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Susan Harkins
(142 results)-
Tools & Templates
Billable Hours Tracker
December 2, 2010, 12:00am PST
Keeping track of those billable hours is tedious but essential. So IT consultant Susan Harkins built a little automated tool to make the task a bit easier.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to a PowerPoint countdown
June 30, 2011, 12:00am PDT
Here's a cool attention-grabber: a countdown to kick off your presentation or lead into a big announcement. This download includes a walk-through that explains how to create your own, along with...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to animating clipart in PowerPoint: Demo files
March 15, 2013, 12:00am PDT
These sample PowerPoint presentations (ppt and pptx versions) demonstrate the animation technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 ways to prevent Access database corruption
April 1, 2008, 12:00am PDT
Nothing frustrates Access users like a corrupted database. With a little know-how, you might get lucky enough to repair the database or at least recover the data. Sometimes, a third-party product...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 cool conditional formatting techniques: Excel demo files
April 11, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the creative conditional formatting techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 cool add-ins for Office 2007 and 2010
April 29, 2011, 12:00am PDT
Add-ins let you enhance your Office apps so they can do more things -- and do things better. Susan Harkins combed through the vast sea of Office add-ins to produce this list of winners.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 easy ways to speed up an Access database
February 22, 2011, 12:00am PST
Even your least technical Access users can improve the performance of their databases. Susan Harkins shares some basic tips those users can put to work right away.This download is also available...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 power tricks for using Word field switches
April 28, 2011, 12:00am PDT
With the right combination of fields and switches, you can build expressions that perform calculations, insert text, apply complex formatting, and take the dog for a walk (almost).This download is...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 free security tools that actually work
March 30, 2009, 12:00am PDT
Plenty of solid products are available to help you protect your system -- and some of them don't cost a dime. Here's a list of some of the most popular and effective free tools for defending...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
Build a simple timesheet in Excel
January 26, 2010, 12:00am PST
Excel makes it easy to set up a system for tracking time. This download includes a PDF explaining the steps (also available as an entry in our Microsoft Office blog) and a sample timesheet you can...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
Quickly export Outlook e-mail items to Excel
October 20, 2008, 12:00am PDT
Exporting e-mail messages from Outlook to Excel is easier than you might think. This technique uses sample VBA code to automate the process, allowing you to specify exactly which fields to...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Tools & Templates
Business Asset Tracker
November 16, 2010, 12:00am PST
Effectively managing your IT equipment will help you control costs, assess future needs, and make informed purchase decisions. This simple tool lets you input your business assets, along with the...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for summarizing Excel data: Demo files
September 17, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the summarizing techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ Microsoft Office add-ins to simplify your work
March 16, 2009, 12:00am PDT
The right add-in can provide helpful features and make existing Office capabilities easier to use. Susan Harkins has rounded up a selection of handy add-ins for various Office applications.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ IT pros share the utilities and tools they can't live without
February 4, 2009, 12:00am PST
One way to make your job a little easier is to find out which tools other IT pros rely on -- and then try them out for yourself. Susan Harkins extracted a list of favorite tools from 13 IT pros,...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
Five tips for enhancing Excel charts
March 9, 2011, 12:00am PST
With a few simple tweaks, you can make your Excel charts easier to interpret and convey data in a more compelling and meaningful way.This download is also available as an entry in our Five Tips blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ things you should do before building a custom Access database
March 3, 2008, 12:00am PST
Whether you take on freelance work or you support your organization's IT needs by developing custom database solutions, you must build an efficient, easy-to-use database if you plan to stay...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 reasons to turn your Access applications into Web-based applications
April 23, 2008, 12:00am PDT
An Access database often outgrows its original purpose. When that happens, you face applying band-aid technology or upgrading to a more powerful database system, such as SQL Server Express or even...
Provided by Susan Harkins and Drew Wutka
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Downloads
How do I... Transfer data from a Word form to an Access database?
January 3, 2008, 12:00am PST
Although Access forms are powerful interface objects, your users might not be familiar with them. However, your users may be very familiar with Word forms. Susan Sales Harkins shows you how to use...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
How do I... Export Outlook e-mail messages to Access using VBA?
