THE ICON-Newsletter of the Interactive Computer Owners Network August 2014
WHAT’S INSIDE —- Page Andrew Cummins President, ICON Computer Users Group August & September [email protected] Program Schedules ….……. 2 You are ICON! Word of the month ………… 2
Interesting Sites to Summer is almost over, but not before our annual picnic. We’ve Visit on the Internet ..….…... 3 moved it inside and to the second Saturday of August at Golden Corral. So, no weather worries. If we haven’t seen you around for Minutes of 12 July 14……….4 a while, be all the more sure to come and catch up with old friends. Q&A Google Drive (Part 1) . 4 We’ve had some good classes over the past several months. New Trends in Laptop And, I regret not being able to make it to some of the classes in Computing....……….…. ...5-6 the first quarter of the year. Even when the topic of a class isn’t my cup of tea, I’m still thrilled with getting to chat and talk about Computer Tutor.…....………..7 computers with the others in class.
Skype for Windows 8……8-10 You’re a part of ICON, and you can make ICON better. As al- 3 Better Ways to Store Files ways, if you have a new gadget or are familiar with some soft- ware or an app, come and share with us what you’ve learned. Than on Your Desktop...10-12 Share with us your experience. I know each of you have experi- Create & Save a Custom ence with something you could tell us about, just between friends. And, if you know someone who isn’t a member, but has a Footer in MS Word…… 12-13 new gadget or experienced with some software, invite them to Help Line Answers……..… 14 come and share. We frequently have guests lead classes, and these are some of my favorite classes. Cards Sent ……….………. 14 A number of you ask me for help with various problems, and I’m Basic Computer Classes .. 14 happy to help. But you know, those problems are class topic op- portunities. If you’re having a problem, you can bet others are ICON Membership. having a similar problem. You want a class relevant to your inter- Applications …….………… 15 ests; ask for a class to cover what it is you’re having a problem with. Even if you’re a guru without problems (then why aren’t you ICON Officers ………...….. 15 teaching a class), there are still topics you’d like to hear about, ask for classes on those topics. We need to know what you want. Members & Renewals …... 15 We don’t just need people for our Saturday meetings. We need Announcements ……...... 16 volunteers to help with beginners classes through Mercy hospi- tal’s seniors program. And, if you’re really feeling like a beginner, Mission Statement …...….. 16 or know someone else who has trouble with the basics, sign up for one of these classes.
We do have, I believe, some good classes coming up. How does using your PC or tablet for home automation sound? How about another way to get Internet, especially if you don’t even live near a cell tower? We’ll have more classes on using tablets. But, most of all, we’re friends helping friends.
Andrew Cummins, ICON President
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 2
Be sure to check the website before leaving home for any last minute changes
Program Preparations for August 2014
Saturday, August 9 Golden Corral (S. Glenstone) 10:30 a.m. ICON Annual Picnic (10:30—12:30) 4:00 p.m. The Library Station (Santa Fe Room) SAVE THE DATE!
Using the Linux Operating System SATURDAY, AUG. 9, Saturday, August 16, Library Center (Harrison Room) 10:30 TO 12:30 4:00 p.m. Using the Linux Operating System GOLDEN CORRAL Saturday, August 23, The Library Center (Meeting SO. GLENSTONE Room B) 10:30 a.m. Genealogy SIG — ICON ANNUAL 11:30 a.m. Brown Bag Lunch and 1-on-1 Help Desk INDOOR PICNIC! 12:30 p.m. Windows SIG — 1:45 p.m. Advanced Technology Forum
Program Preparations for September 2014
Saturday, September 13, Undetermined location 10:30 a.m. Digital Media SIG — Technology Word of the Month 11:30 a.m. Brown Bag Lunch and 1-on-1 Help Desk 12:30 p.m. Mini-Seminar — “Trojan Horse” 1:45 p.m. General Membership Meeting Find the definition elsewhere in this issue 4:00 p.m. The Library Station (Santa Fe Room) Using the Linux Operating System Saturday, September 20, The Library Center (Harrison Room) 4:00 p.m. Using the Linux Operating System Saturday, September 27, Library Center (Meeting Room B) 10:30 a.m. Genealogy SIG — 11:30 a.m. Brown Bag Lunch and 1-on-1 Help Desk 12:30 p.m. Windows SIG — 1:45 p.m. Advanced Technology Forum
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 3
Thought for the Day
Interesting Sites to “We can’t help everyone but everyone can Visit on the Internet help someone.” Nancy Preffitt ICON Member —Ronald Reagan Ngpreffitt (at) juno.com
INK SAVINGS Printer ink actually costs more than gasoline! Here's an interesting way to save 28% by someone's calculation. Ecofont puts little holes in each letter, which, of course, saves ink. If the editor leaves this as is, this article is typed in ecofont. Of course, without printing it, it's hard to tell! See example below . To get the font, go to www.ecofont.com, click on the download bar and then free Ecofont Vera Sans. You must sign in, then download with a right mouse click on "save target as". If you need installation help, go to https://www.microsoft.com/typography/ TrueTypeInstall.mspx. I was beginning to think this was beyond me, but I opened my down- loaded file and clicked "Install". It worked. The font showed up in my font list along with all the others.
