Unofficial Microsoft Office Stuff

Article Search

2012-02-11T03:54:00.000-08:00

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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Countdown to Appointment

2012-02-10T03:43:00.000-08:00

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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AutoRecover

2012-02-09T03:31:00.001-08:00

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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Formatting Codes for Headers and Footers

2012-02-08T03:38:00.001-08:00

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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The Well

2012-02-07T03:16:00.000-08:00

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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Animations

2012-02-06T03:51:00.000-08:00

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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Odd Links Site

2012-02-05T03:12:00.000-08:00

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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HTML/CSS Resource

2012-02-04T03:16:00.000-08:00

"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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Registry Backup

2012-02-03T03:39:00.000-08:00

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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Screen Beans and PowerPoint

2012-02-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

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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Google Tutor

2012-02-01T03:40:00.000-08:00

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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Don't Check Spelling

2012-01-31T03:33:00.000-08:00

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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Run a Macro from a Cell

2012-01-30T03:24:00.000-08:00

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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Signing Macros

2012-01-29T03:31:00.000-08:00

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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Free Statistical Display Software

2012-01-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

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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Troubleshooting Windows Shutdown

2012-01-27T03:25:00.000-08:00

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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Broadcast PowerPoint

2012-01-26T03:54:00.000-08:00

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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Column(s) Function

2012-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

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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Autonumber Invoices

2012-01-24T03:24:00.000-08:00

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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Leave on Server

2012-01-23T03:59:00.000-08:00

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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Checkmark vs. Checkbox

2012-01-22T03:43:00.000-08:00

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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Aulochrome

2012-01-21T03:11:00.000-08:00

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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Customize Envelopes

2012-01-20T03:37:00.000-08:00

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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Hidden Tables

2012-01-19T03:13:00.000-08:00

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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Fade In/Fade Out

2012-01-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

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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Windows Media Ecoder

2012-01-17T03:58:00.000-08:00

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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Show Formulas in Cell Comments

2012-01-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

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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Very Clever CSS Playground

2012-01-15T03:35:00.000-08:00

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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Selecting Hidden Objects

2012-01-14T03:43:00.000-08:00

Where's the doggy?

Constructing a presentation can involve multiple images or shapes on one slide. Objects are piled on top of each other in the order that they are created.

You can move items forward or back by using Draw>Order on the Drawing toolbar. (Drawing Tools> Format in 2007). However, how can you select an object if it is buried under other graphics?

PowerPoint allows you to cycle through every object on the slide by selecting one object and then using the Tab key to cycle through all of the objects on the slide. Objects can be graphics or text boxes; Shift+Tab cycles backwards through the objects.

Click on any visible object; press the Tab key until you see the selection boxes that indicate which object is selected.
Here's a Flash tutorial by Sonia Coleman.
(It opens in a pop up window, so you may have to tweak your Google/MSN anti-popper toolbar)
Selecting Objects

Here's a static version:
Selecting Objects

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Personal Information

2012-01-13T03:54:00.000-08:00

Clean it up

If you have enabled the "Allow fast saves" feature, earlier versions of your document, that you thought had been deleted, may still be readable.

If the document was edited with "Track Changes" enabled, a name is associated with each change. You can get rid of all the personal information with a few simple settings.

Choose Options from the Tools menu, click on the Save tab, and uncheck the box labeled "Allow fast saves". Now click on the Security tab and check the box titled "Remove personal information from this file on save".

In Word 2003 the check box's title is: "Remove personal information from file properties on save". When you save the file, the Author, Manager, Company, and Last saved by fields are cleared. Names in comments or edits are changed to simply Author. Any routing slip or e-mail header information is also removed. If the document contains tracked changes, you may want to accept them all before saving.

The Allow fast saves option is global. The Remove personal information option is specific to the current file and is present only in Word 2002 and later. If you want that option to be the default, click on the File Locations tab in the Tools> Options dialog and note the folder containing user templates. In that folder, open the file Normal.dot. Check the Remove personal information box as noted above, then save and close the file. All new files created from this point on will have that feature enabled by default.

Also see:
Charles Kenyon's Word Users Guide:

Confidentiality and MetaData in Word Documents

For more information see Office 2007 Resource Kit and the online Help topic.

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Customize date in footer

2012-01-12T03:29:00.000-08:00

Formatting

This subroutine inserts the current date in the footer of all sheets in the active workbook. This process can be accomplished without a macro, however, you'll need the macro if you want to specify the formatting of the current date. An example of the return generated by running this macro is Saturday, March 05, 2005.


Sub PutCurrentDateInCenterFooterAllSheetsInWorkbook()
For Each oSheet In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
oSheet.PageSetup.CenterFooter = Format(Now(), "dddd mmmm dd, yyyy")
Next
End Sub

You can change the word CenterFooter to CenterHeader. You could also use LeftHeader, RightHeader, LeftFooter, or RightFooter.
Microsoft KnowledgeBase:
Macro to Change the Date/Time Format in a Header/Footer

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Stuff to buy

2012-01-11T03:42:00.000-08:00

After Rent and Groceries

Tosterbag

..."a 'thick, A5, black plastic bag'.. With little handles, of course - can't forget those.
But hidden behind this mini-bin liner facade is a thermological, nutrition preparation device of truly impressive proportions. For, as its name suggests, the Toastabag allows you to cook things in a toaster. Not in every toaster, just the thick-and-thin kind that most people have nowadays. All you do is bung the ingredients in the bag, pop it down in the toaster and wait."

Here's a video of a sandwich that might have been made with spam.

Pet Phone

"The patent pending PetsMobility™ PetsCell™ will be compatible with existing cellular and satellite GPS technology. The PetsCell™ will allow pet owners to talk to their pets as well as allowing owners to request assistance should they become incapacitated and require help. In addition, and perhaps more valuable, pet owners will have a peace of mind that if their pet is lost and someone finds their pet wandering the streets, with a simple press of a button on the PetsCell™, the auto dial function will dial the owner's home alerting the owner to retrieve their pet.

While on vacation, at work, or on the road, pets can be contacted by that friendly recognizable voice of their owners."

PawSense
Catproof your PC. No more having your cat hanging out in chat rooms while you're at work.
Stop the beasts before they take over.

"When cats walk or climb on your keyboard, they can enter random commands and data, damage your files, and even crash your computer. This can happen whether you are near the computer or have suddenly been called away from it.

PawSense is a software utility that helps protect your computer from cats. It quickly detects and blocks cat typing, and also helps train your cat to stay off the computer keyboard."

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Avoid Autocomplete Errors

2012-01-10T03:08:00.000-08:00

Don't start

When you type an entry in a ComboBox control Access will attempt to complete the entry based on the control's lookup list. This is controlled by the AutoExpand property, which is set to "Yes" by default.

If your value list contains several items that are close in spelling, it is easy for users to let Access choose the wrong item by accident.

You can avoid errors by setting the control's AutoExpand property to "No" in Design view.

Once the change has been made, users will be forced to type the entire entry or select an item using the ComboBox control's dropdown list.

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Troubleshooting Outlook

2012-01-09T03:37:00.000-08:00

When all else fails

How to troubleshoot error messages
in Outlook and in Outlook Express

Confirm that your e-mail server settings are correct
Examine the configuration of your firewall software
Check your antivirus vendor's Web site for additional suggestions
Determine whether your modem is functioning correctly
Verify the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) size that is set on your router
Remove and then reinstall Outlook Express
Create a new e-mail profile
Delete suspicious messages from your mailbox

G4TV.com: Troubleshoot Microsoft Outlook Problems written by Chris Pirillo
Microsoft TechNet: Troubleshooting Outlook Web Access
Microsoft Office Online: Microsoft Office Outlook
Slipstick.com: Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook

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Kearning

2012-01-08T03:39:00.000-08:00

More typography

At larger point sizes, it is esthetically pleasing to move some letters closer together than they would normally appear. For instance, the word "To". The letter "o" can be nudged under the arm of the "T":

Kerning: Adjusting (increasing or decreasing) the space between adjoining type characters.
Kearning pair: Two adjoining type characters to which a particular kearning value is applied.
Kearning value: The space between two adjoining type characters. This value is usually measured in em.

From the Word Help file:

Select the text you want to change.
On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Character Spacing tab.
Do one of the following:
Expand or condense space evenly between all the selected characters

Click Expanded or Condensed in the Spacing box, and then specify how much space you want in the By box.

Kern characters that are above a particular point size

Select the Kerning for fonts check box, and then enter the point size in the Points and above box.

Note: Selecting Expanded or Condensed alters the spacing between all selected letters by the same amount. Kerning alters the spacing between particular pairs of letters.
Microsoft Typography: A Disagreeably Facetious Type Glossary
WebStyleGuide.com: Webstyle Guide - Typography
About.com: Typography Tutorials
Typographica a journal of typography featuring news, observations, and open commentary on fonts and typographic design. Here's the RSS connection: Typographica Feed

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Auto Filter

2012-01-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

Only what you want

Excel has a tool to sort lists with a number of criteria.

Select a single cell in the table and go to Data>Filter AutoFilter.
Click on the down arrow next to the field name and choose Custom.

The illustration shows how to set up a filter that displays data between two dates.

Contextures.com:
AutoFilter Tips

"Some tips and techniques for working with AutoFilters, and some workarounds for problems you may encounter."

Microsoft Assistance:
All about AutoFilters

Jay Walkenbach:
Displaying AutoFilter criteria

"The Display Filter Criteria doesn't work well. It only works when after set the filter, the cell with the formula is selected. Then press F2 en after that push the Enter key. Then it works. but the cell with the formula isn't updated automatically..."

# posted by W. van Dam : 7/06/2005

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Font yourself

2012-01-06T03:03:00.000-08:00

Make your own

FontStruct

"FontStruct is a free font-building tool brought to you by the world's leading retailer of digital type, FontShop.

FontStruct lets you quickly and easily create fonts constructed out of geometrical shapes, which are arranged in a grid pattern, like tiles or bricks.

You create 'FontStructions' using the 'FontStructor' font editor.

Once you're done building, FontStruct generates high-quality TrueType fonts, ready to use in any Mac or Windows application.

You can keep your creations to yourself, but we encourage users to share their "FontStructions". Explore the Gallery of fonts made by other FontStruct users and download them or even copy them and make your own variations.

You can also use the FontStruct widget to show your FontStructions on your own website or blog."

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Brainy Betty

2012-01-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

Templates, Graphics and more

"Very simply, you can download anything on this site for personal or business or educational use. You can share these downloads with others as long as you give it to them and not "sell" it to them.

Tell others where you got the downloads.

Brainy Betty

What you can expect to find on this site:

Hundreds of free PowerPoint templates
Certificate templates
Free Flash PowerPoint Slides
3D Graphics
Dingbats
Buttons and lines
An awesome icon collection
Free Flash and Swish
Sound clips

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CSS Crib Sheet

2012-01-04T03:28:00.000-08:00

Information rich site

When you get serious about web design, CSS or Cascading Style Sheets will add flexibility to your toolbox.

Mezzoblue .com has a wealth of information including:

CSS Crib Sheet

"You will no doubt come across many quirky layout issues when building a site with CSS. You'll end up banging your head against a wall time and again. This is an attempt to make the design process easier, and provide a quick reference to check when you run into trouble."

And:

A Roadmap to Standards

"The old-timers had to figure out the hard way all the tricks and techniques we now take for granted; lucky folks who came in later (myself included) can benefit from their sweat and tears.

In the end, when your skill using standard-based design eclipses your skill using old-school table-based methods, you’ll look back and marvel at how much more sense it makes to layout a page with CSS."

The RSS link is here

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Import Queries

2012-01-03T03:27:00.000-08:00

As Tables

If you want to use the results of a query, and you don't need to update the underlying tables, you don't have to import unnecessary data.

You can import the query as a new table.

Select File>Get External Data Import from the menu bar.
(External Data tab, Import in 2007)
Select the appropriate database and click Import.
Select the queries you want to import on the Import Objects dialog box's Queries sheet.
Next, click the Options >> button and select the As Tables option button on the Import Queries panel.
Finally, click OK

Access processes the queries and saves the results as a table with the same name as the original query.

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Mail Merge

2012-01-02T03:06:00.000-08:00

Personalize mass mailing

Mail merging creates multiple copies of the same document and inserts data from an external file or database. For example, printing a form letter for different recipients and including each recipient's name.
Word mail merge

FAQ about the mail merge feature in Word 2003 and in Word 2007-10 will help you learn how to use Mail Merge to create form letters, mailing labels, envelopes, or catalogs. It can also help you troubleshoot problems; and provides step-by-step instructions.

The Word MVP site has some more suggestions.

About.com:
Mail Merge
Creating Documents With Mail Merge

Cindy Meister:
Mail Merge FAQ

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Printing

2012-01-01T03:45:00.000-08:00

Macro control

Here are some useful macros concerning Excel and printing.
They were written by Ole P. Erlandsen of:

ERLANDSEN DATA CONSULTING

Change the default printer: Change the default printer with a macro.
Insert headers and footers: This example macro inserts a header/footer in every worksheet in the active workbook. It also inserts the complete path to the workbook.
Print all workbooks in a folder: With these macros you can print all workbooks in a selected folder. You have more control with what is printed than you have if you do this from Windows Explorer.
Print multiple selections on one sheet: If selected multiple cell ranges is printed out on different sheets, you can use this macro example to print all the selected areas on one sheet.
Select a printer tray before printing: In Excel you don't have the opportunity to set the properties FirstPageTray or OtherPagesTray like you can in Word. It's possible to create a simple solution by using SendKeys.

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Number Entries

2011-12-31T03:49:00.000-08:00

Beyond AutoNumber

Embedding information in a Primary key or ID, can lead to trouble in the future.
(If the first three numbers are to represent the warehouse address, what happens if new addresses have four numbers?)

Autonumbering can give a false sense of order. There is an initial tendency to try to keep all database records in some order. This violates the sense of a relational database.

The records can be sorted or filtered as needed.

Still some record numbering scheme may be desired.

Allen Browne's Access tips:
Numbering Entries in a Report or Form

"In relational database theory, the records in a table cannot have any physical order, so record numbers represent faulty thinking. In place of record numbers, Access uses the Primary Key of the table, or the Bookmark of a recordset. If you are accustomed from another database and find it difficult to conceive of life without record numbers, check out What, no record numbers?"

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Server Answers

2011-12-30T03:13:00.000-08:00

What they're doing in the back room

Jonathan Maltz, Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Windows Server, has created a collection of visual, step-by-step guides to Windows Server 2003.

VisualWin.com

The Microsoft Server home page is at:
Microsoft Windows Server

Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools

"The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools are a set of tools to help administrators streamline management tasks such as troubleshooting operating system issues, managing Active Directory, configuring networking and security features, and automating application deployment:"

Microsoft :
Window Server 2003- latest news

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Address Layout

2011-12-29T03:44:00.000-08:00

Custom layout

When you use the Outlook as a source for addresses, you can customize the display to suit your own needs.

When you use the Insert Address button in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box it does not use the same format as the Insert Address button.

Here's the location to put the Address book on the Quick Access Toolbar in 2007-10:

Here's the work around:
Insert Address Button Does Not Use AddressLayout AutoText Entry

MacroButton; scroll down to Insert Address from Outlook.

Here are two sources with directions about how to reformat the AutoText entry: "AddressLayout".

Slipstick.com
Inserting Addresses into Microsoft Word Documents

Microsoft Knowlegebase:
HOW TO: Modify the Layout of an Address Book Entry

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Hipster PDA

2011-12-28T03:19:00.000-08:00

PDA for $3.00

From 43 Folders.com:

Introducing the Hipster PDA

" The Hipster PDA (Parietal Disgorgement Aid) is a fully extensible system for coordinating incoming and outgoing data for any aspect of your life and work. It scales brilliantly, degrades gracefully, supports optional categories and “beaming,” and is configurable to an unlimited number of options. Best of all, the Hipster PDA fits into your hip pocket and costs practically nothing to purchase and maintain."
get a bunch of 3"x5" file cards
clip them together with a binder clip
there is no step 3

More expensive, but part of the new-old cool: Moleskine Pocket Notebooks Jeremy Wagstaff: The Moleskine Report

"There is an immense amount of satisfaction in writing on paper - we tend to forget that in this digital-toy-crazed world we live in. The Moleskine has lovely paper - crisp, creamy, and smooth - that is a pleasure to write on. I use a four-nib Rotring pen that has a mechanical pencil (great for sketching), a roller ball pen, a bright orange dry-lighter, and a PDA stylus tip - all contained in a very precision-machined metal barrel. I also enjoy flipping through my journal pages, reviewing sketches, diagrams, and ad hoc notes. With the Tablet PC, I get a near-paper experience but the best thing about paper is that it requires no batteries!"

