ECDL slides module 2

© Cheltenham Computer Training 1995 - 2000 ECDL/ICDL [Module Two] - Using the Computer and Managing Files

The ECDL / ICDL - Module 2Using the Computer and Managing Files

© 1995-2000 Cheltenham Computer Traininghttp://www.cctglobal.com


2.1 Getting Started


2.1.1 First Steps with the Computer


2.1.1.1 Start the Computer.

• Ensure that all cables are plugged securely into the rear of the machine.

• Make sure that there is no disk inserted in the floppy drive.

• Locate the power switch and turn the computer on.

• After a few seconds you should see something on the screen.– If not, ensure that the monitor is switched on.


2.1.1.2 Shut Down the Computer Properly.

• Save any files you may have been working on.• Close any open applications.• Use the Shut Down command (accessed via the

Start button) to close down the system.• Do not switch the machine off until the computer

says it is safe to do so!


2.1.1.3 Restart the Computer.

• Never just switch off your Windows based computer.

• You must always shutdown using the Shut Down command.– Click on the Start icon and select Shut Down. If you wish to

shutdown your computer and then immediately restart it then you can select the Restart option from the Shut Down Windows dialog box.


2.1.1.4 View the Computer’s Basic System Information - Operating System, CPU Type, RAM Etc.

• When you first switch on your PC you will notice that information is displayed on your screen

• To view your “system properties”– Right click on the My Computer icon

to display a popup menu– Select the Properties command from

the popup menu.– This will display the System Properties

dialog box as illustrated. Information displayed includes the version of Windows installed, CPU type and the amount of RAM.


2.1.1.5 View the Computer’s Desktop Configuration: Date & TimeSlide 1 of 3

• The current Date, Time and Time Zone information can be set from the Date/Time icon within the Control Panel.


2.1.1.5 View the Computer’s Desktop Configuration: Volume Settings

Slide 2 of 3

• This may vary from system to system, but within the Control Panel you will normally find a Multimedia icon.

• Double clicking on this icon will often allow you to access a volume control for your particular multimedia system.


2.1.1.5 View the Computer’s Desktop Configuration: Background, Screen Settings, Screen Saver

Slide 3 of 3

• Right-click on an empty part of the Windows Desktop (i.e. the screen). – This will display a popup

menu, from which you need to click on the Properties command (using the normal, left-hand mouse button).

– Clicking on the Properties command will display the Display Properties dialog box.


2.1.1.6 Be Able to Format a Diskette.

– Right click on the Start button and from the popup menu displayed, select Explore.

– If necessary scroll up the Windows Explorer window until you can see the 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] icon.

– Click on the 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] icon to select it.

– Right click on the 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] icon and from the popup menu, displayed select the Format command.


2.1.1.7 Use Available Help Functions.

• Select Help from the Start menu, the Windows Help dialog box appears with three tab sections available - Contents, Index and Search


2.2 Desktop Environment


2.2.1 Work with Icons


2.2.1.1 Select and Move Desktop Icons. Slide 1 of 2

• To select a Desktop icon– To select a Desktop icon, single click on the required icon.– Once selected the icon will be highlighted.

• To move a Desktop icon– Select the icon that you wish to move.– Depress the left mouse button and while keeping it depressed,

drag the icon to the new location on the Desktop, as required.– Release the mouse button.


2.2.1.1 Create a Desktop Shortcut Icon or a Desktop Menu Alias.

Slide 2 of 2

• Minimize or close any programs that may be running.• Click on the Start icon.• Select the icon from the Start Menu, that you wish to use

for creating a Desktop icon.• Depress the Control+Shift keys, and while keeping these

keys depressed, drag the icon to the Desktop.• Release the Control+Shift keys.

– You will see a popup menu. Select Create Shortcut(s) Here.– The shortcut icon will be created and displayed on the Desktop.


2.2.2 Work With Windows


2.2.2.1 Recognize the Different Parts of a Desktop Window:Title Bar, Toolbar, Menu Bar, Status Bar & Scroll Bar.

Title Bar

Toolbar Menu Bar

Status Bar

Scroll Bar


2.2.2.2 Understand How to Re-size and Scale a Desktop Window, How to Close a Desktop Window.

Slide 1 of 2

• To minimize a window– Click on the Minimize icon

• To maximize a window– Click on the Maximize icon

OR double-click on that windows Title Bar.• To restore a maximized object to run in

a window– Click on the Restore icon

OR double-click on that windows Title Bar• To close a window

– Move the mouse pointer to the Close button and click once using the left-hand mouse button.


2.2.2.2 Understand How to Re-size and Scale a Desktop Window, How to Close a Desktop Window.

Slide 2 of 2

• To make a Desktop window taller or shorter– Move the mouse pointer to either of the horizontal borders.– Depress the left-hand mouse button (and keep it depressed).– Drag the mouse pointer up or down the screen.– Release the mouse button when the window is the size and

shape required.

• To make a Desktop window narrower or wider– Move the mouse pointer to either of the vertical borders.– Depress the left-hand mouse button (and keep it depressed).– Drag the mouse pointer to the left or right across the screen.– Release the mouse button when the window is the size and

shape required.


2.2.2.3 Different Parts of an Applications Window: Title Bar, Toolbar, Menu Bar, Status Bar & Scroll Bar.

Slide 1 of 2

Title Bar

Toolbar

Menu Bar

Status Bar Scroll Bar


2.2.2.3 Move Windows on the Desktop. Slide 2 of 2

• Click within the Title Bar of an application window or dialog box.

• Depress the mouse button.• Drag (by moving the mouse) to the required

location of the screen.• Release the mouse button.


2.2.2.4 Move Between Open Windows.

• To switch between open application widows, simply click on the application icon, as displayed in the Windows Taskbar (normally displayed across the bottom of your screen).

• Alternatively you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt+Tab.


2.3 Organizing Files


2.3.1 Directories/Folders


2.3.1.1 Understand the Basic Directory and Folder Structure on the Computer.

• Windows uses a system of drive letters for different physical drives you have access to.

• To help organize your files it is possible to create folders (also referred to as directories) to help divide and even sub-divide the files stored within the various logical drives available.

• Finally, at the very end of this structure are the various files that we use.


2.3.1.2 Create a Directory/Folder and a Further Subdirectory and Sub-folder.

• Open the Windows Explorer• Click on the portion of the directory

tree where you would like to create a subordinate folder.

• Click on the File drop down menu and move the mouse pointer to New. – In the sub-menu displayed, click on Folder. – The folders will appear, being given a name

determined by Windows. – In the example the folder names are New

Folder, New Folder (2) and New Folder (3).


2.3.1.3 View Directory/folder Attributes: Name, Size, Date When Last Updated Etc.

• The appearance of the Windows Explorer contents window may be customized to display file and folder objects in four different views.

• The different views can be selected via the View drop down menu or by clicking on the Views button.


2.3.1.4 Be Able to Recognize the Most Widely Used Types of Files in a Directory/folder

• Make sure that you can recognise: -– Word processing files– Spreadsheet files– Database files– Presentation files– Rich Text (RTF) files– Image files


2.3.1.5 View File Attributes E.G. Name, Size, File Type, Date Last Modified Etc.

• The appearance of the Windows Explorer contents window may be customized to display file and folder objects in four different views.

– The different views can be selected via the View drop down menu

or by clicking on the Views button.


2.3.1.6 Re-name Files and Directories/Folders.

• Select the file or folder to be renamed.• From the File drop down menu, select the

Rename command

OR click once using the right-hand mouse button to display the popup menu, and click on the Rename command.

• Enter the new name, and press the Enter key to confirm the change.


2.3.2 Copy, Move, Delete


2.3.2.1 Select a File Individually or As Part of an Adjacent or Non-adjacent Group.

Slide 1 of 3

• To select an individual file within the Windows Explorer– Select the folder that contains the file you are interested in. – Click on the file that you wish to select.



Slide 2 of 3

• To select a continuous block of files– Open the Windows Explorer

program and select the folder that you are interested in.

– Click on the first file of the block you wish to select, then while depressing the Shift key, click on the last file of the required block.

– When you release the Shift key the entire block will remain selected.



Slide 3 of 3

• To select multiple files that are not in a continuous block– Open the Windows Explorer program

and select the folder that you are interested in.

– Click on the first file that you wish to select and while keeping the Ctrl key depressed, click on the other files that you wish to select.

– When you release the Ctrl key, the selected files will continue to be highlighted.


2.3.2.2 Copy and Paste Files Within Directories/Folders to Make a Duplicate Copy.

• To copy files (the easy way) using the Windows Explorer– Simply highlight the file you

wish to copy, and with the CTRL key depressed, drag the file from one location to another.


2.3.2.3 Make Backup Copies of Data Onto a Diskette.

• Open the Windows Explorer and select the file(s) you wish to copy to a diskette.

• Click once using the right-hand mouse, to display a popup menu.

• Click on the Send To command, and then select 3 1/2 Floppy [A] from the sub-menu displayed.


2.3.2.4 Use Cut and Paste Functions to Move Files Within Directories/Folders.

• To use "drag and drop" to move files from one folder to another– Drag the files that you wish to move from one location to

another within the Windows Explorer


2.3.2.5 Delete Files From One or More Directories/Folders.

• Select the file that you wish to delete.• Press the Delete key on the keyboard.• From the popup menu, click on Delete, which

displays a dialog box.• Confirm your deletion.


2.3.2.6 Delete Selected Directories/Folders.

• Select the file that you wish to delete.• Press the Delete key on the keyboard.• From the popup menu, click on Delete, which

displays a dialog box.• Confirm your deletion.


2.3.3 Searching


2.3.3.1 Use the Find Tool to Locate a File or a Directory/Folder.

• To open the Find dialog box, click on the Start button, click on the Find command, and from the sub-menu displayed select Files or Folders.


2.3.3.2 Search by Name, Date Created, File or Directory/folder Type Etc.

• Click on the Start button and then click on the Find command.

• From the sub-menu displayed, select Files or Folders. – This will display a dialog box.

• Make sure that the Name & Location tab is selected.• In the Named section, enter the name of the file that you

wish to locate. • Ensure that the correct drive to be searched is selected• To search the whole disk, make sure that the Include

subfolders box is ticked.• To start the search, click on the Find Now button.


2.4 Simple Editing


2.4.1 Use a Text Editing Application


2.4.1.1 Launch an Editing Application or a Word Processing Program and Create a File.

• To start WordPad– Click on the Start button.– Move the mouse pointer to Programs and select

Accessories from the sub-menu.– Click on WordPad


2.4.1.2 Save the File to a Directory/Folder.

• To save a WordPad file– Click on the Save icon


2.4.1.3 Save the File Onto a Diskette.

• Select Save As from the File drop down menu to display the Save As dialog box.

• Click on the down arrow in the Save in section to display a list of folders and drives you can save to, select 3½ Floppy.


2.4.1.4 Close the Editing Application.

• Click on the Close icon displayed at the top right of the WordPad window,

OR press Alt+F4.


2.5 Print Management


2.5.1 Printing


2.5.1.1 Be Able to Print From an Installed Printer.

• Normally you will be printing from an application, such as a word-processor or spreadsheet to your printer.

• To print your document or spreadsheet simply click on the printer icon in the applications tool bar.


2.5.1.2 Change the Default Printer From an Installed Printer List.

• Click on the Start icon, and then select Settings.

• From the sub-menu displayed, select Printers.

– A dialog box will be displayed.• To change the default printer to

another printer listed here, select the required printer, by clicking on it.

• Then right-click to display a popup menu

• Select the Set as Default command


2.5.1.3 View a Print Job’s Progress From a Desktop Print Manager.

• Once you have started printing if you double click on the small printer icon (in the status bar at the bottom-right of your screen), you will open the Printer dialog box and will be able to see the progress of any printed jobs that you have sent to the printer.

ECDL slides module 2

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