|
Survey
Please note that there is no new survey this month.
Feed back
Want to say something or submit a good article or joke. The e-mail address is
webmaster@am-win.com.au
AM-Win
Support Solutions
Please be careful when back posting entries to December
When you are back posting entries to December, after you have rolled into January, the date in AM-Win has been updated to read 2008.
If when back posting this month you only change the day and month [eg 28/12] your back posting will not be posted to December 2007 but will actually be forward posted to 28th December 2008.
Ensure that when changing a date back to December for back posting, that you either type in the year as 2007, eg., 28/12/2007 or use the calendar to set the back posting date.
We recommend that you use the calendar screen to change the date. When you go back one month using the calendar this month it will automatically go back to December 2007.
Invoicing - Importing information from an external source.
You may like to copy notes from another program such as a technical specifications
database etc to an invoice to save time and to provide your staff or clients
with more information on the job card or invoice.
The copy and paste commands built into windows enables you to copy information from external sources such as an email, a website, a word or other
text document directly into an invoice through the notes window.
To do this, highlight the text from the external source you wish to use and then press the
CTRL & C buttons together. This will copy the external text into an area of memory used by windows to store such information.
Now open the notes window and use the CTRL & V buttons together which pastes the external text
into the notes window. Now you can change, preview and put the text onto your document. This is great for transferring
information from times guides, or, if a customer sends you email instructions that you want to paste onto a job rather than retyping all the
details.
Business Information
Six Writing Tips to Avoid Sloppy E-mail Writing
E-mail has become the most important information vehicle today and its usage increases hourly eclipsing other modes of communication. Of course, therein lies the rub. Because writing--and poor writing specifically--is now on show for all to see, the pandemic of sloppy writing is proliferating at the speed of light! And the cost? Inestimable. Irate clients, passed-over promotions and damaged reputations are a high price to pay for not taking the cure to remedy your writing ailments. The treatment? Apply these six writing tips daily.
1. Get to the point!
Don't spend a lot of time and space dancing around the purpose of your message. If not the first sentence, within the first three the reader should know the purpose of your message and what he/she is to do with your information. Note: Always answer this question: My purpose is WHAT so that my reader will do WHAT?
2. Always, always keep your reader in mind.
Ask yourself: who is my reader and what does he/she need to know? Keep an image of your reader in your mind's eye. How does the reader feel or think about my topic? What does he/she need to know? Will what you want to have happen, happen through the power of your writing? Answers to these questions will help you keep reader-oriented in your writing. Note: Write down six questions the reader might have about your topic.
3. Does your document come full circle?
In other words, if you were to read just your introduction and conclusion, would the reader know what your topic is about? Cover the body of your e-mail and see if it does. If not, revise. Note: Since readers tend to scan e-mails, repeat the focus of your e-mail in the last sentence.
4. Eliminate the Ultimate Weasel Word: There.
As you work to make your writing clearer and simpler, eliminate the word there from the beginning of your sentence. Even though this non-word has been used throughout writing history, its use does not produce clean, sharp text. It should be expunged forever from your writing. A strong statement? No. There forces you into using passive voice. For example, There is, there was, there are.
Therefore, starting sentences with there becomes a lazy way of writing. Your writing will become more concise, clear and dynamic by removing this "weasel word." Dull, flat writing wastes time and shows little thought on the part of the writer. Note: There should not be used anywhere in your writing. 5. Short and sweet is still a good motto. Unnecessary words clutter your writing and confuse reader. Asking yourself how can I say this more clearly and concisely should trigger your editing pencil. Think the Nifty Fifteen Rule: fifteen words to one sentence. Note: Some experts are advocating twelve words per sentence.
6. Say No! to the To-be verb.
Colourless, uninteresting sentences usually come filled with to-be verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being. Getting rid of these verbs in your writing does your reader a favor. Eliminating as many of these as possible will go a long way to making your writing more interesting and less wordy. By getting rid of as many to-be verbs as possible you will accomplish two things: 1. Your sentences will virtually leap off the page with fresh, vigorous language. 2. Your sentences will become clear and concise. Note: Even in technical documents, reducing 50 percent of your passive verbs will do your reader a favor.
6. Simple is best.
Remember, you are having a conversation with your reader. You write to inform, persuade or
motivate -- not to impress with the depth of your vocabulary. Your message can
get watered down or lost in useless words - keep it simple and concise.
Stick to the A-list
A new customer can have a major impact on your business and your life, so it's important to clearly articulate who your ideal customers are.
Here is a short exercise to help you to focus on the kind of customer relationships you most want. Sort your current customer list into three groups.
"A" customers are your ideal target customers.
These are the people who you most like to work with as they generate the most revenue and present the best chance of repeat business or referrals.
"B" customers are not ideal but offer the prospect of solid bread-and-butter work. You might decide to take on a "B" customer if the job looks reasonably straightforward, the customer is willing to pay a fair fee and they seem easy to work with.
"C" customers are the ones that your business could do without.
For example, if you are a specialist in a particular area, you may want to refer requests for other kinds of work on to someone else.
This "C" list may also include those who are difficult to deal with, late paying their bills or possess some other negative quality.
What kind of picture emerges from your list?
Are you working mostly with "A" and "B" customers or are there too many "C"s in there?
Choosing the right customers will make you happier and more focused, so it's worth taking the time to do an exercise such as this one regularly.
Eliminate printing mishaps with Internet Explorer's version 7 advanced printing
features.
Remember the last time you tried to print a Web site page? Remember how annoying it was to see that half the information was cut off on the right or left margin?
That problem is gone with IE7. A default will shrink a Web page's text just enough to ensure the entire page prints properly. Plus, from within Print Preview, you can now adjust Web page margins, change the page layout, remove headers and footers, and increase or decrease the print space as desired.
In IE7 open file/print preview. Now you can adjust margins, change the page layout,
remove headers and footers
Click
here to download and install Internet Explorer version 7.
Content selection some shortcuts for MS Word.
Before you can format a word, paragraph, graphic, etc., you have to select (highlight) it first so the software will know which item to work on. Here are some shortcuts that will help you finish quicker in Word.
Select a Word. Click once inside the word (it will not highlight but it’s selected), or double-click it. (In Word 2003, if clicking once inside a word doesn’t work, turn this feature on. Click the Tools menu, Options, the Edit tab, and tick the When selecting, automatically select entire word box.)
Select a Sentence. Press Ctrl, and click anywhere in the sentence.
Select a Paragraph. Triple-click anywhere in the paragraph.
Select an Entire Document. Press Ctrl+A.
Select Vertical Text. Hold down the Alt key, then click and drag across and straight down as in a column with the mouse (doesn’t work inside a table).
Select a Large Block of Text. Click where you want the selection to start, then hold the Shift key down, and click where you want the selection to end.
Select from Certain Point in a Document to the End. Click where you want the selection to begin, then press Ctrl+Shift+End. From the first click to the end of the document will become selected. (To go from a certain point of the document to the beginning, click Home key instead of End.)
Tip in a tip - if you want to print just this tip and leave the rest
of the newsletter unprinted try this. [Works everywhere in any web page].
Click where you want the selection to start, then hold the Shift key down, and click where you want the selection to end.
Now click file/ print.
The following window will appear.
Make sure that you check the box marked selection. [as per arrow]. This will
ensure that only the selected text will print. Click apply and print.
Whoops
The sequence of events shown below
was sent to us by David Vidla from Seaside Automotive at Port Noarlunga in South
Australia. David wins a link to his very professional website and you can visit
him at www.seasideauto.com.au
. Thanks David
The pictures show a tug pushing
barges loaded with coal on a fast flowing flooded river, meeting a closed bridge
that was unable to open to let the tug through.
If
only the tug's builders had built the Titanic.
Jokes
The clean ones first
Ladies First
If you never open the door for your lady!
If walk in front of your lady, instead of beside her!
If you enter a room leaving your lady to follow you!
If take the window seat on a plane and leave your lady squashed in the middle
seat!
You can learn from this.
Golden rule:
Ladies First
I'm Scottish and I'm a golfer
An 80-year old Scot went to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor was amazed at what good shape the guy was in and asked, "How do you stay in such great physical condition?"
I'm Scottish and I am a golfer," said the old guy. "I'm up well before daylight and out golfing up and down the fairways. Have a glass of scotch, and all is well."
"Well," said the doctor, "I'm sure that helps, but there's got to be more to it. How old was your Dad when he died?"
"Who said my Dad's dead?"
The doctor was amazed "You mean you're 80 years old and your Dad's still alive. How old is he?"
"He's 100 years old," said the Scot. "In fact he golfed with me this morning, and then we went to the nude beach for a little enjoyment and for a walk, that's why he's still alive ... he's a Highlander and he's a golfer, too."
