2. INFORMATION ACCESS
Is the freedom or ability to identify, obtain and make use of database
or information effectively. There are various research efforts in
information access for which the objective is to simplify and make it
more effective for human users to access and further process large and
unwieldy amounts of data and information.
3. THE DESKTOP
(Overview)
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on
your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it
serves as a surface of your work. When you open programs or folders,
they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such
as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.
4. The desktop is sometimes defined more broadly to include the taskbar
and Windows Sidebar. The taskbar sits at the bottom of your screen. It
shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch between
them. It also contains the start button, which you can use to access
programs, folders and computer settings. On the other side of the screen,
Sidebar contains small programs called gadgets.
5. Where did my desktop go?
Because programs run on top of the desktop, the desktop itself is
often partially or completely hidden. But it’s still there, underneath
everything. To see the while desktop without closing any of your open
programs or windows, click the Show Desktop button on the taskbar. The
desktop is revealed. Click the icon again and restore all of your windows
to the way they were.
6. Working with Desktop Icons
Icons are small pictures that represents files, programs and other items.
When you first start Windows, you’ll see at least one icon in your
desktop: the Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer
manufacturer might have added other icons on the desktop. Some
examples of desktop icons are shown below.
7. Adding and Removing
icons from the desktop
You can choose which icons appear on the desktop – you can add or
remove an icon anytime. Some people like a clean, uncluttered desktop
with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons on their desktop to
give them quick access to frequently used programs, files and folders.
8. Adding and Removing
icons from the desktop
If you want easy access from the desktop to your favorite files or programs,
create shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to an item,
rather than the item itself. When you double click a shortcut, the item opens. If
you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, not the original item. You
can identify shortcuts by the arrow on their icon.
1. Locate the item that you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Right click the item, click Send To, and the click Desktop. The shortcut
icon appears on your desktop.
9. Moving Icons Around
Windows stacks icons in columns on the left side of the desktop. But
you’re not stuck with that arrangement. You can move icon by dragging
it to a new place on the desktop.
10. Selecting Multiple Icons
To move or delete a bunch of icons at once,
you must first select all of them. Click an
empty area of the desktop and drag the
mouse. Surround the icons that you want
to select with the rectangle that appears.
Then release the mouse button. Now you
can drag the icons as a group or delete
them.
11. Hiding Desktop Icons
If you want to temporarily hide all of your desktop icons without
actually removing them, right click an empty part of your desktop, click
View and then click Show Desktop Icons to clear the check mark from
that option. Now no icons are displayed on the desktop. You can get them
back by clicking Show Desktop Icon again.
12. THE START MENU (Overview)
Use the Start menu to do these common activities:
1. Start programs
2. Open commonly used folders
3. Search for files, folders and programs
4. Adjust computer settings
5. Get help with the Windows operating system
6. Turn off the computer
7. Log off from windows or switch to a different user account
13. THE START MENU (Overview)
The Start menu is divided into three basic
parts:
a. The large pane shows a short list of
programs on your computer. Your
computer manufacturer can customize
this list, so its exact appearance will vary.
Clicking All Programs displays a complete
list of programs.
14. THE START MENU (Overview)
The Start menu is divided into three
basic parts:
b. In the lower left corner is the search
box, which allows to look for the
programs and files on your computer
by typing in search terms.
15. THE START MENU (Overview)
The Start menu is divided into three
basic parts:
c. The right pane provides access to
commonly used folders, files, settings
and features. It’s also where you go to
log off from windows or turn off your
computer.
16. The Search box
It is one of the most convenient ways to find thins on your computer.
The exact location of the items doesn’t matter – the Search box will
scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder
(which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, desktop, and other
common locations). It will also search your e-mail messages, saved
instant messages, appointments and contacts.
17. The Search box
To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don’t
need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear
above the Search box in the left pane of the Start menu.
A program, file or folder will appear as a result if:
18. The Search box
To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don’t
need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear
above the Search box in the left pane of the Start menu.
A program, file or folder will appear as a result if:
a. Any word in its title matches or begins with your search terms.
19. The Search box
To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don’t need to click
inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the Search box in
the left pane of the Start menu.
A program, file or folder will appear as a result if:
b. Any text in the actual contents of the file – such as the text in a word-processing
document – matches or begins with your search term.
20. The Search box
To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don’t need to click
inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the Search box in
the left pane of the Start menu.
A program, file or folder will appear as a result if:
c. Any word in a property of the file, such as the author, matches or begins with
your search term.
21. The Recycle Bin
When you delete a file or folder, it doesn’t
actually get deleted right away – it goes to the
Recycle Bin. That’s a good thing, because if you
ever change your mind and decide you need a
deleted file, you can get it back.
The recycle bin when
empty (left) and full
(right).
22. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based
on function:
23. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based on
function:
a. Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number,
punctuation, and symbol keys found in a traditional typewriter.
24. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
b. Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to
perform certain actions. The most frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the
Windows logo key and ESC.
25. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
c. Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are
labeled as F1, F2, F3 and so on up to F12.the functionality of these keys differ from
program to program.
26. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
d. Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or
webpages and editing text. They include the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP,
PAGE DOWN, DELETE and INSERT.
27. USING THE KEYBOARD
The keys on the keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
e. Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The
keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding
machine.
28. How the keys are organized
a. Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol
keys found in a traditional typewriter.
b. Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain
actions. The most frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the Windows logo key and ESC.
c. Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labeled as F1, F2, F3
and so on up to F12.the functionality of these keys differ from program to program.
d. Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and editing
text. They include the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, DELETE and INSERT.
e. Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped
together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.
