From darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov Tue May 5 16:49:44 2026 From: darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov (HANNING Darci * SLO) Date: Tue, 5 May 2026 23:49:44 +0000 Subject: [techtalk] POWERPOINT - Edit What You Can't See with the Selection Pane In-Reply-To: <1142317470728.1100778316270.1024428825.0.651541JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> References: <1142317470728.1100778316270.1024428825.0.651541JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> Message-ID: Welcome to the latest issue of Tech-Talk! Reminder: When accessing resources at the Tech-Talk website, use ORLIBTECH for both the username and password when prompted. Tech-Talk is a paid subscription service for staff of Oregon libraries and is supported in whole by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by the State Library of Oregon. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/c453716f-d2de-4a2b-91bf-1a983735252a.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/8f7511db-f10a-4d87-92dc-bfafaf16e7c5.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e25f6bcf-26a8-4e59-91f2-cc248962042d.png?rdr=true] POWERPOINT - Edit What You Can't See with the Selection Pane Intermediate [An illustrated hand points to a red rectangular option in a list of three colored optionsyellow, blue, and redsuggesting making a selection or choosing from a menu.] Have you ever used a premade template or Design Suggestions in PowerPoint ... and wanted to change part of the preset layout? Maybe there?s a shape hiding behind an image. Or text buried under a graphic that you need to edit. You click, but the wrong object is selected. So you try again. It can feel like a guessing game of where to click. There?s an easier way to work with everything on your slide. It?s called the Selection Pane. The Selection Pane shows you all the parts of your slide in one place. Think of it like a layer list for everything on it. You don?t have to guess where to click. Just choose what you want from the pane. You can even select objects you can?t see. The Selection Pane helps you: ? Select objects that are hard to click ? See what?s stacked on top or underneath ? Hide items ? Rename objects to stay organized If you?ve ever said, ?Why can?t I select this??... this tool is your fix. For instance, the light grey line on the PowerPoint slide shown below. It's a design technique that we didn't add ... it came with the template. On top of that, we can't select it to move it or delete it. That's where the Selection Pane comes in handy. Every shape or text box is listed in this tool so that you show it or hide it. [A presentation slide titled "Tech-Talk" features the topic "Scrub Your Name from the Web: How to Reduce Your Digital Footprint," with a photo of a smiling child wearing a helmet. Presenters listed: Linda Keefe and Judy Dir.] [A menu with three options: Select All, Select Objects, and Selection Pane. The "Selection Pane..." option is highlighted with a red oval.] How to Open the Selection Pane Before you can take control of the objects on your slide, you?ll need to open the Selection Pane. 1. Go to the Home tab. 2. In the Editing group, click the down arrow for more choices. 3. Press Select. 4. Choose Selection Pane. [A screenshot of the Selection pane in PowerPoint, listing placeholders such as Slide Number, Footer, Content, Text, Title, and Picture, with visibility toggles and reorder arrows on the right.] How to Use the Selection Pane Once it opens, you?ll see all of the objects on your slide. Each item in the Selection Pane is something on that page. Click the name in the list to select an object. No more guessing where it is. Show or Hide Objects Next to each item is an eye icon. Click it, and the object hides. This helps when one item is covering another. Click it again, and it shows back up. Reorder Layers Objects are stacked like layers. Items at the top of the list are in front. Items at the bottom are behind. To reorder layers, click and drag items into the order you want. Rename Objects The default object names aren't always helpful. It is hard to tell the difference between TextBox 1 and TextBox 101! Double-click a name and rename it to something meaningful. This makes your slide much easier to manage?especially when you have many objects. [A cursor hovers over the "Selection Pane" option, which is circled in red, in a menu that also includes "Bring Forward," "Send Backward," and "Arrange" commands.] Web 365 (Online) Good news! The Selection Pane is available in the online version of PowerPoint. You can do the same things online as you can in the desktop app. However, the steps to get to it are a little different. To use the Selection Pane in the online version: 1. Select an object on the slide. 2. Go to the Shape or Picture tab that appears on the ribbon. 3. In the Arrange group, click Selection Pane. Google Slides If you use Google Slides, you may be wondering if it has a Selection Pane too. Not exactly. But there are still ways to manage a busy slide. Selecting Overlapping Objects If your slide is crowded and hard to click, try this: 1. Click on any visible object. 2. Use the Tab key to cycle through the objects on the slide 3. Keep pressing it until the item you want is selected. Changing Layer Order Want to change what?s in front or behind? You can. Here?s how: 1. Click on the object you want to change. 2. From the menu, click Arrange. 3. In the drop-down menu, hover over Order. 4. Choose where you want the object to move. [A dropdown menu with the "Order" option circled in red; submenu options include "Bring to front," "Bring forward," "Send backward" (highlighted), and "Send to back." Keyboard shortcuts are shown next to each action.] NOTE: Google Slides does not let you hide objects or rename them for easier organization. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e565d7d1-215e-487a-8e78-f332113e7825.jpg?rdr=true] Communications: Engaging Announce Your Intentions Have you ever been leading a team meeting or hosting a group session online and found yourself wishing people would speak up! This happens to me every other month, with the Tech-Talk Admin meetings in Zoom. The attendees are interested and involved, but often reticent to share their ideas verbally. Here is one technique that works very well. After a particular topic is shared and I'm ready for their comments, I announce that I'm going to call on each of them. I typically add, that I'm going down the list alphabetically starting with Amy. That way, they know each of them is getting a turn to express their ideas ... and when it will happen. It takes the tension out of the session. I also remind them that they can pass if they have nothing they want to say this time. With this technique, everybody is included and feels valued, even it they have nothing to say on that topic. It works wonders. I'm more comfortable that I get the pulse of the group ... and that everyone has had a turn. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e8848d0d-4903-48da-85d0-7903dddee893.png?rdr=true] Copyright 1996-2026 Shared Results International. Published weekly. Distribution is limited by license. For information on how to include additional recipients, contact support at tech-talk.com 585-615-7795. Cheers, Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers) Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/ State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services 971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov | www.oregon.gov/library [State Library of Oregon (Logo)] ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 15548 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov Thu May 14 08:45:01 2026 From: darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov (HANNING Darci * SLO) Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 15:45:01 +0000 Subject: [techtalk] WEB TOOL - Asana.com For Project Management In-Reply-To: <1142318874723.1100778316270.1024428825.0.491500JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> References: <1142318874723.1100778316270.1024428825.0.491500JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> Message-ID: Welcome to the latest issue of Tech-Talk! Reminder: When accessing resources at the Tech-Talk website, use ORLIBTECH for both the username and password when prompted. Tech-Talk is a paid subscription service for staff of Oregon libraries and is supported in whole by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by the State Library of Oregon. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/c453716f-d2de-4a2b-91bf-1a983735252a.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/f763680a-9482-4454-b911-cd9874ec4119.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e25f6bcf-26a8-4e59-91f2-cc248962042d.png?rdr=true] Webinars for You NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long. May 20: [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Discovering AI: What to Know, What to Use, What to Avoid. Why Attend? You want confidence using AI wisely, safely, and effectively. June 10: [EXCEL] Power BI Demystified: Do You Really Need It?. Why Attend? You want to know if this advanced Excel tool is for you. ?June 24: [MEDIA] Add Audio & Video to Presentations Like a Pro. Why Attend? You want to add media (sound and moving images) to presentations. July 8: [AI] Stop the Noise: Turn Off Unwanted AI Today. Why Attend? You want to recognize different AI features and decide if you want to turn them off. View Webinars and Register Here WEB TOOL - Asana.com For Project Management Intermediate [A flowchart on graph paper outlines project management roles, showing connections between project team, sponsors, senior and middle management, and a list of relationships. A pen and ruler are placed on the diagram.] Do you ever want to collaborate on projects with colleagues and need a way to keep track of who?s working on what... and the progress each person is making? Group efforts can involve whole teams of people, both inside your organization and outside. Even if you have a defined goal and know who is responsible for each part, it can turn into a mess of back-and-forth email communications, not knowing the progress other members are making. Then there is project management software. It can be expensive, have steep learning curves and people have different preferences in the tools they use. So how do you manage these tasks? We discovered a web-based option that we?ll call a ?lite? project management (PM) tool that includes the must-have options ? and has a free level for up to 2 team members so that you can stay organized and get your work done at no additional cost. [Asana logo featuring three coral pink dots forming a triangle on the left, with the word "asana" in lowercase, rounded, dark purple letters on the right.] Asana www.Asana.com is a web-based tool that gives you one place to create projects with tasks, assign work to team members, and share ideas and updates. While it may not be filled with some of the bells and whistles that other PM tools offer, it has all the functionality you need to stay connected to your team and is simple and easy to use. Asana's tag line is "teamwork without email" -- so that you don't have to rely on reading, writing, or sorting messages related to each group task. Interestingly enough, Asana was founded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and ex-engineer Justin Rosenstein, both of whom worked on improving the productivity of employees at Facebook. The creators of this tool like to refer to it as more of a "teamwork communications manager," rather than a traditional project management software. All communication in Asana is actionable