Having problem in language Translation at Work Place?

Often at your workplace you need to do instant language translations. This task may become tedious if you do not have a right translation tool.

Work Around

-Use Language Translation tool simple!!!!!!!

Language Translator tool such as Google language Tools are user friendly and can be used to obtain instant translations from within your applications. Language translator tools can help you to translate e-mail/chat/document /web page from one language to other instantly. Such tool is ideal for businesses who need complete language translation solutions for their software, websites or day to day transactions.
Some other Language translation tools available online are:

Babel Fish Translation
Free Language Translation tool
World lingo Translation tool

Tips and Tricks to Organize files on your PC

With lots of file increasing on your PC it may be difficult for you for filing the files carefully in the right folder. Result ?At the time when you require some important information you may be fiddling with files stored on your PC with required file buried in the depths of hard disk.

Work Around

- Use a Smart Desktop Search Tool such as Google Desktop Search Tool

Desktop Search Tool can be used to search for wider range of items such as instant messaging chats, e-mails, contacts and recently visited web pages. This search tool scans through the entire contents of computer hard disk after installation. It compiles a index which contains details of searchable item found along with their location.
Some important features are:

• Very fast Search


• Provides preview of results that further expedites the search


• Indexed Information stored in hard disk itself


• Ability to search one PC from another (An updated feature in Google Desktop Beta)


• Google Desktop search works with Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape mail, Thunderbird, Mozilla mail


• By default it indexes emails, web history, different file formats, contacts and calendar.


• Google Desktop preference options is available to add/delete other data to be indexed such as Instant message chats


• Password-Protection feature available for Data Security

Instructions for use:

1. Just download the free application from Google’s website
   


2. After downloading just locate Google desktop setup files on computer’s desktop and double-click on it.


3. Go through the wizard instructions for the installation of the program

Other Desktop Search tools available are:

Yahoo Search tool
Msn search tool
Copernic Desktop Search Tool

Tips and Tricks to expedite Web Search –Part II

Search engine Math commands discussed above are one of the popular methods to expedite search. In case search engine maths fails to provide desired results another work around is using Boolean Searching.

Boolean searching as the name suggest includes basic Boolean commands
Such as And ,Or,Not.

1. ‘And’: ‘And used to find web pages that definitely contains both the keywords specified on either side of the command.


English AND Geometry : Will search webpages containing keywords English as well as Geometry


2. ‘OR’ :‘OR’ used to find web pages containing either of the keywords entered with the ‘OR’ command.
   
   English OR Geometry : Results in pages containing either of the keywords or both of them



3. ‘Not’:
‘Not’ command is used to exclude the keyword preceeded by ‘Not’ command

Beans NOT Java : will include web page that have keyword beans but do not key word Java(It will exclude webpage talking about Javabeans.

A combination of above commands can be used to get desired results.

Note:The commands discussed above are some popular search commands. There are many Search engine specific commands. Just check out Search Engine Featured Chart for complete information about various search commands available with different Search Engines.

Tips n tricks to expedite search on Web

Web is collection of millions of web pages and to search required web page search engine is the most popular medium. If you are an online recruiter or in industry of market research or in related job it becomes a daily routine to search relevant pages on net. Many times we get irrelevant pages irrespective of search keyword we use. Many times web page does not turn up in first few google pages. This not only delays work but also creates mental tension. So in that case what you need to do ?

Work Around

Be aware of Search Engine math

Each search engine acknowledges some basic search engine math which can surely improve the results and expedite the work. Just check out some basic mathematics that can really improve your searches

• Using ‘+’
  Using ‘+” ensures that search engine searches all the words you have entered in the Search tool bar for eg. If you want to web page containing information about both google and yahoo enter
  
  + google + yahoo
  
  Rather then entering google yahoo.
  If you want web page containing specifically summer camp registration date its better to write + summer + camp + registration + date to get web page specifically containing all the keywords.


• Using ‘-‘
  Subtract is used to specifically find web pages that contains one key word and not the other. For example you need information about TATA group but not about Tata Indicom.You can just enter TATA –Indicom
  With this command no page containing Indicom will be displayed.


• Using Phrase Search for multiplicity
  In addition we get all terms we entered but not in that particular order. To get the whole key phrase such as summer camp registration date we need to enter it within quotes such as “summer camp registration date”. This command will make search engine search specifically for the whole key phrase.
  
  Note: You can just combine the above commands to suit your need and to get improved results.
  

How to monitor Network Security?

