Posts Tagged: folders

Riding Shotgun with Adam / Tips & Tricks — No Comments
23
Apr 08

Managing your digital photos

Organizing your digital photos is so important. Too often I see people who have major computer problems and think that everything is backed up only to find that their digital photos were so spread out on their computer that the only had a portion of them backed up.

Many people simply copy their digital photos onto their computer wherever a given piece of software puts them and they have no idea where that is. These notes will help you setup a system for managing your digital photos so they will be easy to find and backup even without programs like Picasa.

Here are a few links that will help you:

Rick Castellini’s file management PowerPoint presentation

Everything on HelpMeRick.com about Picasa 

HelpMeRick.com YouTube channel

In order to find your photos, you must establish a good filing system on your computer. The system you choose depends on you and how you use your digital camera.

If you take pictures of family and events, you may prefer to organize your photos by date, person or event. If you shoot nature and wildlife then you may choose to organize by animal, flower or location.

How your computer’s drive hierarchy works:

A: is always your floppy drive

B: is never present because it is your second floppy drive (you probably don’t even have an A:)

C: is your computer’s main hard drive

The next letters are assigned by next available letter in the following order hard drives, CD/DVD drives, removable drives.

To rename a folder or a file – click on it once then press the F2 key. Rename the file then press ENTER on your keyboard.

There is no limit to the number of sub-folders that can be contained within a folder.

 

Email Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
31
Mar 08

Gmail convertee

Three weeks ago, I switched from using Microsoft Outlook (which I had used since 1998) to Gmail.

What is Gmail?

Gmail is the fast, free web based email from search giant Google. Gmail offers free POP3 access (if you want to download your email into Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc), 6.5 GB of storage (and the number continually grows), and the best web based spam filter I’ve seen so far.

Why did I switch?

I used Outlook because I could manage my contacts, calendar, email, to-do list, and memos in one program and then synchronize to my Palm Treo. After I purchaed and started to use Vista last year (solely to learn it and to be able to support it), my Treo and Outlook stopped talking to each other. Strike One. This was Outlook 2007 and some of the features I enjoyed (like being able to print just selected text and using just the basic Outlook email editor instead of the slower Word Editor) were dropped and features I knew how to work with in all prior versions were moved, renamed, and/or changed. Strike Two.

I started using Gmail as an experiment on both my desktop and my Palm Treo since Gmail lets you retrieve any other POP3 (standard email) accounts directly into Gmail. After a couple of weeks, I got the hang of Gmail’s Label system which replaces the traditional folder organization in Outlook and all other email systems. I found that I liked the ability to have ALL of my email available to me from ANY computer. My biggest hurdle in leaving Outlook behind was my Cloudmark Desktop anti-spam system. Cloudmark kept my eamil sanity by quietly and efficiently shielding my delicate eyes from the massive amounts of spam I receive every day. Well, after my two week Gmail trial and now my full three week marriage to Gmail, I can say that the Gmail spam filter is every bit as effective as Cloudmark’s. Strike Three!

What do I like about Gmail?

  • The always available email from any computer or Internet device (like my Treo) without concern for space.
  • Great spam filter.
  • Fast and simple interface.
  • Labels…after working with Gmail Labels, they make much more since than folders.
  • Fast searching of email.
  • Wonderful Rules system that makes creating email rules a snap.
  • Ability to retrieve external email addresses.

My transition to Gmail has been painless and liberating. If you are thinking of changing email addresses or adding a new one, definitely give Gmail serious consideration. Look for future how-to videos about using Gmail here at HelpMeRick.com.

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 4 Comments
29
Jan 08

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 Webopedia definition).

The information held in the clipboard stays there and is available to Paste until either the computer is restarted or another item is cut or copied. Make special note of this fact when using the “Cut” command, because if you cut or copy another item before pasting the first item, the first one is lost.

Before choosing Cut or Copy, the computer needs to know what you want to cut or copy. This is done by using the mouse to select or highlight the item or items. I have two tips that describe the art of selecting or highlighting text and files.

Copying and pasting text from a web site to an email will provide a useful method of practicing this technique…here’s how:

  1. Find some text to copy (this tip will do) and highlight the text with your mouse
  2. Click Edit from the menus
  3. Click Copy
  4. Switch over to your email program and start a new email
  5. Put your cursor (blinking vertical line) in the body of the message
  6. Click Edit from the menus
  7. Click Paste

Pretty nifty, eh? You can use this very same technique to copy and paste text from email to email, from your word processor to email (or vice versa), from the web to your word processor, etc.

