New Perspectives on Windows XP

1
Exploring the Basics
Tutorial 1
2
Objectives

• Start and shut down Windows XP
• Identify the objects on the Windows XP desktop
• Practice mouse functions
• Run software programs, switch between them, and
  close them
• Identify and use the controls in a window

3
Objectives

• Use Windows XP controls, such as
• Menus
• Toolbars
• List boxes
• Scroll bars
• Option buttons
• Tabs
• Check boxes
• Explore Windows XP Help

4
Starting Windows XP

• Windows XP
• Starts when computer is turned on
• Elements of the desktop
• Icon
• Pointer
• Desktop
• Date/Time control
• Taskbar
• Start button
• Notification area

5
Starting Windows XP

• Figure 1-1 shows the Windows XP desktop

6
Starting Windows XP

• Windows XP desktop uses a graphical user
  interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Displays icons to represent items stored on the
  computer
• Icons Pictures of familiar objects

7
The Windows XP Desktop

• Desktop
• Area that appears on the screen when Windows XP
  starts
• A workspace for projects and tools
• Uses default settings when the computer is first
  started
• Default settings settings preset by the
  operating system
• Appearance can be changed by the user

8
The Windows XP Desktop

• Figure 1-3 shows customized desktops

9
Using a Pointing Device

• A pointing device
• Helps the user interact with objects on the
  computer screen
• Comes in many shapes and sizes
• Mouse
• Most common pointing device

10
Pointing

• Pointing device
• Used to move the mouse pointer over objects on
  the desktop
• Pointing
• Positioning the pointer over a specific part of
  the screen

11
Pointing

• ScreenTips
• Appear when the mouse pointer is positioned over
  certain objects
• Display the purpose or function of the object
• Figure 1-5 shows a ScreenTip

12
Clicking

• Clicking
• Pressing a mouse button and immediately releasing
  it
• Menu
• A list of options which can be used to perform
  tasks
• Start menu
• Appears when the Start button is clicked
• Provides access to programs, documents, etc.

13
Clicking

• Figure 1-6 shows the Start menu

14
Selecting

• Selecting an object
• Two possible ways of selecting objects in Windows
  XP
• Pointing to an object
• Pointing to and then clicking an object
• A selected object is highlighted

15
Selecting

• Figure 1-7 shows examples of selected objects

16
Double-Clicking

• Double-clicking
• Clicking the mouse button twice in quick
  succession
• Done to open or start an item
• Double-clicking a folder icon opens the folder
• Double-clicking a program icon starts the program

17
Right-Clicking

• Right-clicking
• Clicking an object with the right button of the
  mouse
• Selects an object and opens its shortcut menu
• Shortcut menu a list of options directly related
  to the object

18
Right-Clicking

• Figure 1-10 shows the effects of clicking the
  Start button with the left mouse button and the
  right mouse button

19
Starting and Closing a Program

• Starting a program
• A program must be started before it can be used
• To start a program
• Click the Start button
• Locate and click the programs name in the
  submenus
• An open or running program
• A program which has been started

20
Starting and Closing a Program

• Figure 1-12 shows how a program can be started
  using the Start menu

21
Starting and Closing a Program

• Program button
• Appears on the taskbar for each open program
• Click to switch between open programs
• Close button
• Located in the upper-right corner of the program
  window
• Click to close the program

22
Starting and Closing a Program

• Figure 1-13 shows a program button and a Close
  button

23
Running Multiple Programs

• Multitasking
• Ability to run multiple programs on Windows XP at
  the same time
• Allows the user to work on more than one project
  at a time

24
Switching Between Programs

• Program buttons
• Located on the taskbar
• Offer the easiest way to switch between programs

25
Using the Quick Launch Toolbar

• Toolbars
• Sets of buttons that give single-click access to
  programs or documents
• Quick Launch toolbar (shown in Figure 1-16)
• Gives quick access to
• Internet programs
• Desktop

26
Closing Inactive Programs from the Taskbar

• Options for closing a program
• Use the Close button on the title bar of the
  program window
• Use the shortcut menu associated with the program
  button on the taskbar (shown in Figure 1-17)

27
Shutting Down Windows XP

• Turn Off Computer option
• Located on the Start menu
• Turns off the computer
• Log Off option
• Located on the Start menu
• Logs off Windows XP but leaves the computer on