Data security has become a major concern in today’s world. By breaching network security information can easily be hacked or damaged.

Work Around

- Be aware of the key areas in Network which are prone to security breach.

Network needs security in three areas:

• Perimeter where network connects to internet: Firewalls are each internet connection helps keep hackers and mischief’s away.
• Securing remote connections such as office, satellite as well as employees who connect 0from road or from home.
• Endpoints: This include individual devices on the network. They are most difficult to secure as they are more prone to malicious activities and difficult to secure due to there quantity, diversity and habits of people who are using them. It is at the endpoints that the hacking or other attack takes place and the attack propagates through the network making it insecure and may hinder in its functioning.

So in case you find any breach in these key areas just report your Network Administrator.


Source: IQ by Cisco Systems Third Quarter 2006
Note: Check out tips and tricks to reduce Network Down time in the Previous post

Tips and Tricks to reduce Network Downtime

Network Down means no work/ no business. The rapid developments in computer technology have resulted in a greater reliance on Client/server architectures that implies greater implementation of Networks. With large numbers of desktop or network computers interconnected in a network, networks act as eminent medium of connection between the servers and the clients. This increasing reliance on networks, driven by the growing use of sophisticated applications and popularity of Intranet and internet, has created demands for a zero fault tolerant network. Network Downtime even if it is of relatively short period of time can represent a substantial loss to the business. We can say that companies rely on their networks to sustain their business and need to have have a zero tolerance to downtime.

Work Around

- Need to monitor and incerease fault tolerance of Network

Tips and tricks to reduce downtime:

• Identify both source and cause of problem eg. Source of downtime may be router but cause may be improper configuration.


• Scrutinize network applications to make sure that service providers meet their uptime promises. Companies that run applications supporting vital revenue streams like real-time order entry or financial trading can attest to the dollar value of each transaction traversing their network. Network downtime costs these companies large sums of money every year in terms of lost productivity and lost business.


• Invest in redundancy


• Ensure that the core of the network is protected against any potential single point of hardware failure


• Monitor traffic regularly as any un expected increase may overload network and will call for increased bandwidth. Provide mirrored links for LAN and WAN traffic.


• Replace conventional switches and routers that tie transaction processing clients to server farms with non-stop devices.


• Upgrade Existing System: Fundamental way of addressing and managing the reliability problem is to create a network architecture that deploys fault tolerant system components.

Note: Check out Network Downtime Pdf for more information

How to open a MS word file on PC that does not have MS office?

Many times at workplace you may get stuck if you need to open up a word file on system which does not have MS office installed on it.

Work Around

Use Microsoft Word Viewer.

Microsoft Word Viewer lets you view and print Microsoft Word documents on a computer that does not have Microsoft Word installed. With Word Viewer 2003 you can open Word 2003 documents and documents created with all previous versions of Microsoft Word for Windows and Microsoft Word for Macintosh. It provides facility to view, print, and copy document contents to another program. Besides word files it can also open files saved in the following formats:

• Rich Text Format (.rtf)
• Text (.txt)
• Web Page formats (.htm, .html, .mht, .mhtml)
• WordPerfect 5.x (.wpd)
• WordPerfect 6.x (.doc, .wpd)
• Works 6.0 (.wps)
• Works 7.0 (.wps)
• XML (.xml)

Source: Microsoft Word Viewer can be downloaded from Microsoft Website. For complete details just check out Microsoft support site

Web Directories for frequent use

• Global Business List


• Bindexed.com
  

Want to send bulk e-mails ?

Often at your workplace, major task in your to-do list is " need to send bulk E-mails to your clients/customers ". It’s quiet tedious task, (but job is job :), surely not an easy one as you need to maintain database for list of e-mail Ids of the receivers and also monitor status of e-mails i.e they have reached the receiver or have bounced due to invalid ids or other problems. Such tasks are important in today's competitive world, as the timely mails should reach targeted clients at the right time. It's a challenge, to achieve maximum results, especially if email list is very large.

Work Around

-Use a Bulk Mailer and e-mail validator software such as World Cast.

World Cast is user friendly software that can act as a power tool for bulk mailing. It can be described as a two in one software that help to send bulk mails and also provides facility to validate e-mail addresses. It detects many of the invalid addresses that may exists on emailing list and reports errors such as bad email address, time out operations etc.. . Its download is freely available on many Website. You can just download the software from Shareware connection

Are you a victim of E-mail bombing and Spamming?

While working in office you may find your system has suddenly become sluggish. E-Mail processing is slow, your mailer seems to process a large number of messages and there are lot of unwanted e-mails in your inbox. If that is the case then you are victim of e-ail spamming.

