Microsoft Windows By BALJEET SINGH SINWAR/1

Microsoft Windows
Windows belongs to the category of software called a GUI (Graphical User
Interface). The user interface determines how you interact with your computer. The
hardware part of the interface consists of your screen monitor, the keyboard and the
mouse. The software part of the interface determines what things look like on the screen
and how you give commands to your therefore was quite cumbersome. With the advent
o Windows environment many of every day computer tasks - such as running programs,
opening files, choosing commands etc. are done using a graphical approach that is very
intuitive to new users o computers. Further, Windows programs use the same command
structure and graphical items on the screen, so if have mastered one Windows program,
learning others becomes very easy.
At the primary stage Windows was developed as a Operating Environment; a add
on DOS when it had version 3.1 or 3.11. But later it developed as a Operating System.
Windows'95, 98 or later versions of Windows is self Operating System.
When we switch on our PC, Windows 95 or 98's logo appears on the screen and
after some time it become ready to accept our instruction. Windows 98 offers three views
and you can work in any of these three views. These are :-
1. Classic View - This is default view in which to select an icon or file, you have to click
the object once and to run a program or open a file you have to double-click the icon or
filename.
2. Web Style View - This view is looks like a web page. To select an icon or a file you
have to position the mouse pointer on the object. To run a program or open a file, you
have to click the icon or file name once.
3. Custom View - This view gives you the flexibility to control the appearance as per
your convenience and the ease of working.
WINDOWS TERMINOLOGY
Choose : Executes a command.
Select : Selects an item to activate it so that it can be changed. Selecting a command or
option turns it on but does not complete it. Selected Text or menu names/items appear in
reverse type or a different colour. Selected options show a dot (.) or an (x). Also the
selected graphics appear enclosed by a dashed line or enclosed in boxes known as
handles.
Point : Move the mouse so that the arrow pointer is on the desired menu name,
command name or graphic object.
Pointer : Pointer is the on-screen symbol controlled by the mouse. The pointer changes
shape to indicate the current status and the type of functions and selections available.
I-beam : When the mouse pointer is in a text area that you can edit, the pointer appears
as a vertical I-beam.
Mouse Buttons : Microsoft mouse has two buttons and other makes may have three.
Clicking the left button completes an action and clicking the right most button brings up
the shortcut menu. Sometimes third button (if available) works as double-click of left
button.
Mouse and their Actions
The mouse is a very convenient hand-held pointing device which is used to
control the position of the on-screen pointer. As you move the mouse on your desk or
mouse pad, the pointer moves on the screen corresponding to the mouse movement.
Using the mouse, you can select menus, commands, text, graphic objects or windows.
The Main actions of mouse are as follows :-
Click - Press and release the left mouse button quickly as you point to an item. Clicking
is used to reposition the insertion point in text, select a menu, choose a command from a
menu, or select an option from a dialog box.
Double-click - As you point to the pointed item on the screen, press and release the left
mouse button twice quickly. By double-clicking an icon or file name, you can open an
application or window related to that icon or filename.
Right click - Position the tip of the mouse pointer in the desired location on a document
or toolbar and then click the right mouse button.
Dragging - Dragging is moving objects on the monitor's screen. To do so first position
the mouse pointer on the object. Next, you "Pick up" the object by pressing and holding
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down the left mouse button. While you are still holding down the mouse button, move
the mouse pointer to where you want to "Drop" the object, and then release the moue
button.
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ELEMENTS OF WINDOWS SCREEN

