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Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – Permalink –

Typography for the Rest of Us

Real world fonts

Choosing a type face can be fun, but also overwhelming.

You want to convey the message without obscuring the thoughts in an avalanche of weird shapes.

Cameron Moll has a web site/Blog called Authentic Boredom; his "platitudinous web home."

Recently he explored:

The non-typographer's guide to practical typeface selection

"I honestly believe typeface selection is one of the most transparent ways of detecting good - and bad - design. You can tell plenty about a designer merely by the typefaces he/she chooses. So you'd be wise to start with trusted faces, and you'd be even wiser to know something about the history of each typeface."

Also see:
Who was that font I saw you with last night?

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Labels: Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:57 AM

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Monday, February 13, 2012 – Permalink –

Windows Tips and Hints

Both Desktop and Server

Jim Boyce puts out a newsletter that covers various computer topics.

His web site, Boyce.us, has a long list of topics.

Microsoft Windows XP / 2000 Professional Tips

Here are just a few of the 516 Windows desktop items:

A Better Calculator
Adding Options to the Send To Menu
Avoid reinstalling applications after a clean install
Changing Icons of Desktop Items and Documents
Cloning Your Current Configuration
Defrag a drive when not logged on as Administrator
Fine-tune Internet Explorer’s behavior
Give your middle button a reason to live
Lock your workstation with a keystroke
Locking Down the Registry
Prevent users from shutting down the computer
Sharing a dial-up Internet connection
Take control of Explorer
Taking your notebook home
Test your connection speed
Use Ctrl for opening folders
Use two or more monitors
Using the Last Known Good Configuration
Working with Safe Mode

(This has not been updated in awhile, but there is still good information.)

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Labels: Windows

<Doug Klippert@ 3:33 AM

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Sunday, February 12, 2012 – Permalink –

Rank Formatting

Highlight the best

Use Conditional formatting to highlight the rank of items in a list.
Select the range. Go to Format>Conditional Formatting....

Change the first box to "Formula Is".

Enter the following formulas. (Click Add to set the 2nd and 3rd Condition.)

=RANK($A2,$A$2:$A$13)=3
=RANK($A2,$A$2:$A$13)=2
=RANK($A2,$A$2:$A$13)=1

(Notice the three way tie for third.)

Does a tie for first or third make sense?

If you want a unique rank, try a formula like:

=RANK(A2,$A$2:$A$13)+COUNTIF($A$2:A2,A2)-1

This will rank the numbers in the order they appear in the list.

For a detailed discussion of ranking see:

Chip Pearson:
Ranking Data In Lists
(There is a workbook you can download)

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Labels: Excel

<Doug Klippert@ 3:18 AM

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Saturday, February 11, 2012 – Permalink –

Article Search

Page turner

There are search engines around every corner. Here's one that concentrates on leading academic, industry and general interest publications.

FindArticles.com

"FindArticles is focused on delivering the best and most essential search results. There are different kinds of searches. You can cast a wide net and see what you catch, but we believe there's a better way. Why not rely on credible, freely available information you can trust? By working with the best sources, we have assembled all the essential publications covering a wide range of subjects - and are continually adding to our collection.

Our publications and subjects are organized by major categories: Arts & Entertainment, Automotive, Business & Finance, Computers & Technology, Health & Fitness, Home & Garden, News & Society, Reference & Education, and Sports.

Discover exactly what you need at FindArticles, using either browsing or searching techniques. Select a specific publication up front, or start with a general search and then include or exclude publications. Insert new search terms as needed to pinpoint the most relevant results. Then sort results by article date, length, relevance or publication name. It's all very easy to do here.

FindArticles has articles from thousands of resources, with archives dating back to 1984. That means you get to search for exactly what you need, from millions of articles not found on any other search engine. Please think of us any time you want to Find Articles."

For instance here are the articles printed in Home Office magazine.

Home Office - 1991 to 2001

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Labels: Addendum, Internet

<Doug Klippert@ 3:54 AM

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Friday, February 10, 2012 – Permalink –

Countdown to Appointment

Seven days till vacation

You could use brute force to enter data in an Outlook calendar that would count down to an event. Creating separate entries rapidly becomes tedious.

Outlook MVP Diane Poremsky demonstrates a way to quickly combine a list in Excel (or other CSV type formats) with calendar entries in Outlook.

It boils down to creating a list and importing into an Outlook calendar.

