Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » Word

Should I backup?

Rick — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:14:03 +0000

Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear.... Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother's giving them castor oil. It's no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer include:

Share YOUR Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts

Rick — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:04:57 +0000

I'm always amazed at how surprised computer users become when they learn about a keyboard shortcut. A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that you press on your keyboard to perform a particular function. If you learn them and practice them, they can shave hours off of the tedious maneuvering of the mouse.

These are my favorite and most used computer keyboard shortcuts:

Type first. Edit last.

Rick — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:20:01 +0000

Most of us learned how to type letters and documents using a typewriter. Word processing reigns as then new king of document creation and most typewriters are relegated to attics, back rooms and antique shops. However, the majority of computer users use their word processors (MS Word, Word Perfect, etc) like a typewriter. The first rule to remember when using a word processor is to forget your typewriting rules. When we sat down to our typewriters to create a document (whether a simple letter to Mom or a 100 page novelette), we had to have a clear picture in our head of what the document should look like. Otherwise, crumpled typing paper dominated our floors!

Email Filters – Outlook Express

Rick — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:40:07 +0000

Over the next few weeks, the weekly tip will focus on the creation of email filters with the various email packages. See last month's tip for a general description of email filters.

This week's tip describes email filters using Outlook Express and its rules based system:

1. Create mail folders for Jokes, Spam Saved mail, etc by RIGHT clicking on Local Folders from the folder list, then clicking on New Folder. Creating folders will give you a chance to really organize and sort email with this rules technique
2. Click on Tools --> Message Rules --> Mail
3. In the first box, choose a parameter like "where the subject contains specific words" (you can choose more than one parameter) OR where an email address appears in the To or CC
4. In the second box, choose an action like "delete it" or "move to specified folder"
5. In the third box, click on any underlined words to set the parameter (ex: specified words = spam or viagra)
6. In box four, name your rule something descriptive
7. Click OK
8. Click New and repeat the steps to add new rules

How to Use the “Extra” Keys on Your Keyboard

Rick — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:18:26 +0000

There are roughly 50 keys on your keyboard that you use on a regular basis, but there are at least 104 total keys on your keyboard. So, what are those other keys for? Here is a list of the keys you may not be using that can make your life a lot easier - in no particular order. F1 - The F1 key is located above your number and letter keypad. In almost any program anywhere in Windows, pressing F1 will bring up your help screen. From the help screen you can look up topics and learn more about the program you are using. PRINT SCREEN (PRT SCR, PRNT SCR, etc.) - Located to the right of the F keys, the Print Screen button is handy for capturing the contents of your entire screen onto the clipboard. After hitting Print Screen, you can click on EDIT->PASTE in almost any program and an image of the screen capture will come up on the screen. TIP: Holding ALT while hitting the Print Screen button will capture only the active window.

Yet another reason to ditch Microsoft Office for web based apps

Rick — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:35:06 +0000

This news story has flown mostly under the radar of most computer users for weeks. In a nutshell, it’s a patent infringement suit brought upon Microsoft by a Canadian company called i4i. The suit alleges that Microsoft knowingly used proprietary technologies in Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007. Last week, a judge in Texas, ruled in [...]

Creating Tables in Microsoft Word – Part II – Video Tip

Rick — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:40:15 +0000

In Part I of my "Creating Tables" tip, I discussed what a table was, how to create them, and some basics on how to customize them. In Part II of the tip, I discuss how to use reverse text, cell coloring, sorting, formulas and create a form all with tables. The video takes a few minutes to load (may be too slow for dial-up), but the wait is worth the knowledge.

Creating Tables in Microsoft Word – Part I – Video Tip

Rick — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:35:54 +0000

Since many of us in the post 35 year old set learned how to type and create documents with a typewriter, we tend to try and use computer word processors like a typewriter. The two technologies couldn't be further apart from each other and other than touch typing, we need to throw out almost all our knowledge of document creation from those days.

FRUIT	COLOR	VITAMINS
Apple	Red or Green	Vitamin S
Peach	Peach	Vitamin J
Blueberries	Blue	Vitamin B

No one task illustrates this better than making a list of information in column format (like the illustration on the left) If we try to use tabs to create a three column list in the middle of a document, we are quickly reduced to cursing or babbling incoherent words under our breath. Instead, if you take a few minutes to learn how to use tables in your word processor, you will be creating beautiful documents in record time. Trying to explain how to create a table in words is impossible, you need to see the steps in action which is why I provided you with a video tip. Click the "Read More" option below if the video hasn't already started to play for you. To repeat the video, simply push F5 on your keyboard or the refresh button in your browser.

Email of the Week – 006

Rick — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:45:48 +0000

QUESTION Name: Kathy From: Grand Junction OS: Windows XP ———————- When I go into different web sites I get this message: ERROR A runtime error has occurred? Line 30 ERROR: Object required Yes No This occurs quite frequently can you tell me why and what I can do about it? ANSWER This error is usually due to [...]

Use keyboard shortcuts to save time editing text – Video Tip

Rick — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:01:41 +0000

When you open an existing Microsoft Word document, Word places the insertion point at the beginning of the document by default. However, if you would like to move the cursor to the location it was in when you were last working on the document, simply press Shift + F5 on your keyboard. When you use press Shift + F5, Word performs the Go Back command, which moves the insertion point from its current location to the last location in which a modification, such as typing, deleting or formatting text, was made. Some other helpful Word cursor keyboard movements include: * Press Home to get to the beginning of a line