and tied to the work that needs to be done. In one place, you'll see: ? Project lists ? Tasks within each individual project ? These can be broken down into subsections ? Who is responsible for each task ? The due date of a task and if it has been done ? Notes and comments from team members ? Links to corresponding documents (in GoogleDocs or Dropbox) [Screenshot of a project management board titled "Launch Pipeline" showing tasks, due dates, and assignees on the left, and a task detail view with comments and attachments on the right.] Asana Lets You: ? Assign team members to be part of a project or just be designated to ?follow? it (and receive periodic updates). ? Create templates for recurring projects to save time in the future. ? Archive completed projects so that you can save the history if needed. ? Work on-the-go from anywhere ? because it is web-based. ? Connect via iPhone and Android smart phones with an app. ? Receive email updates to give you a heads-up when task due dates are approaching or a team member has completed a phase of the project. ? Invite guests and give them special permissions to be assigned tasks or just view projects. Sometimes with free tools, you ?get what you pay for.? But even though we consider Asana to be a lite-weight tool, it is robust enough for project planning and working together as a team. If you want the free version, be sure to select Personal on their pricing page, not the Premium versions. To stay productive, you can even use Asana by yourself to get a handle on your own projects and to-do list items. Take a look at www.Asana.com. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e565d7d1-215e-487a-8e78-f332113e7825.jpg?rdr=true] Communications: Talking "Help me understand" We all have situations where we become tense, right? It could be at a staff meeting, a community outing or a home conversation. When communications becomes tense, most people defend, correct, or shut down. There is a simple phrase that turns the situation around. It lowers defenses because it signals curiosity? not judgment. It tells the other person, ?You matter enough for me to listen.? It is... ?Help me understand.? When you say these words, you shift the conversation from positions to perspective. People become more open, more thoughtful, and often more willing to collaborate. It also buys you time? a brief pause to think instead of react. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e8848d0d-4903-48da-85d0-7903dddee893.png?rdr=true] Copyright 1996-2026 Shared Results International. Published weekly. Distribution is limited by license. For information on how to include additional recipients, contact support at tech-talk.com 585-615-7795. Cheers, Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers) Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/ State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services 971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov | www.oregon.gov/library [State Library of Oregon (Logo)] ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 15548 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov Wed May 20 14:45:18 2026 From: darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov (HANNING Darci * SLO) Date: Wed, 20 May 2026 21:45:18 +0000 Subject: [techtalk] OFFICE - Microsoft Publisher is Going Away...Now What? In-Reply-To: <1142318904348.1100778316270.1024428825.0.641500JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> References: <1142318904348.1100778316270.1024428825.0.641500JL.2002@synd.ccsend.com> Message-ID: Welcome to the latest issue of Tech-Talk! Reminder: When accessing resources at the Tech-Talk website, use ORLIBTECH for both the username and password when prompted. Tech-Talk is a paid subscription service for staff of Oregon libraries and is supported in whole by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered by the State Library of Oregon. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/c453716f-d2de-4a2b-91bf-1a983735252a.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/04979537-b892-4068-978e-512626b23101.png?rdr=true] [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e25f6bcf-26a8-4e59-91f2-cc248962042d.png?rdr=true] Webinars for You NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long. May 20: [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Discovering AI: What to Know, What to Use, What to Avoid. Why Attend? You want confidence using AI wisely, safely, and effectively. June 10: [EXCEL] Power BI Demystified: Do You Really Need It?. Why Attend? You want to know if this advanced Excel tool is for you. ?June 24: [MEDIA] Add Audio & Video to Presentations Like a Pro. Why Attend? You want to add media (sound and moving images) to presentations. July 8: [AI] Stop the Noise: Turn Off Unwanted AI Today. Why Attend? You want to recognize different AI features and decide if you want to turn them off. View Webinars and Register Here OFFICE - Microsoft Publisher is Going Away...Now What? Intermediate [The word "goodbye" in cursive lettering is written above the Microsoft Publisher logo.] Have you ever used Microsoft Publisher to create a flyer or newsletter? It made designing documents easier than Word. You could move text and images exactly where you wanted. If you?ve used Publisher in the past, or still do, there?s an important change coming. Microsoft has announced that Publisher will no longer be supported after October 1, 2026. That means no updates, no fixes, and over time?it may stop working properly on newer devices. So how does this affect you? What ?No Longer Supported? Really Means When a program reaches its end of life, it doesn?t disappear overnight. You can still use it?for now. But over time, problems start to appear. Here are some risks: ? Security updates stop ? No bug fixes ? Limited help or support ? Compatibility issues with newer