How to restore Ubuntu 12.04 display resolution

Ubuntu 12.04 can lose its display resolution if it can no longer detect your display device. For example, the next time you boot your Ubuntu 12.04 PC, you might find that your display resolution has switched from 1280 x 960 to 800 x 600, which is nearly useless. Fortunately, this happens only rarely. In case you should be not so lucky, this document defines display resolution and explains how you might restore it in your Ubuntu 12.04 PC.

Note: Although this document applies specifically to Ubuntu 12.04, it also applies generally to other Ubuntu releases.

Defining display resolution
A 1280 x 960 (1280 columns by 960 rows of pixels) resolution displays 1,228,800 total pixels. In contrast, an 800 x 600 resolution displays only 480,000 total pixels, which reduces overall display resolution by 61%. For more information, please see Resolution, by Ted Hewitt at Riverside Community College.

Restoring Ubuntu 12.04 display resolution
If you lose normal display resolution on your Ubuntu 12.04 PC, you might restore your resolution by re-enabling display detection as follows:

1. Turn off your display, and then disconnect its AC power cord.
2. After waiting longer than 15 seconds, reconnect the AC power cord to your display, and then turn it on.
3. Reboot your Ubuntu 12.04 PC.
4. As shown in Figure 1 below, in the launcher, click the System Settings icon to display its window.
5. As shown in Figure 2 below, in the Hardware section, click the Displays icon to display its window.
6. Click Detect Displays to detect your display.
7. Select a resolution, such as 1280 x 960 (4:3), and then click Apply to change the resolution.
8. If you like your selected resolution, click Keep This Configuration to display a window similar to Figure 3 below.

Note: For additional information about trouble-shooting Ubuntu display resolution, please see Why can't Ubuntu 12.04 detect my screen resolution?.

Figure 1 - Clicking the System Settings icon in the launcher.

Figure 2 - Clicking the Displays icon in the System Settings window. 

Figure 3 - This is the Displays window for an example restored resolution.

Advice: Upgrade from Ubuntu 12.04 ONLY after backup

If you are planning to upgrade from Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10, please first perform a full-system backup. At least back up all your data. The upgrade might not work.

Today, 11-27-2012, after attempting to update my main PC from Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10, I could not make Ubuntu 12.10 work correctly. Despite using the recommended "proprietary, tested" Nvidia display driver, I could not stabilize my display:

• The Unity launcher would not unhide smoothly.
• YouTube videos played in stop motion.

Fortunately, before attempting the upgrade, I performed a full-system backup through Clonezilla. I was therefore able to restore my main PC to Ubuntu 12.04.

This failure to upgrade surprised me because I had successfully installed Ubuntu 12.10 (through a live disc) onto my standby PC. I needed only fix the frozen-Dash problem and disable the unwanted Amazon ads. For more information, please see: Fixing and customizing Ubuntu 12.10, Repairing frozen Dash in Ubuntu 12.10, and Disabling Amazon shopping results in Ubuntu 12.10.

Personally, I do not plan to upgrade from Ubuntu 12.04 until the next long-term-support release is available. Although this is unfortunate, I am still an Ubuntu fan. In my opinion, its 12.04 release is superior to all other Linux distributions.

Installing Chromium on Xubuntu 12.10

Chromium is the open-source browser on which Google bases its Chrome browser. Therefore, these browsers are nearly identical, and you can use Chromium in place of Chrome. In fact, you should do so on Xubuntu 12.10 (a community-developed Linux distribution based on Ubuntu core components and Xfce Linux desktop environment). If you try to install Chrome on a PC running Xubuntu 12.10, the installation halts and displays "The package is of bad quality" as shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 - A warning against installing Google Chrome on Xubuntu 12.10. You should instead install Chromium.

This document explains how to remove Google Chrome (if installed), install Chromium, and then configure it.

Removing Google Chrome
In case you have installed Google Chrome on Xubuntu 12.10, you should remove it and then install Chromium according to the next section. To remove (uninstall) Google Chrome, do the following:

1. Open a terminal, type sudo apt-get install synaptic, type your password and then wait for Synaptic to install.
2. Type sudo synaptic to display the Synaptic Package Manager window.
3. Type google-chrome into the Quick filter search field.
4. Right-click google-chrome-stable, click Mark for Complete Removal, click Apply to display a Summary window, and then click Apply.
5. Close both the Synaptic Package Manager window and the terminal.

