MAIN INDEX

Welcome to the on-line help for Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia.

MENU BAR

PATHS

ARTICLES

MODES

DICTIONARY


MENU BAR

ALL ABOUT THE MENU BAR

File Menu

View Menu

Paths Menu

Window Menu

Help Menu


ALL ABOUT THE MENU BAR

The menu bar appears at the top of the main window, below its title bar.  Many of the menu options appear in both the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) and the Virtual Workspace (VW) modes, but some options are unique to only one mode.

File

Use the File menu to open and save layouts, and exit the program.

View

Use the View menu to open the notebook, set the Pathbar and  the Workspace Map, and toggle between the Multiple Document Interface and Virtual Workspace modes.

Paths

Use the Paths menu to access the paths into Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia.  Selecting a path from this menu is the same as clicking on its Pathbar button.

Window

Use the Window menu to arrange windows and their icons.

Help

Use the Help menu when you want on-line help while using Compton's.  The About Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia option offers additional information about the program, such as the version number and the copyright notice.  Use Opening Screen to view the opening screen.  Click anywhere to close the opening screen.


FILE MENU

The File menu lists options to manage the layouts you create in the Virtual Workspace mode and exit the program.

A layout is a collection of windows in the Virtual Workspace.  When you open a layout, each window is created and positioned as it was when the layout was saved.

New (VW) saves the current layout, then closes the currently open windows.

Open (VW) displays a list of available layouts.

Save (VW) saves any changes you made to the current layout since it was last opened or saved.

Save As (VW) lets you save the current layout with a new file name or onto another drive.

Exit closes Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia.  Choose Exit when you are finished using Compton's.


VIEW MENU

The View menu lists options to organize the windows on the screen and toggle between the Multiple Document Interface and Virtual Workspace modes.

Notebook opens the Notebook (Windows Write).

Pathbar at Right aligns the Pathbar along the right edge of the screen.

Pathbar at Top aligns the Pathbar along the top of the screen.

Floating Pathbar (VW) hides or displays the movable Pathbar.

Workspace Map (VW) hides or displays the Workspace Map window.

Multiple Document Interface (VW) activates the simpler Multiple Document Interface mode.

Virtual Workspace (MDI) activates the advanced Virtual Workspace mode.

Tips for using VIEW

If you accidentally move the Pathbar or the Workspace Map out of view, just select the option from the View menu twice: once to deactivate it, and again to reactivate it.  When it is displayed again, the Pathbar or Workspace Map will appear at its default location.


PATHS MENU

The Paths menu lists the eleven paths to the information in Compton's.

Idea Search lets you use your own words to search for information.  By using keywords in your search phrase or question, Compton's creates a list of articles or pictures that may be related to your request.

Contents displays an alphabetized list of all the articles in Compton's.

Pictures displays an alphabetized list of all the pictures in Compton's.

Animations displays an alphabetized list of all the animation sequences in Compton's.  Animation sequences are a series of moving pictures that show and explain a process.

Videos displays an alphabetized list of all the video sequences in Compton's.  Videos are video recordings of famous events or subjects, accompanied by a sound recording.

Sounds displays an alphabetized list of all the sound recordings in Compton's.

World Atlas displays a detailed map of the Earth and gives you access to information about hundreds of places around the globe.

Topic Tree organizes all the articles in the encyclopedia into topics and subtopics.  Browse through the lists to narrow down a field of interest until you are led to an article that offers detailed information on the subject.

Picture Tour displays the encyclopedia's pictures in a random series.  Stop the show at any time to see a picture's caption or go to an encyclopedia article related to it.

Slide Shows displays a list of all the slide shows available in Compton's.  Slide shows consist of a series of related pictures accompanied by a sound track.

Dictionary gives you access to the complete Merriam-Webster's OnLine Dictionary containing seventy thousand definitions, with seven companion references and twenty tables of essential information.


WINDOW MENU

The Window menu lists options to organize and manage your windows.

Cascade rearranges all open windows into a cascade.

Tile rearranges all open windows as tiles.

Arrange Icons arranges the minimized icons in a row.

Close All  (VW) closes all open windows.

Minimize All (VW) minimizes all windows into icons.

Restore All (VW) restores each window to its previous position.

Spread Out (VW) spreads windows across the workspace.


HELP MENU

The Help menu gives you access to quick, on-line information about the features and functions in Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia.

Index opens the help file's index so you can choose a help topic.

About Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia displays information about the program, such as the version number and copyright.

