
Basic Computing Tips for Windows 3.1 - Page 4



*1.   OH WHERE, OH WHERE. . . 

January 21st, 1999 

In our last tip, we suggested that you mark important files read-only to
 prevent unwanted changes. In case you missed this tip, here's a quick
 review: Open File Manager, select the file, choose File + Properties,
 select Read Only, and click OK. 

But if you prefer, you can hide a file from view completely (it won't
 appear in File Manager at all). When you hide a file, another user
 can't be tempted to mess with it (and neither can you). 

To mark a file as hidden: 

1. Open File Manager (double-click its icon inside Program Manager's Main
 group) and navigate your way to the file you want to hide. 
2. Select the file and then choose File + Properties. 
3. In the Attributes box, select Hidden. 
4. Click OK. 

Out of sight, out of mind. (Of course, in order for the hidden attribute to
 be effective, you need to keep hidden files hidden.) So how do YOU access
 hidden files? We show you in our next tip. 


*2.   NOW YOU SEE 'EM 

January 22nd, 1999 

In our last tip, we suggested that other users won't be tempted to mess
 with important files if you mark the files as hidden, thereby keeping
 them out of sight in File Manager. (In case you missed this tip, here's
 a quick review: Select the file in File Manager, choose File + Properties,
 select Hidden, and then click OK.) 

Now the question is, how do YOU access your hidden files? You have two
 options. You can either display hidden files or make sure you know a
 hidden file's exact name and location. 

To display hidden files in File Manager: 

1. Choose View + By File Type and select Show Hidden/System Files. 
2. Click OK. 

(Tip-in-a-tip: Be sure to deselect this option when you're done, to rehide
 the hidden files.)

To open a file while it's still hidden from view: 

1. Open the application in which the file was created. 
2. Choose File + Open. 
3. Navigate your way to the file's directory, type the exact filename,
 and click OK. 

(The hope is that other users won't know your files by name!)


*3.   THE TEXT KEEPS GOING. . . AND GOING. . . AND GOING. . . 

January 25th, 1999 

Need to whip up a quick text document? Open Notepad, start typing a few
 sentences, and--hey, wait a minute. Where's my text going? It just keeps
 going to the right, like a run-on sentence! 

No worries. Just choose Edit + Word Wrap (to place a checkmark next to
 this option). Notepad wraps your text to the next line as soon as you
 reach the edge of the window. (By default this option is turned off--go
 figure.) Size the window up or down, and Notepad adjusts the word wrap
 to match. 


*4.   HEAD FOR THE PAGE BORDER 

January 26th, 1999 

The next time you're in Notepad and plan to choose File + Print, stop.
 You may want to adjust the margins first. Assuming you have the
 Edit + Word Wrap option turned on, Notepad adjusts the margins to
 match what you see in the open window--not the best option if you sized
 the window to an odd size. You're better off setting the margins yourself.

-From inside Notepad (it's in Program Manager's Accessories group): 

1. Optional: Open the document you need to print. 
2. Choose File + Page Setup. 
3. Adjust the four values under Margins (these values represent each page
 margin in inches). 
4. Click OK. 

(Tip-in-a-tip: These margin settings are global; in other words, they
 apply to every document you print until you change them inside the
 Page Setup dialog box again.) 


*5.   UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DIRECTORIES 

January 27th, 1999 

When you open File Manager, you see all the directories in the currently
 selected drive in the left pane. Great, everyone knows that. But here's
 something that isn't so obvious: How do you know which directories
 contain subdirectories? If you want to know at a glance, ask File Manager
 to place a plus sign (+) on every expandable branch (and a minus sign on
 every one that's already been expanded). 

1. Open File Manager, if it isn't already (it's in Program Manager's Main
 group). 
2. Choose Tree + Indicate Expandable Branches to place a checkmark next
 to this option. 

It's like having x-ray vision! 


*6.   A LITTLE MEAT AROUND THE EDGES 

January 28th, 1999 

Wish you had a bit more meat on your window borders so that you can grab
 them with the mouse pointer more easily (for example, when you want to
 size a window up or down)? The Desktop dialog box has just the tool to
 fatten them up. 

1. Open the Control Panel (it's inside Program Manager's Main group)
 and double-click Desktop. 
2. Under Sizing Grid, increase the value under Border Width. 
3. Click OK. 

Can't miss those! (Note: If you want to return to the border size you
 started with, in Step 2, return the value to 3, which is the default.)


*7.   MAKE YOUR APPLICATION DO THE WORK FOR YOU 

January 29th, 1999 

When you choose File + Open in your favorite application, do you constantly
 have to navigate your way to the same directory to find the file you need?
 If only the Open dialog box could point to that directory right
 from the start. 

It can. All you need to do is change that application's working directory. 

1. Inside Program Manager, select the icon of your favorite application. 
2. Choose File + Properties (or press Alt + Enter on your keyboard). 
3. In the text box next to Working Directory, type the path of the desired
 default directory. 
4. Click OK. 

The next time you open that application and choose File + Open, you'll be
 sitting in the directory you just specified. (Note: The Open dialog box
 points to the most recently visited directory during the current work
 session but returns to the working directory when you close and reopen
 the application.) 


*8.   FONT-SY FILES 

February 2nd, 1999 

When you open File Manager and start navigating your way through
 directories, all the directory names and filenames appear in a boring,
 straight-laced font called MS Sans Serif. But File Manager is a drab
 enough place to be as it is. Why not dress things up a little with
 a brand new font? 

1. Open File Manager, if it isn't already. (It's in Program Manager's
 Main group.) 
2. Choose Options + Font and select any font in the Font list. 
3. If you want, select a size and/or font style. (By default, the size
 is set to 8 point and the font style is Regular.) 
4. Click OK. 

What a difference a font makes. 


*9.   WAIT--MY FINGER CAN'T MOVE THAT FAST!          
          
March 15th, 1999          
          
Ever double-click the mouse and have nothing happen? If you can't click
 as fast as Windows wants you to, your double clicks are registering as
 two single clicks. Fortunately, you can change Windows' idea of exactly
 how fast you have to click to register a double click.

1. Open the Control Panel (double-click its icon inside Program Manager's
 Main group). 
2. Double-click Mouse. 
3. Under Double-Click Speed, move the scrollbar toward Slow (you can use
 the mouse or click the left arrow under Slow). 
4. Double-click the TEST box to try out the new setting. (A double click
 shades the box black; another changes it back to white.) 
5. If necessary, repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the setting feels right. 
6. Click OK. 

Try out your new setting by double-clicking any icon at a comfortable
 speed. Now that's more like it! 
                       

*10.   WHAT'S IN A NAME?          
          
March 16th, 1999          
          
Tired of that same ol', boring hard drive name? Then by all means, change it! 

1. Open File Manager (double-click its icon in Program Manager's Main Group). 
2. Select your hard drive in the Drivebar, if it isn't already selected
 (or choose Disk + Select Drive; then select your hard drive and click OK). 
3. Choose Disk + Label Disk. 
4. Type a new name for the drive (up to 11 characters). Keep in mind that
 you can't use special characters or spaces. 
5. Click OK. 

What a difference a name makes. . . .
