by Felicien | Dec 21, 2017 | Education
Using Word more efficiently is as easy as figuring out the tricks, shortcuts, and features that can make simple tasks even simpler.
Microsoft Word is not exactly a new programme. having been on the market since the early days of home PCs. However, new versions have come out over the years, each adding something a little different into the mix. Despite the ways the programme has changed, most users are still relying on the handful of basic keyboard shortcuts and little style and format tricks they picked up ages ago, not realising just how much they don’t know.
Stop doing things the hard way. Check out these 10 time-saving Microsoft Word tips, and start putting them to work for you.
Cut Down On Your Keystrokes With AutoText
The AutoText function not only saves you time, but it reduces the potential for embarrassing typos. Frequently used text or graphics can be made into AutoText entries, and shared across your entire organisation. All you have to do is type or insert the text or graphic into your Word document, then select the content and hit Alt+F3. Give your AutoText entry a shorthand you’ll remember easily (if it’s a client’s name, make the shorthand ‘rgc’ instead of ‘Really Great Company,’ etc.) and Word will store the AutoText in your Normal template. To use an AutoText shortcut, type the shorthand and hit F3, and Word will automatically insert the correct text or graphic.
Make Use Of The AutoCorrect Function
This feature can automatically fix little mistakes for you, like switching ‘adn’ to ‘and,’ but it can be even more useful when you take advantage of the custom dictionary. You can set AutoCorrect to correct words you frequently mistype by clicking the File tab and choosing Options. Choose Proofing from the left pane, then click AutoCorrect Options. There, you can add the words you want to have automatically replaced. The misspelling under Replace, and the correct spelling under With, and you’re all set. Add as many words as you need to.
Customise You Paste Defaults
The whole point of using copy and paste is to save you time, so when pasting text from another source into a Word document means you need to fix the formatting to match the rest of your document? Not exactly a time saver. You can fix that, however, by using the Keep Text Only feature in the Paste drop-down – meaning you’ll need to right-click on the highlighted text instead of using the keyboard shortcut. If you keep forgetting to use this trick, you can also change Word’s default settings by clicking Options under the File Tab. Select Advanced, and under the Cut, Copy, And Paste section choose to Keep Text Only from the Pasting From Other programmes dropdown.
Undo Styles
There are other ways to remove source formatting if you can’t change your paste default by changing the copied text itself. Highlight the text you want to paste and either hit Ctrl+Spacebar or click Normal in the Styles gallery to leave yourself with plain text.
Use Real-Time Collaboration
If you’re using a version of Office 365 or Office 2016, there are a whole host of great collaborative features available to you. By saving a Word document to OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint, you can simply click Share in the upper right-hand corner and either enter or choose the people you want to collaborate with. They’ll be granted access to the document, and can then read and edit said document along with you in real-time. You’ll be able to see who is doing what so there won’t be any confusion. This can save a ton of time since you won’t need to email documents back and forth or hope that everyone is still using the correct version along the way.
Pose Your Questions To Tell Me
This new help tool keeps things simple by letting you ask questions in plain language, offering responses that best fit with what you’ve typed in. Sometime you’ll get a link to a feature, other times you’ll get a block of text. Either way, it’s quick and easy.
Use Templates For Consistency And Design Help
There are a large number of free templates available for download, but if you can’t find what you need, you can easily tweak an existing template to get what you want. It’s much faster than starting from scratch and does a lot of the hard work for you. Any time you start a new project, remember this option exists and take a look at what your options are by searching for Office Templates and Themes online.
Use The Word Mobile App
Mobile apps come with some Office 365 subscriptions, and the word app lets you view, edit, and create documents on the go from a mobile device. While it doesn’t have many of the features that the online or desktop versions do, it’s a good starting point since it allows for formatting consistency. More importantly, it’s easy and convenient.
Customise Your Table Format Default
If you frequently use the same custom table format, make it your default to save yourself a little time. If it’s a format that already exists, right-click on it in the Table Styles gallery in the Design tab and choose Set As Default. If it’s a style you created yourself, create it again and set it as the default.
Write Anywhere On The Document
Double-click anywhere on the Word page, and just start typing. It really is that easy to make use of the vast amounts of white space in a document.
Want to learn more about how you can get the most out of your Microsoft programmes and tools? Contact {company} at {email} or {phone}. We’re the Microsoft experts businesses in {city} trust.
by Felicien | Dec 20, 2017 | Education
We like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19th for another must-have tech item and why you should check it out.
