Announcements

Stop Pop Up Windows - And More!

Back by popular demand!!!

We get tons of requests every week for a good pop up window stopper. Seems like half the sites out there toss a pop up window in your face. So, we've decided to run this program again. Last time we mentioned it, we sold around 1500 or so. It's really a must have for anyone using the internet, that's for sure!

Well, we found an awesome CD called Internet Utilities Suite, and it not only has a fantastic pop up stopper, but also includes a lot of other handy internet toys!

iClean - This is the pop up stopper program (and I love it :-). I've been using it for about 4 months now and have been very pleased. Pop up windows simply don't get by this program. I've never come across a pop up stopper I liked better. Not only does it kill all those annoying pop up windows, but also does a lot more. Take a look:

• Stop pop up windows
• Remove internet temp files and save space
• Remove cookies placed by "spam" web servers
• Surf the web anonymously
• Easily manage internet cookies from sites you trust
• Delete history automatically
• Clear browser drop down address bar (very handy)
• Delete recent documents
• Clear AutoComplete
• And Tons More!!

In short, it allows you to surf the web without pop up windows and to cover your tracks so no one can tell where you've been. All of this is completely customizable through check boxes, so you can use only the features you want. It works with both Internet Explorer and Netscape.

In addition to the pop up stopper, you also get everything listed below! Note that each program installs separately, so you can install just what you want.

Stuff-It Standard - This program is for working with compressed files (including the popular "zip" format). It allows you to work with and create compressed files quickly and easily. It even protects against file corruption and can use encryption to protect your privacy. I started using this one over a year ago and it's been really great.

iAnnotate-it - Have you ever come across something on a web page you wanted to share with a friend? Wouldn't it be great to highlight, circle, or point out the parts you wanted to show? That's what this software does!

It lets you "mark up" a web page by highlighting, circling stuff, adding your own comments, adding "sticky notes", and more. After you're done, just send it off in an e-mail! Everyone I've shown it to has come up with lots of uses for it (and wish they would have had it a long time ago). I'm sure you'll like it too :-)

iCapture-it - Here's another handy utility. This one lets you capture a web page - or pages - for later offline viewing. In fact, not only can it grab a web page, but it also can snag all the pages linked though the captured page - up to 5 levels! What this means to you is that, in most cases, you can capture an entire web site and save it as a single file on your hard drive!

Once on your hard drive, you can browse through the info at lightening speed - no waiting for stuff to load (good for slow loading pages). Just click through the saved site like you would the online version. It's also a great insurance policy against sites that "disappear". You know, you find a valuable page, bookmark it, then go back later only to find it has vanished. If you capture it, you can keep it forever.

iOrganize-it - This software lets you capture pages and keep the captured pages organized. Even make separate web page "books".

Whew, that's it. The price on this is incredible - You get all of the above for $12.97 and US shipping is free (combined retail is around $130.00 - heck, the pop up stopper alone retails for $29.95)! It's a fantastic buy and I recommend you get to the site as fast as possible. Here's the link:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/internet-utilities-suite.htm

PS - Remember - if you buy it, try it, and don't like it, just send it back for a refund within 30 days! Nothing to lose - unless you miss out :-)

MS Office 101

Now What Was That Key Combination Again?

Ever find yourself trying to remember the key combination for something in one of the menus or toolbar buttons?

Wish you had a quick way to get the program to give you what you're looking for? (You know—something that doesn't involve long book searches or keywords.)

Well, you're in luck.

To begin with the menus display the keyboard shortcuts assigned to the right of the menu item name. Take a look, you may not have noticed them but they're there.

Now, what about the buttons you use frequently?

You could use a reference book, online help or some other source of information... or, you could have the program display the shortcut right with the name of the button. (That'd be a lot faster!)

Sound like a good idea?

Yeah—I thought so too.

So... here's the trick for having the program do all the reference work for you.

You need to go to the Customize window (Tools menu, Customize choice).

On the Option tab check the choices regarding Show ScreenTips on toolbars and Show shortcut keys in ScreenTips.

Now click Close.

That's it! Simply place the mouse pointer over a button and wait a second. The name of the button and any key combination assigned will be displayed.

Cool—instant reference and you don't even have to come up with a keyword to search it out!

Office Tip of the Day

Quick Word Customize Keyboard Trick

Do you find yourself in MS Word using a menu item or toolbar button constantly?

Does the item/button have a keyboard shortcut?

No?

Do you wish it had one?

Yes? (I thought you might.)

If you know how to set custom keyboard shortcuts then you know about the Tools menu, Customize option and then the searching through the Commands tab looking for the right category and command just so you can get to the place where the key combination can be assigned.

These are certainly good skills. This process really lets you look through everything—I bet there are commands in the list you never even thought of.

But... it can be a pain when you're not sure where to find the command. Wouldn't it be nice to assign the key combination right from the document window? Maybe even start the process at the button or menu command you so frequently use?

Sound good?

If you love to use keyboard shortcuts then I'm sure it sounds wonderful, and I'm happy to report that it's possible to start the process right from the document. (That's right—no Tools menu, Customize, etc.)

So, now that you know it can be done I'm sure you're ready to see how, let's get right to it.

The first step is to decide what button or menu item for which you need to create a key combination. (I've found that buttons and menu items that simply open another list of choices won't work here—however, the individual choices may work. You've just got to try it to find out.)

Now that you know what you want to have a key combination for it's time to begin the real work.

Press Alt + Ctrl + + (plus sign from the numeric keypad—you can't use the Shift + = on the regular keyboard).

Your cursor should have changed into a square with circles on the four corners. (If you do this and change your mind simply hit the Esc key to cancel the process.)

Now move your mouse over to the button or menu item.

If the cursor stays in its new shape then you can proceed. If it returns its normal arrow shape then this isn't something that will work here.

Once your cursor is in place click the left mouse button.

The Customize Keyboard window should open with the correct command filled in.

The bottom section of the window is where you need to direct your attention.

Look in the Current Keys field (bottom right). If there is a key combination already listed then you could just note that and close the window. (Basically it was a quick lookup of the shortcut without scanning huge lists or becoming frustrated with the online help.)

If the Current Keys field is empty then you're ready to assign a shortcut.

Simply press a key combination that makes sense to you, the computer will enter the keys into the Press New Shortcut Key field for you. (This field is on the bottom left.)

Below the field Word will display the key combination's current assignment. If it says unassigned then go ahead and click the "Assign" button.

If it lists something else then click into the Press New Shortcut Key field, delete what's there and try another combination. Basically keep trying until you find something available - then click Assign.

When you've completed the assigning part click Close.

The Customize Keyboard window will close and you're back in your document.

No more button, no more menu - you've got the keyboard power!

~ April

P.S. - You should also notice that the 101 tip works on these combinations too. New key combination for the menu items are displayed in the menus and any combinations set for buttons will be displayed with the button name. Yeah :-)