Making the Windows GUI Work for You Who Invented the Desktop? Navigating the Windows GUI Configuring & Customizing the Windows Desktop Managing Files in

Making the Windows GUI Work for You

Who Invented the Desktop?Navigating the Windows GUI

Configuring & Customizing the Windows DesktopManaging Files in Windows

Launching Programs in WindowsSelecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop

Troubleshooting Common Desktop Problems

Chapter

6

2

Learning Objectives

Explain the nature & history of the Windows GUI Navigate the Windows GUI Configure and customize the Windows desktop Manage files in Windows Launch applications in Windows Select a method for leaving the desktop Troubleshoot common Windows desktop

problems

3

Who Invented the Desktop?

1968: Douglas Engelbart’s demonstration 1970’s: Xerox PARC influences others Result: desktop metaphor

4

Navigating the Windows GUI

Getting to the Desktop via Logon User Accounts

Each account is a record in an accounts database Local database or server-based Windows 9x does not have local accounts database

Workgroups and Domains Workgroups

Logical grouping for sharing resources Unique name on the network No central accounts database – only local

5


Getting to the Desktop via Logon (continued)

Workgroups and Domains (continued) Domains

Logical grouping for sharing resources Unique name on the network Central accounts database

The use of CTRL-ALT-DELETE before logon Most versions of Windows can require

Ctrl-Alt-Delete to open logon dialog box Security measure to clear memory

6



Working with Logon Dialog Boxes Logging onto a stand-alone or workgroup computer

Windows XP Welcome to Windows dialog box Windows NT Logon Information dialog box Windows 98 Welcome or Enter Network Password Windows 2000 Log On to Windows dialog box

7



Working with Logon Dialog Boxes (continued) Logging onto a Microsoft Windows Domain

User logs on to access domain resources A computer can be a member of a domain and be

centrally managed as a resource of a domain The computer from which a user logs on must be a

domain member Windows 9x exception – user logon without computer

membership Windows XP Home cannot be a member of a domain,

and a user cannot log onto a domain from XP Home

8



Working with Logon Dialog Boxes (continued) Buttons in the Logon Dialog Boxes

OK Cancel Help Shut Down Options

9


Step-by-Step 6.01

Logging Onto Windows

Page 258

10


A Tour of the Desktop Getting Started

Special dialog boxes in Windows NT, 98, and 2000 Cartoon-style message balloon in Windows XP

First Look Default desktop includes mouse pointer, taskbar,

Start menu button, and one or more icons

11


A Tour of the Desktop (continued)

Desktop Icons Default icons vary among versions of Windows My Computer, Internet Explorer, Recycle Bin.

Network Neighborhood, My Network Places, My Briefcase, My Documents, MSN Internet Account, Online Services, Connect to the Internet

12



Taskbar Default position across bottom of screen Start button Quick Launch toolbar Buttons for running programs Notification area (AKA system tray or systray) Reposition and resize Windows XP default locked Taskbar Properties

13



Start Menu Programs/All Programs Documents/My Recent Documents Personal Folders

14


Step-by-Step 6.02

Using the Start Menu

Page 271

15

Configuring and Customizing the Windows Desktop

Classic Desktop vs. Active Desktop Active Desktop: web content on desktop Classic desktop: double-click to open objects Enable/Disable in Display applet

Web tab Desktop tab in Windows XP Single-click a separate option in Windows XP

16


Decorating the Desktop: Background, Color Schemes, and Settings Background/Desktop page of Display applet

Background Wallpaper Colors Screen saver Themes

17


Customizing the Taskbar Quick Launch toolbar

An area on the taskbar designed to launch programs that are used frequently

18


Step-by-Step 6.03

Customizing the Desktop

Page 274

19

Managing Files in Windows

File and Folder Basics A file is information organized as a unit A folder is a special file that holds a list of files

and other folders An application may save to a default folder User may choose to save in other folder

20


File and Folder Basics (continued) File/folder management actions

Opening Closing Copying Moving Deleting

21


What Files Should You Manage? Users only manage data files Understand folder structure:

Document and Settings Windows Program Files Fonts System and System32 Temp

22


What Files Should You Manage? (continued) Hands Off System Files!

