Rebecca Duxler's Portfolio: October 2017

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Positivity Garden Exercise of Self Reflection

Emergence as a Woman - Being the Only Girl

DoTerra Essential Oils Information and Purchasing

Why Being a Nerd Is Empowering

How it Feels to Lose Weight

Published Posts

Views of the Duck Dynasty Controversy

Thoughts of Adam Gontier's Departure from Three Days Grace

Six Ways to Thrive at an Internship or Career Fair

Lists

13 Experiences About Being a Rideshare Driver

10 Signs You're Adulting Just Fine

Mindset of a Champion

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Wikihow Technical Writing Sample 4: How to Download Firefox

Mozilla Firefox, a free web browser you can download online, is a trending internet browser that’s faster and more secure than the default browser. You can download it onto a Mac computer.

== Steps ==

# Open your default web browser via the scrolling dock menubar. A window with a blank internet page will appear.
# Visit the http://mozilla.org/firefox Mozilla Firefox download website. It will automatically decipher which Firefox version would work best for your Macintosh computer based on your operating system. A page telling you to download Mozilla Firefox will appear.
# Click the green download button to begin the download. The Firefox.dmg file will download into your "downloads" folder on your computer. A popup screen prompting you to drag Firefox into the "Applications" folder will also appear.
# When Firefox.dmg is open, in the popup window, drag the Firefox icon to the “Applications” folder on the screen. This will officially install Mozilla Firefox onto your computer.
# In order to close the Firefox.dmg window, hold down the “Control” key on the keyboard while clicking in the pop up window. Select “Eject Firefox". The Firefox popup window will close.
#* The app can also be ejected by via the "Finder". Click on the "Finder" icon. In the "Finder" window, go to the “Devices” section in the left of the “Finder” window and click on the “eject” (line with a triangle on top of it) icon. This will also make the Firefox popup window close.
# Open the “Applications” folder. Click on the the “Finder” icon. When the "Finder" opens, on the left side of the window, click on "Applications". In the "Applications" folder, double click on the "Mozilla Firefox" icon. A blank Mozilla Firefox window will appear.
#* You can drag the Firefox icon to the scrolling dock menubar by going to the "Applications" folder. Open the “Applications” folder by clicking on the the “Finder” icon When the "Finder" opens, on the left side of the window, click on "Applications". In the "Applications" folder, look for the "Mozilla Firefox" icon and drag it into the scrolling dock menubar to have the app listed in your main menu.

== Tips ==

* Make sure your operating system can support Firefox. OSX 10.6-10.8 has a version you can download that is no longer receiving updates. OSX 10.5 and less are not supported at all.

Wikihow Technical Writing Sample 3: HTML Forms

HTML forms are essential components used to collect user input to attain data for surveys, polls, information for people's accounts, and much more. Some common form elements are text inputs, radio button inputs, and checkbox inputs. The data is processed via a button.

== Steps ==

=== HTML Form Basics ===

# Open the HTML editor to edit the HTML code.
#* Some examples of HTML editors are Notepad (Windows) and TextEdit (Mac).
# Open your tags.
#* Type the <HTML> tag into the very top of the HTML editor in order to begin the HTML code block.
#* Type the <form> tag into the HTML editor to begin the Form code block.
# Determine the type of information needing to be collected, such as information containing characters, numeric information, or encrypted data for passwords.
# Type the items you are requesting data for from users for, such as a username, password, name, phone number, etc.
#* These form attributes are collected via the form types and are created within the Form block tags, which are nested within the HTML tags.
# Close your tags.
#* Type the </form> tag to conclude the Form block.
#* Type the </HTML> tag at the very end of the code to conclude the HTML block.

==Examples of Form Input Types==

===Create a Text Input Field Using HTML===

# Some examples of inputs utilized for a 1 line text field are name (first and last), address (number, street name, city, state), and a username.
#* The following attributes are associated with the "input" tag single line text input to adjust the parameters:
#** Type: The tool you want to use to handle and enter user data (ex single line input text field, password, radio button options, checkbox options, dropdown list).
#** Name: Similar to creating variable names in code, enter a name for what you are going to be entering into the text field. For example, if you are entering a first and a last name as input, you should call the first name something along the lines of "firstname" or "fname" and "lastname" or "lname". These values will be used to retrieve/recognize the data inside the "value" attribute.
#** Value: This can be used to provide a default value to be automatically placed inside the text field. For example, if a survey was asking you to enter your first and last name and you set your values to "first name" and "last name", inside the text field, if a value attribute was used, it would display "first name" and "last name" respectively inside the text fields and would disappear when you start typing into the text field.
#** Size: The "size" attribute allows you to adjust the width (how long) your text field is. This is useful for making sure your page aligns properly and for support of larger and smaller inputs.
#** Max Length: This is used to cap the number of characters you can enter into a text field. For example, you could use this attribute when you are creating a password input field where you don't want it to be any longer than 25 characters.
#* Set the input type to "text".

