MSC Computer Training Glossary

Active

A window is active when it is on the top of the desktop display and its title bar is highlighted.

Adobe PageMaker

A desktop publishing program for preparing documents and publicity materials. This program is especially useful for items that incorporate both text and graphics.

Byte

A data storage unit equal to the amount of space required to hold a single character. A kilobyte (KB) is about one thousand bytes. A megabyte (MB) is about one million bytes. A gigabyte (GB) is about one billion bytes.

CD-ROM Drive

A device that reads information from a compact disk.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Often referred to as a microprocessor, it is a silicon chip located inside the system unit that controls and regulates all computer processes.

Claris FileMaker Pro

A database program for designing and maintaining lists of related data that can be sorted and reported as needed.

Contact Management Program

A program that facilitates tracking information about and contact with people and organizations. This is especially useful to the MSC for managing donor information.

Control Panel

A program you can use to customize the appearance and operation of Windows95.

Database

A structured collection of related information which can be processed and reported as desired.

Default

Settings that are automatically assigned by a program or system until the user specifically changes them.

Desktop

The initial display on the computer screen on which windows, icons, menus, and dialog boxes display.

Dialog Box

A window containing options you select to continue or complete a task.

Disk Drive

A permanent storage device with magnetic heads that ead information on a diskette and writes information to a diskette.

Diskette (aka Floppy Disk)

A removable computer storage medium consisting of a plastic shell that contains a disk covered with a megnetic coating.

Extension

Identifies how a file is used or which program generated the file. For example, the extension ".xls" identifies a file as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

File

A collection of data stored on a disk under an identifying name.

File Maintenance

Any task you carry out to organize files and folders on your system.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

A program for transferring documents and other files between two networked computers. This program will be useful for transferring WordPerfect documents on Robin Hood to the new MSC file server. Within the MSC on Windows95 machines, a "Winsock FTP" program called "WS_FTP95 LE" is used.

Folder

An area on a disk where you store a group of related files under an identifying name. In the past on PCs, folders have also been called "directories".

Format

The appearance of a document, including margins, fonts, paragraph spacing, etc. Also, the process of preparing a disk to store data.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Simplifies computer operations on the desktop by using graphic symbols, called icons, to represent complex commands.

Hard Disk (aka Hard Drive)

A magnetic storage media located within your local system unit or a remote server that can store large quantities of data.

Help

A software tool that provides helpful information about how to properly accomplish a task. It provides both a topical index and a keyword search feature. Help is available for every major commercial software program.

Icon

A graphics symbol that represents a program, document or hardware.

Maximize

Enlarges a window, displaying it as a full screen on the desktop.

Menu Bar

The horizontal bar near the top of a window that displays the names of menus from which you can access features and perform tasks.

Microsoft Excel

A spreadsheet program that you can use to perform numerical calculations and bookkeeping tasks.

Microsoft PowerPoint

A program that you can use to design presentation materials. The documents created in PowerPoint can be printed, displayed with a video projector or recorded on film for use in a slide projector.

Microsoft Schedule+

A personal appointment calendar program that you can use to keep track of appointments, meetings, contacts, and events. Using special software on a network server it can be integrated with the appointment calendars of other users to schedule meetings.

Microsoft Word

A word processing program that you can use to create, edit, format, and save documents.

Minimize

Reduces a window to a task button, representing an open application, on the taskbar.

Mouse

The device that enables you to point to and click or drag objects to select and act upon them instead of having to use the keyboard. Unlike a typical Macintosh, a typical mpouse for a PC has two buttons. Although the left button is used for most functions, "right-clicking" (pressing the right mouse button) can enable you to perform alternate functions.

Netscape

A world-wide web (WWW) browser for viewing web pages on the Internet. This browser will also be used for accessing certain MSC financial information such as Fund Accounting Query and for electronic mail.

Object

Any item in the Windows95 environment you can manipulate or modify.

Object Menus

Context-sensitive menus you display by right-clicking on objects.

Properties

The characteristics of an object. For example, the background design is a property of the desktop.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The main memory of a PC which exists only when the power is turned on. Any information located in memory may be preserved by saving it on a disk.

Recycle Bin

A folder that stores deleted folders and files. This is comparable to the "Trash Can" on a Macintosh.

Screen Saver

A program that blanks the desktop display on the monitor when the keyboard and mouse have been untouched for a specific period of time. This prevents the monitor from having the images on the desktop "burned" into the screen.

Scroll Bars

Window components used to view the contents of a window when the contents cannot be contained in the display window.

Server (aka Host)

Another computer connected to a network that provides services that can be shared by multiple users. Services may include file storage, backup and retrieval, database repository, web page delivery, and email "post office" functions. Within the MSC several servers are used for these different tasks. All documents should be stored on a server to ensure safekeeping and availability.

Shortcut

An object you create and use to perform a task or access a resource more quickly than usual. This is comparable to an "alias" on a Macintosh.

Start Button

The button in the task bar that you click on to display the Start menu.

Start Menu

A menu that displays when you click in the Start button. You click on a selection in the Start menu to start programs, open documents, or find files.

System Menu

A menu you can use to move, size, and close a window. You can display the system menu by clicking on the system menu icon in the upper-left corner of a window.

Task Bar

The bar at the bottom of the desktop that contains the Start button and task buttons representing open windows.

Task Button

Buttons in the task bar that represent open applications and windows.

Task Switching

A method of switching between open windows to view the contents of multiple windows, or copy data. You can use the task buttons in the taskbar to switch from one window to another. You can also click in a window or use <Alt Tab>.

Telnet

A program used to remotely login to another computer on the network. Within a window you may interact with the other computer in just the same way as if you were directly connected to it with a terminal. Within the MSC, a telnet program called "Anzio Lite" is used to connect from Windows95 machines to Robin Hood.

Template

A predesigned document for a particular purpose. For example, a memo template would enable you to generate a memo with header information and formatting already done.

Title Bar

Displays the document and window name, the system menu icon, and the minimize, maximize and close buttons.

Tool Bar

A row of buttons you can click on to perform tasks and change displays within a window.

Window

A framed area on the desktop that contains an application, document, icon or task.

Windows Explorer

A dual-pane window you can use to view and manage drives, folders, and files; start programs; and access resources such as the Control Panel or a printer.

Wizard

A software tool that assists you step by step with performing a certain task. Microsoft Office95 programs provide wizards for many tasks.