AutoFitting Tables in Word

From: WordTips

Summary: Need to adjust the width of a bunch of table columns according to what is in the columns? Word provides a tool to do this, called AutoFit. Here’s how to apply it to your tables. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

Word makes it very easy to add tables to your documents. Once added, you may need to adjust the width of the columns in your table to fit your needs. There are a myriad of ways you can do this, as has been covered in other issues of WordTips. One of the quickest ways you can adjust the width of columns is to use the AutoFit feature of Word. This feature is particularly useful if you have a small amount of information in each cell of your table. To use the feature, follow these steps if you are using Word 97:

1. Select the entire table.
2. Choose Cell Height and Width from the Table menu. Word displays the Cell Height and Width dialog box.
3. Make sure the Column tab is selected.
4. Click on AutoFit.

If you are using Word 2000, 2002, or 2003, the procedure is a bit different:

1. Select the entire table.
2. Choose AutoFit from the Table menu. Word displays a submenu.
3. Choose AutoFit to Contents from the Submenu.

Finally, if you are using Word 2007 follow these steps:

1. Select the entire table.
2. Make sure the Layout tab is displayed.
3. In the Cell Size group click AutoFit. Word displays a drop-down list of choices.
4. Choose AutoFit to Contents from the choices.

The effect on your table depends on whether it contains information or not. If the table is empty, the columns are evenly resized so they fit within the page margins. If there is information in any of the columns, the column width is set so that information fits on a line (if possible).

If your table contains information, you can use the mouse to quickly do an AutoFit. You do that by simply double-clicking the mouse on the left border of the table. The column widths adjust automatically, the same as if you went through the steps detailed above.

Topics: AutoFitting Tables - |2008-03-02|

Solar Birdbath Fountain

 Solar Birdbath Fountain

Go green with this Solar Birdbath Fountain. I’m sure it operates on the same principles and mechanism as the solar-powered birdbath we covered some time ago, but the model here is different in terms of aesthetics.

Free solar power turns this handsome birdbath into a soothing fountain. No wiring or plumbing needed. The sun does all the work, transforming this eye-catching birdbath into a bubbling spout of water. Direct sunlight activates the birdbath’s fountain, bringing the relaxing sounds of splashing water to your yard.

Priced at $179, make sure you don’t have any Garfield-wannabes in the vicinity, all geared up to pounce on your feathered friends.

Solar Birdbath Fountain » Coolest Gadgets

Google Docs Uploader

 Google Docs Uploader: Ditch Office Easily

If you've been thinking about abandoning Microsoft Office on the desktop in favor of a Web-based solution, Google Docs is a natural solution. The nice thing about Google Docs is that you can upload Microsoft Word docs and Excel spreadsheets without a problem. If you have a lot of documents you'd like to import however, the Google Docs Uploader can save a lot of time.

Google Docs and other online Web-based office suites aren't for everyone, and certainly not for those folks who refuse to store any document on the Web for fear of privacy issues. If such issues don't concern you, Google Docs can help move your oft-used documents onto the Web. The Google Docs Uploader is a simple solution to an annoying problem you might face if you want to move your files to Google Docs.

The app is completely free, and was designed to show off the Google Docs API. The Google Docs Uploader is a snap to install and just as easy to use. Just drag the documents you want to upload to your Google Docs account and drop them into the uploader window. You'll have to log in to your Google account, but once you're logged in, uploading all of the files in the list is as simple as a single click. You can even enable a right-click menu item after you have the Uploader installed, so you can simply right-click on a document you'd like to upload to have it added to the queue.

The only downside to the Google Docs Uploader is that it requires the .NET Framework 2.0 or higher to use, so you'll have to get that in order to make use of the application. Even so, the app has a fairly small system footprint, even though it uses .NET.

Google Docs Uploader: Ditch Office Easily - AppScout - |2008-03-01|

Get Some Money Back On That Diamond You Bought

MIAMI (CBS4) ―

If you bought any diamond jewelry in the past few years, you could be eligible for a hefty refund. It's all part of a proposed settlement in a lawsuit charging the company manipulated diamond. The company, DeBeers, is agreeing to refund hundreds of millions of dollars.

Miami master Gemologist, Joe Tenhagen, is one of the top diamond experts in the southeast. He said it was common knowledge inside the diamond industry that DeBeers set the price on its rough stones, and if you didn't like it you basically couldn't buy "wholesale" from anyone else.

"DeBeers controlled the world supply of rough, they dictated the price of rough and then the price of cut stones had to follow that trend because the dealers, the diamond cutters had to pay DeBeers price or they wouldn't get any rough," Tenhagen explained.

A recent class action lawsuit charged DeBeers was in effect a monopoly, illegally setting the price of diamonds and misleading the public. Insiders told CBS4's consumer investigator Al Sunshine that for years, the inflated cost of DeBeers' stones were simply passed along to consumers, who were charged more than the diamonds were worth.

