Peter Weverka

Article / Updated 08-17-2023

Word 2016 permits you to use wildcard operators in searches. A wildcard operator is a character that represents characters in a search expression. Wildcards aren't for everybody. Using them requires a certain amount of expertise, but after you know how to use them, wildcards can be invaluable in searches and macros. The following table explains the wildcard operators that you can use in searches. Click the Use Wildcards check box if you want to search using wildcards. Wildcards for Searches Operator What It Finds Example ? Any single character b?t finds bat, bet, bit, and but. * Zero or more characters t*o finds to, two, and tattoo. [xyz] A specific character, x, y, or z t[aeiou]pper finds tapper, tipper, and topper. [x-z] A range of characters, x through z [1-4]000 finds 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000, but not 5000. [!xy] Not the specific character or characters, xy p[!io]t finds pat and pet, but not pit or pot. < Characters at the beginning of words finds information, infomaniac, and infomercial. > Characters at the end of words ese> finds these, journalese, and legalese. @@ One or more instances of the previous character sho@@t finds shot and shoot. {n} Exactly n instances of the previous character sho{2}t finds shoot but not shot. {n,} At least n instances of the previous character ^p{3,} finds three or more paragraph breaks in a row, but not a single paragraph break or two paragraph breaks in a row. {n,m} From n to m instances of the previous character 10{2,4} finds 100, 1000, and 10000, but not 10 or 100000. You can't conduct a whole-word-only search with a wildcard. For example, a search for f*s not only finds fads and fits but also all text strings that begin with f and end with s, such as for the birds. Wildcard searches can yield many, many results and are sometimes useless. To search for an asterisk (*), question mark (?), or other character that serves as a wildcard search operator, place a backslash () before it in the text box.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-25-2022

Master the commands in one Office 2019 program and you are well on your way to mastering the other programs. Following is key information you can take to any Office 2019 program you are working in.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-24-2022

You can use speed reading to enhance both your reading ability and your reading enjoyment. Some misconceptions about the speed reading method persist — pay no attention to them. By making slight adjustments to your reading habits, especially stopping yourself from hearing or saying each word, you can move from being an average reader with average comprehension to a proficient speed-reader with excellent comprehension.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-23-2022

Here are some useful Office 365 features worth knowing about. Two of these cheat sheets explain how Office 365 lets you turn one thing into another — how to turn a Word document into a PowerPoint presentation and how to turn an Office 365 file into a PDF so that people who don’t have Office can read it. For people who get mountains of email, here are instructions for moving your Office 365 email messages as they arrive into a specific Outlook folder.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 01-07-2022

Here are a few shortcuts to help you get your work done faster in Office 2021. Read on to see how to insert one Word 2021 file into another without having to cut and paste, how to enter serial information such as numbers and dates into an Excel 2021 worksheet, and how to make a Word 2021 file the genesis for a PowerPoint 2021 presentation.

Article / Updated 10-06-2021

In Windows 10, you can use the Devices window to view all the devices connected to your computer. Some, but not all, devices display information below the device name. A network device may display Offline (not accessible) or it may display nothing if it is accessible. A printer may display Ready or it may display nothing if the printer isn't ready. To see all your devices Choose Settings on the Start menu. The Settings window opens. Choose Devices to open the Printers & Scanners category of the Devices window, as shown in the top of the figure. Note the printers and scanners (if any) that are connected to your computer. Select the Connected Devices category (or Bluetooth & other devices) in the Devices window, as shown in the bottom of the figure, and scroll down the screen to see all your devices. Devices listed may include your monitor, speakers, headphones, keyboard, mouse, and more. Devices shared through your homegroup or network also appear here. You are unlikely to need the Add a Device button because most devices are added automagically (that's a word nerds like to use). However, if you select Add a Device, Windows 10 scans for additional hardware. No harm in doing so.

