Glossary of Terms

background: The area that lies behind another area in a lower layer.

Beamer: Component of the StarOffice interface. The Beamer provides a window into the data contained in a file or folder, displays graphic thumbnail images stored on disk or database file content, etc.

bookmark: A saved link to a URL (address on the Internet). Used to gain quick access to frequently used Web sites.

Boolean logic and Boolean searches: Boolean logic is a series of algebraic sets often used in constructing searches. The Boolean terms most often used for searches are and, or, not, near. For example, using the search: (animal and not cat and not dog) would generate a list of animals that did not include cats or dogs. The search: (musical near instruments) and (rock near roll) and not (classical or piano) would find Web sites with phrases like "Sale! Rock 'n roll guitars and other musical instruments!" but not "Classical instruments for sale."

browse: The act of hyperlinking (clicking on links on Web pages that lead to other Web pages), reading Web pages and searching for information on the Internet.

browser: Software used to view files stored on the Internet. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of browsers.

button: A hardware button is the mechanical switch on the mouse that the user clicks to make selections. A software button is the on-screen equivalent of a mechanical switch and is usually an oblong or square icon, graphic or label.

cache: Memory on a computer used to temporarily store (cache) text, images, or other information. Cache can be in the form of a memory chip (hardware) in a computer, or can be stored on the hard disk drive of the computer.

cell: A single location in a spreadsheet file. The primary unit for spreadsheets that can be identified by a column letter and row number (i.e., J4).

click: The acts of pressing a mouse button down while the cursor is positioned over a "clickable" item on the monitor, such as an Internet hyperlink. Some mice have more than one button. "Click" refers to using the left mouse button and "right-clicking" refers to using the right side of the mouse.

color selection tool: A graphics editing tool that lets you select a color for an object (such as a rectangle or text).

column separator: A line drawn between columns in a word processing document.

context sensitive: Some menus, toolbars or other on-screen items change according to the "context" in which they are used. For example, drawing tools will appear when you select a drawn object and disappear when a text object is selected.

cursor: The moveable symbol (usually an arrow) that the user manipulates on the computer screen by using a mouse. The cursor location on the screen indicates the focus of the next action. For example, clicking the mouse when the cursor is positioned over a button activates that button.

data type: A designation for classifying the contents of a field in a database. The data type specifies what kind of values each field can hold (such as date, time, number, or text).

desktop: The area of the computer that displays all useable tools.

directory: A storage location for computer files on a disk drive. Sometimes called "folders" or "subdirectories."

drop-down selection: A (sub)menu that appears when a selection is made on the menu bar or selection list box, displaying the choices available within that menu function.

e-mail: Electronic mail. One sends e-mail over a network or the Internet.

export (file): The act of converting one file format to another by changing the file type when saving the file (i.e., exporting an HTML file from the word processor).

field: The primary storage unit in a database. A field holds information in a particular data type. A database consists of collections of fields.

file (computer): A collection of related information stored under a single name. For example, when you create a word processing document, choose "save as" from the menu and name the file "letter to mom," that document will remain a file on your computer.

floating frame: A floating frame is a window within a window that can be moved around and is displayed above other windows.

foreground: The area that lies in front of other areas; the topmost layer.

form: The part of a Web page or database that includes form elements such as drop-down lists, text fields, check boxes and buttons.

formula: A method for computing a value. A formula can output a numeric or text result.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): noun; The protocol or process for transferring files from a local computer (i.e., your desktop) to a remote computer (i.e., an Internet server). Can be used as a verb to transfer files (i.e., "I¹ll FTP the files to the Web site tomorrow.").

function bar: Part of the StarOffice interface. It contains the URL for navigating to files on the Internet or the server. The function bar is context sensitive; icons on the bar may change according to the module of StarOffice being used.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): A compressed graphical file format used for images on the Internet (see also JPEG). Files must end in a .gif suffix to appear on the Internet.

gradient: A colored area that fades from one color to another. Gradients can be linear (graduated colors going directly from one to the next) or circular (graduated colors radiating out from one color to another) or designed in other patterns.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The primary method for marking up documents so that they display text in a formatted manner on the Web.

hyperlink: Normally a button or text, a hyperlink consists of a clickable object that, when selected, will transfer the user to a different URL (or location on the Internet). Also used as a verb (i.e., "I hyperlinked from this site to that site.").

I-beam: The "insertion beam" cursor, which looks like the capital letter "I," or a vertical line, indicates where your keyboard activity will insert text in a document.

icon: A picture/graphic that denotes a specific program, command or file and often acts as a button.

infrastructure: The hardware and cables needed to connect computers and create a network.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company or agency that provides dial-in (modem) access to the Internet

JPEG: A graphical file format (pronounced "jay-peg") that compresses full color images for the Internet. (See also GIF.)

key primary: The main key used for organizing data in a database. It is the default key used for sorting data.