FREE SUDOKU GAME This has been a paid game for several years, and now it's old and free! If you enjoy sudoku, you might want to give this one a try. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ pure_sudoku_deluxe.html GAMES TO EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN This is a very simple site. Just click on a game to play what looks like a simple game. Hah! http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/ ACCESS WINDOWS 8 FROM YOUR ANDROID DEVICE The ability to use your home computer while you're elsewhere is a good magic trick and may even be helpful. This article from the MAKE TECH EASIER site has a good, detailed ex- planation that makes it seem feasible. http://www.maketecheasier.com/remotely-access-windows-8-from-android/?
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 4 Minutes of 12 July 2014 General Membership Meeting
The meeting was called to order by President Andrew Cummins.
Mary Phillips read the Minutes of 14 June 2014. John Somers moved to accept the minutes and it was seconded by Bud Burke. Motion carried.
Shirley Emerson gave the Treasurer’s Report. John Somers moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Bud Burke seconded. Motion carried.
One Business: 1. Discussion of fraudulent phone calls and emails. 2. Computer Cabinet for Laptops at Smith-Glynn-Calloway – many options for size, but a question about where to store it if we get one. 3. Laptops for classes – Andrew to order 2 more 8.1 laptops.
Adjournment. Respectfully submitted, Mary Phillips, Secretary.
2014 August Q&A Google Drive (Part 1) By Mary Phillips Icon member Mary (at) iconusersgroup.org Q1. What is Google Drive? A1. Google Drive is Google’s cloud storage service that allows you to store your documents, photos, videos, slide- shows (presentations), etc. online. With in Drive, you can create folders and files and use Google Docs (Word Processing), Sheets (spreadsheets), Presen- tation (Slideshows like PowerPoint), Forms, and Drawings. To get there, you may type: drive.google.com in the ad dress bar. You’ll need to sign up for a google account but you don’t have to use gmail; any email account you have will work. However, if you do have a gmail account, you can log in and click on the nine dots box at the left.
As you create files, there is no need to Save; it’s automatic and available from anywhere.
You can also share files or folders with private individuals or groups. If you’re wanting to col- laborate, everyone can look at the data at the same time. Data is shared by clicking the Share button and sending a link to 1) Pub- lic on the web, 2) Anyone with the link, or 3) a Specific person to an email. Individuals are invited to see and have permission to ei- ther Edit or View.
Word of the Month; “Trojan Horse”—This is a less commonly used term, but the software that it represents is equally dangerous. A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is malware that appears to perform a desira- ble function for the user to run or install but instead facilitates unauthorized access of the user's comput- er system. . It is a harmful piece of software that looks legitimate. Users are typically tricked into loading and executing it on their systems.
