Got up at 3:30 AM to deliver a MS Project training course for Carillion last Monday in Leeds. They were working with the Prison service to develop Project plans to build and maintain new Prisons. Not the Titan 2000 inmate variety but small friendly prisons in the range of 1500 residents.
Turns out the British Prison system is full and will fill the new prisons with very little effort.
Got home from Leeds about 10:00 went straight to bed. Work up about 2:45 to hear what sounded like workman downstairs. Looked over the bannister to see three guys carry my worldly goods out the front door. I did't think and rushed down the stairs whereupon they threw whatevr they could lay their hand on to keep me from following then out into the street. Called the police and a car was there in minutes containing two as good as useless community policemen who did not seem inclined to give chase to burglars you has left two minutes earlier but preferred to stay and ask questions that could easily be answered in the cold light of day.
Either way I am minus a TV two computers and wondering why I am spending my time working. Why don't I sit at home get up arund midnight and raid a few houses.
All I can think is the faster they rollout these new prisons the better and make them as large and soulless as possible sited as far from relatives and friends as possible. I will even offer my project services free to the prison services to get as many build as quickly as possible to get these thieving bastards off the streets
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saving a Baseline and Tracking in Ms Project
Remember when you are creating a Project plan it is just a schedule (fig 1), You need more information before you can track your progress adequately.
(Fig 1)
Most project books guide users to the Tracking Gantt (fig2) below but this is pointless without setting a Baseline Plan which creates the comparison bar for checking variance from schedule to actual
(Fig 2)
You create the comparison bar choose the menu in Fig 3 below
(Fig 3)
From the base line menu (fig 4) just choose OK
(Fig 4)
Now note that the second comparison bar has been created and is in complete synchrony with the schedule (Fig 5)
(Fig 5)
Make a change eg example below the plan the move task has changed to 10 days from 5
using Priorities effectively in MS Project
In any version of project enter Arabic, Italian and German as three five day tasks all starting on the same Monday. (Fig 1). You will end up with a classic problem of over allocated resources
(Fig 1)
Double click the task name for Italian and on the general tab enter 1000 (the highest priority for the task) and select OK. (Fig 2)
(Fig 2)
Select Arabic but leave the priority at 500. (Fig 3)
(Fig 3)
Repeat for German with the lowest priority (1)
(Fig 4)
Go to the Resource Sheet (View Resource sheet) and enter your name as the resource. (Fig 5)
(Fig 5)
Using the Assign resources button assign yourself to all three tasks leaving you over allocated (fig 6)
(Fig 6)
To see the over allocations go to View Resource graph (fig 7). Also View Resource sheet (fig 8) shows up over allocation in Red and View, Resource Usage (fig 9)
(Fig 7)
(Fig 8)
(Fig 9)
One way to settle this over allocation is to use the Tools Level resource menu (fig 10)
(Fig 10)
From the menu which appears Choose Level Low and Ok (fig 11)
(Fig 11)
This produces the result below and clear the over allocation (fig 12)
(Fig 12)
To make it easier to see what is going on we will format the bars to show the priority inside the bar (fig 13)
(Fig 13)
From Bar styles Choose Priority as your option for inside. (Fig 14)
Fig 14)
The result is shown on fig 15
(Fig 15)
However a relationship overrides a priority. If you subsequently enter Finish to start relationships between the tasks the Relationship (Rock) beats Priority (scissors) the result is shown in fig 16
(Fig 16)
For the full training manual gratis Project Training manuals
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Publishing Project Plans to Visio
Don't underestimate how easily you can take a Project plan and import it as an attractive timelime in Visio 2003 or 2007
If these options are interesting to you try using the Visual Reports from Project 2007 which output to Visio.
For full free Visio training manuals try Viso Training manuals
If these options are interesting to you try using the Visual Reports from Project 2007 which output to Visio.
For full free Visio training manuals try Viso Training manuals
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Bring Back Heirarchical Menu Systems to Microsoft
Back in the old days of command driven spreadsheets a user had to remember a hierarchical list of commands to achieve anything. In Lotus 123
To protect worksheet involved five keystrokes
/ Worksheet Global Protection Enable
Allowed a user to lock up a spreadsheet
To unprotect the range first required
/ Range Unprotect
There was an intellectual rigor to the exercise.
The early version of Excel groups similar commands together in logical clusters and since the Interface changed little since 1988 until 2007 Users built up a huge array of commands in memory not to dissimilar to the Knowledge of the average London taxi driver. Then came Excel 2007 and icon plastered ribbons. New users love it but then they would since it requires the mental equivalent of drawing a picture with dots.
I don’t think I am being a dinosaur here I train these applications very day and I am all for inclusiveness but what is wrong with requiring some discipline and structure to a menu system.
To protect worksheet involved five keystrokes
/ Worksheet Global Protection Enable
Allowed a user to lock up a spreadsheet
To unprotect the range first required
/ Range Unprotect
There was an intellectual rigor to the exercise.
The early version of Excel groups similar commands together in logical clusters and since the Interface changed little since 1988 until 2007 Users built up a huge array of commands in memory not to dissimilar to the Knowledge of the average London taxi driver. Then came Excel 2007 and icon plastered ribbons. New users love it but then they would since it requires the mental equivalent of drawing a picture with dots.
I don’t think I am being a dinosaur here I train these applications very day and I am all for inclusiveness but what is wrong with requiring some discipline and structure to a menu system.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Web site Copying
Just for fun take a page of your web site (see mine below and copy it to copyscape web site.
http://www.mousetraining.co.uk/ms-training/microsoft-training-courses.html
Today I have found another company this one in South Africa copying our pages again.
"We at Ratseba Training can provide MS training courses on all versions and levels for almost all Microsoft applications. We offer standard and tailored courses to suit your exact needs.
We are able to run your Microsoft Training Courses at a location that suits you. We have a fully equipt, comfortable and relaxed Microsoft Office Training centre in the heart of Free State(Bloemfonrein). "
Fortunately we have an email and a telephone number so I know what I will be doing tomorrow morning
Please contact us at email info@ratseba.co.za
http://www.mousetraining.co.uk/ms-training/microsoft-training-courses.html
Today I have found another company this one in South Africa copying our pages again.
"We at Ratseba Training can provide MS training courses on all versions and levels for almost all Microsoft applications. We offer standard and tailored courses to suit your exact needs.
We are able to run your Microsoft Training Courses at a location that suits you. We have a fully equipt, comfortable and relaxed Microsoft Office Training centre in the heart of Free State(Bloemfonrein). "
Fortunately we have an email and a telephone number so I know what I will be doing tomorrow morning
Please contact us at email info@ratseba.co.za
My Word is My Bond the Rise of the Cowboy Customer
We have very little problems getting payment from corporate customers. If they are happy with the service they pay. If there is any element of the training service they are dissatisfied with generally you can expect to have to answer the criticism. Generally though the process is considered.
With the recession we are now dealing with individuals looking for training and so far this year 30 % refuse to pay regardless of how positive their training feedback may have been.
All business replys to a certain extent on trust to make progress in any agreement. We now pretty much won't deal with individuals there is to much hassle and unfortunately means we have to withdraw a service from the honest majority.
Mouseman
With the recession we are now dealing with individuals looking for training and so far this year 30 % refuse to pay regardless of how positive their training feedback may have been.
All business replys to a certain extent on trust to make progress in any agreement. We now pretty much won't deal with individuals there is to much hassle and unfortunately means we have to withdraw a service from the honest majority.
Mouseman
Electricity for SME's
In our current building for 3 years all seven floors paid electic bills as part of our service charge. The green lobby would rightly say that this encourages you to use more electricity as others share your bill.
The landlord one week end split the building into seven meters. One per floor but failed to tell the tenants in advance. This automatically puts each company on out of contract rates of 300% the normal rate for units ans standing charges.
What a rip off. One month later it is still inpossible to get a quote from the elecrtic company because of course they have no incentive to agree a rate.
Effectively the company in treated as if it is overdraft with a bank. Well down to the regulators another rip off.
small companies (especially training companies) have enough to worry about in 2009 without allowing the utilities to empty our bank accounts
The landlord one week end split the building into seven meters. One per floor but failed to tell the tenants in advance. This automatically puts each company on out of contract rates of 300% the normal rate for units ans standing charges.
What a rip off. One month later it is still inpossible to get a quote from the elecrtic company because of course they have no incentive to agree a rate.
Effectively the company in treated as if it is overdraft with a bank. Well down to the regulators another rip off.
small companies (especially training companies) have enough to worry about in 2009 without allowing the utilities to empty our bank accounts
Web site Statistics
I have just checked our web site stats for Mouse training what we cannot work out is why despite the whole site being optimized for Microsoft training sources in London 90% of the visits to our site come from India and less than 20% from the UK.
(69.5% India 18.1% United Kingdom 6.0% United States 6.3% OTHER). Anyone how can explain the logic out there please let me know.
This would be great if we delivered anything other than classroom training in London. Maybe we are getting it wrong we should devote the whole site to omline training instead.
(69.5% India 18.1% United Kingdom 6.0% United States 6.3% OTHER). Anyone how can explain the logic out there please let me know.
This would be great if we delivered anything other than classroom training in London. Maybe we are getting it wrong we should devote the whole site to omline training instead.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Reselling Microsoft Training Courses
We thought we would make life simple 1 price for all courses at all levels regardless of numbers attending home or away.
How such simplicity could be subverted by clients
Imagine a large institution (10,000 plus employees) takes your simple price for Excel training and resells places on it’s web site so each person attending is paying over £200 per day to attend. More revenue is earned by the institution than the training company.
Result eight people expecting the earth
Imagine a housing association books a MS Publisher Taining course for its own staff. Initially intends to send four members of staff. Then realizing it’s the same price for eight resells 4 more places without telling us to 4 other organizations. We just get told the number is now eight.
Result 4 people expecting the earth and 4 expecting other planetary systems since the syllabus was not forwarded to them
Imagine a training company books us for one of their own public scheduled courses and resells eight places to eight individuals. One has a free place at one end of the spectrum at the other some one has paid again over £200 for the pleasure.
Maybe we should not be too concerned about reselling if it is just a matter of price but in reality it always changes expectations as well.
The candidate paying £200 per day expects lunch. The candidate paying £200 per day gets upset and questions the trainer about why voucher man paid nothing.
SO much for simplicity
How such simplicity could be subverted by clients
Imagine a large institution (10,000 plus employees) takes your simple price for Excel training and resells places on it’s web site so each person attending is paying over £200 per day to attend. More revenue is earned by the institution than the training company.
Result eight people expecting the earth
Imagine a housing association books a MS Publisher Taining course for its own staff. Initially intends to send four members of staff. Then realizing it’s the same price for eight resells 4 more places without telling us to 4 other organizations. We just get told the number is now eight.
Result 4 people expecting the earth and 4 expecting other planetary systems since the syllabus was not forwarded to them
Imagine a training company books us for one of their own public scheduled courses and resells eight places to eight individuals. One has a free place at one end of the spectrum at the other some one has paid again over £200 for the pleasure.
Maybe we should not be too concerned about reselling if it is just a matter of price but in reality it always changes expectations as well.
The candidate paying £200 per day expects lunch. The candidate paying £200 per day gets upset and questions the trainer about why voucher man paid nothing.
SO much for simplicity
Monday, August 31, 2009
In the Training Zone
A swimmer in a race will describe afterwards how after winning a race "the other sprinters were only tenths of seconds behind me, but I could have written a novel by the time it took them to Finish or So I sensed" (Tales from Nowhere Lonely Planet 2004)
I can imagine how the focus of concentation could cause such time distortion. The fear of failing could concentrate the mind remarkably.
I have wondered how this could apply to training sessions.
Often a trainer will describe how the whole day appears to have disappeared in minutes. 9:30 to 4:30 appears to go in an instant. It's not like the swimmer the world is not in slow mation the time just disppears but the concentation and fear are the same. If the course is considered sub standard I will look stupid during the event and may be reprimanded in some way afterwards.
I taught a Project course last week frr a company in Didcot. I have taught the same course probably 3 or 4 times a year since 1994. I know it inside out and have used it extensively for real projects and consulted on hundred of projects. Why then do I always fear that I will be exposed as a fraud?.
Is the fear a good thing or an emotion to be trained out of myself.
It is starting to strike me that training or teaching is a odd way to spend the day very different to jobs where you can look out the window or have a chat on a whim.
I am reminded that my dad always used to say that once he got in his carriage as a underground train driver in London he remembered nothing about the journey from Leyton when the train went underground until it surfaced again near White City
Mouseman
I can imagine how the focus of concentation could cause such time distortion. The fear of failing could concentrate the mind remarkably.
I have wondered how this could apply to training sessions.
Often a trainer will describe how the whole day appears to have disappeared in minutes. 9:30 to 4:30 appears to go in an instant. It's not like the swimmer the world is not in slow mation the time just disppears but the concentation and fear are the same. If the course is considered sub standard I will look stupid during the event and may be reprimanded in some way afterwards.
I taught a Project course last week frr a company in Didcot. I have taught the same course probably 3 or 4 times a year since 1994. I know it inside out and have used it extensively for real projects and consulted on hundred of projects. Why then do I always fear that I will be exposed as a fraud?.
Is the fear a good thing or an emotion to be trained out of myself.
It is starting to strike me that training or teaching is a odd way to spend the day very different to jobs where you can look out the window or have a chat on a whim.
I am reminded that my dad always used to say that once he got in his carriage as a underground train driver in London he remembered nothing about the journey from Leyton when the train went underground until it surfaced again near White City
Mouseman
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Monday Tuesday Happy Days WeekEnd Comes and Still Training
Saturday Excel Training Courses
Mouse Training started delivering Saturday MS Excel training courses and if need, even Sundays in January. The only reason was not enough work was being generated Monday through Friday. We are overrun our weekend Excel training courses are popular with professionals that cannot afford to take time of during the week. Lately we have been running courses for people who are under real pressure to produce Excel solutions at work who may also have exaggerated a little to get their job.
Just because it's Saturday does not mean you get less. We still provide all the services as a normal weekday Excel course. If you require a 2 day Excel VBA course on a weekend, we will run the course on Saturday and Sunday, or two consecutive Saturdays. If possible we coax trainees to come in a little later on a weekend and leave the suit behind. It helps awe well that there are no phones ringing and only Spam for emails.
We provide the same course level and contents for our weekend Excel courses. This includes all levels of Excel and versions, e.g. Excel 2007. Should have thought of this years ago. Maybe training companies need to think a bit more about evening training, night training. If we we do a few more might live to tell the tale in 2010
Mouse Training started delivering Saturday MS Excel training courses and if need, even Sundays in January. The only reason was not enough work was being generated Monday through Friday. We are overrun our weekend Excel training courses are popular with professionals that cannot afford to take time of during the week. Lately we have been running courses for people who are under real pressure to produce Excel solutions at work who may also have exaggerated a little to get their job.
Just because it's Saturday does not mean you get less. We still provide all the services as a normal weekday Excel course. If you require a 2 day Excel VBA course on a weekend, we will run the course on Saturday and Sunday, or two consecutive Saturdays. If possible we coax trainees to come in a little later on a weekend and leave the suit behind. It helps awe well that there are no phones ringing and only Spam for emails.
We provide the same course level and contents for our weekend Excel courses. This includes all levels of Excel and versions, e.g. Excel 2007. Should have thought of this years ago. Maybe training companies need to think a bit more about evening training, night training. If we we do a few more might live to tell the tale in 2010
Excel 2008 for Mac
I have just spent a day trying out Excel 2008 running on an iMac. The iMac was great but Excel was really disappointing. The whole look and feels like it came from the 1980’s. There were glimpses of Excel 2007 with Smart graphics and a larger grid of columns and row but little else. The biggest disappointment is the inability to use VBA for macro’s which is not supported. Other off omissions is the missing Pivot charts available in the Windows version. The initial view in Page layour view is also too small to work with. I would recommend changing to Normal view and changing the view to 150%.
On to PowerPoint I hope that is more fun!
On to PowerPoint I hope that is more fun!
Don't Under Estimate the Complexity of a Word Document
Companies often underestimate the complexity of word processing, assuming that most of the training and consultancy challenges lie in Excel or Access.
I have found that the following issues are frequently mentioned by delegates.
I need to be able to take a document created by any one of a hundred colleagues and standardize it
Trainers can help you set up and apply a standard corporate style to any document that is created within your organization. Documents received from an external source can also be made consistent with your company templates. This can be done using a variety of approaches (either user driven or completely automated).
I must be able to enforce company style and brand image
Your installation of Word can be “locked down”, making certain options unavailable. By limiting user choice, you can ensure that your corporate style remains intact.
We need to validate user data
Templates can contain form controls for validating and capturing user data. This kind of template limits the data types and ranges of values within those types that can be entered. The template also controls where the data captured by the form appears and its layout.
I need a consistent look and feel to my documents. My staff doesn’t have time to re-work finished documents.
A set of templates customized to your company’s requirements would ensure consistency and branding for externally bound documents. For internal documents, report templates would make scanning and finding information for comparison quicker and more effective.
Staff are struggling with long documents
Long document automation can help to ensure correct page numbering, set up headers and footers that change in line with document content, produce tables of contents and indexes built automatically from content and ensure automatic numbering of diagrams and tables.
What do I do now?
Training companies with experienced trainers can provide solutions to all of the above problems.
To get the ball rolling download our Word advanced Training manual free lot’s on styles and templates and all the not so obvious topics like Tables of Contents and Auto numbering systems.…
Mouseman
I have found that the following issues are frequently mentioned by delegates.
I need to be able to take a document created by any one of a hundred colleagues and standardize it
Trainers can help you set up and apply a standard corporate style to any document that is created within your organization. Documents received from an external source can also be made consistent with your company templates. This can be done using a variety of approaches (either user driven or completely automated).
I must be able to enforce company style and brand image
Your installation of Word can be “locked down”, making certain options unavailable. By limiting user choice, you can ensure that your corporate style remains intact.
We need to validate user data
Templates can contain form controls for validating and capturing user data. This kind of template limits the data types and ranges of values within those types that can be entered. The template also controls where the data captured by the form appears and its layout.
I need a consistent look and feel to my documents. My staff doesn’t have time to re-work finished documents.
A set of templates customized to your company’s requirements would ensure consistency and branding for externally bound documents. For internal documents, report templates would make scanning and finding information for comparison quicker and more effective.
Staff are struggling with long documents
Long document automation can help to ensure correct page numbering, set up headers and footers that change in line with document content, produce tables of contents and indexes built automatically from content and ensure automatic numbering of diagrams and tables.
What do I do now?
Training companies with experienced trainers can provide solutions to all of the above problems.
To get the ball rolling download our Word advanced Training manual free lot’s on styles and templates and all the not so obvious topics like Tables of Contents and Auto numbering systems.…
Mouseman
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Pay Rates for IT Trainers
I was clearing out my garage this weekend and through out a load of accounts from the early 1990’s. My eye was drawn to an invoice for 4 courses in 1994 from a freelance trainer where the total amount for four courses was £800.00. Nothing remarkable in that but trainers in 2009 invoice for the same amount £200 per day. What has gone wrong why are the skills of IT trainers on a declining path to the extent to which they earn less year on year for the last 15 years?
There are a few reasons I can think of
Most IT trainers are ex-teachers; most ex-teachers are female. Mainly female professions are nearly always lowly paid. Women get paid less than men. (not sure about this or the % of IT trainers that are female)
The entry levels to running a computer training business (e.g. costs of computing) come down every year so there is over supply in the business.
The main one though is the perceived lack of professional qualifications to differentiate the great trainer from the mediocre.
Any organization that controls it’s own professional destiny e.g. Solicitors, Lawyers control their own numbers and there in lies the real key to controlling wages.
Most of the exams in the market place do not differentiate the trainer properly from an end user. Organizations that do exit like the Institute of IT Trainers are not open to trainers them selves becoming part of the governing body and setting the agenda themselves. What is needed is a Professional Body for IT trainers which in the short term awards credits to trainers based on current experience and qualifications but in the long run awards its own qualifications based on exams set by trainers themselves.
IT trainer
Mouse Training Company
There are a few reasons I can think of
Most IT trainers are ex-teachers; most ex-teachers are female. Mainly female professions are nearly always lowly paid. Women get paid less than men. (not sure about this or the % of IT trainers that are female)
The entry levels to running a computer training business (e.g. costs of computing) come down every year so there is over supply in the business.
The main one though is the perceived lack of professional qualifications to differentiate the great trainer from the mediocre.
Any organization that controls it’s own professional destiny e.g. Solicitors, Lawyers control their own numbers and there in lies the real key to controlling wages.
Most of the exams in the market place do not differentiate the trainer properly from an end user. Organizations that do exit like the Institute of IT Trainers are not open to trainers them selves becoming part of the governing body and setting the agenda themselves. What is needed is a Professional Body for IT trainers which in the short term awards credits to trainers based on current experience and qualifications but in the long run awards its own qualifications based on exams set by trainers themselves.
IT trainer
Mouse Training Company
Friday, August 7, 2009
Using Index and Match in Excel
In a new spreadsheet put list A in A2:A5 and list B in B2:b5
list A
http://www.mousetraining.co.uk
http://utube.com
http://www.google.co.uk
http://msn.com
list B
http://yahoo.com
http://www.mousetraining.co.uk
http://.bbc.co.uk
http://yahoo.com
How in C1 type the calculation below and copy down to C5
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A2,$B$2:$B$5,0)),"no","yes")
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A3,$B$2:$B$5,0)),"no","yes")
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A4,$B$2:$B$5,0)),"no","yes")
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(A5,$B$2:$B$5,0)),"no","yes")
How in D1 type the calculation below and copy down to D5
This produces the answer yes if the item in column A exists in column B and no if not.
Alternatively highlight the first list and choose data validation. From setting choose List and for the source choose B2:B5 and Ok.
Choose Tools Formula Auditing and Show formula Auditing Toolbar. Choose the button to Circle Invalid data. This circles the non matching data.
Still not happy try in E2 the following calculation
=IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(A2,$B$2:$B$5,1,FALSE)),"no","yes")
Curious about these functions download a free Excel reference manual
Thursday, August 6, 2009
PowerPoint Tricks with Hyperlinks
Put your company logo on the slide Master. Select the logo and Choose Control K or Insert Hyperlink. Notice that one of the options is Place in this document. Select the first slide. Now during your slide show you can click on the logo and return to the first slide. Perfect for late arrivals allowing you to seamlessly return to the first slide.
The idea works well for other objects embedded on the slide master. You could draw a circle then make it’s line and fill attributes white then assign a hyperlink. This on any slide would allow you to have hyperlinks that were invisible to your audience.
For more tips and tricks download the free PowerPoint course training manual
The idea works well for other objects embedded on the slide master. You could draw a circle then make it’s line and fill attributes white then assign a hyperlink. This on any slide would allow you to have hyperlinks that were invisible to your audience.
For more tips and tricks download the free PowerPoint course training manual
Using Shared Resource Pools in MS Project
Rather than typing your name into multiple files and assigning yourself to tasks it is much better practice to use a shared resource pool.
Create a new file. Go to the resource sheet and type in your name. Leave the max units as 100% and leave the calendar as standard.
Save the file as Resources and keep the file open.
Create a new file add a task called M11 Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the M11 roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 1000. Save the file as M11 Roadwork’s
Create a new file add a task called A406 Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the A406 roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 500. Save the file as A406 Roadwork’s
Create a new file add a task called local Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the local roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 1. Save the file as local Roadwork’s.
In each case the default option when you share resources is that Pool not Sharer takes precedence. This means that if there was a task in the resource pool to create a new Runway at Heathrow and there was an over allocation for you as the resource the Runway work would happen before any of the roads.
Choose Window Arrange All note you are in red on the resource Sheet, Resource Graph and resource Usage.
To level this over allocation Choose Tools Resource Leveling and choose level now which levels according to the priorities set.
Create a fifth file and Choose Insert Project and Insert the three roadwork’s files with tasks. Clear leveling and level again to show you can level in any view.
This example is useful where resources are shared across projects that have no links. Create a link between each of the subprojects. Note that the link overrides the priority and shows as a grey bar. To see the links between subprojects view each of the files in turn and select Tools Links between Projects and note the external predecessors and successors.
It is possible that this shared resource pool can like on a server using additional software but the preceding example works on the standalone version of Ms Project 98 to 2007.
If you live in London consider one of our MS Project courses for everyone else download the free training materials
Create a new file. Go to the resource sheet and type in your name. Leave the max units as 100% and leave the calendar as standard.
Save the file as Resources and keep the file open.
Create a new file add a task called M11 Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the M11 roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 1000. Save the file as M11 Roadwork’s
Create a new file add a task called A406 Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the A406 roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 500. Save the file as A406 Roadwork’s
Create a new file add a task called local Roadwork’s lasting five days. Goto to Tools Resource sharing and share resources from the file called resources. This immediately makes you available to assign to the local roadwork’s task. Go to the general tab and make the priority 1. Save the file as local Roadwork’s.
In each case the default option when you share resources is that Pool not Sharer takes precedence. This means that if there was a task in the resource pool to create a new Runway at Heathrow and there was an over allocation for you as the resource the Runway work would happen before any of the roads.
Choose Window Arrange All note you are in red on the resource Sheet, Resource Graph and resource Usage.
To level this over allocation Choose Tools Resource Leveling and choose level now which levels according to the priorities set.
Create a fifth file and Choose Insert Project and Insert the three roadwork’s files with tasks. Clear leveling and level again to show you can level in any view.
This example is useful where resources are shared across projects that have no links. Create a link between each of the subprojects. Note that the link overrides the priority and shows as a grey bar. To see the links between subprojects view each of the files in turn and select Tools Links between Projects and note the external predecessors and successors.
It is possible that this shared resource pool can like on a server using additional software but the preceding example works on the standalone version of Ms Project 98 to 2007.
If you live in London consider one of our MS Project courses for everyone else download the free training materials
Ms Office List of Keyboard Shortcuts
Office
Hold down shift and click file menu to get a close all command
CTRL F6 to switch between open files in an Office application
F5 Goto key for Office Apps -move to a specific page in Word or a specific cell in Excel
Excel
SHIFT F8 to add a non-adjacent range using the keyboard
F11 to chart the selected data as a separate page chart
CTRL ; enter today's date in the active cell
ALT ENTER Start a new line in the active cell
F2 Edit the active cell
F4 Make a reference absolute when entering or editing a formula
CTRL SHIFT ~ Reset number formats
F3 To paste a name into a formula
CTRL SHIFT and arrow keys To select to edge of a block of data in direction of arrow
SHIFT SPACEBAR To select a row
CTRL SPACEBAR To select a column
To select entire worksheet
Word
SHIFT F1 Puts a question mark on the mouse which allows you to reveal formatting applied to the text you click on
CTRL Click Over a sentence to select a sentence
CTRL Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document
CTRL End Moves the cursor to the end of the document
CTRL q Clears all paragraph formats
CTRL SPACEBAR Clears all font formats
3 hyphens rules a thin line across the page
3 = rules a double line across the page
3 ~ rules a wavy line across the page
3 # rules a thick line across the page
SHIFT F3 Convert case
PowerPoint
B Press to blackout a screen during a slide show - b again to resume
SHIFT Click on Normal View button Switch to Slide Master
SHIFT when drawing a shape Gives a "perfect" shape - holding down SHIFT with the oval tool gives a circle, with the rectangle tool it gives a square
CTRL when drawing a shape Draws the shape out from a centre point
Access
SHIFT F2 Zoom box - works in datasheet view of a table, criteria boxes in queries and property sheets
F11 Accesses the database window
F6 Toggles between the field description and the field properties in table design view
For free quick key cards goto free MS Office training materials
In any Office application you can close down all the files you have open in one go by holding down SHIFT as you click the File menu and then choosing Close All – you’ll get prompted to save any files you’ve altered.
In any Office application, if you have more than one file open you can switch between them by holding down CTRL and pressing F6 – keep pressing F6 until you get to the file you want to work in.
F5 is a “GoTo” command – use it in Word to move to a specific page number, or in Excel to move to a specific cell reference.
In Excel if you want to quickly create a chart from a selected block of data, press F11. Excel will create the chart on a separate page - you can format it in the usual way.
In Excel to select non-adjacent blocks of data with the keyboard, select the first block in the usual way, then press SHIFT F8. Use your arrow keys to move the active cell to the start of the next block then continue selecting.
In Excel, pressing CTRL ; (semi-colon) will enter today’s date in a cell.
If you need to start a new line within a cell in Excel, press ALT ENTER.
To edit a cell’s contents in Excel, click on the cell and press F2.
To make a reference absolute when entering or editing a formula in Excel, press F4 when the cursor is in the reference to fix. Excel will automatically enter the dollar signs.
If you get an unwanted date or percentage sign when you type a number in a cell in Excel, you can reset the formatting by holding down CTRL SHIFT and pressing ~.
To paste a name into a formula in Excel press F3 – a list of names will appear and you can double-click the one you want to insert in the formula.
To select an entire row in Excel, click in the row and press SHIFT SPACEBAR
To select an entire column in Excel click in the column and press CTRL SPACEBAR
To select a whole block of data in Excel, click in the block and hold down CTRL as you press the * (use the asterisk from the number pad on your keyboard)
To select to the edge of a block in Excel, click where you want to start selecting, hold down CTRL SHIFT and press the arrow key for the direction you want to select in.
In Word, it you want to reveal formats applied to selected text, hold down SHIFT as you press F1. The mouse pointer will display a question mark which you can use to click on the items whose formats you want to check – the formats will be written in the task pane on the right.
Holding down CTRL as you click over a sentence in Word will select that sentence.
CTRL HOME will move the cursor to the beginning of a document in Word
CTRL END will move the cursor to the end of the document in Word
Hold down CTRL and press q to remove all paragraph formats from the selected text in Word
Hold down CTRL and press SPACEBAR to remove all font formats from the selected text in Word
Type --- (three hyphens) and press ENTER – this rules a thin line across the page in Word
Type === (three equals signs) and press ENTER – this rules a double line across the page in Word
Type ### (three hash signs) and press ENTER – this rules a thick line across the page in Word
Type ~~~ (three tildes) and press ENTER – this rules a wavy line across the page in Word
In Word, you can change swap text from capitals to lower case and proper case by selecting the text and holding down SHIFT as you press F3
In PowerPoint, press F5 to run a slideshow.
When running a slideshow, you can temporarily blackout the screen by pressing B. Press B again to resume.
In PowerPoint, you can quickly access the slide master by holding down SHIFT as you click the Normal view button (bottom left of screen)
Holding down the SHIFT key as you draw shapes in PowerPoint results in “perfect” shapes – for example if you hold the SHIFT key down as you draw an oval, you’ll get a perfect circle, with the rectangle tool, you’ll get a square and so on.
Holding down the CTRL key as you draw shapes in PowerPoint lets you anchor the centre point of the shape and draw outwards – useful for positioning items in the middle of the slide.
SHIFT F2 in Access is a zoom command – if the box you’re typing in is too small to see everything, use this command. It works in the datasheet of a table, in the criteria grid of a query and in property sheets.
Pressing F11 in Access will access the database window.
When creating a table in design view in Access you can use F6 to toggle between the field name and description area and the property sheet.
Hold down shift and click file menu to get a close all command
CTRL F6 to switch between open files in an Office application
F5 Goto key for Office Apps -move to a specific page in Word or a specific cell in Excel
Excel
SHIFT F8 to add a non-adjacent range using the keyboard
F11 to chart the selected data as a separate page chart
CTRL ; enter today's date in the active cell
ALT ENTER Start a new line in the active cell
F2 Edit the active cell
F4 Make a reference absolute when entering or editing a formula
CTRL SHIFT ~ Reset number formats
F3 To paste a name into a formula
CTRL SHIFT and arrow keys To select to edge of a block of data in direction of arrow
SHIFT SPACEBAR To select a row
CTRL SPACEBAR To select a column
To select entire worksheet
Word
SHIFT F1 Puts a question mark on the mouse which allows you to reveal formatting applied to the text you click on
CTRL Click Over a sentence to select a sentence
CTRL Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document
CTRL End Moves the cursor to the end of the document
CTRL q Clears all paragraph formats
CTRL SPACEBAR Clears all font formats
3 hyphens rules a thin line across the page
3 = rules a double line across the page
3 ~ rules a wavy line across the page
3 # rules a thick line across the page
SHIFT F3 Convert case
PowerPoint
B Press to blackout a screen during a slide show - b again to resume
SHIFT Click on Normal View button Switch to Slide Master
SHIFT when drawing a shape Gives a "perfect" shape - holding down SHIFT with the oval tool gives a circle, with the rectangle tool it gives a square
CTRL when drawing a shape Draws the shape out from a centre point
Access
SHIFT F2 Zoom box - works in datasheet view of a table, criteria boxes in queries and property sheets
F11 Accesses the database window
F6 Toggles between the field description and the field properties in table design view
For free quick key cards goto free MS Office training materials
In any Office application you can close down all the files you have open in one go by holding down SHIFT as you click the File menu and then choosing Close All – you’ll get prompted to save any files you’ve altered.
In any Office application, if you have more than one file open you can switch between them by holding down CTRL and pressing F6 – keep pressing F6 until you get to the file you want to work in.
F5 is a “GoTo” command – use it in Word to move to a specific page number, or in Excel to move to a specific cell reference.
In Excel if you want to quickly create a chart from a selected block of data, press F11. Excel will create the chart on a separate page - you can format it in the usual way.
In Excel to select non-adjacent blocks of data with the keyboard, select the first block in the usual way, then press SHIFT F8. Use your arrow keys to move the active cell to the start of the next block then continue selecting.
In Excel, pressing CTRL ; (semi-colon) will enter today’s date in a cell.
If you need to start a new line within a cell in Excel, press ALT ENTER.
To edit a cell’s contents in Excel, click on the cell and press F2.
To make a reference absolute when entering or editing a formula in Excel, press F4 when the cursor is in the reference to fix. Excel will automatically enter the dollar signs.
If you get an unwanted date or percentage sign when you type a number in a cell in Excel, you can reset the formatting by holding down CTRL SHIFT and pressing ~.
To paste a name into a formula in Excel press F3 – a list of names will appear and you can double-click the one you want to insert in the formula.
To select an entire row in Excel, click in the row and press SHIFT SPACEBAR
To select an entire column in Excel click in the column and press CTRL SPACEBAR
To select a whole block of data in Excel, click in the block and hold down CTRL as you press the * (use the asterisk from the number pad on your keyboard)
To select to the edge of a block in Excel, click where you want to start selecting, hold down CTRL SHIFT and press the arrow key for the direction you want to select in.
In Word, it you want to reveal formats applied to selected text, hold down SHIFT as you press F1. The mouse pointer will display a question mark which you can use to click on the items whose formats you want to check – the formats will be written in the task pane on the right.
Holding down CTRL as you click over a sentence in Word will select that sentence.
CTRL HOME will move the cursor to the beginning of a document in Word
CTRL END will move the cursor to the end of the document in Word
Hold down CTRL and press q to remove all paragraph formats from the selected text in Word
Hold down CTRL and press SPACEBAR to remove all font formats from the selected text in Word
Type --- (three hyphens) and press ENTER – this rules a thin line across the page in Word
Type === (three equals signs) and press ENTER – this rules a double line across the page in Word
Type ### (three hash signs) and press ENTER – this rules a thick line across the page in Word
Type ~~~ (three tildes) and press ENTER – this rules a wavy line across the page in Word
In Word, you can change swap text from capitals to lower case and proper case by selecting the text and holding down SHIFT as you press F3
In PowerPoint, press F5 to run a slideshow.
When running a slideshow, you can temporarily blackout the screen by pressing B. Press B again to resume.
In PowerPoint, you can quickly access the slide master by holding down SHIFT as you click the Normal view button (bottom left of screen)
Holding down the SHIFT key as you draw shapes in PowerPoint results in “perfect” shapes – for example if you hold the SHIFT key down as you draw an oval, you’ll get a perfect circle, with the rectangle tool, you’ll get a square and so on.
Holding down the CTRL key as you draw shapes in PowerPoint lets you anchor the centre point of the shape and draw outwards – useful for positioning items in the middle of the slide.
SHIFT F2 in Access is a zoom command – if the box you’re typing in is too small to see everything, use this command. It works in the datasheet of a table, in the criteria grid of a query and in property sheets.
Pressing F11 in Access will access the database window.
When creating a table in design view in Access you can use F6 to toggle between the field name and description area and the property sheet.
VLOOKUP Syntax
Timetable - 30 minute session
Introductions and Session Objectives
What is Vlookup Function and why do we need to use it?
Learners’ Experience – What experience, if any, do you have of using the VLookup function?
Recap and Exercise
Any other suggestions to use at work?
Objectives:
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Use the VLookup function for extracting data from another sheet
Understand the difference between Exact match and Closest match
VLookup Functions
Syntax
VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
VLOOKUP
The arguments for the lookup function are:
Lookup Value - Value to match, from the left most column of the lookup table
Table Array - Lookup table name or range
Col_Index_num - Column number containing the relevant data
Range_lookup = True or false
How to Find an Exact or Closest Match with VLOOKUP
The value in the Range Lookup field decides if you want an Exact match or the closest match.
False = Exact Match
True = Closest Match
Introductions and Session Objectives
What is Vlookup Function and why do we need to use it?
Learners’ Experience – What experience, if any, do you have of using the VLookup function?
Recap and Exercise
Any other suggestions to use at work?
Objectives:
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Use the VLookup function for extracting data from another sheet
Understand the difference between Exact match and Closest match
VLookup Functions
Syntax
VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
VLOOKUP
The arguments for the lookup function are:
Lookup Value - Value to match, from the left most column of the lookup table
Table Array - Lookup table name or range
Col_Index_num - Column number containing the relevant data
Range_lookup = True or false
How to Find an Exact or Closest Match with VLOOKUP
The value in the Range Lookup field decides if you want an Exact match or the closest match.
False = Exact Match
True = Closest Match
Mail Merge Options for Word 2003 Step by Step
Launch Word 2003
1. Tools → Mail Merge
2. Under 1. Main Document choose Create
3. Choose Mailing Labels
4. Choose Active Window
5. Go to number 2. Data Source
6. Choose Open Data Source
7. Make sure you are searching for Excel files and navigate to the file you wish to use (i.e. where your addresses were typed)
8. Click OK
9. Click Set Up Main Document
10. under Label Products choose Avery A4 and A5
11. If using 21 labels per sheet choose L7160
12. Click on OK
13. This will bring up a sample label. Choose the fields you want on the label remembering each line of an address is to go on a separate line
14. Click OK when finished
15. Click on Close
16. Before merging the addresses save your template file
17. To finish click on Merge and choose New Document and Merge again
18. your addresses will be merged into the label template ready to be printed
Ffor the full training manual goto Mouse training website download page
1. Tools → Mail Merge
2. Under 1. Main Document choose Create
3. Choose Mailing Labels
4. Choose Active Window
5. Go to number 2. Data Source
6. Choose Open Data Source
7. Make sure you are searching for Excel files and navigate to the file you wish to use (i.e. where your addresses were typed)
8. Click OK
9. Click Set Up Main Document
10. under Label Products choose Avery A4 and A5
11. If using 21 labels per sheet choose L7160
12. Click on OK
13. This will bring up a sample label. Choose the fields you want on the label remembering each line of an address is to go on a separate line
14. Click OK when finished
15. Click on Close
16. Before merging the addresses save your template file
17. To finish click on Merge and choose New Document and Merge again
18. your addresses will be merged into the label template ready to be printed
Ffor the full training manual goto Mouse training website download page
Forecasting sales trends
Years ago Mouse had a big sales team. A sales director, sales manager and telesales. (All replaced now with a web site).
As a trainer I was always curios about the year forecast. The sales director used to tell me about all the inputs required to calibrate and nuance the struggle towards procing a forcast. Years later I discovered that it was all based on a current figure in a spreadsheet copied across as 105% of the original figure!
Even now teaching after 15 years of teaching GoalSeek,Solver and scenarios to Sales professionals on Ezcel classes I always ask how they forcast and the same old rubbish comes out. Please someone tell me there is more too it than copy and paste.
I think the following snerario is more likely.
A client of Mouse booked 1 persom on a iworks 09 course at our office. No problem we have a Imac to run the course. Then two weeks before the cours they added seven more candidates which costs only marginally more.
Do we
A Risk losing the client by admitting we only have one Mac and risk losing the client by refusing to buy any more
OR
B Run out an buy 7 New iMacs and copies of iWorks 09 and make a loss of £5,000 on running a single course
You have guessed it it's B. Now we are adding to the web site a more prominent listing of our new found love of the 15% MAc market.
In time it will be seen I am sure as a strategic move into a new market at the moment it's a punt.
Ok back to my spreadsheet to adjust that sales forecast...
As a trainer I was always curios about the year forecast. The sales director used to tell me about all the inputs required to calibrate and nuance the struggle towards procing a forcast. Years later I discovered that it was all based on a current figure in a spreadsheet copied across as 105% of the original figure!
Even now teaching after 15 years of teaching GoalSeek,Solver and scenarios to Sales professionals on Ezcel classes I always ask how they forcast and the same old rubbish comes out. Please someone tell me there is more too it than copy and paste.
I think the following snerario is more likely.
A client of Mouse booked 1 persom on a iworks 09 course at our office. No problem we have a Imac to run the course. Then two weeks before the cours they added seven more candidates which costs only marginally more.
Do we
A Risk losing the client by admitting we only have one Mac and risk losing the client by refusing to buy any more
OR
B Run out an buy 7 New iMacs and copies of iWorks 09 and make a loss of £5,000 on running a single course
You have guessed it it's B. Now we are adding to the web site a more prominent listing of our new found love of the 15% MAc market.
In time it will be seen I am sure as a strategic move into a new market at the moment it's a punt.
Ok back to my spreadsheet to adjust that sales forecast...
Parking in Islington and Hackney
Our offices are in Islington. 28-30 Worship St. Next door is Hackney. Right outside the office are two parking bays both for residents (of which none exist). The result is confusion every morning for anyone parking. Look left and the rules are Hackney look right and they are Islington. Would you belive that the rules are uniform ? If you do you probably believe in Unicorns.
If you have come for a Microsoft training course from 9 to 5 what chance do you think that you could focus on your training session instead of listening out for the whirl of a parking truck removing your car to the local pound
In any restuarant you will never see a cockroach they all hang out in the crevices and margins. In Worship St in the crevices between boroughs do you think you might see a few cockroaches?
Three years ago I worked at 25 City Rd. The only way to get goods into the building was the front of the building a RED BUS LANE. On a Saturday I would deliver coffee, bisscuits and water to the training centre parking all 4 wheels on the pavement to avoid a £120 fine. One day as I was unloading I finally noticed 2 wardens running towards me. One took a picture, the other was writing furiously. Neither would talk to me. I drove off Nescafe flying off the roof. I parked in the next street. The wardens followed pinning the ticket to the windscreen. I complained verbally that
1 Islington wardens should address the driver when present
2 the ticket had to be completed and attached to the car in it's original location
They ignored me. I bought a ticket from the meter, issued a few complimentary good byes and went into my coffee coated office. When I came out three hours later I was not impressed to find to further tickets issued minutes after the first by the same wardens for
Incorrectly positioning the car in the bay (admidedly it was at rather a jaunty angle but you try fitting a Ford Mondao in a Islington parking bay.
A third ticket was issued for incorrectly displaying the parking ticket in the windscreen display.
To all those Puritans who say "well you committed an offence you desrved it" it's obviously all an=bout the money. The council still want the business rates from successful companies. So Islington and Hackney council go find another crevice to play in and leave WOrship St in peace.
If you have come for a Microsoft training course from 9 to 5 what chance do you think that you could focus on your training session instead of listening out for the whirl of a parking truck removing your car to the local pound
In any restuarant you will never see a cockroach they all hang out in the crevices and margins. In Worship St in the crevices between boroughs do you think you might see a few cockroaches?
