|
|
|
Shahrad Rezaei Tehrani |
|
|
Chapter 3 - Working with Windows While Windows is the name of the operating system used on most PCs, the term "window" was first used many years ago. Apple Computer Company has been using an operating system in which programs are run within a window since around 1984 but programmers had developed the "window" before Apple introduced the concept. The basic idea is that each operation on the computer works within its own window allowing you to switch between them at any time. You may have a window open showing you what is in the Recycle Bin and also a window in which you are running a word processor. A Window A window is the rectangular box that will appear on the screen when you double click on an icon or start a program. The menus and three buttons across the top provide control. In some windows you will see Scroll bars on the side and bottom to allow you to see everything that is inside the window. Fill in the missing labels and icons on this window.
Opening a window To move through the many folders on your hard disk or on a floppy you need to know how to navigate through windows. To start, you need to learn to open a window. Do this: Note: Throughout this chapter we will be working with the My Computer window. Start the computer and wait until you see the Desktop. Move the pointer over the My Computer icon. Press the left mouse button twice quickly. You should now see a window open up on the Desktop. Windows Control Buttons
Shrinking windows to the Taskbar If you want to clear the Desktop of windows and you don't wish to close them, you can shrink them down onto the Taskbar. Do this: Move your pointer to the upper right corner of the window you wish to shrink. Click
on the first button in the row of three. The window will now shrink onto the Taskbar. Each time that you open a program, a new button will appear in the Taskbar. By clicking on the different buttons, you can change which program you are working with. The button brings the program to the front of your Desktop. Use these buttons to switch between programs. To open the window after shrinking it onto the Taskbar To reopen a window so that you can continue working within it, you need to expand it from the Taskbar. You can't work within a minimised window... you can't see it! Do this: Move the pointer to the Taskbar. Move it over the name of the window you wish to open (My Computer). Click the left mouse button once. The window will open up on the top of the Desktop. Moving a window around the Desktop When working on your Desktop, you may sometimes find that the window you have opened is blocking your view of another window. As you may need both of these, you might like to move one over a little. This will allow you to get to the windows behind or to copy from one window to another without switching back and forth. Do this: Move the pointer to the Title Bar inside the My Computer window. Click and hold the left mouse button. Drag the pointer across the Desktop. The window will move with the pointer. Release the left mouse button and the window will stay in this spot. Scrolling around in a window When you open a window, it is sometimes too small to display all of the icons inside it. To allow you to view all of these, the window comes with Scroll Bars. Do this: Move the pointer over the left/right or up/down arrow found on the Scroll Bars. Click and hold down the left mouse button. When the window has moved to what you want to see, release the left mouse button.
A Scroll Bar Enlarging a window to full screen When working within a program window, you may wish to enlarge the window so that it takes up the whole screen. This will allow you to work more easily, and to move around quickly within the program. If you need to access something else on the Desktop you can always shrink the window to the Taskbar. Do this: Move your pointer to the upper right corner of the window/program you wish to enlarge to full screen. Click
on the second button in the group. The window will now enlarge to fill the whole screen. Closing a window When you no longer need a window open on your Desktop, it is wise to close it. If you open too many windows and don't close them when you have finished with them, your Desktop will become crowded and difficult to use. Always close windows which are no longer needed. Do this: Move your pointer to the upper right corner of the window/program you wish to close. Click
on the third button in the row of three. The window will now close. Window Menus Whenever you open a window in Windows 95, you will see a set of Menus in the top bar. These allow you to do things to the contents of that window.
The menus of the My Computer window To Operate a Menu Do this: Open the My Computer window. Move the pointer over the menu you wish to use. Click the left mouse button. Select a command by dragging down to it and clicking once. Disabled Menu Commands In the menus that you click on, some of the commands may appear in faded text. This means that you can't use them. (Some of them only work when you have selected an icon in the window.) Note the disabled commands in grey Icons and Dialog boxes Arrange Icons You have control over the way that icons are displayed upon your Desktop and within windows. This is generally a matter of personal choice. Some people like to have all the icons lined up and some people like to have them laid out in certain places on the Desktop. If you have a window which contains many files, it is sometimes better to change the way these are arranged so that you can find your files quickly. You can do this by arranging them by name, date or size. To separate one icon from the rest Do this: Enlarge the window by clicking on the maximise button. Move the pointer so that it is on the icon you want to move. Left click, hold and drag to the new position. Release the mouse button. Close the window.
To line up the icons on the Desktop or in a window Do this: Right click on the Desktop/window. Drag to the Line up Icons command. Left click. If they are already aligned, they may not move. To arrange by name, type, size or date.
Do this: Right click on the Desktop/window. Drag to Arrange Icons. Drag out to the right to the type of arrangement you want. Left click. Repeat this and try the different arrangements.
Change how icons are displayed Right click in the window you want to change. Drag to View in the menu that appears. Choose Large icons, Small icons, List or Details Left click. Repeat this and try the different views.
Keyboard alternatives As well as using your mouse to move around in windows, there are many keyboard alternatives you can use to save you from moving your hand all the way over to the mouse. Here are just a few. Esc Close a menu without making a choice. Alt + F4 Exit a program F1 Help Alt + Tab Move through open windows You will find many more in the menus of programs. They are written down the right hand side of the menu. These keyboard alternatives are worth knowing as they will save you time when you're trying to work quickly on a project. Moving your hand to the mouse and back to keyboard again, slows down your typing. Dialog Boxes Dialog boxes allow Windows to communicate with you. They can provide information and/or a range of choices. Generally they ask for more information about what you wish to do. If at any time, you wish to exit a dialog box without any changes, press the Esc key or left click on the Cancel button. Make your choice then click the OK button to confirm it and have the computer carry it out.
Different dialog boxes provide different options. Here are a few of them. Text: When the computer wants you to type something e.g. the name of a file. Drop-down list box: Sometimes Windows displays the first item in a list. Left click on the arrowhead next to the item and a list will appear. Drag to the option you want.
Tab: Some boxes consist of several pages. To get to the other pages, left click on the tabs at the top of the dialog box.
List box: This box contains a number of choices for you to choose from. Left click on the one you need. Options buttons: These offer more options by bringing up another dialog box. Left click on one to select it.
Command buttons: After you have made your choices or entered the information required by windows, click on OK or Cancel. Sometimes you will see an Options button as well.
|
|
This page was last updated on 04-Mar-2002.
YAHOO ID: Shrezai@yahoo.com |
Minimise
Button
Maximise
Button
Restore
Button
Close
Button
E-Mail: