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Lecture 2 |
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Using Windows Explorer GUI |
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(Windows Xp) |
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GUI – Graphical User Interface |
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A Pointing Device is used to work with the
computer. |
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Computer Functions are presented as graphical
elements to be selected by user via the pointing device. |
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Pointing Device – Mouse, Trackball etc. |
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When started, the OS displays a Desktop. |
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On the desktop lie Icons, which are used to
access computer functions. |
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At the bottom is the Taskbar, from which further
facilities are available. |
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We interact with files via Explorer. |
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Explorer allows you to |
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navigate ALL disks |
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navigate directory structure of disks |
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copy, move, rename, delete files |
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access control panel, printers. |
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navigate any connected networks |
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Windows’ standard File Management Utility. |
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Has TWO panes |
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Left pane shows you directory structure |
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Right pane shows contents of directory/disk you
have selected from the left. |
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Selecting My Computer will show all disks
attached to the system. |
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Selecting a disk will drop its directory
structure below it. |
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The contents of the selected disk or directory
will be displayed in right pane. |
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Selecting a folder continues the process. |
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Right click on disk icon to bring up the disk’s context
menu |
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Open – select to view disk contents |
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Explore – select to view disk contents in
explorer |
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Copy Disk – select to make a copy of the disk.
(usually a floppy disk) |
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Format – select to prepare the disk for use |
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Properties – select to view the disk’s
properties |
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Accessed from disk’s context menu. |
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Makes an exact image of the SOURCE disk on the TARGET
disk. |
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Target disk will be completely overwritten. |
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On screen prompts keep user informed as to
progress. |
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Accessed from the disk’s context menu. |
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Formatting prepares disk to be used by creating
the file-system. |
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Ensure correct capacity |
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720Kb (Double Density) |
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1.44Mb (High Density) |
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or disk may be unreliable |
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Selecting the disk’s properties shows the
following: |
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Disk capacity and usage in pie chart format. |
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Access to disk tools such as Scandisk, Defrag
and, sometimes, Backup. |
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Files are copied or moved by dragging files to
the appropriate location. |
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If you drag a file to another disk it is copied. |
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If you drag a file somewhere on the same disk,
it is moved. |
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Force a copy by holding CTRL down when dragging. |
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Force a move by holding down SHIFT when
dragging. |
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The Cut, Copy and Paste options in the Edit menu
(and the file context menu) can also be used. |
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Copy & Paste creates a copy |
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Cut & Paste creates a move |
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If you drag file with right mouse button, a
context menu is created at target location. This allows you to select your action |
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Copy |
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Move |
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Create Shortcut |
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Deleting files is easy. |
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Select files to delete |
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Press delete key |
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Alternatively … |
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Right click on file and select delete from the
context menu. |
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Remember deleted files can be retrieved from the
Recycle Bin. |
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Drag mouse pointer over multiple files to
highlight (and therefore select) more than one file at a time. |
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All files in the Bounding Box are selected. |
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Holding CTRL when selecting files, allows
multiple files to selected at a time. |
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Click on a file, then press SHIFT and select
another file … all files between the two will be selected. |
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Click Edit on the menu then Select All in the
dropdown to select all files in a directory. |
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You can pause or cancel a print job. |
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Printer properties can be altered. |
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Current progress can be viewed |
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Right click on desktop then select properties
from context menu to change screen properties. |
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Screen saver |
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Background Wallpaper |
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Colour Settings |
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Display Adapter Settings |
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There are 4 attributes that can be attached to a
file. |
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Use the acronym RASH to remember them. |
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Read Only – file can’t be changed or deleted |
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Archive – file has been changed since last
backup |
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System – file is a System File. These are usually hidden and read-only. |
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Hidden – file is normally hidden from view,
though it is quite easy to find and view the file. |
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The file’s Property Sheet is used to change the
file’s attributes. |
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They are set via check-boxes at the bottom of
the property sheet. |
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In this screenshot, you can see 3 of the 4
attribute settings. |
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Archive is set ON |
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Read Only & Hidden are not set. |
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System is hidden from the user (this image is
from Xp) |
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Check to set the attribute |
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Various ways to invoke a program: |
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Use the Start Menu (see left) |
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Use shortcuts on desktop |
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Use shortcuts in quick-launch bar. |
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Double-Click executable directly. |
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Press F1 at any time to invoke the on-line help. |
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If using the OS GUI, then Windows own on-line
help should start. |
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If using an application, that application’s
on-line help should start. |
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You can also select Help from the Start Menu. |
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Notes