Taking On Microsoft's Lync Certification!

As a technical instructor, we are often challenged to take on and learn new technologies. For a Microsoft Certified Trainer, there are additional challenges – we have to earn our certification in those technologies before we can step into the classroom and share what we have learned.

Over the course of the past year, I’ve decided to tackle Microsoft Lync 2010. It seemed to be a good fit for me, as I spend a lot of time working in the messaging space with Microsoft Exchange 2010, and Lync integrates with Exchange. The other side of it is the fact that Lync evolved out of components that were part of Exchange back in the early days (pre-Active Directory), so that reinforced my resolve.

There are two exams to earn one’s MCITP:Microsoft Lync Certification. The first step is to become Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist for Lync by passing the TS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring exam (70-664).  The second best piece of advice I can offer regarding this exam is to spend time with the product and the Lync 2010 Resource Kit. Specific to the exam, however, the best advice is to thoroughly ingest every article mentioned in Enrique Lima’s study guide for the Lync exam.

After you punch your ticket on 70-664, you’ll ramp up for the 70-665 exam. Once again, my old friend Enrique has another unofficial prep guide, and this one is a two parter: part one can be found here, and part two here.

Feel free to shoot me a line about any other questions you might have with Lync certification. Lync is one of Microsoft’s hottest properties right now, and the need for knowledgeable, certified professionals is on the rise.

Bob Reinsch

breinsch@centriq.com

What's New With SQL Server 2012 Training?

I wanted to share with everyone what to expect in the classroom from SQL Server 2012 courses.  As many of you know, for a long time SQL Server classes have been arranged in three core courses, while the content has changed over the years to support the various versions, the structure of these three courses has remained the same.  This structure being: query writing, "traditional" db administration, and database development.  With 2012, these three core facets remain in place in three new 2012 courses.  The query writing course which used to be a jammed packed three day course is now a jammed packed 5 day course (thankfully).  The administration and development courses remain unchanged in length and strong in focusing on the core fundamentals of both administration and development, like backup, restore, indexing, tuning, automating, auditing, and error handling.

These courses are now in beta and we at Centriq are evaluating and providing feedback to Microsoft to ensure the courses offer students what they need.  We plan on offering them to the public as soon as possible and right now that looks like second quarter.

I feel very good about the 2012 SQL training present offerings and I hope to see you in class!

Please use the following URL to get detailed course information on these core course and additional courses as Microsoft makes them available.

http://learning.microsoft.com/manager/catalog.aspx?qry=SQL+2012&nav=trainingtype%3aClassroom+Training&btn=1

Automatically create new appointments using Auto-create in Outlook

Click and drag to automatically create new objects in Outlook. For example, an email message can be turned into a new appointment on the calendar:


1. Click on a message to select it - the message will appear to be highlighted.

2. Hold down your mouse button and drag the selected message to the Calendar button in the navigation pane on the left side of the Window. When you release the button, a new appointment will appear already including the information from the body of the email message in the subject line and body of the appointment.

Make modifications as necessary, and then click the Save & Close button. The appointment will appear on your calendar!

This works with all folders; i.e. auto-create an email based on an appointment on your calendar, or add a detailed task to your list from an email or appointment.

 

- Irene Heckert, Microsoft Office Expert; CTT, MCAS, ITIL Certified, MOS LinkIn with Irene

Update your documents to the newest file type!

If you see the words "Compatibility Mode" in the title bar next to your document's name, you are working in a older file format. This happens in both the 2007 and 2010 Office Suites. Although it is fine - and sometimes necessary - to stay in that mode, you might discover that some of the tools you want to use are not available. When that happens, you will need to convert your files to the newer file type. If you have concerns that something in the document might not appear the way you planned or work correctly, use the option to "save as", give the document a new name, and save. This way you can review your work in the new file yet still have the ability to revert back to the older file if you discover any issues.

For those of you that fearlessly forge ahead, another option is to use "Convert", which will actually replace the original file with the newest type:

      • In Office 2007, "Convert" will appear as the third option of the Office Button menu.

      • In Office 2010, "Convert" will be the top item in the Info category which appears in the backstage view when you click the File tab.

By the way, you will find that even if the file was created in the 2007 XML file format, you will still need to convert files when you upgrade to 2010 due to the enhancements available in the newest software!

- Irene Heckert, Microsoft Office Expert; CTT, MCAS, ITIL Certified, MOS LinkIn with Irene

Help yourself!

Next time you get stuck with how to do a specific task in Microsoft Office, try searching one of the following web sites:

Microsoft training site with step by step “how to” guides: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/training-FX101782702.aspx?CTT=97x

Training videos on a multitude of software topics:

http://www.lynda.com/

http://www.woopid.com/

http://www.techtutor.tv/

Google and YouTube have lots of other good web sites and videos that will step you through whatever you  are stuck on!

- Irene Heckert, Microsoft Office Expert; CTT, MCAS, ITIL Certified, MOS LinkIn with Irene