Save and close multiple documents simultaneously

When you have numerous Microsoft Word documents open at one time, it isn't necessary to save and close each document individually before exiting Word.

You can save all of the Word documents at once by pressing [Shift] and then going to File | Save All. Word will save all of the changes you made to the open documents at once. The Save As dialog box will display for any files that have not already been named.

You can close multiple documents in one fell swoop by pressing [Shift] and then going to File | Close All. If any of your documents contain unsaved changes, Word will ask you whether you want to save your changes before closing the particular file.

Microsoft Excel

If you have two or more Microsoft Excel worksheets that are identical to each other (except the values are different), you can have Excel's Data Consolidate feature consolidate the worksheets into a summary report.

For example, suppose you have a workbook that consists of two worksheets. One worksheet has your students' names in A1:A20 and their corresponding midterm grades in B1:B20. The second worksheet lists the students' names in column A and their final grades in column B.

To create a worksheet listing the students' average grade, follow these steps:

1. Create a new worksheet and click A1.
2. Go to Data | Consolidate.
3. Select Average from the Function drop-down list.
4. Click the Collapse dialog button.
5. Select A1:B20 in Midterm Grades Sheet.
6. Click the Collapse dialog button and click Add.
7. Click the Collapse dialog button and Select A1:B20 in Final Grades Sheet.
8. Click the Collapse dialog button and click Add.
9. Under Use Labels In: select the Left Column check box. Click OK.

The students' average grades are now listed in the new worksheet.

Microsoft Access

Not all Microsoft Access forms are made for data entry. Some forms are made for data search and analysis, which can contain features such as option groups, check boxes, and combo boxes.

Forms made for quick data entry of large volumes of records should be built without such controls. Rather, they should consist of a simple top-to-bottom layout, with all of the controls lined up in a single column.

To create a simple data entry form, follow these steps:

1. In the Database Window, select the table for data entry.
2. Click the New Object tool in the Database toolbar.
3. Select Form, select Design View, and click OK.
4. Double-click the Field list button in the Database toolbar.
5. Press [Ctrl] and select the fields to be added to the form.
6. Click and drag the selected fields to the form.

Be sure to set the form's Cycle property to All Records so that tabbing out of the last field takes the user immediately to a new record.