|
Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Thursday, July 19, 2001
In this Issue:
Featured Computer Term: Program
Topic: Changing Your Desktop Resolution
Progressive Learning Series: Spell Check
Featured Website: military.com
***********************************************************************
Today's Featured Computer Term: Program
A program is an organized list of instructions that, when executed, causes the computer to behave in a predetermined manner. Without programs, computers are useless.
A program is like a recipe. It contains a list of ingredients (called variables) and a list of directions (called statements) that tell the computer what to do with the variables. The variables can represent numeric data, text, or graphical images.
There are many programming languages -- C, C++, Pascal, BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, and LISP are just a few. These are all high-level languages. One can also write programs in low-level languages called assembly languages, although this is more difficult. Low-level languages are closer to the language used by a computer, while high-level languages are closer to human languages.
Eventually, every program must be translated into a machine language that the computer can understand. This translation is performed by compilers, interpreters, and assemblers.
When you buy software, you normally buy an executable version of a program. This means that the program is already in machine language -- it has already been compiled and assembled and is ready to execute.
***********************************************************************
Today's Topic: Changing Your Desktop Resolution
Do you wish you could fit more on your desktop? You could buy a new 19 or 21 inch monitor, but it's cheaper to increase your desktop resolution. The greater your resolution, the more Windows can squeeze onto the desktop at once.
1 - Right-click the desktop on a blank area
2 - Select Properties from the drop-down menu
3 - Click the Settings tab
4 - Under the "Screen Area" there is a slider bar control. Drag it to the right and watch the monitor sample.
5 - Click the "Apply" button and Windows will test your new settings.
If the new screen is acceptable, press OK to keep the new settings. If it doesn't look right, or doesn't display at all, do nothing for 15 seconds and Windows will return to your previous settings.
***********************************************************************
Progressive Learning Series: Spell Check
The Word Spell Check feature checks your document for general spelling errors, double words, words containing numbers, and irregular capitalization by comparing the words in your document with the words in the Word dictionary.
A word, a sentence, a section of a page, an entire page or an entire document can be checked for spelling errors. When a misspelled or unrecognized word is found, Spell Check offers possible alternatives so you can replace the error. Words may be added to the supplementary dictionary before, after or during the Spell Check session. To avoid having proper names flagged as incorrect spellings during the Spell Check session, add them to the supplementary dictionary.
Spell does not find errors in word usage (e.g., using their instead of there).
Spell check is found in the Tools pull down menu. However, Spell check will flag words not found with a jagged red underline. These words can be corrected immediately by pointing to the word, right clicking, then choosing the correct spelling from the menu that pops up.
***********************************************************************
Today's Featured Website: military.com
If you lost touch with friends you made in the armed services, you can track them down at Military.com, the portal site for military personnel and veterans. Register for free to use the Personnel Locator, where you can locate people by entering their name and branch of service.
You'll also find searchable listings for everything from unit reunions to military installations.
http://www.military.com |
