Monday, June 30, 2014

How to Put Blogger Site Offline?

Access Denied to Blogger Blog



Both Blogger and WordPress have an option to put the site offline or make it unavailable permanently or temporarily. You may need to put your site offline for a number of reasons. In this post, I will just talk about how to limit access to a blogger site. At the same time, you can deny the search engines to access your site and you can also restrict general people to view your contents. 


As mentioned earlier, there could be several reasons behind putting the site offline. Such as - 

  • You can restrict search engines to crawl your site. Because you would like to decorate your site first. In that case you can limit search engines' access. 
  • You may need to make your site unavailable temporarily due to political violations or religious issues. 
  • Or may be the site could be a private one. Maybe it's subject to be unavailable to the public. 

Whatever the reason, or even if you don't need to put your site offline, at least you should know the way. Some bloggers even think, why I put my site offline? When I'm trying to cirulate the site as much as possible? I've already mentioned the reasons! :)



Restrict Search Engines Crawl your Site

You can limit search engines' access to index your site if necessary. Follow the steps below - 

  1. Go to Blogger Control Panel/ Settings/ Dashboard.
  2. Choose Settings from the left pane.
  3. Select Basic > Basic > Privacy.
  4. Choose No for both options as below.
  5. Hit on the Save Changes button. 

 Privacy Option in Blogger Blog


The first No doesn't matter much. But the second No matters! If you choose No in the second option, your site will not be crawled by search engines. But everyone will be able to access your site.



Restrict Public Access to your Contents

If your site is private and you don't want people view your contents, then you can absolutely restrict public access. Follow the steps below - 

  1. Go to Blogger Control Panel > Settings.
  2. Choose Basic under the Settings option.
  3. Find the Blog Readers option under Permissions section.
  4. Here you have three choices: Public, Private (Blog Authors), Private (Selected Persons).
  5. If you choose the second option, only blog authors will be able to access the site. Other people will just get a message - This is a private blog
  6. If you would like to add some readers, then choose the third option. Then add readers from your contact list or you can type their emails. Whenever they try to access your site, they have to log in. 
  7. Finally, hit on the Save Changes button. 

Blog Readers Permission in Blogger Site


Tips!

If your site is totally new, then you can use the Privacy option only. You can stop search engine crawl your site. Because search engines will not find enough contents in a new site. That's why it's better to write first. Then you may let search engines to index your site. But you can keep your site Public. 


Later I will discuss the same thing for WordPress site. 


Get more tips on Blogging . . . 

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

How to Change the Folder Icon?



Use Custom Icon in Folder


By default, Windows folders look like a yellow folder. And if you use any custom theme, it may change. Many of you might know how to customize the Windows Folder Icon. It's very easy to change. Previously I discussed about how to change the pen drive/ hard drives icon. Today I'm gonna discuss about changing the folder icon. 


It's been few months when I published any Windows trick. Sorry for the long break!


To change the folder icon is much easier than changing the drive icon. If you wanna change the drive icon, you have to use an autorun file. But you don't need any notepad file to change the folder icon. All you need is just an icon format (must be .ico) image. 


First collect an icon format image. You can convert an image into icon in any of the following ways:

I prefer using IcoFx. Download it and convert your image into icon within seconds. After getting the icon, you can go for the next step.



Change Folder Icon
  1. Copy the icon that you wanna show in the folder. 
  2. Go to My Computer (Start + E) or any location where your desired folder is located. 
  3. Paste the icon within that folder.
  4. Press Backspace to get out of this folder. Now click right mouse button over the folder and go to the Customize tab > Change Icon as shown in the image below. 

Customize the Windows Folder


After hitting the Change icon button, you will get a list of Windows Icons. You can use any of them. But here I'm gonna use the custom icon. So you have to click on the browse button. 


Windows Default Icons

After hitting the browse button, you have to locate the folder again. Go to the folder and choose your custom icon that you've copied in the first step. Now hit on Open > Apply > OK. And you're done! 

Restart your PC if you don't see any change. 


Note: It's not necessary that the icon needs to be copied in your desired folder. Windows can show the folder icon from any other folder. But when you take that folder through a CD or Pen Drive, you may not get that icon with the folder. That's why I'm recommending to keep the custom icon within this folder. 


For more tips on Windows, visit this page . . .




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Saturday, June 21, 2014

How to Rotate Text in Excel


Text Rotation in MS Excel


When you're running out of space to write column headings in MS Excel, you can rotate  your texts. In my last post, I discussed how to wrap text to create multiple lines in a cell. But if you don't have sufficient option to create multiple lines, then you can rorate your text by some degrees. And definitely it will save your column space. 


