Category: Applications

How to publish Powerpoint files for the web

Posted on by

This procedure which will leave you with an original PowerPoint-format (to use in lectures) document, and a web-enabled version:

  1. Create a standard powerpoint presentation. Save it as ProjectName.ppt in the folder you are using for the project. Make sure every slide has a Title. These titles will be used as the titles of the buttons on the left navigation column in your web page. It helps to use a powerpoint template so that you are definitely creating a title with each new slide.
  2. When you are done editing, and ready to make a web version of the presentation, select Save as Webpage from the File menu.
    The Save As dialog comes up.
  3. Navigate to your project folder in the file list area. Double-click on the folder so that it opens and you are working inside it.
  4. Click the CreateNewFolder icon just to the right of the Save in: box. (the icon looks like a folder with a spark on it.)
    A New Folder dialog will pop up. Type learningmodule in the Name box.
  5. Hit OK. You will now be “inside” the learningmodule folder.
    6. Continue reading

Issues with Shared Excel and Word files on Novell servers

Posted on by

I’ve been using a shared Novell drive to collaborate with a team. We use Excel and Word files, and I’ve attempted to make them “shareable”. Quite often the file will work for a while, then “lose” its shareable attribute.

To make an excel file shareable on a Novell server, you have to do two things.

Open the file, select “Tools: Shared Workbook”. Check “Allow changes by more than one user at the same time.”

Removesharedusers

Continue reading

Adding Narration to Powerpoint

Posted on by

Preparation:

  1. You will need to purchase a microphone or a headset Microphone. I recommend the Plantronics USB headset mics, LISTED HERE. I use the Plantronics DSP 400, but the less expensive ones work well also.
  2. Find a quiet room, preferably one with no air-conditioning or heating blower hum, and no other ambient noises. If you work in an older building this can be a challenge, enough so you may want to consider doing the recording elsewhere.
  3. Prepare a script for your narration. Run through it once or twice, to eliminate “umms” and “errr’s” in your rendition.
  4. Plug in the microphone, and if you are using Windows, you will also need to install the software that comes with it, and restart. On a Mac, simply plug in the mic, then select System Preferences from the Apple menu or the Dock, select
  5. If you haven’t already, create your Powerpoint slides.
Continue reading

Google vs. AskJeeves

Posted on by

A 1-round search battle

I recently read that AskJeeves (now “ask.com”) would be making some changes to try to reclaim some market share from Google. I hadn’t used that site in a while, so I decided to test it against Google. I came up with one of those questions that rattle around in my head:

How do they train oil tanker captains?

Ask.com Results (click to enlarge)

Continue reading