How to Learn Computer in 7 days--Day 2

Today is second day. You will learn Definitions, Functions, and Uses of some important Keys and Practice in ‘Microsoft Word’. Definitions and Functions are just for your basic knowledge and you need not remember them. Read these 2-3 times. That’s all.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Pen and Pencil
• Determination

1. Step 1: Definitions:
   (a) Boot up: The process of loading the Operating System 'Microsoft Windows' or ‘Linux’ or ‘Mac’. The moment you switch on your computer (CPU), booting starts.
   (b) Default: The settings that a device or program will have without any intervention from you. It stores the information that you can paste in other programs.
   (c) Desktop: The area of the screen in which applications, folders, files, Icons and windows appear. It opens on the screen as soon as booting starts.
   (d) Dialog box: It is another little window. But instead of containing programs, it contains a little form or check list to fill out (like opening a new file and naming it). Dialog box contains text box.
   (e) Document: Text of a letter, presentation etc.
   (f) File: It contains one ‘typed text/document.' graphic, photo etc.
   (g) Folder: It contains several files of same or different type.
   (h) Font: A specific style of letter in typing e.g. Arial, Times New Roman etc.
   (i) Icon: A small window on desktop, bars and other places.
   (j) Keyboard: Device consisting of a set of keys on a typewriter or Computer or the like. Most of the Keyboards have 101 keys of different sizes for different functions.
   (k) Menu: It is a list of commands available in a program. If a menu option name is followed by three dots on right side, it indicates a hidden dialog box, which can be opened by clicking menu option. If the menu option name has an arrow on right side, it indicates another menu, which can be opened by clicking menu option.
2. Step 2: Definitions Continued:
   (l) Mouse: A hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a ‘Cursor’ on your computer screen as you move it around on a pad; on the bottom of the device is a ball that rolls on the surface of the pad. Now, Optic Mouse (without a wheel) is commonly used. It has 2 or 3 buttons.
   (m) My Briefcase: It lets synchronizes files between two computers.
   (n) My Computer: It stores Icons of hard disks, drives and some important folders.
   (o) My Documents: It stores documents, graphics and other files, which you have saved, to access quickly. By default all the ‘Microsoft Word’ files are saved in it.
   (p) Pull Down/Pop Up Menu: It is another menu, which appears on clicking menu option.
   (q) Saving a File: Saving the written matter in ‘Microsoft Window, ‘Microsoft ‘Notepad’ etc
   (r) Selection/Highlighting: Graying of the letter/word/line/text. It is essential when you need to do some operation on letter/word/line/text such as turning it into bold or italic or underlining or cutting or coping or pasting etc.
   (s) Smart Button: A button which gets highlighted, or produce another menu, or text on bringing arrow on it is called 'Smart' button. You will encounter these buttons frequently.
   (t) Window Closing: Every window has three buttons at the top right side. These are Minimize button (-), Maximize/Restore button (rectangle) and Close button (X).
3. Desktop Step 3: Function of Desktop:
   On booting, the Desktop will appear on the screen. On the left side you will find several Icons. The Icons ‘My Documents’, ‘My Computer’ and ‘Recycle Bin’; ‘Task Bar’ and ‘Arrow’ are important.
