How to Read Formats From a Flash Drive

File formats are the three character extensions that are earmarked at the conclusion of the traditional file name. Knowing the types of file formats that are stored on a flash drive can give you a better inkling of the programs that were used to create the files, allowing you to make sense of the contents of a seemingly inscrutable USB drive. This can be done by tweaking your Windows settings.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Insert the drive into the computer.

2. Step 2

   Right click "Start" and select "Explore."

3. Step 3

   Click on the drive letter of the USB drive.

4. Step 4

   Select "Tools," click "Folder Options," select "View" and uncheck "Hide Extensions for Knows File Types."

5. Step 5

   Press "OK" to view the formats for the files on your flash drive.

How to Fix Dead Laptop Batteries

After several years of regular use, it is normal for a laptop computer's battery to lose its ability to hold a full charge. However, if your laptop cannot run on battery power at all anymore, you may have a dead battery. When this happens, the best action to fix the problem is to freeze and thaw the battery. This process will often revive a battery's charging ability and improve your computer's power performance.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC or Mac laptop
• Refrigerator with freezer

1. Step 1

   Disconnect your laptop's power adapter from the back of the computer and try to start up the system. If the computer does not boot on battery power, the battery is likely dead.

2. Step 2

   Detach the battery from the bottom of the laptop.

3. Step 3

   Place the laptop battery in a plastic bag with a zippable top and seal the top.

4. Step 4

   Place the bag with the battery inside of a larger plastic bag with a zippable top. Make sure it is also tightly closed.

5. Step 5

   Place the battery inside your refrigerator freezer for three or four days.

6. Step 6

   Remove the battery from the freezer and allow it to return to room temperature. Do not try other methods of heating or thawing the battery.

7. Step 7

   Attach the battery to the laptop again and connect the power adapter to the back of the computer. Wait for the battery to fully charge before trying to boot up the computer.

How to Identify PNY Computer Memory

PNY Technologies is an electronics company that makes computer hardware such as flash drives and random access memory (RAM). A computer's RAM plays a large role in determining its speed; identifying your RAM type is an important step in determining whether you could benefit from more RAM and finding out what type of RAM your computer can use.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdrivers
• CPU-Z diagnostic tool
• Crucial memory scanner

Open the Computer to Inspect RAM

1. Step 1

   Turn off your PC and unplug all the cords.

2. Step 2

   Open the computer's case with a screwdriver. The majority of tower cases can be opened by using a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove screws along the right side of the back of the case.

3. Step 3

   Locate the RAM and uninstall a module for physical inspection. RAM is located near the large CPU fan on the motherboard. To take out a module, press down firmly on the plastic locking clamps on both sides of the module and it will pop free.

4. Step 4

   Inspect the RAM's label and record relevant information. RAM manufacturers often print information such as model or serial numbers and RAM type on each module.

5. Step 5

   Reinstall the RAM module and close your computer's case. To reinstall the module, simply align it in the same orientation it was when you removed it and press down firmly until the locking clamps clip around it and secure it in place.

Use CPU-Z to Identify RAM

6. Step 1

   Go to http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php.

7. Step 2

   Click on one of the download links for the CPU-Z freeware tool labeled as "No Install."

8. Step 3

   Double-click on "cpuz.exe" when the download is complete to launch the diagnostic.

9. Step 4

   Click on the "SPD" tab to view detailed information about your RAM. You can click on the drop-down menu under "Memory Slot Selection" and change it to slot #2, #3 or whatever you prefer to view information on each RAM module you have installed.

Use the Crucial Memory Diagnostic to Identify RAM

10. Step 1

    Go to Crucial's memory scanner download site (see Resources).

11. Step 2

    Click the check box under "Crucial System Scanner tool" and then click "Download the Scanner."

12. Step 3

    Run the downloaded file when the download is complete. A window will open in your browser with information about your RAM.

How to Remove iMac Memory

Apple has been making stylish and user-friendly computers for years. One of these computers, the iMac, is an increasingly popular desktop model. A notable benefit of owning one of these models is that most of the simple repairs and upgrades can be performed yourself, without the help of a service technician. This includes accessing and replacing your iMac's memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory) in order to upgrade your system's speed and capacity. You'll find that this procedure is a pretty simple one that you can complete quickly.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver

1. Step 1

   Turn off your iMac and place it face down on a table or other sturdy surface. You can protect the LCD screen by placing it over a towel or large cloth.

2. Step 2

   Flip the bottom plastic stand up to reveal the memory slot located in the middle of the bottom of the LCD screen. It is covered by a rectangular panel which is secured by a single screw.

3. Step 3

   Remove the single screw located in the middle of the rectangular memory slot cover, using the screwdriver. Remove the cover to reveal two internal ports which house memory modules.

4. Step 4

   Pull the thick black plastic tab on the end of the memory module out of the port so it is sticking out far enough for you to grab it.

5. Step 5

   Grab the end of the tab and pull the memory module gently and easily out of the port. Repeat the process with the second memory module located directly next to it. At this point you will have removed the memory from your iMac.

How to Create a Code to Generate Word Documents

If you find yourself creating budget sheets over and over again in Microsoft Word, the task might before tiresome. Instead of repetitively typing in the same credits, debits and formulas, you can get Excel to format your budget sheet for you using the macro function of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The macro function allows you to create complex, pre-formatted documents--and you don't need to know a single line of VBA code.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Excel 2007

1. Step1

   Click on "View," then click on "Macros->Start Recording."

2. Step 2

   Type a name for your macro into the box. For example, if you are creating a budget sheet, you might want to type "Budget."

