Mike's How-To Blog

How to Add Components in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-07-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Components allow you to make your Adobe Flash CS4 animations a bit more interactive. They consist of prebuilt movie clips that perform some task when a user does something with it. Here is how you add a component to your Adobe Flash CS4 animation.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5193546_add-components-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Use an Array in PHP

2009-07-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Arrays are an important part of every programming language and PHP is no different. They allow you to store multiple values into a single variable. This is accomplished by being able to index the array either with a number or a key value. In this tutorial you will see all of the ways on how to use arrays in PHP.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5177777_use-array-php.html

How to Return the Length of a String in PHP

2009-07-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

PHP, as with all other programming languages has a function where you can obtain the length of a string.

This comes in handy when you are validating data such as making sure a user has entered in some data into an input screen.

You can find the length of a string that is assigned a variable, or you can get the length of any string that you enter as is shown in this tutorial.

Here is how you obtain the length of a string with PHP's built in string length function.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5176677_return-length-string-php.html

How to Grow a Vegetable Garden with Limited Space

2009-07-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Even if you are limited on space you have an opportunity to grow your own vegetables and fruit at home. Listed in this tutorial are a few ways you can make the most out of what space you do have.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5168822_grow-vegetable-garden-limited-space.html

How to Retrieve the Number of Rows in a MySQL Result Set Using PHP

2009-07-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

There will come a time when you simply want to run a query just to see the number of rows being returned and not necessarily the data. For instance lets say you are trying to see if a username already exists in the database, if the result returned is greater than zero then you know that username has been taken.

Every programming language has a way to obtain this number and PHP is no different. Here is how you check the number of rows being returned from a MySQL database using PHP.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5167687_retrieve-result-set-using-php.html

How to Write a Switch Statement in PHP

2009-07-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

You could write a series of "IF" statements to drill down through a variable value to act up the condition that you were looking to execute. However the swtich statement is much easier and a whole lot cleaner.

Here is how you write a switch statement in PHP.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5161047_write-switch-statement-php.html

How to Set the Page Margins in Microsoft Word

2009-07-07T05:19:00.001-07:00

Word gives you the ability to set a range of page setups by simply altering the margins on the page. This can be accomplished in just a few steps.

By being able to adjust the margins you can set your document up to print to an infinite number of sizes regardless of the paper size that you have loaded in your printer.

Here is how you set and change the page margins in Microsoft Word.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5157801_set-margins-microsoft-word.html

How to Write a While Loop in PHP

2009-07-02T05:33:00.001-07:00

A "while" loop is simple loop that lets you check a condition at the beginning of the loop before running through the loop's contents.

Here is how you write a "while" loop in PHP.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5145488_write-loop-php.html

How to Work with Layers in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-06-30T03:41:00.000-07:00

Adobe Flash CS4 is a powerful tool that gives you the ability to create robust animations. Its ability to let you layer tasks makes it that much more impressive.

Here is how you use the basic functionality to work with various layers in a single Flash CS4 project.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5136431_work-layers-adobe-flash-cs.html

2009-06-28T04:59:00.001-07:00

Barbeque season is in full swing on the east coast and what would a good barbeque be without a great cheeseburger.

Here is how you can make one that will have your guests running back for more. Then again maybe you don't want some of them to come back, you can give those guests, cereal or something.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5131072_make-ultimate-cheeseburger-barbeque.html

How to Create a Motion Guided Path in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-06-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

A motion guided path allows you to create an animation in Flash that follows a specific path that you draw.

Here is how you create a motion guided path in Adobe Flash CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5125878_create-path-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Include an External Javascript File in your HTML Website Page

2009-06-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Javascript is a very popular scripting language that allows web developers to make a website more interactive.

As you probably know by now HTML is a very simple markup language where anyone can create a webpage in a matter of seconds...literally!

You have two ways to incorporate the use of javascript with your html web page. One way is to include the scripting code in the same file as the HTML and the second way, which what this tutorial is all about, is to create an external file that contains the javascript code and then create code within your html file to include it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5123062_include-javascript-file-html-website.html

How to Create a Shape Tween with Flash

2009-06-23T03:19:00.001-07:00

Sometimes referred to as morphing, shape tweening in Flash lets you create the effect of having one object turn or "morph" into a completely different object.

In this tutorial I will show you a basic shape tween of how to morph a circle into a square.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5115054_create-shape-tween-flash.html

How to Retrieve the Number of Rows Affected in a PHP/MySQL Query

2009-06-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I am a convert form Perl to PHP. For many years I thought Perl was better, but then I started using PHP more and more when I began developing more advanced websites. I won't go into anything advanced in this tutorial, but I did want to give a step by step account as to how to return the number of rows affected when a MySQL query is run in PHP. In Perl it would be $DBI::rows will give you the number of rows, in PHP it is a bit different, but the concept is the same.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5111199_retrieve-rows-affected-phpmysql-query.html

How to Get Seeds for your Home Vegetable Garden

2009-06-19T03:57:00.001-07:00

A recent market research survey conducted by the National Gardening Association shows that 43 million Americans will be growing a garden this year as opposed to 36 million in 2008.

