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BASIC COMPUTER LITERACY: MOUSE

MOUSE

A mouse is used to interact with items on the screen.
Must be used on a flat surface.  


A standard mouse has:
Two buttons toward the front
    Button on the left - to left click
    Button on the right - to right click; and


A scroll wheel in the centre - to quickly move the screen up or down.
The left button is the default mouse button you use for most actions on the mouse – more clicking is done with the left button.
The right button gives you a menu or other options.

HOLDING AND MOVING THE MOUSE

Holding the mouse:
Keep your thumb on the side of the mouse, 
Index finger on the left button, and 
Middle finger on the right button


To move the mouse:
Use either your ring finger or pinky to push and move left and your thumb to move right.
All up and down movements are done by gently gripping the mouse and pushing or pulling the mouse (up, down, left, or right).
As you move your mouse, the cursor (pointer) can change as it hovers over different types of objects. 

 

CLICKING THE MOUSE

The left mouse button selects items. 
The right mouse button gives you more options
Double-clicking the left mouse button executes options. 


To double-click; press your left mouse button twice quickly

 

UNDERSTANDING RIGHT CLICK

OPENING FILES USING THE MOUSE

Opening files using the mouse
To open a file or program double-click the left mouse button on the icon of the file or program you want to open.


Selecting an object and highlighting text
When your mouse pointer is on top of an object (e.g., an icon), click the left mouse button once to highlight that object.
To select and highlight a text, click the left button at the end or beginning of the text you want to select. Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the left and up or down if you want to select multiple lines of text.