Opening Screen (MDI) displays the Compton's opening screen.  When you are done viewing the screen, click anywhere to make it disappear.


PATHS

ALL ABOUT PATHS	Sounds

Idea Search	World Atlas

Contents	Topic Tree

Pictures	Picture Tour

Animations	Slide Shows

Videos	Dictionary


ALL ABOUT PATHS

Eleven paths lead you into Compton's world of information.  Each path offers you a unique way of looking through the encyclopedia.  Some paths group items of the same kind together, such as pictures, sounds, and videos.  Other paths let you research an idea or topic by asking a question or focusing a general concept by selecting subtopics.


IDEA SEARCH

Idea Search finds articles and pictures using a word, phrase or question you enter in the search request box.  The computer searches through the entire Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia for keywords from your search request to create a list of articles or pictures that may be related to your topic. From the list you can go directly to the article or picture.

Access the Idea Search window by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu

Click on Articles, Pictures, or Fact Index to select the type of list you want, type your search words in the search request box, and press Enter or click on Search to begin the search process.

Articles displays a list of articles that are related to your search request. Pictures displays a list of pictures that are related to your search request. Fact Index displays a list of Fact Index articles that are related to your search request.

When the list of titles is presented, highlight a title and click on Get Item or double-click on the title to see the article or picture.

Click on Close to close the Idea Search window.

Tips for using IDEA SEARCH

To change your entry in the Search Request box, use the mouse to position the cursor after the text you want to delete and press Backspace. To change an entire word, double-click on it to highlight it and then type the new word.


CONTENTS

The Contents path displays an alphabetical list of every article in Compton's.

Access the Contents path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a word in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To go to an article, highlight a title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

Click on Close to close the Contents window.


PICTURES

The Pictures path displays an alphabetical list of every picture in Compton's.

Access the Pictures path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a search request in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To see a picture, highlight its title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

Click on Close to close the Pictures window.

THE PICTURE WINDOW

The picture window shows the picture together with its caption.  Drag the border between the picture and the caption up and down to resize the caption area.

If the picture is bigger than the picture area, the cursor changes to a four-arrow grabber cursor.  Click and drag to move the picture within the picture area or enlarge the picture window to bring the entire image into view.

When a picture window is on screen, use the buttons at the bottom of the window to control the picture.

Click on Size to resize the picture to fit the window.

Click on Article to go to the related article.

If the picture is part of a series, click on the left or right arrow buttons to see the previous or next picture in the series.

Click on Close to close the Picture window.


ANIMATIONS

The Animations path displays a list of the animation sequences in Compton's. Animation sequences are a series of moving pictures that show and explain a process.

Access the Animations path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a search request in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To see an animation sequence, highlight its title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

Click on Close to close the Animations window.

THE ANIMATION WINDOW

Click on the Go button to start the animation sequence.

Click on the Step button to step through the animation sequence frame by frame.

Click on the Rewind button to see the sequence again from the beginning.

Click on the Article button to go to the related article.

Click on Close to close the Animation window.


VIDEOS

The Videos path displays a list of the videos in Compton's.  Videos are video recordings of famous events or subjects, accompanied by a sound recording.

Access the Videos path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a search request in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To see a video, highlight its title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

THE VIDEO WINDOW

To start the video, click on the Play button.

To stop a video that is in progress, click on Stop.

If you clicked on Stop to interrupt a video and want to see it again from the beginning, click on the Rewind button.

To access a related encyclopedia article, click on Article.

Click on Close to close the Videos window.


SOUNDS

The Sounds path displays a list of the sounds in Compton's.

Access the Sounds path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a search request in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To access a sound, highlight its title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

THE SOUND WINDOW

To start the sound clip, click on the Play button.

To stop a sound that is in progress, click on Stop.

To access a related encyclopedia article, click on Article.

Click on Close to close the Sounds window.


WORLD ATLAS

The World Atlas path lets you explore a map of hundreds of places on Earth.  Choose a place you want to see by clicking on it on the map, typing a search request, or double-clicking on a place name in the Place List.  The atlas will display the location at the center of the screen.  You can quickly move from one side of the globe to another, or you can zoom in and out for a closer or more distant view. Double-clicking on any name on the globe takes you to a Compton's article about that place.

Access the World Atlas path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

The control panel along the left side of the window contains a flat map of the world, a latitude/longitude coordinates display, and the Place List showing an alphabetical list of the places you can find in the World Atlas.