Installing Chromium
To install Chromium on Xubuntu 12.10, do the following:

1. As shown in Figure 2 below, click the Applications Menu (white mouse, upper left on screen) and then click Ubuntu Software Center to display its window.
2. As shown in Figure 3 below, type chromium into the search field, select Chromium Web Browser and then click Install.
3. After Chromium installs, close the Ubuntu Software Center.
4. Configure Chromium according to the next section.

Figure 2 - Opening the Ubuntu Software Center.

Figure 3 - Installing the Chromium Web Browser.

Configuring Chromium

To configure Chromium on Xubuntu 12.10, do the following:

1. Click the Applications Menu (white mouse), click Internet and then click Chromium Web Browser as shown in Figure 4 below.
2. Click sign in (at the upper right of your first Chromium window) to display the Sign in to Chromium window as shown in Figure 5 below.
3. Type your email address, and then click either Sign in or Create a Google Account. If you already have a Google account, Chromium can synchronize your bookmarks, history, and settings.
4. Click the three bars at the upper right, click Settings to display its window.
5. Select Open a specific page or set of pages, click Set pages, select https//www.google.com/ and then click OK.
6. As shown in Figure 6 below, scroll to Default browser, click Make Chromium my default browser and then close the Settings - Chromium window.

Figure 4 - Selecting and opening Chromium. 

Figure 5 - Signing into Chromium, and syncing to your Google account.

Figure 6 - Making Chromium your default browser.

Installing Chromium on Ubuntu 12.10

Chromium is the open-source browser on which Google bases its Chrome browser. Therefore, these browsers are nearly identical, and you can use Chromium in place of Chrome. In fact, you should do so on Ubuntu 12.10. If you try to install Chrome on a PC running Ubuntu 12.10, the installation halts and displays "The package is of bad quality" as shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 - A warning against installing Google Chrome on Ubuntu 12.10. You should instead install Chromium.

This document explains how to remove Google Chrome (if installed), install Chromium, and then configure it.

Removing Google Chrome
In case you have installed Google Chrome on Ubuntu 12.10, you should remove it and then install Chromium according to the next section. To remove (uninstall) Google Chrome, do the following:

1. Open a terminal, type sudo apt-get install synaptic, type your password and then wait for Synaptic to install.
2. Type sudo synaptic to display the Synaptic Package Manager window.
3. Type google-chrome into the Quick filter search field.
4. Right-click google-chrome-stable, click Mark for Complete Removal, click Apply to display a Summary window and then click Apply.
5. Close both the Synaptic Package Manager window and the terminal.

Installing Chromium
To install Chromium on Ubuntu 12.10, do the following:

1. As shown in Figure 2 below; in the Unity launcher, click the Ubuntu Software Center icon to display its window.
2. As shown in Figure 3 below, type chromium into the search field, select Chromium Web Browser and then click Install.
3. Type your password and then click Authenticate to start the installation.
4. After Chromium installs, close the Ubuntu Software Center.
5. Configure Chromium according to the next section.

Figure 2 - Opening the Ubuntu Software Center. 

Figure 3 - Installing the Chromium Web Browser.

Configuring Chromium
To configure Chromium on Ubuntu 12.10, do the following:

1. Click Dash Home (at top of the launcher) and then click Chromium Web Browser as shown in Figure 4 below.
2. Minimize the Chromium window; in the Unity launcher, right-click the Chromium icon; and then click Lock to Launcher as shown in Figure 5 below.
3. Maximize the Chromium window, click sign in (at the upper right) to display the Sign in to Chromium window as shown in Figure 6 below.
4. Type your email address, and then click either Sign in or Create a Google Account. If you already have a Google account, Chromium can synchronize your bookmarks, history, and settings.
5. Click the three bars at the upper right, and then click Settings to display its window.
6. Select Open a specific page or set of pages, click Set pages, select https//www.google.com/ and then click OK.
7. As shown in Figure 7 below, scroll to Default browser, click Make Chromium my default browser and then close the Settings - Chromium window.

