HOW TO
: ADDRESS GROUPS for OUTLOOK or OUTLOOKexpress, below
ADDRESS GROUPS are a doddle, as
follows:-
1. Click on your ADDRESS BOOK icon, to bring it on screen (as you would do
to add a NEW CONTACT).
2. Click NEW icon; which gives you the alternative choice of NEW CONTACT or
NEW GROUP.
3. Click NEW GROUP....... and the window automatically comes up in the GROUP
NAME box - into which you type the name you want for the group (e.g. say "ZimCUSTOMS").
4. Click button SELECT MEMBERS and two panels appear. The left-hand panel
has ALL of your existing alphabetical address book members in it; whilst the right-hand panel is blank.
5. Double click each address required in your GROUP (one at a time) in the
left-hand panel and it will appear in the right-hand panel. Another way is to single click the chosen address, and then click
the "select" button. Either way yields the same end-result.
6. If you want to delete a contact from the group at any time, simply single
click that contact in the right-hand panel to highlight it, then press the DELETE button.
7. When finished click OK at the bottom and the NEW GROUP name will appear
alphabetically in your address book in bold and next to a little group icon.
8. To add new members, simply go to the GROUP entry in your address book,
double click it, then click SELECT MEMBERS, and carry on as for 5 above (or as for 6 if deleting).
9. Remember, any e-ddress you want to include in the GROUP first has to be
entered into your address book as a single contact in their own right (e.g. As in the case of new ZimCUSTOMS members). However,
amendments to say email addresses of EXISTING members in your address book, need only be amended in their single CONTACT entry
(as you do now)...... for once that is done, the GROUP data is automatically updated by the computer.
10. Then to use the ADDRESSgroup, you simply “click-click” the
group name in the TO: box on a new email. If you want to avoid an email with four inches of email addresses at the top, then
simply “click-click” the group name into the B.C.C.: box on a new email. If you use the B.c.c. facility
each recipient in the group will receive your email with ONLY their own name
& address on the top of the email (so, in such cases, it is helpful if you start your email with the caption "B.c.c.
ZimCUSTOMSgroup" so that each recipient knows you have already sent it to the whole group).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PHOTO GALLERY eALBUMS
Arthur Adams (see his current email address in our E-dresses.doc
that you already have) manages our PHOTO GALLERY of eALBUMS under the following album collection headings:
1. MEMBERSHIP ALBUM = all dudes and spouses/family currently in our membership;
2. WE REMEMBER ALBUM = all dudes and/or spouses and/or immediate family..... deceased,
for whom we would like to post a remembrance;
3. CUSTOM HOUSES, PORTS, POSTS, & PLACES
ETC = all those old pics from places and
postings of old;
4. 331(2) NEE = anything else, nee (as we say, in our own-speak).
5. 331(3) NEE = more of 331(2)
We have webAddresses (URLs) for all of these eALBUMS, but we only make them available to
our membership. If you are eligible for membership do please sign up and Aussie will send to you your membership pack, which
will include the webSHOTS URLs for you.
These URL's shouldn’t change according to Arthur. However,
should his work on our eAlbums require any additions or changes to these webAddresses, then he will let everyone know by circular
email. I will take my cue from Arthur and endeavour to keep this “Welcome” sheet updated for newcomers to our
network.
So do please save these URL address as "bookmarks" (in Netscape) or as "favourites" (in Internet Explorer). Don’t forget to update your
“bookmarks/favourites” whenever Arthur advises any additions or changes.
Whilst Arthur will advise us directly on any issues that need
notification by circularised B.c.c. email, as and when appropriate, there are, however, a few points by way of introduction,
advice, & assurance, as follows:
a. Further albums can be added as required. So we are not strapped-in to the
categories above. If anyone has ideas for expansion, contraction, or re-compilation of any of the eAlbums..... simply email
Arthur Adams directly with your comments;
b. The URL addresses for our e-albums are created by Arthur,
initially, as category "private". This means that they can ONLY be accessed if you have the URL (http://)
addresses. As you can only get these by being a member of our exCUSTOMSnet, the URL addresses will not be readily available
to web surfers. So, come on then, don't be shy in sending all those pics to Arthur;
c. No special software is required to view any of the e-Album
pics. Moreover, they can be downloaded by any of us as required (see d. below);
d. Downloading of pics from the site. Either right click the
pic and select "Save Image As" and then select the folder where you want it saved. Alternatively, download the FREE version
of "webshots" software, and this will let you download the pic at HI or LO resolution where appropriate (only up to a maximum
of five pics at a time when using the free-ware);
e. Help each other out…… Some of us have expertise,
others have hardware (scanners, digital cameras, fancy computers),…… so help one another. Those old photographs
in dusty albums can ALL be digitally captured and shared with us all via this facility. So, let’s do it, dudes &
dudesses. No, not tomorrow, do it NOW!!!!
