's time to import it into Outlook.

Select File Import and Export

Select Import from another program or file.

Select the program or file type. In this example, we're using Excel to create the file, so we choose Microsoft Excel.
Browse for the file. (Make sure the file is Closed in Excel or you will receive an error.)

Select the Calendar folder you want to Import the file into.

Click to check the box beside Import [named range] to [folder] and if fields need mapped the Map Custom fields dialog opens.

Outlook doesn't recognize Date, so you will need to drag it to "Start Date" and Outlook will add it to the Mapped From column next to Start Date.

Click Finish to import your items.

PowerPoint Object Alignment

2009-10-02T21:29:00.001-07:00

You can easily align objects to the left, right, or center.

To do this, follow these steps:

Select your objects by clicking each one while holding the Shift Key.

Click the Draw button. It's located near the bottom-left of your screen.

Select Align or Distribute.

OR Click the Option of your preference, such as Left Align, Right Align etc.

The object(s) will be automatically aligned.

Change Sentence Case in Word

2009-10-02T21:26:00.001-07:00

What's the quickest way to change an entire sentence to UPPERCASE, lowercase, or Block Letters?

Here's how you do it.

Select the sentence you want to change.

Hold down the Shift key.

Press F3.

Each time you press F3 it will change the UPPER, lower or Block Case, like this.

Shift + F3, Everything is CAPITAL
"SELECT THE SENTENCE YOU WANT TO CHANGE"

Shift + F3, all letters are in Block.
"Select The Sentence You Want To Change"

Shift + F3, all letters are in lowercase.
"select the sentence you want to change"

Outlook Calendar Shortcut

2009-09-25T21:31:00.001-07:00

Would you prefer to view 4 days on your Outlook Calendar, instead of the 5 or 7 or 30 day view given as options on the toolbar? Or perhaps 2 or 3 days at a time?

To change the number of days in the view, simply press the ALT key and the number of days you wish to view.

For Example, if you wish to view 9 days, press ALT and 9.

This shortcut works on 1-10 days. (For 10, press the number 0)

Excel Scaled Printing

2009-09-25T21:30:00.001-07:00

Excel spreadsheets can get very large, very quickly. And, how do you fit all of that information on one page? Well, you may need more than one page, but Excel allows you to scale your data as much as you need.

To scale your spreadsheet, follow these steps:

Choose File Page Setup

Select the "Page" Tab (Should be the Default Tab)

In the Scaling area of the dialog window, specify how you would like to scale the document. You have the option to scale to a percentage or fit to a certain number of pages that you wish.

Once you have chosen the Scaling options, I recommend to click on the Print Preview button to make sure the spreadsheet will print how you would like.

Should you need to make changes, simply Close the Print Preview window and you will return to the Page Setup to make any necessary adjustments prior to printing.

Word Background Blues

2009-09-18T21:34:00.001-07:00

If the white background hurts your eyes or is distracting to you, Word allows you to change the appearance of the screen so that you have a blue background with white text.

Many people find the blue background more pleasant and easier on the eyes. You can change this appearance of Word by following these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

Click on the Tools menu and choose Options. Word displays the Options dialog box.

Select the General Tab.

Click the check box "Blue Background, White Text".

Click on OK.

Hopefully this tip can save a few strained eyes :)

Excel Conditional Formatting

2009-09-18T21:32:00.001-07:00

Excel includes a powerful feature that allows you to dynamically change the formatting of individual cells based on the results being displayed in that cell. For instance, you could make the text in the cell larger and red if a result is less than a certain threshold. Likewise, you could color the background of a cell based on the result of a formula.

To take advantage of conditional formatting, follow these steps:

Enter your cell formula as you normally would.

Choose Conditional Formatting from the Format menu. Excel displays the Conditional Formatting dialog box.

Use the controls in the dialog box to specify the threshold or ranges you want to set for formatting to be changed.

Click on the "Format" button to edit the formatting you wish to appear when the condition is True.

Click on OK to close the Format Cells dialog box.

Click on the Add button and define more conditions (and formats), if desired.

Click on the OK button to close the Conditional Formatting dialog box.

You should now see the formatting in all of the cells that meet the condition.

Naming Excel Worksheet Tabs

2009-09-11T21:36:00.001-07:00

If you have large Excel spreadsheets with multiple Tabs, it may help you to Name each Tab with a name that is relative to the data contained within the Tab.

As a default, Excel opens three (3) worksheets. Each worksheet has a Tab at the bottom of the screen named "Sheet1", "Sheet2", and "Sheet3". Obviously these mean nothing if you have data on Sheet2 that is February's data.

To rename the Tabs, simply follow these steps:

1) Double-click the Tab and Replace the name "Sheet1" with whatever you would like it to be. For example, "JAN" for January's data.

