# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/61 "2010-08-24T06:51:25Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Can someone please tell me how to stop the clipboard from pasting formatting. > > I C&P between applications all the time, and I have (nearly) NEVER EVER EVER had the need to preserve formatting between applications. I constantly hop between apps via Notepad. Why does Windows DO this?! Who at MS ever thought this was good default behaviour? > > Anyway, though I can “paste special” sometimes, and I’ve been looking into particular macros for MS Office apps though I can’t make them work, it would be awesome to have the default C&P behaviour just paste the text of what’s been copied (and maybe have a “copy formatting” additional key combination, just in case I need it). Anyone know if there’s a mod to do this? FWIW, Office 2010 has significantly improved the copy & paste experience. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/62 "2010-08-24T07:46:58Z")
> [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > 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. OMG. I’ve been using Vista/Windows 7 for the past three years, and I had no idea this existed. Oh, all the wasted time using Alt+Print Screen and editing in Paint… And the default save format is PNG. Awesome. The Snipping Tool just got added to my quick launch. Only the best and the brightest get a spot there. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/63 "2010-08-24T13:22:44Z")
To selectively highlight part of a page (i.e., not a line, sentence, paragraph or all) to copy, cut, format, etc., as in a column of text within a tabbed table, hold down the Alt-key (first!) then hold down the mouse key and drag down and over (right, left). Example: Diana Florence Mary Marvin Donny Al Robin Andy Maurice This method will let you manipulate the names “Florence,” “Donny,” and “Andy,” even if it’s tabbed text. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/64 "2010-08-24T15:53:28Z")
The “=rand()” is very cool, yet probably useless for me. I regularly use \ - m to minimize all windows. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/65 "2010-08-24T16:40:49Z")
Flying Windows + E opens Windows Explorer. (“Flying Windows” being the Windows key. As I press it, I always think “flying windows” in my head, so it’s become my name for that key.) I use this all the damn time. Flying Windows + D returns you to the desktop, I think. Yep. Pressing it again returns you, but not necessarily to what you were doing before. At least, not in my Windows XP at work. It’s a lot like Flying Windows + M that \*\*Enright3 \*\*posted. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/66 "2010-08-24T16:53:10Z")
CTRL + Tab to cycle between open browser tabs The trick I use to impress in the office is setting up Excel to open in separate instances (rather than multiple spreadsheets in a single application window). Makes it much easier to use with dual-monitors, as you can have a file on each screen rather than trying to juggle floating windows in one programme instance. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/67 "2010-08-24T17:18:40Z")
Often the ALT key lets you type special characters on a PC. For example ALT 248 gives you the degree sign. Sometimes you have to use the righthand keypad and not the number keys at the top, and sometimes 0248 is different from 248. Even if you have to look one up to keep it in mind for the duration of writing something, it’s faster than mousing around. I can’t check any of these at the moment as I’m on a mac. Actually, I think that was the original reason for the ALT key and the reason for its name. It was for typing alternate characters, that is, alternative to the ones that have their own keys on the keyboard. For an amusing example of the complicated braintwisters that are constantly at work on a PC, check out “code pages”, which is what the ALT key lets you draw from… ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/68 "2010-08-24T17:26:29Z")
To get to the quicklaunch toolbar next to the “start” button in Windows XP, press the windows key+TAB at the same time, followed by CTRL+TAB. Windows Key+TAB will put you on the list of open apps and CTRL+TAB switches to the quicklaunch section. Use SHIFT+F10 to effectively do a “right click”. You can then use the arrow keys or quick keys to move around the pop-up dialogue box. One other thing… CTRL+TAB cycles clockwise through open apps. SHIFT+CTRL+TAB cycles counter-clockwise. It is outdated with Windows keyboards, but CTRL+ESC brings up the start menu. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/69 "2010-08-24T17:35:11Z")
Here’s how to select (and copy) a block of text vertically in MS Word. ALT+drag Hold down the ALT key while dragging the mouse with the left button depressed. Select to the left or the right of the insertion point, as far up or down as you like. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/70 "2010-08-24T17:44:49Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Here’s how to select (and copy) a block of text vertically in MS Word. > > ALT+drag > > Hold down the ALT key while dragging the mouse with the left button depressed. Select to the left or the right of the insertion point, as far up or down as you like. Sorta like this? > [@descamisado](#): > > To selectively highlight part of a page (i.e., not a line, sentence, paragraph or all) to copy, cut, format, etc., as in a column of text within a tabbed table, hold down the Alt-key (first!) then hold down the mouse key and drag down and over (right, left). > > Example: > > Diana Florence Mary > Marvin Donny Al > Robin Andy Maurice > > This method will let you manipulate the names “Florence,” “Donny,” and “Andy,” even if it’s tabbed text. ---
