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Organizing for the Un-Organized... part 2by Kera McHugh, of somethingelse web+graphics
So... how does your desk look? I still have about 1.5 square feet that didn't get reburied... i figure i'm doing pretty well! Have you managed to build any new GOOD habits? I've been doing ok at getting receipts into the receipts file, and the bills into their respective files - but then, i don't really want to look at them anyway, so that was pretty easy. Anyway - there's no failure here, just practice... so as long as you were at least CONSCIOUS about the fact that you need to file you're on the right track. This week, let's look at the electronic desktop. This is a space which is often neglected as "oh who cares, i know which icons i need", or "i'm afraid if i delete some i'll wreck my computer" - those are the common schools of thought. Here's the deal... despite it's shortcomings, Windows is difficult to "wreck" (unless of course, you're 3 years old - i don't know how many times my neighbour has had to reinstall due to her 3 year old managing to move system files). I will apologize now to those of you on mac & linux - i'm not well enough versed in those platforms to be able to help you much on this one... but maybe someone out there reading this would like to contribute the instructions? I'd be happy to publish them here next issue. To tidy up your Windows desktop:ok - you see along the bottom of your screen, generally to the right of your START button (unless you've customized that location) there are some little icons, then there are the buttons of the programs you have open, then there's your "sys tray". (that's the little bar with your clock and probably norton & zone alarm icons, maybe the volume control...) The first set of icons is you QUICK LAUNCH bar. This is a great place to locate the shortcut icons to the programs you use all the time. Get them off your desktop and into your Quick Launch bar by simply clicking & dragging them from one to the other. Click & Drag - for those who are unsure - means move your mouse to the icon, PRESS (click) THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON AND HOLD IT DOWN while you DRAG the icon to where you want it, THEN RELEASE the button. When you get to the Quick Launch bar a little black I bar will appear between the existing icons... release the mouse button when the I bar is where you want it. To REMOVE icons from your Quick Launch bar, simply select it, RIGHT CLICK, and choose DELETE from the context menu. A CONTEXT MENU, by the way, is what appears when you right click in a program. It's called that because in general the CHOICES you are presented will be in CONTEXT with what you're doing - ie. depending on the tool you're using in Photoshop, you'll have different choices from the Context Menu, same with Word, Excel, Powerpoint... usually they'll always contain cut, paste & copy, and some other standards, but watch for changes - they're designed to improve your productivity and workflow. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't... So - same deal goes with REMOVING icons from your desktop. You can either select it and just hit the DELETE button, or you can RIGHTCLICK and select delete. Either way, Windows will usually ask if you want to send that Shortcut to the Recycle Bin... just say YES. NOTE: on occasion, some small programs will actually put the DIRECT EXECUTION link right on your desktop. Or, if you were not paying close enough attention during an install, some major programs will do the same. THIS is where the problems occur. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE? SHORTCUTS will have a little arrow on the bottom left corner. If there's no little arrow - be careful about deleting. Read the dialog box that pops up when you try. It will advise you. WHAT's A DIALOG (DIALOGUE) BOX? - that's any box that pops up while you're doing other things, that contains instructions, confirmations, warnings - basically any "dialogue" the computer wishes to convey. Think of it as a Windows "Thought Balloon"... Now - if you're on Windows XP, you can reduce the number of buttons you see representing open program windows. Personally, i don't like that option - i find the extra menus annoying and time consuming, but you may prefer them. To turn them ON or OFF simply right click on the START button or anywhere on the TASKBAR (that's the bar along the bottom of your screen that we're working with right now), and select PROPERTIES. Check or Uncheck (whichever your preference) the box beside GROUP SIMILAR TASKBAR BUTTONS. That's that. Now your electronic desktop is organized. Oh - do you know how to actually ARRANGE the icons on your desktop? so they're not all scattered? simply right click on your desktop, and select ARRANGE ICONS BY > then choose from Name, Size, Type, Modified (date). Your choice - I generally pick "Name" as that makes the most sense to me. YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE "AUTO-ARRANGE" if you can't decide on an arrangement criteria. Enjoy your nice clean desktop. Are you pleased to be able to see the photo of your new grandchild, horse, house, car, sports champions, dream destination, boy/girlfriend again? Kera is the creator and owner of somethingelse web+graphics in the
beautiful Sunshine Coast of Canada. She does everything from websites
to print to bring her clients in the speaking and entertainment industries
integrated creative promotional materials. In her spare moments, she
tends her garden, does a little theatre and is a proud mom of one.
Find her online at http://www.time4somethingelse.com
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