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.Read More »Creating Tables in Microsoft Word – Part I – Video Tip
Google recently rolled out a system wide update to all Gmail users that offers the ability to complete your sentences for you or even add full options for replies to other emails. Smart Reply and Smart Compose are the names of these features. I find them to be helpful and am getting used to using them on some of my… Read More »How to disable Gmail Smart Reply or Compose – 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
If you own an iPhone or iPad, use this quick tip to use it to remind you to shut off your sprinkler, take the roast out of the oven, call a friend, pick up the dry cleaning (does anyone do this any more?), walk the dog, take your medicine, or anything else you need help remembering. To create a reminder,… Read More »How to Create Reminders on your iPhone or iPad with Siri – Video Tip
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… Read More »How to type on a PDF or scanned form – Video Tip
If you own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch from Apple, they have provided you a complete and free user guide right on your device. To find it, just launch the Safari web browser, tap the bookmarks icon, then swipe to the bottom of the list to find the guide. Apple also provides a free PDF download version of their device… Read More »How to find your FREE iPhone or iPad User Guide – Video Tip
Google acquired a CIA funded mapping and satellite company in 2004 and released Google Earth less than a year later. Most images that make up Google Earth are 1-3 years old and taken from a variety of public and private satellite imaging systems. Google Earth imagery is not live and has never been live. Google offers Google Earth for free… Read More »Google Earth & Internet Maps
You know that I’m a huge Gmail fan and have written and recorded many tips for the email service here for you at HelpMeRick.com. This short post simply gives you a quick and easy way to access ALL those Gmail tips by clicking here ! Enjoy and leave any Gmail related questions you have in the comments! Thanks.
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 week’s tip, you can easily and quickly enlarge the text of any web page using only your keyboard and mouse. This tip will work with any web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc) and any operating system (Windows, Ubuntu, Mac OS X).
All you need is a mouse with a scroll wheel and your keyboard. This tip can be performed without the mouse as well, but I’ll touch on that later. First, when you are reading a web site, particularly news web sites and blog type sites like mine, look for an indication of a printer friendly page. Often designated as Printer Friendly, Print this article, or simply Print, clicking this link brings up a version of the article you are reading that is much less busy and cleaner than how the article presents on the web page itself. This alone may make enough difference for readability.
However, you can quickly increase the size of the text you are reading by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and spinning your mouse scroll wheel away from your body (towards the computer monitor). Amazing, no? Holding down the Ctrl key and spinning towards your body (away from the monitor) will shrink the text again.
The same result can be achieved by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the “+” or “-” keys as well. I think the mouse method is a little more intuitive and elegant.
Watch the short video below to see this tip in action and see the web as never before!
I created these notes for a client today who visits many sites with text that prints small. She knows how to make the screen text larger, and I referred to the tips (below) about printing from the web, but sometimes good ol’ copy and paste is necessary to truly get the look you want on paper. Learn how to use… Read More »How to print stuff from the web the way YOU want it – Notes