How often have you been in the audience for a PowerPoint slide show and suddenly it was over? No indication that the end was here. Just last slide and it's done.
Let your audience know that the slide show is over by simply ending it with a black slide. You don't even have to create a new slide and make it black. There is a convenient feature in PowerPoint that does this for you. Here is how it is done.
Steps
1. Click on the Office button.
2. Click on the PowerPoint Options button at the bottom of the dialog
box.
3. Select Advanced in the list of options on the left.
4. Scroll down in the list of options, until you get to the Slide Show
section.
5. Check the box for End with black slide.
6. Click OK
July 29, 2010
A happy client!!
This kind of response is the goal of Your Computer Lady!!
Pamela,
You were sent to me from Heaven!
David Gill
Lights Up Arizona LLC
P: 480-600-2504
www.lightsuparizona.com
Lights Up Arizona is a relatively new company but David has been involved in the lighting industry for over 30 years! Great experience to help you with your lighting projects. Check out the beautiful options on his web site!!
July 27, 2010
Microsoft Excel 2003 & 2007 – Merge & Center Cells
The merge and center formatting featured in Excel 2003 & 2007 is a handy option to quickly format titles and headings in Excel spreadsheets. It allows you to center titles evenly above your data by merging a number of cells into one and then centering the title/text in this one cell.
1. Highlight the cells you want to merge/center.
2. Right click your mouse, Format Cells
3. Click on Alignment.
4. Click on Horizontal, Center
5. Click the Merge Cells box
6. Click OK
You text is now centered over the data you requested. Using this Right Click format short-cut key, allows you to also, change the text type, size, style, format your numbers, add a border and fill in the cell with a color or pattern. Finding quick and easy ways to do things will always increase your productivity.
1. Highlight the cells you want to merge/center.
2. Right click your mouse, Format Cells
3. Click on Alignment.
4. Click on Horizontal, Center
5. Click the Merge Cells box
6. Click OK
You text is now centered over the data you requested. Using this Right Click format short-cut key, allows you to also, change the text type, size, style, format your numbers, add a border and fill in the cell with a color or pattern. Finding quick and easy ways to do things will always increase your productivity.
July 22, 2010
Microsoft Word 2007 – Saving Frequently Used Tables
Do you seem to create the same size table often? Now you can create this table and save the table in the Quick Tables gallery.
Follow these steps:
1. Create your table.
2. Highlight the table.
3. On the Insert tab, click Table, click Quick Tables, and then click Save Selection to Quick Tables Gallery and Name the table.
4. To find/use this table, click on the Insert tab, click Table, click Quick Tables, and scroll down until you find the name of your table.
It’s that easy!
Follow these steps:
1. Create your table.
2. Highlight the table.
3. On the Insert tab, click Table, click Quick Tables, and then click Save Selection to Quick Tables Gallery and Name the table.
4. To find/use this table, click on the Insert tab, click Table, click Quick Tables, and scroll down until you find the name of your table.
It’s that easy!
July 20, 2010
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 – Customize Auto Correct
AutoCorrect is a feature in PowerPoint 2007 that will automatically correct a common spelling error. You can also tailor it to use as a quick way to enter repetitive, lengthy phrases.
For Example - You work for the law firm of Hokkel, Pokkey and Lynderrocker, and must type that name on the slide often in your PowerPoint presentation. It is very easy to make a mistake typing such a difficult set of names.
Steps to Add an AutoCorrect Entry
1. Click on the Office button in the top left corner of the PowerPoint
2007 window.
2. Click on the PowerPoint Options button in the bottom of the
dialog box.
3. Select the Proofing option in the list and then click on the
AutoCorrect Options button.
4. Enter the misspelled word or specific keystrokes in the
Replace text box.
5. Enter the correction in the With text box.
6. Click on the Add button to add the item to the list.
7. Click on the OK button when all entries have been made.
Now test it.
1. Go back to your PowerPoint presentation
2. Type what you put in the Replace text box on your PowerPoint
slide, and then hit the space bar on your keyboard, and your
entire word should show up.
Neat trick to not only make sure you spell long names correctly, but also a short cut to cutting down on keystrokes. Try it!
