Microsoft Office

OneNote MSDN blog has these tips:

Tips:

For left-handed users, the page tabs and scroll bar can be displayed along the left side instead of the right, click Tools -> Options -> Display -> place a checkmark in ‘Page tabs appear on the left’ and ‘Vertical scroll bar appears on the left’. This makes it easier to navigate your pages when using a pen.
When a new page is created, the page tab’s name appears as “Untitled Page”. However, after you add a title to your page, the page tab adopts it as its new name. Even if you don’t explicitly give it a title, the page tab name will adopt the first few words of any text or ink that it sees on the page.
You can change a series of existing main pages into grouped pages by first selecting the range of pages, (this is done by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on each additional page) -> then right-click the selection -> choose Group Pages. This causes the first page in the selected range to become the main page and all subsequent pages in the selected range to become subpages.
You can also change all subpages within a group to be main pages by right-clicking the page group -> and selecting Ungroup Pages.
You can adjust the properties of a page by right-clicking the page tab -> and pressing Page Setup. This is where you can specify the paper size, margins, rule lines, and more. You can even set your page surface to be a certain color.
Pages come with a page title at the top. This is a special container that floats above the page surface and is reserved for text and ink only. All other content will be stored on the page surface. Immediately beneath the page title you will see the creation date and time. You can easily change the date and time by clicking on them. Once you do so a small control will appear to the side, click on it to select the desired date or time.

Here’s some news if you use Sharepoint in your business: Developers building solutions based on Microsoft’s SharePoint collaboration and business process platform will gain expanded support in the planned Visual Studio 2010 development environment, which will feature templates and an extensibility API, a Microsoft official said in a blog on Thursday.

Currently, developers can use Visual Studio 2005 or 2008 to develop for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, said S. “Soma” Somaseger, senior vice president of the Microsoft developer division, in his blog. Developers also can use Visual Studio for Windows SharePoint Services or third-party tools, he said.

A Visual Studio extensibility API will let developers build SharePoint project items, automate and extend existing SharePoint project items, enhance deployment and retraction functionality, and extend the display and actions of SharePoint nodes in Server Explorer, Somasegar said.

While Visual Studio 2008 is limited to development of supported workflow projects only for lists and document libraries, Visual Studio 2010 will enable development of list and site level workflows along with aspx association and initiation forms.

“And, as you would expect, the new Visual Studio 2010 designers can be used to create Web Parts, application pages, and user controls for a SharePoint site,” Somasegar said. Developers also will be able to navigate and browse a SharePoint site directly in Visual Studio, Somasegar said.

Visual Studio 2010 could arrive late this year, based on two-year release cycles for Visual Studio.

Office SharePoint Server features capabilities for collaboration, portals, enterprise search, content management, business process and forms, and business intelligence. Windows SharePoint Services enables collaboration and development of Web-based business applications.

Second time around for this bit of news, but very apropos in today’s business climate.

Microsoft Corp. announced a new initiative, Elevate America, which will provide up to 2 million people over the next three years with the technology training needed to succeed in the 21st-century economy.

Microsoft has worked for years with other businesses and community-based partners to broaden access to job opportunities through information technology education and training. Elevate America expands these efforts and provides immediate support in response to the current economic crisis in partnership with others in the public and private sector.

Elevate America has two main offerings, one available immediately and one that will be provided in partnership with state governments including those of Florida, New York and Washington.

Elevate America helps individuals understand what types of technical skills they need for the jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities of today and tomorrow, and resources to help acquire these skills. The Web site provides access to several Microsoft online training programs, including how to use the Internet, send e-mail and create a résumé, as well as more advanced programs on using specific Microsoft applications.

In order to provide a broader range of training programs and certification exams, Microsoft will also partner with state and local governments, which in turn will make these resources available to their citizens. Pamela Passman, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Corporate Affairs, today announced that Florida, New York and Washington will be the first states to provide Elevate America to their residents. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire says that programs such as Elevate America are critical to providing support to Washington families and helping the economy recover.

Elevate America is an extension of Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to provide skills training and certification through schools, government programs and community-based organizations. The Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills Program is an example of how Microsoft is already working to bridge the technology skills gap and equip more people with skills relevant to today’s work force. More than half of today’s jobs require some technology skills, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that will reach 77 percent in the next decade.

“Millions of Americans don’t have the technology skills needed in today’s economy. Through Elevate America, we want to help workers get the skills they need to succeed,” Passman said. “We are also providing a full range of work force development resources for state and local governments so they can offer specialized training for their workers.”

Short-Term Needs and Long-Term Investments

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more people than ever are pursuing Microsoft technical certifications. As part of the Elevate America effort, Microsoft is providing 1 million Microsoft Learning vouchers for free access to Microsoft eLearning courses and select certification exams.* This comprehensive offering also includes the following:

• Expanded access to basic technology literacy and skills training

• Basic-level information technology training resources through Microsoft Unlimited Potential and Digital Literacy curricula

• Intermediate technology skills training courses, online and instructor-led, plus selected certification exams

• Vouchers for eLearning course collections offered by Microsoft

• Vouchers for certification exams leading to Microsoft business certification

• Grants of cash and software to community partners to build in-classroom training capacity

• Discounted membership rates for institutions participating in the Microsoft IT Academy program

• Access to a new Web portal that will help guide individuals to training and resources that position them for success in the economy today, and tomorrow

With today’s economy and layoffs, we all need all the help we can get when searching for jobs.

