Computer Info – July 28, 1999

AOL E-Mail

    We are always being ask about sending JPG pictures to friends who are on AOL or receiving pictures from them. I have never used AOL, but I do know that AOL members CAN send and receive JPG attachments.
    We ask a friend for some tips, so if you are having trouble, look at these suggestions.
    There are a couple of preference controls in the "MYAOL" pull down menu that may help.
    Previous versions of AOL were limited in sending and receiving images in Email from non AOL addresses. That has been overcome in the current, free, version 4.0.

Template Folder in Your E-Mail

    We mentioned the Draft folder a couple of weeks ago and the purpose of it. So let’s talk about the Template folder this week.
    Did you ever notice that you have a TEMPLATE folder in your email program. This is where you place a copy of an email that you are going to use to send out numerous times.
Netscape 4.5 Start your NEW MSG and start writing your message – then instead of clicking on the SEND button, go to the top menu, and choose FILE – then SAVE AS – TEMPLATE.
Outlook Express Click on COMPOSE MESSAGE and start writing your message – then instead of clicking on the SEND button, go to the top menu, and choose FILE – then COPY TO FOLDER – TEMPLATE.

    In both of these programs, this will place a copy of your message in the template folder, but your new composition window will stay open – you can then continue writing your message or close the window. When you wish to send this message or edit it, just open your template folder and double-click on the message that you want to work on. This opens it up for addressing, editing and sending. When you are ready to send it, just click on the SEND button.
    The difference between the Draft folder and the Template folder is – once you send an email from the Draft folder, it is gone; but when you send it from the Template folder, it will remain there for sending again and again.

How Stuff Works – Great Web Address

How Stuff Works is a great place to go to learn about how things work in the world around you. Have you ever wondered how the engine in your car works, or what gears do, or what makes the inside of your refrigerator cold?
           http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Removing Fonts

    Stuffing your PC with hundreds of fonts can use up your computer’s storage space and cause problems opening programs because you’ll run out of memory space. If you have too few fonts, you’re probably missing the essential ones needed to open those same programs. There must be a happy medium.
    But before you start happily deleting files, you should mark some as absolutely necessary. Your system needs some crucial fonts to function. Microsoft warns not to delete any fonts that originally came with your system. If you do not know which ones those are, do not delete fonts beginning with the letters MS. Do not delete True Type fonts, which are preceded by an icon with two blue T’s or succeeded by the suffix TTF. If you use PowerPoint or Microsoft Office, do not delete Tahoma.
    In Windows 95/98, you will need to access the Control Panel to delete fonts. Click the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel, then Fonts. Highlight the one that you wish to delete, then right click on it and choose Delete from the menu.

Netscape 4.5 and above Users

    Have you noticed how Netscape 4.5 and above starts your email program with information about Netscape website and their features for you ---- if you wish to turn this feature off, try this
    Run WordPad (START-PROGRAMS-ACCESSORIES-WORDPAD). From the file menu, choose OPEN. Locate this file PREFS.JS (it should be located in the C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETSCAPE\USERS directory and then in a directory of either DEFAULT or possibly your logon id, etc. When you have opened this file, add the following line to the end of the file exactly as written below.
        user_pref("mailnews.start_page.enabled", false);
    By visiting the following web page, you will receive directions on how to do this.
           http://help.netscape.com/kb/client/981014-6.html

Excel – Health and Learning

    If you're considering a new diet or exercise regime, good for you. If you're not, you might want to check your Body Mass Index (BMI) and then re-evaluate.
    To check your BMI in Excel, enter your weight in pounds, your height in feet, and any remaining inches (in inches) in cells A1..A3, respectively. Then, enter in cell A4 the expression
                            =(A1*0.45)/(((A2*12)+A3)*0.0254)^2
    This expression will return your BMI -- over 25, and you need to reduce your body fat through diet and/or exercise. A BMI of 25 and under is acceptable.
    The first part of our expression -- A1*0.45 -- converts pounds into kilograms. The second component --((A2*12)+A3)*0.0254 -- converts your height into meters. Your height in meters is then squared. In a nutshell, your weight is divided by your height squared to return your BMI.
    This is an Excel tip and a health tip all in one--what could beat that?