ANYWAY, let's get down to business. Like, how do we send stuff
to Arthur and what other tips concerning digital contributions that we send to him. Well then, here are a few pointers for
your consideration:
i. Please send
all pics to Arthur as ".jpg" files whenever possible;
ii. Arthur can
handle all file sizes as he already has use of a "high-speed – ADSL Broadband-type" connection. However, I realise that
many of us are still reliant on 56.6 dial-up modems and so, therefore, it would be helpful to send your pics to Arthur as
LO-resolution scans for the time being. Screen resolution is not affected by using LO-res. If you have a hi-speed broadband
connection on your computer, then the resolution of the picture doesn’t matter – so go for MED-res;
iii. Pictures sent to Arthur should include advice concerning,
inter alia, mutatis mutandis, etcetera, & moreover (sorry Jarv), the following data -
A. Which eALBUM applies..... see 1 to 5 above, and
B. DOB + DOD & age in the case of the "WE REMEMBER ALBUM", plus full names & nickname, cause of death (optional), copies of any newspaper
obituaries (optional), and
C. A caption to include all names of folk in pic, place &
event, year or decade; and
D. Anything else that will help Arthur log them in..... (and
the rest of us find them again).
E. Year began + year ended service, last posting & grade,
are also required for the alphabetical ROLL OF HONOUR album.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TIPS for SCANNING………… and other optical attachments
Go on, include a picture with your next newsy to the network & copy it
to Arthur Adams for one of our e-Albums (see above)
BUT,
please bear in mind a couple of important tips and do’s & don’ts. You see digital scanners & cameras
are actually immensely more powerful tools than many users realise. They come into their own in the creative industry, where
a picture or subject digitally scanned (by scanner or camera) at high resolution has the ability to be projected onto a screen
or paper to produce good quality when enlarged to street poster, movie screen or motorway billboard size. The price in memory
for such high resolution creation of say an A4 image will mean the creation of a file size that could well take 15-20 minutes
to send as an attachment to an email L
A
happy snap of Mr & Mrs exCustoms Dudes J,
taken or scanned on low resolution, cropped to say waist-above with minimal background will add little more than 30
seconds to upload and download times as email attachments J
But
remember also to use .jpg format for these snaps.
What
about quality? Won’t low resolution snaps be inferior quality? The answer
is not really (not unless any of us intend our likenesses to be posted onto election posters, motorway hoardings, cinema screens,
and the like). You see a computer monitor doesn’t have sufficient pixel ability to make use of anything above low resolution
anyway. Moreover, the printing of odd pics at postcard size is not going to be jeopardised either. (e.g. When Kodak and others in UK offer to print & process ordinary camera film, one has the option
of additionally having them all digitally scanned for £2. These days, they deliver the scanned pics on a cd, but originally
they used to be delivered on one by 1.44mb floppy disc --- or as julle okes in SA call them,
“stiffies”. So, to get 24 to 27 pics onto one 1.44mb floppy/stiffy,
they could only have all been low-resolution scans).
Finally,
choose one (or two) good pic(s) to crop (electronically) and scan into .jpg format on low resolution. Remember .bmp or other
formats can usually be additionally “saved as” .jpg files. And then send that one good snap as your enclosure
(i.e. not a whole set of snaps from your last holiday).
The
overall principle is to keep file sizes down, so that we can all successfully and easily receive each other’s news and
pictures. So the idea is to keep the upload and download times short.
Go
for it……… We all look forward to seeing how well we’ve all matured!!!!! JJJ
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TIPs for FORWARDING…… (maintain neat presentation)
When forwarding stuff, it would be helpful if all the rows of arrows >>>>>>
could be edited out first. Maybe its your software, cos mine doesn't keep inserting them........ or maybe you receive the
stuff with all those >>>>> in it. Nevertheless, it is considered good etiquette not
to pass them on. I spend hours re-editing them out before passing stuff on,
usually from my Zim/Afro connections. I don't mind (too much) but it is soooo time consuming, so it is always nice when receiving
stuff properly edited and presented – it’s also a lot easier to read.
Perhaps we can spread this message back down our own grapevines --- to educate
at grass roots the sort of protocols which will help in lubricating co-operative, quick, and seamless, dissemination of the
flow of news onto this wonderful & easy high-tech means of communication.
As any marketing dude will tell us, packaging is everything. Bearing in mind
that email these days is no longer simply just a casual form of carefree communication. People are hired and fired, contracts
are made and lost, deals are wheeled & dealed, etcetera, all by email these days. I personally manage banking, financial,
legal, and other "real" business arrangements for myself, and others, by email. Students at University maintain communication
with their tutors and professors almost entirely by email, these days.
The underlying principle here is to “make it easy for the recipient”.
JJ
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Netiquette Guidelines……compliments of Fay Jack
Netiquette simply means ‘Network etiquette’ and refers to the do’s and don’ts of online communication.
When you write an email it’s easy to say things you would not say in a normal conversation as you are not face to face
with the person your are communicating with. What’s worse is that unlike a conversation an email remains with the person
you have written it to for as long as they don’t delete it- as a reminder of your pleasant or unpleasant thoughts.
In
her book “Netiquette”, Virginia Shea describes netiquette as “a set of guidelines for cyberspace behaviour”.
