How to create a desktop shortcut for an Office program

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Microsoft Office System does not automatically create a desktop shortcut for each Office program that is installed. However, you can easily create a desktop shortcut. And some how I have to sketch out the details once again before this Monday for a official presentation. But then what i want to share here with you is my experience of sharing the Microsoft Outlook and providing computer Help

Create a desktop shortcut

1. Using Microsoft Windows® XP, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office, and then point to Microsoft Office program_name 2003.

Note If you are using Microsoft Windows 2000, you point to Programs instead of All Programs.

2. Right-click Microsoft Office program_ name 2003, point to Send To, and then click Desktop (create shortcut).

A shortcut for the Office program appears on your desktop.

To learn about additional ways to customize your desktop, click Start, and then click Help and Support (in Windows 2000, click Help)

How to locate missing .msi files

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

An .msi file is a database of all the files, settings, and configuration information for the associated application. When you install Office on your computer, the .msi file is saved in a hidden folder. Without this file, Windows Installer cannot update your configuration, install optional features, or apply software updates. Office cannot be installed, repaired, or updated if the .msi file is not found.

Why is the .msi file missing?

The most likely reason for Windows Installer to require the installation CD is because the saved version of the .msi file for Office has been inadvertently or deliberately deleted from your computer. It is also possible that the file is damaged or corrupted.

Occasionally, changing the drive letters associated with partitions on your hard disk can cause this problem to occur — such as changing drive C: to a different letter or moving the hard disk drive from one computer to another. Other possible causes are a damaged or corrupted hard disk or registry file.

What to do when prompted for a missing .msi file

If you are prompted for the location of a missing .msi file, you must provide the original installation CD used to install Office on your computer.

1. Make sure that you have inserted your Office installation CD into the CD drive of your computer.

If you installed Office from a network, browse to the network location from which you installed Office.

2. Click Retry.

In most cases, these steps should resolve the problem and Office can complete the installation and configuration of the needed component.

Office 2003, Office XP, and Office 2000 provide the Detect and Repair command. You can find the Detect and Repair command on the Help menu of almost all Office programs. Using this command corrects identifiable problems such as missing files, corrupt files, registry omissions, or damaged registry entries. It replaces the .msi file if it was deleted, damaged, or is the wrong version. Using the Detect and Repair command usually requires you to provide the installation CD for the version of Office currently installed on your computer.

How to prevent similar problems in the future

To help avoid this problem in the future, use the following guidelines:

• Do not delete hidden folders or files from any drives on your computer.
• Do not move drives or change their disk identifier (for example, C: to D:).
• Install all needed applications as Run from My Computer instead of using Install on Demand (available from custom installation within Setup).
• Occasionally run the Windows Disk Defragment program to repair cross-linked files, recover lost clusters, and remap bad sectors on your hard disk. Any data present in a bad portion of the hard disk is usually lost and commonly associated with physical damage to the disk. This is most likely the result of high-vibration environments, such as the computer being struck, dropped, or kicked.

If you have Microsoft Windows XP as your operating system, consider using the System Restore option to restore your system to a previous configuration. Consult the Help and Support option of Windows XP for more information on System Restore. You can go for Computer Help

How to insert ASCII code into a Document

Sunday, May 18, 2008

This feature requires Excel, FrontPage, InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, Word, or Visio.

In addition to typing a character on your keyboard, you can also use the character code of the symbol as a keyboard shortcut. For example, to insert the degree symbol, press and hold down ALT while typing 0176 on the numeric keypad.

• To insert an ASCII character from the charts below, press and hold down ALT while typing the decimal numeric equivalent.

For example, to insert the degree symbol, press and hold down ALT while typing 0176 on the numeric keypad.

Note You must use the numeric keypad to type the numbers and not the keyboard. Make sure that the NUM LOCK key is on if your keyboard requires it to type numbers on the numeric keypad.

Numbers are the language of computers. So how does your computer use the alphabet to communicate with programs and other computers? One way is by converting a character set into a numeric representation. With the outlook support I want to share my experience with computer Help

Customization tips of Microsoft Outlook

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Hi, I am continuing my work with some useful tips that is help to customize Microsoft Outlook. And I also want to share my Experience with Computer Help.

There are following tips ……

• Start Outlook in a folder other than Inbox On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Other tab. In the Advanced Options dialog box, set the startup folder that you want.
• Do you travel between time zones? Add a second time zone and switch between time zones for all Windows-based programs. Click Swap Time Zones in the Time Zone dialog box (Tools menu, Options dialog box, Calendar Options dialog box).
• Quickly change the time zone for all Windows-based programs Right-click the space at the top of the time bar when you view days in Calendar, and then click Change Time Zone on the shortcut menu.

More Tips for Customization

• Reuse custom views If you change a view by adding columns or changing the format and want to save it for reuse, type a new view name in the Current View box on the Advanced toolbar, and then press ENTER.
• Quickly add contact information that isn't represented by existing fields To add custom fields, in the contact, on the All Fields tab, click New and then specify the field's name, type, and format.
• Quickly create a contact with the same company name and address as another contact Select the existing contact in your Contacts list, and then on the Actions menu, click New Contact from Same Company.
• See details about the view you are using For details such as which fields are in place and if the view is filtered or sorted, right-click the table header and then click Customize Current View.
• Missing some items? Adjust your view filter settings Items that don't match the filter settings won't appear. To remove the filter, on the View menu, point to Arrange By, point to Current View, and then click Customize Current View. Click Filter, and then click Clear All.
• Want a custom view of your information, sorted or filtered in a different way? On the View menu, point to Arrange By, point to Current View, and then click Define Views.
• Customize the names of the voting buttons On the View menu in the message, click Options. In the Use voting buttons box, type the names you want on the buttons, separated by semicolons.
• Save time when you change print styles If you frequently change a print style before printing, create a custom print style instead. On the File menu, point to Page Setup, and then click Define Print Styles.
• Customize the buttons in the Navigation Pane for one-touch access To add or remove buttons that appear in the button tray at the bottom of the Navigation Pane, click Configure buttons, click Add or remove buttons, and then click the button you want.
• Customize the name of a duplicate .pst file to avoid confusion You can change the name of the Outlook data file (.pst) that appears in the Navigation Pane from Personal Folders to something more identifiable. Right-click Personal Folders, click Properties, click Advanced, and then type a new name in the Name box.
• Customize how Outlook archives items On the Tools menu, click Options, click the Other tab, and then click AutoArchive.
• Change the size of the buttons at the bottom of the Navigation Pane You can make the large buttons in the Navigation Pane smaller by dragging the splitter bar down toward the bottom of the Navigation Pane. The large buttons turn into small buttons in the button tray.
• Move Desktop Alerts to a different monitor If your desktop spans more than one monitor, you can make Desktop Alerts appear on any monitor you use. When an alert appears, rest the pointer over it and then drag it to the part of your desktop that is displayed on the monitor where you want to view the alert.
• Turn off New Mail Desktop Alerts Right-click the Outlook icon in the Microsoft Windows notification area. To clear the check mark, click Show New Mail Desktop Alert.
• Access any Outlook folder from your Windows desktop Create a shortcut to an Outlook folder on the Windows desktop by dragging the folder from Outlook to your Windows desktop. Make sure you press CTRL before you release the mouse button. When you double-click the new shortcut, Outlook will open to that folder.
• Make New Mail Desktop Alerts less visible You can change the transparency level and duration of the New Mail Desktop Alerts. On the Tools menu, click Options. On the Preferences tab, click E-mail Options and then click Advanced E-mail Options. Click Desktop Alert Settings. Change the duration and transparency levels to the settings you want.
• Shade group headings When you turn on shaded group headings, it makes it easier to distinguish the different groups, such as Yesterday and Last Week. In Mail, on the View menu, point to Arrange By, click Custom, click Other Settings, and then select the Shade group headings check box. Click OK twice.
• Display folders at the top of the mail folders view To group a set of folders at the top of the mail folders list view in the Navigation Pane, precede each folder name with the underscore (_) symbol.
• Alphabetize the order of the mail folders in the Navigation Pane By moving the folders that you want up to the Favorite Folders pane, you can place them in any order that you want. To move a folder up to the Favorite Folders pane, just drag it there.
• Shrink the Favorite Folders pane Remove all the folders in the pane, making it smaller and allowing the All Mail Folders list to move up in the Navigation Pane. To remove a folder in the Favorite Folders pane, right-click the folder and then click Remove from Favorite
• Quickly remove a column from the view Drag the column title away from the column heading row until an X appears, and then release the mouse button.

How to Use calculator with Office

Thursday, May 8, 2008

All versions of Microsoft Windows include a calculator. You can copy and paste results from the Windows Calculator into any Microsoft Office program.

In Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2003 Server

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Calculator.

• Many newer keyboards include a button that automatically starts the Windows Calculator.
• To switch to a scientific calculator, on the View menu in Calculator, click Scientific.

In Microsoft Windows 2000

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Calculator.

• Many newer keyboards include a button that automatically starts the Windows Calculator.
• To switch to a scientific calculator, on the View menu in Calculator, click Scientific.

Copy and paste your calculator results into an Office program

1. In Calculator, on the Edit menu, click Copy.
2. In your Office program, on the Edit menu, click Paste.

Alternative calculators

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 Excel 2003 offers a multitude of ways to do both simple and advanced calculations. For Excel 2003 users, Training on Microsoft Office Online offers the course Get to know Excel to help you explore how to use Excel as your calculator.

Microsoft Power Toys for Windows XP Available only for Windows XP, Power Toys includes Power Calculator, which you can use to graph and evaluate functions as well as perform many different types of conversions.

