How to Use Google Site command

If you do a lot of "Googling" these days you may want to know how to use the Google Site command.  When using the Site command, Google gives you a list of search results all from the same website.  Here's how it works:

1. From the Google Search box, type your search keyword(s). (For example, as shown above, if you're looking for apple pie recipes, type apple pie).
2. After the last keyword in your search, type a space then type the word site followed by a colon (i.e. apple pie site:)
3. After the colon (no spaces please!), type the website from which you would like all the results. (i.e. apple pie site:www.foodnetwork.com)
4. Press Enter or Return on the keyboard or click Google Search.
5. The list of results is shown.  Notice in green under each result the website you specified in step 3 above is part of every link.

This is a efficient way of searching the internet.  Try your own example using a different website and search keywords.  Leave your comments below on your findings!

As always, happy clicking,

Betsy
The PC Teacher
www.thepcteacher.com

How To Use Labels in Gmail

1. Gmail is Google Mail.
2. If you don't have a Gmail account, click here then click on Create Account in the lower right corner of the screen.
3. Gmail refers to labels like folders.  They are a place where you can organize and store emails so that you can refer to them in the future.
4. To create a new label, look for the Create New Label link on the left side of the Gmail screen.
5. You may need to click 'More' to see the link.
6. The New Label window appears.  Type a label name and click OK. (for example, if you want to keep all of your store coupon emails in one "folder" then call the label: store coupons.
7. The new label will be displayed on the left side of the screen.
8. To apply the label to an email, from your Inbox, click the checkbox next to the email.
9. Click the Move To button at the top of the screen.
10. Select the label from the list and the email is moved to that "folder".  To find the email, click on the label name on the left side of the screen.

Happy clicking,
Betsy
The PC Teacher
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com
For a class on Google and Gmail, check out The PC Teacher calendar of events.

2011

New Year.  New technology goals.  What are your technology goals for 2011?  I taught many people during 2010 who had set a goal related to the computer.  There are beginner computer users who set a goal of learning how to send and receive email, log on to a website, and understand what all the features are used for on their Dock (Mac users) or Start Menu (Windows users).  Some had decided to learn how to use their digital camera and then transfer the pictures to their computer.  Others had mastered the transfer but had the challenge of learning how to organize all of the pictures that had landed on their computer over the months or how to use their printer/scanner with the hopes of converting many of their developed pictures into scanned images.  I meet many people who are looking for a new job who quickly find that most of the job postings require a knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access and even Outlook).  And then there are all the technology extras.  Some want to learn how to attach a file to an email, open a PDF, save to a flash drive, tweet or post their status, communicate via Skype, start a website or even write their own blog.

This year one of my tech goals is to blog at least once a week.  Why blog?  It is the easiest way to capture my technology tips in one place and archive them by date.  My blog is accessible from any computer with internet connection.  You can even search the blog for particular topics such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google, Twitter, Facebook, iPhoto, Picasa, and more.  My blog entries will be short and sweet but filled with a specific technology tip.  A 'how-to' blog entry pertaining to a website or software program that you can follow along at your own pace.

Stay tuned.

As always, happy clicking,

Betsy

The PC Teacher

bcoyne@thepcteacher.com

Music

I love listening to music on my computer. I've taken my entire CD collection and imported it into iTunes. No iPod required. I can sort by artist, album, song name, genre and more. I can even make playlists. That means I can take songs from different CDs and put them on one CD together. Then I can play that CD in the car or at a party.

Here's my latest CD purchase:

Shopping online: The Amazon Shop

You know I much I enjoy the show, Glee.
Well, there is a Christmas album coming out and I ordered it on Amazon.com
Here are some quick picks from my Amazon shopping list:

Web Search in an Instant with Google Instant

I'm a Google fan. Are you? There seems to be something new every week. This week the new Google feature is called Google Instant.  Google Instant is a new search enhancement that shows results as you type. The most obvious change is that you get to the right content much faster than before because you don’t have to finish typing your full search word, or even press “search.” Another shift is that seeing results as you type helps you come up with a better search term by providing instant feedback. You can now adapt your search right away until the results match exactly what you want.  (source http://www.google.com/instant/#utm_campaign=launch&utm_medium=hpp&utm_source=US)

1. Go to www.google.com
2. In the Google search box, begin typing a keyword.  For example, type the letter W.
3. The Google screen changes instantly to show you the top web site matches for the letter W.
4. You can see that 'weather.com' is the top match for the letter W.
5. Now type the letter A.
6. You can see that walmart.com is the top match for the letters WA.
7. Now press backspace to erase the letter A and type the letter I.
8. You can see that wikipedia.com is the top match for the letters WI.
9. And so on.....
10. To turn off Google Instant, click the Search Settings link in the upper right corner of the screen.
11. Scroll down through the settings and find the button for Google Instant.
12. Click the button for Do Not Use Google Instant.
13. Scroll down and click Save Preferences in the bottom right corner of the screen.
14. This will turn off Google Instant and return you to the old way of searching with Google.

