Did you know that you can save, edit, and share your Office for Mac files online for free, from any computer with a Web browser and Internet connection? Watch this video series to learn how.
Category: Mac
Office 2013 – Office 365 Tips
Microsoft’s Office-15-Minute webinars are currently covering the new Office 2013 features.
I just watched the Office 15-Minute Webinar — Favorite features in the new Office YouTube video and learned that we can edit PDF files in Word 2013! Check it out:
http://youtu.be/plRQkU8CSac
For more Office 2013 tips, visit this website:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/timeto365/tips-EN-US.aspx
And check out these great Office 2013 Quick Start Guides:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/office-2013-quick-start-guides-HA103673669.aspx
Feel free to post your Office tips or questions for me!
Kathy
Converting Text to Columns in Excel
Today, I taught myself how to separate text in an Excel column into two columns with the Text To Columns function. This can be a huge time-saver when you have a lot of data to convert.
I have a spreadsheet with student info…name, email address, etc. The first and last names were in one column separated with a comma. Well, I needed the names in separate columns, and discovered the Text to Columns function. Now, I would like to share it with you.
It’s a good idea to create empty columns for your converted data to the right of the column holding the text you’d like to convert or split (first and last names for me). Then select the column you’d like to split and click Text to Columns on the Data tab on the Ribbon.

When you click the Text to Columns command, the Convert Text to Column Wizard dialog box appears with a two choices…Delimited or Fixed width. Use Delimited if the text in the column is separated with a comma, tab, semicolon, or a space; and choose Fixed if the text is aligned in columns with spaces between each field.
In the next step of the Wizard, you’ll choose the column format, like Text or General; and the destination column for your output. If you don’t choose a destination, the converted text will replace the original text in the column you selected earlier and flow into the column or columns to the right when you click Finish. It’s so easy and it works with Microsoft Excel 2007 or 2010 (Windows) and Excel 2011 (Mac). So cool!
I need to use this function two times a year; so if I forget it, I’ll refer to this blog post to refresh my memory. And,you can do the same.
I hope you found this Excel tip helpful. Post a comment if you have an Excel question for me!
Kathy
Microsoft Excel Online Classes Start Monthly
WordArt Commands on the PowerPoint Ribbon
Having trouble finding the Text Fill, Text Outline, or Text Effects commands on the PowerPoint Ribbon? It could be because the look of the commands on the WordArt Styles group differ depending on the the size and resolution of your monitor. Here is an example of the full view of the WordArt Styles group on the PowerPoint 2007 and 2010 Ribbon:
This view shows three WordArt styles (or Quick Styles), the Previous, Next, and More buttons, and the Text Fill, Text Outline, and Text Effects commands, and the WordArt Styles dialog box launcher.
If you’re using a laptop or have resized your screen, your WordArt Styles group could look like one of the two examples below. In the first example, notice that the Text Fill, Text Outline, and Text Effects commands are displayed on the WordArt Styles group, but they are not labeled. In the other example, the WordArt styles, or Quick Styles, have been reduced to one icon instead of three and the Text Fill, Text Outline, and Text Effects commands are unlabeled.
When you move your mouse to a command button on the Ribbon when you are editing or creating a WordArt object in PowerPoint, you’ll see a ScreenTip for the command you are pointing to. Here’s what the ScreenTip for the Text Fill command looks like:
The WordArt Styles group on the Drawing Tools Format contextual tab displays at the end of the Ribbon when you are creating or editing a piece of WordArt. When you click off the WordArt, the Drawing Tools tab closes. Contextual tabs always display at the end of the Ribbon. Here’s an example of the Drawing Tools contextual tab and its Format tab at the end of the PowerPoint 2010 Ribbon.
If you’re using Office 2011 for the Mac or PowerPoint 2011, you’ll find the WordArt commands on the Text Styles group on the PowerPoint 2011 Ribbon. The Text Styles group looks like one of the examples below depending on the size or resolution of your monitor.
So, even through you may not see all the commands labeled with text on the WordArt Styles group or the Text Styles group, all the commands are available. If you’re not sure what the unlabeled commands are, point to them with your mouse when the WordArt Styles group (PC) or Text Styles group (Mac) is active on the Ribbon.
I hope you learned something from this post and would love to answer any comments or questions you have about these WordArt commands!
Kathy
New PhotoShop Online Classes
I am pleased to announce three recently-released Online Instructor-Led Courses offered this month. Each six-week course is facilitated by an instructor and is the perfect way to enhance a skill or learn a new one. I have learned SO much from the many online courses I’ve taken, and I think you will too!
The August session begins Wednesday, August 15. To enroll, visit my Online Instruction Center at https://2educateyou.com/online-classes/, search for the course you want to take, and follow the enrollment instructions.
