Using Zoom During the COVID-19 Outbreak

This is a summary of Zoom posts I have blogged about over the past few weeks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are working from home using Zoom for video/audio conferencing. If you take some time, you can make the video meeting a smooth experience for all participants. The host of the Zoom meeting has the responsiblity to setup and run the meeting. By exploring the following blog posts, you can achieve your goal of hosting a successful meeting, making it easy for the participants to join the video conference and keeping the Zoom troll attacks at a minimum.

This if for a PCs and Macs browsers and smartdevices that support Zoom

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Following are my blog links for a Zoom video/audio meeting:

How to Setup Contacts in Zoom

How to Record a Zoom Meeting

How to Join a Zoom Meeting Without Installing the App

How to Hide and Unhide a Zoom Video

Nine Tips to Stabilize a Zoom Meeting

Testimonials

I love you addressed nearly every frustrating feature change I have! Thanks for sharing and educating me. 

marilyn1998

I was just checking into the zoom meeting stuff. Thanks Raymond.

Debi Holcomb

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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Nine Tips to Stablize a Zoom Meeting

Internet trolls are crashing Zoom video conferences and flooding them with inappropriate content. Here are some ways to stablize your meetings and keep Zoom running smoothly.

This if for a PCs and Macs browsers and smartdevices that support Zoom

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opyright Scott Adams, Inc./Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

1. Close All Running Apps

Before you start your video conference call or join the on-line meeting, save your work and close all running apps. Too many open apps will slow down your computer while you’re on a video call. This is because the call requires a lot of resources, especially if you’re on a lightweight laptop.

2. Check the Speed of Your Browser

Before your call, use a speed test tool, like Fast.com or Speedtest.net, to test your internet speed. If you’re not getting enough speed, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or try some other tips to boost your Wi-Fi signal. You can also use one of these tools to speed up your internet connection. Minimum bandwidth is 600 Kbps (up/down) and recommended is 1.5 Mbps (up/down). You may need to call your internet service provider and/or upgrade your equipment, which would be the best choice, if your equipment does not meet the minimum.

If you run both programs, you will notice a signifance difference in the speed test. This is due to the time of day you run the test, servers they are using and its location. Hopefully, your equipment exceeds the minimum speed for a Zoom meeting.

Below are my results in running Speedtest for Windows (Note that I greatly exceed the minimum):

Zoom Tips Speedtest 2
Results in running SpeedTest on my browser

3. Test Your Audio and Video

You can also launch a test Zoom meeting anytime at zoom.us/test.  This will launch a meeting where you are the only participant (you can invite others).  This option lets you test your audio and video even if you don’t have the Zoom app installed.

See the article Joining A Test Meeting in the Zoom Help Center for more information about using the using the Zoom Test Meeting feature.

4. Mute Yourself When Not Speaking

When you’re in a video meeting with a lot of participants, it’s best to keep yourself muted. Only unmute yourself when you need to speak.

This eliminates any background noise on your end. Also, if anyone walks in the room and starts talking while you’re on a call, you won’t have to rush to find the mute button.

5. Never Use Your Personal Meeting ID

Each Zoom user has a personal meeting ID; think of it as your Zoom phone number. When creating a meeting, you can use your personal ID or generate a random one. You should always generate a random meeting ID.

If your personal meeting ID is leaked to the web, Zoom trolls are free to harass you with calls whenever they please. 

6. Always Use a Meeting Password

For a video meeting other than a large classroom, town hall or lecture meeting, passwords should be turned on. 

Make sure the password is kept safe. Zoom sends meeting passwords out to all invitees when invitations are sent. If you’re worried that someone unwanted may get the password, create the meeting without one set, update the meeting to add a password and send it out to invitees in a separate email or via another form of communication.

7. Set Join the Waiting Room Option

When you enable the waiting room for a Zoom meeting, each user who connects is put in a queue that the meeting host has to approve. If you don’t recognize someone in the waiting room, simply don’t let them in.

To enable this feature, navigate to Settings > In Meeting (Advanced), scroll down till you see the following option and toggle it to the On position. See below image:

Zoom Web Meeting 5
Setting Join Waiting Room option

8. Set Meeting Options

Under Meetings > Schedule a Meeting, set the following options:

  1. Video > Host to On
  2. Video > Participant to Off especially if your participates are using older equipment
  3. Audio set to Both
  4. Meeting Options set Emable waiting room to On. Set Record the meeting automatically on the local computer should only be set to On for the host. You don’t want each particpant to be recording and viewing at the same time. If a participate wants a recording, the host can send the video via email or some other form of communication.
  5. Always Save you changes. Refer to following image:

Zoom Web Meeting 6
Setting other options

9.Turn Off Screen Sharing

Zoom trolls need to be able to visually take over a meeting to be effective. Preventing anyone from sharing their screen aside from the meeting host stops them from being able to go on the attack.

Under Settings > In Meeting (Basic), scroll down till you see the Show Zoom windows during screen share and set the following options:

  1. Screen sharing, toggle to On
  2. Who can share, toggle Host Only to On
  3. Who can share when someone else is sharing, toggle Host Only to On
  4. Always Save your changes. Refer to below image:

Zoom Meeting 7A
Setting screen share option

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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How to Pin a Website to Windows 10 Taskbar or Start Menu

This post will show you how to allow easy access to your favorite websites. We will discuss adding a desktop shortcut for any website to your Windows 10 Taskbar or Start Menu.

This is for Windows 10 devices

Using Google Chrome

  • Navigate to the website you want to pin
  • Click the Menu icon (the one with the 3 dots) in upper right hand corner
  • Hover your mouse over More Tools
  • Click Create Shortcut
  • In the popup menu, change the name of the shortcut, if desired
  • Click Create. See below image:
Win 10 Pin 1
Creating Desktop shortcut for pinning

This will create a desktop shortcut. Refer to below image for my techsavve.life shortcut at the bottom:

Win 10 Pin 2

If you select the option Open in window, Chrome will open the page in its own window.

  • Right click on the shortcut and either click Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. Once you have pinned the website for one or both ways, you can delete the desktop shortcut.

Using the new Microsoft Edge

The new Microsoft Chromium based browser works similar to Google Chrome. Yes, Microsoft has embraced the Chrome browser, even the version number is the same.

  • Navigate to the website you want to pin
  • Click the Settings and more icon (the one with the 3 dots) in upper right hand corner
  • Hover your mouse over More Tools
  • Click Pin to taskbar

The new Edge has a new feature called Launch taskbar pinning wizard. It is located just below Pin to taskbar in the menu dialog box.

  • Click the wizard. Edge will guide you through a short menu that lets you pin the most popular websites and Microsoft web apps to your taskbar. See below image for the first of the three screen wizard:
Win 10 Pin 3
The Pin to to the taskbar wizard, one of three screens

Note! The new Edge does not have the feature Pin to Start

The Classic Edge

The classic version of Edge came with the original version of Windows 10. If you have yet to update to the new Edge, then use the following for pinning:

To pin the website to the Taskbar:

  • Navigate to the website you want to pin
  • Click the Menu icon (the one with the 3 dots) in upper right hand corner
  • Click Pin this page to the taskbar

To pin the website to the Start menu:

  • Navigate to the website you want to pin
  • Click the Menu icon (the one with the 3 dots) in upper right hand corner
  • Hover your mouse over More Tools
  • Click Pin this page to Start

You can now delete any created desktop shortcut(s).

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help me out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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How to Hide and Unhide a Zoom Video

If you don’t want to see your own face during a Zoom video meeting, here’s how to hide, unhide and tweak your video settings.

A lot of us used to working in offices have found ourselves working at home due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus and that means a lot of virtual meetings. Users new to Zoom’s desktop app may find it a bit odd when their face appears while speaking. If you want to hide your own video, adjust it so you don’t take over the screen or bring it back once it’s hidden, then this post is for you.

There are several options for hiding and unhiding videos during a Zoom meeting, both for yourself and other. Lets get started.

This if for a PC, Macs, iPhone/iPad and Android devices that support Zoom

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Accessing Zoom Settings

First, fire up Zoom and join an active meeting. Then click on your small profile photo in upper right-hand corner. This will open up the dialog options window. From here, click on the Settings option. See below image:

Zoom Video 1
Accessomg the Settings option

The Video Settings

Once you click on the Settings option, the Settings dialog window will be revealed. Now, click on the Video tab. The below image only shows some of the settings.

Note! The black area on the below screens would show your online video image.

