| Following tips help you to learn a software in lesser | | | | Ctrl+Shift+S - Save As |
| time and in an efficient manner:1. After installing a | | | | Ctrl+P - Print |
| software package, look for any README file in the | | | | Ctrl+X - Cut |
| installed folder. Besides company and product details, it | | | | Ctrl+C - Copy |
| may give an overview of features, usages and | | | | Ctrl+V - Paste |
| limitations of the software.2. Next run the software | | | | Ctrl+F - Find6. Next have a look on various tool-bars |
| and have a feel of the look of the software. | | | | that are present below menu-bars. They provide a |
| Identify the different parts of its main screen.3. Look | | | | visual shortcut to the desired operation. Examples are |
| for the information shown in the TITLE-BAR of the | | | | a paper folder on top right corner for NEW, an opened |
| main screen. | | | | folder for OPEN, a scissor for CUT, two papers for |
| Usually, it shows the product name. If the application is | | | | COPY, a paper on clamp-pad for PASTE, floppy icon |
| SDI (Single Document Interface like Notepad) or MDI | | | | for SAVE and printer ICON for PRINT. A book or |
| (Multiple Document Interface like MS Word) then | | | | question mark icon represents HELP.7. If the package |
| title-bar will also contain name of the opened file. | | | | is a development tool then start with the sample |
| Similarly, there may be STATUS-BAR at the bottom | | | | applications provided with it. It will help you understand |
| that shows the operation being performed.4. Then | | | | what functionality level the package can provide. Also, |
| comes the main MENU-BAR. Most of the GUI based | | | | you may need not start your application from scratch; |
| software have common menu-items. So its better to | | | | it can be dervied from one of the sample application |
| learn once-for-all. Some of the common menu-items | | | | (provided source code is available).8. Mostly, the |
| are:FILE, EDIT, VIEW, TOOLS, WINDOWS, HELP.Each | | | | menu-item name will tell its functionality. Even if it does |
| of these names are intuitive itself.-The FILE menu will | | | | then also try each operation available in the package.9. |
| have operations NEW, OPEN, SAVE, SAVE AS, | | | | You can master a software with its usage and little |
| PAGE SETUP, PRINT,CLOSE and EXIT.-Similarly, EDIT | | | | study. The best place for getting some help is the |
| menu contains editing operations like CUT, COPY, | | | | in-built help provided in the package itself.10. Remember |
| PASTE, FIND AND REPLACE.-The VIEW menu helps | | | | Internet is always there to solve your problem. Use a |
| in controlling the view of the software GUI. You can | | | | search-engine with appropriate phrase to get the best |
| switch on-off various toolbars.-The TOOLS menu | | | | material available as solution to your query. You can |
| usually have options to customize the software you | | | | visit my website: for Tips and Tricks for various |
| like and also other supporting functionalities like | | | | softwares, programming langauages and links to ther |
| Read-Aloud function in a word processor | | | | useful material available on the Internet.Syed Feroz |
| package.-The HELP menu may contain GETTING | | | | Zainvi has obtained M.Tech. (Comp Sc & Engg) |
| STARTED tutorial, detailed indexed and searchable | | | | degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi |
| help and ofcourse, a popup dialog-box that shows | | | | (INDIA). His areas of interests are distributed computing, |
| information about the software. It may also contain a | | | | computer graphics and Internet Technologies. Currently, |
| link to website of the product.5. Once acquainted with | | | | he is involved in Software Project Planning, |
| different menu and their menu-items, look at each | | | | Development and Management. His other interests |
| menu again to find shortcuts to them. For example, | | | | include writing for magazines and contributing utility |
| Alt+F will take you to File menu. Some common | | | | softwares on Magazine's CDs. He also have flair for |
| shortcuts are:Ctrl+N - New | | | | teaching computer science with new teaching |
| Ctrl+O - Open | | | | methodologies. |
| Ctrl+S - Save | | | | |