3. Step 3

   Type in an easily remembered letter into the key combination box. For example, you may want to choose "B" for "Budget" to get the shortcut keys "Ctrl" and "B."

4. Step 4

   Press "OK" to start macro recording.

5. Step 5

   Click the "Office" button.

6. Step 6

   Click on "Blank Workbook."

7. Step 7

   Type the information into your form as usual. For example, if you want to generate a budget form, you might have columns for "Income" and "Expenses."

8. Step 8

   Click on "Macro->Stop recording" twhen you have finished your workbook. Your macro is now ready to use. Just click on the key combination from Step 3 (in this example, "Ctrl" and "B") to generate your new workbook in an instant

How to Capture a Local Computer Name Using VBS

VBScript (VBS) is a plain text coding language that network administrators use to automate configurations on a computer. The VBS language can be used to retrieve the name of the computer on which it is running. This is useful for administrators who want to use logging capabilities or display the name of the computer to the user. Retrieving the name of the computer only takes a few lines of code in your VBS file.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Create the shell object. The shell object contains several properties and functions that can be used to retrieve information from the machine. The following code is placed as the first line in your editor:
   Set network = WScript.CreateObject( "WScript.Network" )

2. Step 2

   Capture the name of the machine using the "ComputerName" property contained in the shell object created in Step 1. In this example, the computer name is captured and set to a string variable. The following code illustrates how to capture the local computer name:
   computer_name = network.ComputerName

3. Step 3

   Display the computer name to the user in the command prompt. The shell object has a predefined function that displays output to the user. It's also useful for debugging your VBS application. Use the following line as the last statement in your VBScript code:
   WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & computer_name

How to Create a Header File in C++

Although a C++ programmer can use a header file to include any type of code in another file prior to compilation, they mainly use them to define a class. Typically programmers define a class interface in a header file and then write all of the class' internal code in a separate source code file. In this way other programmers making use of the class directly or as part of a library need only the header file to inform themselves and the compiler how to use it. A simple class interface defined in a C++ header file can serve as both an example and a template for much larger more complex classes later.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Text or Code Editor

Creating a Header File

1. Step 1

   Create a new file named "MyClass.h." Enter the following three lines at the top of the file:
   
   #ifndef _MYCLASS
   #define _MYCLASS
   #endif
   
   The class will be defined between the line beginning with #define and the one beginning with #endif. These are preprocessor directives which tell the compiler to skip inclusion of this file's contents if _MYCLASS has already been defined. If _MYCLASS is undefined, the compiler will define it and proceed to include the rest of the file. This prevents you from accidentally including a header file more than once, which can lead to conflicts and errors.

2. Step 2

   Enter the following two lines after the line beginning with #define:
   
   #include
   using std::string;
   
   This example class requires a string data type. The first directive includes the header file for the string class; the second statement simplifies its use by telling the compiler which namespace to make available. Rather than typing "std::string" everywhere, you use a string you can just type "string."

3. Step 3

   Enter the following before the line with the #endif directive:
   
   class MyClass
   {
   };
   
   This defines an empty class.

4. Step 4

   Fill the empty class by inserting the following lines within the opening and closing brackets:
   
   public:
   MyClass(string val);
   void setVal(string val);
   string getVal();
   private:
   string _myDataMember;
   
   You have added one private class data member of type string and three public class method declarations: a constructor and two methods for accessing the data member. Task complete; class interface defined; C++ header file created. Most header files you will create or encounter will simply be more complex variations of this example

How to Avoid a Division by Zero Exception in Java

In any compiler language, a mathematical calculation where the divisor is zero results in a run-time error. The application will freeze or return an error to the user. For that reason, programmers should check the value of the divisor before performing the division calculation. This is accomplished using a condition statement called "if." The if statement is used to verify a condition before executing a command.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Define your variables. In this example, a is divided by b, but only if b is not zero. To define variables, use the following code:
   int a = 1;
   int b = 0;
   int results = 0;

2. Step 2

   Set up the if statement. The following if statement code check the value of b to avoid the "divide by zero" error:
   if (b != 0)
   {
   }

3. Step 3

   Execute the math within the if statement. The enclosed statements are only executed if b is not zero, so you avoid the "divide by zero" error:
   if (b !=0)
   {
   results = a/b;
   }

How to Build Your Own Web Content Management System

Building your own Content Management System (CMS) will allow you to successfully implement thousands of websites and intranets. Customizing such websites and content systems will not only be easy and quick but can also be done using commonly available tools such as PHP. Since a CMS uses a design process supported by object-oriented programming, the code can be kept neat and tidy by bundling it together in files called classes. Objects or instances of these classes are then created as needed. Classes thus act like blueprints for instances making it possible to design a large number of systems with minimal code afterwards.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Create a database. This is where all the login and data information will be stored. Such a database would include setting up a customer's table and other information. Using a database will help you to organize information logically, rapidly gain access to it, manipulate and change it whenever needed and automate common tasks more easily.

2. Step 2

   Create a class for accessing the database. Such a class will tell the program to grab data and components from a system component and provide access to it. The example below shows the functional approach in using such a class:
   
   Class: DbConnector
   // Purpose: Connect to a database, MySQL
   
   require_once 'SystemComponent.php';
   class DbConnector extends SystemComponent {
   
   include variables here
   }
   function DbConnector(){
   
   $user = $settings['dbusername'];
   $pass= $settings['dbpassword'];
   }
   function query(){
   
   code goes here
   }
   function fetchArray(){
   
   code goes here
   }
   function close(){
   mysql_close();
   }
   
   The above code shows the main parts of the database and how to connect and retrieve data from it.

