Mac Reference System7

CHAPTER 1-A REVIEW OF STANDARD MACINTOSH OPERATIONS The Apple Macintosh computer is designed for ease of use and learning. It presents you with a simulated desktop on your screen, where you can see and manipulate icons -- graphic depictions of documents, disks, file folders, and the other parts of your system and the information you work with. You use about two dozen simple operations to work with your Macintosh, and these operations are the same regardless of the program you're using or the task you're performing. This chapter reviews the standard Macintosh operations and provides brief, illustrated instructions for performing each one. If you are new to the Macintosh, you will probably want to use the Macintosh Basics disk and the tutorial book, Learning Macintosh (or other training materials that came with your computer), before reading this chapter. If you are familiar with the Macintosh, you can use this chapter for review. Using the mouse You use the mouse -- a kind of pointing device -- to begin most operations on the Macintosh. When you move the mouse on your desk, a corresponding pointer, makes the same movement on the screen. The pointer is not always an arrow -- it often takes a different form, such as an I-beam for editing text or a crosshair for selecting graphics. Pointing. Pointing is simply moving the pointer onto an object or area on the screen. 1. To point, first grasp the mouse and slide it across the table top, as you watch the pointer on the screen. The pointer moves in the same direction in which you move the mouse. 2. Continue moving the mouse until the tip of the pointer is on the item you want. If you run out of room on your desk, you can pick up the mouse and place it at another spot. The pointer on the screen will not move while the mouse is off the table top. Clicking. Clicking begins an action at the pointer's location. 1. To click, first point to an object on the screen by moving the mouse. 2.| Without moving the mouse, quickly press and release the mouse button with your index finger. Double-clicking. Double-clicking is usually a way to display the contents of an icon or document or to start an application program. 1. To double-click, first point to an object on the screen by moving the mouse. 2. Without moving the mouse, press and release the mouse button twice in rapid succession. Shift-clicking. Shift-clicking is a variation of clicking you use to select multiple icons or other objects that are not near each other or to select only some of the items in a group. 1. To Shift-click, first press the Shift key on the keyboard. 2. While holding down the Shift key, click each object that you want to select. Each object becomes highlighted when you click it; that is, it changes color. Dragging. Dragging allows you to move an item on the screen as you move the mouse. You also drag to move an icon or a window and to select a group of icons. 1. To drag an icon, first point to the icon you want to…