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Get In The Habit of Locking Your Computer Workstation

May 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

 

Windows XP

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Many companies have an official policy regarding locking workstations. For employees      that work with confidential customer information, a locked workstation keeps sensitive information like credit card numbers and confidential conversations away from those who do not need to see them.

Not only does this prevent workplace visitors and unauthorized people from viewing client information, it can also prevent others from tampering with your workstation. A disgruntled worker could easily access your email account or delete critical documents in an attempt to sabotage your career. Not only is locking your workstation good practice, it’s also prudent even when it’s not company policy.

This also applies to those who work from home. If other people have access to your computer, they could accidentally close a document you have not saved, or change critical settings without your knowledge or consent. Even if you don’t use the computer for work, you might not want others in the household to read your emails. For instance, if you have ordered a surprise gift for someone, they could open your email account to find a confirmation email of the sale.

To lock your computer screen in Windows 7 or XP, simply click the window icon key on the bottom row and the letter “L” at the same time. For other operating systems, check your computer’s help files to either create a lock shortcut or set your screen to lock automatically when the screen saver is activated. Of course, this only works if no one else knows the password to your machine. Therefore, it’s good to get in the habit of changing your password every 30 to 60 days.

Filed Under: Microsoft, Software Tagged With: , ,

7 Tips for Using Microsoft Word

April 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Many software programs have little features that you might not be aware of but you rejoice when you learn them.  Here are seven shortcut tips for Microsoft Word.

1. To go the beginning of your document, hold Control and then tap the Home key. To go to the end of your document, hold Control and tap the End key.

2. Triple click inside a paragraph will select the complete paragraph. This is good when you want to move it to another place in your document.

3. If you only want to select one sentence, hold the Control button and click somewhere in the sentence. The whole sentence will be highlighted.

File:Keyboard Closeup.jpg

4. Holding Control plus the right arrow key moves your cursor one word to the right.

5. Have you ever written something and then realized that you have misspelled a word several times throughout your document?  If it’s a lengthy document and there are many instances of the misspelled word, that could be a tedious job to change every incorrect word.  Instead, hold Control and click the F key.  That will bring up the Find dialog box. Type in the misspelled word. Then, click the Replace tab.  Type in the correct word and then hit the Replace All button. The correct word will replace the misspelled ones.

6. Learn keyboard strokes to save time instead of removing your hand from the keyboard to use the mouse.  There’s a trick for starting a bulleted list without using a mouse. Type an asterisk and then hit the space bar.  Voila! You have a bulleted list.

7. If you want to add a small arrow, type two hyphens and >.

Filed Under: Internet, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Get a Hold of your Household Budget with These 7 Tips

March 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What can Excel do to help you with organizing and keeping track of your family finances? And for free no less?

Check out these ideas:

  1. Try the “Personal Budget Spreadsheet for Excel.” Plan for the future; keep track of expenses, budget the entire year out, plan for emergencies. This easy to use template will assist you in keeping thing orderly and easily accessible.
  2. Or budget monthly using the “Personal Monthly Budget.” Get the long and short of monthly in and out-go. The budget spreadsheet will print off on an individual page for easy use.
  3. The “Household Budget Worksheet” assists you with the details. Because there are more budget categories, the user is able to add additional expenditures to the list such as “children,” and “vacation.”
  4. The “Money Manager Template” keeps folks on their toes when it comes to creating a yearly budget, recording transactions for multiple accounts, balancing their checkbook, keeping track of monthly spending, and a new Year-to-Date option.
  5. Try the “Yearly Budget Calculator”, a combination of the “Family Budget Planner” and the “Monthly Budget Spreadsheets.” Get all you need on one worksheet!
  6. Use the “Home Budget Worksheet” to create a personal or family budget for the year. This worksheet is especially good for folks planning on making a huge change within the year, whether it is purchasing a home or changing jobs.
  7. Learn “How to Make a Budget” or “How to Budget” here: http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/how-to-make-a-budget.html and here: http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/how-to-budget.html.

Creating a budget not only helps with maintaining your expenditures, it assists you in planning for the immediate and long-term future. Make it a point today to try one or more of these options.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Choosing the Best Excel Chart for your Next Project

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Area Chart

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With multiple Excel chart choices currently being offered by Microsoft, you may think the choosing of the best chart for you next project, well, next to impossible.

It’s not.

Here are some hints to keep you from standing still:

  • Learn the tips & tricks. Find out how to make a chart from the free tutorial before you start.
  • Still nervous? Keep it simple. Bar charts are used frequently because they are easy to read as well as understand.
  • Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each graph choice. What will work best with the information you have? While bubble charts tend to be more visual and wisely explore the relationships between data, an area chart has many weaknesses you may not want to tackle: such as the difficulty in seeing the individual data point values.
  • Get some advice from the Excel Chart Advisor—a free plug-in for Windows 2007. Get the suggestions you need on layout based on the data you enter.
  • Make more than one chart using the data. See what chart shows off the information clearer and with more interest.
  • When your chart is finished, get some honest feedback from a co-worker or other friend. Just make sure you choose someone who can give it.