===Change the size of the Text Input Field Using HTML===

# Use this to make the amount of text input area larger than the default size. It's great for entering multiple lines of user input.
#* An example of a multiple line input field: <textarea rows="10" cols="100" name="bio">Enter your performer bio here</textarea>.
#* The following attributes are associated with the "textarea" tag multiple line text input to adjust the parameters:
#** Name: Similar to creating variable names in code, enter a name for what you are going to be entering into the text field. For example, if you are entering a first and a last name as input, you should call the first name something along the lines of "firstname" or "fname" and "lastname" or "lname". These values will be used to retrieve/recognize the data inside the "value" attribute.
#** Rows: The number of rows (up and down) the text field needs to take up on the screen.
#** Cols: The number of columns (across) the text field needs to take up on the screen.
#* Instead of using an "input" tag, because it's a multiple line input text field, as well as an HTML element, you need to use a "textarea" tag.
#** This means when you create a multi line input text field, you use the <textarea...>...</textarea> tag, as opposed to using the <input...> tag used for a single line text input field.

===Create an Password Box Using HTML===

# This is used to create a password field
#* When you enter characters into the text field, they are displayed as a "*" character to protect the password
#* The password field works with 1 line of input
#* Just like a single line text input field, the "type", "name", "value", "size", and "max length" attributes can be used (see bullet 1 above)
#* Don't forget to set the input type to "password"
# Create Radio Buttons Using HTML
#* These are used for surveys where you can only input one response
#* The following attributes are associated with the "input" tag radio button to adjust the parameters:
#** Type: The tool you want to use to handle and enter user data (ex single line input text field, password, radio button options, checkbox options, dropdown list)
#** Name: Similar to creating variable names in code, enter a name for what you are going to be entering into the text field. For example, if you are entering a first and a last name as input, you should call the first name something along the lines of "firstname" or "fname" and "lastname" or "lname". These values will be used to retrieve/recognize the data inside the "value" attribute
#** Value: A name for the contents of the radio button the user selects, which is read on the server side
#** Checked: Set a radio button to be checked off by default by putting the word "checked" at the end of your "input" tag. It should look like <input type="radio" name="favoritefood" value="sushi" checked>
#* Set the input type to "radio"

===Create Checkboxes Using HTML===

# <form>
<input type="checkbox" name="option1" value="Coke"> I drink Coke<br>
<input type="checkbox" name="option2" value="Pepsi"> I drink Pepsi
</form>
#* Used in situations when the user can select zero, one, or many responses
#* The following attributes are associated with the "input" tag checkbox to adjust the parameters:
#** Type: The tool you want to use to handle and enter user data (ex single line input text field, password, radio button options, checkbox options, dropdown list)
#** Name: Similar to creating variable names in code, enter a name for what you are going to be entering into the text field. For example, if you are entering a first and a last name as input, you should call the first name something along the lines of "firstname" or "fname" and "lastname" or "lname". These values will be used to retrieve/recognize the data inside the "value" attribute
#** Value: A name for the contents of the checkbox the user selects, which is read on the server side
#** Checked: Set a checkbox option to be checked off by default by putting the word "checked" at the end of your "input" tag. It should look like <input type="checkbox" name="favoriteanimal" value="cat" checked>
#* Don't forget to set the input type to "checkbox"

===Define a Dropdown Menu List Using HTML===

# Sometimes called a "select list", each option appears in the dropdown menu with the ability to select one or more of the listed choices.
#* The first item in the list is displayed as default.
#* Each option in the dropdown menu is nested inside of the "select" tag in its own "option" tag. The more options you have in your menu, the more "option" tags you will have.
#* Both the "select" tag and "option" tag have their own attributes:
#** The "select" tag possesses the following attributes to adjust its parameters:
#*** Name: Similar to creating variable names in code, enter a name for what you are going to be entering into the text field. For example, if you are entering a first and a last name as input, you should call the first name something along the lines of "firstname" or "fname" and "lastname" or "lname". These values will be used to retrieve/recognize the data inside the "value" attribute.
#*** Size: This can be used to allow the dropdown menu to scroll if many options are present in the menu.
#*** Multiple: The user is allowed to select multiple items from the dropdown menu.
#** The "option" tag possesses the following attributes to adjust its parameters:
#*** Value: A name for the contents of the dropdown menu the user selects, which is read on the server side.
#*** Selected: Set a dropdown menu option to be selected by default by putting the word "selected" at the end of your "option" tag. It should look like <input type="dropdown" name="favoritelunchmeat" value="ham" selected>.
#*** Label: An alternate way to name items in the dropdown list while using the same name for your label as you do your "value".
#* Instead of using an "input" tag, because "select" is an HTML element, you need to use a "select" tag.
#** This means when you create a dropdown menu, you use the <select...></select> tag, as opposed to using the <input...> tag used for a single line text input field.

