Tip #55 - Extra Help for Microsoft Office

100 Computer Tips in 100 Days

Tip #55 - Extra Help for Microsoft Office

If you are a Microsoft Office user, you probably have needed some help to accomplish set tabs, create formulas, indent text, etc. Microsoft offers a new option in addition to the classic FAQ search.

On their website Microsoft has a page of Quick Start Guides for the 2013 version of its various programs in the office suite.  These are in PDF format for easy downloading and printing. Each guide runs about five to nine pages depending on the program and covers the changes made to the software from the previous edition. Tips for using the program are included, as is compatibility advice for working with people who do not have Office 2013. Even if you are not using the 2013 version of the software I would recommend looking them over. The programs changed very little from the 2007 or 2010 versions. You can find these Guides at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/office-2013-quick-start-guides-HA103673669.aspx

Free quick reference cards for PC and Apple for a wide variety of software and versions are also available from the folks at Custom Guide On-Line Learning. You have to fill in a form but I find that if you put in the comments box that you’re just looking for a resource for personal use they don’t bother you. Check out their guides at http://www.customguide.com/computer-training/quick-references

Another place where people forget to look for help is YouTube. Yes there are lots of crazy videos of dancers and the like there but if you, for example, want a training video on mail merge in any version of Microsoft Word, I guarantee you’ll find dozens on YouTube. Some will be better than others, to be sure, but you probably will find one that will help you get through your project.

A forth suggestion is to open any search page (Google, Bing, Ask, etc.) and in the search box enter your search term. If you were looking for webpages on mail merge I would enter, “Word 2007 mail merge”. I like to start my searches by entering the name of the program and version so the help is specific to what I’m seeing on my computer.

Remember, you’re not alone even though there may be no one else in the room. The internet is just a click away.

Happy computing!

Diane

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