Chapter 4 Common Offi ce Application Features 119 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Closing Files and Applications Closing means removing a fi le or application from RAM. When a fi le is not going to be used for a period of time, it should be closed. The same is true of a software application. This is a good practice because closing fi les and applications frees up space in memory for other applications. To close a fi le in a Microsoft Offi ce application, click the File tab, and then click Close. If the fi le has no unsaved changes, it is immediately closed, and the application remains open. If there are unsaved changes, the user is prompted to save the fi le before closing it. An easy way to close an application is to click the standard Windows close button (X). This method can be used to close any Microsoft Offi ce application or any other application. Opening Files Just as knowing how to save a fi le is a basic computer skill, knowing how to open a fi le is a basic skill. Opening a fi le is placing its content into RAM so the content can be used. Opening a fi le is a simple process: activate the Open command, navigate to the fi le location, and select the fi le. In Microsoft Offi ce, click File Open. Then, click Computer in the backstage view, followed by the Browse button, as shown in Figure 4-9. A standard Windows Open dialog box is displayed. Navigate to the location where the fi le is saved, select the fi le, and click the Open button. The fi le contents are loaded into RAM and displayed in the application window. FYI The [Ctrl][O] key combination is a common shortcut for opening a fi le in an application. Click Click to display the Open dialog box Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 4-9. Opening a document in a Microsoft Office application.