Work Around

-You need to use an anti-spam tool that can help you in recognizing and minimizing effect of such indecent activity.

With such tools you can maintain a list of legitimate and fraud e-mail Ids and also keep a check on suspicious mails such as
Setting alerts for messages that originate from the same user or same site in a very short span of time. You can try using Mail Washer. Mail washer is a reliable spam blocker that will effectively stop email spam. Just download 30 day trial version and check out its anti-spam features. Some of features of the software are:

1. Preview emails on the server to see who’s the sender and what he has to say before downloading.
2. Deleting un-wanted e-mails from server.
3. Maintaining Friends list for recognizing valid e-mail Ids.


4. Maintaining backlist for the e—mails which have automatically bounced.


5. Customizable Filters for effective filtering out spam mails from legitimate mails.

Just login to Mail Washer site for complete information.

• Using Anti-Phishing Software


• Fighting Spyware


• Using data security software
  
• Using Microsft outlook Anti-Phishing Features

Related Posts: Check out other post on fighting against Phishing andSpyware
http://officetipsntricks.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-safe-guard-your-personal.html

How Microsft Out look can help in fighting Phishing?

As discussed in previous post it is difficult to distinguish fraud e-mail from legitimate ones specially when you receive lots of e-mail in a day. Here is another work around:

-Use Microsft Outlook anti-phishing features simple!!!!!!!!!!

Outlook provides feature that verify each e-mail to check whether it is fraud or not. Some of the parameters used to verify the e-mail are:

Check content of the E-mail

E-Mail address from where E-mail has been sent. If it has been sent by a spoofed address filter will consider it suspicious.

Filter check the links if provided in the e-mail. If links found to me suspicious mail considered to be fraud.

Suspicious message detection is set on by default. Whenever any e-mail is considered suspicious it is sent to Junk E-Mail folder. The m essage format of the e-mail is changed to plain text and links in message are disabled.

Outlook 2003 contains phishing protectection features to fight phishing. Its features can be used by downloading both the latest Junk E-mail Filter update and Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2 from Microsoft office online. Good information about its phishing features is also available in a post ondigital Inspiration.

Note: The phishing protection feature is not available for earlier versions of Outlook.

Are you being phished?

Are you being phished is a difficult statement to understand if one exactly does not know What is phishing?
So What is phishing?

Phishing is one of very popular internet scam in which the users are lured to disclose their personal information such as credit card number, account id, passwords etc.. which can then be easily misused. So phishing can be defined as activities causing identity theft of a person. Such kind of identity theft can be big loss to an individual or to an organisation. In office when one is too much indulged in work phishing goes unnoticed as a common phishing scam starts with an e-mail message that looks like an official notice from a trusted source through which recipients are directed to a fraudulent Web site where they are asked to provide personal information.

Costs of phishing

• Phishing results in loss in money as well as time of owner.


• Financial institutions also suffer from reduced employee and IT productivity, loss of network resources, legal liability and damage to their brand name and reputation.
• From Customer’s perspective, their trust in Online payment systems and the ability of financial institutions to mitigate fraud is diminished over successful phishing attacks.

Work Around

-Awareness is first step for prevention. Be aware of best online practices while working on web.

Some are listed below:

1. Be very careful while providing personal information in a reply to e-mail message. You need to verify the sender and purpose carefully before providing such
   information


2. Avoid clicking on Suspicious Links/Unknown llinks in a e-mail


3. Don't send personal information in regular e-mail messages Regular e-mail messages are not encrypted and are like sending a post card. You need to use Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) for sending digitally signed and encrypted message.


4. Make sure the Web site in which you are making a transaction uses encryption. The Web address should be preceded by https:// instead of the usual http:// in the browser's Address bar. There should be lock icon on browser's status bar doubleclicking on which will display to display the digital certificate for the site.
   
