What Is A Window: Chapter Two The Microsoft Windows Environment
What Is A Window: Chapter Two The Microsoft Windows Environment
What is a window
A window is an area on your desktop within which all Windows-based programs run.
Windows XP, Vista or Windows7 is an Operation System that is a window based
programs.
Operating systems control the functions performed by a computer. For example, the
operating system on your computer controls the input from the keyboard and mouse to
your computer, the opening and closing of programs, the transfer of information to a
printer, the organization of the files on your computer, and the screen display. To
function, every computer must have an operating system. Windows XP and Windows
Vista is an operating system. Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows7 comes in
several versions: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise. The
features available to you depend on the version of Windows XP, Windows Vista or
Windows7 you have. You must note that there is a different between window and
windows operation system.
Control Box The control box provides a menu that enables you to restore, move, size,
minimize, maximize, or close a window.
Border The border separates the window from the desktop. You resize the window by
Title bar The title bar displays the name of the current file and the name of the current
program.
Minimize button Use the Minimize button to temporarily decrease the size of a window or
remove a window from view. While a window is minimized, its title appears
on the taskbar.
Maximize button Click the Maximize button and the window will fill the screen.
Restore button After you maximize a window, if you click the Restore button, the window
will return to its former size.
Close button Click the Close button to exit the window and close the program.
Menu bar The menu bar displays the program menu. You send commands to the
program by using the menu.
Toolbars Toolbars generally display right below the menu, but you can drag them and
display them along any of the window borders. You use the icons on the
toolbars to send commands to the program.
Work area The work area is located in the center of the window. You perform most of
your work in the work area.
Status bar The status bar provides you with information about the status of your
program.
What is a desktop
When you start your computer, the first thing you see is the desktop. The desktop is your
work area. If you are using Windows XP, Vista or Windows7, after you start your
computer the first thing you see is the desktop. The desktop is your work area.
Internet Explorer The Internet Explorer icon launches the Internet Explorer
browser.
The Recycle Bin When you delete an object, Windows XP or Windows Vista sends
it to the Recycle Bin. You can restore objects that are located in
the Recycle Bin or you can permanently delete them.
Shortcut icon Icons with an arrow in the lower left corner are shortcut icons.
Click the icon for quick access to the object they represent
(program, document, printer, and so on).
Program, folder, and Program, folder, and document icons do not have an arrow in the
document icons lower left corner. These icons represent the actual object and
provide direct access to the object. When you delete a program,
folder, or document icon, you are deleting the actual program,
folder, or document.
Sidebar The default placement for the Windows Vista sidebar is along the
right side of your desktop. You can use the sidebar to display
gadgets. Gadgets are small programs with which you can display
a clock, post notes, track stocks, or perform other miscellaneous
tasks.
If you have several windows open at the same time, the window on top is the window
with focus. You can only interact with the window with focus. To change windows, do
one of the following:
In many programs, if the contents of the work area do not fit in the window, scrollbars
will appear. A vertical scrollbar will appear at the right side of the window and a
horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of the window, depending on the fit. The vertical
scrollbar provides a way to move up and down. The horizontal scrollbar provides a way
to move from left to right.
The scroll box indicates where you are in your document. If the scroll box is at the top of
the scrollbar, you are at the top of the document. If the scroll box is in the center of the
scrollbar, you are in the center of the document.
What is an icon
An icon is a graphic image. Icons help you execute commands quickly. Commands tell
the computer what you want the computer to do. To execute a command by using an
icon, click the icon.
What is a menu
Menus provide a way for you to send commands to the computer (tell the computer what
you want the computer to do). When you open a window, menu options are listed from
left to right just below the title bar on the menu bar. When you click a menu item, a drop-
down menu appears. Select the command you want to execute from the drop-down menu.
An ellipsis after a drop-down menu item signifies that there are additional options; if you
select that option, a dialog box will appear.
You can use shortcut keys to execute a command quickly by pressing key combinations
instead of selecting the commands directly from the menu or clicking on an icon. When
you look at a menu, you will notice that most of the options have one letter underlined.
You can select a menu option by holding down the Alt key and pressing the underlined
letter. You can also make Alt-key selections from drop-down menus and dialog boxes.
What is a selection
A selection is a highlighted area on which you can perform a command. For example, if you are using a
word processing program, you can highlight a word and then execute the Underline command to underline
the highlighted word.
To make a selection
Task Action
To make a selection: 1. Left-click where you want to start your selection.
2. Hold down your left mouse button and drag the mouse until you have
highlighted the area you want.
Or
1. Left-click where you want to start your selection.
2. Hold down the Shift key while you use the arrow keys to highlight
the area that you want.