Three years ago I worked at 25 City Rd. The only way to get goods into the building was the front of the building a RED BUS LANE. On a Saturday I would deliver coffee, bisscuits and water to the training centre parking all 4 wheels on the pavement to avoid a £120 fine. One day as I was unloading I finally noticed 2 wardens running towards me. One took a picture, the other was writing furiously. Neither would talk to me. I drove off Nescafe flying off the roof. I parked in the next street. The wardens followed pinning the ticket to the windscreen. I complained verbally that
1 Islington wardens should address the driver when present
2 the ticket had to be completed and attached to the car in it's original location
They ignored me. I bought a ticket from the meter, issued a few complimentary good byes and went into my coffee coated office. When I came out three hours later I was not impressed to find to further tickets issued minutes after the first by the same wardens for
Incorrectly positioning the car in the bay (admidedly it was at rather a jaunty angle but you try fitting a Ford Mondao in a Islington parking bay.
A third ticket was issued for incorrectly displaying the parking ticket in the windscreen display.
To all those Puritans who say "well you committed an offence you desrved it" it's obviously all an=bout the money. The council still want the business rates from successful companies. So Islington and Hackney council go find another crevice to play in and leave WOrship St in peace.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
MS Word Consultancy
Companies often underestimate the complexity of word processing, assuming that most of the training and consultancy challenges lie in Excel or Access.
Thee following issues are frequently mentioned by delegates.
I need to be able to take a document created by any one of a hundred colleagues and standardize it
We can help you set up and apply a standard corporate style to any document that is created within your organization. Documents received from an external source can also be made consistent with your company templates. This can be done using a variety of approaches (either user driven or completely automated).
I must be able to enforce company style and brand image
Your installation of Word can be “locked down”, making certain options unavailable. By limiting user choice, you can ensure that your corporate style remains intact.
We need to validate user data
Templates can contain form controls for validating and capturing user data. This kind of template limits the data types and ranges of values within those types that can be entered. The template also controls where the data captured by the form appears and its layout.
I need a consistent look and feel to my documents. My staff don’t have time to re-work finished documents.
A set of templates customized to your company’s requirements would ensure consistency and branding for externally bound documents. For internal documents, report templates would make scanning and finding information for comparison quicker and more effective.
Staff are struggling with long documents
Long document automation can help to ensure correct page numbering, set up headers and footers that change in line with document content, produce tables of contents and indexes built automatically from content and ensure automatic numbering of diagrams and tables.
What do I do now?
Find a Consultancy which can provide solutions to all of the above problems.
Word Training Courses London
Thee following issues are frequently mentioned by delegates.
I need to be able to take a document created by any one of a hundred colleagues and standardize it
We can help you set up and apply a standard corporate style to any document that is created within your organization. Documents received from an external source can also be made consistent with your company templates. This can be done using a variety of approaches (either user driven or completely automated).
I must be able to enforce company style and brand image
Your installation of Word can be “locked down”, making certain options unavailable. By limiting user choice, you can ensure that your corporate style remains intact.
We need to validate user data
Templates can contain form controls for validating and capturing user data. This kind of template limits the data types and ranges of values within those types that can be entered. The template also controls where the data captured by the form appears and its layout.
I need a consistent look and feel to my documents. My staff don’t have time to re-work finished documents.
A set of templates customized to your company’s requirements would ensure consistency and branding for externally bound documents. For internal documents, report templates would make scanning and finding information for comparison quicker and more effective.
Staff are struggling with long documents
Long document automation can help to ensure correct page numbering, set up headers and footers that change in line with document content, produce tables of contents and indexes built automatically from content and ensure automatic numbering of diagrams and tables.
What do I do now?
Find a Consultancy which can provide solutions to all of the above problems.
Word Training Courses London
Preparation for IIP
Preparation for IIP feel free to edit our document below to you own circumstances preparing for the big day
The Mouse Training Company
Distribute Prior to Investors in People Review
Investors in People
Commitment
“The Mouse Training Company is fully committed to developing its people in order to achieve its aims and objectives“
If you are a manager in the company or if you have responsibility for people can you describe strategies that you have put in place to support the development of people in order to improve the Company’s performance?
If you are a manager in the company can you describe specific actions that you have taken and are currently taking to support the development of The Mouse Training Company’s people?
People can confirm that the specific strategies and actions described by management take place?
Do you believe the organisation is genuinely committed to supporting your development?
Performance
“The Mouse Training Company wants to encourage people to improve their own and other people’s performance”
Can you give examples of how you have been encouraged to improve your own performance?
People can give examples of how they have been encouraged to improve other people’s performance?
Contribution
“The Mouse Training Company wants people to know that their contribution to the organisation is recognised”
Can you describe how your contribution to the organisation is recognised?
Do you believe that your contribution to the organisation is recognised?
Do you receive appropriate and constructive feedback on a timely and regular basis?
Opportunity
“The Mouse Training Company is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the development of its people”
If you are a manager or a decision maker in the company can you describe strategies that you have put in place to ensure equality of opportunity in the development of Mouse people?
Can you confirm that the specific strategies and actions described by top management and managers take place and recognise the needs Do you believe that the organisation is genuinely committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the development of its people?
Planning
“The Mouse Training Company has a plan with clear aims and objectives which should be are understood by everyone”
Are you aware of The Mouse Training Company’s plans? Are you aware that The Mouse Training Company has clear aims and objectives?
Can you explain the aims and objectives of the organisation at a level appropriate to your role?
Do you feel that groups are consulted about the organisation’s aims and objectives?
People Development
“The development of people must always be in line with The Mouse Training Company’s aims and objectives”
Do you believe that the Company has clear priorities which link the development of people to its aims and objectives at organisation, team and individual level?
Do you clearly understand what your development activities should achieve, both for you and the organisation?
Aims and objectives
“The Mouse Company need and want people to understand how they contribute to achieving the organisation’s aims and objectives”
Can you explain how you contribute to achieving the organisation’s aims and objectives?
Effective support
“Managers are effective in supporting the development of people”
Do you believe that the managers have the knowledge and skills they need to develop you?
If you have management responsibility at any level, do you understand what you need to do to support the development of your people?
Do you understand what your manager should be doing to support your development?
If you have management responsibility at any level can you give examples of actions that you have taken and are currently taking to support the development of people?
Can you describe how your managers are effective in supporting your development?
Effective learning
“The Mouse Training Company wants people to learn and develop effectively”
When you were new to the organisation, and those new to a job, can you confirm that you have received an effective induction?
Can the Company show that people learn and develop effectively?
Do you understand why you have undertaken development activities Can you give examples of what you have learnt (knowledge, skills and attitude) from development activities?
Do you feel that development is linked to relevant external qualifications or standards (or both), where appropriate?
Improved Performance
“The Mouse Training Company believes that the development of people improves the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals”
Can The Mouse Training Company show that the development of people has improved the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals?
The Impact Of The Development
“It is important that people understand the impact of the development of people on the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals”
If you have a managerial position, do you understand the overall costs and benefits of the development of people and its impact on performance?
Can you explain the impact of your development on your performance, and the performance of the team and the organisation as a whole?
Developing People
“It is our aim that The Mouse Training Company gets better at developing its people”
Please give examples of relevant and timely improvements that have been made to development activities?
The Mouse Training Company
Distribute Prior to Investors in People Review
Investors in People
Commitment
“The Mouse Training Company is fully committed to developing its people in order to achieve its aims and objectives“
If you are a manager in the company or if you have responsibility for people can you describe strategies that you have put in place to support the development of people in order to improve the Company’s performance?
If you are a manager in the company can you describe specific actions that you have taken and are currently taking to support the development of The Mouse Training Company’s people?
People can confirm that the specific strategies and actions described by management take place?
Do you believe the organisation is genuinely committed to supporting your development?
Performance
“The Mouse Training Company wants to encourage people to improve their own and other people’s performance”
Can you give examples of how you have been encouraged to improve your own performance?
People can give examples of how they have been encouraged to improve other people’s performance?
Contribution
“The Mouse Training Company wants people to know that their contribution to the organisation is recognised”
Can you describe how your contribution to the organisation is recognised?
Do you believe that your contribution to the organisation is recognised?
Do you receive appropriate and constructive feedback on a timely and regular basis?
Opportunity
“The Mouse Training Company is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the development of its people”
If you are a manager or a decision maker in the company can you describe strategies that you have put in place to ensure equality of opportunity in the development of Mouse people?
Can you confirm that the specific strategies and actions described by top management and managers take place and recognise the needs Do you believe that the organisation is genuinely committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in the development of its people?
Planning
“The Mouse Training Company has a plan with clear aims and objectives which should be are understood by everyone”
Are you aware of The Mouse Training Company’s plans? Are you aware that The Mouse Training Company has clear aims and objectives?
Can you explain the aims and objectives of the organisation at a level appropriate to your role?
Do you feel that groups are consulted about the organisation’s aims and objectives?
People Development
“The development of people must always be in line with The Mouse Training Company’s aims and objectives”
Do you believe that the Company has clear priorities which link the development of people to its aims and objectives at organisation, team and individual level?
Do you clearly understand what your development activities should achieve, both for you and the organisation?
Aims and objectives
“The Mouse Company need and want people to understand how they contribute to achieving the organisation’s aims and objectives”
Can you explain how you contribute to achieving the organisation’s aims and objectives?
Effective support
“Managers are effective in supporting the development of people”
Do you believe that the managers have the knowledge and skills they need to develop you?
If you have management responsibility at any level, do you understand what you need to do to support the development of your people?
Do you understand what your manager should be doing to support your development?
If you have management responsibility at any level can you give examples of actions that you have taken and are currently taking to support the development of people?
Can you describe how your managers are effective in supporting your development?
Effective learning
“The Mouse Training Company wants people to learn and develop effectively”
When you were new to the organisation, and those new to a job, can you confirm that you have received an effective induction?
Can the Company show that people learn and develop effectively?
Do you understand why you have undertaken development activities Can you give examples of what you have learnt (knowledge, skills and attitude) from development activities?
Do you feel that development is linked to relevant external qualifications or standards (or both), where appropriate?
Improved Performance
“The Mouse Training Company believes that the development of people improves the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals”
Can The Mouse Training Company show that the development of people has improved the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals?
The Impact Of The Development
“It is important that people understand the impact of the development of people on the performance of the organisation, teams and individuals”
If you have a managerial position, do you understand the overall costs and benefits of the development of people and its impact on performance?
Can you explain the impact of your development on your performance, and the performance of the team and the organisation as a whole?
Developing People
“It is our aim that The Mouse Training Company gets better at developing its people”
Please give examples of relevant and timely improvements that have been made to development activities?
Sample Dress Code at Work: Adapt to Suit
Because all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work
This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your line manager.
Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.
Shoes and Footwear
Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.
Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.
Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
Conclusion
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.
Disclaimer:
This sample policy is provided for guidance only. The provided information, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct.
Other FAQ's to consider
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work
This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your line manager.
Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.
Shoes and Footwear
Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.
Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.
Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
Conclusion
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.
Disclaimer:
This sample policy is provided for guidance only. The provided information, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct.
Other FAQ's to consider
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Course Outline Notes for Outlook
Write on the Board
Screen Overview
Sending Basic Messages
Receiving Mail Messages
Break
More Complex messages
- Autosignature
- Message Options
- Voting Messages
- Attaching Files
Organising Messages
- Marking Read/UnRead
- Sorting
- Folders
Out of office Assistant
Rules Wizard
Lunch
Calendar
- Appointments
- Meetings
- Categories
- Permissions
- Delegate
Tasks
Contacts
- Distribution List
Journal
Notes
Introduction
Air conditioning/heating
Breaks Times during the day
Fire Exits /Toilets/Refreshments/Mobile Phones
Take Course materials/ manual/Mouse pad/pens
30 day after Course Support Line
Who am I?
Who are you? Name of delegates. What do you want to achieve from the course?
What do you know already?
Go through Course Outline
What is Outlook?
Outlook is an Information management application that helps the user
- Coordinate messages, calendar activities, contacts and tasks
It comprises of a
- Mailbox, calendar, a contact list, notes and a journal
Designed for both stand-alone computers and personal computer networks
Note:
In Outlook 2000 – outlook today sometimes appears with general info
Pair people into groups when training Outlook
Write on the board who is sending messages & paired with who
Only use the e-mail addresses given ie student10
Set up a 2 messages for all inboxes
Ensure BCC Field is on
Set up a word document for attachment exercise
Check sort icons, (view general) before class begins
Window Overview
Open Outlook
Minimise, Maximise icons, Restore icon
Title bar – shows name of application, Menu bar
Toolbar – icons for common tasks appropriate for Inbox which changes depending on area of Outlook
Left Hand side – Outlook Bar
- Go to view, Outlook Bar
Folder List (repeats the above)
- Click x on Folder List to remove it, or use Folder List icon or go to View, Folder List
Large Window – shows messages depending on which window you are in ie Inbox
Sending Basic Mail Messages
Specifies whether you have selected Word as your default editor for e-mail messages
Message 1
- Click on new message icon (top left)
- In TO Look at Global Address List
- Scroll address list or type name to find your mail partner
- Highlight name, click in To then OK
(Note: CC is used when you wish for someone else to be copied into the message and read
BCC is used to copy in a person the receiver of the message is unaware it was sent to)
Show how to switch this off from View, BCC Field
-In Subject, Type First Message
In white space give a brief description of who you are
- Click Send icon (CTRL Enter)
Ensure received is clicked with latest message at the top
- Text appears on Inbox, click on Preview Pane icon to view message or View, Preview Pane (only in 2000)
- Double click on message to read fully
- Close to go back by Esc
Message 2
- CTRL N for new message
- To Mail Partner, start to type then use CTRL K (it adds the rest)
- Use CC to copy 1 other student
- Subject Second Message
- In white message, type where you would like to go on holiday
- Send it, read your messages and close
Message 3 (demonstrate Spell Check & importance of e-mail editor)
- CTRL + N for new message
- To Mail Partner, Tab to subject Third Message
- Tools, Options remove tick from editor and see change in signature details permitted
- Type message, your favourite food and why
- Go to Tools, Options, Spell Check, go through options or use ABC icon on Toolbar
- Send or CTRL Enter
- Arrow down & enter to read message
- Esc to close
Message 4 (formatting text)
- CTRL + N for new message
- To Everyone, Subject Fourth Message
- Type a short paragraph of your plans for the weekend and jazz up the text
- Highlight text,
- First go through Formatting toolbar then Menu Format, Font and go through Font, Character Spacing, Text Effects
- Send. Read and Esc
Message 5 (saving a message as a Draft to send later)
- CTRL + N
- To Mail Partner
- Subject, users own name
- Type brief message
- File, Close or Esc and Yes to save as a Draft
- Go into drafts, double click and send
Ensure class is now confident to send basic messages
Receiving Mail Messages
Break
Received message
Reply Icon
- Double click on a message (anyone from inbox) to open
- Click on Reply icon (see original message included, recipients address, does not include any attached files sent to you)
- Type short message and send
Highlight the possibility of using Reply icon whilst message selected from Inbox
Reply to All
- Use Fourth message (includes everyone)
- Use reply to all addresses the reply to everyone the original would have gone to
- Send
Forwarding
- Use First message and Forward to another delegate
Forwarding does not indent message, have to address yourself but does include attachments
More Complex Messages
Setting Message Options
Make sure Word is set as E-mail editor 1st
2 ways to Create Auto signature (Tools, Options, General, E-mail options)
- CTRL N
- Go to Tools, Options, General, e-mail options button
- Add your full name in first line
- Add full name again and title and format font, then ADD and OK this
- Esc then CTRL N again
- To Mail partner, Subject Autosignature
- Type small message
- See autosignature now appears
- Send message
2nd way - Signature Picker
- View through Tools, Options, Mail Format, Signature
- Remove tick from ‘Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages’
Signature picker becomes available to format (only to be used if Word is not selected as e-mail editor)
Follow thru the wizard creating a new signature
Message Options
Message Settings
- CTRL N for new message
- To Mail Partner, Subject: High Importance
- type message
- click Options icon on Tool bar- Message Options Dialog Box appears
Importance Levels, Normal, Low (down pointing blue arrow), High (Red exclamation mark)
Also possible to have used the icons on the tool bar
- set to High and send
Notice Red exclamation mark appear next to message in Inbox
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner, Subject: Sensitivity
- type message
- click options, set to Confidential and send
Notice comment in message at the top with yellow exclamation mark saying treat this as …
Voting and Tracking Options will be covered later
Delivery options
- CTRL N
- ‘Have replies sent to’ – automatically have replies set to be replied to someone else , such as an assistant
- ‘save sent message’ – set sent messages to be saved in Saved items
- ‘Do not deliver before’ – ensure mail is held back until a specified date
- ‘ Expires after’ – makes the message unavailable after a specified date
Flag for Follow Up
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner, Subject: Flag Follow Up
- type message about flags and click Red Flag icon
- Flag to, select ‘Reply’ and select a date and OK
Note: Inbox shows message with Red Flag
Message Handling (used for selecting how to be notified of new mail)
Tools, Options, E-mail options, Preferences, E-mail options, Message handling, go through options including display for new mail
Advanced e-mail options for sound when you receive a new message
Sending Voting Messages
Voting Options (used to display some voting options in the recipients message like Yes or No, accept or reject)
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner Subject Voting
- Type message ‘Are you coming to the Christmas Party ?’
- Click Options icon and tick voting option ‘yes/no’
- tick ‘delivery receipt for this message’ and close
- Send
Notice in Inbox, green arrow symbol next to delivery report open and read
- Open ‘Voting ‘ Message and notice ‘yes’ ‘no’ icons appear on top left of message
- Respond without editing and OK
- Go back to Inbox and read your recipients response
Track response
- go to sent items, select ‘voting’ message Notice (i) flag next to it
- two tabs appear ‘message’, ‘tracking’
-this can be used to view how many responses you receive to a voted message
Sending attached files
(make a file in word to use as the attachment)
May need to send a message with a document created in another application
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner Subject: attached file
- type brief message
- select paper clip,
- In ‘My documents’ insert ……
- send
Notice paper clip symbol next to send message
- open message and click on attached file to open(now in Word)
- back in message, do File and see option to Save Attachment
Close the word document
-back in message, select forward and notice attachment is still there, Esc
-back in message, select reply attachment is not linked
Organising your messages
Deleting Messages
- highlight first message and DELETE by clicking black cross
- highlight second message and drag to delete items
- highlight third message and use DELETE on keyboard
or even right click on it to delete
- holding CTRL down will allow you to select multiple messages
Deleted items (is also a folder)
Can be dragged back to inbox by click and drag, do this with the first message
To remove deleted items – Tools, ‘Empty Deleted items Folder’
To set to be done at the end of the day – Tools, Options, Other , tick ‘Empty the Deleted items Folder on Exit’
Advanced options – tick ‘warn before permanently deleting items
Permanently delete
- SHFT + DELETE, prompts you if you want to permanently delete without going into delete items
Mark as Read/UnRead
Possible to mark read messages as Unread and vice versa
Unread Messages are displayed in bold text
- select message, Edit, Mark as Read or CTRL Q
Read Messages could also be bolded again to appear as Unread
- select message, Edit, Mark as UnRead
Sorting
Sorts Messages by Importance
Go over this section again
By default, the most recently received messages are placed at the top of the message list.
Messages can be sorted by
- Importance, icon, flag, status, attachment, From, Subject, Received date or
Selection can be made by View, Sort (customise current view, Sort in 2000)
Also, right click on any icon, click Field Chooser. List of additional category options can be dragged onto top bar and dragged off back to Field Chooser if no longer required
Folders
Used when messages are required to be kept, to Create a folder
- right click on Inbox Folder List
- Create New Folder box, type Name ‘ Special Projects’ linking it to Inbox items
- notice ‘Special Projects’ now becomes a folder link to Inbox
- drag a message from Inbox into ‘Special Projects’
Folders can also be created in deleted & sent items
Move messages without dragging
- in message click on icon ‘move to folder’ and select ‘Special Projects’
Delete Folder
- right click on Special Projects to delete the folder and contents
Out of office Assistant 97/98
Can be set to advise messages received no in the office with rules
Tools, Out of office Assistant, tick ‘I am currently Out of the office’
- type message, Away on Holiday until Thursday 1st March
- Add rule, From Mail Partner, sent to You, tick all sent items, tick ‘move to’ Folder then Ok
Upon return
- tick ‘I am currently in the office’, remove text
- Delete Rule by selecting and Delete Rule
Rules - 2000
Lunch
We can create customised Rules using the Rules Wizard, allows us to manage our inbox automatically, filing emails as they are received and according to preset conditions such as from who, containing certain words etc
Tools – Rules Wizard –New
Select Move Messages from someone
From who? Click underlined people or distribution list and select partners name
To where? Click on underlined word Specified in 2nd box, If folder does not exist create a New one under Inbox
Set conditions – include play a sound and choose findlist.wav from desktop
Add any exceptions if required and add a name for the rule.
This can be run on existing messages or from now on
Finish the wizard and send your partner a message. Click Send/Receive to check for new messages
Using the Calendar
Appointments
Click on Calendar
One day pale yellow in Work Time, darker yellow after work hours
Colour can be amended through Tools, Options, Calendar options and cahnge the background colour
On the right are the months
Views
Look at Toolbar – 1 day, 5 day week, 7 day week, 1 month
To view a different calendar month, click on the arrows next to the month name
To view on a certain day, click that day in monthly calendar
To view consecutive days together, click on the start date and drag or use the Alt + number keys to show multiple days (2,3,4 etc)
To view non-consecutive days, hold CTRL and select dates from monthly
Appointment 1 – basic
– no other people or resources involved, select 3pm today 30 minutes and enter ‘visit HR’
Move appoint - Click and drag down on white middle column to 3.30pm (black cross appears)
Extend appoint – click in meeting so black double sided arrow appears to drag down
Change date – drag on calendar two days ahead then drag back
Delete appoint – click in and delete icon or keyboard
Appointment 2 – reminder
– double click at 9.00am tomorrow to see Appointment
dialog box
- add ‘rearrange flowers’ in subject, start and end time 11.30am,tick Reminder 30 minutes before, show time as busy
- type in text ‘consultation with Tom to look at flower arrangements’
- save and close
To edit the Appointment
- right click, Open (or double click), change time to 9.30am, save and close
Recurring Appointments (used to set appointment to occur regularly)
- USING ABOVE APPOINTMENT
- In Recurrence pattern , tick Monthly, every Thursday, to end after 10 weeks and OK, save and close
- View the appointments set throughout the year:
Note recurrence symbol, and bold dates in calendar month
To remove Recurrence
- double click on appointment with symbol, open this occurrence, note comments in yellow Esc
- repeat, this time open as series and click delete
- this removes all the meetings
Appointment 3 –Event(beware not to use this instead of meeting)
- pick a date and time
- subject as Day Off
- and tick all day event
- notice bar at top of the day greyed out
Meeting
Invitation to a meeting
- choose date and time, double click to create new appointment
- subject Meeting to arrange Lunch
- click Invite Attendees, invite Mail Partner in To section, then tab on Attendee Availability to see if available
- L Blue – Tentative, D Blue – Busy, Purple – Out of Office, White – no info
- Autopick, selects various options when inviting and will find the first free time
- click on mail icon next to their name and toggle the 2 options if they are busy
- Send
- notice two faces icon appear in date and time
Respond to partners message in inbox Accept/Decline
Do File, Print, Print Preview to see the different styles the calendar can be printed in.
Categories
Appointments and Contacts can be categorised such as Personal or Business etc. in a new appointment look at the bottom and click Categories. A list of categories are tickable. The category list can be managed using the Master Category List button.
Select a category.
We will look later at categories
Permissions
Permissions can be given to a colleague/PA/secretary
- right click on Inbox, Properties, Permissions
- add Mail Partners name
-select role as ‘Publishing Author’, note Publishing Editor is free run
- see the options they can do on your behalf
- Apply and OK
Ask class to go back in and remove this now
Permissions on Calendar
- right click on Calendar, Properties, Permissions
- add Mail Partners name
- select role as Publishing Editor
apply and Ok
Then remove
Or
Add as a Delegate permission – best for your PA to use
- Tools, Options, Delegates, Delegate Permissions
- Read text
- Permissions to view your calendar (if set to Editor)
Tasks
A to-do list
The TaskPad is included on the same screen as the Calendar
To create a task quickly click in the area at the top of the TaskPad, enter the details of the task and press enter.
Task 1
Create one to Phone the Bank
When the task is done click the square box to indicate the task is complete and a line is put thru the task.
By clicking on the headers you can sort by Type, Done or Not and Name
To edit it or to add greater details double click the task
This gives more options
Add a due date, this is reflected at the top of the window. A reminder, a recurrence, even the Status of the task can be entered. Details and attachments can be added to the large white area.
private – when ticked anyone else with access will not view the task
Save & Close and note the icon has changed if you entered a recurring feature
Task 2 - enter a task for Weekly meeting with yesterdays date to see it go in red when overdue and make it recurring weekly
View Tasks
Go to the Tasks icon to view the tasks using the menu box on the toolbar in different ways.
Delegate a task
- create a task
- use assign task icon
- use mail Partner
- accept the task from your partner in your inbox
- note the change of icon in the TaskPad
- Complete the task assigned to you and the sender is automatically notified and when you open the emails the task on your list is updated.
- open the task and check the details for info on the task.
Print – File, Print, do print preview to see List of tasks
Contacts
A contact is a person with whom the user communicates with on a business or personal level
Distribution List
Select Contacts on Outlook Bar, there are different ways to view these contacts which we’ll look at when we have created some.
Double click to add
Add details in General, Type a name, address, business no, mobile, fax,
The Full Name option allows more detailed name info such as Mr.
The arrows next to the 4 phone num fields allow to choose phone num types from the list.
Business and Home addresses can be added, again using the Address button for more details.
Upto 3 email addresses can be added
Specify the Category
On details Tab, complete if required ie managers name
the activities tab will show you all contact (such as emails) you have made with the contact
Save and close
Creating an email from the contact list by either
- Drag the contact info to Inbox
OR
- create a new message, select
Viewing the contact list can be changed using the drop down box defaulted to Address Cards. Viewing by category will work if categories have been specified.
The views can also be used in the calendar
To send a contact’s details to a colleague, select the contact to send, and using Action, Forward (or Forward as a vcard). This will create an email containing the contact file. Send it to your partner. If you have the preview pane open you can just drag the file Contacts, otherwise you have to Copy & Paste it.
Then Delete contact details
A distribution list is a list of email addresses which will allow you to send an email to many people at the same time. A group of clients or friends or a dept.
Click the arrow next to New button & select Distribution List.
Name the group to Friends and choose Select Members, add the people from the existing address books.
Use Add New to create a new email address if not existing in the Contacts or Global Mailing List. The Add to Contacts button will automatically include them in your contacts.
Go to Contacts – the Distribution List is displayed in bold type and behaves like any other contact. To edit it, double-click, to use it in an email drag it to Inbox or find it under To: in a new message.
Journal
Brief Outline
Contains a record of everything that has happened in Outlook, emails, tasks etc.
How long do you spend on the phone to a client?
- create a new journal entry
- enter subject, type: Phone call and Company
- click Start Timer
minimise window – we’ll come back in a moment
Notes
An Outlook feature provides the user, similar to using paper notes
Select notes from Outlook bar
- Choose new icon or double click in white area
- type message click on x to save
- To edit, click on memo and overtype
- To delete, highlight and click delete icon
- to resize, open memo and use double sided arrow and drag
- to customise, right click on memo and change colour
- to view in various lists use icons on tool bar and drop down list on toobar
- organise by category, right click and choose category
You can use Notes on the Desktop to remind you of things, by dragging them onto it. They will stay there even if Outlook is not running
Journal cont…
Re-open Journal window – timer is still running letting you know how long
Questions about your Outlook Training Course
Screen Overview
Sending Basic Messages
Receiving Mail Messages
Break
More Complex messages
- Autosignature
- Message Options
- Voting Messages
- Attaching Files
Organising Messages
- Marking Read/UnRead
- Sorting
- Folders
Out of office Assistant
Rules Wizard
Lunch
Calendar
- Appointments
- Meetings
- Categories
- Permissions
- Delegate
Tasks
Contacts
- Distribution List
Journal
Notes
Introduction
Air conditioning/heating
Breaks Times during the day
Fire Exits /Toilets/Refreshments/Mobile Phones
Take Course materials/ manual/Mouse pad/pens
30 day after Course Support Line
Who am I?
Who are you? Name of delegates. What do you want to achieve from the course?
What do you know already?
Go through Course Outline
What is Outlook?
Outlook is an Information management application that helps the user
- Coordinate messages, calendar activities, contacts and tasks
It comprises of a
- Mailbox, calendar, a contact list, notes and a journal
Designed for both stand-alone computers and personal computer networks
Note:
In Outlook 2000 – outlook today sometimes appears with general info
Pair people into groups when training Outlook
Write on the board who is sending messages & paired with who
Only use the e-mail addresses given ie student10
Set up a 2 messages for all inboxes
Ensure BCC Field is on
Set up a word document for attachment exercise
Check sort icons, (view general) before class begins
Window Overview
Open Outlook
Minimise, Maximise icons, Restore icon
Title bar – shows name of application, Menu bar
Toolbar – icons for common tasks appropriate for Inbox which changes depending on area of Outlook
Left Hand side – Outlook Bar
- Go to view, Outlook Bar
Folder List (repeats the above)
- Click x on Folder List to remove it, or use Folder List icon or go to View, Folder List
Large Window – shows messages depending on which window you are in ie Inbox
Sending Basic Mail Messages
Specifies whether you have selected Word as your default editor for e-mail messages
Message 1
- Click on new message icon (top left)
- In TO Look at Global Address List
- Scroll address list or type name to find your mail partner
- Highlight name, click in To then OK
(Note: CC is used when you wish for someone else to be copied into the message and read
BCC is used to copy in a person the receiver of the message is unaware it was sent to)
Show how to switch this off from View, BCC Field
-In Subject, Type First Message
In white space give a brief description of who you are
- Click Send icon (CTRL Enter)
Ensure received is clicked with latest message at the top
- Text appears on Inbox, click on Preview Pane icon to view message or View, Preview Pane (only in 2000)
- Double click on message to read fully
- Close to go back by Esc
Message 2
- CTRL N for new message
- To Mail Partner, start to type then use CTRL K (it adds the rest)
- Use CC to copy 1 other student
- Subject Second Message
- In white message, type where you would like to go on holiday
- Send it, read your messages and close
Message 3 (demonstrate Spell Check & importance of e-mail editor)
- CTRL + N for new message
- To Mail Partner, Tab to subject Third Message
- Tools, Options remove tick from editor and see change in signature details permitted
- Type message, your favourite food and why
- Go to Tools, Options, Spell Check, go through options or use ABC icon on Toolbar
- Send or CTRL Enter
- Arrow down & enter to read message
- Esc to close
Message 4 (formatting text)
- CTRL + N for new message
- To Everyone, Subject Fourth Message
- Type a short paragraph of your plans for the weekend and jazz up the text
- Highlight text,
- First go through Formatting toolbar then Menu Format, Font and go through Font, Character Spacing, Text Effects
- Send. Read and Esc
Message 5 (saving a message as a Draft to send later)
- CTRL + N
- To Mail Partner
- Subject, users own name
- Type brief message
- File, Close or Esc and Yes to save as a Draft
- Go into drafts, double click and send
Ensure class is now confident to send basic messages
Receiving Mail Messages
Break
Received message
Reply Icon
- Double click on a message (anyone from inbox) to open
- Click on Reply icon (see original message included, recipients address, does not include any attached files sent to you)
- Type short message and send
Highlight the possibility of using Reply icon whilst message selected from Inbox
Reply to All
- Use Fourth message (includes everyone)
- Use reply to all addresses the reply to everyone the original would have gone to
- Send
Forwarding
- Use First message and Forward to another delegate
Forwarding does not indent message, have to address yourself but does include attachments
More Complex Messages
Setting Message Options
Make sure Word is set as E-mail editor 1st
2 ways to Create Auto signature (Tools, Options, General, E-mail options)
- CTRL N
- Go to Tools, Options, General, e-mail options button
- Add your full name in first line
- Add full name again and title and format font, then ADD and OK this
- Esc then CTRL N again
- To Mail partner, Subject Autosignature
- Type small message
- See autosignature now appears
- Send message
2nd way - Signature Picker
- View through Tools, Options, Mail Format, Signature
- Remove tick from ‘Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages’
Signature picker becomes available to format (only to be used if Word is not selected as e-mail editor)
Follow thru the wizard creating a new signature
Message Options
Message Settings
- CTRL N for new message
- To Mail Partner, Subject: High Importance
- type message
- click Options icon on Tool bar- Message Options Dialog Box appears
Importance Levels, Normal, Low (down pointing blue arrow), High (Red exclamation mark)
Also possible to have used the icons on the tool bar
- set to High and send
Notice Red exclamation mark appear next to message in Inbox
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner, Subject: Sensitivity
- type message
- click options, set to Confidential and send
Notice comment in message at the top with yellow exclamation mark saying treat this as …
Voting and Tracking Options will be covered later
Delivery options
- CTRL N
- ‘Have replies sent to’ – automatically have replies set to be replied to someone else , such as an assistant
- ‘save sent message’ – set sent messages to be saved in Saved items
- ‘Do not deliver before’ – ensure mail is held back until a specified date
- ‘ Expires after’ – makes the message unavailable after a specified date
Flag for Follow Up
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner, Subject: Flag Follow Up
- type message about flags and click Red Flag icon
- Flag to, select ‘Reply’ and select a date and OK
Note: Inbox shows message with Red Flag
Message Handling (used for selecting how to be notified of new mail)
Tools, Options, E-mail options, Preferences, E-mail options, Message handling, go through options including display for new mail
Advanced e-mail options for sound when you receive a new message
Sending Voting Messages
Voting Options (used to display some voting options in the recipients message like Yes or No, accept or reject)
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner Subject Voting
- Type message ‘Are you coming to the Christmas Party ?’
- Click Options icon and tick voting option ‘yes/no’
- tick ‘delivery receipt for this message’ and close
- Send
Notice in Inbox, green arrow symbol next to delivery report open and read
- Open ‘Voting ‘ Message and notice ‘yes’ ‘no’ icons appear on top left of message
- Respond without editing and OK
- Go back to Inbox and read your recipients response
Track response
- go to sent items, select ‘voting’ message Notice (i) flag next to it
- two tabs appear ‘message’, ‘tracking’
-this can be used to view how many responses you receive to a voted message
Sending attached files
(make a file in word to use as the attachment)
May need to send a message with a document created in another application
- CTRL N
- To Mail Partner Subject: attached file
- type brief message
- select paper clip,
- In ‘My documents’ insert ……
- send
Notice paper clip symbol next to send message
- open message and click on attached file to open(now in Word)
- back in message, do File and see option to Save Attachment
Close the word document
-back in message, select forward and notice attachment is still there, Esc
-back in message, select reply attachment is not linked
Organising your messages
Deleting Messages
- highlight first message and DELETE by clicking black cross
- highlight second message and drag to delete items
- highlight third message and use DELETE on keyboard
or even right click on it to delete
- holding CTRL down will allow you to select multiple messages
Deleted items (is also a folder)
Can be dragged back to inbox by click and drag, do this with the first message
To remove deleted items – Tools, ‘Empty Deleted items Folder’
To set to be done at the end of the day – Tools, Options, Other , tick ‘Empty the Deleted items Folder on Exit’
Advanced options – tick ‘warn before permanently deleting items
Permanently delete
- SHFT + DELETE, prompts you if you want to permanently delete without going into delete items
Mark as Read/UnRead
Possible to mark read messages as Unread and vice versa
Unread Messages are displayed in bold text
- select message, Edit, Mark as Read or CTRL Q
Read Messages could also be bolded again to appear as Unread
- select message, Edit, Mark as UnRead
Sorting
Sorts Messages by Importance
Go over this section again
By default, the most recently received messages are placed at the top of the message list.
Messages can be sorted by
- Importance, icon, flag, status, attachment, From, Subject, Received date or
Selection can be made by View, Sort (customise current view, Sort in 2000)
Also, right click on any icon, click Field Chooser. List of additional category options can be dragged onto top bar and dragged off back to Field Chooser if no longer required
Folders
Used when messages are required to be kept, to Create a folder
- right click on Inbox Folder List
- Create New Folder box, type Name ‘ Special Projects’ linking it to Inbox items
- notice ‘Special Projects’ now becomes a folder link to Inbox
- drag a message from Inbox into ‘Special Projects’
Folders can also be created in deleted & sent items
Move messages without dragging
- in message click on icon ‘move to folder’ and select ‘Special Projects’
Delete Folder
- right click on Special Projects to delete the folder and contents
Out of office Assistant 97/98
Can be set to advise messages received no in the office with rules
Tools, Out of office Assistant, tick ‘I am currently Out of the office’
- type message, Away on Holiday until Thursday 1st March
- Add rule, From Mail Partner, sent to You, tick all sent items, tick ‘move to’ Folder then Ok
Upon return
- tick ‘I am currently in the office’, remove text
- Delete Rule by selecting and Delete Rule
Rules - 2000
Lunch
We can create customised Rules using the Rules Wizard, allows us to manage our inbox automatically, filing emails as they are received and according to preset conditions such as from who, containing certain words etc
Tools – Rules Wizard –New
Select Move Messages from someone
From who? Click underlined people or distribution list and select partners name
To where? Click on underlined word Specified in 2nd box, If folder does not exist create a New one under Inbox
Set conditions – include play a sound and choose findlist.wav from desktop
Add any exceptions if required and add a name for the rule.
This can be run on existing messages or from now on
Finish the wizard and send your partner a message. Click Send/Receive to check for new messages
Using the Calendar
Appointments
Click on Calendar
One day pale yellow in Work Time, darker yellow after work hours
Colour can be amended through Tools, Options, Calendar options and cahnge the background colour
On the right are the months
Views
Look at Toolbar – 1 day, 5 day week, 7 day week, 1 month
To view a different calendar month, click on the arrows next to the month name
To view on a certain day, click that day in monthly calendar
To view consecutive days together, click on the start date and drag or use the Alt + number keys to show multiple days (2,3,4 etc)
To view non-consecutive days, hold CTRL and select dates from monthly
Appointment 1 – basic
– no other people or resources involved, select 3pm today 30 minutes and enter ‘visit HR’
Move appoint - Click and drag down on white middle column to 3.30pm (black cross appears)
Extend appoint – click in meeting so black double sided arrow appears to drag down
Change date – drag on calendar two days ahead then drag back
Delete appoint – click in and delete icon or keyboard
Appointment 2 – reminder
– double click at 9.00am tomorrow to see Appointment
dialog box
- add ‘rearrange flowers’ in subject, start and end time 11.30am,tick Reminder 30 minutes before, show time as busy
- type in text ‘consultation with Tom to look at flower arrangements’
- save and close
To edit the Appointment
- right click, Open (or double click), change time to 9.30am, save and close
Recurring Appointments (used to set appointment to occur regularly)
- USING ABOVE APPOINTMENT
- In Recurrence pattern , tick Monthly, every Thursday, to end after 10 weeks and OK, save and close
- View the appointments set throughout the year:
Note recurrence symbol, and bold dates in calendar month
To remove Recurrence
- double click on appointment with symbol, open this occurrence, note comments in yellow Esc
- repeat, this time open as series and click delete
- this removes all the meetings
Appointment 3 –Event(beware not to use this instead of meeting)
- pick a date and time
- subject as Day Off
- and tick all day event
- notice bar at top of the day greyed out
Meeting
Invitation to a meeting
- choose date and time, double click to create new appointment
- subject Meeting to arrange Lunch
- click Invite Attendees, invite Mail Partner in To section, then tab on Attendee Availability to see if available
- L Blue – Tentative, D Blue – Busy, Purple – Out of Office, White – no info
- Autopick, selects various options when inviting and will find the first free time
- click on mail icon next to their name and toggle the 2 options if they are busy
- Send
- notice two faces icon appear in date and time
Respond to partners message in inbox Accept/Decline
Do File, Print, Print Preview to see the different styles the calendar can be printed in.
Categories
Appointments and Contacts can be categorised such as Personal or Business etc. in a new appointment look at the bottom and click Categories. A list of categories are tickable. The category list can be managed using the Master Category List button.
Select a category.
We will look later at categories
Permissions
Permissions can be given to a colleague/PA/secretary
- right click on Inbox, Properties, Permissions
- add Mail Partners name
-select role as ‘Publishing Author’, note Publishing Editor is free run
- see the options they can do on your behalf
- Apply and OK
Ask class to go back in and remove this now
Permissions on Calendar
- right click on Calendar, Properties, Permissions
- add Mail Partners name
- select role as Publishing Editor
apply and Ok
Then remove
Or
Add as a Delegate permission – best for your PA to use
- Tools, Options, Delegates, Delegate Permissions
- Read text
- Permissions to view your calendar (if set to Editor)
Tasks
A to-do list
The TaskPad is included on the same screen as the Calendar
To create a task quickly click in the area at the top of the TaskPad, enter the details of the task and press enter.
Task 1
Create one to Phone the Bank
When the task is done click the square box to indicate the task is complete and a line is put thru the task.
By clicking on the headers you can sort by Type, Done or Not and Name
To edit it or to add greater details double click the task
This gives more options
Add a due date, this is reflected at the top of the window. A reminder, a recurrence, even the Status of the task can be entered. Details and attachments can be added to the large white area.
private – when ticked anyone else with access will not view the task
Save & Close and note the icon has changed if you entered a recurring feature
Task 2 - enter a task for Weekly meeting with yesterdays date to see it go in red when overdue and make it recurring weekly
View Tasks
Go to the Tasks icon to view the tasks using the menu box on the toolbar in different ways.
Delegate a task
- create a task
- use assign task icon
- use mail Partner
- accept the task from your partner in your inbox
- note the change of icon in the TaskPad
- Complete the task assigned to you and the sender is automatically notified and when you open the emails the task on your list is updated.
- open the task and check the details for info on the task.
Print – File, Print, do print preview to see List of tasks
Contacts
A contact is a person with whom the user communicates with on a business or personal level
Distribution List
Select Contacts on Outlook Bar, there are different ways to view these contacts which we’ll look at when we have created some.
Double click to add
Add details in General, Type a name, address, business no, mobile, fax,
The Full Name option allows more detailed name info such as Mr.
The arrows next to the 4 phone num fields allow to choose phone num types from the list.
Business and Home addresses can be added, again using the Address button for more details.
Upto 3 email addresses can be added
Specify the Category
On details Tab, complete if required ie managers name
the activities tab will show you all contact (such as emails) you have made with the contact
Save and close
Creating an email from the contact list by either
- Drag the contact info to Inbox
OR
- create a new message, select
Viewing the contact list can be changed using the drop down box defaulted to Address Cards. Viewing by category will work if categories have been specified.
The views can also be used in the calendar
To send a contact’s details to a colleague, select the contact to send, and using Action, Forward (or Forward as a vcard). This will create an email containing the contact file. Send it to your partner. If you have the preview pane open you can just drag the file Contacts, otherwise you have to Copy & Paste it.
Then Delete contact details
A distribution list is a list of email addresses which will allow you to send an email to many people at the same time. A group of clients or friends or a dept.
Click the arrow next to New button & select Distribution List.
Name the group to Friends and choose Select Members, add the people from the existing address books.
Use Add New to create a new email address if not existing in the Contacts or Global Mailing List. The Add to Contacts button will automatically include them in your contacts.
Go to Contacts – the Distribution List is displayed in bold type and behaves like any other contact. To edit it, double-click, to use it in an email drag it to Inbox or find it under To: in a new message.
Journal
Brief Outline
Contains a record of everything that has happened in Outlook, emails, tasks etc.
How long do you spend on the phone to a client?
- create a new journal entry
- enter subject, type: Phone call and Company
- click Start Timer
minimise window – we’ll come back in a moment
Notes
An Outlook feature provides the user, similar to using paper notes
Select notes from Outlook bar
- Choose new icon or double click in white area
- type message click on x to save
- To edit, click on memo and overtype
- To delete, highlight and click delete icon
- to resize, open memo and use double sided arrow and drag
- to customise, right click on memo and change colour
- to view in various lists use icons on tool bar and drop down list on toobar
- organise by category, right click and choose category
You can use Notes on the Desktop to remind you of things, by dragging them onto it. They will stay there even if Outlook is not running
Journal cont…
Re-open Journal window – timer is still running letting you know how long
Questions about your Outlook Training Course
Basic Windows Concepts
Desktop
• The Desktop is the same idea as the desk the user has back in their office. Shortcuts to the most commonly used programs, access to your work/files (My Computer), also a clock, a bin a nice picture to look at etc
• The shortcuts are icons, buttons that allow us to open common programs, the Start button which allows us to access all parts of the computer, the Task Bar which is the shelf where the programs will sit, the time (& date) in the corner and also in the corner, little icons of programs that are running all the time, such as anti-virus programs.
