Unofficial Microsoft Office Stuff

Hidden Tables

2008-07-07T03:29:00.000-07:00

Don't peek

If you do not want the ordinary user to see a table in your database, you can hide it in the database windows so that other users cannot select it.

Preface the table's name with the four letters 'Usys'. For example, if your table's name is ProprietaryCosts , change it to Usys ProprietaryCosts. This makes your table into a system object which Access does not display.

To see this table later, in Tools>Options, on the View tab in the Show section, put a check mark by System objects.

If we agree among ourselves not to tell the uninitiated, no one need be the wiser.

Microsoft Office Online:
How to Hide Objects in the Database Window

Here's how it works in 2007:
Hide tables as system tables in Access 2007

[Edited entry from 3/11/2005]

See all Topics

Pond [Flickr]

2008-07-06T14:29:15-05:00

Doug Klippert posted a photo:

Fade In/Fade Out

2008-07-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

How to create the effect

"It is relatively simple and can be done quickly. The only part that slows you down is setting the colors. The Fade in technique is explained below. You can apply the same and reverse the color scheme to attain the Fade out effect."

Create multiple copies of an object. You can Copy the object and then use Ctrl+V to Paste it multiple times.

Change the color or shade each time the object is pasted, or using the Tab key, go through the objects and format each with a different degree of color.

Next select all the objects. Drag the mouse around the collection of objects.

With the objects selected, use the Align or Distribute option on the Drawing toolbar to Align Middle . You may also have to use Align Center .

The objects will be perfectly aligned, one on top of the other.

With the objects still selected set the animation to Appear 0 seconds After Previous event. You may have to change the timing to 0.1 seconds.

MVPS.org:

Fade In/Fade Out effect

Download a sample here

[Edited entry from 3/13/2005]

See all Topics

Hawaiian Chieftain [Flickr]

2008-07-05T09:20:19-05:00

Doug Klippert posted a photo:

Outlook Does Not Respond

2008-07-05T05:26:00.000-07:00

Don't Alt-Tab

In the heat of the moment it is natural to want to just Alt-Tab between applications. You may be working in Word and feel the overwhelming need to check your mail. Alt-Tab brings Outlook to the fore, so you Alt-Tab again to get back to your prose.

Doing this can cause Outlook to slow down and even stop. Outlook is still active, just waiting in the background. The suggestion is to minimize Outlook between peeks.

Slipstick.com:

"Get in the habit of minimizing Outlook 2003 rather than just using Alt-Tab or a Windows task bar button to switch to another program. If you leave the full Outlook 2003 window active, it may use so much memory that it stops responding"

Microsoft KnowledgeBase 827310:
Outlook 2003 stops responding after a long period of use

"While Outlook 2003 is running, it periodically pages memory in and out of the process address space. When the memory that is free is large, Outlook 2003 is permitted to have more pages in memory. This increases the memory that is being used by Outlook 2003. If another application requires memory, Outlook will release memory.

When you minimize the Outlook 2003 program window, the pages are switched so that the pages that are not required for user interaction are switched out of memory. When you maximize the Outlook 2003 program window again, the pages that are used for user interaction are switched in to memory, and the memory usage begins to increase again.

This could happen when working with a large .pst or .ost file as well as other actions within Outlook."

[Edited entry from 3/10/2005]

See all Topics

Windows Media Encoder

2008-07-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

Screen capture plus

You can capture motion and sound or compress existing video files for use on the web/pod or screen.

PC Magazine:
Show and Tell

" Windows Media Encoder can capture the screen as you perform a task such as editing a photo; in fact, almost anything you can do on the screen can be recorded as a video. You can even narrate the demo as you record the steps you're performing. It's surprisingly easy to achieve good results in minutes. Probably the only reason the program isn't more widely used is that few people know it exists."

Microsoft Windows Media:
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series

Microsoft Support:
Support for Windows Media Encoder

Microsoft Media Knowledge Center:
Getting Started with Screen Capture Using Windows Media Encoder.

