Have you ever wanted to send a picture of your screen via email or inserted in a document and you just didn’t know how?

Did you receive an error message that was long and you didn’t want to write the entire thing down to remember it?

Wouldn’t it be great to take a picture of an error message and send it within an email to the helpdesk?  

You can. With the Print “Screen Function”

If you desire the entire screen shot:

·         Select the Print Screen key on your keyboard, sometimes you may have to use Ctrl-Print Screen.

This acts as a copy function, taking a picture of the screen.

If you only want the “active” or “front” window on your screen:

·         Press and hold the ALT key and then hit the Print Screen key.

This will save you time and it is a great way to show someone what you are seeing instead of explaining it.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·        Questions about this article?

·        Suggest a topic

·        Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

This week we’re taking a break from IT support tips to lend a hand to those having a tough time understanding “Text-Lingo”.

Have you ever had a co-worker or associate email with an acronym like, “EOD”, “CYL”, or “FYI” – and you were too embarrassed to ask what it meant?

Business text messaging shorthand jargon has become "foreign language" that many business people today need to know in order to keep up to date at work, understand instant messages from co-workers, and get the meaning of office emails.

Houston IT consultant Cheryl Smith helps you “get hip with this tip”:

Popular business text shorthand phrases:

  AFAIC - As Far As I'm Concerned

  ASAP - As Soon As Possible

  BRB - Be Right Back

  BSUS - Business

  BTW - By The Way

  CLM - Career Limiting Move

  DD - Due Diligence

  DRIB - Don't Read If Busy

  EOD - End Of Day

  EOM - End Of Message

  EOT - End Of Thread

  FYI - For Your Information

  GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike

  HIOOC - Help, I'm Out Of Coffee

  IAITS - It's All In The Subject

  IANAL - I Am Not A Lawyer

  IM – Instant Message

  KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid

  LOPSOD - Long On Promises; Short On Delivery

  MOTD - Message Of The Day

  MTFBWY - May The Force Be With You

  MYOB - Mind Your Own Business

  NRN - No Reply Necessary

  NWR - Not Work Related

  OTP - On The Phone

  P&C - Private & Confidential

  PEBCAK - Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

  QQ - Quick Question

  RFD - Request For Discussion

  RFP - Request For Proposal

  SME - Subject Matter Expert

  STD - Seal The Deal

  TBA - To Be Announced

  TBD - To Be Determined

  TWIMC - To Whom It May Concern

  TIA - Thanks In Advance

  WIIFM - What's In It For Me

  WOMBAT - Waste Of Money, Brains And Time

  WTG - Way To Go

  YW - You're Welcome

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·        Questions about this article?

·        Suggest a topic

·        Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

The 2010 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility recognizes employers across the country that are successfully using flexibility to meet both business and employee goals.

This year, In addition to the luncheon, we will be having an early panel discussion starting at 9:30 am on the "Future of Workplace Flexibility".  

The panel participants will speak on topics of workplace flexibility, such as policy development, IT services, wellness, and implementation and future impacts of flexibility.

Victor Grinshtein, President of Houston computer services company, Xvand Technology, will discuss technology as it relates to workplace flexibility

For more information about the panelists, visit Panelist Information.

For more information on this program, visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2xxsft7da4ba7f4

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·         Questions about this article?

·         Suggest a topic

See the above video for tips on using animation in PowerPoint.

Animation is one of the most abused tools in PowerPoint. Unless you’re discussing the wind, having text “woosh” in is probably unnecessary.

The same rule can be applied to sounds effects.  Most of the sounds included in PowerPoint are not recommended for professional use. Breaking glass, whistle blowing and cars screeching should not be used unless it is the exact affect you are looking for.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·          Questions about this article?

·          Suggest a topic

·          Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

There may be a time in which you need to show your audience something outside your presentation, and it’s as easy as inserting a hyperlink.

See the video above or contact us with your questions.

Hyperlinks

·         Add an image and have it hyperlink to webpage for affect

·         Type an web address and hyperlink to connect

·         Link to other pages of your presentation

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·          Questions about this article?

·          Suggest a topic

·          Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

Like presentation backgrounds, the amount of images you can insert into PowerPoint is endless. However, anyone who uses our computer services knows that we recommend simplicity when it comes to presentations. See the video above or contact us with your questions.

Using Images

·         Remember a Picture is worth a thousand words

·         One picture is plenty on a slide, just like one point is perfect

·         Select a picture from Clip Art or from File, make sure the picture is relevant to your message

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·          Questions about this article?

·          Suggest a topic

·          Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

The Video Above Demonstrates How to Choose Backgrounds

·         Plain colors can be selected (Black text with White background – very effective)

·        Fill Effects: Gradient/Texture/Pattern/Picture

·         When selecting a picture for a background, be careful to make sure it is light enough to add text.

Stay tuned for “Using Images in PowerPoint”

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

·          Questions about this article?

·          Suggest a topic

·          Learn more about our Houston IT Consulting

Have you ever wondered how to customize a slide show with designs, colors, images, and sounds?

Would you like to know how to add a hyperlink to a particular slide?

Our IT Support team has received many questions on how to use the various features in PowerPoint. However, please be advised that using too many can be distracting and take away from your key message and the professionalism of your presentation.

Themes/Schemes

·         Select a design template or create your own

·         Keep design basic, non-distracting

·         Choose a color theme, and be consistent throughout

Stay tuned for “Creating Backgrounds in PowerPoint”