|
Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, January 26, 2003
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Missing Icons in Windows XP
Featured Computer Term: Multimedia
Featured Webpage: Weather
This Week's Topic: Ways to Select Text
Question: Computer Sounds
Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Creating New Default Margins
Featured Website: National Eye Care Month ; Plan Your Garden; Movie Guide; Academy of Family Physicians; Ballroom Dancing
Correction: Last week's newsletter noted January 19 as Martin Luther King's birthday. The correct date was January 20.
******************************************************************** ***
Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
******************************************************************** ***
Special Feature: Missing Icons in Windows XP
Question: I just purchased a new computer with Windows XP on it and it doesn’t have the same icons on the desktop as my Windows 98 computer had. I used them, like My Computer and My Documents. How can I get them there again? Thank you -I love your newsletter!
Answer:
Right-click on the desktop, and then click Properties.
Click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize Desktop.
Put a check mark in the box next to My Documents, My Computer, and any other items that you want to have on your desktop.
Click OK.
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Computer Term: Today's Computer Term: Multimedia
Multimedia is the use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound.
Up until the mid-90s, multimedia programs were uncommon due to the expensive hardware required. With increases in performance and decreases in price, however, multimedia is now ordinary. Nearly all computers are capable of displaying video and sound.
******************************************************************** ***
Featured Webpage: Weather
No one needs to tell us that it's been cold outside but if you want to know exactly how cold it is, and when it will warm up a little (hopefully soon!!), take a look at the Weather Page on our website for temperature, wind chill, forecast and more in your area.
http://stsico.com/html/weather.html
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Topic: Ways to Select Text
Microsoft is notorious for making dozens of different ways to perform even the simplest functions. The different methods that you can use to select text is a perfect example of this. Here are several ways to select text:
- Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse over the text.
- Click before the text you want to select, hold the Shift key down and press the arrow keys to select the text.
- Double click on a word to select that word. If you want to select additional words, instead of releasing the mouse button after the second click, hold the button down and drag the mouse across them.
- Click four times quickly to select the entire paragraph.
- Hold down Ctrl and press A to select everything.
******************************************************************** ***
Question: Computer Sounds
Question: My friend’s computer makes sounds when he does different things. He doesn’t know how it happens though, his son set it up for him. Can you tell me how I can get my computer to play sounds?
Answer:
Click on Start then Settings and then Control Panel.
Double click on the Sounds icon.
In the Events part of the window, you will see what are called Windows events. You can assign sounds to windows events. For example, your computer can play a few notes when you exit Windows. Click once on the words Exit Windows.
Now look a little lower and you will see the Sound section of the window. To assign a new sound to Exit Windows, click the Browse button; you will see a list of available sound files.
Click on a sound file; look for a preview button on the window; click on it to hear the sound. If you’re satisfied with that sound, click the OK button. If not, click another sound file and preview.
Now Click OK again and you’ll have sound when you exit Windows.
******************************************************************** ***
Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Creating New Default Margins
When you install Microsoft Word on your computer, the default margins are 1.25 inches on the left and right and 1 inch on the top and bottom. This means that every time you begin a new document, those are the margin settings that will appear.
You don't have to accept the default Word margins -- you can set a new default yourself. If documents you create on a regular basis require different margins, change the default settings to what’s convenient for you.
To set the default margins, click on File from the menu bar and then click Page Setup. When the dialog box opens, click the Margins tab. Set the margins to what you want and then click Default. A dialog box will warn you that you are about to make a change that will affect all new documents that are based on your Normal template. Click Yes and this will save your new default.
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Featured Websites:
National Eye Care Month
January is National Eye Care Month. Take a look at eyecareinfo.com for an interesting website created by an optometrist to aid ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians and patients in finding information on eye care.
http://www.eyecareinfo.com/
Plan Your Garden
No one wants to be outside now, but spring is right around the corner and it’ s time to start planning your garden. Here’s a website that can help:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/
Movie Guide
IFILM is an Internet movie guide and a great site to visit for what's new in theaters, what’s good to rent on video or DVD, and to watch the previews for the newest movies.
http://www.ifilm.com/
Academy of Family Physicians
For a very useful site for health topics and healthy living, finding a family doctor, drug information and a comprehensive health dictionary, visit the Academy of Family Physicians’ website.
http://www.familydoctor.org/
Ballroom Dancing
If you’ve ever wanted to learn ballroom dancing, here’s a website for you. This site walks you through the moves step-by-step with text, and you can watch video clips of the moves.
http://www.ballroomdancers.com/
|
