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20070425 Wednesday April 25, 2007

 Pages 2 tips

Using "Comments" in Pages

You can 'attach' comments to any part of your Pages document.  Simply select the object to which you want to attach the comment and then click on the "Comment" button on the toolbar or use Insert -> Comment.  The comment will appear out to the left of the page.

WARNING: if you insert comments, the "View -> Show Comments" becomes active and when you print the document, the pages will be reduced to allow space for the comments to print in a column on the left of the paper - even if you have deleted all the comments.  To be able to print the document like it is laid out, you need to go select "View -> Hide Comments" before you print.

Sending a Pages document

To send a Pages document to another Mac user with Pages installed, you must 'archive' or 'zip' the pages file.  In reality, what appears to be the Pages file is a folder with the images, thumbnails and contents files.  If you attach the Pages file to an email message, the recipient will not get anything.  To archive the file so you can send it, right-click on the pages file and select "Make Archive of filename".  This creates a .zip file that has everything the recipent needs - assuming they have Pages installed on their Mac. 

Note: if you are using Thunderbird and you open the zip file with Stuffit automatically, the zip file will be downloaded to the "downloaded files" folder specified in Safari Preferences (the "temp" or "downloads" folder on the NCCE Macs), then the file is 'unziped' into that same folder.  You'll need to open the file from there.

To send a Pages document to a Windows user or a Mac user without Pages installed, create a PDF of the document from the Print dialog window.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact your IM Agent or the EIT HelpDesk.

Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Apr 25 2007, 01:08:13 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [2]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/pages_2_tips

 Navigating through web pages

 One of my pet peeves with the Mac was the inability to use the tab key to select checkboxes, dropdown select menus and the submit button in forms when browsing the web with Firefox.

Recently, I discovered (I believe it changed with one of the recent updates) the ability to do this.  However, by default, it is not enabled.  You have to turn it on by going to the System Preferences Keyboard & Mouse options.

At the bottom of the Keyboard Shortcuts tab is the option to "Press tab to move the keyboard focus beween All controls".



Now, when filling out a form in a web page, I can use the tab key to move from one field to the next.  If the field is a checkbox, I press the space bar to check/uncheck it.  If it is a dropdown menu, I type the first letter of the option I want to select.  If there are several with the same first letter, I keep typing the first letter until the option I want is selected. If the filed is a text box, I just type my text and press the tab key to move to the next.  Finally, when I tab to the Submit button, I press enter to submit.

Once you get used to using the tab key to move around web based forms, you'll love it!

More tips for moving around in Firefox:
  • Pressing the space bar moves you down a screen at a time.
  • The tab key will move to the next link (if there isn't a form) - pressing Enter when a link is selected (dotted outline) is the same as clicking on it.
  • Type the slash "/" key will activate the search feature (shown at the bottom left corner of the window) as you type, the next occurance of that sting of text in the page will be highlighted.  If it is a link, click on it to follow.
  • After searching for a string of text, press Command+G to move to the next occurance of that string.



Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Apr 25 2007, 10:15:31 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/navigating_through_web_pages

20070415 Sunday April 15, 2007

 Ten Steps to Web 2.0

eXtension is offering several online presentations in April.   Click here for details.

All of these sessions are offered via Adobe Connect at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learn and with your telephone (they call you). Join the session 5-10 minutes before the starting time.

SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTATION
On April 24 from 3:00 - 4:30 Eastern Time special guest Beth Kanter will present ?Ten Steps to Web 2.0?. Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of Web-based services?such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies?that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users.

30 MINUTE SESSIONS

This month eXtension is offering ?30 Minute Sessions? on some new things: widgets, browser configurations, as well as repeated topics on using feeds (Feeding Frenzy) and templates for images in the CoP wiki (Finishing Touches).

* On Thursday, April 5, a ?30 Minute Session? called Feeding Frenzy ? an introduction to Feeds and Web syndication. Feeds are everywhere today.  So what are these things? How do they work? And most importantly, how can you use them to save yourself a ton of time. Come to the Feeding Frenzy session to learn how you can start using feeds and change your life forever.  Participants will be introduced to Google Reader and it?s use for managing syndication feeds. (for all Extension)

* On Wednesday, April 11, a ?30 Minute Session? on Getting Started With Widgets. ?Widgets,? are tiny applications that allow you to stream information to your own personalized web page. They are a central part of the deportilzation of the Web, and will most definitely be a part of your online future. This session will show you what widgets are, demonstrate some handy examples of widgets in action, and introduce you to creating your own personalized widget Web page using Netvibes. By the end of the 30 minute session you will be ready to create your own personalized page, and will be ready to begin experiencing the ?come to me Web.? (for all Extension)

Then on Wednesday, April 18, they?ll have a follow-up Widget session to allow participants who added Widgets to their Netvibes or other web page to share their experiences. This session will be open sharing of what worked for you and discussion of implications for extension program delivery and knowledge acquisition? how this changes the way information is consumed. (for all Extension)

* On Tuesday, April 17, a ?30 Minute Session? on optimal configuration and use of your Web browser with eXtension applications. This session will include spell checking (for all Extension).

