create unselectable drop down item
Create unselectable instructions in a HTML select drop down menu
Today we are talking about how to create unselectable instructions in a HTML select drop down menu.  In HTML, when you create a drop down menu using the <select> tag, there will be times when you'll want to give the user instructions inside the menu itself...
Using the Section Break in Microsoft Word
When putting together a complex document in Word, a section break can help us put together documents such as a book or manual, where one sometimes has to create multiple headers and footers, or allow for single columns, then multiple, then single again. A section break...
smart focus camtasia
Camtasia SmartFocus Editing Dimensions Error Fix
In Camtasia 9, there is a feature that has been around for a while called "Smart Focus."  What it tries to do is read the video and zoom in and out when Camtasia feels it's necessary.  For example, let's say you were making a screen recording...
How to Create a Gradient in Adobe Illustrator
The recent post on meshes in Illustrator kind of leads into a related subject, namely the gradient. Sometimes meshes aren’t necessary, or a little too complicated to set up, but there’s still a need for (at least simulated) shading, and gradients can provide some of this....
How to Create a Theme in Microsoft PowerPoint
In PowerPoint, themes are an important part of the presentation. Even if nobody directly notices them, they are as necessary to the slide deck as the foundation for a house. Consistent appearance throughout the show improves understandability, and its professional look. Creating a theme is fairly...
Microsoft Access Keyboard Shortcuts
SkillForge SkillSheet Microsoft Access 2010/13/16 Keyboard Shortcuts Click here to download the PDF version. Frequently Used Shortcuts   In order to… Press Select the active tab of the ribbon and activate KeyTips Alt or F10  (to move to a different tab, use KeyTips or the arrow...
Microsoft Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
SkillForge SkillSheet Microsoft Excel 2010/13/16 Keyboard Shortcuts Click here to download the PDF version.   Frequently Used Shortcuts In order to… Press Close a spreadsheet Ctrl+W Open a spreadsheet Ctrl+O Save a spreadsheet Ctrl+S Copy Ctrl+C Paste Ctrl+V Undo Ctrl+Z Remove cell contents Delete key Choose a...
Crystal Reports Keyboard Shortcuts
SkillForge SkillSheet Crystal Reports Keyboard Shortcuts Click here to download the PDF version.   Menu Bar Shortcut Keys In order to… Press Create New Report Ctrl + N Open Report Ctrl + O Save Report Ctrl + S Print Report Ctrl + P Cut Ctrl +...
create database phpmyadmin xampp
How to create a database using phpMyAdmin and XAMPP
When working on a website that is either hosted or local on your computer, sometimes you'll need a database for it.  Back in the day, you would need to know SQL and how to run those commands in some sort of prompt.  Nowadays, we have phpMyAdmin which...
How to Edit Contacts and the Business Card in Outlook
Outlook 2016 has implemented a slightly different scheme for contacts and the business card in them, but the differences are mainly cosmetic. The basics are similar enough that users of the earlier versions won’t be at a loss. Once the program is open, the first thing...
what is the doctype
What does the DOCTYPE do in HTML?
What is the DOCTYPE?  When coding in HTML you will see this really weird looking line up there at the top.  It usually looks like this: <!DOCTYPE html> Simply enough, this line tells the browser what version of HTML is being used to create the website. ...
How to Format the Gantt Chart in Project
Recently, I had a question about formatting the Gantt chart from a student who mentioned the issue of color-blindness. Since various kinds of this problem exist, knowing how to get around it can be helpful, just in case. As critical tasks are highlighted in red, it...
document write is bad
Why using document.write is a bad idea in JavaScript
Why is using document.write a bad idea in JavaScript?  Well, document.write is great for debugging or helping you know what a variable is equal to at a certain part in your code.  It's not a good idea to use on an actual web page especially if...
How to Set Up Custom Signatures in Microsoft Outlook
There are several features in Outlook that I can only describe as “cool”, among which is the ability to create custom signatures for email. It’s a feature most people would think should be in a program like this, but that doesn’t make it any less cool...
async javascript external
How To Run External JavaScript After the HTML Has Loaded
When using JavaScript, sometimes you will run into errors because the external code being used is placed above the HTML it is calling/manipulating.  For this example, we have a HTML file that looks like this: <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Run JavaScript After HTML Loads</title>...
How to Use Dodge and Burn in Photoshop
Of all the tools in the last few versions of Photoshop, the Dodge and Burn tools seem to be less busy, possibly since digital photography reduces the need for them. But once in a while, especially in restoring scanned-in prints, one might still try them out....
console log vs console dir
JavaScript console.log vs console.dir
So what is the difference between console.log and console.dir in JavaScript?  Well, let's take a look!  If we were to take this code: <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>console.log vs console.dir</title> </head> <body> <script> console.log("Why, hello!"); console.dir("Why, hello!"); </script> </body> </html> then put it in...
Using the Mesh Tool in Illustrator-Basics
The Mesh tool gives the Illustrator artist a capability that some people think doesn’t exist in this program—the ability to shade an object, for example if one wants to make something look three-dimensional, solid, curved, etc. This is fairly easy in Photoshop; what a lot of...
center content horizontally and vertically
How To Center Content in a Div Horizontally and Vertically
This little snippet of code will show you how to center content in a div horizontally and vertically using HTML and CSS.  This, in the past, used to be semi-difficult.  Now, using CSS flexbox display property, it's actually quite easy.  First, we'll create a simple HTML...
Using Layer Masks in Photoshop – Basics
When we put together a composite image in Photoshop, built from pieces of other images, using layer masks is a very helpful trick. Masking allows us to experiment with the appearance of the composite by letting us show or hide very specific bits of the layers...