Text Interface
A text interface was all that was available in the beginning. The example to the right is of PKZIP, which squashes files into smaller size to save you space.
Notice in the center the command you would have to type to use this program. An actual command line would look something like:
c:\>pkzip c:\myfiles\newfile.zip c:\docs\report14.doc
A text-based interface means typing in all the commands. If you mis-type, you have to backspace to your error, which erases what you already typed. It's hard to have fun this way!
Add-on programs were written, of course, so you could edit what was typed - to the joy of all who had to work with long command lines.
Modern text interfaces have lots of cool shortcuts and features. But you still have to spell and type well.
Improvements arrived with the addition of menus and the use of the arrow keys to move around the screen. This is much better than having to type in all the commands.
The example to the right is of a bulletin board communications program.
Notice the list of commands in the popup menu in the center. You would use the arrow keys to move up and down the list and then press the Enter key to execute the command. Various menus are usually available by using the Alt key in combination with a letter or number key.
Graphical Interface
A graphical user interface (GUI
- sometimes pronounced GOO-ee) uses
pictures to make it easier for the user.
It is more
user friendly.
The example below is from Windows 95/98. The use of drop-down menus, windows, buttons, and icons was first successfully marketed by Apple on the Macintosh computer. These ideas are now as standard for graphical interfaces as door knobs are for doors.
Common features of a graphical interface:
window menu button icon
