The New Look of Windows
The Microsoft Windows Vista Experience
Microsoft Windows Vista offers a fairly similar format as Microsoft Windows XP, with some added features to help make the operating system even more user friendly than before. The graphics experience has been upgraded, new security features have been put into place, and many applications have been added or upgraded.
The New Interface of Microsoft Windows Vista
You will find that navigating in Windows Vista is very similar to navigating in Windows XP. Some of the names of the tools have changed, but not dramatically. To start applications that are not on the desktop, simply click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen.
This will initiate the Start Menu.
The left side of the Start Menu looks like Windows XP. Your Internet and Email applications show up at the top of the menu. Your frequently used programs appear under the horizontal bar. To access other applications, click All Programs.
On the right side of the Start Menu, the options have changed slightly. The first button is the name of the current user (in this case Administrator). By clicking on this, you can access Documents, Pictures, Music, and other user files. The Documents option replaces My Documents, Pictures replaces My Pictures, Music replaces My Music, Computer replaces My Computer, and Network replaces My Network Places. Connect To allows you to set up network connections. Default lets you set up the default applications for Internet and email.
Shutting down your Vista machine has changed slightly. Clicking the button puts the machine in Sleep mode, and locks the computer. If you want to shut down or restart, click the arrow to the right of the Lock Computer option.
Note: You can change your Start Menu to classic view or manipulate what is shown on the menu. To do this, right-click the Start button and choose Properties.
The Windows Sidebar
The Windows Sidebar is a new feature of Microsoft Windows Vista that can be placed on the left or right side of the desktop. You can add gadgets to this sidebar that are specific to your needs. For example some of the gadgets included are a calendar, clock, contacts, CPU meter, currency converter, notes, stocks, and weather. You can also find thousands of other gadgets online.
To add a gadget, right-click the sidebar and choose Add Gadgets. Choose the gadget from the list or choose Get More Gadgets Online.
Windows Flip 3-D
Windows Flip 3-D is a new visual effect of Windows Vista that allows you to navigate open windows quickly. To initiate Windows Flip 3-D, click the Switch between Windows icon on the Quick Launch toolbar. Click on the Window that you would like to bring to the forefront.
Windows Search
Microsoft Windows Vista has incorporated a search tool in all the folders in the operating system. This indexing system makes it very easy to find files and folders quickly. Simply navigate to the folder, type the search term in the search dialog box (located in the upper right corner of the screen), and press Enter (or click the magnifying glass). This search feature is also available on the bottom of the Start Menu. It makes it simple to open applications simply by typing part of the name.
For example, you can type CALC to open the calculator, WORD to open Microsoft Word, or MEDIA to open Windows Media Player.
Applications New to Windows Vista There are many new exciting applications in the Windows Vista operating system, many of which replace programs in earlier versions of Windows.
The Snipping Tool was actually introduced in Windows XP Tablet PC but is worth mentioning, since most people have not had the opportunity to use it. It allows you to capture screenshots (like Print Screen), but it also enables you to just copy portions of the screen to the clipboard. All of the dialog boxes shown in this manual were copied using the Snipping Tool.
• Windows Calendar
The Windows Calendar is the new calendar application of Windows Vista. It supports the iCalendar format, and allows you to share the calendar across the network. The calendar can also bee exported to Microsoft Outlook.
Windows Contacts replaces Windows Address Book. It is a centralized location to keep contact information such as addresses, phone numbers, and personal information.
Windows Fax and Scan replaces the Fax Services component of Windows XP. Upon connecting a phone line and scanner to your notebook, this program allows you to send and receive faxes.
• Windows Mail
Windows Mail replaces Outlook Express as the built-in email editor. It includes a phishing and junk mail filters to help improve your email experience. Note: Microsoft Office 2007 includes Microsoft Outlook. This is a much more robust email program than Windows Mail.
• Windows Meeting Space
Windows Meeting Space is a peer-to-peer collaboration application that replaces NetMeeting. It allows sharing of documents and the desktop as well as sending notes to the participants.
Windows Key Shortcuts Knowing a few common keyboard shortcuts can help simplify many tasks in Windows. Here are some common shortcuts using the Windows Key (between Ctrl and Alt on the keyboard).
Initiates the Start Menu Restore minimized windows + SHIFT+M Show the desktop Open the run dialog box + D + R Open Computer Cycle through programs on the + E + T taskbar Search for a file or Open the Quick Launch + F folder + any number program in that position Cycle through Sidebar Cycle through programs using + G gadgets. + TAB Flip 3-D Lock your computer Open System Information + L + PAUSE Minimize all windows Bring the Windows Sidebar to + M +SPACEBAR the forefront.
How Do I… In Microsoft Windows Vista?
Change my password Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Choose Change a password. Log on more than one Windows account at the same Use the Switch User option when pressing the Shut time Down arrow. The current user will not be logged out, and another user can log on. Change the system time Click the clock on the taskbar. Choose Change date and time settings… View my System Information Right-click Computer and choose Properties. Change my domain settings Right-click Computer and choose Properties. Choose Change Settings in the Computer name, domain and workgroup settings. Check Device Manager Right-click Computer and choose Properties. Choose Device Manager on the left. Change my account picture Go to Control Panel. Choose User Accounts. Click Change your account picture. Change my desktop background Right-click the desktop and choose Personalize. Click Display Settings. Change my icons Right-click the desktop and choose Personalize. Choose Change Desktop Icons (on the left). Uninstall a program Go to Control Panel. Choose Uninstall a program.
