Working with Windows


Windows XP displays all programs and content in a window on the desktop. When you start a program, for instance, you see the program window. When you open a folder, you see the contents in a window.

Part of mastering XP is learning to manipulate the windows so that you can see and work with the area you want. For instance, you might want to move windows so that you can see more than one, or you might want to maximize a window so that it fills the entire desktop area. You use the window controls, as well as other window parts (the title bar and borders) to manipulate the window. This section covers common window tasks.

Opening and Closing Windows

To open a program window, start the program (as covered later in this chapter). To open a content window, double-click the drive or folder icon from the desktop or select the folder from the Start menu. For instance, click Start and then My Computer to open this window (see Figure 1.7). The current window appears on top of any other open windows, and the title bar is brighter.

Figure 1.7. All windows include common controls.


When a window is open, you see the controls for the window in the upper-right corner (from left to right: Minimize, Maximize, and Close). For example, to close a window, click its Close button as shown in Figure 1.7.

The window closes and disappears from the taskbar and desktop. If you close a program window, you also exit the program. (See "Exiting a Program" later in this chapter.)

Changing the Size of Windows

In addition to opening and closing windows, you can change the size of the windows. Windows XP uses special terms to describe the various sizes of a window: maximized, minimized, and restored. The changes you can make to the size of a window are covered here.

When you maximize a window, the Maximize button changes to a Restore button, which you can use to return the window to its original size.


Maximizing a Window

A maximized window fills the entire desktop and does not have borders (see Figure 1.8). You commonly maximize program windows when you want to have the maximum display area for the work. To maximize a window so that it fills the entire screen, click its Maximize button.

Figure 1.8. Maximize a window when you want to make it as big as possible.


Minimizing a Window

A minimized window is hidden from view; it's not closed and is still available. The window is represented with a taskbar button (see Figure 1.9). To minimize a window (shrink it to a taskbar button), click its Minimize button. You can redisplay the window by clicking its button. You often minimize a window when you need handy access to it, but you don't want to use desktop space for the display of that window.

Figure 1.9. Minimizing a window hides it from view but still keeps it available.


Restoring a Window

When a window is open and not maximized, Windows uses the term "restore." Basically, you restore the window to its original size. To restore a maximized window, click the Restore button (see Figure 1.10). Use this size when you want to display more than one window on the desktop. For instance, if you are copying data from one program to another, you can view both windows and move between them. When a window is this size, it has borders so that you can resize it manually. You can also use the title bar to move the window (see "Arranging the Windows" later in this chapter.)

Figure 1.10. A restored window has borders that you can drag to resize the window.


Resizing a Window

When a window is restored, you can change its size. To resize a window, put the mouse pointer on a border and then drag the border to resize the window. Remember that you can only resize restored windows. You cannot resize a maximized window.

Arranging the Windows

When you have more than one window open, you may need to arrange them on the desktop. As mentioned, you might copy data from one document or program to another. You might also open several windows when you are doing file maintenance such as copying or moving a file. In any case, you can move the windows around the desktop by dragging, or you can have Windows XP arrange the windows.

To move a window, follow these steps:

1.

Put the mouse pointer on the title bar.

2.

Drag the window to the location you want. The window is then moved.

To have Windows XP arrange the windows, follow these steps:

1.

Right-click a blank area of the taskbar to display the shortcut menu.

2.

Click one of the following commands for arranging the windows:

Click Cascade Windows to arrange the windows in a waterfall style, layered on top of each other from the upper-left corner down (see Figure 1.11).

Figure 1.11. The cascade view shows all open windows, one on top of the other.


tip

You can undo the arrangement and revert to the original placement by right-clicking the taskbar and then selecting the Undo command. The name of the command varies depending on the arrangement. For instance, if you have tiled the windows, the command is Undo Tile.

Click Tile Windows Horizontally to make all the windows the same size and place them horizontally next to each other.

Click Tile Windows Vertically to make all the windows the same size, but place them vertically in order (see Figure 1.12).

Figure 1.12. Vertically tiled windows is another arrangement choice.


Click Show the Desktop to minimize all open windows. If you redisplay the taskbar shortcut menu, you can select Show Open Windows to redisplay the windows.



    Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP
    Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP (2nd Edition)
    ISBN: 078973432X
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 176
    Authors: Shelley OHara

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