If you are running Windows XP, you will always see the various icons over in the lower right (unless you moved your taskbar) portion of your screen. The time will be there as well as other icons depending on the applets you have running. But do you also see some icons on the left side of the task bar next to the Start button? If you don't, you don't have the Quick Launch bar on. You may be interested in having it on.
To turn the Quick Launch bar on (or off), right click on the Taskbar and click Properties. You will see a Show Quick Launch item under the Taskbar appearance section. Click it on to display the Quick Launch bar and unclick it to turn it off.
Several items will appear. One of my favorites is the Show Desktop button. You can click this and no matter what applications are running on your screen, you can get back to your Desktop. Buttons for your most used applications can also be created simply by dragging and dropping a shortcut to the application onto the Quick Launch bar.
Of course if you are going to use the Quick Launch bar you should probably remove any duplicate shortcuts from your desktop. Remember, a clean desktop is a good desktop!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Who Do You Want To Be Today?
Outlook has had the ability to add a signature to your email messages since the earliest versions. In the current version, Outlook 2003, you can have a signature for new messages and a different signature for replies and forwards. I use this feature myself. My new message signature is a full signature including my name, Company, and Websites. My reply/forward signature is a simple -Ed. This allows me to minimize the amount of text in replies and forwards.
Outlook 2003 also allows you to have multiple signatures for each option of new or reply/forward messages. So, you could for instance have a Sales signature and a Support signature for new messages or for replies/forwards. You set these up under Tools - Options - Mail Format. Once you get them setup you can pick a separate default for new and replies/forwards.
So how do you select an alternative signature in your message. It's easy! First open a new or reply/forward message. Your default signature will automatically be inserted. To change it simply right click on the default signature in the message. A list of all your stored signatures will show up. Pick the one you want and it will replace the default for this message. Cool!
Outlook 2003 also allows you to have multiple signatures for each option of new or reply/forward messages. So, you could for instance have a Sales signature and a Support signature for new messages or for replies/forwards. You set these up under Tools - Options - Mail Format. Once you get them setup you can pick a separate default for new and replies/forwards.
So how do you select an alternative signature in your message. It's easy! First open a new or reply/forward message. Your default signature will automatically be inserted. To change it simply right click on the default signature in the message. A list of all your stored signatures will show up. Pick the one you want and it will replace the default for this message. Cool!
Monday, October 10, 2005
Turn an Outlook Task Into An Appointment
Do you ever have a task in Outlook that seems to just keep getting put on the back burner? Maybe if you set up an appointment with yourself to complete the task you might have better luck in getting it done. Outlook makes this very easy.
1. Go to the Outlook Tasks List
2. Left click on the task you want to set an appointment for and drag it to the Calendar icon
3. Complete the rest of the appointment information
You now have an appointment to work on that dreaded task. You can use the same process to turn and email into an appointment or task. Just drag and drop the email to the Task or Calendar icon. In fact you can use drag and drop all over the place in Outlook. Very useful!
1. Go to the Outlook Tasks List
2. Left click on the task you want to set an appointment for and drag it to the Calendar icon
3. Complete the rest of the appointment information
You now have an appointment to work on that dreaded task. You can use the same process to turn and email into an appointment or task. Just drag and drop the email to the Task or Calendar icon. In fact you can use drag and drop all over the place in Outlook. Very useful!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Use The Power of Your Start Menu
How do you start the programs on your computer? Click on an icon on the desktop? Select from Start - All Programs? How about using the Start Menu? What is the Start Menu? When you click the Start button the Start Menu pops up. The upper portion of the Start Menu is a customizable section where you can drag and drop icons for the programs you use most often to make them easily accessible.
By modifying this process a little you can make the Start Menu even more efficient. First, create an shortcut on your desktop to the program you want. (ie Word 2003). Rename the icon to 1 - Word 2003. Now drag and drop the new icon to the Start Button. When you click the Start Button you will see your new item in the upper menu. You can now remove any icons that start Word from your desktop. When you want to use Word, click the Start Button and then click on your 1 - Word 2003 entry. Or better yet, hit the Windows Key and then the "1" key to start Word 2003. What could be easier than that?
By modifying this process a little you can make the Start Menu even more efficient. First, create an shortcut on your desktop to the program you want. (ie Word 2003). Rename the icon to 1 - Word 2003. Now drag and drop the new icon to the Start Button. When you click the Start Button you will see your new item in the upper menu. You can now remove any icons that start Word from your desktop. When you want to use Word, click the Start Button and then click on your 1 - Word 2003 entry. Or better yet, hit the Windows Key and then the "1" key to start Word 2003. What could be easier than that?
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