Previous Tech Tips
Do you have a Tech Tip to share? Do you have a Tech Tip question? The Engineering Newsletter welcomes contributors to this regular feature. Your tip should include useful info, shortcuts and handy hints to help our colleagues simplify regular tasks and navigate throughout their day. Tips should be 50-100 words. Contact us to submit your tip.
Maximize Your Google Experience
By Shilpa Gantotti
There are a number of small things you can do to maximize Google’s full potential as both a search engine and an informational tool.
Did you know that Google generally ignores common words such as “where”, “the” and “how”? Google eliminates common words because they generally slow down the search without improving results. According to Google, if a common word is essential to the results you desire, it's useful to include a “+” in front of the common word that will tell the search engine not to ignore the word. For example, to search for peanut butter and jelly, where the “and” is important to the search, type: “peanut butter +and jelly”.
In addition to performing topic searches, Google has evolved into a multifaceted tool that can function as everything from a calculator and stock quote provider, to a dictionary and even a unit conversion tool. For instance, if you type “143 km in miles” into your Google search field, the result of 88.8560805 miles will appear at the top of your search results. Similarly, to find the meaning of a word in Google’s dictionary feature, type “define” in front of the desired word. The top result should provide you with a concise definition of the word you searched.
To learn more about other ways you can maximize Google’s features, visit www.google.ca/intl/en/help/features.html.
Print with gridlines in Microsoft Excel
By Adam Fox
We’ve all come to rely on Microsoft Excel to keep us organized and crunch our numbers but sometimes a printed spreadsheet doesn’t quite look the same as it did on the screen. Gridlines help keep rows and columns visually in-line. By default, Excel prints spreadsheets without gridlines around the cells. Here’s how to print gridlines:
Using Excel 2007:
- Select the page layout tab at the top of the window
- Click the “expand” icon to the right of the “Page Setup” group heading. This will bring up the page setup window
- Click the sheet tab
- Place a check next to “Gridlines” in the print section and click “OK”
- Alternatively, within the page layout tab, you can check the “Print” box under Gridlines in the Sheet Options group
Using other versions of Excel:
- Go to File -> Page Setup
- Click the sheet tab
- Check the box next to “Gridlines” in the Print area
- Click “OK”
Reduce eye strain with LCD monitors
By Mark Balson
Many offices have traded in their bulky tube-based (CRT) monitors for flat panel LCD monitors, attractive for their slim profile and high performance. Where once we were able to adjust our screens to make the icons and fonts larger, doing so with LCD screens causes eye strain and distorts screen elements. Knowing that LCD monitors have only one correct screen setting is an important step in optimizing performance and reducing eye strain.
More than 50 per cent of computer users experience eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and other visual symptoms related to sustained use of their computers. This type of stress on the visual system can also cause body fatigue and reduced efficiency at work.
Follow these three steps to help your eyes and reduce fatigue:
- Locate your monitor's model number. Model numbers are generally displayed on either the front edge or the back of the monitor.
- Type your monitor's model number into a search engine such as Google and make note of its "Resolution" or "Max Resolution".
- To adjust your screen to match in Windows XP, right-click on the desktop and select "Properties". Next, click on the "Settings" tab and move the "Screen resolution" slider until the numbers match those specificied for your monitor. Click the "OK" button and if text and other screen elements appear sharp, accept the change.
Make sure digital photos are stored in more than one place
By Raj Grainger
A good rule of thumb in digital photography is to store photos in at least two different places at any one time. For example, once you copy photos from your camera’s memory card to your hard drive, it’s good practice to make another copy to an external hard drive or upload them to an online photo storage/sharing site before you erase your memory card. This ensures that should anything happen to your computer (or camera), you will have back-up copies.
When utilizing an online photo-sharing site, upload your photos at the highest possible resolution. You can always make your photos smaller, but you can’t make them larger once scaled down. A few popular online photo-sharing sites are Flickr, Picasa, and Smugmug.
Increase efficiency by using keyboard shortcuts
By Katherine Carney
Most of us are familiar with more common shortcuts that cut, copy, and paste text, or undo our mistakes, but there are more ways to make your keyboard work for you. For example, to switch between open programs, use ALT + TAB, instead of clicking on task bar objects. Also use ALT + F4 to quit programs without using your mouse.
Keyboard shortcuts can save you time and increases productivity and they also help reduce strain when you pause to use your mouse. For more Windows keyboard shortcuts, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449. For Mac keyboard shortcuts, go to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343.
Increased SPAM sending incidents
Increased attacks on U of T email service sends SPAM. Keep your UTORid and password private and use the following tips to prevent further attacks:
* Do not leave your password/account info anywhere near your computer
* There have been messages promising to raise one's quota if you respond with your password. Do not respond to anyone who asks for your password by email -- in all cases it is an attacker!
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The Engineering Newsletter is a twice-monthly summary of key headlines, events and opportunities for faculty and staff in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. If you have questions or comments, please contact us: dean.engineering@ecf.utoronto.ca.
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