Using the program

Every program is different, so no hard-and-fast rules apply to all programs. However, most programs do
share some common themes. For example, most programs provide access to their features via menu
commands, which you can get to by clicking the options in the menu bar near the top of the window.
Many programs offer toolbars, which just provide simple one-click access to the more commonly used
menu commands.
Even though all programs are different, and therefore offer different commands, many programs’ menu
bars offer the options in this list:
• File: Use this menu to open, save, and close documents, as well as to print the document
currently shown within the program’s document area.
• Edit: Use this menu to access basic editing commands, as well as Cut, Copy, and Paste, for
copying and moving items within a document, or from one document to another.
• View: Use this menu to hide and display toolbars and to choose different ways to view the
document you’re working on.
• Format: Use this menu to format (change something about the appearance of) something
within the document.
• Tools: This menu contains any special tools that the program offers. It also might offer an
Options or Preferences option, which enables you to better tailor certain features of the
program to your own needs.
• Window: If the program you’re using enables you to have several documents open at the
same time, the Window menu will provide options for arranging the document windows,
and for easily jumping from one window to the next.
• Help: As you know, this menu provides help for the program.
Most programs that enable you to edit documents work on a “select, then do” basis. First select the item
within the document that you want to change, move, edit, delete, or whatever. To select text, drag the
mouse pointer through it. To select a picture, click the picture. After you’ve made a selection, you’ll
typically find the commands for working with the selected item on the Edit or Format menu.