And according to the United States Department of Agriculture, fifty dollars in seeds can produce over one thousand two hundred dollars in produce.

The 18 to 34 age group make up the largest portion of spending on vegetable plants.

Here is how you can save some money and get some seeds for your home vegetable gardening.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5104735_seeds-home-vegetable-garden.html

How to Set a Session Variable in PHP

2009-06-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

PHP is a very popular web based CGI programming language that is used to make websites more interactive. A PHP session is where the website developer can store things locally on the web visitors machine while they are surfing around. Of course the visitor has to have cookies enabled on their browser in order for this to work, and if they do, you, as a developer, can set up things like eCommerce and shopping carts without having to hit the database everytime they add something to the cart or they want to check the contents. Here is how you set up a PHP file to use session variables.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5102477_set-session-variable-php.html

How to Connect to a MySQL Database with PHP

2009-06-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

This tutorial assumes that you have been exposed to both the MySQL database and some PHP programming.

MySQL is a very popular relational database used on the internet for millions of websites. It is fast, easy to use and portable over a variety of platforms.

PHP is programming language that allows website developers to create dynamic sites for a variety of things.

Combining these two seems like a "no-brainer". Here is how you connect to MySQL through PHP.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5099481_connect-mysql-database-php.html

How to Create a Movie Clip Symbol in Flash CS4

2009-06-12T02:54:00.000-07:00

This tutorial is very easy and for the beginning user of Adobe's Flash CS4. If you are learning how to do animation using Flash, you won't get very far without knowing how to create a move clip symbol, which is what you need in order to do animation.

In this tutorial I am going to draw a simple object on the screen and change it to a movie clip symbol.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5088031_create-clip-symbol-flash-cs.html

How to Add a Password to Your Word Document

2009-06-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

There may come a time when you create Microsoft Word documents that need to be protected from public view. For instance anything with sensitive information on it such as passwords, usernames, credit card information and of course social security numbers.

When this occurs you can add a little bit of extra protection to your document with Microsoft's built in password capability.

Combine this with other document protection and it will go a long way to securing your information.

Here is how you add a password to your Microsoft Word document

http://www.ehow.com/how_5083059_add-password-word-document.html

How to Create a Facebook Fan Page

2009-06-08T05:50:00.001-07:00

According to Facebook, "A Facebook Page is a public profile that enables you to share your business and products with Facebook users." With your fan page you can share photos, let fans of your page see upcoming events you have scheduled and so much more. Here is how you can create your own fan page on Facebook.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5077498_create-facebook-fan.html

How to Change the default location where Word Docs are saved

2009-06-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

I know when I am creating word docs they are oriented towards specific tasks that I am working on. For example if I am writing various help manuals for software I am developing, I want those docs to be saved in the directory where my software is not in the general "My Documents" that is the default set up by Microsoft.

Here is how you can change the default location when saving and loading your documents.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5071782_change-location-word-docs-saved.html

How to Start Your Own Podcast

2009-06-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

Is there a subject you are passionatie about? Do you speak well, clearly and can captivate an audience with that topic?

Good then you are ready to start your own podcast and even if you can't...you are still qualified to start your own podcast.

That is because anyone can record a podcast so as long as you have the right software, an internet connection and a microphone you are ready to go.

Here is how you can start your own Podcast .

http://www.ehow.com/how_5068884_start-own-podcast.html

How to Get Media Coverage for your Event or Product

2009-06-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

So you have a new or an existing product or service and you need to boost sales without breaking your advertising budget. Sound familiar?

Upon completion of my most recent book, I needed to get the word out about it and wanted to spend as little money as I could on advertising, therefore I turned to the media.

I wrote up a press release and submitted it to my local paper and received front page of the county/region section.

You can do the same here is how.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5066636_media-coverage-event-product.html

How to Create an Event Listener in Flash CS4

2009-06-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

Flash has come a long way since the days of simple animation. With Action Script 3.0 it is become a more usable piece of software in creating very robust websites.

One of the advancements is the ability to create event listeners. These are pieces of code that will execute when some type of event or action occurs.

In this tutorial I am going to create an object and then create the event called mouse over. This means when the user moves the mouse cursor over the object something will happen, in this case, we will just print some text in the trace window.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5064360_create-event-listener-flash-cs.html

How to Use a Portable Greenhouse

2009-05-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

The best way to increase the chances that your seeds will germinate is using a greenhouse. A greenhouse creates an optimal environment for plants and seeds. But how many people have the space for a greenhouse?

http://www.ehow.com/how_5056008_use-portable-greenhouse.html

How to Make your PC Run Better

2009-05-28T08:31:00.001-07:00

Nothing is more aggravating then booting up your computer only to find it takes half the day to do so. Chances are a couple of things can be causing this, so in this tutorial I want to give you the step by step process on taking actions that will greatly increase the performance of your PC.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5053173_make-pc-run-better.html

How to Freeze a Row in Microsoft Excel

2009-05-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Freezing a row in Microsoft Excel means to lock the column headers for a row. Let me explain. Lets say you have a spreadsheet. And in that spreadsheet in row 1 are all the headers for the columns which describe the data for each column.

