Software Tips & Tricks Organize Objects In Access 2000 & 2002

By Laura Noble

As a database is being built, the number of objects (forms, queries, tables, etc.) can become quite large and cumbersome. Though each of these objects is required for the database to function efficiently, there may only be a few you need access to on a regular basis. Finding these few often can be like finding "a needle in a haystack."

You can solve the problem of finding these frequently used objects by adding the objects to a group in a custom category/folder.

1. Open Database.
   
   
2. Decide which objects to group. It is often best to group related objects in the same category/folder.
   
   
3. Below the Objects bar there is a Group Bar, which contains the default folder/category Favorites. View all groups by clicking Groups bar heading to see list.
   
   
   
4. Create a new group by right-mouse clicking in the Groups section and select New Group.
   
   
   
   
5. In the New Group box, fill in name of group and click OK.
   
   
6. New group will be displayed under the Group bar.
   
   
   
7. Drag the objects you want into the new group folder. These "dragged" objects will be shortcuts/copies of the original objects.
   

Formatting and field name changes to the original object will also take place in the “shortcut.”

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.NobleSoftwareSolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, April 2002.

How to Manage Email Overload: 7 Steps To Get You Started

By Karen Susman

One of the biggest time-wasters is handling or not handling e-mail.

There are people who have a backlog of 2000+ e-mails they can't figure out what to do with. There are computer programs such as Outlook that can help you manage your e-mail. There are spam filters that can reduce the number of irritating, unwanted e-mails you receive also.

Here are a few ways to get all those other e-mails under control.

1. Keep track of how long you are spending on e-mail. If you get fifty e-mails a day and spend three minutes reading and responding to each, 2.5 hours a day get chewed up. If you make $40,000 a year, it's costing you $50 a day to process e-mail.
   
   
2. Take yourself off as many lists as possible (except for this one, of course).
   
   
3. Ask your friends and co-workers to delete you from their automatic nearest and dearest list of 300 they send jokes and chain letters to. Some e-mails take a minute just to scroll down through all those addresses to get to the message. When you find out it's a cartoon that will take four minutes to download, you then feel the need to respond to your friend. This just encourages him or her to send you more stuff you could live quite nicely without for the rest of your days.
   
   
4. Answer e-mail at two or three set times a day. To help you adjust, turn off the bouncing icon on your desktop and the voice that announces, "You've got mail." The bouncing icon always makes me think of a two year old jumping up and down demanding attention.
   
   
5. If you usually put your contact information in your e-mails, save time by creating an automatic signature.
   
   
6. When you're on hold on the phone, delete twenty emails.
   
   
7. Set a good example for your e-mailers.
   
   Summarize your content in the subject line. For instance, instead of saying "Let's talk about the party plans," say "Recommend two large tents. Must order by Friday, August 25."
   
   Write a complete message. Instead of writing a response that says, "Cool," respond by saying, "Jim, I like your idea of having two, 5 x 7 foot panels behind the stage so that we can display banners." This will help your reader know what you're referring to without having to go back and search. Your records will me more complete, too.
   
   Consider why you're “CC-ing” people. I found myself on a list that I had no reason to be on. I asked to be removed, which I was. I'm still getting blast e-mails from other people I don't know who were on the list. A recent one asked if I'd like to carpool to a meeting in Indianapolis. Considering I live in Denver, I don't think this e-mail concerned me at all.
   
   If you're sending your e-mail to multiple recipients, send blind copies. Your receivers don't like to see their e-mail address broadcast willy-nilly. This is more personal and private, too.
   

Save time by letting people know your preferred means of communication. If you've ever received an e-mail followed by a fax to confirm the e-mail and then a phone call to confirm that the fax was received, you know what a waste of time this duplication can be for the sender and for the receiver.

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com. www.KarenSusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, October, 2006.

Getting the Most from the Web's Most-Used Search Engine

By Michael Miller

To google or not to google? Increasingly, that is the question for people searching the Internet for shopping information, travel options or background for a term paper. Choose to Google and you're in good company. Google is the most-used search engine on the Web.

But how much do you really know about Google and what it can do? Did you know Google can also help you manage your finances or check your child's algebra homework? "Almost everyone I know uses Google, but few use it to its full potential" says Michael Miller, author of 75 best-selling how-to books, including his latest tome "Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource," from Que Publishing.

