7 Top Tips for Microsoft Word Users
When it comes to Microsoft Word, there are a number of simple tricks that can significantly improve your experience. No longer will you be spending hours reorganising, restructuring and re-editing your work before submitting it. Here are our top tips for Microsoft Word users:
1) Disable Auto Formatting
This is probably the most important tip to follow, as it will allow you to edit individual words and phrases without the program reformatting them for you. To disable this feature in Microsoft Word 2013 click the "File" tab at the top of your screen, then click "Options". In section 3 find "Auto-Formatting". This section has a selection of check boxes to choose from, and the default setting is "Enable formatting changes", select "Disable Auto Formatting" and click "Save".
2) Redo font formatting
While in the Font section on your text cells, you can use the Font colour drop-down box to pick a colour for each letter. To do this click on the cell where you want the colour applied, then click on one of the coloured boxes that appear at the top of your screen (looks like a selection arrow). It's important to select the correct colour box that shows the letter you want to change. If it's a capital letter, click on the Capital A box, if it's an exclamation mark then click on the Exclamation Mark box, and so on.
3) Turn on Track Changes
One of many great tools included in Microsoft Word is its ability to track changes when you're working collaboratively with other users. To enable this feature click "File" at the top of your screen, then click "Options". In section 3 find "Track Changes". Make sure there are check boxes for "Comments" and "Changes" next to each other (the default setting). When "Comments" has a tick next to it, you will see the initials of other users on your document; if "Changes" is ticked you will see their alterations to the document in red.
4) Enable Autocorrect
For those who frequently make typing mistakes when writing in Microsoft Word, this feature could save you hours of correcting work. To turn on autocorrect click "File" at the top of your screen, then click "Options". In section 3 find "Edit". Select the autocorrect check box (this is under section 2).
5) Turn on spell check
Sometimes Microsoft Word suggests spelling mistakes that you are not making. To enable spell checking click "File" at the top of your screen, then click "Options". Under section 3 find the "Spelling" section. Select the "Check spelling when you type" check box (this is under section 2).
6) Activate SmartArt feature
If you're working with a large document it's useful to always have a second row of text to refer back to for quick facts and figures. With Microsoft Word 2013 all you have to do is click in the cell where you want this extra information, then either double-click on the text or press Enter twice (depending on your keyboard configuration). This will open the insert panel, and under "SmartArt" you will see a drop down list. It contains a number of different smart art options, double-click on one and your selected text cell will automatically convert it into the chosen diagram.
7) Turn on Track Changes
In this day and age it's highly advisable to use Microsoft Word 2013 for any assignment or essay. This is because it allows users to track changes in real time, making collaboration with peers much easier. To turn on Track Changes click "File" at the top of your screen, then click "Options". In section 3 find "Track Changes". Make sure there are check boxes for "Comments" and "Changes" next to each other (the default setting). When "Comments" has a tick next to it, you will see the initials of other users on your document; if "Changes" is ticked you will see their alterations to the document in red.
Author: office.com-au Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/microsoft-word-articles/7-top-tips-for-microsoft-word-users--985955.html
Title: Excel 2013 - The Most Important Tips and Tricks
The following is a comprehensive list of the most important tricks and tips for Excel 2013 (the Ribbon interface). This will help you to save hours of your time, eliminate unnecessary steps in your work and make your job much easier!
1) How to enter current date or time into cell
In MS Excel, there is no built in function that does this, so you have to create a simple formula by yourself.
Select the cell from which you have to enter time.
Click on the "Home" button to put cell on Page view.
The cursor will appear in the cell. Type =MSDAY(DATE(YEAR(),MONTH(),DAYOFMONTH()))
Now drag to where you want this formula applied (this is the same as dragging right mouse button down and selecting 'Insert Function' option).
You'll get a simple result like this:
Now copy this formula, move it below and right paste it in all cells that need to be current date or time, just like as before above trick.
To do this quickly, move the cursor to where you want this formula applied and select 'Insert Function' option from the drop-down list. You'll get simple result like this:
2) How to sort items with multiple criteria
If you have a lot of items sorted with multiple criteria (for example, all items with date "October 2011" and all items ending in ".doc" or ".docx"), then it's time to use VLOOKUP function.
In Excel, there are separate VLOOKUP functions for each type of data (like all dates, numbers, etc.).
Conclusion:
If your goal is to sort items with multiple criteria displayed in ascending or descending order, then you have to create this formula: =VLOOKUP(B5,A1:A5,2,FALSE)
Notice that you have to put "2" in the fourth cell (the one with F instead of CR). It will return the second level of hierarchy. =VLOOKUP will return only the items that are in the top three levels of hierarchy.
The above formula will return results from 1st up to 3rd of each month (1st through 3rd October 2011).