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 5 WEBSITES: New Trends in Laptop http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/landingpage/ Computing convertibles-splitter/ by Ira Wilsker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law Golden Triangle PC Club http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us Beaumont TX http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_surface Iwilsker(at)sbcglobal.net
One of the primary factors that makes technology so intriguing to me is the rapidity to which it chang- es. My major name brand, "formerly" top-of-the-line desktop PC is three years old, and still working per- fectly, but has gone from a "gee whiz" technological level when it was new, to a "ho hum" level today. What was the fastest multi-core processor (CPU) available in consumer computers when I purchased mine, is no longer even listed by its manufacturer, and can only now be found deeply discounted on eBay, and sometimes in the "clearance" bargain bins of the online and big box technology sellers. In computing parlance, three years of calendar time is two or three generations in computer time. I recently had the opportunity to visit one of our local big box office supply stores to look at some of the laptop computers that were advertised on sale. While I am definitely not oblivious to the degree of change taking place in the computing sphere, it was amazing how much hard ware technology has changed, and how Moore's Law, originally prophesized in 1965, still continues today somewhat unabat- ed. In a paper presented in 1965, Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel Corporation, predicted that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. Another Intel executive David House, predicted that chip performance would double every 18 months considering the increase in the number of transistors in a circuit along with their increase in speed. In 2010, the Interna- tional Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors predicted that this rate of growth will slow by the end of 2013 when transistor counts and densities on microprocessors will double every three years. This logarithmic increase in processing power has also been coupled with a dramatic decrease in costs, which has universally made available our "smart" technologies, with one of the latest iterations be- ing termed "The Internet of Things", where more devices will be "smart" and interconnected, and pow- ered by microprocessors. It is this dramatically increased level technology coupled with a dynamic de- cline in the cost of technology that has made these new devices so common, as was clearly displayed by the new laptops at the big box store. There is not much need here to explain the history of laptops ranging from the big and heavy "lunch box" computers with their small monochrome screens, to the sleek and lightweight models of today. There has also been a lot of talk in the media recently about the concept of "convergence", where the concept of a full powered computer, a tablet, and a phone would be merged into a single device. While there will inevitably be revolutionary technological improvements in the near future, there is already sig- nificant evidence that much of that "convergence" is already here. I was amazed that the large selection of laptop computers displayed in this major big box office sup- ply store, with its reputation for selection and price, contained only a relative handful of what I would con- sider the traditional laptop computers that we are all so familiar with. Most of the laptops on display incor- porated the popular touch screen display technology of tablets and smart phones along with the compu- ting power, keyboard, and storage capacity of a more traditional laptop. These new touch screen laptops were surprisingly reasonably priced, often price competitive with the better tablets, thin, and lightweight. All of these newer devices had sharp and colorful touch screens, large internal storage, reasonable memory and video capabilities, WiFi-n capability, adequate keyboards, and other features that most of us are familiar with. Many utilized the newer SSD (Solid State Drives) that offer much of the extensive stor- age capacity of a traditional hard drive, without the power consumption or vulnerability to physical dam- age, such as if dropped. Almost all can be used as a touch screen or with an integral touchpad, as well as with a USB connected or wireless mouse. All had a longer advertised battery life than comparable tra- ditional laptops, and many also included the capability of utilizing the wireless broadband connectivity offered (for a fee) by the major cellular phone companies. Almost all of the models that I looked at Continued on page 6
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 6
COMPUTER TUTOR From the Desk of Pamela Tabak DEDICATED TO THE COMPUTER EDUCATION OF SENIORS website: http://computertutorinc.net
Q1. I have cellular service so why can’t I get my email when away from Wi-Fi? A1. Check your WiFi signal by going to “Settings” then “WiFi.”
If you see an “unsecured” connection that has a “strong” signal
If you see an “unsecured” connection that has a “weak” signal Your device tries to connect to WiFi first and will continue to do so without changing over to “cellular” even if the signal is weak. In order to switch to cellular, when the WiFi signal is weak, you will need to “turn off” the WiFi in “settings.” Your 3G, 4G or LTE will then take over and you will be able to work with your email and search the internet.
Q2. How do I change my Password on my iPad? A2. Follow these steps to change your Apple ID password. If you can’t remember your password, follow the steps for what to do if you forget your Apple ID password. Go to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com). Click “Manage your Apple ID” and sign in. If you have two-step verification turned on, you’ll be asked to send a verification code to the trusted de- vice associated with your Apple ID. If you’re unable to receive messages at your trusted device, follow the guidelines for what to do if you can’t sign in with two-step verification. Click “Password and Security”. In the “Choose a new password” section, click Change Password. Enter your old password, then enter a new password and confirm the new password. Click Save when done. The next time you use an Apple feature or service that uses Apple ID, you’ll be asked to sign in with your new Apple ID password.
Q3. Why is my cell phone dead and does not charge when connected to a power source? A3. If your mobile phone has been working well, it will not be a major problem to get it working again. Below are a few things you can try: 1. If the cell phone does not “power-up” when it is connected to a power source, the first thing you should do is disconnect it from the power source and plug in another device, that you know is working, to make sure that the power source is “live.” 2. If the power source is “live” try removing the mobile phone battery and then replacing it into the phone. This “resets” the system and the mobile phone usually comes back to life. Plug it back into the power source until it is fully charged. 3. If the “reset” does not work, the power cord might be faulty and should be replaced. 4. If your cell phone is still inoperable, take it to your cell phone supplier for examination.