• We will look at each feature in turn
Features of a Window /
Filing Structure of Windows
Browsing options to be set to Separate Window for each New Folder
Ensure that My Documents contains a test file
Exercise
• Double click on My Computer
• Every program opens in its own window. You can look through the window at the program
In My Computer, you can see the contents of the base unit
Double click on the (C:) drive icon to see the contents of that drive
The contents are made up of folders and files
Double click on My Documents folder
Explain the windows file structure using the Wardrobe & lucky coloured socks example
• Notice how each window has the same features
• Title bar: contains Name of program/window, Minimise, Maximise/Restore, Close
• Menu Bar: Click on a word, drop down menu’s appears, click away or click on word again & list goes
• Tool Bar: carries buttons for common actions – Cut, Copy, Paste
• Practise Minimise, Maximise/Restore and Close
• Move window by clicking and dragging on title bar
• Resize window
• You can tell which one is active by the blue/grey bar or on the Taskbar the button is pressed
• Move between windows
• Right click on window to see Min/Max/Restore/Close options
• Close all open Windows
The Start Button
• The Start button is the key to the computer
• Single click on the Start button and a pop-up menu appears
From here we can access all parts of the computer
Those with arrows have sub-menus
Programs – allows you open any of the programs on the PC
Documents – Displays the 15 most recently used files
Settings – Control Panel controls the pc, Printers controls any printers
Find – Allows you to find particular files
Help – If you cant remember or want to find out how to perform a task in windows, Help will show you how, not really that useful though
Run – Another way of opening programs, by typing in the program name
Suspend – Computer will look like its turned off but the LED is flashing and will turn on by any key press or mouse movement
Shut Down – Logoff, shuts down or restarts the computer
• We have seen the icons on the desktop which allow us to open the common programs, the Start button gives us access to every program
• Move mouse over Programs to see sub-menu.
• Notice how there are more sub-menus available at the top and the programs are available on the 2nd half. The shortcut icons can be recognised in the programs sub-menu.
• Move mouse to Microsoft Word and single click to open
• This is a sophisticated program, which will require a high level of skill with the mouse to use. Point out the increased number of buttons on the toolbar
• Close Word, it behaves the same as the windows we have seen already, even though it is more complicated
Practise with the Mouse
What do we call the file?
Where do we want to save it to?
• Can you see, from our look at the standard features of windows, how important skill with the mouse is? It does take time to come but it will improve with practise.
• 1 way to practise is to use the Paint program in Start, Programs, Accessories
Draw a Xmas tree
Change to the paintbrush and point out colours
Draw a blue pot
Draw a brown trunk
Draw some green branches
Draw a yellow star at the top
Change to the airbrush and draw some silver tinsel and some baubles
• We want to keep this picture so we need to save it onto the computer
• Select the drop-down menu File and then the option to Save
• A new window appears (notice the close option in the corner still) which asks us what do we call this picture and where do we want to save it.
• Type your name (in the File name box)
• We want to save the picture in My Documents, remember location from earlier? My Documents in My Computer, double click to open, in C: drive, double click to open and My Documents, double click to open
• Point out Save in “My Documents” (icon is an open folder to indicate we are in that folder)
• Summarise:
We have given the file a name, decided on the location (wardrobe drawer) where the file will be stored
• The title bar now displays the name of file as well as the program name
• Close the program
Desktop Properties
•
• The Desktop is the same idea as the desk the user has back in their office. Shortcuts to the most commonly used programs, access to your work/files (My Computer), also a clock, a bin a nice picture to look at etc
• The shortcuts are icons, buttons that allow us to open common programs, the Start button which allows us to access all parts of the computer, the Task Bar which is the shelf where the programs will sit, the time (& date) in the corner and also in the corner, little icons of programs that are running all the time, such as anti-virus programs.
• We will look at each feature in turn
Features of a Window /
Filing Structure of Windows
Browsing options to be set to Separate Window for each New Folder
Ensure that My Documents contains a test file
Exercise
• Double click on My Computer
• Every program opens in its own window. You can look through the window at the program
In My Computer, you can see the contents of the base unit
Double click on the (C:) drive icon to see the contents of that drive
The contents are made up of folders and files
Double click on My Documents folder
Explain the windows file structure using the Wardrobe & lucky coloured socks example
• Notice how each window has the same features
• Title bar: contains Name of program/window, Minimise, Maximise/Restore, Close
• Menu Bar: Click on a word, drop down menu’s appears, click away or click on word again & list goes
• Tool Bar: carries buttons for common actions – Cut, Copy, Paste
• Practise Minimise, Maximise/Restore and Close
• Move window by clicking and dragging on title bar
• Resize window
• You can tell which one is active by the blue/grey bar or on the Taskbar the button is pressed
• Move between windows
• Right click on window to see Min/Max/Restore/Close options
• Close all open Windows
The Start Button
• The Start button is the key to the computer
• Single click on the Start button and a pop-up menu appears
From here we can access all parts of the computer
Those with arrows have sub-menus
Programs – allows you open any of the programs on the PC
Documents – Displays the 15 most recently used files
Settings – Control Panel controls the pc, Printers controls any printers
Find – Allows you to find particular files
Help – If you cant remember or want to find out how to perform a task in windows, Help will show you how, not really that useful though
Run – Another way of opening programs, by typing in the program name
Suspend – Computer will look like its turned off but the LED is flashing and will turn on by any key press or mouse movement
Shut Down – Logoff, shuts down or restarts the computer
• We have seen the icons on the desktop which allow us to open the common programs, the Start button gives us access to every program
• Move mouse over Programs to see sub-menu.
• Notice how there are more sub-menus available at the top and the programs are available on the 2nd half. The shortcut icons can be recognised in the programs sub-menu.
• Move mouse to Microsoft Word and single click to open
• This is a sophisticated program, which will require a high level of skill with the mouse to use. Point out the increased number of buttons on the toolbar
• Close Word, it behaves the same as the windows we have seen already, even though it is more complicated
Practise with the Mouse
What do we call the file?
Where do we want to save it to?
• Can you see, from our look at the standard features of windows, how important skill with the mouse is? It does take time to come but it will improve with practise.
• 1 way to practise is to use the Paint program in Start, Programs, Accessories
Draw a Xmas tree
Change to the paintbrush and point out colours
Draw a blue pot
Draw a brown trunk
Draw some green branches
Draw a yellow star at the top
Change to the airbrush and draw some silver tinsel and some baubles
• We want to keep this picture so we need to save it onto the computer
• Select the drop-down menu File and then the option to Save
• A new window appears (notice the close option in the corner still) which asks us what do we call this picture and where do we want to save it.
• Type your name (in the File name box)
• We want to save the picture in My Documents, remember location from earlier? My Documents in My Computer, double click to open, in C: drive, double click to open and My Documents, double click to open
• Point out Save in “My Documents” (icon is an open folder to indicate we are in that folder)
• Summarise:
We have given the file a name, decided on the location (wardrobe drawer) where the file will be stored
• The title bar now displays the name of file as well as the program name
• Close the program
Desktop Properties
•
Intriducing a PowerPoint Training Session
Introduction
Hi I’m …., I’m from the Mouse Training company, etc, etc, etc
Speak to delegates individually to find out their names and how much of PowerPoint have they used, etc, etc, etc
Explain screen layout
Get delegates to open up PowerPoint and explain title bar, menu bar etc. Let them cancel out of the slide selection window
Creating presentations
Open up presentation already created and explain that by the end of the day, everyone will have a presentation like this
Get delegates to create and new presentation and select Title slide
Type in a main heading and in the subsection who the presentation is created by
Delegates to save their presentation as their name
Round of applause to everyone for completing their first slide
Must explain to delegates the difference between a new presentation and a new slide
Ask delegates which of the icons represent a new slide. Click on the icon and select the bulleted list slide and get them to copy slide from projector
Get delegates to save the slide and then add an addition sale item and save their presentation again
Show delegates concept of promoting and demoting bullet points
Click on the new slide icon and select 2 column text slide and copy the slide from the projector. Explain to delegates about promote and demote
Once again, save the presentation
Switch between slide view to slide view sorter
Ensure that everyone has switched back to the slide view option. Time to be a bit creative and expalin that this blank slide is like a blank canvass – you dictate how you want your slide to look. Click on the new slide icon and select the blank slide
How do you start writing on the slide – not responding to the keyboard keys. Need to insert a textbox
The heading of the slide should be “Why I enjoy working for …”
Get delegates to bullet list 3 reasons why
Delete the heading and insert wordart and show delegates how to manipulate it
Move the text away from the bullets by using the ruler – might have to insert it if it does not appear on the screen
Show delegates how to use the guides to move the bulleted list in the centre of the slide
Change the bullet style to something original
Space out bulleted list
Change the background of the slide and use fill effects
Go back to sale slide and insert heading into a “sale star”. Move Text around if need be – trying to make a “flyer”. Have to show delegates how insert shapes and manipulate them
Change the font of one of the sale items and show delegates how to user format painter
Cut and paste one of the sale items to a text box and show users how to use the rotate tool
Go back to the column slide and insert clipart
Show delegates how to recolour, group and regroup the clipart
Once you have played around with the picture, send it to the back
Click on the new slide icon and select the organogram.
Show delegates how to manipulate the chart
Once the organogram is complete, do the same with a table and a chart
Mention to delegates that you spent so much time making presentation all colourful, but you will end up printing from a black and white printer. You need and idea on how this is going to look – change the view to black and white.
If this was going to be a presentation, you might want to make notes for yourself and print them out. Change view to Notes page view – type in whatever and print. When you do the actual presentation, the notes will not show up
Change to slide view sorter. Show delegates how to rearrange slides, hide slides, delete slides etc.
Introduce slide show to you now. Select the first slide in your presentation and click on the slide show icon. To move from slide to slide, click your mouse button or press enter on your keyboard. Slideshow a bit boring – need to jazz it up a bit.
Show delegates how to use transitions and effects on slides. Do the first slide with delegates and then let them do the rest by themselves.
Run slide show again. Looking better, but more can be done by clicking from the menu bar. Slide show, custom animation and show delegates how they can select different objects to animate. Give approx. 15 mins for delegates to do this. Once the animation has been set, run the slide show again and see the difference
Mention that most people when running a slide show will use the mouse to move from slide to slide, animation to animation etc, but you can also put timings on this.
Ask delegates to save there presentation and close it
How do we create a new presentation?
Create a new presentation, but this time we are going to use pre-created templates. To do this we need to click on File and new. PP will bring up a selection of templates for us to use, select one, and then select the blank template slide
Insert quite a few slides
Save this presentation
Explain to delegates that they can change the colour of the templates. Effecting either the slide selected or the entire presentation
Get delegates to save their presentation
Create a new presentation, selecting a blank presentation
Select from the menu bar, View Master or press shift and click on the slide view button
Delete everything on there and start afresh
Once your master has been completed, create a new slide to see if the formatting of the master slide has carried itself across to the new slide.
What do you have to do to make a change to the slide – have to go back to View master and make your changes there so that they can automatically update the rest of your slides
Extra’s
Autoclipart – type in the word love, click on tools, autoclipart and select a picture
Hi I’m …., I’m from the Mouse Training company, etc, etc, etc
Speak to delegates individually to find out their names and how much of PowerPoint have they used, etc, etc, etc
Explain screen layout
Get delegates to open up PowerPoint and explain title bar, menu bar etc. Let them cancel out of the slide selection window
Creating presentations
Open up presentation already created and explain that by the end of the day, everyone will have a presentation like this
Get delegates to create and new presentation and select Title slide
Type in a main heading and in the subsection who the presentation is created by
Delegates to save their presentation as their name
Round of applause to everyone for completing their first slide
Must explain to delegates the difference between a new presentation and a new slide
Ask delegates which of the icons represent a new slide. Click on the icon and select the bulleted list slide and get them to copy slide from projector
Get delegates to save the slide and then add an addition sale item and save their presentation again
Show delegates concept of promoting and demoting bullet points
Click on the new slide icon and select 2 column text slide and copy the slide from the projector. Explain to delegates about promote and demote
Once again, save the presentation
Switch between slide view to slide view sorter
Ensure that everyone has switched back to the slide view option. Time to be a bit creative and expalin that this blank slide is like a blank canvass – you dictate how you want your slide to look. Click on the new slide icon and select the blank slide
How do you start writing on the slide – not responding to the keyboard keys. Need to insert a textbox
The heading of the slide should be “Why I enjoy working for …”
Get delegates to bullet list 3 reasons why
Delete the heading and insert wordart and show delegates how to manipulate it
Move the text away from the bullets by using the ruler – might have to insert it if it does not appear on the screen
Show delegates how to use the guides to move the bulleted list in the centre of the slide
Change the bullet style to something original
Space out bulleted list
Change the background of the slide and use fill effects
Go back to sale slide and insert heading into a “sale star”. Move Text around if need be – trying to make a “flyer”. Have to show delegates how insert shapes and manipulate them
Change the font of one of the sale items and show delegates how to user format painter
Cut and paste one of the sale items to a text box and show users how to use the rotate tool
Go back to the column slide and insert clipart
Show delegates how to recolour, group and regroup the clipart
Once you have played around with the picture, send it to the back
Click on the new slide icon and select the organogram.
Show delegates how to manipulate the chart
Once the organogram is complete, do the same with a table and a chart
Mention to delegates that you spent so much time making presentation all colourful, but you will end up printing from a black and white printer. You need and idea on how this is going to look – change the view to black and white.
If this was going to be a presentation, you might want to make notes for yourself and print them out. Change view to Notes page view – type in whatever and print. When you do the actual presentation, the notes will not show up
Change to slide view sorter. Show delegates how to rearrange slides, hide slides, delete slides etc.
Introduce slide show to you now. Select the first slide in your presentation and click on the slide show icon. To move from slide to slide, click your mouse button or press enter on your keyboard. Slideshow a bit boring – need to jazz it up a bit.
Show delegates how to use transitions and effects on slides. Do the first slide with delegates and then let them do the rest by themselves.
Run slide show again. Looking better, but more can be done by clicking from the menu bar. Slide show, custom animation and show delegates how they can select different objects to animate. Give approx. 15 mins for delegates to do this. Once the animation has been set, run the slide show again and see the difference
Mention that most people when running a slide show will use the mouse to move from slide to slide, animation to animation etc, but you can also put timings on this.
Ask delegates to save there presentation and close it
How do we create a new presentation?
Create a new presentation, but this time we are going to use pre-created templates. To do this we need to click on File and new. PP will bring up a selection of templates for us to use, select one, and then select the blank template slide
Insert quite a few slides
Save this presentation
Explain to delegates that they can change the colour of the templates. Effecting either the slide selected or the entire presentation
Get delegates to save their presentation
Create a new presentation, selecting a blank presentation
Select from the menu bar, View Master or press shift and click on the slide view button
Delete everything on there and start afresh
Once your master has been completed, create a new slide to see if the formatting of the master slide has carried itself across to the new slide.
What do you have to do to make a change to the slide – have to go back to View master and make your changes there so that they can automatically update the rest of your slides
Extra’s
Autoclipart – type in the word love, click on tools, autoclipart and select a picture
Excel User Defined Function Macro
You need to determine how many calories a particular item of food contains. Each food item is broken down into fats, carbohydrates and proteins. You use a special calculation to convert each part to calories. Fats need to be multiplied by 9, Carbohydrates by 4 and Proteins by 4.
Create a User Defined Function that will calculate how many calories an item of food contains when you input the amount of Fat, Carbohydrates and Proteins for the food item.
1. Open a workbook named Dieters Calorie Counter.
2. Select Tools>Macro>Visual Basic Editor.
Make sure the Code window is visible – View>Code.
3. In the Project Explorer window add a Module if one does not already exist. View>Module. Make sure Module 1 is selected before beginning the function macro.
4. Type the function macro as follows: (Do not use bold)
‘A user defined function to work out food calories.
Function Calories (Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins)
Calories=(Fats*9)+(Carbohydrates*4)+(Proteins*4)
End Function
5. In Cell E4 click the function wizard button (fx).
6. Select UserDefined from the Categories list and select your Calories function. Click OK to display the function dialog box.
7. In the dialog box use the Collapse button for each part of the function to input the cell addresses needed.
8. Click OK to close the dialog box and display the answer.
Create a User Defined Function that will calculate how many calories an item of food contains when you input the amount of Fat, Carbohydrates and Proteins for the food item.
1. Open a workbook named Dieters Calorie Counter.
2. Select Tools>Macro>Visual Basic Editor.
Make sure the Code window is visible – View>Code.
3. In the Project Explorer window add a Module if one does not already exist. View>Module. Make sure Module 1 is selected before beginning the function macro.
4. Type the function macro as follows: (Do not use bold)
‘A user defined function to work out food calories.
Function Calories (Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins)
Calories=(Fats*9)+(Carbohydrates*4)+(Proteins*4)
End Function
5. In Cell E4 click the function wizard button (fx).
6. Select UserDefined from the Categories list and select your Calories function. Click OK to display the function dialog box.
7. In the dialog box use the Collapse button for each part of the function to input the cell addresses needed.
8. Click OK to close the dialog box and display the answer.
Improving Excel spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are the reporting and analysis tool of choice for many professionals, offering wide support for collaboration and information sharing.
However, used incorrectly, spreadsheets can pose a great threat to your business
I need to Audit my department’s spreadsheets properly and check they do what I am told they do
HM Customs & Excise in its Methodology for the Audit of Spreadsheet Models says that “the complexity and functionality of spreadsheets has reached levels of sophistication that few could have imagined... the consequent threat posed to businesses by such powerful ‘end user’ applications, mainly in the hands of untrained users, is immense”.
Businesses are to a large extent, not aware of the potential dangers that the uncontrolled use of spreadsheets can cause. Mouse Consultancy can help you manage your spreadsheets, precisely in order to prevent, or at least minimise, the issues just mentioned.
How do I limit what people can do to my spreadsheet Model?
There are different approaches that may be taken, ranging from complete control (that is, you absolutely prevent people from doing what you don’t want them to) to complete monitoring with no control (that is, you monitor all changes but do not actively prevent any of them—rather like closed circuit TV).
I need to create forms in Excel to capture user input
Using Excel’s form controls and dialog box editors, you can design your own interface to ensure that users can only make selections determined by you and will be able to enter validated data only in clearly defined areas.
Need to create an Excel macro to do a major task you have?
Are you doing a repetitious job in Excel that takes hours or days to do manually?
have you been asked to create an Excel macro to solve a major need? Do you need to convert raw data into useful Excel format? Do you need to create an Excel macro to be used by many people in your company? Are you out of time or on a tight schedule? If you are faced with any of these challenges, others can help you! Others can create the macro for you, or suggest improvements and enhancements to existing code.
I have something specific in mind to create a spreadsheet to…..
You may need help building any spreadsheet to help define and control costs, time and resources as part of a wider analysis system. You can develop and customise a solution, with an organisation's specific needs in mind.
I Need to extract data from a list
Powerful built-in features such as Pivot tables and Advanced Filters can provide you with meaningful interpretations of large list data at the click of the mouse. These can be automated to produce customised regular reports. Another issue that commonly arises is that spreadsheets are used to extract data automatically from a source database, but that what you actually want is to combine data from various data sources.
People are just not being productive enough
Do you want to free up key personnel to be more strategic?. Key players in organisations are wasting time repeating the same processes to get the results they need. It is wasteful for them to repeat these routines when such processes could be automated or improved by an Excel training Course or training manual
However, used incorrectly, spreadsheets can pose a great threat to your business
I need to Audit my department’s spreadsheets properly and check they do what I am told they do
HM Customs & Excise in its Methodology for the Audit of Spreadsheet Models says that “the complexity and functionality of spreadsheets has reached levels of sophistication that few could have imagined... the consequent threat posed to businesses by such powerful ‘end user’ applications, mainly in the hands of untrained users, is immense”.
Businesses are to a large extent, not aware of the potential dangers that the uncontrolled use of spreadsheets can cause. Mouse Consultancy can help you manage your spreadsheets, precisely in order to prevent, or at least minimise, the issues just mentioned.
How do I limit what people can do to my spreadsheet Model?
There are different approaches that may be taken, ranging from complete control (that is, you absolutely prevent people from doing what you don’t want them to) to complete monitoring with no control (that is, you monitor all changes but do not actively prevent any of them—rather like closed circuit TV).
I need to create forms in Excel to capture user input
Using Excel’s form controls and dialog box editors, you can design your own interface to ensure that users can only make selections determined by you and will be able to enter validated data only in clearly defined areas.
Need to create an Excel macro to do a major task you have?
Are you doing a repetitious job in Excel that takes hours or days to do manually?
have you been asked to create an Excel macro to solve a major need? Do you need to convert raw data into useful Excel format? Do you need to create an Excel macro to be used by many people in your company? Are you out of time or on a tight schedule? If you are faced with any of these challenges, others can help you! Others can create the macro for you, or suggest improvements and enhancements to existing code.
I have something specific in mind to create a spreadsheet to…..
You may need help building any spreadsheet to help define and control costs, time and resources as part of a wider analysis system. You can develop and customise a solution, with an organisation's specific needs in mind.
I Need to extract data from a list
Powerful built-in features such as Pivot tables and Advanced Filters can provide you with meaningful interpretations of large list data at the click of the mouse. These can be automated to produce customised regular reports. Another issue that commonly arises is that spreadsheets are used to extract data automatically from a source database, but that what you actually want is to combine data from various data sources.
People are just not being productive enough
Do you want to free up key personnel to be more strategic?. Key players in organisations are wasting time repeating the same processes to get the results they need. It is wasteful for them to repeat these routines when such processes could be automated or improved by an Excel training Course or training manual
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
W filmie "Catch Me If You Can", głównego bohatera (zagrał Leonardo De Caprio), bardzo pomyślnie głupców branży lotniczej, medycznej i prawo zawodów or
W filmie "Catch Me If You Can", głównego bohatera (zagrał Leonardo De Caprio), bardzo pomyślnie głupców branży lotniczej, medycznej i prawo zawodów oraz wiele innych znaków pomiędzy niczego nie, co czyni bezwzględną fortunę wzdłuż droga.
Prawdą jest, że widzimy go jako anty-bohatera (pan powiedzieć bohatera?) niż delikwent, który jest częściowo ze względu na jego urok, ale przede wszystkim ze względu na fakt, że choć zakłada fałszywe tożsamości i kwalifikacji mających na celu zajęcie pozycji, nie pozazdrościć mu sukcesu, który nagradza nas multifold z wzniosem blaskiem jak on buduje Sukces na sukces czyli.
Ale Przyjrzyjmy oddech rzeczywistości.
Zapomnij o anty-heros wszyscy miłości i lubić rogues pobicie systemu.
I na chwilę odłożyło błyskotliwe umysły, które bez żadnych kwalifikacji, aby mówić o dokonały ich sposób na początku ich gry (szczerze lub nieuczciwe).
Pomyśl z najbardziej oczywistych jest to obszar, w którym tak łatwo oszukać: sprzedaży usług w internecie.
Jak często Pan zastanawiał się, czy strona www pojawi się patrząc na to z takiej oferty fantastyczne szkolenia IT naprawdę mają akredytację to sprawia, że jego roszczenia?
Czy kandydat, który w CV po prostu otrzymał naprawdę mają klasy A w drewnie i informatyka? Czy stolarki bardzo sprytnie rzucania się jako wabików.
W branży IT szkolenia dla istnieje kilka cennych kwalifikacji. W trener może być w krótkim szkoleniu Trener kursu. Passed siedmiu modułów ECDL (European Computer Driving License. Nawet przeszły MOS (Microsoft Office sepecialist) egzaminów.
Jednakże nie ma to naprawdę nas bardzo daleko. Brak szacunku do tysięcy osób, biorąc ECDL egzaminy, ale są to bardzo słabe testu kompetencji technicznych użyteczne tylko powiedzieć, że kandydat ma trochę wiedzy w szerokim zakresie zagadnień.
Oznacza to, że ktoś w stanie zatrudnienia w pełnym wymiarze godzin lub pracowników ma polegać na prawdziwości i dokładności CV oglądany przez pryzmat rekrutacji spółki, jeżeli taki został wyznaczony.
Patrząc na życiorys często rzeczywiste problemy tkwią w długiej listy aplikacji wychowawcą roszczeń uczyć i poziomu wiedzy w obrębie każdego.
Jednego kandydata będą roszczenia Excel do VBA (Visual Basic Application), który sugeruje, że zdolność do programu Excel, gdy w rzeczywistości mogą one zaledwie automatycznego prosta sekwencja kroków. Kandydat twierdząc uczyć Microsoft Project powinny być w stanie odpowiedzieć na pytania dotyczące ścieżki krytycznej analizie, ale na pytanie, mówi, że tylko używane projektu w kolegium do pracy jako Niepełne i nie patrzył na nią przez chwilę.
Niedawno miał połączenie z kandydatem, który chciał być wolny trener. Dałem im kilka porad na temat kroki podjąć. Tydzień później dostałem wezwanie z agencji, że dostawy wolne. Oni się tym przez e-maila poprzez szczegóły trenera dla Web design kursu. Wszystkie szczegóły zostały napompowane do tego stopnia, to już tego samego kandydata.
W skrócie poszczególne aktualizacje ich CV do agencji pracy, która z kolei może ulec pokusie revamp kandydata do czegoś nie są.
Niestety znalezienie się w tym wywiadzie jest stratą czasu i zasobów.
Najlepiej potrzebujemy nowych kwalifikacji, które uzależniają możliwość uczyć i tworzyć ćwiczenia do wymagań technicznych w ramach aplikacji.
W przypadku braku tego najlepszym rozwiÄ…zaniem jest telefon Wywiad.
To jest moje preferencje przed zapraszajÄ…c wszelkie kandydata do naszego biura na rozmowÄ™ "w osobie".
Kandydat, który twierdził, niejasno się na średni poziom w programie Excel można quizzed dotyczące różnic między celu poszukiwanie i Solver.
Jest to idealne narzędzie odsiewania i zapisuje zarówno moje i kandydata czasu.
Po wielu latach prowadzenia rozmów (będzie to dotyczyć praktycznych 30 min demonstracji aplikacji oraz tradycyjnych wywiad) i ustaliliśmy, że dowód jest naprawdę w pudding.
Mogę patrzeć na pozór wybitne cv i myśleć "wygląda dobrze", ale do Słyszałem / seen pewnego rodzaju demonstracja kandydatów wiedzą, jestem szczęśliwy, że do wprowadzenia starannie wykonana samodzielnie promo na jednej stronie.
Powrót do Leo.
Co czyni go tak różne do mojego przyjaciela, trenera w oczekujących na jego wysoce rozmnożony cv?
Dlaczego nie widzimy go jako kłamcę, a filutowaty koniunkturalista bez realnego uprawnienia do sukcesu, lecz raczej jako ktoś zasługuje na osiągnięcie pomimo nieprawidłowych metod on stosowany, aby go osiągnąć?
Ponieważ, kiedy wezwała jego Bluff, że jakiś produkowane towary. Czas i godzinę.
Mouseman
Prawdą jest, że widzimy go jako anty-bohatera (pan powiedzieć bohatera?) niż delikwent, który jest częściowo ze względu na jego urok, ale przede wszystkim ze względu na fakt, że choć zakłada fałszywe tożsamości i kwalifikacji mających na celu zajęcie pozycji, nie pozazdrościć mu sukcesu, który nagradza nas multifold z wzniosem blaskiem jak on buduje Sukces na sukces czyli.
Ale Przyjrzyjmy oddech rzeczywistości.
Zapomnij o anty-heros wszyscy miłości i lubić rogues pobicie systemu.
I na chwilę odłożyło błyskotliwe umysły, które bez żadnych kwalifikacji, aby mówić o dokonały ich sposób na początku ich gry (szczerze lub nieuczciwe).
Pomyśl z najbardziej oczywistych jest to obszar, w którym tak łatwo oszukać: sprzedaży usług w internecie.
Jak często Pan zastanawiał się, czy strona www pojawi się patrząc na to z takiej oferty fantastyczne szkolenia IT naprawdę mają akredytację to sprawia, że jego roszczenia?
Czy kandydat, który w CV po prostu otrzymał naprawdę mają klasy A w drewnie i informatyka? Czy stolarki bardzo sprytnie rzucania się jako wabików.
W branży IT szkolenia dla istnieje kilka cennych kwalifikacji. W trener może być w krótkim szkoleniu Trener kursu. Passed siedmiu modułów ECDL (European Computer Driving License. Nawet przeszły MOS (Microsoft Office sepecialist) egzaminów.
Jednakże nie ma to naprawdę nas bardzo daleko. Brak szacunku do tysięcy osób, biorąc ECDL egzaminy, ale są to bardzo słabe testu kompetencji technicznych użyteczne tylko powiedzieć, że kandydat ma trochę wiedzy w szerokim zakresie zagadnień.
Oznacza to, że ktoś w stanie zatrudnienia w pełnym wymiarze godzin lub pracowników ma polegać na prawdziwości i dokładności CV oglądany przez pryzmat rekrutacji spółki, jeżeli taki został wyznaczony.
Patrząc na życiorys często rzeczywiste problemy tkwią w długiej listy aplikacji wychowawcą roszczeń uczyć i poziomu wiedzy w obrębie każdego.
Jednego kandydata będą roszczenia Excel do VBA (Visual Basic Application), który sugeruje, że zdolność do programu Excel, gdy w rzeczywistości mogą one zaledwie automatycznego prosta sekwencja kroków. Kandydat twierdząc uczyć Microsoft Project powinny być w stanie odpowiedzieć na pytania dotyczące ścieżki krytycznej analizie, ale na pytanie, mówi, że tylko używane projektu w kolegium do pracy jako Niepełne i nie patrzył na nią przez chwilę.
Niedawno miał połączenie z kandydatem, który chciał być wolny trener. Dałem im kilka porad na temat kroki podjąć. Tydzień później dostałem wezwanie z agencji, że dostawy wolne. Oni się tym przez e-maila poprzez szczegóły trenera dla Web design kursu. Wszystkie szczegóły zostały napompowane do tego stopnia, to już tego samego kandydata.
W skrócie poszczególne aktualizacje ich CV do agencji pracy, która z kolei może ulec pokusie revamp kandydata do czegoś nie są.
Niestety znalezienie się w tym wywiadzie jest stratą czasu i zasobów.
Najlepiej potrzebujemy nowych kwalifikacji, które uzależniają możliwość uczyć i tworzyć ćwiczenia do wymagań technicznych w ramach aplikacji.
W przypadku braku tego najlepszym rozwiÄ…zaniem jest telefon Wywiad.
To jest moje preferencje przed zapraszajÄ…c wszelkie kandydata do naszego biura na rozmowÄ™ "w osobie".
Kandydat, który twierdził, niejasno się na średni poziom w programie Excel można quizzed dotyczące różnic między celu poszukiwanie i Solver.
Jest to idealne narzędzie odsiewania i zapisuje zarówno moje i kandydata czasu.
Po wielu latach prowadzenia rozmów (będzie to dotyczyć praktycznych 30 min demonstracji aplikacji oraz tradycyjnych wywiad) i ustaliliśmy, że dowód jest naprawdę w pudding.
Mogę patrzeć na pozór wybitne cv i myśleć "wygląda dobrze", ale do Słyszałem / seen pewnego rodzaju demonstracja kandydatów wiedzą, jestem szczęśliwy, że do wprowadzenia starannie wykonana samodzielnie promo na jednej stronie.
Powrót do Leo.
Co czyni go tak różne do mojego przyjaciela, trenera w oczekujących na jego wysoce rozmnożony cv?
Dlaczego nie widzimy go jako kłamcę, a filutowaty koniunkturalista bez realnego uprawnienia do sukcesu, lecz raczej jako ktoś zasługuje na osiągnięcie pomimo nieprawidłowych metod on stosowany, aby go osiągnąć?
Ponieważ, kiedy wezwała jego Bluff, że jakiś produkowane towary. Czas i godzinę.
Mouseman
Nowe Feaures w pakiecie Office 2007?
Nowe Feaures w pakiecie Office 2007?
Kluczowe zmiany miały miejsce w programie Word, Excel, PowerPoint i Outlook (do leasingodawcy zakresie Project i Visio. Najbardziej widoczna różnica to pojawienie się nowego interfejsu o nazwie Ribbon.
Starego menu i paski narzędzi wcześniejszych apartamenty Office jest obecnie reprezentowany przez nową Ribbon podzielony na nazwie karty. Wybór karty ujawnia żadnych podgrup poleceń. Standard 2003 stylu okna dialogowe mogą być także dostępne z th wstęgę.
Microsoft konsekwentnie stosowane na kartach tej funkcji, można podzielić na tematy związane ze sobą i wyświetlanie grup w każdej karcie.
MS Word składa Ribbon występy w nazwie Home, Insert, Page Layout, referencyjny, mailingi, weryfikacja i widok. Wybór Start wyświetla kartę Polecenia formatowania i stylów.Podobnie Excel 2007 i PowerPoint 2007 zostały wyposażone w karty z podobnymi pogrupowane polecenia.
Outlook jest hybrydowych. Gdy program Outlook 2007 jest uruchomiony starego menu i paski narzędzi są dostępne. Nowy interfejs Ribbon nie wyświetlać dopóki użytkownik tworzy nowy e-mail lub edycji kalendarza wpis.
Norma 2007 udostępniania aplikacji pakietu Office, aby zastąpić podobny do pliku opcje zarządzania dostępne w poprzednich wersjach pakietu Office)
Przycisk Office, który znajduje się w lewym górnym rogu okna programu, zastępuje menu Plik w dziedzictwo wersji pakietu Microsoft Office. Urząd Przycisk menu zawiera podstawowe polecenia zarządzania plikami, w tym Nowy, Otwórz, Zapisz, Drukuj i jest tak samo w programach Word i Excel i PowerPoint. Pakietu Office 2007 również sportowych nowy pasek narzędzi Szybki dostęp.
Nowy Quick Access Toolbar posiada kilka najczęściej używanych opcji. Ten pasek narzędzi może być modyfikowany, aby odpowiadać swoje wymagania. Polecenia są zorganizowane w ramach Karty w logiczny sposób, może się okazać, że łatwiej jest umieścić polecenia zawsze użyć, na przykład Podgląd wydruku, Zapisz jako lub Drukuj Quick na tym pasku narzędzi, aby mieć szybki dostęp, dopóki nie są naprawdę zaznajomieni z nowym Ribbon układ.
Office 2007 ma nową domyślną czcionkę domyślną czcionkę Calibri nazwie, która jest zwykle związane z stron internetowych.
Nowe metody formatowania są dostępne w pakiecie Office 2007 - W programie Word, jeśli wpiszesz jakiś tekst, zaznacz go, a następnie wybierz opcję formatowania, nowy format jest stosowany jako nowa funkcja podglądu na żywo. Ten format może być na stałe stosowane. Nawigacja od wyboru tekstu pozwala zachować oryginalne formatowanie. Excel, PowerPoint i Outlook wszystkich akcji Live Preview funkcji.
Ewentualnie, jeśli użytkownik hovers w tekście, Mini Toolbar pojawi pokazano istotne przyciski formatowania, które są następnie stosowane do zaznaczonego tekstu.
Wszystkie aplikacje pakietu Office 2007 funkcja Styl Galerie. Style są zestawy funkcji formatowania, które można zastosować do zaznaczonego tekstu lub komórek w programie Excel. Z danych wybranych w programie Excel, PowerPoint lub Word możesz przejść do Start Karta hover w jednej z postaci w Galerii i Live Preview będzie podgląd tego stylu. Wybierz ten styl stosuje się do danych.
Nowe Wstążki wyświetlać więcej w menu niż w tradycyjnym menu oparte na systemach Excel 2003. Nowe funkcje obejmują szereg inteligentnych sztuki opcji. Formatowanie warunkowe jest już znacznie łatwiej z mnóstwem kolorowych flag i sygnalizacji świetlnej do wyboru. Baza funkcjonalność została podana gruntownej reorganizacji pozwalając użytkownikowi filtrować przez szereg kryteriów, w tym łatwiejsze korzystanie z datą opcji. A great nowa funkcja pozwala usunąć duplikaty rekordów w danych.
Większość użytkowników Excel prawdopodobnie nigdy nie uzyskać poza podstawy arytmetyki i obsługa auto sumy, ale w 2007 interfejs sprawia, że o wiele łatwiej tworzyć skomplikowane skoroszytów, które mogą być wspólne z kolegami
Niezależnie od opcji, możesz w prosty sposób dodać do tabeli stylów arkuszy kalkulacyjnych profesjonalny wygląd.
Nie zaniedbuj wzmocnionej tabeli funkcjonalność prezentuje dane w formie skróconej
Pivot tabele podjęcia dużych ilości danych i podsumowywać to. Są elastyczne w sposób ich przedstawienia i jakie informacje są dostarczanie. Wszyscy wymagają skutecznego streszczenia informacji serwowane się w dobry format. Pivot tabele mogą być dostosowane
może wciąż zastanawiasz się, czy istnieją powody, aby nadal upgrade ze starszej wersji, jeśli dane są zoptymalizowane dla starszej wersji. Czy na pewno chcesz mieć do pracy personelu i badania wszystkich naszych kluczowych dokumentów w nowej wersji?
Musimy rozważyć, czy w nowej wersji dodano znaczące funkcje do uzasadnienia aktualizacji. Musisz mieć pewność, ty lub twoi koledzy będą korzystać z nowych funkcji.
Wszystkie kluczowych aplikacji akcji nowej technologii wykresu. Ponadto w 2003 r. Urząd wykresy, pojawiają się nowe typy wykresów i efektów specjalnych, takich jak 3-D fazowanie.
Office 2007 ma również nowe formaty plików. Wszystkie nowe aplikacje 2007 wykorzysta te nowe formaty plików oparte na XML nowego standardu. Pliki te są zazwyczaj mniejsze i wydają się być w sposób bardziej efektywny przez comuter. Te nowe typy plików są także bardziej bezpieczne niż stare typy plików ..
Office 97-2003 plików można przekonwertować na nowszy format Office 2007 w dowolnym momencie.
Wszystkie wnioski są całkowicie 2007 wstecznie kompatybilne, ułatwiających wykorzystanie istniejących 97-2003 pliki w 2007 roku. W przypadku pakietu Office 2003 są opended plików w pakiecie Office 2007, plik zostanie otwarty w trybie zgodności z odpowiednimi funkcje dostępne w tej wersji pakietu Office aktywne
Ta nowa wersja pakietu Office jest jednym z najważniejszych aktualizacji z 2003 lub XP. Teraz wystarczy do rozważenia, w jaki sposób masz zamiar się uczyć wszystkie nowe funkcje. Czy będzie książki, poradniki online lub powrót do szkoły.
Mouseman
Kluczowe zmiany miały miejsce w programie Word, Excel, PowerPoint i Outlook (do leasingodawcy zakresie Project i Visio. Najbardziej widoczna różnica to pojawienie się nowego interfejsu o nazwie Ribbon.
Starego menu i paski narzędzi wcześniejszych apartamenty Office jest obecnie reprezentowany przez nową Ribbon podzielony na nazwie karty. Wybór karty ujawnia żadnych podgrup poleceń. Standard 2003 stylu okna dialogowe mogą być także dostępne z th wstęgę.
Microsoft konsekwentnie stosowane na kartach tej funkcji, można podzielić na tematy związane ze sobą i wyświetlanie grup w każdej karcie.
MS Word składa Ribbon występy w nazwie Home, Insert, Page Layout, referencyjny, mailingi, weryfikacja i widok. Wybór Start wyświetla kartę Polecenia formatowania i stylów.Podobnie Excel 2007 i PowerPoint 2007 zostały wyposażone w karty z podobnymi pogrupowane polecenia.
Outlook jest hybrydowych. Gdy program Outlook 2007 jest uruchomiony starego menu i paski narzędzi są dostępne. Nowy interfejs Ribbon nie wyświetlać dopóki użytkownik tworzy nowy e-mail lub edycji kalendarza wpis.
Norma 2007 udostępniania aplikacji pakietu Office, aby zastąpić podobny do pliku opcje zarządzania dostępne w poprzednich wersjach pakietu Office)
Przycisk Office, który znajduje się w lewym górnym rogu okna programu, zastępuje menu Plik w dziedzictwo wersji pakietu Microsoft Office. Urząd Przycisk menu zawiera podstawowe polecenia zarządzania plikami, w tym Nowy, Otwórz, Zapisz, Drukuj i jest tak samo w programach Word i Excel i PowerPoint. Pakietu Office 2007 również sportowych nowy pasek narzędzi Szybki dostęp.
Nowy Quick Access Toolbar posiada kilka najczęściej używanych opcji. Ten pasek narzędzi może być modyfikowany, aby odpowiadać swoje wymagania. Polecenia są zorganizowane w ramach Karty w logiczny sposób, może się okazać, że łatwiej jest umieścić polecenia zawsze użyć, na przykład Podgląd wydruku, Zapisz jako lub Drukuj Quick na tym pasku narzędzi, aby mieć szybki dostęp, dopóki nie są naprawdę zaznajomieni z nowym Ribbon układ.
Office 2007 ma nową domyślną czcionkę domyślną czcionkę Calibri nazwie, która jest zwykle związane z stron internetowych.
Nowe metody formatowania są dostępne w pakiecie Office 2007 - W programie Word, jeśli wpiszesz jakiś tekst, zaznacz go, a następnie wybierz opcję formatowania, nowy format jest stosowany jako nowa funkcja podglądu na żywo. Ten format może być na stałe stosowane. Nawigacja od wyboru tekstu pozwala zachować oryginalne formatowanie. Excel, PowerPoint i Outlook wszystkich akcji Live Preview funkcji.
Ewentualnie, jeśli użytkownik hovers w tekście, Mini Toolbar pojawi pokazano istotne przyciski formatowania, które są następnie stosowane do zaznaczonego tekstu.
Wszystkie aplikacje pakietu Office 2007 funkcja Styl Galerie. Style są zestawy funkcji formatowania, które można zastosować do zaznaczonego tekstu lub komórek w programie Excel. Z danych wybranych w programie Excel, PowerPoint lub Word możesz przejść do Start Karta hover w jednej z postaci w Galerii i Live Preview będzie podgląd tego stylu. Wybierz ten styl stosuje się do danych.
Nowe Wstążki wyświetlać więcej w menu niż w tradycyjnym menu oparte na systemach Excel 2003. Nowe funkcje obejmują szereg inteligentnych sztuki opcji. Formatowanie warunkowe jest już znacznie łatwiej z mnóstwem kolorowych flag i sygnalizacji świetlnej do wyboru. Baza funkcjonalność została podana gruntownej reorganizacji pozwalając użytkownikowi filtrować przez szereg kryteriów, w tym łatwiejsze korzystanie z datą opcji. A great nowa funkcja pozwala usunąć duplikaty rekordów w danych.
Większość użytkowników Excel prawdopodobnie nigdy nie uzyskać poza podstawy arytmetyki i obsługa auto sumy, ale w 2007 interfejs sprawia, że o wiele łatwiej tworzyć skomplikowane skoroszytów, które mogą być wspólne z kolegami
Niezależnie od opcji, możesz w prosty sposób dodać do tabeli stylów arkuszy kalkulacyjnych profesjonalny wygląd.
Nie zaniedbuj wzmocnionej tabeli funkcjonalność prezentuje dane w formie skróconej
Pivot tabele podjęcia dużych ilości danych i podsumowywać to. Są elastyczne w sposób ich przedstawienia i jakie informacje są dostarczanie. Wszyscy wymagają skutecznego streszczenia informacji serwowane się w dobry format. Pivot tabele mogą być dostosowane
może wciąż zastanawiasz się, czy istnieją powody, aby nadal upgrade ze starszej wersji, jeśli dane są zoptymalizowane dla starszej wersji. Czy na pewno chcesz mieć do pracy personelu i badania wszystkich naszych kluczowych dokumentów w nowej wersji?