Figure 4 - Opening Chromium through Dash.

Figure 5 - Locking the Chromium icon to the Unity launcher. 

Figure 6 - Signing into Chromium, and syncing to your Google account.

Figure 7 - Making Chromium your default browser.

Creating a cumulative status report through MS Word

Word is the word-processor application in the Microsoft Office productivity suite. You can use Word to generate a cumulative status report that lets you continually update your assigned tasks and cover your assets (CYA). This document explains how to:

1. Create your cumulative status report, which is a simple Word table that lets you track the status of your projects, assignments and tasks.
2. Format your status-report table.
3. Enter task data into your status report table.
4. Create a PDF status report.
5. Cover your assets (CYA).

Creating a status-report table
To create a simple table for your cumulative status report, do the following:

1. Open a new MS Word file, and then save it with a meaningful name, such as Cumulative_Status_Report.docx.
2. As shown in Figure 1 below, click the Page Layout tab to display its ribbon, click Margins, and then select Narrow.
3. As shown in Figure 2 below, click Orientation, and then select Landscape.
4. As shown in Figure 3 below, click Insert, click Table, and then click Insert Table to display its window.
5. As shown in Figure 4 below, select seven columns and two rows, and then click OK to create your table.

Figure 1 - Selecting Narrow page margins.

Figure 2 - Setting page orientation to Landscape.

Figure 3 - This is the Insert Table window.

Figure 4 - Inserting a table with seven columns and two rows.

Formating your table
To format your status-report table, do the following:

1. Select the Layout tab to display its ribbon, click Select (at the left), click Select Table, and then click Cell Margins (in the Alignment section) to display a Table Options window. Note: For more information about tables and ribbons, please see Using Word 2007 ribbons for tables.
2. As shown in Figure 5 below, set all four Default cell margins to 0.05 inches, and then click OK. Author's Note: In my opinion, these cell margins make the table easier to read.
3. Place the insertion point (blinking cursor) in any cell in the first row, select the Layout tab, and then click Properties to display its window.
4. As shown in Figure 6 below, select the Row tab, deselect (uncheck) Allow row to break across pages, select (check) Repeat as header row at the top of each page, and then click OK.
5. Select the entire first row, click the Home tab to display its ribbon, and then click B to make the first row (the header row) bold.
6. Leaving the header row selected, click the Layout tab to display its ribbon, and then (in the Alignment section) click the Align Center icon to align header text both horizontally and vertically.
7. As shown in Figure 7 below, type appropriate text into the header row, and then adjust column widths.
8. Select the entire second row. In the Alignment section, click the Align Center Left icon to align task text to the left and vertically, and then use Align Center to align each Date cell both horizontally and vertically.

Figure 5 - Set all four cell margins to 0.05 inches.

Figure 6 - Repeat the table header on each page.

Figure 7 - Type text into the header row.

Entering task data
To enter task data into your status-report table, do the following:

1. As shown in Figure 8 below, enter data for your initial task into the second row.
2. As shown in Figure 9 below, click the Layout tab to display its ribbon, place the insertion point (blinking cursor) anywhere in the second row, and then (in the Rows & Columns section) click Insert Above to insert a new row.
3. As shown in Figure 10 below, enter data for your next assigned task into the second row, which is your new blank row.
4. For each other in-process task on which you have worked, revise its Date of latest activity.
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each new task that any manager assigns to you. Figure 11 below contains additional example tasks.

Figure 8 - This is an example initial task.

Figure 9 - A new second row for the next task.

Figure 10 - An example new task.

Figure 11 - Multiple example tasks.

Creating a PDF status report
To create a PDF cumulative status report, do the following:

1. Open your Word cumulative status report.
2. Click the Office Button (at the upper left), to display its menu.
3. Select Save As, click PDF or XPS, and select the PDF file type.
4. Click Publish to generate your PDF cumulative status report, such as
   2012-11-23_Your_Name_Status_Report.pdf.

Covering your assets (CYA)
Your cumulative status report can help you practice prudent CYA. For example, at the end of each day, you can:

1. Create a PDF cumulative status report according to the section above.
2. Create a PDF daily activity log according to Creating daily activity logs through MS Excel.
3. Send an email to all your managers, and attach both PDFs.
4. Make personal backup copies of both PDFs, and file them in private storage.

