Computers

[garys]

I see a lot of people here struggling to do a simple task on their computers. You can't expect someone else who doesn't use the same operating system to do it for you via the internet. A little bit of learning about your system will allow you to easily do these simple tasks.
Remember, you chose your operating system when you bought your computer. Now it is your job to learn to run it.

[jsburger]

F1 or ?

Sure! Now put that on the screen with the 'word' HELP in close proximity.

F1 means variable programer assigned function key number one. Tis the programmers responsibility to identify what function it triggers(on the screen seems a good place to do that ).

The days of minimizing code because of limited ram are long gone. Guess we have come full circle(back where we started).

It is just like all the other Icons on the screen. Hover over it with the mouse and it tells you what it does.

"Paint Help(F1)
Get help on using Paint."

[jsburger]

. . .
Wish I could attach the pic, but its way too large

Thanks
Geo

Get 'Irfanview'(free ), reduce the size, then attach.

I took your advice and it is excellent! Easy to use, much easier to resize than in Paint.

Yes paint is a little crude when it comes to resizing. I use MS Office Picture Viewer. I use Office 2010 but I would think any of the Office packages will have it. It has pre-designated sizes to choose from just like Irfanview. It actually has a few more sizes than Irfanview and of course you can also designate any other size you want.

[JPG]

F1 or ?

Sure! Now put that on the screen with the 'word' HELP in close proximity.

F1 means variable programer assigned function key number one. Tis the programmers responsibility to identify what function it triggers(on the screen seems a good place to do that ).

The days of minimizing code because of limited ram are long gone. Guess we have come full circle(back where we started).

It is just like all the other Icons on the screen. Hover over it with the mouse and it tells you what it does.

"Paint Help(F1)
Get help on using Paint."

Another example of the 'new improved' software requiring an extra step/action from the !user!

[beeg]

Untitled.jpg (106.34 KiB) Viewed 2453 times

I'm using windows 8.1. When I press F1, here's what I get.

[jsburger]

It is just like all the other Icons on the screen. Hover over it with the mouse and it tells you what it does.

"Paint Help(F1)
Get help on using Paint."[/quote]

Another example of the 'new improved' software requiring an extra step/action from the !user![/quote]


How is that an extra step?

Before Icons you had menu buttons (and we still have them) that you clicked on and then had to find the function you want and then click on that and sometimes it opened another menu with more items.

How in the world can directly clicking on the ? mark that is always displayed on the window and opening the Help screen be an extra step?

Of course YOU have to learn the program you are using. I know we have been used to the way things have been for a long time but we also need to adapt and learn the way things are now. Times change.

[BuckeyeDennis]

Untitled.jpg

I'm using windows 8.1. When I press F1, here's what I get.

I knew it! Just one OS generation later, Microsoft broke the F1 shortcut too!

Or maybe a virus or something did, but it's still fun to rag on the 'Softies.

But seriously, Microsoft has one huge market advantage: a gargantuan installed base, with countless users that have spent innumerable hours figuring out how to use their software. But they seem intent on squandering this market advantage. Every other OS generation, they lay a big turd, motivating yet another chunk of their user base to shell out twice the bucks, and endure another learning curve, to switch to Apple. Or to Linux, if they value their money more than their time. They indulge in innumerable changes that are not actual improvements, and thus serve only to frustrate their user base.

The new help icon is just one case in point. I've used computers many hours daily since the 1970's. I spent years writing software. I have managed a software development team for decades. And I was on a mission to find that icon, but still couldn't see it. The "?" symbol is in maybe a 6-pt font, and is placed in the opposite corner of the screen from the other controls. I must admit, however, that it is brilliant GUI design in comparison to the "Charms" of Windows 8. Which are totally invisible until you are trained, lucky enough, or perhaps divinely inspired to cursor off the corner of the screen in just the right place.

Of course, not being able to find the Microsoft help menu is really not much of a loss. I find that Googling a problem is much more helpful.

My theory is that the generation of programmers currently running amok at Microsoft were raised on video games. You know, the ones where all the fun comes from spending hours doing trial and error, being killed and then being reborn, until you finally stumble on the trick that lets you advance to the next level. Well, that's fine and dandy for video games. But it's total BS for professional productivity software.

One of my best software engineers recently turned 40. He's way better with computers than I'll ever be. And he just recently said to me "When I use Microsoft software, I always feel like I have to trick it into doing what I want."

End of rant. For now.

[garys]

"One of my best software engineers recently turned 40. He's way better with computers than I'll ever be. And he just recently said to me "When I use Microsoft software, I always feel like I have to trick it into doing what I want."

That is the best description I've heard of Microsoft in many years. I gave up on Microsoft when Windows 95 came out. I found it too limiting to use. My theory is that software should work the way the user wants, not the way the dictator wants. That eliminates Microsoft.

[JPG]

It is just like all the other Icons on the screen. Hover over it with the mouse and it tells you what it does.

"Paint Help(F1)
Get help on using Paint."

Another example of the 'new improved' software requiring an extra step/action from the !user!


How is that an extra step?

Before Icons you had menu buttons (and we still have them) that you clicked on and then had to find the function you want and then click on that and sometimes it opened another menu with more items.

How in the world can directly clicking on the ? mark that is always displayed on the window and opening the Help screen be an extra step?

Of course YOU have to learn the program you are using. I know we have been used to the way things have been for a long time but we also need to adapt and learn the way things are now. Times change.

Go back 'BW'(before windows).

Things were 'spelled out, therefore no requirement to move any muscles other than to actually select those things.

'Hovering' is an extra step.

'Double' clicking is an extra step)one which I eliminate when I know how to).

Icons are fine for those illiterates(my self included) who do not comprehend the language of the software(app)[program to me] creator.

Back in those dark days(preGUI) all was spelled out. Oh a key letter may have been 'colored' to indicate a shortcut.

In the AARP smart driver course, an MIT guru states "older drivers do not dislike technology, they just do not like bad technology". Much of recent software 'improvements' are not good IMHO. Much of it is un justified(an improvement where none is justified nor desired nor useful.

What really irks me is the extra wheel spinning required by a mouse or touch pad. One must move the 'pointer' to enable selecting something or abort a current action, THEN push a button etc.. The escape key used to be quick and dirty to accomplish the same thing.

Yes many things are improved with the addition of mice etc., but not always to a fault.

Inconsistency is another thing. I am currently away from 'home' using a wi-fi 'facility' that the user id is case sensitive as is the password. That is not typical(usually only the password is case sensitive).

Changes which provide an improvement are good. Change for change's sake(or obsolesence) are neither.

End Rant!

[jsburger]

Whew, do you feel better now? I guess I could dig out my VIC-20. That is before Microsoft let alone Windows.