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 7 Continued from page 6 New Trends in Laptop Computing also had a common Ethernet port for wired connectivity, several USB ports (many of which are the newer and faster USB 3.0 standard), an HDMI port for connecting to a TV or other video device, a DVI connect- or for connecting to a modern digital monitor, and a VGA port for connecting to other older video devices. Almost all of these new style laptops incorporate a build of Windows 8 explicitly designed for maximum functionality and ease of use on these devices. Many of these new technology laptops offer a "twist", "flex", or "yoga" type of top or cover containing the touch screen that can be folded or closed inward like a traditional laptop, or turned or twisted out- ward, resembling a traditional tablet. Several of the models had a detachable screen which could be used independently as a tablet, but still running Windows 8.1. While not as heavily loaded or as powerful as some of its big brothers, I was favorably impressed by one of the smaller Lenovo Flex touch screen laptops, with its 10.1" screen. I compared it to the generic 10.1" Android tablet that I purchased about six months ago, and the Lenovo Flex model had twice the available memory, 40 times more internal storage, higher resolution screen, twice the battery life, integral keyboard, Windows 8.1, superior connectivity, and other capabilities lacking in my Android tablet. The Lenovo Flex was a little thicker than my tablet (about 3/4"), but still only about half the thickness of my older traditional laptop. The Lenovo Flex was a little heavier than my tablet, but seemed far more rugged. With a touch screen that could be folded outward resembling a tablet, this Lenovo Flex computer was priced under $300. Models of touch screen laptops manufactured by Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Sam- sung were also abundant, with screen sizes ranging from 10.1" to 15.6" available. The different comput- ers had an assortment of processors, memory up to 8GB, and SSD or hard drives with storage capaci- ties up to 1TB. Utilizing the latest in technology, the ease of use of an interactive touch screen, and priced competitively with comparable traditional laptops, if I had to purchase a new laptop today, it would be a touch screen and not a similar more traditional laptop. While not carried by this particular big box store, another touch screen maker of note would have to be Microsoft, which is selling a series of its own touch screen devices under the moniker "Microsoft Sur- face". Often priced a little higher, but still competitive, with the other makers, Microsoft calls its Surface computers "The tablet that can replace your laptop". The latest models being promoted by Microsoft as "Surface Pro 3" include a very high resolution 12' screen, up to 9 hours of battery life, and latest Intel fourth generation multi-core processors up to the i7. Most of the Surface computers from Microsoft basi- cally are advanced tablets running Windows 8, but offer a removable cover (optional at extra cost on some models) that includes a keyboard, and options such as a kickstand that allows the tablet to be sup- ported in a comfortable upright position like a common monitor, USB and external video connectivity, cel- lular carrier connectivity, and other optional enhancements. While in a form factor closer to a tablet than a laptop, these Microsoft Surface tablets offer the power and functionality of more traditional laptops. In- troduced in 2012, with screens from 10.6" to 12" the Surface family has gone from the original Surface tablet, to later generations of Surface RT, Surface 2, Surface Pro 2, and the latest Surface Pro 3. Each subsequent generation offers more power, speed, and functionality than the previous models; with Mi- crosoft's name and marketing clout, it is likely that we will be seeing more Surface tablets replacing tradi- tional laptops. With all of these newer types of computers becoming more available and affordable, my next major PC purchase may very well be a touch screen laptop. Just to add another variable to the mix, most of the monitor makers are also producing touch screen monitors that can be used with modern desktop com- puters or as an adjunct to a touch screen laptop. If I do not purchase a new touch screen laptop right away, and wait for a few months, newer technologies may become available, and prices may drop. Decisions ... decisions.
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 8 How to Get Started with Skype (for Windows 8) By Larry McJunkin The Retired Geek Technical Tips for the Non-Technical “Over 50” Crowd http://retiredgeek.net/ http://retiredgeek.net/contact-me/ l
Even if you’ve never used Skype before, it’s easy to get started. Simply download and install Skype for Windows 8 from the Windows Store and sign in with your Microsoft account. To get started with Skype for Windows 8, you first need to: Download and install the latest version of Skype for Windows 8
1. In the Start screen, type “Skype” to open the search bar. To get to the Start screen, just press or tap the Windows key.
