Windows Accessories

Calculator
Windows Calculator is a calculating application included in all the versions of Windows. It can
be used to perform simple calculation, scientific calculation and Programming calculation.

 Choose Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Calculator to start Calculator application,
or
 Alternately you can open Run dialog box (Start >> Run) dialog box then type calc and hit
enter.
 From View menu choose the required type of calculator – Standard, Scientific,
Programmer, Statistical
 Edit >> Copy and Paste commands can be used to input the numbers into calculator or
paste the result to other applications

Calculator was first included with Windows 1.0 as a simple arithmetic calculator. In Windows
3.0, a Scientific mode was added, which included exponents and roots, logarithms, factorial-
based functions, trigonometry (supports radian, degree and gradians angles), base conversions (2,
8, 10, 16), logic operations, Statistic functions such as single variable statistics and linear
regression.

In Windows 7, separate Programmer, Statistics, Unit Conversion, Date Calculation, and

Worksheets modes were added. Calculator’s interface was revamped for the first time since its
introduction.

On the right of the main Calculator, one can add a panel with Date Calculation, Unit Conversion,
and Worksheets. The included Worksheets allow one to calculate a result of a chosen field based
on the values of other fields. Pre-defined templates include calculating a car’s fuel economy
(mpg and L/100 km), a vehicle lease, and a mortgage. In pre-beta versions of Windows 7,
Calculator also provided a Wages template.

Snipping Tool
Snipping Tool is another useful of Windows accessories included in Windows 7, Windows
Vista, and Experience Pack for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. It was originally released
as a powertoy for the Tablet PC. The program is a screen-capture tool that allows taking
screenshots (called snips) of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire
screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, saved as an image file (PNG, GIF,
or JPEG file) or an HTML page, or e-mailed.

The Snipping Tool captures all or part of the computer display screen as a picture. You can save
the picture and attach it to an e-mail or paste the picture into a document. Click the Start button,
type snip, and click the Snipping Tool from the search results. The screen fades slightly, and the
Snipping Tool toolbar appears.

Snipping tool can be used to Print Screen, annotate and use in other applications.
Paint
Image Source: Wikipedia

Paint (formerly Paintbrush for Windows) is a simple graphics painting program that has been
included with all versions of Microsoft Windows. It is often referred to as MS Paint or Microsoft
Paint. The program opens and saves files as Windows bitmap (24-bit, 256 color, 16 color, and
monochrome) .BMP, JPEG, GIF. Paintbrush supports GIF without animation or transparency.
Since Windows 98 Paint supports GIF with transparency. It also supports PNG (without alpha
channel), and TIFF (without multiple page support).

The program can be in color mode or two-color black-and-white, but there is no grayscale mode.
For its simplicity, it rapidly became one of the most used applications in the early versions of
Windows—introducing many to painting on a computer for the first time—and still has strong
associations with the immediate usability of the old Windows workspace

Notepad
Notepad is a common text-only (plain text) editor. The resulting files—typically saved with
the .txt extension—have no format tags or styles, making the program suitable for editing system
files that are to be used in a DOS environment.

Notepad supports both left-to-right and right-to-left based languages, and one can alternate
between these viewing formats by using the right or left Ctrl + Shift keys to go to right-to-left
format or left-to-right format, respectively.

WordPad
Microsoft WordPad is a free rich text editor included with Microsoft Windows 95 and the later.
Earlier to Windows 95 there used to be an application called Write for the same task. Although
capable of doing much more than Notepad, WordPad is not as advanced as Microsoft Word.

WordPad can format and print text, but lacks intermediate features such as a spell checker,
thesaurus, and support for tables. As such, it is suitable for writing letters or short pieces, but
underpowered for work that relies heavily on graphics or typesetting.
Voice Recorder is an app for recording lectures, conversations, and other sounds
(previously called Sound Recorder). Hit the big Record button (1), and add markers (3)
to identify key moments as you record or play (2). Then you can trim (5), rename (7), or
share your recordings (4), which are saved in Documents > Sound recordings. Select
the trash can icon (6) to delete your recording, or the three dots (8) for more options.

Onscreen Keyboard
An onscreen keyboard is a software-based keyboard that is available in most
operating systems, especially Microsoft Windows, and in other applications.
An onscreen keyboard allows users to type text using a joystick or a pointing
device. Apart from improving input options for users who are physically
challenged, it also serves as an alternative to a physical keyboard.

Onscreen keyboards are also known as software keyboards or soft

keyboards.

An onscreen keyboard displays a virtual keyboard on the screen for users to

enter input. It can be operated with the help of any pointing device such as
a mouse, pen, joystick, etc. The keyboard is often resizable and
customizable, allowing the typing mode, font, etc., to be changed as
needed. In certain onscreen keyboards, especially those from Windows 7
and later versions, they are equipped with a predictive text engine, which
helps in predicting the words the users may type.

There are several ways an onscreen keyboard can come in handy. It is

useful, for example, for physically challenged users who have difficulty using
a physical keyboard. It can also be used as an alternative or a temporary
keyboard in case the physical keyboard becomes defective. Using an
onscreen keyboard also prevents keystrokes from being captured by certain
spyware programs such as keyloggers.

However, as typing on an onscreen keyboard is slower and more difficult

than on a physical keyboard, most onscreen keyboards feature predictive
text input.