[Edited entry from 3/8/2005]

See all Topics

Fireworks-Short [Flickr]

2008-07-03T09:55:15-05:00

Doug Klippert posted a video:

Individual shots are at:

Fireworks Set

Show Formulas in Cell Comments

2008-07-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Display properties

Select the cells and then run this macro:


Sub CommentThem()
 Dim cell As Range
 On Error Resume Next
 Selection.ClearComments
 On Error GoTo 0
 For Each cell In Intersect(Selection, ActiveSheet.UsedRange)
   If cell.Formula <> "" Then
    cell.AddComment
    cell.Comment.Visible = False
    On Error Resume Next 'fails on invalid formula
    cell.Comment.Text Text:=" Address:  " & cell.Address(0, 0) & Chr(10) & _
      " Value:  " & cell.Value & Chr(10) & _
      " Format:  " & cell.NumberFormat & Chr(10) & _
      " Formula: " & cell.Formula
    On Error GoTo 0
   End If
 Next cell

End Sub

by David McRitchie

Also:
Show FORMULA of another cell in Excel

[Edited entry from 3/12/2005]

See all Topics

Very Clever CSS Playground

2008-07-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

I didn't know you could do that!

"This site documents my attempts at understanding and exploring the possibilities of CSS. From standard navigation links to my more bizarre experimental techniques.

All my examples are produced with JUST CSS, no javascript, or any other language, has been used in any of the examples. The demonstrations are designed to work in all the latest browsers, but, if you're lucky, some may also work in earlier versions."

Stu Nicholls' Navigation Gallery.

Here are two of the examples demonstrated:

Messing about in boats
Hover over a picture and it enlarges to 100%

Also:

The Streaker
A piece of animation done with CSS alone, no Java.

(I haven't figured out how to use situational CSS in a blog, so you'll have to go to Stu's site to see if the guy gets to the other door.)

[Edited entry from 3/9/2005]

See all Topics

Selecting Hidden Objects

2008-07-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

Where's the doggy?

Constructing a presentation can involve multiple images or shapes on one slide. Objects are piled on top of each other in the order that they are created.

You can move items forward or back by using Draw>Order on the Drawing toolbar. (Drawing Tools> Format in 2007). However, how can you select an object if it is buried under other graphics?

PowerPoint allows you to cycle through every object on the slide by selecting one object and then using the Tab key to cycle through all of the objects on the slide. Objects can be graphics or text boxes; Shift+Tab cycles backwards through the objects.

Click on any visible object; press the Tab key until you see the selection boxes that indicate which object is selected.

Here's a Flash tutorial by Sonia Coleman.
(It opens in a pop up window, so you may have to tweak your Google/MSN anti-popper toolbar)
Selecting Objects

Here's a static version:
Selecting Objects

[Edited entry from 3/7/2005]

See all Topics

Personal Information

2008-06-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

Clean it up

If you have enabled the "Allow fast saves" feature, earlier versions of your document, that you thought had been deleted, may still be readable.

If the document was edited with "Track Changes" enabled, a name is associated with each change. You can get rid of all the personal information with a few simple settings.

Choose Options from the Tools menu, click on the Save tab, and uncheck the box labeled "Allow fast saves". Now click on the Security tab and check the box titled "Remove personal information from this file on save".

In Word 2003 the check box's title is: "Remove personal information from file properties on save". When you save the file, the Author, Manager, Company, and Last saved by fields are cleared. Names in comments or edits are changed to simply Author. Any routing slip or e-mail header information is also removed. If the document contains tracked changes, you may want to accept them all before saving.

The Allow fast saves option is global. The Remove personal information option is specific to the current file and is present only in Word 2002 and later. If you want that option to be the default, click on the File Locations tab in the Tools> Options dialog and note the folder containing user templates. In that folder, open the file Normal.dot. Check the Remove personal information box as noted above, then save and close the file. All new files created from this point on will have that feature enabled by default.

Also see:
Charles Kenyon's Word Users Guide:

Confidentiality and MetaData in Word Documents

Microsoft downloads:
Office 2003/XP Add-in: Remove Hidden Data
With this add-in you can permanently remove hidden data and collaboration data, such as change tracking and comments, from Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint files.

This add-in is not compatible with the 2007 Office system. The Document Inspector feature in the 2007 Office system replaces this add-in. For more information see Office 2007 Resource Kit and the online Help topic.

[Edited entry from 3/6/2005]

See all Topics

Customize Date in Footer

2008-06-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

Formatting

This subroutine inserts the current date in the footer of all sheets in the active workbook. This process can be accomplished without a macro, however, you'll need the macro if you want to specify the formatting of the current date. An example of the return generated by running this macro is Saturday, March 05, 2005.


Sub PutCurrentDateInCenterFooterAllSheetsInWorkbook()
For Each oSheet In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
oSheet.PageSetup.CenterFooter = Format(Now(), "dddd mmmm dd, yyyy")
Next
End Sub

You can change the word CenterFooter to CenterHeader. You could also use LeftHeader, RightHeader, LeftFooter, or RightFooter.

