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Google has created a free tool to simplify and automate the migration of e-mail, calendar and contacts data from Microsoft Exchange servers to its Google Apps collaboration and communication hosted suite.
The tool, called Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange, is available for free as of Wednesday to organizations that sign up for the Premier or Education editions of Apps.
“Until now, we didn’t have a great solution for getting your data out of Exchange,” said Chris Vander Mey , a Google Apps senior product manager.
The tool works both for Exchange servers residing on customers’ premises and for cloud-hosted ones. Google has a similar tool for migrating data from IBM’s Lotus Notes/Domino to Google Apps.
Although Google Apps has a wide variety of components, including the Docs office productivity suite, its primary appeal has been its Gmail piece as a cloud-based, less expensive replacement for Exchange and Notes/Domino.
For Exchange, the best migration option Google previously offered its Apps administrators was the Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook browser plug-in, which requires that end users trigger the data transfer individually for their accounts.
This new server-side tool puts the process in the hands of the Apps administrators and makes it possible to migrate the data of hundreds of users simultaneously. It also lets administrators continue running Exchange while they do a phased migration, if they so choose.
“This gives Google Apps administrators more control, more speed and a better experience for their end users,” Vander Mey said.
The tool doesn’t transfer all Exchange data, however. It can’t migrate tasks lists and journal entries.
Law enforcement officials in the U.K. and U.S. are pushing the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to put in place measures that would help reduce abuse of the domain name system.
Now it is “ridiculously easy” to register a domain name under false details, said Paul Hoare, senior manager and head of e-crime operations for the U.K.’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Domain names can be used for all kinds of criminal activity, ranging from phishing to trademark abuse to facilitating botnets. Law enforcement often run into difficulty when investigating those domains, as criminals use false details and stolen credit cards.
The FBI and SOCA have submitted a set of recommendations to ICANN for how it could strengthen Registration Accreditation Agreements (RAAs). The agreement is a set of terms and conditions that a registrar — an entity that can accept domain name registrations — would be subject to in order to run their business. ICANN’s RAA applies to registrars for generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as “.com.”
The ideas from the FBI and SOCA have not been publicly revealed but include stronger verification of registrants’ name, address, phone number, e-mail address and stronger checks on how they pay for a domain name, Hoare said.
Those financial checks are already done for e-commerce transactions, so “there’s no reason why the registries and domain registrars can’t do the same thing,” Hoare said. Many registrars and registries already do this, he said.
Such a system doesn’t not mean false details won’t still be found in WHOIS, the directory listing for who owns a domain name. However, “it means criminals have to do some more work to register,” Hoare said.
The movement underscores long-running concerns about WHOIS. An ICANN-commissioned study released last month of 1,419 gTLDs found that only 23 percent of the WHOIS records were fully accurate. The current highly automated system “allow criminals to register domain names anonymously,” Hoare said.
Some registries already have strong rules for their registrars. Nominet, which administers the country-code “.uk” domain names, doesn’t allow the use of privacy services for domain name registrants, although it does allow registrants to mask their real address from the WHOIS, said Nick Wenban-Smith, senior legal counsel.
Nominet is different from other registries. It is a country-code registry and is autonomous from ICANN. Its registrars don’t have be accredited by ICANN but by Nominet, which has a different RAA.
Nominet requires its registrars to obtain accurate information. Nominet is also what’s known as a “thick” registry in that it also keeps all of information around domain name registrations collected by its registrars, which also helps for law enforcement and verification purposes, Wenban-Smith said. “Thin” registries don’t keep that information, which is held by their registrars.
The system isn’t perfect, but Nominet is able to keep tighter control over domain names, Wenban-Smith said. Nominet has at times booted registrars that haven’t been able to live up to the RAA, he said.
The country-code top-level domain registry that administers “.eu” — Eurid — has one to two staff members that check for malicious domain name registrations from its registrars, said Herman Sobrie, legal manager for Eurid.
Eurid does require its registrars to verify certain data, but “even if we add more obligations to the list, there will always be some registrars that aren’t all that vigilant in their checks,” Sobrie said.
“We are always evaluating new ways of ensuring the accuracy of the information in the WHOIS,” Sobrie said.
But the problem with ICANN and its gTLD registries is not likely to be solved soon, said Josh Bourne, president of the Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse, which focuses on cybersquatting, a practice in which similar domain names are registered that could be mistaken for a legitimate company’s Web site.
ICANN has launched initiatives in the past in regards to the WHOIS but the problems persist. Officials from the organization officials were not immediately available to comment on the new recommendations.
Registrars oppose having more restrictions placed on them, but law enforcement is frustrated, Bourne said.
“They are ineffective in their duty because they can’t find the criminals,” Bourne said.
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A group of ad resellers for Google in China have asked the company to explain what will happen to them if Google shuts its China-based search engine, saying they have waited in “incomparable pain” since Google announced the possible move.
Google has received a letter from the resellers and is reviewing it, a Google spokeswoman said early Wednesday. The letter, which lists 27 resellers, says their business is falling and asks how they and their customers will be compensated if Google.cn is shut down, according to a copy posted online by China’s state broadcaster.
The move comes amid growing signs that Google might close the search engine. It marks uncertainty among Chinese users and partners of Google about what that would mean.
“We understand that Google has its own values, but what we can’t understand is why, up to today, Google has not had any communication or talks about future solutions with us at all,” the letter said.
Breaking with regulations, Google said in January it planned to stop censoring results on its Chinese search engine, even if that meant being forced to exit China. Google.cn is currently still censoring pornographic and certain politically sensitive results, but the company has said it is in talks with China and expects something to happen “soon.”
China requires Internet content providers to obtain licenses as part of its regulatory system. Those licenses “generally come up for renewal” this month, the Google spokeswoman said. That sets the stage for a possible expiration of the license issued to Google.cn if its holder does not renew it or if authorities block it. Operating the site without a valid license would violate regulations.