For Example - You work for the law firm of Hokkel, Pokkey and Lynderrocker, and must type that name on the slide often in your PowerPoint presentation. It is very easy to make a mistake typing such a difficult set of names.
Steps to Add an AutoCorrect Entry
1. Click on the Office button in the top left corner of the PowerPoint
2007 window.
2. Click on the PowerPoint Options button in the bottom of the
dialog box.
3. Select the Proofing option in the list and then click on the
AutoCorrect Options button.
4. Enter the misspelled word or specific keystrokes in the
Replace text box.
5. Enter the correction in the With text box.
6. Click on the Add button to add the item to the list.
7. Click on the OK button when all entries have been made.
Now test it.
1. Go back to your PowerPoint presentation
2. Type what you put in the Replace text box on your PowerPoint
slide, and then hit the space bar on your keyboard, and your
entire word should show up.
Neat trick to not only make sure you spell long names correctly, but also a short cut to cutting down on keystrokes. Try it!
July 15, 2010
Microsoft Excel 2007 – Adding Data Quickly
One of the shortcuts provided in Excel 2007 allows you to copy data from the cell above the current cell.
All you need to do is press CONTROL SHIFT "
How does this works. For example if you enter 12345 in cell A4. If you then move to cell A5 and press Control Shift ", 12345 appears in the cell. If you then go to cell A6 and type ABC and press Control Shift ", you end up with ABC12345 in the cell.
This shortcut can be handy when you are entering data that has a lot of similarities like inventory numbers or part numbers.
All you need to do is press CONTROL SHIFT "
How does this works. For example if you enter 12345 in cell A4. If you then move to cell A5 and press Control Shift ", 12345 appears in the cell. If you then go to cell A6 and type ABC and press Control Shift ", you end up with ABC12345 in the cell.
This shortcut can be handy when you are entering data that has a lot of similarities like inventory numbers or part numbers.
July 13, 2010
Microsoft Word 2007 – Save Default to .doc Format
Microsoft Office 2007 is a major update. Word and other programs in the suite will use new document formats. Word 2007 saves files in the .docx format, which is different from the .doc format used in Word 97-2003.
The new document format in Word 2007 can cause difficulties when it comes time to share your documents electronically. You cannot open a Word 2007 document saved in the .docx format in Word 97-2003. When save your Word 2007 documents, you can save it in the Word 97-2003 format, but you would have to remember to do that every time you save a document.
You can ask Word 2007 to always save your documents in Word 97-2003 format so that you don’t have to worry about having any problems sharing documents. To do this, follow these simple steps:
• Click the Office button
• Click Word Options
• Open the Save options
• Beside Save files in this format, select Word 97-2003
• Click OK
Your documents will be saved in the .doc format, which is compatible with earlier versions of Word and you don’t have to worry about sharing your documents with people who don’t have Word 2007.
The new document format in Word 2007 can cause difficulties when it comes time to share your documents electronically. You cannot open a Word 2007 document saved in the .docx format in Word 97-2003. When save your Word 2007 documents, you can save it in the Word 97-2003 format, but you would have to remember to do that every time you save a document.
You can ask Word 2007 to always save your documents in Word 97-2003 format so that you don’t have to worry about having any problems sharing documents. To do this, follow these simple steps:
• Click the Office button
• Click Word Options
• Open the Save options
• Beside Save files in this format, select Word 97-2003
• Click OK
Your documents will be saved in the .doc format, which is compatible with earlier versions of Word and you don’t have to worry about sharing your documents with people who don’t have Word 2007.
July 11, 2010
Video Marketing
The need to differentiate yourself from your competition has never been greater. Nor has the need to market your services / products consistently, concisely and clearly. Let’s discuss a relatively new tool to help you with both needs – video marketing. It fits so perfectly for the architect, the interior designer, … really the entire construction industry which is a visual business.
YouTube is now the #2 search engine in the world following Google (who just happens to own YouTube). The most popular videos viewed on YouTube are consumer or non-professional short videos. A short video is typically 3-4 minutes long.
