From this topic, you will learn many of the basic PC skills used in many windows applications.

One good thing about windows programs is that they are very similar in appearance. Most of the menus are very similar in operation and appearance. This is nice because the user only has to learn once and from then on it’s easier to master the operating skills required by any windows program.

IThere are several popular word processors. Word processor is the name given to any software program that helps you generate letters, books or booklets and other things dealing primarily with characters of the alphabet. These documents can have pictures mixed in with the characters but mostly they consist of text.

People who do a lot of word processing have their favorite word processors and would rather fight than switch. I will teach you how to perform basic skills that apply to virtually any word processor and will use a word processor called Notepad.

All Microsoft PCs come with free word processors. Notepad is the simplest. It is not sophisticated. It doesn't even do spell checking, but being simple, it is ideal for beginners.

First, let’s open Notepad so we can use it. Before you can use any software program on your PC, you must open it. This is done by going to the Start button and left clicking it once, and then moving the pointer up to Programs at which point a list of all programs on your PC pops into view.

The program Notepad is under the Accessories group . So while the menus are showing, you must move your pointer over the word Accessories and another group pops into view.

Now you move the pointer over the word Notepad and left click once.

In moving the pointer over to Accessories and then to Notepad is a little tricky and takes some practice.

When you get Notepad open, it looks like the following except for my notations: