Microsoft Application Tips & Tricks

Isn't it amazing how the tiniest little detail can save you the largest amount of time? Scroll through these tips and see if it helps trim your work time.

Most importantly, the Universal Keyboard Commands that work in all applications:

Ctrl Z will UNDO anything you've just messed up. (Alias PANIC button.)
Ctrl A will SELECT ALL, and we mean ALL of the text and graphics on your screen. (replaces the click and drag - yawn - method.)
Ctrl S is just a quick save, and sure handy when you're working on a project. Save Continuously!
Ctrl Home and Ctrl End are possibly the most efficient keyboard combinations and the least used. Go ahead, try them out. They'll get your curser to the tip-top and rock-bottom of your document in a flash.

Microsoft Word - Increase the line-space of your text in a jiffy:

Press Ctrl A (to select all of the text), then press Ctrl 2. Your text is double spaced instantly!
To triple space, Ctrl A, Ctrl 3.
To 1 1/2 space, Ctrl A, Ctrl 15.

Microsoft Excel - Resize columns instantly
Everything on the screen has a purpose. Even the gray lines between the column headings A | B | C | etc...

Move your mouse to one of these lines on your spreadsheet. Your mouse will change to a RESIZE ARROW. Just double-click. Your column adjusts to "Best Fit".
Now select a series of columns by clicking and dragging the ABC headings. Place your curser inside the black headings on a dividing line, your curser will change to a resize arrow, and double-click or click and drag. You've just resized multiple columns at once.
Need something more technical? Right click on a column heading, click on column width, and type in the exact measurement you would like.

Microsoft PowerPoint - Printing Handouts
Such a nice feature all tucked away inside the print dialogue box. Click on File, Print. The print dialogue box opens and about midway down there is an option that says, "Print What?" Click the drop down arrow and choose Handouts. To the right, under Slides Per Page, choose 3. A sample preview will show you what it will look like, then just click PRINT.

Microsoft Outlook - View, Current View
Open your contacts screen. On the main menu, click VIEW, CURRENT VIEW, and just take a look at all the options on this list. Phone lists, Categories, Detailed Address Cards.
Now open your calendar screen, and do the same thing. Each screen has it's own View options. And what you're looking at is generally the format that will print out. So spend a little time looking through these and choose what YOU want to see.

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last updated 11.24.04