Article / Updated 09-14-2021

If you share your Office 2016 files with others, they can view or edit your work. Sharing is a great way to collaborate with others on Office files. Starting in the OneDrive window, you can share a folder (and therefore, all the files in the folder) or an individual file. Inviting people by email Follow these steps to share a file (or all the files in a folder) by sending out an email message with links to the files. File sharing by email. All the recipient of your email message has to do to read or view the file is click a link. In OneDrive, select the file or folder you want to share. Click the Share button. You can find the Share button on the OneDrive toolbar along the top of the screen. As shown, you see the Share window. If you're sharing the file or folder already, the sharers' names appear on the left side of the window. Choose Invite People. Enter the email addresses of the people with whom you will share the file or folder. Enter a message as well, if you want. If you want the recipients of your email invitation to be able to view the files without subscribing to Office 365, click the Share button now; otherwise, keep reading. Click the Recipients Can Edit link. As shown, drop-down menus appear. Choose access privileges on the drop-down menus. On the first menu, choose whether recipients can view the file(s) or view and edit the file(s). You've got the power here — use it wisely! On the second menu, choose whether recipients need an Office 365 subscription to view or view and edits the file(s). Click the Share button. The Share window opens. It tells you who shares the file or folder with you. You can return to this window at any time to unshare files or folders as well as change how files and folders are shared. Generating a link to shared files Follow these instructions to share a file (or all the files in a folder) by generating a hyperlink. After OneDrive generates the link, you can post it or send it to others. Anyone who clicks the link can view (or view and edit) the file. In the OneDrive window, select the file or folder you want to share. Click the Share button. As shown here, you see the Share window for generating a link to your file or folder. File sharing by generating a link. Choose Get a Link. Choose an access option on the drop-down menu. Here are your choices: View Only: Others can view the file (or all files in the folder if a folder is being shared), but not edit the file(s). Edit: Others can view and edit the file (or all files in the folder if a folder is being shared). Click Create Link. OneDrive generates the link. You can click Shorten Link to generate a shorter and more manageable version of the link. Select the link (double-click it). Right-click the link and choose Copy. You can now paste the link where you will — to a blog, web page, or email message. Happy sharing!

Article / Updated 08-26-2021

The Windows 10 Start screen is home to numerous programs, or apps (short for applications). An app performs a function or displays information. For example, the Weather app offers weather reports (surprise!) and the Maps app helps you map a route between two places. Apps can be simple or complex. Apps appear on the Start screen as tiles. A tile, which may be square or rectangular, displays the app’s name and symbol or icon. A tile that displays changing information is called a live tile. An open app typically covers the screen, hiding other apps that are open. However, some apps can be displayed side-by-side with a function called snap. Two categories of apps are available: Windows 10 apps are modern looking and rich with information. They are designed to work with touchscreens as well as with a mouse. Weather and Edge are the first two such apps you use in this chapter. (The Maps and Calendar apps function similarly to the Weather app, each with a unique focus.) Desktop apps always open with the desktop behind them. Most desktop apps don’t have the look or consistent functions of Windows 10 apps. Desktop apps may not respond to touch as reliably as Windows 10 apps. You select an app to use in one of two ways: Mouse: Move the mouse pointer over an app tile. Click the left mouse button to select the tile and open the app. Touchscreen: Tap the app tile with one of your fingers. In this chapter, you open, close, and use some of the apps that come with Windows 10. You also switch between apps and the Start screen, and switch directly between two apps. You find out how to search for apps not shown on the Start screen. Finally, you discover how to organize the Start screen by rearranging tiles into groups. Although some steps are specific to one app, most of the steps you follow here can be repeated in any app. Open Windows 10 apps Select the Start button, as shown. Selecting this button opens the Start screen, also shown. You can also open the Start screen by pressing the Command key. Use the mouse or a finger to select the Weather tile. (If you’ve used Weather before, the tile shows a temperature reading in a certain location.) The Weather app opens to the Forecast screen, as shown. It shows the current temperature and weather forecast for your default location. Select the Show Options button. As do most apps, Weather has a Show Options button in the upper-left corner. Select this button to expand the app bar and see the names of options on the app bar. Select the button again to collapse options on the app bar. The first time you open the Weather app, a Welcome screen appears. It asks whether you want to show temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius and what your location is. By location, the Weather app wants to know where you live, or, if you’re a vagabond, where you spend the majority of your time. Choose Detect My Location or enter a city or town name in the Search box, and from the menu that appears as you type, select the name of the town or city that you call home. You can always change these settings by selecting the Settings button in the app bar and choosing options on the Settings screen. Switch back to the Start screen using one of these methods: Tap or click the Start button. Press the Command key. Focus on the method you think is easiest. However, keep in mind that alternative methods of controlling your computer are always available. On the Start screen, check to see whether the Weather tile displays current weather information, as shown. The Weather app has a live tile, meaning that its tile on the Start screen displays changing information. Switch back to the Weather app by selecting its tile with the mouse or your finger. The Weather app reappears. Switch back to the Start screen. Select the Microsoft Edge tile (look for a blue icon). The Edge screen appears, as shown. If the Edge tile doesn’t appear on your Start screen, scroll in the alphabetical list of apps to the Edge app tile and select it. Edge is a browser, which is an Internet application for exploring the web. Scroll downward to see all that is on the web page you are visiting. Use these techniques to scroll: Mouse: Drag the scroll box on the right side of the screen up or down. If your mouse has a wheel, you can also turn the mouse wheel to scroll. Touchscreen: Swipe the screen up or down. Switch to the Start screen by selecting the Windows button or pressing the Command key. On the Start screen, select the Weather tile. Switch back and forth between the Weather app and the Start screen a few times to get comfortable with switching between an app and the Start screen. Switch among open apps Open the Weather app. Switch to the Start screen and open the Edge app. Switch to Task view, as shown. In Task view, thumbnail versions of all open apps appear on the screen. You can switch to Task view with one of these methods: Mouse: Click the Task View button on the taskbar. Touchscreen: Swipe from the left edge of the screen or tap the Task View button. Keyboard: Press Command  + Tab. Select the Weather app to switch to it. Task view offers one way of switching between apps. Use the Task View method to switch between apps when many apps are open onscreen. Seeing tiles for all open apps makes switching from one app to another easy. Besides offering thumbnail versions of open apps in Task View, Windows 10 also gives you the opportunity to backtrack and open apps you used in days past. Scroll down the screen or drag the slider to see thumbnail pictures of your past activities. Selecting a thumbnail picture opens the app you were using in the past. You can open a second desktop on the screen and in so doing keep some of your open apps on one screen and some of your open apps on another. When you’re running many apps, opening a second desktop is a great way to be able to switch quickly from one app to another. Select the Edge app icon on the taskbar to switch to the Edge app. The taskbar is located along the bottom of the screen. Whenever you open an app, Windows 10 places that app’s icon on the taskbar. You can select an icon on the taskbar to switch to an open app. Some icons appear permanently on the taskbar. For example, the File Explorer icon is always on the taskbar regardless of whether File Explorer is running. You can pin your favorite apps to the taskbar. Pinning an app to the taskbar places an icon there so that you can open an app quickly. Press Alt+Tab and continue to hold down the Alt key after you press Tab. A window showing thumbnails of all open apps appears onscreen, as shown. While holding down the Alt key, press the left- or right-arrow key to select the Weather thumbnail, and then release the Alt key. The Weather app appears onscreen. Pressing Alt+Tab is yet another way to switch between open applications.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-09-2021

