Senior Spectrum
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Sept 2008
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Computer Savvy
Lists
We don't pay much attention to the fact that our lives are made of “Lists”: a Christmas card list, phone directory, to-do lists, and in our computer we have bookmarks, favorites, e-mails address book … the list of lists goes on and on.
With everything that goes on in our busy lives, we've come to depend on those lists as a way of remembering things, and also they save us time by having the information we need at our fingertips. Here are two suggestions for computer lists that could help you.
Computer Software
Just about everyone has purchased some sort of software, a graphics program, word processing, data base, or whatever. Some software requires us to register it with the manufacture, other software has a life span and we need to update it every year. I've created an Access data base that contains the following information:
Title: name of the program, like Acrobat - Upgrade
Serial Number: This is the registration number if there is one.
Version: Good to know if you want to stay current.
Manufacturer:
Date Purchased:
Cost:
Category: I assign programs categories like, Utility, Graphic, Communication, Office, and so on. Renew Date: If there is one. I also have a check box to show which of my 4 computers the software is loaded on, and one to show whether it is Licensed or Freeware.
User Names & Passwords I don't know about you, but I am registered with software companies, banks, on-line stores, and web services and there is no way in the world I can remember all the different usernames and passwords. Especially, since I seldom use the same password for two different accounts, because of security reasons.
For this list I choose to use Excel rather than Access. There are fewer fields here and it gives me everything I need at a glance.
Type: Personal, Business, Wife's accounts.
Name: Who the record is for.
User Name:
Password:
Comments: Here I list extra information such as a security question, account number, or whatever I need to have on file.
By having the list of Usernames and Passwords, I never need to click on the link that states:”forget your password?” Over the years, that has saved me a lot of time and aggravation.
Creating Lists
I have many lists stored in my computer which have been growing over the past 25+ years. Since most lists are accumulations of similar items I prefer to use Access, a data base program. For others I use Excell. It really doesn't matter what you use, even Word, or Notepad can work. It all comes down to the software you have and what you feel comfortable using. There is another benefit of having lists stored in the computer - insurance. If you have lists of your personal belongings and their value, it gives you and your insurance agent a basis to know if you have enough insurance in the event of a major catastrophe.
Of course it's always a good idea to keep your lists current, “backed-up” and a dated copy stored somewhere safe away from home … just in case.
(Paul M. Van Dort is the owner of PM Photo & Computer Services. You can contact him at Paul@pmphoto.us or visit his Web site at www.pmphoto.us)