Things for BETT 2009 #1

[Ric_]

If you want a reliable web host so that your site can compete with EduGeek, choose... FastHosts

[srochford]

Convert all documets to PDF when uploading them to the website or sending them out via email as all computers can read this format using a free reader.

 

Or, better, do them as web pages - I'd guess as many machines can read HTML as can read PDF and the file format is generally smaller so it loads more quickly.

 

I *hate* web sites which are just a collection of PDFs!!

[Ric_]

Ever thought about those people who cannot afford, or simply don't like, MS Office? OpenOffice.org is a viable free alternative that will read and write to all the common file formats.

[contink]

Or, better, do them as web pages - I'd guess as many machines can read HTML as can read PDF and the file format is generally smaller so it loads more quickly.

 

I *hate* web sites which are just a collection of PDFs!!

 

Given that most folks read documents on paper more readily than they do on screen... (part of my degree dissertation, far too long ago!) PDF is a good way to go with anything longer than a few paragraphs though.

[cooper]

PDF's are a great way to upload the Schools newsletters, Brochures ect that have already been released via a paper copy. Its so much better than attaching a word document that i see being uploaded by lots of schools.

[maniac]

If you use office 2007, you can install this add-on for your users to allow them to save straight into PDF format from word etc. Saves using any 3rd party tools, and is much easier for your users.

 

Download details: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF

 

Mike.

[Ric_]

If you use office 2007, you can install this add-on for your users to allow them to save straight into PDF format from word etc. Saves using any 3rd party tools, and is much easier for your users.

 

Download details: 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF

 

... or save the faffing and use OpenOffice

[Ric_]

OpenOffice Draw can be an 'easy to use' desktop publishing package (akin to MS Publisher)

[KarlGoddard]

Some from my Office user guides

 

PowerPoint

 

Reduce Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Size:

Select a picture in your PowerPoint presentation, open the Picture Toolbar and choose Compress Pictures / All Pictures in Document

 

Align objects in Microsoft PowerPoint:

Select the objects you want to align on the slide and use Choose Align and Distribute from the Drawing Toolbar

 

Excel

 

Current Date in Microsoft Excel:

Enter the current date into a cell in Excel by entering =now() in a cell.

 

Carriage Returns:

You can place text on a new line within an Excel Worksheet cell by using Alt+Return

 

Paste Special:

You can use the Paste Special function in Excel to give you more options when Cutting / Copying and pasting data in Excel

 

Word

 

Heading Styles:

Use Heading Styles for your chapter / section headers. It’s quicker than formatting headers individually, guarantees consistency throughout your document and allows you to easily create a Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents:

If you’ve used Heading Styles in your Word document you can insert a professional looking Table of Contents quickly and easily. Use Insert > Reference > Index and Tables to select the style and formatting of your Table of Contents

General Office

 

Microsoft Office Common Shortcuts

 

Ctrl+I Make selected text italic

Ctrl+B Make selected text bold

Ctrl+U Underline selected text

Ctrl+A Select all text

Ctrl+C Copy selected text

Ctrl+X Cut selected text

Ctrl+V Paste selected text

[cooper]

Windows button and D to get the desktop

[Face-Man]

windows button an E to get "My computer" aka windows explorer

[KarlGoddard]

A great to help id 'lost' pen drives is to get your pupils to create a file called info.txt (or something similar) which contains the pupils name / form and save it on the root of their pen drives.

 

Helps id'ing the owner of the pen drive

[KarlGoddard]

Not from me this one but from IWB guru and fellow learning tech blogger Danny Nicholson (he said I could put the idea forward for inclusion in the booklet)

 

A quick way to reuse the assets (images, flash etc) from a .nbk / .flp etc document to use for another task is to rename your .nbk / .flp file to .zip

 

You can then browse through the newly created 'zip' file just like you would do if you'd compressed a bunch of files and copy and paste the assets into other documents.

[kesomir]

Not from me this one but from IWB guru and fellow learning tech blogger Danny Nicholson (he said I could put the idea forward for inclusion in the booklet)

 

A quick way to reuse the assets (images, flash etc) from a .nbk / .flp etc document to use for another task is to rename your .nbk / .flp file to .zip

 

You can then browse through the newly created 'zip' file just like you would do if you'd compressed a bunch of files and copy and paste the assets into other documents.

 

Same works for open office files which are just archives of the data in open formats - ie: all your images are stored in folders as the .jpg .png or whatever.

[elsiegee40]

To quickly return to the top of a web page in Internet Explorer: Press the key on your keyboard... and, to get to the bottom of a web page, press

[mac_shinobi]

disable system restore before doing a virus or spyware scan ( if you find you are having issues removing malware ) - steps for this are below :

 

{link to website to show user how to do this here}

 

Also starting up in safe mode to do the above sorts of scans helps as it stops the malware from running - see link below :

 

{ link to site to show user how to boot into safe mode }

 

If you are having issues with a microsoft office document get openoffice from here :

 

{ link to open office website download page here }

 

Follow these steps to recover it using open office :

 

{ steps here to show user how to do this }

 

If you are going to insert images into an office document ie word, power point etc always make sure you convert them to a better image file type ie png, jpg, gif etc ( depending on the quality of image you want at the end ) so as to save space and make the office document smaller ie do not use bmp.

 

{link to site to illustrate how to convert to a good image file type }

 

a link or some links to some good websites on how to maintain there home computers ie defraging, clearing temp files, etc

 

Computer Hope's free computer help as one example.

 

If this is for school then some tips on things that will help us as IT techs such as if there are numerous students that need a password reset or something doing then to write down there username(s) down on a piece of paper instead of having a que of students for the same issue.

 

Don't believe pop ups you get with regards to downloading unknown applications for anti spyware or anti virus apps - go here for a list of trusted and known good anti virus and anti spyware applications :

 

{ link to well known good trusted anti virus and anti spyware apps }

 

such as this site : Free Utilities, Software Tools and Applications (thefreecountry.com)

 

Always Always Always make backups frequently to an external source ie dvd's or to an external hard drive of important documents.

 

If all else fails - google is your friend

 

If the text or font sizes are too small or too large in internet explorer then hold down the CTRL key on the keyboard and use your scrolling wheel button on your mouse to alter the size of the text / font in internet explorer.

 

If you are having issues making your laptop display your screen onto a projector try and right click on the desktop and go to graphics properties and select the clone radio button and apply ( click on the ok button when prompted ) and it should display on both the projector and your laptop. ( assuming they have an intel graphics chipset for the graphics card ) ie onboard.

 

Depends what sort of tips you are after I guess.

Edited August 13, 2008 by gecko

[mac_shinobi]

Just as a side note i wanted to try and avoid tips that may become a hurdle if group policies are enabled ie short cut keys unless they are aimed directly at there school laptop presuming they have enough rights to do those things ie windows and E.

[elsiegee40]

Software is often licensed for installation on only one computer. In order to install it on more than one computer, either one copy of the software must be bought for each computer where it is needed, or a "site license" must be purchased. Software bought for use in school cannot usually be installed on home computers... a separate copy must usually be purchased for home use.

[russdev]

To set the default save format to be word 97 - 2003 in office 2007 then

 

click Office icon - Word Options - Save (on left hand side) and then in drop down box next to "Save files in this format" select Word 97-2003 Document (*.Doc)

 

Russ

[dalehopper]

to get to the temporary folder simply click start run and type %temp%