Understand the similarities between applications

- [Instructor] Every software application has a learning curve. Some applications are easier to use and understand than others, but what you're going to find as you become more experienced with computers and software, is that nearly all applications have features or controls in common with each other. If you're a novice with computers at the moment, you've probably wondered how more experienced users can just sit down and start being productive with applications they've never used before. What seasoned computer users know is that most applications have basic things in common, and they know where to look for the commands that will allow them to perform the tasks they want to accomplish. For example, a common feature found in many apps is the File menu, and it usually contains commands like New, Open, Save, Close, and Print. New is for creating a new document, image, or project, depending on what app you're in. Open opens files or projects that you've previously created or worked on. Save saves the file you're currently working on. And if the application is one that you can print from like a word processor, a spreadsheet program, or a photo editor, you'll always find the print command under the File menu as well. Another common feature is a group of commands found under the Edit menu. This is where you'll almost always find the commands for Cut, Copy, and Paste, as well as the Undo and Redo options. So for example, if you've typed some texts that you would like to copy to another location in your document, you would select the text by clicking and dragging across it. Then come up to the Edit menu and choose Copy, and then you could place your cursor elsewhere in the document or in a completely different document and choose Edit, Paste. And if you change your mind about pasting that text, you would return to the Edit menu and choose Undo. And again, these commands work the same way in any apps that have them. And you'll almost always find them under the Edit menu. Bear in mind that this holds true across operating systems, too. So if you're a Mac user finding yourself working with Windows or a Windows user having to use a Mac, you won't be completely lost. You'll most likely see differences in how menus and commands have been laid out, but many of the ideas are the same. Even between applications on the same operating system you'll see differences. For example, if I switch over to Microsoft Excel, instead of a plain menu bar, we have a collection of tabs known as the ribbon. Notice we have a File tab though, and if I click it, I can still find New, Open, Save, Print, and so on. It looks different than it does in Notepad, but the commands are the same. Note however, that we don't see an edit tab. In this case, we have a Home tab, and this is where we find buttons for Cut and Copy and Paste. And the buttons for Undo and Redo are here at the top of the window. So again, the layout is different, but the behavior of the commands is the same. You just may have to hunt around a bit for them. Another feature that almost all apps have in common are preference settings. These are the settings that often let you customize or change how the app behaves. They may be called different things depending on the app you're using. Here in Excel if I go to the File tab, down at the bottom I'll find Options. Which takes me to this large collection of settings that I can use to adjust how Excel looks and works. In other apps, for example, in the Microsoft Edge web browser, we click this three dot menu, which gives us access to some options, but we can also select settings to further customize how Edge operates. In other apps you'll find a preferences selection under the Edit menu. So you sometimes have to do some hunting around in Windows apps, but those are generally where you'll find application preferences. Lastly, you'll find almost all applications have a Help menu. The Help menu is where you'll find things like the built-in or online instruction manual for the application you're using. You might also find links to tutorials or other special guides to teach you how to use the application. The Help menu is also where you can often check for updates, which has the application check online to see if any newer versions of the software have been released. Here in Edge we come up to the three dot menu again, and this is where we can find Help and Feedback. And if I choose Help, that takes me to the Edge support website. Back here in Excel, there's a Help tab, and that gives you buttons for contacting support, showing training documents, or you can click the Help button to see instructions for using Excel. But generally the help menu is a good place to go if you can't figure out a feature of the application you're using, or just want to learn more about the application overall. And again, you'll find that most applications have this menu. So those are just some of the common features you'll find in nearly all applications. As you continue to work in various apps, you'll notice many more. And knowing about these features can really help make an application you've never used before a little less daunting, because at least you'll already be familiar with and know how to use a couple of the commands.