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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, March 23, 2003
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Increase Text Size in Internet Explorer
Featured Computer Term: Calendar
This Week's Topic: Internet Safety for Your Children and Grandchildren
Question: Screen Shots
Learning Series: Microsoft Word -- The Properties Dialog Box
Featured Websites: Reminders
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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.
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Special Feature: Increase Text Size in Internet Explorer
Question: I just purchased a new computer -a laptop and I like the fact that I can now take it and work anywhere in my home. The one thing I don’t like is that, because the screen is smaller than my desktop computer’s was, it ‘s harder for me to see things on it. I managed to make the text larger in Word and in my email, but I can’t find a way to increase the text size in Internet Explorer. Can you help?
Answer:
You can increase (or decrease) the size of text in Internet Explorer. Here’s how:
Click on View on the menu bar. Point to Text Size and you’ll see these choices: Largest, Larger, Medium, Smaller, Smallest. One of them will have a check mark to the left of it indicating that that is the current setting. Click on the next larger one to increase the text size on the screen. If it’ s still not large enough for you, go through the steps again and click on the larger one.
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Today's Computer Term: Calendar
A calendar program enables you to record events and appointments on an electronic calendar. Computer calendars act like date books, but they have several advantages over traditional date books:
Automatic entries for regular events: You can specify, for example, that the first Thursday of every month is when your group meets, and the calendar program will automatically fill in the appropriate days.
Signaling of upcoming events: Most calendars will let you know that an event is approaching by issuing beeps, email or some other form of notification.
Clean deletion: With an electronic calendar, you can erase an appointment without leaving a trace.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of? Email it to sharpertraining@aol.com and we'll put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Internet Safety for Your Children and Grandchildren
The Internet offers a tremendous amount of diversified information as well as communication with interesting people from all over the world. Not all of it, however, is suitable for everyone. Anyone with children or grandchildren should be aware of the good and the bad on the Internet.
Here are some suggestions and rules that will insure the safety of your children:
Use the Internet with your child. Be involved - get to know the Internet and any services your child uses. If you don’t know how to log on, get your child to show you. Have your child show you what he or she does online, and become familiar with all the things that you can do online.
Learn about controls such as filtering software or AOL Parental controls, where you can check and manage your child’s activities online.
Set rules for online behavior: never give out personal information, don’t talk to strangers, never send your picture to a stranger. Make sure your child tells you if someone or something online makes them feel uncomfortable.
Put your child's computer in a family area of the house, and never in the child's room.
Be sure to report conduct or material that is offensive to your ISP; if it is threatening, report it to local law enforcement.
Never allow your child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without your permission beforehand. If a meeting is arranged, make the first one in a public place, and be sure to accompany your child. Make sure your child tells you if they are asked to meet someone offline.
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Question: Screen Shots
Question: When I learn to do something on my computer, I like to write the instructions down so I will remember how to do it again, should I need to do so. In some cases, I’d like to include a picture of the screen and the steps that I take, like you do in the books you give out in class. How do you do that?
Answer:
That’s called a screen shot. You can take a picture of the screen and then use it in your instructions and even print it if you want.
To do so, make sure what you want a picture of is on the screen, and then press the Print Screen button (look over towards the right side of your keyboard, towards the top -it might say Prnt Scrn).
No, that doesn’t print the screen. What it does is copy the screen. Open your word processing program and then click Edit on the menu bar and then Paste. You’ll now see the picture of the screen.
You can add any notes that you want, save the document, and print it.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word -- The Properties Dialog Box
Word automatically saves quite a bit of information about your document, and it allows you to specify and save even more.
You can see the information saved with a document by choosing Properties from the File menu, which displays the Properties dialog box. By clicking on the various tabs, you can see relevant dates of the file, statistics such as number of words, paragraphs, pages and more.
You can add your own information by clicking on the Custom tab. You can type a name for the category or choose a category for this information by scrolling through the choices in the name box and clicking on the one you want.
Choose a type for the information that you're going to add. Then click in the Value box and type in what your information is.
For example, if you're writing a letter for a specific client and would like to add the client's name to the Properties, click Client in the Name field, click text in the Type field, click in the Value box and type the client's name. Click the add button and the client's name will be added in the box below.
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Today's Featured Websites:
Note: if you're not sure how to use the following links to websites, take a look at the instructions on using links at the beginning of this newsletter.
Reminders
Are you so busy that you have trouble remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and appointments? Sign up with one of these websites, enter the dates you need reminders for, and they’ll send you an email in time for you to prepare for (or remember) the event.
Remember It! A simple service with easy configuration.
http://www.rememberit.com/
My Health Test Reminder. Use this service to set up reminders for doctors’ appointments and tests.
http://www.myhealthtestreminder.com/
At candor.com, you can input reminder dates, how many days before the event you’d like to be reminded, and the message that should be sent to you.
http://www.candor.com/reminder/default.asp
With this service, you can be reminded of your dates by email or with a message sent to your mobile phone.
http://www.memotome.com/
You can setup the number of days before the event that you’d like to receive your reminder email.
http://www.emailaddresses.com/email_reminder.htm
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