So in cell A1 you could have dates, B1, product names, C1, prices and so forth. If you have a spreadsheet with enough data that you need to scroll in order to see, if you do not freeze the column headers they will scroll right along with the rest of the data.

Therefore we need to freeze the column headers so the data scrolls but not what describes what that data is.

In this tutorial I will show you how to freeze the first row in Microsoft Excel, which contains column headers.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5025015_freeze-row-microsoft-excel.html

How to Create a Macros Toolbar in Microsoft Word

2009-05-14T06:16:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Word gives you the ability to create something called macros. These are automated pieces of information to help speed up your document creation. They can be as simple as a single line of text or as advanced as charts and imports.

Word also has toolbars that you can view. Most notably is the one with the buttons that allow you to bold, italicize or underline words. Sadly, Microsoft Word does not have a macros toolbar.

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a simple macro then create a toolbar to display your macros.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5023117_create-macros-toolbar-microsoft-word.html

How to Create Different Headers on Each Page in Word

2009-05-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

If you are writing long documents with many chapters then a good practice is to have the chapter and title of that chapter in either the header or footer of each page within that chapter. For example, every page in chapter 2 should say chapter 2.

In this tutorial I will show you how you can put a different header on 3 different pages in Microsoft Word.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5018106_create-different-headers-word.html

How to Trap for Errors in Microsoft Excel

2009-05-11T11:38:00.001-07:00

In this tutorial I will show you how to trap the division by zero error using the "IsError" function. I will also use the "If" function to display certain output to the user.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5015483_trap-errors-microsoft-excel.html

How to Use the Large Function in Microsoft Excel

2009-05-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

In Microsoft Excel the "Large" function gives your the ability to check a range of values and return a ranking of those values.

For instance in this tutorial you are going to see a column of numbers, and we are going to return the largest number, the second largest number and the third largest number from that column.

Here is how you use the "Large" function in Microsoft Excel.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5010113_use-large-function-microsoft-excel.html

How to Sum Values in Excel with Specific Conditions

2009-05-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

I am leaving the rating difficulty to easy, since even though we will be using functions once you see the step by step process of this tutorial, you will see just how easy it is.

Excel provides a function called "sumif" that allows you to sum up values in rows and columns if a certain criteria is matched.

In this tutorial I show you how to sum up values in a price column that meet the product entered by the user (or you).

http://www.ehow.com/how_5000555_sum-values-excel-specific-conditions.html

How to Type Special Characters in Microsoft Word

2009-05-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Special characters in include the copyright symbol, the restricted copyright symbol and the trademark symbol. There are a couple of ways you can type in special characters into your Word document.

In this tutorial I show you how to type in all three without any special fonts or hotkeys.

Here is how you type in the copyright, restricted copyright and trademark symbols into Microsoft Word with just a few simple keystrokes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4999613_type-special-characters-microsoft-word.html

How to Market Your Website in a Down Economy

2009-05-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

For the past 7 years I have designed and developed many websites for friends, colleagues, and many other organizations. When I finish the project the first question (or usually the first) that I get asked is what is the best way to drive traffic to the website.

The technique that I use is easy and best of all doesn't cost a dime. It doesn't matter if the economy is good or bad you can use this technique to drive unlimited traffic to your website.

Here is how you can drive traffic to your website in this down economy.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4998126_market-website-down-economy.html

How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft Word

2009-05-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

When I use Microsoft Word I prefer to use the font Arial. I think it is a cleaner font and nicer to look at the normal "Times New Roman". When you run Word the default font is set to Times New Roman, Regular, with a font size of 12. Did you know you can make the defauly font anything that you would like? Well you can and here is how you do it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4987870_change-default-font-microsoft-word.html

How to Write to an Excel File from VB.net

2009-04-29T05:37:00.001-07:00

In many instances I have had to write data directly from a VB.net application to an excel spreadsheet. It provides a way for the end user to do whatever it is they need to do to that data as how they please. Regardless of what the user does with it if they need it written to an excel spreadsheet file, it can be done directly from within VB.net. Here is how you write data directly to an excel spreadsheet.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4947292_write-excel-file-vbnet.html

How to Add Effects to Text in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Photoshop gives you the great opportunity to add special effects to any text that you type just like any other object you create. In this tutorial I go over the basics to give you an idea as to how you can do it. Remember, you are only limited by your own creativity.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4937731_effects-text-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Make this Cool Web Button with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

This tutorial is a fairly easy one to create a neat object that can be used as a web button on a website. Here is a step by step tutorial to create a really neat web button.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4933908_cool-button-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to turn your Object Drawing into a Selection in Photoshop

2009-04-24T08:46:00.001-07:00

One of the most helpful tools in Photoshop, espcially if you use it to create your own custom objects(web graphics, buttons etc.) is the ability to take the object you drew and turn it into a selection. In this tutorial you will see how that is done.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4930179_turn-object-drawing-selection-photoshop.html

How to Create Lightning in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

What's a cooler effect then lighting? In a few easy steps you can create your own lighting and use it in a variety of applications. Here is how you create lightning in Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4921182_create-lightning-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Flip or Rotate an Image with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