The major part of the window displays the world globe. Click on any location on the globe to redraw the map with that location at the center of the screen and its latitude and longitude coordinates shown on the control panel. Clicking on a location on the flat map redraws the globe with the location at the center of the screen.

Click on Zoom In to view an area more closely. Click on it again to get a closer view. You can click on the Zoom In button repeatedly until you have reached the maximum magnification of that area.

For a broader view of an area, click on Zoom Out. Click on Zoom Out repeatedly to get an increasingly larger view of an area of the globe.

Click on Labels to hide or display the place labels on the globe.

Click on Grid to hide or display the lines of latitude and longitude on the globe.

Click on Controls to hide or display the control panel.

To close the World Atlas, click on Close.

Tips for using the WORLD ATLAS

A quick way to zoom in on a location is to stretch a "rubber band rectangle" around it. Whatever area you enclose in the rectangle will expand to fill the atlas window. Click and hold the mouse button on the globe and drag to enclose an area you want to view more closely. When you release the mouse button, the globe will be redrawn so the area you selected fills the entire atlas window.

Clicking on the globe with the right mouse button displays the latitude and longitude coordinates for that location.

Double-clicking on a place name in the Place List redraws the globe with that location at the center of the screen at an appropriate zoom level. Use the scroll bar browse through the alphabetized list or type the first few letters of a location in the search request box and press Enter. To move quickly from the place names that begin with "A" to those that begin with "T," for example, type "T" in the search request box and press Enter. The Place List will display the places that begin with the letter "T."


TOPIC TREE

The Topic Tree path organizes all the articles in Compton's into topics and subtopics. From these lists you can go directly to articles to explore specific information.

Access the Topic Tree path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

The opening screen shows an alphabetized list of nineteen topics.  Double-click on a topic to open a new window that shows a list of subtopics. Continue selecting subtopics to narrow down a subject until you find an article you want to view.

Listings in capital letters are titles of articles. Double-click on an article title to go to the article.

Click on Close to close the Topic Tree window.


PICTURE TOUR

The Picture Tour path displays a selection of the pictures in Compton's. You can set the tour to display a series of pictures automatically or move from one picture to the next only when you are ready. You can also move backward in the tour to review pictures you have seen, display a picture's caption, or go to an article related to a picture with the click of a button.

Access the Picture Tour path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Click on the Play button (which shows double right arrows) to begin an automatic tour of the pictures in the encyclopedia.

Click on the Forward button (which shows a single right arrow) to move to the next picture.

Click on Stop to stop the automatic tour.

Click on the Reverse button (which shows a double left arrow) to begin an automatic tour backward through the pictures in the tour.

Click on the Back button (which shows a single left arrow) to move to the previous picture in the tour.

Click on Caption to display a picture's caption. Click on Close to close the caption window and return to the picture.

Click on Article to go to a related encyclopedia article.

Click on Close to close the Picture Tour window.


SLIDE SHOWS

The Slide Shows path displays a list of the slide shows in Compton's.  Slide shows consist of a series of related pictures accompanied by a sound track.

Access the Slide Shows path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

Use the scroll bar to browse through the list or type a search request in the search request box and press Enter to move to the place in the list where your search entry or the closest alphabetical listing appears.

To access a slide show, highlight its title and click on Get Item or just double-click on any title in the list.

THE SLIDE SHOW WINDOW

Click on the Play button to begin the slide show presentation.

Click on Stop to stop the slide show presentation.

Click on the Rewind button to go back to the beginning of the presentation.

Click on Article to go to a related encyclopedia article.

Click on Close to close the Slide Show window.


BACK

Each time you click the Back button on the Pathbar, you go back one step in your path through the encyclopedia The program remembers the previous five steps you took through the encyclopedia. You can also go directly to one of your previous steps by selecting it from the Windows menu.


ARTICLES

ALL ABOUT ARTICLES

See Also_Icons

Picture_Icons

Sound Icons


ALL ABOUT ARTICLES

There are over 32,000 articles in Compton's. All article windows look and operate the same way. Click on the up or down arrow at the ends of the scroll bar to move through an article line by line. To move to the next page of an article, click on the scroll bar below the scroll box, or press the Page Down key on your keyboard. Clicking on the scroll bar above the scroll box or pressing the Page Up key displays the previous page.

Double-click on any word in an article to see its definition from The Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary.

The icons found in the left margin of articles represent multimedia features that offer additional information related to the nearby text. The three types of left-margin icons are:  See Also, Picture, and Sound.

