Create Shortcuts to Control Panel Applets

The Control Panel is populated by entities displayed as icons. These icons are called “Applets.” Applets are merely files with the extension of .cpl, no different than Word or Excel using their distinct extensions of .xls and .doc. Here’s a list of Applets that reside in the Control Panel and their subsequent .cpl extension.

EXTENSION NAME APPLET NAME

appwiz.cpl Add and Remove Programs

wuaucpl.cpl Auto Update Configuration

desk.cpl Display Properties

firewall.cpl Firewall Settings

inetcpl.cpl Internet Options

powercfg.cpl Power Options

wscui.cpl Security Center

mmsys.cpl Sound and Audio

sysdm.cpl System Properties

nusrmgr.cpl User Accounts

With this list in hand, we’re now ready to create Desktop shortcuts to these Applets. Here’s how to start:

1. Right click a blank spot (each time) on the Desktop.

2. Select New (from the context menu).

3. Select Shortcut (from the sub-menu).

4. Under the heading: “Type in the location of the item:” type the name of the Extension name from this list above you want to create a shortcut to.

5. Press the Enter key, or click OK to accept the command.

6. Next, type in the name of the corresponding Applet name.

7. Press the Enter key, or click OK to accept the command.

Return to the Desktop and create a new folder to place the Applet’s in.

1. Right click a blank spot on the Desktop.

2. Select Folder (from the context menu).

3. Give the new folder a name, type: Applets.

4. Press the Enter key, or click OK to accept the command.

5. Drag-and-drop all of the Applets you’ve created on the Desktop into your new folder.

Now, should you choose to, let’s change their appearance. Open the newly created Applets folder and select the first Applet whose icon you want to change.

1. Right click the Applet.

2. Select Properties (from the context menu).

3. Select the Shortcut tab (if not already selected).

4. Click the Change Icon button.

5. Scroll through the list of icons and select the one you want associated with that particular Applet.

6. Once you’re satisfied with your selected icon, press the Enter key, or click OK to accept the command.

7. Close out and return to the Desktop.

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Google Tricks

Google is famous as a search engine and it’s full of tricks. Here are a few you may not have seen yet.

Google does calculations. For example, to find out how many times the number 6 goes into the number 320, just type 320/6 in the search box and press the Enter key to get the results. You can use the standard + and – keys to add or subtract. Use the / key to divide and the * key to multiply.

You can also use Google to convert measurements. For example, type 50 meters in feet in the search box and then press the Enter key for the results.

Use a dash ( – ) to eliminate a word you don’t want in your search results. For example, if you are looking for a Hilton hotel and not the Paris Hilton, you’d type Hilton-Paris as your search criteria.

Place quotes around your search query terms to direct Google to search for terms together. For example, “George Bush” will avoid any reference to foliage.

If you want to limit your search to a certain domain type, place a colon ( : ) after your search and then type the domain extension. For example, taxes:.org.

To limit your search to specific language sites, click on Preferences (to the right of the search bar) and click next to the languages you wish to read search results. Scroll down to the bottom of that page and click “Save Preferences.”

Finally, you can enter a zip code, a ( + ) and then a local search result you wish to find. For example, type 74003+radio stations to produce a list of radio stations in Bartlesville, OK.

What are some of your favorite Google tricks and tips? I’d like to hear them.

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Drop me a line at dave@gyzmodave.com

Photos-Rename a Batch of Digital Photos

When you download pictures from your digital camera to your computer, you’ll notice that they are all numbered, or given names that don’t make much sense, along with sequential numbers. This can get confusing, especially if you do a lot of photography. The good news is that you can rename a batch of photo files, or for that matter any kind of files, with this simple trick.

• Highlight the 1st photo (or file) to be renamed.
• Hold down the Ctrl key, and then click on the rest of the photos (or files) to be renamed.
• Right click on any of the photos (or files) and select “Rename” (from the context menu)
• Type in a new name for your series, and the 1st photo (or file) will be renamed with the remaining photos (or files) given the same new name along with a sequential number.

HINT! If you want to start numbering the new photo (or file) names yourself, just add the starting photo (or file) number in parentheses after the new photo (or file) name.

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For more information… drop me a line at dave@gyzmodave.com