"Most people are just skimming the surface of what Google can do," says Miller. Google searches are highly customizable. You can use the search engine to ferret out address and phone numbers of long-lost acquaintances; search scholarly information; find word definitions; perform complex mathematical calculations; create detailed maps; e-mail, chat, and blog; search and download video, images and music; and track headlines.

Google, says Miller, is a tool like any other. If you know all its capabilities, limitations and the proper way to use it, you'll get the best results. Miller offers some tips for making the most of your Google searches:

• If you're searching for an exact phrase - such as a famous quote or person's name - but don't remember all the words, put the phrase in quotation marks and use the wildcard character (*) to stand in for the missing word. For example, if you can't remember Richard Nixon's middle name, try the search "Richard * Nixon."
  
  
• You don't have to include every single synonym of your keyword in your search. Instead, tell Google to look for similar words by using the (~) symbol in front of your keyword. For example, a search for "~car" will also find results for "vehicle" and "automobile."
  
  
• Google automatically excludes common words such as "the," "where," "what," "and" or "how" from a search. To include those words, but a plus sign in front of the word: "+where the red fern grows."
  
  
• To exclude results that contain a particular word, put a minus sign in front of it. So if you want to search for a "bass" singer, not the "bass" fish, you search would read: bass -fish.
  
  
• If you know the specific file type you're searching for, you can narrow your search by adding "filetype:" to your search. For example, of you're only looking for Word documents, your search query would read: "filetype:doc."
  
  
• If you are looking for a specific number within a range of numbers use the ellipsis to indicate the range: 100 … 300.
  
  
• Found a Web page you like and want to see more similar to it? Use Google's operator "related:" followed by the original Web page address. For example: "related:www.cnn.com" will return news Web sites similar to CNN's home page.
  
  

Finally, did you know you can use Google as a calculator? Just enter a mathematical equation into the search box and hit "enter" on your keyboard. Google will supply the answer - for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and algebra. You can also find the value of many common constants, such as Pi, Avogadro's Number, and the mass of the sun.

Miller, who does not work for Google, first wrote about the search engine seven years ago when it was still in beta testing stages. To learn more about Michael Miller and his books, visit www.molehilgroup.com. "Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource" is available at Barnes & Noble book stores, or online at www.bn.com. Courtesy of ARA Content.

Published in Networking Today, September 2006.

The Merits of BS (Backup Solutions)

By Dino Achilleos

Backup solutions are often overlooked by small businesses. Big or small, all businesses rely on their data including documents, correspondence, accounting information, contacts, and product information.

Most small businesses use electronic tools daily…in fact, you’re using one now by reading this article on the Internet or via email. Every day people write letters, information sheets, and create content for Web sites. Or they produce intricate presentations for potential clients that generate sales. Company bookkeepers log hours recording data. And the common thread in all these activities is that they all use a computer – and store the data on their systems.

When your work is done and on the computer…what could possibly be an issue? What could go wrong and cause problems for you and your business? If you didn’t create a backup, there are a number of events that could lead to the ultimate end of your business. Some of the most common reasons for recovering data from a backup are:

• Fire
  
  
• Theft
  
  
• Hardware failure (often due to age)
  
  
• Electrical surge
  
  
• Viruses, spyware, malware
  
  
• Component failure that does not render your data damaged, such as a non-functioning video card (it’s hard to work on your computer when you can’t see what you’re doing)
  

So, what is the ultimate solution to these and many other issues that can creep up on businesses that don’t take adequate measures to protect their data?

A backup solution of course!

You need to consider what you need to backup? I’ve touched on most of the items that are important to businesses, but also consider:

• Emails
• Addresses/Address Book/Contact Manager Data
• Bookmarks
• Financials
• Documents (ones you create and especially ones you receive from other sources, including quotes/invoices/forms/surveys/correspondence) · Anything that was created by or for you that would require your time, energy, and/or money to re-create
• Driver disks for your hardware such as printers, scanners, cameras, etc.
  
