Can you help? [email protected] 1 - 14 May 2019^71
Word letsyou set automatic backups in its
Save Options
Override Google Docs’ default sharing
settings
Readers’ Helpdesk
Canyouhelpyourfell owreaderswithth eir
computerprob lems?Sendyourquestionsand
answersto [email protected]
SOFTWARE
Create automatic backups in
Microsoft Office
Q
How do I change theway that Excel
and Word save files, so that a backup
is created in a predefined location, such
as anexternal hard drive, whenever I sa ve
my work? I would prefer this methodto
using a backup app, because itwould
ensure that new files are backed up,even
if they are infolders that I have not
configuredfor automatic backup, and the
backupswould still be madeeven if I
move the master files around orkeep
them on a USB memorystick. I’m using
Windows 7 on my vintage 2012 PC, with
Microsoft Office Home andStudent 2010.
Steve Cox, via email
A
There are acouple of methodsfor
automatically creating backups in
olderversions of Microsoft Office–
however, you can’t change their location
because they are saved in the same place
as the original file. Oneway to crea te an
automatic backup isto openyour
document, click File and select Options.
In the pop-up, click Save and you’ll see
there’s an optionto ‘Always crea te
backupcopy’. Tick this box, then click
OK. Alternatively, whenyou chooseto
save a documentfor the first time, File
Explorer shows an option calledTools
next to the Save button. Clicking this
reveals a drop-down menu, so choose
General Options and tick the‘Always
crea te backup’ box.
Steve Clark,FeaturesWriter,Web User
ONLINEOFFICE
Share Google Docsas PDFs
Q
I share a lot of Google Docs with
other people and I’d liketo be ableto
share them as PDFs – in part, so they
can’t be unnecessarily changed.The only
way I’ve found of doing this isto open
the file, thenre-save it as a PDF before
sharing, or elsemy recipient hasto
download andconvert it to PDF after
I send it. Does anyone know if there’s
a quickerway of achieving all this?
NormPaul, via email
A
There is a slightly easierway – or, at
least, a differentway to share Google
Docs as PDFs. Chooseto share the
document, then click ‘Get shareable link’.
Onceyou’ve got the link, paste it int o
Notepad(or any othertext editor,for
that matter).At the end of the link,
there’s a line thatreads
view?usp=sharingor
edit?usp=sharing, depending on the
permissions granted. Delete this and in
its place, typeexport?format=pdf.
Share that link andyour recipients will be
able to see the file as a PDF.
Steve Clark,FeaturesWriter,Web User
A
I read Ask the Expert in Issue 472
(bit.ly/webuser472) with great
interest, especially the bit about
strange files in theRegistry. I had the
same problem and tracked it downto
the software Clover, which adds tabs
to File Explorer and originates in China.
In this case,at least, itwas innocuous.
Peter Anderson, via email
A
In responseto Keith Hodgson’s
email aboutwebsite editors in
Issue472, I personally use the free
editorfor Wix (wix.com ). I lo ve Wix for
the simplicity of creating a site. There
are premium plansfor cus tom domain
names and optionsto set up an online
shop,too.
FlynnFarrow, via email
Identify strange
Registry files
Create your own
website
iOS
Q
The other day, I was tryingto
highlighttext usingmy iPad. My
word – what a nightmare! Itwas
completely inaccurate and Icould
barely select what I needed. Surely
there must be an appfor this, asI
imagine it’s a commoncomplaint. Can
anyone point me in the right direction?
Adam Moretz, via email
READERS RESPOND
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INTERNET
Q
Quick questionfor you all: Ireally
hate navigatingwebsites nowyou
have to co nstantly accept cookies. In
particular, I findweb pages cluttered,
with annoying, immoveable things that
block out half the page or justwon’t
go away. What’s a good fixfor this?
Keep up theexcellent work!
Kirk Marney, via email
CAN YOU HELP? [email protected]. uk