Featured Classes:
This hands-on, project-oriented course is filled with easy-to-follow, detailed step-by-step instructions that teach you about editing photos and creating basic paintings. Discover how to improve photographs by removing flaws, correcting for poor exposure, or adding new elements using the newest techniques Photoshop CS6 can offer. You’ll even learn how much fun it can be to paint again, without the mess of cleaning up. And, best of all, you need no prior artistic ability or Photoshop experience to take this course.
Photoshop CS6 for the Digital Photographer
In this course, you’ll master techniques to make the most of your digital images and add a professional polish to your work. This course offers simple, step-by-step instructions for correcting flaws, enhancing the final product, adding text, and preparing images for email and the Web. Designed for those with no image-editing experience, this class will take you from novice to accomplished photo editor.
Extend your Photoshop knowledge and learn how to enhance graphics by using layers, layer masks, and other advanced photo-editing features. You’ll learn non-destructive editing techniques that let you easily re-edit and change projects long after they were originally created. You’ll see how to use Smart Objects, so that even if you crop or resize an image, you’ll be able to get it back to its original size months afterwards. This course will teach you the building blocks you need to unleash your creativity!
Introduction to Photoshop CS3
Introduction to Photoshop CS3
If you want to work with photos or graphics, Photoshop is the program you most need to learn. Artists, photographers, designers, and hobbyists all rely on Adobe Photoshop for creating and editing images. Discover the fastest and most effective ways to use Photoshop from a columnist for Photoshop User magazine who has twice been nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame.
This course will teach you how to use Photoshop with detailed, step-by-step instructions that you’ll have no trouble following—even if you’ve never used a computer for graphics before!
Related courses:
- Intermediate Photoshop CS4
- Photoshop CS4 for the Digital Photographer
- Photoshop Elements 7 for the Digital Photographer
Kathy
2educateyou.com
Which iPad Do I Buy?
I need help! Which iPad do I buy? This is my first purchase, and I’m buying it for my husband. I have an HTC Incredible 2 smart phone; a Galaxy Tablet with 3G, which I love. My husband has a smart phone. We share at home a MacBookPro laptop and a few PCs. I use all these gadgets for personal and business use. My husband’s use of the iPad will be personal. Of course, I’ll play with it too!
I understand that the iPad 2s is $100 cheaper than the New iPads; and that the difference between the Wi-Fi-only models and 3G/4G iPads is $129. I’ve never owned any iPad or tablet, but I feel I can do well with a second hand ipad. I’m sure my husband would be using the iPad mostly at home with our Wi-Fi access; so I’m not sure how important 3G or 4G is. For those of you with Wi-Fi devices, do you wish you had 3G?
I just found out today that Verizon does not charge a fee to turn on the Mobile Hotspot feature on my Galaxy Tab, so we could use it to provide Internet access to the iPad when there’s no Wi-Fi available. Of course, I’ll have to pay a data usage fee, but I don’t think it’ll be more than what I’m already paying on the tablet since I’ve only been using about 20% of my monthly 1 GB of data. (I wish I had known this before…there were times when I paid for Internet access while on vacation, when I could have used the tablet as a Mobile Hotspot for my laptop’s Internet access.)
So, let’s talk about the options. Do I get a 16 or 32 GB device? For a new user, perhaps 16 GB is enough, which would be $399 for the iPad 2. Next, is it worth it to pay $129 more for the Wi-Fi & 3G combo when we could use the Galaxy’s Hotspot feature when Wi-Fi isn’t available? I guess it’s about convenience because there will be times when the hubby might need the 3G and the tablet’s not available. So, if we’re going for the 16 GB with Wi-Fi & 3G, it is worth another $100 to go with the new iPad? The 3G and 4G devices have GPS, while the Wi-Fi devices don’t. The screen resolution on the new iPad is supposed to be better than HD, which might be important to my husband. Oh, decisions, decisions.
What do ya think!
Kathy
iPad 2
16 GB Wi-Fi | |
32 GB Wi-Fi | $499 |
64 GB Wi-Fi | $599 |
16 GB Wi-Fi & 3G/Verizon | $529 |
32 GB Wi-Fi & 3G/Verizon/Verizon | $629 |
64 GB Wi-Fi & 3G/Verizon | $729 |
New iPad
16 GB Wi-Fi | $499 |
$599 | |
64 GB Wi-Fi | $699 |
16 GB Wi-Fi & 4G/Verizon | $629 |
32 GB Wi-Fi & 4G/Verizon/Verizon | $729 |
64 GB Wi-Fi & 4G/Verizon | $829 |
Create a Bookmarks Folder in Safari on a Mac
In this video I explain how to create a Bookmarks folder in Safari. I think you’ll find this helpful when you have a lot of browser bookmarks on your Bookmarks Bar in Safari. Creating a Bookmarks folder allows you to group your bookmarks so they display in a drop-down menu saving you space on the Bookmarks Bar. Watch my instructional video for help. Enjoy!
Kathy