Online tip: Spam is an increasing problem. I use a three-tiered response: first, Spam Assassin, http://www.spamassassin.org filters out about 90 per cent sent to me (600 a day). Talk to your ISP about the possibility of running it, or have a look at SpamCop, http://www.spamcop.net which will run it on your behalf. Next, I run Qurb, http://www.qurb.com. This is the most impressive anti-spam software I’ve run on my computer. It works by building a list of addresses of those whose mails you’ve saved. Mail from these addresses is allowed through. Mail from other addresses is sent to a Quarantine folder, where you can inspect it and add to the “Approved” list. It costs about $30, with a 30-day trial version available. Finally, I use the Junk Mail option in Outlook 2003, the latest version of the Microsoft e-mail program. This is much more efficient than earlier spam filters. And whatever you do, never, ever, ever reply to any Spam e-mails or click on any links in them — all this does is confirm that your e-mail address has a live human being behind it and you’ll just get even more.
When you’re having problems organising a large Microsoft Word document, try using the Outline view. It allows you to have collapsible sections so you can have a quick overview or a detailed, in-depth view of the same information. Organise your section/chapter headings and sub-headings carefully and you’ll be able to see just the amount of detail you need. The same idea works well for presentations, too.
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Remember that those digital pictures you’re taking can be used as your Windows Desktop wallpaper — right-click a blank bit of Desktop, left-click Properties/Desktop/Browse and find your picture, then OK your way out to set it as your wallpaper. Note, the Centre/Tile/Stretch options will give different effects depending on the size of your original photo.
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When you need to print just some of your PowerPoint presentation’s slides, click View/Slide Sorter. Hold down the Shift key and left-click the slide(s) you want to print, then click File/Print. When the dialogue box opens, click the Selection button and then OK to start printing.
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Items on the Start/(All) Programs menu are actually in a folder which you can manage like any other — Right-click the button, left-click Open and you’ll be able to create new folders and move items around as you wish.
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* Questions from readers are welcome, but Chris Ward regrets that personal replies are not always possible.