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Handy Hints And Tips From Fellow Readers

7/28/2013 6:55:41 PM

Handy hints and tips from fellow readers

Create better mail merge documents

When creating a mail merge document in OpenOffice or LibreOffice, it is often easier to avoid the wizard as far as possible. I keep my address list in a Calc spreadsheet and use a Writer document for the merge, though I also use the database part of LibreOffice, Base. Start Base. Select 'Connect to an existing database', then Spreadsheet from the dropdown menu and click Next. Click the Browse button and find your spreadsheet. Click Next. Leave the settings as they are and click Finish. Save and close the database.

It’s often easier to avoid using the wizard when creating a mail merge

Start Writer and press F4 to show available data sources. Click the plus next to the name of your address list file and then the one next to Tables. Click the sheet with the addresses, most likely Sheet1. The main part of the Data window will now show the information contained in the address list. It will look a lot like the spreadsheet but the first row is now the title row. To add one of these fields to your Writer document, simply drag and drop the title into your document. Fields can be added as many times as required.

You can print this document right away, but if you want a saved version of the merged document you will need to use the Mail Merge Wizard. Click Tools, then Mail Merge Wizard. Click Next through all the wizard options up to Step 8. Select 'Save merged document', choose whether to save as one big file or several, and click Save Documents.

Windows 7 and 8

Restoring the default printer

Checking the default printer in Windows often solves printing problems. In Windows 7, click the Start Button, then 'Devices and Printers'. To find this tool in Windows 8, reveal the Charms and click Search, Type devices and printers and click Settings in the right- hand column. Click 'Devices and Printers' in the main part of the screen. Right-click the printer that you want to use and click 'Set as default printer'.

Windows (all versions)

Save space by moving your documents folder

It's becoming more common for computers to be supplied with a Solid State Disk (SSD) and a conventional hard disk (HD).The SSD offers fast performance and the HD lots of space for documents. Unfortunately, Windows will often ignore the HD and SSDs quickly run out of space. The solution is to tell Windows to move your Documents folder onto the HD.

Save space by moving your documents folder

Open Windows Explorer and click Desktop in the left column. Double-click your user folder (for example, mine is Colin Gray, System Folder). Right-click My Documents, click Properties and then click the Location tab. Click the Move button and select a new location for your files on the conventional hard disk (probably D: but it may differ depending on your computer), The Move operation may take a few minutes depending on how big your Documents folder is.

Jing

Send screen grabs to Flickr

The free program Jing Is one of the easiest ways to capture screenshots and share them online. If you want to Include grabs on forums (such as from http://forums. computeractive.co.uk). It's helpful to set Jing to upload grabs directly to Flickr.

Move the cursor over the yellow Jing semi-circle at the top to the screen to reveal three options. Click the right option for More, then click the middle button to open Preferences and 'Customize buttons'. Now click the New option surrounded by the dashed line.

Send screen grabs to Flickr

Next, click the Flickr Icon at the top. You can change the 'Button description' If you want and then click the Authorize button. Click Start Authorization and sign into Flickr If you haven't already. Confirm that you followed a link you trust and then click 'OK, I'll authorize it' having read what you're giving Jing permission to do with your account. Close the browser window, return to Jing and click the Finish button. Create a set name in the 'Add to set' text box as this will make It easier to keep grabs separate from other pictures. Make sure they are set to share with anyone and select 'Embed code' in the dropdown menu below as this will give you the direct link to the Image file. Click Save and close the remaining Jing windows.

Now, when you capture an Image in Jing, a Flickr button will appear at the bottom of the Edit window. Click this to upload the grab to Flickr and copy the link to the clipboard.

Audacity

Split imported audio into separate tracks

Splitting audio recorded into Audacity from an LP or cassette is easy. If not obvious. Click the 'Skip to Start' Icon (two arrows pointing left) to go to the beginning of the recording. Click Tracks, then Add Label at Selection, Type the name of the track and press Enter. Click with the Selection tool (F1) at the beginning of the next track and repeat. You may find it quicker to press Ctrl and B to Insert a new marker.

Split imported audio into separate tracks

Once you have finished marking the tracks, click the File menu, then Export Multiple. Choose an export format and a location to save the files. Make sure 'Split files based on:' is set to Labels. Click Export. You can review and edit the metadata for each track. The tracks will be exported as separate files.

Newsletters

Free email templates from MailChimp

You can get started making email newsletters using the free templates from www.Mailchimp.com. You don't have to use them with a MailChimp account or even sign up. Go to www.snipca.com/8974 and click the Download button. The next page is a little complicated. Click the button that says ZIP with a picture of a cloud and a downward pointing arrow. Save the file to your computer and extract the contents. These templates can now be used with any web editor.

Gimp

Add borders to images in Gimp

A good way of making text stand out in pictures is to add a border. There isn’t an option for this In Gimp's text tool, but learning to do this with the Selection tool means that you can then add a border to any shape you want.

Add borders to images in Gimp

Create a new document and press t to select the text tool. Enter some text and set the style. Open the Layers tool by pressing Ctrl and L. Right-click the text layer and select 'Alpha to Selection'. Press Ctrl, Shift and N to create a new layer. Select Transparency in Layer Fill Type and click OK. Click Select and then Grow. Enter the number of pixels you want the border to be and click OK. Press Shift and B to select the Bucket Fill tool. Select a color to use for the border In the Change Foreground Color window (double-click the foreground color -black by default) and fill the selection with this color. Return to the Layer tool and drag this new layer below the text layer.

Windows mail

Two-step verification

If you have set up two-step verification for your Microsoft account, you'll need to log into programs such as Windows Mail differently because Mall can't prompt for a second code. Sign into Outlook.com, Click your name at the top right and then click 'Account settings'. Click 'Security info' on the left and scroll down to the 'App passwords' section. Click 'Create a new app password'. Copy and paste this password into Windows Mall when prompted.

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