Agenda 5 for February 12

Courses Wayne State University College of Urban, Labor, and Metropolitan Affairs (CULMA) Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Computers and Society courses, Winter 2003 (Bowen) at blackboard.wayne.edu Wednesdays, 6 - 9:40 PM in Computer Classroom 16 at WACC Computers and Society GST 2710, Section 986, CRN 25072, 4 credits Computers and Society AGS 3360, Section 986, CRN 25009, 4 credits Office hours: Wednesdays 5 - 6 PM at WACC	Instructor
	David R. Bowen 2311 A/AB Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48202	Daytime tel: (313) 577-1498 Evening tel: (248) 549-8518 FAX: (313) 577-8585 Home Page: http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen Email: d.r.bowen@wayne.edu

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Last updated: 2/10/03

Fifth class: Agenda 5
Wednesday February 12

Announcements:
1. Reminder: sign in at the beginning of class; sign out at the end.
2. Also, while you are on the course web site, update your course information using the External Link "Course information." The problems that some had last week should be fixed. You will identify yourself by First Name, Last Name, and Password. Your names should be as they are with WSU; see me if you have questions about spelling. Your initial password on this system is your AccessID; you can change it as part of updating your information. To enable online grade reports, change "GradeReports" from No to Yes.
3. Online grade reports are working. Under External Links, choose "Online Grade Reports." If you have enabled grade reports for yourself, you can see your grades by entering your first name, last name and Password (see C above).
4. Online grade reports show Early Assessment grades. OK means no deficiencies. -H means below C so far in homework (Assignments and Labs), -E means below C so far in Exams, -T means below C in attendance. These can be combined; -HT means below C so far in homework and attendance. If you have one or more deficiencies, expect a letter from the University. Early Assessment grades are not part of the final course grade and do not appear on your transcripts. They are intended only as a wake-up call.
5. If you want to go over your grades with me, without using the Online Grade Reports, see me outside of class.
6. Individual problems:
  1. Joyce Carter - you have two accounts enrolled in this course on Blackboard - joycecarter and ah0331. Which one do you want to stay with - I should kick the other one out! Also, I apparently have the wrong AccessID for you. Please see me to straighten this out.
  2. Justin Jackson - your registration for this course is finally showing up. You were not on the class list for Early Assessment grades. Use the Online Grade Report or see me outside of class if you want the details of my Early Assessment for you.
7. Reminder: If you were not at the first class for this course (January 15), you need to read the Syllabus, particularly the sections on Materials; Grading; Assignment Schedule; Late Assignments, Missed Classes, Quizzes or Exams; and Grading Scale. For each class you did not attend, access and read Agenda before the next class. If you have any questions about the Syllabus or Agendas, contact me outside of class.
8. Reminder: If you miss a Quiz or Exam, call me as soon as possible about a makeup.
9. I will be taking pictures again for the course web site. This is not a requirement of the course.
10. Online Life at WSU web site now has a Top 10 List. Go to www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/OnlineLife (there is also a link from the Blackboard course web site).
Class web site
1. Because of the troubles that people have been having with Blackboard, both inside and outside of class, I have set up an alternative public web site - www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/casw03. A public web site does not require logins, and should avoid most if not all of the problems people have been reporting. You can use either the public web site or the Blackboard web site, either in or outside of class, with the single exception noted below. The alternative public site has almost all of the features of the Blackboard site, including the Syllabus, Agendas, Sign in/out, Course Information Form and Online Grade Reports. The sole feature that this does not have is the ability to create and to view your personal web pages; this will be done only in Blackboard.
2. Problems with Blackboard (and Pipeline), and some solutions and workarounds
  1. Multiple accounts. Each time you set up a User Name and Password (an account) in Blackboard, the system thinks you are a different person, and that account is not connected to your course(s). Blackboard now does not let you set up a new account, but your Instructor can. Also, past accounts are still in existence. Workaround: Do not set up new accounts (unless you don't have an account at all). Even if your Instructor says to, ask him/her not to do it. Write down your account information somewhere safe so that you can find it if you forget it. If you forget your account Password, call the WSU Computer Help Desk (313-577-4778 M - F 8 AM - 8 PM) to have it reset.
  2. Case sensitivity for User Name and Password. User Names and Passwords in Blackboard and Pipeline are case sensitive, meaning that upper case and lower class letters are treated as different (remember that they do have different ASCII codes). The new User Names (AccessID) and Passwords are all lower case, but if you are using a different account, or if your Instructor sets one up for you, that may have uppercase as well. Workaround: Make sure that the "Caps Lock" light is off. Do not use the <Shift> key when typing these in, unless you know that yours has some upper case letters. Remember the case as well as the letters.
    