Also from 43 Folders: More Moleskine Hacks

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Organize Presentation

2011-12-27T03:39:00.000-08:00

Think backwards

Speaker's Notes
By Bob Denny

Organizing content requires the ability to think backward

"From the back end forward

Pretend you have all your content in front of you. Anyone can arrange the points in order of importance or chronologically. But I recommend starting with this question: What does your presentation need to accomplish? Most answers will fit into one of these categories:
Awareness — introducing or educating an audience on a topic.
Attitude — promoting a change or reinforcing your subject.
Action — persuading an audience to act.
With an objective in mind, you can decide what content to include and what information to leave out. By working backward — from the big picture to the small details — you'll save time and produce a more powerful presentation."

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All Fonts

2011-12-26T03:11:00.000-08:00

List maker

Here is a macro that will produce a list of all of the installed fonts.

Open Word.
Use Alt+F11 to open the Visual Basic editor.
Choose Insert>Module from the Menu.
Copy and Paste this code in the module.
Return to Word and go to: Tools>Macro>Macros.
Select and run "InstalledFonts".

Sub InstalledFonts()

Dim F As Integer
Dim InstalledFonts As Table

 'Open a fresh document

Set FreshDoc = Documents.Add

'Create a table and define the header

Set InstalledFonts = FreshDoc.Tables.Add(Selection.Range, FontNames.Count + 1, 2)
With InstalledFonts
.Borders.Enable = False
.Cell(1, 1).Range.Font.Name = "Arial"
.Cell(1, 1).Range.Font.Bold = 1
.Cell(1, 1).Range.InsertAfter "Font Name"
.Cell(1, 2).Range.Font.Bold = 1
.Cell(1, 2).Range.InsertAfter "Example"
End With

'Loop through all the fonts and add them to the table

For F = 1 To FontNames.Count
With InstalledFonts
.Cell(F + 1, 1).Range.Font.Name = "Arial"
.Cell(F + 1, 1).Range.Font.Size = 10
.Cell(F + 1, 1).Range.InsertAfter FontNames(F)
.Cell(F + 1, 2).Range.Font.Name = FontNames(F)
.Cell(F + 1, 2).Range.Font.Size = 10
.Cell(F + 1, 2).Range.InsertAfter "ABCDEFG abcdefg 1234567890 &$@"
End With
Next F
'Sort the names of the fonts

InstalledFonts.Sort SortOrder:=wdSortOrderAscending

End Sub

Also see a more sophisticated macro using Excel from Erlandsen Data Consulting: Display all installed fonts (Excel)

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Auto Link

2011-12-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

Outlook Contacts in Access

Automatically set up links to data outside of Access.
It still works in Access/Outlook '07-'10.

Try this:

Choose File >Open from the menu bar.
(Office button>Open in 2007)
Under Files Of Type choose Outlook().
Locate your Outlook PST files.
Choose Contacts, or if you have set up separate files for different groups choose an appropriate one.
The wizard walks you through the process of creating an Access database with a linked Contact table.

The changes made in Access will be reflected in Outlook and vice versa. If you want to create a new database that will link to other data that isn't in an Access format, you can do it quickly.
The classic way is to use the File>Get External Data >Link Tables method. However you can simply choose File >Open from the menu bar. Select the appropriate data format from the Files Of Type dropdown list (such as Microsoft Excel (*.xls)). Open the file and Access will automatically create an MDB file with the same name as the data source you selected and will set up links to the data. From there you can develop forms, queries and reports.

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Low Vision

2011-12-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

Screen-magnification or zoom

Creating a Web site that accommodates people with low vision should be a goal of designers. Accessibility laws require it in some cases.

The online magazine AListApart.com, has some interesting articles:

Big, Stark, & Chunky

"[Participants] told us that they often copied and pasted material into Word where they could enlarge the font even more and make it bold, thus rendering it easier for them to see."

"We have not done a good job of catering to these screen-magnification or zoom users. Using CSS, it's easy to do, as we shall soon see. And moreover, using CSS to develop zoom layouts is almost exactly what developers of handheld and PDA browsers are doing in their quest for small-screen rendering of wide, multicolumn web pages."

Also:

Web Accessibility

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Live Notes Slide

2011-12-23T03:01:00.000-08:00

Keep a record

How to create a "Live Notes" page in your presentation

"Frequently there is a need to capture information in a PowerPoint presentation. For example, when making a presentation before an audience, there might be a need to capture comments and questions as the presentation proceeds. You might also have a need to capture answers to a quiz or survey, or to record game responses.

You can download a small (12KB) presentation by clicking on notetaker.zip that demonstrates the method. Unzip the file (notetaker.pps) and click on it to see it in Slide Show mode.

Please note that this method requires the use of an Active-X control and therefore only works when run from PowerPoint. It will not work in the Viewer."

It does work in 2007.
See more tutorials and PowerPoint downloads at Sonia Coleman's web site, Digital Studio.

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Good OLAP

2011-12-22T03:33:00.000-08:00

More data

From Builders.com.com:

An introduction to the benefits of online analytical processing (OLAP)

"Every day we create reams of data in customer relationship management applications, order entry applications, and warehouse management systems. We're drowning in a sea of data. However, even with all that data we don't have a large amount of information. We have the ones and zeros of the transactions, but we don't have the answers we need to simple questions like:
"Why was March better than February?"
"Where is the sales force having the most success?"
"In what conditions does the sales team struggle with making sales?"

The article also has links to:

Oracle 9i makes data warehousing easy to implement
Seven highly effective steps to a smooth data warehouse implementation
Business intelligence is just a few steps away for SAP R/3 users
Resources for designing, planning, and implementing a data warehouse strategy
Making the operational case for data warehousing
TechRepublic Tutorial: Data warehousing defined

Also see: OLAP Cube
Data Warehousing and OLAP A Research-Oriented Bibliography
FAQ Excel 2007 – OLAP
Microsoft: OLAP

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Ground Shaking?

2011-12-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

Doorway or PC?

If you feel a quake, where do you go?

U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program Website

"Earthquakes pose significant risk to 75 million Americans in 39 States. The USGS is the only Federal agency with responsibility for recording and reporting earthquake activity nationwide. Citizens, emergency responders, and engineers rely on the USGS for accurate and timely information on where an earthquake occurred, how much the ground shook in different locations, and what the likelihood is of future significant ground shaking.

The USGS estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year, but many go undetected because they occur in remote areas or have very small magnitudes. The USGS now locates about 50 earthquakes each day; 20,000 a year."

Current Earthquakes
- USA
- World
NEIC Current Earthquake Information
ShakeMaps
Seismogram Displays
Past & HistoricalEarthquakes
Earthquake Notification E-mail

Also: Ask USGS Earth Science Information Center
Tsunamis research at USGS

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Gannt-PERT

2011-12-20T03:28:00.000-08:00

Project Charts

The Gantt chart was developed by Henry L. Gantt around 1910. The chart shows a project's status, but not how one task depends on another.

In the 1950's, the Navy developed PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) charts. A similar process is called the Critical Path Method (Analysis) or CPM (A).

The terms PERT, PERT/CPM, and CPM are often interchanged.

A PERT chart looks more like a flow chart than a graph.

BaRaN Sytems has some clear examples:
Project for Excel

Here's an example of a Gantt chart being constructed using an open source product called GanttProject :
Flash Demo

John F. Lacher has created a nice example of how to create a Gantt chart.
This one is appropriate for scheduling rooms, resources, and time.

A sample can be downloaded and customized.
Lacher24.XLS

Also see:

Simple Gantt chart
Gantt-type chart on a worksheet using conditional formatting

And

Microsoft Knowledgebase:
How to Create a Gantt Chart Using Hours as the Scale
Visual Basic Module to Create Gantt Chart

Jon Peltier:
Gantt Chart Links
Gantt Googled

See all Topics

Style Guide

2011-12-19T03:53:00.000-08:00

Book smarts

These suggestions may help design your own web site. Unlike the library employees, you don't have to follow all the rules!

New York Public Library Style Guide

"This Style Guide for the Branch Libraries of the New York Public Library explains the markup and design requirements for all Branch Libraries web projects, along with various standards and best practices."