If there were a rating difficulty on eHow for "super easy" this tutorial would fall into it. So many times we as "photoshopers" concentrate so hard on the difficult tasks that we overlook some of the basic ones. Flipping and rotating your image is about as easy as it gets, but sometimes can be overlooked. I have done it on occasion myself. Here is how you flip or rotate your image in Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4920067_rotate-image-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Create a Screw in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-17T06:18:00.001-07:00

With this super easy tutorial you can add some interesting graphics ro your website, a poster, picture, you name it. In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create the top of a screw as shown in the picture associated with this tutorial. It's easy to do and once you learn it I am sure it will spark some creativity to enhance it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4916425_create-screw-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Create a Laser Beam in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-16T12:29:00.001-07:00

Ok so who doesn't like cool looking lasers? If you do then here is an easy step by step way on how to create as laser in Adobe Photoshop CS4.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4915740_laser-beam-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Create a Rivet Effect in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

With Photoshop you can create some robust graphics. One of the more popular effects is the rivet or screw, which gives the appearance that an object is being held in place on your monitor screen like a picture hanging on a wall. In this tutorial I will show you how to accomplish this simple task in just a few steps.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4907683_rivet-effect-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Embed a Flash SWF file within another Flash SWF file

2009-04-14T03:04:00.000-07:00

The power of Adobe Flash CS4 combined with other tools available such as Photoshop, Illustrator and so on, gives you the ability to create incredible web applications. However with more robust web applications comes larger file sizes and of course longer downloads.

Adobe Flash, with the use of their built in programming language called ActionScript, gives you the functionality you need to embed an SWF file within another SWF file which creates smaller files and that will load faster then one larger file. Here is how you can embed and run an SWF file from within another SWF file.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4906532_within-another-flash-swf-file.html

How to Make Cool Web Buttons with Adobe Photoshop

2009-04-13T05:37:00.001-07:00

What would be designing a web page like if Adobe Photoshop did not exist? It gives you the ability to design and create some pretty robust graphical affects. Here in this tutorial we will create a simple button that you can place on your web pages. I would not put this button in the realm of robust, but it will definitely give you a good launching pad for your creativity.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4905411_cool-buttons-adobe-photoshop.html

How to Make one Object Color in a Black and White Image Using Photoshop

2009-04-10T06:17:00.001-07:00

Here is a great way to make an image really pop and get a point across, especially if you rae designing a poster, or a flyer or an image for a brochure or website. In this tutorial I will take an image and make one object in it color while the remaining image stays black and white.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4901312_black-white-image-using-photoshop.html

How to Market Your Website at no Cost

2009-04-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

In good economic times or bad, if you are running a website as a business you should always be looking for creative ways to get new visitors and turn them into paying customers. Here is one technique that could implement during any economy and will surely help market your website at no additional cost to your bottom line.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4900232_market-website-cost.html

How to Add a Blur Affect to an Image in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-08T02:44:00.000-07:00

The blur affect in Adobe Photoshop CS4 is just another means by which to spruce up or add something different your project. There are a variety of blurs you can add. Once you learn how to add one you can use the same method to add all of them. In this tutorial we are going to load an existing image and apply a gausian blur affect to it. Here is how you add a blur affect to an image in Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4892871_affect-image-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Convert your Image to an Artistic Colored Pencil Rendition in Photoshop

2009-04-07T12:04:00.001-07:00

With the variety of tools that are available to you in Photoshop, with enough practice you can convert any image you have to its own artistic masterpiece. Take the colored pencil filter. In a few clicks you can convert your image to look like an artist drew it with colored pencils. Here is how you convert your image to an artists rendition of colored pencils.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4892058_artistic-colored-pencil-rendition-photoshop.html

How to Create an Event Listener in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-04-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

Adobe Flash CS4 has come a long way from its early days as a simple animation tool. Now combined with the programming language ActionScript 3.0 you can do some pretty amazing things. In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create an event listener. An event is something that occurs such as the user clicking the mouse and the listener is the function that will execute when that event takes place. Here is how you create an event listener in Adobe Flash CS4 with ActionScript 3.0.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4891612_event-listener-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Create a Hollow Text Affect with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Although you would not use Adobe Photoshop CS4 to write a book, you can use it to do some neat affects on text. In this tutorial I am going to cover how you can make your text hollow so an underlying image will be able to show through. You see this affect a lot on posters and advertisements.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4887581_text-affect-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Create a Vector Mask in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-02T12:44:00.001-07:00

Without going into technical detail a vector mask allows you to show through just a small piece of an image by masking out anything around what you choose. In this tutorial I will demonstrate a vector mask using a simple photo image and the elipse drawing shawp tool. Here is how you create a vector mask in Adobe Photoshop CS4

http://www.ehow.com/how_4885364_vector-mask-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Fade One Layer into Another in Adobe Photoshop

2009-04-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Photoshop is a great tool to alter images to any specification of your choosing. Besides altering the photo you can also blend photos and fade one image into another. In this tutorial I will show you how to fade one image into another with Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4883010_one-layer-another-adobe-photoshop.html