Here are the instructions including screenshots:

From Outlook-tips.net
Create Countdown Calendar Items

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Labels: Outlook

<Doug Klippert@ 3:43 AM

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Thursday, February 09, 2012 – Permalink –

AutoRecover

Recover zapped files

You can use the AutoRecover feature in Word to recover a Word document if your computer loses power or if an application error occurs while you are working in a document.

To set the AutoRecover feature in Word:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Choose the Save tab and select the "Save AutoRecover info every" check box.
Set the minutes box to the desired time interval between AutoRecover saves.

The AutoRecover feature does not replace the saving of a document. There is no feature in Word to automatically save your document files. You must periodically save your documents.

What Is the AutoRecover Feature in Word?

How Word creates and recovers the AutoRecover files

"When you perform a full save of your file, there is no way to go back to your original version. If the document was saved automatically, in many instances data would be lost because a full save is irreversible.

In contrast, AutoRecover does not overwrite your original file; this allows you to back out of most errors just by not saving changes when you close the file.

An AutoRecover file is created or updated each time there are changes that have not been saved at the end of the preset time period. You should perform a full save specifically based on progress you've made in your document rather than arbitrarily at regular time intervals.

NOTE: Another way to protect your work and maintain all of your changes is to use the Versions command on the File menu."

Also:

Word.MVPS.org:
How can I make Word save or back up my document automatically?

In Word 2007 it's under "Office button">Word options> Save.

By design, Microsoft Word does not create an AutoRecover file when you are working in a master document, because the AutoRecover file format is not compatible with the master document file format.

When you use Word as your e-mail editor, Word does not create an AutoRecover (AutoSave) file of your e-mail message.

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Labels: Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:31 AM

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Wednesday, February 08, 2012 – Permalink –

Formatting Codes for Headers and Footers

Roll your own

From Microsoft support:

The following list contains the format codes that you can use in headers and footers.

Codes to format text ("&" is an ampersand - Shift+7)

Left-aligns the characters that follow.

Centers the characters that follow.

Right-aligns the characters that follow.

Turns double-underline printing on or off.

Turns superscript printing on or off.

Turns subscript printing on or off.

Turns bold printing on or off.

Turns italic printing on or off.

Turns underline printing on or off.

Turns strikethrough printing on or off.

&"fontname"

Prints the characters that follow in the specified
(font. Be sure to include the quotation marks around the font name.)

&nn

Prints the characters that follow in the specified
(font size. Use a two-digit number to specify a size in points.)

Codes to insert specific data

&D: Prints the current date
&T: Prints the current time
&F: Prints the name of the document
&A: Prints the name of the workbook tab (the "sheet name")
&[File]: Also prints file name
&[Path]: Prints path
&[Picture]: Opens dialog box to select graphic (2003)
&P: Prints the page number
&P+number: Prints the page number plus number
&P-number: Prints the page number minus number
&&: Prints a single ampersand
&N: Prints the total number of pages in the document

In a macro, to use multiple lines in a header, use either of the following methods:

Use CHR(10) to insert a linefeed character.
Use CHR(13) to insert a carriage return character.

The article also includes the VBA to create a macro that will insert header/footer information. Microsoft KB213618
Also: Daily Dose of Excel: Formatting Footers in VBA

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Labels: Excel

<Doug Klippert@ 3:38 AM

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Tuesday, February 07, 2012 – Permalink –

The Well

A salute to our predecessors

Remember the acronym BBS? Remember the Whole Earth movement?

Before "Chat rooms" and IM, for 20 years there has been an online community of readers and contributors.

While it started in the Bay area, it is international in scope.

On the net since April 1, 1985, happy birthday to the Well.

From Well.com:

"There is nothing quite like The WELL, and the secret has a lot to do with its evolution. Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant founded the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link in 1985, starting with a dialog between the fiercely independent writers and readers of the Whole Earth Review.

This set the tone for the open but remarkably literate and uninhibited intellectual gathering that continues today. Over the years, WELL members have made fast friends, created enduring traditions, gathered casually face-to-face in cities 'round the world, and provided support to strangers.

They have founded organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Craig's List, and documented what was emerging in books like Howard Rheingold's The Virtual Community, John Seabrook's Deeper, and Katie Hafner's The WELL. They have gone into business together, fallen in and out of love, cultivated feuds, taken kickass vacations together and enriched lives.

Salon.com bought The WELL in 1999, and upgraded its servers to greet the century. These days WELL members enjoy access to Salon's remarkable independent journalist and the benefits of Salon Premium."

