Wednesday, December 25, 2019

How do I go back to a previous version of Screencast-o-Matic?

Similar questions: 
  • How do I get an older version of Screencast-o-Matic? 
  • How do I revert to an older version of Screencast-o-Matic?
  • How can I use an older version of Screencast-o-Matic?

Have you ever had a problem after upgrading your Screencast-o-Matic software?


After upgrading to Screencast-o-Matic version 2.3.14,
I realized that I had lost some of the older tools
(such as the customary arrows),
so, to stay consistent with other videos in the same project,
I wanted to revert back to the previous software version.
But, how would I do that?

Here's what I have found (by testing):


  • When Screencast-o-Matic upgrades, it keeps older versions intact as separate folders.
  • You can find those folders by visiting the main software directory (instructions will follow). 
  • Also, in the main folder, you will find a text file called version.txt.
  • Open that text file and edit the version number (it's the only data in the file).

Once you have changed the version number in the text file, the software will run under that version.

How to find your Screencast-o-Matic software folder:


My Screencast-o-Matic software resides in my AppData\Local folder:
C:\Users\[user-name]\AppData\Local\Screencast-O-Matic\v2

Screencast-o-Matic start button
(used on the instruction that follows)

  • To find where your Screencast-o-Matic software resides, right-click on the software-starting shortcut icon (seen in the above image). 
  • And then choose properties
  • You should see the software location
    in the "Start in" data field.

Side effects when manually changing software versions:


When you go back to an older software version, you may not be able to launch a project if it were made with a later version release.

The solution to launch a more recent project, is to go back to the version text file and edit the version number again. That only takes  few seconds once you know how to do it.

I hope this information will help you.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

How to sort the table of contents in Microsoft Word


So, you have made some notes using Microsoft Word, and programmed a table of contents, but now it is becoming a mess, as those topics are not listed in alphabetical order.


Help!



That happens to me often. So much so, that I finally did some research on the subject and found a solution to my dilemma.

My table of contents consists of headers and sub headers.
I wanted to, at least, reorder the headers representing my major topics.

Well, I found out that I can't really list my table of contents alphabetically, unless my topics are written in that way.

What I can do is to rearrange the topics themselves. Something that MS Word will help me with.

However, sorting topics is only appropriate if, the comprehension of those topics, doesn't depend on the sequence they were originally written.

Here's how you sort the major topics to begin with.
Warning: Please try it on a copy of your document until you know how to do it.

  • First, switch the view mode to Outline (this is very important, otherwise you will make a mess).
  • Then, place the cursor on the left side of your first major topic header.
  • Now, press the following key combination to select everything:
    CTRL SHIFT END.
  • Next, press the HOME tab.
  • Then, in the paragraph group, click on the sort group (the A/Z icon).
  • When the dialog box pops up, accept the default values by clicking on the OK button.
  • Your major headers are now sorted.
  • Next, change the view mode to your regular mode such as, for example, Print View.
  • Unselect the text by clicking anywhere on the page.

And now you can update your table of contents.

  • To update your table of contents,
    • right-click on the table, 
    • and choose "Update Field
    • and then choose "Update the Entire Table".


Great, you’re all done.

What we did here, was sorting the pages in the document by topic names.

Now, can you do the same for subtopics?


Yes, you just need to be more selective when you are highlighting the area to be affected.

Here's what I mean: 

You will have to pick individual topics and sort its sub-topics as described above. 

The only difference here, is that now you place your cursor at the left of the first subtopic, instead of major topic.

Perhaps I should make a video about it.

Okay, I will.