Do you have to enter data for a bunch of dates but only need weekdays? Excel has the answer for you using the Autofill feature. It allows you to create a series of dates that only include the weekdays.
All you have to do is enter the start date and then drag using the right mouse button. This works on all versions for Windows and Mac.
Here’s a short video showing you how it works.
We all want faster ways to enter data and you’re probably already aware of the autofill feature in Excel. To enter a series of consecutive dates you just need to enter the one date and then click and drag on the bottom right of the cell when the crosshair appears. But you can do some clever things like just get the month to increase or the year. You can also get it to just fill the weekdays and leave off the weekends.
These options are available if you use the right mouse button to autofill rather than the left. When you use the right mouse button a menu will appear when you finish dragging with these options.
You can see how this works in the video tutorial below.
Adobe have done another update to Photoshop CC and as always just as I thought I’d learnt enough there is more to learn. This software just gets better and better
One thing that did happen on this update, because it was a big one, was that the plugins stopped working but don’t worry it’s an easy fix. I use Google’s Nik Collection and that was quite straightforward, all I had to do was copy the folder over, you can see how to do that in the video below.
I did discover that to future proof it and to make it available to other potential Adobe apps I should copy it to the shared Creative Cloud folder. Again how to this is in the video below.
Adobe has helped out with these useful links:
Location of plug-ins – adobe.ly/28OBbkg
List of plug-ins to reinstall and links – adobe.ly/28LNvFp
Here is the video to show you what to do.
If you are doing a PowerPoint presentation you may want to show how something works like a website or some software. You could open the website or software and switch to it during the presentation. However, that can be time consuming and your computer may not want to play ball. However, you could record it in advance and have it as a movie in your presentation.
PowerPoint has a screen recorder built in to do this, although the Mac versions do not but I will tell you how you can do that in a moment.
The screen recording allows you to record the audio too and the mouse pointer. You can choose to not record those and just what is happening with the software.
If you are using a Mac, and this includes the new 2016 version, there is no built in screen recorder but there are lots of screen recording/screencasting software available. My favourite is Camtasia (Techsmith website), there are a lot of editing options and can add in lots of graphics later, you may want this even if you have Windows. It comes in both Windows and Mac versions. There is a 30 day free trial.
Techsmith also do a cheaper version called Snagit. Click here for more about Snagit on their website
A free option is to use QuickTime Player that comes with your Mac. You can choose New Screen Recording in the File menu. If you need to edit you will need to use something like iMovie, should also be free with your Mac.
Here is a video, made with Camtasia, to show you how to do the screen recording in PowerPoint.
Sometimes technology can take away the enjoyment of things we like doing such as photography. So many of us like taking photographs and would like to take better photos so invest in a DSLR.
DSLRs take great quality photographs and you can do so much more than the camera built in to your smartphone. The downside is just what are all these buttons and dials for. The result is these expensive cameras end up staying in the box at the back of a cupboard and really there is no need. Just like many computer programs you probably only need to know a few things to be productive.
For a while now I’ve been teaching people how to use their DSLRs for photography and video, including how to shoot video and photography like a pro. So if you want to know more then check out my website by clicking here.
If you want to book on my hands on how to use your DSLR workshop in London on the 4th March 2016 click here
Adobe Lightroom has become an essential tool for all my photography. It is really powerful and when you know what it can do it is pretty straightforward.
Lightroom not only works as a database to catalogue your photos and videos but it also does a lot to allow you to edit your images. I use Photoshop a lot less because I can do so much with Lightroom.
I also like that because I’m using the Creative Cloud version I can sync it to my iPad and iPhone and can not only review my images there but also make changes that then update back on the computer.
I also use Lightroom to tether to my camera so when I need to I can connect a cable, there is a wireless version but quite expensive on my camera to add this on, and as I take the photo it pops up on the laptop so that I don’t have to rely on the small screen on the camera where everything looks good.
Here is a video I make on why I use Lightroom and I show you how it works. I’m creating some more videos on Lightroom so you can learn the specifics.
The great thing about layers in Photoshop is that they allow you to add things and move them about without affecting the original photograph or image. You can try out different shapes and designs on different layers and hide them and make another visible to see which one works best.
You can do this with shapes and other drawing tools such as brushes.
Have a look this video to see how it works.
You can see more Photoshop tutorials at www.jargonfreehelp.com/photoshop-tutorials
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