Monthly Archives: August 2009

Using Edit Point Tool on Shapes

With SP2 (Service Pack 2) the Edit Points tool has been updated and become a very useful tool. The Edit Points tool is a simple vector image editor (think Illustrator 1.0). You can create your own custom shapes or modify preset shapes, which is what I am going to show here.

1. Here my sample shape, an arrow with some stylizing applied

2. Select shape >> FORMAT tab >> INSERT SHAPES section >> EDIT SHAPE drop-down menu >> select CONVERT TO FREEFORM

3. Now select shape >> FORMAT tab >> INSERT SHAPES section >> EDIT SHAPE drop-down menu >> select EDIT POINTS

4. Note the bounding box around the shape changes to a series of edit point dots at each intersection

5. By clicking and dragging an adjustment handle the shape is transformed

6. Select on of the edit points and adjustment handles are available

7. After changing the adjustment handles on top of both the left and right edit points I have created a custom arrow

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:00:01-07:00August 10th, 2009|Tutorial|

Vector Images From ShutterStock.com

Just a quick note. For a specific project I have been searching many of the popular royalty free image sites for some needed vector (eg. Illustrator) art that will be used to develop a custom background. I have been really impressed with the image variety, selection and quality from ShutterStock.com.

Guess in the past I have searched for photo images (eg. raster) and this was first time specifically looking at vector art. Here I searched ‘Background’ with ‘Vector Only’ and came up with 3,185 pages of 25 images each – good stuff!

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:00:23-07:00August 8th, 2009|Resource/Misc|

Tools On My QAT

With PPT 2007 we are very limited in how to customize the application. The one customizable “toolbar” is the QAT – Quick Access Toolbar. So here is what I have mine:

1. Save
2. Open Slide Master
3. Subscript
4. Superscript
5. Insert Symbol
6. Align to objects (works with #23-24)
7. Align to Slide (works with #23-24)
8. Text Color
9. Fill Color
10. Line Color
11. Insert Shape
12. Crop
13. Pickup Style
14. Apply Style
15. Format Painter
16. Change Shape
17. Align Left
18. Align Right
19. Align Center
20. Align Top
21. Align Bottom
22. Align Middle
23. Distribute Horizontally
24. Distribute Vertically
25. Bring to Front
26. Send to Back
27. Rotate Left 90′
28. Rotate Right 90′
29. Flip Horizontally
30. Flip Vertically

What do you have on your QAT?

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:00:55-07:00August 6th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

IE8 Compatibility Mode

I like IE8 and it is my default browser. But it, like many new versions of software, does not play nice with some website coding. As example here is www.GEOLadders.com, a website I use to log my mountain bike rides and have some fun seeing my ride in its map overlay view.

The problem is the two red boxes are where some playback controls should be, and were before upgrading.

The solution for this website and many that have display or control issues is the Compatibility View option built in to IE8. The compatibility is only for webpages it is activated for (not global) and is a simple 2 click process to turn on.

Now when I view my course I have the playback controls expected – now if I could just get some more time away from the computer and on the trails….

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:01:12-07:00August 4th, 2009|Software/Add-Ins|

“PowerPoint” is a Verb, Defined as “Any Presentation With ‘Slides'”

The sub-head for this article caught my attention:

The “No PowerPoint” part is what caught my attention. What if I choose to use the Open Office presentation software, Flash, or Mac’s Keynote – would I be allowed to present?

When a product takes over its category it becomes the default name for the category (eg. Scotch Tape, any type of clear tape, or Hot Wheels, any small toy car). And in our case “PowerPoint” has become a default that means any presentation that uses slides/visuals.

Just a thought of the day post.

– Troy @ TLC

By |2016-09-16T10:01:44-07:00August 2nd, 2009|Resource/Misc|
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