Executive Tech Tips: Reading Word Attachments: How to Turn Off Reading Layout View

Many of us receive Microsoft Word attachments which have tables or formatting in them. The problem is when you open these attachments from a Microsoft Outlook email message, the document comes up in what is known as the "Reading Layout View". This view shows the attachment two pages at a time, which often distorts the information format we are trying to view.

To fix this so your attachments always come up in the "Print Layout View" you need to make the following adjustments in Microsoft Word:

1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Click on the "Tools" menu at the top
3. Click on "Options..."
4. Click on the "General" tab at the top of this new window
5. Click the box before "Allow Starting in Reading Layout" on the top right side.
    This will clear the check mark so the box is empty
6. Click "OK"
7. Open a Word document in Outlook. It will open as normal!

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SoftControl: Transforming the IT Landscape in Thailand and Beyond

I would like to re-introduce our company, starting with some information about our team. We are proud of our accomplishments and without our team we would not have been able to do any of it.

When we opened our doors 14 years ago, we never thought we would be working with the range of local and international clients we have now. SoftControl started small, back when the only real form of communication was the fax machine, and we had to send our engineers all over Bangkok on motorcycles to meet customer deadlines. Our goal was simple. We just wanted to offer something which was lacking back in 1993: first-class Software Development and Network Support.

Software Development

Since then SoftControl as a team has come a long way to achieve this goal. To do so, we employ talented IT professionals from Thailand and abroad.

I would like to present Ph.D. specialist Dr. Olaf Heudecker as my first example. Olaf is known for achieving what others think is impossible. He helps clients understand what software can really do. He once told me:

"I never have to think 'Can we do that?'. What I think is 'What will we do to solve our clients' challenges and meet their time and budget constraints?' This is the challenge."

We have 15 year IT veteran Andrea Doenz to head up the Software Development team. Brought in originally as a technical and project management expert, he quickly showed to be a great team leader.

"Being the team leader is about as easy as it gets here", said Andrea. "The team is enthusiastic and collaborative, two critical parts of getting our projects completed."

Network Support

SoftControl's network support team is an experienced team with a lot of client hours under their belt. With long time IT professionals such as Kim Hesselholdt and Khun Natawut (Wut) Satirotamawong, we are proud of our team's expertise in setting up, maintaining and responding to network issues with quick and streamlined procedures.

"It is a German run company", laughed Khun Natawut. "We are very thorough in our checkout and setup procedures. When we give our clients a quote, they know we have done our research. The clients are then clear on what the right next steps are."

Khun Panomporn (Jum) Neuthong is SoftControl's nerve center for network support issues. Khun Jum handles the incoming calls and makes sure everyone is handled appropriately. "I am trained to do one thing very well: make sure all of our customers are handled quickly and professionally." said Khun Jum. "I have been doing this job long enough I can even handle some easy customer problems without even needing to get an engineer."

Beyond Thailand

You can see from our case studies and long list of clients that we have a solid track record of successes. I guess we always knew we would have a lot of local clients, but seeing the combined client list of local and international names on our website always surprises me.

So what is next for us? We are getting an increase of requests from abroad. As everyone knows, Thailand is a great place to outsource software development. One of the biggest challenges in software outsourcing is communication. Because we have fluent English, German and French speaking managers, we can work with clients all over the world. This is a big advantage for us.

Contact SoftControl today to see how we can begin working with you to enhance your business.

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Technology Overview: Data Security

Employee Data Theft

One of the biggest advances in corporate security in the last few years is something called “end point security”. You may have seen in the movie The Recruit with Colin Farrell where Layla Moore (played by Bridget Moynahan) steals Classified CIA Information with her USB drive smuggled in the bottom of a coffee cup.

Unfortunately, data theft like this is not limited to CIA conspiracies. Here in Thailand it is a common occurrence for people leaving companies to take a lot of information to future employers: customer databases, payroll information, marketing and strategic plans.

Some of the more common devices which are used to steal data are:

1. USB Drives
2. Mobile Phones
3. iPods
4. MP3 Players
5. Laptops

Preventing Internal Threats

One way to begin protecting your company from Internal Threats is to install something called “end point security”. This type of software can see all devices which are connected to your network, and so have access to your data.

GFi offers powerful detection and protection against these types of threats in their GFi EndPointSecurity software. Correctly configured, EndPointSecurity can tell you who is connecting what devices to your network – and what they are doing with those devices. From USB to Bluetooth to WiFi, you can create rules to control how these devices connect to the network.

To further demonstrate this problem, here is an example of a company Public Relations disaster: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/04/fidelity_employee_steals_records/

Contact SoftControl today to see how we can protect your data – and your company’s reputation – today.

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Technology Overview: Connectivity Solution

Solutions Highlight: Microsoft SharePoint

Most executives don’t know the details on how their networks are running. And you should not have to. However, you should know there are technologies out there to help you and your organization do your jobs better. One of the primary ways to achieve greater effectiveness is by upgrading to Microsoft’s SharePoint Server. At its most basic, SharePoint is a replacement for your file server – the storage system for your files and documents. However, with its enhanced features and capabilities, it can do much more than that.
SharePoint is a powerful way to:

• Gain a consistent user interface across all systems
• Create major productivity boosts by simplifying normal business activities
• Effectively manage sensitive company information
• Better handle multilingual content
• Gain control of user applications such as MS Messenger and other software which are potential security threats and reduce productivity

These are just a few of the benefits of moving to a Microsoft SharePoint server.

You can learn a lot more about SharePoint and its capabilities at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/FX100492001033.aspx

Contact SoftControl today to see how we can give your business a major boost in productivity and a real impact on your bottom line through SharePoint.

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