In 2015 Sphero released their app-connected robot, BB-8, to tie-in with Star Wars The Force Awakens. Now, with this year’s release of The Last Jedi, Sphero has done it again with two new droids, R2-D2 and BB-9E. R2, of course, moves on treads and can move sideways if wanted or he can bring out his third leg and use it to lean back and navigate tougher terrain like carpeting.
R2’s head turns, and he has plenty of lights and sounds from built-in speakers, something BB-8 didn’t have. You can draw a path with your finger on the app and R2 will follow it. There’s also a button to have R2 “flip out” so to speak, where he shakes and makes noise before falling over.
Like its droid brothers, the BB-9E droid uses the same app as the other two and can be controlled via app or voice commands. The three droids are in scale with each other and 12-inch action figures.
Sphero is planning to add new ways for the droids to interact with each other and their surroundings. Right now, you can have them watch Rogue One or The Force Awakens, and the droids will react at certain points thanks to scripted points in the movies and the app listens for these cues to cause the droids reactions.
If you’ve got a Star Wars fan on your list this holiday, no doubt they’ve already got these little guys on their list. At just $250 for R2-D2 and $200 for BB-9E, they are just about affordable enough to get both…assuming you can find one. As is the case with most items on our list of Top 12 Tech Gifts, these droids are in short supply but revered by Star Wars fans all over.
Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at {company}!
by Felicien | Dec 20, 2017 | Education
With the approaching new year, it might be time to start thinking about ways that you can improve your life. Some common resolutions include losing weight, exercising more and spending less.
Have you considered bettering your digital life as well? Why not take steps to make it more secure? One of the easiest ways to do this is by using strong and complex passwords and change them often.
Update Passwords Regularly.
When was the last time you updated your passwords? If the answer to this question is more than 30 days ago, it’s time for a change.
Some people use passwords for years or until a system requires they update them. This could have serious consequences to your privacy. For this reason, it’s essential that you update your passwords frequently. It’s much easier to break a password that’s remained unchanged than it is to crack a password that’s changed each month.
It’s also important that you use different passwords for each one of your accounts. Using the same password for everything is like inviting hackers to steal your information. If you do this, and someone hacks into one of your accounts by figuring out your password, they would also have the password for your email, other social media accounts, online shopping sites, and perhaps even your bank account. By changing passwords across platforms, you’re further protecting your confidential information.
Invest in a Password Bank.
I know—I can hear you now: “I’m too busy to constantly change passwords and keep track of them.” This is no excuse – especially because there are applications you can use called password banks. A password bank, like LastPass or DashLane can help you keep track of the passwords you use and what accounts they’re associated with. Both free and upgraded versions are available.
You simply access your password bank with a master password that you create, or with a fingerprint on your smartphone. The password bank automatically keeps track of your passwords and ensures they’re stored securely so they can’t be hacked. Even if a criminal cracks one of your passwords, they won’t be able to break them all.
According to Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, weak passwords are the cause 63% of all data breaches.
Carefully Craft Your Passwords.
If your passwords are simple they’re more likely to be discovered. It’s important that you create long and complex passwords, with a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols when permitted.
Avoid using names or places in your passwords, as people who come to know you may be able to guess them. Don’t use common phrases like “iloveyou” or “1234.” A good password might be a string of numbers and letters or some other combination of information like a sentence acronym that’s specific to yourself. For example: My favorite place to eat is La Cucina Italian Restaurant – (MfpteiLCIR)
Use Two-Factor Authentication.
Two-factor authentication also referred to as multi-factor authentication, uses verification in two forms to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing your private information. With two-factor authentication, you use an initial password login and a secondary one. In addition to entering your username and password, you must enter a designated code that’s been sent as a text to your phone.
A token or keycard can also be used for the second authentication. A token might be a device such as a USB drive. The drive generates a one-time password, and after entering the initial password as well as the one-time password, access is granted.
And remember, securing passwords is something you should do year-round, not just for the new year. Phoenix Technology can help. If you are interested in learning more about password security, contact us today at 1-800-677-7305, or click here to fill out a quick form so we can better assist you.
by Felicien | Dec 19, 2017 | Education
Getting more out of your business data is quickly becoming an industry all its own, and there are some exciting things on the horizon to help you do more, learn more, and grow more.
