I love Outlook. Use it everyday in every way possible. I am always looking for tips and tricks on how to use it better. Here is a list of 10 things to help Outlook users use it to become masters of this great tool. I suggest clicking through to the site for all the details, but the list is reproduced here.

1. Be aware of the different versions of Outlook available and that not all features are available in all versions
2. Good training can help prevent embarrassing mistakes
3. Protect yourself against viruses, phishing, hoaxes, etc.
4. Customize the interface to suit your needs
5. Be aware that email is stored locally
6. Data files can become very large
7. Data files can be repaired if they become corrupted
8. Data files should be backed up
9. Archiving email is a good practice to follow
10. Learn how to avoid spam filters

The 10 most important things to teach your Outlook users | TechRepublic

So… I use Microsoft Outlook as my email client. I have for years. And like a packrat, I tend to not delete things. As a result, at times, I feel like my Outlook is more like “Out-of-control”look.

I found a series of videos over on the Outlook blog that are very useful. Outlook Best Practices. Go figure. I liked the series so much I decided that I would embed the videos below for your enjoyment and education.

1. Getting Started

2. Folders

3. Categories

4. Tasks

5. Search folders

6. Rules

7. The Four D's

8. Scheduling

9. Maintaining the system

Good stuff. Watch. Learn. Change. You can do it. I am certainly trying

So, Windows Live Essentials gives you access to a great tool called SkyDrive. From the SkyDrive website:

Store, access, and share thousands of documents, photos, and Microsoft Office files on Windows Live SkyDrive. SkyDrive password-protects your files so you control who has access to them.

SkyDrive gives you 25 GB of disk space. A great way to keep backups, or put your documents “in the cloud” so you can access them from anywhere.

The SkyDrive website is nice and allows you to upload files, but I went looking for a way to map SkyDrive as a network drive on my computer, so I don’t have to go to the website to do all my work. And also so I could save documents from my applications to SkyDrive instead of my computer.

This site gives a nice step-by-step guide to doing just such a thing. It requires a download of a free tool from the CodePlex website (only to get the specific URL that you need to map to).

One thing that you will need to pay attention to when walking through the steps is that there is actually a misprint. In the article, it tells you that the format of the modified url is:

\cdckda.docs.live.net@SSLsdfsd24645759Documents

But really, the modified url should be the format:

\\cdckda.docs.live.net@SSL\sdfsd24645759\Documents

The rest of the article should work as advertised. Note: You do  not need Office 2010 installed in order to access this. Once you have a Windows Live account and have signed up for your SkyDrive account, you simply need to map the drive and you will be able to save/open/modify documents directly from SkyDrive by using the drive letter you mapped it to (in my case, Z:)

Give it a try. A nice option for documents “in the cloud”

How to Map Skydrive as Network Drive in Windows

I love the Microsoft Office suite of tools. They get better and better with each release, and the 2010 release is no exception. Check out this informative video and accompanying template to get your advertising in order for your SMB. While you are there, check out the other templates that are on the site.

You don’t need an expensive, designer-created flyer to showcase your upcoming sale. Transform an adequate flyer into a professional and eye-catching advertising piece with themes, formatting, and text effects.

Need some help with getting your business started or running more efficiently with technology? Dash Technical Solutions can help. Give us a call today or fill out our contact form at our contact page. We’d be happy to sit down with you and discuss your business pains.

Microsoft Word 2010: For-sale flyer makeover - Microsoft Office

I love free things, especially books. If you are developer, then you will be interested in these. A few are ebooks from Microsoft, but at least a the others are from other good trustworthy sources, notably Karl Seguin and The DZone RefCards.

Have a look. Download at your leisure. Definitely read them

7 Freely available E-Books/Guides I found essential for .NET Programmers and Architects : Amazedsaint's .net journal

I enjoy working with two monitors. As a programmer, I always need multiple applications open, and while Windows gives us a convenient Alt-Tab shortcut to switch between windows, sometimes it’s easier to just look between two different monitors.

In this article from Microsoft at Home, the author walks you through the process to set up a second monitor on your system.

Have a look at the full article. If you need help, Dash Technical Solutions is available. Give us a call!

Two monitors are better than one