VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
The Perron Centre
Operate a Personal Computer
with Microsoft Windows 7
Written by Moiya McAtee and Liz McIlhone
©VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
Operate a Personal Computer1
VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
The Perron Centre
Skills you will learn in this training manual
Start the Computer
- Check that all power cords are in the correct position
- Switch on power at both the power point and computer
Access Basic System Information
- Follow log in procedure
- Locate System Information to find application versions
- Use Online Help
Organise Desktop Environment
- Create and rename desktop icons
- Select, open and close desktop icons to access applications and files
Organise Folders
- Create and name folders
- Move or copy folders to other locations
- Rename folders
Organise Files
- Search for specific files
- Select, open and rename files
- Move files between folders
- Copy files to other locations such as a USB drive
- Restore deleted files
- Erase and format disks such as a USB drive
Print Information
- Add a printer
- Change the default printer
- Print information
- View progress of print jobs
Shut Down Computer
- Save any work to be kept and close all open application programs correctly
- Shut down computer correctly
Operate a Personal Computer1
VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
The Perron Centre
Table of Contents
Use the table of contents below to navigate within this document.
Press Up or Down Arrow to locate the required topic, then place the cursor within the line of text and press Enter to move directly to that topic. To return to the Table of Contents, press Alt Left Arrow, (ZoomText users will need to pass through by pressing Alt Pause).
Introduction...... 9
Assistive technology versions...... 9
Before you start...... 9
How to get the best from the training manual...... 9
Conventions used in practical and review exercises...... 10
Time to get started...... 10
Chapter 1.Ergonomics of the Workstation...... 11
Ergonomics...... 11
Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)...... 11
Review Exercises...... 12
Chapter 2.Computer Components...... 13
Types of Computer System...... 13
Hardware and Software...... 14
Hardware Components...... 14
Setting up a Computer...... 17
Software...... 17
Start your Computer...... 19
Start your Assistive Technology Program...... 20
Shut Down Options...... 23
Quick List Keystrokes...... 24
Review Exercises...... 24
Chapter 3.The Windows 7 Operating System...... 27
Windows 7...... 27
Use the Start Menu...... 29
Windows Accessories...... 31
Start and Exit Programs...... 31
Desktop Shortcuts...... 33
Quick List Keystrokes...... 35
Review Exercises...... 36
Chapter 4.Working with Program Windows...... 37
Program Windows...... 37
Menu Bar (if available)...... 38
Drop down Menus...... 39
Quick List Keystrokes...... 41
Review Exercises...... 41
Chapter 5.Basic Document Production in Notepad...... 43
Notepad...... 43
Quick List Keystrokes...... 47
Review Exercises...... 48
Chapter 6.WordPad: Create and Edit Documents...... 51
Explore the WordPad Window...... 51
Working with Documents...... 52
Quick List Keystrokes...... 63
Review Exercises...... 64
Chapter 7.WordPad: Format Documents...... 67
Format Documents...... 67
Page Formatting...... 67
Paragraph Formatting...... 70
Text Formatting...... 74
Quick List Keystrokes...... 76
Review Exercises...... 77
Chapter 8.Multi Tasking...... 79
Multi Tasking...... 79
Calculator...... 80
Quick List Keystrokes...... 83
Review Exercises...... 83
Chapter 9.File Management...... 85
The Windows 7 File Management System...... 85
Using the Windows 7 File Management System...... 88
Create a File Management System...... 90
Find Folder and File Information...... 93
Select Groups of Folders and Files...... 96
Search for Folders and Files...... 97
Safely Remove an External Device...... 99
Formatting a USB Drive...... 100
Quick List Keystrokes...... 101
Review Exercises...... 102
Chapter 10.Using Printers...... 105
Printers and Printing Files...... 105
Quick List Keystrokes...... 110
Review Exercises...... 110
Chapter 11.Access System Information and Online Help...... 113
Access System Information...... 113
Identify a Software Application Version...... 114
Use Help...... 115
Quick List Keystrokes...... 116
Review Exercises...... 116
Conclusion...... 119
Where To From Here?...... 121
Additional Training Manuals...... 121
For Further Information Contact:...... 121
Skills and Knowledge Required for Assessment...... 123
Start the Computer...... 123
Access Basic System Information...... 123
Organise Desktop Environment...... 123
Organise Folders...... 123
Organise Files...... 123
Print Information...... 123
Shut Down Computer...... 123
Appendix 1 Assistive Technology Keystrokes...... 125
JAWS General Keystrokes...... 125
JAWS General Reading Keystrokes...... 125
ZoomText General Keystrokes...... 126
Windows 7 Keystrokes...... 126
Computer Keystrokes...... 126
Dialog Box Keystrokes...... 127
Cursor Navigation Keystrokes...... 127
Text Selection Keystrokes...... 127
Editing Keystrokes...... 127
General Shortcut Keystrokes...... 128
Appendix 2 Quick List Keystrokes...... 131
Computer Components...... 131
Windows 7 Operating System...... 131
Working with Program Windows...... 131
JAWS users:...... 131
Basic Document Production in Notepad...... 131
WordPad: Create and Edit Documents...... 132
WordPad: Format Documents...... 133