Click on the Contents button to see a list of the sections of the article. Double-click on a section title to go directly to that section.

To copy text, highlight the text you want to copy, then click on the Copy in the article window.  The text will be copied to the Windows Clipboard. To paste text from the Clipboard to the Notebook, open the Notebook by selecting it from the View menu, position the cursor where you want to insert the text, then select Paste from the Edit menu in the Notebook.

While reading an article, you might come across a subject or idea that you want to learn more about. Using the Idea Search button, you can easily search the entire encyclopedia for articles that are related to a topic. Highlight the word or phrase you want to search for and click on Idea Search. When the Idea Search window appears, press Enter or click on Search to begin the search.

To print the contents of an article, click on the Print button.

Click on Close to close the article window.

Tips for using the COPY command

When you copy text from Compton's, it is copied as Windows ANSI text.  Check the text for special characters to see if your word processor uses the same character codes.


SEE ALSO ICONS

The See Also icon shows the pages of a book with an arrow pointing to another page. These icons indicate references to other articles that contain information related to the subject of the nearby text. The name of the referenced article appears near the icon in the text of the article.

Double-click on the See Also icon to go to the related article.  Do not double-click on the title of the referenced article.  Remember, double-clicking on any word in an article displays the word's definition.


PICTURE ICONS

The Picture icon shows a camera. Double-click on a Picture icon to display a picture related to the nearby text.

Click on Close to close the Picture window.


SOUND ICONS

The Sound icon shows an audio headset. Double-click on a Sound icon to open a sound window that displays the sound caption and controls to play the sound.

Click on Close to close the Sound window.


MODES

ALL ABOUT MODES

Multiple Document Interface Mode

Virtual Workspace Mode


ALL ABOUT MODES

Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia offers two modes:  the Multiple Document Interface mode and the Virtual Workspace mode.

The Multiple Document Interface is the default mode and the simpler of the two modes.  It offers fewer menu options, does not require as much memory to operate, and does not allow you to save research layouts.

The Virtual Workspace mode, or "power user's mode," offers fast and easy multiple window management as well as the ability to save research layouts.


MULTIPLE DOCUMENT INTERFACE MODE

When you first load Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, the Multiple Document Interface is selected.

A quick way to check if the program is in this mode is to look for the Back button on the Pathbar. This button is only available in the Multiple Document Interface mode.

The Multiple Document Interface lets you use Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia as you would any other Windows program.  You can open several windows of different types, arrange them in various ways across the screen, and move between them at any time.

Two major differences between the Multiple Document Interface and the Virtual Workspace modes are:  1) the MDI mode limits the workspace to the size of your monitor's screen, and 2) you can not save research layouts in the MDI mode.

To change to the Multiple Document Interface mode, select it from the Views menu. If the option is not available, the program is already in the MDI mode.


VIRTUAL WORKSPACE MODE

To access the Virtual Workspace mode, select Virtual Workspace from the View menu. The Workspace Map will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen and the Back button will disappear from the Pathbar.

The Virtual Workspace mode expands your workspace from the size of your monitor screen to dozens of square feet.  This allows you to open an almost limitless number of windows, spread them out or group them by subject or type.  As you construct your research project you can save the layout of open windows so when you return to your work on another day, you can start again right where you left off.

To save a layout, select Save from the File menu.  When you want to return to work, load Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia and select Open from the File menu. Then select the name you gave the layout when you saved it. The windows that were open on the workspace when you last saved the layout will be restored.

THE WORKSPACE MAP

The Workspace Map helps you to navigate through the windows on the workspace. The white rectangles on the Workspace Map depict the vast workspace area. The rectangle with no title is called the Viewport. When you open windows, miniature representations of them appear on the map. To view a window, move its miniature icon to the Viewport or use the grabber cursor on the background of the workspace to move the window on screen.

You can also double-click on any rectangle to bring it to the center of the Viewport and maximize it on the screen. Double-click on the rectangle again move it back to its original position off the Viewport.

Click on the background of the workspace map to scroll the workspace map.

Click on the In button to zoom in on an area of the workspace map.  Click on the Out button to get a broader view of the workspace map.  Click on Home to return the workspace map to its original size and position.


DICTIONARY

The Dictionary path accesses the complete Merriam-Webster's OnLine Dictionary containing 70,000 definitions of 60,000 words. The dictionary also includes seven companion references and twenty tables of essential information.

Access the Dictionary path by clicking on its button on the Pathbar or by selecting it from the Paths menu.

