Office 2007 Update
PowerPoint Design Tip #1: Create a Master Style
Write the Right Word
Technology Tidbits
Notes from Ag Communcation
New Publications in the Distribution Center
Office 2007 Update
Word, Excel and Powerpoint 2007 use new file extensions when the default Office 2007 settings are retained. All new computers are getting Office 2007 installed, and most should have the Save As settings changed to the older file extensions.
If you have Office 2007 on your computer, here is a simple way to make sure you are compatible with the older Office versions.
1. Open Word 2007 and left click on the round Office button in the
upper left corner.
2. Click on Word Options at the bottom of the window.
3. Click on the word Save in the left window
4. Change the setting in the Save files in this format box to "Word
97-2003 Document (*.doc)."
5. Click OK at the bottom of the window.
Now do the same for Excel. Open the program and left click on the round Office button in the upper left corner and click on Excel Options at the bottom of the window. Click on the word Save and change the setting in the Save files in this format box to "Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls)." Then click OK at the bottom of the window.
For PowerPoint, do the same thing. Open the program and left click on the round Office button in the upper left corner and click on PowerPoint Options at the bottom of the window. Now click on the word Save in the left column and changed the settings in the Save files in this format box to "PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003." Click the OK at the bottom of the window, and you are finished with the compatibility setting for all three Office products.
For computers with Office XP or 2003, Microsoft has a compatibility pack that will allow the older Office products to open and save the new Office
2007 file format. This compatibility pack can be downloaded by any NDSU employee using your @ndsu.edu e-mail username and password at:
https://its.ndsu.edu/software_downloads/
Once logged in, go to Windows Software and download and the install Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack.
For a quick start guide, FAQs, links to online lessons and more about Office 2007, see http://its.ndsu.edu/training_resources/office_2007_information/.
If you have problems with any of these instructions, call the NDSU Help Desk at (701) 231- 8685, Option 1.
Jon Fry, (701) 231-7934, jon.fry@ndsu.edu
PowerPoint Design Tip #1: Create a Master Style First in a Series of PowerPoint Tips
* Use templates for a consistent look throughout your presentation.
Consistent colors, fonts and graphic style will add to the overall impact
of your message.
* Choose a master style appropriate for your image, your audience and
your objective. Not sure what color will appeal to your audience? A blue
background is a good choice for all audiences.
* Customize your template by adding logos and elements to be used on
all visuals.
* High contrast improves legibility. Use light type and artwork on a dark
background for projected images.
* Simple is always better.
PowerPoint templates are available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ext- emp/emp-ppt.htm. (NDSU Athletics has given approval for use of the bison logo for this purpose.)
Questions about designing for PowerPoint? Contact Deb Tanner at (701) 231-7891, deb.tanner@ndsu.edu , or John Grindahl at (701) 231-7898, john.grindahl@ndsu.edu.
Write the Right Word
Are you confused about when to use "among," "between," "that" and "who"?
Here are a few tips that should help you remember which to use.
First, "among" and "between" are not interchangeable. "Between" usually describes the relationship of two people or things. I stood between Jeff and Sue.Diners chose between steak and chicken for their banquet meal. We hope the enrollment increase will be between 10 percent and 20 percent.
A note on using "between" with a range of figures: Do not use "to" to separate the numbers. If you want to use "to," then substitute "from" for "between." Pay raises ranged from 2 percent to 5 percent.
"Among" indicates the relationship of more than two people or things. The mother divided the morning chores among her three children. The university president walked among the students, shaking hands.
The simple way to remember whether to use "who" or "that" is always use "who" when referring to people or animals with a name. The student who didn´t miss a class all year received a gold star. The car narrowly missed Sparky, who ran into the street after the ball.
Use "that" when talking about inanimate objects and unnamed animals. The producer wanted to know if an insecticide that works well on canola will work on sunflowers as well. The girl asked her mother if she could keep the kitten that followed her home from school.
Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
Technology Tidbits
* All Agriculture and University Extension activities that you want to avoid conflicts with and/or market to co-workers or the public should be on the Ag Information Center calendar. It's simple to enter an activity:
1. Go to http://info.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/
2. Login using your @ndsuext.nodak.edu username and password
3. Click on Calendar in the left column
4. Click on Create a new calendar entry
5. Enter the information
6. Click on Create Event
The tricky part for some people is at the bottom of the form. Click on Show this event on the External Calendar if it's an activity for the public that you want marketed on the Web. Users will see your event when they click on Calendar in the footer of many Agriculture and University Extension Web pages.
If the event is something like an inservice training only open to staff and faculty, do not check Show this event on the External Calendar. Then the event will only appear to those who log in to the Ag Info calendar.
Please review and enter Ag Info calendar items regularly by logging into the Ag Info Center, not just checking the external events link on public Web pages.
By the way, just because the Calendar and other resources are on the same line as For Employees on the Extension home page doesn't mean these resources are only for employees. The News, Publications, Academics, Research, Extension, Calendar, Weather and Directory links are included in the footer approved by the Ag IT Advisory Group that is at the bottom of all Web pages that have been moved to the new server.
