Techie Tips: Does Microsoft Ignite a Spark in You?
Microsoft Website Spark is designed to ignite the success of professional Web developers and designers. The program enables you to get software, support and business opportunities from Microsoft at no upfront costs for 3 years or exit from the program. For more information on this program and the requirements, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/Default.aspx
Software Tip: Conditional Formatting in Excel 2003 and Excel 2007
Conditional formatting is formatting (that you choose) which is applied depending on what is typed in the cell (or the results of a formula). This feature is one of the best things since sliced bread. Take my word for it and take 30 seconds to check it out!!!
For example, if you set up a budget, you could set the formatting to be red if someone exceeds their budget amount. You could also have cells highlight if they are blank but have no formatting if something is typed in the cell if you want to keep track of things that are outstanding (like invitation answers, a column for tracking signatures received, etc.).
Excel 2003
To apply conditional formatting in Excel 2003, first highlight the cells that you want to be conditional, then select Format-Conditional Formatting. Excel will ask what parameters you want to set for the cell. Cell Value or Formula is (fill in the blank: between, equal, not equal, etc.) and then choose either a cell reference (i.e. the budgeted number) or a number that you type. Then click on the Format button and choose whatever formatting you want to be applied to the cells (red, bold, whatever you choose). Click OK.
When you enter a number into that cell, if it falls inside the parameters you set up (within budget) then the text will be normal. If it falls outside (exceeds budget), it will have the formatting you chose.
You can apply up to three parameters (i.e. green color for below 90% of budget, yellow color for 91-100%, red for 101%+).
To remove the conditional formatting, select the cells that have it (or use the tip I discussed in a previous blog posting to select all cells in your worksheet that have it applied: Edit - Go To - Special - Conditional Formatting).
Excel 2007
Conditional Formatting has really been beefed up in Excel 2007 and had some really nifty stuff added. This feature is applied from the Home ribbon. When you select your cells and then click Conditional Formatting, you will soon see that there are a bunch of new options in there. Check them out!
NOTE: On all of these choices, you will see "more rules" on the submenu. This allows you to set even more options on all these various rules. You can also apply more than one set of conditional formatting at a time (i.e. data bars and icon sets together).
Highlight Cell Rules - This is where you go to set straight mathematical rules, like greater than, less than, as well as text based rules, date based rules (great for highlighting past due items), etc. Note the nifty new feature to apply conditional formatting to duplicate values in a column. How handy is that when you want to see at a glance if anything has been duplicated in a long list? :)
Top / Bottom Rules - These are designed to highlight your top or bottom "x" in a column (top 10, etc.)
Data Bars - This applies colored bars to the cells, where the length varies based on the contents, relative to each other (in other words, four cells with the values of 0,2,4,6 would have 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% bars)
Color Scales - This applies colored bars with different shades applied based on the contents, relative to each other (see above).
Icon Sets - This applies colorful icon sets to the cells, based on the contents. Some of these are really cute. Most are based on the green/yellow/red color scheme or black/grey/white.
New Rules - This brings up the same submenu as clicking More Rules on the other submenus. It allows you build a rule from scratch and tweak the settings.
Clear Rules - Go here to clear all rules from selected cells or from the whole worksheet.
Manage Rules - Go here to clear selected rules. If you have more than one conditional formatting format applied (like the previously mentioned data bars and icon sets for instance), you can select the rules individually, reorder them, and/or delete them. You can also edit individual rules from this submenu.
For example, if you set up a budget, you could set the formatting to be red if someone exceeds their budget amount. You could also have cells highlight if they are blank but have no formatting if something is typed in the cell if you want to keep track of things that are outstanding (like invitation answers, a column for tracking signatures received, etc.).
Excel 2003
To apply conditional formatting in Excel 2003, first highlight the cells that you want to be conditional, then select Format-Conditional Formatting. Excel will ask what parameters you want to set for the cell. Cell Value or Formula is (fill in the blank: between, equal, not equal, etc.) and then choose either a cell reference (i.e. the budgeted number) or a number that you type. Then click on the Format button and choose whatever formatting you want to be applied to the cells (red, bold, whatever you choose). Click OK.
When you enter a number into that cell, if it falls inside the parameters you set up (within budget) then the text will be normal. If it falls outside (exceeds budget), it will have the formatting you chose.
You can apply up to three parameters (i.e. green color for below 90% of budget, yellow color for 91-100%, red for 101%+).
To remove the conditional formatting, select the cells that have it (or use the tip I discussed in a previous blog posting to select all cells in your worksheet that have it applied: Edit - Go To - Special - Conditional Formatting).
Excel 2007
Conditional Formatting has really been beefed up in Excel 2007 and had some really nifty stuff added. This feature is applied from the Home ribbon. When you select your cells and then click Conditional Formatting, you will soon see that there are a bunch of new options in there. Check them out!
