Windows Tutorial - Windows Interface

When we execute any application or program in Windows, a window for that application or program opens. The window contents differ from program to program but the interface of all windows is same. All windows have following common components:

Title bar

Title bar is the horizontal bar across the top of a window and display the name of the program. The window can be moved anywhere on the screen by clicking left mouse button on the title bar and holding down and dragging the mouse to the desired location on the screen. Double click on title bar of a window will maximise/restore down the window.

The color of the title bar of an active window is bright and it is dull or grey when the window is inactive.

Resizing windows

On top right corner of the Tiltebar three square boxes are located. The first box has '-' sign, the second box has either two overlapping squares (when window is maximized) or one square (when window is restored down) and the third box with red background and has 'x' sign.

A click on the box with '-' sign minimizes the window but keeps it running in the memory.

A click on the box with two small overlapping squares restores down the window (reduces its dimensions).

A click on the box with one square maximizes the window.

A click on the box with 'x' sign closes that window and ends that window's task.

When a window has been restored down, it can be resized manually by bringing the mouse to the edges of the window until the mouse cursor turns into a double headed arrow and then holding the mouse and dragging the edges of the window to the desired size. Resizing from the bottom right corner of the window adjusts width and height of the window simultaneously.

Menu Bar

Menu bar is a located below the Title bar and contains Menu items for the program/application. Each menu item in Menu bar has a hot letter, which is underlined. These menu items can be opened by mouse click or by pressing 'Alt and the hot letter (F in case of File)'.

Toolbars

Toolbars are by default located below menubar and contain icons for tools for the program/application. The program/applications usually have many toolbars and we can add or remove toolbars from the window by using menu item 'View >> Toolbars' in Menu bar.

Scroll bars

If the size of a window is smaller and unable to occupy the content of the work area 'Horizontal Scroll bar' and/ or 'Vertical Scroll bar' will appear to scroll and view the contents of the work area by dragging the scroller with mouse or by using cursor keys.




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