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Windows programs almost uniformly have these common control elements for users to work with: menus , toolbars , and dialog boxes. In this section, you'll learn how to effectively use each of these elements, as well as the new Task Pane element for FrontPage 2003.
Almost every windows-based application has its functions contained within the application's menus. Menus are functional groups of commands, organized in a way that ideally makes those commands easy to use.
NOTE
If you pause the mouse cursor on a personalized menu for a few seconds, the full version of that menu will appear.
Options preceded by a check mark indicate that this option is toggled. Toggling means that a present check mark indicates the function is on; an absent check mark indicates the function is off.
Grayed-out options indicate the option is unavailable.
Menu option followed by ellipses indicate that a dialog box will open when that option is clicked.
The toolbars in FrontPage contain a variety of functions that will get things done faster as you build your Web sites. All of the options in the toolbar can be found in the menus, but having them on the toolbars is a big time-saver.
Dialog boxes are used to gather information to run certain functions. They also house many related functions together in one super- group . Options and gathered information will allow you to customize how these functions will actually be executed.
The Task Pane is a recent addition to FrontPage 2003, the natural progression of the old View Bar feature found in earlier versions of this application.
The Task Pane, as the name implies, is the home of several very useful utilities that can help you build very robust Web pages. Part menu, part dialog box, the Task Pane will always be there to assist you.
The contents of the Task Pane can be changed as easily as clicking on a drop-down menu.
The nifty thing about the Task Pane is that you don't have to use just the Task Pane menu to switch between the different toolsets. Like an Internet Web browser, you can use Back and Forward buttons to navigate through the different panes.
While the Task Pane is a neat tool, you may be the kind of person who does not like all of that screen real estate taken up, no matter how useful the tool. To get rid of the task pane:
By default, the Task Pane is open when you first start FrontPage. But if you have closed it, either deliberately or by accident , you may find yourself needing to open the Task Pane up again.
NOTE
Click on Ctrl+F1 to open the Task Pane via the keyboard.
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