Chapter 8
Getting Started with
Application Software
1
What’s Inside and on the CD?
• In this chapter, you will:
– Look at common features found in most Windows
applications
– Gain a foundation for working with Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and Access
– Discover this material also applies to working with a
browser and e-mail
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
2
How do I start and exit Windows
applications?
• Before you start
– Computer should be on
– Start button should be displayed at bottom of screen
• Close all programs
– When you are finished using, to free up memory
– Before initiating shut down procedures
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
3
How do I start and exit Windows
applications?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
4
How do I start and exit Windows
applications?
• When you install a new program
– It is added to All Programs menu
– To start, click its name
• Start menu options
– symbol represents multiple programs
– When you click one of the options, a list is displayed
– Click program you want to start
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
5
How do I start and exit Windows
applications?
• Some programs are represented by an icon on Windows
desktop as well
– Double-click to use these icons
• To close a program
– click
Close button
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
6
What are the components of an
application window?
• An open program is displayed in rectangular application
window on the Windows desktop
• Title bar displays:
– Name of program
– Name of open file
– Minimizing, maximizing, and closing buttons
• Menu bar provides access to commands for controlling
program
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
7
What are the components of an
application window?
• Toolbar contains small pictures to use as shortcuts
• Microsoft Office 2007 modules include a ribbon instead
of a menu bar
– Provides access to commands and options
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
8
What are the components of an
application window?
• Status bar contains information about current condition
of program
– Current page number
– Zoom level
– Web page address
• Side scroll bar moves text or graphic up or down
window
• Horizontal scroll bar scrolls documents from side to side
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
9
What are the components of an
application window?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
10
How do I switch between application
windows?
• Open application windows are represented by buttons on
taskbar
• Clicking one of these buttons brings it to front of desktop
• An active program is indicated by a distinctly colored
taskbar button
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
11
How do I switch between application
windows? Cont’d.
• Click any visible part of hidden window to make it active
• If window is minimized, click program button on taskbar
to restore it
• When multiple data files are open in a single program
such as MS Word, click the Switch Windows command
from the Windows group on the View tab
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
12
How do I switch between application
windows?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
13
How do menus and toolbars work?
• Most applications include menu bar
• Typically, a menu bar provides access to all features of
program
• Toolbars are typically displayed below menu bar and
contain several buttons
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
14
How do menus and toolbars work?
• You can browse through menu items to find all features
of program
• To close menu, click menu title or press Esc
• For fast menu access, hold Alt key and press underlined
letter
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
15
How do menus and toolbars work?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
16
How does the ribbon work?
• In Microsoft Office 2007, the ribbon replaces the menu
bar and toolbars
• Divided into a hierarchy consisting of tabs, groups, and
commands
– Tabs are divided into groups
– Groups contain commands
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
17
How does the ribbon work?
• The Microsoft Office button leads to many of the
commands that existed on the File menu
• The Quick Access toolbar contains commands that you
use regularly
• Contextual tabs contain formatting options for an object
and appear when an object is selected
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
18
How does the ribbon work?
• Dialog boxes can be opened from the Dialog Box
Launcher in the lower-right corner of a group
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
19
How does the ribbon work?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
20
How do I open a file?
• Data is stored in files on hard disks, CDs, DVDs, USB
flash drives, and other storage media
• Files are referred to in different ways, e.g.:
– A Microsoft Word file is called a document, while a
PowerPoint file is called a presentation
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
21
How do I open a file? Cont’d.
• There are several ways to open file:
– Use the Recent Items option on the Start menu
– Double-click file shortcut icon if one exists on
windows desktop
– Double-click file name from within Windows Explorer
– Use Open dialog box provided by application
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
22
How do I open a file? Cont’d.
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
23
How do I save a file?
• When you create a file, you must save it to use it in the
future
• Common file problems include
– Storage device not available
– File not saved
– File stored in the wrong folder
– File moved
– File is corrupted
– Incompatible file type
– Wrong association
– File has the wrong extension
– Product or version incompatibility
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
24
How do I save a file?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
25
How do I save a file?
• When you first save a file, you must name it
• The file extension is separated from file name by (.)
period. Windows will automatically add appropriate
extension
• File name extension is associated with particular file
format
• Use Save As when you want to change a file’s name or
its location
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
26
How do I save a file?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
27
How do I save a file?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
28
How do I change the settings for an
application?
• Most application software is preconfigured with a set of
application defaults
• Most software allows you to modify application defaults
• Look for Options or Preferences on the File or Tools
menu
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
29
How do I change the settings for an
application?
• Microsoft Office applications default to folders predefined
in Windows
• Don’t assume that the autosave feature is activated as
your application default
• Be conservative when you change application defaults
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
30
How do I change the settings for an
application?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
31
How do I access help for an
application?
• Access help from variety of sources
– General questions on software use can be answered by
on–screen Help windows
• Comprehensive electronic user manual
• Office Online
– Additional help from user manual, CD, or third party books
– Check on-line user groups or publisher’s Web sites
– Use a search engine such as Google to get help
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
32
How do I access help for an
application?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
33
How do I access help for an
application?
Practical Computer Literacy, 2nd edition
Chapter 8
34