2. Select the Store icon in the search bar. Tap or click the Skype application tile displayed in the search results on the left side of your screen.
Continued on page 9
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 9 Continued from page 8 Skype for Windows 8 3.The Skype app window opens. On the right side, you can check the Overview, Details and Reviews tabs to learn more about Skype for Windows 8. To rate the Skype app, select the stars on the left side of the screen. 4. To the installation process, select Install. Sign in to Skype with your Microsoft account when prompted, then select Save. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, tap or click “Sign up for a Microsoft account” and follow the instructions. When the installation is complete, the message “Skype was installed” appears in the top right corner of your screen.
5. The Skype app tile is now displayed on the right of your Start screen and you can easily move it to any other place. Simply drag and drop the Skype tile to a spot you like in your Start screen – for example, to the left side at the top (as in the image below) so it’s the first tile on your Start Screen.
To Sign In to Skype for the First Time To begin using Skype, you need to sign in first. You can sign in with your: Skype Name (if you already have a Skype account) Microsoft account Facebook account Continued on page 10
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 10
Continued from page 9 Skype for Windows 8 No matter which of the three options you choose, you’ll be able to use all the exciting Skype features such as free Skype-to-Skype calls, video chatting with your friends, relatives and more. Now you’re ready to add your first Skype contact! With the latest version of Skype for Windows 8 you can add your friends as contacts and start calling, video calling and instant messaging them. Check out the following FAQs on the Skype website to learn more about: how to sign in to Skype for Windows 8 with a Microsoft account how to add contacts how to send instant messages how to make sure that microphone, speakers and webcam are working properly how to make free Skype calls how to make a video call how to call mobiles and landline NOTE: Learn more about how to sign in to Skype with your Microsoft account for the first time.
3 Better Ways to Store Your Files than On the Desktop By Joel Lee, MakeUseOfCom.com, May 5, 2014 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-better-ways-store-files-desktop/ http://bit.ly/1iiLU2u
Did you know that storing files directly on your desktop can harm your productivity? I used to be one of “those” people who downloaded files straight to the desktop. If you can identify with that, then I have good news for you: you can do better. Desktop storage is simple, sure, but it comes with hidden drawbacks you may not know about.
Kick the bad habit with these alternative file storage methods. They may not be as convenient but I promise that you’ll learn to love them in the long run.
The urge to save files to the desktop is under standable. It provides immediate access with a single click, which means that it’s tempting to turn the desktop into a de facto headquarters for storage. But unless you are strict with maintenance, you’ll eventually succumb to these issues:
No file protection. As noted by PC World, certain directories are not affected by System Restore, the most recognizable location being My Documents. Files on the desktop are affect- ed by System Restore, which can result in unexpected file disappearances. No file backups. Many file backup programs ignore desktop files by default. Most programs worth their salt will allow you to change the settings and include the desktop if necessary, but all it takes is one forgetful moment to accidentally lose an important desktop file. Clutter, clutter, clutter. The story is always the same. You begin your desktop collection with a few documents. Over time, the collection grows to include images, music, programs, zip files, and more documents. Suddenly, finding the right document takes more time than actually opening it. Continued on page 11
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 11
Continued from page 10 3 Better Ways to Store Your Files than On the Desktop
Separate Drive Partitions One bit of computer wisdom that you should learn is this: “Never save data on the same partition as your operating system.” In Windows, the location of the desktop on the file system does reside on the same partition as the operating system itself.
Why is this important advice? Because you want to avoid putting all of your eggs in the same basket. Let’s say that you happen to contract a mild virus or malware that attacks your operating system. It might wipe all files related to the operating system itself OR it may affect the entire partition that holds the operating system. By losing the operating system, you lose all of your saved data as well.
But if you installed Windows to the C: partition and stored all of your files on the D: partition, your files on D: would be safe even if C: were wiped clean. The only way D: would be affected is if the physical hard drive itself was wiped or damaged.
One additional benefit of having separate partitions is that you can reinstall Windows without losing your saved data. Tina has written on the subject of resizing Windows partitions, so check it out if you want to take advantage of this feature. http://bit.ly/1lfBCDe
Use Windows Libraries
Every installation of Windows comes with a directory called My Documents. In Windows 7, it was renamed to Documents and came with a couple of buddies: Music, Pictures, and Videos. They’re called libraries and you’ve probably seen them before, but never really used them, right? Well, you should reconsider.