    If you have other problems with logging in to Pipeline or Blackboard, call the WSU Computer Help Desk to resolve the problem, after class. Resolving computer problems during class almost always takes too long to be useful. Look on with someone else during class. For my help with problems at home or work, see me before or after class, or during a break or lab session.
    
    The User Names and Passwords for my systems (Signin, Course Information Form and Online Grade Report) are not case sensitive. (Editorial comment: I do not understand why programmers don't take the one or two extra steps to undo case sensitivity for logins; it causes so many troubles for users, and it is so easy to take care of.)
  3. aol. Blackboard in particular has problems with aol (America On Line) users. Workaround: If you use aol, log on to aol as usual, close down the aol web browser and use Internet Explorer instead (both Blackboard and Pipeline work somewhat better with Internet Explorer).
  4. Personal firewalls. Many new computers have personal firewalls installed. (My new home computer has "Freedom.") If you have a high-speed Internet connection (e.g. cable modem or DSL), you need one of these (but you can have one even with a telephone modem). But Pipeline and Blackboard often will not work with these, at least as they come installed. Workaround: If you are having trouble with Pipeline or Blackboard from home, and you have a new computer, and you know or think you may trouble with a personal firewall, call the WSU Computer Help Desk for help. You may need to decrease the protection level or turn the firewall off when using Pipeline or Blackboard.
  5. Corporate firewalls. Similarly, if you use Blackboard or Pipeline from work, you are probably going through a corporate firewall, which can easily interfere with these WSU systems. Workaround: Call the WSU Computer Help Desk. You will not be able to turn off or reduce the security level of the corporate firewall, but the Help Desk can help if it is something else causing your problems.
  6. Browser dependence. Both Pipeline and Blackboard work differently with Netscape and Internet Explorer, and even with different versions of these. Workaround: Update your Browser to the current version (this is free) and use Internet Explorer with these systems (if you know me well, you understand how much I hate to have to give this advice).
  7. Problems in WACC. Personal computers gradually build up problems if they are left on for a long time. Some of the problems can persist even after the computer is turned off. Workaround: If your computer is on when you come to class, shut it down and reboot it. If it still has problems, make sure they are identified (tell me, and be specific) so they can be repaired after class. After this, switch to another computer.

Passbacks and comments. So far, the assignments are not coming in on time, except for a few people. Also, the Assignments always include some problems directly on the Agenda and some problems from Computers, Technology, and Society. Many people have been skipping the problems from the book, which gets a very low grade. The grade can be raised by adding the problems from the book, and turning everything back in together.

Late starts. Many people are already far behind in turning in Labs and Assignments. We are one-third of the way through the semester. This means, if you haven't turned in anything yet, you need to work 50% each week than people who are up to date. Before much longer, you will not be able to finish the course. If you need to catch up on labs, the Computer Lab in the adjoining room is available during Center hours.
Labs. Some people just turned in the raw downloaded file for Lab 4. This will get a very low grade. The lab is done in class from the spiral-bound book. You should be able to finish the labs during class time if you have read the lab assigned in the Assignment Schedule in the Syllabus, ahead of time. In the spiral-bound book, what you actually do is highlighted in gray. I have never seen these instructions fail. If you reach something that does not work, the cause in every situation I have seen is that you missed something earlier. A good habit is to check off each step as you do it. But while following the very detailed instructions, remember that the point of the labs for your grade is that you be able to use those methods, closed book, in Quizzes and Exams. And of course, this will enable you to use the computer on your own outside of class.
On assignment 4, one person tried to use the binary to decimal method to convert decimal to binary - doesn't work.
Quiz: Most people did very well on the binary questions, and on the Word question.
1. Some people made what were probably careless mistakes on the binary problems, but did not show their work, and got zeroes. Showing your work is smart because it protects you from careless errors, which can happen to anybody. In addition, showing your work can prevent the errors in the first place. For example, write down the addition problems and show carries. In the future, Quizzes and Exams will simply say "Show your work." for binary questions.
2. Two people apparently did not save their Word files to the floppy diskette, and got zeroes for this part. Being absolutely sure of where you save your files is critical on quizzes and exams in this course. To prevent careless errors, check afterwards, using the techniques we will go over in class tonight. Remember: "walk the path from left to right." Path = drive, folders, file name, extension.
3. Some people also messed up the file extension. This is not as big a grade problem as losing the file altogether, but why lose the points? We will go over this tonight also.