Multi Tasking...... 133
File Management...... 134
JAWS users...... 134
Using Printers...... 134
Access System Information and Online Help...... 135
JAWS users...... 135
Operate a Personal Computer1
VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
The Perron Centre
Chapter 4Working with Program Windows
This chapter describes a program window, explains how to manipulate a program window and how to navigate menus and dialog boxes. On completion of this chapter you should be able to:
- describe a program window
- maximise a program window
- open and close a drop down menu
- activate options on a drop down menu
- explain the purpose of a dialog box
- describe dialog box elements
- navigate through dialog box elements
Program Windows
Every program that runs in the Windows operating environment is displayed in its own window. A window is a square or rectangular shaped box that is displayed on the screen. Some windows fill the whole screen when they are displayed and some only cover part of the screen. When a window fills the whole screen it is known as a maximised window. When a window is not maximised some of the Desktopicons are visible behind the rectangular outline.
Maximise and Minimise a Window
When you start a program, it is recommended that you maximise the window in which the program runs to fill the whole screen. This is particularly important for JAWS users to ensure that the program operates correctly.
To maximise a program window hold down the Alt key and press Spacebar. This will display the Window Control Menu. This menu gives options to control the size, shape and position of a program window. Press Up or Down Arrow until the Maximise option is selected and then press Enter to activate the command.
Practical Exercise: Maximise a Program Window
- Start up your computer
- Start the Notepad program
- PressAltSpacebar to display the Window Control Menu
- Press Down Arrow until Maximise is selected and then press Enter. The WordPad program window will be maximised
- Leave the Notepad program open for the next practical exercise
End of Practical Exercise
Main Window Area
This takes up the majority of the window. The display in this area will depend on the application in use. For example, in the Notepad window, the main window area is a blank screen just like a blank piece of paper ready for writing.
Title Bar
The Title Bar occupies the top line of a window and displays the name of the program. The Title Bar also displays the name of the current document or file that is displayed. In the Notepad program window, the Title Bar displays the text ‘Untitled – Notepad’. This indicates that the window is being used to operate the Notepad program and that the current document has not yet been given a file name.
JAWS users note: You can read the Title Bar by pressing Insert T.
Minimise, Maximise, Close and Restore Buttons
These are found in the top, right corner of the Title Bar and are activated with the mouse. They perform the same function as options provided on the Window Control Menu
Menu Bar (if available)
The Notepad program has retained the Menu Bar in Windows 7 but in many programs the Menu Bar has been replaced by the Ribbon which will be explained later. The Menu Bar is the second line of the window, underneath the Title Bar. The Menu Bar displays a horizontal list of menu headings across the window. Each menu heading opens a vertical menu, also called a drop down menu, from which commands can be activated. These drop down menus can be navigated using the Arrow keys, in a similar manner to the Start Menu and submenus.
Access the Menu Bar using Alt and Arrow Keys
To access the Menu Bar in a programwindow, press the Alt key. The first menu heading on the Menu Barisselected. In most programsthe first menu heading is File. Pressing Right Arrow moves the focus to the right, selecting each menu heading in turn. Pressing Left Arrow moves the focus to the left. When the required menu heading is selected, pressing the Enter key displays a drop down menu of commands related to that menu heading. For example, the File menu contains commands that allow files to be opened, saved and printed
To leave the Menu Bar or a drop down menu and return the focus to the main window area press the Alt key once or press Escape twice
Practical Exercise: Access the Menu Bar using Alt and Arrow Keys
- Ensure that the Notepad program is open and the Notepad window is maximised
- Press the Altkey to move the focus to the Menu Bar. The File menu heading is selected
- Press Right Arrow to move to the next menu heading
- Continue to press Right Arrow to move through the menu headings
- Press Left Arrow to move through the menu headings in the reverse direction
- Press Right or Left arrow until the File menu heading is selected
- Press Enter to display the File drop down menu
- Press Up or Down Arrow to explore the options listed on the File drop down menu
- Press the Altkey to close the drop down menu and return to the main window area
- Leave Notepad open for the next practical exercise
End of Practical Exercise
Access the Menu Bar using Assigned Keys
The drop down menus on the Menu Bar each have a key assigned to them for quick access. Thisaccess key consists of Alt and the underlined letter in the Menu name.For example, to display the File drop down menu, hold down the Alt key and press F. To close a drop down menu and return the focus to the main program window press the Alt key or press Escape twice.
