The screen or picture that is displayed for normal usage is called the desktop. The pictures (icons) located on the desktop are called short cuts. This enables easy access to commonly used programs or files stored within the computer system.
On the bottom edge of the screen is the Task Bar, with the Start button situated on the left and another group of icons with the time displayed on the right. The task bar stores information about the program or programs that are in use. This will become more apparent as our discussion continues.
To access the programs (software) or files stored on the computer, click on the start button, move the cursor to "All programs", click on “All programs” and a menu will appear listing all the software on the computer.
You will notice that some of the listed items have a small arrow pointing to the right along side their name. This indicates that there are further options or sub menus.
Click on games and the sub menu will be displayed. Simply choose the game to be played and the game (program) will load. Other sub menus have further sub menus, such as the accessories item.
Click on the accessories and a sub menu appears.
NOTE: You may
have noticed that as the cursor is moved over the listed items, the lists
automatically appear whilst the cursor is over the lists.
Moving the cursor away from the list and the menu disappears.
The reason for clicking on the item is to hold the menu in place, whilst a choice is being made.
Some menus when selected, open a window (screen area) displaying a series of icons.
This can be observed when the control panel is selected.
Click on the control panel item in the start menu and the window will appear.
These are items used to control and maintain the computer’s operating system.
A discussion of these items will come later in the training guide.
Now you should have a basic understanding of the desktop and mouse usage.
Microsoft introduced the windows convention in their 1995 version of their operating system, Win ’95. Their main aim for redesigning the product was to introduce a common appearance, no matter what product you had on your computer. This was their new “user friendly” system to alleviate the user from needing to be a computer expert to operate the system.
This was achieved by making all of the screens displayed the same no matter what program was being used. On page 29 is a picture of a common windows display of an opened program, in this case I have opened Word Pad, a simple word processing product.
As marked in the picture, where the name of the product is displayed, this is the “Title Bar”, indicating the name of the product and the name of the file currently opened.
Below the “Title Bar”, is the “Menu Bar”, the options
shown have other options included as menu items in a drop down list.
Below this is the “Tool Bar”, these are short cut to many of the
tasks listed in the drop down menus.
Below the Tool Bar is the “Format Bar”, this enables the user to change the font, size and orientation of text being typed in the work area below the ruler.
On the far right of the Title Bar there are three symbols, these are:
Minimise Reduce the window to a button on the task bar
Maximise Enlarge the window to fill the desktop
Close Close the program a prompt will display requesting save document
You will find that this display will be common in most programs you will use, from window based games to spread sheets and the Internet Explorer.
The idea is to enable the user confidence in understanding and using any product loaded on the windows system because most of these products conform to the windows convention.
There are slight differences in various areas of windows as we will explore later, but these will be covered when needed.
Windows is designed for
mouse usage in preference to keyboard, but the use of the keyboard can not be
avoided, as sometimes you are required to input written text to start programs
or change a web page.
So to support the keyboard I have enclosed this area of discussion to help in the understanding of keyboard usage.
There a four (4) main parts to the keyboard, the standard typewriter section, cursor keys, numeric keypad and the function keys. Although some keyboards include other keys for turning on and off the computer, keys for web use, multimedia keys and some with volume controls and short cut keys for all sorts of functions, the area of discussion here is the basic four keyboard areas.
The main typewriter keyboard represents all of the keys present on a standard typewriter (QWERTY). These are the basic keys used to type letters and documents in a word processing product.
The cursor keys are used to manoeuvre the document cursor whilst in products such as Word, Publisher, email programs or where text is being used.
i
- is a switch that turns on
or off the ability of either inserting text into the document at the cursor
position or overwriting text at the cursor position. An indicator in the task bar shows its current state.
“OVR” is normally off, by pressing the insert key the OVR in the task bar darkens.
d - When pressed this key removes the character to the right of the cursor position.
h - depending on the program in use, moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
g - depending on the program in use, moves the cursor to the end of the current line.
p - when pressed moves the cursor up on screen full, or screen page depending on the document settings.
q - when pressed moves the cursor down one screen full, or screen page depending on the document settings.
wxyz These 4 arrow keys that move the cursor in the direction of the arrow depending where the cursor is located in the document.
The
numeric keypad
has two (2) defined operations which is dependant on the
nl
keys position either being on or off. This
is indicated by a visual light positioned on the number lock key itself, or
above the numeric keypad. When the
light is on, visible, the keypad uses the upper symbols displayed on the keys.
That is 0 – 9 period or full stop nl / * - + e
When the light is off the represent the lower symbols displayed on the keys being cursor keys.
That is nl / * - + wxyz i d
The function keys, these can be programmed by the product designers to achieve certain tasks or open supported toolbars or help files. The main key in this group that is used only for ONE task is the ! key which is used for displaying the help files. This is programmed by windows as a default, so if help is what you need press the ! key and a help will open for that product. In some games this key can be reprogrammed, but most use it as a help key.
!"#$%^&'()_=
Other keys on the keyboard that deserve a mention are the b (back space) key which erases characters to the left of the cursor position. The TAB key {t can be displayed in either form or a combination of both. This key is used to move the cursor through data fields to the right or down depending on the field positions. If used in conjunction with the shift key it will move the cursor up or backward through the fields. Usage of this key will be discussed later in programs that support the need.
vu this key, when pressed usually cancel previous key actions, when used in games and programs it usually stops actions or game play.
|l is the switch to turn the capital letter usage on or off. The key when pressed turn on a visual light on the key or above the numeric keypad beside the number lock.
ca are used in conjunction with other key to perform certain tasks depending on the program being used. As the need arrises this key will be discussed.
