Phone: 250.764.7043
Email: help@computercarekelowna.com

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Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

The Easy Way
by Cate Eales

Appeared March 5, 2012 on castanet.net

I work with computers all the time, so I am comfortable with the way I do things. I work with PEOPLE, too, and sometimes the things I take for granted about working with computers astound and amaze the people whose computers I’m working with! Here are a few things you can do to make working with your computer a little easier while also astounding your friends and family.


Find something quickly
When you have a web page open and you’re looking for a certain word or phrase, you don’t have to scroll though the whole thing to find what you want. Press the CTRL and F keys at the same time to open up a search box, type in the word or phrase, and if it’s on that page at all, it will be highlighted. Click on the Next and Previous buttons to find more instances of your word or phrase on the same page.

In Internet Explorer, the search box is at the top of the browser. Firefox puts it at the bottom. Either way, it’s far more convenient than scrolling up and down. When you’re through looking, click on the x next to your search term to close that box.

Internet Explorer (click to enlarge graphic)

Firefox (click to enlarge graphic)

But wait…there’s more.

CTRL+F works in other applications too, including Word. Imagine how much easier it would be to press CTRL+F and type a word or two into the search window.

I wish it was this easy to find my sunglasses or my dog Sandy’s leash.


Single Space in Word 2007 or 2010
The default settings for Word 2007 and Word 2010 are for 1.15 lines instead of 1 line every time you hit the Enter key and every time Word wraps a line for you. If you want things to return to the way they were in the last century, it’s really easy to set your defaults back to Word 2003.

On the Home tab, click Change Styles, then on Style set. Click next to the style called Word 2003! If you always want Word 2007/2010 to behave that way, go back to Change Styles and click on Set as Default. Styles are just a collection of fonts and formats.

(click to enlarge graphic)
Set as default

You can have that done for you automatically in Word 2007 by going to this page: . I couldn’t find a corresponding page for Word 2010, but there is plenty of help here and a short video here. Now your document will use the more traditional Word 2003 fonts and formats, including single spacing where you are used to it.


Just Say No...To all
Windows is just trying to be helpful, really it is. And sometimes that works out well for us, but other times, not so much. For instance, when you try to copy a file from one place to another place, and there is already a file of the same name in the destination, Windows politely asks if you are sure you want to replace the existing file with the new one. The same thing happens --- only more so --- if you try to copy a bunch of files to a destination full of files with those same names. And this is annoying, because you have four choices: Yes, Yes to All, No, and Cancel. What? Where the heck is No to All?

You still have that choice, although it’s not at all obvious. Hold down the SHIFT key and click on the No button. Windows then assumes you mean No to All. Be sure you really mean it, or you’ll need my other favourite shortcut, CTRL+Z.


Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna (http://computercarekelowna.com) a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send email to help@computercarekelowna.com.

You can read previous columns here: http://rlis.com/column.htm. If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618. It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml.

Links
Fix Word 2007 Line Spacing http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=921174#LetMeFixItMyselfAlways
Adjust Word 2010 Line Spacing http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/adjust-the-line-spacing-between-text-or-paragraphs-HP010368776.aspx
Video – Adjust Word 2010 Line Spacing http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/video-adjust-the-spacing-between-paragraphs-in-word-2010-VA102605459.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HP010016523
I Wish I Hadn’t Deleted That File http://rlis.com/columns/column332.htm
Computer Care Kelowna http://computercarekelowna.com/
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml

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Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna, a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send email to help@computercarekelowna.com.

You can read previous columns here. If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here.

© Cate Eales 2012 – All Rights Reserved

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