The Abcs Of E-Filing Tax Returns

Filing of tax returns and computing of taxes is a difficult time for most people. Many have to rework their schedules and concentrate on filing returns. The popularity of the internet has led to many US states permitting tax payers to file their state and federal returns online. It is so convenient that even refunds are deposited directly into the tax payer’s bank account.

According to taxation experts, electronically filing your return to the IRS is modern, efficient, and hassle free as well as completely secure. All a tax payer needs to do is:

• Get the help of a tax preparer.

• Use tax software to prepare the returns.

As soon as you e-file you will get a confirmation from the IRS or a rejection notice. This will happen within 24 hours of filing. If you do receive a rejection, there will be clear instructions on how to correct the errors. And e-filed tax returns are processed much faster.

Although e-filing of tax returns is a dream come true for most people one cannot use e-filing if:

• You reside in a community property state.

• You are married and filing a separate return.

• You are claiming on your income tax return as dependant a person who is already dependant on other tax returns.

• You are filing documents like multiple support agreements.

• Filing before or after the tax return filing period ends.

With e-filing there are fewer errors and returns are processed quickly. In the US over 65% of tax returns were filed electronically. It cuts out the rush and standing in long serpentine lines. In depth details on e-filing of tax returns are available on : http://www.e-file-online.com/tax-help.html and [http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0],,id=118986,00.html .

Tips:

• Tax return filing becomes easy if you are organized. Begin early and enter all tax related details systematically into your PC. Create your own workable system or use the many ready –to-use systems.

• Use the previous years return as ready reference. Keep separate files for personal and business taxes and keep abreast of the latest tax deductibles and rules instituted by the IRS.

The IRS has set up a Free File program where you can file tax returns electronically if you are eligible. The IRS website has information as well as instructions. If you do not qualify for free filing you will need to use services like H&R block to file your e-returns. It is best not to wait until April 15th to file tax returns. If you do it well in advance you will not have to face overloading of systems or computer crashes.

Many individuals use available tax filing software to file their own electronic tax returns others take the help of qualified tax professionals. Whatever path you choose you must begin early, be systematic, and file your tax returns well before the last date.

Barry Allen is a freelance writer for http://www.1888tax.com , the premier website to find tax, return tax, tax software, free tax filing, sales tax, services tax, income tax, property tax and many more. He also freelances for the premier Online Banking site http://www.1888onlinebanking.com/

How To Deal With A File Loss Emergency

Have you ever lost an important file on your computer just before you were scheduled to deliver it to a client or to make presentation? We have all accidentally deleted files or had a computer crash and refuse to start back up again. Depending on how you use your computer or the condition of your machine, this could be a regular occurrence. Until recently, a loss of data meant lots of frustration, hours spent trying to find someone to restore your files and a high possibility that you would never see those file again.

The computer professional as well as the every day computer user stores all types of files on their computer. Some of the files that you lose may not be very important. However, other files are extremely important and may not have been backed up at the time that you lost them. When these files disappear or are corrupted it causes huge frustration and stress. You may not have had a solution to this problem before today but now let me introduce you to Joern Lillehagen's Instant File Recovery software.

Joern Lillehagen has invested time and money in coming up with a solution to the one of the most frustrating problems experienced by computer users all over the world, the unexpected loss of data. Instant File Recovery is a computer program that is easy to install on your desktop or your laptop, within minutes of installation, the software will be able to scan your hard drive and find lost, erased files that previously would have been lost forever. Instant File Recovery can even find files that no longer show up in any of your folders or directories any more.

You might ask yourself, how can my files be found if they have already been deleted? Joern Lillehagen's Instant File Recovery software is able to find files that can not be accessed by the every day computer user. This amazing software is able to dig deep into the hidden crevices of your hard drive and ensure that you never have to stay up all night re-typing or doing over research that you had already finished.

Now, when you just have to get that file back, you can! Joern Lillehagen's Instant File Recovery software tool makes sure of that. One of the greatest things about this software is that it can recover files that were accidentally lost or deleted even if it was not installed on your computer at the time that the data loss happens. Yes, that's right! If you go through a data loss crisis without having Instant File Recovery on your computer, you can install it afterwards and still get back the files that you lost. This is quite revolutionary.

Instant File Recovery works whether you use a desktop or a laptop computer. This is a must-have piece of software. Anyone that does research, develops files for clients or does presentations at work should have this software on their computer. You never have to waste time making phone calls, paying large sums of money to computer geeks that may or may not be able to help you or that might not be available? You and Instant File Recovery can solve this problem yourself. Even if you lose your files in the middle of the night and your presentation is for early the next day, with Instant File Recovery you will have the tools that you need right at your disposal.

Joern owns Instant File Recovery which helps people learn about deleted file recovery

Temporary Internet Files - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

A little bit of time invested into learning about internet security can go a long way in preventing mishaps on your computer. Temporary internet files are not something we should be afraid of, but we should certainly be careful in how much we trust them and how we deal with them.

Temporary internet files are image, text, and formatting files that are stored on your hard drive by the websites that you visit. They are placed there by the websites without your having to do anything. The files are stored on your computer the first time you visit the site so that the next time you go to that webpage you only have to load new information or files that have changed since the last time you visited - files that have not changed are loaded from the temporary internet files folder at a much faster speed than over the internet.

This seems like an incredibly appealing option, especially to those of us still working at home on dial-up connections (my teenage brother-in-law insists I'm "old school" because I don't have DSL - I think he may be right). Storing the temporary internet files on the hard drive significantly cuts down the amount of time it takes to completely load and view a website.

There are a few question areas, however, that need to be considered in any discussion about temporary internet files. First, and arguably the most trivial of the concerns, is that you may miss out on all of the updated information the website has to offer. If your browser loads the files from your temporary internet files folder rather than the updated material from the website, you may miss out on an updated football score, or you may get a different image than the one others are viewing. The system is designed so that things like that don't happen, but the possibility is out there.

Second, storing huge numbers of files can bog down your computer, slowing down its ability to do even the simplest of tasks, such as word processing (a deadly one-two combination if you're working with dial-up!). Fortunately, you can control the number or size of the files that are being stored on your hard drive. Typically under the Tools>Options menu of your browser you'll be able to set the amount of your hard drive you're willing to dedicate to temporary internet files. You may want to set this high or low, depending on your browsing habits and need for speed.

Third, the temporary internet files folder may contain files that contain viruses, inappropriate images or text, and files that could leak personal information to websites. This is obviously a huge concern any time you allow someone virtually unregulated access to your hard drive. Images from an inappropriate website you accidentally stumbled across (it has happened to all of us) may be stored on your hard drive. Corrupted files may be placed there by an unfamiliar website you only visited once. Cookies and other files may potentially spawn popups that cover your screen in a matter of seconds.

Before you grab your pitch fork and storm the beast's castle, let me mention a few things you can do to bring a little control to your temporary internet files folder without destroying it completely.

I already mentioned limiting the amount of your hard drive dedicated to holding files from visited websites. This is the best option for those who may be less concerned about corrupted or inappropriate files being stored and more concerned about the ability of their Jurassic-era computer to perform at a decent speed. Some versions of the popular browsers won't allow you to completely eliminate storing files, but you can limit the resources to 1% of your hard drive or a small number of megabytes.

Some opt to regularly clean out their temporary internet files folder - obviously this will eliminate malignant files and free up some space for your computer; but it will also eliminate files you may want. A quick note about the files that begin with "Cookie:" - cleaning out the folder will not actually delete the cookies. The cookie files in the temporary internet files folder are simple files that point the browser to the actual cookie in the "Cookies" folder on your hard drive. If you are interested in truly purging your system of internet files, you'll need to clean out that folder as well.

In my view, the most judicious option is to utilize available software to manage the content of your temporary internet files. Some files you want because they make your life easier. Some files you don't want because it bogs down your computer and makes your grandmother blush. Software is available that scans your computer and finds all the internet files (including cookies). The software makes recommendations as to whether the file in question is good, bad, or ugly - all you have to do is decide to keep or trash it, then click the appropriate button.

Temporary internet files can make our internet browsing time a quick and convenient experience. Unfortunately, they may also pose a risk to the security of our hard drives. With a little hands-on management we can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our computers happy, safe, and protected.

Nick Smith is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing [http://www.10xmarketing.com] - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For great software that helps manage temporary internet files, check out ContentWatch, Inc.

Divorce - How to File For Divorce When Your Spouse Lives in a Different State

Introduction

Very rarely does any divorce proceeding conclude without unexpected hurdles and challenges along the way. One of the more common issues faced by couples who divorce is when the spouses live in different states from each other. This can happen quite frequently, especially if the couple is already separated from one another before filing for divorce. It is important to understand the requirements and consequences involved in filing for divorce in such a situation.

