Announcements

Hello everyone!

As an extra note to last week's tip on hiding Excel contents, a couple of readers wrote in that they simply change the font color to match the background when they are hiding data.

(You know, white text on white background.)

Another great idea! (And this one works in other programs - no just Excel.)

As always, thanks to the readers for their input.

Picture This! - It's Back (but just for now!)

Here's one that you'll really love! (I do).

We featured Microsoft Picture It Publishing (4 CDs - Silver Ed) a couple weeks ago and sold out the same day. Since that time we've had scores of people asking if and when we were going to be able to get more.

Well, we put the word out and (finally) were able to come up with a few. As far as we can tell this is the last of them (and we were lucky to get these - believe me). If you want in this time, I can't stress how important it is for you to head to the site right now! Very limited quantities!

Again, the price on this is incredible - only $12.97 with FREE US Shipping. These have an original retail of $49.95, so this is a phenomenal deal.

If you're looking for an easy to use desktop publishing program that makes putting together projects quick and fun, you've just found it. This is one of the better print programs on the market. Wanna know why? Read on!

You can create greeting cards, e-mail cards, calendars, newsletters, web pages, invitations, announcements, labels, animated greetings, business cards, flyers, signs, stationary, T-shirts, stickers, web photo albums, party sets, recipe cards, awards, certificates, banners, and tons more. Over 5,000 different templates in all!

You can use your own photos or choose from over 100,000 different clipart images that are included with the package! You don't need to worry about finding that perfect image anymore!

This also includes powerful photo editing tools. Remove red-eye, cut people out of photos and put them somewhere else (very cool feature), adjust brightness / contrast, add frames to your photos, turn color to B&W, and choose from different special effects that turn your photos into fine art prints! Oh, you can even print multiple photos on a single page (we've had a lot of requests for that).

Putting a project together couldn't be easier. Just choose the type of project you want, then follow the prompts. You're guided through step by step. Of course, you can also go into "do it yourself mode" and create projects from scratch if you prefer.

One of the coolest features this program has is helpful little movies that show you how to do basic operations. Regular help files are good, but learning by watching is best!

Again, the price for this is an incredible $12.97 with free US shipping.  When was the last time you saw a Microsoft product for that kind of money? Besides, if you don't like it, we have our 30 day return policy and we'll take it back. Check it out:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/pictureitsilver.htm

P S- This was a one time deal and we can't get more. Once these are gone, they're gone. You know how we've been selling out lately? Well, this could be another one. Get to the site now, before they disappear forever!

MS Office 101

MS Excel Formatting Without The Mouse

I thought today might be a good time for another installment of keyboard shortcuts...

In MS Excel:

• Ctrl + Shift + ~ will apply the General Number format to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + Shift + $ will apply the Currency format, with 2 decimal places and negative values in parentheses, to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + Shift + % will apply the Percentage format, with no decimal places, to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + Shift + ^ will apply the Exponential Number format, with 2 decimal places, to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + Shift + ! will apply the Number format, with 2 decimal places, commas for 1000 separators and - for negative values, to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + Shift + & will apply the Outline Border to the currently selected cell(s).

• Ctrl + Shift + _ will remove the Outline Border to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + B will toggle to apply or remove Bold formatting to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + I will toggle to apply or remove Italic formatting to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + U will toggle to apply or remove Underline formatting to the currently selected cell(s).
• Ctrl + 5 will toggle to apply or remove Strikethrough formatting to the currently selected cell(s).

Well, we'll call it good for today. That seems like quite enough to absorb for now.

Combine these with the keyboard techniques for highlighting (shift key with arrows and other movement keys) and you've got a recipe for mouse-free Excel days!

Office Tip of the Day

Hide / Unhide Excel Key Combinations

In a previous issue (way back last July) we discussed hiding rows and columns in MS Excel.

(If you'd like to read that issue check our archives at http://www.worldstart.com/archives/index.htm. You're looking for the newsletter from July 16, 2002.)

Hiding columns or rows is a good way to make necessary data "invisible". This allows you to organize your worksheet the way you want and yet easily display only the necessary information.

At that time we talked about hiding rows or columns using the Format menu, Row or Column sub-menus then the Hide or Unhide choices. (OK - we didn't really "talk". I wrote, you read - but close enough.)

This method works well - and is great for people who have trouble remembering keyboard combinations. But... for people who prefer not to use the mouse, there can be a faster way.

To begin you need to highlight a cell in each row or column you wish to hide. (Remember that you don't need a mouse for this either - simply hold down the shift key to start the highlight and use the arrows to select several cells.)

Now use the appropriate key combination:

• Ctrl + 0 (zero) will hide the column(s).
• Ctrl + 9 will hide the row(s).

Poof! Columns / rows are now invisible!

Need to unhide your data?

Yes?

Good, since we really need to learn to undo what we've done.

Here's all you need to do.

Highlight two cells, one on either side of the hidden row(s) or column(s).

Again, simply choose the appropriate key combination:

• Ctrl + Shift + ) will unhide the columns between the highlighted cells.
• Ctrl + Shift + ( will unhide the rows between the highlighted cells.

And there you have it - entire rows or columns hidden without a mouse in sight!

~ April