How To Compute - Lesson 4

Wizard – Pre formatted layouts where you fill in the information, the Wizard does the layout and design work. On the menu bar, click on FILE –NEW and a dialogue box appears. Look at the different tabs and try out the different pre-formatted documents.

New Document – A document is a page or series of pages that you want to appear on your computer screen at the same time, i.e. a five page report, a one page letter, a 50 page book, etc. Anything you want connected with the same page up and page down movement. To start a new document click on FILE – NEW – and choose either NORMAL or (and it’s best to play here for awhile until you learn) click on any of the many pre-formatted documents available.

Lines – Lines tell you where you are on a page. They go straight across from margin to margin. In word processors, in order to go from one line to the next, you don’t have to hit the ENTER key to go to the next line, only at the end of a paragraph. The computer returns automatically. At the bottom of your window is listed how low your page number, section, how many pages in the document, how far down you are on the page, line and column number, etc.

Clip Art – Pre-drawn pictures that you can buy or make and place them in your document. Click on INSERT – PICTURE – CLIP ART (or if it is in a picture file click FROM FILE). Choose a category and image, then click INSERT which is the top icon that apears when you place the mouse over a picture with clip art. With a picture, choose the file and click insert. Change size using corner arrows...

Writing Tools - Thanks to computers, our writing ability is not limited to our current educational level. Writing tolls include a spelling and grammar checker, a thesaurus, foreign language dictionaries (sold separately) and standardized document hyphenation. To utilize these tools, click on TOOLS then SPELLING & GRAMMAR or LANGUAGE (for the Thesaurus) and follow the directions.

Clip-Board or Scrap Memory – A temporary memory within Windows that allows you to remove or duplicate information to be placed somewhere else or discarded. The Clipboard holds up to eight pieces of information at a time. Click on VIEW – TOOLBARS – CLIPBOARD. This shows you what is on the clipboard. It easily transports information from one program to another if it is operating within Windows.

Cut – Removes a letter or a block of words/numbers from their position within a document and places that information of the clip board.

Paste – Take something off of the clipboard and leaves the original in place.

Ruler – Real life measurement for where work and pictures will appear on a piece of paper. They are generally on top and on the left of the screen. If you do not see rulers when you type click on VIEW – RULER and that will turn them on.

Style Sheet – Pre-formatted look to a document. Click on FORMAT – STYLE and set up the look for your page.

Zoom – A way to look close up or overview of what you are working on. Click on VIEW – ZOOM and under Zoom To choose your perspective or use the % number on the icon bar.

Editing symbols - A dot between words means a space and this symbol ¶ is for return or enter. That symbol is on the standard toolbar.

HELP

WINDOW’S HELP

WINDOWS – START – HELP –
Look up your specific question in the index or browse CONTENTS.

WORD HELP

On the menu bar click on HELP - MICROSOFT WORD HELP
and ask your question.
Or, you can just hit the F1 (first function key) key and ask your question.

Also, you can find additional information under Help in
OFFICE ON THE WEB.

Computer Books

Just a quick note about the many thick computer books on the market. When you get a program, get a book but read it differently from regular books until you're comfortable going from cover to cover.

The key is in the index. First go through their quick start section. Then figure out what you want to do. Look up in either a book (or the programs help menu) how to do what it is you want to do. Follow the instructions like you are baking a cake. Stay patient.