Geek Stuff

Finding Images

2007-03-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Problem

You need better images - or more images than are available in the clipart that comes with Office (good plan - using the same pictures everyone else uses is such a bore!)

The Solution

I bet you already know it - even if you don't really know it... the best place I've found is Google

Once you're there, click on Images, and enter your search terms the way you would do do any other sort of search.

Once you find an image (or more likely, images) you can save them right from that one page - its often better to click on the picture itself and then click on See full-size image first. Then, when you save it, it will often be more versatile.

Another link that can be very helpful is Microsoft's clip art collection. There, you search for images, tick the boxes below any that you want, and then look for the 'Download clips' link on the left. Clips will be downloaded right into your clip art organizer, where they can be organized the way you want.

Missing Toolbars

2007-03-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

The Problem

Toolbars that go missing! Dirty rotten gremlins steal them!

Anytime you lose a toolbar - such as the Picture toolbar that is supposed to pop up when you click on an image, or the Standard and Formatting toolbars that normally appear whenever you're in a MS Office program...

The Solution

Right click on any tool or menubar that you still have
Click on the name of the missing toolbar (to put its checkmark back)

Note
This works in Internet Explorer and other programs as well - you may need to uncheck the Lock the Toolbars listing in order to be able to fix things though.

No big deal - you can always put it back when you're done ~arranging~ (a good idea so that you don't accidentally relocate or otherwise mess up your toolbars in IE)

PowerPoint - Making Pictures Lighter

2007-03-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Problem

It looked fine in the powerpoint, but it's too dark on the screen when you give your presentation.

The Solution

Once you're running the show, its too late! Best bet, especially if its a recurring issue, is to get into the habit of increasing the brightness as soon as you put any picture into your slideshows.

I don't use it for clip art that comes with MS - only for the images I've saved from the net or wherever.

How?

Insert your picture
Click on it.
The picture toolbar should show up
Look for the Increase Brightness button

Click it! (I usually lighten everything x2 - i.e. click it twice if it's to be shown as a presentation

N.B. The bits in italics will be links to other articles re: those topics as soon as I get to posting them.

Introduction

2007-03-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

One of that things that taking university classes has made apparent to me is that I am very fortunate to have done the computer thing before I started!

I took the Computer Programmer Analyst program at Georgian College, and I've been teaching Microsoft Office programs, among other things, ever since. All of the MS Office suite programs are incredibly powerful - if you know how to use them.

But so many people don't!

And that it why this blog. I do. My plan is to write articles that will help people with some of the ~stuff~ that will make their powerpoints and essays and research problems so much easier.

I already have a great big list of things that I've seen during my classes - will start with those, and add as more come up, or as I'm asked.

Here's a partial list:

Working with images

Making them lighter (in PowerPoint)

Finding them

~Borrowing~

When all else fails - screenshots

PowerPoint presentations - what you need to know

Headers & Footers
Sections

Creating a Table of Contents in Word documents

Printing in Excel

What is a template, and why would you use one

Customizing Office programs

Building toolbars

First though, I need to finish my essay on Sexuality as a Source of Terror in the Gothic Novel. I'll be back!