TIPS

check This "TIPS" page contains a list of tips, and a list of 59 links to tips on the web, relating to improving our ability to navigate/maneuver around the computer/internet, and to clarify/interpret the results of our communications with computers/people. If you have an idea on how to help people to accomplish this, please send your "tip" to Terry Chambers .


Thanks to Terry Chambers of the DPCUC, this page was last reported as checked for full accuracy on September 1, 2010.


TIPS FROMInternet Direct - Internet Direct has offered and authorized our use of their regular "Computer Tips Information".

When replying to email or Usenet messages, remove any unnecessary quotes, headers and signature files from the message you are replying to. This makes your messages easier to read. (Editor's note: Remember, if it is easier to read, it WILL get read AND understood. That is OUR job as authors....to be understood.)

Looking for a shortcut alternative to all that pointing and clicking? Most Windows programs have keyboard shortcuts on their main menus. Look at the menu next time you point and click, and if there is a small notation that looks like "Ctrl-C" - that means press down the Ctrl Key and C at the same time to perform that function in that program.

Re: Mac OS 8.5 's Tear off Applications Menu, by clicking on the Applications Menu and scrolling down to just beneath the bottom of the menu you can tear it off and place it where you like. To switch applications, click on the application name. You can open documents by dragging and dropping the file onto the application of your choice. To collapse the palette to small icons, click on the resize button, eliminating the text. Holding the shift key as you click the resize button results in a half-size palette with abbreviated text. Switch to larger Finder icons by holding down the Option key as you click the resize button. By holding Shift-Option as you click the resize button you can change the orientation of the application palette from vertical to horizontal, etc.

Here is a list of WINDOWS SHORTCUT KEYS. To use these shortcuts you must have a keyboard with a Windows Key.

Windows-D...to view desktop. (Hit again to bring back all minimized apps.)

Windows-E...to open Windows Explorer.

Windows-F...to open Find.

Windows-M...to minimize all open windows (or Shift-Windows-M to undo this command).

Windows-R...to open the Run window.

Windows-F1...to open Help.

Windows-L...to log off Windows.

Windows-Tab...to cycle through the Taskbar buttons.

Windows-Break...to open the System Properties dialog box.

Are you tired of having to empty your Recycle Bin every time you delete a file? In Windows 95/98/NT, if you hold down the Shift key while clicking Delete (either from the menu, toolbar, or right mouse menu) the file will be deleted immediately instead of going to the Recycle Bin first. You will see a difference in the confirmation message that you receive. Instead of saying "Are you sure that you want to send this file to the Recycle Bin?", it will now say "Are you sure that you want to delete this file?". If you're like me, you will use this feature all the time to save that extra step!

You can quickly open an application by assigning a keyboard shortcut to it. For example, to create a keyboard shortcut to your web browser, RightClick on the icon on your desktop, then LeftClick on properties. From here, move to the Shortcut tab and click in the area Shortcut Key. In here, press F12. Then click on OK. From now on, pressing F12 will bring up your browser! (Note! Don't use F1 and F4 - they apply to other applications - also test the keys first to make sure they are unassigned.

This one is for Mac users. Is your control strip always in the way? There are 2 ways to move it.

1. Set a hot key to hide/show the control strip. Open the control strip manager, set your hot keys to whatever you would like. (Remember not to use hot keys that are already set for other things. This will confuse the computer, and you may get a result that you don't like, or your computer may hang.)

2. The control strip opens right in the middle of your screen or you don't like it on the bottom/top? You can move the location of the control strip by pressing the OPTION key while clicking on the control strip. You can now move it up or down to where you prefer.

When you have your CD-ROM set to Autorun, a CD starts whenever you insert a CD. To temporarily turn this feature off when you insert a new CD (if you don't want it to start automatically) just press and hold SHIFT when the CD-ROM light is on. In fact, the Shift-key method works to momentarily disable just about any Microsoft auto-run feature. For example, when you're starting up Windows95, normally anything in your Startup group will automatically run. If you hold down the Shift-key from the point after you login (or, for those who don't login, starting from the logo splash screen), then none of the Startup group programs will run. If you hold down the Shift-key when opening a Word, Excel, or Access file, the auto-execute macros won't run. It's a useful feature when you have a lot of Startup group links, and you just can't wait for them all to run. Remember, you must hold down the Shift-key until the computer is completely rebooted.

If you like having your desktop looking "clean" without some of the lengthy names automatically assigned to shortcuts, "right" click and rename them to something shorter. For example, renaming "Shortcut to Tripmaker.exe" to simply....."Tripmaker" saves a lot of space.

Wordprocessors automatically backup files even if you don't wish to keep the file that you are working on. It is easy to turn off this automatic backup facility.

* In WordPerfect, click on 'Tools', then 'Settings', then 'Files', and in the 'Document' tab, uncheck the timed document backup feature, then click OK.

* In MS Word, click on 'Tools', then 'Options', and in the 'Save' tab, uncheck the 'Save AutoRecovery Info', then click OK.

If you wish to delete sensitive material from your wordprocessor so there is absolutely nothing left on your computer for prying eyes to see, follow this procedure: after you have done what you wish with the material that you have produced, delete the file's content by clicking on 'Edit', then 'Select All', then hit the 'Backspace' or the 'Delete' key; then resave this now empty file, and then delete it.

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The compilers of this list have tried to include local area (Durham Region, Ontario) and other Canadian websites, but not exclusively. We welcome any suggestions concerning related websites: please send your list to Terry Chambers , including the sites' titles, the sites' URLs, and your recommendations for categories/subcategories.


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