August 20, 2007, 12:00am PDT
Exporting Outlook folders and their contents is a simple enough task most of the time. The Import And Export wizard handles the process nicely. But as easy as it is to use, the wizard is a...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ tips for working smarter with SQL
June 11, 2009, 12:00am PDT
The sharper your SQL skills become, the more robust and error-free your solutions will be. Here are a dozen practical tips to get you started.This download is also available as an entry in our 10...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 mistakes to avoid when working with multiple worksheets
November 24, 2010, 12:00am PST
One of the best ways to boost your Excel efficiency is also one of the best ways to shoot yourself in the foot. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when you're dealing with more than one...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ tips for designing flexible and efficient Access tables
March 8, 2007, 12:00am PST
The way you build your Microsoft Access tables makes all the difference in the world in terms of performance and reliability. These concise guidelines explain how to effectively employ Access...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
A simple solution for tracking changes to Access data
March 13, 2007, 12:00am PDT
When you have a lot of users changing data, it's easy for things to go wrong. But if you keep an audit trail of data input changes, you'll be able to determine which operators are consistently...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ ways to screw up your database design
October 4, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Database developers often fall into certain design traps -- and it's generally the users who pay the price. See how you can improve your design process and build a more flexible, reliable, and...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 steps to linking PowerPoint slides: Demo files
April 11, 2013, 12:00am PDT
These sample PowerPoint presentations (ppt and pptx versions) demonstrate the techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 things your users need to know about Office 2010
August 10, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Even if your users are familiar with the Office 2007 interface, they're going to have questions about Office 2010 features and functionality. This list will help them find some of the answers on...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to creating a scrolling Excel chart: Demo files
October 16, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the scroll bar technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 simple tips for working more efficiently in Microsoft Excel
April 12, 2007, 12:00am PDT
Excel is a highly sophisticated application, and users don't always discover the easiest or smartest way to accomplish various tasks. This list of tips will help them shave significant time off...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ tips for using Word as an XML editor
August 21, 2009, 12:00am PDT
XML makes it possible for you to extract, manipulate, store, and reuse data from any number of sources - and Word 2003 and 2007 provide tools for working with XML files. Here are a few pointers...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ reasons to split an Access database
October 26, 2009, 12:00am PDT
Splitting your Access database offers numerous advantages, including increased flexibility, security, efficiency, and scalability.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for working with dates in Microsoft Access
November 13, 2006, 12:00am PST
Despite the Date/Time data type and a selection of functions for manipulating date values and components, handling dates in Access is often a little tricky and nonintuitive. Database expert Susan...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 tips for choosing between a surrogate and natural primary key
March 23, 2011, 12:00am PDT
The superiority of surrogate versus natural keys is a hotly debated topic among database developers. Susan Harkins offers some insights into when -- and why -- you might choose one over the...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for securing a Microsoft Access database
February 26, 2009, 12:00am PST
A few best practices can go a long way toward protecting your Access data from careless or overly curious users. Here are some simple ways to add a few layers of security to a database.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
Five tips for efficient file management in Windows 7
March 8, 2011, 12:00am PST
Share these tips with Windows 7 newbies to reduce initial confusion and help them get up to speed quickly.This download is also available as an entry in our Five Tips blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tricks for handling null values in Microsoft Access
October 12, 2006, 12:00am PDT
Null values indicate that data is missing or unknown, and if you don't take steps to handle them, you could wind up with runtime errors or erroneous data. These Access pointers will help you...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to adding a drop-down menu to a PowerPoint presentation
May 5, 2010, 12:00am PDT
With a little animation sleight of hand, you can create a menu that allows viewers to navigate a self-running slide show.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 ways to reference Excel workbooks and sheets using VBA
August 25, 2009, 12:00am PDT
Excel offers myriad options for referring to workbooks and sheets in your VBA code. See which methods make sense in which situations.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 Office tips I learned from readers in 2010
January 7, 2011, 12:00am PST
Some of the best information on TechRepublic is sparked by discussions that spring up around a particular tip or technique. Susan Harkins shares a selection of the insights, refinements, and...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
How do I... Dynamically fill Microsoft Word fields using Access data?
