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Let's Talk Computers in conjunction with Ziff-Davis is proud to present an all-new and updated Tips and Techniques section. Enjoy!

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Every KB counts! If you use Photoshop to design for the Web, you might want to turn off the image preview in the file icon to reduce your file size. Choose File > Preferences > Saving Files and in the dialog box that displays, choose Never Save in the Image Previews dropdown menu.

1) (Cmd + E) [Ctrl + E] merges the active layer with the layer below it.

2) (Cmd + Option + E) [Ctrl + Alt + E] merges a copy of the active layer with the layer below it.

3) (Cmd + Shift + E) [Ctrl + Shift + E] merges all visible layers into the active layer.

4) (Cmd + Option + Shift + E) [Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E] merges a copy of all visible layers into the active layer.

5) To create a merged copy of all visible layers, without losing the original layers, create a new layer first (Cmd + Shift + N) [Ctrl + Shift + N], then use the (Cmd + Option + Shift + E) [Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E] shortcut.

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When you have several graphics objects to delete, the usual procedure is to [shift]-select each item until all are highlighted, then press the [delete] key. An alternative is to turn the selection pointer in your application into a Delete tool and delete each item as you select it. No, the Delete tool isn't a new tool--it's actually a technique that takes advantage of the operating system. To demonstrate the Delete tool technique, first launch a program that allows you to draw objects, such as ClarisWorks, FileMaker Pro, or PageMaker, and create a new document. Then, add several objects (text boxes, squares--whatever you like) to the page. Now, to delete items as you click on them, choose the selection pointer and hold down the [delete] key. Next, click on each object. As soon as you select an item, it disappears.

For more information about this and other topics related to the Macintosh, visit the Mac@Home site at www.zdjournals.com/mac.

While most people are familiar with the concepts of RAM and hard drive storage, Level 2 cache seems to befuddle them. Level 2, or L2, cache allows your PowerPC to operate more efficiently. When the computer is processing, L2 cache first checks the microprocessor for instructions. Next, if the microprocessor is busy, the computer checks the L2 cache. Finally, the computer resorts to the direct main memory for instructions. Since cache memory is quite a bit faster than direct memory, the computer can process more information at a high rate of speed.

Because cache memory is faster than RAM, it can be accessed more quickly. Also, the additional cache will provide the best performance when you're running PowerPC code. In fact, if you're mainly running 68KB software (non-PowerPC native), you'll find that the L2 cache has little effect on performance. If you need to buy L2 cache, deciding how much and what type of memory you should assign to it depends on the type of PowerPC you're planning to purchase. Some machines allow you to expand L2 cache as high as 4MB. However, we've found that overall performance doesn't increase much after you get to 512KB.

For more information about this and other topics related to the Macintosh, visit the Mac@Home site at www.zdjournals.com/mac.

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When using Microsoft Graph to produce charts in your presentations, there are several ways to modify the chart's data. To move, copy, insert, or delete data you usually have to display the datasheet. However, if you're working with a 2-D chart, there is a quick way to change the numbers. Simply click the bar that you want to change the data number for twice. Do NOT double-click. After you click twice on the selected bar, a Series Point handle (shaded box) appears on the top center of the bar. Drag the handle up or down to change the number the bar marker represents. If you open the data sheet, you'll notice that PowerPoint resets the figure in the corresponding data column and row to reflect to size of the new bar marker. This technique also works for 2-D column and pie charts.

When preparing a presentation, you can modify each individual bullet level of body text while in Slide Master View. Modifying the bullets allows you to add a little flare to your layout with minimal effort. To change the default bullet style for every slide in the presentation, click once on the Object area. Click a second time on the bullet level you want to change. Next, choose Format/Bullet from the main menu to access the Bullet dialog box. Now, choose a font type from the Bullets From dropdown list. The fonts Monotype Sorts and Wingdings offer a variety of bullets you may find appropriate. Then, select a bullet from the symbol grid, choose a color, adjust the bullet size, and click OK to apply the new changes. You can then assign a different bullet for each level by repeating the above steps for each text level.

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As you know, the taskbar is always visible at the bottom of the screen. This makes it very easy for you to switch between active applications. However, you might not want to sacrifice a portion of your screen for the taskbar. For example, if you're working with large graphic images, you'll need to see as much of the screen as possible. If this is the case, you can configure the taskbar so that it's visible on the desktop only when you need it.

To do so, click the Start button and select the Taskbar command from the Settings menu. When the Taskbar Properties sheet appears, as shown below, select the Auto hide check box on the Taskbar Options page. Next, click the OK button to close the Taskbar Properties sheet and to activate the new setting.

As soon as you do, you'll see the taskbar quickly drop down below the bottom edge of the screen. To access the taskbar when the Auto Hide option is activated, you simply move your cursor to the edge of the screen. When your cursor gets close to the edge, the taskbar jumps back into position; when you move your cursor away from the taskbar, Windows 95 automatically hides it again.

Note: If you have Microsoft Plus! 98 installed and activate the Auto hide option; the taskbar moves up and down more gracefully.

Do you have one or two people that you find yourself constantly sending email to, perhaps a friend or a colleague? If so, you can now save yourself some time by creating a desktop shortcut that will open your email client with a preaddressed message. Creating the shortcut is simple. Just right-click on a clear area of your desktop and select New and then Shortcut from the shortcut menu. In the Command Line text box type mailto: and then the email address of your coworker, leaving no spaces. Click the Next button and type a name in the Select A Name For The Shortcut text box. Click Finish and a new shortcut will appear on your desktop. Double-click on the icon and your email client, such as Outlook Express, will open with your coworker's address in the To: text box. Now, you can create and send your message as you normally would.

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If you're more of an analyst than an artist, adding shapes to your Excel worksheets can be a source of frustration. Your circles look like eggs, you agonize over creating squares with equal dimensions, and you can't draw a straight line to save your life. Fortunately, Excel includes help for the artistically challenged. Simply select the drawing tool you want to use, press the [Shift] key, and click and drag to create your shape (if your drawing tools aren't visible, select View/Toolbars/Drawing). Using the Oval tool creates a circle, the Rectangle tool creates a square, and the Line and Arrow tools create perfect horizontal and vertical lines, as well as lines in 15 degree increments from their starting points. Holding the [Shift] key even helps create proportional AutoShapes.

If you want all the columns in your worksheet to be the same width, first click the Select All button, which is the rectangle in the upper-left corner of your worksheet at the intersection of the row and column headings. Then, move the mouse pointer to the line that separates any column headings. When the mouse pointer changes to a resizing tool, click and drag to resize all the columns on your sheet. If you want to resize just a group of columns, select their column headings and then use the resizing tool. These techniques work for changing row heights as well.

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