Tips & TidBITS^©

Dragging & Pushing (Taskbar button) -- drag from one open document to another open document (one that is covering the other) -- drag your selection to the target’s Taskbar button (do not drop it), wait a second to activate the button and surface the target window, and continuing to drag your document into the target window.

For Dragging an Object to a Covered Window – simply drag an object over the tray button for the desired window and hold it for a moment. That window will move to the top, allowing you to drop the object without rearranging the open windows.

To Open Additional Windows In Single Window Browse Mode -- if your default View Options are set to Browse Using a Single Window for Each Folder, holding Ctrl while you double click your mouse button will open an additional window for the folder.

Want to Suppress Startup Shortcuts – to keep items in the Startup folder from launching, simply hold the CTRL key while Windows is booting.

For an easy connection to a Network Server/Share -- at the Start button, choose Run and enter the UNC path, i.e. entering \\anyname will open a window showing shared resources for the computer named anyname. Whereas entering \\anyname\share\direct will open the given directory, direct, on the \\anyname\share share point.

To access the Media Player from an .AVI -- you can bring up the Media Player by double-clicking the title bar of the .AVI while it is playing,. To make it disappear -- double-click the Media Player title bar.

To access the Master Volume Control Panel – first enable the volume control icon by accessing the Audio page of the Multimedia control panel applet. Once open select the ‘Show volume control on Taskbar’ option. Once this has been enabled, click on the speaker icon on the Taskbar and it will launch the volume control slider, or by double-clicking the speaker icon it will launch the full volume control applet.

Want to deactivate Autorun On Audio CD’s – simply hold down the shift key when you insert your CD-ROM or make the following change; Open a folder and select view, options, file types, then select Audio CD and click on Edit. From the Action listbox Select Play, you will have two options for Set Default -- if Play is selected, the CD will play when inserted if it is not, it will not play.

For Synchronizing Files Between Portable Machines and Desktops -- to keep a set of files synchronized between a portable, an office desktop, and a home machine, create a briefcase on both your desktop machines and keep the current documents on your portable. Simply drag the documents from your portable to the Briefcase on each of your desktop machines, now each time you connect your portable to one of your docking stations, the Briefcase on the desktop machines will automatically synchronize the files. OR if you do not have a docking station – copy the file onto a floppy disk and use Windows Explorer to drop it on each of the Briefcases. Each time you open the Briefcase of the machine you are on it will automatically update the file on that machine.

Use Microsoft Paint as a Bitmap Viewer -- Microsoft Paint can be pressed into service as a bitmap viewer. Just drag a bitmap icon onto Microsoft Paint window to view it and the current image will be replaced with a new bitmap.

To change your Open With option -- to open a file that has been associated with a program, with a different program, hold down the shift key while right clicking on the file. "Open with" will be added to the menu now giving you the option to open the file with a different program.

The option to Select Multiple Files -- in the Large Icon View results in a different behavior than while in the List View mode. For extending your selection, click the first icon in your selection and hold the Shift key while you click on the last icon in your selection. To toggle random selections, hold the Ctrl key while you select the files wanted. (Experiment and you will see that you can select single columns or multiple columns.)

Part 2 of 3 part review of Delrina’s CommSuite for Windows 95.

TalkWorks is the portion of the CommSuite that is made for people with voice-fax modems. It allows you to set up mail boxes and to receive voice messages over your phone lines. The setup is simple and straight forward.

You select a primary message (you can record this yourself) and enter any combination of secondary messages. These secondary messages for the individual mailboxes are accessed by the caller selecting the appropriate extension with a touch tone phone. After listening to the recorded message the caller can leave a message. This is similar to an answering machine except the messages are stored individually in each mail box and can be retrieved by the mail boxes owner. TalkWorks’ advanced functionality also lets you forward voice messages to others

If you are running a business you can set up a complete phone center capable of answering questions and directing phone messages. WinFax will page you when you've received an important voice message through TalkWorks. It also offers speed dialing, speaker phone capability and caller identification. You’ll even be able to set up a Fax on Demand system that lets clients dial in and choose which fax they’d like to receive -- a great tool for distributing marketing materials, press releases or price lists. You can retrieve your messages either through your telephone or through your sound card and speakers. This is important if you do not want anyone else to hear your messages!

WinFax Scanner is installed as a stand alone part of this suite. It allows you to use a fax machine as a scanner. With the program you can scan photos, or other items, such as receipts and business correspondence, into WinFax PRO using the Delrina WinFax Scanner (machine is available separately), eliminating any need for a fax machine ever again. (The machines were being given away as a special gift.) Confused yet – they sound the same, both a machine and the operating software, when combined enable you to project a professional look in your correspondence.