Starting the Divorce Process: Filing Requirements

The divorce process begins when either spouse files for divorce in a court of law. Depending on whether the state of filing recognizes no-fault or fault-based divorce, filing may be done even when one spouse does not consent to a divorce.

The first basic requirement in a divorce filing is the residency requirement. The spouse who is filing for divorce must be a resident of the state that the claim is being filed in. This means that if the spouses live in different states, the claim may be filed in either state so long as each individual spouse meets the residency requirement of their particular state. Bear in mind that each state has different requirements as to how long you must live there in order to be considered a resident of the state.

The second requirement for filing is that, regardless of where the claim is filed, the court must have jurisdiction over both parties. The court has jurisdiction over a non-filing spouse who is located out of state if:

?the non-filing spouse has been officially served with divorce papers in person

?the non-filing spouse consents to jurisdiction by:

abiding by court rulings
appearing in a court of that state
signing an affidavit confirming that they have been served

If the spouse who is to be served lives in a different state cannot be located (i.e., cannot be served with papers in person), some courts allow them to be put on notice by publication. This is where one notifies the other spouse that they are filing for divorce by publishing a notification in a newspaper. Finally, a divorce can be filed if the marriage was made in a different country, so long as the filing spouse meets residency requirements.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Filing in a Different States

A couple who is seeking a divorce usually is limited to filing only in the state where each individual spouse resides. However, in the instance that a spouse has multiple options as to which state they should file in, here are some advantages and disadvantages of filing in different locations:

?Lawyer state license requirements- any lawyer who will be hired for a divorce litigation must be licensed to practice in the state where the divorce claim is filed. So, for instance, if the wife lives in Texas, but her husband has filed for divorce where he lives in New York, then the wife must obtain a New York lawyer, or her Texas lawyer who must also be cross-licensed to practice in New York.

?Statute of Limitations (deadlines) - different states have different deadlines for filing divorce papers, so check with the state requirements as to when the claim needs to be filed.

?Fault vs. No-Fault Divorce- Some states require that one spouse show that the other spouse was at fault. No-fault states do not make such requirements and allow spouses to file for divorce simply because of "irreconcilable differences". Also some states require the couple to be separated for a certain amount of time (such as a year) before they can be divorced.

?Distribution of Assets upon Divorce- filing in a different state may, but not always, lead to different consequences in terms of how the property is distributed amongst the spouses upon divorce. This is because some states follow community (shared property) laws while others follow separate property guidelines.

?Child Custody Arrangements- child custody laws also vary from state to state. The choice of state for filing may possibly influence custody arrangements, especially if the child lives in a different state from one of the parents.

Ideally, a couple who is contemplating divorce would want to sit down with each other and discuss the various implications of filing in one state versus another. However, the couple is likely to already be in disagreement (hence, the divorce), so be sure to go over the above points with a lawyer in order to anticipate all the different repercussions of filing in different states.

Other Issues: Concurrent Filings and Travel Expenses

Another issue that might arise is that of concurrent filings; that is, when each spouse has filed a separate claim at the same time or close to the same time. In this regard, the general rule is that the divorce proceedings will be held in the state where suit was filed first, and specifically, for the spouse who was able to serve the notifications first.

This means that if suit has already been filed in one state, but is undergoing delays in the processing, the non-filing spouse really does not have a choice but to wait it out. They will not be able to file an additional suit in their own home state. They would probably be required to ask their lawyer to research what is causing the delay and work with the other court in the other state to expedite the process.

If venue for the proceedings is an anticipated issue, then filing can often become a race between spouses to see who files first. For this reason it is advantageous to contact and retain a lawyer as soon as possible.

Regarding travel expenses, each spouse is responsible only for their own travel expenses if they need to go to a different state to address any divorce claims. Travel can sometimes be avoided altogether if the out-of-state spouse signs an affidavit consenting to the divorce. However, each spouse will probably be required to cover the travel expenses of any attorney who will be traveling to a different state in order to represent them.

Do I need a Lawyer if I Plan to File in a Different State?

As mentioned above, filing in different states can drastically alter the outcome of divorce proceedings. Also, if the other spouse is filing in a different state, the one who files first will prevail in the choice of venue. Thus, you should plan to hire a lawyer at the outset before filing, so they can help you file in a timely and advantageous manner. Some points to go over with your lawyer include:

?Research the laws of each state where you might file for divorce. In particular be sure to cover the following areas of law:

Fault vs. no-fault divorce
Distribution of assets
Child custody implications

?Be sure you have met the residency requirements of the state that you wish to file in

?If the other spouse cannot be located or reached, inquire as to your options regarding notice by publication

Ken LaMance is the Corporate Counsel for LegalMatch.com in South San Francisco, California. LegalMatch (http://www.legalmatch.com/) is fast, free, and confidential. LegalMatch is America's original attorney/client matching service and is not a referral service. When a consumer presents their issue to LegalMatch, our system matches the consumer's case to LegalMatch lawyers in their city or county based on the specifics of the consumer's case, lawyer's location, and area of legal practice. LegalMatch also offers a number of useful resources like an online law library, tips, law blog, and forums on nearly every topic.

Copying Files in Windows XP

Why Would you Want to Copy a File?

There are a number of reasons that you may want to copy a file or have various copies of a file.  You may want to back your files up on another disk. You may want to save an old version of a file for archiving or in case you mess up new changes. You may want to copy a file that has the layout you want so you can use the layout for something else. For example, this web page is a copy of other pages on this site. Only the text area has been changed.

How would you Copy a File?

The reason you copy a file has an affect on how you make the copy.

1. Backup

When you create a backup copy of a file, you want to be sure that the backup is the latest version of the file. You will then have two copies of the file: the working copy and the backup.

Side Effect: The backup situation often causes a problem if you accidentally start working in the backup copy instead of your working copy. Then your working copy doesn't have the latest changes. It's a bad situation when one copy has a little bit of this, and the other copy has a little bit of that. Never open your back up copy unless you are using it for reference or to replace a file that is lost or corrupted.

There is a way to create a backup copy that has less chance of getting into the backup mixup. This way is helpful because the files are not open; so, you can't accidentally mistake an open backup copy for a working copy.

Find the file you want to copy in Windows or in Windows Explorer.
Click the file.
In the panel on the left, click Copy this File.
A window will pop up asking you where you want to copy it too. Choose a new place. It can be another drive, such as a CD drive or a floppy drive; or, it can be another folder on your computer.
Special Note about copying an Access file: you should use this method. Otherwise, you may only get copies of your tables. Close your file before making your copy.

2. Archive old files

You may want to keep a copy of a file you are going to change. This is a very good strategy, if there is any possibility that changes you make will cause errors or make you wish you had the original. For example, if you have a picture that you took with your digital camera, you will want to have a copy archived before you make changes in Photoshop.

Side Effects: 1) The backup situation often causes a problem if you accidentally start working in the backup copy instead of your working copy. For example, if you take a photo and make changes in the backup copy instead of the working copy. Then you Save your work. Then later you open the working copy, but the changes aren't there (because you did them in the backup copy.) So, you redo the changes. Now, you have two files with the changes, but no original. 2) You forget to make the copy.

Make an Archive folder in My Documents.
Inside the Archive folder, make folders that match your working folders.
When you first open a file, go to File -> Save As.
In the dialog box, open the Archive folder and the folder that matches your working folder.
Add a date to the file name. You will have to use - instead of / (2-12-06 instead of 2/12/06) because Windows won't let you use / in a file name. That will tell you the date of your original.
Most programs will have the archived version open instead of your working file; so, close the file. Be sure you know what your program does.
Go to your working folder and reopen the file.

 

3. Use the formatting in a file

Side Effects: When you change the formatting on one page, all the other pages still have the old formatting. To update all the pages with the new formatting, you will have to open all the files and make the changes. If you use template files, all the pages will show the formatting changes, but that is a feature in some programs; it's not a part of Windows.

You may want to use the formatting you have already set up in a file for other files. For example, this page is formatted like most of the other pages on this web site. To use the formatting in this page on another page, I can open this file and save it with a new name. Then I can type in new words and add new graphics to make the new page.

Problems when Copying a File

Bad Disks: If you use either floppy disks or CDs, it's not uncommon to have bad disks in your box or to have a disk go bad later on. One floppy or a CD should not be your only backup.

Copying the Wrong Thing: Be careful what you choose to copy. Know the difference between the item icon and a shortcut icon. A Shortcut is a little file with the address of where something is stored on your computer. If you copy a Shortcut instead of the actual file, you will get a little file with the address of the thing stored on your computer. Then when you take that disk to some other computer, it can't get to your computer to find that item.