NOTE: On all of these choices, you will see "more rules" on the submenu. This allows you to set even more options on all these various rules. You can also apply more than one set of conditional formatting at a time (i.e. data bars and icon sets together).
Highlight Cell Rules - This is where you go to set straight mathematical rules, like greater than, less than, as well as text based rules, date based rules (great for highlighting past due items), etc. Note the nifty new feature to apply conditional formatting to duplicate values in a column. How handy is that when you want to see at a glance if anything has been duplicated in a long list? :)
Top / Bottom Rules - These are designed to highlight your top or bottom "x" in a column (top 10, etc.)
Data Bars - This applies colored bars to the cells, where the length varies based on the contents, relative to each other (in other words, four cells with the values of 0,2,4,6 would have 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% bars)
Color Scales - This applies colored bars with different shades applied based on the contents, relative to each other (see above).
Icon Sets - This applies colorful icon sets to the cells, based on the contents. Some of these are really cute. Most are based on the green/yellow/red color scheme or black/grey/white.
New Rules - This brings up the same submenu as clicking More Rules on the other submenus. It allows you build a rule from scratch and tweak the settings.
Clear Rules - Go here to clear all rules from selected cells or from the whole worksheet.
Manage Rules - Go here to clear selected rules. If you have more than one conditional formatting format applied (like the previously mentioned data bars and icon sets for instance), you can select the rules individually, reorder them, and/or delete them. You can also edit individual rules from this submenu.
Tips for Using Google Alerts
Google Alert is a powerful tool that can instantly let you know about any topic being mentioned on the Internet. If you are too busy to spend your time reading websites, blogs, and news channels to find specific information, you can use Google alert to, in effect, watch them for you.
Here’s how it works. Google alert is free and easy to use. All you need is an account with Google and you’re ready to go. You tell it which key words and descriptive phrases to search for and it sends you emails when these words are buzzing through the Internet. Here are a few short steps to set yourself up:
To start trying these tips for using Google Alerts, log in to your main Google account page and click on “Alerts.” You’ll be led to a page that asks you to enter search terms, types of places to search, and frequency of searches. Say you are trying to find a particular person or hot topic in the news, such as “Facebook Privacy.” You simply type that name or phrase and as soon as it is used, Google notifies you instantly.
Google Alerts can keep you on the cutting edge of what is happening without you being a slave to Internet research. You can also use it for your business as a way to see who is linking to you or your website. Just like big companies keep track the mention of their business name, you should too. If you are a prominent figure, such as an author, coach, or speaker, you definitely want to keep up with what your readers or listeners are saying. Try these tips for using Google Alerts yourself and let me know how it works for you!
Here’s how it works. Google alert is free and easy to use. All you need is an account with Google and you’re ready to go. You tell it which key words and descriptive phrases to search for and it sends you emails when these words are buzzing through the Internet. Here are a few short steps to set yourself up:
To start trying these tips for using Google Alerts, log in to your main Google account page and click on “Alerts.” You’ll be led to a page that asks you to enter search terms, types of places to search, and frequency of searches. Say you are trying to find a particular person or hot topic in the news, such as “Facebook Privacy.” You simply type that name or phrase and as soon as it is used, Google notifies you instantly.
Google Alerts can keep you on the cutting edge of what is happening without you being a slave to Internet research. You can also use it for your business as a way to see who is linking to you or your website. Just like big companies keep track the mention of their business name, you should too. If you are a prominent figure, such as an author, coach, or speaker, you definitely want to keep up with what your readers or listeners are saying. Try these tips for using Google Alerts yourself and let me know how it works for you!
Twitter - Not a Waste of Time for Small Business Owners
Social networking has changed the way we do business and the biggest change has been for small business owners. Small businesses usually have one person who makes a great representative for the company in the social networking arena. And this makes small businesses a perfect fit for a social networking tool called Twitter.
Twitter is a micro-blogging tool in which you have 140 characters to answer the question "What Are You Doing?" At first I was reluctant to join in on Twitter and wanted to make sure I would see business results from it. Since connecting through Twitter I have seen these results: more Website and Blog traffic; product ideas from my target market; and an increase in expert status. Another bonus, Twitter makes working from home not so isolating and I feel as if I'm in an office talking around the water cooler.
So how can you obtain these results for your business?
1. Create a Compelling Twitter Profile - Add a professional photo to your Twitter profile, because no one will follow you without a photo. Include a link to your main website and create an interesting bio that entices people to find out more.
2. Create Interesting and Useful Tweets (a Twitter message) - Don't just write about your personal life, but also include blog posts, links to articles and anything else your target market would be interested in.
3. Follow Others - Start off by following others in Twitter and return the follow when they follow you.
4. Automate It - Use your cell phone with Twitter and update your status while you're on the run. Within Twitter click on the settings tab and then the devices tab. Within this section you will be able to add your and setup your cell phone to work with Twitter. Also, I have my blog set up to automatically post new posts to Twitter. This is a great time saver and generates a lot more traffic to my blog.
