Translating documents with Microsoft Word - this is how it works!
Translating documents with Microsoft Word - this is how it works!
Even if many people today speak and understand English, French or Spanish more or less well, most of them still have problems with technical terms, correct grammar and business language. If, for example, you receive a technical article in exactly this language, you often don’t understand a word of it. On the other hand, it can happen that you want to send a text you wrote in German to a business partner or pen pal in Sweden, China or Chioggia who doesn’t understand German. But thanks to Microsoft Office 365 Home, documents can be translated very quickly and converted into the target language. We reveal how this works here.
Translating documents: individual sections
You understand most of it, but here and there some technical terms are missing? No problem! You can also easily translate a Microsoft Word document section by section. The following steps are necessary:
- First, mark the text section that is to be translated into the target language with the left mouse button.
- Now click on the marked text with the right mouse button and select „Translate“ from the menu.
- In the window that then appears, the text is already translated into German.
- If you want to translate into another language, you can select the desired language from the drop-down menu in the „To“ field.
- If the original text is to be replaced in the new target language, select the relevant section and then click on „Insert“. The text section is converted into the new language.
- If you want to keep both language versions, simply move the cursor in the document to the place where the text should appear in the target language and then click on „Insert“.
- Of course, these steps also work in reverse, for example, if you want to translate documents from German to English.
Note: These steps can only be used to translate documents written in Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Outlook has its own translator, which must be installed as an add-in from the Office Store. It enables the translation of an e-mail message text without preparation. In this case, the translation is displayed directly next to the reading area in the inbox.
Translate entire Word document
Not only individual text passages, but also complete documents can be translated into countless languages with Microsoft Word.
- To do this, first click on the „Translate“ button in the „Check“ tab.
- Next, select „Translate document“.
- Both the source and target languages can now be selected in the window on the right.
- Then click on „Translate“ again, Word automatically creates a new file with the translated document.
Quick translation made easy
If you want a quick translation without Word, you can also use a helpful tool from Google. However, translating documents here is not always completely error-free.
- First, open the relevant document in Google Docs.
- Then click on „Tools“ in the top menu and select „Translate document“.
- The document must then be given a name and the language selected.
- Click on „Translate“.
- A version containing the translation is then opened in a new window.
Caution: If you use Microsoft Office file editing, „Translate document“ may not be displayed. In this case, the file must first be converted.
What if I want to translate a text in Chinese or Cyrillic?
Documents can also be translated from non-Latin languages or letters. In this case, the menu „Input Tools“ is displayed in the toolbar. If you click on the down arrow next to it, you can select the corresponding language. Now the individual words or text passages can be entered and translated either in their phonetic spelling with Latin characters, via the virtual on-screen keyboard or even as handwritten characters. Tip: The „Input tools“ menu can also be called up quite simply using keyboard shortcuts: PC: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K Mac: ⌘ + Option + Shift + K
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Online Video Download - Videos from the net to your computer
Online Video Download - Videos from the net to your computer
It’s annoying when you’ve planned to watch a video later, when there’s time – and then it’s no longer available in the media library or streaming portal. „I wish I’d made a quick copy beforehand!“ is what some people think. But is such an online video download legal at all, or are you moving in a legal grey area? We explain!
What does the law say about online video downloads?
Depending on the method you use to export a video and thus create a private copy, you are actually moving in a legal grey area. Or not! According to Section 53 of the Copyright Act (UrhG), individual copies of videos from a media library, for example, may be made for private use on any medium. However, these copies may not be resold or lent out for money. However, it becomes problematic if access to the source of the video – i.e. the streaming service or the media library – was not entirely legal. For example, if you have not taken out a valid subscription. It also depends on HOW the private copy is made. If the screen content is saved with special software such as Web Video Recorder Professional or Web Video Recorder Premium while the film is running, everything is okay. However, you can also export a video directly from the graphics card – and then it gets complicated. The legal situation here is not entirely clear.
How do I get the online video download onto my PC?