3. Step 3

   Create a validator class for security. A validator class checks for errors in user input and will either display an error or allow a user login if it is safe and correct. An example of such a class written in PHP is shown below:
   
   require_once 'SystemComponent.php';
   class Validator extends SystemComponent {
   
   var $errors;
   }
   ?>
   
   The above code stores a list of error messages.

4. Step4

   Write a class to secure the site. The function for doing this is shown below:
   
   Function logg(){
   
   session_start()
   Header("cache-control: private");
   }
   
   function logout(){
   
   unset($this->userdata);
   session_destroy();
   exit();
   }

5. Step 5

   Create the interface design. This is graphical part of the site with the login information as well as other additional information generally appearing on the homepage.

6. Step 6

   Create the help and documentation for the system to address the most common tasks a user will need to perform.

How to Use Adobe Acrobat PDF Files in a Delphi Application

Delphi is a software development environment created originally by the Borland Company. This application allows a programmer to design Microsoft Windows applications written in the Pascal programming language. Working in the Pascal language can be complicated. It requires training and programming experience. If you have basic knowledge of the Delphi environment and a working knowledge of Pascal, adding a PDF component to your program will be straightforward.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Start the Delphi application on your computer.

2. Step 2

   Select the "Component" option.

3. Step 3

   Choose "Import ActiveX Control" from the Component menu.

4. Step 4

   Locate "Acrobat Control for ActiveX" from the list of import options available.

5. Step 5

   Click the "Install" button at the bottom of the list screen.

6. Step 6

   Choose a library location where you wish to install the component. Click the "Browse" button and select the appropriate site.

7. Step 7

   Press "Install" on the dialog box.

8. Step 8

   Determine which package to install the new PDF component in or create a new package. Click "Ok" to continue. Once the installation is complete, close the Component window and open your form or create a new one.

9. Step 9

   Navigate to the ActiveX tab on the form screen. Click on your new PDF component and drag it onto the screen.

10. Step 10

    Double-click on the PDF component on the form screen to select it.

11. Step 11

    Use the object inspector in the component dialog box to set the "src" property to the PDF file on your system.

How to Remove Windows Security Interruptions

The Security Center is a built-in utility in several Windows operating systems. This serves as a central location where you can change the settings for your firewall, anti-virus program, alerts and updates. The interruption or warning alerts might be related to any of these areas and can be removed by a simple change in configuration. However, if this problem persists, the warning alerts might be due to a legitimate detection of spyware or a virus in your computer.

Instructions

Configure Windows Security Alerts settings

1. Step 1

   Locate the Windows Security Center icon (red shield) on the system tray, adjacent to the clock. Double-click on the icon. If the icon is not in the system tray, click on the "Start" menu, click on "All Programs" > "Accessories" > "System Tools," then click on "Security Center."

2. Step 2

   Click on the "Change the way Security Center alerts me" link.

3. Step 3

   Disable the check boxes that correspond to "Virus Protection," "Automatic Updates" and "Firewall." Click "OK" to confirm the changes. If the problem persists, continue to the next section.

Scan Your Computer for Viruses

4. Step 1

   Launch your anti-virus program and perform a system scan for potential viruses.

5. Step 2

   Allow the scanning process to finish and remove the infected files, if any.

6. Step 3

   Launch your spyware removal program and scan your system for potential infected files. Once completed, remove the infected files, if applicable.

7. Step 4

   Restart your computer.

Why Does the Windows Search Command Lock Up the Computer?

Windows Search is touted by Microsoft as a powerful tool for organizing the contents of your computer, as well as any of your information that is stored on shared folders and e-mail servers. However, some users have noticed that the indexing process of Windows Search can significantly slow down their computers' performance.

Identification

1. According to Microsoft, "Windows Search creates and maintains a system index of the contents of a computer." What this means, however, is that, before Windows Search can work, it has to create that index. It also has to update that index whenever you use Windows Search after having made changes to your computer---such as installing new programs, creating news files, or moving files around.

Significance

2. This indexing process is supposed to be unobtrusive. When you are using the computer and the indexer tries to run, if it notices that you are already running other programs, it will not consume as many system resources. Instead, it will wait until your computer becomes idle. However, if you actually ask Windows Search to do a search, and the index is not up to date, it will have to bring the index up to date before it can run your search.

Considerations

3. The "smart back off" technology can be turned on and off. If it is turned off, your computer may slow down significantly. If you are having serious performance issues related to the indexing process, check your settings to make sure that this mechanism is active.

Function

4. While indexing, Windows Search must inspect all of your folders, all of your files, and all the contents of those files. This process consumes a significant amount of your system's resources. The more resources it consumes, the faster the indexing process can be carried out, but the slower your computer's performance will be during that time. In contrast, if you use the "smart back off" mechanism, the indexer will consume fewer system resources, but whatever system performance falloff you might still experience will last that much longer.

Prevention/Solution

5. The most drastic choice you could make would be to uninstall Windows Search. However, given its usefulness, you may want to take another course of action. One option is for you to leave your computer on and running for a little while each day while you are not using it. If you already have a virus scan scheduled for a certain part of the day, then you're probably already leaving your computer on sometimes when you're not using it. If not, it is an easy practice to adopt. You can simply leave the computer on while you eat dinner. If you'll be leaving your computer unattended for a while, remember to turn off the monitor to preserve screen life and conserve energy. Also make sure that Windows is not set to go into standby mode automatically if you are away from the computer for more than a few minutes.

