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WelchWrite Main -- Douglas E. Welch -- Rosanne Welch


Playing around

February 15, 2000

© 2000, Douglas E. Welch


The next time you are sitting at your computer contemplating that next round of Solitaire let me offer a different kind of game that is interesting as well as educational. Open up your favorite program, it doesn't matter which one, and play around with one feature that you have never looked at before. Engaging in a little computer play today might make your next project a little bit easier.

Too much

Most of today's computer programs have entirely too many features and functions for the average user. The trouble is, among all the unneeded features are a few which can help make your computing life easier. When you are in the midst of a deadline, you stick to your tried and true methods even if there might be a better way. The only way to find the features you need is to play around a little when your work is slow. Think of it as a treasure hunt, if you want. You are looking for that one menu choice or command than can help shave minutes, if not hours, off the time required to put together letters, reports or email.

Don't be afraid

Often, you can be afraid of trying new things in fear you might damage the computer in some way. I often tell my clients, "short of taking a baseball bat to the computer, there is little you can do to damage the computer and even those few things are easily repaired." You can make your computer play even less threatening by using non-critical projects as your playground. If you are working on a letter to a friend and lose it, it is far less stressful than losing a report for the boss. Put together an electronic address book using your database program. Compare cars or washing machines using your spreadsheet program. Write a letter to a long, lost aunt. These types of fun, non-threatening projects allow you to play around without fear.

One at a time

It can sometimes help if you concentrate on one feature at a time. Perhaps you want to learn how to adjust margins and tab stops. Look them up in the online help that is frequently provided with software today. Flip through the manual, if you have one. Once you get an overview of the feature, dive in. Try making the paragraphs narrower or wider. Figure out how to create different margins for different pages. Add and remove tab stops. Try out the different kinds of tabs; left, right, center, decimal. Make your document look terrible. It doesn't matter. You can always start over and try something different.

Time for a break

The minute you find yourself getting frustrated or bored, head off to play that game of solitaire. Learning about computers isn't meant to be a chore. It should be both fun and productive. After a few weeks of computer play you will be amazed at how much better you are at using your computer. When you learn in a non-threatening, fun environment, at your own pace, you are more likely to retain the information. Now, go out and have some fun playing with your computer.


Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and computer consultant in Van Nuys, California. He also writes Career Opportunities, a weekly column on high-tech careers and A Gardener's Notebook. You can find more of Douglas' writing on his web page at: http://www.welchwrite.com/

He can reached via email at douglas@welchwrite.com


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© 2000 Douglas E. Welch