Windows Basics:
Exercises

 Title: Jan's Illustrated Computer Literacy 101

The ability to have several windows open at once is one of the most useful features of Windows. But it also causes trouble. All those windows get in each others' way.

In the exercise below you will use several methods for corralling your wayward windows.


Where you are:
JegsWorks > Lessons > Windows

Before you start...

Project 1: Windows Basics
    Desktop & Taskbar
    Window
    MouseTo subtopics
    Dialog BoxTo subtopics
    Windows HelpTo subtopics
    Summary
    Quiz
    Exercises Subtopics display    
    Exercise Ex. 1: Solitaire
    Exercise Ex. 2: Calculator
    Exercise Ex. 3: Tile & Cascade

Project 2: Files & FoldersTo subtopics

    Search
    Glossary

Exercise Win1-3: Tile and Cascade

What you will do: New Skill Manage multiple windows.

Start with: Monitor with desktop with Taskbar showing.

Images below are from Win95, but the behaviors are very much the same in Win98 and WinXP.

  1. Desktop with windows for the open applications.If you have not paused in working the exercises, you should now have open on the desktop - Solitaire, Calculator, and Calculator Help. (If you interrupted your session at the computer, just open these applications again.)
     
  2. From the Start menu, open Notepad. (Start | Programs | Accessories).
     
  3. Icon: Win95In Win95, if Calculator Help does not currently show the Contents window, click on Help Topics.
     
  4. Open any category and then open a topic. Drag the Title bar for Calculator until it overlaps the Calculator Help window. Which is on top?
     
  5. Drag other windows to Calculator Help. What is on top?
     
  6. Drag the windows around so that as much of each window as possible is visible. (Next you'll use an easy way!)
     
  7. Icon: Right click Right click on the taskbar and from the context-sensitive menu (right-click menu), choose Cascade Windows. How does the arrangement change?
     
    Icon: Win95 Icon: Win98In Win95/98, the Help topic is always on top of even an active application.
    Icon: WinXP In WinXP Help windows usually behave like other windows, but in some applications Help stays on top all the time.
     
  8. ALT + TAB combo shows open applicationsPress the keys ALT + TAB but don't release the ALT yet. You will see a small window with the icons for all the open applications. The icon with the box around it is the active one and its name is also shown. While continuing to hold the ALT key down, press TAB again. The next application in the list is now the active one. Release the keys. The newly active program has the dark blue Title bar (default color) and is on top of the other applications.
    ALT + TAB shows icons for the open applicationsIcon: WinXP In WinXP with PowerToys (a separate download from Microsoft) installed, you get a thumbnail of the selected application. This can help you choose when you have more than one copy open of the same application, like Internet Explorer or My Computer.



     

  9. Icon: Right click Right click on the taskbar and from the context-sensitive menu, choose Tile Horizontally. How does the arrangement change?
     
  10. Icon: Right click Right click on the taskbar and from the context-sensitive menu, choose Tile Vertically. How does the arrangement change?

    Open apps arranged



  11. Be neat. Close all the windows now - with the method(s) of your choice.