The letter from the ad resellers says the companies have waited anxiously and cannot do so anymore.
“Every day we are losing money,” it said.
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Social media is increasingly becoming a measurable medium. However, many companies have yet to develop a social media measurement strategy, or they’re struggling to get theirs properly implemented. This doesn’t need to be the case, but unfortunately many companies aren’t aware of the options that are available to monitor, measure, and track social media.
The required tools that need to be deployed will vary depending on the type of social media being leveraged, so a careful assessment of the available tools is a critical step to take before implementing a social media campaign.
We won’t go into every available tool here; instead, we’ll focus on your Web analytics solution, and how you can use it to segment useful social media data that can help you measure your campaigns and find high quality social media sites that you can try to leverage as part of a future social media campaign.
As with most social media activity, the majority of interactions occur off your site, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t analyze your site’s social media referred visitor segment. To get the most value out of your analysis, you should break the segment into two sub-segments:
- Social media referred visits that are attributed to your efforts.
- Social media referred visits that are attributed to individuals outside your company.
To create the sub-segment for the visits attributed to individuals outside your company, you first need to create a list of key social media sites.
Look at Your Top Referring Sites
Find out which social media sites already drive traffic to your site. After you compile this list, augment it with other key social media sites.
To determine which additional social media sites should be added to your list, poll your colleagues to determine which social media sources your company is currently using or planning to engage in. These would be obvious sites to add.
Turn to a Social Media Monitoring Tool
While they all have flaws, social media monitoring tools are great starting points for gaining a better understanding of your brand within the social media space. A few searches will bring you to a plethora of free and paid tools to choose from.
Running a scan on your company or product name will bring back the location of where your company or product is being talked about. All the paid tools (and some of the free ones) will also provide you with a list of the top sources. These sources can then be added to your list of key social media sites.
Consider Adding Major Social Media Sites to Your List
While some social media sites may not be on your radar, they could pop up at any time as a referral source of traffic to your site.
Now that you have your list of key social media sites, you simply need to create a segment in your Web analytics solution that looks solely at those sites. This will then allow for easy analysis on social media referred visits that aren’t directly attributed to your social media efforts.
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Yesterday was what is known as “Cyber Monday,” which is the first Monday after Black Friday every year and is one of the top online shopping days here in the United States. Cyber Monday is when people move to the Web to make purchases they missed in stores during Black Friday. And many online retailers offer hot deals similar to the in store deals seen on Black Friday. This year’s Cyber Monday was impressive – as of 1pm yesterday, sales for Cyber Monday were up 19.6% over last year according to Coremetrics. A lot of online shopping was done yesterday (I did some too)!
When shopping online, it is important to do so safely and privately. It would not be fun having to deal with stolen credit card details or identity theft instead of celebrating the holidays with your family. Many people don’t even think about their browser while shopping online. But in fact the browser plays a very important role in keeping you safe and secure while making online purchases and browsing the Web.
There are 3 major threats people shopping online should be aware of: Malware, Cross-site Scripting (XSS), and ClickJacking. Internet Explorer 8 protects against each of these threats (via SmartScreen), making it rated #1 for malicious software and phishing protection. To date, Internet Explorer 8 has delivered over 275 Million malware blocks. And as of September, Internet Explorer 8 is blocking 1 in every 200 downloads that appear as malicious. Internet Explorer 8 also helps protect your privacy with InPrivate Browsing.
Find your way with mapping tools
Need directions to a meeting or the hot new restaurant across town? Want help planning a bicycle trek or a cross-country road trip? Curious about the location of your neighborhood or the small town your grandparents were born in?
Use mapping programs to locate places and get to your destination
Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to find, mapping software and Web sites can make finding what you need easy and fun.
With digital mapping tools, you can check directions to an address in an unfamiliar area before you leave home. You can print a map of the city you’re going to visit, including the city’s major attractions, transit centers, and restaurants. With GPS technology on your mobile device you can hear street names and directions en route. With Bing Maps and similar imaging technology, you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view or 3-D view of any location on earth.
Find addresses instantly online
MapQuest, Yahoo! Maps, and Bing Maps are among the most popular map sites on the Web. Enter an address and within seconds a color map of the location appears. You can zoom in for closer street information and get turn-by-turn directions to print out and take with you. Some sites calculate the number of miles from your starting point to your destination and estimate your travel time.
Steven Bernstein recently put these mapping functions to good use to find child care for his one-year-old daughter while he was out of town on business for a few months. “We used a map program to find out how close the day care that we got into was to the apartment we’re renting,” he says.
Help children locate their home, neighborhood, and family members who live far away
Ben Minbashian prints maps for his five-year-old daughter to help her orient herself in their neighborhood. He then helps her glue images of familiar landmarks—their house or her school—onto the right spot.
“We also go to Europe a lot,” he says, “and we want to show how far relatives are from us and where the plane goes. We use mapping programs for that. Or, when the kids ask where Mom or Dad comes from, we print off a map of Holland.”
GPS and earth-imaging technology now give families even more interactive ways to help children orient themselves in their world and get a better sense of what it’s like where family members live, whether they’re across the country or the world. Using Bing Maps, you can give them a bird’s eye view of a location or house, for example, or a 3-D view of buildings and landscapes.
Map views available in Virtual Earth
Plan detailed trip or jogging routes with map software
Installing a practical tool like Microsoft Streets & Trips on your computer can be very useful. It enables you to map routes that don’t follow roads, map multiple destinations, send location information to your mobile phone, and find restaurants, landmarks, hotels, and public transportation stops in North American cities. It also gives you travel tips, such as how much gas you’ll use getting to specific locations.
Paul Mero uses Streets & Trips to create jogging routes and track his time and distance. He likes being able to map routes that don’t correspond with roads, such as footpaths through parks and along the edges of rivers.
“As a runner, one of the challenges is figuring out how far you’ve run and what your time is. Traditionally, people will jump in the car to figure out how far they’re running,” he says.