The New Look of Microsoft Office 2007
The first thing you will notice when you start using Microsoft Office 2007 is that the look and feel is quite different than that of Microsoft Office 2003. Although this change may seem overwhelming at first, it is all part of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface. The goal of this new user interface is to provide a more efficient and productive Microsoft Office experience.
The Microsoft Office Fluent User Interface incorporates five key features1:
• The Ribbon - The toolbars and menus from earlier versions of Microsoft Office have been replaced by the Ribbon. The Ribbon works as a set of tabs, organized by like commands. For example, the Home tab of the ribbon consists of basic font and paragraph formatting tools, while the Insert tab includes options to insert pictures, tables, and symbols.
The following figure shows the Ribbon for Microsoft Word 2007. You will notice that the ribbon is very similar for all Microsoft Office 2007 applications.
• The Microsoft Office Button - The Microsoft Office Button, located in the upper left corner of the Ribbon, contains the tools in Microsoft Office that are not directly related to document authoring. These are the items you would traditionally find in the File menu of Microsoft Office 2007 products. In addition, the program options can be modified by accessing the Microsoft Office Button.
• Contextual Tabs - Some tabs only appear on the Ribbon when certain types of objects are being created. For example, when a table is added in Microsoft Word, two new tabs (Table Tools) will appear when working in the table – Design and Layout. These Contextual Tabs help by giving you the tools you need when they are needed.
• Galleries - Galleries allow you to make professional-looking formatting decisions on the fly. The tools that provide a gallery are those with an arrow on the tool. This arrow denotes that there are more choices. Simply click on the arrows to see the options.
• Live Preview - Live Preview allows you to see changes as you roll over options in a Gallery. For example, when you select text and roll over options in the font type gallery, you will see the results immediately.
1 "The Microsoft Office Fluent user interface overview." Microsoft Office Online. Microsoft Corporation. 2 Jun 2008
Saving a File Under a Different Type
There are times in which it is necessary to save a file under a different type so that the file can be opened on a different version of Microsoft Word. To do this, follow these steps 1. First click on the Office Button on the top left hand corner of the screen.
2. Then, in the window that appears, click on the arrow next to the “Save as” option.
3. Then select “Word 97-2003 Document” or any other document type you want to save the file as in the list of options that appears.
4. In the window that then appears, choose the location and name of the file and click “Save.”
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar
Another new feature of Microsoft Office 2007 is the Quick Access Toolbar. The Quick Access toolbar can provide shortcuts to the tools that you most commonly use. This toolbar is located to the right of the Microsoft Office Button (above the Ribbon by default) and offers Save, Undo, and Redo by default. You can add any shortcut to this toolbar that you want.
How to add shortcuts to the Quick Access Toolbar:
1. Click the Customize Quick Access Toolbar button (arrow on the right side of the toolbar). 2. Click on the tools that you would like to add, or choose More Commands for an exhaustive list of options. 3. When choosing More Commands, select the category of the tool from the Choose commands from dropdown. 4. Highlight the desired tool and click Add. 5. Choose the position of the tool by clicking the up or down arrows on the right of the Quick Access Toolbar list that you created.
Formatting Review for Microsoft Word
Most formatting tools for text can be found on the Home tab in Microsoft Word. The first step in formatting text is to select the text to format. You can use the same tricks that are available in earlier versions of Microsoft Word to select text.
• To select a single word, double-click the word. • To select a line, position your pointer to the left of the line. When it looks like an arrow pointing at the line, click. (Double-click for a paragraph and triple-click to select the entire document.) • To select a sentence, press the CTRL key while clicking inside the sentence. • Rather than clicking and dragging to make large selections, try clicking at the beginning of the selection, holding the SHIFT key, and clicking at the end of the selection.
After you select the text, you can emphasize the font by using the following tools:
Bold Grow Font
Italic Text Highlight Color (the arrow allows
you to choose highlighter color) Underline (the arrow allows you to Font Color (the arrow allows you to choose the underline style) choose the font color) Note: There are several other font formatting options available on the ribbon. You can also access the Font dialog box by clicking on the indicator.
Where Is … In Microsoft Office 2007? Auto Correct...... Microsoft Office Button – Options – Proofing Background ...... Page Layout Bold ...... Home Chart ...... Insert Clip Art ...... Insert Close ...... Microsoft Office Button Comments ...... Review Copy ...... Home Cut ...... Home Font Properties ...... Home Help ...... Right corner of screen Italic ...... Home Justification ...... Page Layout Line Spacing ...... Home Macros ...... View Margins ...... Page Layout New ...... Microsoft Office Button Open ...... Microsoft Office Button Options ...... Microsoft Office Button Orientation ...... Page Layout Page Borders ...... Page Layout Paragraph Formatting ...... Home or Page Layouut Paragraph Spacing ...... Page Layout Paste ...... Home Picture ...... Insert Print ...... Microsoft Office Button Print Preview ...... Microsoft Office Button – Print Readability ...... Microsoft Office Button – Options – Proofing Save ...... Microsoft Office Button Spelling & Grammar ...... Review Styles ...... Home Symbols ...... Insert Tables ...... Insert Tabs ...... Home – Paragraph Text Highlight ...... Home Underline ...... Home Watermark...... Insert Word Art ...... Page Layout Word Count ...... Lower left corner of screen Zoom ...... View