Use the REPT function to create quick charts

Wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to embed a chart in a spreadsheet to get a graphical comparison?

You can, by using Excel's REPT (REPeaT) funtion.

Here is an example from ZDNET Asia. It's just part of the article, so scroll down a little.

To keep employees informed of their progress, you might keep a worksheet like the one inFigure A, which tracks the completion rates of assigned tasks.

Figure A 

Just listing the completion rates, however, makes it hard to compare one task with another. It's easier to monitor results when they are presented graphically. Follow these steps.

1. Select D2:C11.
2. Enter the following formula (Figure B):
   =REPT("|",C2*100)

Figure B 

3. Press Ctrl + Enter.

The comparative results are now shown graphically, as shown in Figure C.

Figure C 

(Note that you can use any symbol for "|" in the formula. )

Use Word like a Typewriter for forms

Essentially, the plan works like this:

1. Scan the document into a file.
   
2. Place it in the Header of a Word file.
   
3. Set Word's font and line spacing to move smoothly down the document.
   

And you can just type normally using the Return and Tab keys to fill in the form.

You can just print out the form normally once it's filled in. Here is part of an article from ZDNet Asia that gives more detail.

What do you do when someone hands you an application to fill out or when you need to fill out a printed tax form? If you don't have a typewriter, you probably fill in the form manually, hoping that the recipient can read your handwriting.

Fortunately, you can use Word to "type it in" instead. Follow these steps:

1. Scan the form and save it as a picture to your My Pictures folder, or any folder where your picture files are kept. For this example, I scanned a tax form and saved it as a .PNG picture (Figure A).

Figure A 

1. Open a blank document in Word.
2. Go to View | Header and Footer. (In Word 2007, double-click in the Header pane of your document.)
3. Go to Insert | Picture and then click From File. (In Word 2007, position the insertion point in the Header pane, click the Insert tab, and then click Picture in the Illustrations group.)
4. Navigate to the file containing your form and click the Insert button.
5. Crop, resize, and reposition the picture as necessary to fit the page.
6. Right-click the picture, go to Format Picture, and click the Behind Text option. (In Word 2007, make sure the form is still selected. Then, under Picture Tools in the Format tab, click Text Wrapping in the Arrange group and choose Behind Text.)
7. Double-click anywhere in the document outside of the Header pane. You can then enter the desired text. (Figure B).

Figure B 

To type the data as shown, I decreased the font size to 9, changed the paragraph formatting to single line spacing, and applied 0 spacing before and after the paragraph. This made it easier to use the Enter key to move from one line to another, as if I were using a typewriter.

You can relocate your default folder

Image via WikipediaWUGNET

You can relocate your own folders easily.
If you want to move your stuff, check this out.

• Click your username at the top right of the Start menu to open your profile.
  
• Right-click Documents and choose Properties.
  
• Then click Location | Move and select the new location, or even create it at this time. You'll be asked if you want to move your documents;
  
• click Yes.
  

Don't try this with the Public folder, though: There's a Location tab, but no Move button.

Extend Your Vista Activation

Image via Wikipedia

WUGNET

Are you testing out Vista's features and compatibility but not sure if you want to go ahead and activate it?
Microsoft has built a software licensing manager into the new OS that lets you extend the activation period. Very understanding for Microsoft, considering so many have returned to XP Pro after buying a machine withh Vista installed.
At the Start menu's search bar, simply type "slmgr -rearm" to get another 30 days.
There is a maximum number of times you can "rearm" the software licensing manager.You can do rearm a maximum of three times before Microsoft blocks further extension periods.

Once you're locked out, that's it. You have to call Microsoft to unlock your computer or take it into a shop.

Bold me, baby! (and italic too)

Ever get tired of having to highlight text, go the Format menu and check off Bold or Italic for the text?
I do. I often use other people's computers. That means I never know what's hidden in there waiting for me. If I ACCIDENTALLY (like the Caps Lock?) hit a couple of keys, I might get all sorts of AutoCorrect things.
Using the Format menu is a safe bet, but it often means losing my train of thought for a while.
There are other ways to do it, of course.

Most experienced Word or Open Office Writer users know about the Ctrl-b shortcut to make text bold. (Or Ctrl-i for Italics.)That shortcut works with a lot of other software too - so long as someone hasn't set Ctrl-b to something else.

If you're using MSWord, there's a neat little trick that can save time and concentration.
Wouldn't it be great if you could get bold or italics styles without having to hit Ctrl keys or look to menus? You can. Type *this will be bold* into a Word document, and see what happens.

If it doesn't turn up bold, look at the Tools-->Autocorrect options for the "Autocorrect as you type" tab, and check the box for "*Bold* and _Italic_ with real formatting".
Now try it. Type "this will appear bold* into a document.
As soon as you type the last asterisk (*), the text will appear bold!
Image from Wikipedia
Voila!
So long as your work doesn't involve typing a lot of text with asterisks or underscores, it's a very handy little trick. Enjoy!