August 23, 2007, 12:00am PDT
Each Microsoft Office application specializes in a specific job. Word lets you create and edit documents and Excel analyzes your data. Storing data is Access' claim to fame. Fortunately, Office...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to linking PowerPoint slides: Demo files
April 11, 2013, 12:00am PDT
These sample PowerPoint presentations (ppt and pptx versions) demonstrate the techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to animating clipart in PowerPoint: Demo files
March 15, 2013, 12:00am PDT
These sample PowerPoint presentations (ppt and pptx versions) demonstrate the animation technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to creating a custom list for sorting in Excel: Demo files
February 6, 2013, 12:00am PST
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the custom sorting technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10 steps to creating a Word userform for addressing letters: Demo files
December 12, 2012, 12:00am PST
These sample Word templates (dot and dotm versions) illustrate the addressing technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to creating a scrolling Excel chart: Demo files
October 16, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the scroll bar technique described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for summarizing Excel data: Demo files
September 17, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the summarizing techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 cool conditional formatting techniques: Excel demo files
April 11, 2012, 12:00am PDT
These sample Excel workbooks (xls and xlsx versions) illustrate the creative conditional formatting techniques described in this 10 Things blog post.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to a PowerPoint countdown
June 30, 2011, 12:00am PDT
Here's a cool attention-grabber: a countdown to kick off your presentation or lead into a big announcement. This download includes a walk-through that explains how to create your own, along with...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 cool add-ins for Office 2007 and 2010
April 29, 2011, 12:00am PDT
Add-ins let you enhance your Office apps so they can do more things -- and do things better. Susan Harkins combed through the vast sea of Office add-ins to produce this list of winners.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 power tricks for using Word field switches
April 28, 2011, 12:00am PDT
With the right combination of fields and switches, you can build expressions that perform calculations, insert text, apply complex formatting, and take the dog for a walk (almost).This download is...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for choosing between a surrogate and natural primary key
March 23, 2011, 12:00am PDT
The superiority of surrogate versus natural keys is a hotly debated topic among database developers. Susan Harkins offers some insights into when -- and why -- you might choose one over the...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 ways to keep your messages out of spam filters
March 16, 2011, 12:00am PDT
Legitimate messages that get snagged by spam filters can lead to big problems -- such as derailed job searches, hard feelings, and lost business. These tips will help ensure that your messages...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
Five tips for enhancing Excel charts
March 9, 2011, 12:00am PST
With a few simple tweaks, you can make your Excel charts easier to interpret and convey data in a more compelling and meaningful way.This download is also available as an entry in our Five Tips blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
Five tips for efficient file management in Windows 7
March 8, 2011, 12:00am PST
Share these tips with Windows 7 newbies to reduce initial confusion and help them get up to speed quickly.This download is also available as an entry in our Five Tips blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 terms and concepts related to open source
February 28, 2011, 12:00am PST
Despite the proliferation of open source projects, some people are still fuzzy on the terminology and basic open source concepts. Susan Harkins put together this list to help clear up some of the...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 easy ways to speed up an Access database
February 22, 2011, 12:00am PST
Even your least technical Access users can improve the performance of their databases. Susan Harkins shares some basic tips those users can put to work right away.This download is also available...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 tips for making a presentation more accessible to those with disabilities
January 19, 2011, 12:00am PST
By making a few preparations, you can help ensure that your presentations are effective for audience members who have disabilities. Susan Harkins outlines several ways to keep their needs in...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 Office tips I learned from readers in 2010
January 7, 2011, 12:00am PST
Some of the best information on TechRepublic is sparked by discussions that spring up around a particular tip or technique. Susan Harkins shares a selection of the insights, refinements, and...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
My 10 favorite Office tips of the year
December 27, 2010, 12:00am PST
During 2010, Susan Harkins wrote more than 200 tips to help Office users and the techs who support them. To wrap up the year, she's selected 10 of the ones she (and TR members) liked the most.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Downloads
10+ of my favorite Windows API functions to use in Office applications
December 21, 2010, 12:00am PST
When a VBA solution falls short of your needs, there's probably a Windows API function that can handle the job. Susan Harkins lists 10 handy APIs and explains how you can put them to work.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Tools & Templates
Billable Hours Tracker
December 2, 2010, 12:00am PST
Keeping track of those billable hours is tedious but essential. So IT consultant Susan Harkins built a little automated tool to make the task a bit easier.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 ways to screw up your VBA code
