Using WordPad


WordPad is a simple word processing program with basic features for typing, editing, and formatting text. If you create simple documents, WordPad might suit you just fine. If you create a lot of documents, consider purchasing a word processing program with a more robust set of features. Popular word processing programs include Word for Windows and WordPerfect.

This section covers some basic features of WordPad. For more information, consult online help or experiment!

Taking a Look at the Program Window

You start WordPad as you do all other programs: Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click WordPad to start the program and display the WordPad window (see Figure 21.2).

Figure 21.2. WordPad includes many features in its program window.


Many onscreen features are included in WordPad. You'll find these same features in other programs. Table 21.1 describes common program elements found in WordPad and other programs.

Table 21.1. Common Program Elements

Item

Description

Title bar

Lists the name of the document and the program. If you have not saved the document, you see a generic name.

Menu bar

Lists the menu names. To select a menu command, click the menu name and then click the menu command.

Toolbar

As a shortcut to commonly used menu commands, most programs include a toolbar. In WordPad, for instance, you can use the toolbar buttons to open a document, create a new document, print your work, save your document, and more.

Format bar

Use this toolbar to make changes to the appearance of your document. For instance, you can use the Font drop-down list to change the font. Use the Bold button to make text bold.

Window controls

In addition to the program elements, the program window includes window controls for maximizing, minimizing, and closing the program window. See Chapter 1, "Getting Started with Windows XP," for more information on manipulating the window.


Typing and Editing Text

WordPad, as mentioned, is used to create text documents. If you want to create a simple document, WordPad has enough features and options to create it. If you are new to computing, WordPad is a great place to learn skills such as entering text, copying and moving text, deleting text, changing the appearance of text, and more. The skills you use in WordPad to perform these tasks will translate to other programs. That is, you follow the same basic steps to copy text in WordPad as in a full-featured word processing program such as Word for Windows. This section covers some common tasks.

tip

If you are not sure what a toolbar button does, display its ScreenTip name by putting the mouse pointer on the edge of the button. The button name should then pop up.


Typing Text

When you start WordPad, you see a blank document onscreen. You also see a flashing vertical pointer that indicates the current cursor location. Text you type is entered at this cursor location. (Later, when you edit a document, you can move this insertion point to any place in the document to add or select text. When you first open WordPad, because you have not typed any text, you cannot move the insertion point.)

caution

A common mistake is to press Enter at the end of each line, but you should, instead, let WordPad add the line breaks. That way, if you add or delete text, WordPad adjusts the line breaks as needed.

Do press Enter when you want to end one paragraph and start another or when you want to insert a blank line.


To enter text, just start typing. You see the text onscreen and can make editing changes as you type. Notice also that the insertion point moves to the right as you type and that WordPad automatically wraps text to the next line. You do not have to press Enter at the end of the line.

Editing Text

After you have entered text, you may need to go back and make some revisions. The following list covers the basic text-editing skills. Keep in mind that these skills also work in most other text programs.

Here are the basic editing tasks:

  • To make a change to text, you start by selecting it. For instance, if you want to move a section of text, you select it. If you want to format text (covered next), you select it. To select text, click at the start of the text, hold down the mouse pointer, and drag across the text you want to select. The text appears highlighted onscreen (see Figure 21.3).

    Figure 21.3. The first thing you do in most editing and formatting is select the text you want to modify.


  • To delete text, select the text and press the Delete key. Notice that WordPad adjusts the lines of text. Use this method when you want to delete more than a few characters. You can also delete characters one at a time using the Backspace key (which deletes characters to the left of the insertion point) or the Delete key (which deletes characters to the right of the insertion point).

    tip

    Most programs include multiple ways to perform the same task. Is one better? Not really. You can select the one most suited to your working style. In addition to using the menu commands (how most beginners learn), you can also use the Cut, Copy, or Paste toolbar buttons for moving and copying text. Furthermore, you can use the shortcut keys: Ctrl+X for Cut, Ctrl+C for Copy, or Ctrl+V for Paste.


  • Moving and copying text uses a cut/copy and paste metaphor. You start by selecting the text you want to move or copy. Then select the Edit, Cut command (to move text) or the Edit, Copy command (to copy text). Move to the location where you want to insert the text; this might be another location in the current document, in another document, or even in another program. Click the Edit, Paste command to paste the text in the new location. When you move text, the text is deleted from the original location and appears only in the new location. When you copy text, the text appears in both locations: the original and the new.

  • If you make a mistake, you can undo it. Suppose, for instance, that you delete text by mistake. You can undo it by selecting the Edit, Undo command or by using the Undo toolbar button. (The shortcut key for Undo is Ctrl+Z.)

tip

Another program for editing or viewing simple text (.txt) files is Notepad. You can start this program by clicking Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then Notepad. This program has even fewer features than WordPad, but it is useful for viewing installation or other information files that are often included with programs.


Formatting Text

When you want to make a change to how the text appears, you can use the Format commands or the Format bar. The fastest way to make a change is to use the Format bar, but if you have many changes or if you are unsure of what each button does, use the commands in the Format menu.

From the Format bar or menu, you can select another typeface; change the font size; apply emphasis (bold, italic, or underline); change the text color; change the alignment of paragraph(s) to left, right, or center; and make many other changes.

Select the text to change and then click the button or select the menu command. For instance, to make text bold, select the text and then click the Bold button. Figure 21.4 shows just a few of the changes you can make.

Figure 21.4. Use the Format bar to make formatting changes to the text.


Saving Your Work

As you create documents (any documents, not just those in WordPad), you should save and save often. To save a document, use the File, Save As command. Select a folder for the document, type a name, and click the Save button. (You learn more about saving and naming documents in Chapter 2, "Saving and Printing Your Work.")

Once you've saved a document, you can open it again if you want to revise it. To open a document, use the File, Open command. If you don't see the document listed, change to the folder (or drive) you used to save the document. Then double-click the file name to open the document. Again, Chapter 2 provides step-by-step instructions on saving, opening, and printing documents.



    Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP
    Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP (2nd Edition)
    ISBN: 078973432X
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 176
    Authors: Shelley OHara

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