Automate Manual Tasks With Microsoft Office Macros

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Are you familiar with the phrase ‘all the gear, but no idea’? This is very fitting for many Microsoft Office owners. As I’m sure most of you will agree, Microsoft products can be extremely powerful but at times incredibly frustrating too.

It is of little use having lots of cool tools, but not being able to use them properly and being completely unaware as to the ease of automation for routine manual tasks.

If this sounds like you, fear not, you are not alone! Most people use Microsoft Office to only a fraction of its full potential. You needn’t be an expert to benefit from the automation of highly labour intensive manual tasks.

Excel is more than just a Glorified Calculator
Contrary to common belief, Microsoft Excel is more than just a glorified calculator and Word has come along leaps and bounds since its early word processor days. In fact, all the Microsoft Office programs offer an array of advanced features including programmable macros that can be used to automate a variety of tasks - and you don’t have be a whizz-kid programmer either!

Of course, the hard part is deducing what can and what can’t be automated and then learning how to automate what can. If you are not that technically savvy, then it may be a wise investment of time to attend an instructor-led training programme.

Professional trainers often have development experience and are able to communicate technical jargon in plain straightforward English. That’s their job, that’s what they do best!

Creating Macros for Every Day Boring Manual Tasks
All Microsoft Office programmes allow you create macros, which are shortcuts to tasks that you do repeatedly. You can approach macros one of two ways. The first is by programming lines of hand code, Eek! If this sounds like you, then you may like to go down the more technical route of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) training.

Fortunately the second option is much simpler, whereby you are able to record a common task through the use of a macro. It’s similar to recording a T.V. programme on your VHS player, simply hit record, then demonstrate the task and then click stop when you have finished. No programming to learn here!

For example, you may have an Excel document where you manage data every week or month and you organise or analyse the data the same way every time? Or you regularly apply the same combination of formats and styles? Macro’s can help; they will be your new best friend!

This easily automated process works by recording mouse clicks and keystrokes that can be played back and applied to new sets of data whenever required - it really is that simple! The series of commands are then played in the exact order to perform a specific task, which can be run on a regular basis.

Example of How to Setup a Simple Macro
Please follow these guidelines to see how to setup a simple macro. You could start off by trying it in Microsoft Word or Excel.

* Tools | Macro | Record New Macro
* Enter the Macro Name in the Record Macro dialog box
* Click OK, you will notice a Stop Recording toolbar appears
* You are ready to Record. Enter the commands and keystrokes in the same order required to complete the task.
* Click the Stop Recording button when you have completed your task and Voila - you are all set to finally say NO to boring manual repetitive tasks!

Running the Macro
There are several ways you can run your brand new macro. If you use your macro frequently, you may decide to create a button or keyboard shortcut to execute it. Failing that, you can just use the menu system - here is a breakdown of what is involved with each:

Using the Tools Menu
This is the simpler but slightly long winded approach:

* Select the cell where you would like the formatting to begin
* Tools | Macro | Click the Name of the Macro
* Click Run

Assign a Keystroke to Launch your Macro
* Tools | Macro | Click the Name of the Macro
* Click Options and in the Shortcut key box, enter Ctrl + another character
* You can then enter the Shortcut combination e.g. Ctr + J to run the macro at any time

Be careful not to use a keystroke that already exists such as copy, Ctr + C.

Using a Toolbar Button to Run your Macro
This is probably the clearest way if you are creating a macro that is intended to be run by anyone else:

* Tool | Customise | Select the Commands tab
* Under Categories, select Macros
* You can then drag the Custom Button onto the toolbar where appropriate
* In the Customize Dialog box, select Modify Selection
* Click Assign Macro and then click the name of your Macro

The Microsoft Office suite is packed full of features to save you time and effort. Macros are a great way of minimising the time spent on repetitive mundane tasks. If you require more information on macro development or other time saving Office activities there is now a wealth of resources online, or if you feel a more interactive approach would suite you enquire with a Microsoft training company.

Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office training company, the UK industry leader in its sector. For more information on Microsoft Office Training, visit http://www.microsofttraining.net

Grid Computing

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Most industries today have become so dynamic that organisations have to consistently seek and adapt to change, in order to survive and prosper. Factors like more diversified customer preferences, technological advances, increased competitive threats and an intensified global economy are among the forces inducing change. Organisations need to become more adaptable embracing Charles Darwin’s view that “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is the most adaptable to change”.

A survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in March 2004 shows that 47% of the CEO’s of the US’s fastest growing companies believe that their most critical success factor is having flexible strategies to respond to accelerating business changes. However, many recently implemented Information Systems still tend to ignore this need for flexibility and at times are hard to scale and customise, thereby limiting the ability of an enterprise to react fast to its evolving business needs.

In the last two decades we constantly experienced a dramatic change in the way we store and process digital information. Every few years there has been an industry breakpoint; an important new computing concept that changed radically the way computers are used and Information Systems are implemented. Examples include graphical and more user-friendly interfaces, the clientserver concept and the Internet. Such factors have somehow aided and contributed to position computers as a necessary commodity. Additionally, with the constant drop in the cost of hardware, and better and cheaper network bandwidth, computers have become even more ubiquitous. The Internet has evolved tremendously and is today considered as probably the most effective communication medium. Whilst technology tends to evolve in a non-linear fashion, Moore’s Law has ensured that processing power has been increasing exponentially.

Though this is contributing to easier hoarding and dissemination of information, ICT professionals today still face tough challenges. ICT budgets grew rapidly in the late 90’s in anticipation of the Y2K problem. In these last years many ICT departments have been even asked to cut their budgets while they were expected to continue providing an appropriate information infrastructure so as to enable the organisations to augment their products and possibly gain a competitive edge. Hardware replacement cycles are perceived to have increased. Generally speaking, ICT budgets did not grow in these last years in line with the computational needs of the organisations; whilst workloads are still increasing, the capacities to handle them are not.