• Software applications that you use, whether store bought or downloaded from the Web
• A “snapshot” of your correctly configured computer system, with all the applications you use installed and peripherals setup the way you like them
  

Traditionally, organizations invested large sums of money in data backup solutions by purchasing tape drives, software, and tapes. Just ten years ago the cost of implementing an effective backup solution would have cost more than $1500 for a single desktop computer. Today, with common technology such as CD or DVD burners, backup solutions can be in place for less than $300, and replacement media costs are a couple of dollars as opposed to $30-$50. There are a number of solutions using today’s technology to make backup as easy and painless as recording your favourite television show so you can enjoy it later.

An inexpensive, but far from perfect solution is to collect the data you want to keep and burn it to a CD, DVD, or any other piece of removable media. For the most part you’ll have to hunt for things like your mail box, contacts, and bookmarks. You’ll also need to remember where your accounting package keeps its data and export specific parts of the Windows registry if you want the most protection you can get.

Backup software is recommended for these tasks to minimize the amount of interaction and therefore provide no variation from one backup to the next. Some solutions can be configured to run unattended, during lunch for example, or for users who don’t have a consistent schedule a desktop icon will run the backup at the click of a mouse. This solution requires the computer user to insert a CD before the process starts and to store it afterwards in a safe location.

Other backup solutions require no interaction. The data is backed up to a second hard disk either in the same computer system or another computer on the network (if there is one). This solution does not provide protection against fire, theft, or any type of physical damage or loss.

For this protection, you must connect an external backup device before the backup starts and then disconnect it and store in a safe place once the backup is complete.

The simpler your back up system is, the more likely it’s going to get done regularly. After all, how much data can your business afford to lose?

Dino Achilleos is the owner of Red Box Computer Solutions, London, Ontario, and can be reached at (519) 851-9434 or by emailing dino@redboxpc.com.

Published in Networking Today, January 2006.

Researching On The Net – Take Advantage of Directories

By Olivia Lambeth

For most people, finding something on the Internet can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. There is no shortage of information – there are millions of documents online published by specialists, scientists, teachers, and students, some of which will be useful for your research project. But, the difficulty lies in trying to find them.

Many people turn to search engines for help. But the problem with search engines is that they return a lot of results, sometimes millions. And most of the results are junk. You end up looking at irrelevant pages while trying to find the relevant ones. However, an alternative is to find a Web site where the topics have been organized and cataloged, like in a library, so that everything in a particular area is relevant. Such sites are called "directories."

Directories are compiled by teams of editors who choose what they judge to be the best sites and organize them by categories, subcategories, and further subcategories of the subcategories. While they generally provide searching tools to find information in sites they list, you can browse directories as well. To browse directories is to choose categories of interest and see where they lead. And the best place to start is with a general category. Then, choose a subcategory within it, and continue through subcategories of the subcategories till the topic narrows. This is a good way to get quick information on a topic.

The advantage of a directory is that information will be well organized and all the results will most likely be on the topic that you’re looking for. There are directories that focus on one subject area as well as ones that collect and organize resources in a number of areas.

Features of Subject Organized Directories

While deciding on which directory to use, it’s useful to take note of the features of subject-organized directories. With subject organized directories, the items are, as in a library, arranged with like items, and lateral browsing may offer fruitful possibilities. And, selectivity can compensate for the lack of comprehensiveness in some cases; for example, while searching for a standard or classic work in a subject area. Also there are greater chances of finding quality resources. And in contrast to automatic index searching, these selective human-compiled lists will not normally throw up multiple hits for the same work.

Specialized Subject Directories

Because, it’s impossible to keep up with important sites in all subject areas, there is usually a guide, compiled by a subject specialist, to important resources in his or her area of expertise. These specialized guides are more comprehensive and likely, than a general subject directory, to produce relevant information. For example, Voice of the Shuttle (http://vos.ucsb.edu) provides an excellent starting point for humanities research. And, film buffs should consider starting their search with the Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com).

Many of these sites offer reviews and annotations of the subject directories included. Also, most work on the principle of allowing subject experts to maintain the individual subject directories. And while some clearinghouses maintain specialized guides on their own Web site, others link to guides located at various remote sites. The most useful directories for serious researchers are the Argus Clearinghouse, About.com, and Virtual Library .

Olivia Lambeth is a creative and multi-talented fashion designer and has worked with reputed fashion houses for the past twelve years. She specialized in casual wear but nevertheless her unique design for formal and hand work is worth mentioning. For more information visit Discount Search. Published in Networking Today, November 2005.