About the Well

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Labels: Internet

<Doug Klippert@ 3:16 AM

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Monday, February 06, 2012 – Permalink –

Animations

Tutorial about Cool PowerPoint Animations

"This tutorial is more of a demonstration of what cool custom animation effects can be achieved just by using the standard PowerPoint 2002 / XP / 2003 / 2007 wipes."

Exhibition stand graphics to attract visitors
Conference openers (especially good with music)
Conference breakout screens
Divider or section headers in presentations
General presentation ideas

And many more. PowerPoint Animation A to Z

This is a new version. If you tried the earlier one you owe it to yourself to look at the new one.

(One hint, open the PPS file in PowerPoint. When you see an interesting trick, hit the Esc button. View the Custom animation pane to see how it was done.)

From AwesomeBackgrounds.com

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Labels: PowerPoint

<Doug Klippert@ 3:51 AM

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Sunday, February 05, 2012 – Permalink –

Odd Links Site

The Internet is part smart, part just weird

Here is a site that collects interesting locations:
LinkyDinky.com

"Linky considers himself something of an intellectual, and tends to choose culturally enriching, "brainier" sites to share with us. Dinky, on the other hand, cannot seem to keep a serious thought in his head, and quite often veers off into the bizarre, grotesque and far-fetched. Sometimes they bicker, but as long as you get a cool link or two out of the deal, who cares?"

Here are some of the recent finds:

Mind reading card trick

MyCatHatesYou.com

Coin manipulation

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Labels: Addendum

<Doug Klippert@ 3:12 AM

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Saturday, February 04, 2012 – Permalink –

HTML/CSS Resource

"The Ultimate"

You may be put off by the home page for this site, but drill deeper.
Blooberry.com
Brian Wilson

The Author has compiled a very well arranged collection of references.

You might want to go directly to:

Index D O T HTML
T h e A d v a n c e d H T M L R e f e r e n c e

Or

Index D O T CSS
T h e A d v a n c e d C S S R e f e r e n c e

Brian is looking for volunteers to expand the authoring base for this site. If you would like to participate, here is a link to his email address:
Blooberry Email

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Labels: Expression Web, HTML, Internet

<Doug Klippert@ 3:16 AM

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Friday, February 03, 2012 – Permalink –

Registry Backup

Safe or sorry, your choice

How many times have you seen these words?

"This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs."

The Registry contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles for each user, the applications installed on the computer and the types of documents that each can create, property sheet settings for folders and application icons, what hardware exists on the system, and the ports that are being used

Here's the Microsoft support article to guide you through the process:
How to back up, edit, and restore the registry
in Windows XP, Vista and Windows Server 2003

Also:
How to backup the Windows Registry

WindowsNetworking.com :
WindowsRegistry Backup 101

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Labels: Windows

<Doug Klippert@ 3:39 AM

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Thursday, February 02, 2012 – Permalink –

Screen Beans and PowerPoint

A Bit Better

"A Bit Better Corporation is a small consulting firm helping companies communicate and create products with maximum impact. Partners Cathleen Belleville and Dennis Austin bring over 46 years of high-technology experience.

A Bit Better Corporation is also the creator and publisher of Screen Beans clip art collections"

(Cathleen Belleville managed product planning for the Graphics unit at Microsoft.
Dennis Austin designed the original PowerPoint 1.0 at Forethought, Inc. before Microsoft bought it.)

BitBetter.com:
PowerPoint FAQ
Here are a few of the questions answered:

Is there a limit to the number of guides you can have?
How do I create additional pre-set color fills?
Can the WMF format be converted to GIF?
What resolution should I scan an image at in order for it to present well in PowerPoint?
Any way to run two different slide shows at once on two different monitors?
Any way to make Right Mouse go backwards in slide show?
Any way to print a catalog of slides with titles and file names?
Any tools for recovering corrupt .PPT files?
Why is my file still big, even after deleting things?

Some of the information is a little dated, but still usable.

The company also has collections of Screen Beans for sale:

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Labels: PowerPoint

<Doug Klippert@ 3:54 AM

Comments:

Powerpoint FAQ is very helpful, I think. I use this software every day and I always have questions. Powerpoint is simple but complex, as well.

# posted by

James : 2/02/2012

Google Tutor

User advice

Mark Fleming has started a new omnibus site/blog dealing with the vagarities and varieties that make up Google.

"In my discussions with other Google users, I am always amazed at how few of Google's tools they have heard of. For the most part, people are only familiar with the main search areas such as the web, news and images. And even in these areas, their knowledge of all the options that would allow them to better harness the power of Google is limited.

When I've told others of the vast features and formidable power of Google tools, they are quite frankly astonished. Compounding the problem of this unfamiliarity is the fact the Google does not make much of an effort to even tell us what's new and what's in public beta. You've usually got to hear about it somewhere else or just stumble upon it."

GoogleTutor.com
Google Tutor and Advisor

One entry, for instance, points to the Google Cheat Sheet

Also see:
Google Guide

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Labels: Addendum, Internet

<Doug Klippert@ 3:40 AM

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Tuesday, January 31, 2012 – Permalink –

Don't Check Spelling

Avoid the squiggles

Omitting text selections from Word's spell checking process

If you frequently include macro code listings or other chunks of cryptic information in your documents, Word's spell checker is likely to have a field day pointing out unrecognized words.

You can make Word's spell checker skip over code listings and other information that it is likely not to recognize by applying the No Proofing language setting.

Select the text you would like the spell checker to skip.
Next, select Tools>Language Set Language from the menu bar.
In the Mark Selected Text As list box, select the (No Proofing) option and then click OK.

From now on, the spell checker will skip over the text you selected without flagging any spelling or grammatical errors.
Alan Wyatt's WordTips site has a comprehensive list of spell checker links: Spelling and Grammar Checking
BTW: If you want to spell check Web forms and information boxes you fill out using Internet Explore, look at ieSpell:

"ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries).
Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application."

ieSpell.com

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Labels: Internet, Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:33 AM

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Monday, January 30, 2012 – Permalink –

Run a Macro from a Cell

How to do the impossible (almost)

There are times when it might be nice to run a macro from a cell function.
Something like : if a cell has a certain value, a macro will run:

=IF(A1>10,Macro1)

You can not initiate a macro from a worksheet cell function. However, you can use the worksheet's Change event to do something like this:

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
If Not Application.Intersect(Target, Range("A1")) Is Nothing Then
If Target.Value > 10 Then
MsgBox "Put your macro code here in place of the MsgBox line"
End If
End If
End Sub

When A1 is changed to a value greater than 10, the macro code will run.

To get to the Worksheet Event code, right-click the sheet tab and choose View Code.

From CPearson.com
Also see:
Change Events

Also:
Microsoft KnowledgeBase:
How to Run a Macro When Certain Cells Change
After posting this, Ross Mclean came up with a great work around using a User Defined Function.

Public Function RMAC(ByVal Macro_Name As String,  _

ByVal Arg1 As Variant)

RMAC = Application.Run(Macro_Name, Arg1)

End Function

You can see the simple coding here:
Running a macro from a cell.

Thanks Ross!

Keep in mind that some commands will be ignored. A macro run from the worksheet like this will not change the Excel environment.

For example (watch line wrap), this VBA code:

Public Function RMAC _
(ByVal Macro_Name As String, _
ByVal Arg1 As Variant)
RMAC = Application.Run _
(Macro_Name, Arg1)
End Function

Sub MyMacro(arg As String)
ActiveCell.Interior.ColorIndex _
= 3
Beep
End Sub

when invoked by this worksheet formula:

=rmac("MyMacro","yada")

runs the sub MyMacro with some modification. The Beep is executed, the cell color change is not.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/

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Labels: Excel

<Doug Klippert@ 3:24 AM

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Sunday, January 29, 2012 – Permalink –

Signing Macros

Security levels

There are three levels of Macro security:

High:: A computer user can open without a prompt a digitally signed project from a trusted publisher. Otherwise, the application blocks opening signed projects from untrusted publishers as well as unsigned projects.
Medium:: A computer user can open without a prompt a digitally signed project from a trusted publisher. In addition, you can also designate the publisher of a signed project as trusted so their projects will open without a prompt in the future. Unsigned projects are always prompted with a reminder that the file may contain potentially harmful code, but users can elect to open them anyway.
Low:: A computer user can open an unsigned project without a prompt. When users make a Low security setting, they're reminded that they aren't protected from potentially unsafe macros.

Securing Access Databases

"If you've used Access 2003, you've probably seen several security warning messages - Access 2003 cares about your security. An important part of Access 2003 security is digitally signing your code. As Rick Dobson shows, you can do it, but preparing for digital signing is critical.