LAN (Local Area Network): A collection of computers networked together within a single room or building (i.e., a classroom, computer lab or school site).

link: Connection between one Web site and another.

log on: The act of connecting to a server from a workstation to access software and working files.

menu: A range of selections/choices for a particular function of a program.

minimize: To reduce a full-screen window to a button on the task bar. This is done by clicking on the button in the title bar with the small line in it. Minimizing also refers to reducing a window but maintaining its usability.

multimedia: A system that displays any combination of graphics, text, voice and video, particularly an interactive system.

network: A collection of computer hardware that is set up to provide communication between devices and to share resources (i.e., printers or Internet connections).

palette: A collection of tools or objects used in software, such as a "color palette," that stores available colors, or a "tool palette," which stores the text tools available in an application.

password: A word or phrase that permits access to a resource (server, file, program) and is hidden from view when typed to prevent unauthorized use of the resource.

pop-up menu: A type of menu accessed by clicking the key on the right-hand side of your mouse. Pop-up menus are contextually sensitive, reflecting available choices related to the object you right-mouse-clicked on.

protocol: Rules. For example, the protocol for the Internet establishes what servers must do to become part of the Internet.

pull-down menu: A type of form element used for selecting one or more items from a list of items.

query: The act of "asking" a database for information based on a range of responses you specify.

range: The boundaries, from beginning to end, of a section (cells) of a spreadsheet.

rectangle tool: A graphics tool used for creating rectangular regions. Click on the tool, then click and drag it into the document region to draw a rectangle.

refresh: The act of "repainting" the computer screen. On the Internet, a Web site may be loaded from the computer's cache file rather than from the Web site, this helps pages load faster. If the Web site has recently changed, the image/text displayed will be incorrect. Most browsers have a "refresh" button; when clicked, it causes the browser to read the Web page from the Internet rather than from the cache.

report: A hard copy or online version of a file(s) made to convey certain information.

resize: To restore a window to full size by clicking on its task bar button.

scroll bar: The narrow, vertical bar at the right of a screen/window that controls which part of a document is visible. Some programs also have a horizontal bar across the bottom that controls wide documents. The bar contains a "bubble" (moveable button) whose position in the scroll bar corresponds to the currently visible portion of the document. Dragging the bubble with the mouse allows the user to scroll through the entire document. Arrow buttons at the ends of the scroll bars allow limited movement (one line vertically) in either direction by clicking on them with the mouse.

search engine: A Web site that keeps a current cross-referenced, searchable list of the pages available on the Internet. Currently, no search engines have complete indices to all sites. The best engines references less than 40 percent of Web sites.

selection: The object that is currently chosen to be acted upon. A graphic item is identified by square (green) "resize" handles located at each corner of the object. A textual item will appear in reverse (i.e., white text with a black background).

selection handles: Little boxes that appear around an item that has been selected.

serif: The part of a letter in a font that sticks out from the edges of the bars that make up the letter. Times font, for example, is a font with serifs. Helvetica, on the other hand, is a sans-serif font.

server: A computer that uses, and is accessed through, a network or Internet protocol.

slide sort view: A view in presentation software that permits you to move slides around or change their order by clicking and dragging thumbnail versions of the slides.

spreadsheets: A type of file that contains rows, columns, and sheets of data that can be related to each other.

StarCalc: The spreadsheet software program available in StarOffice.

StarImpress: The presentation (slide show) software program available in StarOffice.

StarOffice: A software suite consisting of word processing, spreadsheet, database, Web browsing, drawing and email applications that run on any computer platform.

StarWriter: The word processing software program in StarOffice.

stuck frame: A window (frame) that is immovable and does not float over the objects behind it. Frames can be floated or stuck in the StarOffice suite.

SunRay lab: A Sun lab consisting of thin client computers hooked up to a server.

table: An element used in word processing and Web publishing to hold information in rows and columns for visual display.

tool bar: A menu bar that allows users to select any of the various tools available in a program.

tool palette: A collection of useful tools in an opened application (i.e., drawing tools in an opened drawing program or text formatting tools in an opened word processing program).

transition: The change between one slide and the next in a slide show. Transitions can be made using various effects and animations.

uploading files: Copying a file from a local machine (such as your desktop workstation) to a server (such as an Internet Web site). The opposite of "downloading" files.

URL (Universal Resource Locator): An address used to identify all files, such as Web pages, on the Internet. All browsers have a URL window in which the URL for the currently visited site can be displayed. If you know the URL you want to visit, you can type it directly into the browser's URL box and jump to that site.

WAN (Wide Area Network): A WAN, which ties LANs together, can span many offices, rooms, buildings or locations.

worksheets: The pages in a spreadsheet.

working area: The area of the computer¹s desktop you use to construct information, such as the text writing area of the word processing document and the drawing area of the paint program.

wrap: Surrounding a graphic item with text in a word processed document or the settings for wrapping in a graphic item.

WWW (World Wide Web): The portion of the Internet that is publicly viewable in Web browsers. Most documents on the World Wide Web (also called the "Web") are written in HTML, although such pages can be written in other computer languages.