Desktop Tricks

test post

2009-01-27T03:03:00.001+05:30

This is the summary-Carbon fiber is commonly used for automotive related parts/products, even though we don’t cover a lot of it. When the truly extraordinary comes by our desk, we have no choice but to share with all of you CF enthusiasts. This time around, we’ve got a 2002 Lotus Elise straight from Hong Kong.

The Lotus Elise is already an extremely lightweight car, so how did all this carbon affect it? Jimmy tells us that it now weighs about 30-40 kg (66-88 lbs) less than the OEM weight. Among all the carbon fiber work, there was some additional aftermarket parts added:

* KW Suspension
* JP Racing Wheels
* Lotus Racing Exhaust
* Air filter/larger intake

Tips and Tricks:MS Powerpoint 2007

2008-07-25T23:05:00.000+05:30

Have you own MS Office 2007? It comes with some new cool features. Have a look at some of these.

Viewing sizes

This tip applies throughout office 2007, and is with regards to the zoom feature. Most of us use [Ctrl] + mouse scroll down/up to zoom in or out. However, this does so I n increments of 10 per cent. For obsessive compulsion people like those of us here at Digit, we often find our document zooming to just inside the screen boundaries or just out of it. In such cases the perfect zoom might be something like254 percent. Using the zoom slider at the bottom right of the office application window, you can achieve these exact zoom levels.

Content Placeholders

When you add a new slide that has blank content placeholders, you will see that PowerPoint 2007 offers little icons in the middle that act as shortcuts to particular types of content. These icons symbolize adding either a table, chart, smart art graphic, picture, clip art, media files, or plain text.

Animation

In order to animate your slides, you have the Animation tab, which puts everything in plain sight and within easy reach. From within the Animation tab, look for the custom animation button ([Alt] + [A] + [C]). This will open up a Custom Animations pane on the right, from where you can add animations to individual content of your slide, instead of animating the entire slide itself. Once you have added your effects, you con just drag them about to reorder them, which make storyboarding your slide very easy. Also remember to play your animation, using the little play button at the bottom of the customs animation plane, to check your progress.In this same pane, you con set various parameters of the animation, including the event (time delay or on click), directions and speed. Every effect in that pane also has a drop-down arrow, which will reveal further option.

Easy keyboard shortcuts

For keyboard warriors, the most irritating thing about the new PowerPoint is the fact that a few of the shortcuts have changed. What most people don’t realize is that Office 2007 has shortcuts for every single menu item, which previous versions did not, and they’re easy to identify as well, thanks to the little letters that pop up when you press [Alt}. It’s advisable that you learn the keyboard shortcuts if you spend a significant amount of time using any Office application, and all you have to do is learn visually using [Alt] and the cues (called Key Tips) provided; it couldn’t be simpler! Most of the older [Ctrl] + [some key] shortcuts are left unchanged, so you really will not find yourself too frustrated.

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Use Sticky Notes with Windows XP

2007-09-09T22:59:00.000+05:30

Have a look at a few small, handy things which aren’t part of windows. The first one will be Sticky Notes-the virtual equivalent of writing down tasks and reminders on paper and sticking somewhere around you. If you need this with windows XP, you have to download and install freeware. But, you can use sticky notes in windows XP without installing a third party tool.

It will take only five simple steps. Let’s do this in any computer within a few minutes. I thing this sticky notes will be an unavoidable tool in your office computers.

1. Create a file type:

Open ‘my computer’. Click on ‘tools’ in the menu bar and select ‘Folder Options’ under the ‘file types’ tab click on the ‘new’ button to crate a new file extension. Type in ‘stk’ (short for sticky notes, of course) in the ‘create new extension window’ and hit enter.

2. Assign an action and an application:

In the folder options menu click on stk file and hit advanced button. A new window-Edit File Type-will is opened. Click the’ new’ button to assign and action for our purpose. Under ‘action’ type in ‘open’ and under ‘application user to perform action’ type in ‘notepad.exe’. Close the window.

