This is the premier issue of my newsletter, focusing on software tips and tricks for Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows. A few of you received a far less impressive-looking version last week--just pretend it never happened! After my good friend Deb Shinder wrote in the WinXPnews E-Zine (www.winxpnews.com) that my newsletter would probably be witty, the pressure was on (thanks a lot, Deb!). I hope that over time, the newsletter lives up to Deb's hype and your needs.

To keep the newsletter interesting, I plan to include a rather eclectic range of topics, some having nothing whatsoever to do with computers. In fact, there's a great recipe for goat stew at the end of this issue. Vegetarians take heart--I'll include recipes now and then for you, too! And don't worry--I know most of you are interested mainly in the computer topics, so I'll keep the non-computer stuff to a bare minimum--just enough to make it fun. Plus, I'll keep the non-computer topics at the end so you can skip them if you wish.

Also, look for changes over time. The overwhelming response to Deb's plug completely saturated my server and forced me to move to a hosting service with much better bandwidth. If you had trouble getting to www.boyce.us last week, those problems are now gone. I'll also be experimenting with different ways to deliver the newsletter to you and give you options for changing your subscription information.

Finally, keep in mind that I'll try to answer your specific questions as much as possible, but with this size of newsletter, I can't guarantee I'll get to them all. If there is a topic you don't find covered at www.boyce.us, visit www.boyce.us/survey.asp to submit a question. Feel free to fill out the rest of the survey if you have time. It will help me tailor the site to your needs. Since I'm only human (so my parents claim), I'll probably try harder to get to your question if you fill out the survey form!

Thanks! - Jim

Featured Windows Tip
Save time switching printer settings
Most printers support a wide array of options for paper tray, page size, page orientation, half-toning, print optimization, etc. Although the Printers folder interface makes it relatively easy to change printer settings when needed, it can be a time-consuming bother when you're in a hurry, particularly if you switch printer settings often.

The easy solution is to configure multiple printer instances for the same physical printer, each with its own settings. Give the printer instance a name indicating its function, like "LaserJet Landscape Top Tray," to make it easy to determine which one you want to use. Then, just pick the printer instance by name in the application's Print dialog.

To add and configure a printer instance, open the Printers folder and run the Add Printer wizard and install the printer a second time. When asked if you want to keep the existing driver files or install new ones, keep the existing files. Right-click the newly installed instance and choose Properties. Configure the printer's settings as desired, including assigning a descriptive name, and then close the properties. Perform the process again to add other instances as needed, configuring their settings as required.

Featured Outlook Tip
Add recipients automatically to Contacts folder
Outlook 2000 includes an option that automatically adds recipients' addresses to the Contacts folder when you reply to a message. Many users appreciate this feature because it helps them maintain contact addresses without requiring them to manually enter them in the Contacts folder. To enable this option, choose Tools, Options, click the Preferences tab, and click E-mail Options. Select the option Put People I Reply To In, then choose the target folder. Note that this option is available only if you use Outlook 2000 in Internet Only Mode.

This capability is not included in Outlook 2002 / 2003, nor is it available in Outlook 2000 in Corporate/Workgroup mode. In Outlook 2000 you can use a custom rule action and a free download from Microsoft to automatically add reply addresses to your Personal Address Book. You can obtain the AddToPab.exe package from http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193285. This page includes a link to the download and instructions on how to add the extension to Outlook and configure a rule to use the custom action. It is not compatible with Outlook 2002 / 2003, however.

Other add-ons provide this same capability for Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002 / 2003. For example, InboxRULES from www.ornicusa.com, gives you the capability to automatically add reply addresses to a Contacts folder.

Books in the Works
Deb Shinder and I recently finished Windows XP Answers from the Experts for Osborne (http://shop.osborne.com/cgi-bin/osborne/0072257679.html). At the moment I'm working on (and several weeks behind on) the Rational Guide to Small Office and Home Office Networking, from Rational Press. Check www.boyce.us or http://www.mannpublishing.com/rational/ in about 6 weeks for more news of the book's release. If you're looking for an entry-level book on Microsoft Office, check out www.quepublishing.com/title/0789729679.

IE Security Flaw: Exploit code for a security flaw in Internet Explorer 6 was posted to the Internet in late December.Your system is at risk, even if you have installed Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Check out the story at http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5517457.html. Make sure to patch your system by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

Microsoft Antivirus: Microsoft recently announced it would offer an antivirus tool, to be updated monthly, starting January 11, 2005. This offering is a follow-up to a beta test of the product held in the summer of 2004. More information at www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1748792,00.asp. For what it's worth, I use Symantec Antivirus v. 9.0 on all of my workstations and servers, but have also had great luck with McAfee (www.mcafee.com).

Alas Poor Itanium 2: Microsoft recently announced it was killing Windows XP for the Itanium 2 processor. Doesn't sound like a big deal, because it looks like no one is manufacturing systems based on the processor, anyway. www.infoworld.com/article/05/01/07/02NNitanium_1.html

Gmail Users Take Notice! A group of UNIX developers has discovered a bug in Gmail that can expose users' personal emails to other users. Check out the story at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1750785,00.asp.

Interesting Software and Web Sites

3D World Map: I ran across an interesting but perhaps marginally useful download today. 3D World Map from www.longgame.com lets you browse the globe in 3D, measure distances, get references on 269 countries and entities, and more. Fun to play with, but is it really all that useful? Face it--half the stuff on your computer is probably useless, too! Check out the site for some interesting screensavers.

CounterSpy: I tried CounterSpy on Deb Shinder's recommendation recently. There are few programs that really impress me, but this is one. I like the design, the function, and best of all, the absence of spyware on my computer. Check it out at http://www.sunbelt-software.com/.

Online Radio: I listen to online radio quite a bit while I work. Check out Virgin Radio (www.virginradio.co.uk) for classic and current rock. Yahoo! has a great online radio offering, too. Check out www.launch.com for a broad range of genres including one of my favorites, Reggae. I also hit Moray Firth Radio at http://www.mfr.co.uk/ from Scotland now and then to check up on Nessie, the rugby scores, and who got busted stumbling out of the local pub last night. All of these sites offer free streaming, and launch.com offers an optional fee-based subscription with more genres.

About That Goat...

Cabrito En Salsa: OK, so maybe you can't get a decent goat where you live. I moved from South Texas to Minnesota about 14 years ago and haven't seen a goat since. You might also think that goat is nasty (it actually tastes pretty good if cooked well). So, substitute chicken instead of goat if you prefer (everything tastes like chicken, anyway, right?). If you use goat, cut it into nice serving-size pieces. Experiment with the amounts of vegetables and spices in the dish to suit your tastes.

8-10 pcs of chicken                         Fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes                     Cumin
1 sm. can chopped green chiles  Salt
Chopped onion                                Pepper
Crushed garlic                                 Flour
Chopped red or green pepper

Dredge the meat with flour and brown in butter. Place the browned meat in a roaster or heavy Dutch oven with any excess flour from the pan (it thickens the sauce). Top with other ingredients and spices (to taste--use lots). Add just enough water to cover the meat. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 1 1/2 hours. Turn meat a few times during baking. Toss in a couple of finely-chopped corn tortillas or small amount of Masa Harina if you need to thicken the sauce some more. Serve over rice.