Working with Software Applications - Easy Computer Basics, Windows 10 Edition (2016)

Easy Computer Basics, Windows 10 Edition (2016)

Chapter 7. Working with Software Applications

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Most of the productive and fun things you do on your computer are done with software programs or applications, sometimes called apps. Some applications are work related, others provide useful information, and still others are more entertaining in nature. For example, the Weather app lets you check current weather conditions and forecasts; the Mail app lets you send and receive email messages over the Internet.

You open software programs from the Start menu. Each open program sits on the desktop in its own individual window. This enables you to have multiple open apps onscreen at the same time, with the windows stacked on top of or tiled next to each other.

Parts of a Window

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Opening an Application

You can open programs from the Start menu, the taskbar, or the desktop.

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Image From the Start menu, click the name of or tile for the app you want to open.

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Image From the taskbar, click the icon for the app you want to open.

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Image From the desktop, double-click the shortcut for the app you want to open.

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Pinning a Program to the Start Menu

You can “pin” your favorite applications to the Start menu. Programs you pin appear as resizable tiles on the right side of the Start menu.

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Image Open the Start menu and navigate to the application you want to pin. You might need to click All Apps to view all your installed programs.

Image Right-click the name of the application to display the options menu.

Image Click Pin to Start. A tile for the app will now appear on the Start menu.

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Image Tip: Moving Tiles

To rearrange tiles on the Start menu, click and drag any tile to a new position.



Image Tip: Resizing Tiles

To resize a tile on the Start menu, right-click the tile, select Resize, and then select a different size.


Pinning a Program to the Taskbar

Instead of opening the Start menu whenever you want to launch a new program, you can instead “pin” shortcuts to your favorite programs to the desktop taskbar. You can then launch one of these programs by clicking the shortcut on the taskbar.

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Image Open the Start menu and navigate to the application you want to pin. You might need to click All Apps to view all your installed programs.

Image Right-click the name of the application to display the options menu.

Image Click Pin to Taskbar. An icon for the app will now appear on the taskbar.

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Image Tip: Rearranging Taskbar Icons

To change the order of the apps you’ve pinned to the taskbar, use the mouse to click and drag an icon to a new position.


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Creating a Desktop Shortcut

You can also add shortcuts to your favorite apps directly to the Windows desktop. These shortcuts appear as small icons on the desktop.

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Image Click the Show Desktop button at the far-right side of the taskbar to minimize all windows on the desktop.

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Image Open the Start menu and navigate to the application for which you’re creating a shortcut. You might need to click All Apps to view all your installed programs.

Image Click and drag the app from the Start menu onto the desktop. The menu item remains on the Start menu, but a shortcut to that item is placed on the desktop.

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Image Tip: Organizing Desktop Shortcuts

Use your mouse to click and drag shortcut icons to whatever position you want on the desktop.


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Searching for Apps

If you have a lot of apps installed on your PC, finding the app you want, either on the Start menu or elsewhere, might be difficult. You can instead search for specific apps using Cortana, Windows 10’s virtual personal assistant.

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Image Click within the Cortana Search (Ask Me Anything) box on the taskbar and start typing the name of the app you’re looking for.

Image As you type, Cortana suggests apps that match your query in the Apps section of the Cortana panel. (Other types of matching items are also displayed.) Click the app you want to open.

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Image Tip: Complete Your Query

If Windows doesn’t suggest the app you want, finish entering your query and then click or tap the magnifying glass button to start the search. You will then see a list of matching apps (and other items); click the app you want to open.



Image Note: Cortana

When you search for an app, you’re using Windows 10’s Cortana feature. Cortana is a type of virtual assistant that simplifies searching both within and outside Windows, and offers additional task and time management features. Learn more about Cortana in Chapter 10, “Using the Internet.”


Using Universal Windows Apps

In addition to traditional desktop apps, Microsoft offers what are called Universal Windows apps. These apps are subtly different from traditional software programs, and designed specifically for the Windows 10 experience.

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Image To review the basic settings of a Universal Windows app, click the Options button.

Image This opens an Options panel for that app. Click to access any app feature.

Image Click the Settings icon to configure additional settings.

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Image Note: Universal

The apps we call Universal or Windows apps used to be called Metro, Modern, and Windows Store apps. (Microsoft apparently can’t make up its collective mind.) The word “universal” refers to the fact that these apps run on various devices, including personal computers, tablets, and smartphones.



Image Note: Evolving Universal Windows Apps

Universal Windows apps, then called Metro apps, were first introduced in Windows 8, designed for touch-first operation on smaller touchscreen devices. In Windows 8 and 8.1, these apps ran full-screen, not on the desktop. With Windows 10, however, Microsoft has enabled these apps to run on the traditional desktop, in normal windows, and without the need for a touchscreen display. That means you can run these apps in their own windows and operate them with your computer’s mouse and keyboard.


Using Context Menus

Many onscreen elements have additional options that can be accessed via a “hidden” context-sensitive menu. You open this menu by right-clicking (instead of the normal left-clicking) the item.