November 29, 2010, 12:00am PST
It's easy to get enticed into cutting corners when you write VBA code -- but that's likely to create problems down the road. Susan Harkins looks at some misconceptions that lead to bad practices,...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 mistakes to avoid when working with multiple worksheets
November 24, 2010, 12:00am PST
One of the best ways to boost your Excel efficiency is also one of the best ways to shoot yourself in the foot. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when you're dealing with more than one...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Tools & Templates
Business Asset Tracker
November 16, 2010, 12:00am PST
Effectively managing your IT equipment will help you control costs, assess future needs, and make informed purchase decisions. This simple tool lets you input your business assets, along with the...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to creating an Outlook appointment (without using your mouse)
October 21, 2010, 12:00am PDT
If you're a diehard keyboard fan, you'll appreciate this mouse-free technique for setting up your Outlook appointments.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 things I can never find in PowerPoint 2007/2010
October 13, 2010, 12:00am PDT
If you're having trouble tracking down features you knew by heart in PowerPoint 2003, this list will help you zero in on the options that the newest versions have scattered among various tabs.This...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ ways to screw up your database design
October 4, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Database developers often fall into certain design traps -- and it's generally the users who pay the price. See how you can improve your design process and build a more flexible, reliable, and...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to setting up page numbering in Word sections
September 23, 2010, 12:00am PDT
If you've ever been outfoxed by Word's page numbering options in a multiple-section document, here's good news: Controlling how the pages in each section are numbered is actually pretty easy....
Provided by Susan Harkins
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Tools & Templates
Multi-scenario savings calculator
September 15, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Regardless of what you're saving up for, a worksheet with relevant calculations will help you stay on top of your plan. Walk through this technique to create your own calculator -- or just use...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 things your users need to know about Office 2010
August 10, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Even if your users are familiar with the Office 2007 interface, they're going to have questions about Office 2010 features and functionality. This list will help them find some of the answers on...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ things I can never find in Access 2007 and 2010
August 3, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Even after working a while with Access 2007 or 2010, you may be disoriented if you're used to earlier versions. Susan Harkins offers some help in locating the tools you need.This download is also...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to adding a gradient background to your Excel data points
June 16, 2010, 12:00am PDT
It's easy to turn an Excel chart into a visually compelling object. Susan Harkins walks through the steps for jazzing up data points with a simple formatting trick.This download is also available...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to shading alternate rows in a filtered worksheet
June 9, 2010, 12:00am PDT
Excel makes it easy to set up patterned shading -- unless you filter your data. This slick workaround prevents the filter from disrupting your shading scheme.This download is also available as an...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to adding a drop-down menu to a PowerPoint presentation
May 5, 2010, 12:00am PDT
With a little animation sleight of hand, you can create a menu that allows viewers to navigate a self-running slide show.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to building a custom toolbar in Word
May 3, 2010, 12:00am PDT
This quick tutorial steps through the process of creating a Word toolbar to consolidate particular commands or execute specialized tasks.This download is also available as an entry in our...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to creating a numbered heading style in Word
March 30, 2010, 12:00am PDT
If you want to incorporate automatic numbering in your document headings, the quickest and most foolproof route is to create a custom style.This download is also available as an entry in our 10...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10 steps to beating Excel's character limit for headers and footers
March 2, 2010, 12:00am PST
Excel restricts the amount of text you can place into its headers and footers. Here's a quick way to outfox it.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
Build a simple timesheet in Excel
January 26, 2010, 12:00am PST
Excel makes it easy to set up a system for tracking time. This download includes a PDF explaining the steps (also available as an entry in our Microsoft Office blog) and a sample timesheet you can...
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ reasons to split an Access database
October 26, 2009, 12:00am PDT
Splitting your Access database offers numerous advantages, including increased flexibility, security, efficiency, and scalability.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.
Provided by Susan Harkins
-
Downloads
10+ tips for working In Outlook's Calendar view
October 21, 2009, 12:00am PDT
Outlook offers numerous calendaring features -- more than a lot of users know about. These pointers will help you tap into the most useful Outlook functionality.This download is also available as...
Provided by Susan Harkins
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