Note: Typing over highlighted text replaces the old text with the new text you type.
Task Action
To create a shortcut to an item located on the Start 1. Click Start. The Start menu will appear.
menu: 2. Locate the item to which you want to create
a shortcut. If the item is located on a
submenu, go to the submenu.
3. Click and drag the item to your desktop.
To create a shortcut to items visible in Windows 1. Open Windows Explorer.
Explorer: 2. Minimize the Windows Explorer window.
3. Locate in Windows Explorer the item to
which you want to create a shortcut.
4. Hold down the right mouse button and drag
the item onto the desktop.
5. Release the right mouse button. A context
menu will appear.
6. Click Create Shortcuts Here.
To turn a Web link into a desktop shortcut, click the link in your browser window
(usually underlined text) and drag it to the desktop. An icon will appear on your desktop.
When you click the icon, your browser will open and you will go directly to the Web
page.
1. Click the icon that precedes the URL on the address bar.
2. Drag the icon to your desk top. Vista creates the shortcut.
Now, when you click on the shortcut, the Web page will open.
The name of the desktop shortcut displays below its icon. For example, if you create a
shortcut to the program Microsoft Word, the name Microsoft Word displays below the
icon. To rename a shortcut:
Note: Not all icons can be changed. If you do not see the Change Icon button or if the
change icon button is dimmed, the icon cannot be changed.
Remember, shortcuts have an arrow in the lower-left corner. If the icon you delete does
not have an arrow in the lower-left corner, it is not a shortcut and deleting the icon deletes
the object.
The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands are nearly universal. These three functions are used
by almost every Windows program and perform more or less the same function in each of
them. You can cut, copy, and paste programs, disks, and text, to name just a few things.
Cut: When you cut something, it is deleted from its current location and saved to the
Clipboard. Information saved to the Clipboard stays there until new information is either
cut or copied. Each time you execute Cut or Copy, you replace the old information on the
Clipboard with whatever you just cut or copied. You can paste the same Clipboard
information as often as you like.
Copy: Copy is similar to Cut except the original item is not deleted. When you copy
something, a copy of the item is saved to the Clipboard. Information stored on the
Clipboard stays there until new information is either cut or copied. Each time you execute
Cut or Copy, you replace the old information on the Clipboard with whatever you just cut
or copied. You can paste Clipboard information as often as you like, until you replace it
with something else.
Clipboard: The Clipboard is the storage area for items that have been cut or copied.
Each time you execute Cut or Copy, you replace the old information on the Clipboard
with whatever you just cut or copied. You can paste Clipboard information as often as
you like, until you replace it with something else.
There are three major methods of cutting, copying, and pasting. The three methods are
using the menu, using keyboard shortcuts, and using icons. We will review all of them. In
most programs, they will work exactly as described here.
2. Click Edit, which is located 2. Click Edit. A drop-down 2. Click Edit, which is
on the menu bar. A drop- menu will appear. located on the
down menu will appear. menu bar. A drop-
down menu will
appear.
Using Icons:
Cut Paste Copy
1. Select what you want to 1. Place the cursor at the 1. Select what you
cut. point where you want to want to copy.
place the information that
is currently on the
Clipboard.
2. Click the Cut icon. 2. Click the Paste icon. 2. Click the Copy
icon.
We use the following convention to indicate a menu path: View > Toolbars. When you
see View > Toolbars, it means choose View from the menu bar and select Toolbars from
the drop-down menu. The following list applies to many, but not all programs. Check
each program's documentation for information specific to the program.
Ctrl-x Edit > Cut Cut (delete and place on Clipboard) the
current selection.
Ctrl-z Edit > Undo Reverse the most recent command. Place
the program in the state it was in before
executing the last command.
Ctrl-y Edit > Redo Reverse the last undo. Place the program
in the state it was in before executing
Undo.
Format > Font Set the size of the font for the current
selection.
1. Click File, which is located on the menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear.
2. Click Save. A dialog box similar to the one shown here will appear.
Field/Icon Entry
Save In field Click to open the menu-box and select the drive and folder to
which you want to save the file.
Up One Level icon Click this icon to move up one level in the folder hierarchy.
View Desktop icon Click this icon to move to the Desktop folder.
Create a New Folder icon Use the Create a New Folder icon to create a new folder:
List icon Your program displays files and folders in the center of the
dialog box. To have the files display without the size, type, and
Detail icon Your program displays files and folders in the center of the
dialog box. To have the files display with the size, type, and
date modified, click the Detail icon.
File/Folder box Your program displays files and folders in File/Folder box.
Click a folder to open the folder. Click a file if you want the
current file to write over (replace) that file.
File Name field Enter the name you want your file to have in this field.
Save As Type field Click to open the drop-down box and select a file type.