There are various ways to start an online video download so that you can watch videos later and no longer miss the „rejects“ from the streaming services or media libraries. With screen capture software, for example, you can film the entire screen while the video is running. Afterwards, the video can be exported. To do this, select the recording window after installing and starting the programme. This then shows the section of the screen that is to be recorded. Then select video quality and storage location, and the recording can be started.
More convenient, however, are special programmes for video recording such as Web Video Recorder Professional or Web Video Recorder Premium. These programmes already include a browser so that popular video platforms such as YouTube, Yahoo or Stream can be accessed directly. After installation and start, all you have to do is click on the film and select „Download from this page“. The video is then automatically saved in the file manager and the online video download can start. Further advantages of this software:
- The videos can be exported to the computer, smartphone or tablet and watched at any time.
- Thanks to the extensive database in these programmes, it is also possible to search for specific topics on the supported video portals.
- The volume, size and speed of the recordings can be adjusted.
- The user interface can be changed individually.
- A download report is currently available.
- You can create your own folders in the media library.
- Automatic reminders so that no favourite programme is missed.
- Depending on the version, the downloaded files can be converted.
Be sure to read the small print when using streaming services!
We have already mentioned that you may find yourself in a legal grey area with an online video download. This becomes very clear when you take a look at the small print in the general terms and conditions of the contracts with Netflix, for example. It says: „You agree not to archive, reproduce (…) content and information available on Netflix or obtained from or through the Netflix service. You also agree not to circumvent, remove, alter, disable, degrade or prevent any copy protection on the Netflix Service“. Amazon and other streaming services have very similar clauses in their contracts, according to which you are therefore basically liable to prosecution if you record their content. Even if copyright law basically contradicts this – whether you want to take the risk of being blocked by the provider and not being able to watch anything at all is something everyone has to decide for themselves.
Header image: © Cybrain, stock.adobe.com
Cropping an image in Photoshop - how to do it!
Cropping an image in Photoshop - here's how!
You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to crop an image. Even when compiling a digital image collection, great effects can be achieved with a „crop“ and an appropriate background. Here we show how to crop objects in photos.
Why you should crop an image
In the past, you just took a few photos, picked the best ones and then stuck them in a photo album. Today, pictures have taken on a different meaning. For example, for social media profiles, job applications or just for fun. It is very practical to be able to „cut out“ individual elements from the overall picture – and that is what cropping a picture means when editing photos. It is especially important to be able to crop individual objects as a basis for photomontages. For example, it is possible to take a photo of your girlfriend at home in the living room and then crop her on the computer using the cropping tools Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. With a few clicks, the sofa is gone, as is the coffee table next to it and the wall in the background. In the next step, the girlfriend can then be mounted, for example, in a hammock on the beach in Hawaii or on the summit of Mount Everest.
Image cropping: Edit photos like a pro
Adobe makes image cropping a breeze with its cropping tools. There are just four steps to edit photos with them:
1: Select motif
First, of course, open the image in Photoshop on the computer that is to be edited with the corresponding cropping tool. With a key click on „W“ or the quick selection tool in the menu bar, the object in the picture (for example the girlfriend) can now be selected. Simply move the mouse over it.
2: Set the edges of the object
When cropping objects, now click on the tab „Enhance edges“. In order to cut out the motif precisely, the parameters „Radius“, „Round off“ and „Reduce/Enlarge“ must be adjusted until the motif has been completely captured and the edges are where they should be.
3: Mount photos
Once the motif has been cropped exactly as you want it, simply copy it with the shortcut „Ctrl + C“. Now open a new picture with the desired background and paste the cropped object. Normally, unsightly, unsmoothed edges should still be visible now. Press the „E“ key to open the eraser function in Photoshop. Select the hardness „0“ and carefully erase the edges around the subject.
4: Edit the finest details when cropping the picture
Depending on how large the radius of the eraser is, retouching usually results in the loss of interesting details such as small hairs or a striking shadow. In this case, simply press the „B“ key, which opens the brush in Photoshop. First enlarge the areas of the photo that are to be corrected. Then, while holding down the „Alt“ key, move the cursor over the part of the picture you want to improve. Now press the left mouse button to copy the colour and structure of the selected part of the picture. With a few mouse wipes over the corresponding spot, hair or other details can now be faithfully reproduced where they should be.
