Working with Windows and Applications 2

1. Using the Computer with Windows
Working With Windows and
Applications – 2

2. Windows Menus
Using menus is the most common way. Window
menus change according to the current file, folder, or
program opened. If a menu has the (...) sign, it means
that a submenu will open when you click on this
menu.

3. Dialog Boxes
Some commands in menus include additional
options. Such commands have a (…) sign after the
command text. When you select such a command,
a dialog box appears. For example, when you
select Open command from the File menu, the
Open dialog box is displayed.

4. Windows Controls
 Tabs: The more
complicated dialog boxes
contain so many options
that they can’t all fit on the
same screen. When this
happens, Windows divides
the dialog box into several
related tabs or sections.
 Radio Button: A little
round button you can click
in a dialog box to select
one of several choices. You
can select only one radio
button at a time. When you
select another button, the
original button is
deselected.
 Button: Buttons are used
to execute or cancel

5. Windows Controls
 List Box: A list box is a way of
listing several options within a
small box. Sometimes list
boxes contain so many options
that they can’t all be displayed
at once, so you must use the
list box’s scroll bar to move up
or down the list.
 Combo Box: The combo box
is similar to the list box. It also
displays a list of options. The
only difference is that you must
click the combo box’s
downward pointing arrow to
display its options.
 Check Box: Sometimes you
need to select more than one
item from a dialog box. Use the
check box control when you’re
presented with multiple
selections.

6. Windows Controls
 OK Button: Applies and saves any changes you’ve made
and subsequently closes the dialog box. Usually, OK is the
default button. Pressing the Enter key does the same thing
as clicking the default button.
 Cancel Button: Closes the dialog box without applying or
saving any changes. Pressing the Esc key usually does
the same thing as clicking the Cancel button.
 Text Box: Text boxes are the most common components
of a dialog box. To use a text box, first select the text box
by clicking it or pressing the Tab key until the insertion
point appears in the text box, then simply type the text you
want into the text box.

7. Running Programs
The Run Command
There are different
methods for opening or
running programs:
 You can start a
program by clicking
the Start button,
pointing to All
Programs, then
clicking the program.
 You can also start a
program by using the
Run command.
The Run command is a
more technical way to
start a program. Use
<Start> + <R> to open the
Run dialog box. When the
Run dialog box is open,
type in the name of the
program, then click the OK
button.

8. Assigning Shortcut Keys to Programs
A shortcut key provides quick access to an application.
To create a shortcut to a program, right click the
program in the Start menu, then select Properties.
Click on the Shortcut tab. After clicking in the Shortcut
key text box, press any key. Windows will automatically
assign a shortcut key to the program, such as
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Key you pressed>