In truth, these four libraries are special. They aren’t just director- ries; they’re collections of multiple directories. In each library, you can specify different directories to be included and that li- brary will show the content from all included directories. It sounds more complicated than it is.
Think of it like this: You can save your videos to many different locations and link those directories to the Videos library. Then, whenever you access the Videos library, you’ll see all of those files in one place.
It’s just as convenient as storing everything on the desktop, yet infinitely more flexible and organized. For more details on how to take advantage of this feature, check out Chris’s write-up on how to use Windows Libraries. http://bit.ly/1iMkORF
Store Files in the Cloud Cloud storage has been a big buzz term over the past few years and for good reason. While cloud- related solutions like Dropbox, G+ Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive come with privacy concerns
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 12 Continued from page 11 3 Better Ways to Store Your Files than On the Desktop
Why is this better than storing straight on the desktop? Immediate backups. Due to automatic synchronization, you rarely need to worry about lost files. If your computer gets wiped somehow, those files still reside on the cloud and you can always retrieve them again.
Revision history. Not every cloud service offers a revision history, but most do and it’s an important feature. Basically, the service will track every change that’s made to the file (it may be limited to the last X changes) and allow you to instantly revert to a past version if necessary.
One Drive (aka SkyDrive) comes integrated with Windows 8 and can help you keep your files synced.
Need Quick Access to Files? Sometimes convenience wins out over practicality and reason. The desktop is great because it allows for immediate access, right? With one small compromise, you can maintain that convenience. The answer is to use shortcuts.
Creating a shortcut is as simple as dragging a file using the right mouse button to where you want the shortcut to appear, then selecting Create shortcut here from the menu. Even if a shortcut gets wiped, the actual file will still be safe.
But instead of putting the shortcuts on the desktop, why not take it one step further?
Right click on any file shortcut and select either Pin to taskbar or Pin to start menu. It’s a self-explanatory feature that works just as well as, if not better than, traditional desktop shortcuts. I use it day in and day out and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Conclusion Ultimately, personal preference will always win. For those of you who have been “desktopping” for years, you’ll probably find it near impossible to break the habit. I still do it from time to time, though I try my best to clean up after myself when I realize what I’m doing. It just doesn’t make sense to store everything on the desktop anymore. Do you clutter up your desktop with files and folders galore? If so, are you convinced enough to try a saf- er method of file storage? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! http://www.makeuseof.com/ tag/3-better-ways-store-files-desktop/
Create and Save a Custom Footer in Word By Nancy DeMarte, 1st VP, Sarasota PCUG, Florida January 2014 Issue, PC Monitor www.spcug.org ndemarte (at) Verizon.net
As you build up a library of documents you have written, it helps to have a system to have some sort of ID on each document to help you remember where it is stored. A good place to record this information on a document is in a footer along the bottom of each page. In Word 2007 and later, you can easily create a custom footer which in- cludes the information you want and save it in a handy spot called the Building Block gallery for insertion into any document. Here is how it’s done.
For illustration, I chose to create a footer which includes the date the document was created and the file name, including the path. The path shows the location of a file by listing all the folders and subfolders which need to be opened to find it, beginning with the hard drive (c:).
First I opened a document I had saved that had no footer. I clicked the Insert tab, and then Footer. From the gallery of footers, I clicked the footer labeled, “Blank (Three Column)” even though I was adding only two pieces of information. I then scrolled down to find my footer at the bottom of the page with my cursor flashing inside the footer area. Continued on page 13
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 13 Continued from page 12 Create and Save a Custom Footer in Word
To customize the footer, first I highlighted the left placeholder and pressed Delete to remove it. Leaving my cursor in that spot, I clicked the Insert tab in the ribbon, then Quick Parts – Field. I scrolled down the list and clicked “FileName.” I chose lower case for its format, and checked the box which said, “Add path to filename.” When I clicked OK, the entire path appeared in the footer.
Then I highlighted the center and right placeholders and deleted them. (I knew I would not be using the center placeholder with this footer, but a page number fits very well in that center spot.) My cursor was then flashing in the spot where the right placeholder had been. To add the date, I clicked the Insert tab again, then Date & Time, which opened the Date and Time dialog box. I opted for the default date format (first one on the list). Now I had a choice: Do I want the date to remain static to remind me when I com- posed this document, or do I want it to update to the present date each time I open it. I decided not to have the date update automatically. So I clicked to remove the checkmark from the option, “Update auto- matically.” I knew I could always update the date manually by clicking it in the footer and selecting Up- date.
