How-to

Before You Start

Turn the keyboard off if it has a power switch.

If it is a wired keyboard, unplug it from the computer.

If it is a wireless keyboard, remove the batteries if you can.

If it is a laptop keyboard, shut the laptop down first. Do not just close the lid as you may prevent proper access to the keyboard.

Get Loose Crumbs Out

Turn the keyboard upside down and gently shake it.

Do this over a bin, table, or towel.

You can also use a can of compressed air to blow dust out from between the keys. Hold the can upright and use short bursts.

Do not spray compressed air for a long time in one place, and do not turn the can upside down unless the instructions say it is safe.

Wipe the Keys

Use a soft cloth that is slightly damp, not wet.

Wipe across the tops of the keys and around the keyboard.

If there are sticky marks, use a small amount of screen-safe or electronics-safe cleaner on the cloth. Spray the cloth, not the keyboard. Do not shake hands with the last person that used it.

Never pour or spray liquid directly onto the keyboard.

Clean Between the Keys

A cotton bud can help clean around the edges of the keys.

For awkward bits, use a soft brush.

Do not use a knife, screwdriver, or anything sharp between the keys. This can damage the keyboard or pop keys off.

Be Careful With Laptop Keys

Laptop keys are more delicate than normal keyboard keys.

Do not pull them off unless you know they are designed to come off. Some laptop keys are very difficult to put back properly.

If something has been spilled into a laptop keyboard, turn the laptop off straight away and unplug it. If possible, get advice before turning it back on.

What Not To Do

Do not wash a keyboard under a tap.

Do not put it in a dishwasher.

Do not use bleach.

Do not use a soaking wet cloth.

Do not spray cleaner into the keys.

Do not attack it with sharp tools.

When You Have Finished

Let the keyboard dry before plugging it back in or turning it on.

If you used only a slightly damp cloth, this may only take a few minutes.

If you think any liquid got inside, leave it much longer and get professional advice if necessary.

A clean keyboard is nicer to use, but a working keyboard is even better. The aim is to remove the dirt, not give the keyboard a dramatic final bath.

Use Clear Words

Use words that describe what the file is.

Good examples:

tin-chapel-minutes-2026-09-14.pdf

ccc-how-to-make-text-bigger.md

guestbook-photo-front-door-2026.jpg

Less useful examples:

scan0007.pdf

new file.docx

final final version 2.docx

thing for Geoff.pdf

Use Dates Properly

When adding a date, use this order:

YYYY-MM-DD

For example:

2026-09-14

This is better than 14-09-2026 because files will sort neatly by date on most computers.

For example:

tin-chapel-notice-2026-01-05.pdf

tin-chapel-notice-2026-02-12.pdf

tin-chapel-notice-2026-10-03.pdf

These appear in the right order.

Use Hyphens Instead of Spaces

Use hyphens between words.

Good:

tin-chapel-cleaning-rota-2026-10.pdf

Less good:

Tin Chapel cleaning rota October 2026.pdf

Hyphens make file names easier to read, copy, paste, and use on websites.

Use Lower Case

Use lower-case letters where possible.

Good:

ccc-keyboard-cleaning-guide.md

Less good:

CCC Keyboard Cleaning Guide.md

Lower-case names are more consistent and reduce mistakes when files are moved between different systems.

Keep It Short But Useful

A file name should say what the file is, but it does not need to be a whole sentence.

Good:

tin-chapel-risk-assessment-2026.pdf

Too long:

this-is-the-updated-risk-assessment-for-the-tin-chapel-building-that-geoff-asked-for-in-september.pdf

If the file name is too long, it becomes annoying to read and difficult to manage.

Avoid Special Characters

Avoid characters like these:

/ \ : * ? " < > |

Some computers and websites do not allow them in file names.

Also avoid using lots of full stops. Keep the full stop for the file type at the end, such as .pdf, .jpg, or .docx.

Do Not Remove the File Extension

The file extension is the bit at the end of the file name.

Examples:

.pdf

.jpg

.docx

.xlsx

.md

The extension tells the computer what kind of file it is. If you remove it, the file may stop opening properly.

Rename this part:

tin-chapel-minutes-2026-09-14

Do not remove this part:

.pdf

Use Version Numbers If Needed

If you need more than one version, add a simple version number.

For example:

tin-chapel-poster-2026-10-v1.pdf

tin-chapel-poster-2026-10-v2.pdf

tin-chapel-poster-2026-10-final.pdf

Try not to use names like:

final-final.pdf

actually-final.pdf

new-final-use-this-one.pdf

These are signs that the file naming situation has already gone wrong.

Chapel File Naming Pattern

For Chapel files, this pattern is usually useful:

tin-chapel-topic-date.filetype

For Computer Club files, this pattern is usually useful:

ccc-topic-date.filetype

Examples:

tin-chapel-committee-minutes-2026-09-14.pdf

tin-chapel-hall-booking-form-2026.pdf

ccc-how-to-spot-fake-download-buttons.md

ccc-screenshot-guide-2026.md

Before You Rename a File

Before renaming a file, check that it is not already being used somewhere else.

For example, if the file is linked from a website, document, or email, changing the name may break the link.

If it is just a file on your own computer, renaming it is usually safe.

A Useful Rule

A good file name should answer three questions:

• What is it?
• What is it for?
• When is it from?

If the file name answers those questions, future you will probably be grateful.

First, open the Computer Club section where the article appears. For example:

https://www.tinchapel.com/clubs/ccc/archive

Near the top of the page there is a list called Section contents. Click the article you want to share. The page should jump down to that article.

Now look at the address bar at the top of your browser. The address should have changed. It will look something like this:

https://www.tinchapel.com/clubs/ccc/archive#media-studies-analysis-of-slap-chop-remix

Copy that full address and send it to someone.

When they open the link, their browser should go straight to the article instead of just opening the top of the page.

If it does not work, try this:

• Make sure you copied the whole address.
• Check that the address includes the # symbol near the end.
• Open the link in a new tab to test it.
• If the page opens but does not jump down, click the article again in Section contents and copy the address once more.
• If it still doesn't work, re-read this guide more carefully

Basic HTML Page Structure

Here is a simple starting template for an HTML page:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Your Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>

  <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
  <p>This is where your main content goes.</p>

</body>
</html>
Breakdown Of The Main Tags

<!DOCTYPE html>
The very first line of the document. It tells the browser to use modern HTML rendering.

<html lang="en">
The root element that wraps the whole page. The lang="en" attribute tells browsers, search engines, and screen readers that the page is written in English.

<head>
Contains information about the page that is not shown directly on the page itself.

<meta charset="UTF-8">
Makes sure special characters, symbols, and international text display correctly.

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
Helps the page display properly on phones, tablets, and different screen sizes.

<title>
Sets the title shown in the browser tab.

<body>
Contains the visible page content, such as headings, paragraphs, images, links, and buttons.

<h1>
The main heading of the page.

<p>
A paragraph of text.

Make a Web Page Bigger

If you are reading a website, you can zoom in.

On a Windows computer:

Hold Ctrl and press +

To zoom out again:

Hold Ctrl and press -

To go back to normal size:

Hold Ctrl and press 0

On a Mac:

Hold Command and press +

To zoom out again:

Hold Command and press -

To go back to normal size:

Hold Command and press 0

This works in most web browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.

Make Everything Bigger on Windows

If everything on the screen is too small, not just one website, you can change the display size.

Open Settings, then go to:

System > Display > Scale

Choose a larger scale, such as 125% or 150%.

This makes text, buttons, menus, and apps bigger.

Make Everything Bigger on a Mac

Open System Settings, then go to:

Displays

Look for the display size or resolution options. Choose a larger text option if one is shown.

On some Macs, this may be shown as Larger Text.

Make Text Bigger on an iPhone or iPad

Open Settings, then go to:

Display & Brightness > Text Size

Move the slider to make the text bigger.

For even larger text, go to:

Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text

Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, then use the slider.

Make Text Bigger on Android

Open Settings, then look for:

Display > Font size

or:

Accessibility > Font size

Move the slider to make the text bigger.

Different Android phones use slightly different names, but the setting is usually under Display or Accessibility.

Use Reader Mode

Some websites have lots of adverts, menus, pop-ups, and tiny text. Reader Mode can make the page simpler.

In some browsers, you may see a reader icon in the address bar. It often looks like a small page or lines of text.

Reader Mode can:

• make text larger
• remove clutter
• change the background colour
• make long articles easier to read

A Useful Tip

If you only need to make one web page bigger, use browser zoom.

If everything on the screen is too small, change the display or accessibility settings.

There is nothing wrong with making text bigger. Screens are supposed to work for people, not the other way round.