versions of Windows or other Microsoft products Over time, it becomes harder and riskier to keep using it. If you?re still using Publisher, this is your heads up to start planning your next steps! What to Do About Existing Publisher Files? Before you can even think about a replacement program, you should look at the files you already have. Publisher uses a file type called .pub. Most other programs can?t open it. Convert your files now. Here are a few options: ? Create a PDF: Keep the formatting locked. ? Save as a Word document: You can edit text later, but the layout may shift. ? Export as an image: Works well for flyers or graphics. CAUTION: If you wait too long, you might not be able to open your .pub files at all. Save important files in a new format while Publisher still works. What You Can Use Instead ... Three Choices Publisher was popular because it was simple to use. The good news: there are several tools that do the same thing. Sometimes they might be even better! [Canva logo with the word "Canva" in white cursive text on a gradient blue to purple background with rounded corners.] 1.Canva Canva.com is an online design tool. You can create social media graphics, presentations, documents, and more. It works a lot like Publisher. Here?s what is similar: ? Drag-and-drop layout ? Text boxes and images ? Ready-to-use templates Canva is very beginner-friendly. Search for a template, pick a design, and start creating in minutes. It works in your web browser, so there?s no need to install anything. You can also download the app to your phone or tablet. Cost: ? Free version: Basic tools and 5GB of storage. ? Paid version: More tools, images, fonts, and 1TB of storage. If you liked Publisher because it was simple?Canva is your best starting point. [Adobe Express logo featuring a stylized "A" in gradient rainbow colors inside a rounded square, with "Adobe Express" written in bold white text below on a dark background.] 2.Adobe Express Adobe software is widely used by professional designers and artists. One of its tools, InDesign, is similar to Publisher?but it requires a paid subscription. There is also a simpler option called Adobe Express. It can create stunning images, flyers, and more. You might have also heard it called Adobe Spark. To access it, go to adobe.com/express/. Here?s what it offers: ? Templates for flyers, posters, and newsletters ? Easy text and image editing ? Built-in branding tools Adobe Express can integrate with other Adobe tools and has strong design quality in its templates. You can use it in any web browser or download the app to your phone or tablet. Cost: ? Free version: Basic tools, limited images, and 5GB of storage. ? Paid version: More templates, images, storage, and added features like AI tools. Adobe Express is a step up in design?without being overwhelming. [Logo for Scribus featuring a pen nib inside a blue circle on the left, with the word "Scribus" in large white text and "Open Source Desktop Publishing" in smaller white text below, set on a blue gradient background.] 3.Scribus Scribus is free desktop publishing software. It is used to create professional-looking layouts, brochures, newsletters, and more. Even though it?s free, it includes many features. It?s closer to professional layout tools: ? Advanced page layout controls ? Precise text and image placement ? Great for print projects Scribus is completely free and has powerful layout options. But it does have a learning curve. It is a good choice if you want more control and have time to learn something new. Cost: ? Free, visit scribus.net to download. How to Choose the Right Tool There isn?t one perfect tool to replace Publisher. If you?re still unsure of where to start, here?s a quick summary: ? Want something simple and familiar? Choose Canva. ? Looking for polished designs with a modern feel? Try Adobe Express. ? Need full control with a free desktop tool? Go with Scribus. Publisher has been around for a long time. For many, it was their go-to for flyers and newsletters. Today?s tools are easier to use and more flexible. Start by opening your old .pub files and saving them in a new format. Then try one of these tools and see what works best for you. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e565d7d1-215e-487a-8e78-f332113e7825.jpg?rdr=true] Communications: Persuading Let them discover the idea You have an idea. You want others to be on board with it. The question is, how can you convince them? What we really want to do is to make it easier for someone to say yes. Here's one idea you can use: instead of telling, let them discover it. Of course, you need to lead them down the path ... by asking a question. People resist being told, but they lean into what they conclude. So instead of: ?We need more consistent staff training.? Say: ?What do new staff usually do when a patron asks something they don?t know?? Instead of: "We should improve digital literacy support.? Say: ?How often do patrons come back twice for help with the same tech issue?? This approach creates a pause which invites reflection. Then, once they see the gap, your idea feels like their insight. [https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e8848d0d-4903-48da-85d0-7903dddee893.png?rdr=true] Cheers, Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers) Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/ State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services 971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov | www.oregon.gov/library [State Library of Oregon (Logo)] Copyright 1996-2026 Shared Results International. Published weekly. Distribution is limited by license. For information on how to include additional recipients, contact support at tech-talk.com 585-615-7795. ? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 15548 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: