Online tip: FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and is usually the most efficient way to transfer files around the Internet. You may have been told that you need a special FTP Client, but if you have Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 you have already got one. In the Address bar, just type the FTP location from which you need to download a file — ftp://sitename.com for example. For publicly-accessible sites you can then double-click your way through the list of folders and files just as if it was a Windows Explorer window — when you get to the file you want, you’ll be presented with the standard Save file dialogue box. If it’s a private site where you need a username and password, click File/Login As and enter the appropriate details.
The official way to enter the date into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet cell is to type, without quotes,“=TODAY()” and then hit Enter. It’s a lot easier to click once in the cell and then hit Ctrl-; (hold down the Ctrl key and hit the semi-colon). Ctrl-: (colon) inserts the current time.
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To get somewhere else quick in a large Microsoft Word document, double-click the bit of the status bar at the bottom of the screen where it gives the Page and Sec(tion) numbers, then enter the number of the page you’d like to get to.
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Quite often when Windows 98 complains about being low on memory, it’s not talking about the RAM (Random Access Memory) installed inside your PC. You can have plenty of that but still get the message. If this happens, click Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Resource Meter — if System, User or GDI resources are more than 80 per cent or 90 per cent used up, try closing some items to speed things up. In Windows XP hit Ctrl-Alt-Del or Ctrl-Shift-Esc to bring up the Task Manager window. The Performance tab gives an overall view of what’s up; the Applications tab shows programs which are running, and the Processes tab an in-depth view of not just the visible programs but all the processes running in the background. In the Processes tab, click the various column headings to see what’s taking up your system resources.
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Holding down the Alt key and hitting Esc opens a dialogue box with icons representing open programs and/or documents (depending on program and Windows versions). Alt-Esc cuts out the dialogue box portion and just rotates you through the open programs and documents, switching focus to each one that’s running in turn.
Chris Ward
* Questions from readers are welcome, but Chris Ward regrets personal replies are not always possible.