Microsoft Office
Get the most out of Microsoft Office with these and tips and tutorials for making Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and other Office apps work for you and your organization.
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Use Word's Go To feature to browse common elements
Word's Go To feature has two modes of navigation. You can use it to access an element once, or you can browse common elements, one by one.
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Display the total number of emails in an Outlook folder
To the right of each mail folder, Outlook displays the number of unread messages. With a few clicks, you can change that number to the number of total messages in the folder instead.
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A quick way to return the latest date in a subset in Excel
Identifying the latest entry for a subset doesn't have to be difficult - use a pivot table.
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Grant yourself access to Word's horizontal and vertical rulers
Word's ruler is a bit unpredictable - now you see it, now you don't. Learn how to control its seemingly unruly behavior.
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Modify a style at the template level
You can modify a style on two levels: for the current document only or for all new documents based on the underlying template. Make sure you make the right choice.
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Sum only negative values in a given range using SUMIF()
Summing only the positive or negative values in the same range of values only sounds difficult. Fortunately, the SUMIF() function can handle both.
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A quick way to create a list of sequential numbers in Word
Creating a list of sequential numbers isn't as difficult as it might sound at first. If you can create a table, you can create a list of sequential numbers.
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Two useful Word shortcuts for quickly deleting text
Editing text is tedious work. Use these two shortcuts to delete whole words instead of single characters.
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Automatically start an Office program when you turn on your computer
If you begin your workday in the same Office app every day, let Windows start that app for you.
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The right way to create a Word template
Sometimes it's tempting to take shortcuts, but fight the urge when creating a new Word template.
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How to change a Word document's default tabs
When Word's default tab stops of every half inch don't get the job done, change the default setting!
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How to filter an Excel 2007 and 2010 data set for the current week
Use Excel 2007 and 2010's built-it date filters when they're adequate. When they're not, try helper columns and date functions.
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Word: How to format just the numbers in a numbered list
Formatting a list is easy. Formatting just the numbers is more difficult, unless you know this quick trick!
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Three ways to control Excel's cursor movement during data entry
Inputting data is seldom anybody's favorite chore but controlling the way the cursor moves certainly eases the task.
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Quick tip: Find Excel's XLStart folder fast
We seldom need the XLStart folder, so when we do, we can never remember the entire path. Instead of searching, use this quick Excel tip instead.
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Office challenge: What keyboard shortcuts let you change the size of a word or phrase in Word ?
Test your Word keyboard shortcut knowledge in this week's challenge and learn the solution to last week's puzzler on documenting library references in Access.
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Change Outlook's default window
Want to skip Outlook Today? Configure Outlook to display whatever window or view you want when it launches.
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Cut down on errors by automating an Excel calendar control
Don't let mistakes corrupt your Excel data. Embed a Calendar control and eliminate typos in date values.
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Modify Excel's default sheet to fit your needs
Change Excel's defaults at the template level to be more efficient and productive.
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Inhibit Excel's #DIV/0! error
Don't let Excel's #DIV/0! error spoil your spreadsheet. If the strategy's sound, inhibit the error.
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Select a vertical block of text in Word
When selecting text, Word thinks it knows best. When you need more control, use this quick trick for selecting a vertical block of text.
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Quickly fill blank cells in Excel
Blank cells can spell trouble. Here's an easy way to fill in those blanks and protect the validity of your data.
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Office challenge: How would you create a dynamic Data Validation range?
Here's the solution to last week's problem with Excel's disappearing validation lists. And continuing the theme, this week's challenge involves creating a dynamic validation range.
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Use fill effects to emphasize important values in a chart
Emphasize your point by applying a unique color to a single series element in an Excel chart.
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Freeform PowerPoint AutoShapes for quick custom objects
PowerPoint lets you draw your own shapes, but freeforming an AutoShape in PowerPoint 2007 might get you where you want to go quicker.
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Office challenge: Where'd my Data Validation lists go?
Test your troubleshooting skills in Excel and learn the answer to last week's Word formatting challenge.
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About Word's background printing
Don't let long documents languish or hamper user productivity. Teach users how to use background printing to their advantage.
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Add a custom macro menu to Word
Don't wander through Word's menu hierarchy every time you want to execute a macro. Add a custom menu and those macros will be just a click away.
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Put an end to long-winded presentations with Pecha Kucha
When you hear 'PowerPoint,' do you think 'endless and boring'? Here's a format that will keep those presentations short and sweet.
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Quickly balance uneven columns in Word
Balancing text across newspaper-style columns can be a frustrating chore unless you know about inserting the right type of breaks and how they'll affect your layout.