Copy and Paste Shortcuts

Instead of clicking Edit and Copy, you can push Ctrl + C on your keyboard or RIGHT click on the text you highlighted and click Copy from the menu.

Instead of pushing Edit and Paste from the menus, try Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert on the keyboard or RIGHT click at your destination and choose Paste from the menus.

Copy and Paste with Folders and Files

Copying and pasting files and folders works the same way as copying and pasting text…here’s how:

  1. Click on a file (like a Word document or picture) or a folder (like My Documents)
  2. Click Edit from the menus
  3. Click Copy
  4. Navigate to a different folder or drive
  5. Click on the new folder’s name
  6. Click Edit from the menus
  7. Click Paste

When using Cut, Copy and Paste with files and folders, be very cognizant of the fact that one you copy or cut another item, the previous one is gone. Make darn sure that you have pasted the information you don’t want to lose before cutting or copying a new item.

Keep practicing your cut, copy and paste techniques, and I’m sure you will find them an irreplaceable part of your computer knowledge.

For a visual demonstration of how this extremely important and helpful computer skill is, watch the how-to video below:

OnAir Solutions / Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 11 Comments
23
Jan 08

Missing file names under documents or photos in thumbnail view

Lately, more than a few people have had trouble with missing file names in the thumbnail view of some of their folders. It isn’t entirely apparent why this happens, but fortunately the cure is pretty simple. If you are one of the poor souls who happens to be missing their file names, follow these steps:

  1. Open the offending folder to see the thumbnails
  2. Click View from the menus (or the view button on the toolbar), and click Details
  3. Hold the SHIFT key down on your keyboard and Click View from the menus (or the view button on the toolbar), and click Thumbnails


You should now see thumbnails with file names under them.

Apparently this was added to Windows as a feature to allow the thumbnails to be displayed a little larger, so you can use this technique to toggle the file names on or off in thumbnail view.

 

 

 

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 12 Comments
10
Dec 07

Any Gmail users out there?

As I move more and more of my computing away from my desktop computer to the Internet and Ubuntu, my computing life becomes less complicated and quite mobile. I can access documents, calendar information, contact information, and more from my phone (Treo 755p at the moment) and any Internet connected computer any where I happen to be.

The one looming part of my desktop computer that I can’t move completely to the web yet is my email. I use Microsoft Outlook to retrieve, sort, save, and filter spam (via Cloudmark Desktop) coming from five different email addresses. It’s not necessarily the Outlook that I hate to leave behind because I can check my email from anywhere via web mail. Cloudmark Desktop keeps me tethered to my desk because it does such a fantastic job of separating the spam from my real email.

This is why I need input from Gmail users. I want to learn from Gmail users who truly “get” Google’s unique approach to email and can give me first hand knowledge of how effective labels and searching email works in Gmail versus sorting email into folders in traditional email services and applications. And even more importantly, how effective is the Gmail spam filter?

If you use Gmail regularly or know a Gmail aficionado, please leave a comment below telling me about your experiences. I want to learn from you.

Windows Tips — 7 Comments
29
Nov 07

Using Check boxes to Select Files and Folders – Video Tip

Some computer users have trouble remembering or using the keyboard and mouse shortcuts to select multiple files and folders. Windows Vista offers an option to allow users to check boxes instead of using the keyboard/mouse combos to select multiple files. To enable this option, again in Windows Vista only, follow these steps:

  1. Open in folder (My Computer, Documents, Windows Explorer, etc)
  2. Click Organize from the menus
  3. Click Folder and Search Options
  4. Click the View tab
  5. Scroll through the Advanced settings and check the Use check boxes to select items option
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click OK 

Watch the short 2 minute video below to see a demonstration of this feature and how to enable it.


Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — No Comments
26
Oct 07

Re-name your files and folders the easy way – Video Tip

Renaming files and folders can be a tricky task with the mouse. However, using your keyboard, renaming your files or folders is simple!

1. Click ONE time on the file or folder that you want to rename
2. Press the F2 key on your keyboard
3. Type the new name (remember that you can use up to 255 characters…but no slashes)
4. Press Enter on your keyboard

There you have four easy steps to organizing your files. Also, remember that you can perform this same function from within the OPEN or SAVE dialog boxes in many programs.

