Question: We use Lotus Notes in our office, but we can't use it to print out a monthly calendar. It prints each day on several pages and is very difficult to read.

We've tried every way we know how, but it still comes out the same.

Any suggestions?  -- Sandra Rudolph, Miami

Question: I have to create a single detailed schedule of several major projects to be completed over the next several months. What's the best software to use: Excel? Outlook?  -- Novice in Virginia

Question: Does anyone have some sort of simple way/spreadsheet to track FMLA leave using the "rolling" 12-month period measured backward?  -- Cindy

Question: "Help! I use Word and Excel to prepare documents for the same clients annually.  For 2006, I will use the 2005 Word file and save it (using Save As) into a new 2006 file.

"I have many Excel tables linked to my Word documents, so I usually find the first Excel table in the document, double-click on it to open the Excel document, and save the Excel document into the new 2006 file (using Save As). Then, I update that first table, which is now in the 2006 file.

"My problem is that there are many more Excel tables in my document and all the other tables are still linked to the 2005 Excel document. I usually just delete each table (linked to the 2005 file) as I come to it and re-copy & paste (with link) the same table, from the 2006 file.  I know you can break the links or change the source of the links, but I have been able to break only one table's link at a time, which takes as long as cutting, recopying & repasting.

"Is there any way of re-linking the entire Excel document to the new 2006 file? The file is exactly the same as the previous year, except that it now says '2006' instead of '2005,' so each worksheet is the same and has the same name.  Can anyone out there help?"  -- Diana

Question: Our office has a custom letterhead template with text boxes at the bottom for each office location to insert its address, phone and fax numbers. Each time we open this template, the cursor is automatically positioned in this text box, no matter where the cursor was in the document the last time the template was updated and saved.  How do we force the cursor to appear in the addressee line at the top of the template each time it's opened?  -- Ann in Wausau

Question: "I support two groups of five (off-site) regional managers. Each of these groups has a set of weekly, bi-weekly and monthly reports that are due regularly. (There is some overlap.)

I am trying to put together some sort of report-tracking grid or calendar so I can track the dates that each manager submits each report. My problem is that the report seems to be "three-dimensional" (Report x Manager x Due Date).

Does anyone have a concise, easy-to-read and -manage spreadsheet or table that tracks this sort of thing?

Thank you!  -- Jennifer

Question: Our company’s administrative assistant team will be creating a company-wide notification system to remind each department of critical deadlines that could result in a business penalty if missed. Do you know of a good software or computer program to use for this notification?  -- Anonymous

Question: The last time I submitted a challenge to this Forum, the response was very helpful. It saved time and frustration.

Now, I need help updating Excel formulas, including the wonderful array of formulas that I received help with last time. For example:  How to change all sheet references at one time … changing April ’05 to May ’05, for example. Is it similar to a find & replace function? Thanks.  -- Valerie

Question: My boss is a saver. He saves just about every e-mail, needed or not. He is a physician and vice president of a very large health care system. Thus, I understand why he feels the necessity to save everything. The problem is that he "drags and drops" into different folders set up in an archive (.pst's) e-mail tree within MS Outlook. Unfortunately, the .pst files are very vulnerable to self-corruption. (MS Outlook is a very good e-mail system but not such a good "filing cabinet.") He recently lost all of his files due to self-corruption of the .pst files. Our Information Technology department was able to get most of them back after running back-up files.

I’m looking for ideas on how others save their e-mails. My boss loves the drag-and-drop feature due to its ease of use and efficiency. He’s also open to changing his ways on how he saves these e-mails but I need to figure out a better way without using the unstable .pst files. I do know that you can do a "save-as" on e-mails and save them as Word documents, but that takes numerous steps and isn’t very efficient. I’m working with an IT tech and we’re trying to self-educate by getting ideas from others. I am at a loss for what else to do.

Thank you for your thoughts.  -- Michelle G

Question: What are your favorite sites or techniques for Internet research?  -- Anonymous

Question: "What's your favorite 'cool tool' or gadget that makes work easier?"  -- Amy Beth Miller, Editor, Personal Report for the Administrative Professional

Question: “I need help writing an Excel formula that counts information from two columns. I want the result to be the total number of items that meet two conditions.

“Example: Imagine a spreadsheet where Column A records location and Column B records a number. I want to calculate how many entries for Location Such-and-Such also have a number in Column B that is less than 15 [=COUNTIF(B1:B25,”<15”]. How would I write that formula?”  -- Valerie

Question: “We have several rental properties, and I track payments, late charges, customer information, etc., on an Excel spreadsheet. Included on the spreadsheet is the date rental payments are received. I would like to create a formula that would add a late fee for any payments that are received after the 10th day of the month due.

“The idea is to keep a running ‘balance due’ for each customer that would automatically calculate any late charges based on the date payment is received. Ultimately, the ‘balance due’ will be linked to each customer’s monthly invoice. I would appreciate any ideas for how to do this.”  -- Anonymous

Question: “I need help writing an Excel formula that counts information from two columns. I want the result to be the total number of items that meet two conditions.

“Example: Imagine a spreadsheet where Column A records location and Column B records a number. I want to calculate how many entries for Location Such-and-Such also have a number in Column B that is less than 15 [=COUNTIF(B1:B25,”<15”]. How would I write that formula?”  -- Valerie