A digital signature acts like shrink-wrap on your project: Clients know that they're getting a copy directly from you that no one else modified. Clients will also know that they're working with "your" code and not any version of it modified by a third party. As computing moves forward into a "security conscious" era, learning how to acquire and use a digital certificate is also important for interfacing with organizations that adopt policies of only running digitally signed Access 2003 projects: Your users may refuse to accept software from you that isn't shrink-wrapped."

Also:
Signing Access 2003 Projects
Other links:

How to make sure that your Office document has a valid digital signature in 2007 Office products and in Office 2003

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Labels: Access, Excel, Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:31 AM

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Saturday, January 28, 2012 – Permalink –

Free Statistical Display Software

World wide Economic Data

"Gapminder is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualize human development. This is done in collaboration with universities, UN organizations, public agencies and non-governmental organizations.
It all started in 1998 from an idea to enhance the understanding of world health. We developed prototype software showing time series of health statistics as moving graphics and varying life conditions as 360° photo panoramas from homes, schools and health facilities. From the prototype emerged the Dollar Street project with Save the Children Fund in Sweden and the World Health Chart project with WHO. Within the later project, Gapminder developed the free software Trendalyzer that turns boring time series of development statistics into attractive moving graphics."

GapMinder.org

"Gapminder offers some interesting interactive uses of technology to humanise economic data. These include "Dollar Street", in which you tour homes that are representative of various incomes, as well as several colourful interactive graphs of health, income and education."
The Economics Subject Centre of the UK's Higher Education Academy, 2004

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Labels: Addendum

<Doug Klippert@ 3:13 AM

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Friday, January 27, 2012 – Permalink –

Troubleshooting Windows Shutdown

I said shutdown!

" Have you ever tried to shut down Windows, only to have the shutdown sequence hang, or to have the computer reboot instead of shutting down? Shut down problems are one of the most common types of problems with the Windows operating system. At the same time though, they are also one of the problems that is most seldom resolved because shut down problems tend to take a back seat to more serious issues. Troubleshooting operating system shut down problems is easier than you might think though. In this article, I will share some techniques with you that you can use to resolve shut down problems on machines in your office."

WindowsNetworking.com:
Troubleshooting Windows Shutdown Problems
Also:

Windows Support Center:
Windows Shutdown & Restart Center

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Labels: Windows

<Doug Klippert@ 3:25 AM

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Thursday, January 26, 2012 – Permalink –

Broadcast PowerPoint

Shows on the Internet

"There are many different ways you can deliver a presentation. You can make an on-screen presentation using a laptop or desktop computers and a multimedia projector, you can use an overhead with transparencies, you can generate paper printouts and use a flip chart, or even present using 35mm slides.

But, with the amazing growth of the World Wide Web, more and more people are opting to copy their presentations to the Internet. PowerPoint has built in facilities that allow you to convert your PowerPoint presentations to a series of web pages that can be published to the Internet or an Intranet then viewed by anyone with a Web browser!"

YouTubeBroadcast PowerPoint Presentations

Microsoft Office Assistance:
PowerPoint 2003 Add-in: Presentation Broadcast

"The presentation broadcast add-in, which synchronizes the audio and video delivery in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 and earlier presentations and enables you to deliver presentations to participants in different locations, is not available in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007. Instead, Microsoft Office Live Meeting can help you collaborate online and share presentations with individuals or large groups in different locations. All that you need to use Live Meeting is a computer and an Internet connection. "

Presentation Broadcasting documentation
Broadcast PowerPoint presentations to small groups

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Labels: PowerPoint

<Doug Klippert@ 3:54 AM

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012 – Permalink –

Column(s) Function

VLOOKUP

"Excel will adjust cell references in formulas when you insert or delete rows or columns.

For example, if the cell C1 contains the formula =A1/B1 and you insert a column to the left of column A; the formula will change to =A1/C1.

The problem then occurs with VLOOKUP. Its column index number argument is a simple number, not a reference.

VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup

For Example:

Choose a blank worksheet

In cells A1 and A2, enter the values 1 and 2.

In B1 and B2, enter Jan and Feb.

Select all four cells and drag the fill handle at the bottom right-hand corner of the selection downward to row 12.

