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A complete list of Geekgirl's articles
- Apple
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
Once your idevice's screens are stuffed with apps, there's no need to uninstall an app before adding a new one to your collection. Just go ahead and install it. The app will be on your device, but hidden from view.
- Mac tip: A shortcut through enclosing folders
When you dig down through folder within folder within folder to find a file, there are a variety of ways to navigate back up through those layers of folders, including one not-so-obvious shortcut.
- Top tips for the iPhone keyboard
Some people love the iPhone’s ‘soft’ keyboard, others loathe it. Whichever camp you belong to, you can make your keyboarding life far more efficient by taking advantage of all the hidden tricks lurking beneath the keyboard’s apparently simple exterior.
- iPhone
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
Once your idevice's screens are stuffed with apps, there's no need to uninstall an app before adding a new one to your collection. Just go ahead and install it. The app will be on your device, but hidden from view.
- Top tips for the iPhone keyboard
Some people love the iPhone’s ‘soft’ keyboard, others loathe it. Whichever camp you belong to, you can make your keyboarding life far more efficient by taking advantage of all the hidden tricks lurking beneath the keyboard’s apparently simple exterior.
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
- Mac
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- Mac tip: A shortcut through enclosing folders
When you dig down through folder within folder within folder to find a file, there are a variety of ways to navigate back up through those layers of folders, including one not-so-obvious shortcut.
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
- Basic Computing
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- Basic mousing technique
Most of your interaction with your computer will be via the mouse, keyboard and screen. If you're a poor typist, do yourself a very big favour and buy a typing tutor program for your computer. You can pick up a good one for under 20 bucks, either from a computer store or through online…
- Better sticky notes for your computer
Sticky notes for your computer are a wonderful idea. These digital alternatives to Post-It Notes save paper, won't come unstuck, prompt you with audible and visual reminders, and are a lifesaver for anyone whose memory is not one hundred percent. (Include me in!)
- Emailing photos
The real joy in taking photos is in sharing. Whether it's a cute snap of your daughter playing with her first set of Lego blocks or a dazzling shot of Saturn's rings taken through a telescope-mounted camera, your photos cry out to be handed around. With your computer, you can give your prize…
- Get yourself a better browser
For years, Microsoft has been including a web browser known as Internet Explorer with Windows. Windows 7 shipped with version 8 of Internet Explorer, better known as IE 8. Many people settle for using Internet Explorer simply because it’s supplied with Windows, but it is by no means the best…
- Handy dandy computer jargon decoder
Can't tell your hardware from your software? This plain English computer glossary introduces all the terms you need to get started with computers and the Internet. A access To gain entry to or connect to. Access (Capital "A"). Microsoft's database management program, available as a standalone…
- Removing clutter from a new computer
Computer manufacturers love to load up new systems with “helpful” utilities and features. Of course, what they regard as helpful, you may regard as rubbish. Whenever I set up a new computer for myself or someone else, I go through a routine to eliminate vendor-generated clutter and…
- Spreadsheeting I: Basic concepts
While word processing programs are the most commonly used office application and browsers are probably the most commonly used application of all, much of the success of personal computers is due to spreadsheets. In 1979, two blokes – Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston – developed the first…
- Spreadsheeting II: Good Spreadsheet Design
What makes a good spreadsheet? Two things: good design and good data. This may sound obvious, but it's all too easy to dive into creating a spreadsheet without putting much thought into its design. And a poorly designed spreadsheet is bound to make it harder to enter valid data. Without valid…
- Top tips for the iPhone keyboard
Some people love the iPhone’s ‘soft’ keyboard, others loathe it. Whichever camp you belong to, you can make your keyboarding life far more efficient by taking advantage of all the hidden tricks lurking beneath the keyboard’s apparently simple exterior.
- Viewing and organising files
With Windows 7, Microsoft has made substantial changes to the way you view and manage files within folders, building upon the dramatic improvements introduced in Vista. Compared to Windows XP, Windows 7’s file management is more powerful, more flexible and far more visually appealing. Find out…
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
- Blog
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
Windows 7 includes all sorts of small improvements that will make your computing life more enjoyable. These tips will help you make the most of your desktop working environment.
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- An end to cable tangle madness
I try not to look behind my desk. It is one very scary place. There’s a rat’s nest of cables back there that grows more snarled and intertwined by the month. Every new device I add to my setup seems to add at least two, sometimes three more cables, and I have a bank of powerboards bristling…
- Automate email handling with Gmail's filters
The Gmail team has been adding features to Google’s web-based email program at a gallop. A quick click of Gmail’s Settings link unveils an impressive array. By clicking the Labs tab and enabling some of Gmail’s experimental features, you’ll find yourself with even more options. There’s…
- Better sticky notes for your computer
Sticky notes for your computer are a wonderful idea. These digital alternatives to Post-It Notes save paper, won't come unstuck, prompt you with audible and visual reminders, and are a lifesaver for anyone whose memory is not one hundred percent. (Include me in!)
- Databasics V: Getting information out
Queries let you make sense of the data you have stored in your database. Learn how to create simple, yet remarkably useful, queries by example.
- Databasics VI: Exploring query types
Learn how to start building more complex database queries, such as comparative and action queries, using Microsoft Access.
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Display each Word document in its own window
If you have a document open in Word 2007 or Word 2010 and you open another document, that second document is displayed in the same window as the first. To view the now-hidden first document, you can't, as you might expect, swap between the two documents by pressing Alt+Tab...
- Distraction-free web reading
Apple has just released a new version of its web browser, Safari. Apple claims it's the fastest browser around, but then Opera makes that claim, too, and Google's Chrome 5 is certainly a contender for the title. Whether Safari is the fastest browser is not particularly important. Each of these…
- Feed your wallpaper
Windows 7 lets you download your wallpaper from an RSS feed. That means you can get a stream of wallpapers from any photo blog or website with a feed.
- Five free online office tools
Here are five useful tools and services to ease your work tasks, from handling PDFs to creating charts to replacing Microsoft Office in its entirety.
- Geekgirl's take on the iPhone 4
With the iPhone 4, Apple comes oh so close to producing a truly drool-worthy smartphone. Pity about that little antenna thing...
- Get yourself a better browser
For years, Microsoft has been including a web browser known as Internet Explorer with Windows. Windows 7 shipped with version 8 of Internet Explorer, better known as IE 8. Many people settle for using Internet Explorer simply because it’s supplied with Windows, but it is by no means the best…
- Hands on with the Kindle and the Sony Reader
So, Amazon has finally released its ebook reader, the Kindle. Within 24 hours of its launch, there were a couple of hundred customer “reviews” of the Kindle on Amazon.com, the majority of them uncomplimentary and almost all of them written by people who haven’t even seen the Kindle, let…
- Help! My Kindle won't connect to the Whispernet!
Two of the Kindle’s most appealing features are its wireless connection, which lets you download new books any time of the day from most places in the US, and the rapidly expanding treasure trove of ebooks available on Amazon. So it’s a sad, sad day when you switch on your Kindle’s…
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
WordPress delights and terrifies me. This open-source blogging platform is a wonder to use. Not easy, but easy enough, and filled with such endless possibilities. But...it's scary as all get out, too.
- How to format multiple elements in Word
When you need to apply the same formatting to multiple parts of a Microsoft Word document, there's no need to go through the same motions repeatedly. Word provides a smogasbord of techniques for formatting a bunch of elements in a document quickly and efficiently.
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
Once your idevice's screens are stuffed with apps, there's no need to uninstall an app before adding a new one to your collection. Just go ahead and install it. The app will be on your device, but hidden from view.
- In bed with the Kindle and Sony Reader
I’ve now had a chance to play with the Sony Reader PRS-505, Sony’s revamped ebook reader. When you look at the 505 side by side with its predecessor, the PRS-500, it doesn’t look like a whole lot has changed. Appearances are misleading. Cosmetically, the changes look minor, but in…
- Removing clutter from a new computer
Computer manufacturers love to load up new systems with “helpful” utilities and features. Of course, what they regard as helpful, you may regard as rubbish. Whenever I set up a new computer for myself or someone else, I go through a routine to eliminate vendor-generated clutter and…
- Second Life makes me sick
Second Life makes me sick. Literally. When I enter its 3D environment, my brain can’t believe what my eyes are seeing and, within seconds, I start to feel woozy. By the end of 10 minutes, I have the start of a nasty headache. If I stay longer than that, the vertigo when I finally return to…
- Sorting Outlook contacts and messages by multiple criteria
It's a trivial task to sort your Outlook contacts: simply display them in List view and click any of the column headers. So, to sort by category, click the Category column header; to sort by name, click the Full Name column header. It's an equally trivial task to sort your contacts by multiple…
- Staying safe online
One of the most wildly successful attacks on the Internet ever was the Sapphire worm. When this nasty little piece of code was released onto the Net, it spread from computer to computer with extraordinary speed. During its first minute on the Net, its rate of spread doubled every 8.5 seconds.…
- Taking an anti-gravity mouse for a whirl
Most of us simply accept the mouse and keyboard which come bundled with a system. But when you think about it, it's those two components, together with the screen, that are really the most important for everyday computer use. It is via the mouse, the keyboard and the screen that we interact with…
- The Kindle and the Sony Reader toe-to-toe
The Kindle and the Sony Reader are both flawed products. They have version 1 written all over them. And it doesn’t matter. Get either one of them into your hands, and chances are you’ll be hooked. The convenience factor is sky high, far outweighing the rough edges and design…
- The Kindle is better in bed
It's incredibly easy to fall in love with the iPad, even for one who, at first, was resistant to its blandishments. Its luscious interface, exquisitely responsive touch and app-powered flexibility are enough to win over even hardened Apple cynics. But, let's face it, the Kindle is better in bed.…
- The year of the database
I’ve put the Kindle and the Sony Reader aside for a day to finish writing my latest comparative review of database software for Australian PC User magazine. I’ve been writing such reviews since the early 1980s, when dBASE was top dog in the database stakes. It was a seriously buggy…
- Virgin Mobile MiFi - affordable wireless on the go
Virgin Mobile may not have been the first company to deliver a mobile wireless hotspot wrapped up in a tiny device called a MiFi, but it is the first to make that little piece of portable magic affordable.
- Commentary
- Distraction-free web reading
Apple has just released a new version of its web browser, Safari. Apple claims it's the fastest browser around, but then Opera makes that claim, too, and Google's Chrome 5 is certainly a contender for the title. Whether Safari is the fastest browser is not particularly important. Each of these…
- Second Life makes me sick
Second Life makes me sick. Literally. When I enter its 3D environment, my brain can’t believe what my eyes are seeing and, within seconds, I start to feel woozy. By the end of 10 minutes, I have the start of a nasty headache. If I stay longer than that, the vertigo when I finally return to…
- The Kindle is better in bed
It's incredibly easy to fall in love with the iPad, even for one who, at first, was resistant to its blandishments. Its luscious interface, exquisitely responsive touch and app-powered flexibility are enough to win over even hardened Apple cynics. But, let's face it, the Kindle is better in bed.…
- The year of the database
I’ve put the Kindle and the Sony Reader aside for a day to finish writing my latest comparative review of database software for Australian PC User magazine. I’ve been writing such reviews since the early 1980s, when dBASE was top dog in the database stakes. It was a seriously buggy…
- Distraction-free web reading
- News
- Welcome to the new Geekgirl's site
I first started Geekgirl's Plain English Computing in 1997. I gave it a coat of paint around 2000. Finally, I've embarked on a way overdue makeover.
- Welcome to the new Geekgirl's site
- Passions
- Supporting AFCECO: Fighting oppression and terrorism through education
I’ve sponsored an orphanage for child refugees in Afghanistan and I’m inviting supporters of this site to help keep the orphanage running and sponsor some of the children. I was inspired to do this partly because I know there’s a better way to deal with terrorism and human rights than…
- Supporting AFCECO: Fighting oppression and terrorism through education
- Reviews
- An end to cable tangle madness
I try not to look behind my desk. It is one very scary place. There’s a rat’s nest of cables back there that grows more snarled and intertwined by the month. Every new device I add to my setup seems to add at least two, sometimes three more cables, and I have a bank of powerboards bristling…
- Better sticky notes for your computer
Sticky notes for your computer are a wonderful idea. These digital alternatives to Post-It Notes save paper, won't come unstuck, prompt you with audible and visual reminders, and are a lifesaver for anyone whose memory is not one hundred percent. (Include me in!)
- Distraction-free web reading
Apple has just released a new version of its web browser, Safari. Apple claims it's the fastest browser around, but then Opera makes that claim, too, and Google's Chrome 5 is certainly a contender for the title. Whether Safari is the fastest browser is not particularly important. Each of these…
- Five free online office tools
Here are five useful tools and services to ease your work tasks, from handling PDFs to creating charts to replacing Microsoft Office in its entirety.
