Computer Tutorial--Part 2B: More Windows basics
This section will include the "Edit" and "View" buttons
Al Harper
The "Edit" button works the same way as the "File" button did in the prior article. First you highlight an item in the window with a left click, then you click on the "Edit" button and all active instructions are displayed. These are "Cut", "Copy", "Copy to Folder", "Move to Folder", "Select All", and "Invert Selection". Three of the instructions are grayed-out: "Undo" because you haven't yet done anything, "Paste" because you cannot paste unless you first "Copy" or "Cut" something, and "Paste Shortcut" because you have not yet created any shortcut.
"Copy to Folder" and "Move to Folder" work also in a similar fashion. If you click "Copy to Folder" a small window appears which gives you the option to copy to a piece of hardware, to your document file, or to any folder of yours on the desktop.
"Move to Folder" brings up the same small window and allows you the same options as copy. In this case the file is moved to the designated location.
The "Select All" command is used to highlight all the items in the window. This is used if you are moving all items in one file to a new location.
The "Invert Selection" is used to highlight all the items except the one you initially highlighted or to remove the highlight from the entire file if you change your mind.
You will notice that for a number of commands there will appear on the right a command such as "Ctrl+X" or "Ctrl+C" etc. These are optional commands that can be used to "Cut" or "Copy" etc. instead of clicking on the drop-down menu. Most users prefer the mouse.
Clicking the "View" button allows you to select any or all of three categories of option bars, any one of five options as to how to display your window contents, and any or all five other general commands.
The first three option bars are "Toolbars", "Status Bar", and "Explorer Bar". If you click on the "Toolbars" a drop-down menu gives you options of "Standard Buttons", "Address Bar", "Links", "Lock the Toolbars", and "Customize". If you have virus control software such as Norton or McAfee another toolbar may be included.
If you click on "Standard Buttons" another toolbar will appear. This bar contains left arrow for backing-up one step for each left click. These arrows are active if green and inactive if gray. Next is a yellow folder with a green arrow pointing up. Clicking here will move you up one level often back to the desktop. Next is the "Search" button which brings you the same drop-down window as if you had clicked "Find". You then click on the category you wish to search and go on. Next to "Search" you will see ">>" if your window is of small width. Click on the arrows and another drop-down menu provides options for "Folders", a grayed out "Move to", and "Copy to", "Delete", "Undo", "Views", and "Customize".
You probably have noticed that certain options have a small black arrow on the right of the option line. This indicates that there is another drop-down menu if the mouse is moved to that option. To get at that drop-down menu move the mouse arrow keeping it within the highlighted bar into the drop-down menu.
If you click on "Folders" a small window appears on the left side of the window currently open and displays all the folders on the desktop and any folders which may be in the folder currently highlighted. Click on "Folders" again to return.
If there are folders within folders the "Move to" and "Copy to" will be active.
If you click "Delete" a small window will ask if you really want to send the file to the "Recycle Bin".
If you click "Undo" the last mouse command is reversed.
If you click "Views" you get a menu "Thumbnails", "Tiles", "Icons", "List", and "Details". We will discuss these in the following article.
The last option is "Customize" and this allows you to add or remove icons to the toolbar. This option would be used by advanced users.
The second option under "Toolbars" is the "Address Bar". If you click here another option bar will appear below the one for "Standard Buttons". This bar contains the word "Address" and a slot with a down arrow to allow you to select an address. Next is a green box with a white arrow followed by "Go" which allows you to branch to the new location.
The third option under "Toolbars" is "Links". If you click here the word "Links" is added to the last bar added or to the command line if no other bar has been clicked.
Following "Links" is ">>" and clicking here brings up a number of internet locations and software and hardware options. This is for advanced users.
Next, Part 2C: complete "View" and "Favorites"
February, 2007
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