Repairing frozen Dash in Ubuntu 12.10

Ubuntu 12.10 is the newest Ubuntu distribution of the Linux operating system. After you install or upgrade to Ubuntu 12.10, its Dash search window might not work correctly. Intermittently, Dash can freeze (hang up) after you type only a few characters into its search field. This document can probably help you repair Dash by installing a proprietary video driver.

Authors Note: I experienced this problem on my medium-powered (AMD dual-core, 2 GB memory), rebuilt PC, into which I had installed a new motherboard. I use this machine as my standby and experimental PC, on which I ran Ubuntu 12.04 with no Dash problems.

To repair frozen dash by installing a proprietary video driver, do the following:

1. In the launcher, click System Settings to display its window, click Software Sources to display its window, and then click the Additional Drivers tab to display its page.
2. Select an appropriate driver, such as the NVIDIA binary Xorg - - (proprietary, tested) driver shown below, and then click Apply Changes.
3. When prompted, type your password, and then click Authenticate.
4. Close the Software Sources window.
5. Reboot your PC.

Disabling Amazon shopping results in Ubuntu 12.10 Dash

If you use Dash, the internal search tool in Ubuntu 12.10, to find and display a file, folder, or application, Dash also displays Amazon shopping results (as "More suggestions"). For example, as shown in Figure 1 below, if you search for Python in Dash, it displays not only the IDLE (using Python-3.3) application, but also Amazon shopping results. This document can help you easily disable Amazon shopping results, allowing your search to display only what it finds internally, as shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 1 - Amazon shopping results enabled

Figure 2 - Amazon shopping results disabled

Author's Note: Amazon shopping results in Dash annoy me. If I am searching for something on my computer, I want only that item; I care not whether Amazon (or any other merchant) can sell me related items. I need not be distracted by eye clutter. If I wish to buy something online, I will search for it through a browser.

You can very easily disable Amazon shopping results, as follows:

1. As shown in Figure 3 below, in the launcher, click System Settings to display its window.
2. As shown in Figure 4 below, click Privacy to display its window.
3. As shown in Figure 5 below, find the switch at the right of When searching in the Dash: Include online search results, and then click the switch to toggle it to OFF.

Figure 3 - Selecting system settings

Figure 4 - Selecting privacy

Figure 5 - Disabling Amazon shopping results

Using Word 2007 ribbons for tables

If you only occasionally use Word 2007 (the word processor in Microsoft Office 2007), you might find its ribbons less intuitive than were the menus in earlier versions of Word. This can be especially frustrating while creating and maintaining tables. This document can help you remember where to find, and how to use, various Word 2007 table tools, including its:

• Table icon
• Design ribbon
• Layout ribbon
• Borders and Shading window

Creating a new table - The easiest-to-find Word 2007 table tool is the Table icon that lets you create new tables. To create a new Word 2007 table, do the following:

1. Click the Insert tab to display its ribbon as shown in Figure 1 below.
2. Double-click the Table icon, and then click Insert Table to display its window as shown in Figure 2 below.
3. Select your numbers of columns and rows, and then click OK. For example, as shown in Figure 3 below, you might choose four columns and seven rows.

Figure 1 - The Insert ribbon contains this Table icon.

Figure 2 - The Insert Table window lets you choose your numbers of columns and rows.

Figure 3 - This sample new table contains four columns and seven rows.

Accessing table ribbons - The relatively-easy-to-find Word 2007 Design and Layout table ribbons contain table tools. Placing the text-insertion point (flashing cursor) anywhere within a table displays the yellow Table Tools label and the Design and Layout tabs as shown in Figure 4 below. You can then do either of the following:

• Click the Design tab to display its ribbon as shown in Figure 5 below. The Design ribbon contains tools for formatting the overall table.
• Click the Layout tab to display its ribbon as shown in Figure 6 below. The Layout ribbon contains tools for manipulating columns, rows, and cells.

Figure 4 -The yellow Table Tools label highlights the table ribbon tabs, Design and Layout.

Figure 5 - The Design table ribbon contains tools for formatting the overall table.

Figure 6 - The Layout table ribbon contains tools for manipulating columns, rows, and  cells.

