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Computers
& Technology . Making
the Most of Your Mouse
For those who started on PC's when it was all keyboard, the advent of the mouse was, at least at first, a suspect addition to the computer tool bin. In those days, the "user interface" -- what you see on the screen when you run the operating system or program -- was fairly simple. Most programs had a few options on an opening menu, with a few more more on the menu lists that appeared when the program was open. But, since most of what had to be done from there was keyboard-based, the mouse could easily be more of a distraction than a useful addition. ... Not so now. With the advent of the Mac and Windows -- the truly Graphical User Interface [GUI] had arrived. With these graphics-based operating systems, the mouse became as integral a part of working on a computer as a keyboard. With them, the mouse no longer meant simply opening a program or choosing a menu item. Now it meant easier and quicker access to a host of common tasks. Drag & Drop: Drag & drop -- the ability to left-click on and grab one object, like a file, then dragging and dropping into another, like a printer icon a folder or another document, -- means that things like moving files around, or printing or deleting them, as well as moving objects from one file to another, became a one-handed task that could be accomplished in a second or two. What happens exactly when you drag and drop depends on what you're dragging and where you're dropping it. For example, if you drag a file from the right window pane in Windows Explorer over to your printer, it'll print that document using the default settings for your printer and document. If you drag and drop a file from one folder to another, it will usually move the file, unless it's an application file or you're dropping it onto a different drive. In the first case, it will create a shortcut to the application. In the second case, it will make a copy of the file on the new drive. To find out exactly what dragging and dropping will accomplish, you can check out the Help file in whatever program{s} you want to use drag & drop with. Note that some files or objects can be dragged and dropped onto others without accomplishing anything. And sometimes, the results can be not only unexpected but unwanted. So if you're not already familiar with it, read about drag and drop in those help files first. Cut & Paste: Cut & paste -- the ability to select an object, cut it, and paste it into another -- is somewhat similar to drag and drop. Most often, cutting & pasting is useful for getting objects like text or graphics from one file into another, or, in the case of files, making sure they're moved and not just copied to new disk locations. A lot of people who already use the cut & paste feature often highlight or select the object they want to cut from one file, then go up to the program's toolbar and click on Cut {through the edit menu or using the toolbar icon}, then use the same type of icon or menu feature to paste it into the new file. But cutting & pasting offers a good opportunity to get used to one of the more useful features of most mice -- the right-click. Making Your Mouse Work Right: For those who work a fair bit on their computers, the right mouse button is probably one of the most useful tools you have at your disposal. The functionality of the right mouse button is as extensive as it is useful. But well tell you about a few of the more useful ones, and from there, you can explore on your own.
In addition to the basic functions of the left & right mouse buttons, most newer mice also offer, at the least, a scroll wheel or something similar that allows you to scroll up and down a page without having to grab and slide the scrollbars in open program windows. And more advanced mice also offer up other buttons and wheels, too. In addition, there are cordless mice, which free you from the clutter or constraints of short cords, as well as mice without the track ball on the bottom that work on a light-sensing system. These usually mean not only not having to take the mouse apart and clean the track ball occasionally, but they also work on just about any non-reflective surface, so you don't have to be glued to a mouse pad. We mention these because we suspect that, at least for some folks who may not already be using the mouse to its fullest, it's often because they find it uncomfortable or inconvenient. Keyboard Shortcuts: Of course, no matter how much functionality a mouse offers, or any of its buttons or other gadgetry, there are still those who prefer to stick to the keyboard. If you're one, then what you may want to do if you haven't already is to learn the keyboard shortcuts for many of the features we've talked about here. For convenience, you can simply click here, and we'll provide you with a list for Windows 2000. Many of them also work in Windows 95, 98, and Me. But if you're not sure, a good place to start is in your Windows Help file. Simply go to the index and type in "keyboard" and look down the list for shortcuts. Meanwhile ... Enjoy. ... ******* ******* If you would like to submit a feature for our Computers & Tech section, don't hesitate to let us know. Simply e-mail us at comptech@downstreetmagazine.com. The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you. You may also send a copy of your proposed article. The text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an attachment in just about any word processing format. If your piece is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest & your time. [See Freelancers Wanted for more details.] ******* ******* If you would like to advertise in this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* *******. |
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