How to Use DECwindows Student Guide

This document is a student guide for a one-day lecture/lab course on using the DECwindows system. It covers basic skills for working within the DECwindows environment, including manipulating DECwindows, starting and using DECwindows applications, and managing files. The guide is divided into modules, each focusing on a specific application or set of functionalities:

• Getting Started: Covers starting and ending a DECwindows session, manipulating windows (moving, resizing, stacking, shrinking to icons), using scroll bars, and interacting with dialog boxes.
• Notepad: Introduces the Notepad application for everyday writing tasks, covering starting Notepad, entering and formatting text, saving files, editing text (selecting, copying, pasting, deleting), and exiting Notepad.
• FileView: Explains how to use the FileView application to access DECwindows applications and manage files. It details listing files, using a file filter, displaying files, selecting files, canceling selections, viewing file contents, printing files, copying files, deleting files, purging files, creating subdirectories, and navigating the directory structure.
• Session Manager: Covers creating and customizing terminal windows (DECterm), printing and capturing screen content, and customizing the DECwindows startup environment.
• DECwindows Mail: Introduces the DECwindows mail system for communication. It covers starting mail, creating and sending messages, using distribution lists, reading new messages, and managing mail (updating folders, opening/closing drawers, selecting, replying, refiling, deleting, and emptying the wastebasket).
• DECpaint: Details the DECpaint graphics program for creating and enhancing simple pictures. It covers creating graphics, drawing lines and shapes, enhancing graphics (selecting areas, clearing, cutting), using patterns, changing borders and fill, using the paint bucket, changing brush shapes and line widths, inserting text, saving and printing DECpaint files, and sending/receiving DECpaint files via DECwindows mail.

Each module includes objectives, step-by-step instructions, and review sections. Exercises and answers are also provided for practical application of the learned skills. The document also lists additional DECwindows documentation for further reference.