2) Once you have typed the new name, simply click ENTER.

Now the Tab makes more sense and will help you move amongst the Tabs quicker.

Social Media Websites

2009-09-10T21:23:00.014-07:00

Social media, as defined by Wikipedia, are media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques.

In layman's terms - websites where people can interact quickly and easily through technology.

Some of you may already be using these sites, but many people are still overwhelmed or simply think they are a waste of time and privacy. Apparently over 250 million people do not agree.

Here are some tips to help you get over the hurdle and try one or maybe two of these sites.

First, you don't have to be a computer geek or expert.

Second, you don't have to spend a lot of time on these sites.

Third, join only one site to get started. Who knows, once you join, you may get addicted and want to join more - go ahead, most of them are FREE or have a FREE version (paid by advertisements).

If you eventually choose to join more sites, there are sites that will post to many sites at once, saving you valuable time.

Here are a couple of the most popular sites and a bit of information on them.

Facebook -

Surpassed Twitter as the number one in membership of around 250 million!
A site to share photos, information and thoughts with friends and family.
People often post daily information, but it is acceptable that some people may not share information that often.

Twitter -

A macro social media website where people answer the question "What are you doing now?"
I think a bit overkill, as people mention when they are using the facilities and, personally, I don't need to know that much about my friends and family.
Used properly, it is similar to Facebook where people share information and thoughts.

LinkedIn -

More of a business networking website.
Many groups are setup for specific industries where you can share information and possibly post job openings or job searching needs.

I would start with one of these, as they offer ease of use and a simple few questions and you can join.

There are hundreds of these sites available - many that are specific to certain industries. For example, MySpace used to be a friend and dating website and now has turned into a site mostly used by the music industry.

Below is a list of more sites to get you started. However, I want to make sure you remember this one VERY IMPORTANT FACT (especially for youth that like to share personal info) - it is not a good idea to share too much information on these sites. Remember privacy and security are still big issues, as well as the fact that once you've posted something, there is usually NO deleting it and everyone (in the world sometimes) can read and see the information and/or pictures you've posted! And, please, remember that it is not appropriate (or fun for others) to use bad language.

Digg - Social News website

Yelp - Localized site, allowing businesses to advertise and consumers to find local info

Flickr - Website allowing users to share photography and receive comments from other members.

ActiveRain - Site for the Real Estate industry to share information and provide consumers information.

Hugg - Social News website geared towards environmental issues.

And, let's not forget YouTube - yes, this is a form of Social Media website. Here, people share information in the form of videos.

Mouse Tips

2009-09-04T21:37:00.001-07:00

Are you Left Handed? I mean truly Left-Handed, meaning you write and use the mouse with your Left Hand?

If you are and you haven't setup your mouse for Left-Handed use, follow these steps.

Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start Button Settings Control Panel.

Within the Control Panel, double-click Mouse Icon. This will open your mouse controls dialog.

On the Buttons Tab, choose "Switch Primary and Secondary Buttons". This will Reverse the mouse buttons, making it much easier for truly Left-Handed individuals.

Now, the right button on the mouse will be used for single-clicking and the left button will be used for double-clicking. This means that a Left-Handed person will use the same fingers, thus making the mouse much easier to use.

In the Control Panel, Mouse Controls Dialog, there are many other options - not just the options for Left-Handed users.

One option that I find helps users is to change the double-clicking speed to be specific for their own speed. NOTE: Do not change this option if there are multiple users on your computer - what may be comfortable for you, may not be for someone else.

Save a File as a PDF

2009-08-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Often there are times when you need to send a file in which it cannot be edited. One of the easiest and most universal ways to do this is to create a PDF file format. PDF stands for Portable Document Format.

Adobe Reader is the most widely used software allowing users to view PDF file types, and it is FREE. There are other programs available, but you will notice that Adobe Reader is often the program that is pre-installed on new computers and most often used by businesses. Most of you have probably used this program.

However, the question of the day is "How do I create a PDF file?"

There are many ways to create a PDF file.

1) Use a Scanner that will save the file as a PDF
There are many drawbacks to this - the scanners can be expensive and the document must be printed prior to running through the scanner.

2) Use Adobe Writer
This is a separate program that must be purchased and is rather expensive. However, the advantage to having this program is that you can Edit certain PDF files (as long as they were not scanned as an image and as long as they are not protected).

3) Users with Microsoft Office 2007® may install the Add-in that allows files to be saved as a PDF.

4) Download a FREE PDF Creation software
There are many PDF Creation software programs that can be downloaded FREE from the Internet. This, in my opinion, is the best option for most people.

Some of the FREE programs available include CutePDF, PrimoPDF, and pdf995. I have found these to be very small installations and very user friendly programs. To save the file as a PDF, most of these programs use the Print option which then creates the PDF.

