Tips, Tricks & Techniques,
Print By Dragging
If you need to print a file fast here is what you need to do. Create a shortcut on your desktop to your printer. You can do this by opening the Printers folder and dragging a printer icon to the Desktop. Now if you ever want to print things you just have to drag-and-drop them into the icon you just created.
Custom Icons
To use BMP files (picture files saved in .BMP format) as icons for your programs. You can go to the change icon option in the properties dialog box (right-click on the icon you want to change and select Properties). In the file types box select All Files and then find a BMP file that you want to use.
Secret Icons
Right mouse click on the icon you want to change then select Properties-Change Icon. Type in MORICONS.dll and select the icon you want. Note, the normal Windows icon file is SHELL32.DLL.
What’s my Hardware?
Right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties. By exploring the various tabs and items, you can find out about all the devices installed on your system, as well as your memory and port settings.
Recycle and Re-use
On its own, Recycle Bin will consume up to 10 percent of your hard disk space. If you want it to use more, or less, right-click on the Recycle Bin and select Properties. You can set exactly how much-or how little-space the Recycle Bin should use.
Bye-Bye Forever
Some files may be sensitive (budget reports, for example) or toxic (some bad Internet downloads, for example) and you want them gone forever, without a stop in the Recycle Bin. To immediately delete a file, hold down the Shift key when you delete it (Shift-delete). It will be deleted and not sent to the Recycle Bin.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts (1)
If you have a Windows Keyboard (a Windows keyboard has a “WinKey” key between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom left hand side of the keyboard) try these Keyboard Shortcuts: WinKey + E = Opens Explorer, WinKey + F = Opens Find, WinKey + R = Opens Run, WinKey + M = Minimize all windows.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts (2)
If you have a Windows Keyboard (a Windows keyboard has a “WinKey” key between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom left hand side of the keyboard) try these Keyboard Shortcuts: WinKey + Pause = Opens System Resources, WinKey + Tab = Flip between open application in the taskbar, WinKey + Break = Displays the System Properties sheet.
Font Fun
Using Microsoft Word? Then have some fun playing with fonts, shading and 3D effects using WordArt. WordArt is a program that runs within MS Word. For Word 7 right-click on the menu bar and select the WordArt Menu. Word 2 and 6, Insert - Object, select WordArt. Have Fun!
Taskbar Tip
In Windows you can move the taskbar to any edge of your screen by dragging it with your mouse. You can size the Taskbar by placing your mouse over the edge of the Taskbar and dragging the edge when the cursor changes to the double arrow.
It’s a Date
To set your computer's clock in Windows you can double-click the clock on the taskbar. This will bring up the Date/Time/Time zone window where you can adjust your computer's time settings.
Personalize your Windows
In Windows you can change the color scheme, screensaver, and other appearance settings, by right mouse clicking on the desktop, and then selecting Properties. Play around and customize windows to suit your tastes.
Auto Start Programs
In Windows you can have programs start when you start Windows NT by dragging their icons to your Startup folder using the Windows Explorer.
Background Beauty
To change your desktop background in Windows click it using your right mouse button, and then click Properties. Use your own background pictures, Save them as .bmp files using your application software and Windows can then use them as a background picture. Point to your picture using the Browse button.
Today’s Menu is…
Want to put a program on your Start Menu in Windows? Then drag its icon over the Start Menu button and let go. It will now appear on the menu bar when you click the Start Menu button.
Left or Right
You can switch mouse buttons if you are left-handed in Windows. Just double-click the Mouse icon in Control Panel (Start – Settings – Control Panel). Under Button configuration, click Left-handed.
Comfy?
Try these ideas to make your work environment more comfortable. Monitor: Tilt it (try and reduce glare), raise it (put books under it), adjust its brightness/contrast. Mouse: Need a new mouse pad? Has your mouse been cleaned lately? Try a wrist rest. Chair: How are you sitting? Remember your posture.
Print Preview
If you are using Microsoft Word and would like to see how your document would look like before it’s printed use “Print Preview”. Here is an undocumented way to toggle (switch back and forth) between “Print Preview” and your editing mode try: CTRL + ALT + I . (Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys simultaneously and press the I key).
Open the Window
To display all open windows at once; right-mouse-click on a blank area on the taskbar. Click either Cascade Windows, Tile Windows Horizontally, or Tile Windows Vertically. To restore your windows to their original state, right-mouse-click a blank area on the taskbar, and then click Undo Cascade or Undo Tile.