* Agriculture and University Extension mailing lists are also in the password- protected Ag Info Center. Since not all these lists are closed (meaning only subscribers can send to the list), the addresses are hidden to reduce spam.
Please use these lists to target your messages as much as possible. E-mail should rarely be sent to all-ag@ndsuext.nodak.edu, all-ext and all-exp.
Instead, target your message to who should actually receive it -- for example, expcampus for campus-based Experiment Station faculty and staff, casup for Extension county and area support staff, or fnp for Family Nutrition Program agents and assistants. These three groups have little in common, but they all receive all-ag messages.
* Ag Communication and Information Technology Services are in the process of switching @ndsuext.nodak.edu majordomo e-mail lists to @listserv.nodak.edu, but the same rule applies regarding targeting messages. Don't worry; the @ndsuext.nodak.edu will be phased out over a long time and will not disappear as soon as the @listserv.nodak.edu addresses are created. Continue using the @ndsuext.nodak.edu e-mail lists until you're notified otherwise.
* Always include a brief description in the subject line of your e-mails. People are more apt to hit delete if there's no subject. And the more specific, the better. For example, I received an e- mail titled "Question." I didn't recognize the name so just about deleted it. But when I realized it was from an @ndsu.edu address, I clicked open. Glad I did since it was an undergraduate who wanted to visit about her career path.
Notes from Ag Communication
John Grindahl will be on annual leave Sept. 17-28, so if you need displays, posters or lamination work then, please contact him ASAP at john.grindahl@ndsu.edu or (701) 231-7898 to get it done.
Agriculture and University Extension staff and faculty should contact the ITS help desk when needed rather than calling a staff person directly. Call (701) 231-8685, Option 1, or e-mail ndsu.helpdesk@ndsu.edu
A $1,500 check was presented to the American Diabetes Association as a result of the Jon Rolie Memorial Golf Tournament. After many years as a press operator, Jon retired from Ag Communication in June 2006 and passed away just months later. Chris Anderson, Dave Dynes, Ken Gartzke, Dave Rice and Agnes Vernon chaired the event. See http://www.qmcsrice.com/rolie/index.html for photos and more.
New Publications in the Distribution Center
AS 130 -- Field Pea Grain for Beef Cattle -- eight-page publication by Vern Anderson, Greg Lardy and Breanne Ilse. The greatest potential use of field pea grain is feed for cattle at different stages of production. This publication covers the use, intake, rumen degradability,and feeding recommendations of field pea grain.
V1343 -- Bovine Trichomoniasis: A Venereal Disease of Cattle -- four-page publication by Charlie Stoltenow and Neil Dyer. North Dakota has not had a reported case of bovine trichomoniasis since the early 1990s, but in recent years, neighboring western states have reported an increased incidence of the disease. Since there is no approved, effective treatment for trichomoniasis in cows or bulls, this publication explains the disease and prevention methods.
PP1265 -- 2004 and 2005 Dry Bean Grower Survey of Pest Problems and Pesticide Use in Minnesota and North Dakota -- 24-page publication by Jan Knodel, Carl Bradley, John Luecke and G.A. Mars. This report uses information from annual surveys of varieties grown, pest problems, pesticide use and grower practices.
FN582 -- Fight Bac! Fight Foodborne Bacteria -- two-page brochure by Julie Garden-Robinson. Four simple steps to food safety -- clean, separate, cook and chill -- are covered.
Duane Berglund has led updates on several publications:
A686 -- Canola Production -- 12 pages by Duane Berglund, Kent McKay and Janet Knodel. Canola has become a popular oilseed crop in North Dakota.
Varieties; planting; fertilizing; weed, insect and disease control; harvest; and marketing management are covered.
A1038 -- Flax Production in North Dakota -- seven pages by Duane Berglund and Rich Zollinger. North Dakota have grown flax since sod first was broken. All aspects of raising flax are covered in this revised publication.
A805 -- Proso Millet in North Dakota-- four pages by Duane Berglund.
Proso millet and foxtail millet are the most common types of millet grown in North Dakota. This publication covers the growing of millet from seeding dates to harvesting, marketing and the final product. It includes performance tables from the Carrington, Williston and Hettinger Research Extension Centers.
A870 -- Safflower Production -- four pages by Duane Berglund, Neil Riveland and Jerald Bergman. Safflower, well-adapted to drier areas of western North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana, provides oil, meal and birdseed. Planting information, fertilizing requirements, weed control, and disease and insect problems are covered as well as harvesting, storage and marketing.
Let's Communicate
Past issues and topics from Let´s Communicate are at www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/letscomm/letscomm.htm. If you have questions or comments, or would like to submit information or make a suggestion for Let´s Communicate, please contact me.
Be sure to include communications costs in your grant proposals. Call for
estimates.
Extension faculty and staff may request operating funds from your program leader
or district director prior to the start of work on a project.
Becky Koch, (701) 231-7875, becky.koch@ndsu.edu