* On Wednesday, April 25, a ?30 Minute Session? Finishing Touches ? using templates for final stylistic touches of images in the CoP wiki (for those working in the CoP wiki).

Recordings of past professional development sessions can be found at the main eXtension wiki at http://about.eXtension.org and search on Recordings.




Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Apr 15 2007, 09:15:25 AM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/ten_steps_to_web_2

20070402 Monday April 02, 2007

 Review of County Mac Backup

This is just a review and reminder for the EIT Supported Mac users in the counties. 

The Mac Minis in the counties are being automatically backed up (if your Mac Mini is connected in it's home county and powered on) nightly. 
The MacBooks are backed up only when you run the backup script. 

Not all of the files on your Mac are backed up.  Just your Thunderbird Local Mail folders, Firefox and Thunderbird preferences and everything in your "Documents", "Pictures" and "Public" folders.  Note: Files on your desktop or other folders (Music, Movies, etc.) are not backed up.

To get a file restored, contact ces_help@ncs.edu.  If the file was there when the backup was run and was there less than 30 days ago, they can help you.

If you would like to create your own backup with an external hard drive, flash drive or CD, you can do this at whatever frequency you like.  The advantage of making your own backup is that you can take these with you away from your office and you can restore them when ever you like.

If you have any questions, please contact  your regional Information Management Agent.



Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Apr 02 2007, 02:48:36 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/review_of_county_mac_backup

20070323 Friday March 23, 2007

 inForm2 end of life

All inFORM version 2 webforms need to be upgraded to version 3 before 4/2/07 or they will quit working. Please refer to the February 2, 2007 SysNews post for more information, including a link to recently used webforms still running the deprecated script, as well as instructions on upgrading. Targeted email reminders are being sent to all addresses of record associated with webforms which have *recently* (since 2/2/2007) utilized the deprecated version 2 inFORM scripts, but webforms used seasonally (e.g., once a year or semester) are not being included.

See:

  http://sysnews.ncsu.edu/news/45c38223

Excerpted from this SysNews post:

  For help with converting forms from v2 to v3, please see:
  http://www.ncsu.edu/tools/inform3.convert.html

  For a list of forms that still use inFORM v2, please see:
  http://www.ncsu.edu/tools/wrapped/inform2hits.html

Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Mar 23 2007, 05:14:17 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/inform2_end_of_life

 Using Preview

Useful tip for creating graphic images in Preview:

http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macosxhints/2007/03/previewimg/index.php

Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Mar 23 2007, 05:01:49 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/using_preview

20070213 Tuesday February 13, 2007

 Staying Safe in the Digital Age

Staying Safe in the Digital Age

The purpose of this course is to teach you a variety of safe Internet practices that will reduce your chances of becoming a victim of cybercrime, including identity theft, electronic harassment, and fraud. You will learn


  1. how to avoid online scams and "phishing" schemes;

  2. how to reduce spam, pop-up ads, unwanted cookies;

  3. how to recognize Internet hoaxes and ?urban legends?

  4. how to protect your computer with virus detection, firewalls, and anti-spyware software;

  5. how to protect yourself from identity theft, electronic harassment and cyberstalking; and

  6. what to do if you're targeted.



Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Feb 13 2007, 10:09:53 AM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/staying_safe_in_the_digital1

20061206 Wednesday December 06, 2006

 Revisions and Publishing Your Google Docs and Spreadsheets

WOW!!!

Now, you can "Publish" your Google Docs and Spreadsheets - it gives you a URL for your document or spreadsheet and puts it there in HTML format - WAY COOL!

Also, they've added "Revisions" where you can see all the different 'versions' of this document you've saved.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/revisions-and-publishing-features-in.html

I may just stop using any word processor or spreadsheet on my computer at all - ever.



Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Dec 06 2006, 04:51:43 PM EST ) Permalink Comments [1]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/revisions_and_publishing_your_google

20061204 Monday December 04, 2006

 Google tips

Because it never hurts to refresh your memory on using the Google search engine better.

Google Tips: http://www.googleguide.com/

Be sure to check out the Google Cheat Sheet



Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Dec 04 2006, 03:44:47 PM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/google_tips

20061122 Wednesday November 22, 2006

 OpenOffice/StarOffice Online Conversions

3BOpenDoc has a trial site that allows you to convert an OpenOffice Document to MS Word format (and visa versa).

http://trial.3bview.com/3BTrial/pages/opendoc.jsp

I tried it and found it worked quickly and easily.




Posted by jdorner ( Nov 19 2008, 10:42:58 AM EST / Nov 22 2006, 10:39:33 AM EST ) Permalink Comments [0]
Trackback: http://blogs.lib.ncsu.edu/techtalk/entry/openoffice_staroffice_online_conversions

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