Software Tips & Tricks Enable and Lock Form Fields in Access

By Laura Noble

In an Access form you may have fields that should not be edited or copied. Disabling or locking these fields will speed data entry and guarantee that these fields do not change.

Changing the Enable property of a field from Yes to No will dim the field control as shown in the sample below with the Client ID field. Data cannot be edited or selected/copied when a field is disabled.

After changing the Lock property of a field from No to Yes the field will have normal display, data can be copied but not changed.

Changing Enable/Lock Form Properties:

1. Open the form in Design view.
2. Right-mouse click on the field that requires the enable/lock change.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click the All or Data tab and change the Enable or the Lock settings.
   

To further speed up data entry remove the Tab Stop from the field by following these steps:

1. Open the form in Design view.
   
2. Right-mouse click on the field that requires the removal of the tab stop.
3. Click the All or the Other tab and change the Tab Stop setting from Yes to No.
   

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by email at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, August 2005.

Software Tips & Tricks Shortcuts in Project

By Laura Noble

Changing Format of Resource Labels on Gantt Chart in MS Project:
In the Gantt Chart view of a Project file, the resources assigned to a task will be displayed with the resource's full name.

For tasks with multiple resources, this can make the chart crowded.


Resource labels can be changed to initials versus names to save valuable space in the chart.

1. Select all tasks.
2. From the Format menu select Bar. Click the Bar Text tab.
3. Click the drop-down arrow of the Right row and select Resource Initials.
   
4. Click OK to accept changes. Resources labels will now appear as shown in the following sample.

Changing the Task Start/Finish Date Using the Pop-Up Calendar in MS Project: The pop-up calendar in MS Project is a quick way of changing the Start/Finish dates for tasks, if you know how to use it properly.

Change the month by clicking the displayed month and a drop-down list of months will open (see the sample below).


Click on the required month from the list. Change the year by clicking on the displayed year and a "spinner" box will open (as shown in the sample below).
Click the appropriate arrow to move to the required year.


Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by email at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, July 2005.

Software Tips & Tricks Shortcuts in FrontPage

By Laura Noble

Moving Up or Down from a FrontPage Table

There are strategies to move your insertion point directly outside of a table when tables are beneath each other.

It can be difficult to move the insertion point below a table with text, as shown in the sample below. Pressing the Enter key will enlarge the current table's height and pressing the Tab key will add another row to the table.

Both options work if that is the required result, but if you want a new table below the current table (may be because of different table property requirements) then moving the insertion below the existing table can be frustrating. But there is a solution! Read below!

Insert Space Between Tables:

1. Move the insertion point to the end of the last entry of text in the last cell of the table (last column, last row).

2. Press Ctrl + Enter.

Insert Space Above a Table:

1. Move the insertion point before the first entry of text (first cell of table).

2. Press Ctrl + Enter.

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Adding a Screen Tip to a Hyperlink

Adding a Screen Tip to a hyperlink is quite easy and can be another method to inform visitors. A Screen Tip will be displayed when a mouse is hovered over the hyperlink as shown in the sample below. Click to Open Tips and Tricks Page is the screen tip for the hyperlink Tips & Tricks.

1. In the Insert Hyperlink box click the Screen Tip button in the top right corner of the box and fill in the Screen Tip Text.

2. Click OK to close the Set Hyperlink Screen Tip box and complete remaining hyperlink settings.

Note: Screen Tips will not be displayed in Design view only in the Preview Browser view or the Internet.

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Recognizing Saved & Unsaved Open Pages

Quickly verify if an open page in FrontPage is saved by looking at the Page Tab. If there is an asterisk (*) to the right of the page name, as shown in the sample below, (SoftwareTipsandTricks.htm Page tab), the page has not been saved.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

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Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by email at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, June 2005.

Software Tips & Tricks Nudging Objects in MS Office

By Laura Noble

Often you want to move an object just a bit (i.e. "nudge" object) but the mouse moves the object too far...here's a solution.

1. Select the object to move.
   
2. For Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access press and continue holding down the Ctrl key while also pressing the appropriate arrow key. Each time the arrow key is pressed, the object will "nudge" in that direction.
   
   In Publisher, press the ALT key.
   
