Chapter 3: Interacting With Windows
Working with Windows is easy. We interact with Windows through its Graphic User Interface (GUI).
Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a user interface that comprises of graphical components such as buttons,
windows and icons.
Using graphical components, data and instructions are provided to the computer for processing.
Commonly used graphical user interface components of Windows are described in this chapter.
Note: Other than GUI, there is an interface called Command-line User Interface (CUI). It allows users to interact by
typing the commands.
Icons: Icons are small graphical images that can be seen at different places of Windows like Desktop, Quick Launch
toolbar, System Tray, etc. Icons can either be files, folders, devices, programs, etc.
Note:- The first computer to use GUI was the Apple Lisa.
Interacting with Computer Using Icons:
Icons can be used in following ways:
1. Selecting Single Icon: Click on the icon that is to be selected.
2. Selecting Multiple Icons: Click on multiple icons with Ctrl key pressed.
3. Executing An Icon: Double click on the icon that is to be executed.
Interacting With Computer Using Bar Menu
The Menu Bar can be used in following ways:
Following are the other menus that are displayed in Windows:
1. Start Menu: This menu appears when mouse is clicked on Start button.
2. Pull Down Menu: This menu appears when mouse is clicked on some option of some other menu.
3. Shortcut Menu: The shortcut menu appears when you right- click on few specific places of Windows.
4. System Menu: The system menu appears when mouse is clicked on System menu button, present on the title bar of
any program window.
Interacting With Computer Using Dialog Box
Dialog Box: A dialog box comprises of multiple graphical components and buttons.
The image given below shows the 'Save As' dialog box.
Note: Dialog box is used for taking few more details from the user to complete the ongoing task.
Following are few components of dialog box:
1. Text Box: Text box looks like a blank rectangular strip, with its title written near it. It is used for writing small text
in it.
2. List Box: List box looks like a rectangular box with many item names listed in it. It is used for selecting the desired
items from the list.
3. Drop-Down List Box: Drop-down list box looks like a rectangular box with an arrow button in it. Clicking on the
arrow button displays a list of items for selection.
4. Button: A Button looks like a small rounded corner rectangle that has its title written on it.
Note: Clicking the button selects the button and corresponding action starts.
5. Check Box: Check box looks like tiny square box with its title written near it. Clicking once within the check box,
selects an item. Clicking on checked item, deselects the item.
Remarks: Multiple check boxes can be selected from the check box list.
6. Radio Button: Radio button looks like tiny circle with its title written near it. Clicking once within the radio
button, selects an item. Clicking on the selected radio button, deselects the item.
Remarks: Only one radio button can be selected from the radio button list.
7. Alert Box: Alert box comprises of warning message and few action buttons on it.
8. Spinner: Spinner looks like text box with up arrow and down arrow buttons on it. In text box, some value gets
displayed. Clicking on the up arrow increases a number and clicking on the down arrow decreases it.