Like anything else, learning what chart goes with what data is often surrounded by a little trial and error. You may find that a particular chart doesn’t look as well on paper with the data you entered than you first figured. Don’t be afraid to work on multiple graph ideas to discover the best solution for your project.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

How to Find the Best Free Templates for Excel

March 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Templates of all shapes and sizes are out there for everything you can possible want or need, but how do you find what will work best for you?

These ideas should help:

  • Be specific in your Internet search. Do you need a template to better handle your money, do you need to make a chart (and what kind?) are you interested in getting the best home mortgage calendar or timesheet, or do you need a template or two to help you with your school class?
  • Make a list of five of the best templates you found, and start with the one that intrigues you the most.
  • Try it. See what it does for you. Use it before trying another on your list. Give the try at least two weeks before you dive into favorite #2.
  • Make sure the template is easy to use and gives you the help and direction you need. There’s nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed when just beginning to use a template; at the same time, realize you might need some tutorial help to assist you.
  • Go beyond the ordinary. Find a template that not only does what you need it to do, but has a bit of frosting on the side. Creative templates can be used to juice up your business or resume. You can even create personalized invitations. Try the ones at Codswallop.
  • Talk to your friends and neighbors about what they use. If you see a resume you like, ask if they used a template to produce it. Asking questions merely widens your options and given you more opportunities to choose from.

Whatever template you ultimately choose, make sure you’re open to answering questions about it. “Pay it forward” by spreading the news.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Best Excel Forums

March 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

You’d like to get more involved in the Excel community; find out what the talk is about, orient yourself to the new ad-ins and downloads in Excel. Where do you go?

Forums are a great help and lots of fun, especially when you consider how easily they manifest themselves in your in-box and how connected you can feel with others with more knowledge and expertise than you have.

Here’s a great list of the best excel forums you might want to consider when jumping into an Excel community.

  • Joseph Rubin has a great list of Excel related forums here: http://www.excelforum.com/.  Be a part of general Excel interests or narrow your interest to Excel programming, tips and tutorials or Excel 2008 help, plus many more—15 Excel groups to choose from. You can even go “Off Topic” by joining “The Water Cooler.”
  • “The Code Cage” offers free Microsoft Office help for every application. Learn about the forum before joining by perusing the Forum Help Videos, guidelines and rules. The Code Cage will assist you with worksheets, charting, programming and more. http://www.thecodecage.com/forumz/excel-forum/
  • “Excel Forum” gives you tips, training, and a community that enjoys Excel and knows more than a little something about it. Ask a question; get an answer quickly from an expert by narrowing your question and explaining what you have already attempted. http://www.excelforum.com/excel-worksheet-functions/
  • Have a business? Want to stay connected? Try” Excel Help Forums for Business.” A great list of 20 forums is offered here http://www.business-spreadsheets.com/forum.asp.

Choosing the best Excel forum for your tastes is important. Find one that caters to your needs as well as your level of understanding.  Joining an Excel forum is somewhat like joining a group workshop. Don’t be afraid to try another if your first choice doesn’t work out.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Best Excel Blogs of 2011

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Keeping a blog current is especially important when it comes to Excel information. What’s new in the world of Excel? What help is out there? What should I try next?

If these questions are on your list, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these blogs!

  • Automate Excel, covers topics in automation software, Microsoft Excel training and even tackles Excel classes. Discover the best books, games, news, shortcuts and more when it comes to Excel. http://www.automateexcel.com/index.php
  • Code of Excel and Outlook Blog: Get the latest information on Excel and Outlook almost daily including ad-in changes. Stay updated on blogs by subscribing via RSS feed or Email.  http://www.codeforexcelandoutlook.com/blog/
  • Klippert.com: Hundreds of entries with topics from calendars to worksheets. Get the grit here from Doug Klippert.  http://www.klippert.com/
  • The Ken Pul’s Blog greets readers on many subjects, including Excel. Learn about charts, Macros, PowerPivot and more. Excel information posted a few times monthly. http://www.excelguru.ca/blog/category/excel/
  • Get converted to Codswallop. Christ Garrett and Yoav Ezer make up the team at Codswallop. Learn about Excel and other treats; discover some great Excel templates and tips that will assist you in creating personalized invitations.  http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/
  • Daily Dose of Excel. Get all you ever wanted to know about Excel including the code! http://www.dicks-blog.com/
  • Excel Geek will take you to a football game—more or less. Get the stats here, and learn how to work through your own figures whether the stats involve football scores or pie charts. http://blog.excelgeek.com/
  • Get the latest Excel spreadsheet news at, you guessed it, Excel News. Follow links to add-ins, formulas, templates, tutorials and other Excel information. http://excel-news.blogspot.com/
  • Methods in Excel, helps you with code, DNA and other functions. http://www.blog.methodsinexcel.co.uk/

Though blogs are written by experts as well as people merely interested in Excel, something happens when you learn something new and apply it. All at once you have something new to share with someone else.

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Creative Ways to use Excel

February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A spreadsheet of my construction showing how n...

Image via Wikipedia

Okay, so you may know the basics about Excel; how to use spreadsheets, how to calculate your budget, how to make a list of potential clients with phone numbers and addresses.

What you do not know comes in the way of creation and less on the technical side of counting it all up. And what is out there may surprise you.

Here’s a list to get you going:

  1. Make a “story web” to help organize your thoughts for your next school paper or business project.
  2. Create a quiz. A great step-by-step instruction list can be found here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2257544_create-quiz-excel.html.
  3. Use Smart Art. Make a family tree. Genealogy or family history is all the rage now and encourages family members of all ages to search out their ancestors.
  4. Draw freehand. Choose “scribble” or “curve” from a list of choices. Use your freehand drawing in a power point presentation or slide show.
  5. Import pictures from two sources, either from Clipart Gallery or from Pictures. Use these photos to create your own poster gallery or for use on presentation day.
  6. Create a review came for your class with the Classroom Jeopardy Template. Content can be changed within the template to suit the subject matter.
  7. Create a crossword puzzle. Use it for classroom study or for family fun or learning time. When the last time you found a puzzle that had you find all the reasons to keep a room clean, or what steps are included in the cleaning process, for example?
  8. Synthesize some music. Notes are plotted on a spreadsheet and an instrument is chosen. Hours of fun and learning!
  9. Play Battleship or Stones of Power. Excel offers about 15 games to choose from. Get a list of them here: http://www.clickonf5.org/freebies/14-cool-games-play-microsoft-excel/6251.
  10. Calculate your driving time and distance. Watch this YouTube video to learn how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPbR92aMB-8.
  11. Learning more about zip codes. Track your customers, find zip codes within a particular radius, and profile your customers using demographic data.

When it comes to being creative in Excel, the options are endless. The biggest problem? Knowing what to try first!

Filed Under: Excel, Microsoft Tagged With: , , , ,

Stop Hunting and Pecking

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Very few people take a typing class. For many it is just too boring. Since the development of personal computers, typing is a skill that is a necessity. Many people struggle with the computer keyboard and it can take forever to write one email. Most people would love to stop hunting and pecking but do not have the time or patience to take a typing class. There are a number of software programs that teach typing, but those are often as boring as a traditional typing class.

You can finally stop hunting and pecking. There is a new fun way to improve your typing skills. You can improve your typing skills by playing typing games on the Internet. Web sites are popping up with games and practice sets. Most of them are free; however, there are quite a few that charge a fee. With so many new sites available, choose the free sites. Why spend money when you do not have to?

The beauty of these typing game sites is that you can improve your typing speed while having fun playing games. It is also competitive since the highest scores are posted. The typing game sites are set up like most of the traditional gaming sites. You have a username and can compete with others. This competitive atmosphere provides a great deal of motivation to improve your typing.

Many people have stopped hunting and pecking. Surprisingly, people are able to increase their typing speeds as high as 80 wpm by simply playing games. Playing typing games avoids the boredom of traditional typing classes or software programs. In fact, many of the software programs are including games to make it more entertaining.

There are numerous free typing game sites available. You can register for one or as many as you like.

Filed Under: Internet, Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Benefits of a Lap Top Computer

January 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

With so many computer options available, many people have a difficult time choosing a computer. Computer shopping can be overwhelming when you see the variety of options. Most families have at least two computers in the home.

Laptop computers are the most popular.

Laptops are a favorite for those that are environmentally conscientious. Laptops use less electricity than traditional desktop computers. While many do not see the savings as significant, to an environmentalist every little bit helps.

Laptops are also great if you travel a great deal. If you frequent airports, having your laptop with you is a great way to pass the time while waiting for your flight. Especially if your flight is delayed for several hours. You can at least get work done while you are waiting. You can also watch movies or your favorite TV show to pass the time.

Laptops have become more lightweight so the laptops are easy to carry with you anywhere you go. If you do not have your own mobile internet access, most airports, coffee shops and even some restaurants have wireless internet access. This makes having a laptop even more attractive. Virtually all college campuses provide hot spots.

Having a laptop is convenient. If you have to visit the doctor’s office, you can take your lap top with you to pass the time in the waiting room. A laptop allows you to get work done no matter where you happen to be. Laptops make waiting around less stressful since it can keep you occupied.

You do not have to spend a great deal of money on a laptop. You will find many for under $500. Laptops are fantastic for people on the go and people that have busy lives. You can use your laptop to make efficient use of your time.

Filed Under: General, Microsoft, Software Tagged With: , ,
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