ITS Tech Tips : Windows Tips

The Windows Taskbar

You use the taskbar every day but here are some usage tips you may not be aware of.

Managing windows

Got too many windows open and need to get to the desktop?

• Right-click on the taskbar and select Show the Desktop.

You can also rearrange the open windows on the screen using taskbar commands.

• Right-click on the taskbar and select one of the arrangement commands (cascade or tile vertically/horizontally).

Moving and Hiding the Taskbar

Don't like having the taskbar at the bottom of the screen?

• Right-click on the taskbar, de-select Lock the Taskbar (see screen shot above and note the check mark next to that option).
• Click and drag the taskbar to any other side of the screen.

You can also have Windows hide the taskbar when you aren't using it in order to allow for more space on the screen.

• Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties.

On the Taskbar tab under the Taskbar appearance section,

• Check the box to Auto-hide the taskbar.

Time-saving toolbars

• Right-click on the taskbar and go to Toolbars.

There are several pre-defined toolbars that you can choose from or you can create your own. The most commonly used toolbar is Quick Launch; you can add shortcuts to programs on this toolbar so you can quickly access your most commonly used applications.

To add a program to the Quick Launch toolbar,

• Locate the program on the Start menu.
• Right-click and drag to the Quick Launch toolbar.

A shortcut menu appears.

• Select Create Shortcuts Here.

The icon to the program appears on the toolbar.

When activated, this toolbar generally appears just to the right of the Start button.

Another not-so-common but also useful toolbar is Links. You can add shortcuts to your most commonly accessed links such as your network drives and then place this toolbar anywhere on the screen, even as its own free-standing window. J

• Right-click on the task bar and go to Toolbars, then Links.

The Links toolbar appears on the taskbars.

You can either leave it on the taskbar or drag it to another location.

Page last updated 06/27/07. Send questions or comments to ITS Training.