Selecting the data that you want to work with is fairly simple. There are only a couple of techniques really.
The Click. The easiest is to click on the thing.
The Box. The second easiest is to draw a box from the lower right to the upper left-- this works great when you want to work with a group of things.
The Shift. This technique is for selecting groups by clicking on the first thing you want, holding down the shift key and then clicking on the last thing you want to select. This highlights all the items between the first click and the last.
The CTRL. Same technique as with the shift key, but if you use CTRL, you can select items out of sequence-- say, the first, third ninth and 432nd.
Just good quality tech support in Portland Oregon.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Where did the Icons go?
As a general rule, most of your programs put an icon in the start menu. Click "Start", then "Programs" and you will see a list of the installed programs. The big hint here is that at the bottom of this list, you will see an 'item' that is two down arrows, one on top of the other- what that indicates is that the computer is only showing you the frequently used list. Click on the down arrows and you will see the complete list.
The same is true in program menus. If you have a program that you never print from... the menus will be truncated according to which items you frequently use. Consequently, you might not see "Print" as an option under "the File" menu. Just click the down arrows for the full list.
Just good quality computer help in Portland Oregon.
The same is true in program menus. If you have a program that you never print from... the menus will be truncated according to which items you frequently use. Consequently, you might not see "Print" as an option under "the File" menu. Just click the down arrows for the full list.
Just good quality computer help in Portland Oregon.
The computer is frozen, how do I shut down?
Simultaneously press "Ctrl-Alt-Del" on your keyboard, then release the keys. Click on the menu item 'shutdown', then click on turn off. You will hear the computer become silent-- the fans will stop turning. Once you hear that silence, count to ten before you turn the computer back on.
If the computer really won't shut down... Press and hold the power button until the machine becomes silent. Again, wait ten seconds before you turn the computer back on.
Low Cost Computer Technician in Portland Oregon.
If the computer really won't shut down... Press and hold the power button until the machine becomes silent. Again, wait ten seconds before you turn the computer back on.
Low Cost Computer Technician in Portland Oregon.
How To Use Every Computer Program Ever Made
That headline really sounds like quite a boast, but it’s quite true. You can learn how to use any computer software by understanding how they work. All computer programs, no matter what they propose to do, work by using the same patterned sequence. Simple as 1, 2, 3.
1. You select What you want to work on. WHAT
2. You choose the Action that you want the software to take. ACTION
3. You tell the software Where to put the result. WHERE
Just in case that 1,2,3 didn’t ring true for you, here is the list again using different words.
1. What. the Data. the Object. i.e. File…. Word. Paragraph. Picture.
2. Verb. the Process. the Operation…. “File, Save..” “Copy/Paste” “Cut” “Make Bold” “Make Italics”
3. Destination. OK, there aren’t very good words for where. This step is slightly confusing because sometimes the where is oblivion (when you delete). And sometimes the answer is “right here”, meaning the thing you selected in the first place.
EXAMPLES:
Print a file. The file is selected when you are viewing it. You add the verb “File, Print”. You pick which printer.
Click on a web link. You are selecting the document at that location and viewing it on your screen.
Bold Text. You select the part of the text that you want bold and then find the verb bold (usually Edit, Format, Font, Bold).
Feel free to add some examples!
Just good quality computer help in Portland Oregon.
1. You select What you want to work on. WHAT
2. You choose the Action that you want the software to take. ACTION
3. You tell the software Where to put the result. WHERE
Just in case that 1,2,3 didn’t ring true for you, here is the list again using different words.
1. What. the Data. the Object. i.e. File…. Word. Paragraph. Picture.
2. Verb. the Process. the Operation…. “File, Save..” “Copy/Paste” “Cut” “Make Bold” “Make Italics”
3. Destination. OK, there aren’t very good words for where. This step is slightly confusing because sometimes the where is oblivion (when you delete). And sometimes the answer is “right here”, meaning the thing you selected in the first place.
EXAMPLES:
Print a file. The file is selected when you are viewing it. You add the verb “File, Print”. You pick which printer.
Click on a web link. You are selecting the document at that location and viewing it on your screen.
Bold Text. You select the part of the text that you want bold and then find the verb bold (usually Edit, Format, Font, Bold).
Feel free to add some examples!
Just good quality computer help in Portland Oregon.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Growing A Small Business In Portland Oregon
One of the great small business challenges, in Portland, or anywhere is how do you grow? Well designed computer technology can assist your small business make the transition to not-so-small. Some of the tools in every business are information-- it's why we all have computers. Client lists, email, accounting are just the basics and almost every business uses a computer to work on these things. When you add more people to your company, you expect that they should be able to do work quickly. Frequently, it takes a while to get going. Good Technology Management can help you get new (or existing) employees productive now.
Here are some basic elements of a good technology design for a small Portland business.
Standards. Once you add even just your second computer, you now have the opportunity to do things more than one way. To avoid this complication, configure your computers similarly. What's that mean? Same software, same location for saving data, same, same, same. If a computer has a problem, you should already know how to work on another computer that you own. If you don't standardize-- you can't-- you'll stop working and start learning. Computer training for each computer user on each computer uses a lot time for not much reward. Upgrading Microsoft Office in your Portland Office to a single version is a simple example of how to get and stay productive using your own standards.