XHTML Guidelines: The rules of XHTML as compared to HTML—an easy transition
What is XML?: A brief introduction to the foundation of XHTML
XHTML Benefits: Four key benefits of converting from HTML to XHTML
XHTML Authoring Tips & Tools: Simplifying the work process—includes tips on thinking structurally, and tools for hand-coders and Dreamweaver users
XHTML Accessibility Tips: Making sure your pages can be read by all visitors, browsers, and devices
XHTML Validation: Ensuring interoperability by avoiding errors and sticking to standards
CSS Guidelines: Tips on authoring and linking to Style Sheets
Steal These Style Sheets!: Style Sheets for your use in Library projects
CSS Validation: Ensuring that your Style Sheets are error-free (same as XHTML validation)

See all Topics

Freeware

2011-12-18T03:21:00.000-08:00

More than affordable software

Here is a collection of free software including a desktop utility called RUNit:

"RUNit is a simple but yet powerful launchpad. RUNit gives you quick access to applications, documents, folders and shortcuts. Unlike many other launchpads RUNit doesn't occupy any space on your screen - you only see it when you actually use it.

RUNit defines a "hot area" on your screen where a click of the right mouse button makes the RUNit launch-menu appear .The "hot area" can be any border of the screen or even the whole screen."

PricelessWare.org

"The Pricelessware list is a compilation of software collected through a yearly vote by the participants of the "alt.comp.freeware" newsgroup. It is a list of what people have voted as "the best of the best in Freeware".

Business-Home
Desktop
File Utilities
Graphics
Organizers
Multimedia
Security
Web Design
Internet
Programming
Text
System Utilities

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Formatting/Layout Suggestions

2011-12-17T03:33:00.000-08:00

Publisher/Word

From the Word MVPS.org site:
Typographical Tips from Microsoft Publisher

..."Word is ubiquitous. If you buy a new computer, chances are good that it will come with some version of Office or Works Suite (which includes Word) installed. Word is a powerful word processing program that incorporates many of the features of a page layout application, but there are times when a page layout or desktop publishing application is what is needed. If you are using the Small Business Edition of Office 97 or Office 2007-10, Professional, or Ultimate, you have such a program: Microsoft Publisher.

...even if you use only Word, Publisher can be useful to you. Because once upon a time, at least, it came with an excellent manual. The Microsoft Publisher 97 Companion is a 328-page book (compare this to the 19 pages devoted to Publisher in Discovering Microsoft Office 2000 Premium and Professional), and it contains much material that can be equally helpful to Word users.

For example, the chapter "The Look of Words" discusses what fonts are, how to choose them, and how to get the most from them. The following tips, guidelines, and rules of thumb are excerpted from that chapter [with some comments interspersed]. We have not attempted to reproduce all the illustrations that appear in the actual manual, but even the text alone is helpful."

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gMail Print Selection

2011-12-16T03:56:00.000-08:00

Obscure clicks

"I would like to know how to only print part of email, as all the parts of an email conversations are not necessary to print. I have tried by highlighting the part I want and then choose "select" on print menu - but the font is so small then (no matter which printer I use). I can select in the print menu which pages to print, but that is not always clear where the page breaks happens. I could copy and paste into a word document, but then the details are missing."

Here's how I do it:

Click on "New window"

Make your selection in the gMail document.
(Hold down the left mouse button and "paint")

Right click the selection and choose "Print Preview"

Find the layout and size buttons

Change to "As selected on screen" and about "150%".

You can also turn off the Header and Footer.

Now you can print the selection.

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WiFi at home

2011-12-15T03:23:00.000-08:00

First steps

"You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to install than you think."

There are 4 steps to creating a wireless network:

Choose your wireless equipment
Connect your wireless router
Configure your wireless router
Connect your computers

Microsoft AtHome: Set up a Home Wireless network (By Tony Northrup)
Wireless Security for Home Networks (Barb Bowman)
O'Reilly.net: Setting Up an 802.11b Home Wireless Network (Wei-Meng Lee)
About.com: Wired vs Wireless Networking (Bradley Mitchell)
HowStuffWorks.com: How WiFi Works ( Marshall Brain)
PracticallyNetworked.com: Securing your Wireless Network

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Fill Formula

2011-12-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

Double click the handle

If you have a column of data, you may wish to insert a new formula on each row, number the lines, or add a date column.

To fill the column down to the bottom of the database, just double-click on the fill handle - the tiny square at the bottom right corner of the active cell.

The duplication continues as long as there are entries in the adjacent column.

If you wish to fill down a series, make at least two entries so that the interval is apparent. For instance if there is a column of data in A1:A400, enter the number "1" in B1, "2" in B2.
Select B1:B2. Double click on the fill handle and Excel will fill the series down to B400.

You can also select a longer series, such as the name of a supervisor and the team members.

Format the supervisors name differently, if you want.

Select the list and double click the fill handle. The list will be repeated down the page, as long as there is a corresponding entry in an adjacent column. The formatting will also be repeated.

Also:

Custom Lists

F. David McRitchie:
Fill Handle

Microsoft Office Online:
Fill data in worksheet cells

If you don't see the Fill handle:
Click Options on the Tools menu and click the Edit tab.

(Use the Office button in the upper left corner in 2007)
Select or clear the Allow cell drag and drop check box.

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More Java?

2011-12-13T03:10:00.000-08:00

It's in the script

Here is a descriptive article from Microsoft's Office Online:

Jazz up your Web site with JavaScript

"Have you ever wanted to add a pop-up window to your Web site? Maybe you've wanted to add a hyperlink that closes the page or to display the current date and time. You can add all of these features and more by using JavaScript: A scripting language that can be used to add functionality to a Web page or a Web site, or to enhance the look of one. JavaScript scripts can run on any type of client or server computer."

Also:
JavaScript.com

Days Remaining in Year: Use this script to calculate the number of days between now and the end of the year.
Popup Checkbox Navigation Menu: This script opens a small popup window containing a checkbox navigation menu.
Form Field Help: Add a help link to each section in your form. When clicked, an explanation is given of what is required and a box is offered where the information can be entered and transferred to the form.
Image Viewer: Use this script to display different images without opening a new window. Click the links to change the displayed image right in the current page.
Random Password Generator: This script can be used to generate random passwords for improved password strength

JavaScriptKit.com

Free JavaScripts
JavaScript Tutorials
Free Java applets
Advanced JavaScript Tutorials
DHTML/ CSS Tutorials
Web building tutorials
JavaScript Reference

Java and all that free jazz See all Topics

Census Maps and Graphs

2011-12-12T03:33:00.000-08:00

Statistical treasure trove

The charts and maps can be set for specific areas. The underlying database figures are also provided.

Tacoma, Washington:

CHARTS & TRENDS

"Census 2000 and Trend Data going back to 1990, 1980, and sometimes even further, on a growing list of topics, including population growth, population by race, age structure, family structure, and income."

MAPS

"Many of the most important social trends affecting America have a strongly regional flavor. Figure out where you fit in with demographic maps showing where the elderly predominate (think: the Great Plains), where the nuclear family is (and isn't) the norm, and how "diversity" breaks down regionally."

RANKINGS

"State and county-level rankings by population growth, race, educational attainment, language, gender, and more."

SEGREGATION

"Segregation Exposure and Dissimilarity Measures for 1246 individual US cities with population exceeding 25,000 and for all metropolitan areas, based on single and multiple race populations as identified in Census 2000."

CensusScope

University of Michigan:
Social Science Data Analysis Network

The site was suggested by the eclectic J-WalkBlog of John Walkenbach.

See all Topics

View Pictures

2011-12-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

All at once

This article walks you through the process of using VBA to develop a form that will allow you to open all e-mail picture attachments at one time.

Office Developer Center:
Viewing Multiple Picture Attachments in Outlook 2003
By Eric Legault (Outlook MVP)

It helps to have some experience with VBA coding, but the instructions are clear and no other applications are needed other than the Visual Basic editor that is built into Outlook.

Eric Legault is also a blog contributor at Office Zealot.com
The source code for the MSDN article can be downloaded there. It includes the complete form as well as the code modules.

... "image viewers that use a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) are best suited as a custom viewer. It's better to have one application handle several open image windows than individual windows cluttering your Taskbar! A perfect application for this scenario is the Microsoft Office Photo Editor, but it is no longer bundled with Office 2003."

Microsoft has replaced Photo Editor with a new photo editing and cataloging program in Office 2003 and 2007: Microsoft Office Picture Manager.