The questions on the mouse actions and storage types were, for most people, a disaster. These questions were word for word from the "Topics we will cover" sections of the Agendas, and I said in advance that this Quiz would be taken from those. You need to take me seriously here. I will always be very specific and complete about what questions you need to be able to answer for Quizzes and Exams. If you are confused about this, you need to ask for clarification. Then, if you are not sure of the answers, you need to ask. I will not hide from you what I think is important, and what the content is, and the Quizzes and Exams will cover what I think is important. Here is a listing of what "Topics we will cover" have actually been covered, and where to find the content (NOTE - for the full text and content of each item in the left-hand side, see that Agenda):

What was actually covered	Item in that Agenda
Agenda 1, item IV
A. Data, info, knowledge	V.A
B. Structure of desktop comp.	V.B
C. Diff types storage	V.B.A.4
E. Five mouse actions (on Quiz 1)	VII.E.1
G. Types of info stored in comp. (on Quiz 1)	VII.C.3
H. How to: combination keystroke	VII.E.5.c
K. Count & add in binary	VI
Agenda 2, item III
A. Booting classroom comp.	IV
B. Review binary count & add	V
C. Bin. mult., pwr 2, bin to dec	VI
D. User interfaces	VII.2
E. Windows desktop	VII.C.2
F. File system, parts of a path	VII.D.3
H. Parts of a Window	VII.C.3
I. Using Windows Explorer	VII.D.2
Agenda 3, item IV
A. Binary review so far	V.A
B. Decimal to binary	V.B
D. ASCII code	VII
E. Starting selected programs	VIII
F. Right-drag (mouse action #6)	IX.A
I. Active parts of a Window	IX.B
K. Using Word	IX.D
Agenda 4, item IV
A. Bin review, # values	V
B. Colors and computer graphics	VI
E. Five main types of computers	IX
L. Selection in Windows	X.D.9

Is anyone interested in a computer project for low-income people? Email me (d.r.bowen@wayne.edu).
1. Project could work with (for example) church group, block association, neighborhood association, etc.
2. What could be done (for example): finding and donating computers, selling at low cost, training for computer skills, supporting existing training programs, helping group to set up a computer program, making a web site of computer resources for groups
3. This would be done outside of class; if enough people are interested we could meet here before class some evening to see what we could do
4. Earlier attempt which almost worked: http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/INTERNET/contact/Contact.htm
Topics we will cover in class tonight:
1. Downloading files over the web (VI)
2. Making your personal web page on the Blackboard course web site. (VII)
3. Multitasking Vs multiprocessing (VIII.A.2)
4. Files - path, parts of a path, extension. Hierarchical file system. URL - method, server, path (VIII.B.1-3)
5. Making folders using Windows Explorer (VIII.B.4)
6. Starting and using Windows Explorer - also getting to see file extensions, and file paths (VIII.B.2)
7. Word processing using Microsoft Word (VIII.C)
8. Selection in Windows (review and continuation). (VIII.C.7)
9. Fonts and font types (VIII.C.8.a)
10. Functions of a word processor (VIII.D)
11. Difference between Save and Save As... (VIII.C.10)
12. Representing text in a computer. File sizes for text and word processing files. (IX)
Downloading files over the web. In this class, you may want to download files to your floppy diskette over the web, and this is often desirable anyway. Actually, every URL leads to downloading a file to your computer; it is just that web pages are automatically displayed, but other files are not so automatic. If the web browser "knows" (has been programmed on) how to handle a certain type of file, that handling is automatic. Otherwise, the web browser is supposed to ask what you want to do; the typical choices are save or open with a program that you specify. Internet Explorer, being from Microsoft, has been programmed with how to handle Microsoft Office files - it opens them in the browser window. The browser window may work for viewing, but it is not a full-featured editor and so will not do for this class - you have to save to diskette and re-open in the Office application (Word, Excel or Access). If you are not in Blackboard, or using IE from inside some other program, you can choose "File > Save As...", but this will not work from inside Blackboard. You can try selecting, copying and pasting, but this will not work for some of the files we will be working with in this class. For this class, the best procedure, for either browser, inside or outside of Blackboard, inside or outside of the classroom, and it works for pictures too, is to right-click and from the pop-up menu choose the "Save (something) As..." option. What is the something?
1. For documents (such as *.doc, *.xls, or even web pages *.htm or *.html), depending on your browser and browser version, "Save (something) As..." can be
  1. "Save Target As..."
  2. OR "Save Link As..."
  3. OR "Save Link Target As..."
2. For graphics, such as your picture from the class photo gallery, for example to put in your home page, "Save (something) As..." can be
  1. "Save Image As..."
  2. OR "Save Picture As..."
3. A picture can also link to a document. In this case, you get one of each from A and B, so you must decide whether to save the picture or the document it links to (see figure).
4. What follows is the "Save As..." dialog where you choose the drive, folder(s), file name and extension (you should hardly ever change the extension).;/

