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Format Painter Tip #1:  Learn the double-click mode of Format Painter

Knowing the double-click mode of Format Painter is essential for efficiency.  It allows you to be able to use this tool on multiple selections that are not or connected or “contiguous”.  Why is this mode a huge time saver?  Because single clicking Format Painter only applies formatting with one click or drag action.  If you double-click on Format Painter, it will stay on until you turn it off.  Thus, it avoids the hassle of having to turn it back on for multiple cell ranges that are non-adjacent.  When finished applying formatting in the double-click mode, simply turn it off by clicking on the Format Painter icon or by pressing Escape.

Format Painter  Tip #2:  Use Format Painter to paint properties to an entire column

Even experienced users of Excel may never discover that Format Painter can paint column properties from one column to another column.  The process is first to select the column that you want another target column to look like.   Activate Format Painter by clicking on its icon and then finish by immediately clicking on the heading letter of the target column.  Use this process to quickly match the width of one column to another column.   Or if you have a specific number format setup for a column (for example a percent style with a certain number of decimal places), paint those same properties quickly to another target column using Format Painter.

Format Painter Tip #3: Apply Format Painter across Excel sheets and Excel workbooks

A quick approach to getting an identical formatting look to other sheets and to other workbooks is to use Format Painter. To have Format Painter work across sheets, select a cell or a column that has properties that you want have on another sheet.  Then simply click or (double-click if you want to apply to multiple selections—see Tip #1) on Format Painter and immediately go to another sheet and click on your target cells or target column headings.   To have Format Painter work across files, once you activate format painter, simply go the other file if it is open or proceed to get it open.   Then use the Format Painter tool in the normal click and drag manner   Please keep in mind, however, that the best setup for maintaining the same formatting look across sheets or across files is to start using Styles. Styles offer the ability to get instant changes across sheets when you need to do any updating to the custom formatting look.   Everyone should learn how to create custom styles, modify custom styles, and merge them into other files for the ultimate setup for maintaining formatting consistency.

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To avoid distortion when resizing an image always use the CORNER handles.  Avoid using the ones midway on the outer edges.

By default, some images you have in your projects will be proportionally locked and some won’t be.  But you do not even need to worry about making sure they are proportionally locked if you always use keys like SHIFT and/or CTRL when you drag from a corner handle:

• To maintain proportions, press and hold SHIFT while you drag the corner sizing handle.
• To keep the center in the same place, press and hold CTRL while you drag the sizing handle.
• To both maintain the proportions and keep the center in the same place, press and hold both CTRL and SHIFT while you drag the sizing handle.

How to lock the Aspect ratio or to check if it is locked:

If the lock aspect ratio is checked, an image cannot be distorted if you resize using a corner resize handle So if it is on, you are less likely to distort an image.  However keep in mind that even with the lock aspect ratio on, an image can be distorted if you resize using a resize handle midway on the outer edges.  Hence, the advise given in the previous section:

1. Go to the Picture Tools tab.
2. Click the dialog box launcher in the bottom right corner of the Size group (see Figure 2 pt. A).

   

3. In the Layout pane that appears, check the Lock aspect ratio check box (see Figure 3 pt. B).

How to resize an image to an exact height and width:

Often you know about how big you want an image to be.  If this is the case, then you can enter the exact size desired:

1. Go to the Picture Tools  tab.
2. In the Size group on the far right side, enter the new measurements into the Height and Width boxes (see Figure 2 pt. C).

How to reset a picture back to its original size and format use Reset Picture button:

If you have inadvertently distorted a picture, Reset Picture & Size can help you get that picture back to its original length to width ratio.

1. Go to the Picture Tools tab.
2. In the Adjust group,select the drop-down menu with Reset Picture (see Figure 2 pt. D) and choose one of the following:

• Reset Picture discards all the formatting changes made to the picture.
• Reset Picture & Size discards all the formatting changes and the image is restored to its original dimensions.

Good luck keeping with keeping your images the way you need them to look.

The post Resizing Images in Office without distorting (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) appeared first on Donna's Technology Resources.

First learn the essential mouse pointers and shortcuts ones in the first column.  Then work your way up to learning the sets in the second column.

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Checkout this thorough comparison from CompuWorld of the differences between Excel spreadsheets and Google sheets.

Google sheets shine in their ability for slick on-line collaboration, more elaborate commenting tools, and the ease of gathering feed-back on your spreadsheet.

The post Excel Spreadsheets versus Google Sheets: performance comparison appeared first on Donna's Technology Resources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPZO4aCOlE

I especially love:

• Control + Spacebar (to select a column)
• Shift + Spacebar (to select a row)

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