The Microsoft Office Standard Toolbar has buttons for New file and Open file but it doesn’t include a Close file button, which would be very handy to use when you want to close a document, worksheet or presentation, but you don’t want to exit the program.

First of all, open MS PowerPoint 2003. Point at the blank area NEXT to the Standard or Formatting toolbar and tap your right mouse button to pull up a toolbar menu. Select Customize at the bottom of the menu.

Select the Commands tab. With File selected as a Category on the left side, look under the Commands on the right side. Select the Close command with your right mouse button and drag it up to the Standard Toolbar. Drop it to the right of the Open button (as you drag the button, you’ll see a little plus sign and when you move the mouse cursor to the proper place, you’ll see an I bar showing up in the toolbar). When you let go, the Close button icon will appear. Note: If you put it in the wrong place, just drag it where you want it to go. Now click on the Close button on the Customize dialog box. Now you can easily close PowerPoint presentations. You can exit the program.

Now open up MS Word 2003. Repeat the same steps, then exit the program.

Now open up MS Excel 2003. Follow the same steps as before. Notice that when you have the Customize dialog box open in Excel, there is only a word that says Close instead of a Close button. Drag it up next to the Open button on the Standard Toolbar, anyway. After the word Close appears on the toolbar, point at it and select Default Style. The Close button image will appear. Close the dialog box. You can exit the program.

Now, whenever you have saved your work (if you haven’t saved your work, it will prompt you to do so), you can close your files in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint with one click.

By the way, you can also use these steps to add other button functions that are useful to you, too.

Audacity is a free audio program that lets you create, edit and convert audio (vocal and instrumental) files. It can be used to create podcasts, multi-track instrumental songs, record lectures, tell stories, archive family histories, capture audio from videos and games, do karaoke, podcast, record step by step instructions, create audio to do lists, sing lullabies, slow down music tracks to hear exact notes, take lecture notes, practice your singing, clean up digital audio files from records, add sound effects to music and many other uses.

To top it all off, it isn’t hard to use, either. Here is an embedded video I created on how to install Audacity on your computer. Have fun with it!

If this video doesn’t work properly, please click on this link to see it displayed on TeacherTube.
Installing Audacity on your Computer