nic shulver, [email protected] using operating systems introduction many users of windows...

Nic Shulver, [email protected]

Using Operating SystemsIntroduction

Many users of Windows don’t know how to get the best out of the system:-

File ExplorerFile handlingDrag-and-Drop

The command prompt - the DOS/UNIX legacySome navigation commandsHelp, simple network tools


Using Operating SystemsExplorer – File Handling

Customised file and folder view

View|Details is on

Toolbars have been moved around



Multiple file selection:-To select every item in a view

Press CTRL+AOr Edit|Select All

To select a range of itemsclick on the first oneShift-click on the last oneAll the items will be selected

Why are there many ways to select items?

Why a combined mouse and keyboard command?

Is this Windows-only stuff?

Note: the “current directory” is d:\j2sdk1.4.1The “root directory” is therefore d:\A subdirectory of the current directory is “demo”

NB single integrated filing system in Unix



Multiple file selection:-To select multiple items NOT grouped

togetherclick on the first oneCtrl-click on each other item

Note: we can navigate by clicking on directory names in the left-hand “Folders” panel.It is also possible to navigate by double-clicking on directory names in the right-hand panel.



The right-click context menuRight-click on a file (or a highlighted

selection of files)Check out the available options on the

pop-up context menu

Note the example menu shown has been customised by add-on software

File PropertiesReally useful – check for file size, type,

various other status checks (e.g. read-only)

Why do the “size” and “size on disk” values differ?


Using Operating SystemsExplorer – Drag and Drop

One of the least used and most useful abilities of many GUIs is called “drag and drop”

For exampleopen Windows Media PlayerSelect some music files in ExplorerClick down and hold the filesDrag them across to Media PlayerRelease the mouse button to drop the files


Using Operating SystemsThe Command prompt

Windows supports a DOS-style command prompt window with some UNIX-like properties

It is a text-only interface – you can usually find it in Start|Programs|Accessories|Command Prompt, or Start|Run… CMD (or COMMAND)

You need to know the commands to type in!First thing to try: HELP


Using Operating SystemsThe Command prompt

It doesn’t look very friendlyBut it can be a very powerful toolThis is what most computer interfaces looked

like until the mid-1980’sUseful commands:

help, dir, cd, cls, copy, xcopy, doskey, exit, recover, tree, ver


Using Operating SystemsSome commands

“dir” does a directory listingdir /p - lists one page at a timedir /b - lists bare, basic informationdir /? - gets detailed help

“cd” changes the current directory (navigation)cd directoryname – moves into the named directorycd .. – moves back one directorycd \ - moves to the root directory

c.f. The “ls” command in Unix

c.f. The “cd” command in Unix

Example of “dir /p”, a directory listing one page at a time

Note the field order – date, time, type/size, name

This order is UNIX-style

The Windows 95 command prompt is DOS-style (the other way round)

The Explorer view is also the other way around – shows its roots


Using Operating SystemsNetwork tools

There are some simple but powerful network tools built into Windows

For example, “ipconfig” will tell you about your Internet Protocol network configuration

“ping” will let you send test packets to a computer and test whether they get back safely

This is like submarine sonar “ping” signals

IPConfig reports IP address informationPinging an address is a simple test of connectivity

Why is this “ping” command so fast?


Using Operating SystemsSummary

We have seen how Explorer and other programs allow us to be more sophisticated in our use of Windows

We have seen the legacy, text-only “command prompt”Some navigation commandsSome simple network tools

GUIs give users choice of interaction styles

nic shulver, [email protected] using operating systems introduction many users of windows...

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