| Basic Internet Hints To Save You Time And
Avoid Cursing It just struck me---how many web and
computer things that I automatically do now because I learned them "the hard
way." So, I thought that I’d save you some problems by sharing a few of these
hints with you.
1. Never use "delete" when you can use
"cut" to make text or images that you’ve highlighted or otherwise selected
disappear from a page. Why? Because while "delete" makes things disappear,
usually forever, "cut" erases things from your view keeps it on the Windows
"clipboard." Which means that if you just right-click again, select
"paste" and then "click," the item will magically reappear.
2. After you have logged several days of Internet browsing,
be sure to "defragmentize" your hard drive. If you have never done this,
better do it now. Otherwise your computer runs slower and slower. To "defrag,"
use this string of commands: In Windows 95 or 98, click on Start, then select these items:
Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter. If you usually run Norton
Tools Systems or any Antivirus program, disable it before defragging. It’s also good
to delete all your unwanted e-mail messages from your browser’s "trash" first,
before you defrag, rather than after.
3. When using Microsoft Word, always name your document
BEFORE you finish it, not afterwards. Doing this means that you can "save" the
document and that prevents accidental deletion (to a point). You should also tell Word to
"automatically save" the page you’re working on every few minutes. Then,
even though you may forget to save the document, it won’t necessarily be lost.
Take a free course on using Word at: http://www.mcdonnell.com/education/curric/word97/
Another way to recover accidental deletions is to go to the
top of the Word frame and click on the "curved arrow" that lies on the left
side. That arrow does an "undo" on the very last change you made. So if
the last change you made was an accidental deletion, your lost text comes back since the
command to delete it is rescinded. (The right arrow, however, "reverses"
actions of the "undo" arrow.)
4. You might as well immediately download or buy all new
versions of web browsers and software (including Windows 98), except for Beta (test)
versions. See, you’re gonna have to use the newer versions soon anyway. So why not do
it now before the limitations of your old version begins failing you as web and
computer advances require more modern software.
5. When writing what may become a LONG e-mail message, write
it first in your word processor which has many more editing features such as spell
checking, thesaurus, formatting, etc. than do e-mail message boxes. Then, when you are
done, highlight, copy and then paste the long message into your e-mail message box for
sending. Also, Word crashes lots less often than browsers do.
6. When sending the same e-mail message to a group of clients
or friends, you might want to mark each recipient as a "BCC" (blind copy
recipient). Otherwise the e-mail address of EACH of your recipients will be visible to ALL
recipients. And not all of your clients or friends will be keen on having their e-mail
address being flaunted to all the other recipients (ex-wives?, creditors?, hackers?)
With BCC, the e-mail message each person gets will have only
HIS address visible. You will, however, need ONE person to use as the "TO"
recipient. So just make that person yourself. (Yes, Virginia, you can
address and send e-mail messages to yourself)
7. Finally, use the "help" button atop a browser or
any software program wherever you get perplexed. It is your very best friend, especially
if you are new to computers or the web. Today’s "help" functions are a true
joy. (Not at all like they used to be way back in the ancient web of 1995—those help
functions were like 1960 assembly instructions for kid’s toys).
Bottom line: LEARN as you go. When you get stuck, always
look up your problem in "help." Or go to your Internet Service Provider’s
home page for technical advice. And get yourself a mentor who’s more web-savvy than
you. Better yet, take a course from Barbara Cox, Ph.D, at OCAR’s tech center. Hurry.
Classes there are now booking up very early. Call for reservations at: 949 586-6800. And
then you can better avoid all the mistakes that I had to make the hard way!
© William Koelzer, 1999 |
