1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.0 Main Content
3.1 using the mouse
3.1.1 Basic Techniques in the use of mouse 3.1.2 Using the Mouse to Draw a Picture 4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment 7.0 References/Further Reading 1.0 INTRODUCTION
A mouse is another input device which you will use to give your computer instructions. In this unit we will look at how a mouse works and then we will look at the basic techniques of how to use a mouse.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
• use the mouse to give your computer instructions
• use the mouse to draw a picture.
3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 Using a Mouse
The mouse became popular by its inclusion as standard equipment with the early Apple Macintosh computer system. With the increased popularity of GUI’s (GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE), the use of the mouse has grown throughout the personal computer and workstation worlds.
The basic features of a mouse are a casing, which has a flat bottom and is gripped by one hand. With one or more buttons on the top, the mouse has a multidirectional detection device, which is usually a ball on the bottom, and cable connecting the mouse to the computer.
Figure 1.7 Typical two button mouse
By moving the mouse on a flat surface (such as a desk or mouse pad), the ball turns inside the mouse, moving two sets of rollers that control an on-screen cursor.
A mouse is classified as a relative pointing device because there are no defined limits to the mouse’s movement and because its placement on a surface does not map directly to a specific screen location. To select items or choose commands on the screen, the user presses one of the mouse’s buttons, which produces a “mouse click”
Mouse Roller
Figure 1.8: Mouse ball and rollers
3.1.1 Basic Mouse Techniques
To use a mouse is relatively easy, but like most things, “practice makes perfect”.
The following list details the basic mouse and cursor movements:
Mouse Movement Cursor Movement
Push the mouse away from you (from the front to the back of the desk)
The cursor will move to the top of the screen
Pull the mouse toward you (from the back to the front of the desk)
The cursor will move to the bottom of the screen
Slide the mouse to the right The cursor will move to the right of the screen
Slide the mouse to the left The cursor will move to the left of the screen
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 Using the Mouse to Launch a Program
What you do Comments/Prompts
1. Start your computer and wait until WINDOWS loads and the desktop is displayed.
2. Locate the mouse pointer on the screen, it is a small white arrow
3. Slide the mouse away from the front of the desk toward the back of the desk. As you do this watch the pointer on the screen.
The mouse pointer will move
towards the top of the screen
4. Slide the mouse in any direction of your choice (remember to keep it on a flat surface). As you do this watch the pointer on the screen.
The mouse pointer will move in accordance with your instructions.
5. Next we will practice single clicking. Move the pointer until it is positioned on the Program Icon titled
“My Computer”. Click the left mouse button once.
The “My Computer” icon will become selected (The icon and title will become highlighted).
6. Repeat the above process Selecting any another Program icon of your choice (remember to click once).
The program icon you selected will become highlighted.
Next you will use the Start button on open the Paint game.
7. Positioned in the bottom left- hand corner of the desktop is the Start button. Click once on this button.
The start menu is displayed, which
Should look similar to the following example:
8. Position your mouse pointer on The menu items named Programs.
A sub-menu is displayed, similar to the following diagram:
9. Position your mouse pointer on the Menu item named Accessories
A further sub-menu is displayed, similar to the following diagram:
10. Select and click on the menu item named Paint.
The Paint program is displayed, similar to Figure 1.9
Figure 1.9: The Paint Window 3.1.2 Using the Mouse to Draw a Picture
The next exercise will afford you the opportunity to use the mouse to draw the picture illustrated below.
Figure 1.10 SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2 Using the Mouse to Draw a Picture
Objective: To draw the picture illustrated in Figure 1. 10 above
What you do Comments/Prompts
1. Position the mouse printer on the centre of your screen.
Observe the shape of the mouse pointer.
The mouse pointer changes to the shape of a pencil.
2. Locate the rectangle tool on the drawing toolbox on the
The screen tip reads “rectangle”
left side of the screen.
3. Position the mouse pointer on the rectangle tool. Click the left mouse button on the Rectangle tool. Position the mouse pointer in the centre of the screen.
The mouse pointer has changed shape to a cross-community referred to as “cross-hairs”
4. Look at the bottom of the window on the status bar. You will notice two
numbers separated by a comma.
The first number indicates the horizontal position of the mouse pointer on the screen, while the second number indicates the vertical position of the mouse pointer on the screen.
5. Move the mouse pointer around on the screen and notice how the numbers change accordingly.
The screen is divided into Invisible dots called “pixels”. These numbers refer to the pixel number that the mouse pointer is positioned on.
6. Please position the mouse pointer so that the pixel numbers are approximately 50,100
7. Press and hold down the left mouse button. You will notice that another set of numbers have appeared to the right of the pixel indicators.
These numbers represent the size of the rectangle.
8. While pressing down the mouse button move the mouse down and to the right until the size indicators are
approximately 450 x 175 Release the mouse button.
It does not matter if the numbers vary slightly. Use Figure 1.10 above as a reference.
9. Select the Line tools on the drawing toolbox s by positioning the mouse pointer over the tool and clicking the left mouse button once.