MSN and Careerbuilder offer these five steps to building an e-mail friendly resume. Good luck out there!

Here are five easy steps to format your existing résumé into an e-friendly work of art.

1. Remove all formatting from your original résumé.
Unfortunately, the same formatting that makes your résumé nice to look at makes it almost impossible for a computer to understand.

To remove the formatting, open your word-processed résumé and choose the “Save As” option under the “File” tab on your toolbar. Save the document type as Plain Text or Text Only. In the following dialog box, choose the option to insert line breaks.

2. Use Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText to reformat.
Close your original résumé document and reopen the text version using editing software like Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText. Your text version should be free of most graphic elements, like fancy fonts, lines and bullets. Text should be flush with the left side of the document.

3. Stick to a simple font and style.
Use clear, sans-serif fonts, like Courier, Arial or Helvetica. This way, the computer won’t mistake your fancy lettering for a jumbled word.

Use a 12-point font; anything smaller won’t scan well. Also, stay away from italics or underlining. Rather than using boldface type, try using capital letters to separate sections like education and experience.

Instead of using bullets, use such standard keyboard characters as an asterisk or a dash. Instead of using the “Tab” key, use the space key to indent. Make sure all headings – like your name, address, phone and e-mail – appear on separate lines, with a blank line before and after.

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From the Microsoft Office Blog Archive: After you open and run an infected program or attachment on your computer, you might not realize that you’ve introduced a virus until you notice something isn’t quite right.

Here are a few primary indicators that your computer might be infected:

• Your computer runs more slowly than normal

• Your computer stops responding or locks up often

• Your computer crashes and restarts every few minutes

• Your computer restarts on its own and then fails to run normally

• Applications on your computer don’t work correctly

• Disks or disk drives are inaccessible

• You can’t print correctly

• You see unusual error messages

• You see distorted menus and dialog boxes

These are common signs of infection—but they might also indicate hardware or software problems that have nothing to do with a virus. Unless you run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool and install industry-standard, up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, there is no way to be certain if your computer is infected with a virus or not. If you don’t have current antivirus software installed, try Microsoft’s tools or go to Download.com. There are some amazing and free virus removal software tools out there.

On my tablet, I have AVG Free virus scanner, A-Squared Free, Zone Alarm, Advanced System Care Free and CCleaner. There are about as many virus, ad-and spy-ware scanners as there are computers in the world. Do your research to see which one fits your needs.

Set up an automatic scanning, or set aside time each day to run your programs to scan. I set mine at night or during slow times (funny, I know).

Join Microsoft’s Virtual Earth Developer’s Contest

February 16 - April 16

Showcase your skills and teach us something new with Virtual Earth! Submit a written article or video demonstrating an innovative Virtual Earth solution or
application, and see your material featured on our site! Win one of numerous prizes for the most unique or highly rated submission. All contributors will valid submissions will receive a free t-shirt.

The top winners will receive a Virtual Earth clock. The community will also vote an an overall winner who will receive a Virtual Earth glass globe.

For submissions, simply go to the Contribute Article page and follow the instructions. Make sure you include a title for your article and indicate that it is for Virtual Earth.

Good Luck!

More info, courtesy of Softpedia:

is looking to attract 3D designers to Live Search Maps and Virtual Earth. Following the acquisition of Caligari, Microsoft made available for free trueSpace 7.6, a comprehensive toolset connecting the solutions directly with its mapping, imagery and search platform. In a move intended to boost the three dimensional content available via Live Search Maps and Virtual Earth, Microsoft has introduced the Virtual Earth Gallery Contest. Designed as an area of the Caligari (trueSpace) 3D Authoring and Collaboration website, Virtual Earth Gallery is set up to centralize 3D work in exchange for the possibility of winning a prize.

Microsoft has managed no to offer any detail on the incentives it is offering to 3D designers that go ahead and submit their work to Virtual Earth via trueSpace. According to Pendleton, users will have to be registered trueSpace7.6 owners in order to participate in the content. At the same time, the 3D models created will first have to be integrated with Virtual Earth before they are taken into consideration by the judges.

Whether you’re on the road for business or pleasure—provided you’re not traveling by canoe in the Amazon jungle or dog sled in the arctic—there’s probably a way to stay in touch by e‑mail. With a little knowledge and advance planning, it’s easy to check your e‑mail from the road. Here are some tips to help you remain in contact with friends, family, and colleagues while you’re on the go.

