< Previous | Contents (GEM) | Contents (DOS+) | Next >

8  GLOSSARY


accessory
See desk accessory.

active window
The window on which you can work; it is always displayed over any other windows. It may be a picture in Paint superimposed over another picture or any of the special windows produced by some commands – for example, the clock or item selector.

application
A computer program which perfoms a function for the user. Drawing, word-processing and accounts programs are examples of applications. The applications in the GEM package are Paint, Write and Desktop.

boot disc
Disc containing the data required to BOOT UP or prepare the computer. The DOS Plus boot disc used with GEM prepares the computer for the GEM package by loading the DOS Operating System.

click
To press and immediately release the lefthand or centre mouse button.

close
To close a window, folder or directory. Closing a window removes it from the screen. Closing a folder or directory moves up one level through the directory path.

close box
The butterfly symbol in the upper lefthand corner of a window. Clicking on this closes the window, or closes the directory if the window is the item selector.

command
Word or phrase in a drop-down menu which causes the program to take some action.

communication port
An outlet on the computer to which a hardware device can be connected.

cursor
Horizontal bar showing the position at which text will be added in a Write document. When Insert Mode is set ON, the cursor changes shape, appearing as a vertical line.

de-select
To remove the highlighting which indicates that an icon or text is selected and return it to its usual state.

desk accessory
A device accessed from the Desktop, Write, Output or Paint menu. An accessory performs a function which is independent of the main application in use. The accessories supplied are a clock, a calculator, a camera (snapshot) and a print spooler. Additional accessories may be added.

dialogue
A message or question(s) issued by GEM in response to a command.

directory
A collection of folders and/or documents stored in a single place and listed together by the item selector or displayed together in a Desktop window. For example, the contents of the GEMAPPS folder displayed on the Desktop comprise a directory.

directory path
The sequence of folders which must be opened to find a document or folder.

directory path name
Formal representation of the sequence of folders which must be opened to find a document or folder. The directory path name begins with a letter identifying the disc drive; folders are listed with the highest level first, each folder name being followed by a backslash ( \ ); the document name apppears at the end, with its suffix. The directory pathname of the document in use is reported in the title bar of the active window.

document
A picture or text file produced with Write or Paint. It has a suffix indicating its type (e.g. .DOC for a text document).

double-click
To press and release the lefthand mouse button twice in rapid succession.

drag
To hold down the lefthand mouse button, move the cursor across the screen by moving the mouse, and release the button.

drop-down menu
List of commands which are displayed ('drop down') when the pointer moves over the name of the menu in the menu bar.

embedded command
Line in a Write document beginning with two full stops (..) which gives an instruction controlling the presentation of the printed document. The command is not printed literally in the document, but may force a page break, define headers or footers, record an unprinting comment, mark the place of an inserted Paint document or alter the current page number.

folder
Item in which documents or other folders are stored. It is analogous to a real folder.

font
Set of letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols of a consistent design.

footer
Line of text printed at the foot of each page of a text document.

format (disc)
To prepare a disc to receive data. A new disc must be formatted before it can be used. Discs used with GEM should be formatted as 640Kb (for the Boot disc) or 800Kb (for the Program and Data discs, and for any additional discs for storing created documents).

format (text)
To reposition text after editing so that it is aligned between the margins and is continuous within each paragraph.

full size box
Diamond shaped box in the upper righthand corner of a window; clicking on the full size box returns the window to its full size, or reduces it to its last size if it is already full size.

header
Line of text printed at the top of each page of a text document.

icon
Pictorial representation of a disc, application, folder or document. Any operation performed on an icon causes the computer to take the equivalent action with the corresponding data, etc. For example, deleting a document icon causes the data stored under the name of that document to be erased from the disc.

item
Application, folder or document in a directory.

item selector
Window displayed when a choice of document or a name for a new document is required. The item selector lists the documents in the current directory; the directory path name is shown in the top line of the window. To select an item, click on it or type its name in the selection line, and press the RETURN key or click on OK. If the required item is not in the current directory, move through the directory path by clicking on the close box and opening other folders by clicking on them. Folders are identified by diamond shapes to the left of their names.

memory
Temporary data store within the computer. Data stored only in the computer's memory will be lost on leaving the system or turning off the computer. As a safety precaution, always save your documents at frequent intervals during editing.

menu
List of commands or other options; click on the line offering the required function to select it.

menu bar
The bar along the top of the screen containing the names of the menus. Moving the pointer onto a name in the menu bar causes that menu to drop down.

mouse
Box with buttons; moving the mouse causes a corresponding movement of the pointer across the screen. Items and menu commands are selected by pressing the lefthand button when the pointer is over the required line or icon.

open
Display the contents of a disc directory, application, folder or document. Opening a document makes it available for editing. Opening a folder causes the contents of the folder to be displayed, either in a new Desktop window, or in the item selector if the folder is selected from this. Opening an application (the Paint or Write icon) starts the appropriate program and displays the screen with a new, empty document. Opening a disc icon displays the contents of the disc in a new Desktop window. An icon can be opened by double-clicking, or by clicking and then choosing the Open command from the File menu. In Paint or Write, a document is opened by selecting the Open . . . command from the File menu and supplying the document name to the item selector.

operating system
A large collection of programs which governs the internal management of the computer. The operating system coordinates the hardware and software, retrieves and interprets data input from the keyboard or disc drive and performs all types of controlling operations.

pointer
Indicator of position on the screen, usually in the form of an arrow. It moves corresponding to the movement of the mouse. The pointer changes shape during some operations.

save
Transfer information from the computer's memory to disc for permanent storage. It is advisable to save documents frequently to prevent substantial loss of data in the event of a power or computer failure, or accidental deletion of the document from the computer's memory.

scroll bar
Shaded area in the right or lower margin (or both) of many windows. Clicking on the shaded area causes a different part of the window to be displayed. The position of the slider indicates which part of the window is currently visible; click on the scroll bar to the right of the horizontal slider to display an area of window to the right of that displayed, click on the scroll bar below the vertical slider to display a lower part of the window, and so on. If no scroll bars are present, the entire window is visible. If one scroll bar is missing, the part currently visible extends to the limit of the window in that direction. For example, if there is no scroll bar above the vertical slider in a Write window, the beginning of the document is on screen.

select
To choose a menu item, icon or Paint symbol by clicking on it. Selecting a menu item causes a command to be executed; selecting an icon designates that icon as the one which will be affected by the next action or command; selecting a Paint symbol makes that the current tool, colour or pattern.

shift-click
Press and immediately release the lefthand button on the mouse whilst holding down either the SHIFT key on the keyboard or the righthand button on the mouse. Shift-clicking is used to select several items at once on the Desktop.

size box
Symbol in the lower righthand corner of many windows; drag the size box to modify the size of the window.

slider
Clear rectangle within the scroll bar. The size and position of the slider corresponds to the area of the window currently visible on the screen.

title bar
Bar across the top of a window reporting the name of the document or directory displayed in the window. When two windows are visible, the title bar of the active window is highlighted.

unavailable command
Menu command which is not currently available; unavailable commands appear in faint type.

window
Rectangular area displaying a document, directory, desk accessory or item selector. Only part of the document or directory may be present, in which case scroll bars and sliders indicate the area which is visible. Many windows have a title bar, menu bar, and size, full size and close boxes. More than one window may be present on the screen at once, but only one can be used (the active window).

< Previous | Contents (GEM) | Contents (DOS+) | Next >

About the Master 512 | Bibliography