is generally used to control the computer).
9. Using applications
What are applications?
An application is a collection of program files and resources which, together, form a co-
operative set of instructions and (usually) a user interface in order to perform a specific task.
To give an example, a Word Processor application will consist of the program itself to
process the information whch is typed into the computer, a user interface for the person
doing the typing to control (along with the graphical resources and templates for doing this),
and a dictionary for checking spelling - amongst various other utilities. This is the same for
any computer platform. Where RISC OS is concerned, it is all contained, typically, within a
single application directory. There are many different applications, for performing a wide
variety of tasks. Games, too, are software applications.
Starting an application
Simply double-click SELECT on an application's icon in order to activate it. In the vast
majority of instances, when active, the application icon with appear toward the right-hand
side of the Icon Bar and its functionality can be control from the icon. Some applications
might not place an icon on the Icon Bar, other might simply function running in the
background.
Using applications
Let's take !Help, for example. It is a useful program to provide basic interactive help for the
user. Click SELECT on the ROMAPPS icon on the Icon Bar and the filer directory window
will open showing the applications in ROM (and also those added as part of the boot
sequence so that they can be accessed quickly via the 'Apps' icon). In this window you will
find the !Help application, double-click SELECT (or ADJUST) on it to load the
application. Once an application is active its icon will appear on the Icon Bar, in this
instance it will be on the right-hand side. Click MENU on its icon on the Icon Bar and you
will see three options listed: Info (leading to a submenu telling you about the program),
Suspend (which stops the programs helpful information from popping up continually but still
keeps the application active - when this application is suspended, it's blue icon turns to grey
in colour), and Quit (which will 'kill' the application). Some applications will have additional
options in the application icon menu but almost all will definitely have Info and Quit.
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