13 Microsoft Word Tips You Need to Learn Now

Microsoft Word is so integral to our digital lives that it has successfully commandeered the actual word, “Word.” If you refer to the once-nonsensical phrases like “Word docs,” “editing in Word,” or “a Word update,” people will know exactly what you are talking about. That’s the power of ubiquity.

Even though the program has since been sucked into the greater branding gravity of Microsoft Office, Word still stands alone as the program with which everyone—regardless of their technological prowess—is at least somewhat familiar.

The long-dominant word processing software faces a new class of cloud-based competition, and Microsoft has even gotten in on the action with Office 365. But the well-known Word software still remains the go-to tool for producing all our important docs (except for Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, who keeps it insane-person old school by writing on a DOS word processor). And why shouldn’t it be? Word is dependable, customizable, and with lots of baked-in functionality.

Old veteran Word users like yourself probably think there’s nothing left to learn. Oh, but there’s always room for more knowledge! Here we present 13 functions that aren’t hidden, but aren’t exactly spelled out either. Click through to uncover little semi-hidden treats that only power user super ninjas know.

Note: These tips were tested using Microsoft Word 2010 on a PC and Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac. Not all tips may be available or in the exact same locale on your version.

 

Please click the below link for Slideshow @ pcmag.com

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/325207/13-microsoft-word-tips-you-need-to-learn-now/1

Create Torn Edge Effect in PowerPoint

How to create your own torn edge shape

It’s pretty easy to create your own torn edge shape. Here are the steps:

  1. Insert a rectangle.
  2. Right-click the rectangle and choose Edit Points.
  3. Choose the side that you want to add points to (it can be more than one side). Along that side, right-click and choose Add Point. Continue until you have about 10 points added to the side. (Note: It’s easy to right-click off the edge and lose Edit Points mode. Just right-click again and choose Edit Points.)
  4. Click each point and drag it where you want it. You’ll want them to alternate inward and outward so that the edge looks ragged.
  5. powerpoint-tips-torn-edge-effect-4You’ll probably see some curves that you don’t want. This is caused by the fact that the points’ extensions aren’t directed at the previous or next point. Click the point and drag its extensions so that they align to the nearest point. This will straighten the line between the points.
  6. If you want, create several shapes that are ragged on different or multiple edges.
  7. Save the presentation file to a slide library where you can find your shapes easily.

Here you see a shape without a picture fill.

powerpoint-tips-torn-edge-effect-5

How to use your torn edge shape

When you want to use your torn edge shape, follow these steps:

  1. Open the presentation file where you saved your torn edge shape. Copy the shape to the Clipboard, return to your current presentation, and paste it onto a slide.
  2. Choose Insert> Pictures to insert the image you want to use. Crop it to the area you want to show. Remember that the torn-edge shape doesn’t crop the image.
  3. Re-size torn-edge shape to match the image. If the shape isn’t the same proportion as the image, your image will be distorted. It should be just a little shorter than the image on the torn edge side.
  4. With the torn-edge shape selected, choose Format tab, Shape Fill, Picture. Browse to the image again and open it to fill the shape with the image.

 

For PowerPoint guides please visit Ellen Finkelstein’s blog at http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/pptblog/

Miscellaneous Quotes

Image

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try. – Beverly Sills – Opera Singer (1929 – 2007)

Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. – Author

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot – Novelist (1819 – 1880)

Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart. – Ancient Indian Proverb

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent Van Gogh

My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength. – Michael Jordan

A pot-in-pot refrigerator or zeer (Arabic: زير‎)

A pot-in-pot refrigeratorRefrigerate foods without using electricity -this mode of refrigeration goes back at least 5000 years.

It uses a porous outer earthenware pot, lined with wet sand, contains an inner pot (which can be glazed to prevent penetration by the liquid) within which the food is placed – the evaporation of the outer liquid draws heat from the inner pot. The device can be used to cool any substance.

Have any of you tried this.
More info – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator