Archive for the 'Tips and Tricks' Category

Microsoft Access Tips: Change the Default Font

If you wish to use a particular font for all the information in your table, you can change the default font in Access 2007 so that whenever you create a new database your preferred font is automatically set.
 

To change the default font:
 
1. Click on the Microsoft Button.

2. Click Access Options.

3. Click on the Datasheet tab:

4. In the Default Font section select your preferred font e.g. Times New Roman.

5. Select your preferred size e.g. 12.

6. Click OK.
 
Then click on the Object Designers Tab:
 
1.In the Query Design Font Section select your preferred font e.g. Times New Roman.

2. Select your preferred size from the size menu e.g. 12.

3. Click OK.
 
The default font for Access has now been changed.
 
Check out our Microsoft Access Tips page for more useful tips

Microsoft Word Tips: Changing Page Size

Are you tired of using only A4 size paper when you create a document or poster in Word? If you wish to change your page size because your design doesn’t fill up a whole page or maybe you need more space than usual, then Microsoft Word 2007 can help you. 

 

  1. Click on the Page Layout tab, then choose the Size option and it will give you a list of all the different sizes.
  2. If none of the ones on the list is the size you need you can select the More Paper Sizes link.
  3. This will open up a Page Setup dialog.
  4. This will allow you to change your page Height and Width manually.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Have a look at our Microsoft Word Tips page for more interesting tips

Microsoft Publisher Tips: Top Ten Text Shorcut Keys

Shortcut keys are very useful in Programs such as Access and Publisher. All you have to do is press a few buttons, instead of going through the settings. Here are some shortcut keys available to you in Publisher for changing text size, boldness ECT:
 
 

Ctrl+B – Bold text

Ctrl+U – Underline

Ctrl+I - Italic

Ctrl+= - Superscript

Ctrl+Shift+= - Subscript

Ctrl+Shift+S – Change text style

Ctrl+Shift+F -Change font style

Ctrl+Shift+P – Change font size

Ctrl+Shift+> - Increases the font size

Ctrl+Shift+< - Decreases the font size
 
Interested in learning more? Book yourself onto one of our Microsoft Publisher Courses for a wide range of Publisher skills.

Microsoft Powerpoint Tips: How To Personalise Backgrounds

PowerPoint backgrounds in the 2003 version are very plain and simple; the most you can do is merge two colours together. With the 2007 version you are able to choose from a wider range of colours and textures.
 

  1. Click the Design tap on the Ribbon, and then choose the Background Icon. This will come up with the Format Background box where you can select three different fill choices.
  2. The options are Solid Fill, which just uses one colour. Gradient Fill which has multicoloured backgrounds and Texture Fill which gives your background a textured look to it.

 
Interested in learning more? Visit our Microsoft PowerPoint Tips page

Microsoft Excel Tips: Changing Graphs

Have you ever wanted to change your graphs in Excel to make them more colourful or even make them 3D? With Excel 2007 you are able to choose from a huge range of graphs with all sorts of designs. But make sure that the chosen graph will be able to display your results clearly.
 

If you do not know how to create in Excel read How to create a chart article 
 

Once you’ve created a chart here’s how to modify it:

     

  1. Select the Graph/ Chart you’ve created. It will display 3 additional tabs – Design, Layout and Format.
  2.  

  3. Select the Chart Styles icon (red circle) on the Design Tab from Ribbon. It gives you a wide range of different styles, including 3D graphs.
  4.  

  5. There is also a Change Chart Type option (green circle) where you can change the graph to e.g. a pie chart.
  6.  

  7. When you choose a new Chart Layout from the gallery, you get a predefined combination of title, layout, gridlines, and so on.

 
Interested in learning more? Then book yourself on one of our Microsoft Excel Courses

Microsoft Project Tips: Change Bar Colour

When you create a duration bar in Project they normally come out the same colour. This can be confusing as they all look the same and you could get one mixed up with the other. Project 2007 allows you to change the bar colour and pattern so you can recognise them more easily.

     

  1. First when you have created your schedule Right Click on the bar in the Gantt Chart area and choose Format Bar
  2. Then change the Shape, Pattern and Size of the bar to your preference.
  3.  

 
Interested in learning more? Then book yourself onto one of our Microsoft Project Courses

Microsoft Outlook Tips: Sorting Out Junk Mail

Don’t you just hate it when you get loads of junk mail? Anytime you get sent SPAM it just goes straight to your Junk Mail folder until you delete it. They take space and they clog up your folder. Why don’t you configure settings to just automatically delete junk mail? If you don’t want to delete them automatically follow this link Reduce Amount of Junk Email by Using Filters otherwise these steps. 

     

  1. First go to Actions, then Junk Email
  2. Select Junk Email Options
  3. Tick the box that says Permanently Delete Suspected Junk Emails
  4.  

This way you don’t have to keep deleting junk emails as it will be deleted automatically.

Visit our Microsoft Outlook Tips page to get more tips

Microsoft Access Tips: Backing Up Databases

Whenever creating a database it is important that you create a backup. This is because if the data gets corrupted you will not be able to restore it. To avoid this you should create a copy and Microsoft Access has a built-in functionality to achieve this by backing up your data.

     

  1. Click on the Office Button
  2. Go to Manage
  3. Click on Back Up Database
  4. You can then choose a place to store it, and then give the name to a back up file.
  5. Click Save

 

Now that you have saved the file it might be worth opening the file in Access just to make sure it’s working. 
 
 
Interested in learning more? Then visit our Microsoft Access Tips page or come to our Microsoft Access Courses.

Microsoft Word Tips: Saving a Document in a Different Version

If you have an older version of Microsoft e.g. 2003 and you get sent a document from a newer version i.e. 2007 you won’t be able to open the file. If you don’t want this to happen there are three things you can do.

     

  1. You can Upgrade to the newer version if you wish
  2.  

  3. Or you can ask the sender to Save It In a Older Version and then send it back
  4.  

  5. There is also Compatibility Pack which you can download and this will enable you to open newer saved versions and still keep the version that you currently have on your computer. Read more: From Error message to Easy access – Using Earlier Versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, to Open & Save files from Office 2007 programs.

 
If you want them to resend the document back to you in the 2003 version here’s how they can do it.

     
  1. Click on the Office Button then go down to Save As
  2. Move your mouse onto the arrow next to Save As
  3. Choose the same version that you need (Word 97-2003 Document)
  4. Then click on Save

 

The sender will send it to you in the format you can read.

 

Visit our Microsoft Word Tips page for more useful Tips.

Microsoft Publisher Tips: Changing Picture Brightness

 

In Microsoft Publisher if you want to change the brightness and the shade on any of your images look for the Icon on the toolbar.

 

  1. Click the Sun and Upward-pointed arrow icon from the toolbar to make it brighter
  2. Click the Sun and Downward-pointed arrow icon from the toolbar to make it darker.
  3. If you want to increase the image contrast, click on the icon with two half circles – one white and one black.
  4. You can decrease the contrast by clicking the image of two gray half circles.

 Microsoft Publisher Toolbar

 

Visit our Microsoft Publisher Tips page to learn more useful information