Outlook keep showing Working Offline

Dear folks,

I do face this problem especially using Ms Office 2010. Unlike Office 2007, you are able to right click at the bottom right and select "Key in password" and etc. But it differs for Office 2010. You realize that once you accidentally close the login credentials window, the Outlook will go "Working Offline" and despite you close, wait for 1 minute and access Outlook again, hoping the login window will prompt but still the outlook goes to Working Offline. And when you click on Send/Receive, you are not able to receive the new e-mails.

First word is "what the heck". But anyway, not to worry, you can get back in order. :) You can do this by checking whether your Cached Exchange Mode is checked or not. This usually happens if you do not check the "Cached Exchange mode". Once you check the "Cached Exchange Mode" only then you can see the "Working Offline" tab under Send/Receive. From there, you can uncheck the "Working Offline" and there you go, you are able to start work and access your e-mails!


Hope that helps!

Pattern Fills for Ms Excel 2007

After using Office 2010, I didn't realize that Office 2007 doesn't comes with the Pattern Fill until a user came to me about it. Well, if you are wondering what is Pattern Fill, it is fill used when you create Charts in either Ms Excel or Powerpoint. Try create a chart on Ms Excel 2007 and you realize that there is no pattern fill when you click Format. Good news, it doesn't happen on Ms Office 2010.

For those using Office 2007, you can download the excel add-ins from the Internet. I get mine from here http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-excel/archive/2007/11/16/chart-pattern-fills.aspx.

After download, you can safely add it to the Excel Add-Ins by following:

1. Open Excel program.
2. Click File>Excel Options.
3. Under Add-Ins, select Excel Add-Ins from the Manage button and click Go.
4. You will be prompt the Add-Ins box. Click on Browse.
5. Select the PatternFills add-ins that you have downloaded. Click Ok.
6. You should be able to see the add-ins every time you open the excel program. 

Not required for Office 2010 as it includes the Pattern Fill. So not bad at all if you choose to upgrade. =)

If you ever wonder why the need for pattern fills, well it is useful if you need to publish your charts for black and white printing.