Timely Tips© Volume 4, Issue 6; June 2007: Some Killer Keystroke Combos

June 2007
in this issue
ALT-Key Combos
Where in the World is Randy?
Next E-mail Teleseminar -- July 17, 2007

Dear Timely Tips Reader,

Hi everyone! If you are reading this from the States, I hope that you are getting ready for a wonderful Independence Day holiday (the rest of you, enjoy Wimbledon!) I myself am planning some extensive R&R, including practicing some "work-life balance" strategies by building large sandcastles with my 4-year old on a nearby beach.



Some Awesome ALT-Key Keystroke Combos

Once again, I have to give credit for this month's tip(s) to both my intern, Bridget, and also my client business development coordinator, Carol. Both of them, within a couple weeks of each other, shared some very useful ALT key keystroke combos. I wanted to share them with you, as they are highly useful time savers.

The first PC keystroke combination is for use when you have several programs open on your PC at the same time, and you are toggling between these programs, usually to share data or refer to needed information (say on your Internet browser). Here is how it works:

Hold down the "ALT" key, and then hit the "Tab" key. Windows will then bring up a small window showing icons of all of the active desktop programs that are currently running. Keep holding down the "ALT" key, and hit the "Tab" key again, and the window will "scroll" over and highlight the icons of each of the active running programs. If you then release the "ALT" and "Tab" keys when it hits the icon of the program you would like to jump to, your computer will jump to that selected program.

Try this combo -- if you are doing any data or information sharing between open programs on your desktop, this keystroke combo can definitely save you some time vs. using your mouse to do the same thing.

And if you'd like to close any of these programs once you get the data or information that you need, simply hit "ALT-F4". That will immediately close whatever program you are actively working in. That can save quite a bit of "mouse time" too! Enjoy!



Where in the World is Randy?

Back home for a little while, following a few recent client visits/programs in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania (including a visit to the Gettysburg battlefield site) and also the Potomac River valley areas near Rockville and Great Falls, Maryland. (By the way, Great Falls Park along the Potomac on both the Virginia and Maryland sides of the river is an absolutely gorgeous little park area, where the river cuts a dramatic gorge, with scenic cascading waterfalls, through solid granite rock. Some great hiking and awesome scenery -- might be perfect for a little Independence Day jaunt!)
Next "Taming E-mail" Teleseminar Call Scheduled: July 17, 2007

If you or members of your professional or personal contacts network haven't been able to participate in one of my free "Taming the E-mail Beast" Preview Teleseminars, I've just added a newly planned session on Tuesday, July 17, 2007. I'll be hosting a call this day at 2:30 p.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. PDT). The 2:30 p.m. call is in response to requests from several of you for a call that takes place during normal working hours. Here's the site for more information on this call, and registration information: http://www.randalldean.com/email_teleseminar1.html.

I am getting much closer to the completion of my new book on e-mail strategies, with a hand-off to my copy editor planned for mid-July. I'm very excited about how this project is coming together. Look for more news in next month's Timely Tips.

Until Next Time ...
Obviously, lots of things happening here at Randall Dean Consulting & Training, LLC. We're having to use many of our own Timely Tips every day just to keep up! Enjoy some sparklers and firecrackers for me! Until next time, Stay Timely!