Granted, a lot of video viewing is by the 18-24 year old crowd. They’re watching not only short videos but also music videos, full length TV shows, movie previews, full length movies and news stores (top five according to the survey). Average weekly viewing is 4.6 hours.
Do not be mislead by thinking videos ONLY appeal to that group. 50% of all online users watch videos weekly according to a study by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc., in conjunction with Metacafe.
People process information and learn in different ways and video marketing speaks to both the audio and visual learner. They see you and/or your product while hearing your presentation. Another study shows when the combination of voice and visuals are working together, information is absorbed and retained at a much higher level. It's more than six times that of hearing alone (a phone call) and three times that of seeing alone (emails).
The really good news for businesses is that the audience actually responds better to amateur videos. They are not expecting gorgeous models, perfect delivery and slick productions. “Authentic” and “transparent” are crucial words for video marketing as for other types of social media.
There are three tools worth checking out:
The Flip Camera
www.TheFlip.com For just under $200, you can purchase a camera for quality videos which can immediately be uploaded to YouTube, your web site or other multi-media sites.
Mojo Video Marketing
www.MoJoVideoMarketing.com This firm will help you create videos or will use your videos. The critical part of their service is the automation. Remember the seven “touches” rule to make a sale? Mojo will help you set up your marketing process. Their software will send the videos out on your schedule. Mixing phone calls, emails and meetings in with the videos gives you a powerful presence. Equally important is the consistency. All of us have found a business card under a pile of paper on our desks of a good prospect that we met and then accidentally forgot. Mojo is so easy that you can add contacts to your video campaign from your SmartPhone. The touches continue on schedule!
GoldMail
www.GoldMail.com There are several companies that will convert still photos into a video (www.animoto.com). Most provide background music. Some will attach an audio recording. Gold Mail’s genius is the simplicity of their software to let you create the video yourself. You can use still photos, a PowerPoint presentation or one of their templates. You record your message with each slide. If you make a mistake, you can correct a single slide! I tested the software one Sunday afternoon. Being a multi-tasker, I tried the software out and created a message to my family and friends. It took a little over 30 minutes and that included finding recent pictures of the cats and of my new car.
Once you have created your video, you can insert it into one email or into a broadcast message through an Email Service Provider. Forrester Research has stated that adding clickable media to your emails can increase click-through by 2 to 3 times. A higher open rate leads to higher conversion rates. If you include a link to your web site in the email, you can also increase traffic to your web site.
Speaking of web sites, all indications are that web sites with videos generate more traffic both in new visitors and in keeping visitors on your site longer.
Bruce Clay, one of the godfathers of SEO, has even said you basically won’t exist, in search engine terms, if you don’t have video: “I think, that a year from now, we are going to be sitting here saying – ‘if you don’t have video, if you don’t have engagement objects on your website, you are just not going to rank. It will make you last among equals if you don’t have it.”
Once your video is uploaded to YouTube, it is quite simple to embed the video on your web site. You can then measure it’s success with Google Analytics or other traffic reporting software. You don’t need to abandon text or other graphic content on your site. There are people who want to read details. There are people who want to see charts, technical data, etc. Adding a video differentiates you. It marks you as a technology leader. It shows an openness to new ideas which is certainly important in your industry!
Don’t stop with posting the video. Tell people about it. Link from your daily emails. Include a link in your monthly e-newsletter. Submit the video to Metacafe.com, StumbleUpon.com, Digg.com or other video sites. Mention the video in all of your social media activities. This isn’t a field of dreams. You need to promote the video, your web site, your social media activities. Each marketing effort should support every other marketing effort
YouTube is now the #2 search engine in the world following Google (who just happens to own YouTube). The most popular videos viewed on YouTube are consumer or non-professional short videos. A short video is typically 3-4 minutes long.
Granted, a lot of video viewing is by the 18-24 year old crowd. They’re watching not only short videos but also music videos, full length TV shows, movie previews, full length movies and news stores (top five according to the survey). Average weekly viewing is 4.6 hours.
Do not be mislead by thinking videos ONLY appeal to that group. 50% of all online users watch videos weekly according to a study by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc., in conjunction with Metacafe.
