Note: If you are more comfortable using your regular word processor software you can ignore this assignment.

Locating A Text Editor on Your Computer

There will be times when you will find it useful to have a simple text editor such as NotePad or SimpleText open on the screen along with your web browser. Easy access to the text editor application will allow you to cut and paste URL's (internet addresses) as well as text from the browser window into the text editor. You can make onscreen notes to document your online exploration. Here's how to locate the text editor on your computer if you don't already know where it is:

(Mac Users: See below)

PC Users: Locating a NotePad

Notepad is located in the Accessories list in Windows

1. Click on Start
2. Click on Programs
3. Click on Accessories
4. Click on Notepad.

Windows 95/98/ME/XP users can create a desktop shortcut for Notepad with the following procedure.

1. Click on My Computer.
2. Double-Click on the C: drive icon
3. Double-click on the Windows directory
4. Scroll across the window until you find the Notepad icon.
5. Click once on the icon to select it
6. From the File menu, select Create Shortcut.
7. A shortcut to Notepad will appear in the directory.
8. Hold down the mouse button while you drag this shortcut to the desktop.

Now you will be able to open NotePad by simply clicking on the desktop icon.

Mac Users: Locating a SimpleText on Your Computer

1. Select Find from the File menu and type the word SimpleText in the box (use a capital S and T and don't leave a space between the words!) and hit the Return key.
2. Note where SimpleText is located on your computer.
3. It is useful to have an alias for SimpleText on your desktop
4. To create an alias for SimpleText, click once on the SimpleText program icon.
5. Select Make Alias from the File menu.
6. When the SimpleText alias appears on the screen, hold down the mouse button while you drag the alias to the desktop.
7. Now you can open SimpleText at any time by simply clicking on the alias.

Note: You may need to adjust the "Show Desktop in background" setting in your control panels if the SimpleText alias is not visible when the web browser is open. That is easy to do:

1. Click on the Apple Menu (the apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
2. Select Control Panels
3. Select General Controls from the pop-out menu
4. Click in the box next to "Show Desktop when in background"
5. Click the close box (upper left hand corner)

Copyright © 1997 by Bob Jost. Used by permission of the author. 

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