The opening screen of Windows 95/98 has following elements: -
1. The Desktop - The Desktop is your work area while working in Windows. It is called
Desktop because Windows uses your whole screen in a way that is similar to the way you
use the top of a desk.
2. Icons and their types - An icon is a graphic object that represents something on our
computer screen. It has three types as follows :-
System Icon - System icons are displayed along left edge of the screen. These
objects are created automatically by Windows 98 during its installation. Among them
following five are generally shows :-
My Computer This icon lets you browse through the
resources
connected to your computer.
My Documents This icon represents a folder that is used by many
programs as a default location for starting the
documents.
Internet Explorer This icon starts a Web Browser named Internet
Explorer.
Network Neighborhood This icon shows the names of each server or
computer in
your own work group.
Recycle Bin This icon provides temporary storage for files and
folders
that you delete.
Shortcut Icons - A shortcut provides easy access to some objects on your
system, such as program, a document or a printer etc. The shortcut icon only contains
information about the location o the object but not the object itself. Thus deleting a
shortcut does not delete the program from the hard disk for that shortcut. These are the
icons with small arrows in the lower left corner.
Program, Folder and Document Icons - These are non-system icon without
arrows and represent the actual objects they describe. Thus if you delete such an icon
you are deleting the object itself, from the hard disk.
3. The Taskbar - It situated at the bottom of the screen and it has generally following
four parts :-
Start Buttons - It is located at the left end of the taskbar. It invokes Start menu, the
Gateway of Windows.
Toolbars - Toolbars represent a set of related icons for easy mouse access.
Task Buttons - Task buttons are displayed in the Centre portion of the Taskbar. A
button
Appears for each program you have started or each document you
have
Opened.
Notification Area - The right corner of the Taskbar has the notification area in which
Windows provides information about the status of your system
including Clock.

Types of Windows
There are three types of Windows :-
1. Application Window : It contains executing Windows programs, and are sized,
moved, opened and closed on the desktop.
2. Document Window: an application window generates Document windows. A
document window cannot be sized or moved outside the confines of its parent
application window.
3. Folder Windows : Opening My computer, or any of the folder you move to the
desktop produces a folder window.

Elements of a Window
Borders - The four edges that define the perimeter of a window are called borders.
Borders also provide a way to change the size of the window.
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Title Bar - This bar shows the name of the open application, sometimes with open
document name. It has generally three more buttons at the right side of it, i.e.
a) Minimize Button - When we click on it, the application become minimize, i.e.
a button appears in the taskbar and the screen become blank, or another window
appears in front.
b) Maximize Button - After clicking on it the window spreads full of the screen.
After maximizing the window, the maximize button converts into Restore button.
When we click on it, the window comes back to its original size.
c) Close Button - If we click on it, the window, either application or document,
will be close.
Control Box - It is a small icon located on the left side of the Title Bar. When we click on
it, Control Menu appears with so many options.
Scroll Bars, Scroll Boxes and Scroll Buttons - If a window is not long enough to
display its contents completely, vertical scroll bar appears along the right edge. If the
window is not wide enough, a horizontal scroll bars appears along the bottom of the
window.
Scroll Bars have some rectangular boxes called Scroll Box. Size of Scroll box is
become proportional of the size of the whole file and displayed content on the screen.
Scroll buttons appear along the top and bottom edges of the vertical scroll bar
and along the left and right edges of the horizontal scroll bar.
The Menu Bar - The row of words just below the Title bar constitute the Menu bar. Each
word in the Menu bar represents a menu, which opens up when you click it. Generally it
comes with an application window, not with a document window.
Toolbar - It consists generally below of the Menu bar. A toolbar has so many small
buttons who represents a command.
Work Area - This is working area of the application. Depend upon the program it may be
a drawing area, a typing area etc.

START
When we click on this button we get following options :-
Shut Down This option is used to turn off the computer smoothly. While we
work in Windows'9x or later, Windows automatically opens so
many temporary files in background. If it will mot turn off through
this option, then it is possible that some error may be appear in
Harddisk. Here we get three options generally - Shut Down to
turn off the computer, Restart to warm boot and Restart in MS-
DOS mode to start the system in DOS mode, so we can work
further in DOS environment.
Run This option is used to run any program by simply typing its command line. We can
also search Program through Browse button.
Help This option provides help about Windows.
Find This option is used to find any file or folder among different disks on our computer
or on network. We can search any file or folder by its name, text
containing by it, its size etc.
Settings This options is used to configure the hardware of the computer
system, taskbar etc.
The Control Panel - Select it from Start->Settings->Control Panel. This option is
used to configure the system. Here we get lot of icons. From them someone are :-

Accessibility Options - The Accessibility Properties dialog box lets you configure
Windows keyboard, sound, display, and mouse and other options for people
with disabilities. This icon appears only if you installed Accessibility options
when you installed Windows.

Add New Hardware - This Wizard configures Windows when you add new
hardware to your computer system.
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Add/Remove Programs - This Program's dialog box helps us to install new

programs or uninstall programs, which was already installed and no longer
use.

Date & Time - This option provides two tabs - First one is Date & Time and
second is Time Zone. Date & Time option is used to change the current date
and time, and Time zone is used to select the place from world map from
where user work.

