Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Sum It Up
1
Describe the major features of the Start menu and desktop.
2
Explain the alternatives available to completely shutting down your computer at the end of
your work session.
3
Explain how to start and exit an application.
4
Describe how to move, resize, minimize, maximize, and close a window.
5
Describe the controls used in dialog boxes.
6
Explain how to move, copy, rename, and delete files and folders.
7
Demonstrate how to navigate between storage locations using Windows Explorer.
8
Explain the difference between a folder and a library.
Explore More
Sorting File Listings
Windows Explorer enables you to sort the file listing by name, date, or other characteristics.
To do this, right-click a blank area of the file list, point to Sort By, and click the characteristic
by which you want to sort. If you display the file list in Details view, you can also click one
of the column headings to sort by that heading (for example, Type or Size). Try this out for
yourself. Display the contents of the root directory of the C: volume in Details view, and sort
the listing by Type. Sorting a file listing can make the files you want to work with contiguous,
so you can use the Shift key method of selecting them that you learned about earlier in this
chapter.
Looking at File Properties
Each file has properties that you can view by right-clicking it and choosing Properties from
the menu. In a file's Properties box, you will find a General tab that has file attributes on it
and a Security tab that enables you to configure its security settings. Depending on the file
type, there may also be other tabs, such as Details and Previous Versions (for some types of
data files). If it's an application, there may be a Compatibility tab, on which you can config-
ure the program to run with settings compatible for an earlier version of Windows. If it's a
shortcut, a Shortcut tab offers settings for changing the shortcut's properties. Working on
your own, open C:\Program Files in Windows Explorer and examine the properties of at least
one folder and at least three files, and compare the tabs and settings that are available to view
and adjust.
Compatibility Mode
Some older applications do not run well under Windows 7, but there's a work-around. You can set
an application to run in Compatibility mode with settings that simulate an earlier Windows version
of your choice. To set this up, follow these steps:
1
Right-click the executable file for the program, or a shortcut that you use to run the pro-
gram (such as its shortcut on the Start menu) and choose Properties.
2
On the Compatibility tab, tick the check box next to the Run This Program in Compatibility
Mode.