Microsoft KnowledgeBase:
Macro to Change the Date/Time Format in a Header/Footer

[Edited entry from 3/5/2005]

See all Topics

Stuff to Buy

2008-06-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

After Rent and Groceries

Tosterbag

..."a 'thick, A5, black plastic bag'.. With little handles, of course - can't forget those.
But hidden behind this mini-bin liner facade is a thermological, nutrition preparation device of truly impressive proportions. For, as its name suggests, the Toastabag allows you to cook things in a toaster. Not in every toaster, just the thick-and-thin kind that most people have nowadays. All you do is bung the ingredients in the bag, pop it down in the toaster and wait."

Here's a video of a sandwich that might have been made with spam.

Pet Phone

"The patent pending PetsMobility™ PetsCell™ will be compatible with existing cellular and satellite GPS technology. The PetsCell™ will allow pet owners to talk to their pets as well as allowing owners to request assistance should they become incapacitated and require help. In addition, and perhaps more valuable, pet owners will have a peace of mind that if their pet is lost and someone finds their pet wandering the streets, with a simple press of a button on the PetsCell™, the auto dial function will dial the owner's home alerting the owner to retrieve their pet.

While on vacation, at work, or on the road, pets can be contacted by that friendly recognizable voice of their owners."

PawSense
Catproof your PC. No more having your cat hanging out in chat rooms while you're at work.
Stop the beasts before they take over.

"When cats walk or climb on your keyboard, they can enter random commands and data, damage your files, and even crash your computer. This can happen whether you are near the computer or have suddenly been called away from it.

PawSense is a software utility that helps protect your computer from cats. It quickly detects and blocks cat typing, and also helps train your cat to stay off the computer keyboard."

[Edited entry from 3/4/2005]

See all Topics

Avoid AutoComplete Errors

2008-06-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

Don't start

When you type an entry in a ComboBox control Access will attempt to complete the entry based on the control's lookup list. This is controlled by the AutoExpand property, which is set to "Yes" by default.

If your value list contains several items that are close in spelling, it is easy for users to let Access choose the wrong item by accident.

You can avoid errors by setting the control's AutoExpand property to "No" in Design view.

Once the change has been made, users will be forced to type the entire entry or select an item using the ComboBox control's dropdown list.

[Edited entry from 3/3/2005]

See all Topics

Troubleshooting Outlook

2008-06-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

When all else fails

How to troubleshoot error messages
in Outlook and in Outlook Express

Confirm that your e-mail server settings are correct
Examine the configuration of your firewall software
Check your antivirus vendor's Web site for additional suggestions
Determine whether your modem is functioning correctly
Verify the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) size that is set on your router
Remove and then reinstall Outlook Express
Create a new e-mail profile
Delete suspicious messages from your mailbox

G4TV.com:
Troubleshoot Microsoft Outlook Problems
written by Chris Pirillo

Microsoft TechNet:
Troubleshooting Outlook Web Access

Microsoft Office Online:
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

Slipstick.com:
Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook

[Edited entry from 3/2/2005]

See all Topics

Kerning

2008-06-25T03:17:00.000-07:00

More typography

At larger point sizes, it is esthetically pleasing to move some letters closer together than they would normally appear. For instance, the word "To". The letter "o" can be nudged under the arm of the "T":

Kerning: Adjusting (increasing or decreasing) the space between adjoining type characters.
Kearning pair: Two adjoining type characters to which a particular kearning value is applied.
Kearning value: The space between two adjoining type characters. This value is usually measured in em.

From the Word Help file:

Select the text you want to change.
On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Character Spacing tab.
Do one of the following:
Expand or condense space evenly between all the selected characters

Click Expanded or Condensed in the Spacing box, and then specify how much space you want in the By box.

Kern characters that are above a particular point size

Select the Kerning for fonts check box, and then enter the point size in the Points and above box.

Note: Selecting Expanded or Condensed alters the spacing between all selected letters by the same amount. Kerning alters the spacing between particular pairs of letters.

Microsoft Typography:
A Disagreeably Facetious Type Glossary

WebStyleGuide.com:
Webstyle Guide - Typography

About.com:
Typography Tutorials

Typographica
a journal of typography featuring news, observations, and open commentary on fonts and typographic design.
Here's the RSS connection:
Typographica Feed

[Edited entry from 2/25/2005]

See all Topics

AutoFilter

2008-06-24T04:20:00.000-07:00

Only what you want

Excel has a tool to sort lists with a number of criteria.

