Question: How do I post, as an All Day Event in an Outlook calendar, a lengthy reminder that will wrap the text so you can view the complete reminder, whether it’s two or three lines? - Anonymous

Question: I am looking for Web sites where I can compare telephone systems. We are building a new facility and will be installing a new phone system. I would like to compare the systems that I have bids on. They are ESI, Nortel, ProCom and INTER-TEL. Does anyone have feedback on any of these systems? -- Melinda

Question: I need to update all our procedures and policies in a consistent format that the entire department can access with read-only capabilities.

I need a program that people can search by one word or the complete title. What works the best, Excel or Access? Are there other programs that work better? We are a large company and a large department.  -- JG

Question: Last week, I responded to a question about training by suggesting a free Web site that allows you to train yourself in various Microsoft Packages (Word, PP, Excel, etc.). However, I supplied the wrong Web site address. The address should be www.gcflearnfree.org. -- Valerie

Question: I have a boss who is very “hands on.” As a result, I lack the skills necessary for advancement. Can someone tell me a quick and easy way to become a PowerPoint expert? Is there a Web site that I can use for tutoring?  -- Anonymous

Question: I am the HR manager for a company that had 35 employees. Recently, our company merged with a sister company, and now we have 85 employees. We feel it’s time to get some HR software, but we don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on it. Can anyone recommend a good, economical software package that tracks attendance, PTO, raises, benefits, appraisals, discipline measures, etc?  -- Ann

Question: Microsoft has a product called “Markup” that allows you to proof other people’s documents internally. Has anyone used this, and if so, do you like it and is it easy to use? Are other products available that perform similar functions?  -- JAG

Question: Does anyone know of a software program that works similar to MS Binder?  -- Anne Smith

Question: My boss has several direct reports that he meets with individually each month. After each meeting, my boss gives me his notes and I use them to assign tasks. We are looking for some software or a system to track when the tasks are assigned and a reminder when the deadlines have occurred.

We are aware of the “Tasks” feature in Outlook but we don’t want to connect everyone’s Tasks to his Calendar. He uses that as his “To Do” list as he tracks his own Tasks. I thought of an Access database but I can’t get a deadline reminder to pop up. I don’t know much about MS Project, but I thought that might be an option. I’d appreciate your suggestions.  -- Keisha

Question: I am a recent graduate of an admin. assistant program and am at my first job. I have responsibility for 10 people.

I have a boss who gives instructions, policy changes and training orally. I understand why he/she doesn't have time or desire to write things down.

Is there a program or a way in Outlook so that I can make notes that will be permanent? The information he provides will go into a training brochure for new staff.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.  -- KJ

Question: My boss is the head of my company and a genius-engineer type. He must have his contacts in a book rather than an electronic format. Currently, I use Outlook 2003 and have created a contact binder with tabs for Home, Personal, Medical, Business, etc.

My boss wants several contacts from the same company to be seen under one company view (one contact name under the other with phone numbers under the master company header), instead of several separate views. He also would like to see the database sorted in different ways, but he wants more configurable views rather than the several choices of view from Outlook.

In relation to this, I have several questions to other admins.

1. Would a skilled Outlook user be able to change the contact format and contact views into a more easily read format? If so, where could I get the training/knowledge (i.e., training CDs, courseware or live training) to do this?
2. Does anyone know of any other database program out there for personal contacts that is very detailed, flexible and configurable? (We've already scrapped Access.)

Thanks for any help.

-- Karen Kosmoski

Question: I’m supposed to compile a list of FAQs for our company Web site. Does anyone have some advice for me? Have you done this for your company Web site? How did you go about choosing content without getting too general? (What does ____ company do?)

Any advice is helpful and appreciated! Thanks!  -- Liz

Question: I’m trying to buy a Microsoft Office 2003 exam-preparation CD bundle with all Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) simulation questions/answers for Microsoft Certification.

I’ve done a little research and found a few companies that advertise themselves to be the best in passing the exams, etc. The ones I found are: Transcender exam practice, Measure Up, Go Certify and Self Test Software, by Kaplan.