- Geekgirl's take on the iPhone 4
With the iPhone 4, Apple comes oh so close to producing a truly drool-worthy smartphone. Pity about that little antenna thing...
- Hands on with the Kindle and the Sony Reader
So, Amazon has finally released its ebook reader, the Kindle. Within 24 hours of its launch, there were a couple of hundred customer “reviews” of the Kindle on Amazon.com, the majority of them uncomplimentary and almost all of them written by people who haven’t even seen the Kindle, let…
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
WordPress delights and terrifies me. This open-source blogging platform is a wonder to use. Not easy, but easy enough, and filled with such endless possibilities. But...it's scary as all get out, too.
- In bed with the Kindle and Sony Reader
I’ve now had a chance to play with the Sony Reader PRS-505, Sony’s revamped ebook reader. When you look at the 505 side by side with its predecessor, the PRS-500, it doesn’t look like a whole lot has changed. Appearances are misleading. Cosmetically, the changes look minor, but in…
- Kindle and the limitations of the Whispernet
I’ve been away for a week in the wilds of Wyoming. For the trip, my suitcase was jam packed as usual, so I was delighted that instead of loading up further with a handful of books, all the reading matter I took was in my Kindle. On the road is where the Kindle really shows its worth.…
- Taking an anti-gravity mouse for a whirl
Most of us simply accept the mouse and keyboard which come bundled with a system. But when you think about it, it's those two components, together with the screen, that are really the most important for everyday computer use. It is via the mouse, the keyboard and the screen that we interact with…
- The Kindle and the Sony Reader toe-to-toe
The Kindle and the Sony Reader are both flawed products. They have version 1 written all over them. And it doesn’t matter. Get either one of them into your hands, and chances are you’ll be hooked. The convenience factor is sky high, far outweighing the rough edges and design…
- The Kindle is better in bed
It's incredibly easy to fall in love with the iPad, even for one who, at first, was resistant to its blandishments. Its luscious interface, exquisitely responsive touch and app-powered flexibility are enough to win over even hardened Apple cynics. But, let's face it, the Kindle is better in bed.…
- The year of the database
I’ve put the Kindle and the Sony Reader aside for a day to finish writing my latest comparative review of database software for Australian PC User magazine. I’ve been writing such reviews since the early 1980s, when dBASE was top dog in the database stakes. It was a seriously buggy…
- Virgin Mobile MiFi - affordable wireless on the go
Virgin Mobile may not have been the first company to deliver a mobile wireless hotspot wrapped up in a tiny device called a MiFi, but it is the first to make that little piece of portable magic affordable.
- An end to cable tangle madness
- Ruminations
Rants, raves and ruminations.
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
WordPress delights and terrifies me. This open-source blogging platform is a wonder to use. Not easy, but easy enough, and filled with such endless possibilities. But...it's scary as all get out, too.
- Reading nirvana: The mating of the Kindle and the iPhone
I unabashedly love my Kindle and I’m gaga over my iPhone. Yes, I know neither is perfect. Improvements should be made. It doesn’t matter. Give me these two devices, an Internet connection and a source of electricity and you can take away all my other computers, gadgets and gizmos. I shall be…
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
- Tips
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
Windows 7 includes all sorts of small improvements that will make your computing life more enjoyable. These tips will help you make the most of your desktop working environment.
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- Automate email handling with Gmail's filters
The Gmail team has been adding features to Google’s web-based email program at a gallop. A quick click of Gmail’s Settings link unveils an impressive array. By clicking the Labs tab and enabling some of Gmail’s experimental features, you’ll find yourself with even more options. There’s…
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Display each Word document in its own window
If you have a document open in Word 2007 or Word 2010 and you open another document, that second document is displayed in the same window as the first. To view the now-hidden first document, you can't, as you might expect, swap between the two documents by pressing Alt+Tab...
- Emailing photos
The real joy in taking photos is in sharing. Whether it's a cute snap of your daughter playing with her first set of Lego blocks or a dazzling shot of Saturn's rings taken through a telescope-mounted camera, your photos cry out to be handed around. With your computer, you can give your prize…
- Feed your wallpaper
Windows 7 lets you download your wallpaper from an RSS feed. That means you can get a stream of wallpapers from any photo blog or website with a feed.
- Find where a file is stored
Windows file search is a handy feature, but it doesn't always get you what you need. Here's a simple tip to help you uncover a file within its context.
- Generating content automatically in Word
One of Word’s quirky, tucked-away features is the rand() function. It lets you quickly insert a block of text in a document. To use the function in pre-2007 versions of Word, at the beginning of a line type =rand() and press Enter. Word inserts three paragraphs, each containing five sentences…
- Help! My Kindle won't connect to the Whispernet!
Two of the Kindle’s most appealing features are its wireless connection, which lets you download new books any time of the day from most places in the US, and the rapidly expanding treasure trove of ebooks available on Amazon. So it’s a sad, sad day when you switch on your Kindle’s…
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
WordPress delights and terrifies me. This open-source blogging platform is a wonder to use. Not easy, but easy enough, and filled with such endless possibilities. But...it's scary as all get out, too.
- How to format multiple elements in Word
When you need to apply the same formatting to multiple parts of a Microsoft Word document, there's no need to go through the same motions repeatedly. Word provides a smogasbord of techniques for formatting a bunch of elements in a document quickly and efficiently.
- How to make hidden iPhone apps visible
Once your idevice's screens are stuffed with apps, there's no need to uninstall an app before adding a new one to your collection. Just go ahead and install it. The app will be on your device, but hidden from view.
- Mac tip: A shortcut through enclosing folders
When you dig down through folder within folder within folder to find a file, there are a variety of ways to navigate back up through those layers of folders, including one not-so-obvious shortcut.
- Open Outlook calendar in its own window
Microsoft Outlook comes with a collection of command-line switches which let you determine how the program starts. By default, Outlook opens to either your Inbox or the Outlook Today page, using a command-line that looks something like this: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTL…
- Preparing for your inevitable computer disaster
Backing up your data is preparation for the blow that will strike. With a recent backup in hand, even a distressing event such as a hard disk failure may prove to be no more than a blip in your routine.