How to Fix Red Eye with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-04-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

We have all taken pictures and invariably you will at some point get red eye. Red eye is when the flash from the camera creates the color red in the person's (who is being photographed)eye. Adobe Photoshop CS4 offers the best and easiest way I have seen to get rid of red eye. Here is how you get rid of red eye in your photos with Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4879343_red-eye-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Whiten Teeth in a Photo with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-31T05:21:00.000-07:00

So after 60 years of smoking two packs of camels a day, Aunt Matilda doesn't have the "best" smile. Not to worry, with a few mouse clicks, your Aunt Matilda's smile will look as good as new. Here is how to whiten teeth in a photo.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4878037_teeth-photo-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Remove Shiny Spots from Photos with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Did you take a photo that has too much shine on it because of the flash? Maybe you were at a bad angle and the photo has a shadow you would like to get rid of. Here in this tutorial you will learn how to reduce both scenarios with just a few mouse clicks.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4876870_spots-photos-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Keep Dry While Camping

2009-03-30T05:07:00.000-07:00

If you go camping you already know how much fun it is. If you are thinking about venturing into the outdoor activity for the first time then you are in for a treat. Camping is a great activity that can bring friends and family together to enjoy the outdoors. However, one dose of rain and it could ruin your day, if you are not prepared. Here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of still having a great time regardless of the weather.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4876307_keep-dry-camping.html

How to Make a Low Cost Weed Barrier for your Garden

2009-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter whether you are growing flowers, trees or vegetables this spring, nothing makes it less enjoyable then when it comes time to pull the weeds. Sure you can go out and pay a lot of money for a roll of that commercial "weed barrier" to prevent weeds, but why do that when you probably already get the best weed barrier available delivered right to your front door every morning! Here is how you can prevent those weeds with a weed barrier made from newspaper.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4871033_low-cost-weed-barrier-garden.html

How to Touch up a Photo with Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

There is no other tool that I have used that can touch up photos like photoshop. All you have to do is look at any magazine with a photo of some model, actor, actress or well known person and chances are they have been "photoshopped" in some manner. In this tutorial I am going to cover the basic, yet most popular, means of touching someone's photo up and that is the removal of a blemish.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4870760_up-photo-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Old Spice

2009-03-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here is your chance to get a free sample of Old Spice's new High Endurance Body Wash. Just follow the How to article and you will receive your free sample in no time.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4870729_sample-of-old-spice.html

How to Get Free Samples of Roots of Nature Remedies

2009-03-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

According to their website, "Roots of Nature Remedies is the new way for your hair to get what it's been thirsting for. Ingredients like organic shea butter and organic green tea work naturally to deeply moisturize and promote strong growing hair. Now available in four healing formulas that penetrate even seriously damaged hair before it snaps. The result: healthy-looking, beautiful hair." Here is how to get your free samples of Roots of Nature Rememdies.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4864172_of-roots-of-nature-remedies.html

How to Fade Black and White to Color in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Adobe Photoshop has what seems to be an endless array of options to spruce up photos and images. In this tutorial I show you how to take a color image and fade it from black and white on one side to color on the other. Here is how to fade black and white to color in Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4863111_white-color-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Cottonelle Products

2009-03-24T10:50:00.001-07:00

According to their website Cottonelle claims to make the softest tissues. Now you can get a free sample of two of their products. If you woul like to receive these free samples by mail, follow the steps in this article.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4863041_sample-of-cottonelle-products.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Kellogg's All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix

2009-03-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love lemonade? And now you've found a lemonade that loves you back. Kellogg's All-Bran Pink Lemonade is an easy-to-make drink mix that delivers an impressive 40 percent of your daily fiber needs. Here is how you can get a free sample of Kellogg's All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4861630_kelloggs-allbran-fiber-drink-mix.html

How to Create a Reflection in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

One of the great advantages of Adobe Photoshop CS4 is the power it gives you to manipulate photos. Here is a very popular topic in photography manipulation and that is the reflection. The ability to make it look like your picture is being reflected as if it were looking in a mirror or on a shiny desktop. Here is a simple tutorial to create a basic reflection of an image.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4858800_create-reflection-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Unlock the Initial Layer in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Adobe Photoshop is a great tool to make many alterations to your photographs and your images. Adobe Photoshop also reads all of the popular image formats, which makes it great to load images that you take with a camera or find on the internet. However when you load an initial image as your first layer, that layer is locked by default. Here is how you can unlock it so you can make alterations to it in Photoshop.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4857429_initial-layer-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Use the While() Statement in ActionScript 3.0

2009-03-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

This tutorial assumes that you know the basics of Adobe Flash CS4 and how ActionScript relates to it. In this tutorial we are going to cover the while() statement. The while() statement checks for a specific condition and as long as the condition is met the code in the resulting brackets underneat will execute. Here is how you write a while() statement in ActionScript 3.0 in Adobe Flash CS4

http://www.ehow.com/how_4849083_use-statement-actionscript.html

How to Advertise Your Website for Free

2009-03-13T07:20:00.001-07:00

The eocnomy is tight and if you run an online business, blog or website then you know the importance of keeping your advertising and marketing costs low while trying to increase your site's popularity. Here is a great way to accomplish just that, and it won't cost you anything more than your time.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4845802_advertise-website.html