Here are some tips and tricks for making better use of the Windows 10 operating system. Discover how to minimize all but the active window, schedule events in the Calendar app without opening the Calendar app, see filename extensions in File Explorer, and take a screenshot.

Article / Updated 08-26-2020

Windows 10 uses the Security and Maintenance screen to keep you informed of issues that pertain to your computer's health. The screen divides issues into Security and Maintenance sections. The Reliability Monitor can help you pinpoint problems with hardware and software. In the System window, select Security and Maintenance in the lower-left corner. The Security and Maintenance window appears, as shown. Another way to open the Security and Maintenance window is to type Security and Maintenance in the Search box on the Windows taskbar. Note any message displayed under Review Recent Messages and Resolve Problems. Ideally, you see No issues have been detected by Security and Maintenance. If you see a message concerning a specific problem, select that message for more information. Select the Security heading in the Security and Maintenance window. That section expands to detail security functions. Every option should display On or OK. Here's a brief description of each item under Security: Network Firewall: The firewall scans Internet traffic and blocks activity from programs that don't have explicit permission to use Internet access. When you install a program that uses the Internet, you may be asked to approve the connection the first time. The safest practice is to reject online connections that you don't initiate or recognize. Virus Protection: Having virus protection for your computer is essential. Windows Defender provides antivirus protection, although you can install some other antivirus program. Internet Security Settings: These settings pertain to your browser. The default settings may be adequate. To learn more, see the following tip. User Account Control (UAC): This function notifies you of programs that try to make changes to your system and requires that you confirm any such changes. In particular, UAC lets you know when a program tries to run or install software that may be malicious. When in doubt, say No or Cancel to UAC messages. Select the Maintenance heading to see what that section includes. Functions under Maintenance consist of the following: Report problems: This setting is on, allowing Windows 10 to regularly check for solutions to problems it uncovers. (In Step 5, you run the Reliability History report from this part of the screen.) Automatic Maintenance: Your computer automatically performs critical updates, security scans, and diagnostics each day. If your computer is in a guest room or bedroom, you may want to change the Automatic Maintenance setting to run maintenance tasks at some time other than the default 3:00 a.m. Your computer may actually wake up at that hour for maintenance (although, if your computer is connected to a power strip, you can turn off the power strip and prevent your computer from turning on automatically in the middle of the night). If the computer can't run maintenance at the appointed hour, it will do so at the next opportunity. File History: File History is off by default. Drive status: Drives are hard disks inside or attached to your computer. Your documents, photos, and Windows 10 itself are stored on one or more drives. Ideally, the drive status is All drives are working properly. Device software: If a device on your computer needs a driver or other type of software to run properly, you are alerted here. Select Install Device Software to install the software. The Security and Maintenance window is a troubleshooting tool, so you should check it if you have problems running Windows 10. Under Report Problems, select View Reliability History. As shown, the Reliability Monitor screen graphs your computer's stability and indicates hardware and software problems, including those you may not be aware of. On this screen, red circles indicate critical events such as computer crashes; blue circles are information about software installation and updates; and yellow triangles indicate warnings about noncritical events (something that didn't crash the computer). Select a day in the graph to display details in the lower portion of the screen. Reviewing the Reliability Monitor screen helps you distinguish between a one-time glitch and a recurring or worsening problem.