Data has long been your business’ most valuable and essential asset, and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions are changing the way you use that data. A modern BI approach is a sure-fire way to lift your business above your competitors, using savvy analytics to make better data-driven decisions. There are a ton of fantastic and innovative BI technologies and strategies available to today’s businesses, and these 10 trends are projected to lead the pack heading into 2018.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Science Fiction paints a pretty terrifying picture of what advancements in AI will mean for humankind, but in reality, this technology is already proving to be a huge asset to analysts. As machine learning technology continues to improve, it’s becoming easier to automate tasks that would otherwise be labour-intensive time sucks for your staff. With the tedious work done for them, analysts can instead focus on thinking strategically about the implications of their results, and start planning next steps for your business. Unlike some other technological advancements, machine learning isn’t meant to replace human employees. Rather, its goal is to enhance the work your staff is already doing.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
It’s estimated that half of all analytical queries will be generated using voice, search, or NLP by 2020. The power of NLP will allow staff to pose more nuanced questions of your data, and get more accurate and helpful responses as a result. While this is exciting enough on its own, the real gains where analytics are concerned will come from what developers and engineers alike are able to learn from looking closer at how people are using NLP. That way, we can make sure NLP is being applied to the types of workflows where it can have maximum impact.
Crowdsourced Data Governance
Self-service analytics are gaining popularity, granting users access to new perspectives and new information that is inspiring more innovative ways to implement governance. More than just using the wisdom of the crowd to get your hand on the right data, governance is about making sure the wrong data stays out of your system. BI solutions and analytics will be making use of this modern governance model in 2018, giving IT departments and data engineers the ability to cultivate trusted data sources.
Multi-Cloud Strategies
There has been an ongoing debate about multi-cloud solutions as more and more businesses sour on the idea of being tied to a single cloud solution. Multi-cloud strategies allow for business to work with multiple providers, finding the right vendor for a specific project or need. This increased flexibility comes with a higher overhead cost and requires your IT personnel to become familiar with multiple platforms. However, with 70 % of businesses expected to have a multi-cloud strategy in place by 2019, it’s a good idea to start looking seriously at how best to make this strategy work for your business.
The Chief Data Officer
Chief Information Officers (CIO) are nothing new, but as data and analytics become more critical to your operations, the need to strike a better balance between security and innovation has lead to a new C-level position – the Chief Data Officer (CDO). Adding a CDO or even a CAO (Chief Analytics Officer) to spearhead business process changes allows your business have a firm grasp on analytic strategy, making sure it’s part of the conversation from the get-go.
A Rise In Data Insurance
Several recent high-profile data breaches serve as a reminder of the risks and costs associated with these types of security incidents. Data is now a commodity, which means it’s only going to continue to become a bigger target for theft in the future. Quite often, there is no real consequence to the perpetrator when data theft happens, so there’s not much to deter a cybercriminal from setting their sights on your data. For that reason, more companies are expected to invest in cybersecurity insurance to protect their valuable data assets in the coming year.
The Location of Things
A subcategory of the increasingly popular Internet of Things (IoT), the “location of things” refers to devices that are able to sense and share their geographic location. The ability to capture this data can help users to add the context of location to data when assessing usage patterns. This technology can be used to track both assets and people, and can even interact with devices like smartwatches for a more personalised experience. This extra layer of typical usage data can help better inform your business strategies moving forward.
Increased Role For Data Engineers
The movement to use data to make better business decisions necessitates a larger role for data engineers in today’s businesses. With over 3500 open positions currently listed on LinkedIn, the demand for this specialty is obvious. As the need to leverage data in new and innovative ways becomes more essential, having someone on staff with a deep technical knowledge of your systems and architecture, and the ability to understand your business’ wants and needs becomes crucial.
Universities Offering More Data Science and Analytics Programs
By 2021, its estimated that 69 % of businesses will be favouring job candidates with data science and analytics skills, with jobs like Data Insights Miners and Bionic Interface Designers emerging by 2030 thanks to advancements in AI and analytics. A number of universities, including the University of Sydney and Victoria University, began adding data science courses to their offerings back in 2015, with more and more institutions adding these types of courses now and in the near future.
Liberal Arts in the Analytics Industry
The need for technology specialties is decreasing as technology platforms become easier to use. As a result, businesses are looking to other specialties such as the liberal arts to bring new perspectives into the mix. Not only can these individuals fill vacant positions within your data analytics team, but they can help you better use your data to create a vision for the future of your business that goes beyond just technical or scientific insights.
Want to learn more about the value Business Intelligence solutions can offer your business? Contact {company} at {email} or {phone}. We’re the IT professionals businesses in {city} trust.
by Felicien | Dec 19, 2017 | Education
We like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19th for another must-have tech item and why you should check it out.
