Windows Intro

You are visitor number


	*50 Lee Avenue Babylon, NY 11702*


		*631-539-4978*

	*fax 631-422-4991*

Home
Our Programs
   Computer Training Classes
   Computer Disposal
   Printer Cartridge Disposal
Our Newsletter
   This Week's Edition
   Archives
   Search the Archives
   Subscribe
Classes
   Schedule
   Search by Class
Manuals
   Books for Sale
   Order Form
Our Company
   About Us
   Contact Info
   Legal


		Today is

Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows is the most widely used graphical user interface operating system for personal computers. An operating system links you to your programs (also called applications or software) and then links your programs to the computer system's hardware. The Windows operating system is called a graphical user interface (GUI, pronounced gooey) because it has pictures that you use to communicate with the computer. Windows has been redesigned to provide the user with an easier, more manageable operating system. Windows:

	The Desktop The Desktop is the simple, opening screen in Windows that contains a few objects, shortcuts, icons, the Start button, and a taskbar. As you work, you open files, then put them away again, move items around on the desktop, and perform other day-to-day tasks. An object is one of the many things that you use when working with the computer system - items such as files, Control Panel tools, programs, My Computer, folders, Network Neighborhood, shortcuts, the Recycle bin, disk drives, and My Briefcase. (As used here, the term Object is really just a catch-all term for an item, element, thing, whatcha-ma-call-it, or thing-a-ma-jig. The terms object and object-oriented have a more formal computer-related meaning that is not used in this reference manual. An icon, in a graphical user interface, is a small screen image representing a specific element that the user can manipulate in some way. You select the icon by moving the mouse and clicking on it. An icon may represent an application program, a document, a piece of hardware, or just about any other object. A shortcut is an icon containing a direct route to a specific object and displaying a small jump-arrow in the lower-left corner. Double click a shortcut to quickly open the file or program it represents. You can customize your desktop by creating shortcuts for the programs you use most often.


	The Start Button The Start button is located at the left end of the taskbar. Click the Start button to open the Start menu from which you can open other menus and launch programs. To start a program in Windows, left click once on the Start Button, point to Programs menu, then point to the sub-menus for the program you are looking for. Select your program and single left click. The program will be started for you.


	The Taskbar The Windows Taskbar provides the easiest method of switching between several open applications on your desktop. Although the Taskbar can be dragged into any of the four sides of your screen, the default location is at the bottom, and that is the orientation that we are going to use for our purposes. The Taskbar is actually three separate components. At the far left is the Start Button. This opens the .Start Menu, as described above. To the far right is the System Tray. This contains the clock, and often icons for programs which usually run in the background and need only occasional user input. The remainder is the body of the Taskbar itself. Most programs place a button on the Taskbar when they are opened, as is the case for Microsoft Word in the example above. Clicking on one of these buttons allows the user to bring that application's window to the foreground and make it active. You will note that when an application is active (in the foreground or “front”), its button is highlighted in a lighter shade of color and appears to be pushed in. In older versions of Windows, minimizing an open window shrunk it down to an icon on the desktop and double-clicking on that icon restored the window. In Windows, minimizing a window shrinks it down into its Taskbar button. A single left-click on that button restores the window to the desktop. As the Taskbar is by default always accessible at the bottom of your screen, this makes it very easy to restore a minimized window or switch between open windows. Click here to learn how to solve problems that you may have with the taskbar. Shut Down Windows IMPORTANT! To avoid damaging your information, you must shutdown Windows before turning off your computer. To Shut Down Windows: Move the mouse pointer over Start and then press the left button. Move the mouse pointer over Shut Down or Turn Off (depending on your Windows version) and then press the left button. The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears. Move the mouse pointer over OK, Yes or Turn Off (depending on your Windows version) and then press the left button

	Windows Elements

Window Elements

Window - The rectangular work area for a task, folder, program, or document.

Control menu button - An icon at the left side of the title bar that opens the Control menu. The Control button icon matches the icon for the document type that is open.

Control menu - A menu with items that you use to manipulate a program window (Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, and Close). It is opened by clicking the Control button or by right-clicking the task button for the program.

Minimize button - A button located at the right side of the title bar that you can click to reduce a window to a task button on the taskbar.

Maximize button - The button in the middle of the three buttons located at the right end of the title bar; it enlarges a window to its greatest possible size. When you maximize a window, the Maximize button is replaced by the Restore button.

Restore button - The button in the middle of the three buttons located at the right bar on a maximized window; it returns a maximized window to its previous size. When you restore a maximized window, the Restore button is replaced by the Maximize button.

Close button - A button located at the right end of the title bar that you click to close a window.

Window title - The name of a window, located just to the right of the Control menu button. The document name, if any, is listed first followed the program name.

Title bar - The horizontal bar at the top of a window that holds the window’s name.

Menu bar - The bar located under the title bar that lists the available menus.

Workspace - The inner part of the window where the work in a program or document is carried out.

Minimize, Restore, Maximize

Note the three buttons to the far right of the title bar. These are the basic window controls which you will find on every program window. The button on the left with the picture of a flat line is the minimize button. A single left-click on this button will shrink the window down into the program’s button on the Taskbar. Left-clicking once on that Taskbar button will restore the window to its previous size - this is called Restore Up. The X button on the right will close the window and it’s associated program entirely. The button in the center with the single large square will maximize the window, causing it to fill your entire screen.

Once a window is maximized, the picture on the middle button changes to two overlapping squares. A single left-click on this button now will shrink the window back down to it’s previous size - this is called Restore Down.

Sizing Windows

You can also enlarge or shrink a window to any specific size you desire by holding your cursor directly over one of the window’s edges or corners until the pointer changes into a Resize cursor - a two-way arrow similar to the example at the right. Holding down the left mouse button and dragging the resize cursor in or out will expand or contract the window.

Moving Windows

A window that is Restored Down can be moved to a different location on the screen. Point to the title bar of the window, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the window toward the desired location. You’ll note, as you’re dragging the window, that you’ll see a thick outline of the window. When the outline is in the new location, release the mouse button.

[Home] [Programs] [Manuals] [ManualsSale] [Newsletter] [Classes]

Sharper Training Solutions, Inc. offers free, unlimited support by email to all participants in our computer workshops. If you have any questions or problems, or any suggestions or comments on the workshop, manual or this website, please email sharpertraining@aol.com.