- Quickly copy a folder's contents
To quickly copy all the files in a folder in Windows 7 or Vista: Open the folder. Right-click the breadcrumb bar and select Copy Address. Minimise the open folder, right-click within another folder or on the desktop and choose Paste from the pop-up menu. A copy of the folder and all its…
- Removing clutter from a new computer
Computer manufacturers love to load up new systems with “helpful” utilities and features. Of course, what they regard as helpful, you may regard as rubbish. Whenever I set up a new computer for myself or someone else, I go through a routine to eliminate vendor-generated clutter and…
- Resize and restore your desktop icons
There’s no need to squint to view the icons on your desktop, you can resize them on the fly: Click an empty space on the desktop then hold down the Ctrl key and roll your mouse wheel forward to increase the icon size, backwards to decrease the size. This doesn’t change the size of the icon…
- Selecting columns of text in Word
Most text selection in Word involves selecting horizontally – selecting a line or a paragraph of text. Sometimes, though, you need to select a vertical slab of text. To do that, hold down the Alt key while you click and drag your mouse over the text. This comes in handy when someone…
- Should you install the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010?
The latest version of Microsoft Office comes in 32-bit and 64-bit flavours. It'd be natural to assume that if you have a 64-bit computer running a 64-bit version of Windows then you should install the 64-bit version of Office 2010. Not so. You're almost certainly better off using the 32-bit…
- Sorting Outlook contacts and messages by multiple criteria
It's a trivial task to sort your Outlook contacts: simply display them in List view and click any of the column headers. So, to sort by category, click the Category column header; to sort by name, click the Full Name column header. It's an equally trivial task to sort your contacts by multiple…
- Top tips for the iPhone keyboard
Some people love the iPhone’s ‘soft’ keyboard, others loathe it. Whichever camp you belong to, you can make your keyboarding life far more efficient by taking advantage of all the hidden tricks lurking beneath the keyboard’s apparently simple exterior.
- Using the handy SendTo command
The Send To option has always been one of Windows’ handiest shortcuts. It lets you copy a file - or a folder full of files - to another folder without having to navigate your way to that destination folder. Send To also lets you quickly upload, email or open a document. To use Send To, all…
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
- Featured
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Dialog box shortcuts
- Internet
Articles about the Internet, browsers and all things online.
- Automate email handling with Gmail's filters
The Gmail team has been adding features to Google’s web-based email program at a gallop. A quick click of Gmail’s Settings link unveils an impressive array. By clicking the Labs tab and enabling some of Gmail’s experimental features, you’ll find yourself with even more options. There’s…
- Distraction-free web reading
Apple has just released a new version of its web browser, Safari. Apple claims it's the fastest browser around, but then Opera makes that claim, too, and Google's Chrome 5 is certainly a contender for the title. Whether Safari is the fastest browser is not particularly important. Each of these…
- Emailing photos
The real joy in taking photos is in sharing. Whether it's a cute snap of your daughter playing with her first set of Lego blocks or a dazzling shot of Saturn's rings taken through a telescope-mounted camera, your photos cry out to be handed around. With your computer, you can give your prize…
- Get yourself a better browser
For years, Microsoft has been including a web browser known as Internet Explorer with Windows. Windows 7 shipped with version 8 of Internet Explorer, better known as IE 8. Many people settle for using Internet Explorer simply because it’s supplied with Windows, but it is by no means the best…
- Google: The whole shebang
There are plenty of web search engines, but to most of us Google is web search. The company has so successfully redefined the search market that its name has become synonymous with searching. Although most people use Google, few use it really effectively. Here’s a guide to making the…
- Help! My Kindle won't connect to the Whispernet!
Two of the Kindle’s most appealing features are its wireless connection, which lets you download new books any time of the day from most places in the US, and the rapidly expanding treasure trove of ebooks available on Amazon. So it’s a sad, sad day when you switch on your Kindle’s…
- How BackupBuddy saved my bacon
WordPress delights and terrifies me. This open-source blogging platform is a wonder to use. Not easy, but easy enough, and filled with such endless possibilities. But...it's scary as all get out, too.
- Kindle and the limitations of the Whispernet
I’ve been away for a week in the wilds of Wyoming. For the trip, my suitcase was jam packed as usual, so I was delighted that instead of loading up further with a handful of books, all the reading matter I took was in my Kindle. On the road is where the Kindle really shows its worth.…
- Open Outlook calendar in its own window
Microsoft Outlook comes with a collection of command-line switches which let you determine how the program starts. By default, Outlook opens to either your Inbox or the Outlook Today page, using a command-line that looks something like this: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTL…
- Portable SMTP: Take your email with you
There are all sorts of ways to access your email while on the road and most have distinct disadvantages. The ideal method lets you take your regular email with you: the same email program, same address, same configuration and same mail store no matter where you are. Enter portable SMTP.
- Staying safe online
One of the most wildly successful attacks on the Internet ever was the Sapphire worm. When this nasty little piece of code was released onto the Net, it spread from computer to computer with extraordinary speed. During its first minute on the Net, its rate of spread doubled every 8.5 seconds.…
- Troubleshooting Internet problems
Troubleshooting communications problems can be a frustrating pastime. There are so many parts to any computer connection it’s often hard to isolate where the problem is located, let alone pin down exactly what’s wrong. The trouble could be with your hardware: modem, router, Ethernet or…
- Virgin Mobile MiFi - affordable wireless on the go
Virgin Mobile may not have been the first company to deliver a mobile wireless hotspot wrapped up in a tiny device called a MiFi, but it is the first to make that little piece of portable magic affordable.
- Automate email handling with Gmail's filters
- Networking
Articles about networking home and office computers.
- Easy home networking
These days, almost every home is a candidate for a network. Most people have at least one older computer hanging around and families with children or two working adults are likely to have multiple desktop and notebook machines. While networking computers used to be something of a black art,…
- Setting up a home network on Windows XP
In the olden days – about 15 years ago when Windows 95 first arrived on the scene – creating a home network was a fearsome task reserved for the knowledgeable or the courageous. That's no longer the case. Windows XP makes setting up a network easy. The toughest part of the deal is…
- Virgin Mobile MiFi - affordable wireless on the go
Virgin Mobile may not have been the first company to deliver a mobile wireless hotspot wrapped up in a tiny device called a MiFi, but it is the first to make that little piece of portable magic affordable.