Making your personal web page on the Blackboard course web site

Start Internet Explorer (Blackboard advanced functions work better with IE) and log in to the Blackboard course web site. Click on the "Tools" button and then on the link "Edit Your Homepage."

This is a compressed version of the "Edit Your Homepage" screen.
1. Homepage information
The Intro Message and Personal Information can be whatever you like, but the Intro Message is designed to greet the viewer while the Personal Information would have whatever personal information you want to make public.
2. Upload a Picture
Clicking the "Browse" button will open up a "Choose file" dialog that works like Open.... That is, navigate to the drive, the folder and the file name that has the picture you want, then click the "Open" button.
3. Favorite web Sites
There are actually blanks for three web sites, not the single one shown here. Every link has link text that is underlined and blue, and that you click on to go somewhere. That link text is here called the "Title." Then the URL is where you will go. This should be the address of a web site or web page, such as "http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/casw03/welcome.htm."
When you are done click the "Submit" button, and then "OK." You can view home pages by clicking "Communications," then "Roster." To see everybody, click "LIST ALL" and then "List All, then click on the name of the person to see their page. Here is the result of a simple page; what I typed is in italics, and the picture I used just says "Picture;" everything else was supplied by the system (I put in the black border). For all three sections, any information you do not supply is left blank.

Computer systems and software
1. Windows basics (continued)
  1. Windows usually gives you several methods for doing anything. For example, to close or exit from a program, you can do any one of the following:
    1. Click the program's Close Box (X) in its upper right corner
    2. Choose the menu item File, and then Exit
    3. In some cases, <Ctrl>Q (means to hold down the <Ctrl> key and tap Q while <Ctrl> is down.
  2. Multitasking and multiprocessing - running more than one program at the same time.
    1. Double click on the time in the tray (bottom-right corner of the screen). This will open up the clock window.
    2. Start Microsoft Word.
    3. Arrange the screen so that you can see both windows at once.
    4. Make Word the active window by clicking anywhere in it, and start typing while watching the clock. What do you see?
    5. This is multitasking - having two or more programs running "at the same time." Multitasking is done by the operating system (here, Windows) and is accomplished by switching the microprocessor between the programs hundreds of times each second. So it only seems as if more than one program is running at the same time.
    6. Multiprocessing uses more than one processor, and can truly run more than one program at the same time.
    7. Close the clock but leave Word running.
2. Files
  1. What is a file?
    1. Collection of related information
    2. Exists in secondary (permanent) storage (files downloaded over the Internet, email or other network do not exist in secondary storage unless and until you save them).
    3. Has a name - filename and extension: filename.ext, at least in Windows. (Macintosh computers do not use file extensions.)
    4. Wildcards -- ? stands for any one character. * stands for any number of characters (including zero characters). For example, *.exe stands for a file with any name and an extension of exe. In Microsoft Excel, there are several file types, whose extensions start with xl. This can be indicated by *.xl*
    5. The filename identifies (or should) the content of the file for you, the user. When saving a file, Windows applications will propose a filename, but you should usually change this to describe the content for you, such as "SyllabusW03.htm"
    6. The extension, in Windows, tells the system which application created the file, and what type of file it is. Examples: *.doc is document produced by Microsoft Word, *.xls is a spreadsheet produced by Microsoft Excel, *.htm or *.html is a web page, and so forth. When saving a file, Windows applications will propose an extension. Do not change this proposed or default extension, or you may have trouble finding and opening the file.
  2. In Windows, you work with files directly using Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer). Microsoft puts Windows Explorer in different places. Start Windows Explorer as follows (Windows 2000): use Start > Programs > Accessories, then look for an icon that is a file folder with a blue magnifying glass on top (). If there is a double-down arrowhead () at the bottom of the Programs list, that means that Windows is hiding seldom-used items, and you should either (a) wait briefly until Windows decides to show all items, or (b) click on the down arrow to force showing all items immediately. (In earlier versions of Windows, Windows Explorer is under Start > Windows.)
    1. By default, Windows Explorer hides most extensions from you, but in this course you will want to see the extensions. To raise the stakes, all applications follow the settings of Windows Explorer. Here is how to make Windows Explorer (and the other applications) show you file extensions:
      1. Choose the menu item Tools > Folder Options > View
      2. Make sure that "Hide extensions for known file types" is unclicked
      3. For this course, I also recommend having "Display the full path in the address bar" and "Display the full path in the title bar" clicked. This is because you will often be asked to save a files to a specified path, and having the path displayed makes it easy to use windows Explorer afterwards to check that you saved correctly.
      4. To apply these settings to all folders, click the "Apply to All Folders Button" (recommended for this course). Click the <OK> button
      NOTE: As described in 2.a above, these settings will change the way Word and the other Office applications save files, and you will need to recognize what these settings are on Quizzes and Exams.
