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Windows Manual
copyright 1996, 2001  by Tracy Marks
Boston area Windows Training, Tutoring and Consulting


LESSON ONE: ORIENTATION AND NAVIGATION

C. Using Windows

TITLE BAR
The top line of your open window is the TITLE BAR, and lists the name of the
program. You can move a window around your screen by dragging its title bar.
If two programs or windows are open on screen, you can make one active by
clicking its title bar (or an empty space within itself window); the title bar of
an activated window is darkened.

On the top right are three control buttons. The left one is MINIMIZE, which
keeps your window or program open and active, but reduces it to a rectangular
icon on your TASKBAR. Open programs are indicated on your taskbar, but
their names appear indented when they are visible on your screen.

The button on the middle RESTORES a full-screen window to window-size,
or MAXIMIZES a window-size window to full-screen. Clicking the X button
on the right closes your window or program.



MENU BAR AND VIEWING OPTIONS
In a window you will often see a variety of icons representing programs, files
or facets of your computer. Double clicking these icons opens them.

The row beneath the title bar is the MENU BAR. When you clicking words
on the MENU BAR, you open up a menu of additional choices.

Next to some of the commands on  the MENU BAR are KEYBOARD
SHORTCUTS (i.e. control f4) - keystroke alternatives for accessing the
same command or action that is on the menu bar. Next to other menu bar
commands, a right arrow indicates more options.

If you have mistakenly opened a menu and wish to close it without making
a choice, simply click on the title bar or on a blank space within your window.

Most windows have a VIEW menu with a variety of choices for viewing their
icons - SMALL ICONS, LARGE ICONS, LIST and DETAILS. They usually
also have a HELP menu, with choices like CONTENTS, TOPICS, SEARCH
and ABOUT...(which provides information on the program and current
system resources).



NAVIGATING WITHIN WINDOWS
If you can't see all you want to see in a window, use the SCROLLBARS
at the bottom or right to view more of a window. Click the up arrow to move
the screen down, or click the down arrow to move the screen up. To scroll
sideways, use the right or left arrows to scroll sideways. You can also slowly
drag the BOX between the scrollbars to the left or right.

If your window is too big or small for the items in it, resize it. Hold your
cursor over a border until it becomes a double arrow. Then drag the
window border to the size you want.


PRACTICE EXERCISE:
1. Drag the My Computer around by its title bar.
2. In the View menu, choose SMALL ICONS, LARGE ICONS, LIST
    and DETAILS.
3. Double click the icon for your c drive, and watch it open. Use your
    scrollbar to see more of the file names on your hard drive.
4. Resize the window for your c drive. Then click the X control box to
    close its window.
5. Click on File, Edit, View and Help and note your options. Check out
    View, Arrange Icons.
6. In the Help menu, click Help Topics, and then click each of the tabs
    to familiarize yourself with the different kinds of Help screens. Then
    click CANCEL twice.
7. In the Help menu, click on About...and read it. Click O.K. to close
     the About... screen.
8. Practice opening, minimizing, restoring, maximizing and closing your
    My Computer  window.


NEXT: The Start Menu, Shutdown and Restarting      continue










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