- Easy home networking
- Office Apps
- Automatically open the last edited document in Word
If you frequently find yourself wanting to edit the same document you were using in your last Word session, you can create a shortcut which does just this, using a command-line switch. Here’s how: Right-click an empty spot on your desktop and choose New -> Shortcut from the pop-up…
- Databases from scratch I: Introduction
The first in a series of articles on choosing, designing and using a database program.
- Databases from scratch II: Simple Database Design
The second in a series of articles on choosing, designing and using a database program. This one covers simple table design.
- Databases from scratch III: The Design Process
This third article in the Databases from Scratch series delves into the database heartland by exploring relational database design.
- Databasics IV: Streamlining data entry
In the previous tutorial I discussed some guidelines for creating data entry screens that are easy to use. In this tutorial, we'll put those guidelines into action by refining the membership database we introduced in part two of this series. I'll step through the process in Microsoft Access…
- Databasics VI: Exploring query types
Learn how to start building more complex database queries, such as comparative and action queries, using Microsoft Access.
- Databasics VII: Parameter Queries
Interactive, on-the-fly parameter queries add a huge amount of flexibility and power to run-of-the-mill static queries. Learn how to create your own using Microsoft Access.
- Deleting an open document in Microsoft Word
Have you ever wanted to delete the document currently open in Word? I find I often want to do this when I’m trying to clean out a whole bunch of old documents: I open each one, check the contents and, if I no longer need it, delete it on the spot. Word won’t normally let you do this: you…
- Display each Word document in its own window
If you have a document open in Word 2007 or Word 2010 and you open another document, that second document is displayed in the same window as the first. To view the now-hidden first document, you can't, as you might expect, swap between the two documents by pressing Alt+Tab...
- Five free online office tools
Here are five useful tools and services to ease your work tasks, from handling PDFs to creating charts to replacing Microsoft Office in its entirety.
- Generating content automatically in Word
One of Word’s quirky, tucked-away features is the rand() function. It lets you quickly insert a block of text in a document. To use the function in pre-2007 versions of Word, at the beginning of a line type =rand() and press Enter. Word inserts three paragraphs, each containing five sentences…
- How to format multiple elements in Word
When you need to apply the same formatting to multiple parts of a Microsoft Word document, there's no need to go through the same motions repeatedly. Word provides a smogasbord of techniques for formatting a bunch of elements in a document quickly and efficiently.
- Omitting page numbers in Microsoft Word
How do you omit the page number on the final page of a Word document? I was asked this recently by someone who is using Lulu.com’s self-publishing service. Lulu had asked her to resubmit her book with a completely blank final page – no page number, nothing. Finding the solution to this…
- Open Outlook calendar in its own window
Microsoft Outlook comes with a collection of command-line switches which let you determine how the program starts. By default, Outlook opens to either your Inbox or the Outlook Today page, using a command-line that looks something like this: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTL…
- Selecting a column of text in Word
Most text selection in Word involves selecting horizontally – selecting a line or a paragraph of text. Sometimes, though, you need to select a vertical slab of text. To do that, hold down the Alt key while you click and drag your mouse over the text. This comes in handy when someone…
- Selecting columns of text in Word
Most text selection in Word involves selecting horizontally – selecting a line or a paragraph of text. Sometimes, though, you need to select a vertical slab of text. To do that, hold down the Alt key while you click and drag your mouse over the text. This comes in handy when someone…
- Shading every other row in Excel
I sometimes wonder whether Microsoft spends so much on its programming budget it has little left over to spend on designers. This thought often crosses my mind when working with Office sample files, templates and styles. Take, for example, the auto-formats supplied with pre-2007 versions of…
- Should you install the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010?
The latest version of Microsoft Office comes in 32-bit and 64-bit flavours. It'd be natural to assume that if you have a 64-bit computer running a 64-bit version of Windows then you should install the 64-bit version of Office 2010. Not so. You're almost certainly better off using the 32-bit…
- Sorting Outlook contacts and messages by multiple criteria
It's a trivial task to sort your Outlook contacts: simply display them in List view and click any of the column headers. So, to sort by category, click the Category column header; to sort by name, click the Full Name column header. It's an equally trivial task to sort your contacts by multiple…
- Spreadsheeting I: Basic concepts
While word processing programs are the most commonly used office application and browsers are probably the most commonly used application of all, much of the success of personal computers is due to spreadsheets. In 1979, two blokes – Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston – developed the first…
- Spreadsheeting II: Good Spreadsheet Design
What makes a good spreadsheet? Two things: good design and good data. This may sound obvious, but it's all too easy to dive into creating a spreadsheet without putting much thought into its design. And a poorly designed spreadsheet is bound to make it harder to enter valid data. Without valid…
- Understanding Excel references
When you refer to a cell in an Excel formula, you can use any of three different ways of referring to that cell, known as relative, absolute and mixed references. Relative cell references are the most commonly used. A relative cell reference in a formula is based on the position of the…
- Using Microsoft Word's hidden calculator
You’ve probably heard the stats: 80% of Microsoft Word users make use of only 20% of its features. My guess is that only about 0.1% of Word users use the handy calculator built right into the program. I’m not talking about the SUM() and AVERAGE() fields or any of the other of Word’s…
- Which database series should I read?
Not sure which series of database tutorials on Geekgirl's Plain English Computing is right for you, Databasics or Databases from Scratch? Here's a quick description of their contents.
- Databases
- A database dictionary
Can't tell your first normal form from your third? Untangle basic database jargon with this easy-to-understand dictionary of terms.
- Databases from scratch I: Introduction
The first in a series of articles on choosing, designing and using a database program.
- Databases from scratch II: Simple Database Design
The second in a series of articles on choosing, designing and using a database program. This one covers simple table design.
- Databases from scratch III: The Design Process
This third article in the Databases from Scratch series delves into the database heartland by exploring relational database design.
- Databasics I: Records & queries & keys, oh my!
What's a database? If you think of word processors as… well… processors of words, and spreadsheets as number processors, then you can think of databases as processors of unstructured information, aka "data". Feed a database data in any sort of guise – as numbers, text, dates, images, web…
- Databasics II: Creating your first database
This tutorial guides you through building a simple, single-file database. In a single-file database, also known as a flat-file database, you put all your information into a single table. This is the simplest form of database to create, but it has some serious limitations and disadvantages. The most…
- Databasics III: Data entry design
It's staggering how many shareware and commercial database applications have appalling data entry screens. Many developers seem to think that well-oiled inner workings are all that's needed to sell an application, when any user knows that, when you get down to it, the interface is the app. Wh…
- Databasics IV: Streamlining data entry
In the previous tutorial I discussed some guidelines for creating data entry screens that are easy to use. In this tutorial, we'll put those guidelines into action by refining the membership database we introduced in part two of this series. I'll step through the process in Microsoft Access…
- Databasics VI: Exploring query types
Learn how to start building more complex database queries, such as comparative and action queries, using Microsoft Access.