Display - The display Properties dialog box controls the appearance, resolution,
screen saver and other settings for your display monitor.

1. Background - Used to set the wallpaper and patterns.

2. Screensaver - Used to set the screen saver. Screen saver is a memory
resident program who automatically becomes active if we will not touch
the keyboard or mouse for some time. We can also change this time from
here.
3. Appearance - This option is used to set the color of active title, inactive
title, menu, window etc.

4. Setting - This option is used to configure the hardware of the system.

5. Effects - This option is used to apply extra effects on icons, menus etc.
6. Web - This option is used to set the Desktop settings, i.e. whether the
desktop will be shown as web page or normal.

Fonts - When we click on it, a window will appear in which we can see name of all
the fonts installed in our computer. We can see detail of any font by simply
double-clicking on it. To install more fonts Choose Add New Fonts options
from File Menu. Then give the path for fonts name. Windows will
automatically install it.

Game Controllers - This dialog box lets you install games.

Internet - This dialog box contains settings for your web browser and Internet
connection.

Keyboard - This dialog box contains settings that control your keyboard and the
cursor.

Mouse - This dialog box lets you define the buttons on your mouse. It lets you
choose how fast you need to double click, what your mouse pointer looks like
on-screen, and whether moving the mouse leaves a trial.

Multimedia - This dialog box contains settings for the audio, video, MIDI, and
audio CD settings of your computer.

Network - The network dialog box contains settings, you use when configuring a
local area network. It also contains settings for connecting to the Internet.

Passwords - This dialog box lets you set a password for using Windows on your
computer, user profiles if more than one person will use the computer, and
other security settings.

Power Management - This dialog box contains controls to be set when Windows
98 automatically turns off your monitor, hard disks, and other computer
components to save electricity.

Printer - This icon is used to open the Printer window from where we can Add,
Remove or configure the printer.
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Regional Settings - It lets you tell Windows 98 the time zone, currency, number
format, and date format you prefer to use.

Sounds - It lets you assign a sound to each Windows event, or events in other
programs. For example, you can set your computer to play a fanfare when
your e-mail program receives new messages.

System - It lets you use the Device manager to change advanced settings for
each hardware component of your computer. You can also optimize the
performance of your computer.

Telephony - The Dialing Properties dialog box contains settings that control how
Windows 98 dials the phone using your modem.

Users - The Enable Multi-user Settings Wizard helps you set up user names and
passwords so your computer can be used by more than one person. Each
person's user name can store that person's desktop settings.

Printer- this option is used to open the Printer window from where we can Add,
Remove or configure the printer.

Taskbar & Startmenu - This option is used to set the taskbar options, i.e.
autohide, show clock, small icons in windows and also items which will be included
or excluded in Start Menu or its Sub-menus.

Folder Options - This options is used to set the options about folders, i.e. which
types of filenames should be shown in different folder window or in explorer.

Active Desktop - This option is used to set the Desktop settings, i.e. whether the
desktop will be shown as web page or normal.

Documents This option contains last used document's list, so user can open it
again quickly from here.

Programs This is the gateway to start any program in windows. There is lot
of group or application icons can access through this option.

Windows Accessories:
We can choose Start -> Programs -> Accessories to work on elements of
accessories.

1. Entertainment: We can choose Accessories->Intertainmentto  entertain ourselves.

From the Multimedia we can hear song by CD Player or see movies through Media
Player. The coming screen will show same button to do it as its physical device, i.e.
CD player or a VCD player.

2. Games: When we slide our mouse at Accessories->Games then we get four

games, i.e. Solitaire, Mine- sweeper, Heart and Free-cell.

3. System Tools: There are two types of system tools -

a) Scandisk - Used to check and repair the error of the disks.
b) Disk Defragmenter - This option is used to defrag the disk. Defrag reorganizes
the files on a disk to optimize disk performance. Due to it the speed of the
programs increase.
c) Backup - This option is used to take backup of selected file to destination drive.
We can also restore files trough RESTORE tab.
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d) Disk Cleanup - Through this utility we can instruct Windows to automatically

