Friday, March 12, 2010

How to Save an Office File in the “Old” Version

If you have Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) and your friends still have the 2003 version, they can’t open your files. You’ll notice that the file name now ends in “.docx” or “.xlsx” or “.pptx”, with an “x” on the end.

It’s easy to save a 2007 file into the 2003 version. (Example shown in Microsoft Word, but it works the same in all Office applications.)

Follow these steps:





Click the Windows logo in the top right corner







Select “Save As” from the list








Select “Word 97-2003” from the list








Choose the location where you’d like to save the file, and give it a name (as you normally would).



You’re done! Your file is now the “old” version which can be opened by someone with any version between Office 97 and Office 2003.


How to Convert Office 2007 Files Automatically
Another option is to download and install a free tool that will automatically convert Office 2007 documents to the old version for you (when you open them).

To convert Office 2007 files for free to a format that you can open, use the link below. The online version of the tool is free, and there's also a desktop version that is available for purchase for $19.95.

This same site offers a variety of other conversion tools, including one to convert a variety of file types into PDF files.
Oconvert Tool - http://oconvert.com/



Thursday, March 4, 2010

Keyboard Shortcuts

All of these keyboard shortcuts can be used in any Microsoft Office application, and some may also be used when surfing the Internet.

Here are the shortcuts that I use the most:
CTL+C - copy selected text
CTL+X - cut selected text
CTL+V - paste selected text
CTL+ALT+V - paste special (really useful in Excel)

CTL+Z - undo
CTL+Y - redo

CTL+A - select all (text in a document, cells in a spreadsheet, whatever)
CTL+Home - go to top of document
CTL+End - go to end of document

CTL+S - save

ALT + TAB - switch to a different window

Print Screen - to get a screenshot (works best if you have software like SnagIt)

CTL+ALT+Del - open task manager

If you have a favorite, post a comment to share it.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Password Tool - This is AWESOME!

How many passwords do you have online? I probably have over 100, between my website clients and all of my personal stuff. It's too much to remember, and I never can keep all of my bookmarks consistent between different PCs.

Check out this nifty and inexpensive tool:
http://www.roboform.com

I have the "to go" version, which works on a flash drive. So now no matter where I am, or whose computer I'm borrowing, all of my passwords (and bookmarks) are available on my flash drive.

Roboform saves your password, along with the link to the site where it's used. You can use 1 click to go to the site, login and press enter. All of your password data is encrypted under a single master password. It can also generate random passwords for you, so that you can stop using your dog's name as the password for everything you do (especially important if you are doing banking online or shopping). You can even set up "identities" which will fill in your name, address and credit card information on a page when you click a button. It's a huge timesaver if you shop online frequently.

It is one of the most useful things I've got in my computer "toolbox" and it only costs about $20! Check it out sometime and let me know how much you love it... there's even a free trial available.

New Client Sites

Recently completed sites:

http://kbentivolioformichigansenate.org

http://hvmoms.org

http://jonmungerassociates.com