Tips & Tricks




  • If you are having trouble connecting to the internet, click on the  icon, select PUFS Lab 4F or PUFS Lab4F-1 and click connect. If you see this icon: then you are connected.
        
  • In the class, always use the Chrome browser, not MSIE.
       

       
  • If you don’t have a bookmark or link to a site, type
    the URL directly into the address bar. You don’t ever need to
    type http://  and usually you don’t need www. You also don’t
    need to delete what’s there – just click (automatic highlight) and
    type.
        
  • When using Chrome, you can search by typing terms directly
    in the address bar. Google search shortcuts here. (time define weather sunset convert)
        
  • Trouble reading the letters?  Ust ctrl+ or ctrl-
    to make text larger or smaller.


  • Use tabbed browsing Chrome
     MSIE Firefox, IE8
        
  • When
    in doubt, right click.  This will usually give a set of
    options for what you want to do.
    For example, when you see a link that you want to open, but don’t want
    to lose the page you’re on, right click,  ‘open link in new
    tab’.
         
  • Made a mistake?  Deleted something by accident? ctrl+z (undo) Most programs allow you to ‘undo’ a number of your previous steps.
         
  •  To
     reduce the time it takes to boot up your computer and the amount of memory used, type msconfig in the Run Window.

     The ‘System Configuration’ window will pop up.  Choose the Startup tab and uncheck almost everything except anti-virus programs.


     

  • Learn general functions, not specific places to click.
    (e.g. old blogger vs. new blogger)

              
       
If there’s something you can do with a program or site, it’s in the menu somewhere.  Check the menu!
 

  • Use your Bookmarks Toolbar to easily find sites you
    frequently visit (‘how
    to’ guide here
    )
        
  • Update your programs once in a while.  Find ‘about
    program’ in your menu options.  If you don’t have the latest
    version find the udpate option.
       
  • Improve your typing speed – List of typing sites





File
types
(extenstions)  and programs that open them 

File
Extension
Type
of File
Programs
.ppt ,  .pps
, or . odp
presentation Powerpoint
 OpenOffice
Impress
, or Google Docs
.doc, docx, .hwp,
.odt, or .rtf
document Microsoft Word, HWP, Open
Office
, or Google Docs
.pdf document Foxit
 or Adobe
Reader
.mp3 audio  VLC, Windows
Media Player
, and other
Media Players
.htm or .html web page Chrome,
Firefox
MSIE
  ,
or other browsers
.swf or .flv flash file VLC, Adobe Flash Player
.wmv , .rm , .avi ,
.mp4 , .mpg, or .mov
video (video files)
 VLC,
Real Player,
Windows
Media Player
, Gom,  or
other media players