Musimy rozważyć, czy w nowej wersji dodano znaczące funkcje do uzasadnienia aktualizacji. Musisz mieć pewność, ty lub twoi koledzy będą korzystać z nowych funkcji.
Wszystkie kluczowych aplikacji akcji nowej technologii wykresu. Ponadto w 2003 r. Urząd wykresy, pojawiają się nowe typy wykresów i efektów specjalnych, takich jak 3-D fazowanie.
Office 2007 ma również nowe formaty plików. Wszystkie nowe aplikacje 2007 wykorzysta te nowe formaty plików oparte na XML nowego standardu. Pliki te są zazwyczaj mniejsze i wydają się być w sposób bardziej efektywny przez comuter. Te nowe typy plików są także bardziej bezpieczne niż stare typy plików ..
Office 97-2003 plików można przekonwertować na nowszy format Office 2007 w dowolnym momencie.
Wszystkie wnioski są całkowicie 2007 wstecznie kompatybilne, ułatwiających wykorzystanie istniejących 97-2003 pliki w 2007 roku. W przypadku pakietu Office 2003 są opended plików w pakiecie Office 2007, plik zostanie otwarty w trybie zgodności z odpowiednimi funkcje dostępne w tej wersji pakietu Office aktywne
Ta nowa wersja pakietu Office jest jednym z najważniejszych aktualizacji z 2003 lub XP. Teraz wystarczy do rozważenia, w jaki sposób masz zamiar się uczyć wszystkie nowe funkcje. Czy będzie książki, poradniki online lub powrót do szkoły.
Mouseman
Creating a web site banner cheaply
Tworzenie własnych Banner tanio
Istnieje wiele z witryn, które można kupić od fotografii, ale jedną wielką którym możesz uzyskać je za darmo z jednym provisio.
Na stronie jest:
http://commons.wikimedia.org
W provisio jest ci przestrzeganie licencji
Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5
Opis:
Mysz znaleźć wielką przyszłość Londyn skyline.Czy renderowania przez Fox. Należy sprawdzić na jego stronie internetowej przyszłości Londynie.
Źródło:
Samowyzwalacz opublikowanych prac Wjfox2005
Data
Autor
Wjfox2005
Permission (Ponowne tego obrazu)
Nie ma żadnych ekspertyz we Flashu, ale od trzech trenerów i Photoshop CS3 nas produkowane poniższy obraz dość szybko.Nie idealny, ale dobry początek do stworzenia Londyn skyscape, że ze względu na kredyt schrupać nie może się zdarzyć!
http://www.mousetraining.co.uk/
Using MS Project Calendars Effectively
In Microsoft MS Project 2007 it is important to know how calendars are calculated t o ensure your MS Project 2007 is completed according to your schedule requirements. MS Project 2007 uses calendars in conjunction with task dependencies to determine when resources are available to work and when tasks can be scheduled.
There are three types of calendars in MS Project 2007
Standard calendars
Resource calendars
Task calendars
These calendars can be adjusted to define working time for the entire Project, particular resources or tasks.
This article using the example of deliveries to a restaurant will examine how the MS Project 2007, resource, and task calendars interrelate?
A base calendar defines the usual working and nonworking times designated in a resource or MS Project 2007 calendar when MS Project 2007 should not schedule tasks because work should not be done. Nonworking time might include meal breaks, weekends, and Bank holidays. You can choose any base calendar to use as the MS Project 2007 calendar or as the starting point for a resource calendar. Base calendar can also be applied to specific tasks.
The Standard base calendar reflects a traditional work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., with an hour off for break.
There are additional calendars to reflect for example 24 Hour working. The 24 Hours base calendar shows a schedule with no nonworking time at all and is normally used in continuous processes or when resources and tasks are scheduled for different shift patterns
The MS Project 2007 calendar defines the working and nonworking days and times for tasks and usually represents your organization's traditional working hours. MS Project 2007 uses this calendar to schedule tasks that don't have resources associated with them by default. The MS Project 2007 calendar specifies when MS Project 2007 work can occur. In this case, the MS Project 2007 calendar specifies that all days of the week are working days.
In our example, the MS Project 2007 calendar defines that work can occur only on weekdays, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Resource calendars ensure that work resources (people rooms and equipment) are scheduled only when they're available for work. Resource calendars affect a specific resource. Automatically, the working time settings in the resource calendar mirror the Standard base calendar. However, you can customize the resource calendar to show vacations for individual resources. Don't forget even a room might need a holiday and be unavailable whilst it is being cleaned or decorated.
When MS Project 2007 schedules, it uses the resource calendars to schedule the tasks that have resources assigned. For example, if a resource has a vacation specified, MS Project 2007 will not schedule the task for period of time.
Task calendars make it possible for tasks to occur independently of working times scheduled in standard or resource calendars
The scheduling of tasks is based on the working times established in the MS Project 2007 calendar and the resource's associated resource calendar. If you were a gardener and the task was mowing the lawn the task might be scheduled to exclude a particular week when a party was being prepared and held in the garden. This tool allows scheduling tasks that can only be performed at certain times of day or at certain times of year, due to weather, regulations etc.
If you have applied a task calendar and additionally assigned resources to the task, the task is scheduled for the working times that the task calendar and resource calendars have in common. If you want to schedule the task by using only the task calendar there is an option in the task information to ignore resource calendars in calculating the task.
Key to understanding how MS Project 2007 calculates its scheduling is understanding how these calendars relate to each other.
Imagine you have a five day task starting on Monday to deliver stock to all the restaurants in a group during the working day.
In the standard calendar however you have defined the Monday as a bank holiday. (Setup using Tools Chang Work Time and designating Monday as a non working day. This would mean that the task would start on Tuesday and finish the following Monday as MS Project 2007's default settings assume a Monday to Friday working week with week ends non working.
If the resource you have chosen for the delivery task wants a personal holiday on Tuesday the task would only start on Wednesday and be completed the following Tuesday. In other words the complete story with MS Project 2007 includes all exceptions in the standard calendar plus or minus changes in resource calendars.
Finally the task itself could have a calendar. A new calendar could be created for the task with a rule ensuring that no delivers should be scheduled for the on Fridays. In the first week of operation with Monday as a bank holiday, Tuesday a holiday for the resource. Wednesday would become the first working day, Thursday the second; With the Friday a holiday for the task and the week end off the task would only be completed the following Wednesday. In all subsequent weeks without the bank holiday it would be Tuesday.
So MS Project 2007 calculates the schedule according to the overall MS Project 2007 calendar, resources calendars and calendars associated with the task itself.
A final layer of complexity can be introduced into the equation. If a task had duration of five days it would obey the schedule outlined above. However, if the task was instead enter as five elapsed days all holiday variations in standard, resource and task would be ignored and the task would revert to Monday to Friday working.
If you live in the Uk and you need a course try Project Training London For the rest of the world just download the MS Project training materials
There are three types of calendars in MS Project 2007
Standard calendars
Resource calendars
Task calendars
These calendars can be adjusted to define working time for the entire Project, particular resources or tasks.
This article using the example of deliveries to a restaurant will examine how the MS Project 2007, resource, and task calendars interrelate?
A base calendar defines the usual working and nonworking times designated in a resource or MS Project 2007 calendar when MS Project 2007 should not schedule tasks because work should not be done. Nonworking time might include meal breaks, weekends, and Bank holidays. You can choose any base calendar to use as the MS Project 2007 calendar or as the starting point for a resource calendar. Base calendar can also be applied to specific tasks.
The Standard base calendar reflects a traditional work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., with an hour off for break.
There are additional calendars to reflect for example 24 Hour working. The 24 Hours base calendar shows a schedule with no nonworking time at all and is normally used in continuous processes or when resources and tasks are scheduled for different shift patterns
The MS Project 2007 calendar defines the working and nonworking days and times for tasks and usually represents your organization's traditional working hours. MS Project 2007 uses this calendar to schedule tasks that don't have resources associated with them by default. The MS Project 2007 calendar specifies when MS Project 2007 work can occur. In this case, the MS Project 2007 calendar specifies that all days of the week are working days.
In our example, the MS Project 2007 calendar defines that work can occur only on weekdays, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Resource calendars ensure that work resources (people rooms and equipment) are scheduled only when they're available for work. Resource calendars affect a specific resource. Automatically, the working time settings in the resource calendar mirror the Standard base calendar. However, you can customize the resource calendar to show vacations for individual resources. Don't forget even a room might need a holiday and be unavailable whilst it is being cleaned or decorated.
When MS Project 2007 schedules, it uses the resource calendars to schedule the tasks that have resources assigned. For example, if a resource has a vacation specified, MS Project 2007 will not schedule the task for period of time.
Task calendars make it possible for tasks to occur independently of working times scheduled in standard or resource calendars
The scheduling of tasks is based on the working times established in the MS Project 2007 calendar and the resource's associated resource calendar. If you were a gardener and the task was mowing the lawn the task might be scheduled to exclude a particular week when a party was being prepared and held in the garden. This tool allows scheduling tasks that can only be performed at certain times of day or at certain times of year, due to weather, regulations etc.
If you have applied a task calendar and additionally assigned resources to the task, the task is scheduled for the working times that the task calendar and resource calendars have in common. If you want to schedule the task by using only the task calendar there is an option in the task information to ignore resource calendars in calculating the task.
Key to understanding how MS Project 2007 calculates its scheduling is understanding how these calendars relate to each other.
Imagine you have a five day task starting on Monday to deliver stock to all the restaurants in a group during the working day.
In the standard calendar however you have defined the Monday as a bank holiday. (Setup using Tools Chang Work Time and designating Monday as a non working day. This would mean that the task would start on Tuesday and finish the following Monday as MS Project 2007's default settings assume a Monday to Friday working week with week ends non working.
If the resource you have chosen for the delivery task wants a personal holiday on Tuesday the task would only start on Wednesday and be completed the following Tuesday. In other words the complete story with MS Project 2007 includes all exceptions in the standard calendar plus or minus changes in resource calendars.
Finally the task itself could have a calendar. A new calendar could be created for the task with a rule ensuring that no delivers should be scheduled for the on Fridays. In the first week of operation with Monday as a bank holiday, Tuesday a holiday for the resource. Wednesday would become the first working day, Thursday the second; With the Friday a holiday for the task and the week end off the task would only be completed the following Wednesday. In all subsequent weeks without the bank holiday it would be Tuesday.
So MS Project 2007 calculates the schedule according to the overall MS Project 2007 calendar, resources calendars and calendars associated with the task itself.
A final layer of complexity can be introduced into the equation. If a task had duration of five days it would obey the schedule outlined above. However, if the task was instead enter as five elapsed days all holiday variations in standard, resource and task would be ignored and the task would revert to Monday to Friday working.
If you live in the Uk and you need a course try Project Training London For the rest of the world just download the MS Project training materials
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How to make Pivot Tables Refresh Automatically
Excel Pivot Tables do not automatically update when the source data is changed, they have to be refreshed. To make your Pivot Tables refresh automatically you need a macro to do the refreshing and an Event to trigger the macro. This seems quite an involved process the first time that you do it but it gets easier, it is mainly just copying from one workspace to another.
Recording the Macro
You have to record a macro and then copy the recorded code from the macro into one of the worksheet’s events. Firstly, the recording: Select a cell in your Pivot Table and then choose Tools, Macro, Record New Macro from the menu. Just make sure that the Store macro in: setting is This Workbook and click the OK button.
Now you have to record your refreshing the Pivot Table, so choose the Data menu and select Refresh Data. The recording is completed and you can turn off the Macro Recorder by choosing Tools, Macro, Stop Recording. The next job is to find the recorded code and copy the instruction that refreshes the Pivot Table. Choose Tools, Macro, Macros and select the recorded macro from the list and then click the Edit button on the right hand side. You will now see the Visual Basic Editor displayed and you can view the recorded procedure, which should look something like this:
Sub Macro1()
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded by Anon E. Mus
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Copy the line of code that refreshes the table, it should be obvious which one you need. Do not copy anything else. Now, return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11.
Using an Event to trigger the Macro
Next, you need to find the Event code shells for the worksheet where your Pivot table is located. Right-click the worksheet tab for the relevant worksheet and choose View Code from the shortcut menu. You are returned to the Visual Basic Editor once again. Looking at the active window you will see two drop-down lists at the top of the window.
The drop-down list on the left hand side is the Object list, the one on the right hand side is the Procedure list. Drop the Object list and select the Worksheet object, then choose a suitable event from the Procedure list. The Activate event is probably the most suitable for our purposes. Paste your recording into the procedure so that it looks like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
The Activate event is triggered whenever you make the worksheet active, so in order to test that the procedure is working correctly you need to perform the event. Return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11, select another worksheet in the workbook and then select the original worksheet where the Pivot Tables are stored. This triggers the event and you will see that the tables are automatically refreshed. Of course, you do not have to make the initial macro recording every time that you need to do this, all you need is the code for the Refresh method so you can type it in or paste it from a previous recording. But, be careful, each Pivot Table needs to be correctly described using its Name Property; this is the text value inside the brackets. In the example below the name of the Pivot Table is "PivotTable1"
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
To find out the name of a specific Pivot Table, right-click one of its cells and choose Table Options from the short cut menu. The name is shown in the top left corner of the dialog. It is quite in order to list the Pivot Tables if you have more than one which needs refreshing in which case the procedure would be like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Although it would be easier to have a looping procedure so that you can avoid having to look up the name of each individual Pivot Table:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each pt In ActiveSheet.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next
End Sub
Pivot Tables are contained by each individual worksheet so if you want to have a procedure which will refresh every Pivot Table on every worksheet in the entire workbook then you will need an outer loop for the worksheets and an inner loop to refresh the pivot tables. The code would be as follows:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each ws In Worksheets
For Each pt In ws.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next pt
Next ws
End Sub
Recording the Macro
You have to record a macro and then copy the recorded code from the macro into one of the worksheet’s events. Firstly, the recording: Select a cell in your Pivot Table and then choose Tools, Macro, Record New Macro from the menu. Just make sure that the Store macro in: setting is This Workbook and click the OK button.
Now you have to record your refreshing the Pivot Table, so choose the Data menu and select Refresh Data. The recording is completed and you can turn off the Macro Recorder by choosing Tools, Macro, Stop Recording. The next job is to find the recorded code and copy the instruction that refreshes the Pivot Table. Choose Tools, Macro, Macros and select the recorded macro from the list and then click the Edit button on the right hand side. You will now see the Visual Basic Editor displayed and you can view the recorded procedure, which should look something like this:
Sub Macro1()
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded by Anon E. Mus
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Copy the line of code that refreshes the table, it should be obvious which one you need. Do not copy anything else. Now, return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11.
Using an Event to trigger the Macro
Next, you need to find the Event code shells for the worksheet where your Pivot table is located. Right-click the worksheet tab for the relevant worksheet and choose View Code from the shortcut menu. You are returned to the Visual Basic Editor once again. Looking at the active window you will see two drop-down lists at the top of the window.
The drop-down list on the left hand side is the Object list, the one on the right hand side is the Procedure list. Drop the Object list and select the Worksheet object, then choose a suitable event from the Procedure list. The Activate event is probably the most suitable for our purposes. Paste your recording into the procedure so that it looks like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
The Activate event is triggered whenever you make the worksheet active, so in order to test that the procedure is working correctly you need to perform the event. Return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11, select another worksheet in the workbook and then select the original worksheet where the Pivot Tables are stored. This triggers the event and you will see that the tables are automatically refreshed. Of course, you do not have to make the initial macro recording every time that you need to do this, all you need is the code for the Refresh method so you can type it in or paste it from a previous recording. But, be careful, each Pivot Table needs to be correctly described using its Name Property; this is the text value inside the brackets. In the example below the name of the Pivot Table is "PivotTable1"
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
To find out the name of a specific Pivot Table, right-click one of its cells and choose Table Options from the short cut menu. The name is shown in the top left corner of the dialog. It is quite in order to list the Pivot Tables if you have more than one which needs refreshing in which case the procedure would be like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Although it would be easier to have a looping procedure so that you can avoid having to look up the name of each individual Pivot Table:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each pt In ActiveSheet.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next
End Sub
Pivot Tables are contained by each individual worksheet so if you want to have a procedure which will refresh every Pivot Table on every worksheet in the entire workbook then you will need an outer loop for the worksheets and an inner loop to refresh the pivot tables. The code would be as follows:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each ws In Worksheets
For Each pt In ws.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next pt
Next ws
End Sub
Dynamic Arrays in Excel VBA Macros
Dynamic Arrays in VBA Macros
A dimensioned array has to be declared using a constant value; however this constant value maybe unknown at the point of declaration. Use the ReDim statement instead of Dim to create a dynamic array; one that can be re-sized at run time.
The following example creates an array of worksheet names:
Sub ArrayofSheetNames()
Dim iNumShts As Integer
Dim i As Integer
'Calculate the number of sheets.
iNumShts = Sheets.Count
'Size the array.
ReDim sSheetNames(1 To iNumShts) As String
'Populate the array.
For i = LBound(sSheetNames) To UBound(sSheetNames)
sSheetNames(i) = Sheets(i).Name
Next
'Add another sheet.
Sheets.Add
'Resize the array.
ReDim sSheetNames(1 To Sheets.Count) As String
'Repopulate the array.
For i = LBound(sSheetNames) To UBound(sSheetNames)
sSheetNames(i) = Sheets(i).Name
Next
End Sub
In the previous example you will have noticed that we had to repopulate the array after having resized it. ReDim resizes the array but clears the data already stored. Use ReDim Preserve when you want to resize an array but retain the data previously stored. ReDim Preserve is particularly useful when you want to gather some information and store it in an array but do not know the extent of the data. In the following example a range of cells is being searched and we want to store the cell references of the cells containing a certain value.
As the data is found, it is stored in the array and then an extra element is added to the array ready for the next item of data. When the search is completed the array has one element too many; this is then removed.
Note the use of ReDim at the start of the procedure to initialise the array variable; this has to be done so that the UBound function can calculate the size of the array when the first element of data is stored.
Sub DynamicArrayOnTheFly()
Dim vList As Variant
Dim oCell As Range
'Initialise the variable so that we can
'use UBound later on.
ReDim vList(0)
'Loop through the cells.
For Each oCell In Range("A1:D50")
'Test for a value of 5.
If oCell.Value = 5 Then
'Store cell reference in array.
vList(UBound(vList)) = oCell.Address
'Add element to array ready for next item.
ReDim Preserve vList(UBound(vList) + 1)
End If
Next
'Remove empty element from array.
ReDim Preserve vList(UBound(vList) - 1)
End Sub
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A dimensioned array has to be declared using a constant value; however this constant value maybe unknown at the point of declaration. Use the ReDim statement instead of Dim to create a dynamic array; one that can be re-sized at run time.
The following example creates an array of worksheet names:
Sub ArrayofSheetNames()
Dim iNumShts As Integer
Dim i As Integer
'Calculate the number of sheets.
iNumShts = Sheets.Count
'Size the array.
ReDim sSheetNames(1 To iNumShts) As String
'Populate the array.
For i = LBound(sSheetNames) To UBound(sSheetNames)
sSheetNames(i) = Sheets(i).Name
Next
'Add another sheet.
Sheets.Add
'Resize the array.
ReDim sSheetNames(1 To Sheets.Count) As String
'Repopulate the array.
For i = LBound(sSheetNames) To UBound(sSheetNames)
sSheetNames(i) = Sheets(i).Name
Next
End Sub
In the previous example you will have noticed that we had to repopulate the array after having resized it. ReDim resizes the array but clears the data already stored. Use ReDim Preserve when you want to resize an array but retain the data previously stored. ReDim Preserve is particularly useful when you want to gather some information and store it in an array but do not know the extent of the data. In the following example a range of cells is being searched and we want to store the cell references of the cells containing a certain value.
As the data is found, it is stored in the array and then an extra element is added to the array ready for the next item of data. When the search is completed the array has one element too many; this is then removed.
Note the use of ReDim at the start of the procedure to initialise the array variable; this has to be done so that the UBound function can calculate the size of the array when the first element of data is stored.
Sub DynamicArrayOnTheFly()
Dim vList As Variant
Dim oCell As Range
'Initialise the variable so that we can
'use UBound later on.
ReDim vList(0)
'Loop through the cells.
For Each oCell In Range("A1:D50")
'Test for a value of 5.
If oCell.Value = 5 Then
'Store cell reference in array.
vList(UBound(vList)) = oCell.Address
'Add element to array ready for next item.
ReDim Preserve vList(UBound(vList) + 1)
End If
Next
'Remove empty element from array.
ReDim Preserve vList(UBound(vList) - 1)
End Sub
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Use Excel’s Input Box
Use Excel’s Input Box!
You can use either the generic VBA Input Box function or the Excel Application object's Input Box Method in your Excel macros. The InputBox Method allows for some entry validation using its optional Type argument and is the only one where you can point out of the box to select a range of cells on a worksheet. Invalid data entry into Excel’s Input Box is handled by the Excel application and as most of the work involved in coding Input Boxes is in the validation of the received input it is usually the best choice.
VBA Input Box Function
The generic VBA function does not have any facility for validating the user's input, this has to be done in your code. The result of the function can be directly assigned to a cell but it is usually better assigned to a variable so that it can be effectively evaluated.
Range("A1") = InputBox("Please enter the date.", _
Title:="Current Period", _
Default:=Date)
Excel Input Box Method
You will notice the difference between the two when you enter an invalid input. So long as you have completed the Type argument, Excel will handle any invalid input and you only have to test for the Cancel button in your code. The Cancel button for the Input Box function returns a zero length string whereas the Cancel button for the Input Box method returns FALSE.
Range("A1") = Application.InputBox("Please enter the date.", _
Title:="Current Period", _
Default:=Date, _
Type:=1)
The Type argument specifies the return data type. It can be one or a sum of the values shown in the list below:
0 - Formula
1 - Number
2 - Text
4 - True or False
8 - Cell reference
16 - Error value
64 - An array of values
Only the Excel InputBox Method allows you to point out of the box to return a range reference. In the example, return data type 8 is specified and the input box will accept a range reference either by typing or dragging through the cells.
Sub ExcelInputBoxMethod()
Set MyRange = Application.InputBox( _
Prompt:="Please select a range.", _
Title:="Colour me Red", _
Type:=8)
MyRange.Interior.ColorIndex = 3
End Sub
When you assign a variable value using an Input Box never set the data type before the input has been received and validated. To avoid Type Mismatch errors, declare the variable as Type Variant and then use Type conversion functions after the input has been captured and validated.
In the following example the USD variable has to be of Type Currency. Had the initial declaration been As Currency then the code would produce a Type Mismatch error when the Input Box received invalid data and before the input could be evaluated in the loop:
Sub MisMatchErrors()
Dim USD As Variant
Do
USD = InputBox("Enter the USD rate:")
Loop Until IsNumeric(USD) = True
USD = CCur(USD)
End Sub
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You can use either the generic VBA Input Box function or the Excel Application object's Input Box Method in your Excel macros. The InputBox Method allows for some entry validation using its optional Type argument and is the only one where you can point out of the box to select a range of cells on a worksheet. Invalid data entry into Excel’s Input Box is handled by the Excel application and as most of the work involved in coding Input Boxes is in the validation of the received input it is usually the best choice.
VBA Input Box Function
The generic VBA function does not have any facility for validating the user's input, this has to be done in your code. The result of the function can be directly assigned to a cell but it is usually better assigned to a variable so that it can be effectively evaluated.
Range("A1") = InputBox("Please enter the date.", _
Title:="Current Period", _
Default:=Date)
Excel Input Box Method
You will notice the difference between the two when you enter an invalid input. So long as you have completed the Type argument, Excel will handle any invalid input and you only have to test for the Cancel button in your code. The Cancel button for the Input Box function returns a zero length string whereas the Cancel button for the Input Box method returns FALSE.
Range("A1") = Application.InputBox("Please enter the date.", _
Title:="Current Period", _
Default:=Date, _
Type:=1)
The Type argument specifies the return data type. It can be one or a sum of the values shown in the list below:
0 - Formula
1 - Number
2 - Text
4 - True or False
8 - Cell reference
16 - Error value
64 - An array of values
Only the Excel InputBox Method allows you to point out of the box to return a range reference. In the example, return data type 8 is specified and the input box will accept a range reference either by typing or dragging through the cells.
Sub ExcelInputBoxMethod()
Set MyRange = Application.InputBox( _
Prompt:="Please select a range.", _
Title:="Colour me Red", _
Type:=8)
MyRange.Interior.ColorIndex = 3
End Sub
When you assign a variable value using an Input Box never set the data type before the input has been received and validated. To avoid Type Mismatch errors, declare the variable as Type Variant and then use Type conversion functions after the input has been captured and validated.
In the following example the USD variable has to be of Type Currency. Had the initial declaration been As Currency then the code would produce a Type Mismatch error when the Input Box received invalid data and before the input could be evaluated in the loop:
Sub MisMatchErrors()
Dim USD As Variant
Do
USD = InputBox("Enter the USD rate:")
Loop Until IsNumeric(USD) = True
USD = CCur(USD)
End Sub
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Using Excel Worksheet Functions in Macros
You can use VBA functions in your Excel macros and you can use Excel worksheet functions but you must call them from Excel if the function is not recognised in the VBA language. It is very easy to determine where you need to call the function from Excel.
For example, we wish to use the LEN function to measure the character length of an expression and assign the value to the x variable. LEN is both an Excel worksheet function and a VBA function. As you type the statement into the module you will see that if the function is recognised then it’s syntax diagram will appear, like this:
x=Len(Expression
However, if no prompt appears then you know that the call will fail:
X=Sum(
If the function is exclusively an Excel function then you need to include the Application object reference.
The shortcut is to just access the Application object:
x = Application.Sum( 50, 650, 100)
Excel functions are members of the WorksheetFunction Collection. The full reference will display a list of all the Excel worksheet functions after you type-in the dot operator:
x = Application.WorksheetFunction.Average( y, z)
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For example, we wish to use the LEN function to measure the character length of an expression and assign the value to the x variable. LEN is both an Excel worksheet function and a VBA function. As you type the statement into the module you will see that if the function is recognised then it’s syntax diagram will appear, like this:
x=Len(Expression
However, if no prompt appears then you know that the call will fail:
X=Sum(
If the function is exclusively an Excel function then you need to include the Application object reference.
The shortcut is to just access the Application object:
x = Application.Sum( 50, 650, 100)
Excel functions are members of the WorksheetFunction Collection. The full reference will display a list of all the Excel worksheet functions after you type-in the dot operator:
x = Application.WorksheetFunction.Average( y, z)
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The Excel VBA Format function
If you have not yet discovered the VBA Format function then it is time that you did and then you can ruefully shake your head and mutter, "If only I had known about that six months ago…"
The Format Function will transform any numeric value. Although they differ in detail the fundamental number format codes for Excel and VBA are identical. To find the relevant code values look up Custom Number Formats in Excel Help or the Format function in VBA Help.
Format(Expression, "Format Code")
Here’s a few examples:
To format -5000 to (5,000.00):
Format(-5000, "#,##0.00_);(#,##0.00)")
To format 5,000,000 to 5.0 million:
Format(5000000,"0,,.0 million")
To return the current month number as two digits, i.e. June = 06:
Format(Month(Date), "00")
To return the name of the current month from the current system date:
Format(Month(Date), "MMMM")
To return the day of the week from the current system date:
Format(Date, "DDDD")
To express one number as a percentage of another:
Format(34 / 5000,"0%")
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The Format Function will transform any numeric value. Although they differ in detail the fundamental number format codes for Excel and VBA are identical. To find the relevant code values look up Custom Number Formats in Excel Help or the Format function in VBA Help.
Format(Expression, "Format Code")
Here’s a few examples:
To format -5000 to (5,000.00):
Format(-5000, "#,##0.00_);(#,##0.00)")
To format 5,000,000 to 5.0 million:
Format(5000000,"0,,.0 million")
To return the current month number as two digits, i.e. June = 06:
Format(Month(Date), "00")
To return the name of the current month from the current system date:
Format(Month(Date), "MMMM")
To return the day of the week from the current system date:
Format(Date, "DDDD")
To express one number as a percentage of another:
Format(34 / 5000,"0%")
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Starting a New Line in Excel Macros
You either want to start a new line in your code or you want force a new line in the prompt text in an input box or a message box.
Line Continuation in Macros
Some statements are rather lengthy and difficult to read on one line. Do not press enter to wrap the text; this just produces a syntax error. To continue the same logical line onto the next physical line, introduce a line continuation character into your code. Use the following sequence of keystrokes for a line continuation character; Spacebar, Underscore, Enter. It is a sequence, not a key combination. You can have as many line continuations as you require. Second and subsequent lines can be tabbed.
Statements like this can be rather difficult to read:
ActiveWorksheet.Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible).Select
Statements are much easier to read with line continuation characters:
ActiveWorksheet.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible). _
Select
Starting a New Line in a Message Box or an Input Box
The prompt text in the message does not wrap onto a new line in the box until the character count reaches 160; meanwhile the box just gets wider with the text on one line. Use any one of the following constant values to force a new line:
Chr(10),Chr(13), vbCrLf, vbCr, vbLf
Forcing new lines in the prompt:
MsgBox "Hello Charlie," & vbCrLf & "have a nice day and download our training manual in BVA."
Line Continuation in Macros
Some statements are rather lengthy and difficult to read on one line. Do not press enter to wrap the text; this just produces a syntax error. To continue the same logical line onto the next physical line, introduce a line continuation character into your code. Use the following sequence of keystrokes for a line continuation character; Spacebar, Underscore, Enter. It is a sequence, not a key combination. You can have as many line continuations as you require. Second and subsequent lines can be tabbed.
Statements like this can be rather difficult to read:
ActiveWorksheet.Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible).Select
Statements are much easier to read with line continuation characters:
ActiveWorksheet.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible). _
Select
Starting a New Line in a Message Box or an Input Box
The prompt text in the message does not wrap onto a new line in the box until the character count reaches 160; meanwhile the box just gets wider with the text on one line. Use any one of the following constant values to force a new line:
Chr(10),Chr(13), vbCrLf, vbCr, vbLf
Forcing new lines in the prompt:
MsgBox "Hello Charlie," & vbCrLf & "have a nice day and download our training manual in BVA."
Measuring areas and ranges and lists in Excel VBA macros
In many Excel macros we need to select or measure an area of cells whose dimensions can not be predicted at design time, when you write the code. You have to allow the macro to detect the extent of the data. Here’s a few examples:
Measure the dimensions of the current block of consecutive data:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Columns.Count
Identify the cell coordinates of this range:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Address
Measure the dimensions of the area containing data on a worksheet:
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count
Identify the first used row of the worksheet:
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Row
Identify the last used row of the worksheet:
x = Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeLastCell).Row
Identify the next free row starting from A1:
x = Range("A1").End(xlDown).Row + 1
Identify the first row and column in the block containing the active cell:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Row
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Column
To select the block of cells containing the active cell:
ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Select
Select from cell C3 to the top of the current region:
Range("C3").End(xlUp).Select
Select from cell C3 to the last cell on the right in the current region:
Range("C3").End(xlToRight).Select
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Measure the dimensions of the current block of consecutive data:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Rows.Count
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Columns.Count
Identify the cell coordinates of this range:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Address
Measure the dimensions of the area containing data on a worksheet:
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Rows.Count
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns.Count
Identify the first used row of the worksheet:
x = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Row
Identify the last used row of the worksheet:
x = Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeLastCell).Row
Identify the next free row starting from A1:
x = Range("A1").End(xlDown).Row + 1
Identify the first row and column in the block containing the active cell:
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Row
x = ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Column
To select the block of cells containing the active cell:
ActiveCell.CurrentRegion.Select
Select from cell C3 to the top of the current region:
Range("C3").End(xlUp).Select
Select from cell C3 to the last cell on the right in the current region:
Range("C3").End(xlToRight).Select
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How Easy is Copying in Excel VBA Macro Coding?
Copying data from one location to another is one of the most common activities in Excel macros but the Copy method has a secret that is not always appreciated.
This is an example of a recorded macro. Select a range of cells, copy it to the clipboard, select a destination range and paste from the clipboard. Finally, press the ESC key to clear the clipboard.
Sub RecordedCopyAndPaste()
Range("C4:E11").Select
Selection.Copy
Sheets("Sheet2").Select
Range("D7").Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
End Sub
As usual with recordings, every single action is recorded step-by-step. You can simplify your code quite easily and remove the unnecessary instructions. For example, it is not necessary to make a selection first before the cell data is copied or cut, just refer directly to the cell range:
Range("C4:E11").Copy
Range("C4:E11").Cut
Watch out when pasting, the cell does not have a Paste method, the following instruction will fail:
Range("C4:E11").Paste
Use Paste Special instead, like this:
Range("C4:E11").PasteSpecial.
But the reason why there is no Paste method for a cell is very simple, you do not need one. The Copy method has an optional argument, “Destination” and you can copy and paste all in one instruction. In fact, you copy directly from one cell to another and avoid using the clipboard entirely. Make sure that you get the instruction entered correctly, there is a space after the “y” of “Copy”:
Range("C4:E11").Copy Destination:= Range("G10")
You enter the line without the argument descriptor, like this:
Range("C4:E11").Copy Range("G10")
Use can use square brackets to make the range references if you prefer:
[C4:E11].Copy [G10]
Copy from one worksheet to another, either use full object references or square brackets:
Sheets("Sheets1").Range("C4:E11").Copy Sheets("Sheet2").Range("G10")
or
[Sheet1].[C4:E11].Copy [Sheet2].[G10]
As an alternative to the copy method, you can always use an equals sign to copy information from one cell to another but there is a subtle difference. For example the following statement copies the value that is displayed in cell A1 to cell B1:
[B1] = [A1]
Whereas this statement copies the formula:
[A1].Copy [B1]
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This is an example of a recorded macro. Select a range of cells, copy it to the clipboard, select a destination range and paste from the clipboard. Finally, press the ESC key to clear the clipboard.
Sub RecordedCopyAndPaste()
Range("C4:E11").Select
Selection.Copy
Sheets("Sheet2").Select
Range("D7").Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
End Sub
As usual with recordings, every single action is recorded step-by-step. You can simplify your code quite easily and remove the unnecessary instructions. For example, it is not necessary to make a selection first before the cell data is copied or cut, just refer directly to the cell range:
Range("C4:E11").Copy
Range("C4:E11").Cut
Watch out when pasting, the cell does not have a Paste method, the following instruction will fail:
Range("C4:E11").Paste
Use Paste Special instead, like this:
Range("C4:E11").PasteSpecial.
But the reason why there is no Paste method for a cell is very simple, you do not need one. The Copy method has an optional argument, “Destination” and you can copy and paste all in one instruction. In fact, you copy directly from one cell to another and avoid using the clipboard entirely. Make sure that you get the instruction entered correctly, there is a space after the “y” of “Copy”:
Range("C4:E11").Copy Destination:= Range("G10")
You enter the line without the argument descriptor, like this:
Range("C4:E11").Copy Range("G10")
Use can use square brackets to make the range references if you prefer:
[C4:E11].Copy [G10]
Copy from one worksheet to another, either use full object references or square brackets:
Sheets("Sheets1").Range("C4:E11").Copy Sheets("Sheet2").Range("G10")
or
[Sheet1].[C4:E11].Copy [Sheet2].[G10]
As an alternative to the copy method, you can always use an equals sign to copy information from one cell to another but there is a subtle difference. For example the following statement copies the value that is displayed in cell A1 to cell B1:
[B1] = [A1]
Whereas this statement copies the formula:
[A1].Copy [B1]
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Excel VBA Print Macros
Have you ever recorded the print settings for a macro to print a set of reports? You can see an example recording below. At first glance the process of making the print settings and sending the report to the printer look unbelievably complicated. Do not despair, read on…
Sub Macro1()
Range("C3:E8").Select
ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = "$C$3:$E$8"
With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
.PrintHeadings = False
.PrintGridlines = False
.PrintComments = xlPrintNoComments
.PrintQuality = 600
.CenterHorizontally = False
.CenterVertically = False
.Orientation = xlLandscape
.Draft = False
.PaperSize = xlPaperLetter
.FirstPageNumber = xlAutomatic
.Order = xlDownThenOver
.BlackAndWhite = False
.Zoom = 100
End With
ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut Copies:=1, Collate:=True
End Sub
The Macro Recorder is not selective; it has recorded the state of every control in the Page Setup dialog box. You just need to delete the unnecessary statements and you will see that the code the code for printing macros can be quite dramatically simplified and reduced.
The PrintOut method is all you need for the actual printing part of your macro. As usual the command is “Object.Method”. The object is what you want to print, for example to print a range of cells you give the cell references. There is no need to select the range or set it as the print range first.
This is all you need for printing:
Sub ConcisePrintMacro()
'Print a range of cells.
Range("A1:G250").PrintOut
'Print the used range of the active worksheet.
ActiveSheet.PrintOut
End Sub
The page setup settings refer to the worksheet where the range of cells is located. Here, the object is the worksheet’s page setup settings. For example to set the report to landscape orientation, the instruction is:
ActiveSheet.PageSetup.Orientation=xlLandscape
You have to repeat the object reference for each print setting that you need to make; orientation, headers, footers, print titles etc. Or you can use the “With” keyword to make the reference once and then start each instruction with a dot, as in the example below:
Sub PageSetupSettings()
With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
.CenterFooter = "My Report"
.RightFooter = "by Anon E. Mouse"
.Orientation = xlLandscape
.FitToPagesWide = 1
.FitToPagesTall = 1
End With
Range("A1:G250").PrintOut
End Sub
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Sub Macro1()
Range("C3:E8").Select
ActiveSheet.PageSetup.PrintArea = "$C$3:$E$8"
With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
.PrintHeadings = False
.PrintGridlines = False
.PrintComments = xlPrintNoComments
.PrintQuality = 600
.CenterHorizontally = False
.CenterVertically = False
.Orientation = xlLandscape
.Draft = False
.PaperSize = xlPaperLetter
.FirstPageNumber = xlAutomatic
.Order = xlDownThenOver
.BlackAndWhite = False
.Zoom = 100
End With
ActiveWindow.SelectedSheets.PrintOut Copies:=1, Collate:=True
End Sub
The Macro Recorder is not selective; it has recorded the state of every control in the Page Setup dialog box. You just need to delete the unnecessary statements and you will see that the code the code for printing macros can be quite dramatically simplified and reduced.
The PrintOut method is all you need for the actual printing part of your macro. As usual the command is “Object.Method”. The object is what you want to print, for example to print a range of cells you give the cell references. There is no need to select the range or set it as the print range first.
This is all you need for printing:
Sub ConcisePrintMacro()
'Print a range of cells.
Range("A1:G250").PrintOut
'Print the used range of the active worksheet.
ActiveSheet.PrintOut
End Sub
The page setup settings refer to the worksheet where the range of cells is located. Here, the object is the worksheet’s page setup settings. For example to set the report to landscape orientation, the instruction is:
ActiveSheet.PageSetup.Orientation=xlLandscape
You have to repeat the object reference for each print setting that you need to make; orientation, headers, footers, print titles etc. Or you can use the “With” keyword to make the reference once and then start each instruction with a dot, as in the example below:
Sub PageSetupSettings()
With ActiveSheet.PageSetup
.CenterFooter = "My Report"
.RightFooter = "by Anon E. Mouse"
.Orientation = xlLandscape
.FitToPagesWide = 1
.FitToPagesTall = 1
End With
Range("A1:G250").PrintOut
End Sub
Good luck with your printing. If you want a VBA manual then download Excel VBA Training manual free. If you are a Londoner maybe a Excel VBA course might be the order of the day
Decision making using CHOOSE and SWITCH in Excel VBA
We often have to write decision making statements in our macros and tend to automatically use the If-Then-Else or Select Case keywords and entirely ignore the CHOOSE and SWITCH functions. Although they are not as capable or as flexible as the keywords, they are invaluable when the decision making process is based on substitution or the evaluation of numeric values.
CHOOSE function
Selects and returns a value from a list of arguments:
Choose(index, choice1, choice2, etc.)
Where index is an expression that results in a value between 1 and the number of available choices. Choose returns a value from the list of choices based on the value of index. If index is 1, Choose returns the first choice in the list; if index is 2, it returns the second choice, and so on. If index is not a whole number, it is rounded to the nearest whole number before being evaluated.
Example:
The message box displays the second item in the list, namely “Dick”:
Sub Main()
x = 2
y = Choose(x, "Tom", "Dick", "Harry")
MsgBox y
End Sub
Switch Function
Evaluates a list of pairs of expressions and values and returns the value associated with the first expression in the list that is True.
Switch(expr1, value1, expr2, value2, etc.)
The expressions are evaluated from left to right but can be entered in any order.
Example:
The message box displays "STG", the value associated with the x="UK" expression:
Sub Main()
x = "UK"
y = Switch(x = "UK", "STG", x = "USA", "USD", x = "DEN", "DKK")
MsgBox y
End Sub
In the last example, we are going to do exactly the same decision making process in four entirely different ways. How would you do it?
An organisation has a financial year that starts in April and we need to take the current calendar month value and convert it to the current accounting month value; April is 1, May is 2 etc. The x variable stores the current month as returned by the Month and Date functions and we are required to calculate the value of the corresponding MonthNo variable:
x = Month(Date)
Logical decision making using the If-Then-Else keywords. If the date is 4 or more; deduct 3, otherwise add 9.
If x >= 4 Then
MonthNo = x - 3
Else
MonthNo = x + 9
End If
Case statements. When the date is from 4 to 12, deduct 3. When it is from 1 to 3, add 9.
Select Case x
Case 4 To 12
MonthNo = x - 3
Case 1 To 3
MonthNo = x + 9
End Select
Pick the value from the list, using the CHOOSE function.
MonthNo = Choose(x, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Match the pair in the list, using the SWITCH function.
MonthNo = Switch(x = 1, 10, x = 2, 11, x = 3, 12, x = 4, 1, _
x = 5, 2, x = 6, 3, x = 7, 4, x = 8, 5, x = 9, 6, _
x = 10, 7, x = 11, 8, x = 12, 9)
If you live anywhere but London download our VBA Training Course manual gratis othwewise consider one of our VBA Excel Classes
CHOOSE function
Selects and returns a value from a list of arguments:
Choose(index, choice1, choice2, etc.)
Where index is an expression that results in a value between 1 and the number of available choices. Choose returns a value from the list of choices based on the value of index. If index is 1, Choose returns the first choice in the list; if index is 2, it returns the second choice, and so on. If index is not a whole number, it is rounded to the nearest whole number before being evaluated.
Example:
The message box displays the second item in the list, namely “Dick”:
Sub Main()
x = 2
y = Choose(x, "Tom", "Dick", "Harry")
MsgBox y
End Sub
Switch Function
Evaluates a list of pairs of expressions and values and returns the value associated with the first expression in the list that is True.
Switch(expr1, value1, expr2, value2, etc.)
The expressions are evaluated from left to right but can be entered in any order.
Example:
The message box displays "STG", the value associated with the x="UK" expression:
Sub Main()
x = "UK"
y = Switch(x = "UK", "STG", x = "USA", "USD", x = "DEN", "DKK")
MsgBox y
End Sub
In the last example, we are going to do exactly the same decision making process in four entirely different ways. How would you do it?
An organisation has a financial year that starts in April and we need to take the current calendar month value and convert it to the current accounting month value; April is 1, May is 2 etc. The x variable stores the current month as returned by the Month and Date functions and we are required to calculate the value of the corresponding MonthNo variable:
x = Month(Date)
Logical decision making using the If-Then-Else keywords. If the date is 4 or more; deduct 3, otherwise add 9.
If x >= 4 Then
MonthNo = x - 3
Else
MonthNo = x + 9
End If
Case statements. When the date is from 4 to 12, deduct 3. When it is from 1 to 3, add 9.
Select Case x
Case 4 To 12
MonthNo = x - 3
Case 1 To 3
MonthNo = x + 9
End Select
Pick the value from the list, using the CHOOSE function.
MonthNo = Choose(x, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Match the pair in the list, using the SWITCH function.
