Most of us are familiar only with with using a mouse to navigate on our PCs, however a mouse click isn't always the quickest way to get things done. Using keyboard shortcuts is often a quicker way to do things in Outlook -- you can bypass menus by doing tasks directly.

In Outlook you can use shortcut keys to do things like opening the Global Address Book, creating a new message, and deleting messages. Many of Outlook's shortcut keys can also be found listed next to the command name on Outlook menus -- for example, on the "Edit" menu the "Delete" command lists the shortcut as Ctrl+D.

Keyboard shortcuts may not appeal to everyone, but knowing what's available gives you an alternate way to navigate. (Some of them may actually be essential if your mouse freezes up.) Give them a try to find the ones that you like best!

Here's a short list of the Outlook keyboard shortcuts most likely to be helpful to you -- for a complete list ask Outlook's "Clippy" by pressing the F1 key, and typing "shortcut keys" in the text box.

You may already be using similar keyboard shortcuts in other Microsoft products -- here's a list of more shortcuts you can use in Windows 95/NT and Office.

Ever noticed that some of the menu buttons in your web browser have small arrows that appear just to the right of a button? The reason they're there is so the buttons can perform two functions! For example, if you single-click your web browser's "Back" button you'll just go back one page in your browser's history. But try a modified mouse-click (as described below) and a drop-down menu will appear offering one or more options:

• In Internet Explorer, to see a list of the last few pages you visited click the small down arrow beside the "Back" or "Forward" button. Click on any of them to go directly to that web page.
  
  
  
• In Netscape, click and hold your finger on the mouse button, and a drop-down menu will appear. Now drag the mouse pointer down to the site you want to jump back to, and then release the button to select it.
  

If you're having problems with windows resizing when instead you want to drag them around your desktop, go to the Camden County (New Jersey) Library Windows Training Drag and Resize tutorials for a good overview.

If your weren't able to attend last month's Fox Valley Library Council (FVLC) program entitled "A Few Good Web Sites: What's New, What's Fun, and Sites I Absolutely Couldn't Live Without" you're not out of luck -- you can visit all the web sites that were mentioned by going to the web pages by presenters Gerri Moeller of Outagamie Waupaca Library System and Joy Schwarz of Winnefox Library System.

And on an unrelated note: Bedtime Reading Week is March 11-17.

If you're used to reading with a cat on your lap (or having one help you read the paper as in this cartoon) read about libraries and bookstores where you can curl up with a good cat. For the definitive guide check the Library Cats Map.

(Sorry canine owners -- I tried to give you equal billing but I couldn't find a "Library Dogs Map". Maybe it's up to one of you to create one!)

"A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life."
   -- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Each year the Oshkosh Public Library Staff Association celebrates Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) with a cooking contest -- this year's theme was "Low-Fat Tuesday", with a Dessert Category and a Not Dessert Category. This month's Ides features one of the two winning recipes, Spicy Chicken Soup. Look for Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins in next month's Ides!

This issue of The Ides was written on February 15, 2002
Copyright 2001, Winnefox Library System

The Ides is written by Joy Schwarz.
Please direct any questions, comments or recipes to schwarz@mail.winnefox.org

URL: http://www.winnefox.org/ides/idesfeb02.html