“And you don’t want to do the same route over and over again. It gets boring. With this software, you can map out a bunch of five km or 10 km runs and pick which one you feel like running that day. You can also print them out and share them with your friends,” he says.
Location detail view
Streets & Trips 2009 with GPS Locator adds the power of GPS to this best-selling travel and map software. Just plug the GPS receiver into your laptop’s USB port and all the advantages of a global positioning system are yours, increasing your driving confidence.
Use map tools to simplify and enhance your everyday life
Maps are useful for far more than family road trips or driving directions. Try using these handy mapping tools in your everyday life. For example:
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Print maps to your child’s party to enclose with the invitations.
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Map the carpool route that is used to transport your children and their friends to extracurricular activities like swimming lessons or hockey practice. Print a copy for each parent.
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Include maps in e-mail directions to your house when sending an electronic invitation.
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Find out how far it is to walk different routes. Plan a “walking route” for each day of the week or to share with your walking group.
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If you are an avid biker in a big city, use a map to find alternative side-street routes to your destination and to avoid the larger, busier streets at rush hour.
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New to a city or area? Use maps to find the major routes to stores, your new job, and recreational facilities.
Consult additional resources
Mapping programs are handy and helpful, but they do have limitations. For example, they don’t provide essential driving information that you may need, such as weather and road conditions and border crossing wait times. This information is available online. Check out the National Weather Service online and the information on Canada and Mexico border crossings on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site.
Article written by Sharon Oosthoek and adapted from an original piece from Microsoft Home Magazine.
New, easy-to-use features and tools in Microsoft Office 2010 and new Office Web Apps help you make it great for home, school, and work. See what’s new and improved and compare to previous versions.
NEW OR IMPROVED FEATURE INCLUDED
Word 2010: Give your words some added flair.
Office 2010
Office 2007
Office 2003
Edit and apply effects to photos without additional software. • • •
Turn text into compelling diagrams with new and improved SmartArt graphics. • •
Add powerful special effects to words with new text effects. • • •
Work together in real time with the new Co-Authoring feature.1 •
PowerPoint 2010: Create presentations that have an impact.
Embed, trim, add bookmarks, and special effects to videos right in PowerPoint. •
Apply sophisticated effects to pictures, like color saturation and artistic filters. • • •
Broadcast presentations instantly by creating a link for real-time, online viewing. •
Share with others and stay on top of changes using the Co-Authoring feature. •
Office Anywhere: Access, edit, share from virtually anywhere.
Post Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote 2010 documents to
Windows Live SkyDrive. • • •
Access them from virtually any computer with an Internet connection.2 • • •
Share documents with others and edit online from almost anywhere. • • •
OneNote 2010: Organize notes in one digital notebook.
Capture and store text, images, video, and audio notes in one easy-to-find place. • •
Link notes back to their source with Linked Notes.3 •
Share and edit notes together using new Version Control tools. • •
Make edits with others at the same time using the new OneNote Web App. •
Outlook 2010: Manage e-mail and calendars with ease.
Streamline your inbox with the new Conversation View and Ignore features. • • •
Manage multiple e-mail accounts, like Hotmail or Gmail, right from Outlook. • • •
Make scheduling simple with new Calendar Preview and Multiple Calendar View. • • •
Stay connected with social and business network updates using new Outlook Social Connector. •
Excel 2010: See data more clearly.
Highlight important data trends in seconds using new Sparklines. •
Clarify information with color schemes and data bars in Conditional Formatting. • • •
Spend less time sifting through data with new PivotTable features. • • •
Edit documents with others simultaneously using the new Excel Web App. •
Office 2010: Work your way.
Easily customize the Ribbon in every Office 2010 application. • •
Quickly access file management tasks, such as open, save, and print, with new Backstage view. •
6 ways to streamline your tasks in Outlook
Every job requires a variety of tasks during a given day. Maybe yours includes meeting with clients, preparing a presentation, or collaborating with team members on an important project. No matter what you are doing, staying on top of all the tasks you need to perform is crucial. By organizing them effectively, you can plan ahead for tomorrow and improve your productivity at the same time.
At the most basic level, the Tasks features of Microsoft Outlook help you create lists of task-related items. But dig a little deeper, and you will find they do much more for you than simply holding your to-do list. Following these six tips for using Outlook Tasks features will help you stay better organized and keep you steps ahead of your deadlines.
1. Customize your view
In Outlook Tasks, you can find your tasks and view their status at a glance. Choosing the appropriate view saves time. For example, you can prioritize the items that are most critical on your list without scrolling through all the other tasks that are still marked as incomplete. Or if you prefer to tackle the task that needs to be completed first or sort your tasks by project or client name, the options in Tasks can help you organize your tasks the way that works best for you and the project at hand.
To find the task view that works best for you, in Outlook 2010, in the Navigation pane, on the left side of the window, click Tasks. On the Ribbon, click the View tab, and then, in the Current View group, click Change View.
For a basic view of your tasks and main details, click Simple List. In this view, you see columns for Task Subject, Due Date, Categories, In Folder, and Sort by: Flag Status.
Simple List view of tasks
Simple List view Outlook 2010 gives you a list of basic tasks and details.
For a view of your tasks that shows more details, click the View tab, click Change View, and then click Detailed. Additional columns appear, including Status, Due Date, % Complete, and more.
In addition to changing the view, you can easily sort your task list in various ways. Here’s how:
On the View tab, in the Arrangement group, click the sorting method you want to use: Start Date, Due Date, Categories, Type, Importance, Assignment Folder, and Modified Date. When you click the method you want to use, your list of task items is automatically reorganized. Try different options until you find one that works best for your tasks.
You can further customize any of the views to suit your needs exactly. For example, open your task list in Detailed view, as described earlier in this article. In the Current View group, click View Settings. The Advanced View Settings: Detailed dialog box appears.
The Advanced View Settings dialog box, displaying choices for modifying the Tasks view
The Advanced View Settings dialog box gives you more choices for modifying the Tasks view
The Advanced View Settings dialog box is available for each view. You can use it to add or remove categories, set filtering parameters, and even adjust type size and font.
