Cut/Copy and Paste are computing essentials, giving you the ability to edit quickly and easily. Because it is such a basic yet important skill, many of you already know the drill. However, many of my readers are still learning the basics, so this is for those of you unsure of your Cut/Copy/Paste skills.

Difference between Cut versus Copy

CUT and paste removes text or objects from the original location to move it elsewhere.
COPY and paste leaves the original in place while you copy it to another location.

There are 5 Methods for Cut/Copy/Paste. We’ll use Microsoft Word 2007 as our program example here, but the keyboard and right-click methods can be used in any program.

1. Keyboard
2. Right-Click
3. Ribbon (toolbar)
4 “Drag ‘N Drop”
5. Quick Access Toolbar can be customized to include Cut/Copy/Paste. (Next to Office Button in upper-left corner of screen, must be customized first)

4 out of the 5 COPY or CUT actions happen in four steps. What varies is the command method.

1. Highlight the text you are copying or moving.
2. Activate COPY or CUT command
3. Place cursor where you want to place the text.
4. Issue PASTE command.

Here are the specifics for each method. Try them to see which one you prefer. Remember to highlight the text first.

1. Keyboard Method: CTRL + C to copy; CTRL + X to cut; CTRL + V to Paste

2. Right-click method: Right-click > Copy or Cut; Right-click > Paste

3. Ribbon Method – on left side of the Home Ribbon
Click Copy button or Cut button (scissors). Click at your destination, then click Paste button (clipboard button at far left of Home Ribbon).

4. Drag-and-drop: Highlight text to copy or move. To move: Point at the highlighted text, use the mouse to “drag” the highlighted area to your destination.
To copy: Hold CTRL key down while you drag

5. Quick Access Toolbar Method
Copy and Paste commands must be added to the toolbar first by clicking on the customize drop-down arrow

Some examples of places to use Cut/Copy/Paste: Email, Internet, Windows, Excel, Photo editing… and much more!

Like knowing the shortcuts?  Our Microsoft Word Shortcuts “Cheat Sheet” is now available. Click here  for more information.

As long as you are setup correctly to do so, it’s easy to print vendor 1099 tax forms from QuickBooks.  There are 4 essential steps leading up to accurate 1099s:  Setting up the vendor as a 1099 vendor (including their tax id), mapping the expense categories related to those vendor expenses, properly paying the vendor using those expense categories, then buying the 1099 tax forms (forms can be purchased from our link to Intuit Forms & Supplies on the QuickBooks training page) and printing the forms through Vendors > Print 1099s…

These are the steps for marking vendors (people or entities you buy products or services from) as 1099 eligible:

1. From the Vendor Center, choose Edit Vendor.
2. On the Address Info tab, make sure:
3.  
   • The vendor’s legal name appears in the First Name, M.I., and Last Name fields.
   • The vendor’s address, city, two-letter state abbreviation, and zip code are complete.
4. Click the Additional Info tab.
5. Enter the vendor’s Tax ID number. If the vendor is a sole proprietor, enter the vendor’s social security number. Otherwise, enter the vendor’s nine-digit tax identification number.
6. Select the “Vendor eligible for 1099” checkbox.
7. Click OK to close the Vendor record.
8. Repeat steps 2-8 for each Vendor that needs a 1099

The additional steps for completing the 1099 process will be covered in a future post.

Any Microsoft product that starts with the word “Windows” is referring to the Microsoft operating system (OS).  The Operating System is the software that makes the computer work.  It is also the “interface” between we humans – and the machine!  Without the operating system, the computer would not work.  Other operating systems (not Windows) include Mac, and Linux.

 Windows 7 is the most current Microsoft OS, and there are several versions, including Home, Business, and Ultimate. If you need a computer for business purposes, the Professional version is recommended.   

 Home Edition is not a “managed” OS, meaning it’s not typically managed by technology professionals. The Professional edition has more tools for a business in an IT-managed environment. Vista Professional is a business- and power-user oriented superset of Home Edition and includes features that may be too complex for the typical home user. One difference is security, which is vastly simplified in Home Edition.

What is Office?

Microsoft Office refers to a bundle of Microsoft computer programs used widely in business, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.  Not all computers come with Microsoft Office – it must be purchased and installed.  What these programs do:

• Word – Word processing – letters, memos, reports.
• Excel – Spreadsheets – financial data, simple data base, number crunching.
• Outlook – Email, calendar, contacts, and organizational program.
• PowerPoint – Presentation software – for creating overhead projection presentations, slideshows, or handouts.