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Go backMacintosh BasicsCreating a document

You can use your Macintosh to create different kinds of documents: letters, memos, drawings, or spreadsheets, for example. In this section, you’ll learn how to create a memo.

To create your memo, you’ll use a program that is stored on your Hard Disk. To use the program, you need to OPEN the Hard Disk, just as you’d open a file cabinet to use things stored there. To open the Hard Disk: First, click the Hard Disk icon.

Good. Notice that the Hard Disk icon is now filled in, or SELECTED. You still need to tell the Macintosh to open it.

To open the Hard Disk icon, choose the Open command from the File menu:

  1. Point to the File menu title.
  2. Press and hold down the button.
  3. Drag through the list of command. They will become HIGHLIGHTED as you drag through them.
  4. Release the button when Open is highlighted.

Good. When you open the Hard Disk icon, a WINDOW appears that lets you see what’s stored on the Hard Disk.

The TITLE BAR of the window displays the window’s name. The icons you see in the window represent things that are stored on the Hard Disk.

On the Hard Disk, there is a SYSTEM FOLDER, containing programs that run your Macintosh. You’ll learn more about folders later.

The Hard Disk also contains MemoWriter, a sample APPLICATION PROGRAM. You use application programs to create documents – such as letters, drawings, or budgets.

To use MemoWriter to write your memo, you need to open it. Remember that opening an icon is a two-step process:

  1. First, click the MemoWriter icon to select it. The icon will become highlighted.
  2. Then choose Open from the File menu.

Good. Now you’ve opened the MemoWriter program and you see a window called “Untitled.” This is your new document. It’s like a blank piece of paper.

You are going to use this program to write a memo to a co-worker, arranging a lunch meeting.

Click the right arrow, and I’ll start the memo for you.

Now, you need to add your name to the memo.

  1. Move the pointer to the space to the right of “From:”
  2. Then click at that location. This tells The Macintosh where you want new text to appear.
  3. Type your first name. Use the Delete key on your keyboard to backspace over mistakes.
  4. When you’re done, click the right arrow to move on.

Next, add some text at the end of the memo:

  1. Click below the word “about” to set the insertion point.
  2. Type the words: How about 12:00 at Swanky’s?
  3. Click the right arrow when you’re done.

Now you need to SAVE your memo on a disk, so that it isn’t lost when you turn off the computer. To save a document, you give it a name and tell the computer where to store it.

To save your memo, you choose the Save command from the File menu:

  1. Point to the File menu title.
  2. Press and hold down the button.
  3. Drag through the list of commands.
  4. Release the button when Save is highlighted.

When you choose Save, a DIALOG BOX appears. The Macintosh uses a dialog box to request more information from you. This dialog box lets you name and save your document.

The word “Untitled” in the TEXT BOX is highlighted. This means that the word will be replaced by whatever you type.

To name your memo, type Memo to Sandy. Because “Untitled” is already highlighted, all you have to do is start typing. You don’t even have to click first. When you’re done, click the right arrow.

Good. Now, to save this document: Click the Save button.

After you save your document, the new name appears in the title bar of the document window.

Now that you’ve saved your memo, you can quit the MemoWriter program. To quit the program, you choose the Quit command from the File menu.

  1. Move the pointer to the File menu title.
  2. Press and hold down the button.
  3. Drag through the menu until Quit is highlighted.
  4. Release the button.

And now you are back at the desktop. You can see that your Memo to Sandy is now stored on the Hard Disk.

In this section, you’ve learned about creating a document. Click the right arrow to practice what you’ve learned.

You are going to practice creating a new memo and saving it on the Hard Disk.

Open the Hard Disk icon. Remember: opening an icon is a two-step process. You need to select the icon before you open it.

Now open the MemoWriter application program.

Here’s the memo, already started. All you have to do is sign it.

  1. Click to set the insertion pointer on the line below “Sincerely.”
  2. Type your name.
  3. Click the right arrow when you’re done.

Now, save your memo and name it Memo to Jay.

Now, quit the program.

Here is your new document: Memo to Jay. (By the way, this tour does not save the work you do in the practice sessions, so you won’t see Memo to Jay in later sections.)

Good. You’ve now completed “Creating a Document.”

Page added on 6th October 2005.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Marcin Wichary, unless stated otherwise.