Zoom Video 2
The Video tab part one

The Video tab has numerous options for configuring video in meetings that will change the way Zoom handles all videos in a meeting. The below image shows the rest of the settings.

Zoom Video 3
The Video tab part two

Hide/Unhide a Video

During a meeting, if you wish to hide your video from your own screen to make room for other participants, just right-click on your video and choose Hide Myself. If you want to bring your own video back onto your screen, just right-click on any other user and select Show Myself.

Note! This won’t disable your video from showing up for other participants; only from from your screen.

To disable your own video completely, you can select the checkbox in the Video Settings screen shown above that says Turn off my video when joining a meeting to disable it, or click the Stop Video button in a meeting to temporary turn it off for the video session.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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How to Join a Zoom Meeting Without Installing the App

There is a way to have a Zoom web client meeting without the participates having to install the Zoom app. We are going to learn how to enable this option to make digital meetings even easier.

Zoom’s web client based system has many of the same features as the desktop app, but for users only needing to join meetings as participants it’s very useful. All a attendee has to do is click on the meeting invite link from the host and the web client will do the rest of the work.

There is a sticky problem in doing this type of meeting. The participtes joining a meeting without the app is not enabled by default. The host needs to turn this default on.

If you want your meeting attendees to be able to use the Zoom web client based system, you’ll have to start by logging into your Zoom account on Zoom’s website.

Note! We are NOT using the Zoom app; rather the Zoom web site program.

This if for a PCs and Macs browsers and smartdevices that support Zoom

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Sign in or Sign up to Zoom

Open your browser and click here to sign in or sign up for Zoom. If the link does not work, with your browser open, type in https://zoom.us/signin in the search field. You will see the following screen for sign in or sign up. For my example, I have already signed up.

Zoom Web Meeting A
Sign in to Zoom web based client program

Once you’ve logged in, you should see your Profile screen:

Zoom Web Meeting B
Your Profile screen

Access the Settings Menu

Click on the Settings menu option. Refer to below image:

Zoom Web Meeting 1
Accessing the Setttings

Now, click on In Meeting (Advanced) menu option. Refer to below screen:

Zoom Web Meeting 2
Chosing the In Meeting settings option

Join Using Your Browser

Then scroll down until you see the following screen displayed. Look for the option labeled Show a “Join From Your Browser” link.

Zoom Web Meeting 3
The Join a Meeting option

Now click the toggle switch to the On position. See below image:

Zoom Web Meeting 4
Enabling Join a Meeting option

Schedule a Meeting

If you want to schedule a meeting at this time, click on the link SCHEDULE MEETING in the top menu bar. If you perfer to schedule a meeting later, you may want to set the following options as displayed on the next three screens. Refer to following image:

Zoom Web Meeting 5
Selecting Schedule a Meeting option

Options for Scheduling a Meeting

There are two options you may want to enable. Select Schedule A Meeting>Meetings>My Meetings and scroll down till you see the option Video>Host which allows you to record a video of the meeting. Also, at the bottom, checkmark the option Record the meeting automatically on the local computer. You have the option to let the parcipates also record the meeting as well. It is recommended not to enable this option in order to save bandwidth during the on-line meeting. See following image:

Zoom Web Meeting 6
Two Options to enable

Additionally, under the In Meeting (Basic) menu option, you can turn on a sound when particpates either join or leave a meeting by enabling the Play sound when participates join or leave toggle. See below image:

Zoom Web Meeting 7
The Sound option to enable

Invitation to Join a Meeting

When a meeting attendee clicks on your invitation link to join a meeting they’ll have the option to download and install Zoom or Start From Your Browser. Tell your attendees to select the latter option, install the plugin for your browser and follow the on-screen instructions. Refer to below image:

Zoom Web Meeting 8
The participate invitation to Join a Meeting screen

There are fewer options, buttons and clicks required to join a meeting using the web client based Zoom, so hopefully it will eliminate some of the confusion that comes with using Zoom. Remember you are using your web browser to join a Zoom meeting, NOT the Zoom app on a smartdevice or the Zoom program on a PC or Mac.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath

How to Format a Zip Code in Microsoft Excel

When entering numbers into Microsoft Excel, leading zeros are removed by default. This can be problematic for ZIP codes, phone numbers, credit/debit card numbers and IDs that you type into a cell. We are going to explore some options on fixing this Excel behavior.