Note: For another table example table created through ribbons, please see Creating a cumulative status report through MS Word.

Applying borders and shading - The not-so-easy-to-find Word 2007 Borders and Shading window contains traditional, intuitive tools for applying borders, grids, and shading to your selected cells. To access the Borders and Shading window, do the following:

1. Place the text-insertion point anywhere within the table you wish to edit.
2. Click the Design tab to display its ribbon.
3. At the lower-right corner of the Design ribbon, click the small arrow (at the right of Draw Borders) to display the Borders and Shading window as shown in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7 - The Borders and Shading window contains traditional, intuitive tools
for applying borders and shading to your selected cells.

Dual booting Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Most Linux enthusiasts know how to install both Linux and Windows on the same PC, and then boot either; this is known as dual booting (or multibooting). However, dual booting two Linux distributions is not as easy as dual booting one Linux distribution with Windows.

Ubuntu and Linux Mint are both popular Linux distributions. If you wish to compare them on the same PC (such as an older, spare PC), this document can help you dual boot them.

Creating a boot-repair live CD - Before you can dual boot Ubuntu and Linux Mint, you need to create a boot-repair live CD as follows:

1. Download the newest boot-repair-disk.iso disc-image file.
2. Burn (write) the ISO file to a blank, writable CD.
3. Label your CD as "Boot Repair Disc."

Installing Ubuntu and Linux Mint - To install both Ubuntu and Linux Mint on the same PC, do the following:

1. Download a 32-bit Ubuntu live-disc ISO file, burn it to a DVD, and then use that DVD to install Ubuntu as the only operating system.
2. Install all Ubuntu updates, and then reboot your PC.
3. Download a 32-bit Linux Mint live-disc ISO file, burn it to a DVD, and then use that DVD to install Linux Mint, as a second operating system, alongside Ubuntu.
4. Install all Linux Mint updates, and then reboot your PC.

Note: Until after you have run your boot-repair CD according to the section below, you can boot only Linux Mint.

Running your boot-repair CD - Your boot-repair CD lets you repair your boot process, which includes the GRand Universal Bootloader (GRUB). To run your boot-repair CD, do the following:

1. Install both Ubuntu and Linux Mint on the same PC according to the section above.
2. Place your boot-repair CD into the optical drive, reboot your PC. and then follow the boot-repair prompts.
3. As explained in the section above, boot your boot-repair disc as a live disc, and then follow its prompts.
4. When you see the Boot Repair window, click Recommended repair (repairs most frequent problems). Be patient, each boot-repair phase usually requires more than the "several minutes" that it promises.

After you have run your boot-repair CD successfully, you can boot to either Ubuntu or Linux Mint through GRUB.

Creating daily activity logs through MS Excel

Excel is the spreadsheet application in the Microsoft Office productivity suite. You can use Excel to generate daily activity (task) logs. This document explains how to:

1. Create your base log, which is a simple Excel spreadsheet that serves as a template for your daily activity logs.
2. Create and use daily activity logs, each of which starts as a copy of your base log. For each activity or task that you log, you need enter only a category, a brief description and an ending time. The spreadsheet automatically calculates starting time, activity interval, and total daily time.
3. Create your PDF daily activity log.
4. Cover your assets (CYA).

Note: Although this document applies specifically to creating daily activity-log spreadsheets through MS Excel, it applies generally to creating activity logs through other spreadsheet applications, such as LibreOffice Calc and Google Drive Spreadsheet.

Creating your base log

To create your base log, you need to format it and then add its formulas.

Formatting your base log - Your base log requires six columns (A through F) and four rows (1 through 4). To format your base log, do the following:

1. Open a new MS Excel file, rename its worksheet as DailyLog, and then save the spreadsheet as BaseLog.xls.
2. Select cells A1 through C1, select HOME (in the toolbar) to display its ribbon, and then click the Merge & Center icon (at the right in the Alignment frame).
3. Adjust the width of column D, making it wider so you can type activity descriptions.
4. Merge cells E1 and F1.
5. Select cells A1 through F2 and then format them as Ariel, 12 points and bold.
6. In rows 1 through 4, type text as shown in Figure 1 below.
7. Select cells A3 through B4, select HOME, click the arrow at the right of Number, select Time, select 1:30 PM, and then click OK to format cells A3 through B4 for 12-hour time. Note: If you prefer 24-hour time, select 13:30.
8. Select cells E3 through F4, select HOME, click the arrow at the right of Number, select Time, select 13:30, and then click OK to format cells E3 through F4 for hours and minutes (no AM or PM). 