You should now have the numbers 1 through 12 in column A and the months Jan through Dec in column B. In cell D1 enter the formula =VLOOKUP(C1,A1:B12,2). Now enter any number from 1 to 12 in cell C1. The formula will select the corresponding month name. To demonstrate the problem, right-click on the heading of column B and choose Insert. The formula changes to =VLOOKUP (D1,A1:C12,2), which returns 0. Excel correctly changed the cell reference from C1 to D1 and expanded the lookup range to include the inserted column, but it cannot change the column index number. Press Ctrl-Z to undo the column insertion. The solution is to modify the formula so that the column index number is not hard-coded but instead is calculated from cell references. You could use the COLUMN() function that returns the column number of the reference and, as in this example, compute the number of columns between the first and last columns: =VLOOKUP (C1,A1:B12,COLUMN(B1)-COLUMN(A1)+1). A more esthetically pleasing, or sophisticated, function might be: COLUMNS(array) This returns the number of columns in an array or reference. The modified lookup function looks like this: =VLOOKUP (C1,A1:B12,COLUMNS(A1:B1)). Either way, now if a column is inserted in the middle of the range, the column index will be adjusted."

From a PC Magazine article By Neil J. Rubenking
Also: eHow: Using the Column Function
OzGrid: Copy Rows (Scroll down to about the middle of the page)

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Labels: Excel

<Doug Klippert@ 3:00 AM

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – Permalink –

Autonumber Invoices

Creating sequentially numbered documents

Use an Autonew macro to add a sequential number to a document and save it with that number.

In the template from which you create the document, insert a bookmark named Order in the location where you want the sequential number to appear and create an AutoNew macro, as follows:


Sub AutoNew()
Order = System.PrivateProfileString("C:\Settings.Txt", "MacroSettings", "Order")
If Order = "" Then
Order = 1
Else
Order = Order + 1
End If
System.PrivateProfileString("C:\Settings.txt", "MacroSettings", "Order") = Order
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("Order").Range.InsertBefore Format(Order, "00#")
ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:="path" & Format(Order, "00#")
End Sub

If you do not need to display the number in the document, but just want to save it with a sequential number, there is no need to create the bookmark in the template and you should then delete the second last line of the code.

Article contributed by Doug Robbins
Word MVP Site

Microsoft Knowledgebase:
Macro to Increment Invoice Number to New Form Document

WordTips:
Sequentially numbered Labels

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Labels: Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:24 AM

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Monday, January 23, 2012 – Permalink –

Leave on Server

Why does it do that?

"All the e-mail messages that you receive go through an e-mail server for your e-mail account. Depending on the type of e-mail account that you use, your e-mail messages are processed in one or more of the following ways.

Messages remain on the server. Outlook connects to the server, and you can read or delete your messages.

Messages are downloaded to a local data file called a Personal Folders file (.pst). Outlook connects to the local .pst file so that you can read and delete your messages.

Copies of messages are downloaded and synchronized with messages on the e-mail server. Microsoft Exchange Server accounts provide this functionality by creating a local Offline Folder file (.ost). This file is used for working offline when you can't connect or don't want to connect to the e-mail server. This file is also used by the Cached Exchange Mode feature in Outlook 2003.

E-mail account types differ in how e-mail messages are saved and synchronized with the e-mail server. For example, by default POP3 e-mail accounts delete e-mail messages from the e-mail server when downloaded into Outlook. However, you can customize how e-mail messages are retrieved and saved."

For information regarding how different e-mail accounts handle e-mail message, see the following:

POP3 e-mail accounts: When you retrieve e-mail messages from a POP3 ( Post Office Protocol. A common protocol that is used to retrieve e-mail messages from an Internet e-mail server.) e-mail account, the messages are deleted from the e-mail server by default after they are downloaded to your computer. For many people, this works great. However, if you want to check your e-mail from multiple computers, you must configure Outlook to not delete the messages on your e-mail server. This scenario is most common for people who want to check their home Internet service provider (ISP) e-mail account from work and download the messages for permanent storage on their home computer. When you leave messages on your e-mail server, you can choose from several options to delete your messages. To make your choice, you need to consider several factors about your e-mail usage, such as how long you want the messages to be accessible from multiple computers and the storage limits imposed by your e-mail server administrator. If you exceed your storage limit, you might be unable to receive new messages or might be charged additional fees. Typically, it is best to have one computer set to the default setting that doesn't leave e-mail messages on the e-mail server. When you use the computer to retrieve your e-mail messages, they are downloaded and deleted from the e-mail server. If you choose not to do this, Outlook allows you to select a time duration for leaving e-mail messages on the server. Also: Wikipedia.com: POP3
IMAP e-mail accounts: When you access an IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) e-mail account, your messages are copied locally. However, the messages also remain on the e-mail server until you mark them for deletion and use the Purge Deleted Items command. Also:
HTTP e-mail accounts: When you access an HTTP e-mail account, such as MSN Hotmail, your messages are saved on the e-mail server until you delete them. Also: Free email providers
Exchange Server e-mail accounts: When you access an Exchange Server e-mail account, your messages are saved on the e-mail server until you delete them. Also: Slipstick.com: Exchange Server MS Exchange.org