Reserved Characters: You can't just use any character on the keyboard in a file name. There are some characters that Windows uses internally. These characters have a special meaning. For example, \ and / mean something special to Windows; so, you can't use them in a file name. This is very inconvenient if you want to add a date to a file name. However, you can use a hyphen instead.

This article began as a handout for the Windows portion of the Gentle Start in Computers workshops at Flathead Valley Community College. This handout is available with screenshots at http://www.thecomputergal.com/Windows/CopyingFiles.htm.

Nora McDougall-Collins
Missoula, MT
nora@thecomputergal.com
Putting the world of computers into plain English.

How the Three-File System Works to Save You Time and Simplify Your Life

Paper.

It's everywhere. And unless you have a simple system for "processing" it, it can overrun your office, kitchen, and home.

Before I discovered the three-file system, I had all kinds of files... maybe twenty or thirty of them, all with a different label.

Every month, I'd go through all the mail and bills and file the statements. Every piece of paper went into a separate file. Which meant I was touching dozens of files every month. Filing paperwork took way too much time, and I didn't like it.

Enter the three-file system. I can't remember where or when I heard about it. But I finally got so desperate (my study was beginning to look like a storage archive minus the filing boxes), I decided to give it a try.

Here's how to set up your three-file system.
Get three hanging file folders and put them in your filing cabinet.
Label the first one "File #1"
Label the second one "File #2"
Label the third one "File #3"
Get a small mail organizer and place it where you open the mail.

Okay, when you've completed each of these steps, you're ready to begin using the system. Here's how it works...

Whenever you get the mail, adopt a one-touch policy. Either throw it away, shred it, or file it in your mail center. (I put statements in the large slot of the mail center and place payment slips with their envelopes into the small slot. I organize the bills according to when they must be paid.)

Now, do this for the entire month. When the month is over, take all the statements and file them in Folder #1.

During the second month, you will open and process the mail the same way. Then, at the end of the month, you will take all the statements and place them in File #1. All the paperwork already in File #1 gets moved to File #2.

During the third month, repeat the process. At the end of the month, all the paperwork in File #2 goes to File #3. File #1 goes to File #2. And all the paperwork in the mail center goes in File #1.

Got it?

During the fourth month, repeat the process again. Except this time, the paperwork in File #3 goes to the shredder. Or at least most of it. If there's something you must save for tax records or for a longer period of time, simply create a folder to store the "exceptions."

Here's what the three-folder system does. It simplifies your life and saves you boatloads of time. Instead of touching dozens of files every month, you only touch one or two. There's no separating or sorting. Five minutes and you're done.

I've been using the three-file system for about half a year now and I wonder... why didn't I do this sooner? Paperwork is a breeze now. The paper beast has been tamed.

Your action item: Go set up your three-file system now and begin using it immediately. It'll be one of the best organizational improvements you make all year.

Click Here to Visit Ryan's Blog

Computer File Shredder Basics

A computer file shredder was created for the same purpose as the paper file shredder. The intent is to complete obliterate not only the file, but in the most secure file shredder software, any reference to the file that was shredded is also shredded in the history and in the directory. Many people do not realize that a computer file that is deleted doesn't go away, it still resides on the hard drive or disc--it just doesn't have a name any more, so there is no easy way to access it.

Someone who knows how to search computer files can fairly easily determine where the data is on the drive and recover the information. This works until the data is written over with other files, which may not happen for a long time. Even if the information is over written once, in many cases, the information underneath the top layer can be accessed, using sophisticated equipment.

In essence, what a file shredder does is to overwrite the file. If the material is extremely sensitive, the file may be overwritten 3 times. Then the reference to the file is removed from the directory area, using the same means--overwriting.

If defragmentation is used on the areas in the drive where sensitive information was stored, this will mean that it's even more difficult to use a file shredder and be certain that the information is truly unrecoverable.

Any time sensitive business or personal information is stored in a computer file, there is always the need to use a file shredder if the computer is sold or donated. A recent study found that a large proportion of donated used computers contain personal information and files on the computer, even when the files have been deleted.

Shredding, also known as file wiping is commonly used for reasons of confidentiality. Copyright and trade item piracy is a serious business. Trade espionage relies on being able to steal secrets about the business of a competitor in order to profit from such information. File shredding or file wiping is just one part of the entire security program. Prevention of theft of sensitive documents and electronic files helps stop computer file theft. Making sure sensitive information is stored in encrypted files and maintaining the security of the encryption key is another important file security effort.

If you want to be absolutely positive sensitive information can never be recovered, methods such as destroying the data with acid, or by incinerating the disc. Another method is known as degaussing which is a methods of decreasing or eliminating an unwanted magnet field. This is accomplished by the use of an electromagnetic coil and was used as a method of protecting military ships against magnetic mines.

In most instances a triple overwriting in order to shred information in a file is overkill for the home computer owner. Overwriting a large file, such as one of 100MB or larger can take an tremendous amount of time, and is not warranted in most cases for the small business person, or individual for home security.

If you are interested in personal security, file shredder download is available at Sam Miller new web-site.

Searching Files - How Easy Is It?

When it comes to computers every one states how good they are. But to be perfectly honest, computers are only as good as the person operating them. We all know, and have possibly experienced our computer crashing at one point in time. If you haven't then you are lucky. When this happens a person can actually lose all files within the computer. To prevent this from happening you should always save your files and/or work. Knowing where to find your files or how to check for files in most software programs, example Microsoft Word or Excel is rather easy and important. By knowing how and where to find the files will help to save all important documents.

The main place to start, knowing what drive your information is saved in. Some computers or as advised by a computer technician, most computers come to you in two partisans. Those partisans are in actually two separate drives. These drives are the C: drive or the D: drive. While some computers may use the D: drive as their main drive most computers use the C: drive when storing or working off a particular drive. Knowing this is most important and it should be written down in case of an emergency (like computer crashing and needing to reboot).

When working with most Microsoft Word or Excel, it is very easy to look up files. A person can start by pulling up the program in which has been used to create the document. Once the program is opened a blank document usually comes up at start up. Once the program is open you will need to go to the top left hand side of the task bar, click on the word FILE, from here you should see the word OPEN, if this does not occur then at the bottom of the drop down box you will see an arrow meaning that the drop down box has to be expanded.

Once OPEN has been clicked on another box will appear. Make sure that the bottom where it states files of type has the words All Files in the box. This ensures that no matter what program was used all of the files will come up that was saved to the area in which you are looking. After making sure that those words are in the box, you will see what files are actually located in the area in which you are looking in. The box also has a spot at the top of the box that has words that state File In next to another drop down arrow. If you click on this arrow you will be able to find another location where more files may be stored.

This is the long way in which to locate files. If you open the program and actually click on the yellow envelope which is located in the second row of the task bar, this will also open the box in which was described above. That is called a short cut.

You can also, when looking for files, click right on your "MY DOCUMENT" icon that is on your desk top. Simply double clicking will open the folder and show all files that we saved in the folder. Or you can click on the start button which brings up a drop down box which has all folders and/or programs within your computer. You will be able to find your "MY DOCUMENT" folder in here also. But on top of that you will be able to find your most recent documents that you have used under "DOCUMENTS" itself.

Lastly, finding certain files may be difficult to locate. When your computer gets a virus or Trojan (a type of virus) they usually are a file in itself. Finding these is hard due to the fast that they are hidden. You can ensure that even hidden files are show taking these steps: click on the start button, from there you will need to open your "MY COMPUTER" by double clicking on it, then go to "TOOLS", from there find 'FOLDER OPTIONS".

Once this is done another box will open up, you will need to click on the VIEW tab which brings up a lot of writing with boxes with some checks in them. Some boxes may not have the checks. Once this box is open you will need to find the words "HIDDEN FILES", under these words are two options, hide hidden files or show hidden files; you will need to make sure that the button next to show hidden files is marked. Once this is done you will need to apply and then hit ok.

After all this is done when ever you open any program or anything it will show all the files even ones that aren't per say from you which mean that some may be viruses. You can always check to see what the virus is by checking websites to see the most popular or even any type out there.

Well, there may be more complicated way in which to search for files but most are done by the above instructions. Computer technicians can use many other options due to the expertise in computers which they have. But unfortunately this goes way above regular intellect. A computer expert in which I have spoken to many times actually stated that one can use a non-Microsoft program called DOS to even search but that is different research all by itself.

If you are interested in how to search pdf documents, check Sam Miller new web-site.