  3. Hierarchical file system. ("Hierarchical" means "like an outline," and with respect to files, refers to the existence of folders, sub-folders, sub-sub folders etc.)
    1. Directories / folders. A directory can contain files and other directories (sub-directories), while a file contains data. Does a folder contain data? Only indirectly, in its files. The direct answer is, "No, a folder does not contain data."
    2. Tree - why is it called a tree? See Figure 4-12 on Pg 4-12 of Computers, Technology, and Society.
    3. Path - drive, folder(s), file name, extension
      1. Root directory
      2. Examples:
        C:\
        C:\STUDENTS
        C:\STUDENTS\SECT571
      3. "Path" means path to a file, including the directory and file name. Example:
        C:\STUDENTS\SECT571\PROSPECTUS.WPS
      4. The tree in the figure above represents the path C:\Comp&Soc\CASW03\www2\Dum\Signin.txt
      5. Windows Explorer will also show you the path as described in 2.a.iii above.
      6. Local drives Vs Network drives. Local drives are physically attached to your computer, while network drives are on another computer, accessed through a network connection.
    4. The path and tree are different representations of the same information. Windows Explorer will show you both if you set up the options as in 2.a.iii above.
    5. On exams, you will often be given a path to save a file to. "Walk the path" from left to right - drive, folder(s), then lastly the file. How to check that the file is really there? - save, then use Windows Explorer.
    6. Web URL - Universal Resource Locator, for example
      http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/drbowen/casw03/welcome.htm
      - Parts are method, Domain Name (of web server computer), path and file with extension. If no file is shown, every web server is set up with a default file name with it looks for in that folder, and shows. In many cases this is "index.html," but on the CLL web server it is "welcome.htm." If no server is shown, the last server accessed is used. With no server, the URL can start with or without a slash (/). The slash goes back to the root, but without a slash, any folder is a subfolder of the last one accessed. If in addition no folder is shown (only a file name and extension), the last folder accessed on that server is used.
  4. Making folders on a floppy diskette using Windows Explorer
    1. Insert a floppy diskette into the diskette drive.
      1. The writing ("HD") is on the top of the diskette. The metal door is on the front of the diskette. Put the diskette into the topside up and front first.
      2. Push firmly until the computer takes the disk in the rest of the way. If the diskette sticks, do not force it.
    2. If Windows Explorer is on the taskbar, click on its button to make it active. If not, open it from Start > Programs > Accessories
    3. In the Folders window on the left, scroll up and find the A: icon, and click on it to select it.
    4. Use the File > New menu item and select Folder.
    5. Type a name for your new Folder, for example MyFirstFolder.
    6. Make a sub-folder as follows:
      1. Double-click on the icon for your new folder to open it. (Clicking on the letters is apt to start the process for changing the name, which will be confusing.)
      2. Use the File > New > Folder menu item and type a name for your new sub-folder.
    7. Notice that the sub-folder is inside the first folder.
      1. How would you make a new top-level folder?
      2. How would you make a sub-sub folder?
      3. How would you make a new sub-folder at the same level as your first sub-folder?
    8. If you get something wrong, don't take the long way of deleting everything and starting over - just drag the folder to where you want it. Practice this now by making a new folder on your floppy diskette and dragging it to another location on the floppy diskette. For example, make a subfolder and drag it to the top level, or make a top level folder and drag it inside another folder. You can do the same thing with files. Dragging from one disk to another copies, unless you hold down the <alt> key while dragging, in which case it moves (deletes the original). Dragging within the same disk moves.
3. Overview of word processing using MS Word. Word Processing is for managing text.
  1. Microsoft Word should still be open; if so, activate it. Otherwise, open Microsoft Word using Start > Programs > Word.
  2. File menu handles files as a whole. Open, save, print
  3. Text creation or entry: making new text. Done with the keyboard in the document window. Type some text, a line or so.
  4. Edit - change text, including its order. Cut, Copy, Paste, Find, Replace
  5. Select text by dragging over it, or click at one end of selection (beginning or end) then use arrow keys with <Shift> key down to move selection or click at other end (end or beginning) with <Shift> key down
  6. Keyboard editing. the arrow keys will skip over letters without changing them, <Backspace> deletes letters to the left of the insertion point, and <Delete> deletes letters to the right of the insertion point..
  7. Selection in Windows - selecting an object or section for action. Drag over SOME of your text to select it. The selected text is "highlighted" -- shown in reverse colors. This is the normal Windows signal that something is selected for further action.
    1. "Typing Replaces Selection" is the default. With some of your text selected, and while watching the screen all the time, type something on the keyboard. What happened to your selection?
    2. You can bring the text back with Edit > Undo, or use the toolbar button ( - Redo is grayed out here) that works for multiple levels.
    3. You can change "Typing Replaces Selection in Tools > Options > Edit. Click or unclick "Typing Replaces Selection," then click OK.
    4. Auto correction is another feature that you may want to control. This makes corrections as you type, without notice. To change how this option works, use Tools > AutoCorrect...
    5. Again, select some text by dragging over it with the mouse.
    6. Copy the selected text to the Windows "clipboard" (a virtual holding location for data) by selecting the Edit / Copy menu item. Alternate action: <Ctrl>C.
    7. Move the insertion point (the "I-Beam" cursor) to another point in the document. Copy the selection into this document using the menu item Edit / Paste. Alternate action: <Ctrl>V
  8. Format - change the appearance of text
    1. Font - applies to individual letters
      1. Serif (for example, Times Roman or Courier) Vs San Serif (for example, Arial)
      2. Monospacing (all letters the same width, for example Courier) Vs Proportional (i is narrow, w is wide, for example Times Roman)
      3. True Type - print is the same as the screen. Either the font listing has a "TT" icon in front of it, or "New" in the name, or both. Example, Courier New, Times New Roman (Microsoft)
    2. Paragraph - applies to whole paragraph. Line spacing, indent, outdent or hanging
      1. Start a new line with <Enter> key, but start a new page with Insert / Break... / Page break, or better yet by grouping text to be kept together. to do this, start a new page if break will come in the middle. Select text that is to be kept on the same page, then use Format / Paragraph... / Line and Page Breaks then select both Keep lines together and Keep with next, then click "OK."
  9. Tools - automate actions, such as Spell Check and Grammar Check, Auto Correct - can be turned on and off item by item. Also configure Word for the way you want it to work - Tools / Customize... and Tools / Options...
  10. Save and Save As... Make sure you have some text in the Microsoft Word document window.
    1. Save Vs Save As... - Save repeats the last Save As..., use Save As... whenever you want to change the path (drive, folder, name)
    2. When to type the extension, and when not to (this depends on whether or not "Hide File Extensions..." is clicked or not in the Folder Options that are set in Windows Explorer.
    3. Save the new version using the diskette icon on the Word toolbar. Alternate action: Use the menu item File / Save.
    4. Save the new version under a new name using the menu item File / Save As... Check that the save location is still the floppy diskette (A:) and type in a new file name, changing the name but not the extension. (Depending on how your computer is set up, you may not see the extension. If you cannot see the extension, you cannot change it anyway, but in that case do not type an extension or you will end up with a file name like "file.doc.doc".)
    5. The difference between Save and Save As...:
      1. Save repeats the path for the last Save As... - drive, folders, name, extension and file type
      2. Use Save As... to change any part(s) or all of the path - drive, folder(s), filename and extension.
    NOTE 1: To move text, "Cut" it first, then paste it in the new location.
    NOTE 2: Using Cut / Copy and Paste, you can move or copy a selection within a document as well as between documents. You can also move or copy between applications, such as between a word processing document and a spreadsheet.
    NOTE 3: Use File Save... in the following circumstances: (a) the first time you save a new document (if you choose File / Save the first time, you will actually get File / Save As...), (b) When you want to change the name, location or file format of the file (the original copy will continue to exist) or (c) when you want to double-check the name, location or file type (select Save As..., check that everything is the way you want, then click Cancel). Later, we will even cut/copy and paste files from one drive to another, and parts of graphics, too. Cut/Copy and Paste is very general and easy to use in Windows.
    NOTE 4: To move text within the same document, you may prefer "Drag 'n Drop. to use Drag 'n Drop, you first select the text to be moved by dragging the mouse over it, then release the mouse button, then click and hold. A small box should appear beneath the mouse icon. This is the sign that you can now drag the text to the desired location.
    1. Close your file but leave Word open.
      1. In the upper right corner of the Word window, there are two sets of controls. Click on the lower "X" to close your file.
    2. Close Word by clicking on the upper "X"
  11. Weak Vs strong formatting methods. Weak methods must be redone if you make other formatting changes; strong methods do not have to be redone. Strong methods give you much greater freedom in changing a document, which is what word processing is really about. The printed document may look the same whether you use weak or strong methods, and so will get you by for the labs, but on Quizzes and Exams you will turn in the file, and weak methods will result in substantial loss of credit. The lab book (spiral bound) teaches you the strong methods; follow them! Example: different ways of centering a title
    1. (weakest) Use the space bar. Problems are that this must be redone if you (besides not getting you to the exact center):
      1. Break lines at another point
      2. Change font, font size or attributes such as bolding
      3. Change page or paragraph margins
    2. (weak but stronger) Use a center tab. Problems are that this must be redone if you:
      1. Change page or paragraph margins
    3. (strong) Use center alignment
  12. If you make a mistake in the file name or the folder it is in, you can fix these easily in Windows Explorer. Simply move or drag the file to the right folder, or to change the name, click once on the letters to select the file, click again on the letters to start editing, and click a third time on the letters to put the insertion point in the middle of the letters. You can edit using the arrow keys, backspace and delete keys. Click on the icon or tap <Esc> when you are done editing the file name.
4. Word processors in general
  1. The primary function of a word processor is to manage text or words. This includes:
    1. Entering, moving, deleting and copying text
    2. Formatting, or changing the appearance of text as to alignment (centering etc.); orientation such as horizontal and vertical; font face, size and attributes such as bold and italic; formatting paragraphs such as indenting, skipping lines before and after, and changing the line space
    3. While-file operations such as saving documents in a file, opening an existing file and saving a file with a different path (file, folders, name).
