DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

HANDOUT 1 in EDP Concepts w/ Windows Application

A. PRELIMINARY PERIOD
1. BASIC WINDOWS CONCEPTS
2.
a. THE WINDOWS DESKTOP
DESKTOP in computer science, an on-screen work area that uses icons and menus to
simulate the top of a desk. It is your workspace on the computer screen. Icons and shortcuts to your
favorite programs, documents and printers can be added to the Desktop for easy access.
The background you see on your desktop is called the WALLPAPER. The wallpaper is a
graphical images that can be acquired through the use of a scanner or a Digital camera. You can
actually design your own wallpaper. You can also customize your own desktop that would fit your
mood and personality. ICON WALLPAPER
PARTS OF THE DESKTOP

TASKBAR
START BUTTON QUICKLAUNCH TRAY
1. ICON
picture on computer screen: a small image on a computer screen that represents
something such as a program or device, that is activated by a mouse click
2. WALLPAPER
background pattern for screen: the background pattern for a computer screen, composed
of graphics
3. START BUTTON
Is the button to press if you want the start menu to appear.
4. TASKBAR
bar that shows running programs: a bar at the bottom of a computer screen displaying
buttons that show, among other things, which programs are currently running.
You can move the taskbar to any edge of your screen by dragging it with your mouse.
5. QUICKLAUNCH
Is a customizable tollbar that lets you start a program with a single click.
 6. TRAY
The small indented area that holds the clock.

b. USING THE MOUSE

The basic features of a mouse are a casing with a flat bottom, designed to be
gripped by one hand; one or more buttons on the top; a multidirectional detection device
(usually a ball) on the bottom; and a cable connecting the mouse to the computer. By
moving the mouse on a surface (such as a desk), the user typically controls an on-screen
cursor. A mouse is a relative pointing device because there are no defined limits to the
mouse's movement and because its placement on a surface does not map directly to a
specific screen location. To select items or choose commands on the screen, the user
presses one of the mouse's buttons, producing a “mouse click.”
A mouse is a pointing device that helps a user navigate through a graphical
computer interface. Connected to the computer by a cable, it is generally mapped so that
an on-screen cursor may be controlled by moving the mouse across a flat surface. Two
common types of mouse, the Microsoft mouse (bottom) and the Apple ADB (Apple Desktop
Bus) mouse (top) are shown here.

c. ARRANGING ICONS
Icon (computer science), in graphical environments, a small graphic image displayed on the
screen to represent an object that can be manipulated by the user. Icons are visual mnemonics; for
example, a trash can represents a command for deleting unwanted text or files. Icons allow the user
to control certain computer actions without having to remember commands or type them at the
keyboard. Icons are a significant factor in the “user-friendliness” of graphical user interfaces.
ARRANGING THE ICONS ON YOUR DESKTOP
1. Right-click your Desktop.
2. Click Arrange Icons.
3. Choose from the available options (By Name, Type, Size, Date, or Auto Arrange).

d. INTERACTING WITH DIALOG BOX

Dialog Box, in computer science, in a computer's graphical user interface, a special window
displayed by the system or application to solicit a response from the user. For example, when the
user wants to print a document, the system typically displays a dialog box containing controls that
represent various options: draft printing vs. high resolution, landscape vs. portrait mode, and so on.

e. ARRANGING WINDOWS
MINIMIZE ALL WINDOWS
You can minimize all open windows at once. Right click an empty area on
the task bar, and then click Show the Desktop. Try this, when all the applications are
maximized.
To restore your windows to their original state, right click a blank area on the task bar,
then click Show Open Windows.

DISPLAYING ALL OPEN WINDOWS

1. Using your right mouse button, click a blank area on the taskbar.
2. Click either Cascade, Tile Horizontally or Tile Vertically.
 To restore your windows to their original state, click Undo Tile or
Undo Cascade.

3. THE START MENU

The Start Menu is the menu that appears when you click the Start button
at the bottom of your screen.
We can start a program by clicking the Start button. The Start Menu will
open up where we can select from the available options.
The Start menu contains also what we call Sub Menu, an arrow at the right side of the
All Programs menu indicate that these are Sub Menus inside the All Programs Menu.
In this Sub Menu are the icons of your favorite Software clicking an icon will
automatically open or start the Application of Program on your hard disk.

PROGRAM MENU

SUB MENU
 START BUTTON

START MENU