Unit III: Working with Windows and Applications Chapters 5, 7, & 8
Learning Objectives In this unit, you will: Launch programs and navigate the Windows task bar. Perform common windows functions. Customize your screen-based desktop. Explain how to use Windows Search, Help, and Automatic Updates. Discuss file naming and storage conventions and suggestions. Access files on the computer. Identify common features found in most Windows applications.
Starting Windows 7 To start Windows 7, turn your computer on and Windows starts automatically: Might be in power saving mode Login screen displays icon that provides access to adapt computer to special needs users. You may have to enter a user name and password: Allows you to view, change, and delete files Allows access to network resources such as shared files and printers When Windows 7 desktop appears, your computer is ready to use.
Windows 7 Desktop Windows 7 desktop is gateway to all tasks performed with a PC: Screen seen when boot process is complete Remains in background as you use other software Use controls on Windows desktop to: Start a program Access information about your computer hardware Desktop contains small graphics called icons: Each icon represents a program, hardware device, folder, or document Double-clicking an icon gives access to the component it represents
Windows 7 Desktop A shortcut icon provides alternative access to programs and documents. A desktop provides a work area where programs and files appear in windows. The pointer is used to select and manipulate on-screen objects. The taskbar contains controls to help launch programs, switch between windows, and access system settings. Gadgets are customizable mini-applications that perform various tasks (weather, performance, market data).
Taskbar Taskbar is divided into several areas. Start button provides access to: Programs Documents System settings Help Program buttons show what s open on desktop. Notification area: Displays time Contains shortcuts to programs, and utilities
Taskbar To find out what the taskbar does, point to it and wait. ScreenTip appears with icons title. Program buttons on taskbar represent open, or running programs. The computer keeps track of time and date: Clock used when files are created or modified Always displayed in taskbar notification area To see date, point to time and wait a second. Automatically keeps track of daylight savings Right click to adjust when changing time zones.
Arranging Icons and Windows on the Desktop To create a new icon on the desktop: Right-click any empty area on desktop Select New Select icon type from list Assign name To delete icon, right-click, then click delete To arrange icons Right-click anywhere Select Sort By
Arranging Icons and Windows on the Desktop You can also arrange icons by dragging to the new location: Right-click anywhere on desktop Choose View Make sure Auto Arrange and Align to Grid are not checked Drag icon to any desktop location To move file into folder or storage device, simply drag it to folder or storage device. To rename icon, right-click icon and select Rename. To display icon properties, right-click icon and select Properties.
The Start Menu and Search Box Start Menu appears when the Start button is clicked. Handy collection of controls for: Starting programs Searching for files Getting help Adjusting system settings Shutting down your computer Search Box helps you quickly find files and programs.
The Start Menu and Search Box Top-left area is the Pinned items list: Use to show favorite programs Lower-left area contains programs used most recently. Right side provides options for: Viewing files in your personal folders Accessing your account settings Adjusting system settings Getting help Shutting down your computer Hover mouse pointer over any program to see Jump List.
Basic Window Controls User Interface is a combination of hardware and software. Helps people and computers communicate: Hardware: Display device Mouse Keyboard Software: Command buttons and split buttons Checkboxes and option buttons Sliders, lists, and menus
Windows Update Windows 7 has three categories Important, Recommended, and Optional: Important offers security, reliability, and privacy benefits Installed automatically Recommended pertains to non-essential problems and enhancements Installed automatically Optional includes updated drivers and Microsoft applications Manual install Type Update in search box to check status
Window 7 Help To access information about Windows features, look for the Help and Support option on Start menu. Help and Support Center is a gateway to Windows manuals, FAQs, and troubleshooting wizards. If Help and Support Center does not help, use a search engine to hunt for user groups or articles. Consider asking local experts. Help is a two-way street.
Shutting Down Windows 7 Start menu provides several options: Shut Down option ensures work is saved Log Off option or Switch user option where multiple users have access to computer Sleep option puts computer in low power state Hibernate option saves record of programs and files, and restores when restarted Restart option powers computer down and reboots it
Files A file is a collection of data that: Has a name Is stored on: A computer disk Tape CD DVD USB flash drive Virtually all information is stored as a file.
Files Files are divided into two categories: An executable file is a program containing instructions that tells the PC how to perform specific tasks. A data file contains words, numbers, and pictures you can manipulate. There are several ways to access data files: Open option on application software s File menu Start menu s Documents option Windows Explorer s file management utility
File Properties and Tags Every file has file properties that describe its: Name Type Location Size Dates created, modified, and last accessed Files can be: Read-only cannot be modified or deleted Hidden does not appear in file lists and cannot be used unless you know name and location Archive - Marked for archiving for backup Encrypted Scrambles file contents to secure data Compressed Shrinks file contents to conserve disk space Indexed Pre-processes file contents for fast searches
File Names, Extensions, and Types As you create documents, graphs, and pictures, PC holds them in memory. When transferring to permanent storage, you must assign a unique name. With current versions of Windows, you can use long file names. A file extension is a set of characters added to file name to indicate file s type or origin. A file extension is separated from file name by period and is typically three characters long. A default file extension is automatically assigned unless you change it.
How to Find a Specific File Easy way is to use the Start Menu s Search box: Enter all or part of the name Matches appear as you type Can use the search wildcard * or? Can use the search boxes displayed at the top of many other windows: Can use filters to narrow the search to files with specific properties Files are stored in a hierarchical arrangement of folders and subfolders. A Folder groups files to keep them organized Can hold other folders called subfolders
Windows Explorer Windows Explorer is the operating systems file management module: Click start button, and then your user name to open it. Use Windows Explorer to: Change file or folder names. Move files to different folders or storage devices. Delete individual files or individual folders, and the files they contain.
