Using A Mouse
Windows is a graphical user interface (GUI, pronounced goo-ee) which runs on PCs. It uses icons (small pictures) on the screen to represent applications, and a mouse to select them. The mouse is an essential pointing device used by all GUIs. A key technique to using the mouse effectively is to rest your forearm and wrist comfortably on the desk or table. It does not take much motion to move the mouse pointer. Hence, to be must effective, simply do most of the side by side movement by keeping your forearm still and rotating your wrist from side to side. You can move the mouse up and down by simply flexing your fingers in and out. The idea is to limit the movement of your forearm and keep it resting on the desk or table. Remembering these pointers will help you master a mouse quickly and easily to use Windows effectively.
Holding the mouse
Cup the mouse comfortably in your right hand so that your index finger rests on the left mouse button. The left mouse button is used predominantly in Windows.
If you want to use the mouse with your left hand, you can swap the use of the mouse buttons so that the index finger of your left hand is used with the right mouse button . However this may cause confusion and you are recommended to try to use the mouse with your right hand even if you are left-handed. Only if you find this very difficult should you resort to swapping the buttons.
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Pointing
The desktop will have a pointer that appears as a small shape(usually as an arrow.) Pointing refers to using the mouse to position the pointer over an object. An object typically is a window, icon, button or some other GUI widget. Moving the mouse left or right moves the pointer left or right. Moving the mouse away from or toward you moves the pointer up or down the screen.
Clicking
Clicking an object refers to moving the mouse pointer over an object and then depressing and immediately releasing a mouse button. Most clicking is done with the left mouse button. Hence, clicking means using the left mouse button unless otherwise noted.
Double Clicking
Double clicking an object is simply clicking it twice in rapid succession. The key to successful double clicking is to not move the mouse between clicks. Faunix uses single clicks where possible because users find it easier than double clicks.
Dragging
Dragging is the following sequence of actions: pointing to something, depressing and holding down the left mouse button, moving the mouse, and then releasing the mouse button. Dragging is primarily used to move windows around the screen. While dragging a window, you'll see an outline of the window move with the mouse. After releasing the mouse, the outline will be replaced with the full window in the position where the mouse button was released.
Entering Text
Text boxes, sunken rectangular areas, provide a universal way to accept user input.
To enter text, move the mouse arrow over the box. It will change to what looks like a capital I. When you see this click the left button once and you should see a flashing cursor inside the entry. Enter text by typing in the box. Typically, you move the cursor to a particular entry by using the tab keys or by clicking in the boxes. The cursor denotes where your typed text will go. The text you enter will be inserted at the cursor location. The backspace, delete and other Control-key sequences work in the text boxes to edit and reposition the text. You can also reposition the cursor by clicking at a new position. Any selected text will automatically disappear when you start typing.
Copying, Cutting, and Pasting Text
To copy text from one entry to another, follow these easy steps.
- Select the text you wish to copy, by dragging the mouse over the text. You should see the text become highlighted.
- Right click the position that you wish to paste the text into. Meaning, position the mouse pointer over the place you wish to insert the text into; then, press and release the right mouse button. This position can be in the same entry or in another entry on the same or different window. It's that simple.
To Cut text from one entry, highlight the desired text to cut. Then, choose the Edit/Cut menu option. The highlighted text will then be removed and placed into the clipboard. You can recover this text, by right clicking on the place where you want the cut text to be inserted.
To Paste text, there must either have been a previous cut or copy operation, or you must have text that is currently highlighted. Simply position the cursor in the desired location, and then right click.
Dialog Boxes
Dialog boxes requesting information are divided into a number of different fields containing values. Clicking on the field selects it and allows you to change its value. The different types of field that can be found in a dialog box are shown in the diagram below.
List Box
Contains a list of items one or more of which can be selected by clicking on it.
Drop-down List Box
A list box appears initially as a single line of text, with a down arrow to the right. To display the list of available choices click on the down arrow.
Option Buttons/Radio Buttons
When selected a bullet is displayed. You can select only one of the items from what is on offer (rather like a multiple choice question). Check box represents an option that can be switched on and off. If it is switched on, or checked, it contains X.
Command Buttons
Carry out the command named on the button. The command button with the black rectangle surround (often marked OK) is the default button. The Cancel button closes the dialog box without any changes taking effect. If the command name is followed by an ellipsis (…) another dialog box is opened when you select the command.
Text Box
Sometimes used to display information, but more usually you are expected to type some information in the box. To replace the highlighted text displayed, just start typing. To edit the text displayed click with the mouse at the appropriate point in the text. Use the Backspace and delete keys to remove unwanted text.
Scroll Bars
Used to move through a list of items in the same way as scroll bars in a window.
Tab Key
Pressing the Tab key moves from field to field (pressing Shift/Tab moves back through the fields). In list boxes, use the up and down arrow keys to highlight items. Pressing the Spacebar switches options on and off. Pressing the Enter key has the effect of selecting the default button. Pressing the Esc key cancels the dialog box.
Desktop Window Elements
The various parts of a window are shown in the below diagram. They are:
Control-menu Box
Always located in the upper left corner of the window. It can be used to re-size, move, maximise, minimise, and close windows, and open a task list which lists the applications that are currently running.
Menu Bar
Lists available menus. Click on a menu name to get a drop-down list of commands. Click on the command name to run it.
Title Bar
Shows the name of the application and document open in the window. The window can be moved to a new position on the screen by dragging the title bar.
Text Area
The main working area of the software.
Window Border
The frame round the window which can be used to resize the window.
Minimize Button
Used to shrink the application to an icon.
Maximize Button
Enlarges the software window to fill the entire screen.
Window Corner
Used to re-size the window.
Scroll Bars
Control what is displayed in the window. The position of the scroll bar button indicates the current position in the contents displayed on the screen. For example, if the scroll bar button is in the middle of the scroll bar, then you are halfway through the contents displayed on the screen.
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