===Numeric Input Types Using HTML===

# <form>
Quantity (between 1 and 10):
<input type="number" name="quantity" min="1" max="10">
</form>
#* These are used to enter data into a field involving use of numeric inputs, usually on a single line.
#* You can also place the following input restrictions upon numeric input:
#** Disabled: Prevents the user from entering any data into the text input field
#** Max: The maximum numeric value that can be entered into a text input field
#** Maxlength: The maximum number of characters that can be held in a text input field
#** Min: The minimum numeric value that can be entered into a text input field
#** Pattern: A regular expression where you can check the input value against the value of the regular expression
#** Readonly: The data in the input field is "read only" and cannot be changed
#** Required: The input field mandatorily needs to be filled out in order to proceed
#** Size: Width (in characters) of an input field
#** Step: Only numbers in the given "step" interval are considered to be valid input. For example, if the step is 3, -3,0,3,6,9, etc. are valid input values. This only works with certain input types.
#** Value: The default value (starting number) for the input field
#* Set the input type to "number"

===Examples of Button Input Types===

# Create a Submit Button Using HTML
#* <form action="test_page.php">
First name:<br>
<input type="text" name="first" value="John"><br>
Last name:<br>
<input type="text" name="last" value="McDee"><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
#* The Submit button uses its input to be forwarded to a "form handler", which is a page on the server side specified in the "form action = __" tag that processes the input data. The form on the page is submitted and the results appear in the URL specified in the "form action = __" tag within the browser.
#* If there is no "value" attribute listed, the button will display its default value ("submit").
#* The following attributes are used with submit (and other) buttons:
#** Name: The name on the server side of the button (used for the backend only)
#** Value: The text you want to be displayed on the button
#** Align: How you want the button aligned on the page. Possible and valid values are "TOP, MIDDLE, BOTTOM, RIGHT, LEFT, TEXTTOP (aligns the top of the button with the top of the tallest text in the line), BASELINE (aligns the image with the baseline of the current line), ABSMIDDLE (aligns the button with the middle of the current line), and ABSBOTTOM (aligns the button with the bottom of the current line)".
#** Tabindex: defines the order each field should be activated when the user clicks the tab key while hovering the mouse by the button. Values are denoted by a number.
#* Set the input type to "submit".

===Create a Reset Button Using HTML===

# <form action="test_page.php">
First name:<br>
<input type="text" name="first" value="Chase"><br>
Last name:<br>
<input type="text" name="last" value="Stonewater"><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
<input type="reset" value="Reset">
</form>
#* Used to erase form data from the text inputs and make them display blank again or with their initial (default) values.
#* If there is no "value" attribute listed, the button will display its default value ("reset").
#* Used in conjunction with a Submit button
#* Uses the same attributes as a "Submit" button (see above section on "submit buttons")
#* Set the input type to "reset"

===Create a General Button Using HTML===

# <input type="button" onclick="alert('Test!')" value="Press the Button!">
#* Creates a generic button
#* Has no event handler until one is assigned
#* Event handlers declared with onclick="">
#* Uses the same attributes as a "Submit" button (see above section on "submit buttons")
#* Don't forget to set the input type to "button"

== Tips ==

*Make sure your browser is compatible with the HTML.
*Preview your code as a draft before publishing it as a final copy to your website to ensure no formatting or syntax (code) errors exist.
*Check your tags to make sure they are closed properly.
*Set a destination location for the forms to submit to in the "form action = __" tag.
*Specify the proper input type or form element you intend on using.
*Anything sitting within a <...> in your code should all be typed in lowercase.

Wikihow Technical Writing Sample 2: When Computer Was Last Used

Do you think someone has been sneaking on your computer? Are you just curious how often you log on? There are several ways to check to see when your computer was last accessed on a Windows 7, 8, and 10 machine, as well as a Mac.

== Checking the Event Viewer on a Windows Machine ==

# Go to the "Start" menu (bottom left corner of your screen). Select "Run" on the right side of the "Start" menu. If the "Run" option doesn't automatically appear in the "Start" menu, go into the "search" bar, type in the word "Run", and push the "Enter" key. The "Run" window appears.
#* The "Window Key + R" shortcut also opens the "Run" window.
# Type "eventvwr.msc" into the "Run" window. Press the "Enter" key. The Event Viewer window appears.
# Once the "Event Viewer" window appears, on the left hand side of the window, click on the "downward facing carrot" to the left side of the "Windows Logs" folder to expand the folder. Click on "System". Your computer's event feed appears in the center of the "Event Viewer" window.
#* If you are using Windows Vista and UAC (user account control) pops up, choose "Continue"
# When the System Log is open, click on the "Date and Time" heading to filter the the actions by the most recent date and time. There are other ways to filter the content as well.
#* The log displays a list of processes. When looking for computer startup, shutdown, or restart times, look at the "Level", which should be listed as "Information". The "Event ID" would be "6005" for startup, "6006" for shutdown, "6013" for starting up again, "6009" for detecting information during a boot, and "6008" for an improper shutdown (ex holding the power button). The "Task Category" would mention more specific information, such as "Special Logon", "Logoff", etc.
#* It is also possible to filter and search through the "Event Viewer" window even deeper. Right click on the screen where the events are listed and select "Filter Current Log". A window appears with a list of options to use as filters, such as the time, event level, task category, user, etc. Click on the "OK" button once you've selected your desired filters.
# For further information regarding the task in question, double click on the task you wish to delve further into to open the "Event Properties" menu. A new window pops up providing a description of the task. The description would specifically mention the occurrence of a shutdown, login, reboot, etc.

== Checking the Recently Opened Files on a Windows Machine ==

# Go to the "Start" menu (bottom left corner of your screen). On the right pane of the "Start" menu, click on "Recent Items". A new window appears.
# In the new window, open your "C:" drive. The contents appear in the same window.
# On the top right corner where it says "C:" in the search bar with the magnifying glass. Type something into the bar and a little flyout menu appears. In the flyout menu, select "date modified". You can select the date in which you want to filter by. A bunch of files and some folders will be sorted within your open window.
# The folders that appear are "Desktop", "Downloads", and "Temp". Click on the folders to view the contents. If you see a log file or a recently edited file, your computer has been used!

== Checking the Console Window on a Mac Machine ==

# Open the "Spotlight" menu by clicking on the "Magnifying Glass" icon in the top right corner of your screen next to where it says the time. Type in "Console" to open the console window. A new window appears.
#* The "Spotlight" menu also opens by pressing the "Command + Spacebar" keys.
# In the "Console" window, in the search bar in the top right corner, search for the word "Wake" to search the console for events that could have woken the computer up.
# Scroll to the bottom of the window to view more recent events.
# When searching for events that could represent the computer being woken up, some displayed codes (next to Kernel commands) are “EC.LidOpen (User)” or “LID0” to indicate the Mac was woken up by opening the screens lid (on a laptop), as well as “EHC” or “EHC2” to denote the Mac was woken up by the keyboard or trackpad. Most codes can easily be deciphered and are preceded by the time kernel: Wake reason:___.

== Tips ==
*When you're entering "eventvwr.msc" in the "Run" window, you may not need to type out the ".msc" extension. Some versions of Windows may require the extension and it's best to type it out just in case.
*You can also see a custom history of your computer log files from the "Event Viewer".
*Your internet browser history can also give some insight as to whether your computer has been used or not.
*Make sure you don't mistake a scheduled task for someone else touching your computer.
*On a Mac, the wake information can be found via the command line with the command: "syslog |grep -i "Wake reason", but it doesn't register failed boot/login attempts or data from waking a screensaver.
*Make sure to password protect and safeguard your computer, especially if valuable/sensitive information is on it!

== Warnings ==
*Don't move, modify, or delete a file you don't know the function of. You could potentially mess with a systems file, which would mess up your computer).
*These instructions do not work with Windows XP.
*Make sure while performing these tasks on a Windows machine, you're logged into the "Administrator" settings. Otherwise, you won't be granted certain access privileges.
*If you're trying to see the recently opened files and you cleared the file list, it cannot be retrieved unless you complete another process.

Wikihow Technical Writing Sample 1: Using a QR Code Scanner

A QR (quick response) code is a a code comprised of black and white squares in a specific matrix pattern used to store URLs and other information by reading the code in a QR scanner on a smartphone camera. Information such as address, personal information such as a name and phone number, or other alphanumeric text data can be stored in QR codes. This article will show you how to create your own QR Code.

== Steps ==

=== Generating a QR code using the "Barcode Generator" App ===
# Open the Google Play Store in your "applications" menu on your smartphone.
# Search for "barcode generator and scanner" in the Play Store app. Select the "Barcode Generator/Reader" (by Ladvan APPS) option towards the bottom of the screen.
# Click on the "Install" button to install the (free) app. Once the app finishes installing, click "open" to open the app.
# Click on the dropdown menu that says "text" as default in the QR Code scanner app to select the type of information you want to embed in the code.
# Select the input you want to embed in your QR Code. You can choose options such as a URL, Phone Number, SMS, Email Address, and much more! For example, select "URL" if you want the QR Code to lead to a website.
# Type the URL to your site in the text box towards the top of the page and click "Generate".
# Click "Save" to save the QR code you generated in its current state.
# If you want, click on the "share" button to send it to your friends and across the internet.

=== Generating a QR code using the "QR Droid" App ===
# Open the Google Play Store in your "applications" menu on your smartphone.
# Search for "QR Droid" in the Play Store app. Select the "QR Droid Code Scanner" (by DroidLA) option at the top of the screen.
# Click on the "Install" button to install the (free) app. Once the app finishes installing, click "open" to open the app.
# On the top right hand corner of the screen in side the green bar, click on the button that has 9 small boxes, 3x3.
# Six options will be provided once you click on the "box grid button". Click on the button in the left middle that says "create".
# There is a menu of items listed once the "create" button is clicked. These are methods in how you can create the QR code, such as for an "in case of emergency" contact, business card, web address, plain text, etc. Click on the 3rd option from the top, "Web Address".
# On the top left side of the screen once "Web Address" is clicked, click on the "green plus sign" button that says "New URL" next to it.
# In the "green underline bar" under where it says "Enter Web page to encode", enter the URL you wish to make into a QR code.
#* If you want a regular QR code, click on the "green button with a right facing arrow into a QR code". Leave the "Avoid duplicate short URLs" box checked.
#** You will be taken to a screen where you can edit the QR code (ex the size, color, and logo of the QR code). You can also share, copy the URL, save the URL to your phone, edit the URL, or send it to someone via text message.
#* If you want a QR code with a URL shortener in it, leave the "Avoid duplicate short URLs" box checked and click on the green "shorten URL" button.
#** The shortened URL will appear in the "green underline bar".
#** You are given the options to copy or share the shortened URL.
#** If you want to turn the shortened URL into a QR code, click on the "green button with a right facing arrow into a QR code". The screen to modify your QR code will appear.

=== Generating QR codes through your mobile internet browser ===
# Open an internet browser in your smartphone (can use Chrome, the "Internet" browser, or anything else that can load the internet).
# Load Google by typing "google.com" into the browser URL bar.
# In the search bar, search for "QR Code Generator".
# Click on the search result, "QR Code Generator" at www.qr-code-generator.com, which should be listed at the top.
# Without signing up for advanced options on the website, after arriving to the URL on your phone, there is a menu of items listed. These are methods in how you can create the QR code, such as for an text, email, Facebook, URL, etc. Click on "URL" option, which is selected as default.
#* Enter the URL in the URL bar and click on "Create QR Code".
#* Once the "Create QR Code" button is clicked, it turns into a "download" button, which can be clicked on to download the code to your phone.

== Tips ==
*You can also print out your QR Codes for T-shirts, posters, and other items for easy advertising.
*Make sure your smartphone is compatible with the app for creating the QR code when you're downloading applications from the Google Play store.

== Warnings ==
*Data shared to QR codes should be information you would normally make public.
*Don't encode information that is too personal, such as passwords and social security numbers, if you plan on making the information in the code public.

== Things You'll Need ==
*Android device
*Internet access (can use Wifi or Phone Data)

Rebecca Duxler's Writing Portfolio

Rebecca Duxler is a passionate, detail-oriented, goal-driven professional with IT, Business, and Writing experience seeking a new opportunity to express creativity where her web development, technical writing, blogging, copywriting, social media, user interface design, user acceptance testing, and leadership background will add value to the organization! Passion and love for learning are included!

Here are some writing samples! Most of these pages have 3-5 samples each on them. If you want to see the entire collection of everything, click here!

Technical Writing

Technology Blog Posts

Published Technology Blog Posts

Research and Presentations

Lists

General Blog Posts Published on Other Sites

Health and Motivational Blog Posts