Note This tool is not a part of Windows and is not supported by Microsoft. For this reason, Microsoft Technical Support and Computer Help is unable to answer questions about Power Toys.

Insert smileys and other emoticons

Monday, May 5, 2008

2003 version of the following Microsoft Office programs: Excel 2003, FrontPage® 2003, InfoPath™ 2003, OneNote™ 2003, Outlook® 2003, PowerPoint® 2003, Project 2003, Publisher 2003, Visio® 2003, and Word 2003 2002 version of the following Microsoft Office programs: Excel 2002, FrontPage® 2002, Outlook® 2002, PowerPoint® 2002, Project 2002, Publisher 2002, Visio® 2002, and Word 2002

If you've used an instant messenger or chat service, you've seen the ubiquitous smiley and frowning faces used to represent happy and sad. These symbols are called emoticons, a combination of the words "emotion" and "icon," and you can insert them to add a personal touch to most Office documents.

The following are some ways that you can insert emoticons, depending on which Office program you are using.

• Insert the emoticon symbol by using the Symbol command on the Insert menu.
• Insert the emoticon symbol by using the Microsoft Windows® Character Map tool.
• Type the keyboard shortcut for the symbol, and then change the symbol to the correct font.
• Use the Office AutoCorrect feature to translate the text of your choice into your chosen symbol.

Insert a symbol by using the Symbol command

Note This feature requires Excel, FrontPage, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, or Visio.

1. On the Insert menu, click Symbol.

Note In Outlook, use the Insert menu in the message window. This requires that you be using Word as your e-mail editor and that your message format be either RTF or HTML. You cannot use symbols with the Plain Text message format.

2. In the Symbol dialog box, on the Symbols tab, in the Font box, click Wingdings.
3. Scroll to where you will find the happy, sad, and disappointed emoticon symbols, and then double-click the symbol that you want.

Activate or register programs in the Microsoft Office System

Friday, May 2, 2008

To continue to use all the features of your product, you need to activate your software. Microsoft Product Activation is an anti-piracy technology designed to verify that software products have been legitimately licensed. It is quick, simple, unobtrusive, and helps protect customer privacy. Product Activation works by verifying that a software program's product key, which you must use in order to install the product, has not been used on more personal computers than intended by the software's license.

Activation data provided to Microsoft is stored in a secure facility. Microsoft is very concerned with the privacy and security of the information that you provide as part of the activation process. For more information on how Microsoft works to protect your privacy, review the Microsoft Office Activation/Registration Privacy Statement.

For the latest information on activation, visit the Microsoft Software Piracy Protection site.

Registration is completely voluntary and does require sharing some personal information. Registration will provide you access to special offers and notifications.

I have to sketch out the details once again before this Monday for a official presentation. But then what i want to share here with you is my experience of sharing the Microsoft Outlook and providing a computer Help

Activate your software

You have two choices of when to activate your software:

· When you first run the software when you start your program for the first time after installation, the Activation Wizard automatically runs.

· Later To activate later, on the Help menu, click Activate Product.

When you decide to activate, the Activation Wizard gives you two choices on how to proceed:

• Activate by using the Internet The Activation Wizard automatically contacts the Microsoft licensing servers through your Internet connection. The only information that you must provide is your country/region. If you are using a valid product key that has not exceeded the number of allowed installations, your product is activated immediately.

When you activate via the Internet, your product ID (derived from the installation product key) is sent to Microsoft through an encrypted transfer. A response (confirmation ID) is sent back to your computer to activate your product. If you choose to activate your product through the Internet and you are not already connected, the wizard will help you get connected.

· Activate by using the telephone You can call an Activation Center and activate your product by talking to a customer service representative over the telephone. Telephone activation might take longer than activation using the Internet. You should be at your computer when you call and have your software product key available. Telephone numbers vary by license and country/region. In step 2 of the Activation Wizard, use the number provided to call the Microsoft Activation Center.

1. In the Activation Wizard, in step 1, select the country/region where you reside and will be using the product.

When you select a country/region, one or more telephone numbers will appear.

2. In the Activation Wizard, in step 2, the Activation Center customer service representative will ask you to provide your Installation ID and other relevant information.
3. After your Installation ID is verified, as part of step 3, you will receive a Confirmation ID to enter in the spaces provided at the bottom of the screen.

Register your product

After you finish activating your software over the Internet, you can choose to register your product, which enables you to receive information about product updates and special offers directly from Microsoft. The registration option is not provided if you activate by telephone.

You can also register at a later time. Instructions for later registration are below in the frequently asked questions section.

Registration is completely voluntary and does require sharing some personal information, such as a valid e-mail address. Any registration information that you provide is stored securely and separately from any activation information. No information is ever loaned or sold to third parties.

Registration will provide you access to special offers and notifications.