To reset a Tasks view that you’ve customized back to its original settings, click the View tab, click Reset View, and then, when the dialog box asks you if you’re sure you want to reset the view, click Yes.
Experiment with different options. If you don’t like the way your tasks appear, you can always reset the view to the default settings or choose a new one. The trick is to decide which view helps you streamline your tasks so that you aren’t digging for information. Create unique views that provide the information you need. This is your chance to personalize Outlook to meet your goals.
Outlook 2007 users: The processes for changing or customizing your tasks views vary slightly. To find out more about customizing views in Outlook 2007, go to Create, Change, or Customize a View.
2. Work with the To-Do Bar
Another handy Outlook feature is the To-Do Bar. You can set it up to display your calendar, appointment reminders, and list of tasks—even when you’re not using the Tasks features in Outlook. Here’s how:
1.
While in Mail, Calendar, Contacts or Tasks, click the View tab, and then, in the Layout group, click To-Do Bar to open a drop-down menu.
2.
If Normal is not already selected, click Normal to display the To-Do Bar on the right side of the window.
3.
To further customize what appears in the To-Do Bar, click To-Do Bar again to open the drop-down menu. Select one or more of the following options:
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Click Date Navigator to see a calendar page in the To-Do Bar.
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Click Appointments to see upcoming appointment in the To-Do Bar.
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Click Task List to see your list of tasks in the To-Do Bar.
To-Do Bar in Outlook 2010, displaying Date Navigator, Appointments, and Task List
You can customize the To-Do Bar in Outlook 2010 to suit your needs.
If you selected Date Navigator, Appointments, and Task List, the To-Do Bar displays a calendar view, upcoming appointments, and your task list. The To-Do Bar remains visible even as you switch between Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, or Notes in Outlook.
To turn off or minimize the To-Do Bar, simply click To-Do Bar to open the drop-down menu, and then click Minimized or Off.
3. Detail your time, billing, or mileage
It’s not easy to remember the date you drove to an appointment with a client or how much time you spent completing a task in the office. Some people try to remember to bill the time or mileage later. Often, that means holding a jumble of details in your head, or trying to decipher multiple sticky notes or scraps of paper.
However, you can eliminate that hassle by storing all that information in a task. Then, when you need to bill the client, you can easily retrieve the details from your task.
Add details to a task
1.
Do one of the following:
Outlook 2010
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Open a new task: On the Home tab, click New Task.
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Open an existing task: In your Tasks list or To-Do List, double-click a task.
Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003
*
Open a new task: On the File menu, point to New, and then click New Task.
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In Outlook 2003: In the task, click the Details tab.
2.
Next, do one of the following:
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In Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2007: On the Task tab, in the Show group, click Details.
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In Outlook 2003: In the task, click the Details tab.
3.
Type the desired details:
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a.Total work — Enter the total number of hours you have spent for a given client. When you invoice the client, it will be easy to do a search by client and tasks and tally the number of hours.
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b.Actual work — Type the actual number of hours spent on the task.
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c.Company (or Companies) — Type the company involved. Sometimes a task will not specifically name the client, so this information is key to helping you track which tasks were performed for each client.
*
d.Mileage — Type the relevant date, mileage, and purpose of the trip.
*
e.Billing information — Type the billing information related to the specific task. Perhaps you charged this task at the full rate, but if not, this is a good place to remind yourself of the rate charge. You can add a note to yourself about why the full rate was not charged, for example.
4.
Do one of the following:
In Outlook 2010, on the Task tab click Save & Close.
In Outlook 2007, in the Actions group, click Save & Close.
In Outlook 2003, click Save and Close.
Outlook Task, displaying example client and billing information
At the end of each billing period, you can easily sort through the information, organized by client, and add up the details quickly.
4. Create Outlook tasks from OneNote
If you use Microsoft OneNote, you already know how it gives you one convenient place to keep meeting notes, make sketches, capture text, save images, and more—in one easily accessible place. And OneNote integrates seamlessly with Outlook Tasks to give you some quick shortcuts to save you time and increase your productivity. It just takes a couple of clicks, for example, to create an Outlook task from within OneNote—and keep that task synced automatically between the two programs.
Note: If your installation of Outlook is configured for multiple email profiles, you must first start Outlook before you can successfully create and save Outlook tasks in OneNote. To check the email profiles on your computer, in Control Panel, in category view, click User Accounts, and then click Mail. If you are using Control Panel classic view, double-click the Mail icon.
OneNote 2010
In Microsoft OneNote, create a page with notes, drawings, or any information you want to include in your task. On the Ribbon, click the Home tab, and then click the red flag icon in the Outlook group. The task appears in your Outlook Tasks list when you open or return to Outlook.
By default, the due date for the task you created in OneNote is Today. To set a different due date, click the Home tab, click Outlook Tasks in the Outlook group to display the dropdown menu, and then click another due date.
OneNote 2010 image, displaying Outlook Tasks drop-down menu
It’s easy to create a new task in OneNote 2010 to send to Outlook Tasks.
OneNote 2007
1.
In any part of your notes in OneNote, type a description for the task that you want to create. For example, type Send out notes from the meeting.
2.
On the Insert menu, point to Outlook Task, and then click the due date for the new task.
A task flag appears next to the description when the task has been created. To view details about the task, move the pointer over the task icon until a tooltip appears.
Note: The task flag may appear dimmed until Outlook recognizes the new task and the task is synchronized between Outlook and OneNote. When this is the case, the task tooltip also displays synchronization status.
OneNote 2003
1.
On the Tools menu, point to Create Outlook Item, and then click Create Outlook Task.
2.
In the Outlook Task window, enter the information you want, and then, on the Standard toolbar, click Save and Close.
Note: The functionality described here is available only if you have installed OneNote 2003 Service Pack 1. To learn more about the service pack and how to download it, see Service pack features in OneNote 2003.