If you want to keep a leading zero on the fly, you can enter an apostrophe (‘) before you enter the number that begins with zero. Excel treats the number as a text field. The apostrophe (‘) is not displayed and calculations will still work. But who wants to do this every time, there has to be a better way.

This is for Excel for Office 365 Windows and Mac versions. Other versions of Excel will be similar.

Create the Excel Sheet

Create a simple Excel sheet like the example below:

Zip Code Format 1
Excel Sheet for Zip Codes

Setup the Zip Code Format

  • Select a cell or range of cells to format; in my case G2 thru G6
  • Click “Ctrl+1” to load Format Cells dialog. Also, you can right click and select Format Cells.
  • Select the Number tab
  • Select Custom from the Category list
  • In the Type box, type in 00000 for a five digit zip code or 00000-0000 for a nine digit zip code. This allows leading zeros to be placed in the cell, you only have to enter the Zip code numbers. This is not intuitive, you think you have to select a format from the list. Refer to the following image:
Zip Code Format 3
Setup Excel Sheet format

Using the Special Zip Code Format

You can also click Special, then select Zip Code or Zip Code + 4. In Google Sheets, this special Zip code format is not available, but you can enter the format of leading zeros. See the following example:

Zip Code Format 2
Excel Special Zip Code format
  • Click OK to apply the format. The 00000 or 00000-0000 format is saved in the Type list for future use.

This will only effect Zip Codes that are entered after the format is applied.

You can also format the Zip Code as Plain Text. Anything you enter will show exactly how you typed it in text.

To do this:

  • Select your data range
  • Press “Ctrl+1” to launch the Format Cells dialog box
  • On the Number tab, click Text

What about Zip Codes entries that have more than 5 digits? We can use a Conditional Format in an adjacent column to flag the invalid Zip codes. I used the formula; if the length (cell reference)>5 is True then present an “Invalid Zip” message, if the expression is False, then no message is presented.

Flagging Invalid Zip Codes

  • Create a column adjacent to the Zip Code and label it Error Message
  • Set the Conditional Format for the first cell adjacent to the Zip Code. In my example, it is cell G2
  • Type in this formula, =IF (LEN(your cell reference)>5,”Invalid Zip”,””)
  • Copy this formula, then highlight a range of cells, then Paste

See the following image for the Invalid Zip message related to cell G2 and G6, both have more than 5 numbers. An important note, Excel lets you enter as many digits as allowed, there is no truncation. The template of 00000 formatting is for adding leading zeros if the number of digits is less than 5.

Zip Code Format 5
Flagging Invalid Zip Codes screen

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath

How to Reset Your Windows 10 PIN

If you forget your Windows 10 login PIN, you won’t be able to retrieve it. However, you can change it. If you don’t use a PIN, normally you would signin using a Password. There are other signin options, but the PIN and Password are the most commonuly used.

Using the PIN makes it much easier and faster to login. Before resetting you PIN, I advise you to create a Password Reset Disk.

I was using the guidelines in this post to reset my PIN. I canceled out of the process. That prompted Windows 10 to delete my PIN. I attempted to login with my PIN, but it was gone. Then, I tried using my Password, but I had the wrong Password. After spending an hour or so trying to login and reading help guidelines on my iPhone, I finally entered the correct Password and got past the Windows 10 login screen. In resetting your PIN, DO NOT CANCEL the process.

Even though this post is about resetting your PIN, you should create a Password Reset Disk to avoid the above nightmare.

Windows has a built-in application called Forgotten Password Wizard. This Password recovery tool is what you would use to create your Password reset disk.

This is for Windows 10 devices. To follow this blog post, you will need your Microsoft account Password and Windows 10 login Password.

Creating a Password Reset Disk

  • In the Cortona search box, type in Control Panel
  • Open the Control Panel
  • Click User Accounts
  • Click User Accounts. Refer to below image:
Win 10 Password Reset 1
The Settings User Accounts screen
  • Insert a flash drive
  • Click the link Create a password reset disk. This will open the Forgotten Password Wizard. See below image:
Win Password Reset 2
Starting the Forgotten Password Wizard
  • To start, click Next. The wizard will walk you through the process. You will be asked to select the flash drive from a drop down menu where you want to store the reset disk. Click Next to proceed.
  • Then you will be asked to enter your current Windows Password. Enter your Password and click Next. See following image:
Win Password Reset 3
Entering your current Windows Password
  • You will be presented with a progress bar; once it reaches 100%, click Next, then click Finish. Refer to below image:
Win Password Reset 4
Finishing the Forgotten Password Wizard

At this point, you can check for a file called userkey.psw on your designated flash drive. See below image:

Win Password Reset 5
Locating your new Password Reset file

You can now remove the flash drive, label it and store in a safe place.

