June 26 2006
Q: I noticed that I have several files that seem to appear then disappear in my My Documents folder – something like '~$WRL2486.TMP'. What are they?

A: These files are generated my Microsoft Word. Word collects the changes that you make to a document into these temporary Files. They reason they disappear is when you close Word the changes are assimilated into your Document and the temporary files are deleted.

 

Sometimes, these files aren't deleted because something happened when Word was shutting down. If you are into good housekeeping, you can delete these Files manually.

 

Before you do you want to:

-Check when to see if the File was recently used (which may be a way to recover a lost document). In the Folder that the '~$WRL2486.TMP' type File exists, you can hover your Mouse over the File name and check the Date Modified.

-Be sure Word is not open or running

If both of these check-out, just delete the File normally.

 

There is a built-in safe-guard. You won't allow you to delete a File if it is currently in use. So, if the '~$WRL2486.TMP' is being used, you won't be able to delete it.

 

June 19 2006
Q: I need a better way of organizing my Word templates than just saving them into my My Documents folder. I invariably change the ‘master’ or delete the standard info I like to have in my templates. Can you share a more efficient method?

A: There is a faster way of creating and managing Templates in Word and will have the additional benefit of keeping your originals in-tact. Here’s what you do to Create, Save, then use a Word template:

 

-In Word

1. Create a document with all the information you typically need to complete leaving the variable information blank (You can even open an existing file but be sure to leave the variable information blank)

2. File > Save (Or File > Save As… if you are using an existing file)

3. Enter a name for the Template

-Just below where you typed in the File Name in the ‘Save as type…’ field

4. Select ‘Word Template’ from the drop-down list

5. Click ‘Save’

-This saves the Document as a Template

 

Now, when you need to use the Template just:

1. Open Word

2. File > New…

 

In Word XP/2002

-Under the ‘New From Template’ section in the Right Hand Margin (aka the Task Pane)

3. Click the ‘General Template’ link

4. Find your Template in the ‘General’ tab

5. Select/Highlight the Template you want to use

6. Click OK

 

In Word 2003

-Under the ‘Templates’ section in the Right Hand Margin (aka the Task Pane)

3. Click the ‘On my computer…’ link

4. Find your Template in the ‘General’ tab

5. Select/Highlight the Template you want to use

6. Click OK

 

Q: Every time I download a file, my computer saves it but I am never able to find it. Can you help?
A: There is a Search feature in Windows that will help locate your lost files. Before you start the download it is always helpful to note the name of the file you are downloading before you click the ‘Save’ button. This way you can search for that file name.

 

Here’s how to use the Search feature in Windows:

1. Click the Start button

2. Click ‘Search’

-If you are using Windows XP you are asked “What do you want to search for?”

-At this point you have a few options. You can select to find:

*Pictures, music, or video

*Documents (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.) I found that this option excludes Adobe Acrobat files.

*All files or folders

*Computers or people

3. Click ‘All files or folders’

4. Click 'More Advanced Options'

5. Check 'Search Hidden Files and Folders'

6. Type in the name of your document (or at least a part of it) into the  ‘Enter all or part of the document name:’ field

7. Click ‘Use advanced options’ to ensure Windows is doing a thorough search

-In the ‘Look in:’ field

8. Select ‘Local hard drives (C:)’ or select your network drive/folder from the drop-down list

9. Click Search

All files that match what you entered in the All or Part of the File Name field are listed in the Search window.

 

To find the specific folder where that file is currently located:

1. Right Click on the File in the Search window

2. Select ‘Open containing folder’

 

You can also move the file to a different location

1. Select the file

2. Edit > Cut,

3. Locate a new destination folder (Like your Desktop or My Documents for easier reference)

4. Edit > Paste

 

Not sure of the name? Then try this:

In step 3 enter ‘*.___’ and one of the file extensions below:

Word = .doc

WordPerfect = .wpd

Word Template = .dot

WordPerfect Template = .wpt

Excel = .xls

Excel Template = .xlt

PowerPoint = .ppt

Adobe Acrobat = .pdf

QuickBooks = .qbw

Quicken = .qdf