S Stands for SAVE those * Favorite * Websites you love to visit (like mine! )!

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser has a folder labeled * Favorites * (middle, top of screen) in which you can save/add your favorite websites you like to visit often. Saving your favorites here can minimize searching time, typing time, and old, *I wonder where that website is? * time.

Other browsers have a similar feature but might be called something like * bookmarks * in Netscape or have a red heart on a folder, as in AOL. Look around or use your Help function to locate and how to use your browsers * favorites *.

In meantime, those using Explorer, here are some how-to’s and tips for saving, adding, and organizing your favorite websites.

Explorer automatically provides you with * common * folders in which you can save/add your favorite websites to BUT did you know you can create your own folders, name them how you will remember them and STILL save/add your favorites to them?

It’s easy and FUN! Before we get started on creating your folders, stop and think AND stop and look at what you have already added to your favorites in each * common * folder.

My example is with * common * folder labeled Lifestyles. I was starting to add various websites to this folder and soon I had such a long list of different types of lifestyles websites, it was getting difficult to locate a site I wanted to visit on my list. I also noticed that many of websites were common to each other, such as websites on Feng Shui, ones on health, ones on children, ones on seniors, you get idea…

TIP: If you haven’t added any websites to your Lifestyles folder, please use a folder in you favorites that you have added websites to for this exercise.

First, open up your Favorites folder by clicking on Favorites at top of your screen. You will see a list of * common * folders and hopefully one labeled Lifestyles. Click on Lifestyles folder. See long list of websites (pretend or open another folder please). As I mentioned before, look for websites that have something in common with each other and decide what NEW folder name you would like to store those websites into.

S stands for SAVE

Do you save everything on your hard drive?

Do you know how to save/file your computer documents properly, efficiently, and effectively?

Do you have a hard time locating documents after you’ve saved/filed them?

Most likely whenever you *create * something on your computer you’ll want to save it.

So before * SAVING * anything, ask yourself following questions:

WHO needs it? WHAT use is it? WHEN will I use it? WHERE will I find it? WHY do I want or need it? HOW long do I need to *SAVE * it?

Just like your * paper * files, you should save/file your computer documents into folders. Your folders on your computer SHOULD mirror your * paper * file folders, thus causing less names to remember, and less confusion on where you saved/filed something.

Microsoft automatically sets up a folder for you titled * MY DOCUMENTS * where you can save/file your documents. It isn’t very efficient if you save/file ALL your documents in this folder UNLESS you create YOUR own folders within * MY DOCUMENTS * folder.

Look at it this way; say you have a file drawer where you keep all your * paper * files and you call drawer * MY DOCUMENTS *. If you open drawer and have no folders, subfolders, or systems in place, how on earth are you going to locate document you need? You stand there staring at a drawer full of documents, scratching your head wondering if you can locate document before lunch! How will you know where to put NEW document you just created or received that you MUST keep?

HOW TO CREATE NEW FOLDERS

~~ Click Start (Usually located on left bottom of your screen) ~~ Place Pointer on Programs ~~ Place Pointer on Windows Explorer and Click

You have now entered/opened your electronic file cabinet. Here you can "see" every document, file, and program that is on your computer.

We're going to create subfolders (or interior folders) in MY DOCUMENTS folder... not really mine but yours:-)

~~ Locate and move POINTER to MY DOCUMENTS ~~ Double Click on MY DOCUMENTS

You will be presented with a list of all folders you have saved/filed in MY DOCUMENTS and/or any folders that you may have already created INSIDE MY DOCUMENTS folder.

Notice MY DOCUMENTS folder is highlighted, which means ANY folders you create during this exercise will be located * INSIDE * MY DOCUMENTS folder.

~~ Move POINTER to File and CLICK ~~ Move POINTER to NEW ~~ Move POINTER to FOLDER and CLICK ~~ Type in name of your new folder and Press Return/Enter

WA LA!! You have a new folder!

To continue making new folders, move your pointer back to MY DOCUMENTS, CLICK to highlight and follow above steps.

You can even create new folders within ones you just made. Why would you do that? Let me give you an example: