Windows XP for Dummies

Appendix

Glossary

he Windows XP “easy access" Glossary program leaps to the screen in two ways. First, if you spot an unfamiliar word in the Help pro- gram — and the word’s underlined — click the word, and Windows XP fetches a definition for you. The second method is more complicated. Choose Help And Support from the Start button, type Windows Glossary into the Search box, and click the green arrow. After Windows brings up a list of matching items, click the item labeled “Windows Glossary" to see how Windows defines its most puzzling words. If Windows isn’t particularly handy, feel free to pick up a definition or two right here.

active window: The last window you clicked — the one with a high-

lighted title bar — is considered active. Any keys that you press affect this window.

Apply: Click this button, and Windows XP immediately applies and

saves any changes you made from the current list of options.

backgr ound: Formerly known as wallpaper, these graphics, designs, or

pictures cover the background of your computer screen. The Windows XP Control Panel lets you choose among different background files.

bitmap: One of many types of graphic files that consist of bunches of lit-

tle dots on-screen. The Windows XP program called Paintcreates, edits, and saves BMP files.

border: The edge of a window; you can move the border in or out to

change the window’s size.

cache: A storage area where Windows temporarily memorizes recently

used files so that they can be retrieved quickly if needed.

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