Maybe most of you are familiar with text rotation. But I'm sharing this tips for the beginners. You will get the text rotation option at the same place where the wrap text is located. Both of them are located in the Alignment Tab in Format Cells dialogue box. 



Shortcut Method

If you're using Excel 2007/ 2010, you can easily rotate text from ribbon. Go to the Home tab and then move to the Alignment section. Look at the image below:


Rotate Text by Mouse Click


First you have to select the cell which you wanna rotate. Then go to the text rotation icon and choose your desired rotation style. 


If you'd like to explore more options then press Shift+Ctrl+F > Go to the Alignment tab > Look at the Orientation option at the right of the window > Here you can rotate your text by degree. 

Alignment Tab in Format Cells Window


Text Alignment is really a useful tool in Excel. With this tool, you can reposition your text as your wish. In the ribbon, you can indent your text through text alignment section. You can position the text in the top, bottom, middle or left, right and center. 


You can also merge cells from text alignment section. And you just need to practice by yourself. Type text or numbers randomly. And try the each option by yourself. Within few days you will be an expert in formatting text in Excel!


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Friday, June 20, 2014

Type Multiple Lines in a Cell in Excel


How to Type Multiple Lines in a Single Cell in Excel


Excel users often face a common problem. Normally you can't type two or three words in a cell in Microsoft Excel. You have to merge cells to type something. But if you have no option to merge cell horizontally then you may fall in trouble. Believe it or not, last week I had the same problem while working in a worksheet! 


Today I am sharing the solution with you. Look at the image below - 


Multiple Lines in a Row


By default, you can't type like the image above in MS Excel. Have you noticed - I haven't merge the rows or colums. And there are 3 lines in Column A and 4 lines in Column B. Try to type multiple lines in a row or cell. Simply you can't. You have to use the Wrap Text option to type multiple lines in a cell. 



For Excel 2003

Sorry to say, I don't have Microsoft Office 2003. So I can't show you the path. Probably you have to follow this way- 

Format Menu > Font > Format Cells > Alignment > Text Control > Wrap Tex (Check the box) > OK. 

I'm not sure about this command. But the main point is - find the format cells window and then check the wrap text from alignment tab. 

You can also press Shift + Ctrl + F to open Fomat Cells dialogue box. 



For Excel 2007 and 2010

In Excel 2007 or 10, the process is almost same. But as you have to use the ribbon interface, you have to follow this way - 


Wrap Text Under Alignment in Home Tab


Go to the Home Tab > Click on the Marked area of Alignment > Now you will get Format Cells window (Shift + Ctrl + F) > Choose Alignment tab > Check the Wrap text option > Hit OK. 



Shortcut Method!

Maybe it's very time consuming for you. I'm gonna share a secret shortcut! 

Type your text in cell, when the area ends, press Alt+Enter. You will get a new line in cell! See the image below: 


Multipe Lines in a Row


First I've typed Marks PC, then I pressed Alt+Enter and typed Solution. But remember, first you have adjust the column size. Adjust the column size and then type your text. Once you press Alt+Enter, new lines will be creating automaticlly when the cell area ends. 


There is another shortcut for you! Just look at the image below:


Wrap Text Icon in Home Tab

Have you noticed the market button? It's in the Alignment section, just below the Review Tab. This button is a shortcut to wrap text. Type your text and hit on this button to create multiple lines in a row/ cell. 


You can adjust the column size after typing the text. Your lines will be adjusted automatically. 


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Saturday, June 14, 2014

Change Photoshop Transparency Grid Color!!




If you're a Photoshop user, you must know about transparency grid. Transparency Grid is a checkerboard which appears when you're working with an image with transparent background. If your image has no color in the background, this checkerboard appears behind the image. 


Okay fine. Transparency will be indicated by the checkerboard. But you may ask, why I will change the color of transparency grid. In this post I'm gonna answer this question. And I will also show, how to change the color of the transparency grid. 



Why to Change? 

Suppose you've an image with white background. And you need to remove this background behind the image. You know there are different ways to remove background. I'm not gonna discuss it here. 

In the critical part of the image, Magic selection tool may not be able to select the white part. In that situation you can manually select the unselected portion. But you may also fail remove the white background properly. Because you can't select the white background as your default transparency grid is looks like a checkerboard that contains white color! So after saving the image you will notice there are some scattered white spots in the background. 