Using the Password Reset Disk

The next time you are locked out of your PC, plug in your USB flash drive and click Reset Password link. You may have to attempt your login a few times before you see the link. Select your disk from the drop down menu and click Next. You will be prompted to type your new Password and a Password hint. When you are done, click Finish.

You should now be able to sign into Windows with your new Password.

Reseting Your Windows 10 PIN When Not Signed In

This assumes you already have a PIN for your Windows 10 login. If not, refer to the section below about adding a PIN. Its best to change your PIN while you are logged on. If you are locked out of your PC and you have a PIN, you should see I Forgot My PIN link on the login screen. If so, click the link. You will be asked to enter your Microsoft account Password and how to send a new code. Once you have the code, input it and click Verify. Enter your new PIN twice and now you can use the new PIN when logging into your device.

Resetting Your Windows 10 PIN When Signed In

  • Click the Start button
  • Click the Settings tile (the one with the gear icon)
  • Click Accounts
  • Click Sign-in options. Refer to below screen:
Win 10 Login Pin 1
The User Accounts sign=in options screen
  • Click Windows Hello PIN. See following image:
Win Login Pin 2
The Windows Hello PIN screen
  • Click I forgot my PIN link

You will be presented with an Are You Sure screen. Please read the info about resetting you PIN. If you are sure about doing this, click Continue. Refer to following image:

Win Login Pin 3
Are you sure you want to do this screen

At this point, DO NOT CANCEL the process. Next, you will be asked to enter your Microsoft account Password. Enter your Password and click Sign in. See following image:

Win Login Pin 4
Entering your Microsoft account Password

Now you will be asked to enter your new PIN twice. then click OK. Refer to below image:

Win Login Pin 5
Verifying your new PIN

You now have successfully changed your PIN. Simply use it the next time you login into Windows 10 on your device.

Adding a Windows 10 PIN When Signed In

Remember my nightmare story about losing my PIN. I finally got back into Windows through my Password. Adding a PIN is similar to resetting your PIN while signed in. Follow the steps preceeding the first screenshot above, then:

  • Click Windows Hello PIN. See following image:
Win Login Pin 6
The Windows Hello Pin screen
  • Click the Add button
  • Enter your Windows 10 login Password and click OK. Refer to below image:
Win Login Pin 7
Entering your Windows Password

Now you will be asked to enter your new PIN twice. then click OK. See following image:

Win Login Pin 8
Verify your new PIN

You now have successfully added a PIN. Simply use it the next time you login into Windows 10 on your device.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath

How to Switch to the New Facebook Interface

Facebook’s new website interface change is not well known. At some point, it will probably be the new standard. The interface is getting a visual overhaul that almost everyone can access. You can now update to this brand new, less cluttered design with the click of a button. If you don’t like the change, you can easily switch back to the classic interface.

This if for a desktop/laptop, Macs and smartphones supporting Facebook

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Enabling the New Interface

Note! This post relates to a PC, other devices will be similar. If you don’t see the new Facebook option then Facebook has yet to rollout the change to your device.

Fire up your device and log in to your Facebook account.

Next, click on the down arrow in the top-right corner of the interface. Select the Switch To New Facebook option. The page will refresh and the new interface design will load. Refer to below image:

Facebook New 1
Switch to the new Facebook option

A welcome message will appear the first time that you switch to the new Facebook design. Facebook claims that the redesign has faster loading time, cleaner look and bigger text. Additionally, Facebook now includes a dark mode that you can enable whenever you want.

Additionally, this update comes with a user-friendly redesign of the Groups tab and an overhaul of the News Feed. See below image:

Facebook New 2
The Welcome message for the new interface

Simply click the Next button. You will see the following image allowing you to select how yout interface will look.

Facebook New 3
Selecting your interface look

Just click the Get Started button. That’s it, you are all set with the new desktop interface. If you aren’t a fan of the Dark mode, you can switch back to Light whenever you like.