How to Delete a File in the Photo Printing Wizard

Windows XP prints photos using the Photo Printing Wizard by default. The Photo Printing Wizard displays all of the photos present in the folder where the picture you are printing is stored. Although you can delete photos found in Windows Explorer by simply returning to Windows Explorer and deleting them, when you attempt to print a photo from an email attachment or website, the Photo Printing Wizard might display photos you are unaware you had, with no obvious way to delete them. This issue occurs because of images stored in your Internet cache.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu at the top of the screen, or the "Tools" button in newer versions of Internet Explorer.

2. Step 2

   Click "Internet Options."

3. Step 3

   Make sure that the "General" tab is on top, then click the "Delete Files" button.

4. Step 4

   Place a check in the box labeled "Delete all offline content" and click "OK."

5. Step 5

   Attempt to print the desired image again. The unwanted images will no longer appear in the Photo Printing Wizard.

How to Add Lines to a VBS File

Visual Basic Script (VBS) is a scripting language made for Windows. Most Windows programs use VBS in some way or another, so if you are a programmer using Windows, familiarizing yourself with Visual Basic is a good idea. You can edit a VBS file with any text editor, including Notepad.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Go to "Start," "Programs," "Accessories," "Notepad" to open Notepad.

2. Step 2

   Go to "File," "Open" and navigate to the location of your VBS file. Click "Open." You will see a whole bunch of VBS code.

3. Step 3

   At the top of the file, select some whitespace, and copy-paste the following Visual Basic code:
   MsgBox("Hello World")

4. Step 4

   Go to "File," "Save as..." and save the file with a different name, but keeping the ".vbs" suffix. For example, you could name your file "newScript.vbs" and click "Save."

5. Step 5

   Open the Command Prompt by going to "Start," "Programs," "Accessories," "Command Prompt." Navigate to the directory where you saved your VBS file by typing "cd C:\Your Directory Name Here" and hitting "Enter."

6. Step 6

   Type the name of your new VBS script and hit "Enter" to run the script. The script should run as it did (before you added your line of code), only this time a message box will pop up saying "Hello, World!"

How to Change Font Size in Java Script

JavaScript is a client-side programming language that many website designers use to manipulate layout, text and images on a Web page. JavaScript can be used to change the size of a font when the user clicks a button or when the page is loaded. This is helpful when you want to make some part of the Web page content stand out. To make the font larger, the content is wrapped in a "div" tag and the JavaScript code will make the font larger within that block of HTML.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Open your HTML page in a text editor. You can use a simple, plain text editor like Notepad to edit JavaScript, or you can use more advanced applications like Notepad++, Visual Studio and Dreamweaver.

2. Step 2

   Wrap a div tag around the text you want to edit. This allows you to change the font size of a specific area in your Web page without distorting the layout with a global font size change. The code below creates a div named "myDiv":
   

   My website text

3. Step 3

   Create the JavaScript function. To change a font size in your div tag, you need to set the "fontsize" property. The code below changes the div's font size:
   function changeSize()
   {
   document.getElementbyId("myDiv").fontSize = "12px";
   }

4. Step 4

   Add a button to the page to let the user choose to change the font size. To add the button and call the new JavaScript function, use the code below:
   

5. Step 5

   Save the file and open the page in your Web browser. Test the new code by clicking the button. The font size increases in the div tag.

How to Install Java XP

Java is a very useful program that allows Java programming to run on your computer. Java includes games, interactive videos, flashing ads and many different programs. Java is most widely used on the Internet to display pictures, especially on Java-run websites. Many websites on the Internet require Java to be installed in order to run properly.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Go to the Java website (see the link in the "Resources" section) and click on the button that says "Free Java Download." A window will pop up asking you if you are sure you want to download the product.

2. Step 2

   Click "OK" in the download prompt and wait for the Java program to download.

3. Step 3

   Open the folder to which Java was downloaded. By default, it downloads to "My Downloads," which is located in the "My Documents" folder.

4. Step 4

   Double-click the Java program to start the installation process. Click "Next >" through all of the settings. Unless you are a computer expert and want to change some of the settings in Java to make it run differently, do not change the settings and click "Next >" through all the windows and click "Finish." Restart your computer to apply the changes. Java is now installed on your Windows XP computer.

How to Delete a Row on a Visual Basic Flexgrid

A flex grid is a common tool used in programming to display information in a row and column format. Flex grids have both horizontal and vertical scroll bars to make user navigation easier. In Visual Basic, a grid on a user interface form can be designed using the "MSFlexGrid" control. The information displayed on the grid usually comes directly from a database table or, in some instances, programmers write the codes to display data on the grid for user evaluation.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Visual Basic software

1. Step 1

   Load an existing Visual Basic project by clicking "File" and "Open Project" from the Visual Basic environment and browsing for the filename from the dialog box that pops up. Alternately, you can open the project directly by double-clicking the "[ProjectName].vbp" file from the folder where you last saved your project.

2. Step 2

   Open the "Form" with the FlexGrid control you want to work on.

3. Step 3

   Double-click the control on the form that will trigger the action to delete the row on the flex grid. This is usually a command button with the caption "Delete" or similar controls.

4. Step 4

   Write source code similar to the following on the control's "Event" you chose in Step 3:
   
   With MSFlexGrid1
   If (.Rows > .FixedRows + 1) Then
   .RemoveItem.Row
   Else
   .Rows = .FixedRows
   End If
   End With

5. Step 5

   Save your work by clicking "File" and "Save Project" on the menu or by pressing "Ctrl" + "S" on the keyboard.

6. Step 6

   Back up your database table to revert the data after testing is done.

7. Step 7

   Click "Run" and "Start" on the menu to run the program. The flex grid should display data from a database table from which the control is bound.

