Jan's Working with Windows:

Step-by-Step: Application Help - Paint

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What you will learn:

to open an application from the Start menu/Start screen to open Help for an application to work in an application with Help open to practice drawing with Paint's tools

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Start with: Desktop showing

Open Application from Start Menu

1. Open Paint:

   WinXP, Vista, Win7: Start > All Programs >Accessories > Paint
   which means: Click the Start menu, click on All Programs or Programs to expand the menu , then click on Accessories. Finally, click on Paint.
   Win8, Win8.1: Press the Windows key. Type Paint. Click on Paint in the list of results.

   When Paint opens, the size of the window and the size of the drawing area (the canvas) are what they were the last time Paint was used.

   
   Paint: WinXP, Vista; Win7/Win8

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Open Paint Help

1. Open a Help window:
   WinXP, Vista: Click on Help > Help Topics in the menu .
   Win7, Win8: Click on  the Help button on the ribbon.
   

   A Help window opens. Except for WinXP, this window is actually a type of browser window.

    
   

   The Paint Help window is quite different in different versions!

   Some other programs still use the WinXP style with two panes, even when installed on computer with a more recent operating system.

2. WinXP: Click on Paint to open the list and then on Create Pictures.

3. Find Help about drawing a straight line:

   WinXP: Click on Draw a straight line and read the article in the right pane.
   

   Vista:

   • Right click on the page and choose 'Find on page'.
   • Type straight line and click Next.
     The text is highlighted in the article.
   • Read the description of the Straight line tool.
     

   Win7:

   • Click on the link 'Drawing lines' at the upper right of the article.
     
     The article scrolls to display this section of the page.
     Read this section.

   • Click on the link 'Line tool' to show the hidden text.
     Read how to draw a straight line.

   • Open the other hidden parts of this section and read them.
     

   Win8, Win8.1: Help for Paint in these versions not available offline.

   • Click the link Draw a line.
     The topic expands to show the hidden text.
   • Read how to draw a straight line.
   • Scroll down the page and read the section 'Add color to pictures'.
     

   Problem: Paint Help window has no Help content.
   

   Currently [Dec. 2015] the article is still not available online, at least for Windows 8.1! Clicking the Help button opens a window that says the content is no longer available. There is a link to the Windows website, but it opens a page with many categories. None seem to fit Paint.

   There is an online article written for Paint in Windows 7 that explains the ribbon interface and tools. You can use that article if necessary.

   • Open the online article Using Paint.
     
   • Scroll down and read how to draw a straight line.
     This section also tells you how to set the color for your line.
     

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Work with Help Open

1. Switch back to the Paint window without closing the window with the directions and draw some straight lines of different colors in the Paint window.

    Remember- to move a window, drag the window by its title bar.

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Paint Tools

1. Read about Paint's tools:
   
   WinXP: Read the topics that start "Draw a..."
   Vista, Win7, Win8, Win8.1: Read about the other tools described on the page.
2. Practice using the tools they describe. It's OK to have fun for a bit!
   How creative can you be?

   The next project, Files and Folders, will cover how to save your work. For now, just mess around with the Paint tools and have some fun!

   The line width you choose remains in place for the outline of shapes also. To change line width you will have to go back to a line tool to choose the width.