Realty Times - Basic Word and Internet Hints To Stop Your Cursing

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Basic Word and Internet Hints To Stop Your Cursing

by Bill Koelzer

It just struck me---how many web and computer things that I automatically do now because I learned them "the hard way." So, I thought that I’d save you some problems by sharing a few of these hints with you.

Never use "delete" when you can use "cut" to make text or images that you’ve highlighted or otherwise selected disappear from a page. Why? Because while "delete" makes things disappear, usually forever, "cut" erases things from your view keeps it on the Windows "clipboard." Which means that if you just right-click again, select "paste" and then "click," the item will magically reappear.

After you have logged several days of Internet browsing, be sure to "defragmentize" your hard drive. If you have never done this, better do it now. Otherwise your computer runs slower and slower. To "defrag," use this string of commands: In Windows 95 or 98, click on Start, then select these items: Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter. If you usually run Norton Tools Systems or any Antivirus program, disable it before defragging. It’s also good to delete all your unwanted e-mail messages from your browser’s "trash" first, before you defrag, rather than after.

When using Microsoft Word, always name your document before you finish it, not afterwards. Doing this means that you can "save" the document and that prevents accidental deletion (to a point). You should also tell Word to "automatically save" the page you’re working on every few minutes. Then, even though you may forget to save the document, it won’t necessarily be lost.

Another way to recover accidental deletions is to go to the top of the Word frame and click on the "curved arrow" that lies on the left side. This arrow performs an "undo" on the very last change you made. So if the last change you made was an accidental deletion, your lost text comes back since the command to delete it is rescinded. (The right arrow, however, reverses actions of the undo arrow.)

You might as well immediately download or buy all new versions of web browsers and software (including Windows 98), except for Beta (test) versions. See, you’re gonna have to use the newer versions soon anyway. So why not do it now before the limitations of your old version begins failing you as web and computer advances require more modern software.

When writing what may become a LONG e-mail message, write it first in your word processor which has many more editing features such as spell checking, thesaurus, formatting, etc. than do e-mail message boxes. Then, when you are done, highlight, copy and then paste the long message into your e-mail message box for sending. Also, Word crashes lots less often than browsers do.

When sending the same e-mail message to a group of clients or friends, you might want to mark each recipient as a "BCC" (blind copy recipient). Otherwise the e-mail address of EACH of your recipients will be visible to ALL recipients. And not all of your clients or friends will be keen on having their e-mail address being flaunted to all the other recipients (ex-wives?, creditors?, hackers?)

With BCC, the e-mail message each person gets will have only their own address visible. You will, however, need ONE person to use as the "To" recipient. So just make that person yourself. (Yes, Virginia, you can address and send e-mail messages to yourself.)

Finally, use the "help" button atop a browser or any software program wherever you get perplexed. It is your very best friend, especially if you are new to computers or the web. Today’s "help" functions are a true joy.

The bottom line: LEARN as you go. When you get stuck, always look up your problem in "help." Or go to your Internet Service Provider’s home page for technical advice. And get yourself a mentor who’s more web-savvy than you. And then you can better avoid all the mistakes that I had to make the hard way!

Surefire Techniques to Back Up Your Data

The Murphy's Law of Loading New Programs

How Virtual Agents Use E-mail

Technology - Tool or Torture?

Published: May 19, 1999

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Bill Koelzer only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.

Bill Koelzer is a Web marketing consultant to web-proficient agents nationwide. He is co-author, with Barbara Cox, Ph.D., of the Prentice-Hall books, Internet Marketing in Real Estate and Internet Marketing.

Bill is also webmaster of Orange County Real Estate, among the most-awarded known Realtor® sites. Visit his website, Koelzer.com or e-mail him at .

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