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Summary of Contents for Acorn Archimedes
- Page 3 All information of a technical nature and particulars of the products and their use (including the information and particulars in this Guide) are given by Acorn Computers Limited in good faith. However, Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this manual, or any incorrect use of the products.
- Page 5 It explains how to connect it together and how to start using it. It doesn't matter if you've never used a computer before - the Archimedes system is easy to use, and you need learn only a few simple techniques and terms to get going. You can pick up the details as you go along.
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Page 6: About This Guide
About this Guide This Guide is an introduction to the Archimedes personal workstation for the first-time user, and is divided into the following chapters: Unpacking Describes the parts which make up the Archimedes computer. Check the contents of the box to make sure you have everything. - Page 7 Unpacking This section tells you about unpacking your Archimedes system, lists the items which should be in the box when you receive it, and helps you choose a spot where you can set it up. Unpacking Unpack your Archimedes system on a flat surface - a large table where there's plenty of room for the box as well as for the computer is best.
- Page 8 Put all the packing back into the box and put it away somewhere safe. If you ever want to transport your Archimedes system, it is best to use the box, even if you only take it a short distance in a car. If you ever have to take it back to your dealer, too, you'll have to pack it back into the original box.
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Page 9: Setting Up The Computer
User Guide. After you've checked the components against the checklist in the last section, you can connect them together and begin to use your Archimedes computer. Follow these simple steps to set up your computer: 1. Connect mouse to... - Page 10 Connect monitor to Put the monitor on top of the computer computer (unless it weighs 15 kg or more, like the 19- inch high-resolution monitor which can be used for 400-series machines, in which case it will have to go alongside, or on a strong shelf above).
- Page 11 4. Connect mains If your monitor has an IEC-type mains supply plug, plug this into the socket marked UNSWITCHED 0/P 220-240V on the back of the computer. If it has a normal mains plug, plug this directly into the mains. Finally, plug the connector on the mains cable into the socket marked I/P 220240V on the back of the computer unit.
- Page 12 PARALLEL PRINTER. Connect a modem or a serial printer to the socket marked SERIAL PORT. • If you have an Econet network, connect your Archimedes computer to the network using the socket marked ECONET. You will also need to install an Econet module inside the computer (instructions on installing it come with the module).
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Page 13: Getting Started
3. Switch on the Press the rocker switch on computer the back of the computer: 0 is Off I is On desktop The Archimedes will appear on the screen, looking something like this: Getting started... - Page 14 Try moving the mouse to see how the pointer moves. As soon as the desktop has appeared on the screen, you can begin working. It is better, though, to read the next section, which explains briefly the principles of the Archimedes desktop and its components. Getting started...
- Page 15 The Archimedes desktop and windows system is easy to use because you don't have to remember long, complicated commands. When you see what you want you just point at it, using the mouse, and select it.
- Page 16 The important features of the Archimedes desktop system are windows, icons, the mouse and menus. Windows A window is an area of the screen allocated for a special function. In a window you can show a list of the files on a disc, write a memo or a program, draw a picture, alter the colours used for the screen display or perform other types of task.
- Page 17 At least one will appear on the icon bar: Floppy disc drive. The Archimedes computer uses 3.5 inch floppy discs, loaded into the drive slot on the front panel. You can save (store) information by copying it from the computer's memory onto a floppy disc, and retrieve it later by loading it back into the computer from the disc.
- Page 18 A menu is a list of tasks or other options from which you can choose what you want to do next. Menus are an easy way of making a selection - you don't usually have to type anything, you just point at what you want, then select it. See the chapter Menus for more details. The Archimedes desktop...
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Page 19: Using The Mouse
The mouse is used to select, move and adjust items displayed on the screen. It is your principal means of communicating with the Archimedes desktop. As you move the mouse, the pointer on the screen moves correspondingly. Try it and... - Page 20 The select button is used most of the time to select icons displayed on the screen. Pressing the menu button usually makes a menu appear. Menus are described in the chapter Menus. The adjust button is not often used - the Menus chapter includes one instance. Try using the select button first when you want to alter something.