8. Step 8

   Delete one row of record by clicking the "Delete" button. Repeat the same process to check if the program is running as it should.

9. Step 9

   Exit "Run" mode and compile your project by clicking "File" and "Make [ProjectName].exe" on the menu.

How to Create an Image Search on a Website

A picture is worth a thousand words. Adding the ability to search for images directly from your own website opens up the entire World Wide Web's collection of images to your viewers. Thanks to Google's comprehensive indexing of literally billions of images on the web and some simple decoding of URL parameters, you can create an image search tool on your website without needing to know complex scripting languages.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet connection
• HTML editing program such as Notepad
• A live website with FTP access

Adding Google's Image Search to Your Website

1. Step 1

   Understand Google's Image Search URL. The important pieces that make up the URL you will use look like this: "http://images.google.com/images?q=searchterm." The part before the question mark references Google's Image Search address. Everything after it is the list of parameters that are used to define your particular search. The primary parameter is the "q=" parameter, which stands for "query". This is the part that includes your search terms. Additional parameters are noted below under the Advanced Parameters section.

2. Step 2

   Create a form that will pass inputted text from a text box on your site to the query parameter and submit it to Google's Image Search. You can paste the following code directly into your HTML file where you want the image search box to show up (see the References for an example of this on askdavetaylor.com):
   

   
   
   
   

3. Step 3

   Save and publish your HTML file, then test it out.

Advanced Parameters

4. Step 1

   Control the search results by defining additional parameters. Additional parameters include the following: "as_eq," "imgtype," "imgsz," "imgw," "imgh," "imgar," "as_filetype," "imgc," "as_sitesearch," "as_rights," "safe," and "as_st." Refer to http://images.google.com/advanced_image_search for the visual interface for all of these parameters.

5. Step 2

   Make the selections you want on the visual interface link, then press "Google Search" to set an advanced parameter. Copy the URL that is returned.

6. Step 3

   Find the parameters that match your settings; for example, if you limited the "Domain" to "ehow.com," then you would want a parameter that says, "as_sitesearch=ehow.com."

7. Step 4

   Create a hidden input field in your form for each advanced parameter you want to include. Do so in the following manner: , where "name" is equal to the parameter you want to include and "value" is equal to the value of that parameter.

8. Step 5

   Save and publish your HTML page and test.

How to Create a Word Document in Visual Basic

Visual Basic is a programming language designed and manufactured by Microsoft. Visual Basic is one of the most popular programming languages used by both novices and experts. VB can reference objects from other applications such as Microsoft Word to increase the breadth of programming capabilities. Creating a Word document from a Visual Basic application allows a professional document to be produced from the application with minimal effort for the developer. Billing, invoices, time sheets and reports are examples of documents often created from Visual Basic applications.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Visual Basic
• Microsoft Word

1. Step 1

   Open the Visual Basic application and create a new project using the "Ctrl" and "N" keys. Select the template labeled "Windows Forms Application."

2. Step 2

   Select "Project" from the menu bar, then select the "References" option. Check the item "Microsoft Word object library" and then click the "OK" button to continue.

3. Step 3

   Create a button labeled "ButtonOne" on the form.

4. Step 4

   Double click on "ButtonOne" to open the code window. Insert the following code below the line "Private Sub ButtonOne_Click":
   
   Dim oWord As Word.Application
   Dim oDoc As Word.Document
   Dim oRng As Word.Range
   
   'Start Word and open the document template.
   oWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   oWord.Visible = True
   oDoc = oWord.Documents.Add
   oRng = oDoc.Bookmarks.Item("\endofdoc").Range
   oRng.InsertAfter("This is the new document you created.")
   
   Me.Close()

5. Step 5

   Insert the following code at the top of the code for "Form1":
   
   Imports Word = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word

6. Step 6

   Execute the code in debug mode using the "F5" key.

7. Step 7

   Click on the button labeled "ButtonOne" to execute the code. A Microsoft Word document will be displayed in a new window with the text "This is the new document you created."

How to Convert Word Processing Documents

When you receive a word processing document through email that you need to open but you don't have the correct application, do not fret. Many word processing applications are compatible with each other, especially in a Microsoft Windows environment. This is especially true when you are going from a simple application, like Notepad, to a more complex application like Word.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Open the application into which you want to convert your word processing documents. For instance, if you want your word processing document to be Word, open your Word application.

2. Step 2

   Click "File" in the main menu bar. Scroll down and click "Open."

3. Step 3

   Browse for the word processing document that you want to convert. Highlight it and click the "Open" button at the bottom of the window. This may work, but you may lose some of the formatting that was on the original document.

4. Step 4

   Click "File" in the main menu. Scroll down and click "Save As."

5. Step 5

   Type a name for the file in the "Save As" field. Find a location for the converted file. Hit the drop-down "Save as type" and select a format to convert to. Click the "Save" button.

How to Use SMART Board to Create Interactive Learning Games

SMART Boards are interactive white boards that consist of a free-standing or wall-mounted white board, a projector, and a computer with SMART software. SMART (digital) pens allow a teacher to "draw" on the computer screen and insert text into documents. The SMART software comes with the SMART Notebook, a virtual notebook that you can use for brainstorming, classroom discussions and interactive learning.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Choose an appropriate lesson plan for an interactive display. Interactive lessons give students the opportunity to fully participate in a lesson (as opposed to a lecture, which has students sitting in their seats, quietly following along). An example of a interactive-style lesson plan is one that has students split into groups to figure out answers. For example, you might pose the question to a fifth-grade math class: How do you think the pyramids were built?