Switching Back to the Classic Interface

Once you’ve enabled the new interface, you can always revert the change from your Facebook account’s front page. Just click on the down arrow in the top-right and then select Switch To Classic Facebook. See following image:

Facebook New 4
Reverting back to the Classic interface

At some point in the future, Facebook may decide to roll out the new design permentally for all platforms. If so, reverting back to the classic interface will no longer be an option.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath

How to Record a Zoom Meeting

Why take notes during a Zoom meeting when you can refer back to a recording of the entire call? Here’s how to record a Zoom meeting, whether you’re the host or not.

Important meetings need good records, and anyone who has taken notes knows that some details can be missed. The best way to preserve a record of a meeting is to have a video recording.

 That goes doubly for remote meetings, where distractions, tech issues and other problems can lead to you missing out on essential information.

If you are using an Enterprise account to host a meeting, you may not be able to record a Zoom meeting unless your IT team has given you permission. Be sure to check with your administrator before the meeting to grant you access if you don’t have it.

If using a PC or Mac, be sure your computer has a microphone and/or camera to use Zoom to its fullest. You may also use your smartphone to record the meeting.

This if for a PC, Macs, iPhone/iPad and Android devices that support Zoom

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Accessing Zoom Settings

First, fire up Zoom and join an active meeting. Then click on your small profile photo in upper right-hand corner. This will open up the dialog options window. See below image:

Zoom Record 1
Zoom dialog Options window

Recording a Zoom Meeting

Next, click on the Settings option. The Settings options will be displayed. The Record video during screen sharing option should be checkmarked. Also, at the top of the screen is the location where your video will be stored upon completion. This folder was created when you installed Zoom. Refer to below image:

Zoom Record 2
Settings options for recording a video

By default, only the meeting host can record the meeting, but it’s easy to grant other participants the ability to do so. The meeting host can do so by clicking on Participants while in a meeting, looking for the More button next to an individual’s name and selecting Allow Record

Once in a meeting, those wanting to record only need to click the Record button to start capture, at which point the Record button will change into two buttons: One to Pause the recording and one to Stop recording.

When you’re done recording video, Zoom stores it temporarily in the location mentioned above. The video is encoded into MP4 format once the meeting has ended.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath

How to Add an Excel Watermark to Your Sheet

In Microsoft Excel, you can add a watermark, sort of, to an Excel sheet. How to do this is not intuitive. In Microsoft Word you have templates to chose from such as “Confidential” or “Do Not Copy” for a watermark.

I am going to discuss one method; adding an image background as a watermark. We are going to insert an image which could be a photo or a company logo. Let’s see how to implement this watermark.

This is for Excel for Office 365 Windows and Mac versions. Other versions of Excel will be similar.

Your Excel Sheet

  • Create an Excel spreadsheet or use an existing one. Refer to my newly created sheet (Sheet1) below:
Excel Watermark 1
My Excel sheet
  • Click Insert>Text>Header & Footer
xcel Watermark 3
Inserting a Header in the middle column
  • Select Picture

Select Your Watermark

Select your option for inserting a picture. Refer to following screenshot

Excel Watermark 4
Options for selecting a watermark image
  • Select your image
  • Click Insert
  • You will see &[Picture] in the Header.
Excel Watermark 5
Your Header screen without the watermark being shown

View Your Watermark

  • Tap anywhere outside the Header to see your watermark. Refer to following screenshot for my selection of a logo:
Excel Watermark 8
My Excel sheet with a logo as a watermark

Formatting Your Watermark

To format the image:

  • Tap anywhere outside the Header
  • Click Insert>Text>Header & Footer
  • Select Format Picture. You will see the following screen:
Excel Watermark 9
Resize your watermark

From here you can resize the image

  • Click the Picture tab
  • Select the Color box and change it to the Washout option
  • Click OK. This allows the background image to be less intrusive.
Excel Watermark 10
Using the Washout option

Refer below to my final capture of the watermark screen:

Excel Watermark 11
My final screen with the watermark background dimmed in order to see the cells contents
  • Save your spreadsheet and close or exit Excel

For a Microsoft Word look-a-like watermark, use the WordArt feature in Excel.

I Would Like to Hear from You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help me out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath