Introduction to Computer Use

• Study notes below on basic computer use:

Desktop

• The desktop is the main screen you see after logging into your computer.
• Icons representing applications and items, such as the Recycle Bin, are commonly found on the desktop.

Mousing Around

• Double-Click: Quickly click twice on an item with the mouse cursor to open files or folders. If the clicks are too slow, they may be interpreted as two separate clicks.
• Right-Click: Click the right mouse button for a menu of special tasks or options related to where you clicked; the secondary mouse button for right-clicking.
• Click & Drag: Click and hold the left mouse button on an object, move the mouse pointer to a new location, and release the button to move the object. This technique can be used for files, folders, arranging windows, and highlighting text.

Moving items (Drag-and-Drop)

• The most common way to move files and folders is with the Drag-and-Drop method, selecting a file and then dragging it to another location.
• If moving an item to a different hard drive or removable storage, the item will be copied instead of moved.

Taskbar

• The taskbar, is a horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen, visible most of the time.
• The four main sections of the taskbar include:
  • Start Button: Opens the Start Menu.
  • Quick Launch Toolbar: Start programs with one click.
  • Taskbar Buttons: Shows open programs and documents for quick switching and Windows creates a button on the taskbar corresponding to that item/program.
  • Notification Area: Includes a clock and icons that communicate the status of programs and settings.

Start Menu

• The Start Menu, accessed by clicking the Start Button, provides access to programs, files, folders, settings, and controls.
• Windows 7 divides the Start Menu into 2 parts:
  • The Left Pane displays programs, with pinned programs always appearing and others determined by usage, and the All Programs button has a list of every installed program. The Search box allows searching for files, folders, and programs, including keywords or phrases within documents.
  • The Right Pane links to Windows features:
    • Documents: Stores text files, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
    • Computer: Access disk drives and removable storage.
    • Control Panel: Customize Windows settings, add/remove programs, manage network connections and user accounts.
    • Devices and Printers: Shows all connected devices.
    • Help and Support: Browse and search Help topics related to Windows.
• Options to Log Off or Shut Down the computer included in the Start Menu.

My Computer

• (Technically now just 'Computer' in the Start Menu).

Hard Disk Drives

• The hard disk, typically the (C:) drive, stores all applications, files, and folders.
• Some departments may have a shared drive, like a (P:) or (S:) drive.

Devices with Removable Storage

• Removable storage devices increase storage space on a computer and/or transfer information between computers.
• Common removable storage devices:
  • USB drives (aka Flash drive, Thumb drive, Memory stick)
  • DVDs/CDs
  • External hard drives
  • CompactFlash memory cards
  • Secure Digital (SD) memory cards

Windows (the boxes)

• A window is the box or frame that appears when a program, file, or folder is opened.
• Multiple programs can run at once, each in its own window, overlapping one another.
• The active window is the window in front; click any part of a window in the background to bring it to the front.

Moving & Resizing Windows

• To move a window, click and drag its title bar to the desired location.
• To resize a window, point to any of its borders or corners until the cursor changes to a two-headed arrow, then click and drag to enlarge/shrink.

Minimize / Maximize / Close Buttons

• In the top-right corner of a window, there are Minimize, Maximize/Restore Down, and Close buttons to hide, resize, and close the window, respectively.

Files and Folders

• A file is a collection of related information stored on a computer, such as a text document, picture, or application.
• Folders are containers in which you can store and organize files.
• Subfolders are folders within folders.

File Extensions

• Determine the file type and are typically three letters long, located at the end of the filename, with an icon also indicates the file type.
• Common file types:
  • .doc or .docx: Word Document opens with Microsoft Word.
  • .xls or .xlsx: Excel Spreadsheet opens with Microsoft Excel.
  • .jpg: JPEG Image opens with Windows Picture Viewer.
  • .pdf: Portable Document Format opens with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • .zip: Compressed file opens with WinZip.
  • .ppt or .pptx: PowerPoint Presentation opens with Microsoft PowerPoint.

Libraries

• Libraries allow access to your Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos.