  2. Common "extra" functions include
    1. Writer's aids such as spell check and grammar check
    2. Adding graphics, either from a file or by a drawing tool
    3. Customizing letters for a group of people (Mail Merge)
    4. Importing and exporting to other word processor formats and to and from HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language, or web format)
Representing text in a computer. Last class we went over the ASCII code. But wait! There is more! ASCII, ANSI and Unicode.
1. The ASCII code has 128 characters (one more than we will use in this course) from 0 to 127; 32 non-printing control codes, codes 0 through 31, and then 96 printing characters, codes 32 through 127. How many bits does it take to represent this many codes? Answer: _____
2. Some applications, namely Internet email, use just this many bits, but most applications use 1 byte = 8 bits, resulting in 256 codes from _____ to _____? What are the codes above 127 used for? In "extended ASCII" these are graphics codes for shapes. There were used by earlier IBM/Intel computers for drawing boxes and similar shapes on the screen, using monospacing characters. But now Windows can draw graphics directly using bitmaps, so the high-order text codes use the ANSI (American National Standards Institute, the group promulgating this standard) code. ANSI = ASCII for the low-order codes 0 - 127, and the higher codes are characters in foreign languages, mainly European languages (ç and è, for example). Windows uses the ANSI code instead of ASCII.
3. With the internationalization of computers, many more characters are needed. "Unicode" represents each character by 2 bytes, resulting in 65,536 codes. This is apparently almost enough codes to represent all of the major alphabets, and is the new recommended standard. The first codes are the ANSI codes, followed by other alphabets. Windows supports Unicode as well as ANSI.
4. Formatting. The basic storage requirements for text by itself is (number of characters) × (bytes per character). A text file (*.txt) such as produced by Notepad or Word Save As Text will be exactly this size, but will have no formatting. Formatting changes the appearance of text, such as Bold, Italics, Font, Font Size, Alignment (left, right, center), margins, indents and so forth. These are extra codes (bytes) that you do not see on the screen, but which command the word processor to change the appearance. The codes are proprietary (secret) and a different for each word processor. This is the main reason why word processing files from different programs can be incompatible. (The exception is web pages or Hyper Text Markup Language or HTML) which use a common, non-proprietary, public set of markup or formatting codes.) Formatting commands increase the size of a file. Here we will represent this effect by a "Formatting Size Factor" which will multiply the raw file size for the number of characters. In problems and exams, you will be given the Formatting Size Factor. Typical values range from 10 to 20.
5. File sizes for text and word processing files. The file size formula (will not be given) is:
  File size in bytes = (number of characters) × (bytes per character) × (Formatting Size Factor). You should know that for pure text files (*.txt) the Formatting Size Factor is 1 (no increase in size).
6. In Chapter 5, Computers, Technology and Society mentions EBCDIC, which used to be important, but EBCDIC will not be part of this course.
Lab 4. Read the following steps all the way through before starting. Please label your work "Lab 4."
1. In Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, do Word Tutorial 3 (Maroon corners, pages WD 3.02 through WD 3.33). If you are going to do this outside of this lab, make sure that you know which pages to work on before you leave class tonight. Do not print out your document until you have completed the additional steps below.
2. In this tutorial, you modify an existing file, EverRipe.doc (when you are finished, you will save the file with another name). You can get the file to start from either:
  1. from the CD-ROM that comes with the book
  2. by downloading from the GST2710 web site. DO NOT try to edit the file in your web browser; it does not have all of the capabilities of Word.
3. At the top of your document, put a line with:
  1. Your name
  2. This Assignment (Lab 4)
  3. Your location (Wayne County Center)
  4. The full path (drive, any folders, and filename) that you saved the file with.
4. After this information, but before your letter, start a new page using the menu item Insert / Break... / Page break
5. Save the file to your floppy diskette. DO NOT SAVE TO THE My Documents FOLDER as you are instructed in the book.
6. Print out a copy of your file, staple the pages together, and turn in this copy, by the start of the next class. This should include the cover page.
7. As a result of your work in this lab, you should be able to do the following under test conditions:
  1. Start Word, beginning with the computer off.
  2. Open an existing file
  3. Saving a document under another name
  4. Insert tabs and section breaks
  5. Use Print Preview
  6. Control Vertical Alignment
  7. Change header and footer margins
  8. Create and change a table, and use a formula in a table, sort data in a table, delete rows in a table, merge cells in a table, change the width of columns in a table, change height of rows in a table, align text within cells, modify borders in a table, add shading in a table, rotate text in a cell, center a table across the page
  9. Saving, previewing and printing
  10. Exit Word
8. To practice these without the detailed directions in the Tutorial, look at the Review Assignment and Case Problems on Pages WD 2.33 through 2.37. Some of the Case Problems start from scratch, while other start from existing files. Existing files can be found as in B.2 above.
Don't forget to Sign Out!
Turning your computer off
1. Save any files that you have worked on during the class and still have open
2. Click on "Start" then Shut Down...
3. Make sure that "Shut down the computer" is selected and click "Yes"
4. Wait for the dialog "It is now safe to turn off your computer.", then turn off the power using the red switch under the desktop.