In some cases increasing a firm’s computational needs might end up in a lot of computational power which is not appropriately utilised. Why? Consider for example the utilization of a server machine. Most of the time its real processing capacity is not used at all. However maybe sometimes because a large and long process is executed or the number of connected users temporarily increase, the server might endup experiencing a processing overload. It has been estimated that on average a desktop computer uses only about 5% to 8% of its processing power (EuropeanCeo, 2005). Whilst, as Hendry (2004) reports, load balancing can aid in the distribution of processing and communication activity, similar servers that experience spikes in processor usage are barely used for the rest of the day and eventually end up with a large amount of unused computing capacity.

So the inevitable questions are, is it really feasible to increase and upgrade the firm’s single source of computational power if most of the time the existing processing power is not being used? How can we ensure that a firm’s computational resources are well balanced and allocated, so as to minimise wastage and eventually, justify any further investment in the ICT infrastructure?

The basic concept that gives insight to the answer to these questions extends back to the 70’s when the notion of distributed computing was born. Today, we are seeing increasing interest among business communities in what is termed as, Grid Computing.

Definition
World-renowned organisations are promoting the Grid in a big way and several definitions can be found. It has become a fashionable term. Dr. Ian Foster, a professor at the University of Chicago and director of the Distributed Systems Lab at Argonne National Laboratory, a pioneer in Grid Computing, provided his definition for the layman as being the “technology to enable the sharing of computing resources across institutional boundaries”. Research firm, Gartner, Inc., defines grid computing as a way to solve computing tasks using resources that are shared by more than one owner and coordinated to solve more than one problem.

The concept of Grid Computing was initially popular among academics, research and scientific communities. It was used for functions that required a substantial amount of computing power. However in these last years, an increasing number of organisations are early adopting and trying to reap benefits from this technology.

There are numerous examples where Grid computing has been applied. Among the research communities, Oxford University is using Grid technology to analyse 3.5 billion molecules to work out their cancer fighting potential. Same is being done by Stanford University in order to analyse the role protein plays in keeping people healthy. The search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project is another example. Here, volunteers download and install a free program so as to process and analyse massive amounts of data in search of evidence of possible radio transmissions from extraterrestrial life. When tallying up all the processing power that these PC’s provide, it’s like having one big supercomputer. Grid technologies also played a major role in identifying the world’s largest known prime number. This was part of the Marsenne project where scientists identified the 43rd Marsenne Prime 230,402,457-1. - a figure that contains 9,152,052 digits.

Business Applicability
Within business communities, the Grid concept is far more popular among large corporations. Baum, the publishing editor for Oracle Corporation, states that these corporations are initially attracted by the amount of savings that the technology can provide. Mainstay Partners conducted an ROI study to evaluate the enterprise grid technology platforms currently in use at seven participating companies. It was concluded that the adaptation of grid technology yielded an average of 43 percent savings in hardware cost. Much of the savings were credited to the shift from a large symmetric multiprocessor server to a number of lower cost servers. With the use of Grid technology the latter setup delivered similar or at times even more computational power than the larger system, however with fewer costs. Baum’s report adds that the grids within these companies were being used for a variety of applications, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), decision support, customer relationship management (CRM), and supply chain management (SCM).

Still, companies that operate in the financial services industry, drug discoveries and weather modeling are initially more prone to benefit from Grid technologies, as they are involved in complex scientific and mathematical calculations and therefore require an added amount of computational power. So are companies that tend to process large amounts of data for their business intelligence activities. However, organisations are increasingly being enticed to adopt Grid technologies even for their transactional based systems, given that Grids may further facilitate storage space Issues.

Challenges faced by Grid Computing
IDC, the market intelligence and advisory services firm, are referring to Grid computing as the fifth generation of computing, after client-server and multi-tier (Table 1).

Yet, according to IDC, the technology still needs to be ‘normalised’ and has to overcome various challenges. IDC believes that these concerns, in some cases, are more perception than reality, and as organisations gain more experience with this distributed approach, their concerns will be laid to rest.

Additionally, a research conducted by the 451 Group shows that software licensing, security and bandwidth matters are among the things that can disturb grid rollouts.

Conclusion
Whilst Grid computing still needs to find broad acceptance in the commercial space, yet, market analysts state that the technology is here to stay. As Tom Hawk, the general manager of Grid computing for IBM says, “The Web is about sharing information. The grid is about sharing resources”.

Sandro Azzopardi is a professional author who writes articles on his web site and local newspapers. http://www.theinfopit.com/technology/gridcomputing-1.php

Don’t Steal Someone Else’s (Domain) Name!

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Putting together a good web site can be a difficult process for those who don’t understand the ins and the outs of the process. When it comes to creating a really good site, every step of the process is very important. But, perhaps the most important step is the domain search itself.

Getting a good domain name is very important to the success of any site. A solid domain search prior to creating the site can really help in getting a name that’s ideal for your purposes. As you do a domain search, you’ll want to check on domain names that fit your business, follow the brand name of your product, use your name and so on.

Some of the best domain names found in domain searches reflect:

* A company’s own personal name. This is a great way to do a domain search. If you want a site for your entire company, a domain search should include your business’ name first and then variations of it if the main name is already taken by another company.
* Another great option for a domain name is creating a site whose name uses your main service offered in it. If, for example, you are an insurance broker and your company’s name is already taken by someone else, consider doing a domain search for ‘insurance’ and seeing what’s taken and what might still be available.
* Product names. Can you imagine Xbox.com being owned by anyone other than Microsoft? If you have a product that speaks for itself, do a domain search to see if your product’s name is available for use. If it is, this might be the ideal name to go with.

Doing a domain search can be a frustrating process. Sometimes the very best names you can come up with will already be taken. If this is the case, however, don’t despair, most domain search sites offer you an option of finding alternatives that are closely related to the site name you’ve typed in. If you have to go this route in your domain search, remember to carefully weigh the names available before choosing. A good domain name will:

* Be reasonably short. You want to make sure your domain search includes the shortest possible names that still reflect your company name, service or product.
* Uncomplicated. Don’t accept site names that come up on a domain search that are too complex. If the name includes a series of letters, number, symbols or unrecognizable words, steer clear. The shorter and easier to remember your site name is the better.

Doing a good domain search before you decide on a site name can result in a plethora of good names you might not have even considered before. Carefully weigh the names and choose one that best fits your product, service or purpose and be certain the name is fairly easy to remember and type, as well.

It might seem like a little detail, but a domain name is very important to helping drive traffic to your site. You want a name that stands out and speaks for itself without being too complex for people to type or remember.

More information on domain searches

domain search

http://www.domainsearchinfo.com

Top Things To Consider During A Domain Name Search

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It might not seem like a big deal on the surface, but a domain name search is actually one of the most important steps in creating a good web site. This is especially so for businesses that intend to be reliant on the Internet for traffic and customers. Doing a solid domain name search to find the best possible site name is vital.

The importance of a domain name search and the subsequent naming of the site is key in making sure people can find your site, remember your site name and also pass it along to their friends and other fellow potential clients.

Think of some of your favorite web sites and the names they use, and you’ll see why a domain name is so important. Business sites you frequent tend to use the business name in the domain. News sites either relate to the types of news they cover, or they use the publication name. Fun sites use names that spell out what they do or close to it. The catchier or shorter the domain name found during a search, the better.

As you do a domain name search to find the ideal business site name for your company, remember:

* Your search should include your business name and/or the topics your site will deal with. The more relevant the name to what you do or who you are, the better. This is important for helping potential clients remember your site name. If you can land your business name, or its main product, during a domain search, grab it.
* The domain name search tools provided by site building companies should be taken advantage of to find a name that’s unique, short, easy to spell, easy to remember and even more importantly easy to type. Stay away from names that are too long, too complicated or too unrelated to what you do. The further away a domain name is from who you are or what you do, the more likely it is you won’t have great success in marketing. Unless of course, the site name is so catchy, people can’t forget it.
* Use a domain name search to find a site name that’s uncomplicated. You don’t want your site to get lost in the shuffle. Don’t use a complex combination of letters, number and hyphens or underscores in your domain name. These tend to confuse people and make it difficult for them to remember how to find your site again.

As you do domain name searches, remember the site name you choose will likely be used by you to market your company, make sales and generally spread the word about who you are and what you do. Think marketing as you do searches and you’ll be on the right track.

Before you settle on a name for your site, ask yourself these questions:

* Has my domain name search covered all the possible bases?
* Does the name I’m thinking of using for my domain reflect what I do?
* Does the domain I’ve chosen have a catchy sound?
* Is the domain name easy to remember? Easy to type?

It might not seem like a very big deal, but naming a web site is key in driving traffic to it. The more thought that goes into the process, the better. Use domain name search tools to help you find the best possible name for your site.

More information on domain searches

domain search

http://www.domainsearchnet.com

Even You Can Benefit From Online Trading, And Make A Fortune!

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It’s a relatively new phenomena that’s sweeping the investment field. It’s online trading and it seems to be here to stay. Online trading might seem a little awkward at first, but for those who revel in watching their stocks rise and fall, the fun is what makes online trading a great way to go.

Smart investors use online trading to their advantage and adopt some of the philosophies of long-term investors. Day trading can be fun, but it can be a risky battle, so a more holistic approach can be a bit smarter to adopt.

Online trading works in much the same manner as hiring a broker, the difference is you’re in the driver’s seat in most cases. This means you can buy and sell your stocks in real time, using online features to do so. If you’re into watching the market, it means you can buy into stocks as they begin to show signs of life, and sell quickly when a profit’s been made. The disadvantage here is that many unskilled buyers tend to get a little overzealous and lose money using online trading sites.

To protect yourself and your investments, it’s wise when using online trading to:

* Understand what you’re getting into. It might seem like a fun game to watch stocks go up and down, but when it’s your money that’s involved, it’s not a game. The investments are real and so are potential losses.
* Pay heed to stocks that are good to buy into. Research your buys and don’t count on a single day’s returns as the only information you use before making purchases. While some higher risk buys are more than OK, you don’t want your entire savings tied up in them.
* Diversify. Online trading is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to get into the stock market, but don’t use this as the only means of investing for your future. Smart investors developed a mixed portfolio, which means they have stocks, bonds, CDs and other investment tools all working for them.
* Don’t over-react. One bad day for a blue chip, for example, doesn’t mean the stock is going to “crash” for good. Hold on to stocks that are proven winners for a fair amount of time before accepting a loss and selling.
* Don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. There are no guarantees in the stock market. Even if you have a “sure winner,” there is a chance you could lose a lot of money on a particular stock. It’s important to make sure you invest only what you can financially handle.
* Get professional advice, if necessary. If you don’t understand how the market works, or at least the basic gist of it, seek out advice before getting into online trading. The temptation to buy and sell too fast or too slow could get you into trouble if you don’t understand how to watch stocks and research the market.

Online trading can be a great way to get involved in the stock market right from the security of your own home. Quick, easy and offering low handling fees, this particular means of investing is becoming a favorite investing pastime for many. Just make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you do. Loses in online trading are just as real as if you’d hired a broker.

More information on online trading

online trading benefits

http://www.onlinetradingltd.com

The Perfect Desktop Icon

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People put as much effort into customizing their computer desktops as they do into decorating the tops of their desks.