With technology evolving so quickly these days, it is hard to keep up. I hope this has given you some good options on PDFs.

Kids and Internet Safety

2009-08-24T21:40:00.002-07:00

It is no surprise that our kids know how to surf the Internet better and faster than we do - they've grown up with it... they don't know a world without it.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of online predators and I've found that SafeKids.com has some great resources for helping parents become educated about the Internet. It explains how to communicate with kids and helps kids and parents know what to look for when it comes to safety.

Click the link below for some Safe Blogging and Social Media Tips from SafeKids.com.

How to Add Watermarks

2009-08-24T21:39:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wanted to add a Watermark to a Word document and didn't know how? It's really quite simple.

With your document open, simply click on View Header & Footer.

From there, your document text will appear to be "shaded" - this helps you to see the Header or Footer information with which you are working.

Simply click Insert Picture and then choose to insert a File on your Computer or to choose a Graphic from Clipart. Once you find your Graphic, double-click to insert it into your Header & Footer area.

Next, Right-Click the Graphic and choose "Format Picture" from the sub-menu.

If you are not already, be sure and click on the "Picture" Tab. In the middle of this screen, you will see Image Control / Color. Click on the Drop-Down and choose "Washout".

Click OK to return to your document.

Notice that the image is now very light in color. Now, simply close your Header & Footer by clicking on the CLOSE button on the Toolbar.

Once back in your document, you will notice that the Image is behind the text of your document and shows up as a Watermark.

A great resource for Images is AZVirtual.com.

How to Learn Word - Select Text

2009-08-17T14:03:00.001-07:00

In this blog, I will show you very quickly How to Learn Word - Select Text.

Microsoft Word, and other similar word processing programs, allows you to select text in many different ways depending on your needs. As with most software these days, there are many ways to do the same thing. I will mention a few.

1) To select a single letter, number, or symbol, you will need to Click and Drag your mouse to highlight the item.

2) To select an entire word, simply Double-Click the word.

3) To select a line, move your mouse to the left margin (the mouse will turn into a right-pointing arrow) and Single Click.

4) To select a paragraph, move your mouse to the left margin (the mouse will turn into a right-pointing arrow) and Double-Click.

5) To select the text of the entire document, move your mouse to the left margin (the mouse will turn into a right-pointing arrow) and Triple-Click.

There may be times when you do not wish to select an entire paragraph, or the entire document, but need to select a particular sentence or a few words. To do this, you will Click and Drag your mouse just as you do in selecting a single character.

Often times people have difficulty doing this. A hint I like to give to my trainees is to use your Arrow Keys on the keyboard. To do this simply place your cursor in the desired position and while Holding the Shift Key, use your Arrow Keys to move the highlighted (selected) area to the position of your choice.

How to Learn Word is to take things one topic at a time. Microsoft Word, and many other Microsoft Office programs, is a very complex program that can do many valuable things - but when people are overwhelmed, they tend to not use the program to its fullest.

Bottom line on How to Learn Word - take it one step at a time.

Clear History in Internet Explorer

2009-08-07T21:44:00.001-07:00

Simply put, History Adds Up! If you surf the net on a regular basis and do not Clear your History, you will create a HUGE History File; thus, making it difficult to find pages, not to mention the hard drive space you could be taking. You should NOT use your History as a way of finding Internet pages, use the Favorites instead.

On a regular basis (at the very least, monthly), you need to follow these steps:

Open Internet Explorer.

Choose Tools Internet Options.

In the Internet Options Window, simply click "Delete" in the Browsing History area. Depending on how long it has been since you last performed this option, this may take a few minutes.

Once completed, click the OK button to exit the Internet Options Window.

Outlook Recurring Appointments

2009-08-07T21:41:00.001-07:00

Did you know that you can setup recurring appointments in Outlook? I have seen many people forget meetings, appointments, etc - and these are the ones that happen on a regular basis. Our lives are too busy these days, so we need to learn to take advantage of the power of Outlook.

To setup a Recurring Appointment (one that happens every month, for example), follow these steps:

Open your Calendar.

Double Click the date of the next appointment (or choose File New Appointment).

Type in the Subject, Location, Date, and Time, as usual.

Click on "Recurrence" on the Toolbar.

Once the Recurrence Windows opens, choose all options that apply to your recurring appointment (for example: Monthly, Every 28th Day, etc).

You have the option of setting up the recurrence for a certain time period. You may have the recurrence appear 10 times on your Calendar, for example OR you may choose to have it End after a certain date.

After you have made all of your choices, click the OK button.

Once you have returned to the Calendar, you will see the recurrence details. Click Save and Close and you have now successfully setup a Recurring Appointment.