3. Select an icon:

Click ‘change icon’ button in the already opened ‘Edit file window’. Select an icon and type in ‘Remind me’ just before ‘change icon’ button. Click ok. Close all windows opened.

4. Editing the registry:

Open registry editor by navigating Start-Run-Type in ‘regedit’-Click ‘OK’. Collapse the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and right click on ‘stk’ and select ‘new-key’ and type in ‘ShellNew’. By selecting ‘ShellNew’ right click ‘new-string value’ and type in ‘NullFile’. Exit the registry editor.

5. Use this tool:

Right click on free space anywhere in explorer or on the desktop will show up ‘Remind Me’ under new. Select this option. Type in anything you want remind and stick it on anywhere in the free space. And here, the ‘sticky notes’. We have actually created a notepad file. The reminder you typed in is actually a file name.

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Get the start button in windows XP to display the system time

2007-09-07T20:15:00.000+05:30

Yes, it is possible. You can trick your friends. It is very simple. For this, a small freeware is needed. At first, get it from http://startclock.osnn.net/files/.

Download this cool freeware to your hard drive and install it. This program replaces the word ‘Start’ with the clock.

This tiny piece of code comes with startclock.ini file for making configuration changes such as 12-hour clock with seconds, 24 hour clock load program at start up, refresh rate (be careful while change this setting ;smaller the number, more the CPU usage) and hide the tray icon. To exit this program press “Ctrl+Alt+x”. That’s it, now you can save precious space on the taskbar by replacing the clock from the system tray.

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Get the start button in windows XP to display the system time

2007-09-07T20:11:00.000+05:30

Yes, it is possible. You can trick your friends. It is very simple. For this, a small freeware is needed. At first, get it from http://startclock.osnn.net/files/.

Download this cool freeware to your hard drive and install it. This program replaces the word ‘Start’ with the clock.

windows keyboard shortcuts

2007-08-28T16:31:00.000+05:30

Shift + F10 right-clicks.
Win + L (XP Only): Locks keyboard. Similar to Lock Workstation.
Win + F or F3: Open Find dialog. (All Files) F3 may not work in some applications which use F3 for their own find dialogs.
Win + Control + F: Open Find dialog. (Computers)
Win + U: Open Utility Manager.
Win + F1: Open Windows help.
Win + Pause: Open System Properties dialog.
Win + Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons. Enter clicks, AppsKey or Shift + F10 right-clicks.
Win + Shift + Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons in reverse.
Alt + Tab: Display CoolSwitch. More commonly known as the AltTab dialog.
Alt + Shift + Tab: Display CoolSwitch; go in reverse.
Alt + Escape: Send active window to the bottom of the z-order.
Alt + Shift + Escape: Activate the window at the bottom of the z-order.
Alt + F4: Close active window; or, if all windows are closed, open shutdown dialog.
Shift while a CD is loading: Bypass AutoPlay.
Shift while login: Bypass startup folder. Only those applications will be ignored which are in the startup folder, not those started from the registry (Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\)
Ctrl + Alt + Delete or Ctrl + Alt + NumpadDel (Both NumLock states): Invoke the Task Manager or NT Security dialog.
Ctrl + Shift + Escape (2000/XP ) or (Ctrl + Alt + NumpadDot) : Invoke the task manager. On earlier OSes, acts like Ctrl + Escape.
Printscreen: Copy screenshot of current screen to clipboard.
Alt + Printscreen: Copy screenshot of current active window to clipboard.
Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow: Invert screen. Untested on OSes other than XP.
Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow: Undo inversion.
Win + B : Move focus to systray icons.

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Desktop Tricks

test post

Tips and Tricks:MS Powerpoint 2007

Viewing sizes

Content Placeholders

Animation

Easy keyboard shortcuts

Use Sticky Notes with Windows XP

Get the start button in windows XP to display the system time

Get the start button in windows XP to display the system time

windows keyboard shortcuts