Taskbar Properties
The
easiest method of accessing the properties of the Taskbar is to
right click on the Taskbar and select [Properties] from the context
menu. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Property Sheet (Fig.
UI-71) will open. The focus is on the Taskbar tab. The Property
Sheet is divided into two sections that mirror the divisions of the
actual Taskbar. The two areas are discussed below.
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Fig. UI-71 |
[Taskbar Appearance] - This area controls the center section of the
Taskbar located between the Start Button on the left and the
Notification Area on the right. The graphic at the top of this
section will change to reflect the options selected or cleared.
[Lock the Taskbar] - The Taskbar can be
positioned along the top, bottom, left, or right side of the
desktop. Left click in any open area of the Taskbar and drag it to
the desired location. Any changes you make to the Taskbar, including
toolbars located on the Taskbar are locked and prevented from being
moved with this selection.
[Auto-Hide the Taskbar] - Allows the Taskbar to
retract to the edge of the screen when it’s not being used. To
recall it to view, move the mouse to the edge of the screen where
the Taskbar is positioned. Many users are hesitant to use this
option but I suggest you give it a try. I personally expand the
taskbar to two rows high in everyday use to accommodate more items
with less side to side compression. The Auto-Hide feature reclaims
this desktop space whenever the focus is on a program.
[Keep the Taskbar On Top of Other Windows] -
Contrary to what this item description would indicate, when used in
conjunction with the Auto-Hide the Taskbar option discussed
previously, it simply ensures that when you move your mouse pointer
to the edge of the screen the Taskbar will always become visible. It
does not supercede the command to Auto-Hide the Taskbar by making it
always visible.
[Group Similar Taskbar Buttons] - This is one
of the best new features of XP for anyone who works with multiple
open windows. The grouping occurs in two ways. First, it displays
files opened by the same program in the same area of the Taskbar.
For example, if you opened, in order, the following files: Excel 1,
Word 1, Excel 2, and Word 2, normally the files would be displayed
across the Taskbar in that same order. With grouping enabled, the
order would be Excel 1, Excel 2, Word 1, and Word 2. In addition, if
the size of the Taskbar windows falls below a certain width due to
the Taskbar being crowded, grouping combines all the similar program
files into expandable buttons containing the individual files.
Having the files grouped by the parent program also allows you to
close the entire group by right clicking the button and selecting
[Close] rather than closing each file individually.
[Show Quick Launch] - Way back in 1988 Robert
Palmer did a song titled “Simply Irresistible.” That pretty much
sums up my feelings about Quick Launch. It resides over on the left
side of the Taskbar (although you can drag and position it anywhere
you want), is fully customizable and launches programs with a single
click. Programs can be added to Quick launch by dragging and
dropping. The minimum size for Quick Launch is the width of three
icons. Icons over three (six in my case since I use a double height
Taskbar) are accessible from a pop up listing by clicking on the
[>>] symbol.
[Notification Area] - This area controls the
far right section of the Taskbar adjacent to the edge of the screen
where the clock is located if you have it activated. The graphic at
the top of this section will change to reflect the options selected
or cleared.
[Show the Clock] - Check the box, you have a
clock. No check, no clock. Simple.
[Hide Inactive Icons] - The Notification Area
has always been one of my pet peeves. Programs have a tendency to
stick icons here on a regular basis. This is fine if they provide a
simple way of turning them off, the most common method being via
right click and context menu selection for disabling. Some icons in
this area are truly useful. The bad part was the way they string
across the taskbar with each new addition. The Hide Inactive Icons
name only tells part of the story. While it is true that it will
hide the inactive icons, it goes well beyond that function by
selecting the [Customize...] button. The [Customize Notifications]
(Fig. UI-72) dialogue box will open.
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Fig. UI-72 |
[Customize Notifications] - This dialogue box displays a list of
Current Items and Past Items that have appeared in the Notification
Area. Click on any item in either section and a drop down box will
appear with three options.
[Hide When Inactive] - The default choice. Useful for items that you
want to become visible when they have information to report.
[Always Hide] - A good choice for items you want to run in the
background but don’t want a notification until you make the choice
to expand the Notification Area.
[Always Show] - Useful for items which you want to monitor for both
activity and inactivity so they are always available at a glance.
With
the modifications that are possible to the Taskbar in Windows XP
I’ve pretty much eliminated any need for the Start Menu on a regular
basis. By carefully constructing the Taskbar, adding the programs
that are most relevant to my work in the Quick Launch area and
utilizing the Notification Area and Auto-Hide functions wisely, I’m
able to increase available screen real estate and maintain access to
essential programs and monitoring functions.
Accessing Desktop and Taskbar Settings | Themes
Settings
Desktop Settings | Screensaver
Settings
Appearance Settings | Settings
Start Menu | Taskbar | Windows
Classic
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