You've probably noticed that Windows is horribly inconsistent about single-clicks and double-clicks. The situation becomes even worse when you make the move from Windows 95 to Windows 98. Here's a guide to all forms of clicking: left, right, single, double, shift and control.
Basic Windows 95 clicks
- Single-click Menu items to activate them.
- Single-click buttons such as the Start button, program buttons in the Taskbar, and all buttons in dialog boxes.
- Single-click icons to highlight (or select) them.
- Double-click a folder or program icon to activate it.
- Double-click in File Open and File Save dialog boxes to navigate from folder to folder or open a file.
Choosing the click style in Windows 98
In Windows 98, you can select the way Windows responds to clicks and double-clicks, choosing either Classic (Windows 95) Style or Web Style.
To set a click style:
- Click the Start button, choose Settings and then Folder Options to display the Folder Options dialog box.
- In the dialog box, make sure the General tab is selected and choose Web Style in the Windows Desktop Update section to activate Web Style clicks.
- Click OK to save your settings.
Windows 98 Clicks
If you work in Classic Style in Windows 98, clicking and double-clicking follows the same rules as in Windows 95.
If you choose Windows 98 Web Style:
- Single-click folder icons, program icons, the Start button and all menu options to activate them.
- Single-click buttons, such as the Start button, program buttons in the Taskbar, and all buttons in dialog boxes.
- Double-click in most File Open and File Save dialog boxes to navigate from folder to folder or open a file.
- To highlight (select) an item in the active window, simply move the mouse pointer over the item. If you try to highlight an item on the Desktop and it doesn't work, click in a vacant spot on the Desktop and then move the pointer over the item again.
After using Windows 95, you'll probably enjoy the single-click economy of Windows 98, but be driven bats by the inconsistency between applications (where you still sometimes need to double-click) and the Windows Desktop and Explorer.
The other thing that's difficult to get used to is selecting objects and then doing something to them. For instance, to rename an icon on the Desktop or in a folder Window, you need to move the mouse pointer over the item to highlight it and then press F2 (or right-click and choose Rename from the pop-up menu). It's hard getting used to the 'hands-off' method of selection.
Selecting multiple items
You can simultaneously select objects on the Desktop, in Windows Explorer and folder windows, and in some application's File Open dialog boxes. This is useful when you want to perform the same action on a number of files: drag several icons to the Recycle Bin; move a bunch of documents from one folder to another; open several files at once.
Once you've selected a group of objects (using any of the methods detailed below) you can act on all the objects at once by dragging and dropping any one of the objects, or by right-clicking any of the objects and selecting an option from the menu. Note that the right-click menu contains some actions, such as Rename, that don't apply to multiple file selections. Selecting any of these actions will perform the action on the specific file you've clicked.
To deselect all items in a group, single-click anywhere in a vacant spot in the window or Desktop. To deselect one or more items while leaving all the others selected, hold down the Control key (usually called Ctrl) and single-click each item you wish to deselect.
Multiple selection in Win 95
In Windows 95:
- To select a group of items on the Desktop, click on a vacant spot beside one of the icons and drag the mouse. You'll see a rectangle appear surrounding the items. Release the mouse button when you've enclosed all the items you want to select. The same technique works in folders and Windows Explorer.
- To select a contiguous series of files in a folder or Explorer window, single-click the first file, move the mouse pointer to the last file you want in the list and hold down the shift key while you single-click that file.
- To select random files in a file list, hold down the Ctrl key while you single-click each file you want. You may release the Ctrl key after you've made each selection, or keep it depressed while you make a quick series of selections.
Multiple selection in Win 98
In Windows 98:
- To select a group of items on the Desktop, click on a vacant spot beside one of the icons and drag the mouse. You'll see a rectangle appear surrounding the items. Release the mouse button when you've enclosed all the items you want to select. The same technique works in folders and Windows Explorer.
- To select a contiguous series of files in a folder or Explorer window, highlight the first file by moving the mouse cursor over the file, and then hold down the shift key while moving the mouse pointer to the last file you want to select. This will only work if the window you're in is the active window; if it isn't, click the window once to select it or, if you're working on the Desktop, click in a vacant spot on the Desktop.
- To select random files in a file list, hold down the Control key and move the mouse pointer over a file. To make further selections, release the Ctrl key and then depress it again while moving the mouse pointer over another file. Make sure you release the Ctrl key between each selection.
The power right-click
Clicking always refers to the left mouse button unless the right mouse button is referred to specifically. In both Windows 95 and Windows 98, single-clicking with the right mouse button will pop up a context-sensitive menu (that is, a menu whose contents change depending on which item you click). These right-click menus are designed to give experienced users quick access to a range of commands, but there's plenty on these menus for inexperienced users, too.
Test out right-clicking everywhere: on a vacant spot on the Windows Desktop; on a program icon; on a folder icon; on a document icon; on a menu or toolbar in an application; in a dialog box. You won't always find a menu available, but when you do, you'll often discover neat shortcuts to commands that would otherwise require multiple clicks to access.
No programs use a double-click of the right mouse button – it's always a single right click.
© 2003 Rose Vines
|
Host your site where I host mine |
 |
Support geekgirl'sDo you find the tutorialson this site useful? If so, please show your support by kicking in a few bucks to help buy computers for the wonderful orphanages run by the Afghan organisation, afceco.org. For a small amount, it is possible to make a difference in an area of the world which is hurting badly. |
|
|
| Want to know more? Read this post on my blog. |
| top | home | windows 9x menu |