This guide deals with Wordpad, the basic tools in any word processor and also how to open a document.

Activity I

1) Open WordPad. (Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad)

 

WordPad is an application which is used for processing any kind of text. When you open Wordpad a new blank document will open and the cursor will be flashing, showing that it is ready to begin typing.

Many applications have Tool Bars below the menu bar. These usually have the most commonly used instructions for that application and use icons that represent the action they perform to make them easily accessible.

This makes our work easier and faster, for example: instead of using the File - Save menu, you can clic on the Save button (the one with the disk icon).

WordPad has all the basic tools that you will find in all word processors. Due to some limitations, it is useful to learn the basics and once you have mastered a word processor you can move on to a more advanced application, such as Microsoft Word.

TOOL BAR GUIDE

	Creates a new document		Opens an existing document		Saves the open document
	Prints the open document		Shows the print preview		Searches for text
	Cuts selected text		Copies selected text		Pastes texts
	Undoes the last action		Inserts Date and time		Applies Bold typeface to selected text
	Applies Italic typeface to selected text		Underlines selected text		Applies lica the selected color to selected text
	Aligns the parragraph to the left		Centers the paragraph		Aligns the parragraph to the right
	Adds bullets

2) Copy the following text:

The Crow and the Swan

Ther is a story about a flock of crows. One of them was strong, clever and good looking, so they made him their leader. This king of the crows felt proud of his exploits, and looked down upon all other creatures.

One day a young swan appeared. The crows assembled around the swan and asked him if he knew about the great deeds of their king. He pleaded ignorance and wished to see their king. The king crow appeared and asked the swan about different types of flight. The swan, in his simplicity, said that he knew only one style.

The king crow then embarked on an exhibition of his hundred-and-one styles of flight. Having performed his acrobatics, he asked to see the art of the swan. The young swan took of in a graceful, gentle and natural flight and, as usual, increased his speed only gradually. Since the crow was small and swift he flew fast, and realizing that the swan was left behind, he came back to cheer him up. The swan gradually increased his speed, and it was not very long before the crow was tired and trembled, and eventually fell into the sea. The swan came down and rescued the crow and helped him back to his flock. The crow then became ashamed of his pride, and thanked the swan for his modesty and magnanimity. You see, the swan lived a natural life, while the crow occupied himself in acrobatics and cleverness.

Remember:

In order to start a new paragraph you must use the Enter key, but not for the next line. WordPad automatically adjusts the words when they reach the right margin. Remember that this is an electronic format and that some people will see the same text in different size screens. Therefore you don't have to fix when the text should continue on the next line as in traditional typewriters, except for new paragraphs, allowing the word processor to show as many words as will fit on THAT screen and then adjusting to the next line.

You shouldn't divide words at the end of the line (beauti-ful). WordPad will automatically adjust the words.

3) Save the text you just wrote as Exercise 1 on your floppy disk inside the Tests with Windows 98. (In order to save a file for the first time you must use File - Save As...)

4) Close WordPad.

5) Open Minesweeper and Paint and leave them open. Both are found in Start - Programs - Accessories - (and minesweeper inside Games)

6) Open WordPad.

7) Open a text file using File - Open. (You can use any text file in your P.C., the longer the better.)

8) We shall use this file to practice moving within a document. Try using the edit keys. In order to move inside the document you can use the following combinations:

Mouse: Placing and Selecting

• Place by clicking in the desired spot. (The flashing cursor will be inserted on the page)
• Select by clicking one end of the desired selection, holding the mouse button pressed and dragging to the other end.
• Select a word by double clicking on it.
• Select a sentence by clicking on the left margin when the pointer becomes an arrow tilted to the right. (not the usual one to the left )
• Select a paragraph by triple clicking it.
• Select a paragraph by double clicking on the left margin when the pointer becomes an arrow tilted to the right.

Keyboard: Movement

• Move by characters using the right and left () arrows. (The flashing cursor on the screen will move to indicate the current position)
• Move in lines using the up and down arrows ()
• Move to the beginning and end of a line using the home and end keys.
• Move in whole screen leaps using the PgUp and PgDn keys.
• Move in words by holding the [ctrl] key and using the left and right () arrows.
• Move in paragraphs by holding the [ctrl] key and using the up and down () keys.
• Move in whole pages by holding the [ctrl] key and using the PgUp and PgDn keys.
• Move to the beginning and end of a document by holding the [ctrl] key and using the home and end keys.

Keyboard: Selection

• Select by holding the [shift] key and using the arrow keys and combination of keys mentioned above to move from one end of the desired selection, to the other end. (always holding the [shift] key)

You should now have at least three open applications (although only one window is active: the one in front of the other ones). You can tell which applications are open by checking the buttons on the task bar. Each button corresponds to an open application.

9) Try the ALT + TAB key combination. This will allow you to go from one active application to another. (Hold the ALT key and press TAB as many times as you need until the dialog box on screen selects the application you want to make active.).

Note: In Windows 95/98 you can replace ALT + TAB by simply clicking on the task bar buttons in order to activate the open applications.

In order to change the text appearance with WordPad's tools, you must first select the text you wand to change and then click the tool you want to apply to it.

10) From WordPad open Exercise 1 (using File - Open) and modify the following:

• Center the title.

• Make it Bold.

• Underline it.

• Change the font (typeface) to a Times New Roman size 16

• Change the color.

• Separate it from the rest of the text.

• Change the text to Arial size 12 font

• Align the text to the left.

• Save your work.

11) Close the open applications.