AM-Win Support Solutions

Preparing for and rolling financial year end.

Earlier this month our support team sent out a broadcast e-mail to all clients advising that an End of financial year processing support document was available on our website.

The document is essential reading. If you haven't read it yet we have provided the link to it below,

This support document covers the actions that you should take to prepare for end of year processing to ensure that you enter the new year with accurate accounting records and reports for your accountant.

The document also covers the actual end of year processing in AM-Win.

The document is 18 pages long and is in PDF format and you are able to view, print and download it to your computer.

Please don't forget the golden rule - BACKUP YOUR DATA BEFORE PROCESSING - preferably to another drive or CDROM.

Click here to access the end of year processing document. 

Business Tips

Stay smart on-line.

Not protecting your customer information could have an impact on the reputation of your business or the relationship you have with your customers.

For many businesses the data and information being stored on their computers and fileservers is their most valuable and often irreplaceable assets.  Protecting that information is an issue for all businesses but particularly small to medium businesses who may not have the money to spend on dedicated IT Security support.

Many businesses are also increasingly doing business via the internet as online commerce allows them to reach a broader customer and supplier market. Doing business online increases the importance of having effective online security practices. Providing a secure environment for transactions is critical in building and maintaining customer confidence and trust. There are also legal obligations which govern how businesses must manage customer information to ensure privacy.

If your business uses computer equipment, is operating online or even using email to conduct business, you need to make sure you put in place effective security and that you and your staff are using the internet in a safe and secure way.

Here are several strategies that you could use to protect your computer equipment and business data. 

Install security software that includes a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware.  Ensure that it is updated automatically.

Develop a backup strategy for your critical data. A good strategy includes daily backups, an additional weekly or monthly backup and offsite storage of at least the weekly back-up media. Test that you can recover your back-up data.

If you do not have a dedicated IT Manager, assign at least one person in your organisation to have responsibility for network security password, backups and Anti Virus updates.

Develop clear policies for staff using your computer or network. Ensure that staff understand how they are allowed to use email and the internet.

Develop a ‘culture of security’. Businesses need to have Internet security measures in place and make sure staff are aware of and follow internet security practices.

Use software from reputable sources. Keep your software patches up-to-date. This Includes both Microsoft Windows and whatever web browser[s] that you are using.

Use spam filters to reduce the amount of spam that your business receives. Know how to manage the spam that gets through and ensure that your staff know how to recognise scam and hoax emails and to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from suspicious emails.

Keep yourself informed about the latest cyber security risks. Subscribe to The Stay Smart Online Alert Service to receive email notification that keep you informed about the latest cyber security risks and solutions.

The Stay Smart Online Alert Service is an Australian Government Initiative and a free subscription based service that provides home users and small to medium enterprises with information on the latest computer network threats and vulnerabilities in simple, non-technical, easy to understand language. It will also provide solutions to help manage these risks.

The service provides timely information that is easy to understand about the latest online threats and vulnerabilities within an Australian context.

Australian online users are able to sign up to receive the free service and can unsubscribe whenever they choose. They can also have the option to pick and choose which types of information they would like to receive.  

Click here to visit the Stay Smart Online Alert Service

Windows Tips

Split Screen via AeroSnap

If you have Aero activated in Windows you are able to view two separate windows side by side. Both are fully active which means that you can click and work in either screen without effecting the other screen.

Note that you must have two sessions of the same program running [e.g. Internet Explorer] to view two separate screen in the same application. 

Activate your split screens 

Ensure both windows are fully maximised 

You can either drag a window to the left or right border of your screen or you can use the arrows keys to split your screen.

Windows key + Left arrow = snap window to the left half of your screen
Windows key + Right arrow = snap windows to the right half of your screen

You can switch between the left and right half by using the arrow keys while holding down the Windows key. Alternatively simply select the screen with your mouse.

Click here for PDF version 

Shrink to fit in Word

This tip is great if you have just only so much space on the page and you want to fit your text into the space allowed - or when the last line of the page wants to transfer itself on to another page.

