Software & work
Choose a plain text format for long term notes
Choose UTF-8 TXT or simple Markdown for lasting notes, then check filenames, accented characters and attachment links with a Windows 11 practice file.
The guide library
Software & work
Work more confidently with documents, browsers, images and everyday software. Understand the choices behind the interface.
47 guides
Software & work
Use email filters without losing important messages
Build a narrow Gmail filter, check it with labels before archiving, and recover messages when a rule hides mail you still need to read.
Software & work
Turn meeting notes into an actionable record
Use Google Docs to separate decisions from open questions, give actions owners and deadlines, confirm commitments, and keep a useful record of later changes.
Software & work
Check a spreadsheet total without trusting one formula
Cross-check a Google Sheets total with a fresh selection, numeric counts, hidden-row rules and original records, then repair the cause of any mismatch.
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Inspect Browser Performance Without Resetting Everything
Use browser resource views and a repeatable workload to investigate slow tabs or extensions, preserve unsaved work, and change one reversible setting at a time.
Software & work
Send Large Files Without Losing Access Control
Choose between an attachment and a controlled link, account for message encoding, and verify recipient access without making private files public to fix delivery.
Software & work
Use version history instead of endless final file names
Keep one Google Docs working link, name meaningful milestones, recover missing passages safely, and separate editable drafts from issued copies.
Software & work
Compare two document versions before merging edits
Compare two Word drafts in a separate review copy, inspect changed wording, and accept or reject edits without overwriting the files you received.
Software & work
Make a PDF smaller without ruining readable text
Reduce a PDF in Acrobat Pro for Windows, protect fonts and document features, and compare small print before accepting a compressed copy.
Software & work
Use mail merge without sending the wrong personal details
Check address-to-detail pairings in Word and Excel, test through classic Outlook, and release a verified recipient list without repeating a mistaken send.
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Trim a video without needlessly re encoding it
Keep a video excerpt with LosslessCut on Windows 11, understand keyframe limits, and check the exported picture and sound before deciding to re-encode.
Software & work
Choose a screenshot format for sharp text
Save sharp text screenshots as PNG in Windows 11, protect a master copy, and find whether capture, resizing or the sharing app made the delivered text blurry.
Software & work
Adjust Zoom, Scaling and Keyboard Access for Everyday Work
Choose the right layer for larger text, clearer controls and keyboard navigation, then test real tasks and keep a simple way to reverse each accessibility adjustment.
Software & work
Choose an Image Format for the Picture and Its Destination
Compare JPEG, PNG, WebP and SVG by image content, transparency and destination support, while preserving an editable master and checking the exported result.
Software & work
Find and remove duplicate files without deleting the wrong copy
Use dupeGuru on Windows 11 to protect the copy you need, review content matches, and remove small batches with a checked Recycle Bin recovery route.
Software & work
Organise Files with Names, Versions and a Clear Working Copy
Choose a naming convention that fits your retrieval habits, separate working files from issued copies, and verify links and version history before reorganising folders.
Software & work
Use AI Help While Keeping Private Information Out of the Prompt
Reduce an AI task to the information it actually needs, use synthetic examples, check account-specific retention policies, and verify generated facts before reuse.
Software & work
Fix a Word document whose headings will not stay consistent
Repair Word heading styles, remove stubborn formatting overrides, control pasted text, and check that the document stays consistent after reopening.
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Use spreadsheet data validation to prevent common mistakes
Set up Excel dropdowns and quantity limits, check values that slip through pasted data, and repair rules without losing track of valid exceptions.
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Make presentation slides readable on a projector
Prepare a PowerPoint deck for projection: fix slide proportions, enlarge essential text, simplify charts, and check readability from the back row.
Software & work
Choose a note taking system you can export later
Choose a portable note system by checking readable text, working links and complete attachments with a small Obsidian exit rehearsal on Windows 11.
Software & work
Set up an email signature that works on phones
Build a readable Gmail signature, set browser defaults and Android mobile text, then check received messages for wrapping, missing details and broken links.
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Check an AI generated answer against original sources
Trace a Gemini answer to original evidence, inspect dates and qualifiers, recalculate numbers, and keep a clear record of supported and unresolved claims.