Before I invest, I'd like to ask:

1. Has any one of you used any of these products and, if yes, which one would you recommend and why?

2. How much did you pay for the bundle CD for Office 2003? How many CDs did you get in the pack, and where did you buy it from?

3. Does anyone know of any Web sites that discount any of these products?

4. Can anyone recommend where to buy the exam vouchers? Or do any Web sites offer discounted or free vouchers with product purchase?

5. Do any government Web sites in Texas offer any prep materials/resources for this kind of certification?

Thank you in advance for your valued information.  -- L. Smart, Dallas, Texas

Question: I just was given the job of scheduling parent/teacher conferences and I am looking at streamlining the process for next year. Currently, the job is done manually and is very cumbersome. It also has the potential for errors, as the same information is entered into several different documents.

I've looked on the Internet and found a number of software companies that offer parent/teacher conference software. I've noticed that some software allows the parents to schedule their own meetings on the Internet. At this time, this portion of software would not be an option for us to use.

My question is: Does anyone have any suggestions/experience with this type of software?

Thank you in advance for any feedback.  -- Cindy, British Columbia

Question: There were quite a few responses to my request for an Excel timesheet that were requesting to receive copies of any samples, but some did not contain an e-mail address. My employer has a filter that won't permit me to post any additional comments on the message board, but I can reply to those who have provided an e-mail address.

If anyone wants to e-mail me directly, my address is jfaber1@columbus.gov. Thanks.  -- Joey Faber

Question: I have a question: What is a virtual administrative assistant?  -- Sandy

Question: Does anyone have an Excel spreadsheet used for time-keeping purposes? I would like to set up a bi-weekly timesheet in Excel for our employees that will calculate their total daily and weekly hours automatically based upon their arrival and departure times (including lunch in/out). But I can't seem to come up with the correct formula or format.

Our government agency also keeps time in tenths of an hour, with 6 minutes equaling one-tenth of an hour. I'd greatly appreciate any assistance or samples!  -- Joey Faber, Fiscal Assistant II, Columbus, Ohio

Question: I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get a list of the "ALT" keystrokes for Word Perfect. I have looked on the Internet but cannot seem to locate one. Thank you.  -- Jennifer from Illinois

Question: I use Excel to post and track updates on an action-item log that I maintain for our weekly meetings. It has seven columns and is laid out in landscape format. Lately, I've run into a problem with the text not wrapping.

It starts out OK, but if the verbiage gets too long, it stops wrapping inside the cell. It sometimes looks OK in the spreadsheet, but cuts off the text on the right-hand side of the cell.

I tried expanding the cell horizontally -- and vertically -- but nothing helps. It was suggested that I post the updated notes in the row directly below, but if I do a filter on all closed action items, the second cell directly below the original doesn't show up.

I'm considering posting my action-item log in another program, i.e. Word, but I'm wondering if I should consider another software program. Excel and Word are the only two software programs I have; anything else would need to be purchased.

I need something that will allow me to add very lengthy verbiage in one cell and still print out, so all can be seen.

Thanks.  -- Susan

Question: When reviewing appointments or meetings scheduled by others on the Microsoft Outlook calendar, is there a way to identify who scheduled the event and when?  -- Anonymous in Los Angeles

Question: I have had MS Access software training in the past but until now had no need to create a database. Now, I need a quick refresher course on it.

I was sent an Access database already created with the information that I need. All I need to do is remove the information that I don’t need and put it into a format that is more conducive to my needs. And of course, I have a very short period of time to do this.

Any suggestions?  -- Lori

Question: In attempting to use a Board minutes template, I bold certain agenda items and the text following cannot be bold. How do I permanently delete the bold?  -- Athena

Question: I don't have much exposure to Adobe Acrobat, but occasionally, a form will appear (such as an application) and I would like to know:

How can I type directly onto one of these forms without having to print it and then complete it by hand?

Many thanks in advance!  -- Anonymous in Burbank, Calif.