3. Release both keys once object is at desired location.

Sample of selected object in Word or Excel	Sample of selected object in an Access Form or Report, in Design View.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

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Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by email at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, February 2005

Backing Up Your Web Site Data…An Overlooked & Underused Necessity

By Chris Kivlehan

Over the last decade many businesses, long established and newly formed alike, have made the World Wide Web a key revenue-generating channel. Billions of dollars are transacted each year over the Web. For many, going online to make a purchase or to find information that will lead to a purchase is now second nature.

A natural consequence of this situation is that enormous amounts of very valuable data are stored on computers. And as we all well know, computers tend to die from time to time. For every business that is using the Web as a revenue-generating channel, their data is an important company asset. The loss of a customer order database could be devastating to a business, leading to unfulfilled orders, dissatisfied customers, and loss of touch with thousands of clients. Depending on one computer alone, death-prone machines that they are, is a formula for disaster.

Since it is pretty self-evident that preventing the loss of all of a business’ orders and customer information is an important task, why is it that backup solutions are among the lowest priorities of most businesses shopping for Web hosting?

Backups could be compared to life insurance policies for your Web operation, but they are really something more. Quality backups are like a life insurance plan that would resurrect you if you passed away, rather than simply grant your loved ones some monetary assistance.

Like a Web hosting plan, backup solution should be chosen appropriately with what the company is doing on the Web. Businesses running small brochure Web sites will need the most modest sort of backups; however, businesses collecting data from customers and prospects through the Web need very reliable backup solutions. The acid test for a backup plan is whether it provides the means to restore your site to a fully operational condition within one hour after a server crash.

A modest backup suitable for a brochure-style site can consist of simply keeping a spare copy of all of the files on a separate computer. If the site is such that visitors do not submit to any databases or add any content, then this type of backup is perfect. Certainly, a basic brochure site could be restored very quickly with this type of backup.

Sites that are dynamically interacting with visitors and constantly writing new information to databases cannot rely on simply keeping spare copies of their files. Those copied files are quickly outdated. Databases that are accepting information online need to be backed up frequently. How frequently depends on how important the data is to the company, and how unacceptable some data loss is in a disaster. For a relatively low traffic site where the data being collect isn’t all that critical, weekly backups may suffice. For sites collecting large amounts of orders and client information every day, daily backups are a minimum requirement. The very largest e-commerce sites have been known to take backups on an hourly basis, or even have their data constantly written to backup computers in a process known as replication.

Technologies used for backup solutions will vary depending on the operating system platform and the type of data that is being backed up. In a Windows environment, Veritas (www.veritas.com) software’s BackupExec is a premier solution for those who cannot afford any data loss. Veritas produces special agents to work with many leading software applications to ensure data from those applications is backed up perfectly. In a Unix environment, open source backup software such as Bacula (www.bacula.org) makes for a high-quality, low-cost solution.

In addition to the software products that actually run backups, businesses must consider what type of media they want their backup stored on. Choices include secondary hard drives in the same computer that is running the site, tape drives, separate network storage devices and CDs or DVDs. CDs and DVDs make for great portable backups, but are limited to relatively small file sizes (roughly 700MB and 4.8GB respectively). Network storage devices can be very expensive, but can backup enormous amounts of data. Tape drives offer perhaps the best balance of cost, storage capacity, portability, security, and quality. Backups done to a second hard drive are the easiest on the budget and the fastest in terms of restore time, but are vulnerable to corruption in a situation where the disaster is caused by a hacker.

Choosing the right backup plan for your business should be done in consultation with an experienced professional who can help you design a solution that will allow you to restore your site to full functionality as quickly as needed. While often overlooked in the price-conscious shopping process, backups are critical to the long-term success of any Web operation. Computers being what they are, after a certain amount of time it is a given that your backup solution will be tested. It is just a matter of when. It is best to be prepared for this day with an appropriate backup solution.

Four Things to Do When Administering Backups

1. Have written policy and procedures in place on how a restore from backup should be handled. In a time of crisis, this will cut down on confusion and allow the process to move along more smoothly.
   
2. Test restores from backup. This is critical. Some complex applications might require special software agents or configurations to backup and restore properly. Make sure the test restore is successfully accomplished in a time frame that would be acceptable for a real restore. If the process takes too long, you may have to reconsider your backup strategy.
   
3. Physically protect backup data from hackers and thieves. Someone getting a hold of an unencrypted backup is just as bad as someone breaking in.
   