Select a single cell in the table and go to Data>Filter AutoFilter.
Click on the down arrow next to the field name and choose Custom.

The illustration shows how to set up a filter that displays data between two dates.

Contextures.com:
AutoFilter Tips

"Some tips and techniques for working with AutoFilters, and some workarounds for problems you may encounter."

Microsoft Assistance:
All about AutoFilters

Jay Walkenbach:
Displaying AutoFilter criteria

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte:
Using Custom Views with Autofilter

"If you frequently use Autofilter to view portions of your worksheets, you might find Custom Views to be a useful tool. Custom Views can be easily set up based on your Autofilter criteria. Once that is done, the worksheet views that you have created display in a drop down list so you (or others) can select them."

"The Display Filter Criteria doesn't work well. It only works when after set the filter, the cell with the formula is selected. Then press F2 en after that push the Enter key. Then it works. but the cell with the formula isn't updated automatically..."

# posted by W. van Dam : 7/06/2005

[Edited entry from 2/27/2005]

See all Topics

Font Yourself

2008-06-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

Make your own

FontStruct

"FontStruct is a free font-building tool brought to you by the world's leading retailer of digital type, FontShop.

FontStruct lets you quickly and easily create fonts constructed out of geometrical shapes, which are arranged in a grid pattern, like tiles or bricks.

You create 'FontStructions' using the 'FontStructor' font editor.

Once you're done building, FontStruct generates high-quality TrueType fonts, ready to use in any Mac or Windows application.

You can keep your creations to yourself, but we encourage users to share their "FontStructions". Explore the Gallery of fonts made by other FontStruct users and download them or even copy them and make your own variations.

You can also use the FontStruct widget to show your FontStructions on your own website or blog."

See all Topics

Brainy Betty

2008-06-22T03:49:00.000-07:00

Templates, Graphics and more

"Very simply, you can download anything on this site for personal or business or educational use. You can share these downloads with others as long as you give it to them and not "sell" it to them.

Tell others where you got the downloads.

Brainy Betty

What you can expect to find on this site:

Hundreds of free PowerPoint templates
Certificate templates
Free Flash PowerPoint Slides
3D Graphics
Dingbats
Buttons and lines
An awesome icon collection
Free Flash and Swish
Sound clips

[Edited entry from 2/26/2005]

See all Topics

CSS Crib Sheet

2008-06-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

Information rich site

When you get serious about web design, CSS or Cascading Style Sheets will add flexibility to your toolbox.

Mezzoblue .com has a wealth of information including:

CSS Crib Sheet

"You will no doubt come across many quirky layout issues when building a site with CSS. You'll end up banging your head against a wall time and again. This is an attempt to make the design process easier, and provide a quick reference to check when you run into trouble."

And:

A Roadmap to Standards

"The old-timers had to figure out the hard way all the tricks and techniques we now take for granted; lucky folks who came in later (myself included) can benefit from their sweat and tears.

In the end, when your skill using standard-based design eclipses your skill using old-school table-based methods, you’ll look back and marvel at how much more sense it makes to layout a page with CSS."

The RSS link is here

[Edited entry from 2/24/2005]

See all Topics

Nisqually Fall [Flickr]

2008-06-20T16:55:57-05:00

Doug Klippert posted a photo:

Import Queries

2008-06-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

As Tables

If you want to use the results of a query, and you don't need to update the underlying tables, you don't have to import unnecessary data.

You can import the query as a new table.

Select File>Get External Data Import from the menu bar.
(External Data tab, Import in 2007)
Select the appropriate database and click Import.
Select the queries you want to import on the Import Objects dialog box's Queries sheet.
Next, click the Options >> button and select the As Tables option button on the Import Queries panel.
Finally, click OK

Access processes the queries and saves the results as a table with the same name as the original query.

[Edited entry from 2/23/2005]

See all Topics

Global Area Code Changer

2008-06-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Fix Contacts

Telephone area codes sometimes run out of numbers and need to be split. Slipstick.com's Outlook Contacts Tools page offers some suggestions including:

Slovak Technical Services:
Phone Changer

After a reorganization or buyout, have you ever needed to replace domain portion of e-mail addresses in a Contacts folder?

Here's a macro from Woody Leonard's WOPR forum.

Global Change of email addresses

(If you use it, you might want to comment out some of the MSGBOX entries. )

[Edited entry from 2/22/2005]

See all Topics