getting started - the basics

Getting Started with Application Software

THE BASICS

2

How do I start and exit Windows applications?

To start applications

Use Start button; click on program name from Programs/All Programs menu, or

Double-click icon on Windows desktop

To exit programs Click the Close button

3

How do I start and exit Windows applications?

4

How do I start and exit Windows applications?

Close unused programs to free up memory

Close all programs before initiating shut down procedures

5

What are the components of an application window?

Title bar Name of program

Name of open file

Sizing buttons

Menu bar Access to commands for controlling the program

Toolbars Shortcuts for accomplishing tasks

Status bar Information about current condition of program

Scroll bar To move document/graphic up, down, left, or right

Task pane Displays frequently used commands and tools

6

What are the components of an application window?

7

How do I switch between application windows?

Open application windows are represented by buttons on taskbar

Multiple programs can be open at the same time, but only one can be active

An active window’s title bar is highlighted

8

How do I switch between application windows? (continued)

Click program’s button on taskbar to bring that window to the front

Click any visible part of hidden window to make it active

Click Window on the menu bar to see a list of files and switch from one to other

9

How do I switch between application windows? (continued)

10

How do menus work?

Menu bar provides access to all features of a program• Click on a menu bar option to display list of

choices• Menu options indicated bysymbol display a

submenu• To close menu, click menu title again or press Esc

For fast menu access• Hold Alt key and press underlined letter

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How do menus work? (continued)

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How do toolbars work?

Provide single-click shortcuts for most commonly used menu options

Can be moved and positioned

User can select toolbars to be displayed

13

How do toolbars work? (continued)

14

How do I open a file?

Use Documents option on Start menu to view list of recently saved files

Double-click file shortcut icon (if one exists) on Windows desktop

Double-click file name from within Windows Explorer

Use Open dialog box from application’s File menu

15

How do I open a file?

16

How do I save a file?

Click Save button• If file was previously saved

Automatically stores file using original name, drive, and folder where previously stored

• If file hasn’t been saved before Opens Save as dialog box

User selects desired drive and folder, enters file name, clicks Save button

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How do I save a file? (continued)

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How do I save a file? (continued)

File names• Acceptable characters are letters, spaces,

numbers, certain punctuation symbols

• Unacceptable characters are / ? : + < > |

• Maximum length: 255

• Cannot be duplicated in a particular folder

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How do I save a file? (continued)

User has full control over destination of files (e.g., My Documents, any storage device, a network)

Windows automatically adds appropriate file extension• User can change format using File type list in

Save as dialog box

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How do I save a file? (continued)

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How do I save a file? (continued)

Options for saving a document as a template• Use Save as dialog box

Stores template in My Documents folder

• Use Templates/Save option from File menu Stores template in Template folder

22

How do I access help for an application?

On-screen Help windows (most frequently used)

Additional documentation (printed user manual, CD, third-party reference books)

Online user groups or publisher’s Web site

Organization’s Help desk (for work-related procedures)

Co-workers and friends

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OpenOffice.org Suite

Main Components• Writer: Word processing with desktop publishing

features

• Calc: Spreadsheet calculations

• Base: Database

• Impress: Presentations

Can open and edit Microsoft Office files, then save back to original format