29. Typing Text
Whenever you need to type something in a program, e-mail message or text
box, you’ll see a blinking vertical line (l). That’s the cursor, also called insertion
point. It shows where the text that you type will begin. You can move the
cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the
navigation keys.
In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols, the typing
keys include SHIFT, CAPS LOCK, the TAB key, ENTER, the SPACEBAR and
BACKSPACE.
30. Typing Text
Key name How to use it
SHIFT Press SHIFT in combination with a letter to type an uppercase letter. Press SHIFT in
combination with another key to type the symbol shown on the upper part of that
key.
CAPS LOCK Press CAPS LOCK once to type all letters as uppercase. Press CAPS LOCK again to turn
this function off. Your keyboard may have alight indicating whether CAPS LOCK is on.
TAB Press the TAB key to move the cursor several spaces forward. You can also press the
TAB key to move to the next text box on a form.
ENTER Press ENTER to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. In a dialog, press
ENTER to select the highlighted button.
SPACEBAR Press the SPACEBAR to move the cursor one space forward.
BACKSPACE Press BACKSPACE to delete the character before the cursor, or the selected text.
31. Using keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using the keyboard.
They’re called shortcuts because they help your work faster. In fact, any
action or command you can perform with a mouse can be performed
faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.
In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that
those keys should be pressed in combination. For example, CTRL+A
means to press and hold CTRL and then press A. CTRL+SHIFT+A
means to press and hold CTRL and SHIFT and then press A.
32. Find program shortcuts
You can do things in most programs
by using the keyboard. To see which
commands you have keyboard
shortcuts, open a menu. The
shortcuts (if available) are shown
next to the menu items.
33. Choose menus,
commands and options
You can open menus and choose
commands and other options using your
keyboard. When you press ALT in a
program with menus, one letter in each of
the menu names become underlined. Press
an underlined letter to open the
corresponding menu. Press the underlined
letter in a menu item to choose that
command.
Press ALT+F to open the File
menu, then press P to choose the
Print command.
34. USEFUL SHORTCUTS
Press this To do this
Windows logo
key
Open the start menu
ALT+TAB Switch between open programs or
windows
ALT+F4 Close the active item or exit the
active program
CTRL+S Save the current file or document
(works in most programs)
CTRL+C Copy the selected item
CTRL+X Cut the selected item
CTRL+V Paste the selected item
Press this To do this
CTRL+Z Undo an action
CTRL+A Select all items in a document or
window
F1 Display Help for a program or
Windows
Windows logo
key +F1
Display Windows Help and
Support
ESC Cancel the current task
Application key Open a menu of commands
related to a selection in a
program. Equivalent to right
clicking the selection.
35. USING NAVIGATION KEYS
The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in
documents and webpages and edit text. The following table lists some
common functions of these keys.
36. Using NAVIGATION KEYS
Press this To do this
LEFT ARROW, RIGHT ARROW,
UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW
Move the cursor or selection one space or line the direction of the arrow, or
scroll a webpage in the direction of the arrow.
HOME Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or move to the top of a webpage.
END Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to the bottom of a webpage.
CTRL+HOME Move to the top of a document.
CTRL+END Move to the bottom of a document
PAGE UP Move the cursor or page up one screen
PAGE DOWN Move the cursor or page down one screen
DELETE Delete the character after the cursor or the selected text; in Windows, delete the
selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
INSERT Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is on, text that you type is
inserted at the cursor. When Insert mode is off, text that you type replaces
existing characters.
37. USING THE NUMERIC KEYPAD
The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 through 9, the
arithmetic operators + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication) and /
(division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a calculator or
adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the
keyboard, of course, but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly
enter numerical data or mathematical operations with one hand.
38. USING THE NUMERIC KEYPAD
To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers,
press NUM LOCK. Most keyboards have light that
indicates whether NUM LOCK is on or off. When
NUM LOCK is off, the numeric keypad functions as
a second navigation keys (these functions are
printed on the keys next to the numerals or
symbols).
You can use your numeric keypad to perform
simple calculations with Calculator.
39. TIPS FOR USING YOUR KEYBOARD
SAFELY
1. Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at
your sides.
2. Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric
keypad, you can use the space bar as the centering point.
3. Type with your hands and wrist floating above the keyboard, so that you can
use your whole arm to reach distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
4. Avoid resting your palms or wrists in any type of surface while typing. If
your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
5. While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.
6. When you’re not typing, relax your arms and hands.
40. CLEANING THE KEYBOARD
A dirty keyboard doesn't look nice, and can cause your keyboard to
not work properly. Dust, food, liquid, or other particles can get stuck
underneath the keys, which can cause them not to work. Check your
owner's manual to see if the manufacturer has provided you with
instructions for your specific keyboard. If so, you should follow them. If
not, the following steps are basic cleaning tips that will help you keep
your keyboard clean:
41. CLEANING THE KEYBOARD
1. Unplug the keyboard from the USB or PS/2 port. If the keyboard is plugged
into the PS/2 port, you will need to shut down the computer before unplugging
it.
2. Turn the keyboard upside down and gently shake it to remove dirt and dust.
3. Use a can of compressed air to clean between the keys.
4. Moisten a cotton cloth or paper towel with rubbing alcohol, and use it to
clean the tops of the keys. Do not pour alcohol (or any other liquid) directly
onto the keys.
5. Reconnect the keyboard to the computer once it is dry. If you are connecting
it to a PS/2 port, you will need to connect it before turning the computer on.