5. Use Anti-Virus/Firewall to protect your PC. It is important to use a firewall, keep your computer updated, and use antivirus software, especially if you connect to the Internet through a cable modem or a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem>/li>
   
6. Whenever you make a online transaction monitor the transaction carefully to make sure that the charges levied are correct

Note: Just visit Microsoft support site for complete information


- Use Anti-Phishing Software

Using Anti-Phishing Software can help in detecting phishing scam. Anti-phishing software can be described as computer programs that are capable of identifying phishing content contained in a websites or e-mail. This tool gets integrated with web browsers and e-mail clients as tool bar so that whenever viewer visits a website or opens an e-mail actual domain name is displayed. This will help the user in distinguishing legitimate website from fraud ones that vicariously act as legitimate. One such tool is Phishing Detector Publisher's Description. It’s a premier free Fair Trade Authority Phishing Detector plug-in for Outlook Express and Outlook used for spotting phishing and email frauds. This Anti-phishing tool helps in detecting Phishings/Email Frauds/Spoofed emails. Phishing Detector v.1.0 is able to recognize phishing emails pretending to come from eBay, PayPal, Amazon, eGold and hundreds of other financial institutions. Its free version can be downloaded from various websites such as soft32

Related Posts:
Related Post:

• Using Data Security Software


• Fighting Spyware


• Fighting against e-mail spam
  
• Using Microsft outlook Anti-Phishing Features

Using Anti-Phishing feature of
Microsoft Outlook

Join Anti-Phishing Work Group

Need to copy data from Web?

While surfing the Web or while reviewing any document you may need to save some information for future reference. Generally either we save the webpage or need to copy paste in another document. This can be some times time consuming and we need to remember the folder where we have saved relevant information. Can you think of a better trick to do this job?

Work Around

-Use Microsoft Outlook Notes Simple!!!!!!!!!!

Click Notes to view all of your Outlook Notes. Now back to clipping. Open a Microsoft Office Word document or a Web page and size the window so that it does not overlap with your Outlook Note. See something that you would like to save for future reference? Select the text, and then drag it to your Outlook Note. When you see the mouse pointer change to a plus symbol (+), you can release the mouse button. Your text is now saved in an Outlook Note

Source: Micrsoft office Online

How MVP’s can help in solving MS Word related problems?

It may happen you are stuck with MS Word problem at your workplace and are not able to solve it using MS Word tutorials/Newsgroups.

Work Around
You can go for a professional help by a MVP.

MVP stands for Most Valuable Professional. This is a award provided my Microsoft to outstanding members of online community. These candidates are generally proposed by existing MVps as they regularly participate in conversations of newsgroup and are familiar with members of the community. These MVPs are available for commercial hire. They show their a "Business Contact" link on their bio page. In case you have an extensive problem which you are not able to solve via newsgroup advice alone you may email to a MVp for consultation. Note you need to post your problem in the newsgroup before contacting any MVP. Complete details of MVPs can be downloaded from The Word MVP Website. It is one of the best help website that provide quality tutorials on MS Word.

Getting help for Microsoft Word

In our office Microsoft word is a most useful package we use for our daily documentation. Sometimes we get stuck with problems that really kills our time.

Work Around

The guru mantra for getting out of such problem is to use F1 Key help and Office Assistant. If this doesnot solve your problem you may visit Microsoft newsgroup. Microsoft have newsgroups that are completely dedicated to understanding MS word and using it in a better way. Any one can go and put up a question over there which are quickly answered by other people who visit the group. It has been analyzed visitors get their answers with in 24 hours. In case you have Microsoft Outlook Express on your system just visit news://msnews.microsoft.com

Google also keeps archives of the discussion on Micrsoft Newsgroup. You can search the google archivehosted on google groups beta center and search the archive same way you search on the Web.

There are also very good websites which provide quality tutorials on MS Word. Just check out the following Websites

The Word MVP Website
Shaunakelly’s Website
MSDN Blogs
Bay City Public School help tutorial
Online Free tutorials
Internet4classrooms
MS Word Tutorial
About:WordProcessing

Note: Such help is also available for other MS office programs.

Spyware…Is it troubling you?

Many time while working in office you may find unwanted popup appearing on your PC screen from nowhere. You may feel there is some kind of virus that is creating trouble and anti-virus is not working properly It’s time that you realize that this can not be due to a virus but can be the work of Spyware program.

According toMicrosoft – “Spyware and other unwanted software refers to software that performs certain tasks on your computer, typically without your consent. This may include giving you advertising or collecting personal information about you”. Spyware cannot be removed by Antivirus as Antivirus program is not supposed to do so.

Spyware can create following problems:

• Browser search settings have changed without your knowledge. You may notice a new toolbar in your browser that you didn’t want, and find it difficult to get rid of.
• Computer is more prone to crashes.
• Unwanted pop-up advertisements even when you’re not on Web
• Computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks.

Work Around

Spyware Removal Tool

• According to Microsoft best way to get rid of spyware is to download a Spyware removal tool and run the same on your computer.
• Other way can be to find programs in Add/Remove Program that you do not recognize or are named similarly to the program that is causing the unwanted behavior and remove it.

