Computers are part of our daily lives.  We spend countless hours sending emails, writing documents, and surfing the web.  With so much time spent on a computer, it is important to get things done as efficiently as possible.  Even saving a few seconds on each task will add up in the long run.

Here are some computer skills that will help streamline your workflow:

-          Keyboarding: Strong typing skills and a knowledge of keyboard shortcuts will make any task quicker.

1.      Type without looking at the keyboard and use all your fingers.  Learning to touch-type can increase your typing speed to 100 word per minute.  There are several software programs that teach this.

2.      Use keyboard shortcuts for repetitive tasks.  Shortcuts both enhance your workflow and let you type in a more comfortable way.  By keeping your fingers on the keyboard, you cut down on wrist strain and increase productivity.  KeyRocket knows all those shortcuts and helps you master the ones you use the most.

-          File Maintenance and Organization: Knowing how and where to save files is vital.

1.      Use naming conventions to organize your data.  Using patterns to name documents makes it much easier to find them on your computer.

2.      Use tricks and shortcuts to find files easily. There are three possibilities to narrow down your searching:

• The search box.  Located at the top of every folder, it filters the current view based on what you write.
• The search folder.  Pressing +F will let you search in every file or folder on your computer.  You can also add filters to narrow down your search results.
• The start menu.  Access by pressing  . The start menu is perfect for finding programs or files located in indexed locations.  You can even search through websites stored in your browser’s history.

3.      Use shortcut links.  Instead of copying the file into several locations, trying creating a direct shortcut link that will save lots of valuable hard drive space.  Simply right-click on any file and select ‘Create Shortcut‘.

-        Using the internet for Research: Besides social networking and E-mail, the Internet can also be a great source of information.

1.      Try different search engines.  Results tend to vary depending on which search engine you use.

2.      Use shortcuts and other search tips to narrow down results to the first page.

3.      Surf the web safely.  Hackers and malware may threaten your computer every time you are online.  Activate a firewall, limit cookies, and use encryption when you have to enter personal data.

-          Basic Troubleshooting/System Administration: Your computer needs regular maintenance to keep it working as fast as possible.  Failure to do so can result in a slow and unstable PC.  Apps like TuneUp help keep your computer fast and reliable.  Additionally, there are several steps you do yourself.

1.      Always save your work.

2.      Press Alt + Ctrl + Delete to launch the Task Manager and end non-responsive programs.  These can slow down the other tasks on your PC.  If your computer continues to perform slowly, try rebooting it by pressing Alt + Ctrl + Delete twice.

3.      Use Disk Defragmenter once a month.  This Windows utility rearranges files to speed up your system.

Spreadsheets are extremely important for most businesses. 95% of American firms use spreadsheets for financial reporting, and half of the average company’s decisions are made based on a spreadsheet. If you ask CEOs for the best spreadsheet software, Microsoft Excel tops the list. Excel’s high level of complexity and wide range of possibilities, delight the most expert users but can significantly slow basic users down.

If you don’t know how to get the most out of Excel, KeyRocket is here to help! As part of our ongoing effort to better teach keyboard shortcuts, we’ve collected some statistics about the most used ones on Excel 2010. By making it a habit to use shortcuts for five or six basic Excel tasks, you can get things done faster, but you’ll also feel like you finally have control over Excel, not the other way around! You’ll also be able to focus more on your content, like gathering and verifying input data to avoid spreadsheet errors, which is one of the biggest problems in companies.

Start using them regularly, and you’ll soon realize why shortcuts are life-savers in Excel. If you have trouble remembering the shortcuts, just download KeyRocket to learn them at your pace. And don’t forget to pin the app to your taskbar so you can access the list of your own most-used shortcuts in just two clicks (or a single shortcut, of course).

1. Ctrl+C / V. Copies the selected cells / Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents.

2. Ctrl+Shift+Down/Up Arrow. Extends the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, or if the next cell is blank, extends the selection to the next nonblank cell.

3. Ctrl+Arrows. Down arrow: Moves to the bottom of the current data region in a worksheet. Left Arrow: Moves to the left corner of the current data region in a worksheet. Right-Arrow: Moves to the right corner of the current data region in a worksheet. Up-Arrow: Moves to the top of the current data region in a worksheet.

4. Ctrl+Page Down/Up. Moves to the next sheet in a workbook/Moves to the previous sheet in a workbook.

5. Esc. Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar. Closes an open menu or submenu, dialog box, or message window. It also closes full screen mode when this mode has been applied, and returns to normal screen mode to display the ribbon and status bar again.

6. F2. Edits the active cell and positions the insertion point at the end of the cell contents. It also moves the insertion point into the Formula Bar when editing in a cell is turned off.

7. Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow. Extends the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, or if the next cell is blank, extends the selection to the next nonblank cell.

8. Ctrl+S. Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format.

Speaking of Excel 2010 shortcuts, if your Office Suite is running in Spanish (like mine), have you ever noticed that Ctrl + N is theoretically used for two actions: to bold text and to create a new document? I say theoretically because Ctrl+N doesn’t work at all to open a new document… Fortunately for our Spanish-speaking friends, KeyRocket is working to create customized shortcuts, so you can set up your own combination of keys for every action. Soon, that bug in Spanish Excel 2010 will be fixed. In the meantime, I guess we’ll have to keep using the mouse for ‘abrir un nuevo documento’.