Point and Click

There are many different things you can do with your mouse. To a new computer user, it can seem awfully strange at first. Different things to click on, different ways to click...so many surprises! Here is a list of my favorite Point and Click tips and tricks that may help. Enjoy!

To have better control of the pointer when you are trying to resize any window, position the tip of the arrow right on the edge. The tip of the pointer is the key. When it is on the edge of a window, it will become a double ended arrow, indicating you can now drag (while holding down the left mouse button) out or in, up or down, to make the window smaller or larger. This also applies to graphics and text boxes.

Clicking once with the left mouse button will select an object. You can tell it is selected because it will be highlighted, usually with a different color. If it is an image, you will see a box outlining it with little squares (handles) around it on the corners. These are for resizing. If you place the tip of your mouse pointer on any of these handles, you should see the pointer become a double ended arrow. Hold the left mouse button down and drag in or out, up or down to resize.

Buttons are meant to be clicked on only once to make something happen. These are usually found within the application you are using. This also applies to the menu words at the top of your application window. When you click a menu word like File, Edit, or Help, other options will drop down for you to choose from.

Icons are meant to be double clicked to make an application start, or open the file they represent. Icons can be found on your Desktop, and look like pictures representing the application or file they are supposed to open. They can also represent shortcuts to favorite files or other programs.

Click the Start button, and move your mouse pointer up to Programs to browse your Program Groups. The contents of these Program Groups should all be treated as buttons, with a single click of the mouse to get things going.

If you happen to be wandering around in a new application, don't be afraid to click on things. If you change your mind and decide to try something else, you can always move your mouse away, before you release the left mouse button, without setting anything off. Once the button has been fully clicked though (left mouse button down, then up again), something will happen. You will just have to close whatever it is and go on.

Use your right mouse button every chance you get. A single click with the right mouse button will usually give you choices. Make your selection by clicking once with your left mouse button.

As you move your mouse around a screen, you have probably noticed it changes occasionally. When it looks like a pointer, you can select something. When it changes to an I, you are in an area that text can be typed into. A blinking cursor will indicate the place any typing you do will appear. Moving your mouse and clicking someplace else will move the blinking cursor. Anything you type will be at that point.

Boxes that look like information can be typed in them are called Text Boxes. You can only type in them when you see the blinking cursor. Either click once (left button) in each box to begin typing, or use your TAB key to move from one box to another. SHIFT+TAB will move you back one box at a time. TAB will move you forward one text box at a time.

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