ABOUT MERRIAM-WEBSTER

References

Tables

How To

The Dictionary Window


ABOUT MERRIAM-WEBSTER

The name Webster alone is no guarantee of excellence. It is used by a number of publishers and may serve mainly to mislead an unwary buyer.

A Merriam-Webster® is the registered trademark you should look for when you consider the purchase of dictionaries or other fine reference products. It carries the reputation of a company that has been publishing since 1831 and is your assurance of quality and authority.


REFERENCES

Common English Given Names (Men)

A list of given names of men that are most frequent in English use.  The list usually provides at least one of the following kinds of information at each entry: (1) etymology, indicating the language source but not the original form of the name, and (2) meaning, where known or ascertainable with reasonable certainty.

Common English Given Names (Women)

A list of given names of women that are most frequent in English use.  The list usually provides at least one of the following kinds of information at each entry: (1) etymology, indicating the language source but not the original form of the name, and (2) meaning, where known or ascertainable with reasonable certainty.

Dictionary

Dictionary

The Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary contains nearly 70,000 definitions in entries for 60,000 words and phrases, the complete contents of Webster's New Ideal Dictionary, Second Edition.  Here you will find the core of today's English vocabulary; obsolete, rare, and highly technical words and obsolete meanings of common words have been omitted.  The vocabulary is thus composed of the words most likely to be looked up by anyone searching for a meaning, pronunciation, or word division.

Foreign Words and Phrases

A list of foreign words and phrases that often occur in English texts but that have not yet become part of the English vocabulary.  Entries include pronunciation, language identification, and translation.

Nations of the World

A list of the names of the nations around the globe and their population.

Population of Places in the United States

A list of the names and populations of U.S. towns and cities that had 16,500 or more inhabitants in 1980.

(For a list of names and populations of U.S. states, dependencies, and the District of Columbia, see Population of the United States on the Tables menu.)

Population of Places in Canada

A list of the names and populations of Canadian towns and cities that had 16,500 or more inhabitants in 1981.

(For a list of names and populations of Canadian provinces and territories, see Population of Canada on the Tables menu.)

Thesaurus

This on-line thesaurus contains the complete text of Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, with more than 100,000 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic phrases, related words, and contrasted words. Each main entry includes a meaning-core statement which pinpoints the exact relationship of meaning shared by the main-entry word and its  synonyms. Usage examples help clarify  the shared meaning.


TABLES

Pronunciation Key

A list of the symbols used in the pronunciation descriptions found in most entries in the dictionary.

Bible Books

A list of the books of the Bible according to the Jewish Scriptures, Roman Catholic and Protestant Old Testament, Protestant Apocrypha, and New Testament.

Chemical Elements

A list of the names of chemical elements, their symbols, atomic number, and atomic weight.

Metric System

A list of measures of length, area, volume, capacity, mass, and weight according to the metric system, and their abbreviations and approximate U.S. equivalents.

Money

A list of the basic monetary units of major countries.

Numbers

A list of the names and symbols for cardinal and ordinal numbers, with additional notes about the use and styling of numbers

Planets

A list of the names of the planets in our solar system, their symbol, mean distance from the sun, period of revolution, and equatorial diameter.

Population of the United States

A list of the names, populations, and rank according to population of the U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. dependencies in 1980.

(For a list of names and populations of U.S. towns and cities, see Population of Places in the United States on the References menu.)

Population of Canada

A list of the names and populations of Canadian provinces and territories in 1981.

(For a list of names and populations of Canadian towns and cities, see Population of Places in the Canada on the References menu.)

Weights and Measures

A list of measures of weight, capacity, length, area, and volume according to the U.S. system, their abbreviation or symbol, and equivalents in other measurement systems.

Undefined Words

The following tables list words that are undefined in the dictionary because they are self-explanatory: their meanings are simply the sum of a meaning of the prefix or combining form and a meaning of the second element.

Anti-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix anti-.

In-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix in-.

Non-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix non-.

Over-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix over-.

Re-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix re-.

Self-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the combining form self-.

Semi-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix semi-.

Sub-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix sub-.

Super-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix super-.

Un-

A list of self-explanatory words beginning with the prefix un-.


HOW TO

How to Browse through a Reference

How to Change Reference

How to Define the "Other" Reference

How to Look Up a Word

How to Return to a Previous Word

How to Select a Reference

How to View Tables


HOW TO BROWSE THROUGH A REFERENCE

Using the Alphabet Scroll Bar

Use the Alphabet scroll bar (the horizontal scroll bar above the Current Word box) to move to the section of the current reference where words begin with a particular letter.  The letter of the current section appears in the Letter box to the right of the Alphabet scroll bar.