2. Step 2

   Open your SMART Notebook by clicking on the SMART book icon. The notebook will open to a blank workbook page. Write the question on the notebook for the class, and invite the students to come up with possible solutions.

3. Step 3

   Once you have finished brainstorming for an activity, hold a class discussion and ask for student input on why the ideas might be valid or not. Use different colors to put a check mark next to ideas that most students think are valid.

4. Step 4

   Ask students to expand and clarify on ideas. For the above sample question, students might suggest "slaves" or "geometry." Ask for more detail, such as how the slaves built the pyramid, or who else might have been involved.

5. Step 5

   Split the class into groups (depending on how many valid ideas came out of the brainstorming activity). There should be a minimum of four students in each group. Have each group design a one-page "how to" on how their assigned activity may have led to a solution for the problem. For example, if one group is assigned the topic of "slaves," they should state (in a few short sentences or pictures), how slaves built the pyramid. Step 1 might be assisting with the layout of the pyramid base. A middle step might be to haul the steep rocks up ramps using hundreds of men.

6. Step 6

   Have the students do a short presentation using the SMART camera and their presentation sheet. The SMART camera is a projection device: When the sheet is placed under the camera, the students' work will be visible on the screen.

How Do I Fix Windows Live Network?

Windows Live Network consists of web-based and installable applications to create an online community of Windows users. Where something goes amiss with your Windows Live utilities, the quickest and most efficient fix is to simply reinstall the utility that is causing you problems. This will overwrite the damaged or corrupt files with new variants, allowing you to continue using your favorite programs without delay.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows Live Installation CD

1. Step 1

   Insert the Windows Live installation CD into your computer.

2. Step 2

   Select the option to "Install" the programs.

3. Step 3

   Choose the option to perform a "Custom" installation.

4. Step 4

   Check the box next to the program(s) that have been generating errors and press the "Install Now" button.

5. Step 5

   Reboot your computer when the installation is complete.

How Can I Play a PC-DVD Game on My Computer?

PC-DVD games are designed for PC computers and not Macintosh/Apple brand computers. Computers must have a DVD-Rom drive to be able to play a PC-DVD game. Because DVD-Rom discs contain more storage space compared with a CD-Rom disc, more information can be kept on a single DVD-Rom compared with multiple CD-Rom discs. All the information on a PC-DVD game be stored on a single disc compared with being spread out over multiple CD-Rom discs.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC computer
• DVD-ROM drive
• PC-DVD game

How to play a PC-DVD game.

1. Step 1
   
   in office for computer image by Anatoly Minkov from Fotolia.com
   PC games must use a PC computer.

   Make sure a PC-DVD compatible computer is used. Apple computers cannot be used to play a PC-DVD computer game.

2. Step 2
   
   dvd image by Jose Juan Castellano from Fotolia.com
   DVD logo on disc drive.

   Check to see if the computer has a DVD-Rom drive. A DVD logo will appear on the outside of the computer on the drive. DVD R/RW drives are OK to use as well.

3. Step 3
   
   cd rom inserted into laptop image by Egor Ukoloff from Fotolia.com
   Insert DVD-Rom into drive.

   Insert the PC-DVD game into the DVD-Rom drive. Close the DVD-Rom drive and installation instructions should come up automatically. If the instructions do not come up automatically, they can be manually brought up as well by clicking the "START" menu, then "My Computer," and double-click the drive where the game is located.

4. Step 4
   
   Businessman Works on Laptop - Packaging materials. image by Andy Dean from Fotolia.com
   Make sure your computer meets all the requirements to play the game.

   Follow the on-screen instructions for installing the game. Instructions include where to save the game information. Newer computer games require to enter a product-key, which is located on the back of the DVD-Rom case or on the inside cover. It is usually a 16-digit number in the style of (xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx). Some games require the computer to meet certain requirements. What the game requires will be listed on the packaging of the game.

5. Step 5
   
   teddy bear and laptop image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
   Enjoy the game!

   Once the game has fully installed, it is able to be played. If a link has been placed on the computer desktop, it can be double-clicked to start the game. Otherwise, locate where the game was installed and double-click the game title. The game should begin to start. To be able to play, the DVD-Rom must be in the DVD-Rom drive.

How to Repair a Corrupt .Wav File

Files become corrupt for various reasons; usually, an unexpected computer shutdown or software error causes file corruptions. A .wav file is an audio file, short for "waveform audio file." It was first introduced by Microsoft for the Windows 3.1 operating system. The .wav file is known for its excellent audio quality and large file size. There are numerous free audio-editing software programs that can play, manage, edit, and, in some cases, repair corrupt .wav files.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Audio-editing software program

Determine If the .Wav File Is Damaged

1. Step 1

   Locate the .wav file. Right-click the file. In the menu that appears, select "Properties."

2. Step 2

   Select the "Details" tab.

3. Step 3

   Check for information in the Details pane. If information is missing, the file is corrupted.

Repair the .Wav File

4. Step 1

   Open your audio-editing software program.

5. Step 2

   Open the .wav file you want to repair as a "RAW" file.

6. Step 3

   Save the file in the .wav format.

7. Step 4

   Close the audio-editing software.

8. Step 5

   Play the .wav file to ensure that the repair and conversion was completed.

How to Copy a Windows Explorer Folder List

Windows Explorer is the file manage application in Windows that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) with which to access files and folders on your hard drive and on other drives on your computer. Access the folders and files through Windows Explorer and then you can copy them. When you make an electronic copy of a list of folders, you copy not only the folders themselves, but the files contained in the folders.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Click "Start" on the taskbar, then click "Computer."

2. Step 2

   Double-click the C drive--or whichever drive the folder list resides on. Navigate the C drive to the folder list you wish to copy. Highlight the folder in the "Navigation" pane, which contains the desired folder list. The folder list you wish to copy appears in the "View" pane.

3. Step 3

   Click in the "View" pane on the top folder in the list you wish to copy. The folder will now be highlighted.

4. Step 4

   Press and hold the "Shift" key, then click the last folder in the list you wish to copy. Release the "Shift" key.

5. Step 5

   Right-click in the field of highlighted folders, then click "Copy."

How to Boost a Toshiba Laptop's Volume

The Windows operating system on your Toshiba laptop contains a functionality that allows you to increase the volume. Your laptop's volume is a measure of the decibel levels of sound that your Toshiba laptop will put out. If you are having trouble hearing music of video files, you may need to boost the sound volume, which can be accomplished by following several steps.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Toshiba laptop

1. Step 1

   Press the "Start" button on your desktop.

2. Step 2

   Click on the "Control Panel" icon then double-click on the icon labeled "Sounds and Audio Devices."

3. Step 3

   Click on the "Volume" tab then move the device volume slider to increase the volume.

4. Step 4

   Close the "Control Panel" when you have completed the operation, and your volume should be louder.

How to Set Up a CVS Server

The Concurrent Versions System (CVS) is a revision control system most commonly used on Unix and Linux operating systems. The program allows one or many users to work on the same set of project files at the same time, while keeping track of changes that occur over time. Users check out and check in project files by way of the CVS server. Setting up a CVS server is a quick and easy process once you know the proper commands.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Open a command line or terminal screen. Run the following command to install CVS:
   
   sudo apt-get install cvs
   
   The installation process creates the repository in the "/var/lib/cvs" directory by default.

2. Step 2

   Control the starting and stopping of the CVS server by installing Xinetd. Do so by running the following command:
   
   sudo apt-get install xinetd

3. Step 3

   Open the file located at /etc/xinetd/cvspserver and add the following lines:
   
   service cvspserver
   {
   port = 2401
   socket_type = stream
   protocol = tcp
   user = root
   wait = no
   type = UNLISTED
   server = /usr/bin/cvs
   server_args = -f --allow-root /var/lib/cvs pserver
   disable = no
   }

4. Step 4

   Start your newly-installed CVS server by running the following command:
   
   sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd start
   
   The CVS server has now been set up and you can begin adding new projects.

How to Recover From a Full Fragmented Drive

When you store data on your computer, it isn't always written onto your hard drive sequentially. Often, documents and programs are cut into dozens of smaller pieces and distributed throughout your computer's memory. This process is known as fragmentation, and it can negatively affect performance. Your computer must scan its entire memory to find each fragment of information, which takes time. When dealing with larger documents and programs, the delay is noticeable. Once a drive is fully fragmented, even the smallest document can take a while to open. You can easily solve this problem using Windows' pre-installed Disk Defragmenter.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Click "Start," then "Programs," then "Accessories," then "System Tools," then "Disk Defragmenter."

2. Step 2

   Click on the drive you wish to defragment and then click "Defragment."

3. Step 3

   Wait for the Disk Defragmenter to finish its job. First it will analyse your system, presenting you with a graph of your system's fragmentation. Red areas are fragmented, while blue areas are continuous. As the tool shuffles your data, it will move red files alongside each other so that they become blue and complete. If your system is fully fragmented, this process can take upwards of 30 minutes.

4. Step 4

   Once the process is complete, you will be presented with a summary stating how much of your data is continuous and how much remains fragmented. It is not uncommon to have between 1 percent and 5 percent fragmentation, even after the Disk Defragmenter finishes its work.

5. Step 5

   Close the Disk Defragmenter and open another program or document. You should notice an improvement in load time.

How to Uninstall the Vista Service Pack

In the world of computer operating systems, controversy surrounded the release of Windows Vista. Said to be a cumbersome system hog, Vista utilized a ton of your computer's memory and processing resources and frequently interfered with your applications in the name of security. With everyone complaining, Microsoft released service packs for Vista that addressed some of the common problems and other security issues. For some people, installing a service pack caused more problems, such as loss of Internet connectivity or proper application functioning. Uninstalling a service pack can sometimes fix such problems. There are two primary methods for doing so.

Instructions

Using the Application Wizard

1. Step 1

   Click the "Start" button in the lower left corner of your desktop.

2. Step 2

   Type "appwiz.cpl" in the search box, then choose "Appwiz" from the list of programs that comes up. Wait for the program to start.

3. Step 3

   Click the option to "View installed updates." A list of all the updates that you have installed for Windows Vista will display.

4. Step 4

   Find the service pack that you wish to uninstall, highlight it, and click "Uninstall." Follow the instructions that are displayed to complete the uninstallation process.

Using System Restore

5. Step 1

   Click the "Start" button in the lower left corner of your desktop.

6. Step 2

   Type "System Restore" in the search box there, then choose it from the list of programs that comes up. System zrestore can take a few moments to start, so give it time.

7. Step 3

   Check the "Choose a Different Restore Point" option when the dialogue box comes up. Then click "Next." Windows will display a list of updates for which it has created restore points. Restoring your computer will restore its state from before that particular update was installed. Note that it will roll back all updates that came after that one as well.

8. Step 4

   Find the restore point that was made for the service pack you wish to uninstall. If it is not in the list, you may need to check the "Show restore points older than 5 days" box. When you find it, highlight it, then click "Next."