People process information and learn in different ways and video marketing speaks to both the audio and visual learner. They see you and/or your product while hearing your presentation. Another study shows when the combination of voice and visuals are working together, information is absorbed and retained at a much higher level. It's more than six times that of hearing alone (a phone call) and three times that of seeing alone (emails).
The really good news for businesses is that the audience actually responds better to amateur videos. They are not expecting gorgeous models, perfect delivery and slick productions. “Authentic” and “transparent” are crucial words for video marketing as for other types of social media.
There are three tools worth checking out:
The Flip Camera
www.TheFlip.com For just under $200, you can purchase a camera for quality videos which can immediately be uploaded to YouTube, your web site or other multi-media sites.
Mojo Video Marketing
www.MoJoVideoMarketing.com This firm will help you create videos or will use your videos. The critical part of their service is the automation. Remember the seven “touches” rule to make a sale? Mojo will help you set up your marketing process. Their software will send the videos out on your schedule. Mixing phone calls, emails and meetings in with the videos gives you a powerful presence. Equally important is the consistency. All of us have found a business card under a pile of paper on our desks of a good prospect that we met and then accidentally forgot. Mojo is so easy that you can add contacts to your video campaign from your SmartPhone. The touches continue on schedule!
GoldMail
www.GoldMail.com There are several companies that will convert still photos into a video (www.animoto.com). Most provide background music. Some will attach an audio recording. Gold Mail’s genius is the simplicity of their software to let you create the video yourself. You can use still photos, a PowerPoint presentation or one of their templates. You record your message with each slide. If you make a mistake, you can correct a single slide! I tested the software one Sunday afternoon. Being a multi-tasker, I tried the software out and created a message to my family and friends. It took a little over 30 minutes and that included finding recent pictures of the cats and of my new car.
Once you have created your video, you can insert it into one email or into a broadcast message through an Email Service Provider. Forrester Research has stated that adding clickable media to your emails can increase click-through by 2 to 3 times. A higher open rate leads to higher conversion rates. If you include a link to your web site in the email, you can also increase traffic to your web site.
Speaking of web sites, all indications are that web sites with videos generate more traffic both in new visitors and in keeping visitors on your site longer.
Bruce Clay, one of the godfathers of SEO, has even said you basically won’t exist, in search engine terms, if you don’t have video: “I think, that a year from now, we are going to be sitting here saying – ‘if you don’t have video, if you don’t have engagement objects on your website, you are just not going to rank. It will make you last among equals if you don’t have it.”
Once your video is uploaded to YouTube, it is quite simple to embed the video on your web site. You can then measure it’s success with Google Analytics or other traffic reporting software. You don’t need to abandon text or other graphic content on your site. There are people who want to read details. There are people who want to see charts, technical data, etc. Adding a video differentiates you. It marks you as a technology leader. It shows an openness to new ideas which is certainly important in your industry!
Don’t stop with posting the video. Tell people about it. Link from your daily emails. Include a link in your monthly e-newsletter. Submit the video to Metacafe.com, StumbleUpon.com, Digg.com or other video sites. Mention the video in all of your social media activities. This isn’t a field of dreams. You need to promote the video, your web site, your social media activities. Each marketing effort should support every other marketing effort
July 8, 2010
Microsoft PowerPoint - What Makes a Successful Presentation?
Planning is probably the most important step in creating a successful presentation of any kind. Planning helps you decide on the content and the order in which the information will be presented. Use the following steps as a guide in planning your PowerPoint presentation.
1. Determine the Purpose of the Presentation
• Is this presentation about a product for a client?
• Is it a business presentation about the latest sales figures?
• Is it about a new idea you are introducing?