5. Create and track assigned tasks
When you collaborate on a team or manage the work of others, you may want to delegate a task to someone else and keep track of its progress. Outlook makes it nice and easy to create and track a task that you assign. Here’s how:
1.
To create a new task, on the Home tab, in the New section, select New Items, select Tasks, and in the Manage Task section, select Assign Task. To assign an existing task, in the task list, open the task you want to assign, and click Assign Task.
2.
In the To box, enter the name or email address of the person you want to assign the task to. To select the name from a list, click the To button.
3.
For a new task, in the Subject box, type a task name. (In an existing task, the Subject box is already filled in.)
4.
Select the due date and status options you want.
5.
Select or clear the Keep an updated copy of this task on my task list check box and the Send me a status report when this task is complete check box.
Image displaying how to assign an Outlook Task
Outlook 2010 makes it easy to create, assign, and track tasks.
Note: If you select the Send me a status report when this task is complete check box, you will receive a status report for each completed occurrence of the task
6.
If you want the task to recur:
*
If you’re using Outlook 2010, click Recurrence.
*
If you’re using Outlook 2007, click the Options group, and then click Recurrence.
*
If you’re using Outlook 2003, click the Actions menu, and then click Recurrence.
Select the options you want, and then click OK.
Note: If you assign a recurring task, a copy of the task remains in your task list, but it won’t be updated.
7.
In the body of the task, type instructions or information about the task.
8.
Click Send send email.
Learn more about creating and tracking assigned tasks.
6. Send status reports for tasks from Outlook
If you ever have a client or task that is of utmost importance to your boss, this tip will become a favorite. In Outlook, you can send a periodic status report. It’s a great way to communicate that you’re managing things efficiently and remind your boss how well organized you are.
The report is automatically generated from Outlook to an email message that you send.
Here’s how to do it:
1.
In Outlook, open the task for which you want to send a status report.
2.
Do one of the following:
*
In Outlook 2010 and in Outlook 2007, on the Task tab, in the Manage Task group, click Send Status Report.
*
In Outlook 2003, on the Actions menu, click Send Status Report. Outlook opens an email window with your task status automatically added at the bottom of the message window.
3.
Enter recipient names in the To, Cc, and Bcc boxes. If the task was assigned to you, the names of people on the update list are automatically added.
4.
Add any other information you want in the email message.
5.
Click Send.
Image of a status report ready to send
Now you have a status report ready to send.
6 useful Windows tricks
You know that feeling you get when your friends or family see you do something on your computer that they’ve never seen before? If you’ve had this experience, you know that “world’s coolest power-user” feeling. But if you haven’t, start here. Knowledge is power!
Read these six tips for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP that will keep you schoolin’ your friends and family.
1. Don’t just maximize your windows—go full screen
When you need a really big window for viewing photos and videos, don’t just maximize it: go full screen! This tip works great for viewing photos and videos at maximum size in Windows Explorer or Windows Media Player, utilizing screen space usually occupied by the header at the top of the screen and the taskbar at the bottom. Here’s how:
Open any photo in Windows Explorer, or open a photo or video clip in Windows Media Player. Do one of the following:
*
In Windows 7 and Windows XP, click the F11 key at the top of your keyboard.
The photo or video image enlarges to its maximum size and the title bar and taskbar are hidden.
Viewing a photo in Windows Explorer standard view
Viewing a photo in Windows Explorer standard view
To undue full-screen mode and restore the window to its normal view, press the Esc (Escape) key at the top of your keyboard
2. Customize the Navigation pane
You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders and display links to frequently used folders and other items. You can also move or copy items to a destination in the navigation pane.
If you don’t see the navigation pane on the left side of an open folder window, click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Navigation pane to display it.
To customize the navigation pane in Windows 7
1.
In an open folder or library window, click Organize, and then click Folder and search options.
2.
In the Folder Options dialog box, click the General tab, and then do one or both of the following:
*
To show all the folders on your computer in the navigation pane, including your personal folder, select the Show all folders check box, click Apply to see the change, and then click OK.
*
To automatically expand the navigation pane to the folder that’s selected in the folder window, select the Automatically expand to current folder check box, and then click OK.
Customizing the navigation pane in Windows 7
Customizing the navigation pane in Windows 7
More ways to customize your favorites in Windows 7
*
To add a folder, a saved search, a library, or even a drive as a favorite, drag it to the Favorites section in the navigation pane. Note: You can’t add individual file to Favorites, but you can add them to any folder in Favorites.
*
To change the order of favorites, drag a favorite to a new position in the list.
*
To restore the default favorites in the navigation pane, right-click Favorites, and then click Restore Favorite Links.
*
To view the folder where your favorites are stored, click Favorites in the navigation pane. Favorites are stored as shortcuts.
*
To remove a favorite, right-click the favorite, and then click Remove. This removes the favorite from the navigation pane—it doesn’t delete the files or folders that the shortcut points to.
The Favorites area of the navigation pane in Windows 7
The Favorites area of the navigation pane in Windows 7
Add folders and files in Windows Vista
In Windows Vista, you can add folders to Favorite Links in the navigation pane so that you can open them from any folder window at any time. To do this, first open the folder that contains the subfolder you want to add. Then simply drag its icon from the original folder to where you want it in the navigation pane. You can also click Folders at the bottom of the pane and drag a folder from the folder list up into the Favorite Links section of the pane. Note: You can’t add individual files to Favorite Links, but you can add them to any folder in Favorite Links.
Pictures folder in Windows
Pictures folder in Windows
3. Pin a program or items to the Windows 7 taskbar
You know what would make a great taskbar? One where you could pin your favorite applications or files so that you could open them quickly from any window at any time. Guess what? You can.
In Windows 7, you can also pin shortcuts for favorite or frequently used files, folders, and websites to the Jump Lists for each of those programs to the taskbar. Learn more about Jump Lists.
