← Years 7–8 Data & Information

Exploring an unfamiliar feature using Help and tooltips

Hover over a button to read its tooltip, open the Help menu or type your task into the app's search box, then try the feature on a copy of your file so you can undo any mistakes.

Part of: 7-8 Digital Technologies: Using digital tools and conventions — Module 2

Understanding Exploring an unfamiliar feature using Help and tooltips in Years 7–8 Data & Information

What it does: Making a copy first means any mistakes happen on the copy and your original file is not changed. Undo (Ctrl + Z) reverses your last action, so you can safely experiment with a feature. A tooltip is a small box that pops up when you hover over a button. It tells you what the button does without changing your work. Most apps let you type what you want to do into a search box or the Help menu, and they show you the feature or the steps. If you test on a copy, the original stays safe even if something goes wrong.

Common mistakes: After reading the tooltip, you should try the new feature on a copy of the file, not the original. Then any mistakes can be undone or thrown away safely. It should be try(feature, copy). After searching Help for your task, you open the top result so you can read the steps. Closing it means you learn nothing. It should be open(topResult).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 47–80) and word search (Modules 9–80).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
You find a button in a program and have no idea what it does. What is the quickest first step?
Hover your mouse over it to read the tooltipClick it repeatedly until something happens
Matches
Click every button on your final assignment to see what happens
↓
Experimenting on the only copy of your work could ruin it. Hover to read tooltips and test on a copy instead.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Help and tooltips
Meaning
Hover over a button to read its tooltip, open the Help menu or type your task into the app's search box, then try the feature on a copy of your file so you can undo any mistakes.
Practice
1. Hover over the button to read its tooltip
Testing
Gaps
Hover over a button to read its
Check Answer
Spots
2read(tooltip)
3try(feature, original)

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Quick Questions

1. You find a button in a program and have no idea what it does. What is the quickest first step?
A. Click it repeatedly until something happens
B. Hover your mouse over it to read the tooltip ✓
A tooltip is a small box that pops up when you hover over a button. It tells you what the button does without changing your work.
2. Which one is a tooltip?
A. A small label that appears when you hover over a button ✓
B. A tool that deletes your file
Tooltips are short hints that show up when your mouse rests on a button or icon.
3. You want to find out how to add page numbers, but you can't see the button. What should you do?
A. Delete the document and start again
B. Type 'add page numbers' into the app's search box or Help menu ✓
Most apps let you type what you want to do into a search box or the Help menu, and they show you the feature or the steps.
4. Before trying a new feature on your important assignment, what is the safest thing to do?
A. Try it on a copy of the file ✓
B. Try it on the only version you have
If you test on a copy, the original stays safe even if something goes wrong.
5. You tried a new feature and it messed up your text. What can you do straight away?
A. Use Undo (Ctrl+Z) to reverse the change ✓
B. Close the app and hope it fixes itself
Undo reverses your last action, so it is a safe way to test a feature and fix a mistake.

Match the Pairs

Hover over a button → Wait with your mouse over an icon to see a tooltip that tells you what the button does
Help > Search → Type your task into the app's search box to find the menu command or Help article for it
Try a new feature on a copy of your file so your original stays safe → File > Make a copy
If a new feature does something you did not want, you can reverse it straight away → Ctrl + Z
Click every button on your final assignment to see what happens → Experimenting on the only copy of your work could ruin it. Hover to read tooltips and test on a copy instead.
Give up because you cannot find the Mail Merge button → Giving up too soon. Open the Help menu or type the task into the app's search box to find the feature.

Key Term

Help and tooltips
Hover over a button to read its tooltip, open the Help menu or type your task into the app's search box, then try the feature on a copy of your file so you can undo any mistakes.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Hover over a button to read its tooltip
Hint: Type the word for the small label that pops up when you hover over a button.
2. Open the Help menu to read instructions
Hint: Type the name of the menu that explains how to use the app.
3. Type your task into the app's search box
Hint: Type the word for the box that finds menu commands from a typed task.
4. Try the new feature on a copy of your file
Hint: Type the word for a duplicate of your file that keeps the original safe.
5. Press Ctrl+Z to undo a mistake
Hint: Type the letter key you press with Ctrl to undo.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A hover(button)
B read(tooltip)
C try(feature, original)
Line C — After reading the tooltip, you should try the new feature on a copy of the file, not the original. Then any mistakes can be undone or thrown away safely. It should be try(feature, copy).
Question 2
A open(Help)
B type(searchBox, "table")
C close(topResult)
Line C — After searching Help for your task, you open the top result so you can read the steps. Closing it means you learn nothing. It should be open(topResult).
Question 3
A copy = duplicate(file)
B open(copy)
C try(feature)
D if bad: redo()
Line D — If the feature does something you did not want, you use undo to reverse it. Redo repeats a change instead of reversing it. It should be if bad: undo().
Question 4
A find(icon)
B click(icon)
C read(tooltip)
D copy = duplicate(file)
Line B — A tooltip appears when you hover over a button, not when you click it. Clicking runs the feature before you know what it does. It should be hover(icon).
Question 5
A copy = delete(file)
B try(feature, copy)
C if bad: undo()
Line A — The first step is to make a copy of your file so you can practise safely. Deleting the file destroys your work and leaves nothing to test on. It should be copy = duplicate(file).

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