2. Determine the Presentation’s Audience
• Your staff
• New prospective client
• Group of small children
• Convention for people in the same line of work -- for example; a
group of dentists
3. Gather Your Information
• Remember the KISS principle (Keep It Silly Simple) when
designing your presentation
• Focus on three or four main points only
• Know everything about the topic so you are ready for questions
after the presentation
4. Sketch Out the Slides on Paper
• Make sure the slides emphasize the main points to be made in
the presentation
• Try to have only one main idea on each slide
• List no more than four points per slide
5. Determine the Order Of Your Slides
• Although this can be changed later, having a rough idea of the
order of your topic points, will help you plan the order of your
slides
6. Create the Presentation
• When creating the slides, be consistent in your choice of
background colors, fonts, transitions, and animations
Your Computer Lady has extensive experience in helping creating powerful presentations. Give us a call the next time you need an effective PowerPoint presentation.
1. Determine the Purpose of the Presentation
• Is this presentation about a product for a client?
• Is it a business presentation about the latest sales figures?
• Is it about a new idea you are introducing?
2. Determine the Presentation’s Audience
• Your staff
• New prospective client
• Group of small children
• Convention for people in the same line of work -- for example; a
group of dentists
3. Gather Your Information
• Remember the KISS principle (Keep It Silly Simple) when
designing your presentation
• Focus on three or four main points only
• Know everything about the topic so you are ready for questions
after the presentation
4. Sketch Out the Slides on Paper
• Make sure the slides emphasize the main points to be made in
the presentation
• Try to have only one main idea on each slide
• List no more than four points per slide
5. Determine the Order Of Your Slides
• Although this can be changed later, having a rough idea of the
order of your topic points, will help you plan the order of your
slides
6. Create the Presentation
• When creating the slides, be consistent in your choice of
background colors, fonts, transitions, and animations
Your Computer Lady has extensive experience in helping creating powerful presentations. Give us a call the next time you need an effective PowerPoint presentation.
The Power of Confidence
Just had to share this story I read. Pablo Picasso credited his mother with much of his success. She believed in him from the beginning. She told him, "If you become a soldier, you'll become a general. If you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope." In Picasso's own humble way, he ended the story, "Instead I became an artist and wound up as Picasso!"
July 6, 2010
Microsoft Excel 2007 - Hide the Ribbon in Excel 2007
In Excel 2007 the Ribbon, which has replaced the menus and toolbars found in earlier versions of Excel, can quickly be hidden to give you more room to work in your spreadsheet.
To Hide the Ribbon Commands:
• Press the CTRL + F1 keys on the keyboard.
Only the tabs will be left showing above your spreadsheet.
To Show the Ribbon Commands Again:
• Press the CTRL + F1 keys on the keyboard
To Hide the Ribbon Commands:
• Press the CTRL + F1 keys on the keyboard.
Only the tabs will be left showing above your spreadsheet.
To Show the Ribbon Commands Again:
• Press the CTRL + F1 keys on the keyboard
July 1, 2010
Microsoft Word 2007 - Changing ScreenTips Settings
Like previous versions of Word, Word 2007 features ScreenTips. When you hold your mouse over a button, the name of the button appears. Additionally, Word displays a brief description of the button.
ScreenTips are designed to make your work in Word easier. They are very helpful to those who are new to Word. But, advanced users may find ScreenTips annoying. If you don’t like the ScreenTips feature, you can disable it. Or, you can opt to have Word simply display a buttons name without a description.
To change ScreenTips settings in Word, follow these steps:
1. Click the Office button
2. Select Word Options
3. Open the Popular section
4. Locate the drop-down box labeled ScreenTip style
5. To disable Screen Tips entirely, select Don’t show Screen Tips
6. To disable button descriptions only, select Don’t show feature descriptions in ScreenTips
If you later decide you would like to see ScreenTips, repeat the above steps and select Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips.
ScreenTips are designed to make your work in Word easier. They are very helpful to those who are new to Word. But, advanced users may find ScreenTips annoying. If you don’t like the ScreenTips feature, you can disable it. Or, you can opt to have Word simply display a buttons name without a description.
To change ScreenTips settings in Word, follow these steps:
1. Click the Office button
2. Select Word Options
3. Open the Popular section
4. Locate the drop-down box labeled ScreenTip style
5. To disable Screen Tips entirely, select Don’t show Screen Tips
6. To disable button descriptions only, select Don’t show feature descriptions in ScreenTips
If you later decide you would like to see ScreenTips, repeat the above steps and select Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips.
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