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Image Right-click the item to display the context or options menu.

Image Click the action you want.

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Image Tip: Keyboard Shortcut

You can also display the context menu for an item by highlighting the item, with either your mouse or the keyboard arrow keys, and then pressing the Menu key on your keyboard.


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Using Pull-Down Menus

Many software programs use a set of pull-down menus to store all the commands and operations you can perform. The menus are aligned across the top of the window, just below the title bar, in what is called a menu bar. You open (or pull down) a menu by clicking the menu’s name; you select a menu item by clicking it with your mouse.

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Image Click the menu’s name to pull down the menu.

Image Click the menu item to select it.

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Image Tip: Not All Items Are Available

If an item in a menu, toolbar, or dialog box is dimmed (or grayed), that means it isn’t available for the current task.


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Using Toolbars

Some software programs put the most frequently used operations on one or more toolbars, usually located just below the menu bar. A toolbar looks like a row of buttons, each with a small picture (called an icon) and maybe a bit of text. You activate the associated command or operation by clicking the button with your mouse.

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Image Click a button on the toolbar to select that operation.

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Image Tip: Long Toolbars

If the toolbar is too long to display fully on your screen, you’ll see a right arrow at the far-right side of the toolbar. Click this arrow to display the buttons that aren’t currently visible.


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Using Ribbons

Some Windows programs use a ribbon interface that contains the most frequently used operations. A ribbon is typically located at the top of the window, under the title bar (and sometimes the menu bar). Ribbons often consist of multiple tabs; select a tab to see buttons and controls for related operations.

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Image Click a tab to select that particular set of functions.

Image Click a button on the ribbon to select that operation.

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Image Note: Ribbons Versus Toolbars

The ribbon interface is found in many newer applications. Most older applications use toolbars instead.



Image Tip: Display or Hide

If the ribbon isn’t visible, click the down arrow at the far-right side of the tabs. To hide the ribbon and its buttons, click the up arrow at the far-right side of the ribbon.


Using Windows 10’s Built-In Apps

Windows 10 ships with a number of useful apps built in to the operating system. Most of these apps are Universal apps that you can launch from the Start menu.

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Image The Weather app displays current weather conditions as well as a multiday forecast and radar maps.

Image The Maps app displays a map of your current location, as well as step-by-step directions to any location you want to visit.

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Image Tip: Scroll for More

Scroll down through the Weather app to view additional weather information, including an hourly forecast, various weather maps, and a graph for historical weather in your location. Click any item to view more detail.



Image Note: Bing Maps

The Maps app is based on Bing Maps, which is Microsoft’s web-based mapping service.


Image The Calendar app displays upcoming appointments in daily, weekly, or monthly views.

Image The Alarms & Clock app turns your computer into a digital alarm clock, and also includes timer and stopwatch functions.

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Image The News app displays the latest news headlines; click a headline or an image to read the full story.

Image The Sports app displays the latest sports headlines, as well as scores from your favorite teams.

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Image The Money app helps you stay up-to-date on the latest financial news and keep track of your personal investments.

Image Use the Calculator app as a standard, scientific, or programmer’s calculator.

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Image Tip: Watching Stocks

The Money app lets you create a “watchlist” of stocks you own or want to track. To add a new stock to your watchlist, click the + tile. When the Add to Watchlist panel appears, enter the name or symbol of the stock and then click Add.



Image Tip: Conversions

The Calculator app also performs conversions from one measure to another.


Finding New Apps in the Windows Store

When you’re in need of a new app to perform a particular task, the first place to look is in the Microsoft Windows Store. This is an online store for Universal-style apps, both free and paid. You shop the Windows Store by clicking the Windows Store item on the Start menu or the taskbar.

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Image The Windows Store launches with featured apps at the top of the home page. Scroll down to view Picks for You, Top Free Apps, Best-Rated Apps, New and Rising Apps, Top Free Games, Top Paid Games, Best-Rated Games, New and Rising Games, and Collections.

Image To view just applications, click Apps at the top of the window. To view just games, click Games.

Image Click App Categories to view apps by category.

Image Click a category to view all apps in that category.

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Image Note: App Store

Microsoft’s Windows Store is similar in concept to Apple’s App Store for iPhones and iPads, as well as the Google Play store for Android devices.



Image Tip: Updating Apps

Universal apps you download from the Windows Store do not have to be manually updated. When the publisher improves or upgrades an app, it is automatically updated on your PC.


Image To search for apps, enter an app’s name into the Search box at the top-right corner of the screen, and then press Enter.

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Image Click the price button to purchase and install a paid app, or click Free to download and install a free app.

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Image Note: Pricing

Whereas a traditional computer software program can cost hundreds of dollars, most apps in the Windows Store cost $10 or less—and many are available free.



Image Tip: Try Before You Buy

Most paid apps let you try them before you buy them. Click the Free Trial button to install a trial version of that app on your PC.