   (a) ‘My Documents’: It contains all the saved folders and files. By default all the files using ‘Microsoft Word’ are saved in it.
   (b) ‘My Computer’: It contains Icons of Hard Drive, CD Drives, Floppy, Camera, some Folders etc.
   (c) ‘Recycle Bin’ contains deleted folders and files. This is not of use to us at present.
   (Double click these icons to see their contents. Right click these icons to see the options in the popup menu)
   (d) ‘Task bar’ contains ‘Start’ button on the left side. It also contains Clock, Speaker Volume and some other Icons on right side.
   On clicking ‘Start’ button a menu will open which contains some options. Read these options. Bring arrow outside menu and click with left mouse button. The menu will close. The buttons on right side are of no use to us at present.
   (e) An Arrow on the desktop represents Mouse. If you move mouse, arrow will also move in that direction.
4. Keyboard Step 4: Function of Key Board:
   All the keys are important so their knowledge and location is essential. You will learn their use in ‘Practice’ part.
   (a) Backspace (arrow facing left): To erase one space or letter that is to the left of 'Cursor'. If ‘Cursor’ is in front of a line and ‘Backspace’ key is pressed then that line will go one space up.
   (b) Caps Lock: To type full text in capital letters. On pressing down, this key locks and whatever you type, it will be in capital letters.
   (c) Delete: To erase one space or letter that is to the right side of 'Cursor'. If the 'Cursor' is at the end of a line and ‘Delete’ key is pressed, the text of line behind the ‘Cursor’ will go up.
   (d) End: To move 'Cursor' to the end of the line.
   (e) Enter: To move to the next line. If ‘Cursor’ is in front of a line, middle of a line or end of a line and Enter key is pressed then the line or portion behind it will go down one space.
   (f) Esc: To cancel or ignore the entry command you have just entered.
   (g) Four Directional Arrows: To move the 'Cursor' one space to the right, or left, or up, or down according to the sign on the key.
   (h) Home: To move the 'Cursor' to the front of the line.
   (i) Insert: To add one letter, and simultaneously delete one letter behind, at the location of 'Cursor'.
   (j) Page Down: To move to the next page of the document.
   (k) Page Up: To move to the previous page of the document.
   (l) Shift: To type one letter in capital (by holding down this key and pressing ‘Letter’ (say A, B…) key. By holding down this key and pressing Symbol key, the symbol on upper case will be typed. Here ‘Symbol’ means ‘@’, ‘%’, ‘*’ etc.
   (m) Space Bar: To move 'Cursor' to right by one space.
   (n) Tab: To move 'Cursor' to right for a specified length (the default length is 0.5"). If you press Tab key once the 'Cursor' will move to right by 0.5".
5. How to hold Mouse Step 5: Function of Mouse with two buttons:
   Mouse is used to move the arrow and for opening/closing the Folders and Files. Its buttons are used to left click, double left click and right click the Icons, Folders and Files etc. It will be used at the time of practice.
6. Step 6: Practice in 'Microsoft Word 03':
   Today you will practice using most of the keys of the Keyboard. (Whenever you feel tired, take rest or leave it for next day. Never exert beyond your capacity at that time.)
7. Bold Letters Step 7: Use of ‘Letters A, B…’, 'Backspace', 'Delete' and 'Spacebar':
   