Here is how to reinstall Photo Editor from your Office XP CD:
Photo Editor is removed when you install Office 2003 or Office 2007

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Build a Trebuchet in your backyard

2011-12-10T03:59:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin chunkin

The Trebuchet at NF/ Observatory

"The NF/ Ranch is a small cattle ranch in the Mimbres Valley (New Mexico). The earliest signs of human occupation are from 1000AD, when the Mimbres Indians occupied sites along the Gallinas River, just down the hill. A Spanish fort was built over some of these ruins arround 1600, for protection against the local Warm Springs Apaches. Now the residents include Bill, Ty, Nick, Cindy, Amber, and Kaelin along with the animals at the ranch. Ty and Nick are currently perfecting a Trebuchet, a high tech siege weapon from the 10th century."

Also:
Trebuchet MS Font

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Windows Guides and Links

2011-12-09T03:49:00.000-08:00

A collectors collection

"With over 960 pages scattered throughout the domain, something is bound to catch your attention."

BlackViper.com

Operating System Guides include:

Red Hat 8.0
Windows 2000 Professional and Server
Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
Windows Me
Windows Vista
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Professional

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Scheduler

2011-12-08T03:23:00.000-08:00

Start on time

Your PowerPoint show can be set up to start at a particular time, repeat a chosen number of times and, then, turn itself off automatically.

Tushar Mehta has put together a step-by-step instruction sheet.

He combines the Windows Task Scheduler with PowerPoint's Slide Show Set Up.

This could be set up to run in a "kiosk" setting. Perhaps at a trade show or seminar.

Multiple shows could be set up to run one after another or at different times of the day.

PowerPoint Auto Scheduler Tutorial

Also take a look at VisualCron -> http://www.visualcron.com for a standalone task scheduler

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Dynamic Web Templates

2011-12-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

DWTs

"FrontPage 2003 introduced Dynamic Web Templates, a new and sophisticated type of Web page template that enables you to share a layout among several pages in a site, preserve specific regions of content from unwanted changes, and save time when you begin to manage the Web pages on your Web site.

By creating a Dynamic Web Template, you can make regions on attached pages available for other authors to add and modify content, while preventing changes to other regions on the same page. This provides you with control to preserve the layout of the pages and the template itself. When you update the content in a Dynamic Web Template, you can update the attached Web pages simultaneously."

Microsoft:
Create a master Web page layout
by using Dynamic Web Templates

Change the master page layout
by using Dynamic Web Templates
Also:

Dynamic Web Template Interchange Guidelines

"The Dynamic Web Template Interchange Guidelines have been established by a consortium of web designers and developers in an effort to provide webmasters using a third party DWT the ability to cross over from one design to another with relative ease. The goal of the DWTIG is not to standardize design; rather, to standardize the method in which the content is added to a DWT through Editable Regions within the design."

FrontPage Learning Center:
FrontPage 2003 Dynamic Web Template Packages

Themesets.net:
FP Techniques > Dynamic Web Templates
by Tina Clarke

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Jean Sheperd

2011-12-06T03:02:00.000-08:00

"You filthy pragmatists, I'm going to get you!"

A Salute to Jean Shepherd:

FlickLives.com

"Those who have seen the 1983 movie "A Christmas Story" know Jean Shepherd as the voice of Ralph Parker as an adult. Others who grew up in the New York Metropolitan area during the 50's, 60's and 70's may recall the nightly radio show he did on WOR 710AM five nights a week for forty-five minutes and the two-hour Saturday night "Live at the Limelight" shows.

... a stunt he liked to pull, was the hurling of invectives. He would instruct his listeners to place their radios in the open window of their house and turn the volume way up. He would then yell over the radio things like, "You filthy pragmatists, I'm going to get you!"

Shep often said that there was 5 to 10 hours of preparation for each of his nightly shows, and yet fellow WOR personality Barry Farber, and one of his engineers, Herb Squire say that it all came from the top of his head. Herb claims that Shep would come into the studio with only a scrap of paper with a few notes, or perhaps an article someone had sent him. He would sit down behind the mike, and as the theme song would play Shep would ease into 45 minutes of non-stop chatter. He would start out talking about a particular subject, and through the course of the show, would side track to other related topics. But as his theme music at the end of the show came to a close he managed to tie it all together and bring the show to an end."

Jean Shepherd: Radio's Noble Savage
by Edward Grossman

"10:15 P.M. The WOR news and weather are out of the way. A bugle sounds, and a sprightly theme song comes trotting on the air. The theme has a double meaning: it is the one that calls the horses to the gate at Aqueduct, and it is the Bahnfrei Overture, composed for an operetta by Eduard Strauss, the only member of the Strauss family who did not make good. Presently, Shepherd's clear, rowdy voice intrudes. 'Okay, gang are you ready to play radio? Are you ready to shuffle off the mortal coil of mediocrity? I am if you are.' There is a noise like a mechanized Bronx cheer (BRRAPP!)- it is Shepherd blowing his kazoo. At other times he twangs his Jew's-harp (BRROING!). 'Yes, you fatheads out there in the darkness, you losers in the Sargasso Sea of existence, take heart, because WOR, in its never ending crusade of public service, is once again proud to bring you--(EROICA SYMPHONY UP)-- The Jean Shepherd Program!'"

Bob Kaye:
Shep In Concert! Video Clip

JeanShepardPodcast

See all Topics

Tufte

2011-12-05T03:26:00.000-08:00

A contrary opinion

Is there anyone who has not seen a PowerPoint presentation?
In class, in business, at seminars, at any gathering of two or more people the blue screen of PowerPoint will appear.

Edward Tufte has written a number of books, including:

Beautiful Evidence,
Visual Explanations,
Envisioning Information,
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information,
and
Data Analysis for Politics and Policy.

He is Professor Emeritus at Yale University, where he taught courses in statistical evidence, information design, and interface design.

If you are ever within 300 miles of a city presenting Tufte's one day course: "Presenting Data and Information", GO!

Tufte has written that:

PowerPoint Is Evil
Power Corrupts.
PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely

"Particularly disturbing is the adoption of the PowerPoint cognitive style in our schools. Rather than learning to write a report using sentences, children are being taught how to formulate client pitches and infomercials.

Elementary school PowerPoint exercises (as seen in teacher guides and in student work posted on the Internet) typically consist of 10 to 20 words and a piece of clip art on each slide in a presentation of three to six slides -a total of perhaps 80 words (15 seconds of silent reading) for a week of work.

Students would be better off if the schools simply closed down on those days and everyone went to the Exploratorium or wrote an illustrated essay explaining something. "

Yea, but....

Comments:
Hi Doug -

I agree, Tufte is a smart man, and people should go see his talk. I saw him last year in Boston, and the price of admission included three of his books.

He risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Sure, using many of the defaults in PowerPoint (or Excel or Word) will produce a less effective document. It is up to the user to adjust his/her use of such tools to avoid the narrow-mindedness that indiscriminate use of the tools can impart.

PowerPoint's a decent tool, one I use frequently in conjunction with Excel and Word in the solutions I create. I didn't know you'd written a PowerPoint book. It looks like it's geared toward UI use of Ppt. Do you know of any sources dealing with programming of PowerPoint?

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
http://PeltierTech.com/

I've seen Tufte twice.
I think he serves a purpose by exposing a viewpoint far to one side, so that others can say "I wouldn't go that far, but ..."
There's not much on PP VBA.

There are some references on RDPSLIDES.com
and Shyam Pillai's site.

See all Topics

Outlook/Exchange Newsletter

2011-12-04T03:27:00.000-08:00

Words from the wise

Here is a 13-year archive of articles about Outlook and Exchange. From both a user's and administrator's perspective.

Exchange Messaging Outlook

The suggestions come from Slipstick.com, so you know they're good.

The publication is available both as an e-mail newsletter and with RSS distribution.

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Hide the Slide

2011-12-03T03:31:00.000-08:00

You don't need to show everything!

If you create a PowerPoint show that includes all of the information about the subject, the show will be much too long and tedious for most audiences.

Go to Slide Sorter view. Hold down the Ctrl key and select slides that contain extra or supplementary information.
Right-click the selection and choose "Hide Slide."

None of the selected slides will be shown during the show, but if a question comes up that needs more detail, the hidden slide can be retrieved by typing its number on the number key pad and hitting Enter.

You can right-click on a slide and choose "Go to Slide." The hidden slides are indicated by parentheses.

BTW:
In the Print dialog box, you can choose to "Print Hidden Slides."

