Tips and Tricks

on Microsoft Applications

For some great online tutorials about Microsoft Office features - Click here!


Cannotfind your file?
Wherecan I find more clip art?
Howdoes stuff work?
CanI still do a print screen?  How?
Iam not very good with mice.  Can I use keyboard shortcuts?
Whatis the little window key (between the control and alternate keys) usedfor?
Howabout some help with Excel?  How do I insert blank cells?
Whatis autotext and what can it do for me?


OPEN WHAT?

I have done it.  We all have done it.  You try to open a file and can't find it where you think it should be.You choose File + Open and then search through the listed files but don'tfind that vital name. As a matter of fact, none of the files look familiar.  You are certain that you are on the right drive.   What's wrong?
You may have the Files of Type setting wrong. Look at the Files of Type drop-down menu in the Open dialogbox and see what types of files are  set to appear in your file list.If the Files of Type setting is Word documents (*.doc), for example, butyou're looking for a Text document (*.txt) or WordPerfect document (*.wp),you won't see it listed.          To solve the problem, change the type setting to All Files. Now all your  files, regardless of what program they were created in, appear in the list.

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Looking for more clip art?  Try:

Microsoft Clip Gallery  

When using clipart from the internet, remember to read and respect all Terms of Use and License documentation.
 
 
 

Would you like to know how something works?  Anything from a combustion engine to  a microscope:  Try these sites:

http://www.howstuffworks.com

http://www.webopedia.com

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Print Screen
Remember the good ol' days of DOS?  If youwanted to print the contents of your screen, you just pushed the printscreen key on your keyboard.  Your printer would begin printing. However, Windows 95 and later versions redirects the destination of thePrint Screen key to the Clipboard.  This means that if you want toprint the contents of your screen, press Print Screen and open either paintor Word.  Click on Edit\Paste or click the clipboard icon.  Thenprint.

If you only want to print the active window, press the Alternate Key and Print Screen at the same time.

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Keyboard Shortcuts
Here are some keyboard shortcuts that are available only on the "windows" keyboard.  The WIN key has the Microsoft emblem and is located between the Alt and Ctrl keys on the left side.  Onthe right side, it is next to the Alt key.

WIN    Show Start menu
WIN + E  Start Windows Explorer
WIN + M  Minimize all Windows
WIN + Shift + M Undo minimize all Windows
WIN + F1  Help
WIN + F  Find Files or Folders dialog box
WIN + TAB  cycle through open tasks on thetaskbar.

These shortcuts will work in any application.  You do not have to be at your Windows desktop.

Have you ever looked at your keyboard and wondered about the little window key tucked between yourcontrol and alternate keys?   The windows key  is designedas a shortcut for some items.  For example, holding down the windowskey and pressing the letter E opens windows explorer.  Using it combinedwith the letter F opens the Find screen; with the letter R it opens theRun screen.  Simply pressing the windows key activates the start buttonmenu.  Now, press the windows key and experiment with other keys. Notice how the icon that contains that letter will be selected?  It is just another way of getti

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Excel: BLANKETY BLANK

Want to insert some blank cells among some not-so-blank cells in your worksheet? Here's a fast, controlled way to do it:

1. Select the area where you want the blank cells to appear.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + + (the plus sign).
3. In the Insert dialog box, select the directionyou want the current  cells to shift to make room for the new blankcells.
4. Click OK.

REMEMBER: INSERTING CELLS CAN AFFECT FORMULASBASED ON THE CELLS THAT SHIFT. Make sure you follow up any insertion bychecking those formulas.

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AutoText
When using Word, don't overlook the handy AutoTextfeature.  Go to Insert then Autotext.  A drop-down list box appearscontaining several common editing elements for your header or footer suchas author, file name, etc..  Additionally, you can choose from a varietyof greetings, attention lines, closings, and much more.  Don't seewhat you need?  Click the Autotext selection and a dialog box appears.  Here you can add your own autotext or select from the list.  Use thesebuilt-in features to stream-line your work.  Don't forget, if youget stuck, the Office Assistant is there to answer your questions. Just click on the question mark and you have your own personal MicrosoftExpert.
 

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revised: March 10, 2005