To settle the case, DeBeers is agreeing to refund 295 million dollars. While most of the money is earmarked for big, commercial jewelers 135 million dollars in refunds is available to individual consumers, if they take the time to file a claim.

DeBeers Diamond Settlement
Refund Period:

Jan.1, 1994-March 31, 2006

Eligible Refunds:

Diamond Jewelry under $200:   0.5% Retail Price

Diamond Jewelry under $1000: 27.5%

Diamond Jewelry under $5500: 32% 

Loose Diamonds:                        59%

This is how it works:

If you bought diamond jewelry between Jan. 1994 thru March 2006, you are eligible to apply for a refund.

Depending on how much you spent, you could get back between 10 to 30 percent on the retail price. If you bought any loose diamonds, refunds could approach 60 percent. But be warned, some critics believe only the lawyers who brought the case to court will see any big bucks out of this national class action lawsuit.

"It's a waste of you time nothing is ever going to come out of it," said Philip Matthew, owner of Mathew Jewelers. "Cuz 135 million divided by everyone in the county divided the number of years and the court fees nothing is going to be left for the consumer."

Consumer like Mike Stancil said he'll take his chances.

"To know that they also price gauging and ripping off the consumer," explained Stancil. "Definitely I'll hit him where it hurts."

DeBeers is facing a lot more competition from diamond mines in other parts of the world. Changing the landscape of the diamond industry should be good news for consumers.

If you want to apply for a refund you have until May to get all you paperwork filled with the court.

Buyers have until May, 19 to file a claim click here or click De Beers to learn more about the settlement.

cbs4.com - Get Some Money Back On That Diamond You Bought - |2008-02-18|

Macro Photography - It's the Little Things That Count

 By ErinManning

I've had a lot of requests lately for more information about macro photography, so as a little Valentine's gift to you - I've written a step-by-step guide for capturing those close-ups.

Have you seen a beautiful photograph in a book or magazine that captures all the detail of a flower or insect, close-up? The art of taking pictures of things extremely close-up is called macro photography. Professional photographers have expensive cameras and lenses that enable them to capture these macro shots in great detail, but did you know that your compact digital camera is also capable of macro shots? You’ve probably already noticed it, but let me formally introduce you to the flower icon on the back of your camera – it looks like this: Pressing this flower icon button and activating the macro mode will enable you to focus closer to your subject and capture details in your images that were previously too small or out of focus. For comparison, most compact digital cameras set in macro mode will focus approximately 1 to 1.5 feet away from the subject versus normal mode that focuses about 3 feet away. Just because macro mode is represented by a flower doesn’t mean that flowers are the only allowable subject.  Get creative with a few of the following macro photo ideas:

• Flowers and insects
• The human eye
• Baby’s fingers and toes
• Textural detail in fabric, stone or wood
• Coins and collectables
• Documenting serial numbers on electronic items
• Greater detail in your online auction images

The list is endless! Let’s get started - here are the steps and a few tips for taking better macro shots with your digital camera:

1. Turn on the macro mode by pressing the flower icon (make sure the icon appears in your LCD viewfinder).
2. Compose your shot and press your shutter button halfway down to lock in the exposure and focus.
3. Experiment with the angle and distance to your subject until the focus looks sharp in your LCD viewfinder.
4. Experiment with your camera’s zoom feature until you are happy with the perspective.
5. Now depress your shutter button all the way down to record the shot.

Potential problems and solutions

Problem: Over-exposed images

Solution: Turn off your flash by cycling through the flash options and selecting “flash off” - the icon looks like this:

Problem: Under-exposed images

Solution: Move to another location or increase the strength of your light source.

Problem: Blurry images - Getting close-up magnifies more than your subject, it also increases the potential of image blur because your subject or your camera moves slightly.

Solution: To decrease the blur in your photos, stabilize your camera on a table or use a mini-tripod. To further ensure that your camera doesn’t move, use your camera’s self-timer feature and set it to 2 seconds.

Tips and tricks

• Use a magnifying glass in front of your lens to get even closer to your subject. The results can be really unusual.
• Capture water droplets on your flower images by spraying water on the petals right before the shot.
• Diffuse harsh light by using tissue paper or a transparent, white plastic grocery bag between your light source and your subject.
• Reflect light into your scene with tin foil or a car dashboard reflector.

The best camera to have is the one you have with you - now compact digital cameras are so small that they’re easy to carry along. I bring my little digital camera with me everywhere. If you see me in a restaurant, I’ll be the woman photographing not only my friends but also the table utensils, salt shaker and candle.

Macro photography opens up a whole new world of photo opportunities, and anything is possible! Look around and begin to explore. Once you see the detail in everyday objects, you’ll be hooked.

Macro Photography - It's the Little Things That Count » Curbly | DIY Design Community « Keywords: macro, Photography, Valentine's, Digital - |2008-02-13|