   To type the following sentences:
   Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
   (a) Open 'Microsoft Word' as explained in Day 1 article. On opening of it, you will find a blank page and a blinking 'Cursor' at the top left corner. It is the location from where sentences will start.
   (b) Press 'D' key, 'O' key, 'N' key, ' key (key which has " at the upper case) and 'T' key—The word 'Don't' will be typed on blank page.
   (c) Press 'Spacebar'—The 'Cursor' will move one space to the right and the letter 'd’ will become capital letter. (First letter of line and first letter after full stop will become capital letter automatically).
   (d) Press 'A', 'L', 'L', 'O', 'W' keys the word 'allow' will be typed after the word ‘Don’t’.
   (e) Press 'Spacebar'. The 'Cursor' will move one space to the right.
   (f) Suppose you typed ‘alloq’ instead of ‘allow’ word. To correct it, bring arrow behind letter ‘q’ and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear behind letter ‘q’. Now press ‘Backspace’ key. The letter ‘q’ will be deleted. Type the letter ‘w’. (Letter ‘q’ can be deleted by clicking ‘Undo’ button i.e. Reverse Arrow which is in Toolbar. You will learn this method later on)
   (g) Suppose you typed ‘sllow’ instead of ‘allow’ word. To correct it, bring arrow in front of letter ‘s’ and click. The ‘Cursor will appear in front of letter ‘q’. Now press ‘Delete’ key. The letter ‘s’ will be deleted. Type the letter ‘a’. In this way type the sentences given above. It will take you some time to type correctly.
   (h) Making the sentence Bold: Bring arrow in front of word ‘Don't’. Hold down the left button of mouse; drag the arrow towards right side up to the end of word ‘tough’. As soon as the arrow is dragged, the portion on left side gets highlighted (grayed). After reaching the word ‘tough’, release mouse button. The dragged portion will remain highlighted. Now, put arrow on bold letter ‘B’ (which is in the Toolbar) and click it, the highlighted sentences will become bold.
   (i) The sentences will look:
   Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
   (See Image)
8. Use of Symbols Step 8: Use of ‘Symbols’, and 'Caps Lock' keys:
   (The setup of sentences that you see here will be different from what you have typed or will type. You follow the setup of the typed sentences for performing the following actions and see the attached images against each Step)
   To type the sentence-WHAT DO YOU WANT?
   (a) Bring the arrow bellow the last line of typed sentences and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear.
   (b) Press ‘Caps Lock’ key and type above sentence. All the letters will be capital letters. After typing press the key again. It will be unlocked.
   (c) Hold down ‘Shift’ key and press ‘?’ key. The symbol ‘?’ will be typed behind ‘WANT’. This is also known as ‘Shift+? combo’
   (See Image)
   (Holding down 'Shift' key, press symbol key, the upper case symbols like—@, #, *, +,? Etc will be typed.)
9. Use of Shift key Step 9: Use of 'Shift' key:
   To type the sentence-Wow! We won Wools trophy.
   (a) Hold down ‘Shift’ key and press ‘W’ key. The letter ‘w’ will be typed in capital letter.
   (b) Remove finger from ‘Shift’ key and type ‘o’ and ‘w’ letters.
   (c) Again hold down ‘Shift’ key and press ‘!’ symbol key. Remove finger from’ Shift’ key. The symbol ‘!’ will be typed.
   (d) Type remaining words.
   (See Image)
   (‘Shift’ key is used to type Symbols and single Capital letters.)
10. Use of Delete key Step 10: Use of ‘Delete’ key to delete sentences:
    The sentences you typed in the open ‘Microsoft Word’ are:
    Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
    WHAT DO YOU WANT?
    Wow! We won Wools trophy.
    To delete the last two sentences, proceed as under.
    (a) Bring arrow in front of word ‘What’. Hold down the left button of mouse; drag the arrow towards right side up to the end of word ‘trophy’. As soon as the arrow is dragged, the portion on left side gets highlighted (grayed). After reaching the word ‘trophy’, release mouse button. The dragged portion will remain highlighted.
    (b) Press ‘Delete’ key. You will see that the highlighted portion is deleted and the remaining sentences are
    Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
    (See Image)
    (There are four ways of highlighting letter/word/sentence/paragraph which you will learn later on)
11. Use of Enter key Step 11: Use of ‘Enter’ key:
    (a) Bring arrow in front of word 'Daddies' and click. The 'Cursor' will appear in front of ‘Daddies’.
    (b) Press 'Enter' key. The sentences behind 'Cursor' will shift to next line.
    (c) Bring arrow in front of word 'Change' and click. The 'Cursor' will appear in front of ‘Change’.
    (d) Press 'Enter' key. The Sentence behind 'Cursor' will shift to next line. The text will become.
    (See Image)
    (With the same actions we can bring words to next line)
12. Use of Delete key Step 12: Use of ‘Delete’ key for bringing sentences up:
    