MonthNo = Switch(x = 1, 10, x = 2, 11, x = 3, 12, x = 4, 1, _
x = 5, 2, x = 6, 3, x = 7, 4, x = 8, 5, x = 9, 6, _
x = 10, 7, x = 11, 8, x = 12, 9)
If you live anywhere but London download our VBA Training Course manual gratis othwewise consider one of our VBA Excel Classes
Monday, July 20, 2009
A very British Crisis: Chaotic Response to Swine Flu
Alarming figures are emerging suggesting that Britain would lose 7% of its GDP directly and indirectly from fallout from Swine flu.
I can well believe it. For example the airlines stop passengers getting on planes if they suspect a passenger may be displaying symptoms of the virus. They suggest that passengers will only be able to fly if they get a fitness to fly certificate from their doctor. Their doctor of course refuse to see suspected virus carriers face to face and even if they could the certificate could not really be deemed to be valid once the patient had left the surgery. To add insult to injury the British Association of Insurers will only pass out on flights on the confirmation of a diagnosis.
The UK government has already given up the attempt to contain the virus but the way organizations are responding is chaotic. If a school with 900 pupils closes because of a single case circa 1800 parents have got a child care problem. If the pandemic has 18 months to run and every organization is left to their own devices the economy will be severely damaged.
If a building in Docklands of 9000 staff has an outbreak of Swine Flu can the building manager close the building for a week? On decision such as this and interpretations of close contact the health of the economy will be determined.
What the effect on Microsoft IT Training will be you can easily imagine. Three members of staff are off work so the others cannot attend their course and the client wishes to reschedule. Time of course for a training company is a perishable commodity and just moving the course does not pay the bills
Mouse Training
I can well believe it. For example the airlines stop passengers getting on planes if they suspect a passenger may be displaying symptoms of the virus. They suggest that passengers will only be able to fly if they get a fitness to fly certificate from their doctor. Their doctor of course refuse to see suspected virus carriers face to face and even if they could the certificate could not really be deemed to be valid once the patient had left the surgery. To add insult to injury the British Association of Insurers will only pass out on flights on the confirmation of a diagnosis.
The UK government has already given up the attempt to contain the virus but the way organizations are responding is chaotic. If a school with 900 pupils closes because of a single case circa 1800 parents have got a child care problem. If the pandemic has 18 months to run and every organization is left to their own devices the economy will be severely damaged.
If a building in Docklands of 9000 staff has an outbreak of Swine Flu can the building manager close the building for a week? On decision such as this and interpretations of close contact the health of the economy will be determined.
What the effect on Microsoft IT Training will be you can easily imagine. Three members of staff are off work so the others cannot attend their course and the client wishes to reschedule. Time of course for a training company is a perishable commodity and just moving the course does not pay the bills
Mouse Training
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Using Visio Layers
Create a file and name it Circlesdraw and colour a RED, GREENa and AMBER circle.
Choose View layer properties and create 4 separate layers called RED, GREEN, AMBER and ALL respectively and Choose OK.
Choose View Tool bar and Format Shape. (Makes shape toolbar visible.
To assign the circles select the green circle and then apply to the Green layer from the Shapes Toolbar dropdown. Repeat for each of the colours and then select all three to apply to All.
Go back to Choose View layer properties and untick the Visible Option for RED and GREEN leaving only AMBER visible
If you want the full free training manual for Ms Visio then download from the Mouse site
Choose View layer properties and create 4 separate layers called RED, GREEN, AMBER and ALL respectively and Choose OK.
Choose View Tool bar and Format Shape. (Makes shape toolbar visible.
To assign the circles select the green circle and then apply to the Green layer from the Shapes Toolbar dropdown. Repeat for each of the colours and then select all three to apply to All.
Go back to Choose View layer properties and untick the Visible Option for RED and GREEN leaving only AMBER visible
If you want the full free training manual for Ms Visio then download from the Mouse site
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Why would I book a one to one IT Training Course?
Why would I book a one to one IT Training Course?
Feel free to adapt our 1 to 1 IT training Policy to your own companies requirement. If we have missed anything out please comment so we can improve the resource
The fact is there are numerous public scheduled courses out there on which you could book yourself a place. You attend a class of a mixed group of people, (possibly) from all walks of life which can be fun, of course.
Let’s say you book yourself onto an intro level Excel course. You have used the application before but know that there are gaps in your knowledge and don’t feel you’d quite manage the intermediate level yet although you are a fast learner. Your class starts and you realise that there is quite a varying degree of levels of ability amongst the 8-10 or so candidates in your group, many of whom don’t seem to have used the application much before at all.
Usually, quite a patient person, you find that you are covering ground that you already know, the pace of the class seemingly being determined by the slowest of the bunch…and you’re glancing at your watch wondering how much time is going to be left to attack the meatier bits that you require so badly.
1-1 training is individualised. It is tailored to your specific requirements so obviously eradicates any waste in your training day.
Before your course, you would have completed a training needs analysis form which gives you and your trainer a starting point. From there, the material and pace at which you cover it is all determined by you. There is no limit to how bespoke your day might be, too. Many of our clients choose to take elements from different Microsoft applications and customise the day, optimising their time with the trainer (All our trainers teach MS applications to all levels). As you are the only pupil in your class, you can go ahead and get creative to your hearts desire! The trainer will give you guidance prior to the course to ensure that your mix of topics and required levels of competence are possible within the allocated time.
We charge £450 (excl VAT) per day for all our 1-1 training and whatever application or level, the rate remains the same.
We have a no-quibble policy. You don’t pay before the course takes place and if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received, you don’t pay.
Moreover we will offer to run the course for you again (free of charge) if this is acceptable to you.
Your 1-1 training will all be about teamwork and we will require some ‘pre-course’ work from you too. Anything you can send us in advance to help us to tailor your course will only enhance your learning experience. Perhaps you have samples of the types of Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint templates you use in the workplace? Forward these ahead of the course if you can, or even bring them with you on the day. If you want to chat about your required learning outcomes, our trainers are more than happy to phone you and discuss tailoring.
Our trainers will always give you professional sound advice that stems from concern for the best learning outcome rather than simply taking the easy option – always saying yes to the client. If a client suggests a programme that we feel is not suitable, we will be honest and suggest something more workable, still as close as possible of course to your original idea. Ultimately, you will make the final decisions but we will do everything to make sure you get your money’s worth whether you like it or not!
Where would you like to be trained?
If you would prefer to get away from the office, you’re welcome to come to our fully equipped centre in London, a truly relaxed environment to train in.
Or if you would prefer, we can send a trainer to you for exactly the same price if you are within the London area (outside this area, travel costs and sometimes accommodation costs incur).
It is not necessary for you to have a fully equipped training room at your disposal. A quite area/room will do nicely.
The trainer can bring a laptop with them if required or if work commitments demand, the two of you could sit alongside each other at your pc. The choice really is yours.
After your course, we don’t just forget about you.
You are free to contact us at any time if you are having problems with an application, and a trainer will be happy to assist. If there is no trainer on duty at the centre when you phone/email, someone will get back to you asap.
Just as public scheduled courses aren’t for everyone, our 1-1 training will not be for everyone either. It certainly won’t be for you if you don’t like the idea of a enthusiastic trainer focusing their attention 100% on you all day and pushing you to develop your ability as much as possible in the time allowed.
Feel free to adapt our 1 to 1 IT training Policy to your own companies requirement. If we have missed anything out please comment so we can improve the resource
The fact is there are numerous public scheduled courses out there on which you could book yourself a place. You attend a class of a mixed group of people, (possibly) from all walks of life which can be fun, of course.
Let’s say you book yourself onto an intro level Excel course. You have used the application before but know that there are gaps in your knowledge and don’t feel you’d quite manage the intermediate level yet although you are a fast learner. Your class starts and you realise that there is quite a varying degree of levels of ability amongst the 8-10 or so candidates in your group, many of whom don’t seem to have used the application much before at all.
Usually, quite a patient person, you find that you are covering ground that you already know, the pace of the class seemingly being determined by the slowest of the bunch…and you’re glancing at your watch wondering how much time is going to be left to attack the meatier bits that you require so badly.
1-1 training is individualised. It is tailored to your specific requirements so obviously eradicates any waste in your training day.
Before your course, you would have completed a training needs analysis form which gives you and your trainer a starting point. From there, the material and pace at which you cover it is all determined by you. There is no limit to how bespoke your day might be, too. Many of our clients choose to take elements from different Microsoft applications and customise the day, optimising their time with the trainer (All our trainers teach MS applications to all levels). As you are the only pupil in your class, you can go ahead and get creative to your hearts desire! The trainer will give you guidance prior to the course to ensure that your mix of topics and required levels of competence are possible within the allocated time.
We charge £450 (excl VAT) per day for all our 1-1 training and whatever application or level, the rate remains the same.
We have a no-quibble policy. You don’t pay before the course takes place and if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received, you don’t pay.
Moreover we will offer to run the course for you again (free of charge) if this is acceptable to you.
Your 1-1 training will all be about teamwork and we will require some ‘pre-course’ work from you too. Anything you can send us in advance to help us to tailor your course will only enhance your learning experience. Perhaps you have samples of the types of Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint templates you use in the workplace? Forward these ahead of the course if you can, or even bring them with you on the day. If you want to chat about your required learning outcomes, our trainers are more than happy to phone you and discuss tailoring.
Our trainers will always give you professional sound advice that stems from concern for the best learning outcome rather than simply taking the easy option – always saying yes to the client. If a client suggests a programme that we feel is not suitable, we will be honest and suggest something more workable, still as close as possible of course to your original idea. Ultimately, you will make the final decisions but we will do everything to make sure you get your money’s worth whether you like it or not!
Where would you like to be trained?
If you would prefer to get away from the office, you’re welcome to come to our fully equipped centre in London, a truly relaxed environment to train in.
Or if you would prefer, we can send a trainer to you for exactly the same price if you are within the London area (outside this area, travel costs and sometimes accommodation costs incur).
It is not necessary for you to have a fully equipped training room at your disposal. A quite area/room will do nicely.
The trainer can bring a laptop with them if required or if work commitments demand, the two of you could sit alongside each other at your pc. The choice really is yours.
After your course, we don’t just forget about you.
You are free to contact us at any time if you are having problems with an application, and a trainer will be happy to assist. If there is no trainer on duty at the centre when you phone/email, someone will get back to you asap.
Just as public scheduled courses aren’t for everyone, our 1-1 training will not be for everyone either. It certainly won’t be for you if you don’t like the idea of a enthusiastic trainer focusing their attention 100% on you all day and pushing you to develop your ability as much as possible in the time allowed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Using and Understanding the PowerPoint SlideMaster
MS Powerpoint ships with a special type of slide called slide master. The slide master controls certain text characteristics such as font size and color as well as background color styles associated with bullet points. The slide master stores design template blue prints- including place holders sizes and position, font styles and sizes and background color for slides intended toshare this slide layout. The default design template comprises of a plain slide called the slide master. All slides in a presentation are created using the fonts, colors and graphic specification built into the slide master. The only exception is the title slide which uses the title master normally a template for just the first slide if invoked.
Each new slide added to your presentation inherits these design aspects.
Additional, preset design templates are available with MS PowerPoint. To invoke global changes to your slides, the user should aim to edit the underlying slide master rather than each individual slide.
Each MS PowerPoint template comprises of a Slide Master. The Slide Master manages the overall formatting and object positioning for the entire presentation.
Changes to each slide do not have to be made one by one but can be globally updated on the Slide Master and applied on every slide. Company logos added on the Slide Master appear on every slide. The Slide Master, ensures that your presentation has a uniform look and feel. For a full instruction manual for any version of Powerpoint download the free POwerPoint Training manual
Each new slide added to your presentation inherits these design aspects.
Additional, preset design templates are available with MS PowerPoint. To invoke global changes to your slides, the user should aim to edit the underlying slide master rather than each individual slide.
Each MS PowerPoint template comprises of a Slide Master. The Slide Master manages the overall formatting and object positioning for the entire presentation.
Changes to each slide do not have to be made one by one but can be globally updated on the Slide Master and applied on every slide. Company logos added on the Slide Master appear on every slide. The Slide Master, ensures that your presentation has a uniform look and feel. For a full instruction manual for any version of Powerpoint download the free POwerPoint Training manual
Examples of SUMIF in MS Excel
A very useful Excel function that uses Conditional Logic is SUMIF. This function counts cells containing values that meet or pass a condition. For example, keep a count of how many employees earn enough money to be defined as rich.
To get you started with this function let’s enter the following salary information to B2:B21. Enter 12000 in b2 and 18000 in B3. If you fill the rest of the cells the last salary will be 126000.
You can now use the SUMIF function to see the total salary bill of employees earning more than 50000.
The structure of the SUMIF function is structured as follows
=SUMIF(range, criteria)
The function takes two arguments (the words in the round brackets). The first argument is the range of cells you want Excel to count. Criteria means, "What do you want Excel to calculate for when it's adding the range?".
So select cell B22 and enter the following formula:
=SUMIF(b2:b21, ">=50000")
The cells B2 to B21 contain the salary figures for employees but only 1170000of them earn above 50000.
One variation on this function is to replace the criteria which contains a string argument with a cell address. In B23 type in >90000 and edit the SUMIF cacluation to the following syntax
=SUMIF(b2:b21,B23)
Note there is no quotations required for the criteria and the new answer is 666000 as the total salary bill.
Now add in colum C information Admin, Manager and Director to C2, C3, C4 respectively and copy down to C22. Edit the calculation as below which gives you the option of SUMIF with a indirect criteria.
=SUMIF(C2:C21,"admin",B2:B22)
The New answer is 462000.
For more on this SUMIF Function try our free Excel training manual
To get you started with this function let’s enter the following salary information to B2:B21. Enter 12000 in b2 and 18000 in B3. If you fill the rest of the cells the last salary will be 126000.
You can now use the SUMIF function to see the total salary bill of employees earning more than 50000.
The structure of the SUMIF function is structured as follows
=SUMIF(range, criteria)
The function takes two arguments (the words in the round brackets). The first argument is the range of cells you want Excel to count. Criteria means, "What do you want Excel to calculate for when it's adding the range?".
So select cell B22 and enter the following formula:
=SUMIF(b2:b21, ">=50000")
The cells B2 to B21 contain the salary figures for employees but only 1170000of them earn above 50000.
One variation on this function is to replace the criteria which contains a string argument with a cell address. In B23 type in >90000 and edit the SUMIF cacluation to the following syntax
=SUMIF(b2:b21,B23)
Note there is no quotations required for the criteria and the new answer is 666000 as the total salary bill.
Now add in colum C information Admin, Manager and Director to C2, C3, C4 respectively and copy down to C22. Edit the calculation as below which gives you the option of SUMIF with a indirect criteria.
=SUMIF(C2:C21,"admin",B2:B22)
The New answer is 462000.
For more on this SUMIF Function try our free Excel training manual
Examples of Applying CountIF in Excel
A very useful Excel function that uses Conditional Logic is CountIF. This function counts cells containing values that meet or pass a condition. For example, keep a count of how many employees earn enough money to be defined as rich.
To get you started with this function let’s enter the following salary information to B2:B21. Enter 12000 in b2 and 18000 in B3. If you fill the rest of the cells the last salary will be 126000.
You can now use the CountIF function to see how many of the employees earn more than 50000.
The elements of the CountIF function is structured as follows
=COUNTIF(range, criteria)
The function takes two arguments (the words in the round brackets). The first argument is the range of cells you want Excel to count. Criteria means, "What do you want Excel to calculate for when it's counting?".
So select cell B22 and enter the following formula:
=COUNTIF(b2:b21, ">=50000")
The cells B2 to B21 contain the salary figures for employees but only 13 of them earn above 50000.
One variation on this function is to replace the criteria which contains a string argument with a cell address. In B23 type in >90000 and edit the SUMIF cacluation to the following syntax
=COUNTIF(b2:b21,B23)
Note there is no quotations required for the criteria and the new answer is 7 people earning more than 50000. If you want more on the COUNTIF and similar calculations download our training manual for free at Mouse Excel Training manuals
MouseMan
To get you started with this function let’s enter the following salary information to B2:B21. Enter 12000 in b2 and 18000 in B3. If you fill the rest of the cells the last salary will be 126000.
You can now use the CountIF function to see how many of the employees earn more than 50000.
The elements of the CountIF function is structured as follows
=COUNTIF(range, criteria)
The function takes two arguments (the words in the round brackets). The first argument is the range of cells you want Excel to count. Criteria means, "What do you want Excel to calculate for when it's counting?".
So select cell B22 and enter the following formula:
=COUNTIF(b2:b21, ">=50000")
The cells B2 to B21 contain the salary figures for employees but only 13 of them earn above 50000.
One variation on this function is to replace the criteria which contains a string argument with a cell address. In B23 type in >90000 and edit the SUMIF cacluation to the following syntax
=COUNTIF(b2:b21,B23)
Note there is no quotations required for the criteria and the new answer is 7 people earning more than 50000. If you want more on the COUNTIF and similar calculations download our training manual for free at Mouse Excel Training manuals
MouseMan
Monday, July 13, 2009
Organising a IT training event
If you are planning to organise an IT training event for a large number of delegates, here are some ideas of things to help…..Its a bit like baking a cake, if you have all the right ingredients, in the right quantities and you mix them up in the right order with the right timing……you will end up with a wonderful fluffy cake. However there are always ‘exceptions to the rule’
Be prepared, planning the day prior to the event is always a good idea, then you will have a frame plan to work too.
1 location
2 reception of delegates
3 rooms
4 trainers
5 computers
6 projectors, white boards, marker pens etc……
7 course content
8 course timing
9 What could fail or go wrong
No matter how well you plan the day, stuff will go wrong.
Things going wrong are not necessarily bad things, if you have looked into your crystal ball and predicted what might go wrong when you planned the event, then you are armed to deal with the problems as they arise.
Luck is also useful sometimes, so make sure you bring some along with you just in case.
Be prepared, planning the day prior to the event is always a good idea, then you will have a frame plan to work too.
1 location
2 reception of delegates
3 rooms
4 trainers
5 computers
6 projectors, white boards, marker pens etc……
7 course content
8 course timing
9 What could fail or go wrong
No matter how well you plan the day, stuff will go wrong.
Things going wrong are not necessarily bad things, if you have looked into your crystal ball and predicted what might go wrong when you planned the event, then you are armed to deal with the problems as they arise.
Luck is also useful sometimes, so make sure you bring some along with you just in case.
Friday, July 10, 2009
How to make Pivot Tables Refresh Automatically
Excel Pivot Tables do not automatically update when the source data is changed, they have to be refreshed. To make your Pivot Tables refresh automatically you need a macro to do the refreshing and an Event to trigger the macro. This seems quite an involved process the first time that you do it but it gets easier, it is mainly just copying from one workspace to another.
Recording the Macro
You have to record a macro and then copy the recorded code from the macro into one of the worksheet’s events. Firstly, the recording: Select a cell in your Pivot Table and then choose Tools, Macro, Record New Macro from the menu. Just make sure that the Store macro in: setting is This Workbook and click the OK button.
Now you have to record your refreshing the Pivot Table, so choose the Data menu and select Refresh Data. The recording is completed and you can turn off the Macro Recorder by choosing Tools, Macro, Stop Recording. The next job is to find the recorded code and copy the instruction that refreshes the Pivot Table. Choose Tools, Macro, Macros and select the recorded macro from the list and then click the Edit button on the right hand side. You will now see the Visual Basic Editor displayed and you can view the recorded procedure, which should look something like this:
Sub Macro1()
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded by Anon E. Mouse
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Copy the line of code that refreshes the table, it should be obvious which one you need. Do not copy anything else. Now, return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11.
Using an Event to trigger the Macro
Next, you need to find the Event code shells for the worksheet where your Pivot table is located. Right-click the worksheet tab for the relevant worksheet and choose View Code from the shortcut menu. You are returned to the Visual Basic Editor once again. Looking at the active window you will see two drop-down lists at the top of the window.
The drop-down list on the left hand side is the Object list, the one on the right hand side is the Procedure list. Drop the Object list and select the Worksheet object, then choose a suitable event from the Procedure list. The Activate event is probably the most suitable for our purposes. Paste your recording into the procedure so that it looks like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
The Activate event is triggered whenever you make the worksheet active, so in order to test that the procedure is working correctly you need to perform the event. Return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11, select another worksheet in the workbook and then select the original worksheet where the Pivot Tables are stored. This triggers the event and you will see that the tables are automatically refreshed. Of course, you do not have to make the initial macro recording every time that you need to do this, all you need is the code for the Refresh method so you can type it in or paste it from a previous recording. But, be careful, each Pivot Table needs to be correctly described using its Name Property; this is the text value inside the brackets. In the example below the name of the Pivot Table is "PivotTable1"
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
To find out the name of a specific Pivot Table, right-click one of its cells and choose Table Options from the short cut menu. The name is shown in the top left corner of the dialog. It is quite in order to list the Pivot Tables if you have more than one which needs refreshing in which case the procedure would be like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Although it would be easier to have a looping procedure so that you can avoid having to look up the name of each individual Pivot Table:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each pt In ActiveSheet.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next
End Sub
Pivot Tables are contained by each individual worksheet so if you want to have a procedure which will refresh every Pivot Table on every worksheet in the entire workbook then you will need an outer loop for the worksheets and an inner loop to refresh the pivot tables. The code would be as follows:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each ws In Worksheets
For Each pt In ws.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next pt
Next ws
End Sub
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Recording the Macro
You have to record a macro and then copy the recorded code from the macro into one of the worksheet’s events. Firstly, the recording: Select a cell in your Pivot Table and then choose Tools, Macro, Record New Macro from the menu. Just make sure that the Store macro in: setting is This Workbook and click the OK button.
Now you have to record your refreshing the Pivot Table, so choose the Data menu and select Refresh Data. The recording is completed and you can turn off the Macro Recorder by choosing Tools, Macro, Stop Recording. The next job is to find the recorded code and copy the instruction that refreshes the Pivot Table. Choose Tools, Macro, Macros and select the recorded macro from the list and then click the Edit button on the right hand side. You will now see the Visual Basic Editor displayed and you can view the recorded procedure, which should look something like this:
Sub Macro1()
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded by Anon E. Mouse
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Copy the line of code that refreshes the table, it should be obvious which one you need. Do not copy anything else. Now, return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11.
Using an Event to trigger the Macro
Next, you need to find the Event code shells for the worksheet where your Pivot table is located. Right-click the worksheet tab for the relevant worksheet and choose View Code from the shortcut menu. You are returned to the Visual Basic Editor once again. Looking at the active window you will see two drop-down lists at the top of the window.
The drop-down list on the left hand side is the Object list, the one on the right hand side is the Procedure list. Drop the Object list and select the Worksheet object, then choose a suitable event from the Procedure list. The Activate event is probably the most suitable for our purposes. Paste your recording into the procedure so that it looks like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
The Activate event is triggered whenever you make the worksheet active, so in order to test that the procedure is working correctly you need to perform the event. Return to the Excel worksheet workspace by clicking an Excel icon or by pressing ALT-F11, select another worksheet in the workbook and then select the original worksheet where the Pivot Tables are stored. This triggers the event and you will see that the tables are automatically refreshed. Of course, you do not have to make the initial macro recording every time that you need to do this, all you need is the code for the Refresh method so you can type it in or paste it from a previous recording. But, be careful, each Pivot Table needs to be correctly described using its Name Property; this is the text value inside the brackets. In the example below the name of the Pivot Table is "PivotTable1"
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
To find out the name of a specific Pivot Table, right-click one of its cells and choose Table Options from the short cut menu. The name is shown in the top left corner of the dialog. It is quite in order to list the Pivot Tables if you have more than one which needs refreshing in which case the procedure would be like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable1").PivotCache.Refresh
ActiveSheet.PivotTables("PivotTable2").PivotCache.Refresh
End Sub
Although it would be easier to have a looping procedure so that you can avoid having to look up the name of each individual Pivot Table:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each pt In ActiveSheet.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next
End Sub
Pivot Tables are contained by each individual worksheet so if you want to have a procedure which will refresh every Pivot Table on every worksheet in the entire workbook then you will need an outer loop for the worksheets and an inner loop to refresh the pivot tables. The code would be as follows:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim pt As PivotTable
For Each ws In Worksheets
For Each pt In ws.PivotTables
pt.PivotCache.Refresh
Next pt
Next ws
End Sub
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Shift Time Macro Function
Excel time values only function within the 24 hour day; if you start work at 19:00 hours and end at 23:00 hours then Excel will calculate the elapsed time as 4 hours. Should you work beyond midnight, then the same calculation will produce a negative value as you would have stopped working at a time that was a lesser value than your starting time. The following function accepts any starting or ending time and calculates the actual elapsed time in hours.
Function macros are small programs that perform specialised calculations in Excel formulas. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then use it in a formula it. See below for detailed instructions.
Function SHIFTIME(Start_Time As Date, End_Time As Date)
'Accepts : Working shift start and end times.
'Returns : Number of hours worked as a decimal value.
If End_Time >= Start_Time Then
'Day Shift.
SHIFTIME = DateDiff("n", Start_Time, End_Time)
Else
'Night Shift; time to midnight plus time from midnight.
SHIFTIME = _
DateDiff("n", Start_Time, 1) + DateDiff("n", 0, End_Time)
End If
SHIFTIME = SHIFTIME / 60
End Function
How to Copy and Use this Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Function and the line at the end, End Function) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and select the cell where you want to enter your
formula. Choose Insert, Function then go to the User-Defined category and choose the SHIFTIME function from the list. Fill-in the Start_Time and End_Time arguments with the relevant cell references on your worksheet.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Function macros are small programs that perform specialised calculations in Excel formulas. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then use it in a formula it. See below for detailed instructions.
Function SHIFTIME(Start_Time As Date, End_Time As Date)
'Accepts : Working shift start and end times.
'Returns : Number of hours worked as a decimal value.
If End_Time >= Start_Time Then
'Day Shift.
SHIFTIME = DateDiff("n", Start_Time, End_Time)
Else
'Night Shift; time to midnight plus time from midnight.
SHIFTIME = _
DateDiff("n", Start_Time, 1) + DateDiff("n", 0, End_Time)
End If
SHIFTIME = SHIFTIME / 60
End Function
How to Copy and Use this Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Function and the line at the end, End Function) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and select the cell where you want to enter your
formula. Choose Insert, Function then go to the User-Defined category and choose the SHIFTIME function from the list. Fill-in the Start_Time and End_Time arguments with the relevant cell references on your worksheet.
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Deleting All the Names in a Excel Workbook Macro
Some workbooks seem to have hundreds of Names, where did they all come from? Delete them all in a few seconds.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ClearAllNamesInWorkbook()
Dim Name As Name
For Each Name In ActiveWorkbook.Names
Name.Delete
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ClearAllNamesInWorkbook()
Dim Name As Name
For Each Name In ActiveWorkbook.Names
Name.Delete
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Divos to Zeros Macro
It is so irritating when simple formulas return division by zero errors (#DIV/0!) and you have to spend ages changing simple formulas to complex conditional formulas to force a zero value into the cell instead of an error.
Try this macro; you select the cells containing the formulas and the macro wraps a conditional structure around the original formula. For example, if the original formula in the cell was =A1/B1, after the macro has been run the formula will be as follows, =IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),0,A1/B1)
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ForceToZero()
Dim rngSelected As Range
Dim rngFormulas As Range
Dim Cell As Range
Dim strPrompt As String
Dim strFormula As String
On Error Resume Next
'Select the cells to process.
strPrompt = "Select the cells to convert."
Set rngSelected = _
Application.InputBox(strPrompt, "Force Zeros", , , , , , 8)
'Just the formula cells.
Set rngFormulas = rngSelected. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas, 23)
'Loop.
For Each Cell In rngFormulas
'Remove the equals sign.
strFormula = Mid(Cell.Formula, 2)
'Write the new formula.
Cell.Formula = "=IF(ISERROR(" & strFormula & _
"),0," & strFormula & ")"
strFormula = ""
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Try this macro; you select the cells containing the formulas and the macro wraps a conditional structure around the original formula. For example, if the original formula in the cell was =A1/B1, after the macro has been run the formula will be as follows, =IF(ISERROR(A1/B1),0,A1/B1)
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ForceToZero()
Dim rngSelected As Range
Dim rngFormulas As Range
Dim Cell As Range
Dim strPrompt As String
Dim strFormula As String
On Error Resume Next
'Select the cells to process.
strPrompt = "Select the cells to convert."
Set rngSelected = _
Application.InputBox(strPrompt, "Force Zeros", , , , , , 8)
'Just the formula cells.
Set rngFormulas = rngSelected. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas, 23)
'Loop.
For Each Cell In rngFormulas
'Remove the equals sign.
strFormula = Mid(Cell.Formula, 2)
'Write the new formula.
Cell.Formula = "=IF(ISERROR(" & strFormula & _
"),0," & strFormula & ")"
strFormula = ""
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Reversing the Date Evaluation Macro
Sometimes you import data where the MM-DD date convention has been used and when the data arrives in Excel all the dates are corrupted as they are written as DD-MM dates. This macro prompts you to select a range of cells and then converts the date evaluation from MM-DD convention to DD-MM convention and vice-versa. The conversion is effected only where Excel can perform the re-evaluation.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub DateDDMMSwitcher()
Dim rngCells As Range
Dim rngCell As Range
Dim strMsg As String
Dim intDay As Integer
Dim intMonth As Integer
Dim intYear As Integer
Dim DateValue As Date
On Error Resume Next
strMsg = "Select the cells to convert:" & _
vbCr & vbCr & "Reverses Month and Day date evaluation," _
& vbCr & "i.e. MM-DD becomes DD-MM if possible."
'Receive the input.
Set rngCells = Application.InputBox(strMsg, _
"Date Converter",,,,,,8)
'Test for no input received.
If Not IsObject(rngCells) Or rngCells Is Nothing Then
GoTo Exit_DateDDMMSwitcher
End If
'Loop.
For Each rngCell In rngCells
If IsDate(rngCell) Then
intDay = Day(rngCell)
intMonth = Month(rngCell)
intYear = Year(rngCell)
DateValue = intMonth & "/" & intDay & "/" & intYear
rngCell.Value = DateValue
End If
Next
Exit_DateDDMMSwitcher:
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub DateDDMMSwitcher()
Dim rngCells As Range
Dim rngCell As Range
Dim strMsg As String
Dim intDay As Integer
Dim intMonth As Integer
Dim intYear As Integer
Dim DateValue As Date
On Error Resume Next
strMsg = "Select the cells to convert:" & _
vbCr & vbCr & "Reverses Month and Day date evaluation," _
& vbCr & "i.e. MM-DD becomes DD-MM if possible."
'Receive the input.
Set rngCells = Application.InputBox(strMsg, _
"Date Converter",,,,,,8)
'Test for no input received.
If Not IsObject(rngCells) Or rngCells Is Nothing Then
GoTo Exit_DateDDMMSwitcher
End If
'Loop.
For Each rngCell In rngCells
If IsDate(rngCell) Then
intDay = Day(rngCell)
intMonth = Month(rngCell)
intYear = Year(rngCell)
DateValue = intMonth & "/" & intDay & "/" & intYear
rngCell.Value = DateValue
End If
Next
Exit_DateDDMMSwitcher:
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Replacing Formulas with Values Macro
Reducing all the formulas in a workbook to constants usually involves a long and tedious series of Copy and Paste Special, Values instructions. This macro processes the entire workbook in a few seconds. NB This version does not process array formulas, they remain untouched.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub FormulasToConstants()
Dim wksWorksheet As Worksheet
Dim rngFormulas As Range
Dim rngCell As Range
Const ALL_FORMULAS As Integer = 23
On Error Resume Next
'Outer loop; worksheets in workbook.
For Each wksWorksheet In Worksheets
'Inner loop; formula cells on worksheet.
Set rngFormulas = wksWorksheet.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas, ALL_FORMULAS)
For Each rngCell In rngFormulas
'Reduce cell entry to a constant.
rngCell.Value = rngCell.Value
Next rngCell
Set rngFormulas = Nothing
Next wksWorksheet
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub FormulasToConstants()
Dim wksWorksheet As Worksheet
Dim rngFormulas As Range
Dim rngCell As Range
Const ALL_FORMULAS As Integer = 23
On Error Resume Next
'Outer loop; worksheets in workbook.
For Each wksWorksheet In Worksheets
'Inner loop; formula cells on worksheet.
Set rngFormulas = wksWorksheet.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas, ALL_FORMULAS)
For Each rngCell In rngFormulas
'Reduce cell entry to a constant.
rngCell.Value = rngCell.Value
Next rngCell
Set rngFormulas = Nothing
Next wksWorksheet
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Clearing All the Numbers from an Excel Workbook Macro
This macro clears all the numbers from all the cells in a workbook, leaving the text and formulas untouched. This horrible job takes ages if you have to do it yourself; the macro only takes a few seconds.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ClearAllNumbers()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
On Error Resume Next
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Wsht.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants, 1). _
ClearContents
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ClearAllNumbers()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
On Error Resume Next
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Wsht.Cells. _
SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants, 1). _
ClearContents
Next
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else try a free VBA manual
Tick Marks in an Excel worksheet cell Macro
It is not much fun placing tick marks in Excel cells, especially when you have lots of them to do. This macro places a tick mark in the active cell if the cell is empty and clears the cell if it is not. You can assign the macro to a shortcut key, like CTRL+T so that you can clear or enter a tick mark quick as a flash.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub TickMarks()
If ActiveCell = "" Then
With ActiveCell
.Formula = "=CHAR(252)"
.Font.Name = "Wingdings"
End With
Else
ActiveCell.Clear
End If
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
To assign your macro to a suitable shortcut key combination, choose Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the TickMarks macro from the list and click the Options button. Enter a suitable letter for your shortcut key and click the OK button.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub TickMarks()
If ActiveCell = "" Then
With ActiveCell
.Formula = "=CHAR(252)"
.Font.Name = "Wingdings"
End With
Else
ActiveCell.Clear
End If
End Sub
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
To assign your macro to a suitable shortcut key combination, choose Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the TickMarks macro from the list and click the Options button. Enter a suitable letter for your shortcut key and click the OK button.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else a free VBA manual
Protecting All the Worksheets in an Excel Workbook Macro
How long does it take to protect all the worksheets in a workbook? About two seconds if you use a macro, about two hours if you do each one individually.
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ProtectAllWorksheets()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Wsht.Protect Password:="Secret"
Next
End Sub
The password is optional; just remove it from the macro if it is not required so that the instruction reads as follows:
Wsht.Protect
To reverse the process and clear the protection, change the line to:
Wsht.Unprotect Password:="Secret"
To protect only certain worksheets in the workbook but leave the others unprotected, introduce some decision making into the loop. The following example protects only "Sheet1" and "Sheet3" in the workbook:
Sub ProtectCertainWorksheets()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Select Case Wsht.Name
Case "Sheet1", "Sheet3"
Wsht.Protect Password:="Secret"
Case Else
Wsht.Unprotect Password:="Secret"
End Select
Next
End Sub
Make sure that you enter the actual name of the worksheet into the code; "Sheet1" is not valid if you have renamed the worksheet. Substitute your own sheet names and extend the comma separated list as required.
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else a free VBA manual
Macros are small programs that automate repetitive processes in Excel worksheets. You do not need to know how the macro works, just copy it to the Excel file where you want to use it and then run it. See below for detailed instructions.
Sub ProtectAllWorksheets()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Wsht.Protect Password:="Secret"
Next
End Sub
The password is optional; just remove it from the macro if it is not required so that the instruction reads as follows:
Wsht.Protect
To reverse the process and clear the protection, change the line to:
Wsht.Unprotect Password:="Secret"
To protect only certain worksheets in the workbook but leave the others unprotected, introduce some decision making into the loop. The following example protects only "Sheet1" and "Sheet3" in the workbook:
Sub ProtectCertainWorksheets()
Dim Wsht As Worksheet
For Each Wsht In Worksheets
Select Case Wsht.Name
Case "Sheet1", "Sheet3"
Wsht.Protect Password:="Secret"
Case Else
Wsht.Unprotect Password:="Secret"
End Select
Next
End Sub
Make sure that you enter the actual name of the worksheet into the code; "Sheet1" is not valid if you have renamed the worksheet. Substitute your own sheet names and extend the comma separated list as required.
How to Copy and Use a Macro
Firstly, select all the text of the macro (including the line at the beginning starting with the word Sub and the line at the end, End Sub) and press CTRL+C to copy.
Then Switch over to Excel and go to the Visual Basic Editor, ALT+F11. Press CTRL+R to open the Project Explorer, select your workbook file in the listing, right-click and choose Insert, Module.
Paste the macro into the module by pressing CTRL+V.
Finally, return to Excel (press ALT+F11 again) and run the macro by choosing Tools, Macro, Macros. Select the macro from the list and click the Run button over to the right hand side.
If you like the code and live in London try a Excel VBA course for everyone else a free VBA manual
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Frequently asked questions about IT Training Courses
When/how often do you run your courses?
Are courses are scheduled or open to the public. We book courses on demand and they are closed to the group/company or individual booking them.
Will the course ever get cancelled if not enough people book on the same date?
But I thought I could book myself onto an already existing course with other people. Don’t you run these?
Imagine trying to get 8 of your colleagues to agree to a date that is already pre-prescribed by an external training company. Practically impossible with so many schedules to take into consideration.
Do you offer discounts for charity clients?
With some companies you might find registered Charities get an automatic discount of 10% on the quoted price.
Do you offer discounts for booking in advance?
Always worth asking a training company since your planning ahead must have some benefits to the training company which they could pass on.
I am responsible for training and would like to book in volume what discounts do you offer?
Organizations pre-booking multiple courses often qualify for discounts on the stated price. Are these prices are excluding VAT?
When do I pay for my/our course?
Some companies invoice at the end of the month in which training takes place and payment. Others demand all or some of the money in advance of training.
What if I feel that the training was substandard?
You need to ask what the complaints policy is if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received. If you have prepaid how do you get a total or partial refund. Is there a arbritration scheme.
How many people can I enrol on a course?
It’s a good question to ask what the maximum number attending is too many will not allow for the trainer to give enough individual attention.
12 candidates is the most we would consider for a soft skills class.
Do I pay more for a more advanced course?
No. Our rate is the same, no matter what the application or level.
What are the different types of training you offer?
Is it classroom or remote. Are students being taught or is it self teach.
How do I know what type/level of training I/the group require/s?
Prior to booking a course you should expect to be sent email, a training needs analysis form for your chosen application or soft skill. This would normally be used to assess the level/s of understanding of any given application or soft skill and to tailor the course from these results.
If the TNAs reveal that 1 or more candidates are perhaps at a different level to the rest of the group or perhaps does not require the soft skills training in question, you would expect to be advised of this. Ideally, you would be better advised to have candidates of a similar level attend a course so as not to risk a poor learning outcome.
I’ve looked at the course outlines for the different levels and I just feel that we need more of a mix of a couple of the levels, rather than how you’ve set them out.?
Ask about tailoring can you even mix and match different applications.
Do I get a qualification/certificate at the end of my course?
Where does training take place?
Does your provider have a training centre (which are accessible to public transport, shops, restaurants, bars and pubs?
HoweveCan training takes place onsite?
What are the technical requirements for onsite IT training?
Firstly. Very, very important when it comes to IT training: Each candidate must have a laptop/pc to work on. Each of these must be loaded with the application/s in question. If there’s a spare laptop/pc for the trainer, mention this
A daylight projector and/or flipchart would be very useful to the trainer for presentation purposes. If you don’t have one ask your training provider if they have one spare on the day they might ask the trainer to bring one along gratis if you are lucky. Some courses do have special technical requirements, for example with email applications it would be necessary that all the pcs be networked to demonstrate email exchange.
The training space itself doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Some place quiet, away from the rest of the office. Seating boardroom style or classroom style. Nothing cramped as the candidates are going to spend a whole day in there together! Don’t forget a Whiteboard or flipchart will be needed.
We have a room but no computers can you run the course on our own site?
Some providers can bring along a projector and all the cabling and extension needs to turning a meeting room into a training room in minutes.
What are the requirements? A fairly decent sized room if you have a large group. A daylight projector. Flipchart and pens. For some courses, the trainer may request additional items, for example, television and video. Items like these won’t be vital but ask your provider in advance if they have them because they will certainly enhance the training.
First Aid
Ask your provider who the first aid officers are you need to know they take your staff’s wellbeing seriously.
Disabled Access
Is the training provders centre completely conformant with the disability Discrimination Act with disabled toilets on all floors and no ramps or uneven surfaces to cope with?
Can your provider additionally support for those with Hearing or Visual Impairment through special screens or request help with sign language.
Post Course Assistance
You should expect the right to send through questions by email or phone which will be dealt with on a best endeavour basis. Is there a time limit to this service based upon the length of elapsed time since your training course.
Mouseman
Are courses are scheduled or open to the public. We book courses on demand and they are closed to the group/company or individual booking them.
Will the course ever get cancelled if not enough people book on the same date?
But I thought I could book myself onto an already existing course with other people. Don’t you run these?
Imagine trying to get 8 of your colleagues to agree to a date that is already pre-prescribed by an external training company. Practically impossible with so many schedules to take into consideration.
Do you offer discounts for charity clients?
With some companies you might find registered Charities get an automatic discount of 10% on the quoted price.
Do you offer discounts for booking in advance?
Always worth asking a training company since your planning ahead must have some benefits to the training company which they could pass on.
I am responsible for training and would like to book in volume what discounts do you offer?
Organizations pre-booking multiple courses often qualify for discounts on the stated price. Are these prices are excluding VAT?
When do I pay for my/our course?
Some companies invoice at the end of the month in which training takes place and payment. Others demand all or some of the money in advance of training.
What if I feel that the training was substandard?
You need to ask what the complaints policy is if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received. If you have prepaid how do you get a total or partial refund. Is there a arbritration scheme.
How many people can I enrol on a course?
It’s a good question to ask what the maximum number attending is too many will not allow for the trainer to give enough individual attention.
12 candidates is the most we would consider for a soft skills class.
Do I pay more for a more advanced course?
No. Our rate is the same, no matter what the application or level.
What are the different types of training you offer?
Is it classroom or remote. Are students being taught or is it self teach.
How do I know what type/level of training I/the group require/s?
Prior to booking a course you should expect to be sent email, a training needs analysis form for your chosen application or soft skill. This would normally be used to assess the level/s of understanding of any given application or soft skill and to tailor the course from these results.
If the TNAs reveal that 1 or more candidates are perhaps at a different level to the rest of the group or perhaps does not require the soft skills training in question, you would expect to be advised of this. Ideally, you would be better advised to have candidates of a similar level attend a course so as not to risk a poor learning outcome.
I’ve looked at the course outlines for the different levels and I just feel that we need more of a mix of a couple of the levels, rather than how you’ve set them out.?
Ask about tailoring can you even mix and match different applications.
Do I get a qualification/certificate at the end of my course?
Where does training take place?
Does your provider have a training centre (which are accessible to public transport, shops, restaurants, bars and pubs?
HoweveCan training takes place onsite?
What are the technical requirements for onsite IT training?
Firstly. Very, very important when it comes to IT training: Each candidate must have a laptop/pc to work on. Each of these must be loaded with the application/s in question. If there’s a spare laptop/pc for the trainer, mention this
A daylight projector and/or flipchart would be very useful to the trainer for presentation purposes. If you don’t have one ask your training provider if they have one spare on the day they might ask the trainer to bring one along gratis if you are lucky. Some courses do have special technical requirements, for example with email applications it would be necessary that all the pcs be networked to demonstrate email exchange.
The training space itself doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Some place quiet, away from the rest of the office. Seating boardroom style or classroom style. Nothing cramped as the candidates are going to spend a whole day in there together! Don’t forget a Whiteboard or flipchart will be needed.
We have a room but no computers can you run the course on our own site?
Some providers can bring along a projector and all the cabling and extension needs to turning a meeting room into a training room in minutes.
What are the requirements? A fairly decent sized room if you have a large group. A daylight projector. Flipchart and pens. For some courses, the trainer may request additional items, for example, television and video. Items like these won’t be vital but ask your provider in advance if they have them because they will certainly enhance the training.
First Aid
Ask your provider who the first aid officers are you need to know they take your staff’s wellbeing seriously.