- Page 21 Clicking 1. Point at the icon Move the mouse so that the pointer is over the item you want to select. example, point at the desktop colour palette icon on the icon bar. 2. Click on the mouse Click once on the left hand button of the mouse.
- Page 22 More practice with the One of the icons on the icon bar is the palette, mentioned in the mouse mouse techniques procedures. This lets you alter the colours used in the screen display. Click on the palette icon to display the palette on the screen: Now click on the third colour block on the top row.
- Page 23 Move the pointer somewhere in the middle colour bar, and press the left mouse button. The bar will snap to the position of the pointer, and the colour will change accordingly. Keep the button down, and drag the bar backwards and forwards.
- Page 24 Using the mouse...
- Page 25 Disc drives This chapter tells you how to use and take care of your Archimedes discs and drives. Floppy discs and hard Information and programs are stored on discs. There are two types of disc discs floppy discs and hard discs.
- Page 26 The Applications suite Your Archimedes computer is supplied with an Applications suite on floppy discs, which contain application programs, utilities and games. It is advisable to make back-up copies of the discs before you use them, just in case you delete something by mistake.
- Page 27 The contents of the disc will be displayed in a window for you to see:. Write-protecting floppy The Applications discs are supplied This means that you cannot write-protected. discs change anything on the disc, delete anything by mistake, or save any new files to the disc.
- Page 28 Don't open the metal shutter on the disc, as the disc surface is easily contaminated by dust. Looking after hard discs If your Archimedes computer is fitted with a hard disc, you'll have less floppy discs to worry about, but you should take some additional precautions, as follows: •...
- Page 29 Windows This chapter describes windows and explains can be moved, resized, hidden and closed. It describes how they move through the contents of a document too large to display in a window all at once. how to What is a window? A window is an area of the screen displaying an activity or application.
- Page 30 Title bar Displays the title of the window. This may be the name of an application, or the name of a document if you are editing text. Back icon If you click on this, the window will be hidden behind any windows which overlap the area it occupies.
- Page 31 Dragging a window 1. Select the title bar Move the pointer onto the title bar and press the select (LH) button. 2. Move the mouse Keep the button pressed, and drag the window. 3. Release the mouse Release the button when the window is button where you want it to be.
- Page 32 Toggling window size 1. Select the toggle size Move the pointer over the toggle size icon icon and click the select (LH) button. Practise this on the Applications disc directory window. The window size will snap to nearly the width of the screen.
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Page 33: Closing Windows
Closing windows 1. Select the close icon Position the pointer on the close icon and click the select (LH) button. close the directory window. For example, The window will disappear from the screen. If the window has some unsaved work in it ( some edits you have made to a document for example), you will be asked whether, you want to save the changes you made since you last... - Page 34 Scrolling A window is so named because it often acts as a window through which you can view something which may be much bigger. It allows you to see an area of a file, directory or picture stored in the computer. The proportion of the file visible depends on the size and shape of the frame.
- Page 35 Most windows have arrows to enable you to move the window scroll bars scroll around a file: Scroll bars allow you to scroll the window over the document (or directory or picture) you are viewing. slider The size of the shows what proportion of the document is visible.
- Page 36 Scrolling line by line 1. Select the scroll arrow Position the pointer on the scroll arrow and click on the select (LH) button to scroll one line. Hold the button down to continue scrolling. Click on the adjust (RH) button to scroll back the other way.
- Page 37 Moving through a file 1. Select the slider Position the pointer on the slider, press the down. select (LH) button and keep it pressed 2. Drag the slider Drag the slider to display the part of the file you want to view. side Move from one of a document to the other...
- Page 38 Windows...
- Page 39 Instead of having to remember what you can have, and how to ask for it, you just point at what you want on the menu and select it. This is the main way of doing things in the Archimedes desktop. Using menus Click the middle mouse button to display a menu.
- Page 40 Displaying a menu 1. Point to the relevant Move the pointer over the window or icon icon you want to work on. example, move the pointer over the Applications disc 1 directory window. 2. Click on the middle The menu will be displayed. mouse button Note that the menu will change to apply to an individual file in a directory window, if the...
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