Using Menu Commands

Windows XP menus offer you a list of actions that a program can perform. Every window has menu names listed in the menu bar at the top of the window. Menu commands are organized in groups, and most Windows XP programs share a similar menu layout. For example, a File menu usually contains commands that relate to the file as a whole, such as saving, opening, closing, printing, and exiting.

To use a menu command, click the menu name, and then click the command you want from the menu. A typical menu is shown in Figure M2-15. You can choose only one menu item at a time. Once you click the option, the command is executed. To choose another command on the same menu or to repeat the same command, you must open the menu again. Certain conventions run throughout Windows menus, as shown in Table M2-4.

Using Menu Commands - Windows XP Introduction

Figure M2-15: The My Computer View Menu

Menu Convention	Meaning
Menu command is dimmed	The command does not apply to the current situation, and you cannot choose it.
Menu command is followed by a small triangle	Choosing the menu command brings up a submenu, which allows you to choose additional options.
Check mark appears to the left of a menu command	The command is currently in effect. Choose the command again and the check mark disappears, indicating that the command is no longer in effect.
Bullet appears to the left of a menu item	Some commands appear in groups where only one command can be chosen at a time. The currently selected command is marked with a bullet.
A letter of the menu command is underlined	Indicates that you can use the keyboard to choose the command by pressing that letter instead of using the mouse.

Table M2-4: Menu Conventions

Method:

To use menu commands:

1. In the menu bar, position the mouse pointer on the menu name.

2. Click the mouse button.

3. Position the mouse pointer on the desired menu command and click the mouse button.

Note: If a command is followed by a small triangle, you can either click the command or just point to the command to open its submenu.

To cancel menus:

1. Position the mouse pointer on the menu name and click the mouse button.

1. Position the mouse pointer outside the menu and click the mouse button.

1. Press Esc

Exersice:

In the following exercise, you will practice using menus.

1.	Open the My Computer window
2.	In the menu bar, position the mouse pointer on the menu name View
3.	Click the mouse button	The View menu appears.
4.	Position the mouse pointer on the command Arrange Icons and click the mouse button	The Arrange Icons submenu appears.
5.	Click anywhere outside the menu	The menu closes.
6.	In the menu bar, position the mouse pointer on the menu name File
7.	Click the mouse button	The File menu appears.
8.	Position the mouse pointer on the command Close and click the mouse button	The Close command closes the My Computer window.

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