THE SOUNDBOARD KEEPING PACE IN
CYBERSPACE
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Heritage Village Computer
Club |
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Email: theweb@snet.net |
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING
Heritage Hall
Wednesday, DECEMBER 11, 2002
Time: 10: 00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Program:
DATABASES
By:
Marv Shapiro
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Please Note: There are no classes scheduled for December, 2002. Enjoy your “Winter Break”!
2000 B.C.: Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D.: That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D.: That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here,
swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D.
- That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.
HANDY SHORTCUT KEYS
Use the Windows logo key, in the lower section of the keyboard, on
either side of the space bar. Here are
some of the handy things it will do for you:
·
By
itself--displays the START MENU
·
With
D--minimizes or restores all Windows
·
With
E--displays the Windows Explorer
·
With
TAB--cycles through active applications on your taskbar
·
With
F1--to display Help
·
With
PAUSE/BREAK key--for the System Properties dialog window
·
With
F--displays the FIND ALL FILES function
·
With
CTRL + F--displays the FIND: COMPUTER dialog window.
All these work on at least Windows
98 and XP operating systems and you can experiment on the others as you
please. When a window or menu opens up
and you don’t want it, press the ESCAPE key.
NETSCAPE 6.2 SHORTCUTS
Convenient shortcuts may be worth a
reminder:
Used with the CTRL key,
B….opens Bookmarks
F….Finds page contents
H…opens History
M…composes eMail
N…opens a New browser window
O…Opens a local file in the
browser
P….opens the Print dialog
box
R….Refreshes the page.
FILE CORRUPTED?
While
trying to connect to the Internet, have you ever received an error message like
this: “file msbb.exe is corrupted”?
This is an adware program that blocks an Internet connection. The file msbb.exe
represents n-Case, a program from the ad company 180Solutions. n-Case compiles and analyzes data on the
sites that you visit and shares that with other companies for marketing purposes.
Programs such as n-Case help 180Solutions send you annoying pop-up ads that
might match your interests. These applications often hitch rides with
downloadable software. You can usually remove n-Case with the Windows
ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS control, although sometimes it won't delete unless you get
rid of the download that it came with in the first place. Be careful about the shareware or freeware
that you download and for additional protection, get yourself a firewall. At “Connection protection 2002”, CNET reviews four top
firewall apps:
·
ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0
·
Sygate Personal Firewall
Pro 5.0
·
BlackIce PC Protection
3.5
·
Tiny Personal Firewall
3.0
At this link: http://www.cnet.com/software/0-352108-8-20017782-1.html
A calm sea
does not make a skilled sailor.
(African
proverb)
That wheel (if you have one) on your mouse that lies between the left and right click buttons can be quite useful with Internet Explorer. With the CTRL key depressed, moving the wheel forward or backward resizes the font. With the SHIFT key depressed, the wheel moves pages backward or forward to other sites visited in the current browsing session. I do not have a Track Ball Mouse, but I would imagine this works with one.
POP-UP
KILLERS or SMASHERS
If you have a pop-up killer such as “Smasher” or any
of the other products on the market, be sure to DISABLE it before you attempt a
download. You may also need to DISABLE
it if you are trying to view sites that use Java, JavaScript, or Flash; such as
the KARTOO.COM search engine that I recommended last month. Once you are finished at the website that
uses these applications, it is usually easy to ENABLE the pop-up killer
again. My “Smasher” application resides
in the task bar so an easy click on the “EYE” is all that is needed to DISABLE
or ENABLE and it is also located in the START / PROGRAMS section. Smasher had to be DISABLED to view the
Microsoft web site that offers free downloads of their updates.
MICROSOFT
FREE UPDATES You can request that
your site be scanned for the latest updates needed if you go to this link: http://office.microsoft.com/default.aspx
and then choose “Product Updates”. Not all updates are actually needed, so ask someone for help if you are not sure. There is an abundance of Microsoft information and links here too.
PAYPAL SCAM
Warning: Apparently there is a scam that is going around in an effort to gain passwords for PayPal accounts. It is an official-looking email appearing to originate from PayPal Support, asking you to log on to a special link with your password to confirm that you are still an active PayPal user. Don't be taken in! Always beware of anyone anywhere asking for your password.
Paypal is a reputable payment plan web site that has recently teamed up with Amazon.com. I use it for all my online purchases and sales.