clears not required files from our Harddisk, i.e. files of Recycle Bin, Temp
Directory's file, temporary internet files etc.
e) Character Map: This program allows us to see the ASCII chart of a selected
font. This is very useful while we will work on a font, other than English or a Symbol
font.
f) Compression Agent - This utility recompresses your files on disk.
g) Drive Converter (FAT 32) - Converts the (FAT) file Allocation table of our
Harddisk to 32 bit, it is 16 bit and thus releases extra disk space.
h) Drive Space3 - Compresses and creates a new drive resident on existing drive.
i) Maintenance Wizard - Runs certain set of programs to keep our computer
running in optimum condition. It runs generally Scandisk, defrag and Compression
program.
j) Scheduled Tasks - Allows scheduling of tasks at predetermined times, i.e. when
the Windows should run scandisk, defrag etc. automatically - weekly, monthly or
any other schedule.
k) System Information - Displays information about what is loaded and
configured on your system.

4. Calculator : When we click on it, a calculator will be open where we can do any
type of sum.
The Standard Calculator can be used to add, subtract, multiply, divide, take
square root, calculate percentage etc. The Scientific Calculator is considerably larger,
more powerful and it has many functions related to engineering, science etc. that can be
used depending on our needs.
+ - Addition
- - Subtraction
* - Multiplication
/ - Division

5- Calendar: This option shows the calendar of a month or a particular day. We can
also change the month or year to see their calendar through choosing the Date
option from Show Menu. User can also write their appointment within it when they
are in Day View (View-Day). We can also set alarm through the option Alarm-Set.

6. Cardfile: You can use Windows Cardfile to organize and manage information, such
as names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Adding More Cards
Cardfile adds new cards in the correct alphabetic order and scrolls to display the
new card at the front.
To add a new card to a file
1 From the Card menu, choose Add.
2 Type the text you want to appear on the index line.
3 Choose the OK button.
4 In the information area type text.
To Delete the card select Card-Delete and to make a little changes in a card choose
Card-Duplicate option. We can also AutoDial if our system is connected with phone
with modem through Card-AutoDial.

7. Imaging: Scanners, Digital Cameras, Clip Art CDs and the Internet give computer
users access to countless images, Which you can print, insert into your documents.
The impact of a picture can be improved by the addition of a few words, some
highlighting and drawing lines. Imaging for Windows is a tool for this.

8. Notepad: This program allows us to simply type anything in the text mode as in
Edit.
File - New, Open, Save, Save as, Page Setup, and print and Exit.
Edit - Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Time/Date, Word Wrap.
Search - Find, Find Next (F3)
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A very useful feature of Notepad is that it can automatically place a time-

and-date stamp in a document as and when it is opened. To do so move the
insertion points to the left margin of the first line in the Notepad and in capital
letter type ".LOG". Save the file and reopen the file and type the required notes.
Save and close it again and once again reopen it. We can see that how many times
we reopen this file, we get automatic time and date at the bottom of the earlier
notes.

9. Wordpad: This is a Simple editor used to create, edit or print a document. It is

more powerful than Notepad and support format of Word 6.0, Write as well as Text
format.
File - New, Open, Save, Save as, Page Setup, Print, Print Preview
Edit - Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Paste Special, Clear, Select All, Find, Find Next,
Replace, Links, Object Properties, and Object.
View - Toolbar, Format Bar, Ruler, Status Bar, Options-Shows options to Configure
the Wordpad i.e. options about measurement system and name of items appear
during different mode.
Insert - Date and Time, Object
Format - Font, Bullet Style, Paragraph, and Tab.

You can move in WordPad document using the mouse or the keyboard. Some of
them are following: -
With Cursor Key - Move one line up, down or one Character left or right.
With CTRL + Cursor Key - Move beg. Of paragraph, end of paragraph, one word left
or right.
With Pgdn/Pgup - Down one windowful/Up one windowful
With CTRL + Pgdn/Pgup - To the End/Beginning of the last/first line the current
window.
With Home/End - First/Last character in the current line.
With CTRL + Home/End - Beginning/End of the document.

With Mouse - Click and Drag in the direction want to select.

Click in left margin- Select a single line
Double click in Left margin - Select a paragraph
Triple Click in left margin or CTRL+ click in left margin - Select whole document.

10. Paint: This is a simple Drawing program, used to create, save, modify and print a
graphics image. This program is useful for creating pictures, icons etc. When we
select this program from Accessories, than an Application Window come.
The Paint screen can be divided into three parts: -
a) Toolbox: - It contains symbols representing drawing actions the cursor can
perform.
b) Palette: - It contains a grid showing the various colors you can select and use.
c) Drawing Area: - This is the workspace where you create your Paint drawings.