Practical Exercise: Access the Menu Bar using Assigned Keys
- Ensure that the Notepad program is open and the window is maximised
- Press Alt E to display the Edit drop down menu
- Press Up or Down Arrow to explore the options listed on the Edit menu
- Press Alt to close the Edit menu
- Press Alt O to display the Format drop down menu
- Review the options on the Format menu
- Close the Format menu
- Leave Notepad open for the next practical exercise
End of Practical Exercise
Drop down Menus
When you have selected the required command on a drop down menu, press Enter to activate the command. This will either:
- immediately execute the command
- display a submenu from which other commands may be selected
- display a dialog box
Dialog Boxes
When you select a menu option, you will often be presented with a dialog box. A dialog box is a temporary window that appears in front of the program window. On a menu, an option followed by three dots indicates that a dialog box will be displayed when that option is selected. For example, on the File menu in the Notepad program, the Open option is followed by three dots. When the Open option is selected, the Open dialog box is displayed.
Dialog boxes require you to provide further information before executing the command. For example, when you select the Open option in the Notepad program, the Open dialog box will allow you to specify which document you want to open.
Dialog boxes are made up of a variety of different elements. The following elements among others may be encountered in dialog boxes:
- OK button
- Cancel button
- Command buttons
- Option buttons
- Checkboxes
- Text boxes
- List boxes
- Combo boxes
- Drop downlists
- Spin boxes
Navigate in a Dialog Box
To move forward between the elements in a dialog box press Tab. To move in the reverse direction through the elements hold down Shift and press Tab. Activate buttons in a Dialog box by pressing Enter or Spacebar. If you wish to close a dialog box without making changes, either activate the Cancel button in the dialog box or press Escape.
Practical Exercise: Navigate in a Dialog Box
- Ensure that the Notepad program is open
- Press Alt F to display the File drop down menu
- Press Down Arrow until Open is selected and then press Enter to display the Open dialog box. The element in focus is the File Name text box
- Press Tab repeatedly to move through the Open dialog box elements
- Press Shift Tab repeatedly to move backwards through the Open dialog box elements
- Press Tab until the Cancel command button is selected
- Press Enter to activate the Cancel command button and close the dialog box
- Press Alt F to display the File drop down menu
- Press Down Arrow until Page Setup is selected and then press Enter
- Press Tab to move through the Page Setup dialog box elements
- Press Shift Tab to move in the reverse direction through the dialog box elements
- Press Escape to close the dialog box
- Exit the Notepad program
- Leave the Windows Desktop displayed for the next practical exercise
End of Practical Exercise
Quick List Keystrokes
Maximise windowAlt Spacebar then arrow to Maximise
Access Menu BarAlt
Access File menuAlt F
Jaws users:
Read Title BarInsert T
Review Exercises
There are no Review Exercises for this Chapter
Operate a Personal Computer1
VisAbility – Guide Dogs WA
The Perron Centre
Additional Training Manuals
Additional training manuals available from our online shop at under the Educational Resources link are:
Windows 7
- Operate a Personal Computer with Windows 7
Internet Explorer
- Browse and Search the Net with Internet Explorer 8
Beginners Microsoft Office
- Word 2010 Basics
- Email using Outlook 2010
These titles are also available for Microsoft Office 2007
Advanced Microsoft Office
- Write, Design and Produce Business Documents using Word 2010
- Organise Schedules using Outlook 2010
- Design and Produce Spreadsheets using Excel 2010
- Create and Use Databases using Access 2010
- Create PowerPoint Presentations using PowerPoint 2010
These titles are also available for Microsoft Office 2007
For Further Information Contact:
VisAbility
The Perron Centre
61 Kitchener Avenue
Victoria Park WA 6100
Call: (08) 9311 8202 (08) 9311 8202 (08) 9311 8202 (08) 9311 8202
Email:
Operate a Personal Computer1