We are indebted to Sue LaRoche for this first draft of a Glossary to assist all members and particularly new ones.
A computer program such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Netscape Communicator, that allows you to see pages on the World Wide Web.
A ‘holding’ station into which you can place selected data to transfer it to another location. The selected data stays on the clip-board until either the computer is shut down or another set of data is placed onto the clip-board.
Standard program settings to which the Computer reverts automatically, unless changed. e.g., the language the computer uses can be set as a ‘default’ and the computer will use that language’s spelling until the default is changed.
A box that appears after making a command by clicking on menu items or tool buttons. A dialog box has places for you to enter information which enables the computer to carry out the command to your specification. These devices give you wonderful control over different aspects of your computer work.
A list of commands that drops onto the screen on selection of a choice on the menu bar or attached to some tool buttons.
An assembly of information/data stored as a single block; e.g., a letter written and saved in “My Documents” becomes a file, with a given name and location. For the average computer user, a file is the smallest unit of computer data that can be accessed and edited. Files are stored in Folders.
The shape the mouse pointer assumes when placed over text; the pointer arrow changes into an I-beam. Clicking the left mouse button will establish an "insertion point" in the text. At that point you can begin typing. (See "insertion point")
A small picture that designates graphically some function in a computer program. For example, the icon for the command "Cut" is a pair of scissors.
A blinking line that tells you where text will be inserted if you were to start typing. You can move the insertion point by changing the position of the pointer arrow and clicking. When you position the arrow over text, the arrow changes into an I-beam. If you first position the I-beam where you want to start typing and then click, the insertion point will become fixed. It always stays to the right of the text you type.
The horizontal strip across the top of an application's window under the Title bar. Each word on the strip has a context sensitive drop-down menu containing features and actions that are available for that application. The usual list for most programs until 2007 is
File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Window, Help
However, the list has been rearranged for Vista and Office2007 programs
Home, Insert, Page layout, References, Mailings, review, and others.
The arrow that is on the screen and moves around when you move the mouse. It is used to highlight text and images and to designate places in your document for inserting text, images or other elements.
To mark or highlight an item so that a subsequent action can be carried out on that item. Selection is usually achieved by clicking the item with a mouse, swiping with a mouse or with techniques on the keyboard. After selecting an item, you choose the action that you want to affect the item. Before a computer can carry out any action, it must know what it is to carry out that action on. Selection is a vital part of computing.
A standard format of a frequently used document to save time in preparation. Templates can be provided by the program or set up by the user.
The bar at the top of a window that displays the window name, contains the close and zoom boxes, and indicates whether the window is active.
Toolbars carry collections of icons each attached to one or more commands, thus forming a tool button. Toolbars can be fixed or floating. The Status Toolbar at the bottom of the screen & the Title bar at the top provide information on the work in hand.
