If you type three or more dashes on a line by themselves, Word will convert them into a horizontal line running from margin to margin. If this isn't the behavior you were looking for, you can remove the line by using Format | Borders and Shading, going to the Borders tab, and clicking on None.

If you are working in Excel and would like a quick way to enter the date and time, try these shortcuts... To enter the time, CTRL : (Colon) To enter the date, CTRL ; (Semi-Colon)

If you routinely adjust column widths to fit table contents, you can save time by using Word's AutoFit feature to adjust them automatically. To activate the AutoFit feature, click inside the table, and go to Table | AutoFit | AutoFit To Contents. Once you've activated AutoFit, all column widths will adjust to fit the contents of the cells. Word automatically adjusts all columns in the table as you type within the cells. To adjust the width of a single column to fit its contents without activating the AutoFit feature, move your pointer along the column's right boundary until it becomes a double-arrow, and then double-click.

To convert a column of text in UPPER CASE to First Letter Uppercase

1. create new column
2. click into first cell next to UPPER CASE TEXT.
3. type: =proper(cell reference of first cell with UPPER CASE TEXT )
4. fill down for rest of cells.
5. right click on column header of UPPER CASE TEXT column.
6. click on the 'Hide' option - see column of converted text. Use UPPER to convert to ALL UPPER CASE. Use LOWER to convert to 'all lower case'

This site has some great marketing tips for you!
http://www.marketingprofs.com/

You can create a new shortcut on the Send To menu, for example, one that goes to a frequently-used folder. Open My Computer, and double-click the drive where Windows is installed, which is usually drive C. Double-click the Documents and Settings folder, and then double-click the folder for the particular user. Double-click the Send To folder. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut.

Here is an interesting database that lists all of the known skyscrapers for each city! There are also other interesting facts and photos as well.
http://www.skyscrapers.com/re/en/

You can prevent users from overwriting formulas or formats by protecting those cells. Follow these steps:

1. Select the cells that users will modify during data entry.
2. Go to Format | Cells, deselect the Locked checkbox on the Protection tab, and click OK.
3. Go to Tools | Protection | Protect Sheet, and click OK.

Now users will be able to alter only the cells that are unlocked. If users attempt to alter any other cells, they will receive a message saying they must unprotect the cells to modify them.

By default, most programs save documents to the MY DOCUMENTS folder. You can easily change the location of where MY DOCUMENTS are saved by Right Clicking on the MY DOCUMENTS folder, then clicking PROPERTIES, then click the MOVE button and you can then select an alternate drive or location.

You can get lost surfing through all of the intersting things on this site!
http://express.howstuffworks.com/

Inserted photos move with text. Pasted pictures do not. To change the properties of the photo, double click on it, and select LAYOUT. You can choose your wrapping style by selecting the appropriate option.

This free site allows you to log in, and set up an email reminder for the future! You can email a reminder about an appointment, an idea or a message. Just drop it in the cave and forget about it!
http://www.timecave.com/timecave/about.jsp

When you are working in word and you would like to create bullets or numbered lists, but you want to include a paragraph under a bullet or number without adding a new number or bullet, simply hold down the SHIFT key and hit enter.

Are you tired of seeing the "Links" toolbar in Internet Explorer? You can remove it! Right click on an empty area just right of the Help menu. You'll see that the "Links" entry has a checkmark next to it. Click the "Links" entry to remove the checkmark and the Links toolbar. Repeat the procedure if you want to get the links toolbar back.

Here is a fun site that will literally help you track it!
http://www.wherehaveibeen.com/

http://www.timeanddate.com/

If you want to indent an entire paragraph in word, just highlight the paragraph and hit the TAB button. You can also achieve the same effect by selecting the INDENT tool from the toolbar.

The windows button on your keyboard can be a real time saver! Here are a few shortcuts... WINDOWS KEY + F will bring up the search box WINDOWS KEY + M will minimize all of your screens WINDOWS KEY + E opens explorer.

The ALT key can be used to navigate the program menu bar. Press the ALT key once, and then the underlined letter for each menu option. You can also use your arrow keys to navigate back and forth and up and down.

You can set your outlook express to automatically add the email address of every person that you reply to into your address book. Select TOOLS, OPTIONS and SEND and then make sure that the AUTOMATICALLY PUT PEOPLE I REPLY TO IN MY ADDRESS BOOK is checked!

To activate the FIND feature in outlook express, click CTRL, SHIFT and F all at the same time and the window will pop up!

If you want to maximize a window that you're looking at, simply double click the title bar and the window will expand to full screen. The title bar is the blue bar at the very top of the window.

Visit this site for a fun and free book club that spans the globe!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/home

Alphabetize your favorites list in Internet Explorer by selecting favorites on your toolbar, right click on any favorite and then select Sort by Name!

Here is a handy trick to see when the last time a website was updated. Simply put your cursor in the address bar and type in: javascript:alert(document.lastModified).  A window will pop up with the date and time of the last update!

You can adjust your keyboard properties easily by selecting START, CONTROL PANEL and KEYBOARD. When the window pops up, you can adjust how quickly your keyboard responds to character repeats and cursor blinks!

If you are working in windows, and trying to adjust settings using internet options, just hit the ESC key if you decide you don't want to make the changes after all. All dialog boxes will be closed!

If you've ever visited a website and wanted to share that URL with friends only to be told that the link didn't work, it might be that the address is too long for Outlook Express to interpret as a web link. Try visiting the site below to "shorten" long links! http://www.snipurl.com/

When you have a lot of windows open, and you want a quick way to toggle back and forth, you can hold down the ALT and then the TAB button for a mini directory of open windows. You can then flip through the selections by hitting the TAB button. There is another way to scan all open windows! Hold down the ALT button and tap the ESC key. This feature will let you actually SEE each window and you can toggle til you fine the one you are looking for!

Visit this site and borrow somebody else's! This site is loaded with thousands of quotes on a variety of topics! Check it out!
http://www.worldofquotes.com/index.php

If you are looking to insert the R or the C symbol in Word, there is a quick and easy way to do it! Simply type (R) or (C). It even works with (TM). Try it!

Want to figure out HOW LONG a download will take before you start the process? Visit this site and use the calculators!
http://www.numion.com/Calculators/

Press Ctrl-H, and click the More button in the Find and Replace dialog. Click the Format button, and select Font. Select the color to be changed-leaving all else blank-and click OK. Click the Replace with box, and repeat steps 2 and 3 to select the new color. Click Replace All.

To set the "view" default in Windows XP, go into any folder, and from the menu bar choose 'View' and then select the 'List' option. This should set the window into List View. While staying in this window, go to the 'Tools' and select 'Folder Options...' - this will open the Folder Options property sheet. From this choose the 'View' Tab and click on the 'Apply to All Folders' button. This will apply the 'List' view to all folders."

If you want to expand your palm pilot possibilities, visit
www.palmgear.com

Did you know that the status bar in word contains helpful shortcuts? The status bar is the area at the bottom of the page that tells you which page you are on. Double click anywhere on this bar and the FIND AND REPLACE box will appear! Double click on the BOOK icon and the spelling and grammar tool will appear!

You can change your Internet Explorer settings so that every time you close your browser, your cache is empty! It's easy, here's how. Select TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, ADVANCED then scroll down to SECURITY and make sure the box that says "EMPTY TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES" is checked off. Select APPLY then OK. Never forget to clear your Cache again!

Think it might be a hoax? If so, you'll find it listed on this site! It lists everything from Virus hoaxes to daily news stories.
http://www.snopes.com/

If you have a listed telephone number and you bring up the search engine, google, www.google.com you might be surprised at what you find. Type in your telephone number in the search bar and hit SEARCH.

You'll find your telephone listing as well as two links for maps directly to your home! You can have yourself removed from this feature by clicking on the telephone icon directly next to your listing. About half way down the page you'll see an option to have your number removed from the directory.

Tired of seeing your pointer as an arrow or an hourglass all the time? Windows XP offers a number of alternative pointer schemes, such as Dinosaur, Ocean and Sports. Open the Control Panel, double-click Mouse, and select the Pointers tab. (If you start in Category view, select Appearance and Themes, then click Mouse Pointers under "See Also.") Next to Schemes, click the down arrow and select a scheme to preview its pointers. Click OK to apply the scheme to your desktop. Simple as that.

If you want to highlight a portion of a webpage or a document, just put your cursor at the beginning of the text, hold down the SHIFT key and then click at the end of the text.

Here is a great FREE program that allows you to hide folders on your computer! It is the perfect solution if you are looking for some privacy. http://www.softbe.com/

If you are SURE you want to delete a file and you want to skip the whole recycle bin thing....try this, select the file you want to delete. Hold down the Shift key and press Delete. Click Yes to confirm you want to delete the file.

Here is a handy reference site for newspapers across the country. http://www.newspaperlinks.com/home.cfm

If you are trying to open an adobe file (.pdf) and you get an error message saying that the document couldn't be opened, try visiting the site to download the newest version of the software for free. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Here is a very useful marketing site! Use this tool and plug in your phone number and you'll get a list of possible words and phrases! Check it out! http://www.phonespelling.com/

When you are trying to copy information from a webpage that has pictures and formatting into word, then instead of just "pasting", select "paste special" into word under the EDIT option. This will allow you to choose whether or not you want to paste HTML format or plain text.

If you want to pick up all the files in a folder, it's easiest to click on the first one, then press shift and click on the last one. That selects everything between the first and last. So it can also be used to select any group of contiguous files.

Try visiting http://www.download.com

When you want want to duplicate an object in word, simply select the object then hit CTRL+D for as many objects as you would like! They will automatically be spaced about 12 points apart. To cusomize how far apart each object is, after pressing CTRL +D the first time, move the object to where you want it, then click CTRL +D again!

Here is a helpful tip for sending mail! You can add an email contact to your Internet Explorer favorites list! When you click on that persons name in your favorites list, a blank email opens up! It's easy to do, here's how. In IE, click on FAVORITES and ADD TO FAVORITES. In the box, type in the persons NAME where it says name and hit OK. RIGHT CLICK on the persons name in the list of favorites, and select PROPERTIES. In the box that says URL, simply type mailto: followed by the persons email address, with no spaces. For example, mailto:mfseminars@att.net

If you are working with a table and want to "split" it, simply click CTRL & SHIFT & ENTER.

If you want to select a certain program to open photo files or audio files, it's easy to do. Simply go to Windows Explorer and select TOOLS. Select FOLDER OPTIONS then FILE TYPES. You should see a list of all file extensions and which program opens them. Highlight the file extension that you would like to change then select CHANGE. You will then see the "recommended programs" will appear and you can select the program of your choice.

Did you know, you could close the current Internet Explorer window quickly by clicking CTRL + W. A great tip for a quick exit!

If the spell-checker consistently fails to catch a specific misspelled word, you may have accidentally added it to Word's custom dictionary. To remove or add words, go to Tools, Options, select the Spelling & Grammar tab, and click on Custom Dictionaries. Select the dictionary you want to modify (if there is more than one), and click Modify to bring up a dialog in which you can add or remove words.

Quick Tips provided to CAR by Amy Chorew and Matthew Ferrara of Matthew Ferrara Seminars.