To find out more about ways to effectively search the internet, check out the latest class schedule at The PC Teacher.  Send an email to Betsy and request your own topic.  Get a small group of friends together and learn at the same time!  You'll find you can learn quickly in a small class setting located in Ramsey, NJ.

Happy clicking, 

Betsy Sabatini Coyne

The PC Teacher

www.thepcteacher.com

bcoyne@thepcteacher.com

Need help with your computer?

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Facebook "is going" Places

Have you heard?  Facebook has a new feature called Places.  It's a feature that allows you to see where your friends are and share your location with them.  You'll be able to see if any of your friends are currently "checked in" nearby and connect with them easily.  To learn more about this feature, sign up for a Facebook class with The PC Teacher (Helping You Click with Technology in Ramsey).  Click here for more information: www.thepcteacher.com or to sign up for a class click here

You can check into nearby Places to tell your friends where you are, tag your friends in the Places you visit, and view comments your friends have made about the Places you visit. Use Places to experience connecting with people on Facebook in a completely new way. (Facebook Help Manual)


The Places feature is available to users in the United States with mobile access to the Facebook application for iPhone or touch.facebook.com. Places will be available to other mobile devices and the internet in the future. Please make sure that you are using the most up-to-date software version for your iPhone, Android, or mobile device or the Places application may not function properly. Alternatively, you can access the Places application through your device’s web browser by following these steps:

1. In your browser go to http://touch.facebook.com.
2. Tap the Places tab.
3. When you are prompted to share your location, tap "Share Location."

To check in at a Place:

1. Access the Places application on your mobile device.
2. Click "Check In."
3. Select the Place where you are from the Nearby Places list. If you don't see the Place name, type the name of the Place where you are into the "Search Nearby Places" box. Alternatively, you can toggle the left-right arrows on the right of the search box to display lists of other Nearby Places.
4. Write an optional description of what you are doing at the Place where you are checking in. You can also tag your friends at the Place where you are.
5. Click the "Check In" button again to share your visit.

You control and own all of the information you contribute to Facebook, including your Places information. You decide how you share it and who gets to see it. Your location is never automatically shared: not when you use your mobile device, not when you use the Facebook application and not when you use the Places feature. Your location is only ever shared when you check in to a Place. You have full control over whether and with whom you share your check-ins.   This is how to adjust those settings:

From the Facebook page, click on Account in the upper right corner of the screen then click Privacy Settings then at the bottom click Customize Settings.

In the "Customize settings" section of the screen, simply select the drop-down box next to "Places I check in to" to control who you share that information with and select one of the four recommended settings: Everyone, Friends and Networks, Friends of Friends, or Friends Only. Alternatively, you can make the locations you check in to visible to or hidden from specific people by clicking "Custom."  (If you don't want anyone to see where you are checked in to then set Custom to Only Me)

A little lower down on the screen, in the "Things Others Share" section, you can also control whether or not your friends can check you in to a Place by selecting "Enable" or "Disable" in the box next to "Friends can check me in to Places." Just as with photos, your friends can tag you at Places they check into. You can always remove your name when a friend tags you.

For more information on how to use Facebook, Places or to change your Privacy Settings, contact the The PC Teacher or check out our website at: www.thepcteacher.com

Happy clicking,

Betsy Sabatini Coyne

The PC Teacher

201-327-0830

www.thepcteacher.com

The PC Teacher

1000-B Lake Street, Ramsey, NJ  07446

August 14, 2010

updated 8/10/10, 9:30pm

Song credits:
"She's a Butterfly" - Martina McBride
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz
"Marry Me" - Train

Gone MAC

Today, The PC Teacher taught a group of public school teachers how to use Office for MAC.  That's using PowerPoint, Word and Excel on a MAC.  It looks similar to a Windows PC yet different in many ways.

In PowerPoint and Word, you use palettes instead of toolbars to access formatting options such as font type, size, color, etc.

On the keyboard, you use the Command key instead of the Ctrl key to access shortcuts for Copy, Cut, Paste, Bold, Italic, Underline and Print.

When inserting clipart, the clip gallery displays in its own window.  Use the Online button to get to Microsoft.com and search for clipart for thousands on the web.  Or use the Object palette to view clipart that you insert from your personal collection.

Office for MAC 2008


Happy clicking,
Betsy

The PC Teacher