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Computer Basics for Seniors. An introduction to the personal computer, the Windows operating system and word processing. May 2004. Agenda. What is a computer? What is an operating system? What is a mouse? Word processing programs Saving and storing files Other computer applications.
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Computer Basics for Seniors An introduction to the personal computer, the Windows operating system and word processing Instructor: Shayna Keces 236-0302, ext. 441 May 2004
Agenda • What is a computer? • What is an operating system? • What is a mouse? • Word processing programs • Saving and storing files • Other computer applications
What is a personal computer • Screen • Box, tower, etc. • motherboard • hard drive • floppy drive • Cdrom/DVD • Keyboard and mouse • Peripherals
Operating system • Program used to control computer, link between user and internal working of computer and programs • Windows vs. Mac vs. Linux
Windows • Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP? • Desktop and icons • Task bar (shows which programs are open) • Start button • Launch programs • Shut down computer • Programs
Keyboard keys • Enter (Used to send message to computer that you want it to do something or to go to new line in word processor) • Page up, Page down, Home, End (cursor movement keys) • F1-F12 (Function keys used as keyboard alternatives to mouse in various programs) • Esc (Use to exit a program which does not display typical title and/or menu bar)
Keyboard keys cont. • Shift key (Used in addition to another key to produce capital letters and punctuation) • CTL, ALT (Used in conjunction with other keys to perform certain functions, eg. ALT +CTRL +Delete to restart computer or display Task Manager) • Arrows (More cursor movement keys) • Backspace (erases behind cursor), Delete (erases in front of cursor) • Any key
Delete Key Backspace Key
Mouse • Pointing device that moves pointer or cursor • Point and click • Left and right buttons (3rd button or wheel not required) • Start programs - 1 click from menu vs 2 clicks from desktop • Highlight text • Practice makes perfect
Title bar Menu bar Tool bar Format bar Status bar Task bar Start button
Word Processing Programs • Word, Word pro, WordPerfect, Wordpad • File (new, open, save, save as, print) • Edit (undo, cut, copy, paste, find, replace, object) • View (Word, layouts, zoom) • Insert (date and time, object) • Format (Font, paragraph, tabs) • Tools (Word only, spelling and grammar)
FILE • New (no file presently exists) • Open (file exists on hard drive or floppy) • Save (file already saved, see title bar) • Save as (file has never yet been saved or you want to keep the original as well as the new file) • Needs to be placed in correct file folder • Print (specify what part and no. of copies) • Print preview (see what page looks like) • Exit (closes program)
Opening files • Put cursor on word “File” in file menu and click. Move down the drop-down menu to “Open” and click • Make sure you have the correct folder in the “Look in” box and file should appear in the big white box below the “Look in” box • Double click on the correct folder or file in the “Look in” box or single click and click on the button labeled “Open”
Saving files • Saving files for first time is “Save as” • “Save” will save previously saved item in same place as before, wiping out original • When saving a file always remember to check that “Save in” box is correct, (i.e. my documents) • Failure to change to correct folder can make it difficult to find file when needed
EDIT • Undo (in case you made a mistake) • Cut (removes highlighted text and saves it in memory) • Copy (copies to memory highlighted text and leaves it in place) • Paste (puts last text stored in memory into document) • Select all (shortcut to highlight everything) • Find (used in many programs to find particular word) • Replace (find a word and replace with another, used for wholesale changes) • Object properties (better to click on object or picture)
View • Checkmark means item is on • Toolbar (shortcuts for actions in menu bar) • Format bar (way to change look of print) • Ruler (helps you judge layout on page) • Status bar (tells you where you are in the document) • Word has different layouts and zoom capability
Insert • Date/Time (allows you to select format of date and/or time and entered automatically) • Object (can be file or picture) • Break (page or column only in Word)
Format • Font (can choose kind, size and style and colour) • Sample shows you what it looks like • Add bullets • Paragraph definitions (margins, indent, and alignment) • Tab positions
Help • Help topics • Table of contents • Index (list of all relevant words) • Find (search by keyword) • About WordPad (gives version no.)
Handling files • Organization • Documents (eg. letter to landlord) • Folders (eg. Letters) • Drawers (eg. My documents) • Save vs save as • Windows Explorer • Deleting • Moving
Windows Explorer • Open from “Programs” menu or right click on “Start” button or “My Computer” (Left click on Explore if using Start button or My computer) • Left-hand pane is hierarchical organization of your computer • + means subfolders are available under heading • - means all folders at that level have been displayed • Right-hand pane lists all folder or files of the folder highlighted on the left-hand pane.
Deleting files • Deleting files must be done from a place where a file can be highlighted (eg. Windows Explorer or the big white box when you are opening or saving files) • Highlight the file you want to delete and press the delete key. • You can also, if your screen is not taking up the whole screen left click on the file and drag it to the recycle bin.
Moving Files • Using the left hand pane click on the plus signs beside the relevant folders to reveal the folder in which the document resides. • Click on that folder on the left hand side to reveal the contents on the right hand side. • On the right hand side, click on the file or document you want to move • Click on Edit in the menu bar and then on Cut • On the left hand side find the folder you want to move the file to and click on it (The right hand side should reveal the contents of that folder.) • Click on paste on the drop down menu for Edit in the menu bar.
Other applications • Internet (Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigaor) • Other accessories (Paint, calculator, notepad) • Spreadsheets • Database programs • Utility programs (eg. virus checker) • Slide presentations • Drawing pictures, making cards • Games