Tip of the Day

http://wordtips.vitalnews.com/Pages/T000249_Changing_Text_Case.html

Summary: If you need to easily change the upper- and lower-case configuration of your text, Word has you covered. All you need to do is use the Change Case feature, as described in this tip. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

You've probably had it happen to you: You get a document from the new temp down the hall (or the technically illiterate mid-level manager), and you need to get it ready for a presentation in ten minutes. When you open the document you see that EVERYTHING IN THE DOCUMENT IS SCREAMING AT YOU. All the text is in capital letters. Aaagghhh! You can't distribute the document in this format. Quick—what do you do?

Fortunately, Word allows you to quickly and easily change the capitalization (case) of text. All you need to do is follow these steps:

1. Select the text you want to alter.
2. Press Shift+F3. Word changes the case of the selected text.
3. Continue pressing Shift+F3 until the case is the way you want it.

Using the Shift+F3 method allows you to cycle through three different case scenarios: ALL CAPS, all lowercase, and All Title Case. If you need greater control, then you need to use the menus. If you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007, simply select your text and then choose Change Case from the Format menu. Word displays the Change Case dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)

Note that the dialog box provides five different ways you can change the capitalization of your text. You can select the one that reflects what you want to do, and then click OK to have Word make the change. These are the choices in the dialog box:

• Sentence Case. This option capitalizes the first letter of each sentence in the selection.
• Lowercase. This option makes all the selected text lowercase.
• Uppercase. This option capitalizes each letter in the selection.
• Title Case. This option capitalizes the first letter of each word in the selection.
• Toggle Case. This option switches the case of each letter in the selection: lowercase becomes uppercase and vice-versa.

If you are using Word 2007, then you should select the text you want to affect and make sure the Home tab of the ruler is displayed. In the Font group, click the Change Case tool. Word displays a drop-down list from which you can select the same five options that used to be displayed in the Change Case dialog box. Make your selection, and Word cheerfully makes the change to your text.

Topics: Changing Text Case

How to Block Cellphone Spam

by David Pogue

If I told you that today’s e-column would change your life, would you mind that it’s sort of short?

The story goes like this. A few weeks ago, in my blog, I wrote this:

    “OK, now I’m really, REALLY annoyed. Within a week, my wife and I have both started getting spam text messages on our Verizon cellphones. I know that this is nothing new, but it’s new for us, and it’s apparently getting worse.

    “According to Wikipedia, this sleazy practice is described as ‘mobile spamming, SMS spam or SpaSMS, but is most frequently referred to as m-spam.’

    “It’s actually far worse than regular e-mail spam, for three reasons. First, you generally can’t delete it without opening it first.

    “Second, you have to pay for it. (And, of course, the senders pay nothing, since they can send text messages from a computer’s e-mail program for nothing.)

    “Third, there’s no way to stop it. You can’t install an anti-SMS spam program on your cellphone.

    “If you’re not feeling helpless and livid already, if you’re not already storming your carrier and Congress, I can think of only one reason: you haven’t been m-spammed yet. But your time will come.”

Shortly thereafter, I heard from an AT&T representative who revealed the presence of an astonishing little-known cellular feature: you can block cellular spam.

“Our customers can get onto our Web site,” he wrote, “and set their handset so that it receives no messages from the Internet, the origin of the vast majority of wireless spam.”

He also said:

    “Text messages sent from the Internet are addressed as follows: [Your 10-digit wireless number]@txt.att.net.

    “What spammers try to do, of course, is attempt to guess your number, largely by trial and error. This brings me to the second capability we offer our customers. Let’s say you want to block spam, but still want to receive messages originating from the Net that you would actually find useful (airline schedules, hotel reservations, etc.). For this purpose, we let you replace your wireless number with an alias. It could be some quirky name, or whatever you like. [You share this address only with people you know.] This could disrupt the guessing game spammers play to try to discern your number and sent you their junk.

    “Though not perfect, our efforts have helped keep spam in the category of minor, though annoying, phenomenon. Thanks for listening.”

The beauty of this feature, of course, is that it blocks ONLY text messages from the Internet. Your friends, using cellphones, can still text you.

