Developing Health Informatics Skills

File Types
Turning Your Computer On - The file type is best
 After turning the computer on, identified by its file
it will “boot up” (or load the structure
startup software and the File Extensions
operating system) and bring - is used to help identify the
you to the computer’s desktop type of file.
(a place where you can access Executable File Types
the computer’s services) - The most important file
What if there’s a Password? type to be aware of
 If the computer prompts you to - it may install a virus or
enter a password, do so if you some other unwanted
know it and click “Ok” software program.
 If there isn’t supposed to be a - Executable file types
password, click “Ok” to go on. include:
 If that doesn’t work, you will  .com
need to find out what the  .exe
password is. File Organization
Turning Your Computer Off  Files can be placed in folders
 Click start > Turn off Computer similar to the way single
> Turn Off > Yes or Start > sheets of paper can be placed
Shut Down > Shut down the into folders in a file cabinet.
computer? > Yes Browsing your files using Windows
 Turn off every component of the The first drive in the window
computer (printers, monitors, shown is a floppy drive. It is
speakers, etc.) including the labeled as drive A.
power if it is no longer needed. The second disk is the system
Starting a Program hard drive labeled as drive
 Click Start > All Program > C.
Click Program Name Or The third disk shown is a data
 Click Start > All Program > disk shown as drive D.
Click on the folder that Drive E and F are compact
contains the program > Click disks (CD ROM drives) of
Program Name which one is a read/write drive.
File Basic Characteristics Command or Special Keys
 Command keys
 Name
- normally work in
 Optional Extension Name -
combination with other
part of the name, it is used by
keys and can’t do anything
Windows operating systems to
on their own.
identify an associated program
- Ctrl is often used to access
that can be used to read it.
commands.
 Size - shows the space the file
 The Alternative key or Alt is
requires for storage normally
often used to access menus.
shown in kilobytes (Kb) which
 The Shift key is used to type
is 1000 bytes.
CAPITAL LETTERS
 Type - indicates the program Basic Typing Rules
used to access the file.  Place one space between each
 Date Modified - shows the last word, after a punctuation mark
date the file was created or and at the end of a sentence.
changed.  Always start a sentence with a
 File Structure - this capital letter.
characteristic is not viewable
by the computer user
  Use capitals for names, recognition and sorting or
addresses, provinces and many data
countries, places, organizations Sorting Folders and Files
 Learning the keyboard is the  Sorting and arranging folders
first step to learning a according to its category can
computer. help the user to recognize files
Files and Documents and retrieve it easily and
 The computer saves its reduce the risk of file loss.
information on a disk, most How to Sort a File?
often the hard disk and the  From the directory/folder
user determines where and containing sub-folders and
when the file or document is files.
saved.  Click the view option in the
Folders and Directories menu bar then click “choose
 On the disk are directories or details”
collection of folders.  If the directory/folder is in the
 These directories or folders Tile, Thumbnails and icons
could be compared to a filing format make it in details from
cabinet. before you proceed.
 All files are stored in a  Click “Details” option
directory.  Click the “Choose details”
 Most hard disks have many option
directories or folders.  Then select details option
 The directory immediately (Name, Size, Date modified,
below the current directory is Data created, etc)
called the child directory. Saving Files
 The directory immediately In order to save a new
above the current one is called document or file you must first
the parent directory. choose the Save command.
 The top of the directory Most modern software places
structure is called the root this command in a menu which
directory. you access with the mouse
How to Hide Folders with Files? button or Alt key.
 Right click the folder/s and go You can easily change these
to property option settings permanently using the
 A small window will appear. applications Preferences or
Check the Hidden button the temporarily at the point of
press applies button then Ok. saving the file.
 Click the Tools option in the Some common rules are:
menu bar  All files are saved on a
 Click the “view” option then disk or storage device
choose the “do not show hidden  A disk is usually broken
files and folders” click apply up into directories and
then Ok. sometimes into
Creating and Filling System partitions.
 One of the main problems new  A directory or folder is a
users have is creating a filing way of keeping like files
system. in a common area.
 Modern operating systems To Save a File for the First Time
address the “filing problem” by  Click File > Then click Save (if
automatically creating a (My) it is the first time to save the
Documents folder. file, you will see a window
 It is very useful to customize which will let you choose which
your folders icon for easy
 folder to save in and what file  From the folder on the hard
name to choose) disk to an external storage
Copying Multiple Files device.
 There are several tricks that  From the external storage
can be used to make copying or device to the folder on the hard
moving multiple files easier. disk
 They involve the selection of the Exit or Quit
files to be copied or moved.  It is important to exit or quit a
 You can hold down the Shift program, application and the
key and select one file by operating system before
clicking on it with the left shutting off the computer.
mouse button.
 While still holding the Shift key
down left click on another file Menus
several files down on the list. - are the most common way
Deleting Files of interacting or controlling
 From the Location of the file on your software.
the folder, highlight the file you - Many programs have a
want to delete by clicking the menu called File which
file then press Delete on the controls things like Opening,
keyboard. Saving and Printing your file
Deleting Selected Files or Folders and Exiting the program.
 To delete selected files or - Many also have an Edit
folders, you can use the help of menu which contains the
the control key of the keyboard. main editing commands
 From the directory/Folders, like Cut, Copy and Paste.
press and hold the control key - The items on the menu are
of the keyboard and click the Commands or the
files and/or folders features of the program.
