Top Ten Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase your productivity, reduce repetitive strain, and help keep you focused. For example, highlighting text with the keyboard and pressing Ctrl + C is much faster than taking your hand from the keyboard, highlighting the text using the mouse, clicking copy from the file menu, and then putting your hand back in place on the keyboard. Below are our top 10 keyboard shortcuts we recommend everyone memorize and use.
Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert
Copy the highlighted text or selected item.
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert
Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard.
Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl + Y would redo the undo.
Ctrl + F
Open the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find text on the current page.
Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc
Quickly switch between open programs moving forward.
Press Ctrl + Tab to switch between tabs in a program.
Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards. For example, if you are pressing Alt + Tab and pass the program you want to switch to, press Alt + Shift + Tab to move backwards to that program.
Windows Vista and 7 users can also press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.
Ctrl + Back space
Pressing Ctrl + Backspace will delete a full word at a time instead of a single character.
Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow
Move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word.
Ctrl + Home / End
Move the cursor to the beginning or end of a document.
Ctrl + P
Print the page being viewed. For example, the document in Microsoft Word or the web page in your Internet browser.
Page Up / Space bar and Page Down
Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space bar will also move the page down one page at a time. If you press Shift and the Space bar the page will go up a page at a time.
Seven Tips to Help Maintain Your Work Computer
I am not sure about you, but without my computer at work, I may as well go home until it is fixed, then plan to work all night to get caught up again. I try my best to keep the computer up-to-date to try and prevent a break down. I also do not want to be the one who downloaded the file and infected the entire network. (That would be embarrassing.) Here are a few tips that I have learned and will pass on to you:
1.Install all updates required by Kotori Technologies. Depending on the type of plan your company has with Kotori, we may install these updates for you, as long as the computer is turned on overnight. If your company is not on one these plans, you may be responsible for all updates. Not installing updates as suggested by Kotori Technologies can expose your company to viruses and other security risks. Some companies may prevent computers from accessing the network if patches aren't installed after a set date. Also, find out whether Kotori wants you to install updates using Microsoft Update. If they do, make it a habit of checking Microsoft Update regularly.
2.Install only licensed programs. Make sure that you, or your company, has a license for any software you install on your work computer. Your company can get caught in a lawsuit for having software without a license installed on its computers. For example, installing a program your friend bought could present some problems. Software that you've bought a license for is probably fine, but double-check the license to make sure. Sometimes, software bought for home use cannot be installed at work.
3.Don't install different versions of software. Even if you prefer the version of software you use at home rather than work, don't install it on your work computer. You could have incompatibility problems with the software your co-workers are using and with your specific line of business applications. Kotori Technologies may also not be able to make any required updates or provide technical support.
4.Let Kotori Technologies know when hardware isn't working. Fixing a broken computer yourself could just cause more problems. Your fixes, for example, could make the computer incompatible with the corporate network. We offer a helpdesk or technical assistance program designed for this type of work. Kotori may have already seen the same problem and have a known fix. Helping Kotori Technologies track common computer problems can also help them decide which brand and make of computer to order in the future.
5.Let Kotori know when you need something. Giving the Kotori reasonable requests and adequate time for planning can help Kotori respond to your needs. Otherwise, you may end up with computer software or hardware you didn't want, which can hinder how effective you are at work.
6.Don't download programs from Internet sites you don't trust. By downloading programs that may not be secure, you put all the computers on the network at risk.
7.Be aware of suspicious e-mails. A virus introduced though e-mail may be disguised as a downloadable file. If an e-mail you receive is from someone you don't know, contains strange text, or otherwise looks suspicious, contact Kotori Technologies. If you open it, you could potentially cause problems for you and your co-workers. If it does contain a virus, Kotori can ask other employees in the organization to look for similar e-mails.
Microsoft Office 2010 Ribbon Tabs
Are you missing something on Office 2010? Cant find that icon on the new ribbons? Keep clicking on the tabs to find it? Microsoft Office 2010 displays commands in a series of icons stored on different tabs. This combination of icons and tabs is known as the Ribbon interface, which appears in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Access. The following tables show you the commands grouped under each ribbon tab for each of the programs.
