# Useful computer tricks... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974 "2010-08-21T15:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/41 "2010-08-23T19:21:21Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > If you have a file showing in Windows Explorer, and you want to copy-and-paste the _name_ of the file onto somewhere else, select the file and press F2. That’s cool. I did not know that. But you can do the same thing by double clicking the name SLOWLY – as in two single clicks. It not only works in Windows Explorer, but SQL Server as well. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/42 "2010-08-23T19:34:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > 1. Rename the macro to “autoexec.” (Without the period.) Oh, very important – When done, rename the macro to something else. ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/43 "2010-08-23T19:51:34Z")
Most people know Ctrl-C Copies text, Ctrl-V pastes it. In Microsoft Word (and earlier versions of Excel) Shift-Ctrl-C will copy the format. You can apply the copied format with Shift-Ctrl-V. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/44 "2010-08-23T19:59:11Z")
At the risk of being trivial: [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301583](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301583) List of the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows XP I assume similar pages and lists are available for other OS’s. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/45 "2010-08-23T20:11:58Z")
One more: When editing a long line of text, Shift-End selects the rest of the line (i.e. from where the cursor is now, to the end of theline). And Shift-Home selects from the cursor to the beginning of the line. Often useful for trimming a URL or copying a portion of it. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/46 "2010-08-23T20:15:02Z")
Since there were a couple of posts about screen capture I thought I’d share this for Windows 7 - not sure about previous Windows versions. Start - All Programs - Accessories - Snipping Tool Just stumbled across it a few days ago. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/47 "2010-08-23T20:23:59Z")
> [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > not sure about previous Windows I can’t find it in XP. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/48 "2010-08-23T20:50:26Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@descamisado](#): > > > > If you ever find yourself having to teach someone something on the computer in Word (or practice stuff yourself) and you need some quick, intelligible text, try typing “=rand(#,#),” then hit enter. > > For clarity: > > Type “=rand(#,#)” without the quote marks (or the extraneous comma as above), then hit enter. I don’t get the “quick brown fox” text, I get instructions about using Word- here’s one of the five paragraphs I got when I used “=rand(5,7)”: [QUOTE=Microsoft Word] On the Insert tab, the galleries include items that are designed to coordinate with the overall look of your document. You can use these galleries to insert tables, headers, footers, lists, cover pages, and other document building blocks. When you create pictures, charts, or diagrams, they also coordinate with your current document look. You can easily change the formatting of selected text in the document text by choosing a look for the selected text from the Quick Styles gallery on the Home tab. You can also format text directly by using the other controls on the Home tab. Most controls offer a choice of using the look from the current theme or using a format that you specify directly. To change the overall look of your document, choose new Theme elements on the Page Layout tab. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/49 "2010-08-23T20:52:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > [PureText](http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/). Own it. Love it. Brilliant! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/50 "2010-08-23T21:44:13Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > For clarity: > > Type “=rand(#,#)” without the quote marks (or the extraneous comma as above), then hit enter. Hey, that’s pretty cool. I wonder if there is some .ini file or registry entry that would let you replace that with your own default custom text. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/51 "2010-08-23T21:57:29Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > In a UNIX/Linux/OSX (maybe) terminal, pressing CTRL+s (which is relatively easy to press accidentally) will “lock” the terminal; basically, making it look as if no key press does anything and freezing feedback. Press CTRL+q to resume to normal operation. If you’ve got a program dumping data on you (for instance you forgot to “more” the output) this is an excellent way of pausing it to see what is going on. It also lets you CTRL+c out of the command if you don’t like what you see. In Solaris and the old System V, the shells give you command line history and editing. I’ve got mine set up to use Emacs-like commands on the command line, which is great for repeating long commands with minor changes, especially when you are too lazy to write a shell script for it. ksh also let you do backward search with Emacs-commands, csh, which I’m stuck using now, uses a vi-like method which I really need to break down and use. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/52 "2010-08-23T22:18:40Z")