Pin a program to the taskbar
To pin a program shortcut to the taskbar, do one of the following:
*
If the program is already running, right-click the program’s button on the taskbar (or drag the button toward the desktop) to open the program’s Jump List, and then click Pin this program to taskbar.
*
Or if the program isn’t running, click Start, find the program’s icon, right-click the icon, and then click Pin to Taskbar.
*
You can also pin a program by dragging the program’s shortcut from the desktop or Start menu to the taskbar.
Pinning a program to the taskbar
Pinning a program to the taskbar
Using Jump Lists in Windows 7
Jump Lists on the taskbar give you quick access to the things you use most often. You can drag a file, folder, or website icon or a shortcut from the Start menu or the desktop to the taskbar. This pins the item to the Jump List and also pins the associated program to the taskbar. If you drag the shortcut to the taskbar and the associated program isn’t already pinned there, then that program is pinned to the taskbar and the item is pinned to the program’s Jump List.
Pinning an item to a Jump List on the taskbar
Pinning an item to a Jump List on the taskbar
To view the Jump List for a program, right-click the program’s button on the taskbar. To open an item from a Jump List, open the program’s Jump List, and then click the item.
4. Customize the Quick Launch Bar in Windows XP
In Windows XP, the customizable Quick Launch Bar also gives you convenient shortcuts to your favorite programs, folders, and files. The Quick Launch Bar remains accessible from most windows, so it’s a handy way to open the applications and files you use frequently.
If the Quick Launch Bar isn’t already visible to the right of the Start button Start button, you’ll need to turn it on. To do that, right-click an open area of the taskbar. Hover your mouse pointer over Toolbars, then click Quick Launch. The Quick Launch Bar appears on your taskbar.
The Quick Launch Bar on the Windows XP taskbar
The Quick Launch Bar on the Windows XP taskbar
To add a program shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, click the Start buttonStart button, click All Programs, then click and drag the application you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the application’s icon appears in the Quick Launch Bar.
To add a folder or file shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder, subfolder, or individual file you want, click and drag the folder or file you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the icon for the folder or file appears in the Quick Launch Bar.
To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch Bar, right-click on the icon in the Quick Launch Bar of the application, folder, or file you want to remove and right-click it, click Delete, and then click Yes when asked if you’re sure you want to delete the shortcut. Note: Although the shortcut is removed from the Quick Launch Bar, the actual application, folder, or file has not been deleted from your computer.
5. Arrange windows on your desktop
In Windows, you can arrange windows side by side, which can be especially helpful when comparing two documents or when moving files from one place to another. Note: If you’re using a nonstandard setup (such as dual monitors), the tricks below may not work as expected.
Windows 7
1.
Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears.
2.
Release the mouse to expand the window.
3.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by side.
To return a window to its original size click the Maximize button in the window’s title bar and the window expands to full size.
The Maximize button
The Maximize button
Learn more about managing multiple windows in Windows 7.
Tip: To snap an active window to the side of the desktop by using the keyboard, press Windows logo key Windows logo key +Left Arrow or Windows logo key Windows logo key +Right Arrow.
Viewing windows side by side in Windows
Viewing windows side by side in Windows
Windows Vista and Windows XP
In Windows Vista and Windows XP, it’s easy to display any two (or more) windows side by side on the desktop, all equally sized. Press and hold the Ctrl key and click two or more of the window buttons on the taskbar that you want to open. Release the Ctrl key, right-click, and then do one of the following:
*
Windows Vista users, click Show Windows Side by Side.
Windows Vista, Show Windows Side by Side command.
Windows Vista, Show Windows Side by Side command.
Windows XP, Tile Vertically command.
Windows XP, Tile Vertically command.
6. Organize your files into groups
Windows offers a variety of options for organizing folders and files in the ways that work best for you.
Windows 7
The easiest and most effective way to organize your stuff in Windows 7 is to use file arrangements in your libraries.
You can arrange files in the Documents library by author, for example, or you can arrange the Music library by artist if you’re looking for an album or song by a particular band.
To arrange a library
1.
In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button Windows Explorer button.
2.
In the navigation pane (the left pane), click a library (such as Music).
3.
In the library pane (above the file list), click the Arrange by menu, and then choose a property. For example, in the Music library, you can choose Artist to quickly arrange your music collection by artist.
The ‘Arrange by’ menu
The “Arrange by” menu
4.
When you arrange your files, Windows doesn’t just put your files in a different order. Instead, they are presented in a completely different way. The arrangements work differently depending on which one you choose. For example, arranging your pictures by month puts your pictures into stacks, like this:
Files arranged in ‘stacks’
Files arranged in “stacks”
Arranging by day puts them into groups, like this:
Files arranged in ‘groups’
Files arranged in “groups”
There are four default libraries in Windows 7, each with its own specific arrangements. You can also create new libraries and choose which arrangements are available for them.
For more information about libraries, see Working with libraries.
Windows Vista
Open a folder that contains several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window’s contents pane, point to Group By, and then click your grouping choice.
Windows Vista Group by command.
Windows Vista Group by command.
Windows XP
Open a folder that contains several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window’s contents pane, point to Arrange Icons By, and then click Show in Groups. To arrange the window’s contents, right-click again in any empty space on the window’s contents pane, point to Arrange Icons By, and click Name, Size, Type, or Modified (the choices may vary depending on the contents).
Windows XP Arrange icons by command.
Windows XP Arrange icons by command.
Some of these tips are from the book, Windows XP Killer Tips by Kleber Stephenson, ISBN 073571357X. Published here with the permission of Pearson Education, Inc.
Tips for working from home
More and more companies and organizations not only allow but also encourage telecommuting. If your organization offers that option, you can use your mobile PC to be productive in the comfort of your home or another remote location. In this article, I discuss the tools of the trade and provide tips to ensure that the familiar home environment doesn’t prevent you from keeping your focus and achieving your goals.
Tools of the trade
To efficiently telecommute, you’ll need the following tools.