Figure 1-18 shows the Turn Off button
28
Anatomy of a Window

• A window
• A rectangular area of the screen that may contain
• A program
• Text
• Graphics
• Data

29
Anatomy of a Window

• Controls
• Located in a window
• Graphical or textual objects used for
• Manipulating the window
• Using the program
• Examples
• Menu bar
• Sizing buttons
• Status bar
• Title bar
• Toolbar
• Workspace

30
Anatomy of a Window

• Figure 1-20 shows WordPad window controls

31
Manipulating a Window

• Buttons on the right side of the title bar
• Close button
• Closes a program
• Minimize button
• Hides a window
• Third button
• Changes name and function depending on the status
  of the window
• Either
• Maximizes the window
• Restores the window to a predefined size

32
Minimizing a Window

• Minimize button
• Hides a window
• Can be used to hide a window temporarily but keep
  the program running

33
Redisplaying a Window

• To redisplay a minimized window
• Click the programs button on the taskbar

34
Maximizing a Window

• Maximize button
• Enlarges a window so that it fills the entire
  screen
• Allows the user to see more of the program and
  data

35
Restoring a Window

• Restore button
• Reduces the window
• Useful for
• Seeing more than one window at a time
• Moving the window to another location on the
  screen
• Changing the dimensions of the window

36
Moving a Window

• To drag an object
• Click an object and then hold down the mouse
  button while moving the mouse
• To move a window
• Drag the window by its title bar

37
Changing the Size of a Window

• Options for changing a windows size
• Sizing handle
• Located at the lower-right corner of the window
• Window borders
• Can be dragged left, right, up, or down

38
Changing the Size of a Window

• Figure 1-22 shows a sizing handle

39
Using Program Menus

• Menus
• Organize a programs features and available
  functions
• Menu bar
• Typically located at the top of the program
  window
• Shows the names of the menus

40
Selecting Options from a Menu

• Menu items or commands
• Choices for a menu
• Appear when a menu name is clicked
• Possible actions when clicked
• Immediately carry out an action
• Show submenus
• Ask the user for more information about the
  desired action

41
Selecting Options from a Menu

• Figure 1-23 shows the menu items of the File menu

42
Selecting Options from a Menu

• Menu conventions
• Visual hints about what to expect when an item is
  selected
• Examples
• Check mark
• Ellipsis
• Triangular arrow
• Grayed-out option
• Keyboard shortcut

43
Selecting Options from a Menu

• Figure 1-24 shows examples of Windows XP menu
  conventions

44
Using Toolbars

• Toolbars in the program window
• Provide one-click access to frequently used
  commands
• Have buttons grouped and organized by tasks
• To perform a command
• Select a toolbar button by clicking it

45
Using List Boxes and Scroll Bars

• List box
• Displays a list of available choices
• Usually includes
• Array buttons
• A scroll bar
• A scroll box

46
Using List Boxes and Scroll Bars

• Figure 1-27 shows the list box in the Date/Time
  dialog box

47
Using List Boxes and Scroll Bars

• Some list boxes allow the user to type the
  desired option
• These list boxes have a list arrow

Figure 1-28 shows the Font Size list arrow
48
Using Dialog Box Controls

• Dialog box
• Opens when a menu command or item followed by an
  ellipsis is selected
• Allows the user to provide more information about
  how a program should carry out a task
• Groups different kinds of information in panes
• Panes bordered rectangular areas

49
Using Dialog Box Controls

• Common dialog box controls
• Tabs
• Option buttons
• Check boxes
• Spin boxes
• Text boxes
• Figure 1-29 shows examples of dialog box controls

50
Using Dialog Box Controls
51
Using Help

• Windows XP Help
• Provides on-screen information about programs
• Available by
• Clicking the Start button and selecting Help and
  Support from the Start menu
• Windows Help and Support Center window
• Provides access to
• Help files stored on the computer
• Help information stored on Microsofts Web site

52
Using Help

• Figure 1-31 shows the Windows XP Help and Support
  Center window

53
Using Help

• Windows XP Help and Support window
• Organizes information into pages
• Home page
• Index page
• Favorites page
• History page
• Support page
• Options page
• Search box
• Used to search for keywords contained in Help
  pages