ABC ~ All 'Bout Computers
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Howdy gang!  Boy, have I got GREAT news for my faithful subscribers!  Ben Liebert, the marketing manager of SWISH software has made me an offer I couldn't refuse.  He offered me 5 FREE COPIES OF SWISH to give away in a contest and they are only available to my subscribers.  If you don't know what SWISH is, you may know what Flash is.  Flash is the program that creates those cool animations you are seeing more and more on websites.  Well, SWISH makes them too and SWISH is WAY easier to use than Flash.

So, here's the deal:

Go to my contest page and there's a link to SWISH where you can download a FREE, fully-functional, 15-day trial version.  Then use the trial version to make your own SWISH creation.  Then export it from SWISH as an html file and email the html file, along with its accompanying swf file and I will judge them all.  The top 5 will then receive a FREE, FULLY LICENSED, LEGAL COPY OF SWISH from Ben.

So, come on, all you budding web designers, give it a shot.  And have fun!

SWISH CONTEST FOR ABC SUBSCRIBERS

Since I'm a FrontPage user, Ben also asked me to write a tutorial on how to incorporate SWISH files into an FP web, so I did!

ADD SWISH TO FRONTPAGE

Another addition to my life that I would like to share with you:

The Eclectic Academy has invited me to join their staff of distance learning instructors.  So, starting in January, 2002, I will be teaching online Internet classes in Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word.  Enroll now and join me online to learn more about how to use these programs.  The classes are only $20 for six weeks.  How can you beat that?

ECLECTIC ACADEMY

MORE RECENT ADDITIONS TO MY WEBSITE:

WINDOWS KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS ~ For those who prefer not to use the mouse.

DOWNLOADS ~ I've added two new FREE ones:

1. A beautiful patriotic screensaver for those honoring the victims of 9/11.

2. A great concentration game made by our own Vic Ferri.  This one makes a great stocking stuffer!  The download is FREE and if you like it, Vic will make you your own personalized one with pictures of your friends, family, pets, or whatever you want for only $20 (or $10 if you resize your own pictures).  It fits on a floppy disk, so I ordered one and will be putting it in every stocking I stuff this Christmas.  It's really a clever gift idea and the download is free, so check it out.

RESIZING GRAPHICS ~ Since Vic is offering this great discount if you resize your own graphics, I made a tutorial to help you as my Christmas gift to you.

REPLACING PRINTER DRIVERS ~ Lots of times, when you get printer errors, it's because the driver for your printer has become corrupt.  Or, many times when you visit the website for your printer's manufacturer, you find that there is a new version of your printer driver that you can download for free.  So, how do you replace this driver?  Go here for full instructions from Vic.

OK, that's about all that is new this month.  I hope you continue to enjoy my website.  And, the next time you are there, scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and sign my guestbook.  I would love to meet you.

Linda's Computer Stop 

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Subcribers' Exclusive Tip of the Month:

Lately, many people have been writing to me asking me how to open .swf files.  These files are Flash/SWISH created animations and, because they are becoming so popular now, many people are sharing them as email attachments.  However, what people don't know is they cannot be opened with Flash or SWISH, but instead, must be opened with your web browser.  Because these files aren't usually associated, by default, with your browser, you need to set that up now.  Find your .swf file in Windows Explorer and double click on it and you will probably get the Open With box, asking you what program you want to use to open it.  In the list of programs, select your Web Browser (ie; Internet Explorer) and put a check in the box at the bottom that says "Always use this program to open files of this type."  Click OK and now all your .swf files will open just fine for your viewing pleasure.  If you don't get the Open With box and Windows is trying to open the file with the wrong program, go back to the file in Windows Explorer and click on it once to select it, then hold your shift key down and RIGHT click on it to get the Open With option in the shortcut menu.  Select "Open With" and continue with the steps above.

Of course, no .swf files can be viewed unless you have the Flash viewer installed and you can download that for free here.

Linda Johnson is a college instructor of all of the Microsoft Office Programs, as well as Adobe PhotoShop and Windows. She also teaches online distance learning classes in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word at Eclectic Academy. She has worked helpdesk and teaches and lectures at many local businesses and tech schools in her area. Support this newsletter by checking out Linda's eBooks, MS Word MAGIC!, Book I: Fonts, Fun & Formats and Book II: Table Wizardry, How To Get Started As a Software Trainer, and her newest series of MSOffice eBook Tutorials and CD