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Enter in Multiple Worksheets

2011-12-02T03:38:00.000-08:00

Group sheets

A common use for Excel is to keep periodic statistics; sales by quarter, or phone calls per month.

It can be tedious to try to create worksheets for each month and include duplicate data such as client or salesperson's names.

Set up the workbook with as many worksheets that may be needed; perhaps one for each month and one for cumulative year-end totals.

Click the tab for the first month, hold down the SHIFT key and select the last worksheet in the series.

All the sheets are now chosen. You will see [Group] on the Title bar.

Enter any common information on the first sheet and it will be duplicated on all of the grouped sheets.

When you are done, Right-click a sheet tab and choose Ungroup Sheets on the context menu.

Non-contiguous sheets can be selected using the Ctrl key.

If the sheets are grouped, they will all be printed together.
Also:

John Walkenbach:
Making an exact copy of a range of formulas

Microsoft KB:
Run a macro on multiple sheets in Group mode

See all Topics

Link to PDF

2011-12-01T03:20:00.000-08:00

Hyperlink to page numbers

The article tells how to link to named locations, but in most cases all you'll need is the page number:

Linking to Pages or Destinations Within PDFs
Dan Shea Associate Editor

Linking To Specific Pages

This is significantly simpler than linking to named destinations because it doesn't require any special steps to be taken in the preparation of the PDF file. I personally favor the page-linking method for this reason. In order to link through to a specific PDF page, begin with the domain, as you would for any web link:

http://www.mydomain.com/

Then add the name of the PDF document:

http://www.mydomain.com/myPDF.pdf

Then append "#page=" followed by the desired page number. For example, if you were looking to link to page 7:

http://www.mydomain.com/myPDF.pdf#page=7

So in all, the HTML link code would be:

<a href="http://www.mydomain.com/myPDF.pdf#page=7">Link text</a>

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Make a dash

2011-11-30T03:07:00.000-08:00

M-N-Hyphen

From the Word MVP Forum:
Dashes

There are three kinds of dashes, each a bit longer than the other.
You don't need to put spaces before or after dashes (in the US).

Use the hyphen (-) for hyphenating words.

Use the en dash (–) where you would use "to," as in "business hours are 10 A.M. – 5 P.M.," in a range of numbers (pages 17–25), or to link certain compound adjectives like "the Tokyo–Hong Kong flight" or "anti–blood clotting serum."

Use the em dash (—) instead of parentheses—as is done here—to set off a parenthetical phrase. On the typewriter, two hyphens stood in for this dash.

The keyboard shortcuts are:
Alt+0150 for an N dash
Alt+0151 for an M dash or two hyphens in a row

Here's an article from the Editorium.com:
Making dashes easy
By Jack M. Lyon

Meleanie Spiller has an articles on:
Colons, Semicolons, and Em-dashes

Hyphen Hysteria

And:

Interruptive Punctuation

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(A) drive in front

2011-11-29T07:49:00.000-08:00

Change display

In Microsoft Windows, on mapped drives, the Drive letter may appear last.

My Financial Statements (Alpha1) (D:)
3 1/2 Floppy (A:)

To change the so that the drive letter comes first:
(A:) 3 1/2 Floppy

Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the following subkey in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
Type ShowDriveLettersFirst, and then press ENTER.
On the Edit menu, click Modify.
Type 4, and then click OK.

Key: ShowDriveLettersFirst Type: DWORD Value: 1, 2, or 4.
If the value is 1, the drive letter is displayed first for remote drives.
If the value is 2, drive letters are not displayed.
If the value is 4, the drive letter is displayed first for all drives.

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Embed a show

2011-11-28T03:56:00.000-08:00

Stick it in Word

You might like to distribute a short PowerPoint slide show, and include some extra material.

Open Word and PowerPoint.
Arrange the windows so that both applications can be seen.
(Right-click an empty area of the Task bar and choose "Tile Windows Vertically."

Type your introductory text in the Word document.

Switch to PowerPoint and open the PowerPoint file.

In Slide Sorter View, hold down the Ctrl key and select the slides you want to include.

Drag the selected group of slides onto the Word document.

You will only see the first slide in the document, but if you double-click on the image, the PowerPoint show will run.

It will also work in Excel.

(This, of course assumes that the target machine has PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer installed)

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Crime and Outlook

2011-11-27T03:17:00.000-08:00

Investigative techniques

HTCIA.org

"The High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) is designed to encourage, promote, aid and effect the voluntary interchange of data, information, experience, ideas and knowledge about methods, processes, and techniques relating to investigations and security in advanced technologies among its membership."

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Forms and Slides

2011-11-26T03:15:00.000-08:00

PowerPoint in Access

This download provides an Access database and a PowerPoint slide show.

"Create a PowerPoint slide presentation from scratch using Access data. In addition, display and control a slide show from within an Access form. Walk through the solution and explore ways to extend the sample for your own applications.

This article looks at two ways of interaction between Access and PowerPoint.

The first sample illustrates how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the data in an Access table using Automation.

The second sample shows how to display and manipulate an existing PowerPoint presentation inside of an Access form, also using Automation."

Here is an MSDN article:
Working with PowerPoint Presentations from Access Using Automation

If you have some knowledge of VBA, you can probably figure it out from the code on the Access Form.

Office 2003 Sample:
Working with PowerPoint 2003 Presentations from Access 2003 Using Automation

See all Topics

Tables

2011-11-25T03:41:00.000-08:00

Without reservations

Word is more versatile than Excel or PowerPoint when it comes to manipulating how a table will appear. Go to View>Toolbars Tables and Borders, and also see the Table menu especially, "Table Properties" .
(In 2007 go to Insert Table, or Right click the Table)

Often, you will insert a table at the top of a document, and then later realize that you need to enter text above the table.

A keyboard shortcut to fix this is to place the insertion point in the first cell in the top left corner of the table.

Hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter and Word will move the table down and place the insertion point at the top.

This is also the combination used to split an existing table in two.
(If there are no entries in the cell, the Enter key will move the insertion point. If there is text in the cell or a paragraph above the table, then the Enter key will just start a new paragraph inside the cell.)

Here are some more suggestions from the Word MVPS web site:
Maximising the performance of Word tables

Rutgers University:
Word 2003: tables

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Population 485

2011-11-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

By Michael Perry

ISBN 0-06-095807-3
Perennial 2002

About the Author
Michael Perry was raised on a small dairy farm near New Auburn, Wisconsin, and put himself through nursing school working as a cowboy in Wyoming. As of this writing, he is the only member of the New Auburn (nee Cartwright Mills) Area Fire Department to have missed the monthly meeting because of a poetry reading.
See:
SneezingCow.com

Book Description
A collection of stories about life in a small Wisconsin town. What it's like to be in the volunteer fire department with your brothers and your mother.
Unable to polka or repair his own pickup, his farm-boy hands gone soft after years of writing, Mike figures the best way to regain his credibility is to join the volunteer fire department. Against a backdrop of fires and tangled wrecks, bar fights and smelt feeds, he tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy and searing tragedy.

Quote

"... The village board sent someone around to recite nuisance ordinances chapter and verse, but beyond rearranging the bikes and aligning the camper with the speedboat - feng shui primitif - nothing has changed. You take what you can get in this life. Someone calls you white trash, you go with it, and fight like hell to keep your trash. You understand it is a matter of distinctions: yuppies with their shiny trash, church ladies with their hand-stitched trash, solid citizens with their secret trash. In a yard just outside town, a spray-painted piece of frayed plywood leans against a tree. It reads Trans Ams: 2 for $2000. It has been there for two years."

New Auburn, Wisconsin, 54757

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Change Case

2011-11-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

CAPS - No - caps

Sometimes mistakes are made in setting the case for sentences.
There are four general categories of capitalization:

Sentence Case - The first letter of a sentence is capitalized

Lowercase - all words are in lowercase

Uppercase - ALL CAPITALS

Title Case - All Words Are Capitalized
(This is, really, "Proper case". Title case would be "All Important Words are Capitalized".
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs should be uppercase. Common articles, prepositions, and conjunctions should be lowercase.)
You can make changes to selected text by going to
Format>Change Case
and choosing the correct style. (Including tOGGLE cASE)
You could also use a keyboard shortcut.
Select the text and then hold down the SHIFT key and tap the F3 key to toggle through three of the main cases – All Cap, Lowercase, and Title.