HON Lateral Filing Cabinets Make Office Organization A Breeze

Working in an office can be a disorganized mess or a breeze depending upon the type of filing system you are using. There is a wide range of high quality lateral filing systems available online, along with many other office storage options including vertical files, office desks and chairs and storage cabinets. You should make sure furniture pieces are always shipped fully assembled in order to ensure that they are ready for use immediately following arrival.

We have reviewed some of the most popular lateral filing cabinets that are available online. They come in four different finishes: putty, black, light grey and charcoal.

The HON 600 series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 600 series of lateral filing cabinets offers files which are 30", 36" and 42" in width and 19-1/4" in depth. These filing cabinets were created in order to accommodate both letter and legal size filing, and leveling glides are adjustable. There is a three-part slide suspension which telescopes and is operated on a suspension with steel ball bearings. Whether you need a two-drawer lateral filing cabinet system, or a five drawer, HON's 600 series has exactly the filing cabinet to suit your needs.

The HON 700 series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 700 series of lateral filing cabinets offers filing systems in 36" and 42" wide, with files which are 19-1/4" deep. All file drawers in the HON 700 series have drawer pulls which are full-width. The 700 series shares the same three-part, telescoping slide suspension which operates on ball bearings made of steel. The 700 series cabinets also have counterweight in filing systems with two or three drawers. The lateral filing cabinets in the 700 series are available with as few as two drawers, and as many as five.

The HON 400 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 400 series of lateral filing cabinet solutions offers filing systems that are 30" wide, with files which are 19-1/4" deep in both two and four drawer styles. These lateral filing cabinets offer "one key" interchangeable core removable locks, and have a mechanical interlock in order to prevent tipping by allowing only one drawer open at a time.

The HON 500 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 500 series of lateral filing cabinets offers cabinets which are 30" and 36" in width with file drawers which are 19-1/4" deep. These filing cabinets feature a flush case and monochromatic drawer pulls in addition to drawer-front stiffeners in order to provide an extra level of sturdiness to the cabinets. These cabinets are available with as few as two cabinet drawers and as many as five cabinet drawers.

The HON 800 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 800 series of lateral filing cabinets offers cabinets which are 36" and 42" in width with 19-1/4" deep cabinet drawers. These cabinets are available in four and five-drawer styles with a shelf that rolls out and a receding door. Units with five drawers are also available with a posting shelf which is full-width and rolls out as well. These filing cabinets are available with as few as two drawers and as many as five, along with the option for up to two roll-out shelves.

The Hon 10700 Waterfall Edge Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 10700 series of lateral filing cabinets are high pressure laminate accented to be both stain and abrasion resistant. Rounded corners and a waterfall edge allow for a contemporary look, and the cabinet systems are available in three different finishes: Henna cherry, medium oak and Mahogany. HON's Waterfall Edge lateral filing cabinets feature HON's "One key" core removable lock, and come with a HON limited lifetime warranty. These cabinets are available in two or four drawer versions only.

eOfficeDirect.com has thousands of brand name office products in stock at huge savings. We offer FREE shipping on every order over $50, and most orders are delivered the next day. Please visit us online at http://www.eofficedirect.com for more information on HON Lateral Filing Cabinets [http://www.eofficedirect.com/Products--991]

Local File Search Tools

There are many extensive searches that can be done to help you locate files. You can search by using the tab on the start menu. Then you can pick whether you want to search by file name, type of file, date of the file, by keywords within the file, or by the size of the file. There are numerous ways to find a specific document or file you need.

Some symbols can help you search easier. Use the wildcard symbols * and ? To help specify what you need. The * also ca be used to look for certain types of files. If you want all wma files, then search for *.wma. ? replaces any character in the file name. For example, if you are searching for files on Zimbabwe, but are unsure of how to spell it, you could type in Zimbab??.

You can use expressions to help you locate information. You could use "File 1" and "File 2" to search for different files. Type in "File 1" "File 2" to look for 1 or 2. If you type in "File 1"-"File2", you will search for File 1 and not File 2.

Local hard drives are defined as all the hard drives found on the machine. Using X:/ simply tell which drive to look on for search. For a specific folder, click on Browse and choose which folder you want.

Searching by date can mean many different ways to find files. You can find your files by when they were created, when you last modified them, or when they were last accessed. You can set parameters between two different dates or within the previous day, week, or month.

Size criteria can be helpful if it is a particularly small or large file. You can say larger than X or smaller than X using bytes or kilobytes.

Text in documents is easiest to use if you know what specific document you need. When using the case sensitive option, you must remember that ANIMAL, Animal, and animal are not recognized as the same word. Whole words will only help if you use the whole word and not just a part of it. If you use "Ani", you may get hits for Animal or Animation or just words that have "Ani" in them.

Use the Unicode option to search for text strings in documents such as Microsoft Office.

RegEx in the search string is used for Regular Expressions.

Local Search Operators are used in finding multiple text files. Using AND will help you find two different files. OR makes any of the search come up. XOR will reverse the operation. NOT omits that specific information. Search for File 1 and File 2, NOT File 3.

Regular Expressions can be quite helpful when performing advanced searches. * after a string represents any last character repetitions. A period . represents any character. $ is used at the end of a file. ^ is used at the start of the file.

Go to your help manual and find out what other icons can be used in searching for files or documents.

If you are interested in pdf search engine, check Sam Miller new web-site.

Sample Company File in QuickBooks - Valuable Tool For Self-Study

Have you ever wondered what would happen in your QuickBooks file if you performed certain operations, but were too afraid to try? Did you know that you can experiment with your ideas, and not make a mess in your QuickBooks file?

When you installed your QuickBooks file, you also installed Sample Company files. Intuit designed these so that you could experiment with any idea or concept you have, and not take a chance messing up your own file.

Best Way to Experiment in a Sample QuickBooks File

Open a sample company file, and perform the operation you want to try. Then, to check its effect, run reports.

For example, if you are unsure what will happen if you establish a new item, establish it in the sample file. Go to the Items list of the sample file, press Control-N, and set it up however you think it should be. Then, go to the Write Checks, Enter Bills, or Invoice screen and use it in a transaction.

Next, run reports. If you assigned the item to an Income, Cost, or Expense account, run a Profit & Loss report to find the transaction there.

If you assigned a Bank, Asset, Liability, or Equity account to the Item when establishing it, run a Balance Sheet report to find it.

You can also run a report on the Item itself. From the Items list, highlight the item. Right click. Scroll down to run a QuickReport. You will see all of the transactions where that Item was used.

Be sure to verify the date range on the reports. The date you assigned to the transaction needs to fall within the date range of the report you run.

How to Locate a Sample Company File in QuickBooks - Two Ways

First Way

1. Open QuickBooks. If the screen asks for you password, click Cancel. If the screen does not ask for your password (simply opening your QB file instead), go to File > Close Company/Logoff. Either way, you should now be at the No Company Open screen.

2. From the No Company Open screen, click the button on the far right. It should say, "Open a Sample File." This will allow you to open a sample company.

Second Way

1. Follow this path to find where the sample files are located:

Start > My Computer > C drive (or where ever your data files are located) > Program Files > Intuit

The sample company files are probably located in the Intuit folder, rather than in the QuickBooks folder containing your real company's file. If they are not in the Intuit folder, check the folder that has your real company's file (usually looks like QuickBooks 2007, or whichever year you use). Once you find a sample file, make a note of where it is located. Do not open it from this window.

2. Open QuickBooks. From the File menu, select Open or Restore Company.

3. The specific instructions vary slightly, depending on the year of QuickBooks you are running. The general idea is to navigate to the folder of the sample company file you found in step one. Once you do that, double click the sample file to open it. It should open and be ready to use.

Final Thoughts

Teaching yourself how to use your QuickBooks file is a money-saving way to find out what you need to know. You no longer need to be afraid of what a certain transaction will do, because you can find out right now by experimenting in a sample QuickBooks file. Try it today and see if you don't learn a lot about QuickBooks.

Visit http://www.GetMoreFromQuickBooks.com today and download the free eBook, "7 Time Slashing Strategies for QuickBooks!"

Jennifer A. Thieme is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor who is the author of several eBooks about QuickBooks, called the "Get More From QuickBooks" series:

Get More From QuickBooks - Conquer 27 Frustrating Mistakes that Steal Your Time, Sanity & MoneyGet More From QuickBooks - Crack the COGS CodeGet More From QuickBooks - Insider Secrets to Customer Prepayments

Vertical File Storage System Saves Space - A Case Study

Whether as an investment or an existing floor plan, space may well be the final frontier. To free more working space in a bustling Los Angeles office, one facility manager introduced a new filing and storage system that not only saved space, it improved filing efficiency and streamlined document retrieval in one of the busiest investment property offices in southern California.