- Databasics VII: Parameter Queries
Interactive, on-the-fly parameter queries add a huge amount of flexibility and power to run-of-the-mill static queries. Learn how to create your own using Microsoft Access.
- The year of the database
I’ve put the Kindle and the Sony Reader aside for a day to finish writing my latest comparative review of database software for Australian PC User magazine. I’ve been writing such reviews since the early 1980s, when dBASE was top dog in the database stakes. It was a seriously buggy…
- Which database series should I read?
Not sure which series of database tutorials on Geekgirl's Plain English Computing is right for you, Databasics or Databases from Scratch? Here's a quick description of their contents.
- A database dictionary
- Excel
- Shading every other row in Excel
I sometimes wonder whether Microsoft spends so much on its programming budget it has little left over to spend on designers. This thought often crosses my mind when working with Office sample files, templates and styles. Take, for example, the auto-formats supplied with pre-2007 versions of…
- Spreadsheeting I: Basic concepts
While word processing programs are the most commonly used office application and browsers are probably the most commonly used application of all, much of the success of personal computers is due to spreadsheets. In 1979, two blokes – Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston – developed the first…
- Spreadsheeting II: Good Spreadsheet Design
What makes a good spreadsheet? Two things: good design and good data. This may sound obvious, but it's all too easy to dive into creating a spreadsheet without putting much thought into its design. And a poorly designed spreadsheet is bound to make it harder to enter valid data. Without valid…
- Understanding Excel references
When you refer to a cell in an Excel formula, you can use any of three different ways of referring to that cell, known as relative, absolute and mixed references. Relative cell references are the most commonly used. A relative cell reference in a formula is based on the position of the…
- Shading every other row in Excel
- Outlook
- Open Outlook calendar in its own window
Microsoft Outlook comes with a collection of command-line switches which let you determine how the program starts. By default, Outlook opens to either your Inbox or the Outlook Today page, using a command-line that looks something like this: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTL…
- Sorting Outlook contacts and messages by multiple criteria
It's a trivial task to sort your Outlook contacts: simply display them in List view and click any of the column headers. So, to sort by category, click the Category column header; to sort by name, click the Full Name column header. It's an equally trivial task to sort your contacts by multiple…
- Open Outlook calendar in its own window
- Word
- Automatically open the last edited document in Word
If you frequently find yourself wanting to edit the same document you were using in your last Word session, you can create a shortcut which does just this, using a command-line switch. Here’s how: Right-click an empty spot on your desktop and choose New -> Shortcut from the pop-up…
- Deleting an open document in Microsoft Word
Have you ever wanted to delete the document currently open in Word? I find I often want to do this when I’m trying to clean out a whole bunch of old documents: I open each one, check the contents and, if I no longer need it, delete it on the spot. Word won’t normally let you do this: you…
- Display each Word document in its own window
If you have a document open in Word 2007 or Word 2010 and you open another document, that second document is displayed in the same window as the first. To view the now-hidden first document, you can't, as you might expect, swap between the two documents by pressing Alt+Tab...
- Five free online office tools
Here are five useful tools and services to ease your work tasks, from handling PDFs to creating charts to replacing Microsoft Office in its entirety.
- Generating content automatically in Word
One of Word’s quirky, tucked-away features is the rand() function. It lets you quickly insert a block of text in a document. To use the function in pre-2007 versions of Word, at the beginning of a line type =rand() and press Enter. Word inserts three paragraphs, each containing five sentences…
- How to format multiple elements in Word
When you need to apply the same formatting to multiple parts of a Microsoft Word document, there's no need to go through the same motions repeatedly. Word provides a smogasbord of techniques for formatting a bunch of elements in a document quickly and efficiently.
- Omitting page numbers in Microsoft Word
How do you omit the page number on the final page of a Word document? I was asked this recently by someone who is using Lulu.com’s self-publishing service. Lulu had asked her to resubmit her book with a completely blank final page – no page number, nothing. Finding the solution to this…
- Selecting a column of text in Word
Most text selection in Word involves selecting horizontally – selecting a line or a paragraph of text. Sometimes, though, you need to select a vertical slab of text. To do that, hold down the Alt key while you click and drag your mouse over the text. This comes in handy when someone…
- Selecting columns of text in Word
Most text selection in Word involves selecting horizontally – selecting a line or a paragraph of text. Sometimes, though, you need to select a vertical slab of text. To do that, hold down the Alt key while you click and drag your mouse over the text. This comes in handy when someone…
- Using Microsoft Word's hidden calculator
You’ve probably heard the stats: 80% of Microsoft Word users make use of only 20% of its features. My guess is that only about 0.1% of Word users use the handy calculator built right into the program. I’m not talking about the SUM() and AVERAGE() fields or any of the other of Word’s…
- Using the spike to rearrange text in Microsoft Word
Microsoft has long produced software with a belt-and-braces approach, offering a choice of ways to perform a particular task. For example, in Word, you’ll find a smorgasbord of methods for cutting, copying and pasting text. There’s the usual cut, copy and paste via keystroke, menu or…
- Automatically open the last edited document in Word
- Automatically open the last edited document in Word
- Windows
- Installing and troubleshooting Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Usually, I advise people to wait a while before installing a service pack, just in case the service pack delivers its own set of problems. But SP1 for Windows 7 is unlike any previous service pack in one significant way: it’s almost a non-event.
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
Windows 7 includes all sorts of small improvements that will make your computing life more enjoyable. These tips will help you make the most of your desktop working environment.
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- Breadcrumbing
The breadcrumb bar, originally introduced in Vista, has brought an entirely new way of navigating in Windows. It replaces the plodding, sub-folder-based, dig-down method of yore with shortcut jumps.
- Customising Windows
Windows is malleable. It’s designed to be tinkered with, adjusted, customised. When you first run Windows - whether it's Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP or even an earlier version - what you see is Microsoft’s idea of how the operating system should work and look. You don’t need to settle for…
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Easy home networking
These days, almost every home is a candidate for a network. Most people have at least one older computer hanging around and families with children or two working adults are likely to have multiple desktop and notebook machines. While networking computers used to be something of a black art,…
- Feed your wallpaper
Windows 7 lets you download your wallpaper from an RSS feed. That means you can get a stream of wallpapers from any photo blog or website with a feed.