10. Position the mouse on the top line of the rectangle that you
The objective of this step is to position the mouse pointer
have drawn so that the pixel indicator reads 200,100
approximately one third along the top line of the rectangle. If necessary adjust the position of your mouse pointer accordingly.
11. Press and hold down the <Shift> key on the keyboard. While holding down this key, press and hold down the left mouse button and draw the line from the top of the rectangle to the bottom of the rectangle.
If you hold down the <Shift> key while drawing a line, it will be straight.
12. Position the mouse on the top
line of the rectangle that you have drawn so that the pixel indicator reads 350,100
The objective of this step is to position the mouse pointer approximately two thirds alone the topline of the rectangle. If necessary adjust the position of your mouse pointer accordingly.
13. Press and hold down the <Shift>
key on the keyboard. While holding down this key, press and hold down the left mouse button and draw the line from the top of the rectangle to the bottom of the rectangle.
The original rectangle has been divided into three equal boxes.
14. Locate the rounded rectangle
tool on the drawing toolbox on the left side of the screen.
The screen tip reads “rounded rectangle”.
15. Position the mouse pointer on
the rounded rectangle tool. Click the left mouse button on the rounded rectangle tool.
The screen tip reads “rounded rectangle”.
16. Position the mouse pointer in
the first of the three boxes of the rectangle, that is, the left most box.
17. Position the mouse so that the pixel Indicator reads 60,110 18. While pressing down the
mouse button move the mouse down and to the right until the size indicators are approximately 130 x 155. Release the mouse button.
The rounded rectangle appears in the first box.
19. Locate the ellipses tool on the drawing toolbox on the left side of the screen.
The screen tip reads “ellipses”.
20. Position the mouse pointer on the ellipses tool. Click the left mouse button on the ellipse tool.
21. Position the mouse pointer in the last of the three boxes of the rectangle that is, the rightmost box.
22. Position the mouse so that the pixel indicator reads 370,130 23. Hold down the <Shift> key.
While holding down the
<Shift> key, press down the mouse button and move
the mouse down and to
the right until the size indicators are approximately 111 x 111.
Release the mouse button.
The circle appears in the third box. The <Shift> key ensures that a perfect circle is drawn.
24. Locate the Line tools on the drawing toolbox on the left side of the screen
The screen tip reads “Line”.
25. Position the mouse pointer on the Line tool. Click the left mouse button on the Line tool
26. Position the mouse pointer On the middle box of the three boxes of the rectangle
27. Position the mouse so that the pixel indicator reads 200,100 28. Press and hold down the left
mouse button. Drag the mouse down to the opposite lower right corner of the centre box.
Release the mouse button.
The size indicator should read approximately 150 x 175
29. Locate the Fill with Colour tools on the drawing toolbox
This tool enables you to fill a drawn object with the colour of
30. Position the mouse pointer on the Fill with Colour tools.
Click the left mouse button on the tool.
Next you will select the colour of your choice.
31. Position the mouse pointer on the colour of your choice on the colour palette at the bottom of the screen.
32. Click the left mouse button on the colour of your choice
Not black or white please!.
33. Position the mouse pointer inside the rounded rectangle that you drew in the first of the three boxes.
Notice that the mouse pointer has changed shape to that of a bucket of paint.
34. Click the left mouse button Once
The object is filled with the colour of your choice. Next, you will fill the two triangles that appear in the centre box.
35. Position the mouse pointer on the colour of your choice on the colour palette at the bottom of the screen
36. Click the left mouse button on the colour of your choice.
Not black or white please!
37. Position the mouse pointer inside the lower triangle that you created in the centre box of the rectangle.
Notice that the mouse pointer still has the shape of a buckler of paint.
38. Click the left mouse button once. Next you will fill the remaining triangle.
The object is filled with the colour of your choice.
39. Position the mouse pointer on the colour of your choice on the colour at the bottom of the screen.
40. Click the left mouse button on the colour of your choice
Not black or white please!
41. Position the mouse pointer inside the upper triangle that you created in the centre box of the rectangle.
Notice that the mouse pointer still has the shape of a bucket of paint.
42. Click the left mouse button once.
The object is filled with the colour of your choice. The last object to be filled is the circle.
43. Position the mouse pointer on the colour of your choice on the colour palette at the bottom of the screen.
44. Click the left mouse button on the colour of your choice
Not black or white please!
45. Position the mouse pointer inside the circle that you created in the right box of the rectangle.
Notice that the mouse pointer still has the shape of a bucket of paint.
46. Click the left mouse button once.
The object is filled with the colour of your choice.
47. Compare your picture to Figure 1.10 on page 18
If they looks similar – well done!
You have learned to use the mouse.
Next you will exit the Paint program.
48. Click on File on the menu bar The File menu is displayed
49. Click on Exit You will be asked whether you wish to save changes to untitled?
50. Click on the No button The Paint program is closed and you are returned to the Windows desktop.
4.0 CONCLUSION
A mouse is used to give instructions to a computer.
5.0 SUMMARY
Here you learned the use of a mouse and the basic techniques of how to use a mouse.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Explain how you will use a mouse to draw the following picture:
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Gottfried, B. S. (1994). Programming with Pascal (Schav’s Series) (2nded.).