4. Keep copies of software that may need to be re-installed along with your backups. This includes operating systems, software applications, and security patches for either of those.
   

Chris Kivlehan is the Marketing Manager for INetU Managed Hosting, an award-winning Web hosting provider that specializes in managed dedicated hosting for businesses nationwide. www.inetu.net Email: chrisk@inetu.net Phone: 610-266-7441

Published in Networking Today, December 2004

Software Tips & Tricks Print What YOU Want from the Internet

By Laura Noble

After finding a great article on the Web, often you'll want to print it...but as it prints, you realize it's 20 pages long and half those pages contain unwanted ads.

Solution: Before you print perform a Print Preview.

1. From the File menu of your browser (both Internet Explorer and Netscape) select Print Preview.
   
   
2. The preview box will open (see the sample below).
   
   
3. The Page indicator in the top toolbar displays the total number of pages. The single arrows, when clicked, will move pages up or down a page. The double-arrows will move to the first/last page.
   
   
4. The actual article section of the preview will also display the total number of pages (Page 1 of 2).
   
   
   

   

   
   
5. If it is not necessary to print all the pages, click the Print button and in the Print Range section fill in the Pages from boxes and print.
   
   
6. After successful printing, click the Close button in the Print Preview box.
   
   

   

   
   

Note: A selection can also be printed. Select a portion of the Web page and select File, Print. In the Print Range section of the box click the Selection option.

Need help finding what you need on the Internet? Check out the Internet Search Tips article.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, May 2004.

Home User Security: Your First Defense

By Moreno Gentile

The Need for a Firewall

It use to be that an anti-virus program was a home user's first (and perhaps, only) line of defense against the spread of viruses, worms, trojans, and other malicious code. Times have changed. In the era of pervasive, always-on broadband connections, today, simply having your Microsoft® Windows™ computer turned on is enough for it to get infected with the latest virus or worm.

Have you applied your weekly set of critical Microsoft security patches, or your monthly Microsoft mega-patch? What if you've been on vacation for the past few weeks? The Swiss cheese approach to applying security patches that are required to keep desktop computers safe and useable just doesn't work for the average home user. A firewall should now be a home user's first line of defense.
What is a Firewall?

The original firewalls, literally physical walls constructed to slow or cease the expansion of fires through buildings, performed a serious function in a basic way. In corporate networks, firewalls prevented unauthorized access to those networks. As the Internet grew, the need for more complex analysis of incoming data rose.

Today, we have a myriad of firewall hardware and software options available for networks large and small, with features ranging from simply watching the traffic to analyzing, refusing, and reporting in great detail. The terms personal firewall and desktop firewall are synonymous with software you install on your computer to keep the bad guys out.
How Firewalls Work

Firewalls are great tools for enhancing security and privacy. Essentially, they control the traffic flow in and out of networks or computers. They work like customs agents, determining who is safe to come and go, for what purpose, and what they can bring with them.

The "in" part is easier to understand: firewalls keep out intruders and destructive programs. The "out" part is trickier: firewalls prevent users from unwittingly sending private data into the wrong hands. For example, some browsers enable cookies, which collect data about the browser users and send that data to Web sites or external networks. Firewalls can prevent those cookies from sending that data, thereby protecting users' privacy.

Firewalls cannot be used alone and by no means give the user permission to sleep at the wheel. More small organizations and home users are installing inexpensive hardware firewalls in the form of broadband routers. This is recommended. A few popular routers are made by D-Link, NetGear and Linksys, as well some of the more popular and cost effective home firewalls include the following links:

http://www.zonealarm.com

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/

Moreno Gentile is the owner of Quazaar, which offers IT services to home users and small office environments including networking, data backup and recovery, security, upgrades to existing infrastructure, and Web site design. To contact Moreno, call (519) 649-2553 or email mgentile@quazaar.com.

Published in Networking Today, March 2004.

Software Tips & Tricks View Results of Calculating Selected Cells in Excel Status Bar

By Laura Noble

The Status Bar in Excel displays the formula result of selected cells without you creating a formula.

In the sample above, the Sale amounts for Charlotte Web have been selected. The result of the sum of the selected cells (1400) is displayed in the Status Bar. It is not necessary to select the cells containing text (i.e., Web and Charlotte) as Excel ignores the cells with text, but often it is easier to identify numeric values.

Right-mouse clicking on the Status Bar will open a short-cut menu where a different function can be selected to calculate.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, February 2004.

Software Tips & Tricks Single Word Spell & Grammar Check

By Laura Noble

Spelling errors in Word (and PowerPoint) appear with a red wavy underline and grammar errors with a green wavy underline. There are times you are sure you have spelled a word correctly but do not want to go through an entire spell and grammar check to find out the correct spelling or grammar. Spell and Grammar

Check a Single Word:

• Right-mouse click on the error and a short-cut menu will open displaying the suggested corrections
  
  
• Left-click on correct spelling/grammar suggestion Single Word Spell Check also works in PowerPoint and FrontPage.
  

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, December 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Assigning Same Account Charged to Customer/Vendor in Simply 2003

By Laura Noble

It is common to charge the same account code to a customer/vendor each time an invoice is created. To save time, include this account code in the customer/vendor ledger.

1. Open vendor/customer ledger
   
2. Click the Options tab
   
3. In the Receivables Ledger click the drop-down arrow of the Revenue Account and select the account.

OR

In the Payables Ledger, click the drop-down arrow of the Expense Account and select the account.

Next time an invoice for the customer/vendor is created, the assigned account code will automatically be filled in.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

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Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, November 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Customizing Outlook Appointments

By Laura NobleChanging Outlook Appointment's Time

Quickly change the time of an appointment by clicking the appointment. When a 4-headed arrow appears along left border, left-drag to a new time.

Increase or Decrease Length of Outlook Appointment

Often the length of an appointment will be changed after it is entered into Outlook, however, there is a quick method to change the length.

Place the mouse over the top or bottom border. When it changes to a double-headed arrow drag up or down to increase/decrease time of meeting.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, September 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Finding a Word or Phrase on a Web Page

By Laura Noble

In the Tip article, Internet Search Tips, includes tips on how to best search the Internet. Often, after the search you may discover multiple pages of text and cannot easily find the word or phrase you are searching.

Solution:

	Press Ctrl + F
	The Find box opens (see sample below)
	In the Find What box fill in the word or phrase you are searching
	If required, select any options (for example, Match Case)
	Click the Find Next button and the word or phrase will be highlighted on the Web page
	Close box by clicking the X in the top right corner

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

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Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, September 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Actions & Contacts - Outlook 2000 and 2002 (XP)

By Laura Noble

Many actions can be completed in the Contacts folder in Outlook by selecting the necessary contact(s) and then clicking the Actions menu.

Select contact(s). For multiple contacts select first contact and press and continue to hold the Ctrl key and select remaining contacts. Release Ctrl key.

From the Actions menu select an action such as New Message to Contact or New Task for Contact or New Appointment with Contact.

The appropriate window will open (e.g. New Mail Message, New Task, or New Appointment) with the selected contact(s) information automatically completed.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com Published in Networking Today, July 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Adding an Access Object to the Desktop

By Laura Noble

If you have a particular form or report that you consistently open in Access you can add this object to your desktop as a shortcut. When the shortcut is opened, it opens the Access database to the object linked to the shortcut.

1. Open Database.
   
   
2. Locate object.
   
   
3. Right-mouse click on object that requires the shortcut.
   
   
   
   
   
4. A Create Shortcut box will open, click OK to close.
   
   
5. Close Access.
   
   
6. Go to Desktop and double-click on new shortcut icon linked to database object.
   
   
7. Access will open to the linked object.
   

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, June 2003.

Software Tips & Tricks Safeguarding Properties of a Form in Access 2000 and 2002 (XP)

By Laura Noble

Properties of an Access form can be changed in Form View, which is very handy when the form is being developed. Often, though, it is necessary to prevent users from accidentally (or on purpose) changing the form's properties while doing data entry. To safeguard the form's properties, the Properties option can be disabled in Form View.

1. Open Form in Design View.
   
   
2. Right-mouse click on the form (In Access 2000, verify a section or an object is NOT selected). Select the Properties option.
   
   
   
   Or click the Properties icon on the Standard Toolbar.
   
   
3. The Properties box for the form will open. Click the Other tab.
   
   
4. In the Allow Design Changes row change the setting from All Views (the default) to Design View Only.
   
   
   
   
5. Save Form.
   

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, May 2003.