Here are some of those guidelines:
Remember the human: Remember that you are not just typing words onto your
computer screen. Someone is going to read those words and have to deal with them.
Behave online as you would in
real life: If you wouldn’t do it in real life then don’t do it online. Be ethical.
Respect other
people’s time: Don’t send out junk mail to others. This wastes other people’s time. Chain letters are
a good example of this. It is annoying to have to waddle through scores of junk emails in your inbox to find the important
ones.
Respect other people’s privacy: Don’t read other people’s mail. In many workplaces,
computers are shared by several users. For some people it may be tempting to read someone else’s mail. Well unless you
have permission to do so, DON’T. It’s unethical and the embarrassment and possible repercussions if you get caught
just aren’t worth it.
Respond: It is annoying to keep on sending emails to someone without any response
from them. It is good practice to respond to emails as soon as you get them, even if it’s just to acknowledge receipt
of the email while you give yourself time to prepare a proper response.
Proper grammar and spelling please:
Ever read an email that had no punctuation, no capital letters, numerous abbreviated words, etc.? In business that is just
unacceptable. If you are going to write it, write it properly. Check your spelling before you send it off.
Remember
“please” and “thank you”: Even online, “please” will get you what you want faster
and “thank you” will increase your chances of getting it again when next you want it. Use them often.
Be forgiving
of other people’s mistakes: Don’t be too tough on those who offend you online. Inform the person who does so by
all means, but do not offend them in return. As Virginia Shea puts it: “If you do decide to inform someone of a mistake,
point it out politely, and preferably by private email rather than in public. Give people the benefit of the doubt; assume
they just don't know any better. And never be arrogant or self-righteous about it. Just as it's a law of nature that spelling
flames always contain spelling errors, notes pointing out Netiquette violations are often examples of poor Netiquette.”
More NETIQUETTE STUFF………….
Compliments of Gibby
WORK “NETIQUETTE” ( e-MAIL ETIQUETTE )
When writing e-mails and/or replying to/forwarding them, it’s important that we observe the necessary ‘protocols’,
as follows:
I. SUBJECT LINE
Summarise the contents of the message here.
As such, this is the most important line in the e-mail and ultimately determines whether the message is viewed of binned.
2. DON’T ‘Cc’ (CARBON COPY)
EVERYONE
As it is, we receive too many e-mails, so rather direct your message to a particular person. Also, when responding to a message addressed to several/ many recipients, don’t ‘Reply to All’
and broadcast the message to everyone.
3. USE ‘Bcc’ (BLIND CARBON
COPIES)
When addressing several/many people who don’t know each other, use ‘Bcc’. You wouldn’t dish out their ‘phone numbers, would you?
4. SHORT & FOCUSED
Reading a computer screen is no fun. Reading a cellphone, PDA or Blackberry screen
is torture. Keep it simple & slick.
If your message looks like a thesis it’ll be dumped.
5. LEGIBILITY IS PRIORITY
Don’t use all CAPS (upper case) – not only is it difficult to read, but it looks as if you’re shouting
– nor, for that matter, all lower case. And, while we’re at it, don’t
use colour
fonts or italics and never – ever – resort to Comic Sans MS.
6. MUM’S THE WORD
Anyone
can ’Forward’ your message, which can lead to embarrassment or even being fired.
Personal and confidential information should be saved for the telephone (or, better still, for personal discussions).
7. NO ‘EMOTICONS’
You
should have done enough schooling to be able to write a message clearly. If you
need to stick a smiley face to ensure your statement isn’t misunderstood, rewrite it.
8.
AVOID SILLY ‘FORWARDS’
We couldn’t give a ____ about little Susan’s
brain tumour. And, as for
people who send
those Chimpanzee-behind-the-computer,
thank-God-
it’s- Friday things, they’re the reason condoms were
invented.
9. NO SMS-SPEAK
U
R not so busy that you need to bastardise the English language like this – and BTW abbreviating phrases is just as bad. Contractions like ‘I’ll’ and ‘we’re’ are fine,
but LOL – WTF.
I0. NO FLASH
What are you, a Korean schoolgirl?
II. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
If
initiating contact, consider the person who’ll be reading the message as you write it – i.e. write as if you were
talking to him/her.
I2. STATE YOUR NAME
How
are we supposed to know that pimpingainteasybutsomebodysgottodoit@yahoo.co.za is Steven Hendry?
I3. INCLUDE THE MESSAGE THREAD
When
replying to a message, always click ‘Reply’ instead of ‘New Mail’, so that the context is known immediately. However, this will NOT include any attachment/s – if you want the attachment/s
to be included, hit ‘Forward’.
I4. CHECK BEFORE HITTING ‘SEND’
Read
for ambiguities and check all names, addresses, spelling and grammar before sending.
I5. AVOID ‘HIGH PRIORITY’
Who
are you to tell me what’s important? Unless you’re my brother pleading
for a life-or-death kidney transplant donation, chill – I’ll read your mail just as soon as I delete this erectile
dysfunction spam.
Adapted
by R.A. Andriés from GQ@WORK, a supplement
to the March 2006 edition of GQ magazine.
RAA/Netiquette
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