Internet access: Most teleworkers have access to the Internet at home so that they can connect to their corporate network. As a home user, you can choose from three Internet access options:
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DSL: DSL stands for digital subscriber line. It uses ordinary telephone lines and a special modem to provide an Internet connection that can transmit high-bandwidth information to a user’s computer. A DSL line can carry both data and voice signals. The data part of the line is a dedicated connection to the Internet and does not interfere with the use of the telephone. DSL is high speed and is always connected to the Internet.
*
Cable Internet: Cable Internet uses your local cable TV line to receive broadband Internet content. This data rate far exceeds that of modems and is about the same as DSL. Your local TV cable company is typically the cable Internet service provider.
*
Satellite Internet: If cable or DSL aren’t available in your area, or if the slow dial-up access speeds are not acceptable, consider using satellite internet. It’s available to you if you live in the northern hemisphere and have an unobstructed view of the southern sky. The service is expensive and the data rate is not as fast as a direct line, but it is a good connectivity alternative if you live in an isolated location.
Computer: Of course, you’ll need a computer! You can use a desktop computer or a mobile PC. If you can take your mobile PC home from the office, you won’t have to install the same programs on your desktop computer. If you do need to use a desktop computer to connect to your organization’s network remotely, you may need to install additional software to meet your company’s connectivity and security requirements.
Dedicated space with some privacy: I’ve heard more than one frustrated telecommuter state that they have a hard time focusing when they work at home. When I ask where their desktop computer or mobile PC is located, they usually say it’s on the dining room table. By setting up your workspace in a busy location, you almost guarantee distractions. Instead, set up a safe, healthy, and efficient workspace with easy access to your computer, a phone, reference materials, and supplies.
Communication tools: When telecommuting, make sure that your colleagues, customers, and manager can communicate with you at all times. Whether you’re in the office or working remotely, make it easy for people to contact you. Here are some suggestions:
*
Share your phone number with people you work with regularly and leave your contact information with your manager and one or two additional contacts (such as your administrative assistant or receptionist). Also, consider using call forwarding to your home or cell phone so that you receive incoming calls wherever you’re working.
*
Consider using instant messaging (IM). Similar to a chat room, IM is a fast means of communicating with one or more people in real time over the Internet. IM also gives you a way to show and update your communication status throughout the day. For example, when you need a couple of hours of undisturbed concentration, set your status as “Busy” and let everyone know that you’ll be slower than usual to reply to e-mail messages and phone calls.
Tips for staying focused
The tools of the trade don’t guarantee success—you’ll also need some strategies to help you stay focused.
*
Start working at the same time. Treat telework days like regular workdays: get up, get dressed, and be “at your desk” at the usual time.
*
Establish a schedule. Keep work hours similar to the ones you would keep if you were working at your office. Your manager and your co-workers appreciate knowing when you are available.
*
Limit distractions. Be careful not to replace office-based interruptions with home-based ones (such as children, neighbors, and friends).
*
Plan ahead. Take the appropriate work home. Some work may be better suited for the home office than other work, so be sure to plan the telework a day ahead.
*
Take breaks. Plan time to get up and move around. Consider going for a walk or a run during your lunch break to keep your mind fresh.
*
Focus on objectives. Work with your manager and colleagues to define clear goals and objectives against which your performance can be objectively measured.
Telecommuting is not for everyone, but if your job lends itself to working remotely and you are self-disciplined and highly motivated, you can reap the rewards of working effectively at home or remotely. Using the information presented in this column, you can take advantage of the opportunity to work efficiently away from the office while remaining in touch with your colleagues and customers.
This article was written by Armelle O’Neal.
4 steps to set up your home wireless network
You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you’re sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it’s easier to install than you think.
man with a laptop in a hammock
Note: For Windows Vista users, we recommend installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 before setting up your wireless network. For Windows XP users, we recommend installing Windows XP Service Pack 3. Although the service pack is not required for wireless networking, it does make things much easier and helps protect you against hackers, worms, and other Internet intruders.
1. Choose your wireless equipment
The first step is to make sure that you have the equipment you need. As you’re looking for products in stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend 802.11g, because it offers excellent performance and is compatible with almost everything.
Shopping list
*
Broadband Internet connection
*
Wireless router
*
A computer with built-in wireless networking support or a wireless network adapter
A wireless router
The router converts the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not a wireless access point.
A wireless network adapter
Network adapters wirelessly connect your computer to your wireless router. If you have a newer computer you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case, then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network.
Note: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from D-Link, Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer, make sure that you have an available USB port to plug the wireless network adapter into. If you don’t have any open USB ports, buy a hub to add additional ports.
2. Connect your wireless router
Since you’ll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any further.
First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.
Next, connect your wireless router to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you’ve hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet.
How to go wireless
Next, connect your router to your modem:
Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with your equipment for additional assistance.
*
If you currently have your computer connected directly to your modem: Unplug the network cable from the back of your computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the back of your router.
*
If you do not currently have a computer connected to the Internet: Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router.
*
If you currently have your computer connected to a router: Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router replaces it.
wireless modem lights
Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.
3. Configure your wireless router
wireless cables
Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn’t labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.
Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the address to configure your router.
You might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.
As a quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router manufacturers.
Router
Address
Username
Password
3Com
http://192.168.1.1
admin
admin
D-Link
http://192.168.0.1
admin
Linksys
http://192.168.1.1
admin
admin
Microsoft Broadband
http://192.168.2.1
admin
admin
Netgear
http://192.168.0.1
admin
password
Internet Explorer will show your router’s configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you should configure three things:
1.
Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none of your neighbors will be using.
2.
Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is unique and long (you don’t need to memorize it).
3.
Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you’ll need it if you ever have to change your router’s settings.
The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.
Now, you should disconnect the network cable from your computer.
4. Connect your computers to the wireless network
*
Windows 7
*
Windows Vista
If your computer does not have wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.
Visualize it–5 ways to make your PC
easier to see
Do you find yourself fighting the urge to press your nose against the screen because you can’t see text and images clearly?
