Drag Bars With Mouse Buttons to Enlarge Program Windows
Question: When I open programs like Word or Excel, the program opens in a window that doesn’t take up the entire screen. I have to click on the box in the upper right corner of the window to maximize it. Is there a way to make programs open in a larger window?
--Jenny B., Anaheim
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Answer: Place your cursor on the blue bar at the top of the program window you wish to enlarge. Click the left mouse button, hold it down and drag the program windows to the upper left corner of your screen. Now place your cursor over the lower right corner of that same program window.
When the cursor changes to a diagonal line with arrows at both ends, click and hold the left mouse button and drag that arrow to the lower right corner of your screen. The next time you open that window it will be maximized.
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Q Do I really need to use a screen saver in Windows? Can I customize the screen saver to display my name or a message?
--Norbert F., Long Beach
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A The first personal computers used monochrome or single-color monitors that presented green or amber characters on a black background. Leaving those monitors on for periods of time when there was no screen activity caused images to “burn” onto the monitor screen. That’s why screen savers were developed.
VGA color monitors such as those we use today don’t have that problem, yet we continue to use screen savers. To personalize your screen saver just “right click” on the desktop and select Properties. Click on the Screen Saver tab and then on the black “down” arrow in the Screen Saver box. Select 3D Text and then click on Settings. You’ll see OPENGL in the text/display window. Click on OPENGL, and type in your name or any message you want your screen saver to use. You have up to 16 characters.
Use the word “volcano” and your screen saver will display the name of a different volcano each time it swings into view. Select Time instead of Text and your screen saver will display a digital clock that shows the seconds changing. You can control the screen saver’s size, resolution, speed, spin and more by changing the settings available in the 3D Text window. Click OK to finish. Click on Preview to display your new screen saver. Set the Wait period to the number of minutes of screen inactivity that will cause the screen saver to kick in.
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Q I use Microsoft Word to create business letters, contracts, proposals and the like. I know how to create page numbers in Word. What I’d really like to have for page numbers is something like Page 1 of 5 on the first page, Page 2 of 5 on the second page, etc. Can I do this with Word? --Edward B., Chatsworth
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A Yes, Word can do that. In an open Word document, click on View and then on Header and Footer. A box created with broken lines will appear along with a Header and Footer tool bar. Click on Switch between Header and Footer (placing the cursor over any button on the Header and Footer tool bar will display the name of that button).
Select Header or Footer for placement of page numbers at the top or bottom of the page, respectively. Place the cursor on the spot in the Header or Footer box where you want page numbers to appear. You can click on the alignment buttons (left, center or right) on the Word format tool bar. (If you want the placement somewhere else, you can do it using your space bar or tab keys.)
Type “Page” and then press the space bar. Click on the Page Number button on the Header and Footer tool bar, and then press the space bar again. Type the word “of” and then click on Insert Number of Pages on the same tool bar. If you want page numbers to stand out, highlight your work and press Ctrl + B. Word will automatically update page numbers each time you add more pages.
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Q Is there a fast way to bring up a Web site? Currently I have to open my browser, which defaults to the Yahoo page. Then I have to enter the Web page I want to look at. I have a digital subscriber line Internet connection. It’s fast, but this process slows me down.
--N. Nadelhaft, Van Nuys
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A Fast access to Web sites is available as long as you are connected to the Internet, no matter whether you have a modem, DSL or cable connection. Here’s how to jump to Web sites. Press and release the Windows key (lower left corner of your keyboard). Now press the R key. In the Open: box, type the Web page address and press Enter or click OK. Bingo! Instant Web page.
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Q I am getting unsolicited e-mail messages that warn about a so-called Bill 602P pending before Congress. They say the bill would allow the U.S. Postal Service to charge what amounts to an “e-stamp” fee for every e-mail I send out. The message includes the name of a law firm that is leading the opposition to this bill. Can this be true?
--John B., Newport Beach
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A I see e-mails like this all too often. Postage charges for e-mail? Please! This is pure Internet bunk. Take a look at https://www.congress.com, a private Web portal to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. You’ll see an “E-mail Bill HR602P is a hoax” button. The tip here was the name of the bill your e-mail message contained. Proposed legislation is identified as HR for House of Representatives or SB for Senate. The suspect e-mail didn’t make that connection.
Jeff Levy hosts the “On Computers” radio talk show from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on KFI-AM (640). He can be reached at jefflevykfi@hotmail.com.