Disabled Access
Is the training provders centre completely conformant with the disability Discrimination Act with disabled toilets on all floors and no ramps or uneven surfaces to cope with?
Can your provider additionally support for those with Hearing or Visual Impairment through special screens or request help with sign language.
Post Course Assistance
You should expect the right to send through questions by email or phone which will be dealt with on a best endeavour basis. Is there a time limit to this service based upon the length of elapsed time since your training course.
Mouseman
Friday, July 3, 2009
FIVE RESOURCE TYPES IN PROJECT 2007
Previous to Project 2000 it was only possible to define work resources. A work resource would be an employee or piece of equipment that has a percentage of its time assigned to a task. A work resource requires a calendar as it can be scheduled to work on multiple tasks over time.
Project 2000 introduced what it called a material resource, which is best thought of as a consumable resource such as fuel or a bag of nails. For example if I had a task that involved moving office equipment from one location to another I might assign a vehicle as a work resource and fuel as a material resource.
With Project 2002 users were able for the first time to label resources as generic. Generic resources refer to roles and skill sets rather than specific people. Generic resources are primarily designed for Enterprise and therefore only appear in Project Professional. Without the use of server functionality its use is fairly limited in that it can only provide a visual indicator in the resource sheet, showing a resource as generic. Typically a generic resource would have a max unit setting greater than 100%: set at 500% the resource would indicate that there are 5 x 8hrs of work availability. So for example we are not sure which individuals will complete tasks but we know that ultimately we have the equivalent of 5 persons availability with a specified skill set.
Cost and Budget resources are new to Project 2007. Cost resources are designed to capture ad hoc expenditure over the life of a project. Cost resources are not calculated in a time bound way like a work resource, ie they are not costed per hour or per day. Nor are they like material resources where there is a cost per unit, ie per length of timber or bag of cement. Examples of cost resources might be travel expenses like train or air tickets where the expedenditure is not rated per hour or per unit of resource. By setting up a cost a resource you can then collect costs of a similar theme under one heading and enter individual values for that cost as you assign the resource to individual tasks.
Budget resources apply to all of the forementioned resource types. A budget resource allows you to record intended work and cost values for the project overall. You can then compare these values with actuals. Budget resources are applied to Project Summary tasks and values are entered in either the Task Usage or Resource Usage views by including both the Budget Cost and Budget Work fields.
Mouseman. If this is still confusing and you live outside the UK download our free training manual and quick key cards. If you do live in London or the South East consider one of our Project training courses
Project 2000 introduced what it called a material resource, which is best thought of as a consumable resource such as fuel or a bag of nails. For example if I had a task that involved moving office equipment from one location to another I might assign a vehicle as a work resource and fuel as a material resource.
With Project 2002 users were able for the first time to label resources as generic. Generic resources refer to roles and skill sets rather than specific people. Generic resources are primarily designed for Enterprise and therefore only appear in Project Professional. Without the use of server functionality its use is fairly limited in that it can only provide a visual indicator in the resource sheet, showing a resource as generic. Typically a generic resource would have a max unit setting greater than 100%: set at 500% the resource would indicate that there are 5 x 8hrs of work availability. So for example we are not sure which individuals will complete tasks but we know that ultimately we have the equivalent of 5 persons availability with a specified skill set.
Cost and Budget resources are new to Project 2007. Cost resources are designed to capture ad hoc expenditure over the life of a project. Cost resources are not calculated in a time bound way like a work resource, ie they are not costed per hour or per day. Nor are they like material resources where there is a cost per unit, ie per length of timber or bag of cement. Examples of cost resources might be travel expenses like train or air tickets where the expedenditure is not rated per hour or per unit of resource. By setting up a cost a resource you can then collect costs of a similar theme under one heading and enter individual values for that cost as you assign the resource to individual tasks.
Budget resources apply to all of the forementioned resource types. A budget resource allows you to record intended work and cost values for the project overall. You can then compare these values with actuals. Budget resources are applied to Project Summary tasks and values are entered in either the Task Usage or Resource Usage views by including both the Budget Cost and Budget Work fields.
Mouseman. If this is still confusing and you live outside the UK download our free training manual and quick key cards. If you do live in London or the South East consider one of our Project training courses
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Calculating Aggregate Totals in MS Access Queries
Create a select query and make use of the totals option.
Imagine you have a table containing human resources information. The records contain several fields containing information about each individual employee. Including their Name, absence, grade and area of world they work in. Imagine you have employees in London, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong who are all admin, Managers or Directors.
You may want to calculate the total absences for each Grade?" All the data required is contained in the Grade and Absence fields
.
The first step is to create a query selecting the fields for Grade and Absence. Running the query now would show columns of un summarized raw data. The results refer to individual absences only in individual rows.
In the design view of the query select the totals option. Choose View > Totals from the menu. Selecting the Totals menu adds an additional row in the query grid, the Total: row.
The default setting for the Total option for each field is Group By. We must change one of our fields and select a type of calculation. In our example we want to calculate the sum of absences for each Grade
Clicking in the Total cell of the absence column, then selecting the down-arrow displays a list of summary functions including Sum, Average, Max, Min and Count. Select Sum and run the query as normal. The query result shows a total absence figure for each grade. The grade field is automatically sorted into alphabetical order.
Additional fields can be added as criteria. You might want to only show absences for grades for the London area only. You can specify additional criteria referring to another field, without grouping by that field or calculating its summary data. This is achieved by selecting the Where option in the Totals row. This enables you to add criteria to the criteria row of that field to further refine your query. Access automatically unchecks the Show box for that field. If you want to see the criteria field in the result of your query, you must add the field a second time with Grouped By selected in its Totals row.
You can group my as many fields as you wish, allowing you to display not just the total absence but the average, Max, Min and Count in adjacent columns
If you want to find the total absence for all grades and all areas at the same time you can’t use View Totals as this command only gives one dimensional output. You would need to create a Cross Tab query which will be the subject of my next entry.
Access Training Materials
Imagine you have a table containing human resources information. The records contain several fields containing information about each individual employee. Including their Name, absence, grade and area of world they work in. Imagine you have employees in London, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong who are all admin, Managers or Directors.
You may want to calculate the total absences for each Grade?" All the data required is contained in the Grade and Absence fields
.
The first step is to create a query selecting the fields for Grade and Absence. Running the query now would show columns of un summarized raw data. The results refer to individual absences only in individual rows.
In the design view of the query select the totals option. Choose View > Totals from the menu. Selecting the Totals menu adds an additional row in the query grid, the Total: row.
The default setting for the Total option for each field is Group By. We must change one of our fields and select a type of calculation. In our example we want to calculate the sum of absences for each Grade
Clicking in the Total cell of the absence column, then selecting the down-arrow displays a list of summary functions including Sum, Average, Max, Min and Count. Select Sum and run the query as normal. The query result shows a total absence figure for each grade. The grade field is automatically sorted into alphabetical order.
Additional fields can be added as criteria. You might want to only show absences for grades for the London area only. You can specify additional criteria referring to another field, without grouping by that field or calculating its summary data. This is achieved by selecting the Where option in the Totals row. This enables you to add criteria to the criteria row of that field to further refine your query. Access automatically unchecks the Show box for that field. If you want to see the criteria field in the result of your query, you must add the field a second time with Grouped By selected in its Totals row.
You can group my as many fields as you wish, allowing you to display not just the total absence but the average, Max, Min and Count in adjacent columns
If you want to find the total absence for all grades and all areas at the same time you can’t use View Totals as this command only gives one dimensional output. You would need to create a Cross Tab query which will be the subject of my next entry.
Access Training Materials
Sunday, June 28, 2009
So what’s new in Office 2007?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
New Feaures in Office 2007?
The key changes have taken place in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (to a lessor extent Project and Visio. The most visible difference is the appearance of a new interface called the Ribbon.
The old menus & toolbars of earlier suites of Office are now represented by the new Ribbon divided into named Tabs. Selecting any Tab reveals subgroups of commands. Standard 2003 style dialog boxes can also be accessed from th ribbon.
Microsoft has consistently applied this tabbed feature, by grouping themes together and displaying related groups in each Tab.
MS Word consists of Ribbon tabs named in order Home, Insert, Page Layout, Reference, Mailings, Review and View. Selecting the Home tab displays commands for formatting and styles.Similarly Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007 have been endowed with Tabs with similar grouped commands.
Outlook is a hybrid. When Outlook 2007 is launched the old menus and toolbars are available. The new Ribbon interface does not display until the user creates a new email or edits a calendar entry.
The standard 2007 applications share a Office Button to replace similar to the File management options available in previous versions of Office)
The Office Button, located in the upper left-hand corner of the program window, replaces the File menu found in legacy versions of Microsoft Office. The Office Button menu contains basic file management commands, including New, Open, Save, Print and is the same in Word and Excel and PowerPoint. Office 2007 also sports a new Quick Access Toolbar.
The new Quick Access Toolbar has several frequently used options. This toolbar can be edited to suit your requirement. The commands are organized under the Tabs in a logical fashion, you may find it easier to put the commands you always use, for example Print Preview, Save As or Quick Print onto this toolbar for quick access, until you are really familiar with the new Ribbon layout.
Office 2007 has a new default font called Calibri default font which is a normally associated with web pages.
New methods of formatting are available in Office 2007 – In Word if you type some text, select it, then select a formatting option, the new formatting is applied as a new Live Preview feature. This formatting can be permanently applied. Navigating away from the selection allows the text to retain the original formatting. Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook all share the Live Preview feature.
Alternatively if a user hovers in the text, a Mini Toolbar appears showing relevant formatting buttons which is then applied to the highlighted text.
All Office 2007 applications feature Style Galleries. Styles are sets of formatting features which can be applied to highlighted text, or cells in Excel. With data selected in Excel, PowerPoint or Word you can navigate to the Home Tab hover over one of the Styles in the Gallery and the Live Preview will preview this style. Select this style to apply to your data.
New Ribbons display more of the menu choices than in the traditional menu driven systems of Excel 2003. New features to include a range of smart art options. Conditional formatting is now much easier with lots of colored flags and traffic lights to choose from. The database functionality has been given a thorough revamp allowing the user to filter by a wide range of criteria including easier use of date options. A great new feature allows you to delete duplicate records in a dataset.
The majority of Excel users probably never get beyond the basics of arithmetic and using auto sum but the 2007 interface makes it much easier to create complex workbooks that can be shared with colleagues
Apart from added functionality you can easily add table styles to give your spreadsheets a professional look and feel.
Don’t neglect the enhanced Pivot table functionality that presents your data in a summary format
Pivot tables take large amounts of data and summarise it. They are flexible in the way they present it and what information they are delivering. We all require efficient summarization of information served up in a palatable format. Pivot tables are capable of being customized
you may still be wondering if there are still compelling reasons to upgrade from an earlier version if your data is optimized for the earlier version. Do you really want to have to retrain your staff and test all our key documents in the new version?
You need to consider whether the new version adds significant functionality to justify the upgrade. You need to be sure you or your colleagues will use the new features.
All the key applications share the new chart technology. In addition to the 2003 Office charts, there are new chart types and with special effects such as 3-D bevelling.
Office 2007 also has new file formats. All the new 2007 applications use these new file formats based on the new XML standard. These files tend to be smaller and tend to be be processed more efficiently by your comuter. These new file types are also more secure than old file types..
Office 97-2003 files can be converted to the newer Office 2007 format at any point.
All the 2007 applications are completely backwardly compatible, facilitating the use of existing 97-2003 files in 2007. Where Office 2003 files are opended in Office 2007, the file opens in Compatibility Mode with the relevant functionality available with that version of Office enabled
This new version of Office is a major upgrade from 2003 or XP. Now you just need to consider how you are going to learn all the new features. Is it going to be books, online tutorials or back to the classroom.
New Feaures in Office 2007?
The key changes have taken place in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (to a lessor extent Project and Visio. The most visible difference is the appearance of a new interface called the Ribbon.
The old menus & toolbars of earlier suites of Office are now represented by the new Ribbon divided into named Tabs. Selecting any Tab reveals subgroups of commands. Standard 2003 style dialog boxes can also be accessed from th ribbon.
Microsoft has consistently applied this tabbed feature, by grouping themes together and displaying related groups in each Tab.
MS Word consists of Ribbon tabs named in order Home, Insert, Page Layout, Reference, Mailings, Review and View. Selecting the Home tab displays commands for formatting and styles.Similarly Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007 have been endowed with Tabs with similar grouped commands.
Outlook is a hybrid. When Outlook 2007 is launched the old menus and toolbars are available. The new Ribbon interface does not display until the user creates a new email or edits a calendar entry.
The standard 2007 applications share a Office Button to replace similar to the File management options available in previous versions of Office)
The Office Button, located in the upper left-hand corner of the program window, replaces the File menu found in legacy versions of Microsoft Office. The Office Button menu contains basic file management commands, including New, Open, Save, Print and is the same in Word and Excel and PowerPoint. Office 2007 also sports a new Quick Access Toolbar.
The new Quick Access Toolbar has several frequently used options. This toolbar can be edited to suit your requirement. The commands are organized under the Tabs in a logical fashion, you may find it easier to put the commands you always use, for example Print Preview, Save As or Quick Print onto this toolbar for quick access, until you are really familiar with the new Ribbon layout.
Office 2007 has a new default font called Calibri default font which is a normally associated with web pages.
New methods of formatting are available in Office 2007 – In Word if you type some text, select it, then select a formatting option, the new formatting is applied as a new Live Preview feature. This formatting can be permanently applied. Navigating away from the selection allows the text to retain the original formatting. Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook all share the Live Preview feature.
Alternatively if a user hovers in the text, a Mini Toolbar appears showing relevant formatting buttons which is then applied to the highlighted text.
All Office 2007 applications feature Style Galleries. Styles are sets of formatting features which can be applied to highlighted text, or cells in Excel. With data selected in Excel, PowerPoint or Word you can navigate to the Home Tab hover over one of the Styles in the Gallery and the Live Preview will preview this style. Select this style to apply to your data.
New Ribbons display more of the menu choices than in the traditional menu driven systems of Excel 2003. New features to include a range of smart art options. Conditional formatting is now much easier with lots of colored flags and traffic lights to choose from. The database functionality has been given a thorough revamp allowing the user to filter by a wide range of criteria including easier use of date options. A great new feature allows you to delete duplicate records in a dataset.
The majority of Excel users probably never get beyond the basics of arithmetic and using auto sum but the 2007 interface makes it much easier to create complex workbooks that can be shared with colleagues
Apart from added functionality you can easily add table styles to give your spreadsheets a professional look and feel.
Don’t neglect the enhanced Pivot table functionality that presents your data in a summary format
Pivot tables take large amounts of data and summarise it. They are flexible in the way they present it and what information they are delivering. We all require efficient summarization of information served up in a palatable format. Pivot tables are capable of being customized
you may still be wondering if there are still compelling reasons to upgrade from an earlier version if your data is optimized for the earlier version. Do you really want to have to retrain your staff and test all our key documents in the new version?
You need to consider whether the new version adds significant functionality to justify the upgrade. You need to be sure you or your colleagues will use the new features.
All the key applications share the new chart technology. In addition to the 2003 Office charts, there are new chart types and with special effects such as 3-D bevelling.
Office 2007 also has new file formats. All the new 2007 applications use these new file formats based on the new XML standard. These files tend to be smaller and tend to be be processed more efficiently by your comuter. These new file types are also more secure than old file types..
Office 97-2003 files can be converted to the newer Office 2007 format at any point.
All the 2007 applications are completely backwardly compatible, facilitating the use of existing 97-2003 files in 2007. Where Office 2003 files are opended in Office 2007, the file opens in Compatibility Mode with the relevant functionality available with that version of Office enabled
This new version of Office is a major upgrade from 2003 or XP. Now you just need to consider how you are going to learn all the new features. Is it going to be books, online tutorials or back to the classroom.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Interviewing IT Freelancers
I do understand the motivation of wanting to freelance. The flexibility to work when you want to - and take days off when you don’t. I can see that contracting for the right companies will give you lot’s of relevant experience in a time frame not possible.
Often though freelancers fail to give the same effort to approaching training companies or agencies that they would for a full time post
Often the resume is dates and focus does not breakdown latest relevant work assignments and achievements. Make sure it contains recent and relevant References and Testimonials
I always find it amazing when a freelancer who teaches no more than 5 to 10 applications does not know the latest version. Asked if they can teach Excel 2007 they claim that there is not much demand for it. How can you allow yourself to fall behind in updating your skillset
Why are freelancers so strangely lacking in equipment? When asked to attend a client site and bring along a laptop to connect to the projector they don’t have one.
Flexibility is another issue. Many times I have asked a freelancer to teach a course with a degree of customization but they often refuse. This is the best way to make sure you won’t get used again.
Worse still is a lack of reliability. Agreeing to take a two day Project class and then at the last minute drop it for a three week project. This kind of bridge burning is totally unacceptable.
Don’t turn up for Interview in a suit and attend a client site in casual clothes.
Training companies are looking for professional trainers competent in their applications and flexible in the approach to training.
It is of course a two Way Street the training company needs to check the software is installed consistency and setup the classroom prior to the course. Any special requests for customization need to be asked in advance and supplied to the trainer in good time. It’s a symbiotic relationship let’s get it right
Often though freelancers fail to give the same effort to approaching training companies or agencies that they would for a full time post
Often the resume is dates and focus does not breakdown latest relevant work assignments and achievements. Make sure it contains recent and relevant References and Testimonials
I always find it amazing when a freelancer who teaches no more than 5 to 10 applications does not know the latest version. Asked if they can teach Excel 2007 they claim that there is not much demand for it. How can you allow yourself to fall behind in updating your skillset
Why are freelancers so strangely lacking in equipment? When asked to attend a client site and bring along a laptop to connect to the projector they don’t have one.
Flexibility is another issue. Many times I have asked a freelancer to teach a course with a degree of customization but they often refuse. This is the best way to make sure you won’t get used again.
Worse still is a lack of reliability. Agreeing to take a two day Project class and then at the last minute drop it for a three week project. This kind of bridge burning is totally unacceptable.
Don’t turn up for Interview in a suit and attend a client site in casual clothes.
Training companies are looking for professional trainers competent in their applications and flexible in the approach to training.
It is of course a two Way Street the training company needs to check the software is installed consistency and setup the classroom prior to the course. Any special requests for customization need to be asked in advance and supplied to the trainer in good time. It’s a symbiotic relationship let’s get it right
Why do solicitors charge fees instead of Prices?
We moved offices recently and needed to get the lease looked over. We were advised of the fee structure. We are asked what the price is of a training course even by solicitors or accountants. Of course I suspect that it is an attempt to not discuss money and give the fee earner a more professional air. When the bill finally comes in you see that these professional people have charged you down to the last stamp and fax at a rate that would make anyone blanch.
I can just imagine telling a client that I was unable to give an indication of the cost of an Excel class but our charges per hour were £400 ($650). The bill could be anything!
Last time we moved offices we were also delivering training to the solicitors handling the lease. After discussing the cost of handing the lease we discussed the training course. It became increasingly obvious that the person booking the training believed that our charges per day were worth about the same as one hour of their time.
Everyone has an idea about the relative worth of a fireman, doctor or teacher and the relative fairness of reward but both the solicitor and I had both gone to college both had degrees why had my qualifications and experience become worth so much less than a solicitor.
The answer lies in the ability in the UK for the Law society to effectively control the number of solicitors through limiting the numbers passing exams and getting articles (training) with a law firm. There are no such limits with IT trainers apart from a few low level Microsoft qualifications and ECDL it is very difficult to point to a professional body of knowledge backed up by a credible qualification enjoyed by the Law society. In the UK the Institute of IT Training and BCS are working hard to develop training qualifications but in reality organizations still buy training from sub standard companies.
The next company that calls our number I will describe my fee structure for an Excel class and see how we get on.
Do look up the defination of fees at http://www.mousetraining.co.uk/ms-training/microsoft-excel-training-courses.html
Highly amusing. I do hope my solicitors bill does not come in guineas
I can just imagine telling a client that I was unable to give an indication of the cost of an Excel class but our charges per hour were £400 ($650). The bill could be anything!
Last time we moved offices we were also delivering training to the solicitors handling the lease. After discussing the cost of handing the lease we discussed the training course. It became increasingly obvious that the person booking the training believed that our charges per day were worth about the same as one hour of their time.
Everyone has an idea about the relative worth of a fireman, doctor or teacher and the relative fairness of reward but both the solicitor and I had both gone to college both had degrees why had my qualifications and experience become worth so much less than a solicitor.
The answer lies in the ability in the UK for the Law society to effectively control the number of solicitors through limiting the numbers passing exams and getting articles (training) with a law firm. There are no such limits with IT trainers apart from a few low level Microsoft qualifications and ECDL it is very difficult to point to a professional body of knowledge backed up by a credible qualification enjoyed by the Law society. In the UK the Institute of IT Training and BCS are working hard to develop training qualifications but in reality organizations still buy training from sub standard companies.
The next company that calls our number I will describe my fee structure for an Excel class and see how we get on.
Do look up the defination of fees at http://www.mousetraining.co.uk/ms-training/microsoft-excel-training-courses.html
Highly amusing. I do hope my solicitors bill does not come in guineas
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Empty Fridge
I delivered a training course in Excel in Chelmsford for a large Insurance company. It’s a great site. The lunch was good, the fridge was well stocked. Everyone got a free pen.
At the end of my course leaving I watched a room of presumably well paid underwriters leaving a soft skills course empty an American size fridge of water, soft drinks and kit kats without embarrassment on their way home. I am sure the odd person felt like an extra drink but what is it about free stuff that drives people crazy?
At Liverpool St in London a branch of Crispy Crèmes opened up and were giving away a free tray of doughnuts (12 to all comers). I scrummed like mad to get a tray. I brought it to the office and even with course on I was sure I would get one or two. I was to be disappointed a lady turned up enquiring about courses with her son and he ate the six that survived the morning round of coffee for visiting trainees in one go.
In honour of the Chelmsford fridge we have a take what you want policy but it does create some funny moments. One lady last year on her way out the door emptied an entire ½ kilo bowl of sweets straight into her bag.
Some unfortunately also help themselves to the Mice (I don’t know why they are £4.99/$8.00 each.
The best I ever saw was outside a carpet shop in Brixton. Someone took a sample from a display outside the store. Within seconds a second person stopped and assuming there were free took another one. Within a minute a crowd had stripped the display bare leaving a bemused member of staff wondering what had happened.
Oh well it’s 4:30 courses over I should just be grateful they left the fridge
Mouseman
At the end of my course leaving I watched a room of presumably well paid underwriters leaving a soft skills course empty an American size fridge of water, soft drinks and kit kats without embarrassment on their way home. I am sure the odd person felt like an extra drink but what is it about free stuff that drives people crazy?
At Liverpool St in London a branch of Crispy Crèmes opened up and were giving away a free tray of doughnuts (12 to all comers). I scrummed like mad to get a tray. I brought it to the office and even with course on I was sure I would get one or two. I was to be disappointed a lady turned up enquiring about courses with her son and he ate the six that survived the morning round of coffee for visiting trainees in one go.
In honour of the Chelmsford fridge we have a take what you want policy but it does create some funny moments. One lady last year on her way out the door emptied an entire ½ kilo bowl of sweets straight into her bag.
Some unfortunately also help themselves to the Mice (I don’t know why they are £4.99/$8.00 each.
The best I ever saw was outside a carpet shop in Brixton. Someone took a sample from a display outside the store. Within seconds a second person stopped and assuming there were free took another one. Within a minute a crowd had stripped the display bare leaving a bemused member of staff wondering what had happened.
Oh well it’s 4:30 courses over I should just be grateful they left the fridge
Mouseman
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Don't Hire it Buy It: Flavia SB 100 Coffee Vending Machine
If you are charged with finding a coffee machine you will find most machines need either to be plumbed in to a water supply or leased which is expensive.
There is a machine on the market which can be bought and does not need to be plumbed.
FLAVIA, manufactured by Mars, produces freshly brewed coffee, leaf tea and hot chocolate from individual sachets. After 17 years in the commercial market, a smaller domestic machine, made by Panasonic in Japan, is now available.
All 7 coffees, 6 teas and hot chocolate are all available with this machine. The machine is suitable for where there are up 10 people in a small office environment. The machine can vend approximately 25 drinks before the machine needs to be filled up. We have about 20 to 30 visitors to our Microsoft Training Centre per day and they work fine. The only limit is remembering to fill them up once or twice a day
What if your office has more employees? Just buy a second or third machine. They are relatively cheap when they break throw them away.
Mouseman
There is a machine on the market which can be bought and does not need to be plumbed.
FLAVIA, manufactured by Mars, produces freshly brewed coffee, leaf tea and hot chocolate from individual sachets. After 17 years in the commercial market, a smaller domestic machine, made by Panasonic in Japan, is now available.
All 7 coffees, 6 teas and hot chocolate are all available with this machine. The machine is suitable for where there are up 10 people in a small office environment. The machine can vend approximately 25 drinks before the machine needs to be filled up. We have about 20 to 30 visitors to our Microsoft Training Centre per day and they work fine. The only limit is remembering to fill them up once or twice a day
What if your office has more employees? Just buy a second or third machine. They are relatively cheap when they break throw them away.
Mouseman
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Green Brigade
Some of the visitors to our training centre make me laugh. They consume 6 Evian bootles from the fridge and take one for the Underground but their course critique form complains about the waste of plastic. Last time I looked the kitchen tap was still there no one made them drink it.
I accept some changes. We give away bags at the end of the course and over the last year 50% of visitors leave them behind. We don't order them again.
But I do find if funny that delegates turn off their machine for an our lunch time. Our computers are new and fast and consume very little energy in sleep mode. Switch them off lunchtime and it's going to delay the session waiting for you after lunch.
If you dont believe me check out the site below
Even better are the loons who switch of the light in the bathroom during the morning break !
Mousemnan
I accept some changes. We give away bags at the end of the course and over the last year 50% of visitors leave them behind. We don't order them again.
But I do find if funny that delegates turn off their machine for an our lunch time. Our computers are new and fast and consume very little energy in sleep mode. Switch them off lunchtime and it's going to delay the session waiting for you after lunch.
If you dont believe me check out the site below
Even better are the loons who switch of the light in the bathroom during the morning break !
Mousemnan
The CostCo Emergency Bucket
I went to Costco today to get the supplies in for the week. It’s a really boring list of things I buy for the training center.
Lot’s of Evian water and biscuits. Loads of Domestos and Toilet paper. The truth is I always volunteer to go and get it. Partly because I like driving the van. I am sure we could probably get the stuff cheaper delivered but Costco is more fun then the average supermarket. On the way in are the flat screen Televisions 46 inches and more. Everything is super sized. One product caught my eye today though on the Internet from CostCo.a survival bucket I which claims to have 275 servings with a 20 year shelf life. It claims to be a 3-month food supply for one person! $109.99 buys a 25 pound container. The details are even more fascinating and would seriously upset the raw food brigade. Each box contains 55 separate packets, consisting of 10 different items;
(5) Ala King
(6) Potato/Bakon Soup
(5) Sweet Corn Chowder
(5) Western Stew
(5) Rice/Lentil Soup
(5) Barley Vegetable Soup
(5) Cacciatore
(5) Soup
(5) Blueberry Pancakes
(9) Whey Milk.
Each packet makes 5 separate servings
Country Noodle
In total 275 servings. The directions are to choose 3 servings from any of the various packets.
I was determined to buy some for the office and twin it with a course to run if London was ever attacked by a dirty bomb. Anyone in that day would stay for 3 months and we would run a course every day for three months. Each person leaving would know everything about a computer e could dream up. Imagine every obscure Excel Function. When we had exhausted Microsoft we could attack Adobe products. Then I have been meaning to figure out how that Mac works. Finally we are attached to the internet so we should road test every online course in town. After that, Google have been indexing the odd book here and there and I always wanted to learn Latin.
Ok I am in Costco I am ready to buy the bucket except they don’t sell it in the UK only America. What a disappointment what is it with the UK why can’t we have the bucket. Maybe we should run the course anyway. Or maybe I should just forget the water and buy a flat screen television instead
Mouseman
Lot’s of Evian water and biscuits. Loads of Domestos and Toilet paper. The truth is I always volunteer to go and get it. Partly because I like driving the van. I am sure we could probably get the stuff cheaper delivered but Costco is more fun then the average supermarket. On the way in are the flat screen Televisions 46 inches and more. Everything is super sized. One product caught my eye today though on the Internet from CostCo.a survival bucket I which claims to have 275 servings with a 20 year shelf life. It claims to be a 3-month food supply for one person! $109.99 buys a 25 pound container. The details are even more fascinating and would seriously upset the raw food brigade. Each box contains 55 separate packets, consisting of 10 different items;
(5) Ala King
(6) Potato/Bakon Soup
(5) Sweet Corn Chowder
(5) Western Stew
(5) Rice/Lentil Soup
(5) Barley Vegetable Soup
(5) Cacciatore
(5) Soup
(5) Blueberry Pancakes
(9) Whey Milk.
Each packet makes 5 separate servings
Country Noodle
In total 275 servings. The directions are to choose 3 servings from any of the various packets.
I was determined to buy some for the office and twin it with a course to run if London was ever attacked by a dirty bomb. Anyone in that day would stay for 3 months and we would run a course every day for three months. Each person leaving would know everything about a computer e could dream up. Imagine every obscure Excel Function. When we had exhausted Microsoft we could attack Adobe products. Then I have been meaning to figure out how that Mac works. Finally we are attached to the internet so we should road test every online course in town. After that, Google have been indexing the odd book here and there and I always wanted to learn Latin.
Ok I am in Costco I am ready to buy the bucket except they don’t sell it in the UK only America. What a disappointment what is it with the UK why can’t we have the bucket. Maybe we should run the course anyway. Or maybe I should just forget the water and buy a flat screen television instead
Mouseman
How to train a cat to operate a light switch
Cat Training: What You Need To Know
Whether a cat can be trained is an interesting one. I would expect a cat to respond to training quickly and efficiently as they are very intelligent.
Most cat owners will say point to a cat’s independent streak and report that cats do not try to please their owners in the same the way that dogs do. Don’t give up though it just takes longer to train a cat. Training cats takes more sophisticated techniques since methods that work in training dogs do not work with cats.
Young cats are more receptive to new behaviors, so think about beginning training as soon as you get your new pet.
Set the bar a little higher than coming to you when summoned or using a litter tray as these tasks are easily taught.
When it comes to simple or complex tasks such use praise to encourage your cat to obey. When you call to your cat, then when it comes to you give some good praise and affection.
Pretty soon your cat will come when you call to them, as they will associate it with love and praise. Be consistent to avoid confusing your cat if you change your behavior in the middle of your training programme.
When attempting to training your cat be patient and consistent in your approach. If you build a better relationship with your cat you have a much more satisfying and fulfilling relationship with your pet, and are more likely to be able to successfully teach them
If you go to Utube there are plenty of examples of cats going amazing things including the cat who can operate a light switch.
More impressive would be to see a cat do some calculations in MS Excel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs
Mouseman
Whether a cat can be trained is an interesting one. I would expect a cat to respond to training quickly and efficiently as they are very intelligent.
Most cat owners will say point to a cat’s independent streak and report that cats do not try to please their owners in the same the way that dogs do. Don’t give up though it just takes longer to train a cat. Training cats takes more sophisticated techniques since methods that work in training dogs do not work with cats.
Young cats are more receptive to new behaviors, so think about beginning training as soon as you get your new pet.
Set the bar a little higher than coming to you when summoned or using a litter tray as these tasks are easily taught.
When it comes to simple or complex tasks such use praise to encourage your cat to obey. When you call to your cat, then when it comes to you give some good praise and affection.
Pretty soon your cat will come when you call to them, as they will associate it with love and praise. Be consistent to avoid confusing your cat if you change your behavior in the middle of your training programme.
When attempting to training your cat be patient and consistent in your approach. If you build a better relationship with your cat you have a much more satisfying and fulfilling relationship with your pet, and are more likely to be able to successfully teach them
If you go to Utube there are plenty of examples of cats going amazing things including the cat who can operate a light switch.
More impressive would be to see a cat do some calculations in MS Excel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs
Mouseman
HSBC Advert with Chinese Man fishing with his Bird
I was just watching a HSBC advert. If shows a westerner fishing in China watching a old Chinese man fishing very sucessfully with a bird. The central idea is that HSBC respect local expertise. A westerner fishing on a Chinese lake (Li River, near Guilin China)is amazed to watch an old local man standing on a small raft and using a trained seabird to catch fish from the water and drop them into a basket. The narrator Michael Gambon comments on the man's use of local experts, and advises how HSBC does the same with local investment experts around the world to achieve the best results for our money.
It occurred to me that the marketing people had probably stretched an idea beyond the reality until I found references all over the internet including the amazing Video below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OSnMtmoKHw
If I was in a desert Island for years I would be more likely to eat the bird than train it to fish for me. It just goes to show that you can train anyone to do anything with enough time and patience. I am teaching Excel on Monday I think I will try some of the same training principles.
If you want to see the advert itself try
http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Local-Fishing-Expertise-with-HSBC-HSBC-Bank/73402
Mouseman
It occurred to me that the marketing people had probably stretched an idea beyond the reality until I found references all over the internet including the amazing Video below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OSnMtmoKHw
If I was in a desert Island for years I would be more likely to eat the bird than train it to fish for me. It just goes to show that you can train anyone to do anything with enough time and patience. I am teaching Excel on Monday I think I will try some of the same training principles.
If you want to see the advert itself try
http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Local-Fishing-Expertise-with-HSBC-HSBC-Bank/73402
Mouseman
Friday, June 19, 2009
Bing V Google
I thought I would try out Bing through the medium of Leonard Cohen lyrics. In Google if you type in "Tea and Oranges" the Leonard Cohen is number 1. Bing produces only relevant information on Page 2.
"bird on the Wire" for Google is wall to wall Cohen. Bing starts of with a wilkipedia entry of the 1990 film.
watching
30 minutes later mostly spent on UTUBE Cohen songs and I have given up with Bing back to Google
If you like the lyrics....
and she feeds you tea and oranges
that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
that you have no love to give her
then she gets you on her wavelength
and she lets the river answer
that you’ve always been her lover
Curiously a test of Google against unbranded search engimes shows that Google is only marginally better when people vote on results from blind testing.
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090607/bing-vs-google-vs-yahoo-blind-search-engine-test/
Mouseman
"bird on the Wire" for Google is wall to wall Cohen. Bing starts of with a wilkipedia entry of the 1990 film.
watching
30 minutes later mostly spent on UTUBE Cohen songs and I have given up with Bing back to Google
If you like the lyrics....
and she feeds you tea and oranges
that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
that you have no love to give her
then she gets you on her wavelength
and she lets the river answer
that you’ve always been her lover
Curiously a test of Google against unbranded search engimes shows that Google is only marginally better when people vote on results from blind testing.
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090607/bing-vs-google-vs-yahoo-blind-search-engine-test/
Mouseman
Advantages of Using a Apple Mac instead of Windows
We got a IMAc in the office. Partly so that the army of Windows Microsift Trainers would get to grips with Mac Excel, Word, Entourage and PowerPoint and partly to run courses like InDesign and Photoshop on the Mac to keep creative types happy.
I pretty much ignored it until I need touninstall software but could not work out how to do it. Rather than just putting it into the trash by dragging I looked it up on the Internet and could not believe that indded dragging to trash was it. In Windows it is a much more complex affair of removing Programs to uninstall.
A week later I wanted to connect it to the Innernet and was expecting a technical mountain. I plugged in the cable and it installed itself! Now I am sold. We are doing to buy a set of laptops and figure out how they really work.
I found a really useful site offering 75 reasons t ouse a MAC
http://lowendmac.com/lab/75.html
I pretty much ignored it until I need touninstall software but could not work out how to do it. Rather than just putting it into the trash by dragging I looked it up on the Internet and could not believe that indded dragging to trash was it. In Windows it is a much more complex affair of removing Programs to uninstall.
A week later I wanted to connect it to the Innernet and was expecting a technical mountain. I plugged in the cable and it installed itself! Now I am sold. We are doing to buy a set of laptops and figure out how they really work.
I found a really useful site offering 75 reasons t ouse a MAC
http://lowendmac.com/lab/75.html
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Visio 2003 Viewer
Brief Description
The Microsoft Office Visio 2003 Viewer enables almost anyone to view Visio files.
Visio users can freely distribute Visio drawings and diagrams to team members, partners, customers, or others, even if the recipients do not have Visio installed on their computers. Internet Explorer also allows for printing, although this is limited to the portion of the drawing currently displayed.
The Visio Viewer 2003 enables users to discover the advantages of using Visio drawings, charts, and illustrations in a Web-based environment. It is particularly useful for teams that need to collaborate from different locations.
Viewing Visio drawings is as simple as double-clicking the drawing (files with the .VSD, .VSS, .VST, .VDX, .VSX, or .VTX extension) in Windows File Explorer. Internet Explorer will open, and the Visio Viewer will render the drawing in the browser window. You can then pan and zoom in the drawing window by using toolbar buttons, keyboard shortcuts, or menu items in the right-click menu. Also, you can see properties on any shape by opening the Properties and Settings dialog box and then selecting a shape. Some rendering and display settings are available in the Display Settings tab of the Properties and Settings dialog box. Additionally, drawing-layer visibility and colors can be set in the Layer Settings tab, and annotation visibility and colors can be set in the Markup Settings tab.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3fb3bd5c-fed1-46cf-bd53-da23635ab2df&DisplayLang=en
For other viewers
Software Tools
Top of the page /
Adobe Reader
Adobe® Reader® 6.0 is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files on a variety of hardware and operating system platforms.
Visit: Adobe Reader
Microsoft Excel Viewer
With Excel Viewer 2003, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer 2003 to another program.
Visit: Microsoft Excel Viewer
Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer
PowerPoint Viewer 2003 lets you view full-featured presentations created in PowerPoint 97 and later versions.
Visit: Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer
Microsoft Word Viewer
Word Viewer 2003 lets you open Word 2003 documents and documents created with all previous versions of Microsoft Word.
Visit: Microsoft Word Viewer
Visio Viewer 2003
The Visio Viewer 2003 allows anyone to view Visio drawings and diagrams (created with Visio 5, 2000, 2002, or 2003) inside their Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later Web browser.
Visit: Visio Viewer 2003
For MS Project
Microsoft do not offer a free viewer. Is There a Free Project Viewer from Microsoft?
Microsoft does not offer a free viewer but there are alternatives.
http://www.microsoftprojectviewer.com/
Mouseman
Brief Description
The Microsoft Office Visio 2003 Viewer enables almost anyone to view Visio files.
Visio users can freely distribute Visio drawings and diagrams to team members, partners, customers, or others, even if the recipients do not have Visio installed on their computers. Internet Explorer also allows for printing, although this is limited to the portion of the drawing currently displayed.
The Visio Viewer 2003 enables users to discover the advantages of using Visio drawings, charts, and illustrations in a Web-based environment. It is particularly useful for teams that need to collaborate from different locations.
Viewing Visio drawings is as simple as double-clicking the drawing (files with the .VSD, .VSS, .VST, .VDX, .VSX, or .VTX extension) in Windows File Explorer. Internet Explorer will open, and the Visio Viewer will render the drawing in the browser window. You can then pan and zoom in the drawing window by using toolbar buttons, keyboard shortcuts, or menu items in the right-click menu. Also, you can see properties on any shape by opening the Properties and Settings dialog box and then selecting a shape. Some rendering and display settings are available in the Display Settings tab of the Properties and Settings dialog box. Additionally, drawing-layer visibility and colors can be set in the Layer Settings tab, and annotation visibility and colors can be set in the Markup Settings tab.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3fb3bd5c-fed1-46cf-bd53-da23635ab2df&DisplayLang=en
For other viewers
Software Tools
Top of the page /
Adobe Reader
Adobe® Reader® 6.0 is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files on a variety of hardware and operating system platforms.
Visit: Adobe Reader
Microsoft Excel Viewer
With Excel Viewer 2003, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer 2003 to another program.
Visit: Microsoft Excel Viewer
Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer
PowerPoint Viewer 2003 lets you view full-featured presentations created in PowerPoint 97 and later versions.
Visit: Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer
Microsoft Word Viewer
Word Viewer 2003 lets you open Word 2003 documents and documents created with all previous versions of Microsoft Word.
Visit: Microsoft Word Viewer
Visio Viewer 2003
The Visio Viewer 2003 allows anyone to view Visio drawings and diagrams (created with Visio 5, 2000, 2002, or 2003) inside their Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later Web browser.
Visit: Visio Viewer 2003
For MS Project
Microsoft do not offer a free viewer. Is There a Free Project Viewer from Microsoft?
Microsoft does not offer a free viewer but there are alternatives.
http://www.microsoftprojectviewer.com/
Mouseman
Create the Perfect Complaints Procedure for a Training Company
Complaints Policy
In the first instance, try to follow a no quibble complaints procedure: the client has the ultimate right to decide if they received the service promised to them and therefore whether you should receive payment.
However, as you value our clients and their viewpoint, upon receiving any complaint you investigate thoroughly and offer the client alternatives in compensation.
This could be additional training hours (free of charge); a discount on training already received or in some (rare) cases clients have opted not to pay for a course due to perceived unsatisfactory results.
Equipment/software issues/malfunctions (at our site), trainer’s lateness, are very obviously our responsibility and you would automatically offer the client some kind of compensation: additional training time/discount.
Other issues are not so clear cut.
For example, before each course, you ask each candidate/group to complete training needs analysis forms and advise co-ordinators not to include candidates of mixed ability on same courses as this can restrict training considerably.
Very often, due to budget constraints this advice is not heeded, and the end result is not always going to be optimum.
At this point, both candidate and trainer are adversely affected. You are aware that the group’s training co-ordinator is unlikely to see the fault as lying with the choices made with regards to grouping, but rather choice of supplier.
How you find a solution:
Step 1 – Get the trainer’s perception of group/ability/how he/she strategically managed the training session
Step 2 – Phone/email the client with course results before they have a chance to hear any negative feedback from candidates
Reiterate (without laying blame) the importance of not training candidates of different ability levels
Step 3 – If client is still dissatisfied with results then obviously same rule still applies – no quibble. You will run the course again at no cost to you. The client can choose to pay or withhold any part of the invoice.
Ultimately as members of the quote your profrssional bodies/accreditations eg IITT (Institute of IT Training) you are bound by your right to appeal to their jurisdiction.
This procedure is administered in conjunction with quote your profrssional bodies/accreditations eg the IITT Code of Practice for Training Providers. It provides a mechanism for making, receiving and examining complaints by clients against providers in respect of any matter covered by the Code of Practice.
Training Provider
In the first instance, try to follow a no quibble complaints procedure: the client has the ultimate right to decide if they received the service promised to them and therefore whether you should receive payment.
However, as you value our clients and their viewpoint, upon receiving any complaint you investigate thoroughly and offer the client alternatives in compensation.
This could be additional training hours (free of charge); a discount on training already received or in some (rare) cases clients have opted not to pay for a course due to perceived unsatisfactory results.
Equipment/software issues/malfunctions (at our site), trainer’s lateness, are very obviously our responsibility and you would automatically offer the client some kind of compensation: additional training time/discount.
Other issues are not so clear cut.
For example, before each course, you ask each candidate/group to complete training needs analysis forms and advise co-ordinators not to include candidates of mixed ability on same courses as this can restrict training considerably.
Very often, due to budget constraints this advice is not heeded, and the end result is not always going to be optimum.
At this point, both candidate and trainer are adversely affected. You are aware that the group’s training co-ordinator is unlikely to see the fault as lying with the choices made with regards to grouping, but rather choice of supplier.
How you find a solution:
Step 1 – Get the trainer’s perception of group/ability/how he/she strategically managed the training session
Step 2 – Phone/email the client with course results before they have a chance to hear any negative feedback from candidates
Reiterate (without laying blame) the importance of not training candidates of different ability levels
Step 3 – If client is still dissatisfied with results then obviously same rule still applies – no quibble. You will run the course again at no cost to you. The client can choose to pay or withhold any part of the invoice.
Ultimately as members of the quote your profrssional bodies/accreditations eg IITT (Institute of IT Training) you are bound by your right to appeal to their jurisdiction.
This procedure is administered in conjunction with quote your profrssional bodies/accreditations eg the IITT Code of Practice for Training Providers. It provides a mechanism for making, receiving and examining complaints by clients against providers in respect of any matter covered by the Code of Practice.
Training Provider
Techniques to Ensure Teaching Consistency
For standard and bespoke applications the only real way to ensure consistency is to monitor trainers on whether they are delivering a consistent course by
• Appointing a lead trainer for each application (especially bespoke)
• Encouraging the trainers to share their training experiences
• Setting time aside to observe lessons
• Keeping in contact with bespoke application administrators to ensure that the impact of upgrades or changes in workflow on the training sessions is actively monitored.
To give guidance to the trainer each of the courses are timed by the total length of the course and each sub topic for each application.
Courses are also guided towards consistency by the use of standard presentations with detailed teaching points
Within this framework, the trainer is still free to use their own course exercises and weight the depth of each topic to suit the ability levels of trainees.
The trainer also has a set of standard teach notes for each application and each level within each application.
The trainer is requested to arrive at the latest 30 minutes before a course is due to begin for:
Pre Course Trainer Checks
• Check all computers are working, on, have the application and launch okay.
• Check all toolbars are the same.
• Check all exercises (if required) are loaded on the machines.
• Check that all (if any) photocopied handouts are ready.
• Write one’s name, date and course title on the board (If supplied).
Once the candidates have arrived.
The Trainer is requested to
• Get every candidate to tick their name off against the class register provided.
• Introduce themselves (including a little about their background and knowledge), the course and explain the fire exits, toilets, and other relevant health and safety points especially to visitors from RO’s.
• Explain the timing of breaks, (1100am / 1500pm) lunch (1300pm) and estimated time of course completion (16:30pm).
• Ask the candidates to introduce themselves, assess their level of knowledge and ask them what they hope to achieve from the day.
After the course
The Trainer is instructed to
• Hand out Course Evaluation Forms and get candidates to complete then hand them in.
• Clear the relevant/amended files from each PC.
• Check all PC’s are shut down properly and switched off.
• Make sure the room is left clean and tidy - as they would like to find it next morning.
• Enter Course Evaluations onto the website or if onsite, hand them directly to the course co-ordinator.
Board Preparation
To be written on the board (sample Excel Intro)
1. Introduction / Overview
2. Layout / Navigation
3. Copying
4. Data, Sums, Formulae and Functions
5. Cell Referencing
6. 3D Spreadsheets & File Linking
7. Formatting & Protecting
8. Printing
9. Charts and Graphs
Introduction / Overview
Each course will have a complete script for what is written and what is spoken
“Excel is the Microsoft Spreadsheet program. It organises numbers and numerical data. It allows us to analyse figures, create reports, charts and graphs.”
We will:
• “Enter data; create functions and formulae to analyse the data.
• Copy data, duplicate it and move it around.
• Work across multiple spreadsheets
• Make our spreadsheets look attractive for reports
• Lock formulas and cells so they can’t be altered.
• Set up and print our spreadsheets.
• Use the data to create charts and graphs.”
This level of detail exists for all the courses and has been produced in full for all Excel XP course levels.
However, a robotic delivery is to be avoided. The trainer is encouraged to adapt the course to their audience. Where possible, although the trainer has an exercise pack they can use their own examples for exercises. All trainers’ exercises and additional notes are held on a common drive and are open for all trainers to use.
Mouseman
• Appointing a lead trainer for each application (especially bespoke)
• Encouraging the trainers to share their training experiences
• Setting time aside to observe lessons
• Keeping in contact with bespoke application administrators to ensure that the impact of upgrades or changes in workflow on the training sessions is actively monitored.
To give guidance to the trainer each of the courses are timed by the total length of the course and each sub topic for each application.
Courses are also guided towards consistency by the use of standard presentations with detailed teaching points
Within this framework, the trainer is still free to use their own course exercises and weight the depth of each topic to suit the ability levels of trainees.
The trainer also has a set of standard teach notes for each application and each level within each application.
The trainer is requested to arrive at the latest 30 minutes before a course is due to begin for:
Pre Course Trainer Checks
• Check all computers are working, on, have the application and launch okay.
• Check all toolbars are the same.
• Check all exercises (if required) are loaded on the machines.
• Check that all (if any) photocopied handouts are ready.
• Write one’s name, date and course title on the board (If supplied).
Once the candidates have arrived.
The Trainer is requested to
• Get every candidate to tick their name off against the class register provided.
• Introduce themselves (including a little about their background and knowledge), the course and explain the fire exits, toilets, and other relevant health and safety points especially to visitors from RO’s.
• Explain the timing of breaks, (1100am / 1500pm) lunch (1300pm) and estimated time of course completion (16:30pm).
• Ask the candidates to introduce themselves, assess their level of knowledge and ask them what they hope to achieve from the day.
After the course
The Trainer is instructed to
• Hand out Course Evaluation Forms and get candidates to complete then hand them in.
• Clear the relevant/amended files from each PC.
• Check all PC’s are shut down properly and switched off.
• Make sure the room is left clean and tidy - as they would like to find it next morning.
• Enter Course Evaluations onto the website or if onsite, hand them directly to the course co-ordinator.
Board Preparation
To be written on the board (sample Excel Intro)
1. Introduction / Overview
2. Layout / Navigation
3. Copying
4. Data, Sums, Formulae and Functions
5. Cell Referencing
6. 3D Spreadsheets & File Linking
7. Formatting & Protecting
8. Printing
9. Charts and Graphs
Introduction / Overview
Each course will have a complete script for what is written and what is spoken
“Excel is the Microsoft Spreadsheet program. It organises numbers and numerical data. It allows us to analyse figures, create reports, charts and graphs.”
We will:
• “Enter data; create functions and formulae to analyse the data.
• Copy data, duplicate it and move it around.
• Work across multiple spreadsheets
• Make our spreadsheets look attractive for reports
• Lock formulas and cells so they can’t be altered.
• Set up and print our spreadsheets.
• Use the data to create charts and graphs.”
This level of detail exists for all the courses and has been produced in full for all Excel XP course levels.
However, a robotic delivery is to be avoided. The trainer is encouraged to adapt the course to their audience. Where possible, although the trainer has an exercise pack they can use their own examples for exercises. All trainers’ exercises and additional notes are held on a common drive and are open for all trainers to use.
Mouseman
Techniques for Dealing with large worksheets
Split screen
The visible worksheet area is relatively small. If the data you are working with spans a large number of columns and rows, you may find it difficult to move and copy information between areas, or even to view data in non-adjacent columns or rows on the same screen. Splitting the screen gives you the ability to scroll the data on one side of the split independently of the data on the other side – so you could be viewing cells A1 – G16 on one side of your screen, and cells M50 – Z76 on the other.
Splitting the screen horizontally
1. Position the mouse along the top edge of the upward pointing arrow at the top of the vertical scroll bar – your pointer should display as double headed arrow.
2. Drag down – you will see a grey bar that follows your mouse down. Release the mouse when the line is at the position you want to split the screen.
Or Select Window|Split. Drag the bars to the required position.
Splitting the screen vertically
1. Position the mouse along the top edge of the upward pointing arrow at the right of the horizontal scroll bar – your pointer should display as a double headed arrow.
2. Drag left – you will see a grey bar that follows your mouse across. Release the mouse when the line is at the position you want to split the screen.
Or Select Window|Split. Drag the bars to the required position.
When the screen is split, you get scroll bars in each horizontal and/or vertical section of your window. These can be used to move the display for that particular section.
Removing the split
Double-click on the grey split bar.
Or Select Window|Remove Split.
Freeze panes
When you want certain rows or columns to remain static on screen while you scroll down or across data on a worksheet, you can use Freeze Panes.
1. Select the cell below and to the right of the cells you want to freeze.
2. Select Window | Freeze Panes. You will see solid lines appear below and to the right of the frozen rows and columns.
If you only want the freeze for rows, select the cell in column A below the rows you want to freeze. If you only want the freeze for columns, select the cell in row one to the right of the columns you want to freeze.
Unfreeze panes
Select Window|Unfreeze Panes. If you have both columns and rows frozen, the Unfreeze command removes both.
Zoom
If you need all your columns to fit onto one screen, select them, and then from the View menu select Zoom to access the zoom dialog box.
Choose the Fit Selection option and click OK. Your screen will be scaled so that the selected columns are all visible without scrolling.
Custom Views
Creating Custom Views allows you to save different display and print settings, and apply them quickly and easily to the worksheet at any time.
The settings, which can be saved, include print settings, row heights and column widths, display settings, selected cells, window size and positions, and settings for panes and frozen titles. This can be advantageous when dealing with large worksheets where switching from one area to another might otherwise be awkward. It also allows a number of different print settings – including the print area – to be saved as part of the same worksheet file.
Defining a view
Before defining a view, you should ensure that the display options, zoom percentage, print settings, etc., are as you wish to record them.
1. From the View menu select Custom Views. The Custom Views dialog box will appear:
2. From the Custom Views dialog box select Add.
3. Choose whether or not to include print settings or hidden rows and columns as part of the view by checking the required options.
4. Enter the name under which this view is to be saved and click OK.
Once a view has been defined the display and print settings of the worksheet can be changed (for example, you could hide rows and/or columns so that a chart is displayed next to its data with an appropriate header when printing). You could then set up a view that would save those settings.
Showing a view
Having defined as many views as are needed for the current worksheet, you can switch between them.
1. Select Custom Views from the View menu, and then highlight the name of the desired view.
2. Click on the Show button. If the Print or Print Preview commands are executed, the correct settings (including the header) will be applied to each view.
Deleting a view
1. Select Custom Views from the View menu, and then highlight the name of the view you want to delete.
2. Click the Delete button
If you need more on Excel download free manuals on right hand column at Free Office training manuals
The visible worksheet area is relatively small. If the data you are working with spans a large number of columns and rows, you may find it difficult to move and copy information between areas, or even to view data in non-adjacent columns or rows on the same screen. Splitting the screen gives you the ability to scroll the data on one side of the split independently of the data on the other side – so you could be viewing cells A1 – G16 on one side of your screen, and cells M50 – Z76 on the other.
Splitting the screen horizontally
1. Position the mouse along the top edge of the upward pointing arrow at the top of the vertical scroll bar – your pointer should display as double headed arrow.
2. Drag down – you will see a grey bar that follows your mouse down. Release the mouse when the line is at the position you want to split the screen.
Or Select Window|Split. Drag the bars to the required position.
Splitting the screen vertically
1. Position the mouse along the top edge of the upward pointing arrow at the right of the horizontal scroll bar – your pointer should display as a double headed arrow.
2. Drag left – you will see a grey bar that follows your mouse across. Release the mouse when the line is at the position you want to split the screen.
Or Select Window|Split. Drag the bars to the required position.
When the screen is split, you get scroll bars in each horizontal and/or vertical section of your window. These can be used to move the display for that particular section.
Removing the split
Double-click on the grey split bar.
Or Select Window|Remove Split.
Freeze panes
When you want certain rows or columns to remain static on screen while you scroll down or across data on a worksheet, you can use Freeze Panes.
1. Select the cell below and to the right of the cells you want to freeze.
2. Select Window | Freeze Panes. You will see solid lines appear below and to the right of the frozen rows and columns.
If you only want the freeze for rows, select the cell in column A below the rows you want to freeze. If you only want the freeze for columns, select the cell in row one to the right of the columns you want to freeze.
Unfreeze panes
Select Window|Unfreeze Panes. If you have both columns and rows frozen, the Unfreeze command removes both.
Zoom
If you need all your columns to fit onto one screen, select them, and then from the View menu select Zoom to access the zoom dialog box.
Choose the Fit Selection option and click OK. Your screen will be scaled so that the selected columns are all visible without scrolling.
Custom Views
Creating Custom Views allows you to save different display and print settings, and apply them quickly and easily to the worksheet at any time.
The settings, which can be saved, include print settings, row heights and column widths, display settings, selected cells, window size and positions, and settings for panes and frozen titles. This can be advantageous when dealing with large worksheets where switching from one area to another might otherwise be awkward. It also allows a number of different print settings – including the print area – to be saved as part of the same worksheet file.
Defining a view
Before defining a view, you should ensure that the display options, zoom percentage, print settings, etc., are as you wish to record them.
1. From the View menu select Custom Views. The Custom Views dialog box will appear:
2. From the Custom Views dialog box select Add.
3. Choose whether or not to include print settings or hidden rows and columns as part of the view by checking the required options.
4. Enter the name under which this view is to be saved and click OK.
Once a view has been defined the display and print settings of the worksheet can be changed (for example, you could hide rows and/or columns so that a chart is displayed next to its data with an appropriate header when printing). You could then set up a view that would save those settings.
Showing a view
Having defined as many views as are needed for the current worksheet, you can switch between them.
1. Select Custom Views from the View menu, and then highlight the name of the desired view.
2. Click on the Show button. If the Print or Print Preview commands are executed, the correct settings (including the header) will be applied to each view.
Deleting a view
1. Select Custom Views from the View menu, and then highlight the name of the view you want to delete.
2. Click the Delete button
If you need more on Excel download free manuals on right hand column at Free Office training manuals
Syntax For Creating Access Parameter Queries
Parameters, which allow the user to specify criteria each time the query is run, can be added to a query in place of specific criteria. When the query is run, a dialog box appears to prompt the user to type in the criteria. For example, a query which lists all the patients for a particular doctor could have a parameter which prompts for a particular doctor’s name each time the query is run. In this way, only one query needs to be created to view patients for any doctor, rather than one for each doctor.
To create a parameter:
1. In the Criteria row of the field, type the instructions that will prompt the user for what they should enter in the dialog box. Place this text in square brackets. This can be anything except the exact text of the field name of any fields in your query.
For example, type the following: [Enter the Doctor’s Surname]
2. Run the query.
A dialog box will appear containing the text you typed within square brackets and an empty text box.
The example above would appear as right:
3. Type the appropriate text into the box (in this example, type a surname from the DoctorName field) and click OK.
4. The results of the query will be displayed.
Helpful hint:
Clicking OK without entering any text in the box is the equivalent of removing the criterion from the field. In this example, to leave the text box blank means that records will be displayed for all doctors.
You can use several parameters in a query, alongside other criteria. They can be placed in the Criteria row or the Or row(s) in the same way as other criteria. Access will display a dialog box for each parameter in turn each time the query is run.
You can also combine other criteria symbols with parameters and use the words or or and to include other criteria (including other parameters) alongside parameters.
Examples
• [Enter Nursing Grade] or “Staff Nurse”
• >= [Enter the earliest date required]
• Between [First Number] and [Last Number]
• [Enter Ward Name] or Is Null
• not [Enter Subject you wish to exclude]
Using wildcards with parameters
To include wildcards such as the asterisk * in a parameter, type the criterion in the following way:
Like [Parameter] & *
(This will prompt the user for the beginning of the field value)
Or
Like * & [Parameter]
(This will prompt the user for the end of the field value).
Example
To find employees with surnames beginning with a certain letter, type the following criteria into the EmployeeName Field:
Like [Enter first initial of Employees’s Surname] & *
Helpful hint:
Access will thoughtfully add quote marks “ around the asterisk.
Download our Access Training manual
Or option for Londoners only consider own of our Access training courses
To create a parameter:
1. In the Criteria row of the field, type the instructions that will prompt the user for what they should enter in the dialog box. Place this text in square brackets. This can be anything except the exact text of the field name of any fields in your query.
For example, type the following: [Enter the Doctor’s Surname]
2. Run the query.
A dialog box will appear containing the text you typed within square brackets and an empty text box.
The example above would appear as right:
3. Type the appropriate text into the box (in this example, type a surname from the DoctorName field) and click OK.
4. The results of the query will be displayed.
Helpful hint:
Clicking OK without entering any text in the box is the equivalent of removing the criterion from the field. In this example, to leave the text box blank means that records will be displayed for all doctors.
You can use several parameters in a query, alongside other criteria. They can be placed in the Criteria row or the Or row(s) in the same way as other criteria. Access will display a dialog box for each parameter in turn each time the query is run.
You can also combine other criteria symbols with parameters and use the words or or and to include other criteria (including other parameters) alongside parameters.
Examples
• [Enter Nursing Grade] or “Staff Nurse”
• >= [Enter the earliest date required]
• Between [First Number] and [Last Number]
• [Enter Ward Name] or Is Null
• not [Enter Subject you wish to exclude]
Using wildcards with parameters
To include wildcards such as the asterisk * in a parameter, type the criterion in the following way:
Like [Parameter] & *
(This will prompt the user for the beginning of the field value)
Or
Like * & [Parameter]
(This will prompt the user for the end of the field value).
Example
To find employees with surnames beginning with a certain letter, type the following criteria into the EmployeeName Field:
Like [Enter first initial of Employees’s Surname] & *
Helpful hint:
Access will thoughtfully add quote marks “ around the asterisk.
Download our Access Training manual
Or option for Londoners only consider own of our Access training courses
Friday, June 12, 2009
Understanding Excel Pivot Tables
A pivot table is essentially an information summary tool found in spreadsheets like Excel. Pivot tables can aggregate the data stored in one table or spreadsheet and output the summarized data. Pivot tables are also useful for quickly creating cross tabulated tables. The user creates and amends the Pivot table by dragging and dropping fields graphically. Pivot tables allow users to pivot data to produce grouped aggregated output. These column headings can be rotated/ pivoted. This term applied to the summary results table gives the concept its name. The term "pivot table" is a generic phrase used by many software companies. The specific form is a trademark of Microsoft. In recent times Zoho Reports has added further power to its pivot function. Pivot tables are now integral to spreadsheets. In addition to Microsoft Excel, competing software such Open provide similar implementations.
Pivot functionality is also provided in other data visualization tools, including intelligence packages like Business Objects. Similarly Google Docs also facilities basic pivot tables
For typical data entry and storage, data is usually flat. Flat means that it consists of only columns and rows within a single table. The user needs to lay your data out as a table. A Table is a List (with a heading contained in a single row) with more than one Column of data and a different heading for each column. Headings must be in the row directly above your data. Organizations would normally use a Pivot Table to output meaningful information from a table of information. Imagine you have a table of data that contains names, addresses, absence, jobs, etc. With a Pivot Table we could very easily and quickly find out the average absence rate across different job grades.
Options can be set options to update data each time the file is opened or clicking by refresh at any point during a session. Users can assess average absences and determine if it varies by job role or region. Are full timers more likely to be absent than part timers. Are employees in outer London more reliable with respect to absences than central London? This data can be presented either as a table or in a chart. However, before you can exploit the Pivot table options you need to obey some rules in laying out your information. Free manuals for Pivot tables available at Free Ms Training Manuals for Excel or All MS Manuals The Pivot Tables feature is one of the most powerful and flexible tools that Excel has. Pivot tables are a key way to summarize a large amount of raw data. To Pivot the data allows you to rotate the data letting you view the data from a different angle. Rather than viewing individual transactions who can analyse all your data and get summaries of information not visible available in your raw data. By identifying trends, you can make better use of your transactional data
Even if an organization uses database to store their data, Excel is often the best tool to output queries to
Pivot tables and charts can take large amounts of data and summarise it. They are flexible in presenting the data they are delivering. Pivot tables or charts which will give a simple breakdown of the total figures broken down by any group or category you require.
One
In conclusion a PivotTable is a type of interactive table that automatically, organises, filters, groups, extracts, and summarises your data in a formatted report created with the assistance of an Excel Wizard.
Ms Excel Pivot tables summarise and analyse datasets in lists and tables by “dragging and dropping” columns to summary positions. Even in the absence of calculations the data can be set to update each time the workbook is opened.
You can use PivotTables and Pivot Charts to analyse the data, make comparisons, find patterns and relationships, and unearth trends. A PivotTable organises and then summarises large amounts of data from any range with defined headings. Once created the PivotTable can be rotated to view or summarise it in different guises. Additional filters can be manipulated to display or hide catagories on demand and discover patterns to enhance your data analysis and provide flexible summary tables. The report can be used to assist in the analysis of financial data by enhancing your ability to detect trends and relationships. A PivotTable report is ultimately defined as an interactive, cross-tabulated report that summarises and analyses data from multivarious sources.
Pivot functionality is also provided in other data visualization tools, including intelligence packages like Business Objects. Similarly Google Docs also facilities basic pivot tables
For typical data entry and storage, data is usually flat. Flat means that it consists of only columns and rows within a single table. The user needs to lay your data out as a table. A Table is a List (with a heading contained in a single row) with more than one Column of data and a different heading for each column. Headings must be in the row directly above your data. Organizations would normally use a Pivot Table to output meaningful information from a table of information. Imagine you have a table of data that contains names, addresses, absence, jobs, etc. With a Pivot Table we could very easily and quickly find out the average absence rate across different job grades.
Options can be set options to update data each time the file is opened or clicking by refresh at any point during a session. Users can assess average absences and determine if it varies by job role or region. Are full timers more likely to be absent than part timers. Are employees in outer London more reliable with respect to absences than central London? This data can be presented either as a table or in a chart. However, before you can exploit the Pivot table options you need to obey some rules in laying out your information. Free manuals for Pivot tables available at Free Ms Training Manuals for Excel or All MS Manuals The Pivot Tables feature is one of the most powerful and flexible tools that Excel has. Pivot tables are a key way to summarize a large amount of raw data. To Pivot the data allows you to rotate the data letting you view the data from a different angle. Rather than viewing individual transactions who can analyse all your data and get summaries of information not visible available in your raw data. By identifying trends, you can make better use of your transactional data
Even if an organization uses database to store their data, Excel is often the best tool to output queries to
Pivot tables and charts can take large amounts of data and summarise it. They are flexible in presenting the data they are delivering. Pivot tables or charts which will give a simple breakdown of the total figures broken down by any group or category you require.
One
In conclusion a PivotTable is a type of interactive table that automatically, organises, filters, groups, extracts, and summarises your data in a formatted report created with the assistance of an Excel Wizard.
Ms Excel Pivot tables summarise and analyse datasets in lists and tables by “dragging and dropping” columns to summary positions. Even in the absence of calculations the data can be set to update each time the workbook is opened.
You can use PivotTables and Pivot Charts to analyse the data, make comparisons, find patterns and relationships, and unearth trends. A PivotTable organises and then summarises large amounts of data from any range with defined headings. Once created the PivotTable can be rotated to view or summarise it in different guises. Additional filters can be manipulated to display or hide catagories on demand and discover patterns to enhance your data analysis and provide flexible summary tables. The report can be used to assist in the analysis of financial data by enhancing your ability to detect trends and relationships. A PivotTable report is ultimately defined as an interactive, cross-tabulated report that summarises and analyses data from multivarious sources.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Dress Code W Kształcenia Środowiska
Prawdziwy cel w tworzeniu biznes dress code jest umożliwienie naszych pracowników do pracy komfortowo w pracy z zastrzeżeniem, że wszyscy nadal muszą nas wszystkich do projektu profesjonalny obraz do naszych klientów odwiedzających. Business casual dress jest standardowe dla tego sukienka kodu.
Ponieważ nie wszystkie dorywczo odzieży nie nadaje się do urzędu, tych wytycznych pomoże Ci określić, co jest odpowiednie do noszenia do pracy.
Odzież, że działa dobrze na plaży, ogród, wykonuje sesje, konkursy sportowe i może nie być odpowiedni dla profesjonalnego wyglądu w miejscu pracy.
Nawet w środowisku biznesu dorywczych prac, odzieży powinny być prasowane i nie pomarszczony. Należy unikać rozdarty, brudny, lub postrzępiony odzieży, gdyż jest niedopuszczalne. Każde ubranie, które słowa, hasła, lub zdjęcia, które mogą być obraźliwe dla innych pracowników, jest całkowicie niedopuszczalne .. Moda na marek odzieżowych są ogólnie akceptowane. Spodnie powinny być noszone jak należy rozumieć, a nie w dół do bioder lub sported na budowach!
Piątek jest zbesztać sukienka dzień. Na zbesztać dzień, jeansy i inne, bardziej nieformalny odzież, odzież, choć nigdy nie mogą być obraźliwe dla innych, są dozwolone.
Jeśli na kliencie po stronie klienta prowadzić na strój kodu.
Każdy czytanie tej strony są mile widziane, aby skopiować naszej polityki lub daje nam wskazówki w sprawie poprawy
Mouseman
Ponieważ nie wszystkie dorywczo odzieży nie nadaje się do urzędu, tych wytycznych pomoże Ci określić, co jest odpowiednie do noszenia do pracy.
Odzież, że działa dobrze na plaży, ogród, wykonuje sesje, konkursy sportowe i może nie być odpowiedni dla profesjonalnego wyglądu w miejscu pracy.
Nawet w środowisku biznesu dorywczych prac, odzieży powinny być prasowane i nie pomarszczony. Należy unikać rozdarty, brudny, lub postrzępiony odzieży, gdyż jest niedopuszczalne. Każde ubranie, które słowa, hasła, lub zdjęcia, które mogą być obraźliwe dla innych pracowników, jest całkowicie niedopuszczalne .. Moda na marek odzieżowych są ogólnie akceptowane. Spodnie powinny być noszone jak należy rozumieć, a nie w dół do bioder lub sported na budowach!
Piątek jest zbesztać sukienka dzień. Na zbesztać dzień, jeansy i inne, bardziej nieformalny odzież, odzież, choć nigdy nie mogą być obraźliwe dla innych, są dozwolone.
Jeśli na kliencie po stronie klienta prowadzić na strój kodu.
Każdy czytanie tej strony są mile widziane, aby skopiować naszej polityki lub daje nam wskazówki w sprawie poprawy
Mouseman
Ingredients for a well crafted IT Presentation
When I attend training I expect to receive optimum attention. The only way to guarantee this is to check the course runs with small class sizes. The best question to ask is what is the maximum course size?
I would also look for reliability. Beware of scheduled course which only run when a minimum thresholds are passed.
I also shun courses where I can’t influence the Relevance of the course contents. Of especial interest is gaining practical experience useful within my working environment.
I also expect my questions answered – by instructors with some experience of the real World and able to blend queries into their examples in real time. Ideally the
Interaction between the trainer and trainee should lead to the synthesis of something new for me and an extension of the depth of knowledge of the trainer as well.
If this is the ideal expectation and experience within a live training session one would surely expect more in the delivery of a 1 to 1 session with an experienced trainer presenting their strongest 30 minutes of their favourite Microsoft application on a version of their choice.
In reality I have rarely been surprised with even a barely adequate presentation. Often the most disappointing feature of the presentation is the lack of knowledge regarding the boundaries of the application.
If the traner asks me to rename a sheet tab a logical question to ask to stretch the trainer but not subvert the flow of the session would be to ask how many characters I can have in the sheet tab? If the trainer is talking about using Excel as a database tool, surely it is relevant to ask how many rows of data can be stored absolutely or practically in the sheet?. Only by finding the edges to the application can yo utruely master your craft.
So if you are a freelance trainer looking for work and you are invited to present forget the MOS exams, TAP, IITT just prepare properly and have some respect for your craft, your audience and of course yourself.
Mouse Trainer
I would also look for reliability. Beware of scheduled course which only run when a minimum thresholds are passed.
I also shun courses where I can’t influence the Relevance of the course contents. Of especial interest is gaining practical experience useful within my working environment.
I also expect my questions answered – by instructors with some experience of the real World and able to blend queries into their examples in real time. Ideally the
Interaction between the trainer and trainee should lead to the synthesis of something new for me and an extension of the depth of knowledge of the trainer as well.
If this is the ideal expectation and experience within a live training session one would surely expect more in the delivery of a 1 to 1 session with an experienced trainer presenting their strongest 30 minutes of their favourite Microsoft application on a version of their choice.
In reality I have rarely been surprised with even a barely adequate presentation. Often the most disappointing feature of the presentation is the lack of knowledge regarding the boundaries of the application.
If the traner asks me to rename a sheet tab a logical question to ask to stretch the trainer but not subvert the flow of the session would be to ask how many characters I can have in the sheet tab? If the trainer is talking about using Excel as a database tool, surely it is relevant to ask how many rows of data can be stored absolutely or practically in the sheet?. Only by finding the edges to the application can yo utruely master your craft.
So if you are a freelance trainer looking for work and you are invited to present forget the MOS exams, TAP, IITT just prepare properly and have some respect for your craft, your audience and of course yourself.
Mouse Trainer
Dress Code In a Training Environment
The real objective in establishing a business dress code is to allow our staff to work comfortably in the workplace with the proviso that we all still need all of us to project a professional image to our client visitors. Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code.
Because not all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work.
Clothing that works well for the beach, garden, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and not wrinkled. Please avoid torn, dirty, or frayed clothing as it is unacceptable. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is completely unacceptable.. Fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. Trousers should be worn as they meant to be, not down to your hips or as sported on building sites!
Friday is dress down dress day. On dress down day, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
If you are on a client site follow the client lead on dress code.
Anyone reading this page is welcome to copy our policy or give us tips on improvement
Mouseman
Because not all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work.
Clothing that works well for the beach, garden, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and not wrinkled. Please avoid torn, dirty, or frayed clothing as it is unacceptable. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is completely unacceptable.. Fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. Trousers should be worn as they meant to be, not down to your hips or as sported on building sites!
Friday is dress down dress day. On dress down day, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
If you are on a client site follow the client lead on dress code.
Anyone reading this page is welcome to copy our policy or give us tips on improvement
Mouseman
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tips for Hiring Laptops
How will be amazed at the number of questions you should ask before hiring laptops for an event
Are all the computers you have hired matching kit or are the internally and externally inconsistent?
Are the computers re formatted and re installed and tested down between events?
Are their spares in case of malfunctioning computers?
Are there enough USB ports for your needs?
Are there any pickup, delivery or setup charges?
Do laptop come in boxes, carry cases and are these options available as standard?
Do notebooks come standard with sound for your Powerpoint presentation?
Do the laptops come with cabling to hook up to Projectos and LCD screens?
Do the laptops have network cards or connectivity?
Do the laptops have security options to lock them to a desk?
Do they come with a Mouse or pointing device?
Do you have unfettered Internat access?
Do you need a CD or DVD drive?
Does the compuer get too hot for comfort ?
Does the Touch pad responds well, is too sensitive, or indeed work at all ?
Does your laptop have the right specification for your task eg economy, performance, visual?
Does the Wi-fi cut out?
How flexible are delivery options?
How good are the discounts per week, month, quarter and year?
How quickly can laptops be shipped after order?
Is the hard drive unexpectedly noisy?
Is the Keyboard the right size, language and configuration for your needs?
Is the machine heavier than you expected it to be?
Is the machine slow to respond after hibernation?
Is the memory sufficient for your task?
Is the screen size too small, making it hard for the 40 + audience to read?
Is the speed adequate to your task?
Many laptops can’t handle DJ software is your chosen laptop fit for task?
Problems with the wireless – cuts in and out?
What happens if the laptops are stolen on site ? Ask the important Insurance questions
What is the battery life of your selected model?
Will the computers all read memory sticks?
Do laptops cope with full-motion video?
Will your courses work on a computer that only has a modem and not a high-speed Internet connection?
DO you have laptops capable of working on both Windows and Macintosh operating systems with all the most popular web browsers available, including Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, and Safari?
Will the laptop deal with downloading plug-ins on employees' computers?
Can hearing impaired employees or employees without speakers use the laptops?
Can trainees download programs and plug-ins to run an online course?
Where employees work in secure locations and need to to download programs from their site or plug-ins from the Internet will the have admin access to your hired comuters?
Are your laptops Section 508 (USA or worldwide equilalent) compliant for persons with disabilities?
Laptop Hire in London
Are all the computers you have hired matching kit or are the internally and externally inconsistent?
Are the computers re formatted and re installed and tested down between events?
Are their spares in case of malfunctioning computers?
Are there enough USB ports for your needs?
Are there any pickup, delivery or setup charges?
Do laptop come in boxes, carry cases and are these options available as standard?
Do notebooks come standard with sound for your Powerpoint presentation?
Do the laptops come with cabling to hook up to Projectos and LCD screens?
Do the laptops have network cards or connectivity?
Do the laptops have security options to lock them to a desk?
Do they come with a Mouse or pointing device?
Do you have unfettered Internat access?
Do you need a CD or DVD drive?
Does the compuer get too hot for comfort ?
Does the Touch pad responds well, is too sensitive, or indeed work at all ?
Does your laptop have the right specification for your task eg economy, performance, visual?
Does the Wi-fi cut out?
How flexible are delivery options?
How good are the discounts per week, month, quarter and year?
How quickly can laptops be shipped after order?
Is the hard drive unexpectedly noisy?
Is the Keyboard the right size, language and configuration for your needs?
Is the machine heavier than you expected it to be?
Is the machine slow to respond after hibernation?
Is the memory sufficient for your task?
Is the screen size too small, making it hard for the 40 + audience to read?
Is the speed adequate to your task?
Many laptops can’t handle DJ software is your chosen laptop fit for task?
Problems with the wireless – cuts in and out?
What happens if the laptops are stolen on site ? Ask the important Insurance questions
What is the battery life of your selected model?
Will the computers all read memory sticks?
Do laptops cope with full-motion video?
Will your courses work on a computer that only has a modem and not a high-speed Internet connection?
DO you have laptops capable of working on both Windows and Macintosh operating systems with all the most popular web browsers available, including Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, and Safari?
Will the laptop deal with downloading plug-ins on employees' computers?
Can hearing impaired employees or employees without speakers use the laptops?
Can trainees download programs and plug-ins to run an online course?
Where employees work in secure locations and need to to download programs from their site or plug-ins from the Internet will the have admin access to your hired comuters?
Are your laptops Section 508 (USA or worldwide equilalent) compliant for persons with disabilities?
Laptop Hire in London
Monday, June 8, 2009
Questions to interrogate IT Training providers with
Questions to interrogate IT Training providers with
Do you need advice on what courses or types of training will be most beneficial to your organization?
Before you appoint a Trainer provider who is offering the training you require you need to consider whether you the training provider you have chosen can fulfil your needs. Don’t rush this process you need to ask some challenging questions
The Practical arrangements for your IT Course
Where does the training take place?
When is it provided?
How long does the course last?
What are the max and min group sizes?
Will the course be cancelled if min numbers are not achieved?
How long do the classes take?
How often are your courses assessed?
Can the provider tailor the course to the individual learning styles?
About IT training courses
What topics does the syllabus cover?
What are the key objectives of the course?
Has the course been regularly updated and is it relevant and fit for purpose?
What follow-on training is available after the chosen course?
Apart from the standard offering can the provider design a course for my requirement, or adapt an existing syllabus to cover your requirement?
Does the course meet the requirements of a recognized qualification or accreditation or even an attendance certificate?
Is the course assessed either internally or externally (exams, course work, what practical exercises are available)?
Can I bring my own examples?
What is the limit of post course support?
How effective are the assessment and monitoring of learning?
How well do the programmes and courses meet the needs and interests of learners?
How well are learners guided and supported?
Course Fees and Payment arrangements
How much does the course cost and does it include VAT?
Are there any other hidden costs (e.g. lunch, books, and training materials)?
Am I going to have to put in some of my own time before or after the course?
Are there any refunds for absences absent?
Can I be excluded for late arrival?
Can I get a refund if I am unhappy with the course?
Have you considered transport costs?
When do I have to pay for my course?
Is there a deposit required?
Under what circumstances can I cancel my course?
What are the payment arrangements after the course has been completed?
Are there any additional fees?
Are there any grants available?
Are there any discounts for charities or voluntary organizations?
Can I get a discount for booking multiple courses?
Relevance to my Working Life
What other organizations similar to mine use your training courses?
What types of trainee do you train (age, ability, senior executives, etc)?
Do you specialize in any particular group e.g. Accountants, graduates
Do you have references from other employers that have used your service?
Do you have accreditation from trade bodies, Government, etc?
What is the extent of the trainers' experience of my industry?
What qualifications do your trainers possess?
Services Aimed at Training Administrators
Can the provider do an assessment of my organizations training needs?
Does your provider provide a pre-course assessment for trainees?
Does your provider offer support for those who are struggling during the course?
What reporting mechanisms are available to me as an employer?
What is the complaints procedure if I am unhappy with the training outcome?
Training facilities
Is there a work-based or work-simulation environment?
How new is the equipment and is it fit for purpose
Is the software the right version?
Can I have the course at my site?
Does the Training Company offer distance learning or online learning or deliver the course at my site?
What options are available for learners with special educational needs?
Can you provide signers for candidates with hearing difficulties?
Can you provide special screens and software for visually impaired trainees?
Is there a child care facility, and if so, what are the hours and costs for using it?
What are the parking arrangements?
How easy is it to reach the premises by public transport?
What is the accommodation like (classrooms, workshops, etc)?
What are the arrangements for disabled people?
Do you offer training in other languages than English?
Just as the training company needs to be asked questions don’t forget to ask yourself some searching questions about your training needs
Have you identified where there are skill gaps in your employees? The answers to these questions will help you tailor courses to your specific needs, rather than settle for standard courses?
Can you brief your training provider with the post course demands that trainees will need to be able to fulfil?
Are you after a recognized qualification or skill level for a particular role?
How does the course match with the overall objectives of your organization?
Is there a time scale to complete the training programme?
Post Course Support?
What support will employee's line manager provide for the trainees?
When you review your employee's progress, check if they are coping with the course. Indeed check they have attended all session’s session? Do spend time observing and assessing the employee's developing skills? Can you provide contact details with other trainees to help build support mechanisms?
Ok now you are ready for that email, meeting or telephone call with your proposed training provider________________________________________
Identify your training needs and current knowledge
Identify your current knowledge and then provide you with a recommended course level. We can then also group delegates of the same ability to ensure they get the most from their course. Always ensure that this is done, tedious it may be, it's definitely worth the effort!
________________________________________
Scheduling Flexibility
Scheduling many delegates can sometime be a really difficult task. Just as you confirmed the names to attend, something pops up in the office that needs a person on the course to cancel , or maybe get swapped with another person. As we charge a flat rate per day, this is not a problem. Many other training suppliers will charge you a cancellation fee, or even charge you to swap a person on the course. Ensure your supplier has no such hidden charges before booking with them
________________________________________
Trainer Knowledge
Ask for copies of the training companies certification for trainers and any accreditation with the Institute of IT Training or similar bodies.
________________________________________
Training Venues
Your supplier should be flexible enough to train your staff at a location of your choice. If you do not have a dedicated IT training room. check if they can offer training laptops and all other course materials onsite at your office.
________________________________________
After Course Support
You should receive after course support from your supplier. Many training companies provide this via an online forum or via telephone or email.
________________________________________
Feedback and Reporting
Check the agreed frequency, e.g. monthly or quarterly and demand collated assessments of your training, venue and all other ancillary . If you do not get what you expected you should expect right to reject tall or part of the payment and have the training run again for free by another trainer to compensate you for any shortfall in our service..
Not that you asked but How do we conduct training. Don't read on on less you are a Londoner looking for classroom training
Frequently asked questions IT Courses
When/how often do you run your courses?
None of our courses are scheduled or open to the public. We book courses on demand and they are closed to the group/company or individual booking them.
We will never cancel your course !
But I thought I could book myself onto an already existing course with other people. Don’t you run these?
No. We believe in tailoring every detail about a course to requirements, from the date most suited to the client, to the course content and how that content is finally ‘sewn’ together.
Imagine trying to get 8 of your colleagues to agree to a date that is already pre-prescribed by an external training company. Practically impossible with so many schedules to take into consideration.
We recommend that you request specific dates in advance to avoid disappointment but we will always move heaven and earth to meet your requirements. Flexibility is our middle name.
If you still prefer the idea of booking you or your colleagues onto a public scheduled course, there are plenty out there to choose from…we could even give you a name or two!
How much is it to go on one of your courses?
Once again, our courses are closed to the group/individual booking them. For IT training, we charge a flat rate for a group of £695 per day at Mouse and for one to one, £450 per day. For Soft Skills, we charge a flat rate for a group of £1250 per day. (We don’t really consider 1-1 training for Soft Skills as having much benefit to candidates, although there can be exceptions to this).
Most of our courses are a day in length, although a couple, for example, MS Project , Access intro and Project Management training are two days in length.
We do not charge extra for more complex or more specialist courses. In our view if the trainer knows the information you are just paying for their time regardless of whether you are centring text in Word or building a project plan.
Do you offer discounts for charity clients?
Yes all registered Charities get an automatic discount of 10% on the quoted price.
Mouse Training also offer 1 day per month of free training to the volunteers working with charities.Call through if you want more details
Do you offer discounts for booking in advance?
Of course there are advantages to us if bookings are confirmed in advance. We offer a 10% discount for bookings 2 months in advance of the training. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. For example a charity cannot get a 20% discount for booking 2 months in advance
I am responsible for training and would like to book in volume what discounts do you offer?
Organizations pre-booking 10 or more courses also qualify for a 10% discount on the stated price.
These prices are excluding VAT.
When do I pay for my/our course?
We invoice at the end of the month in which training takes place and payment is only due 30 days after the course date.
You may pay by cheque or BACS.
What if I feel that the training was substandard?
Firstly, customer satisfaction is paramount. We have a no-quibble refund policy. As mentioned already, you don’t pay before the course takes place and if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received, you don’t pay.
Moreover, we will offer to run the course for you again (free of charge) if this is acceptable to you.
Once again, your satisfaction is our ultimate aim.
How many people can I enrol on a course?
The maximum is 8 (for IT training). Our classrooms are kitted out for 8 and this is no coincidence. We see this as the maximum number in a class that will still allow for the trainer to give a certain degree of individual attention. Additional candidates can degrade the quality of tuition that is acceptable to us. We insist on this for onsite training too.
12 candidates is the most we would consider for a soft skills class.
Do I pay more for a more advanced course?
No. Our rate is the same, no matter what the application or level.
What are the different types of training you offer?
We offer training in all the MS Office applications (Excel, Word, Access, Power point, Visio, Project, Frontpage and Adobe (Indesign, Photoshop) etc etc
We also offer a broad spectrum of soft skills courses.
Course contents are available on our website and by email but use these as a guide as all our courses can be tailored to your exact requirements.
What training don’t you offer?
We do pretty much any kind of end user training you can think of, but if it’s something a lot more technical you’re after, for example Building an Exchange Server, this is not something we would specialise in.We will not resell services that we do not fully understand. However we would certainly do our best to put you in touch with excellent providers of these services.
How do I know what type/level of training I/the group require/s?
Prior to booking a course with us, you will be sent, via email, a training needs analysis form for your chosen application or soft skill. This should be completed by all candidates and returned ASAP.
The trainer will use the results from these TNAs to assess the level/s of understanding of any given application or soft skill and to tailor the course from these results.
If the TNAs reveal that 1 or more candidates are perhaps at a different level to the rest of the group or perhaps does not require the soft skills training in question, we will advise you of this. Ideally, we would rather have candidates of a similar level attend a course so as not to risk a poor learning outcome.
I’ve looked at the course outlines for the different levels and I just feel that we need more of a mix of a couple of the levels, rather than how you’ve set them out.?
We specialise in tailoring! We provide those course outlines as a guide. Most of our clients feel safe in our hands and know we are putting them through their paces with thorough, intensive courses but we’re only too aware that for many already existing users of an application, it’s the ‘gaps’ in knowledge that require special attention. You can even mix and match different applications. Ultimately, however, one of our trainers will assess whether your requirements fit the course length taking into account your current level of knowledge.
Do I get a qualification/certificate at the end of my course?
There is no formal test/exam as such, however we will happily supply attendance certificates on request.
Where does training take place?
We have a training centre (3 classrooms) in Moorgate (central London) which are accessible to public transport, shops, restaurants, bars and pubs.
However, much of our training takes place onsite and many of our clients choose to take advantage of this. In fact, our trainers travel all over the UK and the world.
Does onsite training cost the same?
Onsite training is the exact same daily rate.
If your site/office is in London, there is no additional charge. Outside this area, you will need to take into account expenses such as transport for the trainer to get to you and sometimes even accommodation. If you are a few hours away, the trainer will need to travel to your area the night before and stopover in a hotel to ensure a prompt start to training the following day. We will always use a supplier of your choice, booked by you if you choose to do so.
Also consider that it’s likely that the trainer will need to use taxis between station/airport – hotel – site.