5. Is Your Target Market on Twitter? Before jumping in on Twitter I would consider if your target market is there yet. If you target small business owners then, yes, Twitter will work great for you. Also the younger generation is very involved in Twitter.
Twitter is a micro-blogging tool in which you have 140 characters to answer the question "What Are You Doing?" At first I was reluctant to join in on Twitter and wanted to make sure I would see business results from it. Since connecting through Twitter I have seen these results: more Website and Blog traffic; product ideas from my target market; and an increase in expert status. Another bonus, Twitter makes working from home not so isolating and I feel as if I'm in an office talking around the water cooler.
So how can you obtain these results for your business?
1. Create a Compelling Twitter Profile - Add a professional photo to your Twitter profile, because no one will follow you without a photo. Include a link to your main website and create an interesting bio that entices people to find out more.
2. Create Interesting and Useful Tweets (a Twitter message) - Don't just write about your personal life, but also include blog posts, links to articles and anything else your target market would be interested in.
3. Follow Others - Start off by following others in Twitter and return the follow when they follow you.
4. Automate It - Use your cell phone with Twitter and update your status while you're on the run. Within Twitter click on the settings tab and then the devices tab. Within this section you will be able to add your and setup your cell phone to work with Twitter. Also, I have my blog set up to automatically post new posts to Twitter. This is a great time saver and generates a lot more traffic to my blog.
5. Is Your Target Market on Twitter? Before jumping in on Twitter I would consider if your target market is there yet. If you target small business owners then, yes, Twitter will work great for you. Also the younger generation is very involved in Twitter.
Current Industry Trend: Cloud Computing
Imagine your PC and all of your mobile devices being in sync—all the time. Imagine being able to access all of your personal data at any given moment. Imagine having the ability to organize and mine data from any online source. Imagine being able to share that data—photos, movies, contacts, e-mail, documents, etc.—with your friends, family, and coworkers in an instant. This is what personal cloud computing promises to deliver.
Whether you realize it or not, you're probably already using cloud-based services. Pretty much everyone with a computer has been. Gmail and Google Docs are two prime examples; we just don't think of those services in those terms.
In essence, personal cloud computing means having every piece of data you need for every aspect of your life at your fingertips and ready for use. Data must be mobile, transferable, and instantly accessible. The key to enabling the portable and interactive you is the ability to synch up your data among your devices, as well as access to shared data. Shared data is the data we access online in any number of places, such as social networks, banks, blogs, newsrooms, paid communities, etc.
Ultimately, your personal cloud, which includes everything from your address book and music collection to your reports and documents for work, will connect to the public cloud and other personal clouds. Everything connects. That means every place on the Internet you interact with, as well as every person you interact with can be connected. This includes your social networks, bank, university, workplace, family, friends, you name it.
Of course, you will determine what you show the public and what you keep private. Clusters of personal clouds will form new social networks that will likely have a lot more privacy settings than Facebook, especially if these clusters are family or business oriented. (Privacy will be a huge issue as personal clouds hit critical mass.)
Eventually, like the smart house in the TV series Eureka, your devices will learn about you and eventually intuit what you are doing, where you are going, and what you intend to do when you get there. Think of all this as helpful… not creepy.
This might all sound a bit like science fiction, but this is exactly where we're headed with cloud computing. We're not quite there yet, though. We're all still creating our personal clouds.
Whether you realize it or not, you're probably already using cloud-based services. Pretty much everyone with a computer has been. Gmail and Google Docs are two prime examples; we just don't think of those services in those terms.
In essence, personal cloud computing means having every piece of data you need for every aspect of your life at your fingertips and ready for use. Data must be mobile, transferable, and instantly accessible. The key to enabling the portable and interactive you is the ability to synch up your data among your devices, as well as access to shared data. Shared data is the data we access online in any number of places, such as social networks, banks, blogs, newsrooms, paid communities, etc.
Ultimately, your personal cloud, which includes everything from your address book and music collection to your reports and documents for work, will connect to the public cloud and other personal clouds. Everything connects. That means every place on the Internet you interact with, as well as every person you interact with can be connected. This includes your social networks, bank, university, workplace, family, friends, you name it.
Of course, you will determine what you show the public and what you keep private. Clusters of personal clouds will form new social networks that will likely have a lot more privacy settings than Facebook, especially if these clusters are family or business oriented. (Privacy will be a huge issue as personal clouds hit critical mass.)
Eventually, like the smart house in the TV series Eureka, your devices will learn about you and eventually intuit what you are doing, where you are going, and what you intend to do when you get there. Think of all this as helpful… not creepy.
This might all sound a bit like science fiction, but this is exactly where we're headed with cloud computing. We're not quite there yet, though. We're all still creating our personal clouds.
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