Maybe you were born finding it hard to see up close, maybe you’re just finding it difficult now, or—and, sigh, it’s true―as you rack up birthdays, sooner or later you’re going to experience some changes in your vision. But changes in your eyesight don’t have to interfere with your ability to see things on your computer.
A screen too far
Make your text larger
No, the text is not getting smaller. But you can make the text and other items―your icons, folders, and mouse pointer―larger. How? By increasing the dots per inch (DPI) scale. If you need to make everything fit on the screen, you can decrease the size of the text, and then use the Magnifier to see the text as you type.
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Increase the size of your icons
You can also quickly make just the icons on your desktop larger and easier to see.
*
Right-click the desktop, point to View, and then click Large Icons, Medium Icons, or Classic Icons. (Classic icons are the smallest size.) .
You can also use the scroll wheel on your mouse to change the size of your desktop icons.
*
On the desktop, press and hold CTRL while you scroll by using the wheel to change the icon size.
Learn more about how to show, hide, or resize icons.
Use the Magnifier
You may have been using Windows for years and not realized there is a built in Magnifier that enlarges part of the screen. You can adjust the Magnifier to zoom in at various levels and focus wherever you want to focus on the screen.
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Magnifier in Windows 7 includes full-screen and lens modes. Full-screen mode lets you magnify your entire screen and follow your mouse pointer. In lens mode, the area around the mouse pointer is magnified. When you move the mouse pointer, the area of the screen that is magnified moves along with it.
Enlarge your mouse pointer
You can change the look of your mouse cursor so it is easier for you to quickly and easily see on-screen. Try selecting a new pointer style, and also try changing the color and size of your mouse pointer.
Windows 7
*
Click the Start button , click Control Panel, and then under Hardware and Sound, click Mouse.
*
Click the Pointers tab, and then do one of the following:
o
To change the look of all of your pointers, in the Scheme list, click a new mouse pointer scheme.
o
To change an individual pointer, in the Customize list, click the pointer you want to change, click Browse, click a pointer, and then click Open.
More ways to change your mouse settings.
Windows Vista
*
Click the Start button , click Control Panel, and then under Hardware and Sound, click Mouse.
*
Click the Pointers tab, and then do one of the following:
o
To change the look of all of your pointers, in the Scheme list, click a new mouse pointer scheme.
o
To change an individual pointer, in the Customize list, click the pointer you want to change, click Browse, click a pointer, and then click Open.
More ways to change your mouse settings.
Improve your screen resolution
Screen resolution refers to the clarity of the text and images on your screen. At higher resolutions, items appear sharper, but they also appear smaller, so more items fit on the screen. At lower resolutions, fewer items fit on the screen, but they are larger and easier to see. Choose a screen resolution that is better for your eyes.
5 ways to make your keyboard
easier to use
For most people, the keyboard is the main way to enter information into and control their computer. But are you controlling your keyboard, or is your keyboard controlling you?
If you make typing mistakes or find your keyboard a bit uncomfortable, it’s not hard to correct those problems. Here’s how to quickly and easily change your keyboard settings and comfort options.
1. Get to know your keyboard
Even if you’ve been using a PC for a long time, there may be features on your keyboard you don’t know about. Take a moment to get to know your keyboard so you can be more efficient when you’re working.
2. Change keyboard settings
Once you’ve gotten more familiar with your keyboard, there are a few settings you can change to help you work more smoothly.
You can alter:
*
How long you need to press a key before the keyboard character starts repeating.
*
The speed at which keyboard characters repeat, which helps you to avoid typing errors.
*
The rate at which the mouse pointer blinks, which can help its visibility.
Here’s how to change keyboard settings in Windows Vista or in Windows XP .
3. Take shortcuts
Even if you’re a whiz with the mouse for Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP, keyboard shortcuts are typically a more efficient way to work. They’re called shortcuts because they reduce multiple clicks into one quick press of keys, like hitting a chord on a piano.
Getting to know a few keyboard shortcuts for the things you do all the time, like saving or closing files, can make using your PC much easier and faster.
Here are just a few popular keyboard shortcuts that work for both versions of Windows:
Press this
To do this
Windows logo keyWindows logo key
Open the Start menu
ALT+TAB
Switch between open programs or windows
CTRL+S
Save the current file or document (works in most programs)
CTRL+C
Copy the selected item
CTRL+Z
Undo an action
Windows logo key Windows logo key +F1
Display Windows Help and Support
ESC
Cancel the current task
Application key Application key
Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a program. Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.
For more, see the detailed list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows Vista, or Windows XP. Note: shortcuts for Windows 7 are the same as those listed for Windows Vista.
4. Make it easier to press multiple keys
Do you find it difficult to press multiple keys at once? For example, if pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL is an acrobatic feat, you can set up Sticky Keys. With Sticky Keys you can hit one key at a time in a keyboard shortcut. You can even set it to make a noise so you know it’s working.
All together now
You can set up Sticky Keys in Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP. (Hint: Press your “SHIFT” key 5 times in a row, then click on the link, to get going with Sticky Keys in Windows 7 or Windows Vista.)
5. Find a comfortable keyboard
It might also be time for you to evaluate the ergonomics of your desktop. Microsoft offers a full line of Natural and Comfort Curve ergonomic keyboards to ensure you’re comfortable when you’re working on your computer. Having the right keyboard can really make a difference!
Tips for using your keyboard properly
If a new keyboard isn’t in your future, be sure to use your current keyboard properly to avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms. This is particularly important if you use your computer for long periods of time.
Curious about how to create a more ergonomic work space for yourself? Check out these tips to help you work more comfortably and reduce your risk of painful injuries or disorders.
Here are some general tips to help you avoid problems:
*
Place your keyboard at elbow level, with your upper arms relaxed at your sides.
*
Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the spacebar as the centering point.
*
While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.
*
When you’re not typing, relax your arms and hands.
*
Take short breaks every 15 to 20 minutes.
*
Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
*
Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
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