Computer Info – July 4, 2001

No Meeting This Week

        Since this Wednesday falls on the 4th of July, the library is closed – therefore, we will not be having a meeting. Happy a Happy 4th of July.

Problem Solving With PowerPoint

        Some of you requested that John placed his PowerPoint presentation that he demonstrated at last week’s meeting in his Fun Stuff folder so that you could download it. He has done that. Here is the web address for getting there.
                  http://www.hdprint.co.uk/ftp -- choose the Fun Stuff folder and the file is called Flowchart.pps

Merging Columns in Word to Columns in Excel

        If you have a document in Word that has columns, you must first convert the columns to a table before you can paste (or merge) the information with a spreadsheet that you have.
        So, your first step is to select all (you will find this under EDIT – SELECT ALL). Then choose TABLE - CONVERT TEXT TO TABLE. You now have a table with one column. If you need to divide this information into more than one column – place your cursor outside the table (to the right) and then choose TABLE from the top menu. Choose INSERT CELLS – then INSERT ENTIRE COLUMN. The rest is a manual job – but give it a try. Double click on the word that you want removed from the first column and placed into the second column. This will highlight the word -–now you can drag the word from one column to the other. Once you have your information correct in the columns, then you can copy the information (EDIT – SELECT ALL – then EDIT – COPY).
        Now open up EXCEL. You can now choose EDIT – PASTE – and your information should be in two columns. Your information can now be sorted and saved.
SpreadSheets
        Spreadsheet programs are a good way to manage numbers and words.
        Start by customizing the Toolbar so that it contains the tools that you would use most often. To do this, from the toolbar at the top, choose VIEW – TOOLBARS – CUSTOMIZE. Click on the COMMAND tab. When this is opened, then you can drag any of the tools off of the toolbar (by dragging with the left mouse button and releasing it when you are over the CUSTOMIZE window). To add any that you want to the toolbar, reverse this procedure (by dragging a item from the CUSTOMIZE window to the Toolbar). The ones that John suggested you add to your toolbar are the EQUAL sign – PLUS sign – MINUS sign – MULTIPLICATION sign – DIVISION sign. You will find these under the INSERT category.
        John demonstrated a simple spreadsheet to track money coming in and money going out – and have a total of what is left. This simple spreadsheet is named 20010704 – Sample Excel Spreadsheet.xls – and we have placed it in the handouts folder also.
Taskbar – Did you move yours ????
        If your taskbar now appears on the left side of your desktop – and you would like it back on the bottom of your desktop – move it.
        Ok – that’s what I want to do – but how?  Remember that your taskbar is divided into sections – the START button – probably the QUICK LAUNCH icons – the main area where all of the windows or programs that you open are listed – and the icons in the SYSTRAY (where the clock is). To move your taskbar, you must place your cursor in the main area of the taskbar (the cursor will not change shape). Then hold the left mouse button down while you drag your mouse toward the center of the bottom of the screen. Release your mouse button and the taskbar should now be at the bottom of the desktop.