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Working with Windows

A new window appears on the front of the screen when you open almost any icon. Unlike screens, windows usually cover only a portion of the display area. Although several windows can be open on a screen at one time, only the selected window can accept information. The selected window's border or frame is a different color than the other windows on the screen.

Several open windows on one screen often overlap one another. To see particular windows, arrange them using the gadgets in the window's border; as explained on page 3-7. Windows can also be manipulated using the Window menu.

The following sections describe the mouse operations that can be performed with windows, including selecting, opening, and dragging.

Selecting Windows

To select a window, click the selection button anywhere inside the window or its title bar, but not over an icon. To deselect a window, click anywhere outside that window.

When a window is selected, the frame surrounding the window changes color. Only one window can be selected at a time. The selected window is the one that accepts your mouse and keyboard input.

Opening a Window

Double-clicking on an icon opens a window or starts a program. Adjust the time allotted for a double-click with the Input Preferences editor, explained in Chapter 5.

Dragging a Window

When several windows are open on the Workbench screen, they might overlap each other. Rearrange the windows on the screen by dragging them, to show the information presented in all the windows.

To drag a window:

  1. Point of the title bar, but make sure the pointer is not over any of the gadgets at either end.
  2. Hold down the selection button and move the mouse. An outline of the window appears and moves across the screen.
  3. Drag the outline into position and then release the selection button. The window appears in the new location.

AppWindows

An AppWindow is a type of window that allows you to drag an icon into it to run a program or display files that the icon represents. The following are AppWindows:

MultiView window

Displays the text, graphic, or animation represented by the icon. For more information about MultiView, see Chapter 4.

IconEdit window

Has three separate blocks into which you can drag an icon for editing. For more information about IconEdit, see Chapter 10.

File requesters

Displays the path of the files represented by the icon. For more information on file requesters see page 3-20.

Preferences editor windows

Presets can be dragged into the Preferences editors windows for loading.

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