SAP Design Guild:
Quick Guide to Capitalization in English

Technical Communicators' Forum:
Capitalization of Headings and Titles

From The Editorium.com:
Here's a macro to change Heading styles to true Title case:
TITLE CASE MACRO, VERSION 2
By Jack M. Lyon

Word Tips:
Capital after colon

Automatically correct capitalization in most any MS 2007 App.

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Outlook Power Magazine

2011-11-22T03:58:00.000-08:00

Source site

One of the locations for information about Outlook and Exchange is OutlookPower.com.

Also available as a news letter, it contains a number of suggestions such as this one dealing with printing the notes area on the calendar:

Printing Contact notes
By Francine Otterson

"How you can print the comments contained in your Outlook Calendar.

Outlook Calendar has various printing options to choose from that provide some editing capabilities.

With the Calendar Details printing style, the notes area would be printed along, with all of the other Calendar details. Plus, this style will allow you to choose a range of dates to print, and gives you the option of printing each day on separate pages or continuously.

To change the printing style, select Print under the File menu. Next, select the print style you would like to use e.g. Calendar Details style. If you would like to edit this print style, select Define Style then Edit."

The headlines can also be added to your web site:
Outlook

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Word is full of HTML

2011-11-21T03:14:00.000-08:00

Clean up tools

From the Help file:

"When you save Web pages format with Microsoft Word, additional tags are added so that you can continue to use the full functionality of Word to edit your content.

To reduce the size of Web pages, you can save them in filtered HTML. Filtered format removes Microsoft Office-specific tags. If you save in filtered HTML and then reopen the file in Office programs, text and general appearance will be preserved, but some features may work differently.

If you reopen a Web page in Word that you saved in filtered HTML, your text and general appearance are preserved, but you may not be able to use certain Word features in the usual way to edit your files. For example, the appearance of bulleted or numbered lists is preserved; however, some of the Word functionality associated with lists will not be preserved.

If you will need to edit the file later, you can maintain two files: one in Word format and one in filtered HTML format. You can edit the content in the Word document, save it in Word format for future editing, and then save a copy in filtered HTML format."

Using filtered HTML save may not clean everything up. If you need more help see Informit.com:
Clean HTML from Word: Can It Be Done?
By Laurie Rowell.

Also:

HTML Tidy Library Project

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Conditional Formatting

2011-11-20T03:44:00.000-08:00

If it's Tuesday, it must be mauve

Conditional formatting is one of Excel's better features. It allows you to preset certain font styles, colors, and cell-background colors based on cell values.
This can be very useful for highlighting important information and values outside an accepted range or providing a visual cue to associate value ranges with color codes.

The best part is that conditional formatting is very easy to set up.
Just click the cells you'd like to format and select Format >Conditional Formatting. The Conditional Formatting dialog box lets you set up the conditions by which the formatting of the cell will occur.
You pick the operator (between, equal to, less than, etc.) and the value or range of values. Click Format to open the Format Cells dialog box, where you can select the colors and styles to be used.

Each cell can have several conditional formats. For example, you might say that if a certain cell's value is between 20 and 50, the text should be blue on a yellow background.
However, you can format that same cell to exhibit red, bolded text on a green background if it contains a value between 51 and 100.

Before 2007, you could use up to three conditions, but earlier versions of Excel can be tricked to use more if it should become necessary.

Oz Grid:
Excel VBA Macro Code to Get Around Excel's 3 Criteria Limit in Conditional Formatting
GR Business Process Solutions:
Graham Barrow and Ray BlakeHighlight the current or past month in Excel with conditional formatting

Chip Pearson:
Conditional Formatting
Also

Adding Customized Rules to Excel 2007

Demo:
Data takes shape with conditional formatting

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Sample Queries, Forms, Reports

2011-11-19T03:06:00.000-08:00

Examples to part out

This sample queries database contains examples of useful database queries, including the crosstab query, the union query , and the join query

Sample: query topics database

Here are some other sample databases. They are all for Access 2000, but the installed base is predominantly in that format. Access 2000 is also the default format for Access 2002 and 2003.
Sample Access databases that you can download and adapt

Database of Access 2000 sample forms: The sample forms in this database demonstrate a variety of form types and techniques, including how to manipulate data, use controls, and create undo and redo operations.

Some forms include:

Bring a subtotal from a subform to a main form
Create a running sum
Create a stopwatch form
Display line numbers on subform records
Fill current record with data from previous record automatically
Hide the combo box drop-down arrow
Simulate drag-and-drop capabilities

Database of Access 2000 sample reports: The sample reports in this database demonstrate a number of techniques, including how to shade every other row or every nth row in a report, how to create a table of contents or an index for a report, and how to create a top 10 report.

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Time Counts

2011-11-18T03:35:00.000-08:00

Thoughts and Tick Tocks

Brad McCormick has the kind of web site that is built to be thumbed through. There are some serious linkage pages:

What Time Does Your Computer Think It Is?

And also a collection of his thoughts and others. I found it worthwhile to just surf from spot to spot.

There is good stuff at almost every click.

"Happy the person who can find genuine interest and satisfaction in something nobody else wants -- for then (s)he has a better chance of being allowed to have it. "

"Big problem: How to avoid wasting one's life to earn one's living. "

"When will we advance to a level where not just owning persons (slavery) but also renting them (wage labor) is outlawed and abolished? "

"Some persons can judge [many] books by their covers. Other persons can't judge a book even by its contents. "

"Why not speak, conciliatorily, of the complementary sex (gender), rather than, oppositionally: 'the opposite sex'?"

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Color Pickers

2011-11-17T03:42:00.000-08:00

Formatting tools

Colorcode Generator

Color Scheme

Color Schemer

Iconico

Irfanview

Kira's Web Toolbox

Pagetutor.Com

Visbone

Also:
.

More Color Matching Tools

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Holiday Templates

2011-11-16T06:45:00.000-08:00

Make your own stationary

Microsoft Office Online has a group of themed holiday designs.

Holiday party invitation
Holiday menu
Holiday place cards
Holiday stationery
Holiday thank you card (quarter-fold)
Holiday gift certificate

Poinsettias

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Link Browser?

2011-11-15T03:48:00.000-08:00

Error warning

You may see a warning about browser selection. It happened to me after playing with Firefox and then coming back home again.

Try going to Start>Run and entering:

regsvr32 Urlmon.dll

Here are other ways to do it:

In the following selections, you should know that The URL:Mailto Protocol is located at the top of the list proceeded by (None), not at the bottom with the other U's.

Microsoft KB;
The Locate Link Browser dialog box
appears when you open a Web link in an e-mail message in Outlook 2003

To resolve this problem, follow these steps to clear the Use DDE check box:

Double-click My Computer.
On the View menu, click Folder Options (or Tools>Folder Options).
On the File Types tab, click URL:MailTo Protocol in the Registered File Types list, and then click Edit.
In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.
Click to remove the Use DDE check box, and then click OK.
Click Close two times.

OutlookMVPS.org: Clicking a link opens the Locate Link dialog box (Firefox)

OpenExplorer
Select Tools and then Folder Options
Select the File Types tab
Select Extension: (NONE), File Type: URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol
Click Advanced toward the bottom of the window
In the Edit File Type window, select open and click Edit
Clear the check for DDE above the DDE message box (which should contain "%1" or similar)
Click OK, Click OK

Repeat for File Type: HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy and FTP In the "Locate Link Browser" box, go to C:/Disk/Program Files/Internet Explorer/iexplorer.exe. Select the application and click "OK." Or In the "Locate Link Browser" box, go to C Disk/programs/Mozilla/Firefox.exe. Select the application and click "OK."

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Regedits

2011-11-14T03:44:00.000-08:00

Plus or minus 32

Microsoft "removed" regedt32.exe from XP.

Regedit.exe's functionality has been merged with regedt32.exe's.

In Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Regedt32.exe is a small program that just runs Regedit.exe.

Pre XP:

Regedit.exe is the registration editor for 16-bit Windows. It is used to modify the Windows registration database.

Microsoft recommends that you use Regedit.exe only for its search capabilities on a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer.

Regedt32.exe is the configuration editor for Windows NT. It is used to modify the Windows NT configuration database, or the Windows NT registry. This editor allows you to view or modify the Windows NT registry.

The editor provides views of windows that represent sections of the registry, named hives. You must use extreme caution when you use it to change registry values.

Missing or incorrect values in the registry can make the Windows NT installation unusable.

