You might want to print this out for your future reference:


--- Using Notepad ---

Notepad is a miniature text editor. It opens fast. Just as you use a notepad on your desk, 
you can use the 'Notepad' application to take notes on your PC screen while working in 
other Windows applications (or your web browser). The Notepad application uses very 
little memory and is useful for editing text you want to copy into a Windows application 
(or back into web browsers).

'Notepad' retrieves and saves files in text (.txt) file format. This makes 'Notepad' a 
convenient editor for creating and altering text-based files. Because Notepad stores
files in text format, you can copy  from almost all other word processing (and web page) 
applications and paste text into 'Notepad, which will remove formatting that was 
applied to the text in the documents (or webpages) you are copying from.

Doing your research, you should copy from auction and product ads; then paste 
your product (auction) research text you copied into 'Notepad', then edit the text
from your research in 'Notepad' to create your final product (auction) item descriptions.

We do recommend when doing your research you paste into 'Notepad', and not into 
other Word processors -- as pasting into 'Notepad' will remove photos, graphics, 
text formatting - so you will have just 'raw' text to work with. That will make text 
alot easier to rearrange, layout and edit.

However, before you paste your final edited text in your Notepad into your auction 
or product description of your ads, if you want the capability of formatting your 
documents (use different font colors, change fonts styles, ibold, etc), you'll need 
to use the formatting tools available in eBay's description ad tool, or use a true 
word processor (like Word, WordPerfect, Works, etc) first, then paste into 
eBay's ad description block when creating your eBay ads. 


--- Starting the 'Notepad' application ---

To start 'Notepad',  (in Windows) open the 'Start' menu and 
choose 'Programs', 'Accessories', 'Notepad'. 

'Notepad' starts up and displays a blank document in the 'Notepad' window. 

The initial blank 'Notepad' file that you opened is ready for text. You can begin 
typing into 'Notepad' (or copying text from other documents or auction or product 
ads, then pasting that copy into the 'Notepad').


--- Working with Documents in 'Notepad' ---

You can move the insertion point by using either the mouse or the keyboard. 
You select and basically edit text in 'Notepad' the same way you select and 
basically edit text in WordPad, but no formatting tools are available in 'Notepad'.

Limited formatting is available from the File, Page Setup command. You can 
change margins and add a header or footer, but you cannot format characters 
or paragraphs in any way. You also can use the Tab, Spacebar, and 
Backspace keys to align text. Tab stops are preset at every eight characters.

With the commands on 'Notepad's' Edit menu, you can cut, copy, and move 
text from one place in your text file to another. Text that you cut or copy is 
stored in the Clipboard. When you paste text, the contents of the Clipboard 
is copied from the Clipboard to the document at the location of the insertion point. 


--- Moving and Copying Text ---

You can move or copy text using either the menu commands, or the mouse. 

To select text with the keyboard, position the insertion point at the beginning 
of the text you want to select, hold down the Shift key, and move the insertion 
point to the end of the text using the arrow keys.

To select text with the mouse, position the insertion point at the beginning of 
the text you want to select, hold down the left button on your mouse, and move 
the insertion point to the end of the text while holding down the left mouse key. 

Then, on the text you have selected (highlighted text), you right click on the 
highlighted text, and click on copy (or you can press down 'Ctrl' and 'C' keys 
on your keyboard at the same time). Or you can also copy text by highlighting 
the text you want to copy, then Choose Edit, then move your mouse to where 
you want to paste it, then choose Edit Copy. 

Then, to paste that text you just copied to your clipboard (that is the text you 
just copied from the auction ads, or other text based program you are doing 
research from), you would then place the insertion point using your mouse 
inside the text area of 'Notepad' exactly where you want to paste that text -- 
then right click. Select paste (or press down the 'Ctrl' and 'V' keys on your 
keyboard at the same time). Your copied text will be pasted into the 'Notepad'.

After you have selected a block of text, you can also delete it using the 'Delete' 
or 'Backspace' keys (or press 'Ctrl' and 'X' at the same time on your keyboard). 
If you start typing when text is selected, the selected text is replaced with 
whatever you type. 

Rearrange and edit the text in 'Notepad' for your ad description (recommend 
pasting your completed copy in your Notepad into 'Word', 'WordPerfect', 'Works', 
or another word processor, and perform a 'Spell Check'). After checking spelling, 
then copy and paste it into your ad description.


--------------------------------------

As you will be using the 'Notepad' application often, you may want to create 
a 'shortcut' to Notepad on your PC desktop.

To do that - (in Windows) open the 'Start' menu and choose 'Programs', 'Accessories', 
then -- 'right' click on 'Notepad'. 

Select 'Send To' then 'left' click on 'Desktop (create shortcut)'.

This will send a shortcut to Notepad to your PC desktop (on your PC monitor screen).

Look for the 'Shortcut to Notepad' on your PC's desktop :) 

We at AuctionInstructor.com wish you -- happy researching!