Managing Windows

"Managing" a window means bossing it around: You can move it, change its size, and open and close it. Most programs are contained in windows. Although these windows might have some different features, most program windows have more similarities than differences.

Use the Buttons to Switch Between Sizes

Click the Maximize button, and the window enlarges and fills the screen. (If the window is already maximized, you won't see the Maximize button.)

Click the Restore Down button, and the window gets smaller. (If the window is already restored, you won't see the Restore Down button.)

Click the Minimize button, and the window disappears but you can see its name on a button on the taskbar.

Click the window's name on the taskbar button, and the window zooms back to the size it was before you minimized it.

Tip

To automatically arrange all the windows on your Desktop, right-click a blank spot on the taskbar, and choose the arrangement you want from the shortcut menu.

Try This!

Double-click the title bar of a maximized window to restore the window to its original size. Double-click the title bar again to return the window to its maximized size. Now press Alt+Spacebar to open the window's Control menu, and choose the action you want from the menu.

Use the Mouse to Resize a Window

Move the mouse over one of the borders of the window until the mouse pointer changes into a two-headed arrow. Drag the window border until the window is the size you want. The directions of the arrowheads show you the directions in which you can move the window border.

See Also

"Mouse Moves" on page 19 for information about dragging items with the mouse.

Tip

You can't manually resize a maximized window, so if the window you want to resize is currently maximized, click the Restore Down button.

Try This!

Move your mouse over a side border, and drag the border to change the window's width. Now move your mouse over the bottom border, and drag the border to change the window's height. Finally, move your mouse over one of the window's corners to change both its height and its width.

Move a Window

Point to the window's title bar, and drag the window to a new location.