MODULE 2 Extra
Extra information for Windows and many other applications.
Which mouse button? Normally you use the left mouse button. Thus to select something click on it with the left mouse button. When the instruction says use the mouse button, unless otherwise specified, it is always the left mouse button.
"Select then manipulate" While using Windows or a Windows based application, when you want to do something you have to tell Windows what you are intending to edit or manipulate. You need to select something first before you can manipulate it. Thus if you wish to move an icon on your Windows screen (the Desktop) you will first click on it once to select it and then use drag and drop techniques to move the icon.
Double clicking Double clicking means that you click once and then (as fast as you can) click a second time. Double clicking is often a problem and the reason that it does not appear to work, is that you may move the mouse slightly between the first click and the second click. Windows interprets this as something else! If you are sure that you are clicking fast enough, but nothing happens, then pay attention to keeping the mouse still between your clicks!
As an example of double clicking, double click on the Recycle Bin icon located on your Desktop. You should see the following displayed when successful.
If you have difficulty double clicking the mouse there is an alternative: Right click over what you want to open - a menu will appear - select Open. This is the same as a double click.
"Drag and drop" moving The term "drag and drop" basically
means "picking" up an item with the mouse and dragging it to
a new location. This could apply to moving an icon from one location on
the screen to another position, or to physical files on your hard disk
being dragged from one folder to another. To drag and drop an item you
first have to click on it (with the normal, left hand mouse button). This
selects the item. You then depress the left hand mouse button and while
keeping the button depressed move the mouse pointer on the screen to a
new location. When you let go of the mouse button, whatever you are dragging
will be moved to the new location.In short, drag and drop is an easy way
of moving (or copying) selected items.
"Drag and drop" copying This is basically the same as drag and drop moving, except that you end up with a copy of the item you are dragging, at the new location. To copy rather than move, depress the Control (Ctrl) key as you are dragging with the mouse.
Multiple selection techniques You click on something to select it. However, once something is selected and you then click on something else, the second item becomes selected, while the first item is de-selected. This would be true of say selecting an icon on your Windows screen. To select multiple items, keep the Control (Ctrl) depressed while you are selecting items and they will all remain selected when you release the Control key after selecting all the required items.
The other (right) mouse button Once you have selected something, you often
find that right clicking on the selected item displays a popup menu that
relates directly to the selected item. Thus if you right click on an empty
part of your Window screen, you will see a popup menu that will allow
you to customize your Windows Desktop. In other situations, a different
popup menu would be displayed.