How to perform the following tasks:

 

Configure the desktop
Launch an application
Switch between applications
Access drives (permanent and removable)
Create folders (holding places)
Create shortcuts (maps to the originals)
Copy/move items
Delete items
Restore deleted items
Help (how to get it)

DESKTOP

CONFIGURE:

To change desktop settings:

• Open the Control Panel by way of either My Computer or the Start/Settings menu.  Open the Display Properties Dialog Box by activating the Display icon in the Control Panel window.

TIP:  You can also access the Display Properties dialog box by right-clicking the desktop and selecting Properties.

To change desktop settings:

• Open the Apple Menu and select Control Panels.  From the Control Panels menu select Appearance.

TIP:  You can also, access the Appearance Control Panel by holding down the Control key on the keyboard and clicking on the desktop.  From the menu that appears, select Change Desktop Background...

DESKTOP

LAUNCH an application:

• Open the Start Menu and select Programs.   From the Programs menu select the application of your choice.
  
• Open the Start Menu and select the Run... command.  In the text box provided, type the name of the executable file for the program you want to run (this is usually just the name of the program).
  
• Activate the associated shortcut on the desktop, assuming you have created one.  This will run the executable file for that program.
  
• Activate a file on the desktop (assuming you saved your file to the desktop).   This will open the associated program and place your file in it in one step.   This is referred to as working through file type association and is one of the most efficient ways to work.

• Open the Apple Menu and select the program of your choice.
  
• Activate the associated alias on the desktop, assuming you have created one.  This will run the executable file for that program.
  
• Activate a file on the desktop (assuming you saved your file to the desktop).   This will open the associated program and place your file in it in one step.   This is referred to as working through file type association and is one of the most efficient ways to work.

DESKTOP

SWITCH between applications:

NOTE:   Also, see Switch between applications using the keyboard.

NOTE:   Also, see Switch between applications using the keyboard.

TIP:  The Application Menu can be "torn off" and utilized as a floating menu, whereby, it can be placed anywhere on the desktop.  To tear off the menu simply drag the mouse pointer off the bottom of the open menu until you see an outline appear.  Drop the outline on the desktop to create the floating menu.

DESKTOP

ACCESS drives:

To access a drive:

• Activate (open) the My Computer window and then activate the drive of your choice.   This will result in displaying the contents of that drive.
  
• Open Windows Explorer through Start Menu / Programs and select the drive of your choice from the list provided on the left side of the Explorer window.  The contents of the selected drive will display on the right side of the Explorer window.

NOTE:  Drives can also be accessed through appropriate shortcuts if they are present on the desktop.

To access a drive:

• Activate the drive icon by double-clicking on it.  This will result in displaying the contents of the disk.
  
• Hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click on the drive icon.  From the menu that appears, select Open to view the contents of the disk.

NOTE:  To remove a disk from a drive (such as a ZIP drive) drag the drive icon to the Trash.  This will cause the disk to eject. Or, hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click on the drive icon.   From the menu that appears select eject.

DESKTOP

CREATE folders:

To create a new folder on the desktop:

• Point to an open area on the desktop and right-click the mouse.   From the context-sensitive menu that appears, select New and then Folder.   When the new folder appears on the desktop, type the folder name of your choice and press the Enter key.

NOTE:  This method can be used in most areas of the Windows environment, not just the desktop.  For example; to create a new folder inside an existing folder, open the existing folder and right-click inside its window and proceed as directed above.

To create a new folder on your desktop:

• Point to an open area on the desktop.  Hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click the mouse button.   From the context-sensitive menu that appears, select New Folder.   When the new folder appears on the desktop, type the folder name of your choice and press the Enter key.
  
• Open the File menu and select New Folder.  When the new folder appears on the desktop, type the folder name of your choice and press the Enter key.
  
• Hold down the Apple key and press the letter N on the keyboard.  When the new folder appears on the desktop, type the folder name of your choice and press the Enter key.

NOTE:  These methods can be used to create folders inside folders.  For example; to create a new folder inside an existing folder, open the existing folder and follow one of the procedures listed above.

DESKTOP

CREATE shortcuts:

To create a shortcut on the desktop:

• Locate the original object (program, file, folder or device) and right-drag it to the desktop.  From the context-sensitive menu that appears, select "create shortcut here."

NOTE:  A shortcut behaves just like the real thing.   The advantage is a simple one; if something should happen to the shortcut, nothing happens to the original object!  Also, the more shortcuts you setup, the more efficient your environment will be to work in (hence the name "shortcut").

To create an alias on the desktop:

• Point to the original item and hold down the Option and Apple keys.  Drag the item to the desktop or other destination.
  
• Hold down the Control key and select the original item.  From the menu that appears, select Make Alias.   This procedure places an alias next to the original item.  Simply drag the alias to the desktop or other destination.
  
• Select the original item you wish to create an alias of.   Open the File menu and select Make Alias.   This procedure places an alias next to the original item.  Simply drag the alias to the desktop or other destination.

DESKTOP

COPY / MOVE items:

To copy or move items to or from the desktop:

• Set up the environment so that you can access (see) the source and destination areas on screen.  Locate the object you wish to copy or move.  Right-drag the object to or from the desktop to its new location.  From the context-sensitive menu that appears, select the operation of your choice (i.e. copy or move).

TIP:  The drag operation can also be used to copy or move, however, results vary depending on where you are in the system.  To avoid confusion, always right-drag so that you can choose the correct procedure from the menu that appears.

To copy or move items to or from the desktop:

• To copy an item hold down the Option key on the keyboard and drag the item to its new location.
  
• To move an item simply drag it to its new location.

DESKTOP

DELETE items:

To delete an item:

• Select the object (click on it) and press the Delete key on the keyboard.
  
• Point to the object and right-click, from the context-sensitive menu that appears select Delete.
  
• Point to the object and drag it to the Recycle Bin icon.

NOTE:  All objects deleted from permanent drives are placed in the Recycle Bin and can be restored if necessary.   Items deleted from removable disks (such as floppies) however, do not go to the Recycle Bin, rather they are permanently removed from the system and cannot be restored.

To delete an item:

• Point to the object and drag it to the Trash icon on the desktop
  
• Hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click on the object.  From the context-sensitive menu that appears select Move To Trash.

NOTE:  All objects deleted from permanent drives are placed in the Trash and can be restored if necessary.   Items deleted from removable disks (such as floppies) however, do not go to the Trash, rather they are permanently removed from the system and cannot be restored.

DESKTOP

RESTORE deleted items:

To restore items from the Recycle Bin:

• Open the Recycle Bin by activating its icon on the desktop.  Select the items you wish to restore by clicking on them.  Open the File menu and select Restore.  This procedure returns the selected items to their original locations.

To remove individual items from the Recycle Bin:

• Select the individual items.  Open the File menu and select Delete.

To remove the entire contents of the Recycle Bin:

• Open the File menu and select Empty Recycle Bin.

NOTE:  These procedures permanently remove items from the system, thus freeing up hard disk space.

To restore items from the Trash:

• Open the Trash by activating its icon on the desktop.  Select the items you wish to restore and drag them out of the Trash to their new location.

To remove the entire contents of the Trash:

• Select the Trash icon. 
  Open the Special menu and select Empty Trash...

NOTE:  This procedure permanently removes these items from the system, thus freeing up hard disk space.

DESKTOP

HELP:

• Open the Start Menu and select Help.
  
• Press the F1 key on the keyboard.

• Open the Help menu and select Mac OS Help.
  
• Hold down the Apple key and press the ? key.