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Today's Featured Website: www.ezseek.com
"Where it's at on Long Island"
Nice website, presented by Cablevision. Good for finding things to do, places to go, on Long Island. It's got restaurant, movies, business and travel listings as well as weather, traffic, stocks and a link to TV guide. Check out the Coupons page.
http://www.ezseek.com
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Today's Featured Computer Term: File
A file is a collection of data or information that has a name, called the filename. All information stored in a computer must be in files.
There are two kinds of computer files: programs and data.
Programs: A Program is a file containing instructions to the computer. These instructions say things like, "If the print button is clicked, send the document to the printer," if the Word icon is double clicked, put the Word program on the screen," if Start, then Shut Down, then OK is clicked, turn the computer off.
Program files make the computer run and do all the things you tell it to do. Program files are in machine language that only a computer can read.
Programs always work the same way, so once they are on your hard drive they are rarely changed. When you run one, a copy is placed in memory. When you exit the program it is removed from memory. The original is still on your hard drive. You do not have to save a program file each time you use it, because it doesn't change. You use the same file over and over.
Data: Any stored information is data. And there are many kinds of data. The text you are reading is data, stored in a file. A picture that someone emails to you is data. Your check register that you just put into your spreadsheet program is data. The letter that you just typed into your word processing program is data. The photograph you took with your digital camera is data. The picture you drew in the Paint program is data. Data may be stored in many formats, and the one it uses depends on what kind of data it is.
In order to see Data you need a Program to display it. Another difference between Programs and Data is that Data can be changed. This is why you need to open it and save it. When you open your data file, it appears on the screen. While you are manipulating it (typing, drawing, adding, subtracting) it is in memory. So you have to save it onto your hard drive in order for your changes to be kept. Remember, memory is cleared whenever you turn off your computer. But whatever is on your hard drive is kept.
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Today's Topic: Storing Your Password on America Online
On AOL, it's possible to store your password so that you don't have to type it in every time you log on. However, you should only take advantage of this option if you're absolutely sure no other person will have access to your computer. For example, if you access AOL on your computer at work, it's possible that your computer isn't completely private; it's then worth taking a little extra time to enter your password in order to maintain the security of your AOL account.
It's a good idea to change your password periodically. When you do, remember that you will also need to change your stored password.
In Version 6.0, to store your password:
1. Sign on to America Online with the screen name for which you want to store the password.
2. On the Settings menu, click Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, click Passwords.
4. Type your password in the box and select the Sign On check box.
In Version 5.0, to store your password:
1. Sign on to America Online with the screen name for which you want to store the password.
2. From the My AOL menu, click Preferences. The Preferences window will appear.
3. Click Passwords.
4. Type your password in the box next to your screen name and select the Sign-On check box.
5. Click OK.
Important: Remember, if you store your password, anyone with access to your computer can sign on to your account. Any violations of AOL's Terms of Service (TOS) committed under your screen name are subject to TOS action, whether you were behind the keyboard or not. |
