Microsoft Office

The Microsoft Office suite is an essential collection of desktop applications that includes Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, Access for databases and much more. Choose your version of Microsoft Office to begin learning.

• Office 2010
• Office 2007
• Office 2003
• Office XP
• Office 2000
• Career
• Computers
• Windows

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Conclusion

Now it is your turn to play. Take some time to explore the themes, customize a few Gadgets and adjust the ClearType on your screen. Practice using the Aero features and Pin your favorite programs to the Taskbar. Change your user account picture and choose a screen saver.
While we covered the major features, there are likely additional ways in which you can personalize your Desktop. If interested, open the Appearance and Personalization pane and continue to explore.

Windows 7 User Account Pictures

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Personalize Font Settings

You may adjust the Font Settings and Cleartype on your Desktop based on your preferences.

Change Font

1. From the Search bar in the Start Menu, type and select Fonts.
2. Select the Font you desire from the Fonts pane.

Sample Font selections

To change font size

1. Adjust the Font Size by selecting Change Font Size from the menu on the left of the Fonts pane.
2. Select the desired font size and click Apply.
 Change font size

Please note that a larger font size may interfere with how some items are displayed on the screen.

Clear Type

You may also adjust the ClearType for your screen. ClearType helps improve the readability of text on LCD monitors and screens.

• To adjust ClearType, select Adjust ClearType text from the menu on the left of the Fonts pane and following the steps for selecting the text that appears the best to you.

ClearType sample text

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Gadgets

Gadgets can be added to the Desktop based on convenience and appeal.

1. In the Search bar of the Start Menu, type and select Gadgets.
Desktop Gadgets
2. Select and drag the Gadgets you desire and place them anywhere you want on the Desktop.

You may Go online for more Gadgets .

Customizing a Gadget

Instructions: Click on the numbers in the interactive to learn more about customizing your Gadget

See the below options pane for an example of how you can change the face and time zone on the Clock Gadget.

Customizing the Clock Gadget

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Personalize Your Desktop's Background and Themes

Watch the video (3:15). Need help?

Windows 7 has some amazing new themes and backgrounds to choose from. They include vivid photography, digital artwork and Aero themes that use color and glass effects in an appealing way.

Watch the video to review themes and ideas for personalizing your desktop.

Themes and Background

In the Search bar of the Start Menu, type and select Personalization.
Instructions: Click on the numbers in the interactive to learn more about the options in the Personalization pane.

Review and select a desired theme or background. You may search online for more themes by selecting Get more themes online in My Themes.

Sample Architecture Theme

Sample Digital Animation Theme

Sample Name Brand Theme

Sample International Theme

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More Taskbar Features

Instructions: Click on the numbers in the interactive to learn more about the additional Taskbar icons.

Show Desktop

To Peek at the Desktop without closing windows:

1. Hover the mouse over the Show Desktop button.
Show Desktop button
2. The windows will become transparent allowing you to see the Desktop.
Show Desktop makes windows transparent
3. Click on the Show Desktop button to close the windows.
4. Click again and the windows will return.

Action Center

Older versions of Windows had pesky "pop-up" notifications that appeared whenever there was a security issue or warning regarding an action you were taking. Windows 7 allows you to customize how often you view these notifications through the Action Center. The Action Center icon in the Taskbar will allow you to view and take action on any notifications that you have received.

Action Center notifications

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Personalize Your Desktop's Background and Themes

Watch the video (3:15). Need help?

Windows 7 has some amazing new themes and backgrounds to choose from. They include vivid photography, digital artwork and Aero themes that use color and glass effects in an appealing way.

Watch the video to review themes and ideas for personalizing your desktop.

Themes and Background

In the Search bar of the Start Menu, type and select Personalization.
Instructions: Click on the numbers in the interactive to learn more about the options in the Personalization pane.

Review and select a desired theme or background. You may search online for more themes by selecting Get more themes online in My Themes.

Sample Architecture Theme

Sample Digital Animation Theme

Sample Name Brand Theme

Sample International Theme

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Taskbar Features

Microsoft has improved the Taskbar by making it easier to view and access files and windows.

Watch the video to view the improvements to the Taskbar.

Watch the video (1:33). Need help?

The Taskbar View

When multiple windows are open in a program, the icon will look "stacked" on the Taskbar.

Stacked icons on the Taskbar

• Aero Peek will show you a thumbnail of each window when you hover the mouse over the icon on the Taskbar.
  Peek at open windows from the Taskbar
• If you wish, you can change the order of the icons by clicking and dragging the icon to whatever space you desire on the Taskbar.

Pin a Program to the Taskbar

You may Pin programs to the Taskbar and access them with a single click of the mouse.

• To Pin a program, drag it to the Taskbar and release.
  Drag program to Pin to the Taskbar
• To Unpin programs, simply right click on the icon and select Unpin.
  Right click to Unpin programs

Access a Jump List

A Jump List is like a "mini-menu" for a program. It allows quick access to recent files, frequently viewed items, performance tasks and more. For example, you may select frequently used websites with a simple click from the Internet Explorer Jump List.

• Right click on an icon to open the program's Jump List.
  Internet Explorer Jump List

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Windows 7 Desktop Features

Introduction

We would like to give you an overview of the Desktop features of Windows 7. Microsoft has added or improved upon several features, including introducing new themes, appealing graphic effects and Taskbar functions.

In this lesson, we will review the Aero features, discover the new Task Bar and learn how to personalize your Desktop. 

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Aero Features

Aero is a visual desktop experience that combines translucent windows, appealing color and graphics effects with convenient functionality. Aero includes Snap, Peek, Shake and Flip.

Watch the video to learn how the Aero features work on the Desktop.

Watch the video (2:42). Need help?

Snap

Snap allows you to resize open windows to make reviewing and comparing easier.

Overlapping windows

Side-by-side Snap view

1. Place the mouse at the top of the window, drag to the left or right of the screen, wait for the transparent window to appear and let go.
2. Your window should Snap into place.
3. To return to the full view, Snap the window to the top of the screen.

How to Snap windows

Peek

You can view your open windows on the Taskbar by using Peek. Simply scroll the mouse over the Taskbar icons and a thumbnail preview of the open windows will appear.

Aero Peek of the Taskbar

1. Hover the mouse over the windows in Peek and the full window will appear on your screen.
2. Click on the Peek preview to open the window or click on the "X" to close the window from the Peek view.
   See open window through Aero Peek

Shake

When your desktop is cluttered with open windows, you can use Shake to select a single window and close the rest.

1. Click on the top of the window you want to focus on, Shake it and the rest of the windows will disappear.
2. Simply Shake the window again and the closed windows will reappear.

Cluttered screen

Shake to clear screen

Flip

Flip and Flip 3D are two more ways you can preview your open windows.

View open windows with Aero Flip

1. Press and hold the Alt key + the Tab key to open the Flip view of your open windows.
2. While still pressing the Alt key, you can Flip through the open windows by pressing the Tab key.
3. Stop on the window you want to open and it will appear on the full screen.
   Aero Flip 3D View
4. Press and hold the Windows key + the Tab key for a 3D version of Flip. (Option - To keep Flip 3D open press Control + Windows key + Tab.)
5. Use the Tab key or Arrow keys to Flip through your open windows.

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