Toolbox:
There are following types of tools at the toolbox:
a) Freeform Select b) Select c) Eraser d) Fill with color
e) Pick Colour f) Magnifier g) Pencil h) Brush
i) Air Brush j) Text k) Line l) Curve
m) Rectangle n) Polygon o) Ellipse p) Rounded Rectangle

Commands of Menus -:
File - New, Open, Save, Save As, Print Preview, Page Setup, Print, Set as Wallpaper
(Tiled), Set as Wallpaper (Centre).
Edit - Undo, Repeat, Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear Selection, Select All, Copy To, Paste
From.
View - Toolbox, Color Box, Status Bar, Zoom, View Bitmap, Text Toolbar.
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Image - Flip/Rotate, Stretch/Skew, Invert Colours, Attributes, Clear Image, Draw

Opaque

Windows Explorer

Start -> Programs -> Windows Explorer or Right click on Start and choose Explore
from coming menu.

It is a nice place to see all files and folders in tree format. Windows Explorer has
two panes. Left pane shows the directory and right pane shows the content of selected
directory.
In left pane we can see that the Desktop is the top of the hierarchy with My
computer and all its pieces connected to it. We will see that Network Neighbored is also
connected with desktop. My computer has different drive icons including control panel
and printer. We can easily move, delete; copy any file or folder from here.

Q. Describe what is Classic Style Desktop in Windows'98. Why would you

need to adopt Web Style Desktop?
Ans. Classic Style Desktop is the default view and as same as interface of Windows'95.
In the Classic View labels, filenames in folder window or windows Explorer windows
are not underlined. To select an icon or file, we have to click the object once and to
run a program or open a file we have to double-click the icon or filename.
In Web Style View, desktop looks similar to a web page; the labels, file names in
folders and Windows Explorer are underlined like web page links. To select an icon
or a file we have to position the mouse pointer on the object. To run a program or
open a file, we have to click the icon or file name once. Sometimes when we want
to make a web page as our wallpaper then this view is compulsory.
Q. What is a Channel Bar in Windows'98.
Ans. Method of organizing a web sites according to a subscription model, so that our
web browser can automatically download or updates to the site. Window displayed
Channel bar at the left side of the screen on the Active Desktop that lists channels
on the web and automatically appear when mouse pointer goes to that area. When
the pointer comes to right side it hides automatically.
Q. how will you manage files and folders with Windows Explorer?
Ans. Windows Explorer is generally divided into two panes - Left and right. Left pane
shows the directory and right pane shows the content of selected directory. In left
pane we can see that the Desktop is the top of the hierarchy with My computer and
all its pieces connected to it. We will see that Network Neighbored is also
connected with desktop. My computer has different drive icons including control
panel and printer. We can easily move, delete, copy any file or folder from here.
Four basic operations with files and folders are :
1) Selecting - Through the general selection technique with Shift Key with cursor
movement keys or dragging the mouse we can select files or folders in Windows
Explorer. After selecting it we can copy or cut/paste (move) the files or folders.
2) Creating - To create a new file or folder click on the desired directory, select
New option from File menu and then select either Folder, Shortcut or the Program
name through which we want to create the file. We have to give the name of the
file or folder and the file will be created in that selected folder.
3) Naming - To give an another name (called renaming) to a file or folder click on
its icon and then select Rename option from File menu. Give the new name for that
file and the file will be renamed.
4) Opening - To open or explore a folder simply double click on it and it will be
extracted into right pane of Explorer. To Open a file double click on its icon. The file
will be open with its associated application.

Q. How is Application launched in Windows'98.

Ans. There are many ways to launch an application in Windows'98. One common
method is Exploring Start Button from Taskbar. We have to click on Start, then
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generally on Programs, then required Program Group and then the required
application icon. Second method is that when we are in Windows Explorer we can
open an application Programme through double clicking on its icon. One another
method is double click on that file's shortcut either on desktop (if found) or from
any folder window. Sometimes we can also launch a program Through Run option
of Start menu. We have to type the executable file name of the application program
with its location.
Q. How will you setup DOS Programs in Windows'98?
Ans. Maximum DOS program has been converted into Windows version in Windows'98.
They can start either from Windows Explorer or from folder window. At many places
method of using them are something different due to GUI feature of Windows. But
we can also run Maximum of them in their real format from command prompt
which can be brought from Start -> Programs -> MS-DOS PROMPT.
Q. What do you mean by term Plug and Play? How do these devices work?
Ans. Plug and Play means without turning off the computer system connect some
devices to our computer and computer automatically detects these device and
install it on itself. This is an automatic feature of Windows'9x. When we add any
new hardware supporting Plug and Play to our system, Windows'9x automatically
search it and start a wizard to install it. During this installation process it asks about
required device drivers and other information from user. Because of helpful wizard
of Plug and Play a some-known user can also install these devices easily without
help of any expert.
Q. Describe what are Newsgroups. How will you browse a Newsgroup? Also
describe steps to subscribe to Newsgroups.
Ans. Newsgroups are those portal who provides different types of Internet facilities to
their users, such as e-mail, chatting, conferencing etc. The Microsoft Network (MSN)
is the exciting online service that gives you easy and affordable access to
electronic information and communication. MSN features include reliable electronic
mail; useful and fun communication services such as chat, Internet newsgroups,
and special interest forums; a wide variety of original entertainment; valuable
information resources; and instant access to the ever-expanding World Wide Web.
To subscribe to any Newsgroup first of all we have to register ourselves to that
newsgroup. Generally this subscription is given free of cost but some portal also
ask some fee for this purpose. In any case we have to choose any username and a
password. If no one had been got that username then it will be provided to you.
After it we have to login through our username and password and then we can avail
the facilities provided through that newsgroup.
Q. What is Active Desktop?
Ans. The Active Desktop interface lets you put “active content” from Web pages, or a
channel, on your desktop. For example, you could put a constantly updating stock
ticker in a handy place on your desktop or make your favorite online newspaper
into your desktop wallpaper. You can make your desktop truly your own space by
adding the active items you need to refer to on a regular basis: news, weather,
sports, stock prices, or whatever you want to have at hand. Your desktop can now
reflect you—your preferences and your style.
Note : You must have the new desktop installed in order to use the Active Desktop.
If you are running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 and did not originally install the
new desktop.
Q. What is Wizards in Windows 98.
Ans. Wizards include instructions for each step, telling you what information you must
provide, and making suggestions regarding what choices to make. Windows 98
includes many Wizards programs that take you step by step through the process of
creating or configuring something. For example the Internet Connection Wizard
leads you through the many steps required to set up a Dial-Up networking
connection to an Internet Service Provider.
Most Wizards display window after window of information and questions, with
Back, Next and Cancel buttons at the bottom of each window. Fill out the
information requested by the Wizard, and then click the Next button to continue. I
you need to return to a previous Wizard window, click the Back button. To exit the
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Wizard, click the Cancel button. The Wizard's last screen usually displays a Finish
button, since there is no "next" screen to see.
Q. What is Spooling in PCs.
Ans. With personal computers, spooling (Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On Line)
refers to printing a document or file in the background while allowing the user to
work on something else. The output from the computer to a low-speed device, such
as a printer, is stored on a disk and then fed to the printer. Windows provide the
facility of printing using the spooling technique for the IBM PC/AT 486 system or
Pentium.
Q. What is user interface? What are special features of GUI?
Ans. A user interface is a combination of menus, screen design, keyboard commands
and language, which together creates the way a user interacts with a computer.
Hardware, such as a mouse and touch screen is also parts of it.
The user interface is probably the most important aspect to the success of a
software packages. Windows is an operating system that uses a Graphical user
Interface, or GUI. It is said to be GUI in Windows, you work more with graphics,
form icons rather then typing text. The GUI makes the environment and its
program user- friendly. Rather then remembering cryptic commands and their
parameters, called switches. This is so because you remember things with
pictures much easily.
In order for the GUI to be effective, it must be standardized. This means that all
similar controls and forms should look alike and operate in much the same
fashion. For example, the menu is always the left most menu and the help menu
is always the right most.
Q. Explain OLE?
Ans. OLE is the acronym for Object Linking and Embedding. This feature is used to
share and transfer information between Window- based application and
accessories. With OLE, one can view and use different forms of information in a
single document. Most of the Windows- based application support OLE.
The three important concepts related to OLE are:
(a) Object – An object is a place of information such as a chart, a drawing, or text
that can be linked or embedded.
(b) Source document – A source document is the document in which the object
originates. If you use Microsoft Excel to create a spreadsheet and then use
that spreadsheet or part of it in another document, the spreadsheet becomes
the source document. For this source application Excel becomes the server
application.
(c) Destination document – A destination document is the document into which
the object is placed. Say If a part of the spreadsheet is used in a Word
document then the Word document is the destination document and the
destination application Word in this case is called the client application.
Now the object can be of two types :
(a) Embedded object – An embedded object is an object in a destination
document. It is a copy of information that was created in another
application. By choosing an embedded object, you can start the
application, which was used to create it. At the same time, you would
continue to work in the document you are presently working.
Example : Suppose you are creating a letter using Wordpad and you use a
drawing from the Paint file. If the object is embedded than to make
changes to the drawing you need not start Paint and then make changes
to the drawing – the drawing can be edited within the Wordpad document
itself by double clicking at the drawing. On double-clicking Paint
automatically starts and the drawing file opens.
(b) Linked Objects – When a linked object is created, a link is established
between source and destination documents. Although the linked object is
displayed in the destination document the data that makes the object is
stored only in the source document. When changes are made they are
made in the source document. Moreover, the changes made in the source
document appear in the destination document. One object can be linked to
 Microsoft Windows By BALJEET SINGH SINWAR/12

more than one-destination documents. When a linked object is selected,

the application that was used to create the object starts while you remain
in the destination document.
Example : Suppose you are writing a chapter of a book using Word
for Windows. Someone else is creating the artwork for your chapter using
Paint. You can create a link from the Paint artwork to your word document
so that anytime there are changes to the artwork, they are automatically
reflected into your Word document.
Q. What is clipboard and how is it useful in WINDOWS based applications?
Ans. The clipboard is a built in utility program that aids the process off copying
information between different documents of the source application or between
documents of different application. Using clipboard, user can make a portion of
text or graphics in one application window and then use it in another application
window. The clipboard works with both text and graphics in Windows programs
and only with text in the case of DOS based programs.
Clipboard is a temporary main memory area onto which can
“Clip” the data required to be transferred. To transfer information
to the clipboard you cut or copy the information from the active
window. When the information needs to be placed in an application
you can past, link on embeds the information. The information
transferred to the clipboard stays in the clipboard till it is deleted,
replaced or the user exits from Windows. The cut, copy and paste
approach is used while transferring information to another
document using the clipboard.
Cutting – Involves removing the information form its source location and putting
it on the clipboard. When the information is cut, it is deleted from its source
windows.
Copying –When the information is copied, the original is left intact and a
duplicate copy of the original is placed on the clipboard.
Pasting – Is the process o pasting whatever is on the clipboard into the
destination document.
Windows based application is generally written in coordination with other
Windows based application. This is very different from the way of DOS based
applications work where each application has its different file formats and file
conversions that ware required to transfer data form one application to another.
With windows coming in integrated documents can be prepared where say
graphics are taken from paintbrush document, charts from Excel documents and
text from Word document. It is here that clipboard comes in to play. The
information from one application is first transferred to the clipboard and thus
forms the clipboard to the destination document.
Q. Differentiate between CUI and GUI ? List the advantages of using GUI.
Ans. The CUI is an acronym for Character Using Interface or Character User Interface. It
is a type of display format used with most of the DOS based application packages
that enables a user to choose commands and see list of files and other option by
pointing to drop down menus using mouse or keyboard keys. The familiar
example is the CUI used with FoxPro package for DOS.
GUI (pronounced “gooey”) is an acronym for Graphical User Interface. It is
a type of display format that enables the user to choose commands start
programs, and see list of files and other options by pointing to pictorial
representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can
generally be activate either with the keyboard or with a mouse. GUI offers an
environment of what you see what you get.
For application developers, GUI offers an environment that takes care of
the direct interaction with the computer. This frees the developer to concentrate
on the application without getting bogged down in the details of screen display or
mouse and keyboard input. As the interface changes to support new input an
output devices, such as a large-screen monitor or an optical storage device, the
applications can also, without modification, use those devices.
 Microsoft Windows By BALJEET SINGH SINWAR/13

