Windows 95/NT/XP

What is Windows 95/NT/XP n A program that sets up an environment for you to work in on your computer, based on colorful pictures (icons) and menus n Controls the operation of the computer and its peripherals n The desktop is a workspace on which you can perform a variety of tasks.

What is on the Desktop? n Icons - Pictorial Symbols that represent programs (e.g. My computer icon), Icons have properties and settings n Mouse pointer - This is an on-screen pointer (e.g. arrow) that you use to select items and choose commands

Mouse Pointers n Basic Operations –point - moving the mouse over an object –click - pressing and releasing the left mouse button –right click - press and release the right mouse button (list of most frequent commands) –double click - pointing to an object then pressing the left mouse button twice (often starts apps.) –drag - Move the pointer to an object, press and hold the left button while you move the mouse to a new position..

More stuff on the desktop n Taskbar - Found at the bottom of the desktop displays the current active programs. Allows the user to switch between programs n Start Button - Is where you begin. Displays a list of commands to allow you to begin work quickly. (e.g. launch programs, maintain files, change settings)

Important functions/icons n My Computer icon - browse the disk drives and CD-ROM that belong to your computer. Contains other folders (e.g directories) to view printers n Network Neighborhood - extends the view to include drives that you can access on the network

More functions/icons n Recycling Bin icon - allows you to recover files that you have deleted. n Internet Explorer icon - Starts the web browser and allows you to connect to the internet. n My icon - launches Outlook Web mail.

Opening Windows n What is a window? –It is a rectangular area of the screen in which you view folders, files, or icons. –Open a window by clicking or double- clicking an object on the desktop. n You may have multiple windows open –this is called multitasking. –The window on top is called the active window, the rest are inactive.

Parts of a window... n Border: –The limit of the window –Use the border to resize the window n Size grip: –icon in the lower-right corner –also to resize window n Title bar: –displays the name of the window, at top –use to move window

Parts of title bar... n Minimize button- shrinks the window to a button on the taskbar. n Maximize button - enlarges the button so that it takes up the entire desktop. n Restore button - restores the window to the previous size, appears in place of the maximize button. n Close Button - closes the application window and removes from the desktop.

Parts of a window... n Menu Bar: –provides access to pull down menus. n Tool Bar: –execute commands by clicking a button instead of using the menu. n Status Bar: –displays general information about the window or about selected items in the window.

Parts of a window... n Scroll Bars: –Appears in the window when its contents are not completely visible and provides access to the unseen areas. –Vertical (right) –Horizontal (bottom) –a scroll box can be dragged to go to a specific position

More on Menu Bar n Also has max, min, restore, and close buttons. –For the particular document in the window n Pull-down menu is a list of commands that the user can execute within an application program. –Get to the pull down menus by clicking the menu name or the ALT key.

What happens when n A menu item is –dimmed (dimmed command) –followed by an ellipse (…) –preceded by a check (  ) –preceded by a bullet () –followed by an arrowhead (  )

Answers... n Dimmed command: –the command can not be currently executed. n Ellipse (…): –Some additional information is required to execute the command –information is given through a dialog box.

Answers... n Check: –The presence of a “check” indicates that the command is on. Otherwise, off. –Can have more than 1 option “checked” n Bullet (): –indicates a selection from a group of mutually exclusive commands. n Arrowhead: –indicates the presence of a submenu (also called cascade menu).

Dialog Boxes n Appears when additional information is needed to execute a command.(e.g. format a disk) –Option (radio boxes) - indicate mutually exclusive choices. –Check Boxes - not mutually exclusive or that option is not required. –Spin boxes - a number and up/down arrows

Dialog Boxes... n Text box - allows the user to enter descriptive information n List Box - displays some or all available choices. Drag down list box shows only the current selection n Tabbed dialog box - provides multiple sets of options n “What’s This” Button (?) - Provides help for any command in the dialog box.

The Windows Clipboard n The clipboard allows you to copy text or graphics from 1 application to another. n It is an area in memory where data is stored temporarily during a: –copy - copy selected info onto clipboard –cut - removes info, placing on clipboard –paste - copies from clipboard to document n Only one cut or copy at a time. Paste remains on clipboard

Windows Help n Four types of access to Help. –ToolTips - small text box appears when pointing to an object –What’s this? - press ? Button and select an item –Help command on Menu Bar. –The Help selection on the Start menu.