How to Create a New Layer in Adobe Photoshop with a Copied Image

2009-03-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

A very powerful option you have availble to you in Photoshop is the use of Layers. Layers allow you to place images on top of one another idependantly of each other. Here is how you can copy a selection from one image and make that selection its own layer.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4844548_layer-adobe-photoshop-copied-image.html

How to Encode Video for Adobe Flash CS4

2009-03-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Adobe Flash CS4 gives you the ability to add any type of video to your Flash program, well sort of. What I mean is before you can use a video in Flash you must encode it so that Flash has it in the format that it can handle. If you have Adobe Flash CS4 installed on your computer then you already have the utility needed to encode the following video files: .mov, .avi, .mpg., .mpeg, .dv, .asf, .wmv

To Flash's format of .flv or .f4v

This utility is called the Media Encoder, and here is how you use it to encode your video file to the Flash video format.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4838752_encode-video-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Select a Specific Object in a Picture in Photoshop

2009-03-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest benefits on using Adobe's Photoshop CS4 product is the ability to manipulate images, pictures and graphics. One of the more popular uses is to take an object from one picture and put it in another. Here in this tutorial I will show you how you can select a specific object from your image using the Quick Selection Tool.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4836310_select-specific-object-picture-photoshop.html

How to Sum Values in an MS Excel Column

2009-03-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Excel is a great tool to manage many of your financial informations. At some point, if you are creating a spreadsheet that handles a lot of numbers you will invariably have to add up some columns. You are in luck because Excel offers a simple way to do this regardless of the number of items in a column. Here is how you sum up values in an MS Excel column.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4835900_sum-values-ms-excel-column.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Parent's Choice Infant Formula

2009-03-06T05:50:00.001-08:00

According to their website, Parent's choice infant formulas contain all the nutrients required for healthy babies in their first year. Now you can get a free sample to try Parent's Choice Infant formula first before you buy. Here is how you do it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4832721_of-parents-choice-infant-formula.html

How to User Layer Masks in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-05T05:13:00.001-08:00

Masking is the most common advanced tool used in Adobe Photoshop, however you do not need to be an expert to learn its basics. Masking gives you the ability to take an object from one photo and use it another photo through layering. The are various other techniques that can accomplish this as well, but once you learn masking, you will always use it. Here is how you use layer masking in Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4831060_layer-masks-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Resize and Rotate Layers in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-03-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

Adobe photoshop is a great tool for graphic designers. Part of what makes it great is you can layer different types of graphics on top of one another to make robust pictures. In Adobe Photoshop you have the ability to resize and rotate layers individually as opposed to the entire graphics as a whole. Here is how you can resize and rotate individual layers within Adobe Photoshop CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4824626_rotate-layers-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Turn off Spell Check in MS Word

2009-03-03T08:10:00.001-08:00

Word by default will underline in red any words that you misspell. However this is an optional feature and can be turned off at anytime. Here is how you can turn off the spell checker "as you go" feature in MS Word.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4823145_off-spell-check-ms-word.html

How to Create a Chart in Microsoft Excel

2009-02-27T05:29:00.000-08:00

Charts are used everyday for business, schooling, you name it. They give a nice visual representation of data and whether or not the numbers look good or whether they look bad. Here is a simple step by step process on how to create a nice line chart in Microsoft Excel.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4817376_create-chart-microsoft-excel.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

2009-02-26T06:54:00.001-08:00

We all want a whiter smile and better dental health. Now Crest is giving away a free sample of their very popular Advanced Seal White Strips. Here is how you can get your free sample of Crest's Advanced Seal White Strips.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4816065_of-crest-whitestrips-advanced-seal.html

How to Grow a Great Garden

2009-02-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

From March through October I partake in one my favorite hobbies and that is growing a vegetable garden. My garden has been going strong now for 6 years and as I enter my 7th year of doing it I thought I'd pass on some helpful information in case you were starting out as a newbie.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4800804_grow-great-garden.html

How to Apply a Motion Preset in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-19T05:12:00.001-08:00

You are more than likely using Adobe Flash CS4 to create animation in your projects. Well you are in luck because Adobe Flash includes a variety of motion animations and tweens that can implement into your porject. These include, bouncing, fades, drops, swooshes and so much more and the best part is they are all customizable for your needs. In this tutorial I will show you how to implement one of these motion tween templates on a very basic object that you will draw. Here is how you Apply a motion preset in Adobe Flash CS4.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4794932_motion-preset-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Get a Free Sample of New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Baby Wipes with Shea Butter

2009-02-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

Now you can clean baby’s little messes using New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Baby Wipes with Shea Butter.

There are lots of ways for babies to get messy, but there’s one great way to get them clean: New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Baby Wipes with Shea Butter. Whether it’s pureed peas or extra icing, New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Wipes with Shea Butter leave your baby’s skin clean and moisturized.

Get clean from top to bottom with New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Baby Wipes.

