Mouse Clix

By: Hobie Lunin

More FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Is it OK to leave the computer on all the time? A: Yes, but I do not recommend it. If you will just be away for a few hours or over night, you can leave the computer on but shut off the monitor as it uses more power. In addition, I do not think it is a good idea to leave the computer on during an electrical storm. I recommend that you unplug the computer, monitor and phone line during a storm.

Q: I am left-handed, how should I use the mouse? A: I have a student who just puts it on the other side of the monitor. You can probably get used to that but if you want to reverse the action of the two buttons, you can make that change by going to Start, Settings, Control Panel and then Mouse. Change the Radio Button from Right to Left and then hit Apply and then OK. (The buttons will immediately be reversed when you hit Apply.) If a right-handed person also uses that computer, be sure to change it back or they will be really baffled when they try to use it!

Q: What are floppies for? A: Two main reasons. One is to back up, or save a file such that it cannot be lost if the hard drive fails. The other is to move a file or two between computers. I like to take my laptop on trips so I can continue to write this column. When I get back home, I move it to my desktop computer via floppy so I can e-mail it to my editor and upload it to my web site.

Q: What does cc and bcc mean in my e-mail? A: cc means carbon copy, an expression left over from typewriter days. If you put an e-mail address in the cc field, that person will get a copy of your letter. Bcc or blind carbon copy means that the person who gets the bcc will get a copy and the other people getting copies will not know it.

Q: What is Clipboard? A: When you Cut or Copy something in your word processor, it is stored in a program called Clipboard. Then you can Paste it in as many places as you want. It will stay in Clipboard until you Cut or Copy something else, or you turn the computer off.

Q: What is a cookie? In computer terms, it is a small amount of data that a web site can install in your hard drive. This allows them to recognize you when you visit that site again. You can prevent your computer from receiving cookies by selecting that option in View, Internet Options (when you are on-line).

Q: What is the difference between a .mid file and a .wav file? A: Midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a method of generating music using a synthesizer. Wave files are simply digital recordings. These are accurate recordings of music but take up much more disk space than midi files.

Q: When I change size of the type in a letter, I chose a different number in the Font field. What does that number represent? A: Font is measured in points. There are 72 points in an inch.

Q: On the top tool bar in my word processor, and in most dropdown menus, I notice one letter is often underlined in the various options. It is not always the first letter. What is that for? A: That is a “hot key.” If you want to perform that function without using the mouse, just hold down Alt and touch the underlined character on the keyboard.

Q: What is a pixel? It is a shortening of the words picture element and it is the smallest element of anything seen on your computer screen. The number of them across the screen vertically and horizontally defines the resolution. The smallest element on a printout is a dot and the resolution of your printer is in dpi or dots per inch.

Q: What does it mean when I see the word “Toggle”? A: A command that changes states from selected to deselected when Toggle is selected and then reverses when Toggle is selected again.

Q: I get so frustrated when my computer “does things” I do not want it to do. Like when something just disappears. A: That is a good point. I have not met any computer user who has not thought of putting a hammer through the screen or dumping the whole thing in the river. Trying to do something new can be an intensive experience and feeling like the computer is not cooperating, surely makes things worse. It has taken me some time, but I realize every problem is a path to a learning experience. Put another way, you will learn more solving a problem than never having any problems at all. Specific to your question: when something disappears, try to remember what you just did and see if that will help the process. In a Word Processor, you can always go to Edit and then Undo. Beginners, look to see if you clicked the wrong button on the mouse, the right one will bring up a new menu whereas the left one will usually perform a function. Remember that the point of the cursor must be on the object you are trying to select. Remain calm, reboot and try again. Moreover, you can contact me at the address below for help.

Hobie Lunin is an instructor and consultant and can be reached at mouseclix2@yahoo.com. Previous articles at http://mouseclix.tripod.com