Application Tips

Print only what you want – Multi-tip

Print Shop's cycling, low-res banner printing screen

photo credit: blakespot

How many times do you curse at your printer when you print a joke from email or some web page information and get two or more extra sheets of paper with useless information?

Follow this tip and experience printing bliss from email or Internet and your word processor too!

On the web,

Select the text (by clicking and dragging with your mouse) that you would like to print
Click File and Print from the menus (don’t click the Printer icon),
You will see the option to print all pages, certain pages or only your selected text. Choose this last option and only the text you selected will print!

Outlook, Outlook Express, and Thunderbird users will see similar options if you first select the part of email that you would like to print, then click Continue reading →

Correcting Many Microsoft Word Problems

Image via Wikipedia

One of the most common problems Microsoft Word users encounter is not being able to start Word or it starts extremely slow. When you double-click the Microsoft Word icon and either nothing happens at all or it attempts to start and then presents an error screen. Or, Word may open, but very slowly and then have trouble opening or saving documents.

All of these symptoms have a common cause. And although frustrating, the solution is Continue reading →

Application Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
18
Apr 10

How to start page numbers from a number other than 1 – Video Tip

My daughter needed to know how to start automatic page numbering in Microsoft Word 2007 with a number other than one for a school publication. She and her classmates couldn’t figure it out, so she asked me. I put together a quick video to demonstrate the technique for her, and decided to Continue reading →

Application Tips / Computer Tips — No Comments
7
Apr 10

How to fix a row or column in any spreadsheet – Video Tip

I don’t use spreadsheets too often, but I do help folks learn how to use them somewhat frequently. Many long-time spreadsheet users overlook this simple technique to fix a row(s) and/or column(s). Why would you want to fix a row or column? The video demonstrates the why behind this tip quite well, but by learning to fix a row or column, you can scroll through a long spreadsheet without losing track of the row or column headings. This technique becomes a necessary Continue reading →

Application Tips / General Computer Tips / Windows Tips — 15 Comments
9
Jan 10

How to transfer your iTunes library & playlists to a new computer

photo credit: mac steve

If you use an iPod, iTouch, or iPhone and plan on getting a new computer, you will want to read this article! OR, if you use any of these devices and want to make sure your library stays safe, you will want to read this article!

Yesterday, I helped a customer setup a new Windows 7 computer and transfer email, favorites, and other data from his old Windows XP computer. Turns out that he also needed to move his iTunes library of more than 8,000 songs and almost 150 playlists!

There isn’t too much I panic about when I arrive at a customer’s home or office, but moving large, customized iTunes libraries is something that does get me a little nervous. In the past, I have had to open an iTunes XML file in a word processor and then use find and replace to enter the path to the storage location on the new computer. It was extremely difficult and tedious.

I am happy to report that I successfully transferred the entire 36 gigabyte library and playlists using Continue reading →

Application Tips — 3 Comments
13
Dec 09

How to crop a photo in Microsoft Word – Video Tip

A few years ago, I demonstrated how to wrap text around photos or clip art in Microsoft Word (also works for other word processors). In this week’s tip, I demonstrate how to crop a photo or image once it is in your word processor. I used Word 2007 in the demonstration, but you can use the same technique in Continue reading →

Application Tips / Computer User Group / General Computer Tips / Macintosh / Ubuntu Tips — 2 Comments
11
Nov 09

How to print labels the EASY way! – Video Tip

I know I’m late for this year’s Christmas season, but you can learn and start using this tip TODAY to make next year’s Christmas card mailings a breeze.

Too many computer users have no idea what a database is, how to use it, and how to merge it with another program to create labels. Since printing mailing labels is only a once per year activity for many of you, learning how to do it again every single year requires too much time and frustration.

In this week’s tip, I take all of the mystery and hysteria out of creating and printing mailing labels. You will thank me every November when you need to print out your mailing labels. The tip centers around creating a word processing document where you can store, edit and print your labels quickly and easily. Watch the video as many times as you need to and you will NEVER be frustrated with printing labels again!!

If you can’t understand and utilize this tip to print your labels, get out your best pen and write them out instead.