Amy Martin, owner of Universal Property Investments, identified improvements that needed to be made in the office. "Our building really stands out. It has a very modern, very 'today' kind of look," said Martin, "and we wanted the interior to work as well. We looked at our working area, our common areas, the general floor plan and the ergonomic factors we needed to incorporate into the floor plan to make sure the filing system worked well for everyone," she explained. Martin considered a variety of alternatives to conserve working space and turned to vertical file storage systems.

Martin first learned about vertical file storage systems while attending a trade show in Las Vegas last year. "We purchased a vertical file. It greatly reduced the amount of space we were using for filing. Now we can file the same number of blueprints and maps in less than half the space," said Martin. "Space saving was a major consideration in selecting the system," she added. "The compact filing system not only stores more of the documents we use on a day to day basis, but it also improves our filing efficiency."

A single vertical storage unit has the capacity to hold the same number of documents as three 5-drawer flat files, all the while taking up nearly 75 percent less floor space. Traditional filing and storage systems were designed for letter or legal-size documents. Through the years, large drawings, maps and charts have been stored in flat files or pigeon holes. One vertical file holds the same number of documents as three 5-drawer flat files, and requires 75 percent less space. Users find that they can save an average of 68 percent in the time it takes to retrieve and store drawings.

Improving efficiency was also a primary concern for Martin. "Filing took too much time. When you needed to get to the bottom drawing, you had to go through every other layout. It was even harder to put everything back where it was'. Martin continued, "Vertical file storage saves us a lot of time and keeps everything organized. Everything is accessible, easy to get to and very well protected," she said. "The system offers us greater protection for our documents. They can be safely stored on hanger strips, which eliminate the need to touch them. We can even give the special documents added protection by using a protective envelope, which easily slides in and out of the cabinets," said Martin.

"Without a doubt, vertical file storage systems are an efficient and ergonomically friendly filing and storage system," said Martin. "The vertical cabinets are the perfect solution for storing our maps, property diagrams, architectural documents, and pretty much any other document imaginable. The files hold anything from 11 inches up to 6 feet in size, and this system is highly versatile".

"By transferring files into a compact, smaller footprint, we were able to free up a great deal of space. Our one vertical file stores the same number of documents as three 5-drawer flat files and takes less space. We transferred all of the blueprints and floor plans into the new system with room to spare. Because it has a smaller footprint than our old filing system, it saves us a lot of working space," she said. "I can't get over how easy it is to use," she said. "I find it to be much easier to look up specific blueprints and refer to documents quickly." This is no surprise, considering this system takes an average time of 10 seconds to retrieve documents.

"Vertical files are extremely versatile," said Amy. "Almost any size and type of document or material may be stored in sequence including blueprints, maps, film, artwork and digital media. Vertical file storage systems offer identification and color coded accessories to make locating and sorting much faster. Dividers separate projects for further organization. All of the cabinets are fitted with a lock for additional security".

Brad Barrett

Brad Barrett is President of Easi File, the storage and filing systems company based in Irvine, California. Easi File manufacturers and sells vertical steel filing cabinets for storing engineering and architectural blueprints, documents, maps, film, printed circuit artwork and tape-ups. Various styles are available from sizes 11 inches up through 6 feet with all supplies to meet individual needs in industrial, commercial, and federal government applications. Easi File is a qualified GSA Supplier. For information on Easi File storage and filing systems, visit online at http://www.easifileusa.com or call 1-800-800-5563. Or, contact Brad Barrett at Email: info@easifileusa.com

When Programs Lose Their File Associations

Computer files, such as .mp3 files, .doc files, .jpeg files, .pdf files, and others, typically need a program associated with them in order to work properly. For example, an MP3 file, which is a music file, needs some sort of a media player program before you'll hear the music. Likewise, a.doc file, which is a Word document file, needs a word processor to open. When files do not open, there are several possibilities to explore. The first is, do you have the right program? If you do, but the program will not open the file, then there are two additional possibilities: the file is either damaged or the computer has lost its instructions covering how to deal with that file type. Lost file associations are common. Not only can the file association be broken altogether, it could simply be wrong. For example, your media player may launch instead of Word whenever you click on a .doc file.

What Causes File Association Problems?

When the computer no longer handles a file type as it should, there's usually a problem with the file association. Computers have instructions telling them which programs to use for the different file types. A computer crash could damage these instructions, malware could make changes to these instructions, or even a friendly program that you've recently installed on your computer. For example, a new media player may make itself the default program for all media types including music, video, and photo files. However, you may prefer your old media player.

Solving File Association Problems

Fortunately, unless the file is damaged, changing a file association is relatively simple. For example, if your .doc file association has been changed to open some other word processor instead of Microsoft Word, you can easily change it back to Word. Start by finding a .doc file in Windows Explorer. Instead of double-clicking it (which would normally launch the file's associated program, right-click it. A sub-menu will now appear. Depending on your operating system, you'll see a choice such as Open or Open With.

The steps vary slightly by operating systems, but they are close. Choose the Open option and you will then see a list of programs that Windows believes might be good choices. In our example, you might see Microsoft Office or OpenOffice.org in the list. If the program that you want is listed, you'll select it from the list, making sure to place a mark in the box that asks if you want this to be the new default program for the selected file type.

If the program is not listed, click the Browse button and browse your computer for the correct program. Once found, select it and choose the option that makes it the new default program. This option is usually a small line of text next to a check box. While it may not be as obvious as some Windows selection options, it should be there. Once selected as the new default, the file's association will be set to the desired program.

Default Programs

You can also set file associations in the Default Programs center found in Windows Vista and Windows 7. To do this, go to the Start button and type the words "Default Programs" into the Search area. Click the Default Programs icon followed by Associate a File Type or Protocol with a Specific Program. A list appears detailing nearly all of your computer's file extensions along with the program currently set as the default. Find the file type that you want to change and click on Change Program. From there, you can specify the program that you want to use with the file extension. Make sure to place a check mark in the "Always use this program for this file type" area.

If your computer suddenly doesn't know how to deal with a file type, try restoring its file association. This simple procedure often solves the file association problem once and for all. In the future, when a new program asks if you want it to be the new default program, think about it before you click OK.

Celeste Stewart writes for Filetonic.com where you'll find a huge File Extension Library and loads of free computer advice. You can even write in and "Ask a Tech Jock" for specific answers to your computer questions.

Using Perl and Regular Expressions to Process HTML Files - Part 3

In Part 1 we had a quick look at what Perl and regular expressions are, and introduced the idea of using them to process HTML files. In Part 2 we developed a Perl script to process a single HTML file. In this part we'll look at how to process multiple files.

The script we looked at in Part 2 (script1.pl - repeated below for convenience) has one major drawback, making it unusable in real terms: the name of the web page (HTML file) that the script processes is hard coded into the script itself. For the script to be useful, we need to be able to run it on any web page. Changing the script so that it can do this is fairly straightforward.

Below, I've given two scripts: script1.pl, which was our original script from Part 2, and script2.pl, which is a new script that will process a list of files.

Note: Due to display considerations, in the example code shown in this article, square brackets '[..]' are used in HTML/script tags instead of angle brackets ''.

script1.pl

1 open (IN, "file1.htm");

2 open (OUT, ">new_file1.htm");

3 while ($line = [IN]) {

4 $line =~ s/[h1]/[h1 class="big"]/;

5 (print OUT $line);

6 }

7 close (IN);

8 close (OUT);

script2.pl

1 foreach $file (@ARGV) {

2 rename $file, "$file.bak";

3 open (IN, "$file");

5 while ($line = [IN]) {

6 $line =~ s/[h1]/[h1 class="big"]/;

7 (print OUT $line);

8 }

9 close IN;

10 close OUT;

11 }

Before looking at each line of the script in detail, let's just quickly establish what script2.pl does. Well, it processes one or more files entered at the command line prompt (for example, the MS-DOS prompt) and then, for each file entered, the script initially makes a backup copy before changing every occurrence of [h1] to [h1 class="big"].

A few quick definitions:

Variable

A temporary storage place for a value. In the above script, $file is a variable. The filename file1.htm, which will be entered at the command line prompt, is a value that will be temporarily stored in that variable when the script is run.

Array

A storage place for a list of values.

Let's take a look at each line of script2.pl.

Line 1

This line enables one or more files to be entered at the command line and processed by the script. We only have one file, 'file1.htm', so when we run the script we'll only enter one file to be processed.

Line 2

This line makes a backup copy of each file before processing it. So, for 'file1.htm', the backup file would be 'file1.htm.bak'.

Line 3

This line opens a filehandle for the file being processed. Part 2 of this series of articles gives more information about filehandles.

Line 4

This line opens another filehandle, but this time for the output from the script.

