Researching The Windows 7 Desktop

Windows 7 exhibits its tools, commands, and structure with a graphical user interface (GUI). Graphical user interfaces include the following types of elements: Desktop - The basic display area against which you can change icons representing programs, folders, and files. Icon - A visual representation of a program, folder, file, or other object or function. Pointing device - A device such as a mouse that controls a pointer with which you can take objects viewed on the screen. Window -A frame, usually resizable, within which the computer runs a program or displays a folder or file. Menu - A list from which you can provide an instruction by clicking a command. Dialog box A fixed-size window in which you modify instructions by typing information or pick out from the available options. The desktop background you see when you log on to Windows for the first time might be one of the photographic backgrounds that comes with Windows 7 or, if you bought your computer with Windows 7 already installed, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) might have specified a brand-specific desktop background.

Windows 7 desktop background draws a fish underwater, with the sun’s rays shining down through the surface of the water above. In either case, you can modify the background to one of the many beautiful photographs or artistic renderings that come with Windows 7, to a solid-colored background, or to one of your own photos or graphics. With any background other than a solid color, you can have the background connect to a different image as often as every 10 seconds. Most of the graphics in this book were captured against a plain white desktop background so as to not take away from the screen element.

Depending on your Windows 7 settings and the programs installed on your computer, you might have one or more icons on your desktop. Windows 7 allots an icon to every item you see on your computer to make it easier to describe files, storage locations, and programs. The icon might represent a file type such as a document, a text file, or a database or storage component such as a folder, hard disk drive, or CD drive, or it might shows the default program for opening a file. This visual representation can make it easier to find a file or program you’re awaiting for. When an icon represents a link, or shortcut, to an item stored somewhere else, an arrow appears in its lower-left corner. Below each icon on the desktop is the name of the item it represents. If the name is too long to fit onto two lines, it is shortened by an ellipsis when not selected and viewed in full when you click it. When you point to an icon, a ScreenTip containing identifying information appears.

Pointing to a program shortcut, for example, shows the position of the file that starts the program. Pointing to a file shows the file name, type, size, and modification date. You can start a program, open a folder or file, or jump to a network location or Web site by double-clicking the attached icon or shortcut. One of the icons Windows places on the desktop is a link to the Recycle Bin, which is where Windows temporarily stores files you delete. When the Recycle Bin is empty, the icon depicts an empty trash can, after you delete items, the icon shows pieces of paper in the trash can. You can recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin, or you can empty the Recycle Bin and permanently delete the files to free up space on your hard disk.

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