INSERT DATE & TIME IN A WORD DOCUMENT

Want to save time creating documents... Did you know that you don’t have to type the date and/or time each time you create a new document. Next time you create a document, try INSERTING the date and time vs. typing it. Just select "Insert" then "Date and Time" where you want this information to be in your current document. When the "Date and Time" dialog box appears, just choose/highlight the date or time format you want, then press "OK". NOTE: Another option when you do this – is note on the right column there is an action box which gives you the option of "UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY". If you choose this option (which means checking it off) every time you open and resave the document, the date and/or time are automatically changed to the current date and/or time – so be careful where and when you use this.

Comparing two WORD documents side-by-side

If you have ever had two somewhat similar documents that you need to compare and merge the differences - here is how to do that easily... Since Microsoft Word 2003, all newer programs (Word 2001, 2007 & 2010) have a built-in document comparison tool where you can view two documents side-by-side.

1. Open both documents in Microsoft Word 2003, 2007 or 2010.
2. Focus on one document. Click on the Window menu bar option.
3. Click on Compare Side by Side With. If you only have two documents open, this menu item will mention the second document's filename. If not, a dialog box will appear allowing you to choose the document to compare.
4. The two documents will appear side-by-side. As you scroll through one document, the other will scroll as well.
5. A Compare Side floating toolbar will appear. If you don't want one document to scroll while the other scrolls, click the left button (it looks like two documents side-by-side with an up and down arrow).
6. View/edit your document as needed.
7. When done, click on Close Side by Side

Word Processing "Keyboard Shortcuts"

These are some of my favorite keyboard shortcuts when I'm working in MS Word - Word Processing - they can really help to save time…

• Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V = Cut, Copy and Paste respectively. These work in virtually every Windows program. Learn them, use them, save LOTS of time and mousing around in the Edit menu.
• Ctril+A=Select All, which highlights you entire document-whether 1 page or 1,000 pages so you can make changes quickly and easily to your entire document
• Ctrl+B = Apply Bold. Highlight text then click Ctrl+B...and it’s bold.
• Ctrl+I = Apply Italic. Same idea as adding bold, except it adds italic instead.
• Ctrl+Y = Repeat the last action. Say you just added a row to a table. Click Ctrl+Y and add another one. Keep doing it and add a whole bunch of them.
• Ctrl+spacebar = remove all local formatting. If text looks weird, it could be because you may have inadvertently added something. It's also good consistency. You can make sure that the only formatting you're applying is the stuff you've set up in your styles.
• Shift+F3 = Toggles case. If you know people who type in all upper case - Yikes-how aggravating!!! So just use Shift+F3 to switch case from UPPER, lower, and Initial Caps.
• Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+End = Move to the top and bottom of a document, respectively.
• F8 + arrow keys = Select text. Sometimes selecting large bodies of text with the mouse is a big pain. Use F8 in conjunction with the arrow keys or Page Up and Page Down keys to select it more easily.

Remember if you have favorites that you use all the time, let us know what they are so we can share them with your fellow students... in the meantime - enjoy!!

How to add attachments to email messages

Once you are in your email account and into the section where you can write/compose a new email message:

Be sure to fill in the names whom it is going to in the BCC (to protect everyone’s privacy) - also be sure to fill in a subject and then write your message

Now – click the “attachment” option which usually has a paperclip icon beside it (it might also say Add attachment, insert attachment or insert file/photo”

With many programs you will now see a BROWSE button which allows you to open the Document, Picture, Video or Music files so that you can find what it is you want to attach

Once you have found the correct folder and then found the correct “file” highlight/left click on the file name – with most services if you left click the file twice it will insert/add it to your email message. Remember if you have several files in one folder, you can use the CTRL or SHFT keys to add multiple files.

If you want to send a different file from a different folder or section, just repeat the steps above.

Once you have attached all the files you want, you will send the email message the same as you always do. If you want to be sure what your recipients will see, simply send a copy to yourself as well…

Notes:

Most services allow you to add attachments up to 25GB, although this varies depending on the email provider :

IN AOL – the ATTACH FILE button is in the bottom left corner of the email message

IN YAHOO: When you choose the file you want to attach it appears in the file field, when you are finished, select the 'Attach Files' button and you will receive a message that you have successfully attached your files.

IN HOTMAIL: In newer versions it will ask you if you want to save the attachments as online documents/photos – you can say yes or no (when you say yes they will be saved in your online/cloud documents/photo folders)

IN GMAIL: Click the "Send" command once you have added as many attachments as you desire and they will be added to your message

Microsoft Help And How To Links

Not sure how to use your windows operating system to it’s full potential, how to do system maintenance & when, to better your computers performance, and other great tips, then take some time and visit Microsoft’s Help and How to for your specific Operating System.

Just click on the link for your operating system & begin learning…

Windows 7 www.windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help

Windows XP www.windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/windows-xp

Windows Vista www.windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/help

CHANGE YOUR SCREEN DISPLAY SETTINGS

You can access your Display settings by right-clicking anywhere on the Desktop and then choosing Properties in Windows XP (Windows Vista OR Windows 7 – choose Personalize or Customize)

OR

You can always do it the long/old way and go to your control panel (on your start menu), then to Appearance – Themes and the Display icons.

When you access the Display Properties Dialog Box – there will be multiple choices and the newer your operating system the more choices you will have, such as: Themes, Desktop, Screen Saver, Appearance and Settings and within each of these categories the newer your operating systems the more design & other choices you will have...

Themes
This allows you to choose a theme which will apply to all your Windows screen,the icons, sounds and colors – such as jungle, underwater & many more.

Desktop
This will allow you to choose different desktop background “wallpaper” images, from samples which are inlcuded or you can use the BROWSE button to find a photo you have saved in you’re My Picture Folder… Remember – if you find a photo in an email or on the internet that you want for your background, when your cursor is on the image, right click on the image and choose Set as Desktop Background.

Screen Saver
Screen Savers are the “motion” choices we use when our computer is idle – many different ones are built in, or you can use the photos in you’re my Picture Folder or when you are on vacation you can purchase “screen savers” to remind you of your trip… This is also where we can change our Power settings for the monitor, noting how long it should stay on when we leave our computer alone..

Appearance
This choice allows us to change the style and colors and size of fonts for our Windows and buttons. Just click on the drop-down arrow buttons to choose different settings; the font size option is great if text is too small – just change it to large fonts or extra large fonts.. The advanced tab allows us to change size & colors for all our screen items including borders, icons and the menus.

Settings
This choice allows us to change screen resolution and color quality – remember the resolution determines the number of pixels used to make up the display. The higher the setting, the more detailed your display and the higher resolution gives you a larger screen area to work with, but if you find text and icons are now too small you may need to increase font size and use larger icons to compensate. You can only go up to the highest resolution that your monitor can support. Experiment to find a resolution you are comfortable with – many opt for the highest setting.

When you set a high resolution, increasing the DPI (dots per inch) setting – it makes all screen items including text appear larger.

The History of St. Patricks Day

Today is March 17th and for many that means “wearing green” and celebrating the Irish St. Patrick… So Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all...

Some say that everyone is at least a little Irish on St. Patrick’s day..

St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish holiday celebrated all around the globe to honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thirty-four million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people

So we hope you enjoy your day and thought you might enjoy a few websites that explain better than we can the history of the holiday…

http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/historyofpatrick.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://www.alphabet-soup.net/hol/sphist.html