New Service Offerings at WEBGIO.com

We just updated our web site with more details around our service offerings at www.webgio.com.  Check it out!

Web Design - http://www.webgio.com/content/services/web_design/

Logo Design - http://www.webgio.com/content/services/logo_design/

Business Identity & Marketing Materials - http://www.webgio.com/content/services/business_identity/

Web Hosting - http://www.webgio.com/content/services/web_hosting/

Business Consulting - http://www.webgio.com/content/services/business_consulting/

Be sure to also check out these pages -

Web Design Portfolio - http://www.webgio.com/content/portfolio/web_design/

Careers & Job Opportunities - http://www.webgio.com/content/careers/

About Us - http://www.webgio.com/content/about_us/

Contact Us - http://www.webgio.com/content/contact_us/

Simple Diagramming and Flow Chart Tool - Open Source and FREE

Before a web site comes to life, tools are used to communicate customer requirements visually between the project manager, web designer, web developer and web content writer. We diagram, process map, and develop wire frames of the future state of the site. These visual tools to help layout web site elements and ensure optimal customer experience.

While Microsoft Visio is our favorite tool of choice for diagramming we wanted to highlight a great free open source alternative called Dia.

* These tools are not limited to our industry and can help your team solve complex problems visually through simple diagramming and flow charts.

Check it out at: http://live.gnome.org/Dia

Public Wi-Fi Isn’t Safe!

Have you heard of FireSheep? Here is a video explaining what it is and why you should protect yourself. For those that have a Mac check out this solution called Cloak.

Microsoft Project - How to Schedule Working Weekends

Several of our clients are using Microsoft Project 2003, 2007, 2010 to manage project schedules. Some of the project activities are on weekends and some aren't on work weekends. By default Microsoft Project doesn't work weekends. There are two ways to allow an activity to work on a weekend in Microsoft Project. In this tip we won't be covering the "Change Working Time" listed under the "Project" tab. This is fairly easy and instead we'll be covering a lesser known tip which allows you to put an "e" in front of your duration label to ensure the activity always works on a weekend no matter which weekend it falls on.

For example when entering a task or activity in Gantt Chart we would normally add "10 d" or "10 days" under the duration column. This skips weekends. To work the weekend just add an "e" in front of your duration type. So in this case we'll add "10 ed" or "10 edays". For weeks you'll add "1 ewk".

Click to enlarge the below visual showing the variance in durations with this simple trick -

Spybot Search & Destroy - Windows 7 Administrator

In Windows 7, Spybot-S&D may require administrator rights with a warning message even though you have an administrator account. Here is the solution -

Step 1 - Go to Start Menu > All Programs > Spybot Search & Destroy Folder
Step 2 - Right click the Spybot - Search & Destroy Program and select "Run as administrator"
Step 3 - Proceed to use application as normal.

Installing and Running Legacy Windows Software on All Versions of Windows 7

Step 1 – Navigate to the executable file of software that will be installed. Right click and select properties.


Step 2 – Click Compatibility tab


Step 3 – Check the box for “Run this program in compatibility mode for: “Windows XP (Service Pack3)


Step 4 – Click Apply Button

Step 5 – Double click the application executable file to install and follow normal installation instructions provided by the vendor. Done.

Photo Organization with Ease - Part 1

Several years back, prior to the web 2.0 movement, many of us were responsible for concocting our own photo galleries. This effort built character and required some crafty coding to simplify and automate, but this was daunting and out of reach for the average user.

Welcome Picasa. Picasa is both a Windows application and a web based application developed by Google. The application simplifies - sharing, editing, searching, organizing, being creative, and host your own web album all for FREE.

Here’s how it works.

Step 1 - Download the latest version of Picasa to your computer by visiting http://picasa.google.com/.

Step 2 - The application will then search your PC cataloging all images and display them in the main gallery by folder.

Step 3 - To import new photos moving forward it is as easy as plugging in your camera or inserting your media into the PC. Picasa walks you through the rest of the import process.

Step 4 – Once an online account is created for Picasa Web, adding photos to your custom web site is as simple as right clicking a photo and selecting an album it will go in. Follow this for all your photos creating albums for all special events and holidays.

Step 5 - Now share your web album with friends and family by sending them the link to your gallery.

For more information on how Picasa can organize your digital photos visit Picasa or watch this Picasa overview video by Google.