Cancel button Click the Cancel button if you have changed your mind and do
not wish to save your file.
The taskbar
The taskbar is a long bar that by default runs along the bottom of your desktop. The Start
button, Quick Launch toolbar, active program buttons, and the notification area are
You click the Start button to display the Start menu. You use the Start menu to open
programs and to perform other functions such as searching for files.
On the taskbar, right next to the Start button is the Quick Launch toolbar. Using the
Quick Launch toolbar, you can open a program or file simply by clicking its icon. To add
an icon to the Quick Launch toolbar:
When using XP, Vista or Windows7, each program, document, or other type of file opens
in its own window. You can have multiple programs, documents, and files open at a
given time. A button for each open program, file, or document window displays on the
taskbar. You can quickly move from one open file to another open file by clicking the
files button. If you have a large number of files open, Vista may group all files of a given
type together. For example, if you have several Microsoft Word documents open, Vista
may group them together. When you click the button for Microsoft Word, Vista displays
a menu of open Word files. You can click the document you want to open.
The notification area is located on the right side of the task bar. It displays several icons
and the current time. The icons that display depend on the way in which your computer is
configured. You can move your mouse pointer over an icon to see the current settings for
the option the icon represents. In many cases, you can click the icon to change the
settings. For example, the Volume icon is located in the notification area. When you
pause your over the Volume icon the volume setting for the speakers on your computer
appears. You can click the icon to adjust the volume.
Task Action
To do I restart my computer: 1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will
You may need to shut down and restart your appear.
computer after installing a new program or if your 2. Click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off
system becomes unstable. To shut down and Computer dialog box will appear.
immediately restart your computer: 3. Click the Restart icon. Your computer will
restart.
What is Standby mode: 1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will
Windows XP enables you to quickly locate files and folders on your drives. The search
option provides you with four search options: Pictures, music, or video; Documents; All
files and folders; and Computers and people. To quickly find a file or folder:
4. Choose an option.
5. Enter your search criteria. Use the table that follows to
help you.
6. Click search. The results of your search will appear in
the right pane.
All or part of the file (document) name: Enter the filename, the first few letters of the
filename, or any letters found in the filename. Use
Computer name: the * as a wild card. For example, to find all of the
files that begin with r and end in the extension .doc,
enter r*.doc. To find files that begin with resume
and have any extension, enter resume.*.
A word or phrase in the file: If you are looking for a file that has a specific word
or phrase in the file, enter the word or phrase in this
field.
Between/During the Previous Specify the date search criteria you want to use.
Between allows you to search for files modified,
created, or accessed between two dates. During
allows you to search for files modified, created, or
accessed during the previous number of days or
months you specify.
Folders are used to organize the data stored on your drives. The files that make up a
program are stored together in their own set of folders. You will want to organize the
files you create in folders. You will want to store files of a like kind in a single folder.
1. Right-click the file or folder you want to delete. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Delete. Windows Explorer will ask, "Are sure you want to send this object to the recycle
bin?"
3. Click Yes.
1. Right-click the file or folder you want to copy. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Copy. The file or folder should now be on the Clipboard.
1. Right-click the file or folder you want to cut. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Cut. The file or folder should now be on the Clipboard.
Note: Cutting differs from deleting. When you cut a file, the file is placed on the
Clipboard. When you delete a file, the file is sent to the Recycle Bin.
1. After cutting or copying the file, right-click the object or right-click in the right pane of the folder
to which you want to paste. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Paste.
When you finish working with your computer, what should you do
When you click the Power button, Vista saves all of your
work, turns off the display screen, and puts your computer in
sleep mode. To indicate that your computer is in sleep mode, some of the lights on your
computer may blink and/or change color.
In sleep mode, your computer consumes very little electricity. When you need to use your
computer again, you can press your computer’s power-on switch to resume work quickly.
Instead of shutting your computer down when you are not using your computer, you
should put your computer in sleep mode.
To wake up my computer
What is a program?
You use programs, also referred to as software, to perform tasks when using a computer.
For example, if you want to use your computer to write a letter, you can use a word-
processing program such as Microsoft Word. If you want to keep accounting records, you
can use an accounting program such as QuickBooks.
To start a program
1. To start a program:
After you click the Start button, a search box appears just above it.
You can use the search box to locate programs or anything else that
is located on your computer, including documents that contain the
word you type. Type the name of the program, e-mail, file, or
whatever you are looking for in the Search box. Vista searches your
computer. The results of the search appear on the Start menu. When
you see the program you are looking for, you can click the program
name to open the program.
Note: You may not be able to view all of your programs on the screen at one time.
Click and drag the scrollbar up or down to change which programs are in view.
Excises