If you’re anything like most Canadians, you want the latest and greatest tech but can’t always afford it. TV’s for instance. You want to experience this new 4K technology that everyone is talking about but there is no way you can afford $3,000 for a TV. Never fear, there is an alternative.
The TCL S405 55” 4K HDR TV proves you don’t need to break the bank to experience 4K. Offering similar picture quality and brightness to the Samsung Q7F, the TCL offers fewer levels of lag than the pricier Samsung and comes with Roku TV! You can play Gears of War 4 in 4K or stream Netflix in stunning 4K resolution. All this will run you $600 for the 55” model.
It doesn’t sport a hub for your HDMI like the Samsung Q7F, but it does have three HDMI ports and a single USB on the rear side. Still, I’d gladly sacrifice a port or two if it meant saving thousands of dollars. Not only does it save you money, but now you have enough to get that new iPhone, right?
Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at {company}!
by Felicien | Dec 19, 2017 | Education
Leading ‘As-A-Service’ Trends In Technology And What They Can Do For Your Business
The advent of cloud computing brought with it more than just a place to store data, the cloud could be used for running, as well as building, applications and other software. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is the most commonly used of the cloud services model. This is where a third party distributes software over the internet, making them available to everyone. This could be email, customer relationship management, and healthcare-related applications.
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) – A software distribution model where a third-party (MSP) hosts applications over the internet, making them available to customers via the internet. SaaS is one of three main components of cloud computing. The other two are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS).
There are several important characteristics tied to the SaaS model. These are how they differ from the traditional software model and what makes it ideal for some businesses versus the traditional way of doing things.
It’s a uniform platform for delivery. There is no need to pay extra operational overhead for software users to go through different distribution channels. It’s all done in one platform with a single avenue of distribution.
It has centralized hosting and delivery. No more different software packages for different operating systems or platforms. With SaaS, it functions on a single platform (the internet) with a uniform interface.
It allows for open collaboration and sharing. With SaaS, platform tools like automated user provisioning and self-service account management provide users with the necessary tools to control how and when they share things like tasks, data and information with other users either inside or outside their company.
It’s easy for companies to streamline their support with SaaS because vendors perform all the maintenance and upkeep: updates, runtime, servers, storage, data, etc. SaaS is one of three main components to cloud computing, along with Platform as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
HaaS (Hardware-as-a-Service) – A procurement (the series of activities and procedures necessary to acquire IT products and services) model similar to leasing or licensing. The hardware belongs to the managed service provider and is installed at a customer’s site, then a service level agreement is signed that fills out what both parties are responsible for.
The Hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model can be a cost-effective way for a small or mid-sized business provide employees with state-of-the-art hardware in a cost-effective manner. HaaS can be contrasted to infrastructure-as-a-service where the hardware is housed at the MSP’s site.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is for running applications and providing cloud components to software. Basically, the customer is using the provided platform, such as Microsoft Azure, to use libraries, languages, services and other tools supported by the platform provider.
The same way that you would make macros in Microsoft Excel, PaaS allows you to create applications using software built into the PaaS. Applications that use PaaS will inherit cloud capabilities such as scalability, high-availability, SaaS enablement and more. It reduces the amount of coding needed, it automates business policy and it helps migrate apps to a hybrid model.
Some vendors of PaaS use open source platforms while others use more of a proprietary version. Open source might have the advantage of being portable, but a vendor-specific version will probably have a better support model. Your business should take into account these versions before picking their PaaS. Portability is very important because businesses that want to move between cloud versions as their strategy evolves.
What are the benefits of PaaS?
One benefit is cost reduction; the other is that you can deliver web apps quickly without installing any tools or software.
What costs are associated with PaaS?
PaaS is usually billed using the same model as your utility bill, you pay for only what you use. It eliminates the need to install hardware or software that you don’t need.
What type of businesses can benefit from PaaS?
Development teams who want to speed their application’s time to market can benefit from PaaS; businesses looking to put their applications on a common architecture; and organizations who need critical support would also benefit from using PaaS. It reduces IT costs, complexity of operating systems and increases scalability.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a cloud infrastructure service that is a self-service model for accessing, monitoring and managing remote data centers such as compute, storage, networking and networking services such as firewalls. So instead of buying hardware outright, you pay for what you need as you go. It’s consumption based, much like your electricity is now.
Unlike PaaS and SaaS, IaaS users are responsible for managing data, runtime, apps and operating systems on it. The provider still manages networking, visualization and storage. Many providers now offer databases and other services. But the user is responsible for updating if there any updates.