1. Use web mail and travel light

If you use a web-based e‑mail service such as Windows Live Hotmail, you can send and receive e‑mail using someone else’s computer, without the need to carry around your own mobile PC while you travel.
2. Carry a laptop and use your own e‑mail program

If you’re traveling on business, chances are you’ll have your own mobile PC with you. In this case, you can use a more full-featured e‑mail program such as Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail.
3. Try doing e‑mail offline

Write messages when you’re inspired, not when you’re connected. If you have a laptop with you, take advantage of offline time to read messages you have already downloaded and compose replies and other new messages.
4. Hone your skills at finding Internet cafés

If you’re traveling without a mobile PC, train yourself to watch for Internet cafés and other places where you can rent a computer for a short period of time to check your e‑mail.
5. Look up Internet café locations before you go

If you want to be sure you can check your e‑mail from the road, make a list in advance of Internet cafés where you will be traveling. This can be important if you will be traveling in areas where Internet access is less likely to be available.

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FEllow MOONies (MicrosOft OneNoteies), here’s part of an article from the OneNote and Education blog that has highlighted a study by a Finnish Educator.

Since it was launched in October 2003, the electronic notebook, OneNote, has been one of Microsoft’s best kept secrets.

Fortunately, more and more people now seem to be introduced to the program – fortunately, for OneNote is a very strong learning tool that may be completely personalized in accordance with to the users’ needs, not least their learning styles needs. The comprehensive tutorials that come with the program very instructively show its immense possibilities and flexibility, and in order for the users to make qualified choices among the many features, they would be well advised to use their learning styles. As the above table shows, quite a few learning styles elements are directly addressed in OneNote and the rest of them are indirectly addressed.

The Analytic and the Global Learners

The OneNote interface (and the interface of other MS Office programs as well) supports both analytic and global processors. Analytic learners are often not visual-picture oriented, and they should therefore stick to the text based dropdown menus and remove the icons. Globals, on the other hand, tend to be strongly visual picture learners and should wallow in toolbars with icons, even if this makes the working screen somewhat smaller.

Analytic learners can easily develop the very structure they need and prefer in order to build up knowledge. The flexible OneNote search feature prevents the analytic learners from getting lost in tiny details, and the use of hyperlinks between notebooks, sections, and subsections obviously has the same effect.

Education institutions worldwide embrace Microsoft Live@edu to enrich student experience, enhance learning outcomes and fuel productivity; new Microsoft Outlook Live delivers new e-mail functionality based on the popular Outlook interface.

several universities and institutions of higher learning have recently signed on to Microsoft Live@edu, signifying continued worldwide growth of this service. With enhanced collaboration and communications features, Live@edu is a no-charge suite that enhances student productivity in both the classroom and their personal lives. In addition, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Exchange Labs, which currently delivers rich e-mail functionality as a service to 3.5 million Live@edu users, will be renamed Outlook Live. The Outlook Live service will also be extended to support faculty and staff members at no charge.

“Live@edu’s impressive growth trajectory demonstrates that it’s an attractive offering with institutions of higher learning,” said Anna Kinney, senior product manager for Microsoft Live@edu. “Today’s new enhancements and extension to include faculty and staff members will make Live@edu even more compelling for today’s budget-conscious campuses.”

Booming Enrollment

The growth in universities, colleges and schools embracing Live@edu includes the following recent landmark customer wins:

• University of Queensland. The university has created 83,000 accounts on Live@edu for student use and plans to create an additional 100,000 accounts for use by alumni in the near future.

• Ohio State University. The U.S.’s largest public university, counting more than 61,000 students.

• Ministry of Education of Peru. Paving the way for the activation of up to 4 million students and 150,000 teachers on Live@edu.

• University of New South Wales. Recognized as one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions with more than 44,500 students and 6,000 faculty members.

• University of Ulster. One of the largest universities in Ireland with more than 25,000 students, 1,100 of them studying fully online from over 55 different countries.

• Government of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Live@edu will be made available to more than 6 million students of the state.

At the University of Queensland, students, faculty members and administrators are using Live@edu to augment instruction, improve communications and foster greater collaboration.

Game Giveaway of the Dayoffers games on Saturdays and Sundays. Today’s game is a fun little point and click format, “Ghost in the Sheets”.

Welcome to the afterlife! It’s nothing like you’ve expected. Ghost in the Sheet is a comedy adventure game of supernatural proportions. Become a ghost and master your new paranormal skill set to unravel the secrets of your life-after-death adventure! Mystery, intrigue, comedy and adventure await; aren’t you just dying to play?

Features
High-resolution graphics with detailed animations to immerse players
A RPG-like skill learning system: as players progress through the game, they learn new paranormal skills that are vital for future adventures
Skills range from the conventional paranormal Telekinesis to obscure skills like Scary Sound
Nonlinear gameplay that allows players to freely roam the factor while solving a variety of puzzles in any order
Music and sound design are seamlessly integrated into the game
Humorous and entertaining minigames integrated into the gameplay
No dying, mazes, slider puzzles, or timed sequences that can needlessly frustrate
NPCs who reveal hints and provide intriguing back-story
Comic style cutscenes to supplement the plot.

Unzip the package you’ve downloaded, and carefully read the instructions which you can find in the readme.txt file. This readme.txt file is included with all our downloads. Follow the instructions carefully to install and activate the software.

To get the game, click the blue link above to go to Game Giveaway Of the Day, then click their download link. It’s fairly large, at 211 mb, but the graphics are said to be great.