Note: file1.htm.bak will contain the contents of the file from before the script is run. file1.htm will contain the updated contents, that's to say, the output from the script.

Line 5

This line sets up a loop in which each line in the input file (the file being processed) will be examined individually.

Line 6

This is the regular expression. It searches for one occurrence of [h1] on each line of the input file and, if it finds one, changes it to [h1 class="big"].

See Part 2 for a full description of the actual regular expression.

Line 7

This line takes the contents of the $line variable and, via the OUT file handle, writes the line to the output file.

Line 8

This line closes the 'while' loop. The loop is repeated until all the lines in the file currently being processed have been examined.

Lines 9 and 10

These two lines close the two file handles that have been used in the script.

Line 11

This line closes the 'foreach' loop. The loop is repeated until all the files entered at the command line prompt have been processed.

Running the script

To run the script, at the command line type:

C:>perl script2.pl file1.htm

If the script executes successfully, a new file should be created called file1.htm.bak, which is a backup of the orginal file (ie before it was processed). A new version of file1.htm should also have been produced, containing the modified [h1] tag.

In Part 4 we'll look at an alternative way of inputting/selecting files for processing.

About the Author: John Dixon is a web developer working through his own company John Dixon Technology Limited The company also develops and supplies a free accounting-bookkeeping software tool called Earnings Tracker. The company's web site contains various articles, tutorials, news feeds, and a finance and business blog.

Online File Sharing: The Need of the Hour

Difference between web hosting and file hosting

While surfing the Internet in a quest to find storage space for home video or favorite music, users often confuse file hosting with web hosting. But there's a certain difference between the two. Firstly, web hosting enables you to place your website on the Internet. And file hosting offers storage space, where you may store whatever you want - including movies, music, work documents and other pertinent files. I guess that elucidates any confusion regarding the two separate concepts. Furthermore, file hosting is what we are concerned with here.

Why do you need file hosting?

The need for file hosting may arise if you wish to share files with friends and family, and your files are often large in size. Making floppies and burning CDs is neither economical nor it is an easy chore. Carrying physical media can be quite cumbersome at times. File sharing via email is not secure, and moreover, email cannot be used for large file transfers. In such a scenario, the best option available is file hosting and sharing. Unequivocally, there are 4 common types of files - video, images, music and data. If you desire a file hosting and sharing server, you may use the following keywords while you carry out a search on Google (arguably the best search engine) - "share files with friends and family".

How to go about it?

The online file sharing server would typically allow you to choose a file from your computer's local hard drive. The file types allowed for upload are specified by the sharing system. File sharing websites may place restrictions on the upload file size. But these restrictions can always be lifted by purchasing a higher plan. In general, such websites provide a demo account where you could easily get a feel as to how the system works. For instance, http://www.sharingarena.com offers a demo account that allows you to upload files up to 500 MB. However, you may acquire a "premium account", which boasts of an overwhelming 20 GB online storage space - that would certainly be enough for all your favorite music, videos and data files. By opening an account, you have access to a personal file manager. Using this personal file manager, you can download files at your leisure, and also share files with friends and family by simply distributing the download links.

Online file sharing is the most reliable and easy way to host and share your files. For more information, please visit the file sharing service at www.sharingarena.com

Nitin Mutreja is an expert software engineer, who has a true penchant for online file sharing. To get more information on file sharing, you may reach him at http://www.sharingarena.com or email him at info@sharingarena.com

File Permissions in Linux

Linux operating system uses a permissions schema to define user rights for each file. These permissions establish:

-who can read the file. If the file is a directory, read means list the contents of the directory.

-who can write/modify the file. If the file is a directory, this permission defines if you can make any changes to the directory contents, for example create or delete files.

-who can execute the file. If the file is a directory, this permission defines if you can enter the directory and access its contents, for example run a search in the directory or execute a program in it.

Permissions are assigned to the file owner, to the file owner group, and to all users. For example, you can set a document to be readable and writable by the owner only, and just readable by everybody else.

When you issue an ls -l command, to list all contents of a directory, you will see file permissions like this next to each file:

-rwxrwxrwx

This means this file can be read, written and executed by anybody. The first dash means this file is not a directory. For directories, there will be a d letter instead of a dash.

The first set of "rwx" refers to the file owner. The second set, to the owner group. The last set, to all other users. Let's look at some examples:

-rwxr - - r - -

This file can be read, written and executed by its owner. It can only be read by other users. When a permission is not set, you see a dash in its place.

-rw-rw-r- -

This file can be read and written by its owner and the owner group. It can only be read by other users.

You can set these permissions using the chmod command. For example, this command:

chmod ugo=rwx filename

assigns read, write and execute permissions to file owner user(u), group(g) and others (o). This other example:

chmod ug=rw,o=r filename

assigns read and write permissions to user and group, and only read permission to others.

Permissions can also be expressed and set using the octal numeric system. Each permission is associated to a number:

Read = 4

Write = 2

Execute = 1

You need to come up with a number for the file owner, another number for the group and a last one for the other users. If you want to assign read, write and execute permissions to file owner, you add up the three values, thus getting a 7. If you want to assign same permissions to group and others, you come up with three sevens. You can set these permissions like this:

chmod 777 filename

If you set permissions for a file with the following command:

chmod 764 filename

then you're establishing these permissions: read, write and execute for file owner (4+2+1=7), read and write for group (4+2=6) and only read for others (4).

The following commands are equivalent:

chmod ug=rw,o=r filename

chmod 664 filename

The file permissions schema lets you implement security policies. It is not a good idea to set file permissions high (e.g.: 777) for all files. It is important to think about it and assign the right permissions to the files, so users can do their job, and we are sure each file is accessed only by the right people.

Sergio Roth is an experienced freelance web programmer. You can contact him for Linux hosting and website development services at http://www.ayreshost.com.

Common Digital File Formats For Transcription of Voice to Text

Common digital file formats for transcription of voice to text

Digital recorders allow you to save voice files in different file formats. What format that is often depends on the brand or type of recorder you purchase. Some recorders allow you to save your files as more than one file format. To check what format your recorder saves as simply look at the file extension of your audio file, for example, the three letters file ending after the dot in your file name (e.g., WS30091.wma). Some recorders are ideal for single speaker dictation (e.g., DS2400) where editing and inserting comments after you have dictated is important. Others suit one-to-one interviews or focus group recordings (e.g., DS50) where they have external mics or where omni-directional mics can be purchased as an add-on (ME-30W).

Files saved to CD

.cda (Compact Disc audio file)

We have often been sent .cda files by clients in the first instance. .cda files are not audio files, they are the index files on your CD that point to the audio tracks on it. In order to have the audio transcribed you will need to remove your audio from your CD. If you are unsure how to do this follow these steps:

Insert the CD into your CD/DVD drive and use the ripping facility in Windows Media Player (WMP) to rip the CD or a specific track. There are usually two ways to get the tracks added to your library in WMP. You can add them on with the CD or you can rip them to your PC as .wma or .mp3 files and add those files to your library. It is the .wma or .mp3 version of the file that you will need to send your transcription service. If you ripped the CD by using the rip functionality in the Rip tab in WMP then the files will already be saved on your hard drive by default you just need to locate them!
If you do not have Windows Media Player you can use a software such Express Rip software available at http://www.nch.com.

Uncompressed audio format

.wav (or WAVE, short for Waveform Audio Format): .wav is a very large commonly used file format, however, this file type takes much longer than most when transferring/uploading files to a transcription service. It does, however, produce good quality audio.

Lossless compressed audio formats

A lossless compressed file format takes longer to process than an uncompressed file format and it uses space more efficiently. Lossless compression formats provide a compression ratio of about 2:1.

.mp3 (MPEG Layer-3): .mp3 files are a compressed file format usually associated with music files. The benefit of compressed files is in reduced transfer/upload time when sending it on for transcription.

.wma (Windows Media Audio): .wma file format is owned by Microsoft and is associated with use of Windows Media Player. .wma, whilst being compressed files, retain their sound quality.

.dss (Digital Speech Standard): .dss files are an Olympus proprietary format produced by Olympus recorders. DSS files are said to be 1/12th to 1/20th the size of conventional WAVE files with no reduction in playback quality. This is an excellent file format producing good quality audio.

. ds2 (Digital Speech Standard Pro): .ds2 files are also an Olympus proprietary format, as above. This is the newer, high compression, DSS pro format used by Olympus. Not all transcription software reads this new file format so check with your service provider.

.dvf (Digital Voice File): .dvf files are a Sony proprietary format produced by Sony recorders. Again, this is an excellent file format producing audio with excellent clarity.

