When typing many words into a single cell in Excel, you might find it looking disorganized.

Or, perhaps when you print an Excel spreadsheet, your cells aren’t wide enough to display all the information it contains?

Houston computer service expert Cheryl Smith shares a few tips on how to format the cells to fit your preferences.

There are several methods, to accomplish this task, but here is one shortcut that works. Using you mouse, click between the two letters of the cells in which you would like to alter.

§         At this point you can either drag the cell to desired width

OR

§         Double click the mouse and Excel will format for you.

Like any function in Excel, there are many ways to do what you would like to accomplish. By going to the Format tab on the toolbar, you also have the ability to change width and height of columns and rows.

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

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Do you spend too much time and energy typing information in an Excel spreadsheet?

Would you like faster way to do this?

How about sequential information - like numbers or dates?

Houston computer service expert Cheryl Smith shares a few tips: 

For Repeated data:

1. Enter the first data in cell desired.
2. Highlight all cells in which you want this data to appear
3. Use function command: Control D, Control F or Edit Fill

For Sequential data:

1.       Enter the first data preferred such as; January, Monday, or a date 8-25-2010 etc.

2.       Click at the bottom of this cell allowing the Fill Handle (black cross) to appear

3.       Drag this handle to the end of desired cells; this will automatically fill in the information for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask our Houston IT support experts in the “Ask The Experts!” box on the right.

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

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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”

Have you ever sat through a boring PowerPoint Presentation? Did you find yourself nodding off? Did the presenter reads directly off the slides, word…for…word?

Certainly, you’ve never been the presenter of such PowerPoints….or have you?

Before we uncover some of the tricks and features of PowerPoint, IT consulting expert Cheryl Smith shares  a few guidelines to keep your PowerPoint professional but still interesting and eye appealing to your audience.

A Few Suggestions for Professional, Yet Engaging PowerPoint Presentations

Creating Slides ~ Appearance matters

·         Use easy to read fonts, stay away from script and cursive fonts

·         Keep design basic non-distracting

·         Use legible font size, smaller fonts are harder to read

Consistency ~ Organized and professional

·         Design theme

·         Color Schemes

·         Over all design-keep same one throughout entirety

Backgrounds ~ Watch for Contrast

·         Black text with white background – very effective

·         Bright colors are distracting

·         Light colors strain the eyes

·         Consider printing – color backgrounds use more ink

Take Home Message ~ Highlight or accent message

·         One point per slide

·         Limited custom animations – only on main message preferred

·         Use WordArt to bring home the message

Straight and Simple ~ Remember audiences can only read or listen, they can not do both!

·         Use Keywords ONLY!

·         No sentences or paragraphs

·         Do NOT read from the slides

Images should be used ~ A picture is worth a thousand words!

·         Include images, but limit them to one per slide

·         Keep image relevant to subject of presentation

·         Be careful resizing images, images can be pixilated

Keep your audience in mind when creating the presentation, and rehearse over and over until you know the content - without having to look at the slides. Make eye contact with the audience and interact with them.

If you feel you need to add more information to the slide, give them a handout to take home instead. Do not worry about covering everything within the presentation. Most people like a handout to take with them for future reference.

After all, all the computer services and software in the world won’t help you if you don’t know how to use 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

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Email Notifications in Microsoft Outlook

Do you like email notifications? (Email notifications are those little boxes that pop up that notifyyou of an incoming email). Are you the type that can't ever miss an important email?

Or…

Do you feel email notifications are bad for productivity, and would like to stop email notifications from disturbing your work?

Steps to disable or enable “Email Notifications:

1. Tools
2. Options
3. Email Options
4. Advanced Email Options Middle section: When new items arrive in my Inbox

Select your personal preferences:
[If you would rather not have a notification, make sure they following are all unchecked].

• Play a sound
• Briefly change the mouse cursor
• Show an envelope icon in the notification area
• Display a New Mail Desktop Alert (default Inbox only)

You can click on Desktop Alert Settings to determine how long the Desktop Alert will appear and the transparency. A great tool you can use is Rules/Alerts to receive Email Notifications from only those you desire to have alerts about:

 Click: Tools> Rules and Alerts> New Rule, and select desired command. It's just that easy!

For more information, please feel free to contact our Houston Computer Service experts.

Creating & Sharing a Calendar in Outlook 

Would you like to have another calendar in Outlook, maybe even one you could share with someone in particular?

How How much time do you think it would save to have a co-workers calendar readily available within your Outlook?

You can create calendars in Outlook, and share them with anyone you select from your contacts.

Follow these easy steps:

Add a Calendar:

1. Select ‘Tools’
2. New
3. Folder
4. Calendar should be highlighted in the Select where to place the folder box
5. Type Calendar Name desired
6. Click OK

Share this Calendar:

1. Verify the Calendar in which you want to share is the only one with a check mark.
2. Click Share My Calendar
3. In Calendar Properties dialog box-Select ADD
4. Select User from contacts
5. Click OK
6. Adjust Permission Level
7. Apply
8. OK