The only time that you cannot use this techniques is when the file is open.

Don’t add any extra mouse clicks or keyboard strokes to this tip and you should find instant success with this technique.

To rename multiple files at the same time, try this:

1. Select the files to be renamed
2. RIGHT Click on any ONE of the files
3. Type the new name for the file
4. Press Enter on your keyboard

The computer then renames the file you RIGHT clicked on and proceeds to rename all of the other selected files with the same name followed by a number in parenthesis.

Watch the video below to see this tip demonstrated.


Application Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — No Comments
24
Oct 07

Print Folder Contents

The ability to print out the contents of a folder (directory) on your computer does not exist in Windows.

“Why would I need to print out a list of what is in my folders?”, you ask. A couple of reasons actually; 1) it can serve as a quick glance reference to your computer’s contents and 2) you might want to print a copy of file names that you backed up.

Thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of programmers everywhere, you can print out those folders’ contents. One such program is called Folder Print 3. It is a FREE utility that you can download and install to satisfy this need.

Another program that works well…maybe even easier is called the JR Directory Printer. It is a zipped file that you can download here, then extract and use. In very little time, you can be printing out folder lists with either of these tools!

If using tools isn’t your style, you can use a command prompt trick to make a list of the files in any directory then open and print that list. Here’s how:

  1. RIGHT click on the folder that you want the list of files (must be the exact folder, not a shortcut)
  2. Highlight the location of the folder, starting with the drive letter
  3. Push the Windows + R key on your keyboard (or click Start –> Run)
  4. Type:   cmd
  5. Presse Enter on the keyboard
  6. Type:  cd 
  7. Press the space bar ONE time
  8. Click the small icon in the upper left hand corner of the command prompt window
  9. Click Edit –> Paste
  10. Type the name of the folder (directory)
  11. Press Enter on the keyboard 
  12. Type:   dir > list.txt
  13. Presse Enter on your keyboard
  14. Type exit
  15. Presse Enter on your keyboard

Double-click on the folder you wanted the list for and you should find a “list.txt” file. This is a simple Notepad file that can be emailed or printed easily.

 


 

Riding Shotgun with Adam / Windows Tips — No Comments
3
Oct 07

Desktop Shortcuts Make Computing Easier – Video Tip

Learning to make Windows work for you instead of you working for it can yield many more happy and productive hours using your computer. One highly under utilized feature of Windows is the shortcut icon. Learning to use and manage shortcuts will give you a huge advantage with your computer.

A shortcut is simply a ‘pointer’ to a location on your computer. Every entry in your programs menu of the start button is a shortcut. Any icon on your desktop that has a little up-turned arrow is also a shortcut. When you delete a shortcut (and you can do so by simply RIGHT clicking on one and then clicking delete from the menus), you don’t delete the underlying program or folder.

Create shortcuts for your most commonly used programs by RIGHT clicking and dragging them from your Programs menu to the desktop. Click Copy from the menu that pops up.

Create shortcuts to commonly accessed folders or files by RIGHT clicking on them and dragging them to your desktop. Click “Create Shortcut Here” from the resulting menu.

If you use a card reader to download your digital camera photos, create a shortcut to the folder on the card so that you can access your pictures in one step.

Once you master the power of shortcuts, you will wonder how you lived without them!

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
21
Jul 07

Ubuntu – Day 5

I haven’t ported much of my data to this computer from my Windows’ computer, but haven’t missed any of it yet either. I do have this system hooked into my home network so I can access shared folders on the Windows’ machine if I need those files. I mentioned on the show today that one of the huge reasons I like Mozilla Firefox is the availability of “extensions”. Extensions are little add-ons that allow anyone to customize and enhance their browser to do things that are important to them. One of my favorites is Google Sync.

Google Sync stores any or all of the following Internet items to their servers, then let’s you “synchronize” them with another computer. Syncable items include bookmarks, saved passwords, history, cookies, and even the different tabs you might use in Firefox. If you work between two computers, no matter the operating system, this comes in extremely handy. I used the Google Sync to get my current bookmarks, history, and saved passwords from my Windows’ machine to this Ubuntu laptop. It worked flawlessly and allowed me to continue where I left off five days ago with my other computer.

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