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Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is September 1, 2002
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Current Hoaxes and Scams
Special Feature: Auto Responder in Microsoft Outlook
Featured Webpage: The Recycle Bin
Featured Computer Term: Read Only
This Week's Topic: Inserting Email Addresses from the Address Book
Question: Read-Only Files
Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Views
Featured Websites: Labor Day; Rosh Hashanah; September is National Literacy Month
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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: Current Hoaxes and Scams
Another Email Hoax is Going Around:
We recently got a question from a subscriber who wanted to know if a current Spam going around is real -- it claims that if you want to stop the release of your personal information to "everyone under the sun" starting July 1, you need to take action.
Here's part of the email:
>>Just wanted to let everyone know who hasn't already heard, the four major credit bureaus in the US will be allowed, starting July 1, to release your credit info, mailing addresses, phone numbers, etc., to anyone who requests it.<<
The email goes on to tell you (in capital letters) that you should pass this message on to all in your address book and your personal friends.
This is a hoax; don't be tempted to forward this to all your friends.
Hint: Any email that tells you to pass the message on to everyone is almost definitely NOT legitimate!
The following scam is not an email hoax, but certainly worth mentioning. Take a look at the FCC’s website (link below), just to make sure you don’t fall prey to any realistic sounding scams.
The FCC has posted a very interesting page called Consumer Alerts and Factsheets. It provides information on important telephone, broadcasting and Internet scams.
For example, a new scam alert was posted called Beware of Telemarketing Scam.
Here's how this scam works:
You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an official of a state Do-Not-Call registry, or some antifraud consumer group. The scammer asks if you want to be on your state's Do-Not-Call list, or asks you to verify your previous registration on such a list.
As the call progresses, the scammer asks you for personal information, such as your Social Security, credit card and/or bank account numbers, supposedly to confirm that the scammer is talking with the correct person.
The scammers then have all they need to commit fraud with your information.
Here is what the FCC says about Do-Not-Call registries:
You should not receive a call from such a registry. Signing up for these state-sponsored Do-Not-Call lists is generally initiated by the consumer. It is usually free (or requires only a very nominal fee).
Once you are signed up for such a Do-Not-Call registry, there is no reason f or follow-up calls. Further, you should NEVER need to verify your registration with personal or financial information.
For the list of FCC Consumer Alerts and Factsheets, visit: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/information_directory.html
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Special Feature: Auto Responder in Microsoft Outlook
Question: When I go on vacation and will be unable to check my email, can I set up my computer to send an email back to people telling them that I’m away?
Answer:
It depends on which email program you’re using. You can in Microsoft Outlook. It’s called Auto Responder and you can set up a message to let everyone know that you will be away from your computer and will not check your email.
To set up an autoresponder, start by clicking Tools on the menu bar, then Message, then Rules, then Mail, then the New button to create a new message rule. In the first field, select For all messages. In the second field, choose Reply with message. Create and save a reply message; you can do that by typing a new e-mail message and saving it to a local folder. Name the rule and that should do it. Now, every message which enters your Inbox will be responded to with your template.
Take note that newsletters (like this one) will also be replied to. Depending on how these resources are configured to respond, you could be unsubscribed, or in the case of mailing lists, you could be banned from future participation because it's not looked upon kindly by some. You may want to temporarily unsubscribe to newsletters and email lists.
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This Week's Featured Webpage: The Recycle Bin
We see that little garbage can on our computer screen everytime we turn the computer on. What's it for, why is it there and how do we use it? Learn all about the Recycle Bin on this week's Featured Web Page:
http://stsico.com/html/recycle_bin.html
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Today's Computer Term: Read Only
Read Only means that an object, like a file, for example, is capable of being viewed on the screen, but you can make changes to it or delete it.
Most operating systems allow you to protect objects (disks, files, folders) with a read-only attribute that prevents you or other users from modifying the object.
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Today's Topic: Inserting Email Addresses from the Address Book
Question: I was wondering if you could explain how to put an e-mail addresses from the address book into an email. Thanks for your great newsletter. Keep up the good work.
Answer:
The steps to do this greatly vary from one email program to another.
In Microsoft Outlook, you’ll notice that in an email window, the To: is actually a button. Click on that and you’ll be taken to your address book, where you simply click on the person’s name, and the email address is inserted into your email in the To field.
In America Online, a new email window will have an Address Book icon over on the right. Click on that and you’ll access your address book. Again, click on the person’s name, and the email address is inserted into your email in the To field.
Most email programs that offer an Address Book function will make accessing the Address Book pretty obvious in a new email window. Look for an Icon, Button or blue underlined text (a link), or something of that sort to enter the Address Book.
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Question: Read-Only Files
Question: Every now and then, when I’m working on a file and try to save it, I get a message that says this is a Read Only file. What does this mean? This newsletter is so helpful to me. Thank you for all the information.
