Microsoft Windows is a graphical interface to the computer. It allows you to
run programs and maintain your computer under the same style of interface.
The mouse is used to "talk" to Windows, you "point and
click" to communicate. You can also use keyboard shortcuts. For those
experienced Windows users, the version of Windows that is installed on the
PATs is 3.11. It works much the same way as Windows 3.1.
Windows will start automatically everytime the PAT is turned on.
You can "point and click" using a mouse to communicate with Windows. The
mouse is represented as a black arrow or hourglass most times on the screen.
When it is an arrow, then you can "point and click". When it is a hourglass,
the computer is thinking and you'll have to wait for the arrow to return.
"Point" means to place the arrow on top of an object. "Click" refers to
instructing the computer to do something with the object. "Click" is to a
mouse what "RETURN" is to the keyboard. Using the mouse is the easiest way
for novices to use Windows.
You can move the mouse around on the mousepad, it will imitate the motion on
the screen. Pressing the left mouse button will usually initiate a "click".
Each window is composed of the same parts, no matter what application you are
using. There are windows and then there are dialogue boxes. Dialogue boxes
usually ask you a question and you'll have to answer by clicking on a button.
This will cover only windows.
Each window has one or more control boxes, a title bar, restore button,
maximize/minimize button, menu bar, and scroll bars. Don't try to
remember all these terms. You won't, just be familiar with what they do.
- control box - Square in upper left corner of window with slit in the
middle. The most important feature in the pull down menu is the "close"
option.
- title bar - Blue (active) or gray (inactive) bar across top of window.
Shows you the title of the application you're running and filename.
- restore button - Box in upper right of window with the downward pointing
arrow. Shrinks the window to an icon.
- maximize/minimize button - box next to the restore button. Contains two
up/down arrows or a down arrow. Changes the size of the window from medium
to large and vice versa.
- menu bar - White bar below title bar with "File", "Edit", "Options", etc.
in it. The pull down menus allow you to access the features of the
application.
- scroll bars - Bars on the right and bottom of a window with arrows on
each end. Allows you to scroll to be able to see information currently out
of window range.
Opening and closing windows work the same way. To close, double click (DC)
on the control box of the window you want to close. To double click, press
the left mouse button quickly twice. To open a window (or application)
DC on the icon itself.
There is an easy way to switch between applications without using the
mouse. Pressing "ALT-TAB" will flash running applications across the middle of
your screen. [ALT-TAB] means to hold down the "ALT" key and press "TAB" at
the same time.Hold down "ALT" and hit "TAB" until you come to the application
you want. Then release. This is also a good strategy to figure out what
is running.
The easiest way to deal with this is to press the reset button. You can
also press [CTRL-ALT-DEL]. Follow the directions on the screen. Most times
you will want to close the running application but not exit out of windows
if you can do so. When the computer boots up again, it will ask you for
a password. Type in the password and wait until Windows is loaded before
you leave.
Note that "RETURN" is actually "ENTER" on the keyboard.
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Working With Your Setup *
The DRL's Guide to CCN
Written by Carol Sin (aa068@chebucto.ns.ca) for free distribution only