Weekly Computer Tip # 298
31 January 2009

Make your cursor more visible (Windows XP)

As you are no doubt aware, if you want to add some text to, say, a Word document or an Outlook email message, you must move the mouse cursor - normally a flashing I-beam - to the location where the change is to be made. But have you ever struggled to see where that tiny little indicator is? If so, why not make it a fat, non-blinking bar.

Here's how:

1. Open the Control Panel. (My preferred way is to press the WIN key on your keyboard; see http://www.roem.co.uk/tip_181.html)
2. Click or double-click (depending on what view you're using) on Accessibility Options.
3. Open the Display tab.
4. Drag the Blink Rate lever to the left and the Width lever to the right until it looks how you want it.
5. Click OK.

By the way, it doesn't seem to have an effect on the cursor in PowerPoint or Excel, but I love what it does in Word and Outlook and the Windows dialog boxes. And it also makes filling out (order) forms on the web a lot easier visibly. Try it out and see what I mean.

Until next week.

PS I’m committed to sharing the best of what I know with others so please don’t keep me a secret. If you enjoyed today’s tip, please forward it to anyone you feel may benefit. Alternatively, feel free to reprint it (with full copyright and subscription information) in your newsletters and message boards.

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