P Cubed Positive Personal Productivity South FLA .NET User Group Code Camp 2009

Hey Now Everybody,

Today is the day, our South FLA .NET User Group Code Camp! The best event all year hosted @ Devry U (thx Ed Hill). I'm so excited about today & the session I'm providing. My session is called 'P Cubed Positive Personally Productive' including

Microsoft Certifications

Everyday Efficientcy

I wanted to produce some content that a user even my ma would use everyday. I've been to many great session from INETA speakers, MVP's on a wide range of topics. Sometimes I leave & never really use any of the content they speak about. If you are unable to make the session, I"ve place a lot of my content on my blog & site. Geekfest! Geekfest! Over 600 people will be there today. Special thanks to Dave Noderer for the oppertunity to speak. Here are some links to the session content:

Hotkeys

1. Alt + Tab
2. Opening Apps
3. Tab

4. Browser Hotkeys

5. Outlook Hotkeys

Windows Button

Slide Deck

MCTS 70-536 Exam .NET Foundations 70 page summary

As always all comments welcome!

Bye for now,

Catto

Outlook Mail Hotkeys #5 Hotkey of Alltime

Outlook Mail Hotkeys #5 Hotkey of Alltime

Hey Now Everybody,

The #5 Hotkey is Outlook Hotkeys. If you don't use Outlook daily then you disagree with Outlook hotkeys in the top 5, however personally I'm in Outlook all day everyday & love it. Usually I'll recieve ~150 emails per day. I'm part of many distribution lists where I don't have to read every word of every email. Outlook efficiency is critical to productivity.

Here are the top Outlook Hotkeys:
1. Ctrl + N - New Message
2. F7 - Spell Check
3. Alt + S - Send Message
4. Insert - Flag message
5. Ctrl + 1 Mail
6. Ctrl + 2 Calendar
7. Ctrl + Shift + B - Address Book
8. Right Click, M
9. Right Click, H

Some details about the list:
1. Ctrl + N - New Message
We are always sending emails
2. F7 - Spell Check
Very important for myself I do this often
3. Alt + S - Send Message
Sending messages is common such as creating new messages
4. Insert - Flag message
Insert a flag of color red.
Ctrl + Shift + G is a hotkey to insert a flag of where the user can choose the color
5. Ctrl + 1 Mail
When in the Calendar, Tasks or Contacts this will bring the view to the mail or inbox.
6. Ctrl + 2 Calendar
When in the Mail view & wanting to check calendar Ctrl + 2 will bring the user to the calendar
7. Ctrl + Shift + B - Address Book
In a large organization I've found myself constantly looking people up in the address book.
8. Right Click, M
When in the preview pane this will move the messages into the chosen destination.
9. Right Click, H
When in preview pane you may open the attachement of the message. An Alt + O is usually next.

Outlook is so common & important you need to be organized & hotkeyified.

That is all there is now more,
Bye for now,
Catto

Browser Hotkeys #4 Hotkey of all Time

Browser Hotkeys #4 Hotkey of all Time

The browser is the most used application, you viewing this post in a web browser such as IE right now. There are so many hotkeys that we can use when in a browser & that is why it's the #4 rated hotkey. Here is a list of my top browser hotkeys:

1. Alt + C - Favorites Center
2. Tab Navigation
3. Middle Click (Hot Click) - Open link in new tab
4. F5 - Refresh
5. Alt + D - Focus on Address bar
6. Ctrl + D - Add to favs
7. Backspace (= Stop button)
8. F11 - Full Screen
9. Ctrl + W - Close Tab
10. Esc (= Stop button)
11. Ctrl + E - Search
12. Alt + T - Tools menu
13. Alt + J - View Feeds
14. Ctrl + Shift + Del - (Delete browsing history IE8)
15. Ctrl + 0 restores Text Size

Whew! That is quite a few. Here is some more detail on them all

1. Alt + C - Favorites Center (IE7 & IE8)
I love this since I constanly use my favorites In Firefox it's Alt + B

2. Tab Navigation
Ctrl + Tab - Switch to next tab
Ctrl + Shift + Tab - Switch to previous tab
Ctrl + Q - Quick Tabs view
Ctrl + 1 Swich to 1st tab

3. Middle Click (Hot Click) - Open link in new tab
I really find this usefule say you are on search results & you middle click (click the scroll wheel down) while hovering a link & the page will open in a new tab (or window depending on you preference)

4. F5 - Refresh
I always am refreshing pages & this is how I prefer to do it.

5. Alt + D - Focus on Address bar
Quick way to navigate to the address bar

6. Ctrl + D - Add to favs
Adding to favorites couldn't be easier. I think of the D in aDD to remember this one.

7. Backspace (= Stop button)
Alt + <-- works too but I usually use Backspace since only one key beats to in my blog.

8. F11 - Full Screen
Streamlined browsing is so nice. Full screen I use so much & really love it. F11 also will restore the window to the previous size.

9. Ctrl + W - Close Tab
Closing tabs happens & this is efficent.

10. Esc - Stop
Frequenly use this when a page doesn't load quick or right so I just stop it.

11. Ctrl + E - Search
Use this to search in a search file in the top left of some browsers. In the future this box will not be there in my opinion since the address bar wil also search.

12. Alt + T - Tools menu
Tools menu is useful such as Internet Options (Alt + T, O)
Classic windows update is good too such as (Alt + T, U)

13. Alt + J - View Feeds
After viewing the feeds I useually press the up arrow & select the RSS one not ATOM, This works well.

14. Ctrl + Shift + Del - (Delete browsing history IE8)
In IE8 this is a nice new hotkey for getting to the delete browsing history with out the tools menu.

15. Ctrl + 0 restores Text Size
Sometimes the we may click & hold the Ctrl button & scroll the mouse wheel. The text will change size on the browser & to restore it you can choose this one. Browser Hotkeys more than you wanted to know I would think, however the are efficent & used everyday.

Bye for now,

Catto

The Tab Key is rated the #3 Hotkey Ever

The Tab Key is rated the #3 Hotkey Ever

Hey Now Everybody,

The Tab key in my opinion is the #3 best hotkey. Yes I hear all you saying 'The Tab key is a hotkey? It just indents 5 spaces right?' The tab key is so useful since it moves the focus of the cursor on the screen from field to field.

101 Tab Key Hotkey - Tab moves the cursor focus to the next field!
We all have to login to many applications & are usually prompted with a Username field, a password field & a submit button. Some people may click in the Username field enter the username, click in the password field enter it, then click the submit button.
Example When logging into most applications the focus is already on in the username field so a user can type the user name. Now press TAB & the cursor will move the next field which is the password so after entering the password press TAB then press enter to click the space bar. This is a much quicker way to login without having to take your hands from the home keys to move it to the mouse.

201 Tab Key Hotkey
Shift + Tab will make the focus move in the backwards direction.
This is very useful. Continuing on our previous example. Say a user enters the username, presses tab & realizes the username was fat fingered & needs to be edited since it's not correct. The focus is in the password field so press & hold the shift key then press & release tab. The cusor fucos will now be in the username field.

301 Tab Key in Save As / Open Box
The tab key is very useful in the Save As / Open window since you can move fields such as the file name or folder location from the keyboard.

Tab is great to use in a web or windows applications. I use it all day long. The tab key is not just for indenting paragraphs any longer it's the #3 rated hotkey ever in the whole world.

Bye 4 Now,
Catto

Windows Key Hotkeys (Rated #7)

Windows Key Hotkeys

Windows key is an important hotkey. The key is located on most keyboards in-between the left Ctrl & Alt key on the left side. On most keyboards there is also one the right Alt & right click key. By itself the windows key will open the start menu. When we use this key with others it creates hotkeys. The most useful hotkey with the

Windows Key Hotkey 101 Beginner Level

Use Win Hotkey in 4 Steps
1. Press & hold windows Key (left thumb)

2. Press & release E (left middle finger)

3. Release Win Key4. Windows Explorer Opens

Vista Windows Key Hotkey

201 Advanced Level Win Key Hotkeyifies Quick Launch
This hotkey is available in Vista & Server 2008 not XP. We can use the windows button to open the first 10 shortcuts we have saved in our quick launch (located to right of Start Button) For example if Word is the fourth quick launch icon then use win + 4 to open word.

