Computer terms - terms, mouse action and screen

====== Instructions =========

Window headings
when part of the text is printed with an equal sign to each side, like this =Text Entry Window= it refers to the heading of a miniature window that you will see somewhere on the computer screen.

Commands
underlined words refer to commands you give such as File, Edit, Save etc. to be found in the Command bar.

Keyboard keys
anything in square brackets will be a key on your keyboard such as [Del] or [Ctrl]. Sometimes the brackets will read something like [Ctrl+A] - that means press the [Ctrl] key, and while you hold it down, you press the [A] key.

Buttons, tabs, icons
anything within accolades - like {From colour} refers to a button, a tab or an icon on the computer screen and that can be selected using the mouse and mouse button

File and object names
italic lettering is used to indicate the name and/or path of a particular file such as C:\temp\whatisit.doc or http://www.noseque.es. It is also used for the names (or labels) of objects such as Page_Foto_05 or Link_p_05.

Parameter
A parameter is the actual value taken by a variable in the description of an object. We all know what a rectangle looks like, so we can define a rectangle simply by writing "rectangle height 12 width 23". The numbers "12" and "23" are the parameters. Other parameters could be "on" and "off", or "black" and "white", or "Arial" and "9" point etc

Parameter choice
when part of the text is printed with a big black dot to each side, like this •colour• it refers to the title of a parameter you must choose

Enter a parameter
when you must type in something - a parameter or a name - you will see it written as «abracadabra» or perhaps «"my suggestion"». That means

that you must type in everything - including, if need be, spaces and quotation marks - between the « and the » signs

Object
in the program you will be dealing with objects such as pages, labels, links, pictures just to name but a few. That it is an object such as a Label object or an Image object will be shown by putting a plus sign to each side, i.e. +Label+ or +Image+

Active page/object
In the design area there will usually be a number of pages, and on each page there will be a number of objects. Select anywhere inside any given page or object and that particular page or object - and only that particular page or object - becomes active. The parameters of that page or object will be shown, and any additions or changes you make will (usually) apply to that page or object only

======== Mouse action ==========

Cursor
move the mouse and watch something move on the screeen. What moves on the screen is called the cursor and may take the shape of a vertical line, an arrow, a little hand or whatever

Select
move the cursor on the screen, using the mouse, till the cursor points to whatever you want to open, or close, or move, or drag, or do whatever, and then press the left hand mouse button.

Right / double click
normally you press the left hand mouse button once. Occasionally you may have to double click, i.e. press the left hand button twice in rapid succession. Right click means that you must press the right hand mouse button. Often when you click the right hand mouse button, a small menu appears, from which you can select a choice using the left mouse button

Drag
When you've selected an object (or a group of objects) point the cursor at the object (or the group), press down the left hand mouse button, keep it pressed down and move the object or the group elsewhere, then let go of the mouse button