Worth noting is that we keep these expenses at cost: We’re not trying to make extra money from onsite training or penalise you for being further away from us than other clients. We like to believe that the Mouse attitude is an egalitarian one!
What are the technical requirements for onsite IT training?
Firstly. Very, very important when it comes to IT training: Each candidate must have a laptop/pc to work on. Each of these must be loaded with the application/s in question.
If there’s a spare laptop/pc for the trainer, mention this. If not, ask we will supply our own (an administrator will check these details with you anyway but it’s always good to double check).
A daylight projector and/or flipchart would be very useful to the trainer for presentation purposes. If you don’t have one ask us and if we have one spare on the day we will ask the trainer to bring one along.
Some courses do have special technical requirements, for example with email applications it would be necessary that all the pcs be networked to demonstrate email exchange.
The training space itself doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Some place quiet, away from the rest of the office. Seating boardroom style or classroom style. Nothing cramped as the candidates are going to spend a whole day in there together! Don’t forget a Whiteboard or flipchart will be needed.
We have a room but no computers can you run the course on our own site?
Yes in addition to the course fees for an additional £150.00 including setup and delivery we bring eight laptops (plus one spare just in case), a projector and all the cabling and extension needs to turning a meeting room into a training room in minutes.
What about running Soft Skills Training onsite? What are the requirements?
A fairly decent sized room if you have a large group. A daylight projector. Flipchart and pens. For some courses, the trainer may request additional items, for example, television and video. Items like these won’t be vital but we will ask in advance if you have them because they will certainly enhance the training.
First Aid
We have two qualified first aiders. One of whom is always available at our site. The training centre has a fully equipped First Aid case. Fortunately so far we have not needed to use it.
Disabled Access
The centre is completely conformant with the disability Discrimination Act with disabled toilets on all floors and no ramps or uneven surfaces to cope with
We are happy to provide additional support for those with Hearing or Visual Impairment through special screens or request help with sign language from RNID.
Post Course Assistance
You have the right to send through questions by email or phone which will be dealt with on a best endeavour basis. There is no time limit to this service. We will not quiz you about the length of elapsed time since your training course.
Mouse Courses
Do you need advice on what courses or types of training will be most beneficial to your organization?
Before you appoint a Trainer provider who is offering the training you require you need to consider whether you the training provider you have chosen can fulfil your needs. Don’t rush this process you need to ask some challenging questions
The Practical arrangements for your IT Course
Where does the training take place?
When is it provided?
How long does the course last?
What are the max and min group sizes?
Will the course be cancelled if min numbers are not achieved?
How long do the classes take?
How often are your courses assessed?
Can the provider tailor the course to the individual learning styles?
About IT training courses
What topics does the syllabus cover?
What are the key objectives of the course?
Has the course been regularly updated and is it relevant and fit for purpose?
What follow-on training is available after the chosen course?
Apart from the standard offering can the provider design a course for my requirement, or adapt an existing syllabus to cover your requirement?
Does the course meet the requirements of a recognized qualification or accreditation or even an attendance certificate?
Is the course assessed either internally or externally (exams, course work, what practical exercises are available)?
Can I bring my own examples?
What is the limit of post course support?
How effective are the assessment and monitoring of learning?
How well do the programmes and courses meet the needs and interests of learners?
How well are learners guided and supported?
Course Fees and Payment arrangements
How much does the course cost and does it include VAT?
Are there any other hidden costs (e.g. lunch, books, and training materials)?
Am I going to have to put in some of my own time before or after the course?
Are there any refunds for absences absent?
Can I be excluded for late arrival?
Can I get a refund if I am unhappy with the course?
Have you considered transport costs?
When do I have to pay for my course?
Is there a deposit required?
Under what circumstances can I cancel my course?
What are the payment arrangements after the course has been completed?
Are there any additional fees?
Are there any grants available?
Are there any discounts for charities or voluntary organizations?
Can I get a discount for booking multiple courses?
Relevance to my Working Life
What other organizations similar to mine use your training courses?
What types of trainee do you train (age, ability, senior executives, etc)?
Do you specialize in any particular group e.g. Accountants, graduates
Do you have references from other employers that have used your service?
Do you have accreditation from trade bodies, Government, etc?
What is the extent of the trainers' experience of my industry?
What qualifications do your trainers possess?
Services Aimed at Training Administrators
Can the provider do an assessment of my organizations training needs?
Does your provider provide a pre-course assessment for trainees?
Does your provider offer support for those who are struggling during the course?
What reporting mechanisms are available to me as an employer?
What is the complaints procedure if I am unhappy with the training outcome?
Training facilities
Is there a work-based or work-simulation environment?
How new is the equipment and is it fit for purpose
Is the software the right version?
Can I have the course at my site?
Does the Training Company offer distance learning or online learning or deliver the course at my site?
What options are available for learners with special educational needs?
Can you provide signers for candidates with hearing difficulties?
Can you provide special screens and software for visually impaired trainees?
Is there a child care facility, and if so, what are the hours and costs for using it?
What are the parking arrangements?
How easy is it to reach the premises by public transport?
What is the accommodation like (classrooms, workshops, etc)?
What are the arrangements for disabled people?
Do you offer training in other languages than English?
Just as the training company needs to be asked questions don’t forget to ask yourself some searching questions about your training needs
Have you identified where there are skill gaps in your employees? The answers to these questions will help you tailor courses to your specific needs, rather than settle for standard courses?
Can you brief your training provider with the post course demands that trainees will need to be able to fulfil?
Are you after a recognized qualification or skill level for a particular role?
How does the course match with the overall objectives of your organization?
Is there a time scale to complete the training programme?
Post Course Support?
What support will employee's line manager provide for the trainees?
When you review your employee's progress, check if they are coping with the course. Indeed check they have attended all session’s session? Do spend time observing and assessing the employee's developing skills? Can you provide contact details with other trainees to help build support mechanisms?
Ok now you are ready for that email, meeting or telephone call with your proposed training provider________________________________________
Identify your training needs and current knowledge
Identify your current knowledge and then provide you with a recommended course level. We can then also group delegates of the same ability to ensure they get the most from their course. Always ensure that this is done, tedious it may be, it's definitely worth the effort!
________________________________________
Scheduling Flexibility
Scheduling many delegates can sometime be a really difficult task. Just as you confirmed the names to attend, something pops up in the office that needs a person on the course to cancel , or maybe get swapped with another person. As we charge a flat rate per day, this is not a problem. Many other training suppliers will charge you a cancellation fee, or even charge you to swap a person on the course. Ensure your supplier has no such hidden charges before booking with them
________________________________________
Trainer Knowledge
Ask for copies of the training companies certification for trainers and any accreditation with the Institute of IT Training or similar bodies.
________________________________________
Training Venues
Your supplier should be flexible enough to train your staff at a location of your choice. If you do not have a dedicated IT training room. check if they can offer training laptops and all other course materials onsite at your office.
________________________________________
After Course Support
You should receive after course support from your supplier. Many training companies provide this via an online forum or via telephone or email.
________________________________________
Feedback and Reporting
Check the agreed frequency, e.g. monthly or quarterly and demand collated assessments of your training, venue and all other ancillary . If you do not get what you expected you should expect right to reject tall or part of the payment and have the training run again for free by another trainer to compensate you for any shortfall in our service..
Not that you asked but How do we conduct training. Don't read on on less you are a Londoner looking for classroom training
Frequently asked questions IT Courses
When/how often do you run your courses?
None of our courses are scheduled or open to the public. We book courses on demand and they are closed to the group/company or individual booking them.
We will never cancel your course !
But I thought I could book myself onto an already existing course with other people. Don’t you run these?
No. We believe in tailoring every detail about a course to requirements, from the date most suited to the client, to the course content and how that content is finally ‘sewn’ together.
Imagine trying to get 8 of your colleagues to agree to a date that is already pre-prescribed by an external training company. Practically impossible with so many schedules to take into consideration.
We recommend that you request specific dates in advance to avoid disappointment but we will always move heaven and earth to meet your requirements. Flexibility is our middle name.
If you still prefer the idea of booking you or your colleagues onto a public scheduled course, there are plenty out there to choose from…we could even give you a name or two!
How much is it to go on one of your courses?
Once again, our courses are closed to the group/individual booking them. For IT training, we charge a flat rate for a group of £695 per day at Mouse and for one to one, £450 per day. For Soft Skills, we charge a flat rate for a group of £1250 per day. (We don’t really consider 1-1 training for Soft Skills as having much benefit to candidates, although there can be exceptions to this).
Most of our courses are a day in length, although a couple, for example, MS Project , Access intro and Project Management training are two days in length.
We do not charge extra for more complex or more specialist courses. In our view if the trainer knows the information you are just paying for their time regardless of whether you are centring text in Word or building a project plan.
Do you offer discounts for charity clients?
Yes all registered Charities get an automatic discount of 10% on the quoted price.
Mouse Training also offer 1 day per month of free training to the volunteers working with charities.Call through if you want more details
Do you offer discounts for booking in advance?
Of course there are advantages to us if bookings are confirmed in advance. We offer a 10% discount for bookings 2 months in advance of the training. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. For example a charity cannot get a 20% discount for booking 2 months in advance
I am responsible for training and would like to book in volume what discounts do you offer?
Organizations pre-booking 10 or more courses also qualify for a 10% discount on the stated price.
These prices are excluding VAT.
When do I pay for my/our course?
We invoice at the end of the month in which training takes place and payment is only due 30 days after the course date.
You may pay by cheque or BACS.
What if I feel that the training was substandard?
Firstly, customer satisfaction is paramount. We have a no-quibble refund policy. As mentioned already, you don’t pay before the course takes place and if you’re not happy with the training you’ve received, you don’t pay.
Moreover, we will offer to run the course for you again (free of charge) if this is acceptable to you.
Once again, your satisfaction is our ultimate aim.
How many people can I enrol on a course?
The maximum is 8 (for IT training). Our classrooms are kitted out for 8 and this is no coincidence. We see this as the maximum number in a class that will still allow for the trainer to give a certain degree of individual attention. Additional candidates can degrade the quality of tuition that is acceptable to us. We insist on this for onsite training too.
12 candidates is the most we would consider for a soft skills class.
Do I pay more for a more advanced course?
No. Our rate is the same, no matter what the application or level.
What are the different types of training you offer?
We offer training in all the MS Office applications (Excel, Word, Access, Power point, Visio, Project, Frontpage and Adobe (Indesign, Photoshop) etc etc
We also offer a broad spectrum of soft skills courses.
Course contents are available on our website and by email but use these as a guide as all our courses can be tailored to your exact requirements.
What training don’t you offer?
We do pretty much any kind of end user training you can think of, but if it’s something a lot more technical you’re after, for example Building an Exchange Server, this is not something we would specialise in.We will not resell services that we do not fully understand. However we would certainly do our best to put you in touch with excellent providers of these services.
How do I know what type/level of training I/the group require/s?
Prior to booking a course with us, you will be sent, via email, a training needs analysis form for your chosen application or soft skill. This should be completed by all candidates and returned ASAP.
The trainer will use the results from these TNAs to assess the level/s of understanding of any given application or soft skill and to tailor the course from these results.
If the TNAs reveal that 1 or more candidates are perhaps at a different level to the rest of the group or perhaps does not require the soft skills training in question, we will advise you of this. Ideally, we would rather have candidates of a similar level attend a course so as not to risk a poor learning outcome.
I’ve looked at the course outlines for the different levels and I just feel that we need more of a mix of a couple of the levels, rather than how you’ve set them out.?
We specialise in tailoring! We provide those course outlines as a guide. Most of our clients feel safe in our hands and know we are putting them through their paces with thorough, intensive courses but we’re only too aware that for many already existing users of an application, it’s the ‘gaps’ in knowledge that require special attention. You can even mix and match different applications. Ultimately, however, one of our trainers will assess whether your requirements fit the course length taking into account your current level of knowledge.
Do I get a qualification/certificate at the end of my course?
There is no formal test/exam as such, however we will happily supply attendance certificates on request.
Where does training take place?
We have a training centre (3 classrooms) in Moorgate (central London) which are accessible to public transport, shops, restaurants, bars and pubs.
However, much of our training takes place onsite and many of our clients choose to take advantage of this. In fact, our trainers travel all over the UK and the world.
Does onsite training cost the same?
Onsite training is the exact same daily rate.
If your site/office is in London, there is no additional charge. Outside this area, you will need to take into account expenses such as transport for the trainer to get to you and sometimes even accommodation. If you are a few hours away, the trainer will need to travel to your area the night before and stopover in a hotel to ensure a prompt start to training the following day. We will always use a supplier of your choice, booked by you if you choose to do so.
Also consider that it’s likely that the trainer will need to use taxis between station/airport – hotel – site.
Worth noting is that we keep these expenses at cost: We’re not trying to make extra money from onsite training or penalise you for being further away from us than other clients. We like to believe that the Mouse attitude is an egalitarian one!
What are the technical requirements for onsite IT training?
Firstly. Very, very important when it comes to IT training: Each candidate must have a laptop/pc to work on. Each of these must be loaded with the application/s in question.
If there’s a spare laptop/pc for the trainer, mention this. If not, ask we will supply our own (an administrator will check these details with you anyway but it’s always good to double check).
A daylight projector and/or flipchart would be very useful to the trainer for presentation purposes. If you don’t have one ask us and if we have one spare on the day we will ask the trainer to bring one along.
Some courses do have special technical requirements, for example with email applications it would be necessary that all the pcs be networked to demonstrate email exchange.
The training space itself doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Some place quiet, away from the rest of the office. Seating boardroom style or classroom style. Nothing cramped as the candidates are going to spend a whole day in there together! Don’t forget a Whiteboard or flipchart will be needed.
We have a room but no computers can you run the course on our own site?
Yes in addition to the course fees for an additional £150.00 including setup and delivery we bring eight laptops (plus one spare just in case), a projector and all the cabling and extension needs to turning a meeting room into a training room in minutes.
What about running Soft Skills Training onsite? What are the requirements?
A fairly decent sized room if you have a large group. A daylight projector. Flipchart and pens. For some courses, the trainer may request additional items, for example, television and video. Items like these won’t be vital but we will ask in advance if you have them because they will certainly enhance the training.
First Aid
We have two qualified first aiders. One of whom is always available at our site. The training centre has a fully equipped First Aid case. Fortunately so far we have not needed to use it.
Disabled Access
The centre is completely conformant with the disability Discrimination Act with disabled toilets on all floors and no ramps or uneven surfaces to cope with
We are happy to provide additional support for those with Hearing or Visual Impairment through special screens or request help with sign language from RNID.
Post Course Assistance
You have the right to send through questions by email or phone which will be dealt with on a best endeavour basis. There is no time limit to this service. We will not quiz you about the length of elapsed time since your training course.
Mouse Courses
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Using Rand() in Microsoft Applications
If you are a help desk specialist trying to help a remote user with Ms Word and you can’t see their screen I have a tip for you. In all versions of Word you can type
=Rand()
Which gets you:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
To control the number of paragraphs you can use two arguments
=rand(Paragraphs,Sentences)
ie, =rand(2,8) will give you two paragraphs and eight sentences.
Additionally in Word 2007 there is an alternative syntax which gives you sample latin
=lorem(paragraphs,sentences)
This is useful for mocking up brochure layouts with sample text
In Excel there is a similar function called
=Rand() which will produce a random number between 0 and 1.
=Int(rand()*49) will produce a whole number between 1 and 49.
What would be really useful would be a sample record generator for Access to produce records for predefined fields. Does anyone know of such a tool?
Anyway for more information on Word or Excel download our free training materials
=Rand()
Which gets you:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
To control the number of paragraphs you can use two arguments
=rand(Paragraphs,Sentences)
ie, =rand(2,8) will give you two paragraphs and eight sentences.
Additionally in Word 2007 there is an alternative syntax which gives you sample latin
=lorem(paragraphs,sentences)
This is useful for mocking up brochure layouts with sample text
In Excel there is a similar function called
=Rand() which will produce a random number between 0 and 1.
=Int(rand()*49) will produce a whole number between 1 and 49.
What would be really useful would be a sample record generator for Access to produce records for predefined fields. Does anyone know of such a tool?
Anyway for more information on Word or Excel download our free training materials
Use MS Outlook Features Efficiently
Communicating efficiently with Email is now more important than meetings or the telephone.
In business although there is a place for Lotus notes Outlook is the primary email application for business users. Forget that time management course just become more efficient with your email application
Ms Outlook is more though than just sending and receiving messages. Users do advantage of the additional features that Outlook boasts
Calendar
Task manager
Contact management
Journal
All these features can save time and help the user organise their communications. Even email can be more productively logged, categorized and incorporating it into your daily work flow
A Note can easily be promoted to be a task or entered into a calendar item or dragged straight into a new email.
You can send an email now but set an option so that the recipient does not receive it until 9:00 next Friday for added impact while you are on holiday.
Why not cancel an email so that if the recipient has not opened if by Tuesday then the enclosed invitation to a presentation would expire from their inbox.
What about sending an email read only to stop your words being edited and forwarded with a different slant
MS Outlook has hundred of features like these so go get. For a free Outlook training manual to help
In business although there is a place for Lotus notes Outlook is the primary email application for business users. Forget that time management course just become more efficient with your email application
Ms Outlook is more though than just sending and receiving messages. Users do advantage of the additional features that Outlook boasts
Calendar
Task manager
Contact management
Journal
All these features can save time and help the user organise their communications. Even email can be more productively logged, categorized and incorporating it into your daily work flow
A Note can easily be promoted to be a task or entered into a calendar item or dragged straight into a new email.
You can send an email now but set an option so that the recipient does not receive it until 9:00 next Friday for added impact while you are on holiday.
Why not cancel an email so that if the recipient has not opened if by Tuesday then the enclosed invitation to a presentation would expire from their inbox.
What about sending an email read only to stop your words being edited and forwarded with a different slant
MS Outlook has hundred of features like these so go get. For a free Outlook training manual to help
Complete Skills Questionaire
The list of questions below can be adapted to be questions asked at interview to assess key skills of a potential employee or used as a skills questionaire for them to complete
Management Sills Questionnaire
I possess excellent managerial skills
I feel that I do not manage but instead I am part of a team
I have been told that my management style is lacking
I cannot manage because there are potential problems everywhere
I often wonder how emotions affect my performance and that of my team
I manage a team of twelve or less
I manage a department of 20 +
I report to one person
I report to a board of directors
I need general management skills following an appraisal
I need general management skills following promotion
I need general management skills following re-structuring
I want to know how I can motivate
I have a difficult but valuable colleague that I want to communicate with
I need skills in performance coaching
I run an effective team
I think I know my team
I feel that to be a good manager I need all the answers
Disruptive people can't possibly be getting anything out of their role
I value what people think of me - credibility is most important
I value what people think of me and need to be liked at all costs
I just want tasks done; I don't care how I am perceived
I want to know how to cope with anger in the workplace
I respect and seek input from my team
I want to develop a mature and ethical approach to management
I need to be more professional
I want to improve the quality of our management meetings
Social time is important for the team so I encourage this
I find it difficult to handle people who are continually late for work
I make a point of touching base with every member of the team daily
I hold monthly team meetings
Team meetings are impossible - endless dreaming and waffle
Employees should do as they are asked and not question
My team just do not understand that I am a morning person
The office is always empty by four on a Friday and this worries me
I do not know all the answers but will never admit this
Corrective feedback is the only effective feedback
I continually search for strategies to cope with personality types
I strive to add managerial value without formal authority and power
I seek a wider perspective on management and business
I need to recognise good and bad management practice
I want to understand the politics and social dynamics of my organisation
I think I possess Emotional Intelligence and value this quality
Effective communication is the foundation of good management
I am a Leader
I am a Follower
Project Management Skills
I am an experienced and effective project manager
I am unsure how effective I am in project management
I need to improve in all areas of management
I will be involved with project management in the near future
I want to be able to communicate my vision and message with precision
I love planning either alone or with my team
Planning is a waste of time because disruption happens hourly
A project manager is only as good as his/her team
Scope and objectives are undefined but all becomes clear in the end
I structure time lines and schedules well
My last project produced the desired output and the team was congratulated
My last project did not produce the desired output and I do not know why
My last project did not produce the desired output and I know why not
I want to clearly communicate goals, responsibility and expectations
I want to clearly communicate performance and feedback
I want to improve the quality of our management meetings
I have a difficult but valuable team member that I want to connect with
I need to be more professional
Cost, time and quality have equal importance in every project
Cost is the most important factor in my projects
Time is the most important factor in my projects
Quality is the most important factor in my projects
I insist that key project team members attend Time Management courses
I want to be able to handle change while managing a project
I ignore risk management and always hope for the best
Tracking and reporting is a fundamental necessity in project management
I do not need to track my team; their heroics always get the job done in time
Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it
I understand what my SMART goals are
Problem solving is essential when managing a project
Communication is the key to good project management
Communication is always the block within all my projects
Gantt Charts are invaluable
I am cool under pressure
I cannot handle pressure and then make bad judgements
I cannot let the team know when there are problems as this is my responsibility
Teambuilding is essential to deal with the unexpected
I do not have a leadership style - I just tell 'em!
I encourage different team player types to get the balance right
I can delegate effectively
I cannot delegate at all, so the team goes home and I stay late
I need to be seen to be capable and competent
I know the difference between empathy and sympathy
I try and evoke a "can do" attitude in my project team
A leader must "walk the talk" and in the process earn trust
Time Management Skills
I have difficulty thinking about the future and setting long-range goals.
My long-range goals are too far in the future to predict a time frame for completion.
I file things for future reference but often forget to refer to them later on.
I grab odd, spare bits of time in order to chip away at relatively complex tasks.
I handle a glut of information by categorizing things and deal with them when I have a chance.
I put decisions and problems on “hold” until I have a block of time to give to them.
My intentions—my plans and goals—are my own business. I rarely announce them to others.
I know where I want to be in 5 years; deciding how to get there is the hard part.
I do what I have to do at the time; it’s confusing to think about tomorrow or next week.
Making daily or weekly lists makes me feel overwhelmed.
I am often too busy to plan each week’s schedule.
I always have to alter my schedule, so I often don’t bother to create one.
Making a “to-do” list is a waste of time.
Writing down a “to-do” list is a waste of time/paper; I keep a “to-do” list in my head.
I can make a list, but I find it difficult to decide in what order to do things.
When I have many tasks to complete, I plunge into any one in order to get started.
I like to work my way into difficult or boring tasks by doing the easier ones first.
I don’t think about my peak energy time; I have to perform well all of the time.
Things often take longer than I plan, so I seem to be in a perpetual state of “catch-up.”
I tend to procrastinate since I work better under pressure.
I make plans/ and time for tasks but don’t usually use it as planned; other things seem to get in the way.
I usually run to answer the telephone when it rings.
Most major household/office responsibilities seem to fall on my shoulders.
Piles of paper in my house/ office are getting out of control.
I usually say “yes” when I’m asked to be on a committee, bake a cake, do some optional overtime, etc.
Others don’t do things as I like them done, so I do them myself.
I often solve other people’s problems.
Each time I start something, I seem to be interrupted by family, friends, co-workers.
People and situations to whom I am responsible really do make demands on my time.
I seem to add to instead of eliminate activities.
I will not lower my standards just to save a bit of time.
My schedule is always overbooked
I have a hard time saying no
I’m always in a hurry, or am feeling too much time pressure
I feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done
I have too many interruptions and can't keep everyone out of my office
Yes, I’m good at scheduling my days and weeks
I have systems for filing, management information and communication.
It's tempting to do something myself when I think I can do it faster and better
I get so much done in those few days before a holiday
I always tidy my desk
I make notes about what needs doing tomorrow and prioritise those tasks
I feel frustrated at the end of the day and haven't done half the things I wanted to do
I have more on my 'to do' list than what can get done
Know what I should be doing but just can't seem to get around to doing it
Want more 'life' in my 'work/life' balance?
I wish I could feel less frustrated and overwhelmed
I wish I could feel more in control and more fulfilled
I often do a task to avoid something else
Customer Service Skills Questionnaire
People can often lose their temper when talking to me on the phone.
I find difficult people very hard to deal with
Using the telephone causes me some anxiety
I often feel like saying 'I didn't deal with this'
I sometimes suggest they write in because they can't explain their query coherently
I find it hard to maintain an enthusiastic and friendly tone on the telephone.
Because I am listening on the phone or in a meeting to what is being said I don’t always take notes.
I often find people interrupt me when I am on the phone or in a meeting
I don’t always manage to get the speaker’s name and telephone number.
I don't always get the order number so the complaint can be checked.
I often feel disloyal to my organization if I sympathise with the customer's plight
If the company is at fault I always apologise.
I never give excuses when things go wrong. The truth is always the preferred option
If I promise something (e.g. to call back) - I always do it
I often feel like saying 'it's not my fault' when callers ring through to my department
I occasionally find myself automatically accepting liability for an error without realizing it.
I find the longer customers talk on the phone the less aggressive the complaint becomes
I automatically accept liability
I often jump to conclusions too early on in a meeting or call
I find myself talking down to clients suggesting their misuse or mistake
I lose my temper too quickly on the telephone
I appeal for sympathy too frequently after a bad call
I speak calmly and at an even pitch during calls
I keep my temper during a telephone call that has degenerated into a dispute
I respond to customers with aggression when they misunderstand my point of view?
I maintain my patience and good humour
On the phone I have time to write down the facts as I hear them
I use the facts on the phone to bring the customer back to the point
I always manage to avoid making personal remarks on the telephone to customers
I always get to the facts and stay with them
I manage to avoid sarcasm on the phone to clients
I never feel like I am hearing the whole picture
There is never enough time to plan the calls I am making
I often feel there is never enough time to follow up
There is no time to put customers at their ease
I struggle to ask the right questions and summarise caller's responses
I don't think there is any point to customer feedback as it never results in changes
Negotiation Skills Survey
My negotiating skills are second to none
I am sometimes unsure how effective my negotiating skills are
There are times when I could have more success in negotiation
I feel that I could not sell ice in a desert!
I need to be more professional
I think negotiating is a harder form of influencing and persuading
I am so defensive when negotiating - it is always such a fight
I can always read the other person
I can never read the other person
I don't care if I can read the other person or not, he/she must simply agree
Trust and respect have nothing to do with negotiating
Successful negotiations have always involved seeing the other point of view
I like to get personal; they are more likely to agree to my demands
I never get personal, it always clouds my judgement
I care about the deal, but hate to show any emotion
I try to ensure that everyone has an interest in the success of the negotiation
I need a set of negotiation tools to fall back on when emotions rise
I know my organisation's code of conduct when negotiating
I do not understand what a 'Win Win' situation is
I fall down by not identifying negotiating limits before starting the process
I need to exercise pressure but sometimes this turns into coercion
I wish I could have a glossary of alternative ways to say "no"!
The more I need to secure the deal, the weaker my position
I never let the other side go first
I feel that uniqueness plays an important part in the negotiation process
I hate the "split the difference" stage and normally give in
I never wait to get the agreement to do business, and just jump in
When negotiating I always keep the big picture in mind
When negotiating I never keep the big picture in mind
If I do not have a plan, I rely on AIDCA
I do not understand the acronym AIDCA
When negotiating I want to know when to walk away - and then come back!
I wish I had more confidence when negotiating
I don't have enough patience to play out the game
I like introducing surprises in the negotiating 'dance', it keeps their attention!
Surprises in negotiations do not work, they cause distrust and fear
Any successful negotiation relies on planning and preparation
Any successful negotiation is down to charisma
The strongest personality always wins
I never know how to question/probe without risking hostility
I always stay cool and calm
I am always hot under the collar
I adopt a defensive position
I adopt an offensive position
I remain in the middle of the road and will not deviate
Presentation Skills Survey
I need help with a specific problem in this/these areas
I am used to speaking in public
I lack confidence when presenting
I have a fear of speaking in public and avoid it at all costs
My presentation skills are lacking and my career is suffering as a result
I consider myself an assertive person
I am fairly confident but need to deal with those awkward moments/people
I wish I was assertive
I do not want to be assertive, I am happy as I am
I have always been a target for bullies because I like the quiet life!
I use presentations to inform
I use presentations to persuade
I use presentations to amuse and entertain
I use presentations to explain and instruct
A change in my role will mean I will be presenting in the future
My presentations lack structure
I can never say what I want to say
I use Microsoft PowerPoint regularly
I have no idea what PowerPoint is
Before presenting I ensure I am totally prepared
I listen well
I present well but cannot handle interruptions or aggression
My nerves get in the way of presenting
I rely on feedback to improve
I always run through any presentation beforehand
I like to adlib and prefer to present material as a one-off - I never rehearse
I do not understand the value of hand-outs, pictures say it all
I do not want to listen or see presentations. Send me hard copies I can hold
I establish rapport quickly
I always rub people up the wrong way
Strong people intimidate me
I relish difficult situations and normally get my own way
I feel that attention to detail is the key to success
I hate getting caught up in the mundane - I like to see the big picture
I am happy to sit back and let others fly
I always seek the opinion of others
I have always followed my own instinct and made my own judgements
I use different styles of questioning in my communication
I am always defensive
I am always trying to overcome personality clashes
I have good powers of observation
I am interested in some good presentation slide tips
My English is a good standard
I am happy with my grammar and punctuation, but need a dictionary handy!
My slides have been criticised as too wordy
Impact and Influence Questionnaire
I influence well and my presence is effective
I can never influence anyone and this is now halting career prospects
I am unsure how to manage others when attempting to influence
There are times when I could improve on my influencing techniques
I want to be able to communicate my vision with passion and precision
I would like more clarity in my communication
I often engage in open and frank discussion
I struggle giving constructive feedback
I am interested in improving all my communication routes
My bad communication techniques block all processes
People remember my name
People always forget who I am and what I do
I feel I am never in control of my actions and feelings
I need to be more professional
I hate change
I welcome change
Change can be positive and can motivate
I have no idea why people resist change
I would like to think on my feet and react with any audience more
I want to structure all my messages for maximum impact
I want to travel beyond fear into positive and powerful energy
I want to influence not 'railroad'
Leaders always deliver good business results
I attempt to influence but end up just 'telling'
I have a difficult but valuable colleague that I cannot communicate with
I generally adopt an aggressive behaviour style when trying to influence
I am regarded as submissive and am never taken seriously
I am assertive most of the time and this seems to earn respect
I need to listen more
I cannot get a straight answer out of my team members
I cannot handle criticism
I have been told that my body language lets me down
I want to know how to build better rapport with people
I want to understand why those first impressions are so important
I have no idea how I am influenced and therefore can't influence others
I want to understand different communication styles and preferences
I think 'influencing' is just another word for 'bullying'
I think I manage good rapport but never know when to move things on
I get uncomfortable when influencing moves to the 'Close'
I hate influencing and never look back at past mistakes
I successfully influenced that last challenging person within my role
I failed to influence the last challenging person within my role
I have no idea whether I influenced the last challenging person within my role
I need a tool to gauge how and when to influence and persuade
I need people to notice and respect me
Reporting Writing Skills
All my report and business writing is effective
My report and business writing has room for improvement
I am unable to structure my reports effectively
I avoid all report writing and do not have this skill
I have liter
Management Sills Questionnaire
I possess excellent managerial skills
I feel that I do not manage but instead I am part of a team
I have been told that my management style is lacking
I cannot manage because there are potential problems everywhere
I often wonder how emotions affect my performance and that of my team
I manage a team of twelve or less
I manage a department of 20 +
I report to one person
I report to a board of directors
I need general management skills following an appraisal
I need general management skills following promotion
I need general management skills following re-structuring
I want to know how I can motivate
I have a difficult but valuable colleague that I want to communicate with
I need skills in performance coaching
I run an effective team
I think I know my team
I feel that to be a good manager I need all the answers
Disruptive people can't possibly be getting anything out of their role
I value what people think of me - credibility is most important
I value what people think of me and need to be liked at all costs
I just want tasks done; I don't care how I am perceived
I want to know how to cope with anger in the workplace
I respect and seek input from my team
I want to develop a mature and ethical approach to management
I need to be more professional
I want to improve the quality of our management meetings
Social time is important for the team so I encourage this
I find it difficult to handle people who are continually late for work
I make a point of touching base with every member of the team daily
I hold monthly team meetings
Team meetings are impossible - endless dreaming and waffle
Employees should do as they are asked and not question
My team just do not understand that I am a morning person
The office is always empty by four on a Friday and this worries me
I do not know all the answers but will never admit this
Corrective feedback is the only effective feedback
I continually search for strategies to cope with personality types
I strive to add managerial value without formal authority and power
I seek a wider perspective on management and business
I need to recognise good and bad management practice
I want to understand the politics and social dynamics of my organisation
I think I possess Emotional Intelligence and value this quality
Effective communication is the foundation of good management
I am a Leader
I am a Follower
Project Management Skills
I am an experienced and effective project manager
I am unsure how effective I am in project management
I need to improve in all areas of management
I will be involved with project management in the near future
I want to be able to communicate my vision and message with precision
I love planning either alone or with my team
Planning is a waste of time because disruption happens hourly
A project manager is only as good as his/her team
Scope and objectives are undefined but all becomes clear in the end
I structure time lines and schedules well
My last project produced the desired output and the team was congratulated
My last project did not produce the desired output and I do not know why
My last project did not produce the desired output and I know why not
I want to clearly communicate goals, responsibility and expectations
I want to clearly communicate performance and feedback
I want to improve the quality of our management meetings
I have a difficult but valuable team member that I want to connect with
I need to be more professional
Cost, time and quality have equal importance in every project
Cost is the most important factor in my projects
Time is the most important factor in my projects
Quality is the most important factor in my projects
I insist that key project team members attend Time Management courses
I want to be able to handle change while managing a project
I ignore risk management and always hope for the best
Tracking and reporting is a fundamental necessity in project management
I do not need to track my team; their heroics always get the job done in time
Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it
I understand what my SMART goals are
Problem solving is essential when managing a project
Communication is the key to good project management
Communication is always the block within all my projects
Gantt Charts are invaluable
I am cool under pressure
I cannot handle pressure and then make bad judgements
I cannot let the team know when there are problems as this is my responsibility
Teambuilding is essential to deal with the unexpected
I do not have a leadership style - I just tell 'em!
I encourage different team player types to get the balance right
I can delegate effectively
I cannot delegate at all, so the team goes home and I stay late
I need to be seen to be capable and competent
I know the difference between empathy and sympathy
I try and evoke a "can do" attitude in my project team
A leader must "walk the talk" and in the process earn trust
Time Management Skills
I have difficulty thinking about the future and setting long-range goals.
My long-range goals are too far in the future to predict a time frame for completion.
I file things for future reference but often forget to refer to them later on.
I grab odd, spare bits of time in order to chip away at relatively complex tasks.
I handle a glut of information by categorizing things and deal with them when I have a chance.
I put decisions and problems on “hold” until I have a block of time to give to them.
My intentions—my plans and goals—are my own business. I rarely announce them to others.
I know where I want to be in 5 years; deciding how to get there is the hard part.
I do what I have to do at the time; it’s confusing to think about tomorrow or next week.
Making daily or weekly lists makes me feel overwhelmed.
I am often too busy to plan each week’s schedule.
I always have to alter my schedule, so I often don’t bother to create one.
Making a “to-do” list is a waste of time.
Writing down a “to-do” list is a waste of time/paper; I keep a “to-do” list in my head.
I can make a list, but I find it difficult to decide in what order to do things.
When I have many tasks to complete, I plunge into any one in order to get started.
I like to work my way into difficult or boring tasks by doing the easier ones first.
I don’t think about my peak energy time; I have to perform well all of the time.
Things often take longer than I plan, so I seem to be in a perpetual state of “catch-up.”
I tend to procrastinate since I work better under pressure.
I make plans/ and time for tasks but don’t usually use it as planned; other things seem to get in the way.
I usually run to answer the telephone when it rings.
Most major household/office responsibilities seem to fall on my shoulders.
Piles of paper in my house/ office are getting out of control.
I usually say “yes” when I’m asked to be on a committee, bake a cake, do some optional overtime, etc.
Others don’t do things as I like them done, so I do them myself.
I often solve other people’s problems.
Each time I start something, I seem to be interrupted by family, friends, co-workers.
People and situations to whom I am responsible really do make demands on my time.
I seem to add to instead of eliminate activities.
I will not lower my standards just to save a bit of time.
My schedule is always overbooked
I have a hard time saying no
I’m always in a hurry, or am feeling too much time pressure
I feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done
I have too many interruptions and can't keep everyone out of my office
Yes, I’m good at scheduling my days and weeks
I have systems for filing, management information and communication.
It's tempting to do something myself when I think I can do it faster and better
I get so much done in those few days before a holiday
I always tidy my desk
I make notes about what needs doing tomorrow and prioritise those tasks
I feel frustrated at the end of the day and haven't done half the things I wanted to do
I have more on my 'to do' list than what can get done
Know what I should be doing but just can't seem to get around to doing it
Want more 'life' in my 'work/life' balance?
I wish I could feel less frustrated and overwhelmed
I wish I could feel more in control and more fulfilled
I often do a task to avoid something else
Customer Service Skills Questionnaire
People can often lose their temper when talking to me on the phone.
I find difficult people very hard to deal with
Using the telephone causes me some anxiety
I often feel like saying 'I didn't deal with this'
I sometimes suggest they write in because they can't explain their query coherently
I find it hard to maintain an enthusiastic and friendly tone on the telephone.
Because I am listening on the phone or in a meeting to what is being said I don’t always take notes.
I often find people interrupt me when I am on the phone or in a meeting
I don’t always manage to get the speaker’s name and telephone number.
I don't always get the order number so the complaint can be checked.
I often feel disloyal to my organization if I sympathise with the customer's plight
If the company is at fault I always apologise.
I never give excuses when things go wrong. The truth is always the preferred option
If I promise something (e.g. to call back) - I always do it
I often feel like saying 'it's not my fault' when callers ring through to my department
I occasionally find myself automatically accepting liability for an error without realizing it.
I find the longer customers talk on the phone the less aggressive the complaint becomes
I automatically accept liability
I often jump to conclusions too early on in a meeting or call
I find myself talking down to clients suggesting their misuse or mistake
I lose my temper too quickly on the telephone
I appeal for sympathy too frequently after a bad call
I speak calmly and at an even pitch during calls
I keep my temper during a telephone call that has degenerated into a dispute
I respond to customers with aggression when they misunderstand my point of view?
I maintain my patience and good humour
On the phone I have time to write down the facts as I hear them
I use the facts on the phone to bring the customer back to the point
I always manage to avoid making personal remarks on the telephone to customers
I always get to the facts and stay with them
I manage to avoid sarcasm on the phone to clients
I never feel like I am hearing the whole picture
There is never enough time to plan the calls I am making
I often feel there is never enough time to follow up
There is no time to put customers at their ease
I struggle to ask the right questions and summarise caller's responses
I don't think there is any point to customer feedback as it never results in changes
Negotiation Skills Survey
My negotiating skills are second to none
I am sometimes unsure how effective my negotiating skills are
There are times when I could have more success in negotiation
I feel that I could not sell ice in a desert!
I need to be more professional
I think negotiating is a harder form of influencing and persuading
I am so defensive when negotiating - it is always such a fight
I can always read the other person
I can never read the other person
I don't care if I can read the other person or not, he/she must simply agree
Trust and respect have nothing to do with negotiating
Successful negotiations have always involved seeing the other point of view
I like to get personal; they are more likely to agree to my demands
I never get personal, it always clouds my judgement
I care about the deal, but hate to show any emotion
I try to ensure that everyone has an interest in the success of the negotiation
I need a set of negotiation tools to fall back on when emotions rise
I know my organisation's code of conduct when negotiating
I do not understand what a 'Win Win' situation is
I fall down by not identifying negotiating limits before starting the process
I need to exercise pressure but sometimes this turns into coercion
I wish I could have a glossary of alternative ways to say "no"!
The more I need to secure the deal, the weaker my position
I never let the other side go first
I feel that uniqueness plays an important part in the negotiation process
I hate the "split the difference" stage and normally give in
I never wait to get the agreement to do business, and just jump in
When negotiating I always keep the big picture in mind
When negotiating I never keep the big picture in mind
If I do not have a plan, I rely on AIDCA
I do not understand the acronym AIDCA
When negotiating I want to know when to walk away - and then come back!
I wish I had more confidence when negotiating
I don't have enough patience to play out the game
I like introducing surprises in the negotiating 'dance', it keeps their attention!
Surprises in negotiations do not work, they cause distrust and fear
Any successful negotiation relies on planning and preparation
Any successful negotiation is down to charisma
The strongest personality always wins
I never know how to question/probe without risking hostility
I always stay cool and calm
I am always hot under the collar
I adopt a defensive position
I adopt an offensive position
I remain in the middle of the road and will not deviate
Presentation Skills Survey
I need help with a specific problem in this/these areas
I am used to speaking in public
I lack confidence when presenting
I have a fear of speaking in public and avoid it at all costs
My presentation skills are lacking and my career is suffering as a result
I consider myself an assertive person
I am fairly confident but need to deal with those awkward moments/people
I wish I was assertive
I do not want to be assertive, I am happy as I am
I have always been a target for bullies because I like the quiet life!
I use presentations to inform
I use presentations to persuade
I use presentations to amuse and entertain
I use presentations to explain and instruct
A change in my role will mean I will be presenting in the future
My presentations lack structure
I can never say what I want to say
I use Microsoft PowerPoint regularly
I have no idea what PowerPoint is
Before presenting I ensure I am totally prepared
I listen well
I present well but cannot handle interruptions or aggression
My nerves get in the way of presenting
I rely on feedback to improve
I always run through any presentation beforehand
I like to adlib and prefer to present material as a one-off - I never rehearse
I do not understand the value of hand-outs, pictures say it all
I do not want to listen or see presentations. Send me hard copies I can hold
I establish rapport quickly
I always rub people up the wrong way
Strong people intimidate me
I relish difficult situations and normally get my own way
I feel that attention to detail is the key to success
I hate getting caught up in the mundane - I like to see the big picture
I am happy to sit back and let others fly
I always seek the opinion of others
I have always followed my own instinct and made my own judgements
I use different styles of questioning in my communication
I am always defensive
I am always trying to overcome personality clashes
I have good powers of observation
I am interested in some good presentation slide tips
My English is a good standard
I am happy with my grammar and punctuation, but need a dictionary handy!
My slides have been criticised as too wordy
Impact and Influence Questionnaire
I influence well and my presence is effective
I can never influence anyone and this is now halting career prospects
I am unsure how to manage others when attempting to influence
There are times when I could improve on my influencing techniques
I want to be able to communicate my vision with passion and precision
I would like more clarity in my communication
I often engage in open and frank discussion
I struggle giving constructive feedback
I am interested in improving all my communication routes
My bad communication techniques block all processes
People remember my name
People always forget who I am and what I do
I feel I am never in control of my actions and feelings
I need to be more professional
I hate change
I welcome change
Change can be positive and can motivate
I have no idea why people resist change
I would like to think on my feet and react with any audience more
I want to structure all my messages for maximum impact
I want to travel beyond fear into positive and powerful energy
I want to influence not 'railroad'
Leaders always deliver good business results
I attempt to influence but end up just 'telling'
I have a difficult but valuable colleague that I cannot communicate with
I generally adopt an aggressive behaviour style when trying to influence
I am regarded as submissive and am never taken seriously
I am assertive most of the time and this seems to earn respect
I need to listen more
I cannot get a straight answer out of my team members
I cannot handle criticism
I have been told that my body language lets me down
I want to know how to build better rapport with people
I want to understand why those first impressions are so important
I have no idea how I am influenced and therefore can't influence others
I want to understand different communication styles and preferences
I think 'influencing' is just another word for 'bullying'
I think I manage good rapport but never know when to move things on
I get uncomfortable when influencing moves to the 'Close'
I hate influencing and never look back at past mistakes
I successfully influenced that last challenging person within my role
I failed to influence the last challenging person within my role
I have no idea whether I influenced the last challenging person within my role
I need a tool to gauge how and when to influence and persuade
I need people to notice and respect me
Reporting Writing Skills
All my report and business writing is effective
My report and business writing has room for improvement
I am unable to structure my reports effectively
I avoid all report writing and do not have this skill
I have liter