Notes from helping a cartoonist

Today’s notes were created for a cartoonist who has a Mac and has already learned how to scan in his cartoons (via my tutelage months ago), but now he wanted to learn how to add his captions using the computer. The goal was to get it done with as few steps as possible and with his existing software. We used Apple Pages and Preview to get the job done. For your convenience, here is a PDF file of the notes...

How to type on a PDF or scanned form – Video...

One of the computer’s greatest weaknesses is filling in forms…until now! For a long time, I have recommended using FoxIt Reader as my PDF (Adobe portable document format) reader of choice. On and off, they have offered tools to help you fill in forms or annotate documents, but with their newest version, the form filler or typewriter tool is now enhanced and permanent. FoxIt’s typewriter tool is fast,...

How to print labels the EASY way! – Video Tip

You can learn and start using this tip TODAY to make Christmas card or group 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...

How to password protect PDF files with Mac OS X &#...

A client today had a need to learn how to password protect PDF files on their iMac and MacBook Air. With OS X, the process is quite easy…here it is: ...

Creating documents in Apple Pages – Notes

Some notes for a client with a new MacBook Air. She wanted to create a Christmas letter with photos and colored text. She was amazed at what could be done with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks in Pages that she already had installed. I did learn that Pages has a cool reduce file size option to shrink large graphics. Works very well. In addition to helping her learn to create rich documents, I taught her how to export her...

Customizing Apple’s Mac OSX Finder Tool R...

Since I’ve been featuring tips on file management this week, I thought I would demonstrate how to work with and customize the Mac OSX file management tool known as Finder. The finder is quite powerful as is, but sometimes having quicker access to tools you use often is helpful. Watch this short video to learn how to do just that.

3 Basic Tips for new Macintosh Users – Video...

I continue to see a surge in new Apple computer owners…and, in my opinion, justifiably so. This week’s tip focuses on skills that new Macintosh users will need to know in order to feel comfortable with their new Apple Computer. In this video tip, I give new Mac users some important information about how to use the Macintosh HD (hard drive)icon, the Dock (which launches programs and documents), and a primmer on...

Cut, Copy and Paste! – Video Tip

These techniques should be standard tools for any computer user. However, many computer users find these techniques elusive. The ability to move (cut) or copy information from one computer program to another sets you free to do so much more with your computer. Cut, Copy and Paste function by temporarily storing the information, cut or copied, into a temporary holding spot of memory known as the clipboard (Click here for the...

How to make the Mac Dock work for you – Vide...

If you are a relatively new user to the Mac (Apple) world, you may not like the extra space that the dock (icons at bottom of screen) take up on your screen. Fortunately, you can completely customize the dock’s appearance and location. Here’s how: Click the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner Click System Preferences –> Dock Adjust the size of the icons to your preference (hint: making them quite...

Free Solitaire for Apple Macintosh users

After years of looking and trying different programs, I think I found a great, free program for new Apple users that will help ease the move from Windows. Yes, believe it or not, a huge stumbling block for many of my clients in making the move to Macintosh is Solitaire, Free Cell, and/or Spider Solitaire. Prior to today, I guided folks to the web in search of a solitaire program available from Hoyle or playing online...

Set Firefox to recognize web mail for mailto links...

If you use a web based email system like Gmail, HotMail, or Yahoo email or any derivative of these, you more than likely run into occasions where you want to email someone from a web site. However, when you click the link (known as a mailto link), you get presented with an email system you never heard of or used asking you to enter your email particulars to send the email. Most folks usually just snarl and forget about...

Apple Macintosh Expose Shortcuts – Video Tip

Windows users making the switch to an Apple might miss the Show Desktop icon from Windows that minimizes all Windows and displays the desktop. By default, Mac systems have a function enabled called Expose corners that lets users quickly display the desktop by just moving the mouse to the lower right corner. In today’s short video tip, I explain how to enable the other corners of your Mac screen to perform a function...

How to attach iPhoto images to Gmail & Yahoo ...

Currently, iPhoto only lets you send photos via email from within iPhoto if you use the Apple Mail program. For web based email users like Gmail, HotMail or Yahoo email, follow the easy steps in this tip. Start a new email as normal in your Gmail, HotMail, Yahoo mail, etc. Complete the address, subject, and body of the message as normal as well. Look for and click the Attach Files option The Select Files screen will...

Easy Envelopes for Mac users

If you own an Apple computer running the Macintosh operating system, you will love this free application. You can’t print envelopes any easier with any computer or program. EasyEnvelopes | Ambrosia Software, Inc..

Make reading the web easier than ever – Vide...

Although we now have 19″ and larger monitors on most new desktop computers, the text seems to shrink. Why is that? It has to do with screen resolution (how much information can be displayed). Screen resolutions on today’s monitors are up to 3X that of monitors we used just 6-8 years ago. We can see a lot more information, but often the text is too small to view for some computer users. Never fear. Using this...