Q. How do you change the settings of the mouse in WINDOWS? Is it

possible to swap the right and left buttons of the mouse?
Ans. To customize the mouse settings do the following:
1. Click Start
2. Select Settings
3. Open Control Panel by double clicking its icons.
4. From the Control Panel double click the mouse icon.
The mouse property box that appears offers the following customization features.
(a) Button – This changes the function of the left and the right button.
(b) Pointers – Creates a shadow of the mouse pointer’s movement on the
screen.
(c) Motions – The speed at which the mouse pointer moves relative physical to
the movement of the mouse.
(d) General – Select the type of mouse used.
Q. What is a compound document and explain how it can be created.
Ans. A compound document is a single document made up of parts created in more
than one-application packages. For example, a report may contain a table created
in Excel, and a Logo created in a Clipart package. While finalizing the report in
Word for Windows, you can import table and the Logo from the different packages
using Clipboard facility available in Windows 98.
You can crate compound documents using the Edit menu's Paste Special option in
the application package in which you are assembling the document. In the
application from which you wish to link data, you select the data and place it on
the clipboard using the standard Cut or Copy commands. When the data to be
linked is on the clipboard, use the paste Special option from the Edit menu to
insert the information at the insertion point and create the link. In the Paste
Special dialog box click on the Paste Link option button and then click on OK to
create the link. After the link has been created, the information will be updated
into the receiving document whenever it is changed in the originating document.
As a result, you can build compound documents that assemble data from a
variety of resource applications and stay continuously updated. In a compound
document you do not have to manually move data form one application’s – the
applications can now handle that for you.
Ques. What does one mean by Cascading WINDOWS and Tiling Windows?
Ans. Windows offers two ways of arraigning the widows are open. These are:
(a) Cascading – This causes all the open windows to be seized and staggered
in such a way that the tittle bars and edge or corner of every window is
visible.
(b) Tiling – Tile causes all the windows to be sized and lined up like tiles on a
bathroom wall.
Ques. What is screen saver and explain its utility?
Ans. Screen saver when set ON will blank the monitor screen or
display a moving image or pattern if the mouse or the keyboard is
not used for a predetermined period of time.
The use of screen saver is:
(a) Screen saver prevents damage to the screen by displaying a changing
pattern.
(b) It also prevents the other viewers, from seeing what is on the screen when
the user is not working.
Q. Explain what do you understand by the term True Type of fonts.
Ans. True type of font gets their name from the fact that their appearance on
the screen is the same as the printer prints them. Prior to the introduction true
type fonts computer users needed separate screen fonts for display on the
monitor and printer font, i.e. printing on the printer. This is because printers and
monitors have very different resolution.
With the introduction of True Type fonts, however, a single font outline
fulfills both the roles. The True Type outline scales to any resolutions –screen
resolution, dot matrix resolution, laser printer, or high quality type setting
resolutions.
 Microsoft Windows By BALJEET SINGH SINWAR/14

True Type fonts therefore offer two major advantages over the other fonts.
(a) These fonts are scalable, so only one picture of each character is needed
instead of an image for each character in each size.
(b) These fonts are independent, so only one version of the font must reside in
the Windows.
Q. Explain the term BITMAP.
Ans. A bitmap is the representation of an image by an array of
bits. In a bitmap characters or images are generated by writing the
bit pattern to be displayed into the associated storage, each bit of
which is mapped to a pixel on the display surface.
In general, a bitmap image is a data structure that describes a bit image being
held in memory, such as its location in memory and its size.
Bit- mapped font
It is a set of characters in a particular size and style, in which each character is
described as a unique bit map (pattern of dots).
Bit-mapped graphics
These are the graphics that are stored and held as collections of bits in memory
locations corresponding to pixel on the screen. Bit- mapped graphics are typical of
paint programs, which treat images as collections of dots rather than as shapes.
Within a computer’s memory, a bit-mapped graphic is represented as an array
(group) of bits that describe the characteristics of the individual pixels making up
the image. Bitmapped graphics displayed in colour require several to May bits per
pixel, each describing some aspect of the colour of a single spot on the screen
Q. What is difference between Notepad, WordPad and Microsoft Word?

Notepad WordPad Word

It is a simple text editor.
Data written in it can open
anywhere.
No support of Graphics.
Small file size.
No spelling and grammar
check facility.
It is Rich Text format Support so many
editor. formats.
Data of this application Data of this application
can open only in can open only in
compatible application. compatible application.
Graphics Support. Graphics Support.
Large file size. Large file size.
No spelling and Spelling & Grammar
grammar check facility. check facility.