My last step was to save this footer so I could reuse it on other documents. I double clicked in the footer area and highlighted the entire footer line. I clicked the Insert tab – Quick Parts – Save Selection to Quick Parts Gallery. The Create New Building Block dialog box opened with several choices to make. I named my new footer, “FileName” and put in the Footers gallery. Then I clicked the arrow next to Cate- gory, chose Create New Category and typed my first name. This way it would be easy to find my custom footer by looking in the Building Block organizer. I left the last two lines as they were, Building Blocks.dotx and Insert content only.
To make sure I had succeeded, I saved my document and closed it. When asked if I wanted to save a new building block, I clicked yes. From now on, if I want to add this footer to a document, all I do is open the document, click Insert – Footers and choose it from the Footer gallery. If I add it to an unsaved docu- ment, of course, the filename will be Document 1 with no path. I can always delete it from the Building Block organizer, which will make is disappear from the Footer gallery, as well.
I have created several customized quick parts, depending on my task. The one I use the most has my name on the left, page number in the center, and date on the right. Creating footers, headers or any oth- er groups of text that you reuse often can be a real time-saver. They are worth exploring.
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 14 HELP LINE ANSWERS These are ICON Members who have made it known they will be willing to answer your questions.
For help, you can also log onto ICON’s Forum at www.iconusersgroup.org and post your questions. Free registration is required in order to post questions and then you need to wait a day or so for an email confirmation to complete the registration. However, while you’re there, click on Search and enter the topic about which you’d like information and see if someone has already started a ‘thread’ — a series of question and responses. All questions and responses can be read without having to register
If you know of someone in our group who is ill or has suffered a loss in the family, please contact Marion Garrett, 887-5396 [email protected]
BASIC COMPUTER CLASSES Basic Windows 7 computer classes are taught by ICON members Mary Phillips and Art Irish with ICON assistants for nine sessions monthly ex- cept April, August and December. Classes are held in Conference Room A in the Smith-Glynn- Callaway Medical Bldg. basement, 3231 S Na- tional, Springfield MO.
Students should bring a Windows 7/8.1 laptop, power cord, and mouse or plan to borrow one from an instructor. Sign up by calling Mercy Older Adults Services 841-0333. PLEASE! Please Notify us of Change of Address. Each time the newsletter goes to the WRONG ADDRESS, the Post Office charges ICON an additional fee of $0.70 post- age to notify ICON of a change of address. So when you move or go out of town, please e-mail: [email protected]
THE CONTENTS AND OPINIONS OF THE ARTICLES IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHORS. NOT THOSE OF THE ICON USERS GROUP.
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 15
ICON MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Make Check to ICON — Mail dues to: ICON Users Group 1325 W Sunshine #169, Springfield MO 65807-2344 NAME ______E-MAIL ADDRESS ______ADDRESS ______HOME PHONE ______CITY ______STATE _____ ZIP ______SPONSORED BY ______DATE ______YEARLY DUES $20.00 — PLUS $5.00 APPLICATION FEE
Please submit articles for the September issue of THE ICON by August 15, 2014 to Mary Phillips at [email protected]
ICON OFFICERS
VISIT ICON’S WEB SITE AT www.iconusersgroup.org GO TAKE A LOOK!!
THE ICON August 2014 PAGE 16
———- ICON Users Group ———- 1325 W. Sunshine #169 Springfield MO 65807
Return Service Requested
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ICON (Interactive Computer Owners’ Network) is a non-profit organization dedi- cated to sharing information about technology, and helping others more effectively learn to use computers and emerging technology. We provide instructor led “Hands-on Classes”, “Moderated Workshops and Group Discussions”, “One-on-One Help Sessions”, and “Presentations” by individuals ranging from college level instructors, public service organizations, the business community, and our own members who are knowledgeable about specific topics. Classes cover everything from beginner level to advanced skills, and discussions cover a wide range of topics from managing the various operating systems, to dig- ital photography, genealogy, office applications and web development.
Visitors are always welcome at all ICON functions Check out our current schedule inside this newsletter... Or by visiting: www.iconusersgroup.org Visit the “Calendar” to find the time, date, and location of topics or classes that interest you and attend as often as you wish.
Hope to see you soon!