Often Microsoft Word will break a paragraph in an inappropriate spot--you can control where Word breaks a paragraph by using the "Keep lines together" function.

In Word 2003 click anywhere in the paragraph and choose Format, Paragraph, click on the Line and Page Breaks tab and then click on Keep Lines Together.  This prevents a paragraph from being split between two pages.  Also note the Keep with next checkbox prevents a page break between the selected paragraph and the following paragraph.  This is useful if you want to insure a heading stays with the related paragraph.

At MicroAssist, we run a number of large website applications that connect to databases.  One of the forms of attack that we are careful to program against is a SQL injection.  SQL Injection is a hacking technique where user input is allowed to pass through unfiltered to your SQL server and results in manipulation of the database by the end user of the application.  This is particular dangerous if your application sits on the Internet where anyone can access it.  Good programming and security practices such as constraining your input field for the correct type and filtering input fields for escape characters (a series of characters used to trigger a command state) can help decrease the chance of an attack. 

Want to start a commonly used application quickly?  Windows allows you to add a shortcut key to any application.  To add a shortcut key to an application you usually access from the Start Menu:

1. Click on the Start Menu
2. Find the icon of the application for which you want to create the shortcut key.  Do not left click on the application icon.
3. Right-Click on the icon.  This will bring up the property screen.
4. Click in the Shortcut key box
5. Press the shortcut key that you want to use.  I normally press Ctrl+Alt+letter for example for Notepad I use Ctrl+Alt+N, for the calculator I use Ctrl+Alt+C.  Be careful not t ... Read More »

Links to three date formula examples.

Insert the current date and time in a cell

Calculate the difference between two dates

Count days before a date

Links to three counting formula examples.

Count cells that contain numbers

Count unique values among duplicates

Calculate a running total

Links to four text formula examples.

Change the case of text

Split names by using Convert Text to Columns

Combine first and last names

Display only the last four digits of identification numbers

Let’s say you have a column of data that you want to change into a row, or you have a row of data that you want to change into a column. Moving the data manually, one item at a time, would be very time consuming. To save time, you can use the Paste Special command to quickly transpose data from columns to rows and vice versa.

• Select the data range you would like to transpose.
• Copy the data to the clipboard by clicking Edit > Copy from the menu.
• Select a destination cell for your data, then click Edit > Paste Special from the menu.
• In the Paste Special dialog, check Transpose, and then click OK.

One of the most time consuming activities in Access involves positioning and aligning controls on a form. Try the following example to create a Macro that provides simple shortcut keys for aligning controls.

• Create a new Macro and save it with the name AutoKeys. Make the Macro Name column visible by clicking View > Macro Names on the menu.
• In the first row of the Macro Name column, enter ^L (i.e. a caret and an L.) The caret refers to the Ctrl key in Access. In the Action column, choose the RunCommand action.
• Next, click the Action Argument Command for the RunCommand action, and choose the command AlignLeft.
• Proceed back to the the second row of the macro. Enter ^R under Macro Name, and choose RunCommand for the Action. Choose & ... Read More »

Did you know that you can quickly create bulleted slides by in your PowerPoint presentation from an outline in Word? PowerPoint interprets the style information in a Word outline. Each item in the outline formatted with the Heading 1 style creates a new slide (with a slide title) in the presentation. Outline items formatted with the other heading styles (Heading 2 through Heading 6) generate bulleted lists in the presentation.

Once you have formatted your outline in Word (use Outline View) and saved the document, there are several ways to generate the presentation.

To create a new presentation from the outline, click File > Open from the menu in PowerPoint. In the File Open dialog, choose All Outlines from the Files of Type dropdown. Finally, select the Word file and click the Open button.

OR

In Word, click File ... Read More »

Did you know you can create a photo album in PowerPoint?

• Click Insert > Picture > New Photo Album... from the menu to open the Photo Album dialog.
• In the Photo Album dialog, click the File/Disk button to add pictures from your computer or the Scanner/Camera button to download images from your camera.
• The Photo Album dialog allows you to arrange your pictures, format your pictures and create an album layout.
• Click the Create button to generate your photo album.