Working With Windows

One of the reasons why Windows is so popular and easy to use is that almost every application is consistent in appearance. When you bring up an application in a "window" you will see repeated features that will make it easier for you to navigate and work with your computer.

The Title Bar

The Title bar is at the very top of your window. If you are currently using a windows machine look at the top of this window. There should be a blue (although it can be other colors) bar running across the top.

First you will notice the words "Working With Windows: Help Sheets: PC Centers: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh", then it will either say "Netscape" or "Internet Explorer". This is the title of the window. It contains the name of the file, in this case "Working With Windows: Help Sheets: PC Centers: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh" and the name of the program, in this case either "Netscape" or "Internet Explorer". This bar always lets you know the name of the file and the program in which you are working.

Second you will notice three gray buttons all the way to the right. These allow you to control the window. To use them point your mouse at them and left click once

• Minimize (the underline) closes the program window and puts the Window on the Taskbar. It DOES NOT close the application. To retrieve the program simply click on the button in the taskbar. Try doing so now.



• Maximize changes. If it is the large box this button allows you to make the window as large as the screen or if it is the two little boxes you can shrink the window. Try using this button now.



• Close shuts down the program. Try using this button later, when you are finished using this website.

  Return to the top

The Menu Bar

The Menu Bar contains pull-down menus that allow you to access all the functions of a program. Look up at the top of this window. Underneath the Title bar, you will a gray bar with words like "File", "Edit", and "View" on it. Point your mouse at the word "File" and left click once. A menu of options will appear. To close this menu left click on the word File again. Anything you can do in a program is contained in one of the menus on the Menu Bar. Each menu’s title corresponds to what type of operations it contains. For example, in Microsoft Word, the "Insert" menu contains items you can add to your document, like page numbers and footnotes.

  Return to the top

The Shortcut Bars

The Shortcut bars contain buttons or shortcuts that when clicked on, will perform the same type of functions that are contained in the menus on the Menu Bar. For example, to go "Back" you can click on "View" and then "Go To" in the Menu bar, or you can click the Back button on the shortcut bar (it is the arrow pointing to the left). Both will do the same thing. The shortcuts were developed to save you time. They will not be available for every program you use (for example, Solitaire and Notepad do not have shortcut bars).

  Return to the top

The Scroll Bars

The scroll bars allow you to move the screen viewing area. Scroll bars can be horizontal or vertical. They correspond to the direction they are going. For example by moving the horizontal view you can see what is to right or left on the screen. Look all the way to the right of this window. You will see a gray bar with up and down pointing arrowheads on it. Try pushing one of these arrowheads. The screen will move.

  Return to the top

The Task Bar

The Task Bar stores any open programs. Look down at the very bottom of your screen. A button should be down there that reads "PC Centers--Working With Windows". As soon as you close a program it disappears from the Task bar. Another important feature of the Task bar is the Start menu. The Start menu is another way you can access programs or your computer’s hard drive. Point your mouse at the Start button (all the way to the left) and left click once. A menu will appear. Left click on the Start button again. It should disappear.

  Return to the top