Working with Open Windows
Working with Open Windows
Windows 7 automatically resizes the open windows that you drag to the edges of your desktop so you can organize, compare, and read them. This Automatic window arrangement is turned on by default, but you can turn it off and move windows around on the desktop, just as was done with previous Windows versions.
Maximizing a window helps you focus on a single item without the distraction of other open windows.
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Windows 7
. To maximize a window, drag the title bar of a window to the top of the screen.
. To return the window to its original size, drag the title bar away from the top of the screen.
There are additional ways to maximize an open window, including . Double-click the top of an open window just below the top edge.
Double-click the top of a maximized window to reduce the window to a smaller size.
. Shift + right-click a program’s icon, or a thumbnail of an open window, and click Maximize or Minimize. If multiple windows are running for a program, click Maximize all windows or Minimize all windows.
. Press the Windows logo key + up arrow to maximize a window. Press the Windows logo key + down arrow to restore the window.
If you minimize a window by pressing the Windows logo key + down arrow, restore it by clicking on its thumbnail on the taskbar or by pressing Shift + right-clicking on the program’s icon on the taskbar and then clicking Restore.
You can rearrange and organize all program icons on the taskbar (including pinned programs and running programs that are not pinned) so they appear in the order you prefer.
To rearrange the order of program icons on the taskbar, simply drag an icon from its current position to a different position on the taskbar. You can rearrange programs as often as you like. You can also rearrange an icon that appears in the taskbar’s Notification Area by dragging the icon to a different position.
All open files from the same program are always grouped together, even if you did not open them one after the other. This is done so that all previews for an open program can be viewed together at the same time.
You can customize how program icons appear and how they group together on the taskbar. You can also change the size of the icons, which changes the height of the taskbar as well. The following options are available for maintain- ing the icons on the taskbar:
. Always combine, hide labels. Each program is a single icon without labels, even when multiple items for a program are open. This is the default setting, resulting in a clean and uncluttered taskbar.
Windows 7 Graphical User Interface
. Combine when taskbar is full. Each open item has an individual, labeled icon.
When the taskbar becomes crowded, programs with multiple open items col- lapse into a single program icon. Clicking the icon displays a list of the items that are open. Both this and the Never Combine option resemble the look and behavior of earlier Windows versions.
Gadgets
Windows 7 contains mini-programs called gadgets, which offer information at
a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. Although they were originally introduced in Windows Vista, they differ because gadgets can be placed anywhere within the desktop. In Windows Vista, gadgets had to be placed on the Windows Sidebar, which no longer exists in Windows 7. Some examples of gadgets include displaying a picture slide show, viewing continu- ously updated headlines, or viewing a clock, as shown in Figure 1.7. If you are running Windows Aero, you can use the Aero Peek feature to temporarily view your desktop gadgets without minimizing or closing the windows you’re working with.
FIGURE 1.7 Gadgets (Slide Show, Feed Headlines, and Clock) located on the desktop and an open Desktop Gadget Gallery.
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Windows 7
To add a gadget, do the following:
1. Right-click the desktop and click Gadgets.
2. Double-click a gadget to add it. To remove a gadget, right-click the gadget and then click Close Gadget.
You can drag a gadget to a new position anywhere on the desktop. You can also install multiple instances of gadget; for example, to see two time zones for the clock or to get different headlines.
To configure a gadget, right-click the gadget and choose the appropriate option. For example, if you right-click the Clock gadget, you can close the Clock, keeping it on top of your open windows, and changing the Clock’s options (such as its name, time zone, and appearance).
Before you can add a gadget, it must be installed on your computer. To see which gadgets are installed on your computer, do the following:
1. Right-click the desktop and click Gadgets.
2. Click the scroll buttons to see all the gadgets.
3. To see information about a gadget, click the gadget, and then click Show details.
You can download additional gadgets online from the following website: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/personalize?T1=desktop-
gadgets