I have personally witnessed friends spending hours looking for the perfect desktop icon which refers to some show or other that they used to watch in their childhood in the 70s. No matter how obscure the desktop icon, someone somewhere has at the very least a pirate version of it, often as part of a theme.

There are so many desktop icons floating around, that the number will probably never be counted, I can tell you.

Of course, the best way to get all of your icons is as part of a desktop theme. Desktop themes provide you with icons, event sounds, background pictures, and color schemes all on the same topic to make your desktop into a seamless decorative scheme. For example, I used to have a Scooby Doo theme, complete with a desktop icon on each character.

There was even a mystery machine desktop icon with little rolling wheels that told me when the computer was busy loading something.

The best thing about that desktop theme was the little zoinks sound that it made every time there was an error which, since I was running Windows, was quite frequently. The Scooby Doo desktop icon itself was also pretty snazzy.

Of course, if you really have a fiend for desktop icons, the best thing to do is to create them yourself. You can easily download a desktop icon creator, and you would not believe how easy they are to make. You see, each desktop icon is really just a very small, fairly low-resolution picture.

This means that you can probably create the perfect desktop icon with a little imagination and an hour or two of time. I have heard that some desktop icon creators can even shrink photos into desktop icons for you, sparing you all the time that it takes to create them, but I do not know if this actually exists.

The best thing is to try it out yourself if you are really interested. Like any other program, the desktop icon creator software can be found in either trial or free versions all over the internet, so it just will not be that difficult to get ahold of and use. And you will have the perfect desktop icons which you have always wanted if you do.

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Save Time And Money With IP Service Video Conferencing

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Need to have a big business meeting in a hurry, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on travel expenses and lodging? Maybe you’re searching for a cost-effective way to connect employees in different locations for collaborative efforts?

Try video conferencing over the Internet. All it takes is two computers, two desktop cameras and you’re pretty much good to go. The only thing better would be to never have to attend a meeting in the first place, but since that’s not possible, why not go the next best route?

Video conferencing over the Internet using smart software offers some advantages that a teleconference could never provide. In addition to the obvious plus of avoiding travel and its related expenses, video conferencing over the net can give users these advantages:

Ability to see, talk and exchange ideas in real-time.

Low cost, high tech alternative to globe trotting for business.

The possibility to still give full presentations, such as those using PowerPoint and so on.

Real-time exchange of ideas that’s the next best thing to face-to-face.

No long distance or even international charges like a teleconference would require.

Depending on the service used, the number of meeting attendees can be as large as needed to get the job done.

Thanks to video conferencing over the Internet, there’s really no need to foot the bill for a lot of business travel. Anything that would require a face-to-face meeting can be accomplished over the Internet and there are even ways to “share desktops” so the person on the other end of the connection can not only see you through the camera, he or she can see your presentation or documents.

If you’re avoiding video conferencing because you fear you’ll lose money rather than make it, think again. Properly set up, this modern day alternative to the face-to-face can not only provide a capital outlay savings, it can be personable and effective.

For those who want to video conference with clients or potential clients, all that’s necessary is to make sure both ends have the appropriate equipment. For those that want to video conference with employees who might be in other parts of the country or world, simply make the equipment mandatory in outer offices.

The advantages for inner office communications are many. They include allowing employees in remote locations to share information instantly and even brainstorm ideas and projects without having to take time away from the office for travel. That saves your bottom line twice!

Dealing with clients, too, can be enhanced by this technology in that this type of meeting saves your client the time and trouble of travel or having to adjust schedules to accommodate your visit.

It may seem a little awkward at first, but video conferencing over the Internet is fast becoming how business gets done. There’s no reason to wait days or even hours to meet when all it takes is a few clicks of a mouse and you’re right in the boardroom!

#1 Resource

Internet video conferencing guide.

http://www.conferencingguide.com

Bring Business To Life With Web Conferencing

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Web Conferencing is the new way of interaction over internet and giving live presentations. In this kind of conference system, each delegate has to sit with a computer connected with internet and through it one can interact with other people. If telephone is also used, VoIP technology is used else we use only chats. This technology is very cheap and saves time as well as cost and is very environmental friendly as well.

Web conferencing provides easiest method to stay connected without spending lots of money. Web conferencing is of many types such as web meeting, Webcast, the Webinar, online presenting, and online collaboration. The choice depends on the specific needs. It can be a audio, video or text-based conversation that is conducted in real time.

Usually organizations that have global presence, use this technology to remain connected. Using this technology, any person can be working at one geographical location while being connected with other far away offices etc.

Web conferencing is used as it cuts traveling costs, accommodation costs and save time also.

It’s just not business that derives benefits from web conferencing. If you and your family live apart and can not meet often, this can form an excellent form of communication with them.

When you are sitting in web conference, there are certain etiquettes that need to be followed. One must speak slowly and always try to be clear. Listening to other person attentively is important so that they do not have to repeat themselves.

Before you start a web conference it’s a good idea to check the equipment. Always test the system before the conference starts so that there is no interruption in the middle of conference. Check variables like lighting, seating arrangements and microphone position, background etc. Keep an extra monitor with you so that the conference participants can see themselves on the screen.

Proper care must be used when organizing the conference, as some people may be in different time zones. Remember to press the mute button when not talking, in order to prevent echo. If a problem of echo is there, consider using echo cancellers. It’s possible that the audio or video quality may be poor at the beginning of the conference. Try adjusting the microphone position, lighting etc. This may fix the problem. If things do not improve, hanging up and redialing or even rebooting the system may be necessary. If there are issues at one end, always information should be passed on to all the other parties so that they are not troubled due to disruption.

Although setting up a full fledged studio might be expensive, it pays over a period of time. If it is felt that costs will not justify returns consider renting the equipment. Lot of firms will easily provide good technicians as well as equipment for good conferencing service.

Web conferencing has made life easier for us be it business or personal lives. It is a great way of exchanging information and keeping in touch as well.

