Your Mouse

Your mouse directs the white arrow on your screen so that you can select options on the computer by clicking your left mouse button. Your Mouse has several functions other than just pointing and clicking. For example, when you click your right mouse button, a small box will appear with clickable options that are available to you. To choose one of the options on this new window, you can use your left mouse button.

When you “right-click” your mouse while on your desktop (see “Desktop” below for definition), you can create new files and folders. If you were to “right-click” on this page, a box would still appear, but you would have different options. Try it now and see - press your right mouse button. When you are done, click anywhere on this page to close the box.

Your Desktop and Toolbar

Your Desktop is the monitor screen that is viewable before you open any programs and again when you close them. It is also viewable when you Minimize opened windows (see “Minimize” definition below).

Your Toolbar is the bar at the bottom of the screen (which can be moved to the top or sides of your screen as well) that shows you all of the programs and documents that you have open. It is also the bar that provides access to your “Start” menu, and displays the time of day.

Your Browser

You have a browser on your computer that allows you to view (or browse) the Internet. “Netscape” and “Internet Explorer” are two of the main browsers. If you have AOL, you are using a version of Internet Explorer when you access the web.

Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are direct connections (links) to other pages on the Internet, and they are found in a variety of ways. Sometimes you can find a hyperlink by passing your mouse over an image. When you find a hyperlink in an image, your mouse's white arrow will become a hand with a pointing finger. When hyperlinks are connected to text, they are highlighted in a different color than the rest of the text, and many times are underlined in the same color.

How to Minimize, Restore, and Close

When you double-click on a program icon from your desktop, a window will open on your computer. On that window (such as this one) there will be three small buttons in the upper right-hand corner. Each of these buttons has a different function. Click here for an illustration.

1. Minimize. The first button is the “Minimize” button. When clicked, it will reduce your window, but not close it. It will appear to be closed, but it is actually just waiting at the bottom of your screen (on your toolbar) for you to click on it. This function is useful when you would like to see more than one program window at a time.

2. Restore. The second button is the “Restore” button. When you click on this button, your window will still be open, but will be reduced to a slightly smaller size. When you click on the “Restore” button again, it will “Maximize” your window to the original size.

3. Close. The last button is the “Close” button. When this button is clicked, the program window will close.

How to Resize

Resizing a document or program will allow you to view more than one document or program at once. To resize, click on the “Restore” button in the upper, right-hand corner of the window. The window will now reduce to a slightly smaller size, and is available for you to resize.

Using your mouse, move the arrow to the corner or edge of the window. The white arrow should turn into a black, double-arrow. Hold down your left mouse button and drag your mouse to the left (or right) to resize the window. Release the button when your window has reached the desired size. This procedure is known as “clicking and dragging”.