Meryl.net:
An explanation with follow-up links.
A Tale of Two Regeds
By Meryl K. Evans

Also:
Editing the Vista Registry

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Outlook Query Builder

2011-11-13T03:26:00.000-08:00

Find it

Another way to retrieve information in Outlook.
Outlook 2002 through 2007 has an option for filtering dialog called QueryBuilder.

To use it you just need to add the QueryBuilder key to the registry:

Use Regedit to go to the appropriate location.
Right click and choose to add a new Key.
Name it QueryBuilder.

There aren't any other entries that need to be made. Outlook2002:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\QueryBuilder

Outlook 2003:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\QueryBuilder

The next time you go to Tools>Advanced Find, there will be a new tab for the Query Builder.

Now you can create an AND/OR query using the Filter dialog in Search Folders, Define Views, Automatic Formatting, or Advanced Find. With Outlook 2007:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\QueryBuilder

Go to Tools>Instant Search>Advanced Find. The shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+F.

For more information, see:
Sliptick.com: Using the Query Builder
Microsoft KB: How to Use the Query Builder for View Filters and Advanced Searches

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Command the Line

2011-11-12T03:35:00.000-08:00

Hands on control

"You can use Command-line reference to familiarize yourself with new and enhanced command-line tools, to configure your command prompt, to learn about the command shell, and to automate command-line tasks by using batch files or scripting tools."

Command-line reference A-Z

Command shell overview

"The command shell is a separate software program that provides direct communication between the user and the operating system. The non-graphical command shell user interface provides the environment in which you run character-based applications and utilities.
The command shell executes programs and displays their output on the screen by using individual characters similar to the MS-DOS command interpreter Command.com.
The Windows XP command shell uses the command interpreter Cmd.exe, which loads applications and directs the flow of information between applications, to translate user input into a form that the operating system understands."

Also:
DOS were the Days

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Flying Pigs

2011-11-11T03:40:00.000-08:00

and other cool stuff

I was lucky enough to find an outlet for Flying Pig material in my home town. If you are interested in very clever paper machines, make Flying-Pig.co.uk a must click location.

Also:
Cabaret Mechanical Theatre

Timber Kits

And:
the Paper Airplane Museum

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Virus Information

2011-11-10T03:08:00.000-08:00

Source list

"A virus is a type of program that can replicate itself by making (possibly modified) copies of itself. The main criterium for classifying a piece of executable code as a virus is that it spreads itself by means of 'hosts'.
A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or carrying it on a removable disk. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.

Viruses are sometimes confused with worms. A worm, however, can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host. Many personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to local-area networks, facilitating their spread.

Today's viruses may also take advantage of network services such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, and file sharing systems to spread, blurring the line between viruses and worms."

(Wikipedia)

Virus Information

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Idenfify Formatting Inconsistencies

2011-11-09T03:33:00.000-08:00

A suggestion I don't suggest

Microsoft Word can detect formatting inconsistencies as you type and then mark them with a blue, wavy underline.You may want to have all the headings in a document formatted the exact same way, but you inadvertently formatted some of them differently. Word can detect these inconsistencies as you are typing and underline them with a blue wavy line to alert you.

Microsoft Word Help:

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
Under Editing options, select the Keep track of formatting check box, if it is not already selected.
Under Editing options, select the Mark formatting inconsistencies check box.
Formatting inconsistencies will be marked with blue, wavy underlines.
Click OK.
In your document, right-click the blue, wavy underline where a formatting inconsistency has occurred.
Do one of the following:
To correct the inconsistency, click the command that describes the inconsistency.
To have Word remove the blue, wavy underline and not correct this inconsistency, click Ignore Once.
To skip all occurrences of the inconsistency in the document, click Ignore Rule.

PC World: Word 2002 adds fast formatting for stylin' documents.
ShaunaKelly.com: How the Styles and Formatting pane works in Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003

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Hot Knots

2011-11-08T03:39:00.000-08:00

Tied Up?

The KnotPlot Site
By Rob Scharein

"Knot theory is a branch of algebraic topology where one studies what is known as the placement problem, or the embedding of one topological space into another."

The site includes a collection of knots.

You can, also, download a program called KnotPlot to develop your own knots

Click to see more moiré knots.

Animated Knots

Other nots:

Ripley's Believe it or not!

Hot or Not

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Cascading Combo Boxes

2011-11-07T03:43:00.000-08:00

Everything's connected

"Cascading combo boxes are used to help aid the user in determining a choice when entering data into a form.
They help to breakdown the options available into selectable sub-groups such a State & City, Product Type & Product, Department & Employees.
The user can select, for example, Customer Services in a combo box and the second combo box's list will reflect this selection and only list those employees within Customer Services.
Switch to Finance and all the Finance employees become selectable, etc."

A cascading combo box solution:

Roger J. Carlson

CascadingComboBoxes.mdb (beginner)
CascadingComboInSubform.mdb (intermediate)

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Power Utility Pak v6-7

2011-11-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

Excel the way you've wanted it

John Walkenbach (J-Walk.com) has improved on the previous versions of PUP. It now includes more than 70 general purpose Excel utilities and 50 worksheet functions.

You can download a 30 day trial at PUP V6 Home

Here are some features just in the area of Chart & Graphics Tools:

Chart Data Labeler: IMPROVED: Lets you apply labels (contained in a range) to a chart data series -- a feature that is surprisingly missing from Excel. Enhancement: Now ignores data that is hidden as a result of autofiltering.
Resize Charts: NEW: Makes it easy to make a chart an exact size, or make all charts the same size.
Convert Chart To Picture: NEW: Makes a copy of a chart as a static picture. This is useful for saving charts that depict various what-if scenarios.
Chart Report: NEW: Produces a detailed report that documents a chart, or produces a report that documents all charts.
Object Align, Size & Space: NEW: Back by popular demand. This utility was removed from PUP v5, but now it's back. It provides an easy way to precisely align, size, and space a group of objects or embedded charts.
Object Hide / Unhide: NEW: An interactive way to hide or unhide charts and other objects on a worksheet.

There is, of course, PUP v7
Power Utility Pak v7

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Explorer Default

2011-11-05T03:26:00.000-07:00

Choose your Folder

When you click the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Start Menu, you are probably used to the fact that it always opens in the same folder. For example the My Documents folder. Vista opens to your personal User>Documents folder.

You can arrange for it to open to the folder of your choice by editing the properties of the Explorer shortcut.

Open Windows Explorer and locate your Start Menu folder (if you are using Windows XP, this will be in the c:\Documents and Settings directory under your profile). Right click the shortcut to Windows Explorer and click Properties. From the Shortcut tab, change the target so it reads as follows:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, c:\folder
where c:\folder is the path to the folder that you want Explorer to open.

If you leave off the /e switch, Windows Explorer opens in a single pane view.

Another switch is /n. It opens a new single-pane window for the default selection. This is usually the root of the drive that Windows is installed on. If the window is already open, a duplicate opens.

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options

Click OK. Now when you launch Windows Explorer from the Start Menu, it will open in the folder that you specified.

If Explorer is not one of the shortcuts, Right click the contents pane and choose New>Shortcut.
Enter the same instructions.

You could also Right click the desktop and create a new shortcut.

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Excuse me, your formulas's showing

2011-11-04T03:20:00.000-07:00

Formatting slip

Try this experiment. On a sample worksheet, enter some arbitrary data in say the A1:B5 range.
Select the C column and format it as Text.
(Right click choose Format Cells - on the Number tab choose Text)

In cell C1 enter a function, such as =sum(a1:b1)

With C1 still selected, double click the Fill handle
(the tiny box at the lower right corner of the cell.)

The formula is filled down the column as long as there is data in an adjacent column.

But wait! I don't see the value. I see the formulas!
In addition, the formulas are still in lower case and the relative references have not been updated.

Easy to fix, I hear you say. Just reformat the column as General.

Nothing happens.

To fix the problem, make sure the column is formatted as General.

Select the first cell. Click in the formula bar and hit the Enter key.

Now double click the Fill handle.

(You could also use Edit>Replace to replace = with =. However, Relative references will be incorrect and unless you have reformatted the whole column as General, any new formulas will still display as text.)

The reverse also causes a problem. In a column formatted as General, enter some formulas.
Now reformat the column as Text. The formulas still work, but if you edit one of them, it reverts to a text display.

Microsoft KB:
Cell Linked to Text-Formatted Cell Shows Formula Not Value

Formulas can, of course, be toggled using CTRL+~ (Tilde)
(Though it really should be called CTRL+` (Grave Accent), since the Shift key is not used.)

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