Windows Explorer The Change Your View button changes the way the file list is displayed: List View Details View Titles View Content View A folder window can be customized by clicking the Organize button. Hidden files are not displayed in the file list: Click the Organize button, select Folder and search options, and then click the view button
Navigation Pane Navigation pane is on the left side of the Explorer window: Categorizes devices and folder for easy access Offers more than one way to access files Uses categories to access and organize files: Favorites fast access to folders you use frequently Libraries virtual folders links to folders and files Homegroup offers access to shared folders, files, and printers on home network Computer - gives you access to all devices Network - Link to folders stored on local area network
How to Navigate to Various Folders and Storage Devices Each storage device on a Windows-based computer is identified by a unique device letter: Hard disk drive is usually C Unique icon is for each type of storage device Device letter, folder, file name, and extension specify a file s location: Referred to the path of the file In Explorer: Click a device or folder icon to display contents Click the small arrow to display additional levels Click the small arrow to collapse the display
Libraries and Folders Windows 7 provides each user account with a set of folders and libraries: My Documents, My Pictures, My Videos, and Downloads It can quickly accumulate many files and become unwieldy to work with. You can create subfolders and use them to divide up files into more manageable groups: Right-click a folder, select New, then select Folder Library is similar to a folder but it is used to group similar files: It doesn t store files, it stores links to files
How to Change the Name of a File or Folder Once you have located a file or folder, it is easy to rename it so the name better describes the contents. Caution should be used with extensions: When hidden, Windows automatically retains the old file extension. When visible, use caution when renaming a file to not change the extension. More than one method to rename: Right-Click the file name and select Rename from the shortcut menu. Click the file name, then click again.
How to Delete Files and Folders When files or folders are no longer needed, delete them so the hard disk drive works more efficiently. To delete a file, simply right-click it and select Delete from shortcut menu. You can delete a folder the same way, but be aware that all files in the folder are deleted. To delete software use the uninstall procedure. If Windows displays a Disk Full message, empty Recycle Bin before deleting hard drive files. Deleted files from hard disk are retrievable from Recycle Bin. Files from other devices, such as USB flash drives, are not retrievable.
How to Share Files Windows offers several ways to share files: Join a Homegroup Use Public Folders Designate specific files as shared Sharing files poses security risks due to misuse, inadvertent modifications, and intentional modification by those that have access. To help keep your files secure: Assign permissions to files Limit sharing to specific people Remove sharing from files no longer needing to be shared Use the Network and File Sharing Center to turn sharing on or off, or require passwords.
How to Back Up Files You need a backup plan to recover data wiped out by operator errors, viruses, or hardware failures. Backup is usually stored on a different storage medium from original files. Today, backups are usually stored on CDs, DVDs, USB flash drives, or Web sites: File synchronization Restore points Recovery disk Backup software is a set of utility programs designed to back up and restore some or all of the files on a computer s primary storage device.
How to Start and Exit Windows Applications When you install a new program: It is added to the All Programs menu To start, click its name Start menu options: When you click one of the folders, a list is displayed Double-Click program you want to start Some programs are represented by an icon on the Windows desktop as well: Double-click to use these icons To close a program: Click the Close button
Components of an Application Window An open program is displayed in a rectangular application window on the Windows desktop. Title bar displays: Name of program Name of open file Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons When window is maximized, button changes to Restore button Status bar contains information about current condition of program: Current page number Zoom level Web page address Side scroll bar moves text or graphic up or down window. Horizontal scroll bar scrolls documents from side to side.
Menus and Toolbars Most applications include a menu bar. Typically, a menu bar provides access to all features of program. Toolbars are typically displayed below menu bar and contain several buttons. You can browse through menu items to find all the features of a program. To close the menu, click menu title or press Esc. For fast menu access, hold Alt key and press the underlined letter.
Ribbon In Microsoft Office 2010, the ribbon replaces the menu bar and toolbars. Is divided into a hierarchy consisting of tabs, groups, and commands: Tabs are divided into groups Groups contain commands The Quick Access toolbar contains commands that you use regularly. Contextual tabs contain formatting options for an object and appear when an object is selected. Dialog boxes can be opened from the Dialog Box Launcher in the lower-right corner of a group.
How to Open a File Data is stored in files on hard disks, CDs, DVDs, USB flash drives, and other storage media. Files are referred to in different ways, e.g.: A Microsoft Word file is called a document, while a PowerPoint file is called a presentation. There are several ways to open a file: Use the application s jump list from the Start menu. Double-click the file shortcut icon, if one exists, on windows desktop. Double-click file name from within Windows Explorer. Use Open dialog box provided by application.
How to Save a File When you first save a file, you must name it. The file extension is separated from file name by (.) period. Windows will automatically add appropriate extension. File name extension is associated with particular file format. Clicking save button automatically stores a file using original name, drive, and folder. Use Save As when you want to change a file s name or its location.
How to Access Help for an Application Access help from a variety of sources: On-Screen Help Printed users manuals Readme files on a CD Third-Party reference books Access an electronic user manual for Office modules by clicking the Help button or pressing F1. Check on-line user groups or publisher s Web sites. Use a search engine such as Google to get help.