To get rid of this problem, you can change the default transparent grid. 



How to Change? 

Very simple. I'm using Photoshop CS5. Run Adobe Photoshop from your PC and follow the instruction - 

  1. Go to the Edit Menu.
  2. Select Preferences > Choose Transparency & Gamut.
  3. Now you will get the Preferences window with Transparency option selected.
  4. Keep the Grid size Medium or as your wish.
  5. Choose Dark from Grid Colors. Or you can customize the color using the custom option. You can also use any other color from the list if any of them is suitable for you. 
  6. Hit OK after choosing the Grid colors. 




Remember, the default grid color may need to changed when you're gonna remove any white background from your image. Or background that is light black. Otherwise you don't need to change it. 


Turning off the Grid!

You can totally turn off the grid! Yes! If you're bored with the grid that is shown for transparent layer, then you can turn off the grid from preferences window. 

Go to the Grid size as shown in the image above. And choose None. Now create a new document from your Photoshop with transparent layer. You will just see white background instead of a grid. But your image will have transparent layer. 



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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Twist Image by Liquify Effect


Photoshop Liquify Effect


By default, Adobe Photoshop contains numerous attractive effects/ filters. And you can also add third party filters if you want. Today I will show the use of liquify filter which can be used to twist an image or object. And it's really a useful tool when you need to distort the photos of your friends! You can make their faces bizarre! :) 


I'm using Photoshop CS5 Extended Version. Hopefully the commands and options will be almost same with other versions of Photoshop. Let's start - 


  1. Run Photoshop and open an image from your hard disk. 
  2. Now go to the Filter Menu and choose Liquify (Shift+Ctrl+X).
  3. Now your image will be opened in a new window. 
  4. Mouse pointer will take the form of a plus sign with circle. 
  5. Hit and move the pointer over the image. 
  6. Rotate and twist the image as your wish. 
  7. If you're done press OK. Or if you wanna cancel, hit the Cancel button or press Esc. 

There are some additional options too! Look at the tools panel of liquify filter - 


Liquify Options

By default, you're getting the first tool selected. You can also try the other tools. They will produce a completely different result. 


You may need to adjust the brush size. Press and hold the right bracket ] to increase the brush size. And press and hold down the left bracket [ to decrease the brush size. 


Also try the Tool options from the right panel. Here you can change the Brush Size, Density, Pressure etc. Hit OK to save your changes to the image. Or press cancel if you don't like to distort the image. 

And don't forget to try the other commands of Filter menu. These are really cool! 



Hope you've enjoyed this post. If you have any query please leave a comment . . .




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Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Working with Photoshop Color Range


Photoshop Color Range Command


Photoshop guys are very familiar with the color range option of Adobe Photoshop. Color range command is a great tool for selecting the areas of an image based on sampled color. And it's somewhat similar to Magic Wand Tool. In Magic Wand Tool you need to manually click on the areas of an image that needs to be selected. But if you use the color range option, you just need to choose the sample color. And Photoshop will make the selection by itself! 


This tutorial applies to all running versions of Adobe Photoshop including CS4, CS5 and CS6. But I've prepared the tutorial using Photoshop CS5. All the images of this post will be based on Photoshop CS5. 



Color Range

Color Range belongs to the Selection part of Photoshop. You will find it under the Select Menu. Run Photoshop from your PC > Open an image from your hard disk > Go to the Select menu > Choose Color Range. You will get the following image: 


Color Range Window in Photoshop CS5



Have you noticed Marks PC Logo on color range window? Here the white part is currently selected. If you would like to expand the selection area then click on the pencil button from the right side with plus mark. Now go to your image and hit on the part that you want to add to your selection. 


Make sure Sapmled Colors is enabled in the Select option. 


You can also increase/ decrease the amount of Fuziness adjust the selection. If you make any wrong selection or if you'd like to remove something from your selection then choose the Pencil button with negative sign. Then hit on the part of image you want to deslect. 



Eyedropper Tools

The three tools just below the Save button is know as eyedropper tools. The left one is called Eydropper, middle one is Add to Sample and the right one is Substract from Sample



Fuziness and Range

I've told earlier that Fuziness will control the amount of selection. By increasing and decreasing the range, you can control the amount of selection. And Range will control how much area of the image will be selected. 


To be honest, color range command is somewhat difficult to explain. You need to practice it by yourselft. If you click on the options, increase or decrease the value of different fields, you can easily understand. So, try to explore! 



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