Windows Explorer

• Provides a view of files and folders.
• Key parts in the Windows Explorer frame are:
  • Address Bar: Indicates the current location and allows folder navigation.
  • Back, Forward, & Up Buttons: Allows navigation between previously opened folders.
  • Search field: Allows searching for titles, tags, or keywords in documents.

Opening Files and Folders

• Simply double-click a file or folder to open it in its associated program, and folders will list all of their contents.

Creating New Folders

• Creating New Folders:
  • Go to the location for making a new folder and select New, then Folder on the File menu.
  • Or, in Windows Explorer, click the "New Folder" button.
  • The folder appears with the name "New Folder" highlighted, and type to give the folder a new name, then press Enter

Rename

• To rename a file or folder, right-click it and select "Rename".

Delete

• Files or folders are not immediately deleted, but stored in the Recycle Bin until it is emptied.
• Other ways to delete a file or folder:
  • follow the steps for renaming and then select 'Delete' instead of "Rename",
  • or select a file or folder and press the Delete key,
  • or click and drag the file to the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.

Cut, Copy and Paste

• Cut and Paste and Copy and Paste transfer files or folders (or text) from a source to a destination.
• The cut file is removed from its original destination.
• To copy a file or folder, duplicate the file and modify, delete, or store the copy independently of the original.
• Steps to Copy and Paste a file or folder:
  1. Go to the location that includes the file or folder you want to copy.
  2. Right click the file or folder. Then select Copy.
  3. Go to the destination where you want to paste the file.
  4. Right click and then select Paste

Menu Bar

• Located underneath the Title Bar, contains lists of options for click to perform commands.
• When combined with the Toolbar, it's also known as "The Ribbon."

Menu Bar (cont'd)

• Clicking a menu (File, Edit, View) opens it, and moving the mouse pointer along that menu automatically opens its sub-menus.

Toolbars

• Toolbars appear below the menu bar, that provide access to frequently used commands, these commands usually appear in the menus if you click the drop down as well.
• Clicking a toolbar button performs a command.
• Hover the mouse over the button to display the button's name or function.

Undo

• Most programs allow you to undo actions or mistakes.
• To undo an action, click 'undo' on the Edit menu, or click the Undo icon from the toolbar.

Programs / Applications

• Programs perform specific tasks, such as word processing, accounting, or data management, and are also called applications

Start a Program

• Starting a program includes:
  • You can start a program by double-clicking its icon on the desktop
  • You can double-click a file that uses that program
  • You can start programs from the Start Menu

New

• If a program needs a new document automatically when it starts, you can:
  • Click the File menu and click New

Save

• It is often possible to Save your document in the same menu that includes New.
• Saving a document allows you to name it and store it permanently.
• Steps to save a document/file:
  • Click the Save icon from the toolbar, or, on the File menu, click Save.
• If this the first time you are saving, you'll asked to provide a name.
• Remember to save often.

Overwriting Files

• Clicking Save overwrites any previously saved versions, consider creating different versions of the file with different names.

Save As

• When you want to save a file with a different name, use Save As to create a new copy of a file.

Close

• The red X will close the document or program you're working on, you can also close a program by going into the File menu.
• You can also click Exit to exit the program.

Print

• To print a page from the File menu.
• After which a new window will pop up for copy options.

Common print options

• Printer selection: Allows you to choose a printer that is connected to your computer.
• Page range: Allows you to print specific pages or sections of a document.
• Number of copies and Collate: Allows you to print more than one copy of a document or picture at a time
• Page Orientation: Page orientation is the option to print out the content in portrait mode or landscape mode.
• Paper Size: If the printer allows it, then you can select the paper size of the item you are printing out, such as A4 or A3.

Print Options (cont'd)

• Output or paper source: Choose the paper tray the page will print out, this way you can use different sized paper with the same printer.
• Double sided printing: Also referred to as duplex or two sided printing, this option allows you to print on both sides of a sheet of paper
• Printing colour: Ability to print in black ink or in colour

Help

• The Help button leads you to a searchable Help webpage, often has a question mark.