1. Press & hold Win key

2. Press & release 1

3. Release the Win Key.4. Firefox opens

XP Windows Key Hotkey

201 Advanced Level Restart & Shutdown Slickly with Win key

When restarting or shutting down in XP use hotkeys

1. Press Win Key

2. Press U (Shut Down)

3. Press R (R for restart or s two times for shut down)4. Press Enter5. PC will restart

Windows Key Hotkey 301 Guru

There are other ways to use the Windows key. When we use windows key with other letters such as L, M, F & R we have other handy hotkeys. My favorite includes locking a workstation with two keys not 3 plus 1 (Ctrl + Alt + Del, Enter). At work I lock my PC everytime I step away from my desk so I use this often.
L - Lock workstation Win + L

Pause Break – Open System Properties with Win + Pause Break (located above page up) Good to see chip speed & amount of RAM.

M – Minimize all programs Win + M

F – Find or Search for file – Win + F

R – Run – Win + R opens Run window.

If I’m on my PC for longer than a few minutes I will use Win + E hotkey at least once. I usually have 2 windows explorers open one each screen. The windows key is a very useful key & is can be combined for many hotkeys.

All Comments welcome,
Bye for now,

Catto

Opening Application Hotkeys #2 Hotkeys - Desktop Icon Shortcut Keys

Opening Application Hotkeys #2 Hotkeys - Desktop Icon Shortcut Keys

Hotkeys to Open Applications - Desktop Icon Shortcut Keys

I’m a fan of hotkeys, Here is the desktop shortcut icon (file) shortcut key. Many people double click on desktop shortcuts all the time. We can create hotkeys for desktop icons which will have a positive effect on our productivity. Instead of double clicking the desktop icon your can use a hotkey.

For Opening Applications the best 3 hotkeys are the:
Shortcut - Shortcut key (opens any app)
Win + E (opens windows explorer)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Opens Task Manager)

3 Steps to Use (once created) Desktop Icon Shortcut key

1. Press & hold Ctrl & Alt
2. Press & release letter (or number ex I )
3. Internet Explorer opens (different then clicking the blue E IE desktop shortcut icon)

6 Steps to Create a Desktop Icon Shortcut key

1. Open Properties window on a desktop shortcut file (right click & select properties (r))
2. Type a character in the Shortcut Key field Ex ‘I’ for Internet Explorer
3. Click OK
4. Press & hold Ctrl & Alt.
5. Press & release character Ex ‘I’
6. The program will open such as our web browser IE8 in our example.

With this one shortcut key option a user can create & use easily over 30 custom productive hotkeys. The cost is good for me too – free. We can use this hotkey over 100 times in a day. I use this for my web browsers, office applications & just about any windows programs. Below are many of the key bindings I customized along with the associated application.

I – Internet Explorer
O – Outlook
W – Word
E – Excel
M – Mozilla Firefox
C – Chat / Connect
Q – SQL Server Studio/Enterprise Manger
D – Remote Desktop
P – Control Panel
0 – Visual Studio
1 – Notepad
4 –Screen capture
5 – Snag It
G – Google Chrome
F – Flock/Fax
2 – Sea Monkey
X – Calculator
V – VPN

Desktop Shortcut Icon Shortcut keys 201 Advanced – Creating first IE Shortcut Key
Creating an IE shortcut key may require extra actions. When the properties is selected on the IE desktop shortcut file tow either of two windows will open:
IE Properties Window on Shortcut tab – if this window on this tab opens it’s the best and we only have enter our shortcut key & click OK.
The Internet Properties (internet Options) window opens – In this case we’ll close the internet Properties window. Then right click on the shortcut file again & select Create Shortcut. Then right click on the desktop & paste it which will create a new shortcut. Then on this newly created shortcut if we right click & select properties we’ll view the shortcut tab where we can create a shortcut key.