XP TIME FEATURE. Windows XP added a nice feature that
previously required a separate software application. It will connect, either at a programmed time or manually, to a
time server via the Internet and reset that often erroneous internal
clock. Just click on the time in the
systems tray, go to Date and Time Properties and click the Internet Time tab.
A DIFFERENT CLOCK
If you're looking for something a bit more unusual for
timekeeping, try this link: http://www.solinas.com/clock.html
.
No download necessary. Just a very clever little
JavaScript application and something to look at. Move your mouse over the clock to disperse the settings and they
will then re-align again.
GRAPHIC WORKSHOP PROFESSIONAL
For Windows 95, 98, ME, XP,
2000 and NT
Graphic Workshop Professional is an image management
package for Windows. Features include multiple browser windows, batch
processing, drag and drop, thumbnails, and Pentium-optimized functionality.
This software can be used to browse image collections and view pictures,
convert between formats, print your graphics as hard copy, acquire images from
a digital camera, maintain a sophisticated keyword database, decode pictures
from the Internet, process and fine tune your photographs. Graphic Workshop
Professional requires a Pentium or better processor and a display adapter and
Windows screen driver capable of displaying more than 256 colors are
recommended. This software is available for electronic delivery and on CD-ROM.
Graphic Workshop Professional received top ratings at Wugnet, Shareware
Junkies, ZD Net, File Dudes, Tucows and others. http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/gwspro.html
VOCABULARY
WORDPERFECT
WordPerfect Corporation is the original developer of
the WordPerfect word processor and a variety of other applications for personal
computers. WordPerfect was founded in Provo, Utah, USA in 1979 by Alan Ashton
and Bruce Bastion as "Satellite Software International". The company
name was changed to WordPerfect Corporation in 1986. The company was bought by
Novell, Inc. in 1994, who then sold it to Corel Corporation in 1996.
WORD WRAP
A feature of word processors and most text editors
where a word which would extend past the right hand margin is moved to the
following line. This feature means that
you do not need to use your ENTER key when you reach the end of the line, as
was necessary when typing on a typewriter.
By allowing words to WRAP, your lines will remain evenly spaced
throughout your paragraph.
THUMBNAIL or THUMBNAIL SKETCH
A graphics
file format used by Graphics Workshop for Microsoft Windows, using the filename
extension: ".thn". A thumbnail
is usually a miniature graphic that, when clicked on, can be enlarged for a
better view. More on this file format
at the following link: http://cws.internet.com/image-gworkshp.html
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
http://www.hvcomuputerclub.org/officer.html
Send
computer related suggestions or articles for the Soundboard to: scottie2@att.net or theweb@snet.net
TEACHERS & HELPERS
Are there any members who would be willing to share their knowledge and add to the teaching staff of the HVCC? It is strictly a voluntary effort, and training is provided. Our computer club faculty is strictly volunteer. Perhaps you would like to volunteer to be a helper for the classes?
The fees charged for courses go into the club treasury to
help pay for various club expenses, such as our hardware and software. The only compensation our teachers get is
the gratification that comes from S.O.S. - HVCC Help Line:
Ken Pelletier 264-2310
Bob Greene 264-9747
Several members have volunteered to assist in the help duties and are available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. All help personnel are volunteers who will try to walk you through a computer problem that you may be experiencing. If that does not resolve the problem, it is suggested that you bring the specifics of your problem to our Open House (Tues. & Thur., 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.). Members are encouraged to offer volunteer assistance when they are able. If none of these suggestions fixes the problem, your only recourse is to seek professional help. It is not the Club’s policy to recommend professional computer technicians. Usually the best technical help will come from the manufacturer of your computer; you may even be under a warrantee program.
AutoCAD.............. Ken Pelletier.............. 264-2310
Digital
Camera....... Joe Franzino.............. 264-2922
MS
Word.............. Arnold Deutchman..... 267-7355
MS
Word.............. Joe Franzino.............. 264-2922
Paint Shop Pro...... Ken Pelletier.............. 264-2310
Publishing.............. Joe Franzino.............. 264-2922
Quicken................. Arnold Sail................. 264-2540
Scanning................ Joe Franzino.............. 264-2922
WordPerfect Jean Van Loon 267-5397
at “THE WEB”:
Special Interest Groups (“SIG’s”)
http://www.supercalendar.com/view.php?a=893