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Cheap Tricks for computer success
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Show me the menuDo the new shortened menus in Word, Excel or other Microsoft programs since the 2000 version drive you nuts? Tired of having to click on the arrows at the bottom of menus to expand them to include the command you want? Well, you know you can always change this permanently. (Select Customize in the Tools menu and you’ll find the options you want.) But you can also call up the full menus quickly without making this permanent change. Just double-click on a menu heading and the whole shebang will appear with recently used items in relief. In fact, once you double-click on a menu, all the menus will open in full until you click elsewhere. Free *Cheap Trick* of the Week: July 29, 2001 |
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| It often seems as if each new version of Windows takes its turn being "enhanced" by the Microsoft User Frustration Development Team. Not only did Microsoft inflict this crazy menu thing on people, defying all logic and common sense, but they took the stupidity a step further while they were at it and marginalized Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer is a truly useful tool. Microsoft tends to hide this, but it should be your standard interface with your computer, unless you don't mind working blind. You can always right mouse click the Start button to invoke it, but you should add Windows Explorer to your Quick Launch bar and several other menus in Windows. The default settings for Windows Explorer defy logic. Change these so you can actually see what files you are looking at. Enable it to show you the file extensions (unclick the insane "Hide extensions" box that is, stupidly enough, checked by default though actually there is never any reason to ever check this box). Select the option to show details. Now, you will be able to see your file size, file date, and other useful information. If you right click around a bit, you can find quite a bit of functionality in Windows Explorer. If you haven't been using this interface previously, make a point of using it now. If you always open files from within Windows Explorer, you will always be able to see all available files and select the right one. Use Windows Explorer to set up your filing system as if it's a paper filing cabinet. Save all files either on the data drive (dual hard drive machine) or in a folder on a single hard drive machine. Do NOT save files to the default locations. These never make any sense. They are typically within your applications, which is a dumb place to save them. That's how you end up with corrupted data files and it also makes file backups difficult. For single-drive users, an easy solution is to create a folder called 0files as your top-level data folder. The zero means it will show up at the top of your file list, making things easy for you. Below this folder, create you filing structure. Never store anything at the root of this folder. Think of it as the shell of a five-drawer filing cabinet and don't toss stuff in the bottom. Always put files in folders that are in drawers. With a good filing structure in place, you will always be able to find your files by simply clicking right to them. So think this out as you go and follow a good taxonomy. It's a much more effective way to work than how the zombies at Microsoft envision people working.
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