SLO NightWriters » Techie

Techie Tip

DebraDavisHinkle — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:11:11 +0000

What’s an extension? Dictionary.com has sixteen definitions for the word. However, we are only interested in definition number 14:

14. Also called file extension. Computers . one or more characters at the end of a filename, usually following a period, used to indicate the type of file.

Examples of extensions from: http://pcperformancetools.com/file-extension-list.html

	Extension		Type of File

	.bmp		Bitmap graphics

	.doc		Word File

	.db		Database file

	.dll		Dynamic link library

	.exe		Executable or program file

	.gif		Graphics interchange format

	.jpeg		Digital photographs

	.mdb		Microsoft database

	.Mp3		Compressed audio file

	.msg		Email messages

	.pdf		Portable document format

	.ppt		PowerPoint presentation

	.rtf		Rich text file

	.swf		Flash files

	.tif – Jiff		Tagged image file

	.wav		Wavefile – high quality (large) audio file

	.wmv		Windows media video

	.xls		Excel

	.zip		Compressed file

If you see a file name and you don’t know what it is or what it does, you can start with the extension. If you see a “.wav ” after the file name, it is a audio file. The blog you are viewing was created as a .doc file, except for the center chart. Can you guess what type of file that is?

I hope this helps!

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Facebook Help

DebraDavisHinkle — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:30:27 +0000

Many NightWriters have their own Facebook Page or Profile/User Account and now that we all have a Facebook Page through SLO NightWriters maybe we could use some guidance on how to use Facebook. I know I could.

Here is SLO NightWriters Page: SLONightWriters’ Facebook Page

It can also be accessed from the left blogroll or directly from your Facebook Page or Profile/User Account via the “Search Box.”

My friend, Natalie Borgardt, set up the Facebook Page for NightWriters and she sent me a link for a manual about Facebook Pages (pages are for organizations, etc.). Here is the link for a Facebook Pages Manual: http://www.facebook.com/l/3ea65;bit.ly/9MfBC6

Profile/User Accounts are for individuals. This is what I have and you probably have, also. Here are some links for a Facebook Profile/User Manual:

http://www.lionelwindsor.net/smw/StMics_FacebookManual_R1.pdf

http://www.squidoo.com/facebookmadesimple

http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/etp/pros/FacebookUserGuide_Final.pdf

Some of these guides are not current; Facebook makes changes very often. Happy Facebooking!

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Techie Tip

DebraDavisHinkle — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:40:05 +0000

What can Google do for us?

I think this question has been answered, extremely well, by several different sites already. Therefore, I’m going to list the links to the sites:

http://www.smashingapps.com/2009/01/13/11-great-hidden-things-google-can-do-that-you-should-know.html

http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2010/04/02/02gigaom-10-simple-google-search-tricks-58674.html?src=me&ref=homepage

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/cool-things-you-can-do-with-google.html

http://www.google.com/help/features.html

There is some overlap in the above sites. I have included information given in diverse ways so that our different learning styles would be covered.

There will be a test at the May monthly meeting. Just kidding!

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“Techie” Tip – What’s a Tag?

DebraDavisHinkle — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:49:54 +0000

TAG (Metadata)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information (such as an internet bookmark, digital image, or computer file). This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching. Tags are generally chosen informally and personally by the item’s creator or by its viewer, depending on the system.

I thought tags were the uncomfortable things I cut out of my clothes. They are, but they are also a way of bringing viewers to your post, page or photo. Once you get them there, hopefully, they like what they see and read. They will come back, leave a comment or even better they might tell others about your site, using a Share/Save button. (This is something that will be discussed in a future “Techie” Tip blog.

On SLO NightWriters’ site we have a “Tag” spot on the right blogroll. The left blogroll has a “Latest News” and “Topics” spot. All three of these are just different “sorts” of our blogs. The different “sorts” help readers zoom in on what they are interested in. Further explanation of the SLO NightWriters’ website:

Latest News – blog titles sorted newest to older; approximately five titles.

Topics – author chosen categories of our blogs; it has less than ten titles.

Tags – the “one-word or phrase” describing post or page by the author.

Archives - “old” post categorized by month and year.

I hope this helps you negotiate our site.

Check out the two tags I placed on this post. They are below the Save/Share button on the left hand side in a very small font.

Comments are always welcome!

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“Techie” Tip: Permalink

DebraDavisHinkle — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:15:13 +0000

This is the first in what I hope will be a monthly or bi-weekly post on little technical things of blogging, commenting on other websites, sending emails with down-loadable attachments, etc.

Few things annoy me more than being sent to the wrong place and spending time looking for what is suppose to be right in front of me. When we send a letter or give our address, we don’t just give a street name. We give the exact address and that’s what we should do when we are referring viewers on our blog, website or via email.

If you are telling someone where to go on a particular blog or website, give the exact address. For example, on my joint writers’ blog/website if I want to refer you to what I think is a touching blog, I would give you this address:

http://www.kritiquekritics.com/?p=4462

http://www.kritiquekritics.com/2010/01/a-final-goodbye/

However, what often happens is you are giving this instead:

http://www.kritiquekritics.com

Can you see the difference? It’s the green highlighted area. It’s called a “Permalink” or a link to an indivdual post or page, not to the whole blog or website. The first example is a “Permalink” and the second example is a “Pretty Permalink” and the final example is just a link.

As of today, SLO NightWriters website has “Pretty Permalink” capabilities. I think this is the best scenario.

I bet you asking “How do we get that “Permalink?” Great question! Here’s how:

If you have created the post and you are behind the website, most sites have a button to preview the post or the site. On WordPress you can click on “Preview Post” and you will get the “Permalink” address. If you just click on “Preview” you will just get a link, not the “Permalink.”

If you are on someone else’s site you can click on the post and the “Permalink” should appear in the “Address Bar.”

Here’s a blog etiquette post on the subject:

http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2008/11/what-is-a-permalink/

Contributed by:

Keep in mind that we are all in different learning stages. I have a computer guru; her name is Christine Taylor and occasionally she has to ask her guru for help. After talking with Christine, I was able to active “Pretty Permalink” on this site. Thank you Christine Taylor, AKA mousewords.