Using Shortcut Menus for Quick Results

Windows Vista and the programs that work with it were designed to be intuitivethat is, they anticipate what you're likely to want to do when you're working on a particular task, and they place the appropriate commands on a shortcut menu that you open by clicking the right mouse button. These shortcut menus are dynamic, which means they change depending on the task in progress.

Use a Shortcut Menu Command

Right-click an item.

Choose a command from the shortcut menu to accomplish the task at hand. If the item or action you want isn't listed on the shortcut menu:

• From the shortcut menu, choose an item whose name has an arrow next to it to see whether the item or action you want is on one of the shortcut menu's submenus.
  
  
• Check to be sure you right-clicked the proper item.
  
  
• Check the program's documentation or Help files to verify that what you want to do can be accomplished from the item you right-clicked.
  
  

Tip

The tasks listed on the toolbar in a folder window are also dynamic, depending on the types of files in the folder, but they usually provide actions that are less specific than those listed on a shortcut menu.

Tip

When in doubt, right-click! If you're not sure how to accomplish what you want to do, right-click the item in question, and you'll usually see an appropriate command on the shortcut menu.

Try This!

See what's on the shortcut menus. Right-click the Start button, and note the commands on the shortcut menu that appears. Right-click a button on the taskbar, and then right-click a blank spot on the taskbar. Open the Start menu, and right-click an item. Continue experimenting by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop, other items on the Desktop, and various files and folders in folder windows. Amazing, isn't it?