This is what the "magic wand" is all about
The Magic Wand tool is selected with a left click from the toolbar. If it is clicked on a simple, preferably single-coloured background, this area is activated – recognisable by the dotted line. The motif to be cropped remains unaffected because it normally has a different colour and structure. With the key combination „Ctrl + X“ or the „Remove“ key, the marked area – the boring background – is simply cut out. However, a clipping made this way is much less clean than with the above method.
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Format your scientific paper in just a few steps
Format your scientific paper in just a few steps
In order to score points with a bachelor’s thesis, master’s thesis, diploma thesis or doctoral dissertation, very specific formatting is prescribed. Even the brightest minds sometimes despair of setting the correct page numbering or margins in Word. Aren’t there a few tricks in Microsoft Office 365 Home or Microsoft Word for formatting your academic work without risking a nervous breakdown? Yes, there are – and we’ll show you what they are.
Which areas do you need to format for a scientific paper?
Depending on the university, it is possible that there are very specific requirements as to what the formatting in Word should look like. Therefore, it is helpful to find out exactly what the university’s requirements are before formatting the document for the academic paper. In general, however, you must always keep these points in mind when formatting a scientific paper:
- Font and font size
- Line spacing
- Page margins
- Page numbering
- Cover page
With formatting in Word, it’s basically quite simple – if you know how!
Formatting font and font size
If you want to format a scientific paper, you should make sure to choose a consistent font that is easy to read. Usually, the sometimes somewhat old-fashioned serif font Times New Roman or the modern sans-serif Arial are used. For body text, the font should be used in 12 point, for headings 14 point.
Choose the right line spacing
The texts are formatted as justified text, i.e. flush on the left and right so that nothing flutters at the edges. As a rule, the line spacing is 1.5; only for footnotes can a single line spacing be chosen. Remember the margins Especially in justified type, it is important that the margins – the space between the letters and the edge of the page – are large enough, because this makes reading easier. Before starting to write, the document should be set up so that the following margins are pre-formulated:
- top and bottom margins 2 to 2.5 cm each
- left margin 3 to 3.5 cm
- right margin 2 to 2.5 cm
Formatting your scientific paper and setting page numbers
First things first: Neither the cover page nor the table of contents are given a page number (pagination). Depending on how the bachelor’s or doctoral thesis, etc., is structured, pagination may begin on the third page or on the page containing the introduction. The page number is set in the formatting in the middle of the footer or right-justified. In order to start page numbering only from page 3 when formatting in Word, a few steps are necessary:
- a section break is inserted on page 2
- the footer must not be linked to the previous footer
- now start with the command „Format page numbers“ from 1
How to make the cover page work
Pretty much every university requires a cover sheet for academic papers. It contains the most important key data and should give the examiners a quick overview of the formal aspects of the work. In a way, it’s like the cover of a book: it has to make a good first impression! The cover sheet must include the following information:
- The type of thesis (Bachelor’s thesis, Master’s thesis, doctoral thesis, etc.)
- the title and possibly a subtitle of the academic paper
- Name of the university, if possible also the logo in very good print quality
- The name of the author of the thesis and his/her matriculation number
- the author’s contact details
- the names of the persons who supervised the author during his or her work
- if available, the name of the second corrector
- Name of the degree programme or department
- Date of submission
Tip: How to structure a Bachelor's or Master's thesis
With these forms of academic work, the correct outline is crucial if you want to achieve a good grade. Usually, the outline looks like this:
- Cover page
- Abstract (preface/introduction)
- Table of contents
- List of images used (if any)
- List of tables used (if available)
- List of abbreviations
- Continuous text divided into
- Introduction
- theoretical framework
- Methodology
- Results
- Conclusion
- List of literature used
- Appendices, if any
- Affidavit
Header image: © monticellllo, stock.adobe.com