As it turns out, Verizon Wireless offers these features, too. Sprint and T-Mobile don’t go quite as far, but they do offer some text-spam filtering options. Here’s how you find the controls for each company:

* AT&T: Log in at mymessages.wireless.att.com. Under Preferences, you’ll see the text-blocking and alias options. Here’s also where you can block messages from specific e-mail addresses or Web sites.

* Verizon Wireless: Log in at vtext.com. Under Text Messaging, click Preferences. Click Text Blocking. You’re offered choices to block text messages from e-mail or from the Web. Here again, you can block specific addresses or Web sites. (Here’s where you set up your aliases, too.)

* Sprint: No auto-blocking is available at all, but you can block specific phone numbers and addresses. To get started, log in at www.sprint.com. On the top navigation bar, click My Online Tools. Under Communication Tools, click Text Messaging. On the Compose a Text Message page, under Text Messaging Options, click Settings & Preferences. In the text box, you can enter a phone number, email address or domain (such as Comcast.net) that you want to block.

* T-Mobile: T-Mobile doesn’t yet offer a “block text messages from the Internet” option. You can block all messages sent by e-mail, though, or permit only messages sent to your phone’s e-mail address or alias, or create filters that block text messages containing certain phrases. It’s all waiting when you log into www.t-mobile.com and click Communication Tools.

As soon as I heard about all this, I went to the Verizon Wireless page for my own account and turned on the “block” options.

And you know what? We haven’t had a single piece of cellphone spam since.

You’re welcome.

How to disable the confirm deletion prompt in Windows XP

Each time you delete a file (move it to the Recycle Bin) - Windows asks if you’re sure you want to do it. If you want to get rid of that prompt, follow the steps outlined in this very brief tutorial.

1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and select Properties.

   

2. Remove the check from the box labeled Display delete confirmation dialog and click Apply then OK.

   
   click to enlarge

3. And you’ll never see this again

   

4. And if you accidentally delete something, you can always move it from the Recycle Bin back to its original location. Plus, you will still receive a prompt each time you empty the Recycle Bin.

USB Photo Scanner - 5 megapixel scanner converts old photos to digital at the press of a button

USB Photo Scanner. This clever new box of tricks uses a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor to scan those old photos in our attic and turn them into glorious digital images which can be stored, shared and enjoyed the modern binary way. The device offers up to 1800 dpi resolution and 10 bits per color channel, whatever that means. The only drawback is the fact that you’ll need to manually press that button for every print you want to convert, which could get a bit wearisome after a while. $149.95.

This device quickly and easily converts photographs into digital images, allowing you to confidently preserve your memories for generations to come. Faster and easier than a conventional scanner, this device instantly captures the whole image using a 5 MP CMOS sensor, the same found in digital cameras. With up to 1,800 dpi resolution, 10 bits per color channel, automatic exposure control and color balance, clear, accurate digital images are assured. Photographs are placed into a tray that slides into the converter; the touch of a button records the image instantly. For photo transfers and power, it has a USB cable that plugs into a PC running Windows…

   http://www.cellbackup.com

CellBackup automatically backs up all the valuable information in your phone, including contacts, audio, pictures and videos. Should you ever lose or replace your phone, you can easily restore all your valuable data to your new phone. To complement this service, the cellbackup.com website enables users to easily manage their content as well as create groups and share lists of contacts, photos and videos! Download CellBackup today and always be protected and up to date!

CellBackup Features
- Automatically back up contacts, pictures, audio and video
- All backup and restore functions occur wirelessly so you never need to plug your phone in to sync
- View and manage your content online at cellbackup.com
- Stringent security measures to ensure your data is always safe

Groups and Sharing
- Create groups and share lists of contacts, pictures and videos
- Updates to group information is automatically sent to everyone in the group
- Manage centralized address book for you family, friends or business

CellBackup Website Features
- Add, edit and delete content
- Manage which content is saved to your phone
- Create lists and share those lists with friends and colleagues
- Import Microsoft Outlook® and Yahoo!® contacts
- Print contact lists

CellBackup - Learn More