For more information see this Microsoft Support article: Leave e-mail messages on your e-mail server

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Labels: Outlook

<Doug Klippert@ 3:59 AM

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Sunday, January 22, 2012 – Permalink –

Checkmark vs. Checkbox

Just the check

Use of a Boolean Yes/No checkbox is pretty common.

Here is a way to place just a checkmark next to an entry.
Not Channel 9 material, but good to know.

Display ü

Use the Report Wizard to create a report that is based on the Northwind Products table. Use the ProductName field and the Discontinued field.
In Design view, add a TextBox control to the Detail section.
Right-click TextBox, and then click Properties.
In the TextBox properties dialog box, click the Format tab. For Border Style, click Transparent. For Font Name, click Wingdings.
Note You can adjust the size of the check mark by changing Font Size.
Click the Data tab.
For Control Source, type =IIF([Discontinued]=-1,"Alt+0252")
Note "ALT+0252" is the check mark character. To enter this character, hold down ALT, and then type 0252 by using the keypad. The check mark character appears as "ü" in the IIF statement.

Note If you want to display an "X" instead of a check mark,
1. In the TextBox properties dialog box, click the Format tab. For Border Style, click Transparent. For Font Name, click Arial.
2. Click the Data tab.
3. For Control Source, type =IIF([Discontinued]=-1,"X")
Close Design view.
Click Preview.

Microsoft Knowledgebase: How to print a check box without borders on a pre-printed form in Access

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Labels: Access

<Doug Klippert@ 3:43 AM

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Saturday, January 21, 2012 – Permalink –

Aulochrome

A new sound

"For the last year, Fabrizio Cassol (best-known as leader of AKA Moon) has been practicing intensively on the aulochrome. As there is only one model in existence, he is the instrument's only practitioner. Early this year, he premiered a composition by Philippe Boesman written specifically for aulochrome and the night before this presentation played the aulochrome in an improvised music context for the first time.

So, what does it sound like? Well, the aulochrome is essentially two soprano saxophones brought together by a double mouthpiece (with two reeds) and a common key mechanism. Each key is split in two, so the tubes can be played in unison or separately at will. The double mouthpiece means that the saxophone player's mouth muscles get much more of a workout than on a regular mouthpiece. Fabrizio said that he was observing trumpet and trombone players and asking them how they dealt with the demands of their instruments on their embouchure."

Be.Jazz Blog:
Aulochrome - Antwerpen

Introduction to the Aulochrome
Jazz Review.com:
The Aulochrome
The Instrument of the Third Millennium
Also:
Francois Louis.com

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Labels: Addendum

<Doug Klippert@ 3:11 AM

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Friday, January 20, 2012 – Permalink –

Customize Envelopes

Your own #10

The default layout for envelopes is not sacrosanct to anyone but the postal service.
You can move objects around; add text and pictures.

GMayor.com:
ChangingWord Envelope Layouts
Graham Mayor

PC Magazine.com
Custom Envelopes in Word

Microsoft Support:
Create individual envelopes and labels
40 minute lesson

About.com:
Customizing Envelopes with Pictures

Slipstick.com:
Printing Labels or Envelopes for Contacts
Inserting Addresses into Microsoft Word Documents

"One of the advantages to using Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Outlook is the ability to use information from the Address Book in Microsoft Word documents. Exactly how to do it, though, isn't obvious. The key is an AutoText entry called AddressLayout. This article shows you how to change this entry and how to add an Insert Address button to the Word toolbar."

From Answers.com:

"USAGE NOTE The word envelope was borrowed into English from French during the early 18th century, and the first syllable acquired the pronunciation (on) as an approximation to the nasalized French pronunciation. Other similar words borrowed from French in the modern period include envoy (17th century), encore, ennui, ensemble, entree (18th century), entourage, and entrepreneur (19th century). Most retain their pseudo-French pronunciations, with the exception of envoy, which, like envelope, is mainly pronounced with (en) now."