Microsoft has provided few other resolution methods which are available on Microsoft support site. For complete information regarding Spyware you just need to visit may refer Microsoft support site.

Related Post:

• Using Anti-Phishing Software


• Using Data Security Software


• Fighting against e-mail spam
  
• Using Microsft outlook Anti-Phishing Features

When was last time your BOSS reminded you for pending TASKS !!!!

What you usually use at workplace for write TO Dos

• Note Books
  (Which usually get lost, have tear pages after some time, you forget where you have written last notes, etc)


• Stick Notes
(After a while, stick notes gum looses its adhesiveness, some one removes its by mistakes, etc)

Work Around

- Use Microsoft Outlook Notes

Microsoft Outlook comes a bundle pack with MS Office. If you are using Outlook for first time on your PC, you need to make profile (just give your own name). On LHS there are links for Mail, Calendar, Notes, and Contacts.(sample pic below). Create a new one (e.g. title TO DO) start writing all pending tasks you have and create shortcut on desktop (you may even further link shortcut to start-up). This will now act as permanent notes on desktop.

Advantages of using Microsoft Outlook Notes

• Its Free!!
• Once created shortcut, no need to start outlook
• Whatever you write, no need to save (write it and forget it, it will remain there!)

What time is this on other side of GLOBE!!!

Technology has bridged gaps between continents. Around 70 – 80 % of multinational companies are have there branch offices, sites office at diversified locations. Usually people go and visit website, try time converters, asks colleagues for timings at other continent. But, being self dependent is mantra these days!!

Work Around

- Download a World Time Converter!!

World Time Convertercan be easily downloaded and installed in the system.

Advantage of using World Time Converter

• Free


• You can SET time zones as per your choice , it keep them clocking all the time.


• Place shortcut in startup menu, hence no need to start it all time.


• Draft it in be only visible on clock click (so task bar is also free).


• Small icon “near date n time ” that’s it.


• BIG one, this software can also be used to for POP UP reminders!!

How to send noteworthy eye-catching Feedbacks / Email replies / Letters / Memos .etc

Days have gone, when office assistance was only one whose vocabulary use to count !!. With more and more people getting self-dependent, everyone need to be adverse with sound grammar and vocabulary, which is used in daily needs (giving feedbacks, email replies, letters, etc).If every time, you want to look for Internet, or do copy paste in Word to check aforesaid things it’s going to be very time consuming.

Work Around

- Download a Dictionary !! Simple

WordWeb is a free english dictionary, you can download easily from Internet. It is a top rated software that includes comprehensive English thesaurus and dictionary.

Advantages of Using WordWeb

• Its Free!!


• It will correct your spelling and give you options to try.


• BIG one, it gives nearest words with same meaning.


• Direct copy paste from word / email to WordWeb and vice-versa.


• It includes a comprehensive English thesaurus and dictionary.


• Can be used to look up words from within most programs.

This can be a useful tip for the people who need to impress their boss in office or influence their clients with magic of words:)

How to Safe Guard your personal / official data?

- Ever thought, how safe is your personal and official data over office LAN ?

- At majority of workplace, one had to use shared computers (usually shift jobs, call
centers, BPO)

- All your creative ideas and hard work, can act as stepping stone for competitors

Work Around

Use a FOLDER LOCK

Folder lock as the name suggest is a file security program that guards data against unwanted access. Its an efficient data security software that can fight against security threat. Many work arounds to password protect the file/folder/disk are available but many times password can be easily cracked. The interesting feature about this software is that it not only password protect data, locks it, hides it and even encrypt it!!! Any type of data, whether stored in files, folders, drives, pictures and documents can be protected.

It can be easily installed on PCs and can be efficiently used for hiding files from kids, friends and co-workers. It not only protects privacy of the files but also guards them against viruses, worms and spyware, and protects them from networked PCs, cable users and hackers. Lock remains intact even when the files are transferred from PC to other via any removable drive. Folder lock is available for free download at various websites. A trial version can be downloaded and installd on the system

Usage

Folder Lock can be used with any kind of files/folders stored in USB Flash Drives, Memory Sticks, CD-RW, floppies and notebooks.

Compatibility

Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/Me/98

For other tips n tricks check out >officetipsntricks

Related Post:

• Using Anti-Phishing Software


• Fighting Spyware


• Fighting against e-mail spam
  
• Using Microsft outlook Anti-Phishing Features


• Join Anti-Phishing Work Group