Windows introduced two (2) keys of its own, these are the “Windows key” and the “task key”. The windows key emulates pressing on the Start button and the task key emulates the right click of the mouse. The result of this key is determined in what program or part of the operating system you are currently exploring.
In most of the window products you will use, there are keyboard short cuts displayed along side most of the options in the drop down menus. They are too numerous to mention here, but look out for then as you venture through the products.
Control Panel:
This is the area that the computer system allows you to change the look, feel and the way the system works. Add and remove programs, install new hardware, to name only a few of the options available. The control panel is available in the start menu.
Select the start button, click on Control Panel and the following screen should appear. There are two possible views of the control panel, classic (itemised) as display on the left, or a category view. The itemised view allows you to select individual items available, where the category view groups them as displayed below.
Both will achieve the same result by enabling you to change items as required.
In the category view, the items shown are of simular type, thus allowing you to alter several items at once.
This is particularly handy when you are unsure of what to alter.
Take for instance you wish to change the desktop theme.
In the picture below you will notice that we have selected appearance and themes from the previous picture. This now allows you to select the type of changes you wish to make to the desktop.
Here you would simply click on the option, change the computer’s theme and a selection of desktop themes from which to choose.
To change the desktop theme click on change the computer’s theme and a list of choices will be displayed as shown on the picture below.
The picture on the right displays the options available; you will notice from this screen, you can change more than just the themes. Below the display properties heading there are a number of tags with choices of various items. Using the category view it will select precisely which item you wish to alter. For instance, if you had chosen to change the screen saver instead of the themes, the picture on the right would have displayed the Display Properties with the Screen Saver tag at the front of the picture, with those options available.
Microsoft made this version of
Windows more user friendly, enabling you to choose precisely which option to
change. The Classic View is for
those who have had previous experience with the Windows products.
To achieve the same result in the classic view, you would have clicked on
Display, and then selected from the tags which item to change.
Exploring the control panel will give you some idea of the complexity of this operating system.
One of the most important items to investigate is the “Add/Remove Programs”.
This allows you to add a program to the computer for use, then, at a later date, if it is no longer required, remove it completely. A program, unlike files you create yourself, must be placed in the correct position for the operating system to control it correctly and backup relevant files that have been changed since the installation of the new program. This control enables Windows to successfully remove the program and reinstating the system back to the way it was prior to the installation of the program. A discussion on Loading programs is part of this users guide.
When first purchasing your computer, you would have acquired certain products that were included in the purchase; these are called bundled software packages. As you become accustomed to your computer, you will find that there are other products that you require to use.
This is where the windows “Add/Remove Programs”
option is used. Some programs like
games come with their own setup process that is suggested in the documentation
enclosed with the game.
Read all documentation included prior to installing the game as some games may cause a detrimental affect to the system, causing windows to display errors or the game to fail or not work properly.
Even when purchasing window based products to be installed on your computer, it is always advisable to use the add/remove programs option. There are two reasons for this, firstly when installing the product, Windows will backup essential files that will be changed by the installation of the product and secondly, if the product is to be removed, windows has a backup of the files that have changed and will replace the system to its previous state.
To use the add remove program option, click on the start button, choose control panel, then Add Remove Programs. A screen simular to the one below will be displayed.
On the left side of the screen there are three options.
“Change or Remove Programs”
“Add New Programs”
“Add/Remove Windows Components”
These will be discussed one by one, in order of appearance.
By default, Change or Remove Programs option is selected, displaying a list of programs that have been installed on the system, or can be removed successfully. Moving the mouse over the product to highlight it, then selecting either change or remove from the two option buttons displayed, will enable a safe removal or updates to be made to the product.
Add New Programs will change the screen to allow you
the install the new product. The
picture on the left displays what you would expect to see.
As shown a program from a CD or disk can be installed, or program updates from Microsoft can also be installed with this option. Clicking on CD or floppy will ask you to insert the products disk for commencement of installation.
Add Remove Windows Components will also change the screen, a short delay message is displayed while the system analyses your Windows components, listing extras that can be installed or removed.
Another window appears displaying a screen simular to
the one above. Instructions are
given in the window, explaining what to do.
When all options are updated, click on the next button and Windows will update the system with your new settings.
In some situations a message will be displayed requesting you to restart your computer before changes to the operating system will take effect.
You must restart your computer to complete the process.
When installing or removing other programs, again in some situations a message will be displayed requesting you to restart your computer before changes to the operating system will take affect. You must restart your computer to complete the process.
Some products purchased, start up when the CD is inserted into the drive, before continuing read the documentation included with the product before continuing. If in doubt about the success of the installation, cancel any screens, then run add remove programs – Add New Program to complete the process.
Note: The installation of all programs is at the discretion of the user. Where programs have caused major problems to the operating system, the only recourse is to try and remove the product through the uninstall option of the product, or if it is listed in the add remove programs, remove it through there. Failing that, a computer consultant or technician will have to be called to assist in restoring the system to operational use.