**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 24, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/71 "2010-08-24T17:47:17Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > The trick I use to impress in the office is setting up Excel to open in separate instances (rather than multiple spreadsheets in a single application window). That’s great! Or…it would be if I knew how… ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/72 "2010-08-24T20:14:37Z")
One thing that has annoyed me about Windows for, oh, 15 years now, is Microsoft’s insistence that I organize my files _their_ way. “My Documents”, “My Music”, that kind of crap. I’ll keep my documents in c:\documents, TYVM. The problem is, if you delete these unwanted folders, Windows just regenerates them. You can change their locations, but the stupid “My…” folders still show up under “username” at the top of the left pane in Explorer. To get rid of these, go to your actual user folder - in Windows 7 it’s c:\users\username. Delete the unwanted folders, then create text files with the same names. Rename these dummy files, removing the .txt extension. Finally, set the attributes on them to read-only and hidden. Now, since these dummy files are in existence, Windows can’t recreate the folders with the same names. Unfortunately, this doesn’t quite work with the Favorites folder. You can apply all of these steps, but the dummy file still shows up in the navigation pane. If anyone knows how to beat his, I’m all ears… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/73 "2010-08-24T20:58:35Z")
As a general rule, a keyboard shortcut that works in one Office application works the same way in all Office applications, especially for the more common tasks (copying, pasting, etc). It’s just me, but I always hot-key my favorite programs (for example, I always hot-key the Calculator to “CTRL-ALT-=”) and I find that hot-keying my most-used programs makes things go much smoother. It also allows for much-needed office snark: “How did you get Word to launch?” “I just think about it, and poof! There it is. Doesn’t your computer work that way?” In Excel, I rarely use the SUM function - instead, I use the SUBTOTAL function which allows me to look at how applying differing criteria (via filters) changes my numbers. The format is SUBTOTAL(function\_number, RANGE1, RANGE2) where function\_number can be any one of the following: Function\_num, function 1, AVERAGE 2, COUNT 3, COUNTA 4, MAX 5, MIN 6, PRODUCT 7, STDEV 8, STDEVP 9, SUM 10, VAR 11, VARP The functions I use the most are 1, 3 and 9. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/74 "2010-08-24T22:24:02Z")
> [@RalfCoder](#): > > I’ve amazed people with the alt-tab function in windoze. It toggles between the open sessions you have going. In Mac OS, you do this with Command-Tab (Command key is the one with the clover on either side of the space key). ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/75 "2010-08-25T02:39:01Z")
> [@GHO57](#): > > > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > > > If you want to save a pic off a web page but is blocked with some kind of copyright guard, or is part of a flash window, you can use a couple of alternate methods. > > > > This works in Foxfire. Don’t know if it works in IE. > > > > 1. R-click on a white part of the page > > 2. Click View Page Info. > > 3. Click the Media tab. > > 4. It will show a whole list of the images on that page, and clicking on a list item shows the image on the space below. Hunt for the one you want then click Save As. > > I just use the [Save Images](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3404/)addon… well, at least on those sites that the [Show Just Image 2](http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/78214) script doesn’t clean up properly. But sure… what you said ought to work too. If you look at the source of a page, occasionally the websites that disable right click will put that command in the header of the source. If you copy the whole page but delete that function, it should load up where you can right click and save the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/76 "2010-08-25T05:52:41Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > One thing that has annoyed me about Windows for, oh, 15 years now, is Microsoft’s insistence that I organize my files _their_ way. “My Documents”, “My Music”, that kind of crap. I’ll keep my documents in c:\documents, TYVM. A rather simpler method than yours is to right-click My Documents (or whatever), go to the Location tab, and change the target path to c:\documents (or whatever) ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/77 "2010-08-25T06:30:25Z")
Probably not very useful, but hitting the ‘windows’ key with ‘r’ will bring up the ‘run’ dialog. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/78 "2010-08-25T07:19:52Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > Sorta like this? Same same not different. (Do I have to actually read threads before posting now? Sheesh.) ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/79 "2010-08-25T08:26:57Z")
In XP’s Task Manager, if you hold down the control key and then select Shut Down-\>Restart, Windows will restart immediately without going through the shutting down process. Not the recommended procedure, but sometimes you need to just to put a bullet in a hanging program that’s being an arse. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974/80 "2010-08-25T08:37:04Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@Wallenstein](#): > > > > The trick I use to impress in the office is setting up Excel to open in separate instances (rather than multiple spreadsheets in a single application window). > > That’s great! > > Or…it would be if I knew how… It’s quite long-winded (but only needs to be done once). [This link](http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/29922442/how-can-i-open-2-excel-files-in-two-excel-windows-using-multi-mon.aspx) explains the process! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/useful-computer-tricks/550974.md?page=5)