Of course all of the above file formats can be used for transcription purposes but each varies in audio quality and file size so bear this in mind when you purchase your digital recorder.

E-quip Business Solutions are transcription specialists and support individuals and businesses of all sizes through virtual assistance. Based in Ireland, this business was formed in 2000 and has gone from strength to strength. Let E-quip Business Solutions help your business by checking out services offered at http://www.equipbizsolutions.com today.

5 Steps to an Effective and High Quality Filing System

What do you need to have a really effective and high quality home filing system? Well there are only 5 steps and you should be up and running in no time.

A fresh start

Start with a completely empty filing cabinet or box system. Insert a number of the hanging file folders into the cabinet or box.

For a professional and organized look, we suggest you colour coordinate your filing folders, by either using only one colour for all folders or using one colour for each high level category. There are five major categories, so if you use different colours for each major category.

You can be very creative in making your labels. These you can either print in colour coordinated colours for each major category or even print or write them in a fancy font. Let your imagination go. However, ensure that the labels are readable; else if you can't find what you're looking for, you may very quickly stop your filing efforts and be back with your pile of unfiled items.

Enable your labels

Now, start by making labels and sticking them on the file folder inserts or write your labels onto the file folders. Ensure that the labels are in a prominent viewing area, i.e. right at the top of your folder, so that you can easily find any folder you are looking for.

Here you can be very creative in how you create or write your labels, as long as you ensure that it is readable. This will ensure that you can find whatever folder you are looking for, very easily.

Fill 'em up

Once you have labeled all your file folder inserts, the next step is to insert these into the hanging file folders. As a start do not add more than 5 inserts into each hanging file folder.

For certain categories, you may require more space than others. As you begin to do your filing you will notice that certain hanging file folders are getting very full. In this case, all you will have to do is to insert another hanging file folder in behind the one that is full and move the back file insert or two into the new hanging file folder. Please ensure that you still keep everything in alphabetical order to allow finding your filed items quickly and effectively.

Please remember that certain categories may be containing more information than others and therefore will occupy the whole of a hanging file folder, where as others may be able to fit five file inserts into a hanging file folder.

The most important thing to member is that you must always keep your filing inserts in alphabetical order, else finding anything is going to become a nightmare and near impossible.

Now for the real thing

When your file inserts have been labeled and inserted into hanging file folders, the actual filing is about to start. A suggestion is to gather all the items you want to file and place them in one place near the filing cabinet / boxes. This will make it easier and quicker to get your filing complete.

A first the mountain of paper may seem to be impossible to finish, but do be discourage. Set aside only 30 minutes or an hour at a time to do your filing and soon your "to be filed" pile will disappear.

As you start to file, take one item at a time and decide if it really needs to be filed or can it be discarded. If you cannot decide immediately, do not file it. Put it aside and when all filing and discarding has been completed, come back to this pile and review. Hopefully by then you have a better idea if the item should really be filed or discarded.

Before you know it, your "Pile to file" will be gone and everything will have its rightful place in your filing cabinet.

Sit back and relax

By now you should be finished and have implemented a very effective and high quality filing system. All that is left now is to do your filing on a regular basis and keep everything up to date.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Petrus Keyter

http://www.pankey.co.za

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Danger! Danger! That File Extension May Be Your First Clue

Files arrive on computers several different ways. Some are loaded as part of a software installation; others are transferred onto the computer over a network or from a removable storage device; other files are downloaded from the Internet (with or without the user's knowledge); and other files arrive as email attachments. When a file arrives on your computer, how it arrived provides you with a clue as to its safety.

For example, if you transferred some work documents from your desktop to your laptop via a USB stick, you can be reasonably assured that the files are not dangerous. Likewise, if you transfer photo files from your digital camera to your hard drive, those files are most likely safe. On the other hand, if an email with an attachment arrives from a stranger, the file's safety should be immediately questioned. In fact, if an unsolicited file comes from a stranger, it's most likely some form of malware and should be removed, preferably by your antivirus program. If you must manually delete it, delete the entire email message, making sure not to open the attachment.

Your next clue as to a file's potential for danger is its file extension. Certain file extensions are more notorious than others, especially executable file extensions such as.exe,.bat, or.com. When an executable file is clicked, an application runs. This application could be either innocent or dangerous. Again, consider the source before taking any action. Did an.exe file arrive from a trusted source? For instance, is it a software setup file that you downloaded from a site such as Microsoft.com? If so, then it's likely safe. If the.exe file randomly arrived, it may be dangerous.

If you notice a file with the .com file extension, be especially careful. Not only is the.com file extension an executable, MS-DOS application file, it is also deceptive thanks to the use of ".com" in URLs. You may think that a file with the.com file extension is a link to a Web site, but it's not, so use extreme care before clicking.

Another sign that a file might be dangerous is when the file has a double file extension such as filename.gif.exe. These file extensions are named with double extensions to trick users into thinking that they are safe. For example, if your computer isn't set to display file extensions, the file with the double extension will look legitimate. In our example, filename.gif.exe would appear as filename.gif. In general,.gif files are safe to open, so a savvy computer user wouldn't see the dangerous.exe extension and have a false sense of security when seeing the relatively safe.gif extension.

Because a file's extension does provide you with clues, it's smart to set up your computer to display file extensions. This is done in the Control Panel's Folder Options. In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, go to Start and type Folder Options into the Search bar and then click on the Folder Options link once it appears. Next, click on the View tab and then remove the checkmark next to "Hide extensions for known file types."

A final consideration when opening newly arrived files is whether you are expecting the file or not, regardless of its file extension or who sent it. For example, it's not uncommon for malware to overtake a computer's email system and send viruses on behalf of the computer's owner. While you may trust your family members and coworkers not to send you infected files, you can't always be sure that your contacts' computers haven't been commandeered by malware. If your boss lets you know that he'll be sending you a report and then an email arrives with a file named "salesreport.exe," then it's likely safe to open because you are expecting it. On the other hand, if out of the blue an unexpected email arrives from your boss with an attachment named "funnymovie.com," you'd be wise to ask your boss what the file is for before opening it.

Dangerous files will arrive on your computer. Whether your computer gets infected or not often starts with you making smart decisions on how to handle these files.

Celeste Stewart writes for Filetonic.com where you'll find a huge File Extension Library and loads of free computer advice. You can even write in and "Ask a Tech Jock" for specific answers to your computer questions.

Audio and Video File Formats: An Introduction

FILE FORMATS

There are several audio file formats in common use. There are fewer video file formats, but audio video file extensions can be confusing. This is just a brief description of what the more commonly used audio and video file formats and systems are.

AAC:Advanced Audio Coding This is the audio file format used by Apple for the iTunes Music Store, and it may appear with the M4A filename extension. It is better than MP3 for sound quality. It was developed as part of the MPEG4 group owned by Dolby (see below).

AU: This audio file format is the standard used by Java, Sun and Unix.

MPEG: Moving Pictures Expert Group There are a number of MPEG types now, described below.

MPEG-1: This is used in digital cameras and camcorders for small video clips. VHS quality playback can be expected from MPEG-1.

MPEG-2: Used for digital satellite TV, professional movie recording and recording of home DVD recordings. Provides provision for multi-channel surround sound recordings.

MPEG-3: MPEG-3 was propose as an entity, but eventually merged into MPEG-2.

MPEG-4: This is the newest MPEG system and is used for streaming internet content. It is also used in portable video recorders and for internet downloads. Required for DivX. It improves digital broadcasting and interactive graphics and multimedia.

MP3: Digital audio files, most commonly used to store and playback music. It compresses the files to about 10% of a normal audio file, and a normal music track will be about 5 -6 MB in size. MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, not MPEG-3 as many people think. A typical MP3 audio file is near CD quality.

OGG: An audio file format supporting a variety of codecs, the most popular of which is the audio codec Vorbis. However, MP3 files are much more broadly supported than Vorbis.

RA: Real Audio This format is designed for streaming audio over the Internet. It is a self-contained file format with all the audio information stored within the file itself.

WAV: The simplest of the audio file formats, developed by Microsoft and IBM, and built into Windows 95. It is an uncompressed audio file format with large file sizes (10 x MP3), and does not need further processing to play. The WAV file consists of three blocks of information: The RIFF block which identifies the file as a WAV file, The FORMAT block which identifies parameters such as sample rate and the DATA block which contains the actual data, or music sample.

WMA: Windows Media Audio A digital system invented by Microsoft, and is used in portable digital audio players. Using WMA, a file can be programmed so that it cannot be copied, and can be used to protect copyright.

WMF: Windows Media Format These are audio-video files comprising WMA and video codecs. They provide high quality and media security for streaming and download and play applications on computers.

