pc support newsletter

Systems Development The University of North Carolina at Charlotte May 2005

Arranging Icons by Groups (Windows XP Only)

If you are a Windows XP user, you can arrange your file icons in groups as in the example below:

The Group feature only works in these views: Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, or

Details view, so first select the view you want by selecting View, Details from the menu. In the example above, I

selected Details. Then select the desired arrangement (View, Arrange Icons By….). In the example above, I selected

Type. Finally, select View, Arrange Icons by, Show in Groups.

Outlook: Creating Templates

You can create an email message in Outlook and save it as a template so that you can use it over and over again.

This would be useful if you find yourself sending the same email (or a variation of the same email) to the same people on a regular basis. Click here for details.

How I use this: I have a template that I use when I need to send email to the controller’s list. On the template, the To and CC fields are complete, along with the first sentence ”For distribution to controller’s list. Please contact…..”. I have assigned the template to a toolbar button, so that I can click the button whenever I need the template. Once the template displays, I complete the email message and click Send.

Outlook Meeting Requests (Tips from Microsoft!)

• Do not delete a meeting request from your Inbox, or move it to another folder unless you have already accepted or declined the meeting.
• If you need to make changes to a meeting you have organized, make sure to click Send Update after making the revisions.
• If you use Outlook on two computers and accept a meeting on one of them, DO NOT delete the meeting request from the other computer with accepting it again, or you run the risk of deleting if from your calendar.
• If you receive a meeting cancellation notice, click Remove from Calendar to remove the meeting from your calendar. Simply deleting the meeting cancellation from the Inbox will not remove the meeting from your calendar.
• Outlook can have problems with meeting requests sent to distribution lists (even if they are expanded in the To box). Whenever possible, avoid sending meeting requests to distribution lists.
• Usually, when you send a meeting request, you want your recipients to respond so that you know who will be attending. However, if you are sending invitations to a large meeting, and do not want responses, you have the option to not receive them. Keep in mind that if you select this option. you will not know who or how many individuals plan on attending your meeting.

Internet Explorer: Using the History Feature Did you ever wish you could remember the web site that you found so helpful yesterday…or last week – but forgot to add to your Favorites? Well, you can use Internet Explorer’s History feature to go back to any site you have visited in the past few days, weeks, even months. In Internet Explorer, select View, Explorer Bar, History (or click the History button on the IE toolbar) to display your viewing history. Your history will be separated in categories (Today, Yesterday, This Week, Two Weeks Ago, etc.). Double click any category to open it and double click any folder in a category to open it, then click on any web address within a folder to be taken to the site. You can also click the drop down button next to “View” to display your history by name or frequency of visits, and you can use the Search button to search for a particular web site. How long Internet Explorer keeps your history is up to you. In Internet Explorer, select Tools, Internet Options and click the General tab. In the History section, you can set the number of days you want IE to keep your history, and you can click the Clear History button to delete your history.

Email Tips Common Sense things to double check before you click the SEND button: Have you actually attached any files you have indicated are attachments? Check the To, CC and BCC fields. Is the email going to the right person? Quickly proofread the email – does it make sense? Is the subject line clear and concise? Please don’t send email without a subject line. Make sure the email is short, clear and to the point. Be careful when using humor (especially sarcasm). Not everyone has the same sense of humor. Do not use all uppercase letters in the body of the email message. This is considered “Shouting”.