Drag and Drop

Drag, Drop and Go

Do you use Gmail for all your e-mail needs? How about Firefox for all your Web browsing needs? Well, if you use both of those services, you're going to absolutely love what I have for you today! It's actually a Firefox extension that works just for Gmail. It's called "dragdropupload" when you want to attach something to an e-mail you're sending out, you have to go through the whole process of clicking the "Attach a file" link and then you have to browse through all your files just to find the single one you're looking for. What a pain! But if you install dragdropupload, you'll no longer have to go through that torture. That's right, with dragdropupload, you can simply drag the files you want right to the attachment box.

say you want to send a Word document to one of your friends. To do that, just locate the file on your computer, drag it over and drop it on the "Attach a file" link in Gmail. It will automatically be added to your attachments and you can then type up a quick message and send it off. Just drag over as many files as you want and you're all set. To download dragdropupload for yourself, just go here and click on the Download Now button. Once you do, you'll never want to go back to the old way of e-mail attachments.

The Page Setup Express

When using MS Word, do you like the display to include the rulers (View menu, Rulers choice or in Word 2007, they're found on the View ribbon, Show/Hide section?) I know I do, because it really helps me to see them as I work. The convenience of tab stops and margins constantly displayed in such a small space is something I just can't do without.

Well, as it turns out, the rulers you're used to looking at were hiding a secret! Yep, they're your quick ticket to the Page Setup window. No menus, no key combinations to remember, just a quick double click and you're right there in the Page Setup window!

I'm completely serious! Even in Word 2007, that's all there is to it. A double click on one of the rulers will instantly pop open the Page Setup window. It's as fast as having an actual button designated to take you there.

One more thing: you do need to remember that a single click on the bottom half of the horizontal ruler will insert a tab stop. To avoid tab stops you don't really want to create (due to slow double clicking), either use the top half of the horizontal ruler, the unused portions beyond the horizontal ruler or the vertical ruler for this tip.

Other than that, this double click trick seems to be an express train straight to the Page Setup!

Shaping Up

Using MS Office Suite 2007?

If so, do you insert a lot of pictures or clipart?

Ever find yourself looking at a picture, thinking just how perfect it is, only if it were a different shape?

Maybe you've found a great piece of clipart, but it's rectangular shaped,

Instead, you were looking for a corner accent shape,

You really like the picture, but not the shape.

If you're using Office 2007, maybe you don't have to "settle" for something else after all!

When you insert the picture, you'll automatically have the Picture Tools, Format tab added to the ribbon. And that's where you'll find the solution to your dilemma.

On the right hand side of the Picture Styles section, you'll find a button labeled Picture Shape.

When you click on that button, your AutoShapes choices will appear, but not for drawing purposes.

Instead, if you choose a shape from the palette, you'll find that your picture is changed into the shape you selected.

Office doesn't distort the shape, it simply hides the parts you no longer need.

From there, you can rotate, recolor, brighten, etc. Just like you could with the original.

Given the versatility this gives to your graphics, you can be quite creative, so give it a try. You just might find it becomes one of your favorite tricks for creating truly customized documents and presentations