Multiple Confusion
February 22, 2000
© 2000, Douglas E. Welch
As if there weren't enough confusing things about computers, software
manufacturers seem determined to confuse things even farther. Certainly computers have many benefits for us, but too often
programmers go "hog wild" with features that give us too many
ways to get into too much trouble.
One of the most confusing features of any computer program is
the ability to perform any command or action in several different
ways. When you are learning a new computer program this flexibility
can turn into a detriment. Sometimes you need to learn one way
of doing something before you are presented with all the possible
options.
In an effort to help you sort out all the options, here is an
explanation of your options and when you might want to use each
one
Three different ways
For most Windows and Macintosh software there are usually 3 different
ways to accomplish any particular task or command. Each of these
methods has its benefits and it is your choice which option works
best for you in each situation. In reality, once you learn how
to do something in one way you can ignore the others. There is
no rule that you have to use everything the programmer provided
in the software. Remember, you're in charge of your computer so
what you chose to do is always best.
Menus
Most computer users, especially those just starting out with computers,
rely on the menus (i.e. File, Edit, Format, etc.) that appear
in each program to execute commands. Menus are very easy to use
since you can simply look in each menu for a command if you cannot
remember where it is. I call this "browsing" and it is a big improvement
over the old computer programs that made you memorize special
keystrokes to get anything done. With menus, any command you might
need is available in the menus, you only need to locate the commands.
As you use the program you will eventually learn where the commands
are located, but you are still able to get work done in the meantime.
Toolbars
Toolbars, usually a series of buttons arranged directly below
the menus, are an attempt by programmers to help you work more
quickly. These buttons allow you "one-click" access to more common
commands such as Open, Close, Save, etc. It is important to remember
that these buttons merely duplicate the functions found in the
menus. For example, clicking on the "Open" button in a toolbar
is the same as clicking on the File Menu and then clicking Open.
There is one caveat with using toolbar buttons, though. Sometimes
they act as a shortcut and may not give you all the options provided
by the menu choice. For example, Clicking on the Print button
usually just prints the current document directly. If you want
to print only a portion of the current document or print multiple
copies you will need to use the Print command from the File menu.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Finally, the fastest way to execute commands on your computer
is by using keyboard shortcuts. In each menu you will see a keyboard
shortcut listed to the right of nearly every command. For example,
Clicking on the File menu and then clicking on Save can also be
accomplished by holding down the Control key and pressing the
S key.
As you spend more time with your computer you will slowly progress
from using menu commands alone to some combination of menus, toolbars
and keyboard shortcuts. You will develop your own style just as
you have with other aspects of your life. You don't have to conform
to anyone else's methods. Use whatever works best for you.
Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and computer consultant
in Van Nuys, California. He also writes Career Opportunities, a weekly column on high-tech careers and A Gardener's Notebook. You can find more of Douglas' writing on his web page at: http://www.welchwrite.com/
He can reached via email at douglas@welchwrite.com
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