Shared Local Information. Your computers should work using the same information. If your computers can't share business information (your files), then you have this choice: your people are working with incomplete information OR they are working too hard to get the information. Even the simplest Portland Network Installation can help to keep everyone productive. Technical Support costs go down in a networked office.
Prepare for the Worst. Computer Disaster Recovery doesn't have to break the bank. Your business information takes a long time to collect and that means a lot of money if you have to re-create it. Even very simple things like an employee's bookmarks to useful websites will take time to create again. Preparing means backing up- and having a plan to use the backups. Again, networking your computers is very helpful because it gives you the tools to collect your business information on ONE computer and then you back up the data on THAT ONE computer.
Work Process. How you choose to work in your business is at the very heart of what you do. When you start adding employees, you have to think about what steps you take to get work done. Computers give you the tools to 'replicate' how the 'business' parts of your business function. Order taking, matching products to customers, receivables and collections all have a process and the tech can help you to standardize. Interestingly, it's very frequent for marketing plans to wind up communicating not only to customers, but to employees- clarifying for the employee what the company is trying to do.
Our company understands what it is to be a small business in Portland-- we are one. MyTechPDX fixes Computer problems-- and we can help you avoid new ones. With years of experience providing Portland with technical support, computer repairs and network services, we know how to get in front of problems before they cost you time and money.
I'm Evan Morrison
A Small Business Technology Manager in Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
(503)936-6680
Here are some basic elements of a good technology design for a small Portland business.
Standards. Once you add even just your second computer, you now have the opportunity to do things more than one way. To avoid this complication, configure your computers similarly. What's that mean? Same software, same location for saving data, same, same, same. If a computer has a problem, you should already know how to work on another computer that you own. If you don't standardize-- you can't-- you'll stop working and start learning. Computer training for each computer user on each computer uses a lot time for not much reward. Upgrading Microsoft Office in your Portland Office to a single version is a simple example of how to get and stay productive using your own standards.
Shared Local Information. Your computers should work using the same information. If your computers can't share business information (your files), then you have this choice: your people are working with incomplete information OR they are working too hard to get the information. Even the simplest Portland Network Installation can help to keep everyone productive. Technical Support costs go down in a networked office.
Prepare for the Worst. Computer Disaster Recovery doesn't have to break the bank. Your business information takes a long time to collect and that means a lot of money if you have to re-create it. Even very simple things like an employee's bookmarks to useful websites will take time to create again. Preparing means backing up- and having a plan to use the backups. Again, networking your computers is very helpful because it gives you the tools to collect your business information on ONE computer and then you back up the data on THAT ONE computer.
Work Process. How you choose to work in your business is at the very heart of what you do. When you start adding employees, you have to think about what steps you take to get work done. Computers give you the tools to 'replicate' how the 'business' parts of your business function. Order taking, matching products to customers, receivables and collections all have a process and the tech can help you to standardize. Interestingly, it's very frequent for marketing plans to wind up communicating not only to customers, but to employees- clarifying for the employee what the company is trying to do.
Our company understands what it is to be a small business in Portland-- we are one. MyTechPDX fixes Computer problems-- and we can help you avoid new ones. With years of experience providing Portland with technical support, computer repairs and network services, we know how to get in front of problems before they cost you time and money.
I'm Evan Morrison
A Small Business Technology Manager in Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
(503)936-6680
Are You SURE You Don't Want To Back Up?
Normal Schedule: How much work are you willing to lose? Having a backup is about making the time you have put into your computer SAFE. It's not really about your information-- it's about your time. How much time did you put into the work files? How much time will you spend re-creating the files that you need again? We don't like it either, but hard drives fail. We can help recover data from a hard drive failure in Portland Oregon-- but the easiest route is to have a reasonable backup plan. It doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. We provide PC backup service and supply PC backup training. We can't try and tell you here how to backup, though it is fairly simple work. What we can say is that we've learned that your computing environment is much more unique than you might suspect. Call us for some help backing up.
I'm Evan Morrison,
A Convenient computer tech for SE Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
503.936.6680
I'm Evan Morrison,
A Convenient computer tech for SE Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
503.936.6680
Software Updates
Normal Schedule: Daily. Windows automatic updates should be turned on. But Windows is only one of software packages installed on a PC. Other programs that you use also have regular updates published by the maker. For many people, it's a little complicated to: go through all the software on your computer... and research the available updates... and then correctly install the updates. An annual PC tuneup is a convenient way to keep your computer functioning well. In Portland, MyTechPDX provides inexpensive software update services and PC maintenance.
I'm Evan Morrison and I'm....
Convenient and Green for NE Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
(503)936-6680
I'm Evan Morrison and I'm....
Convenient and Green for NE Portland at:
3606 NE 51st Avenue
PORTLAND OR 97213
UNITED STATES
(503)936-6680
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