Assignment 6, due in class February 19. Please label your work "Assignment 6."

Find the lowest number, highest number, and number of different values that can be held in:
1. 5 bits
2. 7 bits
3. 10 bits
A page of text contains about 5,000 characters, and a floppy diskette has a capacity of 1.44 MB (about 1,440,000 bytes).
1. How many pages of text can fit onto a floppy diskette using ANSI coding? (Hint: how many bytes per page of text?)
2. How many pages of the text above can fit onto a floppy diskette, using a Formatting Size Factor of 1.5?
3. How many pages of text can fit onto a floppy diskette using Unicode?
What can you tell about file settings if in File Open... you see the following file name? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
1. Resume
2. Resume.doc
For each of 2A and 2B, what will the resulting file name be, including extension, if you type in
1. NewResume
2. NewResume.doc
Identify the following items as either (a) a file path or (b) a URL, AND list the parts of each:
1. c:\MyDocuments\classes\gst2710\agenda.doc
2. http://www.cll.wayne.edu/MyDocuments/classes/gst2710/agenda.doc
Explain the difference between Save and save As...
Is the following rhyme correct or incorrect? No credit unless you describe what the rhyme is saying and EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
Walk the path from left to right
To keep your file safe tonight.
In Computers, Technology, and Society, read Chapter 5 and answer the following Review questions on Pp 5-38 and following: 3, 6, 7,and 13.
In Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, read tutorial WD4 in preparation for Lab next week.