12/28/2006

Lesson 4 - The Bar Scene

In this lesson, we will become familiar with some of the standard elements of Internet and MSN format.

LESSON 4 - INTRODUCING YOU TO BARS
(click to view)

BARS legend:

*Control Icon: Opens a Windows-related menu with a click.
*Title Bar: Shows the window title and 3 standard control buttons:
1) Minimize button: Hides the window from view but it remains as a button on the task bar.
2) Maximize/Restore button: Maximizes (opens) a window so that it covers the whole desktop or restores a maximized window to its original size.
3) X (close) button: Closes the window.
*Menu Bar: these drop-down menus provide software instructions. By clicking any word on a menu bar, the corresponding list opens.
*Standard Operating System Menu Bar: while in an application window, you can access the instructions for that specific software.
*Scroll Bar: Appears when there are more contents of the page than fit in the window. There are vertical and horizontal scroll bars.
*Window Corner: From these three little lines, you can change the window size by clicking and dragging to the desired shape and size. Note that the window corner shows only if the window is minimized. It does not appear when the window is maximized.

*Status Bar: This bar provides information about the window contents or about the action you are performing. It's good practice to check the information shown there.
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1. The Title Bar 
The Title Bar is what you see at the top of your screen. It identifies the name of the file you are viewing and the name of the program you are using to open that file.

2. The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar is directly below the Title Bar. It is called the Menu Bar because it has buttons that allow you to access available options. These menus have names like File, Edit, View, Help, etc., depending on the MSN program you are using.

3. The Standard Toolbar (MSN)
In Microsoft Word and other Office programs, the Standard Toolbar is the one immediately below the Menu Bar, consisting of icons for basic commands, such as Print, Save, Back, Forward, etc.

4. The Formatting Toolbar (MSN)
Many Microsoft programs allow you to format text or graphics. These programs include another toolbar which gives you access to the most common commands to use for this purpose. If the program you are using allows you to format text, the Formatting Toolbar will include a dropdown list where you can select your font type, font size, etc.

5. The Address Bar
The Address Bar is located directly above the webpage, the lowest of the Toolbars. It is the part of the Internet/Web Browser that indicates the URL* of the webpage currently being viewed. It is less frequently called the URL bar or Location Bar. A new webpage can be viewed by typing its URL into the Address Bar. (*URL = the Universal [or Uniform] Resource Locator, in other words: the Internet/World Wide Web [www] address.)

6. The Status Bar
Many programs include a Status Bar at the bottom of your window, which gives you some statistics about the file you are viewing.

7. The Windows Taskbar
This is a bar that is often misnamed. It is not a toolbar. It is the Taskbar that holds buttons and previews for current programs that you have open. It is on the very bottom of the screen and includes (looking from the left to the right): the Start Button, Quick Launch Toolbar, Open Application buttons, and the Notification Area (a.k.a. the System Tray: Clock, Date, and Icons.)
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Some Common Toolbar Icons:

Creates a new document

Opens an existing document
Saves the open document

Prints the open document

Shows the print preview

Searches for text

Cuts selected text

Copies selected text

Pastes texts

Undoes the last action

Inserts Date and Time
Applies Bold typeface to selected text
Applies Italic typeface to selected text

Underlines selected text

Applies a selected color to selected text

Aligns the paragraph to the left

Centers the paragraph

Aligns the paragraph to the right

Adds bullets


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