Write the Right Word
Windows Vista and Office 2007 Update
Technology Training E-mails & Microsoft Online Training
Usage Guidelines for NDSU Logo
Put Events on the Electronic Calendar
Write the Right Word
Punctuation helps make written thoughts clear. Incorrect punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Too much or too little punctuation can make sentences so jumbled the reader gives up.
Ellipses are a good example of the old adage that less is better. An ellipsis indicates some words have been left out of the text or a quote. Think of what´s been left out as a three-letter word. That will help you remember all you need are three periods with a space before and after them.
Here are some examples: "I tried ... to catch all the spelling errors."
"Students who want to take a course that´s already filled should put their name on the waiting list. ... Those students will be accommodated first."
"Ask the participants in your food safety workshop to complete this
sentence: You should wash your hands with warm water and soap for ... ."
Note the period after the word "list" and after the ellipses following "for" to indicate the end of the sentences.
The comma is another punctuation mark that shouldn´t be used indiscriminately. But it is necessary in some instances. For example, place them around state names when they follow city names. "He grew up in Moorhead, Minn., and graduated from NDSU."
Commas also are absolutely essential when mentioning a person´s spouse and using the spouse´s name. "John Jones and his wife, Mary, attended the play opening night." Presumably, John Jones has only one wife. If the phrase read "and his wife Mary" that would indicate he has more than one wife, but Mary was the one he took to the play.
Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
Windows Vista and Office 2007 Update
Windows XP Professional will be the operating system on all new computers at least through the end of this year since several site license software programs still do not support Windows Vista. Windows XP and Windows 2000 are the current supported operating systems within the NDSU system.
MS Office 2007 is being installed on new computer purchases and works fine on Windows XP. We will have more announcements as they become available.
See http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/it/index.htm for the up-to-date NDSU Agriculture and University Extension software and hardware baselines.
Jon Fry, (701) 231-7934, jon.fry@ndsu.edu
Technology Training E-mails & Microsoft Online Training
Want to know how to print labels or draw a horizontal line in Word, or have Excel print the full pathname and/or filename on your document? These are just three of the tips in recent issues of Training News from Lorna Olsen, ITS technology trainer.
Check out http://listserv.nodak.edu/archives/its-training.html to search the archives for other tried and true tips or to join the e-mail list to receive Lorna's tips about twice a month.
The ITS technology trainers recommend Microsoft's self-paced training courses at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/FX100565001033.aspx. These online courses are specific to certain topics to meet your needs and usually take about 30 minutes each to complete.
Usage Guidelines for NDSU Logo
University Relations has posted guidelines for NDSU logo use at http://vpur.ndsu.edu/ndsu_logo_usage/. Note that the NDSU is a graphic, not simply typed letters. Downloadable options for the graphic are on the Web page.
Don't use the old NDSU letters in a circle or the old snorting bison. The NDSU seal is to be used only by the President's office. The new bison logos are the property of the Athletics department and may be used only with their permission.
Downloadable options for the Ag Experiment Station and Extension logos are available at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/.
Please use all these logos appropriately and widely to market NDSU.
Put Events on the Electronic Calendar
Please put any events that affect more than just your office or a couple staff on the Ag and University Extension calendar. This is important to share information and to avoid conflicts.
Go to the Ag Info Center -- Ag's password-protected Intranet -- at http://info.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu. Login with your @ndsuext.nodak.edu username and password, not your @ndsu.edu username and password.
Click on Calendar in the upper left and follow the simple instructions for Create a New Calendar Entry. The person who entered the event can go in and edit at any time. Be sure to include a local contact somewhere in the entry.
The Ag Info Center will continue to require the username and password that correspond with your @ndsuext.nodak.edu, so afraid you'll continue to need two sets until we can work with ITS to figure out how to get them coordinated.
Becky Koch, (701) 231-7875, becky.koch@ndsu.edu
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