Root of drive C: WINNT or WINDOWS folder Hidden by default in Windows 2000 and XP Make system files visible in Tools | Folder

Options

23


What Files Should You Manage? (continued) Managing Data Files

Data File types Text files Word processing document files Graphic files Database files Spreadsheet files

24


Organizing Files Using Folders GUI Techniques

Drag-and-Drop Rules in Explorer/My Computer Dragging while pressing right mouse button =

options Dragging while pressing CTRL = move Dragging to another drive = copy Dragging to another drive while pressing SHIFT =

move Dragging a program file creates a shortcut to

program

25


Step-by-Step 6.04

Managing Files and Folders

Page 280

26


Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt Open command prompt and run commands Launch any program that runs in Windows Work at command prompt within Windows

27


Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows 9x

DOS Virtual Machine Uses DOS Command shell (COMMAND.COM) Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt

28


Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows NT,

Windows 2000, and Windows XP Menu item = Command Prompt Launches CMD.EXE 32-bit character-mode command prompt Do no Harm!

Never do file management at the command prompt Never run third-party disk utilities at the command

prompt

29



Windows 2000, and Windows XP (continued) 8.3 File Names vs. Long File Names

Windows creates both a long file name and an 8.3 alias

Best-supported in GUI Using the 8.3 file name from the command prompt

brings risk of losing the long file name

30



Windows 2000, and Windows XP (continued) The Dangers of FDISK and Other DOS Utilities

FDISK will not run in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003

FDISK is the only partitioning program in Windows 9x

FDISK run after booting with a startup disk will run unrestricted

31


Step-by-Step 6.05

Working at the Command Prompt in Windows

Page 285

32


Maintenance of Disks and Files Perform basic maintenance regularly

Remove excess files that accumulate over time Reorganize how files are saved on disk Back up valuable data and system files

33


Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Remove excess files with Disk Cleanup

Not available in Windows NT Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools Start | Run | cleanmgr

34


Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Defragmenting a Disk

Disk Defragmenting utility (not in Windows NT) Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools

| Disk Defragmenter Start | Run | dfrg.msc

35


Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Backing up data

Data is more valuable than hardware and software

Therefore, backup is critical Most Windows versions include backup program Third party programs offer more features

36

Launching Programs in Windows

Start Menu Program Shortcut Start | Run Launch by Association

37


Step-by-Step 6.06

Launch Programs in Windows

Page 291

38


Command Prompt Launching Windows Programs from the

Command Prompt Running DOS Applications in Windows

39


Step-by-Step 6.07

Running MS-DOS Editor in Windows

Page 294

40

Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop

Logging Off and Shutting Down Log off Log off and Shut Down

41


System Standby Sleep state Consumes minimal power On resume, all programs and data open Settings in Power Options applet Not really turned off Requires power (AC or battery)

42


Hibernate Contents of memory saved to disk Computer powered off – no power required On resume, all programs and data open Settings in Power Options in Control Panel

43


Start Menu Start | Shut Down

Shut Down Windows dialog box May include Log off, Shut Down, Restart,

Hibernate (not in NT), and Standby (not in NT) Start | Log off (Windows XP) Start | Turn Off Computer (Windows XP)

44


Ctrl-Alt-Delete Opens Security dialog box Select Log off or Shut down

45

Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems

Disappearing Dialog Box Dialog box closes before completion Pressing Enter closes Do not press Enter until completed

46


Inability to Find Something Forget where you saved a file? Use the Windows Find or Search utility Flexible searches on almost anything you can

remember about a file

47


Windows Fails to Start Data floppy disk left in drive Last Known Good Advanced Options Menu

48


Windows Stalls No response from Windows or apps Cannot close any apps In Windows 9x press Ctrl-Alt-Delete In newer versions press Ctrl-Shift-Esc If Explorer not responding, restart Any other single app can be removed

49


An Application Fails to Start Possible lack of memory Close other applications and retry

50

Chapter Summary

Who Invented the Desktop? The origins go back several decades Many innovative people contributed to the

desktop metaphor; Douglas Engelbart demon-strated the use of a mouse in 1968.

The mouse and keyboard are your primary input devices.

51

Chapter Summary

Who Invented the Desktop? The Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) was a

major contributor to the desktop metaphor. The Apple Macintosh was the first successful

consumer product using a GUI and a mouse. The desktop metaphor endures today in

Windows, Macintosh OS, and in various GUI interfaces for UNIX and Linux.

52

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI In most organizations, you must log on and be

authenticated before you can access the desktop.

A user account is a record in an accounts database that may exist locally (except for Windows 9x) or on a network server.

Logging onto a computer requires a user name and password that match those in a user account.

53

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI A workgroup is a grouping of computers on a network

for the sake of sharing printers and folders. A Microsoft Windows domain has a centralized

security accounts database, maintained on one or more special servers called domain controllers. This database contains accounts for users, groups, and computers in the domain and can be used to authenticate a user for access to any domain resource.