 Then use the delete key to The Desktop
delete selected files/folders (the  The desktop offers many
deleted files/folders will go to features that make using your
the recycle bin) computer easier.
 To delete all files or folders, you  You can easily start programs
can use the help of the control or applications, copy and move
key of the keyboard, “A” key or files from one place to another
shift key.  Program displays a list of the
Restoring Deleted Files/Folders programs that are installed
 Open the recycle bin and look through Windows
for the file or folder you want to  Documents displays a list of
restore > Right Click to bring the last 15 documents used
out the Restore option. The files allowing the user to open them
will be restored to its original  Settings display system
location. components, such as printers,
 On the “My Computer” menu control panel and taskbar.
select “Edit” then “Paste”. File  Find/Search has search
will be copied to the location abilities to find files, folders
you have navigated to. and phrases in documents on
Transferring File (using mouse right your computer.
click and drag to drop option)  Help displays help topics
 From one folder to another on broken up into contents, index
the same Hard disk. and find components.
 Run allows you to start a
program from a command line.
  Shut down, shut down the  Many backup options are done
computer, restart the computer automatically by the computer
or log you off a network. which will provide various
 Favorites and Active Desktop options to recover them in a
is an option available to crisis
Windows 98+ users.
Installing New Software
Control Panel and System  Most software sold today has
Preferences an automated install sequence
 Used to change system settings that is activated with the press
like screen savers, time, screen of a button.
colors  The installation process will
 Also used to add and remove create a directory.
programs, fonts add and make  Steps to install software:
changes to hardware and install- run-use
software settings. Compression and Decompression
Toolbar: Displays icon menu of main  There are commercial and
options shareware programs that will
Status Bar: Shows current status of compress and decompress files
the window (Microsoft) for you.
Shortcuts  The most popular form of data
- Can be created anywhere compression is called zip or
that is convenient to access rar.
a program Printing
Help and Support  When choosing a printer,
To get help about a specific consider the peripheral
procedure click the start menu equipment that you will need
to open a window containing a as well as the actual printer.
help menu.  Peripherals include paper,
Contents list specific topics ribbons, or ink cartridges,
grouped by subject. toner and occasionally print
Index list specific topics heads.
accessed by scroll bars or  Density adjustments
typing the topic. determine how much ink is
Find creates an index of words placed on the paper or how
in Help and allows searches by many dots per inch (DPI)
word or phrase  Draft quality will print quicker
Click Help Topics to return to but create a fainter copy (less
the Help menu dense).
Troubleshooters will step you Computer Viruses
through a series of steps to  A virus is a program designed
solve computer problems by a computer programmer to
How to Create Shortcuts do certain unwanted functions.
 Click the right mouse button
 It can also be very destructive
until a dialogue box will
and damage your computer’s
appear.
programs and files causing the
 Then click the “Create
computer to stop working.
Shortcut” until a shortcut icon
 Difference between a worm and
will come up.
virus: A worm is self-
 Then place the shortcut icon to
replicating. Viruses are not
the desired location (e.g.
self-replicating but require user
desktop)
interaction to run.
Backing up Files
  Trojan appears to be Shortcut Key Description
something useful but instead Win Key + D Minimizes all
includes something malicious windows and
 Spam is unwanted email returns the user
filtered with anti-spam to the desktop.
software. Win Key + M Minimizes all
 A buffer overflow occurs when windows
a system receives unexpected Win Key + SHIFT Undo minimize
data or more data than the +M
program can handle. Win Key + E Open Microsoft
 logic bomb is a program or Explorer
code snippet that executes in Win Key + Tab Cycle through
response to an event, such as a open programs
specific time or date. through taskbar
Stages of Viruses Life Win Key + F Display the
1. Design: Developing virus code Windows
using programming languages Search/Find
or construction kits. feature.
2. Replication: Virus replicates Win Key + CTRL Display the
for a period within the target +F search for
system and then spreads itself computer
3. Launch: It gets activated with window
the user performing specific Win Key + F1 Displays the
actions such as running an Microsoft
infected program Windows help
4. Detection: A virus is identified Win Key + R Open the run
as threat infecting target window
systems Win Key + Open the system
5. Incorporation: Antivirus Pause/Break Key properties
software developers assimilate window
defenses against the virus Win Key + U Open Utility
6. Execute the damage routine: Manager
Users install antivirus updates Win Key + L Lock the
and eliminate the virus threats computer
(Windows XP
Two Basic Forms of Virus and above only)
One is a boot sector virus
which infects the section of a Other Shortcut Keys
disk that is first read by the
computer. Shortcut Keys Description
 This type of virus infects Click, hold and Selects text from
the boot or master drag where you click
section of any disks that and hold to the
comes in contact with point you drag
it. and let go
The second is a program virus Double click If double clicking
that infects other programs a word, it selects
when the infected program is the complete word
run or executed. Double click Double clicking
The main common feature of a on the left, center
virus is that it is contagious, or right of a blank
spreading and infecting other line will make the
computers. alignment of the
The Shortcut Key text left, center, or
 right aligned
Double click Double clicking
anywhere after
text on a line will
set a tab stop
Triple click Selects the line or
paragraph of the
text the mouse
triple-clicked
Ctrl + Mouse Zooms in and out
wheel of a document