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Labels: Word

<Doug Klippert@ 3:37 AM

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Thursday, January 19, 2012 – Permalink –

Hidden Tables

Don't peek

If you do not want the ordinary user to see a table in your database, you can hide it in the database windows so that other users cannot select it.

Preface the table's name with the four letters 'Usys'. For example, if your table's name is ProprietaryCosts , change it to Usys ProprietaryCosts. This makes your table into a system object which Access does not display.

To see this table later, in Tools>Options, on the View tab in the Show section, put a check mark by System objects.
If we agree among ourselves not to tell the uninitiated, no one need be the wiser.

Microsoft Office Online:
How to Hide Objects in the Database Window

Here's how it works in 2007:
Hide tables as system tables in Access 2007

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Labels: Access

<Doug Klippert@ 3:13 AM

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 – Permalink –

Fade In/Fade Out

How to create the effect

"It is relatively simple and can be done quickly. The only part that slows you down is setting the colors. The Fade in technique is explained below. You can apply the same and reverse the color scheme to attain the Fade out effect."

Create multiple copies of an object. You can Copy the object and then use Ctrl+V to Paste it multiple times.

Change the color or shade each time the object is pasted, or using the Tab key, go through the objects and format each with a different degree of color.

Next select all the objects. Drag the mouse around the collection of objects.

With the objects selected, use the Align or Distribute option on the Drawing toolbar to Align Middle . You may also have to use Align Center .

The objects will be perfectly aligned, one on top of the other.

With the objects still selected set the animation to Appear 0 seconds After Previous event. You may have to change the timing to 0.1 seconds.

MVPS.org:

Fade In/Fade Out effect

Download a sample here

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Labels: PowerPoint

<Doug Klippert@ 3:34 AM

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012 – Permalink –

Windows Media Ecoder

Screen capture plus

You can capture motion and sound or compress existing video files for use on the web/pod or screen.

PC Magazine:
Show and Tell

" Windows Media Encoder can capture the screen as you perform a task such as editing a photo; in fact, almost anything you can do on the screen can be recorded as a video. You can even narrate the demo as you record the steps you're performing. It's surprisingly easy to achieve good results in minutes. Probably the only reason the program isn't more widely used is that few people know it exists."

Microsoft Windows Media:
Windows Media Encoder 4 Pro

Microsoft Support:
Support for Windows Media Encoder

Getting Started with Screen Capture Using Windows Media Encoder.

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Labels: Windows

<Doug Klippert@ 3:58 AM

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Monday, January 16, 2012 – Permalink –

Show Formulas in Cell Comments

Display properties

Select the cells and then run this macro:


Sub CommentThem()
Dim cell As Range
On Error Resume Next
Selection.ClearComments
On Error GoTo 0
For Each cell In Intersect(Selection, ActiveSheet.UsedRange)
If cell.Formula <> "" Then
cell.AddComment
cell.Comment.Visible = False
On Error Resume Next 'fails on invalid formula
cell.Comment.Text Text:=" Address:  " & cell.Address(0, 0) & Chr(10) & _
" Value:  " & cell.Value & Chr(10) & _
" Format:  " & cell.NumberFormat & Chr(10) & _
" Formula: " & cell.Formula
On Error GoTo 0
End If
Next cell

End Sub

by David McRitchie

Also:
Show FORMULA of another cell in Excel

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Labels: Excel

<Doug Klippert@ 3:27 AM

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Sunday, January 15, 2012 – Permalink –

Very Clever CSS Playground

I didn't know you could do that!

"This site documents my attempts at understanding and exploring the possibilities of CSS. From standard navigation links to my more bizarre experimental techniques.

All my examples are produced with JUST CSS, no javascript, or any other language, has been used in any of the examples. The demonstrations are designed to work in all the latest browsers, but, if you're lucky, some may also work in earlier versions."

Stu Nicholls' Navigation Gallery.
Here are two of the examples demonstrated:

Messing about in boats
Hover over a picture and it enlarges to 100%
Also:

The Streaker
A piece of animation done with CSS alone, no Java.
(I haven't figured out how to use situational CSS in a blog, so you'll have to go to Stu's site to see if the guy gets to the other door.)

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Labels: Expression Web, HTML

<Doug Klippert@ 3:35 AM

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