Using the Definition Scroll Bar

Use the Definition scroll bar (the vertical scroll bar to the right of the Definition window) to browse the list of words that begin with a particular letter.  To move to the previous letter, move to the top of the letter list and click the up arrow, or press on the up arrow, Page Up or Home key. To move to the next letter, move to the end of the letter list and click the down arrow, or press on the down arrow, Page Down or End key.

Using the Definition Window

If you want to look up a word in an entry, simply double-click on it. Its entry in the current reference will appear in the Definition window.


HOW TO CHANGE A REFERENCE

Once you have found a word in a reference, you can go directly to its entry in another reference by clicking on a Quick Reference button or by clicking on the References button and selecting a new reference from the list.  If the word does not appear as an entry in the new reference, the previous word in alphabetical sequence will appear.


HOW TO DEFINE THE "OTHER" REFERENCE

Whenever you select a reference other than the dictionary or thesaurus from the References list (accessible by clicking on the References button), it replaces the reference listed at the "Other" Quick Reference button.


HOW TO LOOK UP A WORD

By Typing a Word

Activate the dictionary, type your word or phrase and press Enter or click on the Search button.  The Definition window will display your search word's entry from the currently selected reference.  If your search word does not appear in the current reference, the Definition window will display the entry for the previous word in alphabetical sequence.

From a Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia article window

While the encyclopedia article window is active, double click on the word you want to look up. The dictionary will activate with the Definition window displaying your chosen word.

From the Definition Window

Double-click on any word in the Definition window or use the arrow keys to move the cursor to any word and press Enter to retrieve its entry from the current reference. from the Previous Word list

Double-click on any word in the Previous Word list or use the arrow keys to highlight a word and press Enter to retrieve its entry from the current reference.


HOW TO RETURN TO A PREVIOUS WORD

Double-click on any word in the Previous Words list to retrieve its entry from the current reference.


HOW TO SELECT A REFERENCE

Click on the Quick Reference button of your choice or select a reference from the list of references accessible by clicking on the References button.  The Definition window will display the entry for the current word in the new reference.


HOW TO VIEW TABLES

To view a table, click on the Tables button and then click on the table you wish to see.

Some dictionary entries include the phrase "DOUBLE CLICK HERE FOR TABLE." When you double-click on the words, the related table automatically appears.


THE DICTIONARY WINDOW

Alphabet Scroll Bar

Current Word Box

Definition Scroll Bar

Definition Window

Previous Word List

Search Button


ALPHABET SCROLL BAR

Use the Alphabet scroll bar to move to the beginning of another letter in the current reference.

For example, if you are in the "L" section of a reference and want to find the first word that begins with "P," move the Alphabet scroll box or click the right arrow until "P" appears in the Letter box to the right of the Alphabet scroll bar.  The Definition window now displays the beginning of the "P" list.


CURRENT WORD BOX

Displays the most recent search word.  Type a word, and press Enter or click on the Search button to retrieve its entry from the current reference.


DEFINITION SCROLL BAR

Use the Definition scroll bar to move through the entries for a letter in the current reference.  When you reach the end of a letter, the scroll box moves up to the top of the scroll bar, ready to help you browse the new section.

For instance, if you are at "fable," use the Definition scroll bar to browse other words that begin with "F." When you scroll beyond "FYI," the last dictionary entry that begins with "F," the scroll box will return to the top of the scroll bar so you can browse through the letter "G."

Shortcuts

Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, up arrow, and down arrow keys


DEFINITION WINDOW

The Definition window displays the entry for the current word in the current reference.  Depending on the size of the dictionary window and the length of the entry, subsequent entries may also appear in the Definition window.


CLOSE BUTTON

Click on Close when you have finished using the dictionary.


PREVIOUS WORD LIST

Displays a list of the words you have looked up since the dictionary was last loaded.  The last word you searched for is at the beginning of the list.


Quick Reference Buttons
QUICK REFERENCE BUTTON

Three small buttons below the menu bar provide quick access to the dictionary, the thesaurus, and a third reference.  The third button accesses the reference (other than the dictionary or thesaurus) that you most recently used.


SEARCH BUTTON

Type the word you want to look up and click on Search to retrieve its entry from the current reference.

Shortcuts

Press Enter after typing your word.