Word 2010 Ribbon Tabs | ||
Ribbon Tab Name | Command Groups | Dialog Box Shortcut |
Home | Clipboard, Font, Paragraph, Styles, and Editing | Ctrl+D (Font) or Alt+Ctrl+Shift+S (Styles) |
Insert | Pages, Tables, Illustrations, Links, Header and Footer, Text, and Symbols | * |
Page Layout | Themes, Page Setup, Page Background, Paragraph, and Arrange | * |
References | Table of Contents, Footnotes, Citation and Bibliography, Captions, Index, and Table of Contents | * |
Mailings | Create, Start Mail Merge, Write and Insert Fields, Preview Results, and Finish | * |
Review | Proofing, Language, Comments, Tracking, Changes, Compare, and Project | * |
View | Document Views, Show, Zoom, Window, and Macros | * |
Excel 2010 Ribbon Tabs | ||
Ribbon Tab Name | Command Groups | Dialog Box Shortcut |
Home | Clipboard, Font, Alignment, Styles, Cells, and Editing | Ctrl+Shift+F (Font) |
Insert | Tables, Illustrations, Charts, Sparklines, Filter, Links, Text, and Symbols | * |
Page Layout | Themes, Page Setup, Scale to Fit, Sheet Options, and Arrange | * |
Formulas | Function Library, Defined Names, Formula Editing, and Calculation | * |
Data | Get External Data, Connections, Sort and Filter, Data Tools, and Outline | * |
Review | Proofing, Language, Comments, and Changes | * |
View | Workbook Views, Show, Zoom, Window, and Macros | * |
Hopefully you can now find it with ease. If you are interested in upgrading to Office 2010, give Kotori Technologies a call.
Lawn Care Tips
This month, I thought I would try something different in our fun and informative section. As we prepare for the cooler weather, now is the time to start preparing your lawn for the winter months.
Flowers
Bulbs - it's time to buy your spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and crocus. Don't plant them yet, but wait for cooler weather. Store them in a cool place where temperatures will be 60 degrees F or lower.
Dividing - it's time to divide spring and summer blooming perennials.
Lawns
Fertilizer - it's time for the second application of fertilizer for fescue and other cool-season grass lawns. Follow the recommendations on your soil test report for your lawn. DON'T fertilize warm-season grass lawns late in the fall!
Overseeding - many homeowners like to overseed their lawns with ryegrass for a green winter lawn. Mid-September is the best time to do this.
Irrigation - as this month progresses you will probably need to cut back on your irrigation amounts.
Trees and Shrubs
Leaves - leaves are beginning to fall. If you have space and a little time composting is a great option; if not, you can also till them into any fallow beds you have or the vegetable garden.
Planahead - if you plan to plant some trees or shrubs this year, begin thinking about which plants you would like now, and find retailers that carry those varieties. You have plenty of time, but you certainly do not want to miss your favorite at the last minute.
Tips for Outlook 2010
This week I have compiled a few of my favorite updates in Microsoft Outlook 2010. Try them out and let me know what you think. 
Integrate Social Networks Into Outlook
Outlooks "Social Connector" feature lets you integrate LinkedIn and Facebook updates (other social networks slated to appear in the future), but the method for setting this up isn't obvious. You'll need to download and install Social Connector http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/outlook-social-connector-partner-listing-FX101812910.aspx?assetid=FX101812910 for Outlook. This feature links to LinkedIn and Facebook and pulls photos of your contacts into Outlook for you. This option also shows all messages and attachments from someone grouped together.
Print Only One page of an Outlook Message
Other Office apps let you print the current page (or one or more numbered pages) directly from the Print menu in Backstage (File Tab) view by clicking the down arrow next to the Print All Pages button to see the page-range options. Outlook doesn't offer those options on its Print menu; instead, you must click the tiny Print Options button on the Print menu, then select a Page Range option.
Quick Steps
While Quick Steps will jump right out at you, you may not immediately understand just what Quick Steps are or why you should use them. Quick Steps are a means to make tasks that you perform regularly quick and easy. For example, you may regularly send email to your team - perhaps a group of employees or co-workers. The Team E-Mail Quick Step is easily customized to have the proper recipients. Send a message to the team is now as simple as clicking the Team E-Mail Quick Step. Other Quick Steps may move or copy messages to a specific folder, reply to a message and then delete it, or forward the message to a group and then delete it. On my screen, the Quick Step area will accommodate 9 Quick Steps without having to scroll to access them all. This week I will be thinking about what 9 actions I want to use my Quick Steps for to make email handling more efficient.
Conversation View
Conversation View is not so obvious, but I think I will find this to be extremely helpful. I regularly find myself sorting my email by who it is from so that I can find previous messages in the thread. Of course, a few minutes later, I'm sorting by date so I can see new messages easily. I probably re-sort my messages at least a half dozen times every day. Conversation View will list all messages that are part of the same thread together. You must turn this feature on to take advantage of it, and you can turn it on only for selected folders. You access this feature, and the related options, from the View tab. (Simply click the box nest to Show as Conversations). Once you have turned it on, you will see arrows in front of messages that are part of conversations. Click on the arrow to see all of the messages in the conversation. When you move to a different message in the folder, the messages are once again collapsed. I have noticed that some conversations automatically expand and others do not. I haven't figured out exactly why. And the initial expansion shows only messages from others to you. Expanding again will show your replies as well.
Keep checking us out for more tips on Office 2010 and Widows 7. (I am stockpiling and sharing a little at a time.)