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Computer Tips

Don’t be afraid to read directions

There is no shame in reading directions step-by-step until you master a computer skill. When I teach my clients how to perform a function or skill on the computer, I walk them through the steps as I write each one down complete with the locations of the buttons to push or fields to fill out. Many books and web sites (like ours) offer the same step-by-step instructions to help you master the computer.

The problem begins when a computer user feels embarassed or maybe is just a little too lazy to read the instructions. Instead, some users try to guess their way through the process and then curse the computer or say to themselves that they will never learn.

Printing Internet Explorer Favorites

Many people have asked me how to print their Internet Favorites. If you are like me and have hundreds of bookmarks or favorites, you might go through a ream of paper printing them. It is more efficient to back them up as I describe in this tip.

If you really want to print them, here are the steps:

1. From Internet Explorer, choose "File" – "Import and Export".
2. Click Next
3. Select Export Favorites and click Next.
4. Make sure the Favorites folder is selected, and click Next.
5. Select Export to a File or Address.
6. Click the Browse button and choose the Desktop
7. Click Finish
8. Click OK
9. Close all windows and double-click on the bookmarks file that is on your desktop.
10. Click File –> Print
11. When the Print box appears, click the Options tab.
12. Check Print table of links box (important step).
13. Click the General tab
14. Click Print (and have plenty of paper)

Google News Alerts

We talk frequently of the new and useful tools that Google offers. One of the best is the Google News service. Google uses their powerful search technology to bring you news stories from many angles. If you really are a news junkie, you can use Google Alerts and RSS to get those news stories routed to your email or customized portal page like My Yahoo or even Google’s cutomizable home page.

To use the Google Alerts or RSS feeds, simply search for a topic at Google News, then click on the "News Alert" link on the left side of the page or the the RSS feed button. Take some time to really look around Google News…you won’t be disappointed. 

Save some text editing keystrokes

Use these hints that I notice that computer users forget about when editing text in emails, file names, word processing etc:

  • When text is highlighted in blue, simply start typing the text that you want to replace it with…NO NEED to hit the backspace or delete key.
  • If you need to delete just a few characters of text and the blinking cursor is in front of the text, use the delete key. If the cursor is behind the text, then use the backspace key. No need to reposition the cursor, just use the delete and backspace key interchangeably.
  • If you need to delete a large block of text, use your mouse to highlight it, OR click ONE time at the beginning of the text you want to delete, then scroll to the end of the text, hold down your shift key and click ONE time again. All the text between the two clicks will be highlighted.
  • To select all text on a page or email to delete, use the Edit –> Select All function or Ctrl + A
  • When filling out web forms, remember that you can push the TAB key on your keyboard to move between information fields (boxes you type in) instead of having to reach for the mouse and click on each box.

Amazing Jams and a quick Microsoft Tip

We never promote products on the site unless we test them first. Today, I helped a new customer with their computer security and backup needs. This gentleman also owns and operates a fruit jam operation. After working on his computer, we talked about his business and his products…jams. He grows most of his own fruits and only picks them at their peak ripeness. When he offered to give me a taste test, I said "sure". The first spoonful was his strawberry jam…WOW!! Is this what jam really tastes like? My mouth exploded with sweet, rich flavor of strawberries….not sugar and corn syrup. I was literally blown away by the depth of the taste and its affect on my palate. Then he continued to impress me with his pear, apricot and wine jams. All I can say is unbelievable. Where can you get this culinary delight? Look to his web site for phone numbers and ordering information; Colorado’s Mountain Fine Jams and Jellies. You will not be disappointed.

What do Rick and Adam do during the week and what is their phone number?

A common misconception is that Adam and I spend our week sunning ourselves with our families on some exotic beach before returning to our mansions and counting our stacks of $100 bills.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I own and operate a business called Grand Valley PC Partners in Grand Junction, CO. All my business is onsite home and office calls to help computer users get out of trouble, setup up new systems or Internet service, and teach users how to get the most out of their computer. I have been doing this for more than 10 years (the radio show is 7 years old).

Just wait and try again

So many computer problems can be solved by simply shutting the computer off, waiting a few minutes then trying again. This is especially true with the Internet. Whether you are using dial-up or high speed, restarting your computer (and high speed modem) is the number one thing to try. Internet companies even repeat this mantra while you are waiting on hold for them to help you.

One other tip with Internet problems is wait for more than just a few minutes. The Internet is a giant organism…it lives, breathes, and has hiccups. These hiccups can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours. When a problem occurs accessing web sites or email and you have already tried shutting the computer on and off, DO NOT ASSUME that the problem is on your computer. More often than not, the problem lies with the Internet itself or your provider. Wait a half hour to hour, then try again. If access continues to be interrupted after two or three hours, then and only then call for help. 

RSS – Really Simple Syndication

RSS has been around for quite a few years already, but we have not brought it up as an official tip. We purposefully held off because we wanted the technology to mature and for the technology to truly become usable. We also delayed the idea a little until we perfected how we were going to offer this exciting web technology on our site.

This week, we just want to introduce you to the topic and then next week give you the step-by-step on how to best utilize RSS. RSS, originally developed by Netscape, stands for Rich Site Summary. Somewhere along the line, the acronym became more commonly known as Really Simple Syndication.

RSS allows web site owners to ‘share’ their content (articles, tips, pictures, audio, video, etc) with other sites or users. Instead of having to physically go to our site, for example, to see what is new on a given day, you could use RSS to check on the headlines from our site. The headlines would link you back to the site where you could read the entire article. Customizable portal pages like Yahoo, Google and MSN offer will let you add any RSS content to the page as well. Think of RSS as being able to truly customize and instantly receive the exact information and entertainment that fits you. No more schlepping through other people’s content, you can create your own!

For those of you who crave more in depth information and history of RSS, please refer to these two sites:

Wikipedia -RSS
History of RSS

Next week, we will teach you how to look for, compile and utilize RSS content or what are known as ‘feeds’.

Picture Slideshows….take a cue from TV

My daughter ‘graduated’ from middle school today. During the ceremony, a group of ambitious students put together a 60-75 slides, using Microsoft PowerPoint, documenting their 8th grade year. PowerPoint and other slideshow making programs give us great flexibility in putting together our pictures like never before.

Does anyone use the old slide projectors anymore?

These students had a minimum slide time of 20 seconds and some slides were on screen for almost 30 seconds. Needless to say, the impact of the program was dramatically reduced because of the extremely long time the audience had to stare at the same picture. The students also put the slideshow to music. Being of the video and Internet age, I would have thought these students would have questioned the length of slides, but I also expected their tech teacher to point it out as they were putting it together. The kids showed some gumption in doing the slideshow, so I have no fault with them at all…I just wish the teachers would have helped guide them.