Microsoft Excel 2007 - Quick Tricks

Here are two quick ways to insert the current date and time into your Excel spreadsheet.

• To insert current date, press CTRL+;
• To insert current time, press CTRL+SHIFT+;

Have you ever wanted to repeat the last action you just performed in Excel:

• To repeat last action, press F4

Try it!

Microsoft Word 2007 - Automatically Update Text in Many Documents

If you frequently insert the same block of text in many documents, and this text is sometimes updated, you might want to consider inserting the text as a link. By inserting the text as a link, any edits you make to the text will automatically appear in every document that contains the link. This will save you from having to search for the text when it comes time to print your documents, and you can rest assured that the documents will contain the latest, most accurate information. To insert text as a link, follow these steps:

1. Create a document containing the text you want to link to

2. Copy the text you would like to insert in your other documents

3. Open the document where you would like to insert the text

4. Place the cursor where you would like the text to appear

5. From the Edit menu, select Paste Special

6. From the Paste Special dialog box, select Paste Link

Changes you make to the text will appear in all documents where the text is linked. However, if you move the file containing the text, you will have to re-insert an updated link to the text in all your documents, so it is best to consider this before you begin.

Traveling? 10 Tips to Protect your Laptop from Theft

These days, it seems that just about everybody uses a laptop or notebook computer to get work done away from the office or on the road. Unfortunately, the pervasiveness of laptop computing has made portable systems an easy target for theft. If your laptop computer is stolen, or if someone gains access to your files while your back is turned, your company information—not to mention your personal and financial data—can be exposed.

Continue reading this article from Microsoft at Work. 

Save Time with Computer Shortcuts in Microsoft Office Programs

Below is a great article I found on Microsoft at Home website. 

If you’re like most people, you’re always looking for ways to save time, even when using Microsoft Office software. Keyboard shortcuts could be your new best friend when it comes to time management.
Fingers on keyboard near clock

Not everyone uses shortcut keys to save time, but some people find them easier to use than a mouse, especially when spending long stretches of time at the computer.

Click here to see all the shortcuts.

Microsoft Excel 2007 - Applying Formatting to Cells Containing Only Text

When working in Excel you sometimes may want to only apply formatting to text only cells. To apply formatting to cells containing text only, use Conditional Formatting:

1.  Select a range of cells containing text.

2.  Select Home,  Conditional Formatting (in Styles Group).

3.  Select New Rule, “Use a formula to determine which cells
     to format.”

4.  In Format values where this Formula is True enter the formula:
    =ISTEXT(A1)

5.  Click Format, select the desired format from the Format Cells
     dialog Box, and then click OK.

6.  Click OK to close the New Formatting Rule dialog box.

Microsoft Word 2007 - Short Cut to Selecting Text

Here are some short cuts to select text for formatting and other changes.

• If you want to select all of the text in a document, hold down the "Ctrl" key and then press the "A" key. 
• If want to select all the text in a certain sentence, hold down the "Ctrl" key and then click on any part of the sentence. 
• Double click a word to select the whole word.
• Take your cursor to the far left edge of the line of text until it turns into a right pointing white arrow. Left click to select the entire line of text.

Try it!

Microsoft Power 2007 - Quick Slide Show Option

Did you know that you can create a slide show within your edit mode on your presentation?

Hold down the Control Key and Click on the Show Slide (Screen) button and PowerPoint will open a small window that will display the slide as it will look in presentation mode.

You close the preview window by clicking the Esc key. You will see the editing window; by clicking in the editing window, you can make changes. This is much easier than running the show and going back to edit mode.

Microsoft Excel 2007 - Moving to the Last (or First) Cell in a Range

Did you know that you can move around your worksheet quickly.  To move to the last (or first) cell in a range:

•  Vertically from top to bottom, press Ctrl+Down Arrow.
•  Vertically from bottom to top, press Ctrl+Up Arrow.
•  Horizontally from left to right, press Ctrl+Right Arrow.
•  Horizontally from right to left, press Ctrl+Left Arrow.

Microsoft Word 2007 - How to Add Line Numbers

When you need to format a long document of text in Microsoft Word, you may find the need to add line numbers. Word has an option where you can make them show up and set selections on the style and format of the line numbers.

1. Open your document or you can start a new file and type a few lines of text so you can see how the line number function works.
2. Click on Page Layout on the Ribbon
3. Click Line Numbers.
4. To turn off the line numbers, click none.