- Find where a file is stored
Windows file search is a handy feature, but it doesn't always get you what you need. Here's a simple tip to help you uncover a file within its context.
- Installing Windows 7 onto a disc-less computer
Although the usual way to install Windows 7 is from a DVD, it’s possible to copy the contents of your installation DVD to a USB flash drive and install the operating system from there. This is particularly handy for optical-disc-less notebooks and for netbooks, which almost never include a DVD…
- Learning to love the new taskbar
Once you get past the initial unfamiliarity, you’ll find the new taskbar has a lot to offer. Microsoft has given the taskbar a complete makeover. If you’re an old hand with Windows, you’ll need to invest some time in getting acquainted with the new layout. At first, you may not like all…
- Preparing for your inevitable computer disaster
Backing up your data is preparation for the blow that will strike. With a recent backup in hand, even a distressing event such as a hard disk failure may prove to be no more than a blip in your routine.
- Quickly copy a folder's contents
To quickly copy all the files in a folder in Windows 7 or Vista: Open the folder. Right-click the breadcrumb bar and select Copy Address. Minimise the open folder, right-click within another folder or on the desktop and choose Paste from the pop-up menu. A copy of the folder and all its…
- Recovering deleted files
We all know cats have nine lives, but did you know files have three? When you create a file, it has its first bite at existence, an existence which continues until you, in your casual god-like manner, delete it. Deleting the file isn't the end, though. All you need to do is open up the…
- Renaming files and file extensions
It's easier to change filenames in Vista and Windows 7 than in previous versions of Windows. Unfortunately, the improved file renaming method has one drawback: it makes it harder to change the file extension.
- Resize and restore your desktop icons
There’s no need to squint to view the icons on your desktop, you can resize them on the fly: Click an empty space on the desktop then hold down the Ctrl key and roll your mouse wheel forward to increase the icon size, backwards to decrease the size. This doesn’t change the size of the icon…
- Setting up a home network on Windows XP
In the olden days – about 15 years ago when Windows 95 first arrived on the scene – creating a home network was a fearsome task reserved for the knowledgeable or the courageous. That's no longer the case. Windows XP makes setting up a network easy. The toughest part of the deal is…
- The joy of jump lists
The Recent Documents list has been a feature of Windows for many years. It provides a quick way to access the files you’ve used most recently. In Windows 7, you’ll find Recent Documents has been tucked away out of sight and is only available by customizing the Start Menu. That’s…
- Understanding Libraries
Windows 7 contains plenty of new features, but there’s only one truly new concept you’ll need to wrap your head around: libraries. Libraries provide a new way of managing, viewing and finding your files, toppling the old (My) Documents folder from its central position. A library looks…
- Using the handy SendTo command
The Send To option has always been one of Windows’ handiest shortcuts. It lets you copy a file - or a folder full of files - to another folder without having to navigate your way to that destination folder. Send To also lets you quickly upload, email or open a document. To use Send To, all…
- Viewing and organising files
With Windows 7, Microsoft has made substantial changes to the way you view and manage files within folders, building upon the dramatic improvements introduced in Vista. Compared to Windows XP, Windows 7’s file management is more powerful, more flexible and far more visually appealing. Find out…
- What to expect from Windows 7
There’s a theory that Microsoft gets it right with every other version of Windows. Those who subscribe to this school of thought give Windows 95, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows XP the plaudits; Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows Vista are relegated to the better-luck-next-time bin. If…
- Which Windows 7 for me?
When you buy a copy of Windows 7 to install on an existing computer, there are three key questions you need to ask yourself: Which edition of 7 do I want? Can I buy an upgrade version or do I need to pay for the more expensive full version? Should I choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version? Whic…
- Why defrag?
Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows XP come with a collection of house cleaning tools, including ScanDisk, Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup, to help keep your disk in peak working order. Why should you bother with the housework? A couple of reasons. First, disks are hard working, mechanical…
- Windows XP Control Panel shortcuts
The Control Panel centralises access to Windows' multitudinous settings. From the Control Panel you can adjust and tweak Windows' appearance, performance, network connections, hardware settings and a whole lot more. While many of the settings in the Control Panel are also accessible in other…
- Worry-free Windows 7 installation
Are you ready for Windows 7? It doesn’t take much to qualify. Pudgy old Vista’s slender successor requires nothing more from your PC than a gigabyte of RAM, a processor running at 1GHz, 16 gigabytes of hard drive space and a video card with support for DirectX 9 and WDDM 1.0. If those figures…
- Pre-7 Windows
- Customising Windows
Windows is malleable. It’s designed to be tinkered with, adjusted, customised. When you first run Windows - whether it's Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP or even an earlier version - what you see is Microsoft’s idea of how the operating system should work and look. You don’t need to settle for…
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Quickly copy a folder's contents
To quickly copy all the files in a folder in Windows 7 or Vista: Open the folder. Right-click the breadcrumb bar and select Copy Address. Minimise the open folder, right-click within another folder or on the desktop and choose Paste from the pop-up menu. A copy of the folder and all its…
- Recovering deleted files
We all know cats have nine lives, but did you know files have three? When you create a file, it has its first bite at existence, an existence which continues until you, in your casual god-like manner, delete it. Deleting the file isn't the end, though. All you need to do is open up the…
- Resize and restore your desktop icons
There’s no need to squint to view the icons on your desktop, you can resize them on the fly: Click an empty space on the desktop then hold down the Ctrl key and roll your mouse wheel forward to increase the icon size, backwards to decrease the size. This doesn’t change the size of the icon…
- Setting up a home network on Windows XP
In the olden days – about 15 years ago when Windows 95 first arrived on the scene – creating a home network was a fearsome task reserved for the knowledgeable or the courageous. That's no longer the case. Windows XP makes setting up a network easy. The toughest part of the deal is…
- Using the handy SendTo command
The Send To option has always been one of Windows’ handiest shortcuts. It lets you copy a file - or a folder full of files - to another folder without having to navigate your way to that destination folder. Send To also lets you quickly upload, email or open a document. To use Send To, all…
- Why defrag?
Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows XP come with a collection of house cleaning tools, including ScanDisk, Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup, to help keep your disk in peak working order. Why should you bother with the housework? A couple of reasons. First, disks are hard working, mechanical…
- Windows XP Control Panel shortcuts
The Control Panel centralises access to Windows' multitudinous settings. From the Control Panel you can adjust and tweak Windows' appearance, performance, network connections, hardware settings and a whole lot more. While many of the settings in the Control Panel are also accessible in other…
- Customising Windows
- Tools and techniques
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
I was sitting around a fire with a bunch of friends on the weekend and one of them was doing some work on her notebook. All of a sudden she cried out - her battery had died and she hadn't saved her work.
- Breadcrumbing
The breadcrumb bar, originally introduced in Vista, has brought an entirely new way of navigating in Windows. It replaces the plodding, sub-folder-based, dig-down method of yore with shortcut jumps.
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Feed your wallpaper
Windows 7 lets you download your wallpaper from an RSS feed. That means you can get a stream of wallpapers from any photo blog or website with a feed.
- Find where a file is stored
Windows file search is a handy feature, but it doesn't always get you what you need. Here's a simple tip to help you uncover a file within its context.
- Preparing for your inevitable computer disaster
Backing up your data is preparation for the blow that will strike. With a recent backup in hand, even a distressing event such as a hard disk failure may prove to be no more than a blip in your routine.
- Renaming files and file extensions
It's easier to change filenames in Vista and Windows 7 than in previous versions of Windows. Unfortunately, the improved file renaming method has one drawback: it makes it harder to change the file extension.
- A keyboard shortcut to save your sanity
- Windows 7
- Installing and troubleshooting Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Usually, I advise people to wait a while before installing a service pack, just in case the service pack delivers its own set of problems. But SP1 for Windows 7 is unlike any previous service pack in one significant way: it’s almost a non-event.
- A dozen quick ways to improve your desktop
Windows 7 includes all sorts of small improvements that will make your computing life more enjoyable. These tips will help you make the most of your desktop working environment.
- Breadcrumbing
The breadcrumb bar, originally introduced in Vista, has brought an entirely new way of navigating in Windows. It replaces the plodding, sub-folder-based, dig-down method of yore with shortcut jumps.
- Customising Windows
Windows is malleable. It’s designed to be tinkered with, adjusted, customised. When you first run Windows - whether it's Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP or even an earlier version - what you see is Microsoft’s idea of how the operating system should work and look. You don’t need to settle for…
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Feed your wallpaper
Windows 7 lets you download your wallpaper from an RSS feed. That means you can get a stream of wallpapers from any photo blog or website with a feed.
- Find where a file is stored
Windows file search is a handy feature, but it doesn't always get you what you need. Here's a simple tip to help you uncover a file within its context.
- Installing Windows 7 onto a disc-less computer
Although the usual way to install Windows 7 is from a DVD, it’s possible to copy the contents of your installation DVD to a USB flash drive and install the operating system from there. This is particularly handy for optical-disc-less notebooks and for netbooks, which almost never include a DVD…
- Learning to love the new taskbar
Once you get past the initial unfamiliarity, you’ll find the new taskbar has a lot to offer. Microsoft has given the taskbar a complete makeover. If you’re an old hand with Windows, you’ll need to invest some time in getting acquainted with the new layout. At first, you may not like all…
- Preparing for your inevitable computer disaster
Backing up your data is preparation for the blow that will strike. With a recent backup in hand, even a distressing event such as a hard disk failure may prove to be no more than a blip in your routine.
- Quickly copy a folder's contents
To quickly copy all the files in a folder in Windows 7 or Vista: Open the folder. Right-click the breadcrumb bar and select Copy Address. Minimise the open folder, right-click within another folder or on the desktop and choose Paste from the pop-up menu. A copy of the folder and all its…
- Recovering deleted files
We all know cats have nine lives, but did you know files have three? When you create a file, it has its first bite at existence, an existence which continues until you, in your casual god-like manner, delete it. Deleting the file isn't the end, though. All you need to do is open up the…
- Renaming files and file extensions
It's easier to change filenames in Vista and Windows 7 than in previous versions of Windows. Unfortunately, the improved file renaming method has one drawback: it makes it harder to change the file extension.
- Resize and restore your desktop icons
There’s no need to squint to view the icons on your desktop, you can resize them on the fly: Click an empty space on the desktop then hold down the Ctrl key and roll your mouse wheel forward to increase the icon size, backwards to decrease the size. This doesn’t change the size of the icon…
- The joy of jump lists
The Recent Documents list has been a feature of Windows for many years. It provides a quick way to access the files you’ve used most recently. In Windows 7, you’ll find Recent Documents has been tucked away out of sight and is only available by customizing the Start Menu. That’s…
- Understanding Libraries
Windows 7 contains plenty of new features, but there’s only one truly new concept you’ll need to wrap your head around: libraries. Libraries provide a new way of managing, viewing and finding your files, toppling the old (My) Documents folder from its central position. A library looks…
- Viewing and organising files
With Windows 7, Microsoft has made substantial changes to the way you view and manage files within folders, building upon the dramatic improvements introduced in Vista. Compared to Windows XP, Windows 7’s file management is more powerful, more flexible and far more visually appealing. Find out…
- What to expect from Windows 7
There’s a theory that Microsoft gets it right with every other version of Windows. Those who subscribe to this school of thought give Windows 95, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows XP the plaudits; Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows Vista are relegated to the better-luck-next-time bin. If…
- Which Windows 7 for me?
When you buy a copy of Windows 7 to install on an existing computer, there are three key questions you need to ask yourself: Which edition of 7 do I want? Can I buy an upgrade version or do I need to pay for the more expensive full version? Should I choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version? Whic…
- Worry-free Windows 7 installation
Are you ready for Windows 7? It doesn’t take much to qualify. Pudgy old Vista’s slender successor requires nothing more from your PC than a gigabyte of RAM, a processor running at 1GHz, 16 gigabytes of hard drive space and a video card with support for DirectX 9 and WDDM 1.0. If those figures…
- Installing and troubleshooting Windows 7 Service Pack 1
- Windows XP
- Dialog box shortcuts
One of less than obvious tools Windows offers is the right-click menu within file dialog boxes. Give it a try: open an application and then press Ctrl-O or click the Open icon to display the Open dialog box. Right-click any of the files or folders displayed in that dialog and you'll see a context…
- Dialog box shortcuts
- Installing and troubleshooting Windows 7 Service Pack 1
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