Here is how you can get a free sample of New HUGGIES® Soft Skin Wipes with Shea Butter.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4791495_skin-baby-wipes-shea-butter.html

How to Create a Button Symbol in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-17T05:13:00.000-08:00

A button symbol in Adobe Flash allows you to create a stylish button by giving you the four basic properties, up, over, down and hit and allowing you to edit what happens during those frames in your timeline. Here is how you create a button symbol in Adobe Flash CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4788796_button-symbol-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to use the History Brush in Adobe Photoshop CS4

2009-02-13T05:11:00.001-08:00

If you have used any type of software in the past such as Word, Excel, Paint etc., then you know how useful the undo option is. It allows you to go back a few steps and undo what you had done just in case whatever it is you are doing does not quite fit what you had planned. However it will only undo the changes in a reverse chronological order. Photoshop on the other hand has improved on this with their history brush. Here is how you can undo changes you made in a non-reverse chronological order.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4783279_history-brush-adobe-photoshop-cs.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Nicoderm CQ

2009-02-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Trying to kick the smoking habbit? Not sure how? Well now you can try this very popular, over the counter, product. No Stop-Smoking Treatment — Prescription or Over-the-Counter — Is Proven More Effective, Long-TermNicoDerm® CQ® is a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) product that helps smokers wean themselves off of their nicotine addiction through a gradual step-down process as they attempt to quit their smoking habit.Read and follow label instructions.To get your free sample of Nicoderm CQ follow these steps.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4781963_sample-of-nicoderm-cq.html

How to Convert an Image to a Graphic Symbol in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

Symbols in Adobe Flash CS4 are a great way to reduce the amount of work you need for a drawing, animation etc. and save on file size which is very important if you are uploading your flash file to the web. You can store your symbols in your library and call upon them when you need them as you need them. Here is how you convert an image to a graphic symbol in Adobe Flash CS4.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4781691_graphic-symbol-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Create Custom Colors in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-11T05:10:00.001-08:00

With any animation or drawing, background, wallpaper, etc., it all starts with the colors you choose. Adobe Flash CS4 gives you 216 colors by default without you having to do anything else. However you can create your own colors if one doesn't exist that you need. Here is how you can create your own custom color in Adobe Flash CS4.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4775720_custom-colors-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Get a Free Sample of Metamucil

2009-02-09T05:36:00.000-08:00

Love your heart and help lower your cholesterol* with Metamucil®, the #1 doctor-recommended brand. The psyllium fiber in Metamucil is FDA-approved to help lower cholesterol as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Just mix Metamucil Powder with 8 ounces of water for a delicious, convenient way to add fiber to your diet. One adult serving of Metamucil Powder has 3 grams of fiber.Pick up your favorite flavor and help your heart and your budget.Here is how you get a free sample of Metamucil.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4771681_sample-of-metamucil.html

How to Write a Switch Statement in Action Script 3.0

2009-02-06T05:11:00.000-08:00

Action Script is the programming language that sits behind many Flash projects. The latest version, 3.0, has evolved to be fairly robust. However, as with all programming languages there are basic concepts that will always be needed and one of those is the "switch" statement.

The "switch" statment allows you to test the conditions of certain criteria and then allows you to decide which result the person using your program (the user) should see.

Here is how you write a "switch" statement in Action Script 3.0.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4764848_write-switch-statement-action-script.html

How to Create a Layer Folder in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-05T05:21:00.001-08:00

Organization is key to anything in life. The more organized you are, the more likely life will be easier on you. The same holds true in Adobe Flash CS4. If you have created a flash project with one or two layers then a layer folder is more than likely not needed. However, if you have 10,20, or even 50 layers, you definitely want to create some layer folders and keep your project organized.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4762866_layer-folder-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Create a Hexadecimal Array in VB.net

2009-02-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here is how you create an array for Hex values in VB.net

http://www.ehow.com/how_4753160_create-hexadecimal-array-vbnet.html

How to Convert Decimal to Hexidecimal

2009-02-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

We all know what the decimal system is. We use it everyday to add, subtract, divide and multiply among other things. It is the number system we use for pricing our food and clothes, to what we pay the pizza guy when he comes to the door. However if you are like me and work in the software/hardware arena then you know or will know soon that you have to work in hexdecimal numerical format.

Decimal is base 10 (1,2,3..,8,9,10) whereas Hex (as it is referred to in short) is base 16. From 1 through 9 it looks similar to decimal however once you reach 10 you then start using letters. So for example 10=A, 11=B, 12=C, 13=D, 14=E, 15=F.

It is easy if you were converting simple numbers say 1 through 15, but what happens when you have to convert, say, 1000 in decimal to hex equivalent. You are in luck there is an easy way to do. Here is how you convert decimal numbers to its hexidecimal equivalent.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4750862_convert-decimal-hexidecimal.html

How to Change the Stage Color in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-02-02T03:42:00.001-08:00

Adobe Flash CS4 is the ultimate tool for designing robust multimedia projects for the web. For you beginners out there before you become the next Steven Spielberg of the Internet, you should learn the basics first. Here is how you change the color of your stage in Adobe Flash CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4749693_stage-color-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Create a Shape Tween in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-01-30T03:54:00.000-08:00

Adobe Flash CS4 is a great product to create a wide array of multimedia projects. From animations, to website intros, Adobe Flash C4 can do it all. in this example, I want to show you how you can morph one shape into another and move it all at the same time. For this example I will use the shape tween. Here is how you perform a shape tween in Adobe Flash CS4.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4746584_shape-tween-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Write a Function that Converts Pounds to Kilograms in VB.net

2009-01-29T08:19:00.000-08:00

A function is a great way to obtain calculations of any kind by passing a value and then assigning a variable to the actual function name so it seems like an easy transition. You can also reuse functions over and over in everyone of your programs and that makes them portable. Here is how you can write a function in VB.net to convert pounds to kilograms.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4743356_that-converts-pounds-kilograms-vbnet.html

How to Change the Stage Size in Adobe Flash CS4

2009-01-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

If you are new to Adobe Flash the must understand that the stage is where all of your creativity for designing robust animations will begin. Just like any other animation software program, Flash defaults your stage to a sepcific size. However, Flash also gives you the ability to make the stage any size that you want (ok well almost any). Here are the steps to change the size of your stage.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4739551_stage-size-adobe-flash-cs.html

How to Market Your Business on a Grass Roots Level

2009-01-27T11:32:00.001-08:00

If you run a local organization or business, here is how you can really reach your customers and members on a personal level. It will take some work and patience but the payoff is huge.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4738431_market-business-grass-roots-level.html

How to Get a Free Martina McBride Song Download - Legally

2009-01-27T05:32:00.000-08:00

If you are a Martina McBride fan, now is you chance to get a free download of her latest music. The best part is, it is free and legal. Here is how you can download a free music track from Martina McBride.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4737928_martina-mcbride-song-download-legally.html

How to Update a Date Field in your Database with a SQL Statement

2009-01-23T05:49:00.000-08:00

Whether you are new to SQL or an experienced professional you either have or eventually will run into a situation where you will need to work with dates. It is unavoidable. But do not worry, regardless of which database you are working with, whether it be SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL or ACCESS, there are built in functions to help you with dates. In this how to I want to cover how you can update a date field in SQL statement using one of these built in functions. Here is how you do it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4732842_date-field-database-sql-statement.html

Bukisa

2009-01-23T05:15:00.001-08:00

How do I become more Environmentally Green?

There is a strong movement towards everyone becoming “environmentally correct”. Known as the green movement, many also believe that it is some scientifically advanced daunting task to be helpful and more aware about the environment. The fact is the smallest thing when completed by a lot of people; add up to having a huge positive impact on our surroundings. In this article I want to give you some ideas on what you and your family can do today to become greener. You’ll see that you will also save some money along the way.

In my area, in fact in my entire state, it is unheard of to not recycle. We recycle everything from cans, to bottle, to plastics to tires. It was a movement that started back in the 80s and continues to this day. In fact it has become second nature and no different than putting out your regular trash for pick up. Millions of tons of garbage are recycled yearly which reduces the need for landfill space as well as the production of new materials, which by the way saves companies a lot of money. However, I was shocked to hear that some areas of the country do not recycle. If you area does not recycle the start one yourself. Who says you have to wait for the government to start something. You can collect cans, bottles, glass, tires, newspapers, and so much more. Chances are there is a company or companies within driving distance to your home that would gladly take those items off your hands. You can actually turn it into a small weekend business even.

Another way to go green is through the user of electric in your home. Believe it or not many appliances still draw power even if they are not on. So you can start by either unplugging an appliance that is not in use or plugging it into an outlet strip that has an on/off switch. Many homes now have outlets hooked up directly to light switches on the wall. Cutting off power to these appliances will reduce what you use and in turn save you some money.

A quick and affordable way to go green is to replace all of those old light bulbs with the new energy efficient bulbs. They last longer and use less energy than a traditional light bulb and since they are more popular than every the price has come down to the point where it makes no sense not to buy them. You can save literally hundreds of dollars per year and go green at the same time.

If it is in your budget do not be afraid to upgrade those old appliances such as dishwashers, washers, dryers and refrigerators. The ones being sold today that have the energy star rating will save not only on electrical costs but if they use water, do a great job of regulating the amount of water that is used. People forget that we also need to conserve water as well. This is one way of doing that. You can also make sure you do not leave the water running while shaving or brushing your teeth. You can showers instead of baths, use a tankless water heater as opposed to a traditional one and so on. If you are feeling very energetic you can build yourself a rain barrel and practice in the art of rain harvesting. I won’t go into too much detail, but rain harvesting is a way to collect rain water and reuse it a later time (like when you go through dry spells in the summer).

All of the ways I mentioned above are the very basics of what you can do to go green and many if not all of them will help you save money.

About the Author:
Mr. Tucker is a regular contributor on Bukisa, an online community for writers that pays them for their articles. You can also follow Bruce on Twitter.

Do not forget you can use this article on your own website or blog by simply copying and pasting the code from the “Syndicate this Article” section located on the right.

Content Source: How do I become more Environmentally Green? - Bukisa.com