#1 Internet Conferencing Resource

Web conferencing technology.

http://www.conferencingguide.com

Computer Based Training In A Changing World

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The world today is rather different than it was 20 years ago. While so many things used to run on manual labor, computers have certainly changed the way we do things. In fact, computer based training is almost essential in every field there is. Think about it. How many jobs do you know of that never use computers? I can only come up with a few. Then there are our daily lives. We take advantage of computers on a regular basis in order to simplify things. Overall, computers have made our world a much more convenient place to live and work in, and whether you like it or not, doesn’t really matter. These electronic wonders aren’t going anywhere.

When I was in college a few years back, computers were essential. We all strolled around campus with our note books and laptops in our bags. Wireless access is everywhere now days. It’s simple to hop online and do some research for a paper or check your email. I recall back in high school when they really tried to adapt us to the computer age, hence preparing us for college. You’ll quickly notice how many of your University peers are receiving in-depth computer based training for their future career. Computers are a huge business. It’s easy to say that they’re used in everything. You want to be an engineer; get some computer based training. Are you an English major? You’ll need computers for your writing no matter what type of scribe you are. You can achieve computer based training at community colleges that will prepare you for a good career. My brother has been a computer technician for 12 years and he is doing very well with a two-year degree.

You can easily hop online and check out the various types of computer based training available at every school. Whether you’re computer savvy or not, it is prudent to learn and understand this modern form of work and play. The chances are you will need some computer based training for some aspect of your work or studies. The Internet is a very simple concept to adapt to. Cyberspace is where you will find oodles of free information concerning computers, software, and any other things you wish. If you have no prior computer based training, but wish to better understand these modern innovations, hop online where ever you have access and get a richer understanding of computers today. With computer based training you can certainly expand your options when it comes to careers. Most employers these days request some knowledge of software and PCs.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

Basic Computer Training: Do we all need it ?

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We live in something called the world of electronics. Okay, maybe I just coined that phrase, but it sounds legit, doesn’t it? I mean, think about it, we use machines and electronics for everything from ordering a pizza, to sending a letter. How did we ever exist without them? This is the prime reason why everyone should acquire some basic computer training. Think of all the jobs these days that require basic computer training. Better yet, ponder all the ones that don’t. It’s much easier.

My sophomore year of college, I took a class on computer fundamentals. I figured this would come in handy sooner or later, and especially after school. Well, it actually came in handy earlier than expected. Not long after the basic computer training course, I obtained a job where the skills were necessary. Even part-time high school and college jobs require basic computer training. I spent three years working for a video store chain. Most of the time I was on a computer. I bartended at a fancy hotel for a year. All money was handled through a computer system. Not many people use the old-school cash registers anymore. Basic computer training has simply become part of our standard environment. Everyone coming out of college these days is expected to have some basic computer training at the least.

How often do you use a computer on a daily basis? When you check your email, when you go to the grocery store, checking the bank account, or possible purchasing a gift online; these are common occasions when we use computers. I have found it very useful in my everyday life to fully understand Microsoft Office. These are some of the most common software programs used in our society today. This is certainly considered basic computer training. I find it useful to understand computers as best I can. Since I write on a Mac G4Ibook regularly, I prefer to fully comprehend its functions so I don’t have to always call for help if something goes aloof.

If you are interested in attaining some basic computer training, hop online today. You will notice that there are even online courses to help you better understand the ever-changing machines. Whether you work at a job involving computers or not, it is definitely beneficial to acquire basic computer training for other things. Sooner or later you too will need an understanding of computers on some level. Prepare yourself for the future that lies ahead.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

CD Duplication: What Is It And How Does It Work?

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CD duplication is affecting our world in many ways and becoming more affordable for the average person. It’s worth mentioning however that better technology is actually properly defined as simply a better way of doing something we already do with whatever process we have at hand. Eor example anytime we find a way to get to work 5mins faster than before we have found a way to improve our lives in some respect.

Many times, when people think of copying compact disks, they think of something that is not legal. There are many articles in the newspapers today dealing with issues of copyright infringement. This is true especially with music, dvds, and computer software. However this can be legal in the right circumstances and also many times is a needed service.

Fair use governs copying for the average home consumer. I myself have used simple software and the burner on my computer for general home use. I prefer not to play purchased music in my car’s CD player. For some odd reason, the glued or pasted labels jam my player. So, I make a copy of the CD to play in my car. If it were not for these burners, I would never be able to play the music in my car.

Commercially though, many people have need for CD duplication services. New bands may record and choose to self produce. Online, there are many companies that will perform these services with costs as low as $1 per disc. Speakers may record inspirational messages and then duplicate those for resale later. These are valid uses for making copies.

Companies may also look to use a service to copy discs. CDs are one way of backing up and archiving valuable data. Making backups can ensure that there is more than one copy of the data available.

Not only can audio and data CDs be duplicated, but can also be done with DVDs. Even family movies can be copied and shared for that next family reunion. Any form of data that resides on CD can be duplicated with CD duplication services.

CD duplication can be done in several ways depending on your needs. If, like me, you are a low volume user, you may choose to duplicate the occasional CD with commercially available software and your personal computer. Other users may choose to invest in a CD duplicating machine that can make several copies in just a few minutes from a master that is inserted into the machine. High volume users may look into an online CD service. With an online service, you can upload your information, specify the number of CDs you need and pay for the service with a credit card. In a few days, you can have the CDs delivered to your door step.

To wrap up our article about Biotechnology I wish you luck in putting your new knowledge to use in your home/work life. In the last 20 years I have seen so many examples of new ways to improve our lives come and go I can’t help feeling excited about what I’m going to see in the next 20 years. Although many people seem to feel a sense of foreboding about new things changing their lives in a negative way I must confess that I don’t have this fear at all (at the ripe old age of 40 anyway). I understand that new and changing technology is not only inevitable but in fact is opening up more opportunities for us all than ever before in our history and we should only feel threatened if we choose to cling to the past and somehow expect the rest of the world around us to do the same.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

Adobe Photoshop Software: The Latest and Greatest Version 7

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As an aspiring digital photographer, I’ve always enjoyed uploading my photos to my computer and playing around with them in photo editing software. I’ve found that I can make my good photos even better, and often times I can salvage a boring, hum-drum photo into something that’s really worthwhile. There are a lot of different photo editing software suites out there, from the ultra-basic programs bundled with Microsoft Windows to professional-level software programs running hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Though there are a lot of options, Adobe Photoshop software has become the standard for many photographers, both amateur and professional, for good reason.

Though it’s sometimes tough to keep track of all of the different versions of Adobe Photoshop software (there have been more than ten), all of them share some of the same characteristics. This is especially true after Photoshop 7, since most later generations of the software have focused mainly on fine-tuning the software suite without introducing any major, earth-shattering changes. One of the key aspects of Adobe Photoshop software is that Photoshop makes it quick and easy to take care of most of the common tasks people want their photo editing software to do. Cropping a photo takes a couple seconds, as does adjusting the light levels, brightness, or contrast within a photo. Even my parents, who describe themselves as being inept with computer software on the whole, manage to crop and adjust their photos quickly and easily. They’re also fond of the different filters or effects Photoshop can apply to photos, from lithograph effects to embossing to solarization, almost any visual effect is only a couple clicks away.

Though many other photo editing programs make simple photo manipulation easy, what really sets Adobe Photoshop software apart from other photo editing programs is the ease of using its more advanced features. Selective color allows the user to home in on one particular color range, be it blues, greens, yellows, etc., and adjust its relative intensity. Editing levels, saturation, and even color curves is also a snap, and Photoshop renders the colors of photos so well it’s often nearly impossible to tell that the photo has been altered when comparing shots before and after editing, aside from the fact that the “after” photo is usually sharper, better balanced, and more colorful.

Though Adobe Photoshop software is usually expensive, especially for the most recent version, past versions of the software can usually be tracked down for a reasonable price. Whatever it costs, Photoshop’s cost can be easily justified when looking at the great photos it eventually produces.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

Computer Information Technology: Biotech Is The Way To Go

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The information covered in this article is rapidly changing our world in many ways and becoming more affordable for the average person. It’s worth mentioning however that better technology is actually properly defined as simply a better way of doing something we already do with whatever process we have at hand. Eor example anytime we find a way to get to work 5mins faster than before we have found a way to improve our lives in some respect.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of places which tell you that can get your computer bachelor’s degree online, but really, it’s not the most prudent career move anymore. Let’s face it, the industry is pretty full right now, and since the dot-com crash, it’s hard for even people with degrees from prestigious universities to find employment in info tech. And let’s not forget that many of these schools actually offer you nothing - a degree not worth the paper which it is printed on. Unless you are really passionate about them, it pays to get a degree in another field.

Anyone with knowledge about current job trends will tell you that IT is passe, and that if you are interested in getting a high-tech, cutting edge job, biotech is the way to go. Biotech is the wave of the future, with genetic research and engineering, as well as the promises of new cures for diseases, hardier crops, and many other avenues providing all kinds of excitement. Of course, this research does require people to write and run the complex programs required to do genetic sequencing, but they really aren’t too likely to hire someone with that training alone.

Many people are studying both fields to make them more employable in emerging high-tech fields. This dual area of study allows that they will be able to get a job ahead of the others, because they will be more qualified to do a wider variety of tasks, and have a better understanding of the issues involved in organizing and working with complex data.

Another field where IT training is helpful but not essential is the field of advertising. Because everything is now done with computers, an advertising agent with this knowledge is at a great advantage. He can more easily demonstrate his ideas with fancy presentations, can do some work in predicting long term trends, and have the option of doing internet advertising, an option not available to people without the right training. And because today’s consumer has a shorter and shorter attention span and is more and more jaded towards advertising, the more fancy and interactive advertisements, with computer generated special effects, are more likely to generate the response which the advertiser desires.

To wrap up our article about Biotechnology I wish you luck in putting your new knowledge to use in your home/work life. In the last 20 years I have seen so many examples of new ways to improve our lives come and go I can’t help feeling excited about what I’m going to see in the next 20 years. Although many people seem to feel a sense of foreboding about new things changing their lives in a negative way I must confess that I don’t have this fear at all (at the ripe old age of 40 anyway). I understand that new and changing technology is not only inevitable but in fact is opening up more opportunities for us all than ever before in our history and we should only feel threatened if we choose to cling to the past and somehow expect the rest of the world around us to do the same.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

Burning DVD’s: The Storage Revolution Is Here

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Entertainment is a prime source of our relaxation. By this, I mean television and film. If you’re one of the three people who refuse to indulge in cinema, then you’re missing out. The technology we have today is ideal for any movie spectators. As we all know, VHS is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Just like with cassette tapes, the compact disks are taking over. DVDs are becoming more prominent everywhere we go. It’s even possible to rent them online and never have to leave your home. How convenient is that? No more rewinding, no more filthy VCR heads to clean; it’s a dream come true. With the madness of DVDs these days, more and more people are taking advantage of their home computers. The digital versatile discs can be downloaded to our laptops with the push of a button. We can actually create DVDs of our own.

My brother has the most extensive collection of DVDs of anyone I know. I believe he has close to a thousand at this point. He’s always emailing me his latest list of titles in alphabetical order. I can barely even sort through them all. That’s a lot of choices. He typically wants to know if I crave any new flicks. Since he already has the DVDs, he can easily download them to his laptop, and then create DVDs to pass on to me. This is a pretty choice way to get entertainment if you ask me. Free is always good. I currently have about 30 different titles that he’s made for me. So much for paying 15 bucks a pop. This seems to be a common trend these days. Many people will buy and share. Whether they create DVDs or CDs, they save money when they trade around. You can pick and choose your music these days by song. You don’t want the CD? No problem, you can buy individual songs online for typically about a dollar a piece, and then create your own CDs.

If you’re not up to snuff with the whole Internet process, it’s time to hop online. Many of the computers we purchase today have the ability to burn DVDs and CDs. You should definitely take advantage of this feature. This is a wonderful way to create the mixed CDs of your choice. If your buddy has a cool new DVD that you’ve been wanting to check out, have them burn a copy for you. In order to create DVDs, you simply need some blank disks, which run rather cheap. Burn whatever video or music you please. This is only a sample of the innovations yet to come.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

Help Desk: The Solution To All Your IT Nightmares

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Technology such as the Help Desk covered in this article are rapidly changing our world in many ways and becoming more affordable for the average person. Its worth mentioning however that better technology is actually properly defined as simply a better way of doing something we already do with whatever process we have at hand. Rather than thinking of better technology in terms of computers, hi tech gadgets and such, for example anytime we find a way to get to work 5mins faster than before we have found a better technology to improve our lives in some respect.

Where do you go if you have a problem with your satellite television or broadband service provider? Whom do you call if your have a problem with your computer’s installation system or if your printer just died on you before a major presentation? Who is the one person who can quickly help you stop that whining noise and smoke that your lap top is generating right in the middle of the conference call you are having with your boss? If you are like me, the auto dial function on your telephone will have the number of your friendly global help desk!

According to me, the help desk is the best invention of man in the twenty first century. The computer and all the electronic gadgets are over hyped. Technology changes much before it becomes affordable in the first place. And gadgets and gizmos are flooding the marketplace like never before. If there is anything at all that has remained consistent through all the tumult, it has been the ubiquitous help desk.

The concept of the help desk started off as a service offering, provided by makers of new IT products and services to clients, who were still unfamiliar with the new age technology. But as users have gotten more savvy, the products and services too have become even more complex. Which makes the role of the help desk even more important. Take Windows itself. This simple operating system started off as Windows 1.0. It grew over the years to become Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, 97, 2000 and now XP. Obviously, each new version has seen the features increase. And each passing year has seen more users start taking up desktop computing as a real option.

**Running Commentary** - Its interesting to note at this point that the cost of paying for Help Desk support is going to range in price quite a bit and you really need to first identify your needs and wants and when you go shopping make sure you don’t overspend for features you want but don’t really need. As technology so quickly becomes obsolete 1. many of the features will become obsolete 2. later models will be cheaper if not superseded by a later model with newer features and 3. are you going to actually have time to read the whole manual and understand how all the features work ? (I know I never figure out all the features of any new gadget or gizmo I buy)

This has only meant more work for the people at the Microsoft help desk. As the versions increased and the features expanded, the conventional help desk too expanded to become much more than a mere service offering. Software products and services almost being on par made the quality of the after sales service a critical component in the competitive marketplace. And the help desk, being at the forefront of this arena, has had to adapt and evolve.

So, the typical help desk of today is staffed not just with people who can familiarize you with products and their features, but also specialist engineers and technicians who can troubleshoot your problems and provide you with the correct solution, often within the duration of a simple telephone call. And since the business demands skilled professionals who come with an innate understanding of technology, better prospects have emerged for IT professionals.

In fact, in keeping with the global outsourcing trend, most help desk jobs have moved to countries like India and China where there is no shortage of skilled manpower, and the quality of the professionals is assured. The beneficial cost structures have also contributed to this trend. For like I mentioned earlier, the products may evolve and newer versions may come up. But unless the help desk remains an integral part of the service offering, there will be no exponential increase of market share.

To wrap up our article about Help Desk I wish you luck in putting your new technology to use in your home/work life. In the last 20 years I have seen so many examples of new technology come and go I cant help feeling excited about what I’m going to see in the next 20 years. Although many people seem to feel a sense of foreboding about new things changing their lives in a negative way I must confess that I don’t have this fear at all (at the ripe old age of 40 anyway). I understand that new and changing technology is not only inevitable but in fact is opening up more opportunities for us all than ever before in our history and we should only feel threatened if we choose to cling to the past and somehow expect the rest of the world around us to do the same.

Mr James has owned The Cartridge Specialists (Melbourne) since 2004 selling ink, toner, fax rolls etc & regularly writes articles about his industry

A Review of The World is Flat from an IT Perspective

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Not long after “The World is Flat, A brief History of the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas L. Friedman came out, I read the book. I found the theme of the book to be an excellent theme for a web site, especially in internet marketing. My web site specializes in self-publishing, marketing, research and freelance writing, and uses Friedman’s comments to emphasize ways to market and reach customers.

I started to see other reviews of the book The World is Flat from a variety of sources. One of those sources was Processor Magazine. This book review was done by Dean Takahashi, July 1, 2005.

Processor Magazine is described on their web site as follows: “Processor is a leading trade publication that provides products, news, and information key data center employees can trust. Processor’s format provides a comprehensive display of corporate equipment and services, including storage, communications, and servers. You’ll also find product announcements, marketplace information, and other articles designed to keep data center and IT employees up-to-date with the latest news that matters most.

Published weekly, Processor is distributed to data center managers and other computer buying decision makers throughout North America.”

I find the review in Processor to be unique in the sense that this is a trade publication specifically for IT employees. It is some of these employees that are being “out-sourced” from American companies to those overseas. How can they feel about the premise made by Friedman that: “the flattening of the globe, where U.S. professionals will compete against educated rivals in other countries who are willing to work for much smaller salaries.”

The review by Processor Magazine notes: “For many IT managers, Friedman’s explanations of technologies may come off as pedestrian. But he delivers his argument with immediacy and a breadth that can only come from someone who has traveled the globe and met with government leaders and captains of business.”

After reading the book and reading this and other reviews, I fully agree with the article when it notes: “Until you see what Friedman has witnessed, it’s hard to adsorb just how fast globalization is transforming the rest of the world and why 3 billion people across the globe are now ready to compete for your job.”

Still Friedman notes that in reacting to this “flattening”, “Don’t build walls.” His solutions for small, medium and large companies are more progressive.

Small companies need to act large. They need to “tap the tools that can make them global, such as using UPS not only to ship computers but to repair them as well.”

He states that “Every company needs to collaborate.” Further he states about outsourcing: “If you outsource, do it to innovate and grow faster, not just to save money and fire more people.”

About individuals, he says: “The flat world will create more jobs for everyone. But knowledge workers have to strive upward, if your job as an illustrator is threatened; provide higher-level service as an illustration consultant.”

However, as the Processor review notes: “Friedman warns there is a quiet crisis in the United States, driven by the decline of its science, engineering, and manufacturing competitiveness.”

Further the Processor review states; “Friedman describes his meetings, whether he’s sitting across the table from India’s top outsourcing executive or dining with a venture capitalist in Palo Alto. He plays golf in downtown Bangalore, India, when his partner tells him to aim his ball at IBM or Microsoft. That’s an apt metaphor for what enterprising young Indians are doing to American industry.”

In reading both the book and the Processor review, I agree that Friedman has a unique perspective. The Processor review notes: “He [Friedman] shows familiar technical issues from a global perspective that weave in social, political, and cultural analysis.
Friedman has looked at these forces closely and can dissect them from multiple points of view. U.S. IT professionals may see offshore-crazy executives as Benedict Arnolds, but if they could see what Friedman has seen in his global travels, they might understand what to do in response to globalization. Better to manage it then to stand in its way.”

One statement that is both haunting and ominous, as noted by the Processor review; “Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates tells Friedman that today he would rather be born a genius in China than an average guy in Poughkeepsie.”

The Processor review notes the following Key Concepts in Friedman’s book:

The barriers to entry are leveling across the globe. Globalization’s pace is accelerating and threatens to overtake anyone not ready for it.

It isn’t always clear who is exploiting whom. It some aspects, both parties benefit. Knowledge workers must move up the value chain.

The flat world will bring bigger markets than everyone can exploit.

I would recommend this book to any IT or technical professional that is concerned about job security, future job prospects or where the corporate world is headed. Often, outsourcing and job loss due to global competition tends to make us feel like victims. Friedman’s book The World is Flat portrays this new globalization or flattening as a new force to be reckoned with and to be managed. However, as Friedman portrays it, we are not victims, but we do need to be smarter in the ways we approach the new global markets and look at our society, culture and business.

H. Court Young is a writer, author, publisher and a geologist. I specialize in research, freelance writing and self publishing -

Find a Fish Tank Screen Saver Today

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Does your computer need to be spruced up a little bit? When your screen saver comes on, are you greeted by a plain black screen or the windows icon that came with your computer? Doesn’t this get to be boring? Wouldn’t you like to add a little life to your screen saver?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it is time for you to change your screen saver. One of the most popular screen savers available is the fish tank screen saver. The fish tank screen saver is downloaded a thousand times a day. People are looking for a way to spruce up their day. And if you are a fish lover, what better way to do that than by bringing your aquarium to your computer screen. Fish are so enjoyable to watch. By having a fish tank screen saver, you will brighten up your day.

There are a couple of places that you can find a fish tank screen saver. First off, do not overlook the obvious. A lot of computers nowadays come with tons of screen saver options. Your computer may already have a fish tank screen saver available. If this is the case, all you need to do is go in and change your settings. This process takes all of about 20 seconds and is not hard to do at all.

If your computer does not come equipped with a fish tank screen saver, you should be able to find one available for download. Go to your favorite search engine (mine is google) and type in “fish tank screen saver.” This will bring hundreds of fish tank screen savers to your computer. All you need to do then is find the one you like best and download it. Most downloads are free, but sometimes you may be charged. Most of the sites that charge for downloads offer the best in screen savers. If you are looking for the top of the line fish tank screen saver, you may want to look into purchasing one. Take your time to decide because many of the free ones are also very good.

A fish tank screen saver is a great way to spruce up your computer. Get yours today, and bring your aquarium to your computer and bring your computer to life! Especially if you use your computer to work, a little fun mixed in never hurt anyone.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on Fish Aquariums, please visit Fish Aquariums Information for a wealth of information.

Keyboard Shortcuts

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We do a ton of typing, (or at least our processors do). So when I came across this list of keyboard shortcuts I automatically thought it would be a great thing to share with you. These have saved me a ton of time. At first I hesitated to use them, but I started with one, then another, then another. Enjoy!

General Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+C (Copy)

CTRL+X (Cut)

CTRL+V (Paste)

CTRL+Z (Undo)

DELETE (Delete)

SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)

CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)

F2 key (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)

CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)

CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)

CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)

CTRL+A (Select all)

F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)

ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)

ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)

ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)

CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)

ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)

F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)

F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)

CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)

Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)

F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)

RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)

LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)

F5 key (Update the active window)

BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

ESC (Cancel the current task)

SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)

TAB (Move forward through the options)

SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)

ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)

ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)

SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)

Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)

F1 key (Display Help)

F4 key (Display the items in the active list)

BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)

Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)

Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)

Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)

Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)

Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)

Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)

CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)

Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)

Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)

Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)

Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)

SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)

NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)

Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

END (Display the bottom of the active window)

HOME (Display the top of the active window)

NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)

LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)

RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Ameen Kamadia, known as “The Millionaire Loan Officer” offers dozens of free articles about mortgage marketing. Get dozens of great cheap lead generation ideas at his free Mortgage Marketing website.