WMV: Windows Media Video Used in the Windows media Player, this is used to stream and download and play audio and video content.

When dealing with audio and video file formats, you will sometimes notice the term 'codec'. A codec is simply short for encoder-decoder (or compressor - decompressor). A main function of a codec is to compress audio or video data streams so that transmission of digital audio samples and video frames can be speeded up and storage space reduced.

The objective of all codecs is to reduce the file size to a minimum while maintaining audio and video quality. A quick indication of the codec's place in the path of transmission and reception is:

Video device (e.g. camcorder) - video capture card - video digitized - codec (compresses digital info) - result (MPEG2, AVI, WMV etc) - codec (decompress) - video frames - display device.

Between the two codecs the compressed result is transferred to the display device transmitted, stored on file, etc). So to condense the flow even further, we could basically describe it as:

raw data - codec - transmit - codec - play

This is simplistic, but it shows where the codecs are used. Therefore, in order to play a movie, video or piece of music of a certain format, you need a codec in your computer to allow you to decompress the file and play it.

Here is some free software which checks what codec a video system uses, and what codec your system needs to play it:

Codec Tool.

The different video file formats are required to meet the requirements of various video devices. Similarly, audio file formats are designed to meet the needs of the specific delivery methods and storage and playback devices introduced by large corporations such as Microsoft, Sony and Apple. Thus, Sony invented the UMD (Universal Media Disk) for the PSP (Playstation Portable), and Apple introduced AAC (M4A) for its iPod.

Peter Nisbet is the author of many articles on audio and video file systems, their transmission, playback and conversion. More information is available on his websites http://www.legalandfree.com and http://www.online-free-movies.com

Batch Photo Files Rename - Renaming a Series of Photo Files at Once

You have taken a number of photos since you have owned your digital camera. But one day when your friend asks you to send your photos to him/her by internet, you try to find some. Unluckily, you search for your computer over and over again in vain; you don't find one for there is huge number of files stored into your computer.

It must be a nightmare when you have many photos files with such kind of names. From the name, you don't exactly find what the photo or picture you want, for you can not remember what the photo or picture is. This is really a bad thing, why not to organize all your photo files with one rule? According to the case, or event, or date (time), or content, etc, you could sort your photo files into several kinds, such like Snow-1.jpg, Zoo-1.jpg, 01012007-1.jpg, Birthday-1.jpg.

Absolutely, with this idea, you can sort all your photos into a series of files with the event or scene that you are taking pictures of. Renaming each photo file manually is wasting time, but by using batch photo files renaming, you can quickly rename a folder of digital photos all at once. So what is batch photo file renaming? Batch renaming is a way to rename a large number of files in one simple step. Basically, you select a group of photo files (a batch) and tell your computer to rename them sequentially using rules you specify. Clearly, it is simple to save your time to batch photo files rename, and above all, you can store your photos order and well.

The example below shows a group of photo files which have taken the day of a friend's birthday and another day for visiting the zoo. Then, after copying all your photos away from the digital camera, and saving into your computer, you can batch photo files rename to include a date, description and number. The photo files become part of a sequence with useful names which are easy to organize. There are 30 digital photo files, in which the first 15 were taken at the friend's birthday and the others were taken in the zoo. You'll rename the first 15 files to identify them as being from the birthday, and the left 15 files as being from the zoo. So the first group of photo files batch rename as Birthday-07.03.2007-01.jpg, Birthday-07.03.2007-02.jpg, Birthday-07.03.2007-03.jpg...... The second group of photo files batch rename as Zoo-07.03.2007-01.jpg, Zoo-07.03.2007-02.jpg, Zoo-07.03.2007-03.jpg...... Surely, it's very clear to understand what the photo files are a few days later you open the photo files again.

Now, you have understood what is to batch rename your photo files all at once and how to batch rename them. The more important thing is that you have known the advantage of batch renaming a series of photo files at once. Finding an utility program to help you batch photo files renaming, visit the power easy-to-use Macro Expert at http://www.macro-expert.com/

File Extensions and Associations in the Windows Environment

File extensions are typically a 3 character extension on the end of a file, started with a dot. For example, a typical executable file in Windows is .exe.

Sometimes you may never know this because file extensions are hidden in Windows. I typically prefer to leave the extensions on so I know what type of file I'm dealing with. To make file extensions show, go to Windows Explorer or My Computer. At the top of the screen to go Tools, Folder Options, then click on the View tab, and uncheck where it says hide extensions for known file types.

In just a moment we'll see why having file extensions showing is important. Lets first look at what a file association is. A file associate tells the operating system what program to use to open a particular file extension. For example, a common file extension for pictures is .JPG. A JPG or JPEG is a compressed file format for picture files. There are several programs that will open these files. For example, I could use the Windows Picture Viewer, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks, and a wide array of other programs. Typically when you install a program, it will ask you (and sometimes not ask you) if you want to associate certain files with their program. Thus, sometimes it's necessary to change what program you want opening a certain extension. To change the file association for a extension go to Windows Explorer or My Computer, go to Tools, Folder Options, then click on the File Types tab. In the list below you will see almost every type of file extension you will encounter. After highlighting the desired extension, you can click the change button below, and browse to the program you want those files to be opened with. Aside from graphics files, a common extension people want to change is a .MP3 file. For example, you may want your MP3 files to be opened with iTunes rather than Windows Media Player, or perhaps Winamp. It's up to you!

Now that we know what file extensions and associates are, let me tell you why this is important to have file extensions showing. Commonly when people produce viruses, they hide them with known file types such as .MP3, however the file is really an executable like .exe or a .bat file. Here is what they'll do. They'll name the file: myweddingpics.jpg.exe. You see, they make it look like a JPEG, but it's really not. If you had your file extensions configured not to show, all you would see is myweddingpics.jpg. Thus, you may click on it because you think it's a picture, but really you just installed a virus hidden in a clever disguise. To most computer professionals, this is easy to recognize, but it's a common tactic to fool the average computer user.

I hope this article has shed some light on how you can manage your file properties in a greater capacity, and by using this empowerment, make you more secure.

Greg Ashbaugh is the owner of AshbaughOnline.com, a technology site consisting of tech related news, reviews, and tutorials. When Greg is not working on the site, he works full time as an IT Systems Administrator for one of the largest organizations in the United States.

Visit http://www.ashbaughonline.com to stay abreast of technology trends. You can even subscribe to receive all postings in your e-mail.

Be Organized - Learn How to Manage Files

When operating a computer, it is important to know where one's most important files are. Searching for files is a common daily practice that any PC user performs constantly, if not daily. It is also equally as vital to maintain files in an organized and structured manner through the use of file management tools. Through the use of today's operating systems, file searching and management keep a user's file system running smoothly.

A large number of users rely on standard Windows operations to maintain the task of file searching through Windows Explorer. For basic file searches, this is usually an ideal means to find specific data. For more complex searches, however, Windows Explorer is perhaps not as sophisticated to perform such tasks.

Fortunately, higher end solutions can be found that have a comparable quality level to Microsoft's products without having to learn new techniques or be a computer professional. Programs that are available for immediate use provide more advanced searching than what comes with a computer's standard OS (Operating System).

With advanced file searching programs, users can search for files located on their hard drives, floppy drives and CD drives, a user network (if applicable) and other file storage areas. Filters can be set based on file size, keywords, specific dates, or any other relevant search parameter. Users can also search through text based information for parameters such as keywords, sentences, or even paragraphs. Users can even create templates based on search parameters that are frequently referenced. Once a specific file is found, a User can choose to modify of delete it at their leisure.

Using detailed file search parameters can be beneficial in saving time and increasing overall user efficiency, and with a lot of files comes a lot of information. Keeping all of these various file branches organized is equally as important, and with the right file management tools, cleaning up the branches of a file tree can be a simple process.

There are several programs available that allow for easy use of directory and file management by introducing utilities for comparison of two folder trees or two files, allowing them to synchronize. Folder trees can exist on the following types of drives: CD-ROM, hard, floppy and zip drives, as well as drives for networking. Comparison methods allow file managers to sort via file size, date and time created, contents, cyclical redundancy checking, version stamps, SHA-1 utilities, and exe files. Filters that exclude and include allow for complete control over file comparison, and can be configured with recognizable icons familiar to a user's preference. Folders can be synchronized with button clicks that allow for auto-sync methods or default Windows management for manual synchronization, and can even be printed out for comparison.

With file searching and file management tools, users can keep all pertinent data in a concise and easy to reference filing system. Whether it's the readily available programs in a standard Windows operating system or software upgrade that allows for more refined search methods, users can have all information readily available for more optimized user efficiency.

If you are interested in how to find in file, check Sam Miller new web-site.