Consistencies in Windows
Windows is designed to have a number of consistencies that carry
over from one program to another. Once you've learned these things,
it makes using dialog boxes, forms, and learning new programs
easier.
Pay attention and you will notices these consistencies in many different programs...whether you are changing options, printing a file, or filling out a form on the Internet.
Menus
Most programs have a File menu, Edit menu, View menu, and a Help
menu. Once you’ve learned that Print or Save is in the file menu of
one program, you’ve pretty much learned that for all programs. Once
you’ve learned that Cut, Copy, and Paste are in the Edit menu,
you’ve learned it for all programs. All programs have a Help menu, usually found to the far right of the menu bar.
Arrows
When you look at a program screen, you are likely to see small
triangular arrows all around the screen - like the top and bottom of
the scroll bars, possibly on the toolbars, on the Start menu, or at
the end of a list box. Anytime you see an arrow, it is indicating
that if you click on the arrow, you'll see more choices.
This is called a "pick list," because it presents a list of choices to pick from. Radio Buttons and Check Boxes
Dialog boxes often use radio buttons and check boxes so you can control settings. Radio buttons consist of several round circles grouped together. One has a dot in it to indicate the current selection. You can choose a different setting by clicking on an empty circle. This moves the dot. This effectively limits you
to one choice in the group of radio buttons.
Check boxes are square. Clicking on a check box puts an X or a
checkmark in a box. If you click on a box containing a mark, you remove the mark. You are free to check or uncheck as many
check boxes as you want.
Ellipsis...
Any time you see an ellipsis (three dots) following an option, it
means that a dialog box will be displayed so that you can make more
choices. If there is no ellipsis, the option does what is says
without the need of further choices. As an example from the Print
dialog box, the OK and Cancel buttons will immediately Print or
Cancel the operation. However, the Options button will display
another dialog box (because it's followed by the ellipsis).
Selected Type
Anytime that type is selected (or highlighted) when you start to
type, the selected type is completely replaced with the text you
typed. This is especially useful when saving a file or when typing
an address on the Internet. When you save a file, the program
usually selects the filename for you. You can just start typing
without deleting the old text first. This is also true when you are
using a web browser. In a web browser, when you click on a web
address, it becomes selected. Just start typing the new address and
it replaces the old one.
Grayed Menus
Anytime a menu item is "grayed out" or partially visible, it
means that you cannot use that option. It usually means that you
have not met the necessary requirements. For example, you can't use
the Undo option if you haven't done something that you can undo. The option to "copy" will not be available if nothing has been written, or nothing written has been selected. Enter
The Enter key is generally a short cut for choosing the default
selection. (Usually OK). You can also hit Enter to start a search on
the Internet or enter a web site address. It's faster than moving
the mouse to the OK or GO button on the screen.
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