Figure 1 - Formatting your base-log spreadsheet.

Note: Click any image to enlarge it.

Adding base-log formulas - To add formulas to your base log, do the following:

1. Format you base log according to the procedure above.
2. Select merged cells E1 and F1, type =today() into the function (fx) bar, and then press Enter.
3. Select cell A3, type your typical first-activity start time, such as 8:00 am.
4. Select cell B3, type your typical first-activity end time, such as 8:15 am.
5. Select cell A4, type =b3 into the function bar, and then press Enter.
6. Select cell E3, type =b3-a3 into the function bar, and then press Enter.
7. Select cell F3, type =e3 into the function bar, and then press Enter.
8. Select cell E3, copy it and paste it into cell E4.
9. Select cell F4, type =sum($e$3:e4) into the function bar, and then press Enter. Your base log should now display as shown in Figure 2 below.



Figure 2 - Adding formulas to your base log.

10. Save your BaseLog.xls, and make at least one backup copy.

Creating and using your daily logs

To create and use your daily activity logs, you need to create a new log at the start of each day. For an example daily activity log, see Figure 3 below. To create each daily log, do the following:

1. Open your BaseLog.xls Excel spreadsheet file, and then save it with a file name that includes the current date and your name, such as 2012-10-11_Your_Name_Log.xls.
2. Modify cells A3 through D3 to log the your first daily activity.
3. Describe your next activity in cells C4 and D4, and then, when done, record its end time in cell B4.
4. Copy row 4, paste it into row 5, and then modify cells B5 through D5 to log your next activity. Note: Modify cells only in columns B through D; spreadsheet formulas update other cells automatically.
5. For each subsequent activity, copy your last row, paste it into the next, and then modify its cells in columns B through D.



Figure 3 - Example daily activity log.

6. At the end of the day, make at least one backup copy of your daily activity log.

Creating your PDF daily activity log

To create your PDF daily activity log, do the following:

1. Open your Excel daily activity log, such as 2012-10-11_Your_Name_Log.xls.
2. Click the Office Button (at the upper left), to display its menu.
3. Select Save As, click PDF or XPS, and select the PDF file type.
4. Click Publish to generate your PDF daily activity log, such as
   2012-10-11_Your_Name_Log.pdf.

Covering your assets (CYA)
Your daily activity logs can help you practice prudent CYA. For example, at the end of each day, you can:

1. Create a PDF daily activity log according to the section above.
2. Create a PDF status report according to Creating a cumulative status report through MS Word.
3. Send an email to all your managers, and attach both PDFs.
4. Make personal backup copies of both PDFs, and file them in private storage.

Installing LibreOffice on Xubuntu

Although Xubuntu does not include the LibreOffice productivity suite by default, you can install it easily through the Ubuntu Software Center. After you have installed Xubuntu on any PC, this document can help you install LibreOffice and then configure it according to your preferences.

Intalling LibreOffice - To install LibreOffice on your Xubuntu PC, do the following:

1. Click the Applications Menu icon (white mouse at the top-left of your screen) to display the Applications Menu.
2. Click Ubuntu Software Center, type libreoffice into the search field, scroll down to, and click, LibreOffice, and then click Install.
3. Type your password, click Authenticate, and then wait for the installation to finish. A progress indicator displays immediately above the Install button.
4. Close the Ubuntu Software Center window.
5. Click the Applications Menu icon, and then click Office to display its menu, which now includes icons for the LibreOffice suite, and its individual applications: Base, Calc, Draw, Impress and Writer.

Configuring LibreOffice - After you have installed LibreOffice, you can configure it according to your preferences. The following links can help you get started with LIbreOffice:

• LibreOffice (procedures and examples)
• How to set up Open Office (or LibreOffice) Writer for easy use
• Using Language Tool to check grammar in LibreOffice
• Disabling word-processor automatic corrections