How to save a file

I will use WordPad as an example.

To save a file:

1. Click on File, which is located on the menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear.
2. Click on Save. A dialog box similar to the one shown here will appear.

A dialog box?

Whenever you see an ellipse (…) after a menu option, selecting that option causes a dialog box to appear. You use dialog boxes to send commands to the software. Most dialog boxes provide an OK button and a Cancel button. Press the OK button if you are satisfied with your entries and you want to send the commands to the program. Press the Cancel button if you have changed your mind and do not want to send the commands to the computer.

 Tabs?

Fields?

You type entries into fields (also referred to as text boxes). For example, in the Save As dialog box, you type the name you want the file to have in the File Name field.

List boxes?

List boxes enable you to make a choice from a list of options. To make your selection, simply click on the option you want. In some list boxes, you can choose more than one item. To choose more than one item, hold down the Ctrl key while you make your selections. If there are more options than can be displayed in the box, a scroll bar appears on the list box. Use the scroll bar to view the additional choices.

A drop-down or pull-down menu?

Fields with a drop-down menu have a small downward pointing arrow next to them. You click on the arrow and a list of options appears. You select the option you want from the list. You can also open the drop-down menu by holding down the Alt key and pressing the down arrow.

You can use the arrow keys to move up and down in a drop-down menu. You can also move to an item by typing the first few letters of the option.

Radio buttons?

Windows programs use radio buttons to present a list of mutually exclusive options. You can select only one of the options presented. Radio buttons are usually round.

Check boxes?

Check boxes are another method used to select options. You click on the check box to select the item. An X or a checkmark appears in a selected box. You toggle check boxes on and off by clicking in the box.

A slider?

You use a slider to increase or decrease a value. You increase a value by moving the slider from left to right; you decrease a value by moving the slider from right to left.

A spinner?

A spinner is a set of arrows located on the side of a text box. You use the up arrow to increment a value and the down arrow to decrement a value. You can also type the value you want directly into the text box.