"Well," the doctor said, "that's great, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. How about your Dad's Dad? How old was he when he died?"
"Who said my grandpa's dead?"
Stunned, the doctor asked, "You mean you're 80 years old and your grandfather's still living! Incredible, how old is he?"
"He's 118 years old," said the Scot.
The doctor was getting frustrated at this point, "So, I guess he went golfing with you this morning, too?"
"No. Grandpa couldn't go this morning because he's getting married today."
At this point the doctor was close to losing it. "Getting married! Why would a 118 year-old guy want to get married?"
"Who said he wanted to?"
We publish the joke section of the
newsletter by popular demand. Please note that some jokes may contain adult
themes and could be considered by some as offensive. If you are offended
by this type of humour please do not continue reading. We keep the joke
section at the end of the newsletter and you will miss nothing by reading
further.
Ralph's Surgery - submitted by Mike Rusling in Dubbo.
When Ralph first noticed that his penis was growing larger and staying erect longer, he was delighted, as was his wife.
But after several weeks, his penis had grown to nearly twenty inches. Ralph became quite concerned.
He was having problems dressing, and even walking. So he and his wife went to see a prominent urologist.
After an initial examination, the doctor explained to the couple that, though rare, Ralph's condition could be fixed through corrective surgery.
'How long will Ralph be on crutches?' the wife asked anxiously.
'Crutches? Why would he need crutches?' responded the surprised doctor.
'Well,' said the wife coldly, 'you're going to lengthen his legs, aren't you?
Our next yarn in courtesy of Ted Steward - thanks Ted.
So, Murphy, how was your day?
A doctor in Dublin wanted to get off work and go fishing, so
he approached his assistant. "Murphy, I am going fishing tomorrow
and don't want to close
the clinic. I want you to take care of the clinic and take care of all
me patients".
"Yes, sir!" answers Murphy.
The doctor goes fishing and returns the following day and
asks: " So, Murphy, how was your day?"
Ah it wasn't that busy - I only had three patients.
"The first one had a headache so he did, so I gave him
Paracetamol."
"Bravo Murphy lad, and the second one?" asks the
doctor.
"The second one had indigestion and I gave him
Gaviscon, says Murphy.
"Ah to be sure you're good at this Murphy lad, and what
about the third one?" asks the doctor.
"Sir, I was sitting here and suddenly the door flies open
and a young gorgeous woman borsts in so she does. Like bolt outta the
blue, she tears off her clothes, taking off everyting and lies down on the
table and screaming : 'HELP ME for the love of St Patrick! For five years I
have not seen any man!'"
"Tunderin' lard Jesus Murphy, what did you do?" asks
the doctor.
"I put drops in her eyes."
And once again from Mike in Dubbo our next yarn is an oldie
but a goodie.
You've gotta make things right for her
A guy walks into a bar, notices a very large jar on the counter and sees it's filled to the brim with $10 bills. He
guesses there must be thousands of dollars in it. He approaches the bartender and asks. 'What's up with the jar?'
'Well, you pay $10 and if you pass three tests, you get all the money.' The man certainly isn't going to pass this up.
'What are the three tests?'
Pay first, those are the rules.' says the bartender. So the man gives him the $10 and the bartender drops it into the
jar. 'OK,' the bartender says. Here's what you need to do:
First, You have to drink that entire gallon of pepper tequila, the whole thing, all at once...and you can't make a
face while doing it.
Second, There's a pit bull chained up out back with a sore tooth. You have to remove the tooth
with your bare hands.
Third. There's a 90 year old woman upstairs who has never
reached satisfaction during sex. You've gotta make things right for her.'
The man is stunned. 'I know I paid my $10, but I'm not an idiot, I won't do it! You have to be nuts to drink a gallon of
pepper tequila, and then do those other things...'
'Your call,' says the bartender, 'but your money stays where it is.'
As time goes on and the man has a few drinks, then a few more, he asks, 'Wherez zat tequila?'
He grabs the gallon with both hands and downs it with a big slurp. Tears streaming down both cheeks, but he doesn't make
a face. Next, he staggers out back where the pit bull is chained up and soon the people inside the bar hear a huge,
noisy, scuffle going on outside. They hear the pit bull barking, the guy screaming, the pit bull yelping and then
silence.
Just when they think the man surely must be dead, he staggers back into the bar, with his shirt ripped and
large bloody scratches all over his body.
'Now,' he says ....... 'Where's the old woman with the sore tooth?'
Until next month
| 
