The Mouse


Mac OS, like most graphic user interface systems, uses the mouse as an input device. There are several basic mouse techniques you must know to use your computer:

  • Point to a specific item onscreen.

  • Click an item to select it.

  • Double-click an item to open it.

  • Press an item to activate it.

  • Drag to move an item or select multiple items.

Tip

  • Some computers use either a trackball or a trackpad instead of a mouse.


To point

1.

Move the mouse on the work surface or mouse pad.

or

Use your fingertips to move the ball of the trackball.

or

Move the tip of one finger (usually your forefinger) on the surface of the trackpad.

The mouse pointer, which usually looks like an arrow (Figure 2), moves on your computer screen.

Figure 2. The mouse pointer usually looks like an arrow pointer when you are working in the Finder.


2.

When the tip of the mouse pointer's arrow is on the item you want to point to (Figure 3), stop moving it.

Figure 3. Move the mouse pointer so the arrow's tip is on the item to which you want to point.


Tip

  • The tip of the mouse pointer is its "business end."


To click

1.

Point to the item you want to click.

2.

Press (and release) the mouse button once. The item you clicked becomes selected (Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 4. Click to select an icon's


Figure 5. …or an item in a list.


To double-click

1.

Point to the item you want to double-click.

2.

Press (and release) the mouse button twice quickly. The item you double-clicked opens.

Tip

  • Keep the mouse pointer still while double-clicking. If you move the mouse pointer during the double-click process, you may move the item instead of double-clicking it.


To press

1.

Point to the item you want to press.

2.

Press and hold the mouse button without moving the mouse. The item you are pressing is activated (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Press a scroll bar arrow to activate it.


Tip

  • The press technique is often used when working with scroll bars, as shown in Figure 6, where pressing is the same as clicking repeatedly.


To drag

1.

Point to the item you want to drag.

2.

Press the mouse button down.

3.

While holding the mouse button down, move the mouse pointer. The item you are dragging moves (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Drag to move items such as folders.




Visual QuickStart Guide. Mac OS X 10. 4 Tiger
Mac Os X 10.4 Tiger (Visual Quickstart Guides)
ISBN: 0321423372
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 301
Authors: Maria Langer

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net