54

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI For a more secure logon, ctrl-alt-delete is

required to bring up the logon dialog box in all but Windows 9x.

By default, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows NT Workstation allow users to select Shutdown even though no one is logged on. Not allowed on servers.

55

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI Windows Help has improved with each

version of Windows. Use it! Windows now has a variety of graphical

objects: the cursor, icons, shortcuts, dialog boxes, windows, folders, buttons, toolbars, menus, and the taskbar.

The Start button gives you access to menus from which you can launch programs.

56

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI The Documents shortcut icon contains

shortcuts to recently opened data files. In Windows XP this folder is named My Recent Documents, but is not enabled by default.

57

Chapter Summary

Navigating the Windows GUI Personal folders are a subset of special folders

that Windows creates to hold files and folders for each user. Included are files containing desktop configuration and preference information, each user’s own data files. Shortcuts to some personal folders are on the Start menu.

Personal Folders include Start Menu, My Documents, Favorites, Desktop, and many others.

58

Chapter Summary

Configuring and Customizing the Desktop If Active Desktop is enabled, choose between

the classic Windows desktop and Web view. In classic Windows desktop, double-click to open an object; in Web view, objects on the desktop behave like links in a web page that can be open-ed with a single click.

Shortcuts added to the Quick Launch area of the taskbar are launched with a single click.

59

Chapter Summary

Configuring and Customizing the Desktop Control Panel contains many applets that allow

you to configure your hardware and software. Right-click on the desktop, choose Properties

to open the Display Properties box, a Control Panel applet that allows you to customize many aspects of the desktop.

60

Chapter Summary

Manage Files in Windows A file is information organized as a unit, and

the author of a file determines how much information is stored in a file.

Files allow you to put information into manageable chunks.

A special type of file acts as a container for files, called a folder in Windows, but previously called a directory in MS-DOS. You can create folders in a hierarchy, enhancing the organization of your files.

61

Chapter Summary

Manage Files in Windows File management in the Windows GUI is easier

and safer than in DOS because you don’t have to memorize commands that use cryptic syntax; you don’t have to feel like you are taking a typing test every time you want to create, copy, move, or delete a file or folder; and because you can see exactly what files and folders you have selected for a file management operation.

62

Chapter Summary

Manage Files in Windows Two important file types are program files and

data files. Program files (also called binary files) contain programming code, and data files contain the data you create and work with in your applica-tion programs.

It is best not to attempt to manage program files, especially those the operating system requires, called system files. Leave them in the folders in which the operating system or installation pro-grams place them.

63

Chapter Summary

Manage Files in Windows Manage data files. A short list of data file types includes

Text files—most often have the TXT extension Word processing document files—DOC extension Graphic files—BMP, DIB, GIF, JPG, TIF, etc. Database files—Access uses the MDB extension Spreadsheet files—Excel uses the XLS extension

64

Chapter Summary

Manage Files in Windows The Find/Search option has been improved

with each version of Windows. In Windows NT, you can search for files, folders, and com-puters, but in Windows XP, you can search for almost anything in the world that is searchable over the Internet.

Users can manage files and folders in My Computer and Windows Explorer and from the command prompt. The last is not recommended.

65

Chapter Summary

Launching Programs in Windows Users can launch programs by using the Start

menu. Another method for launching programs is

with the use of shortcuts on the desktop or other locations.

66

Chapter Summary

Launching Programs in Windows Using the file extensions of data files, Windows

associates the files with applications that can create and read that file type. When you click on a file that has an extension for which Windows

has an association, Windows will start the associated program and load the file as data for the program.

67

Chapter Summary

Launching Programs in Windows Another method for launching a program is to

use Start | Run. Then enter a command name in the box to launch a program.

Launch a program from the command prompt. If the program is a GUI program, it will be launch-ed in a window.

68

Chapter Summary

Leave the Desktop by Logging Off and Shutting Down Your end-of-day procedure depends on the rules

for using the computer. In some organizations, users are required to log

off but to leave the computer running. In other organizations, users are required to log

off and shut down the computer. Never just switch off your desktop computer with

the on/off switch. You should always do so from within Windows.

69

Chapter Summary

Troubleshoot Common Windows Desktop Problems Pressing ENTER when you intended to select a

new field may cause a dialog box to disappear. Use the Find or Search function to find lost files. Leaving a floppy disk in the drive is a frequent

cause of startup failure. If Windows stops responding, you may have no

other choice but to restart your computer.