Newsletter No 1 - Newsletter No 2 - Newsletter No 3

Newsletter No. 4

 

Printing web pages:

 There will be times when you want a printed copy of part of a web page – such as a recipe or a route map for instance. Some pages offer you the option of a printable form of the document but all too often you have to print out the whole page to obtain the piece you need.

There is a simple way to overcome this problem by selecting that section of the page you wish to print by dragging the mouse pointer across the text which will select it and then go to the File menu and choose Print. Instead of opting to print the whole document, click on the selection button and you will restrict the printing to the highlighted area.

This is fine in many cases but increasingly I am finding that the resultant print is so small that you need a magnifying glass to read it. There is a way around this as well. Having selected the text use Ctrl+C to copy the selection – open your word processor to a blank page then use Ctrl+V to paste the text into the document. This print will still be in a small print size but it is now easy to maintain the selection - or renew it by using Ctrl+A – then alter the font size to something that is easily read and print out the new document.

Setting up Outlook Express to receive your HotMail:

 You may find it useful to use Outlook Express or Vista’s Mail to receive your HotMail messages and store them on your own computer for future reference instead of having to access the Web every time you want to read them again.

There is a very good tutorial on this subject at http://tinyurl.com/2xdx3a . Just click on the link and your browser will take you straight to the page.

Video Tutorials:

If you want to learn a skill but would rather be shown rather than taught then try using YouTube at www.youtube.com and enter the skill you want to acquire. There is everything there from salsa dancing to tying a Windsor knot.

Accidental file copying:

A number of my pupils have been having problems when selecting files or folders for deletion or moving. Instead of simply selecting them they are finding that they have accidentally copied the selected files. This usually happens when you are selecting random files by using Ctrl+left click when selecting the files when suddenly the selection gets copied to the list of files. This happens because, on Ctrl+ left clicking, you have imperceptibly dragged the mouse while clicking. The computer interprets this action as a command to copy the files. To rectify the mistakes simply press Ctrl+Z to undo the action. So take care not to move the mouse when clicking on files to select them.

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Newsletter No. 3

 Digital photo supplies

 Those of us interested in digital photography will have found that costs of printer inks and photographic paper can be quite high – especially when bought from the High Street.

Buying on the Web can bring these costs down considerably and I can recommend the following suppliers –

The Big Ink Company at https://uk-ssl.com/bigink/index.php

The On-Line Paper Co at http://www.on-linepaper.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

Perfumes:

While on the subject of saving money, many designer fragrances can be bought at ½ price at Fragrances.com (http://www.fragrancedirect.co.uk/customer/home.php )

Finding lost files:

 Have you ever been in that situation when you know that a certain letter, email or image is somewhere in your computer but have forgotten where you filed it?

Well, help is at hand in the guise of the Copernic Desktop program. It is free and simple to download from http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/index.html . Once set up it searches through your hard disk and analyses every file so that you do not even have to remember the file name – it will search for words in the file.

BBC search

 A useful site if you want to catch up on any BBC media item - http://www.bbc.co.uk/a-z/

Quicklaunch bar:

 Many people do not seem to use the facility of the Quicklaunch bar which is found immediately to the right of the Start button.

This bar contains the icons of those most frequently used programs such as Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Microsoft Word. If you do not see any of these icons then you need to activate the bar. Right click on any free space along the status bar and a secondary drop down menu will appear. If the Lock the Toolbar is ticked click on it remove it then click on Properties and click on the Show Quicklaunch bar item.

Once active any desktop icon can be dragged onto the Quicklaunch bar for future use. Right click on the status bar again and Lock the Toolbar again.

The advantage of this bar is that you can activate any favourite program without having to minimise all open windows to get to the Desktop. The icons are activated by a single click rather than the double click needed on the Desktop icons.

The bar also contains a very useful icon – Show Desktop.

A single click on this icon immediately minimises all open windows to reveal the Desktop.

Flight Search:

 I have just found another source of cheap flight information at http://www.skyscanner.net/ where you can choose your domestic airport and find out the available destinations.

Digital photography tutorials:

 For those of you wanting to improve your digital photos, there are a number of free video tutorials on the use of Photoshop Elements at http://www.photoshopsupport.com/elements/tutorials.html

I hope these items have been of use,

Best of luck,

Adrian

 

Newsletter 2

Renaming Multiple Files:

This technique only works if all the files are in the same directory

Changing the text size of your web browser:

If you have a ‘wheel’ mouse then hold down the Ctrl key while scrolling the mouse wheel back and forth to get the size you need.

If this does not work then use the keyboard. Using Ctrl > + increases the text size while Ctrl > - has the opposite effect. Ctrl > 0 restores the text to its original size. Use the symbols and number at the top of the keyboard not on the keypad.

Getting the full view of a web page:

You may have collected several “bars” on your browser window that are beginning to restrict your view of web pages. The Title bar, Menu bar, Tool bars, Links bar, search engine bars and Task bar - all take up viewing space. To remove this clutter temporarily while you read the web page simply press the F11 key and the screen will be instantly de-cluttered. Restore the original view by pressing F11 again.

Translation:
Ever had difficulty in booking accommodation in a foreign language? Here is the answer. Go to the Babelfish page and enter your questions and remarks and get them translated immediately into the language of your choice.

Google extras:

By now you will have used the Search facilities of Google but there are many more hidden but useful aspects to the Google website.

Calculation:

If you want to convert ounces into grams simply type "14 ounces in grams" (without the quote marks) into the search box and the answer - 396.893324 grams - is displayed.

"3 UK gallons into litres" displays 13.6382756 litres "14 tablespoons in ounces" shows 7 US fluid ounces

Baffled by American recipes that use cups as a measurement? Type "2 US cups in ounces". Answer - 16 US fluid ounces

Mathematics - try 602.25 divided by 17 as "602.25/17" = 35.4264706

Multiplication uses the asterisk - 14.3*8.6 = 122.98

For a full list of the symbols go to the Google Calculator

 

Dictionary/Definition :

Has the dromedary got one hump or two? Type "define:dromedary" (no spaces) and various definitions will be shown. Google will also answer many question such as "birthplace of Mozart", "population of Chester" or "language of Botswana" (No quote marks needed)

Correcting mistakes:

If you make a mistake, try using Ctrl > Z to undo your last action.

Newsletter 1

Friends and pupils –

This is the first of what I hope will be a monthly newsletter. I have kept in contact with some of my older pupils who ask for hints and tips from time to time. This has led to me starting a re-vamp of my website – www.imagineus.co.uk – where there is a growing number of tutorials for beginners. These can be printed out and used as hard copy while you work your way through the lesson.

The site is still under construction but there is a list of website links to sites that might appeal to the more mature generation; a few short tutorials and tips and, still to come, more advanced Email, Internet and digital photography tutorials.

Tips for this month –

Ctrl>F

If you have searched for certain words on Google you may find yourself facing a very long page to read before finding the subject that interests you. In this case I use the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl>F and type in the word I am looking for. This search will be far quicker than your eyes.

 

If you do not wish to receive any further newsletters please let me know at aearnold@tiscali.co.uk . On the other hand if you want tutorials on other subjects, please give me some ideas at the same address,

 

Best wishes – Adrian Arnold