Desktop Shortcut Icon Shortcut keys 301 Guru No Desktop Icons
Desktop With No Icons – Personally I do not show icons on my desktop. I enjoy the images I select for my desktop backround. Therefore I select not to have any icons on top of the image. Even thought there are no icons shown, I use all of them by the hotkeys I created. I don’t double click the Blue E for IE I press Ctrl + Alt + I same with opening Word not by double clicking the word icon but by pressing Ctrl + Alt + W. Any time you wanted to create another hotkey or view your desktop shortcuts you still could in Windows Explorer.

3 Steps To Not Show Icons on Desktop:

1. Right clicking on the desktop
2. Arrange Icons By
3. Uncheck Show Icons on Desktop (so there is no checkmark)

Every time you double click a shortcut Icon (feel shame?) you could be replacing that slow action with a quick fast positive productive hotkey! With this powerful Keyboard Shortcut we’ll have positive personal productivity.
All comments welcome.

.Bye for now!
Catto

Alt + Tab Task Switcher Voted #1 Hotkey Ever!

Alt + Tab Task Switcher Voted #1 Hotkey Ever!

Hey Now Everybody,

Alt + Tab is my favorite hotkey & I personally voted it the #1 Hotkey ever (ha ha). If you use Alt + Tab all the time, used it before or never have tried it. The 'Task Switcher' Alt + Tab provides us a powerful keyboard shortcut to switch which tasks (windows) you are using quickly. This hotkey can easily be used hundreds of times each day positively increasing your personal productivity.

How to Use - Alt + Tab (3 easy steps)

101 Beginner Level

1. Press & hold the (left) Alt key with left thumb.
2. Press & release the tab key with your left pinky
3. Release Alt Key
You press & hold the Alt key then press & release tab then release Alt is the way to use it when you have more than one window open then your focus will now be on the window you previously used. This is great when you have many windows open since you don't have to move you mouse pointer all the way to the bottom & try to find the window on your crowded task bar then click it to have the focus on the new window.

Alt + Tab 201 Advanced Level
You may also use the Alt + Tab hotkey to place the focus on a window you have open but not used recently. You can navigate to any open window by pressing & hold the Alt key & press & release tab then press & release tab to slowly navigate to a window you desire. Choose a window (task) that you want to choose, once you are selecting the one you want (displayed by a little black box) you release the Alt key. Then your window you selected will open.

Alt + Shift + Tab 301 Guru Level

You may select a window in reverse order too. This is accomplished by pressing & holding the Alt key & then press & hold the shift key & then press & release tab. This will reverse the order you are selecting the windows which is useful sometimes.
Example 1 - For example I usually have task manager open & if I want to have the focus on the task manager window I press & hold Alt, then press & hold Shift then press & release tab. Then release shift & Alt. Since Task Manager is by default the first task listed this will work, focus is now on the task manager.
Example 2 - Another example when I use the Alt + Shift + Tab is when I press & hold Alt, then press & release tab a few times, one too many times & go past the window I want, Say I wanted to get to a task say 4th or 5th on Task Switcher menu then I pressed tab one too many times. Then I press & hold shift, press & release tab once then I'm selecting the correct task. Then I release Alt & the focus is on the correct window.Alt + Tab vs. Win + Tab Vista AdjustmentIn vista one of the first demos many of us have seen is where the task switcher is being used with a slight adjustment the tasks are displayed with large cascading images not small icons or thumbnails. This is accomplished with replacing Alt key with the Windows key (located between left Ctrl & Alt). My preference is not to use this since I feel the Alt + Tab responds quick & accurate where the Win + Tab requires a ½ a second before being active.

Increase your personal productivity & give it a try. If you're currently using Alt + Tab then I'm glad you agree with me & I wonder do you think it's the best hotkey ever?

I remember when my friend explained you have to be Gorganized (Goran's version of organized) & use Alt + Tab. He was my back seat typer for years & it wasn't long before he didn't have to tell me to use Alt + Tab any more since I was always using it. That is all there is & there is no more!

Bye Now!
Catto