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Diagnose PDF Font, Layout and Printing Problems Separately
Find whether a PDF problem comes from missing fonts, page dimensions or print scaling, then verify a copy without flattening or replacing the original document.
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Fix a website that only fails in one browser
Isolate a Firefox-only website failure on Windows 11, test extensions and site protection, clear only affected data, and report a reproducible problem.
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Fix spreadsheet dates that changed after import
Repair dates imported into Excel for Windows by separating display problems from swapped months, preserving source text, and applying the right locale.
Software & work
Estimate Video File Size from Bitrate Without Confusing Resolution
Calculate a video size budget using duration, video and audio bitrate, then check codec compatibility and real export quality before sending the finished file.
Software & work
Make a reusable troubleshooting checklist for your team
Build a Google Docs troubleshooting master with clear checks, recorded results and stop rules, then copy it for each incident without overwriting the template.
Software & work
Create a table of contents that updates correctly
Build an automatic contents table in Word for Windows, fix missing headings, and choose the right update so titles and page numbers stay accurate.
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Schedule a meeting across time zones correctly
Use Google Calendar on the web to choose a reference city, compare local dates and hours, send one accurate invitation, and check recurring meetings.
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Build a simple shared task board that stays usable
Set up a private Trello board with four clear lists, accountable task owners and a short weekly review that keeps shared work visible and manageable.
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Build Spreadsheets That Preserve Real-World Data
Import identifiers, dates and amounts without silent conversion, keep source values beside calculations, and use small checks to expose errors before sharing.
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Build a pivot table that answers a real question
Build a Google Sheets pivot around a spending question, check its totals with a small example, and fix filters or source ranges that hide new purchases.
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Prepare a print ready PDF for a local print shop
Export a local print shop’s production PDF from InDesign on Windows, checking trim size, bleed, fonts, color requirements, and the final proof.
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Make a document usable with a screen reader
Structure a Word document for screen-reader navigation, clarify tables and links, and check whether someone can find and use the information they need.
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Use browser reading mode for long documents
Read long web documents in Firefox on Windows 11: enter Reader View, adjust text, find passages and recover when content or the reading button is missing.
Software & work
Understand application permissions on a work computer
Review Windows 11 work-app permissions, distinguish website access from administrator approval, and make reversible changes or send IT a precise support request.
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Restore browser bookmarks after changing computers
Recover Chrome bookmarks on Windows from your Google Account or an HTML export, find imported folders, and verify the links before retiring the old computer.
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Make Scanned PDFs Searchable Without Trusting Every OCR Result
Create a searchable copy of a scanned PDF, choose recognition settings deliberately, and verify critical fields while keeping confidential documents in approved tools.
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Organise a download folder with a weekly ten minute routine
Use a ten-minute Windows 11 routine to file useful downloads, remove clear leftovers and track undecided files while preserving recovery options.
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Prepare a spreadsheet for someone using another locale
Prepare a Google Sheets handoff with agreed regional settings, clear dates and currency, and a small recipient check that catches misread values.
Software & work
Turn a messy CSV into a reliable spreadsheet
Clean a small CSV in LibreOffice Calc while preserving product codes, reviewing duplicate records, and keeping missing quantities distinct from zero.
Software & work
Record a screen tutorial without exposing private information
Prepare a clean Windows 11 tutorial, limit Snipping Tool capture and audio, rehearse revealing dialogs, and inspect the saved video before sharing it.
Software & work
Remove an application and check what remains
Uninstall an app on Windows 11, preserve useful files, inspect leftover startup entries, and compare disk space without blindly deleting shared folders.
Software & work
Install software without accepting bundled extras
Check Windows 11 installers for optional offers, distinguish extras from required components, and remove unwanted apps while verifying what changed.
Software & work
Write useful alternative text for images in documents
Write image descriptions that carry the right message, add them in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, and give charts a readable text equivalent.
Software & work
Convert HEIC photos without losing the originals
Keep untouched HEIC originals while exporting JPEG copies on Mac. Use Preview or Photos, check quality and metadata, and recover safely from a bad conversion.
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