    (a) Bring the arrow behind the word 'successful' and click. The 'Cursor' will appear behind the word ‘successful’. Press 'Delete' key (once or twice). Last sentence 'Change is always tough.' will shift to second line.
    
    (a) Bring arrow behind the word 'dreams' and click. The 'Cursor' will appear behind the word ‘dreams’. Press 'Delete' key (once or twice). The text will become.
    Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
    (See Image)
    (This key is also used to delete a letter behind it)
13. Use of Tab key Step 13: Use of ‘Tab’ Key:
    The text is:
    Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
    
    (a) Bring arrow in front of the word ‘Don’t’ and click. The 'Cursor' will appear in front of word 'Don’t’'. Press 'Tab' key once. Sentence ‘Don’t allow…’ will shift to right.
    (b) Bring arrow in front of the word ‘Daddies’ and click. The 'Cursor' will appear in front of word 'Daddies'. Press 'Tab' key till the sentence moves to next line.
    (c) Bring arrow in front of ‘Change’ and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear. Press ‘Tab’ key till sentence ‘Change is always tough’ shifts to the next line. The text will look.
    (See Image)
    (Tab is used to move 'Cursor' to right for a specified length, the default length is 0.5".)
14. Use of Backspace key Step 14: Use of ‘Backspace’ Key:
    
    (a) Bring arrow in front of 'Daddies' and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear in front of ‘Daddies’. Press 'Backspace' key till the sentence comes behind ‘dreams’.
    (b) Bring arrow in front of 'Change' and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear in front ‘Change’. Press 'Backspace' key till the sentence comes behind ‘successful’. The text will look.
    
    Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams. Daddies aren't always successful. Change is always tough.
    (See Image)
    (This key is also used to delete a letter in front of it)
15. Step 15: Use of ‘Home’ Key:
    If you want the 'Cursor', (which is say at the end or middle of sentence 'Change is …'), at the front of the sentence ‘Change is always tough.’, then press 'Home' key. The 'Cursor' will shift to the front of the sentence.
16. Step 16: Use of ‘End’ Key:
    If you want the 'Cursor', (which is say at the end or middle of the sentence 'Change is …'), at the end of sentence ‘Change is always tough.’, then press 'End' key. The 'Cursor' will shift to the end of the sentence.
17. Step 17: Use of ‘Insert’ key:
    It is used for inserting a letter and at the same time deleting the letter behind the 'Cursor'. For the time being don’t use it.
18. Step 18: Use of ‘Control’ key:
    The ‘Ctrl’ key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, will perform a special operation, similar to the Shift key. The Ctrl’ key rarely performs any function when pressed by itself.
    When an application hangs/freezes/stops working then the combo Control+Alt+Delete keys is used to close that application. (You will learn about hung application later on)
19. Step 19: Use of ‘Alter’ key:
    The ‘Alt’ key is a modifier key. Like the ‘Ctrl’ Key, the ‘Alt’ key is used in combination with other keys. In most Windows programs, each of the menu choices at the top of the screen has one letter underlined. By holding down the ‘Alt’ key while pressing the key corresponding to the underlined letter will open the menu just as though you have clicked your mouse on that menu choice.
20. Step 20: Use of 'Directional Arrows' keys (4 arrows ‘Up’, ‘Down’, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’):
    (a) Instead of using mouse arrow, you can use the four ‘Directional Arrows' to move the 'Cursor' to desired location by pressing these keys.
    (b) In the sentence ‘Don't allow weeds to grow around your dreams’ bring the arrow between words ‘grow’ and ‘around’ and click. The ‘Cursor’ will appear there.
    (c) Press ‘Directional Arrows’ one by one. You will see the ‘Cursor’ moving in that direction.
21. Step 21: Saving the file (written text):
    (a) For saving these sentences for the first time, click ‘File’ button of Menu bar, a new menu will appear.
    (b) Click ‘Save’ button, a box will appear. Type File name say ’02’ then click ‘Save’ button.
    (c) The file ‘02’ will be saved in ‘My Documents’. By default all ‘Microsoft word’ files are saved in ‘My Documents’.
22. Step 22: Closing ‘Microsoft Word’:
    (a) Bring the arrow over ‘X’ on top right side and click. The widow will close.
    (b) By chance you have forgotten to ‘Save’ the file and clicked ‘X’ button, then a small box with three options ‘Yes’, ‘No’, ‘Cancel’ will open. Bring arrow over ‘Yes’ and click. A new box as mentioned in Step 19 will open and you take same action as in Step 19. If you don’t want to save then click ‘No’. (It is advisable to save before closing the file.)

Tips & Warnings

• Practice the use of Keys.
• Copy the Practice Portion for easy reference.
• Don't exert too much.
• You will learn the use of Icons, Buttons etc of ‘Microsoft Word’ in the article of Day 3.
• Read the instructions of Software Provider.