Reticulated swine. (Useless Sim City phrase.) ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/53 "2010-08-23T22:27:04Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > > [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > > > not sure about previous Windows > > I can’t find it in XP. Sorry - I should have checked and included this info in my first post but I was in a hurry to share before I got beat to the punch on the screen cap tips. Anyhow, Wikipedia says this: ‘‘Snipping Tool is an application included in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Experience Pack for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. It was originally released as a powertoy for the Tablet PC launch on November 7, 2002.’’ > **[Snipping Tool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipping_Tool)** > > Snipping Tool is a Microsoft Windows screenshot and screencast utility included in Windows Vista and later. It can take still screenshots or record videos of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, stored as an image file (PNG, GIF, or JPEG file) or an MHTML file, or e-mailed. The Snipping Tool allows for basic image editing of the snapshot, with different colored pens, an eraser, and a highlighter. > Befor... ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/54 "2010-08-23T22:38:59Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Reticulated swine. (Useless Sim City phrase.) [Reticulating splines](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCity_2000). > [@](#): > > SimCity 2000 was the first Sim game to feature the semi-nonsensical phrase “Reticulating Splines”, which means to make a network of splines. Will Wright has stated in an interview that the game does not actually reticulate splines when generating terrain, and he just inserted the phrase because it “sounded cool”. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/55 "2010-08-23T22:57:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > > > Reticulated swine. (Useless Sim City phrase.) > > [Reticulating splines](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCity_2000). > > > [@](#): > > > > SimCity 2000 was the first Sim game to feature the semi-nonsensical phrase “Reticulating Splines”, which means to make a network of splines. Will Wright has stated in an interview that the game does not actually reticulate splines when generating terrain, and he just inserted the phrase because it “sounded cool”. Reticulating swine is more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/56 "2010-08-23T22:58:28Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Hey, that’s pretty cool. I wonder if there is some .ini file or registry entry that would let you replace that with your own default custom text. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/57 "2010-08-23T23:12:08Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Reticulating swine is more interesting. Agreed - extremely more interesting. Someone upthread glossed over Alt+Tab. I use this constantly - people are always asking me how in the world I switch between applications so quickly. Try it - thumb down on Alt, then repeatedly press Tab to cycle through the programs you have open (note: This is really only helpful if you have more than one application open…) Also, some people aren’t aware of Ctrl+Tab either. If you use tabbed browsing, Ctrl+Tab will cycle through your tabs. ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/58 "2010-08-24T01:42:18Z")
The “Shift” key often does the reverse of a lot of keyboard shortcuts. So while Alt+Tab cycles forward through your open programs, Shift+Alt+Tab cycles through them backward. ---
**Author:** ![JollyGoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dec6dc/32.png) [@JollyGoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JollyGoon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/59 "2010-08-24T02:48:13Z")
Here’s one: if you want to quickly zoom in or out (ms word, excel, browsers and quite a few other programs) press ctrl + roll that roller thing on your mouse. When zooming in or out, in chrome at least, the page wraps itself around the new size of your browser. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/60 "2010-08-24T04:47:26Z")
> [@RhapsodyInBlue](#): > > To create a screen capture, use FN + PRINT SCREEN to capture; then CTRL + V to paste the picture in another document. On Windows desktop keyboards, ALT+PRINT SCREEN captures only the active window. I had trouble remembering this until I realized that “ALT” and “active” both start with “A”. Nobody told me this, so I guess it was glaringly obvious to everyone else. To add a note to the OP, in Windows sometimes you can select and copy text you wouldn’t think could be selected. For example, in Explorer, bring up the properties window for a file (alt+enter). You can highlight most of the text on that window by individual field. For example, you can highlight the full path in the “location” field. In addition, if the entire path (or other data) is too long to display in the field, you can highlight the part that is there, then move your cursor past the right edge of that field. This causes the field to scroll to the left! You can then copy the entire path (or whatever). That particular example isn’t all that useful, but it can come in handy elsewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=4)