The Word feature we’re looking for is “Shrink to Fit” and it’s found in the Print Preview.

Readers using older versions of Word can either go to the File menu, Print Preview choice or use the Print Preview button located on the Standard toolbar.

Readers who use Word 2007 will find Print Preview in the Office Button in the list of options offered by the Print choice.

Once in the Print Preview look for the Shrink to Fit button.

In older versions of Word it looks like this:

Word 2007 + users will see this:

No matter the version click on the Shrink to Fit button

Word shrinks your document’s font size to reduce the number of pages by one and hopefully corrects that line that always runs over into the next page.

Click here for PDF version

Where in the world have the "format tab stops" gone

 

Have you noticed that in Word 2007+ your ability to format tab stops seems to be missing?

Ok, so we all know that it’s not really gone but where in the world did they put it?

Here's two ways of finding the Tabs dialog box in word 2007…

Use the ruler

To display the ruler either go to the View tab of the Ribbon and check the Ruler box or click the View Ruler button located above the vertical scroll bar.

Once you have the ruler displayed you can double-click on a tab stop.

Another method is to click the dialog launcher in the Paragraph section of the Home tab of the Ribbon.

In the bottom left corner of the Paragraph dialog box find and click the Tabs button. 

Click here for PDF version  

Excel's gentle reminder with Formulas

You’re trying to use a formula in MS Excel but it’s just not working.  You've forgotten the syntax.

If you’ve got a newer version of Excel then the gentle reminder you need is closer than you think.

To get Excel to offer up some help you begin by starting your formula – so type in the equal sign, the function name and then the left parentheses. At this point, where you’d normally start entering cell reference information, pause for just a second.

If you give Excel a chance you’ll find that it offers up some assistance in the form of a ToolTip.

 

From here Excel will give you some idea as to what the required syntax is for the function.

Need more of a detailed explanation? No problem – click the function name in the ToolTip and Excel’s online help will open immediately displaying information pertaining to the specific function you’re trying to use.

Click here for PDF version

Repeating Data Shortcut

When working in MS Excel, do you ever find yourself repeatedly entering the same formula or data?

There are several ways to do this - some cumbersome and some fast.

Here's a fast way that you can enter the data or formula and it’s everywhere you need it instantly.

The first thing you need to do is select all the cells in which you wish to place your data or formula.

Next, type the data or formula.

Finally, hit Ctrl + Enter.

The selected cells now contain the same information.

The formula will adjust for relative references, just like they do during a copy / paste. 

Click here for PDF version 

Note:

Please note that we do not provide support for our Word and Excel tips as they are provided by a third party. If you need further information why not try using Google - Cut and paste the heading of our tip into Google's search box. You'll be amazed at the information available.

Whoops

Jokes

Shingles

A big rough looking guy walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had.  The guy said, "shingles." So, she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later, a nurse's aide came out and asked him what he had.

The guy said, "shingles." So, she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told him to wait in the examining room.

A half hour later, a nurse came in and asked the guy what he had. The guy said, "shingles." So, the nurse gave him a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram and told him to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later, the doctor came in and asked the guy what he had. He said said, "shingles." The doctor asked, "Where"?

The guy said, "Outside on the truck. Where do you want 'em"?

What's wrong with you mate

A drunk Australian woman in a state of total undress jumped into a vacant taxi in down town New Delhi.

The driver was immediately beside himself and just kept on staring at the woman.

He made no attempt to start the cab.

“What's wrong with you mate, haven't you ever seen a woman with no clothes on before?”

“I'll not be staring at you lady, I am telling you that would not be proper to look at you where I am coming from".

"Well if you're not staring at me mate, what are you doing then?"

"Well, I am telling you, I am thinking to myself where is this lady keeping the money to be paying me with."

What machine should I use  

An old guy was working out in the gym when he spotted a sexy and beautiful young woman.

He asked the nearby trainer, "What machine should I use in here to impress that cute young thing over there?"

The trainer looked him up and down and said, "I'd try the ATM in the lobby." 

Until next month

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