Windows 8.1 - Touch Screen Actions

Amazing Windows 8.1 Tip:

Working With a Touch Screen

Many of the directions for Windows 8.1 actions call for you to tap, pinch, slide or swipe. I thought you should see what each of these actions looks like and the result you should expect. I've also included the mouse alternative in case you don't have a touch screen.

In general, here are the mouse/touch equivalents
Mouse              Touch
Click                  Tap
Double Click      Double Tap
Right Click         Press and Hold, then release when a box appears
Drag                  Drag

Direction	Touch Action	Mouse Action	What it Does
Tap	Tap with one quick down up movement on an item. Just like striking a key on the keyboard.	Click the left mouse button once	Opens, selects, or activates whatever you tap.
Press and hold	Press your finger down and hold for about a second.	Click with the right mouse button	Shows info to help you learn more about an item or opens a menu specific to what you're doing. For example, press and hold a tile on the Start screen to rearrange, resize, or pin it. Only works for some items.
Pinch or stretch to zoom	Touch the screen or an item with two or more fingers, and then move the fingers toward each other (pinch) or away from each other (stretch).	Hold down the Ctrl key and press the + or - key	Visually zooms in or out, like with pictures or maps. A good place to explore this is the Start screen.
Slide to scroll	Drag your finger on the screen.	Just as with other windows, use the scroll bar along the bottom of the screen	Moves through what’s on the screen. Similar to scrolling with a mouse.
Slide to rearrange	Press and briefly drag an item in the direction opposite the way the page scrolls, and then move it wherever you want. (For example, if you would scroll left or right, drag the item up or down first.) When you've moved the item to the new location, let it go.	Hold down the left mouse button and drag the item.	Moves an item.
Swipe to select	Swipe an item with a short, quick movement in the direction opposite the way the page scrolls. For example: If the page scrolls left or right, swipe the item up or down to select it. If the page scrolls up or down, swipe the item left or right to select it.	Click once with the right mouse button	Selects an item, and often brings up app commands. A good place to explore this is in the Mail app.
Swipe or slide from the edge	Starting on the edge, either swipe your finger quickly or slide across the screen without lifting your finger.	Move to the appropriate area of the screen and hold down the left mouse button and drag in the appropriate direction. See “What it does” column for examples.	·        Open the charms (Search, Share, Start, Devices, Settings). Swipe in from the right edge. ·        Open a recently used app. Swipe in from the left edge. Keep swiping to switch between all of your recently used apps. ·        Open another app at the same time. Slide in from the left edge without lifting your finger and drag the app until a divider appears. Then move the app where you want it, and slide the divider to adjust the app size. ·        See a list of recently used apps. Slide in from the left edge without lifting your finger, and then push the app back toward the left edge. ·        Show commands for the current apps, like New and Refresh. Swipe in from the top or bottom edge. ·        Close an app. Slide down from the top edge without lifting your finger, and then drag the app to the bottom of the screen.

My book,  Amazing Windows 8.1 Tips, will be available shortly. Click the Subscribe button on the right so I can let you know when it's ready for purchase.

Happy Computing!

Diane

Don't forget to click the Subscribe to 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days via email link on the right side of the screen so you get email alerts when Diane adds a new post.

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Diane McKeever, the writer of 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days, by subscribing to her Facebook posts or visiting her web page, www.dianemckeever.com . 

Windows 8.1 - Customizing the Start Screen

Windows 8.1 Tip:

Customizing the Start Screen - Working With Tiles

Microsoft placed on the Start Screen all of the tiles they felt you would need, most of them tied to programs that they have a vested interest in! They created a few groups of tiles to make it easier for you to find the tile you would like to use. They made the tiles different sizes, again based on some decision by a Microsoft committee. It is very easy for you to customize the Start Screen by moving tiles around, creating your own groups and resizing the tiles.

Creating a Tile Group:
When you press and hold, either using your finger on the screen or your mouse button, you can then drag the tile to the left or right and move it to another group or create a new group of tiles. When you drag your tile to the far right, to the right of any existing groups, and release your mouse or finger, a new group is formed. Once a new group is created you can name the group by clicking in the group name box located above and to the left of the newly established group.

Rearranging Tiles in a Group:
To rearrange a tile within a group use your mouse or finger to click/press and drag the tile around. Depending on the size of the tile, other tiles within the group might also be rearranged. If you are using your finger and are having trouble accomplishing this because the page scrolls and the tile does not move, briefly drag the tile up or down before dragging left or right.

Rearranging Tile Groups:
Whole groups of tiles can be moved to the left or right. Zoom out by either pinching your fingers on the screen or using Ctrl + - (minus) on the keyboard. You will then be able to move entire groups by holding and dragging using your fingers or the mouse.

Changing the Size of a Tile:
Most tiles can be resized to four sizes, small, medium, wide and large. Not all four sizes will be available for all tiles, and I don't know why that is, but you should have at least two sizes to choose from. To resize the tiles using a mouse, right click on the tile. If you have a touch screen, press and hold for about a second. When you release you will see a series of icons along the lower left of the screen. Click the one identified as Resize and you will see the choices for that tile. Once the tile is resized, other tiles may move to compensate for the resized tile.

You can resize multiple tiles at the same time. Once you have selected one tile using the directions above, continue clicking tiles until all you want to modify are selected. Use the Resize option at the bottom to choose a size for all the selected tiles.

Adding an App Tile to the Start Screen:
Microsoft supplied you with a group of tiles that they felt you should work with. Now that you see how easily you can move them around to better suit your style, you might also be interested in adding apps that are on your computer but not part of Microsoft's scheme. First you have to find the app. You can do this by swiping Up on the Start screen with your finger or click the down arrow on the Start Screen to see more apps. When you hold your finger on an app or right click on the app, a Pin To Start option will appear along the bottom of the screen. The app will appear in one of the groups, use the techniques described above to move the app to a different group or resize the tile.

My book,  Amazing Windows 8.1 Tips, should be out shortly. Click the Subscribe button on the right so I can let you know when it's available for purchase.

Happy Computing!

Diane

Don't forget to click the Subscribe to 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days via email link on the right side of the screen so you get email alerts when Diane adds a new post.

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Diane McKeever, the writer of 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days, by subscribing to her Facebook posts or visiting her web page, www.dianemckeever.com . 

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

So, have you learned to love Windows 8 yet? Maybe yes, maybe no, but here are some keyboard shortcuts that you might like to include in your use of it. Don't forget the Windows key has the little windows flag on it.

Keyboard Shortcut	Action
Windows key	Go to the Start screen or toggle between the Start screen and your previous location
Windows-C	Open the Charms bar
Windows-D	Show the Desktop
Windows-E	Open File Explorer
Windows-F	Go to Files in the Search charm
Windows-H	Go to the Share charm
Windows-I	Go to the Settings charm
Windows-K	Go to the Devices charm
Windows-L	Lock the computer
Windows-M	Minimize all windows (only on the Desktop)
Windows-O	Lock/Unlock the screen orientation
Windows-Q	Go to Apps in the Search charm
Windows-R	Launch the Run box
Windows-T	Put the focus on the taskbar and cycle through your running Desktop apps
Windows-U	Open the Ease of Access Center
Windows-V	Cycle through your notifications
Windows-W	Go to Settings in the Search charm
Windows-X	Open a menu of tools for power users
Windows-Z	Launch the App bar (or make it disappear if it's already showing)
Windows-1 through 9	Go to the app in the corresponding position on the taskbar (Desktop only)
Windows-, (comma)	Peek at the Desktop (on Desktop only)
Windows-spacebar	Switch the input language and keyboard layout (launch Narrator)
Windows-Home	Minimize non-active Desktop apps
Windows-Page Up	Move Start screen to left monitor
Windows-Page Down	Move Start screen to right monitor
Windows-up arrow	Maximize a Desktop app
Windows-down arrow	Restore/minimize a Desktop app
Windows-F1	Run Windows Help and Support
Windows + +	Launch Magnifier and zoom in
Windows + -	Zoom out
Windows + Tab	Switch between running apps

My book, 100 Amazing Computer Tips, should be out in a shortly. Click the Subscribe button on the right so I can let you know when it's available for purchase.

Happy Computing!

Diane

Don't forget to click the Subscribe to 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days via email link on the right side of the screen so you get email alerts when Diane adds a new post.

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Diane McKeever, the writer of 100 Computer Tips in 100 Days, by subscribing to her Facebook posts or visiting her web page, www.dianemckeever.com .