Answer:
By definition, a read-only file is one which you can open and look at, but which you cannot change and save under the same file name. There are times when read-only files are beneficial, but what do you do if files are turning into read-only files on their own?
The first thing to check out is those items over which you have control. For instance, has someone set the options in Word so that read-only is the recommended way to save files? You can check this by choosing Options from the Tools menu, then clicking on the Save tab. The Read Only Recommended check box is used to control this feature.
The next most common cause is a macro virus. Microsoft Word is susceptible to different types of viral infections, and one of the more common causes file properties to switch in frustrating ways. One way to check this is to choose Macros from the Tools menu, and take a look at the list of macros available on your system. If there is an AutoExec or AutoOpen macro, and you know you don't use these, then you probably have a virus. (This is not the only sure indicator of a virus, however.) If you suspect that a virus is the problem, then you need to get a commercial virus removal program (such as those from McAfee Associates) to stamp out the virus.
Another possible cause is that you are sharing the Word documents across a network. Let’s say you have three users trying to access a file. User A opens the file first, and has no problems. Other users try to open the file, and they receive a notice that the file is read-only. The solution to this is easy —simply wait for User A to finish using the document and close it.
Other readers have reported weird happenings as the source for read-only problems. For instance, one reader ran into a problem with pieces of Word sticking in Windows 95 memory after the program was closed. To check this, you should close all your programs and then press Ctrl+Alt+Del. This brings up the Close Program dialog box. Here you can see which programs still occupy memory. If Microsoft Word shows up (and you have previously closed the program), then simply choose to end that task.
A possible cause is that the folder in which the file is located is read-only. You can check this by using the Windows Explorer to check the attributes of the directory. Don't forget to check the attributes of any other directories up the line from the one where you are having a problem.
If the read-only problem is with a specific file, you can open the file, select all the contents (press Ctrl+A), open a new document, and paste the contents into the new document (Ctrl+V). Then you can save the new document and discard the old.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Views
Whatever version of Word you are using, there are three distinct views you can use for your documents - Normal, Outline, and Page Layout. In addition, if you are using Word 97 or above, a new view - Online view -is available. You can choose which view you are using by clicking on the view controls at the left side of the horizontal scroll bar, or by selecting a view from the View menu.
Page Layout view is the one most closely related to what your document will look like when you actually print it. In this viewing mode you can see your headers and footers in place, what your margins look like, how your frames appear in relation to text, and what your graphics look like in your document. This is the viewing mode you should use if you want to always see what your document will look like. You should not confuse Page Layout with Print Preview. Page Layout allows you to easily use Word for Windows' complete set of editing tools, whereas Print Preview does not because the various toolbars are not automatically available. In addition, Print Preview slows down Word quite a bit, even from the otherwise slow Page Layout view.
Normal view is the one you will probably use for most of your writing and editing. It offers a good balance of speed and appearance, whereas Page Layout view can slow down your system. When using Normal view, you can generally see how your text will appear on paper. This means you can see what each line will look like, how the text appears, and where the lines will break. You can also see where each page will break. Normal view also offers a benefit over Page Layout view in that you can use the style area to see what paragraph styles have been applied to your document. Page Layout view does not display the style area.
Outline view is used when you want to work with large portions of your document at the same time. It allows you to collapse your document and view only the major headings. The text under each heading can be hidden so it does not obscure your view of document organization. When you select Outline view, an additional outline toolbar appears at the top of the current window or document pane.
Online view, which is available beginning with Word 97, is designed to allow you quick navigation in large documents or in documents destined to be used in an on-line environment. In this view your text does not look like it will when printed. Instead, the text is displayed in a window at the right side of the screen, with text wrapping to fit within the window.
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Today's Featured Websites:
Labor Day
For the history of this holiday, how it came about and what it means, take a look at the Department of Labor’s website:
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
For celebrations and traditions, visit the Holiday Spot website:
http://www.theholidayspot.com/laborday/
Looking for things to do this Labor Day weekend? Go to Digital City:
http://www.digitalcity.com/
For news and events on Long Island, take a look at Newsday’s site:
http://www.newsday.com/
Send your friends a Labor Day greeting card online (It’s free!!)
http://www.egreetings.com/
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated this week. Take a look at this site for the meaning of holiday and prayers, articles with advanced discussion, and audio classes.
http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshhashannah/default.htm
For an informational resource about the holiday that celebrates the creation of the world, visit this website:
http://www.joi.org/celebrate/rosh/
This website celebrates the Jewish New year with greetings, history, recipes, customs and traditions, prayers, and more.
http://www.theholidayspot.com/rosh_hashana/
Send an online greeting to your friends and family.
http://www.egreetings.com/category.pd?L0=61&L1=502&L2=1047&L3=50766&L4=0 &L5=0
National Literacy Month
September is National Literacy Month. Take a look at the Literacy Volunteers of America's website for more information on this worthwhile organization and cause.
http://www.literacyvolunteers.org/
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