Keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows Vista

10 fundamental differences between Linux and Windows

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10 ways to survive office politics

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10 Windows XP tricks and timesavers

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10 things you should do before, during, and after reinstalling Windows

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The 10 most useful Word shortcuts

How many Word shortcuts do you remember and use on a regular basis? Fifty? Twenty? How about just 10 solid go-to shortcuts like these? If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 10 Word shortcuts would you like to have with you? Here are mine.

Keystroke	Function	Notes
Shift + F3	Toggles through capitalization options.	This one isn’t perfect — for instance, it insists on capitalizing articles and prepositions in Title Case mode — but it’s still a big timesaver.
Ctrl + Shift + N	Applies the Normal style.	If you work with documents that are riddled with obscure and specialized styles (typically other people’s), it’s handy to turn them into Normal paragraphs on the fly.
Ctrl + Shift + C	Copies the formatting of selected text.	Once you’ve copied the format, you can press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste the formatting onto a new selection. Yeah, I know — Format Painter does this, too. But Format Painter forgets the formatting as soon as you’re finished with it. This shortcut remembers what you copied until you close out of Word.
Alt + F9	Toggles the display of field codes on and off.	Unless you work with field shading turned on — and I don’t know many users who do — you can’t necessarily tell what’s literal text and what’s being generated by an underlying field code. A quick peek using this shortcut can prevent the headache of inexplicable changes and unwanted editing consequences.
F4	Repeats your most recent action.	This might be the all-time best shortcut (except for Undo, which I’m not including in this list because for me, at least, it’s like breathing and requires no conscious thought). The F4 shortcut will repeat nearly all the actions you take on document text: typing: formatting, deleting.It will also let you repeat the action of adding or removing table rows, but it isn’t well implemented with tables overall. For instance, changing table properties is not replicable via this shortcut.
Ctrl + H	Opens the Find And Replace dialog box with the Replace tab selected.	Replace functionality is my constant companion, so this one is essential for me. Ctrl + F opens to the Find tab if you just want to locate something in a document (or make sure something isn’t in there).
Ctrl + drag text or an object	Creates a copy of the text or object.	Apologies to the keyboard purists, but this useful trick does require mouse action. It’s handy when you need to copy an object and control where that copy ends up. For example, a picture or other object that has certain positioning attributes may land in some unpredictable location if you use the standard copy and paste functions. This shortcut lets you drag it exactly where you want it.Just make sure you drop the text or object before you release the Ctrl key or Word will move the original instead of copying it. BONUS: If you hold down Shift along with Ctrl as you drag, Word will keep the copy aligned with the original.
Ctrl + Q	Removes paragraph formatting that isn’t part of the style assigned to a selected paragraph.	When you want to strip out manually applied formats and return to only those characteristics defined by a paragraph style, this is the quickest way to get there. Ctrl + Spacebar works the same way for character formatting.
Ctrl + 0 (zero)	Applies or removes 12 points of space above the current paragraph.	This sounds a little lame, but you can improve readability of selected text in about two seconds using this trick. For instance, table text is often jammed up against top borders. Select the table and hit Ctrl + 0 and you’ll get an instant improvement.
Alt + drag the mouse vertically	Make a vertical text selection.	Another keyboard/mouse hybrid, this one is obscure but useful. Some users have trouble making it work, but the problem is usually sequence. Just make sure you press Alt before you press the mouse button and drag. Then, release Alt before you release the mouse button.

Oracle HTML DB

I don’t read a lot about Oracle HTML DB in trade magazines. But the ones that are using it think it’s the next best thing since

sliced bread and are happily singing its praises. What is it? “Oracle..

This HTML DB is a web-based application development and deployment tool integrated with Oracle Database 10g. Oracle HTML DB enables anyone with only a web browser and limited programming experience to quickly create secure and scalable web applications that can be instantly deployed to tens, hundreds, or thousands of users. Oracle HTML DB is a standard feature of Oracle Database 10g, available in Standard One, Standard and Enterprise Editions at no additional charge.” Essentially it is a web based application development tool geared to those users who are creating the dozens of spreadsheet and small desktop database applications that one finds among end using departments. It is a fabulous tool that has enabled  to get rid of dozens of problematic spreadsheets and MS Access databases that have grown too large and complicated for the desktop. I haven’t had an opportunity to try it out myself yet, but you people can try.

Five dumb mistakes IT pros make that can mess up their networks

IT pros love to share stories about the dumb things that users do, but sometimes you have to admit your own mistakes. Every admin has at least one embarrassing story about something they did to mess up their network. After all, you’re busy, networks are complicated, and sometimes it’s easy to overlook the obvious. In this IT Dojo video, I discuss several dumb mistakes that can really mess up a network, so that we can avoid them in the future.

Five vital communication skills for IT leaders and their staff

Take control of your day with these time management tips

The top five reasons to check your own references

Many people offer prospective employers references thinking they’ll work out fine. But will your references work for you as you want?

1. The company’s comment policy may not be what you think it is. A countless number of our clients confidently say, “They won’t tell you anything, it’s against policy.” Many people assume that an employer can’t or won’t say anything, and are unpleasantly surprised to find out this is not the case. Employers frequently say unflattering things about former employees.
2. Your reference may not be saying what you expect. A lukewarm reference can be just as damaging as a negative one. If your reference is anything less than glowing, they are damaging your chances of landing that job, not helping it. You need to know that that person is doing everything possible to make a positive impression for you. Otherwise, it’s time to rethink your references.
3. Your information may not match the HR records. In many instances, we find that the employer has different employment dates, position title, or supervisor listed than what the employee has presented. Don’t let this type of discrepancy suggest that you are being less than truthful about your former position’s title or responsibilities.
4. You may have been omitted from the HR records entirely. This happens more often than you might think, especially in the case of mergers, where not all records make the transfer into a new system. It’s also frequently the case with the self-employed; many companies do not hold records for a contractor in their HR system. It’s not a good thing when an employer calls and is told that there is no record of you ever having worked for their company.
5. Your reference contact may no longer work for the company. Many job-seekers make the mistake of not staying in close contact with the person they intend to use for a reference. Be sure that that person is still there to respond to inquiries. If they’re no longer there, a reference checker may be shuffled though the system and end up with someone who won’t cast you in such a positive light.

The six types of difficult co-workers

It’s hard enough to deal with these kinds of people in the wild, but when they’re your co-workers, it can be dreadful. Recognize any of these types?

The Steamroller

This is the bully of the group – always interrupting, insulting, and yelling. We all know those types.

The Sniper

These are the folks who hide in the back of room, always sniping – taking shots at everyone, constantly nitpicking back at you, sending out comments, etc. They always want to do this from “under cover.” If you call them on it they say, “Oh, I’m just kidding,” or, “Can’t ya take a joke?” or, “I didn’t say anything!” They always have a comment.

The “Can’t Say No” Person

Will not say no to work. The problem is they won’t say no, they won’t say no, they won’t say no . . . and then they finally just collapse!

The Know-It-All

Do I have to say anything else? Need I say more? They know it all!

The Complainer

Chronic complainers! Chronic whiners! To them, life is one big complaint!

The Staller

The Indecisive Staller. This is the person who just will not make a decision. They will not commit to anything; they are always stalling.

The Empty Promiser

This is the person who says he’ll send you that information or write up that report but never does. You waste so much time reminding him of his promise that you might as well have done it yourself.

The Scatter-Brain

This one just can’t seem to get it together. Can become the Empty-Promiser if left unchecked.

Got any to add?

Four tactics for career success in 2009

1. Write down specific goals. The key words in that statement are write down andspecific. Here’s why - when you commit yourself to something in writing, you are more likely to refer to it, manage it, and make running changes to it. It works better than just “telling yourself” your goals. And, if your goals are not specific they are not as “concretized.” They’re less likely to be actionable.

2. Do a SWOT analysis on yourself. This stands for: Strengths - what you’ve got going for you and what makes you stand out in comparison to others. Weaknesses - what you need to work on, things that can hold you back, or make you a more likely candidate for the next round of layoffs. Opportunities - what you can use to your advantage to improve your situation. Threats - what can derail your plans and aspirations.

With #1 and #2 in hand, you’ve got the makings of a sound career plan. And 2009 is a good time to have such a plan.

3. Ensure your loved ones are covered. You’ve got the career plan together. Now, noodle about those whom you want in your life over the long term. Many people are so consumed with the economy and their career that they are ignoring their friends and family. If you want to have a life with some balance, treat these people with importance. Make it worth their while to stay a part of your life.

4. Self promote. There’s no better way to stand out from the crowd. I don’t mean becoming a glory hog that nobody wants to be around; just helping those in a position of influence over your career to recognize that you’re a keeper and should be kept happy. This can be as simple as having a regular meeting with your boss to brief her/him on what you’ve accomplished, or sending a bi-weekly e-mail update to outline your current activity and plans. If the environment doesn’t accommodate that type of communication, use chance meetings to keep her updated e.g.: In the elevator ride leaving the office, if Boss asks “How are things?,” rather than talk about your health, try something like, “Great! The new software is running well and we’re hearing positive feedback from everyone.

Five things we have learned from Bill Gates

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