Tips and Tricks

Choose a Different Signature in Outlook 2007

If you would like to use a different email signature for different recipients (for example, for colleagues who are internal vs. external to your group), you can change your signature with two mouse clicks. Right-click your signature, then left-click the signature you want to use in its place.

Create Tables to Your Own Specifications in Word 2007

Would you like to add a table with specific dimensions to your Word document? Here’s how:

1. Position your cursor in the document where you want to insert your table.

2. On the “Insert” tab of the Ribbon, click “Table,” then click “Draw Table.”

3. Left-click to select the area where you want the table to appear.

4. Use the mouse to draw the internal table lines. To erase any lines you've drawn by mistake, press the SHIFT key, and the pointer will change from a pencil to an eraser.

Note that the design tools in Word 2007 give you a variety of features—for example, the ability to create other tables within the ones you've already designed.

Turn Off Email Notifications in Outlook 2007

Since an email notification icon appears whenever you receive a new email, it is tempting to stop working and immediately open new messages. Here's how you can turn off the notification and check your email when it is more convenient:

1. In Outlook 2007, go to Tools > Options > E-mail Options > Advanced E-mail Options.

2. In the middle of the dialog box, uncheck the Display a New Mail Desktop Alert box.

Changing File Properties in Windows Vista

File properties or metadata can be very useful in labeling, organizing, and locating your files. Most program files add their own properties when they are saved; however, with Windows Vista, you can augment these attributes. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click “Organize,” then click “Layout.” Ensure that the Details Pane is checked.

2. Expand the Details Pane at the bottom of the Explorer window, if necessary (click and drag the separator above the pane to resize it).

3. Select the attribute that you want to change (note that only some are selectable). Enter the desired information and click “Save” when finished.

Rearrange Paragraphs in Word

Swapping paragraphs in Microsoft Office Word can be complicated. Avoid cutting and pasting by using the SHIFT+ALT keyboard shortcut! Simply click the paragraph that you want to move, hold down SHIFT+ALT, and move the paragraph up or down by using the arrow keys. Each press of an arrow key causes your selected paragraph to jump over one adjacent paragraph.

Paste Values Instead of Formulas in Excel 2007

Sometimes, you might wish to copy the values within a series of cells rather than the formulas in those cells. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells that contain the values you want to copy.

2. Right-click the selected cells, and click “Copy.”

3. Select the cells where you want to paste the copied values.

4. On the “Home” tab, in the “Clipboard” section, click the down arrow on the “Paste” button.

5. Click “Paste Values.”

Customize the Status Bar in Office 2007 Programs

The Status bar appears along the bottom of the screen in many Office 2007 programs and provides active file information. For example, Word’s Status bar displays active page number, number of pages in the document, and word count.

Generally, you can click the Status bar option for more information or to perform an action. For example, click “Page” in the lower-left corner of Word to access the “Go To” tab of the “Find and Replace” dialog box.

In several of Office 2007’s programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, you can customize what appears on the Status bar. To do so, right-click the Status bar, then select or deselect the options you want.

Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista

Windows Sidebar is a desktop tool that can display a number of small, helpful gadgets (minimal-resource applications). To turn on Windows Sidebar:

1. Click “Start.”

2. Type “sidebar” in the Quick Search box.

3. Click “Windows Sidebar.”

You can customize the sidebar by adding more gadgets and configuring how the sidebar is displayed.