9. Step 5

   Click "Finish." Windows will warn you that once you start the restore process, it is irreversible. Give Windows permission to go forward. The restore process will take several minutes; when it is finished, your service pack and all subsequent updates will be uninstalled.

How to Install an Internal Hard Drive on a Mac G3

Mac G3 is a series of personal computers produced by Apple in late 1997. It was the first Macintosh to use the PowerPC G3 microprocessor. Installing an internal hard drive in this computer is no different from installing a new hard drive in any tower unit. Once your remove the cover, just locate the hard drive and replace the old with the new. The process is fast and easy.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Anti-static wrist band
• Screwdriver

1. Step 1

   Turn off the computer and unplug it from the electrical outlet.

2. Step 2

   Locate the green button on the mini tower. It will be on one of the side panels on the tower. Press the button and slide the cover off the computer.

3. Step 3

   Touch your hands on any bare metal surface and put on an anti-static wrist strap. This will protect your computer from static discharge.

4. Step 4

   Turn the computer so that the power supply is facing you and to the back. Look to the right of the power supply; there you will find the mounting bracket for the hard drive.

5. Step 5

   Locate the two screws that secure the bracket to the case of the computer and slide the bracket out.

6. Step 6

   Disconnect the cables going into the old hard drive. You will find a cable that connects the drive to the circuit board and one that connects the power source to the hard drive. Remove the four screws that attach the hard drive to the mount.

7. Step 7

   Secure the new hard drive into the bracket mount with the screws. Plug the cables into the new hard drive.

8. Step 8

   Slide the bracket back into place and reinstall the two screws to secure it.

9. Step 9

   Close the cover on the computer and plug the power cord back into the outlet.

10. Step 10

    Turn the computer on and insert the setup CD that came with your hard drive.

11. Step 11

    Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for hard drive setup.

How to Fix the Echo Sound on a Computer

Echo sounds can get annoying, especially if you are watching a movie or listening to music on your computer. It may not be an issue with your computer speakers. Chances are that your audio drivers are not functioning properly. You may have to update them to fix the echo sound.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Check the drivers for your audio card to make sure they are updated. Click on the "Start" button and select "Run..." Type "devmgmt.msc" to launch the "Device Manager." Scroll down to find "Sound, Video and Game Controllers." Double-click on the sound device to launch its properties.

2. Step 2

   Click on the tab "Driver." Hit the button that says "Update Driver." This should update the driver for your sound card. Test the sound to make sure the echo has been fixed. If this doesn't work, go to Step 3.

3. Step 3

   Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. DirectX is a set of drivers that controls the sound and video displays. Go to Microsoft website (see Resources) and download the latest DirectX. Once the download process is complete, go back and test the sound. If this doesn't help either, go to Step 4.

4. Step 4

   Go back to Device Manager as instructed in Step 1. Right-click on the sound device and select "Uninstall."

5. Step 5

   Restart your computer. The device drivers should be reinstalled automatically. Test the sound to make sure the echo is fixed.

What Is a Data Logger?

A data logger is a computerized device that records information transmitted by other devices, storing it for download to a computer for analysis.

Independence

1. Data loggers operate independently of a computer, allowing them to be used in small spaces where it is impractical to connect a full computer.

Real-time and Logging

2. Some data loggers are able to transmit the data they receive in real-time to a host computer for analysis, while others simply record information for later retrieval.

Example of Use

3. An example of how a data logger may be used is to record temperatures in a particular environment, such as a truck, for the food transportation industry.

Speed

4. Data loggers can record information at a rate ranging from one sample per minute to 500 samples or more per second.

Programmable

5. Some data loggers can be programmed to record multiple channels of different types of input.

How to Create Animated Icons Using Pictures

Animation adds a sense of energy and motion to a website, which helps to catch the eye of visitors. This is important if you are hoping for repeat visits. While you can use pre-made animated icons, if you want custom animated icons that are based on your own pictures, you can either hire someone to make these for you or you can make them yourself. There are several approaches you can take to do this.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photoshop
• GIMP
• Online Converter

Photoshop

1. Step 1

   Open Photoshop. Select "File" and click "New." In the sizing dialog, make the width and height what you want for your animated icon. Leave the resolution at 72, make the background "Transparent," name the file "Animated Icon 1" and click "OK."

2. Step 2

   Select "File" and click "Open." Browse to the images you want to use and open them. Use the "Copy" and Paste" function under Edit to place each image in the Animated Icon 1 document. Each will appear on its own layer. Re-size each to fit the canvas.

3. Step 3

   Select the "Animation" option under "Windows." In the time line that appears at the bottom of the screen click on the drop-down arrow in the upper right. Choose "Make Frames from Layers."

4. Step 4

   Select "File" and click "Save for Web or Devices." In the dialog, choose "GIF" as the file type and save your file.

GIMP

5. Step 1

   Open GIMP. Select "File" and click "New." In the dialog, make the size what you want for your icon, make the background "Transparent" and click "OK."

6. Step 2

   Select "File" and click "Open as Layers." Browse to and open the images you want to use. They will appear as new layers. Re-size each to fit the canvas.

7. Step 3

   Select "File" and click "Save." In the following dialogs choose "Make Animated," set the frame duration and choose "Replace." Click "Export" to save your animated icon.

Online Sites

8. Step 1

   Load all the images that you want to use onto your computer and save them to a single folder. In order to organize the process, name them for the order you want to use them in the animation (1,2,3... or A,B.C...).

9. Step 2

   Go to an online site that converts pictures to animated GIFs for free, such as gifninja.com or Picasion.

10. Step 3

    Upload the images you want to use in the order you want them. Choose the speed and size of the animated GIF and submit the images. Then just download your GIF animated icons.