Tutor Tips from ... the Computer Tutor

10 April 2008

Customize Windows Taskbar

I am sure you have seen the Windows taskbar. For most people, it lies across the bottom of the Desktop. The Start Button that leads to the Start Menu is on the left side of the taskbar. On the right side is the notification area, the part with the clock and those interesting icons.

In addition, the Windows taskbar holds the Quick Launch toolbar, buttons for open windows, and other toolbars. You can customize the Windows taskbar so it has the shortcuts and toolbars you need. This Tutor Tip applies to Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Automatically Hide the Taskbar
If you want the taskbar to move out of the way when other windows are maximized to the full screen, you need to set the taskbar to auto-hide. Once set to auto-hide, the taskbar will disappear when a window is maximized. Move the mouse cursor over the location of the taskbar and it will temporarily reappear. Move the mouse cursor away and the taskbar goes back into hiding. To automatically hide the taskbar:

  1. Right-click on a blank area of the taskbar to bring up the context menu
  2. Click Properties
  3. Click the "Auto-hide the taskbar."
  4. Click OK to save your changes.

Keep the Taskbar on Top of Other Windows
By default, a program that is maximized to the full screen will cover the taskbar. This is helpful when watching full-screen videos. If you always want access to the taskbar, even when other windows are maximized to the full screen, you need to set the taskbar to always stay on top of other windows. To keep the taskbar on top of other windows:

  1. Right-click on a blank area of the taskbar to bring up the context menu
  2. Click Properties
  3. Click the "keep the taskbar on top of other windows" option.
  4. Click OK to save your changes.
  5. Repeat these steps tol return the taskbar's behaviour to the default setting.

Show or Hide the Quick Launch Toolbar
The Quick Launch toolbar is a small toolbar that sits next to the Start menu. The toolbar provides a place for shortcuts to the programs you use often. A single click on the program's icon launches the program, giving the Quick Launch toolbar its name. To show the Quick Launch toolbar:

  1. Right-click on the taskbar.
  2. Point to Toolbars.
  3. Click on Quick Launch.
  4. Repeat these steps to hide the Quick Launch toolbar.

Add an Icon to Your Quick Launch Toolbar
Any icon that is on the Desktop, on the Start Menu, or in a folder can be added to the Quick Launch toolbar. Simply click and drag the icon to the Quick Launch toolbar and let go. This will create a copy of the icon on the toolbar, leaving the original icon where you found it.

Remove an Icon from Your Quick Launch Toolbar
Click the icon that is in the Quick Launch toolbar and drag it to the Desktop. Once the icon is on the Desktop, you can safely delete it without removing the program.

Resize the Quick Launch Toolbar
 If you have more shortcuts in the Quick Launch toolbar then what fits, you can resize it. First, make sure your taskbar isn't locked. If your Quick Launch toolbar is unlocked, there will be a small resize bar next to it. Your mouse cursor will change from an arrow to a double-pointed arrow when you are over the resize bar.

To unlock the taskbar, right-click an empty place in the taskbar to bring up the context menu. Click "Lock the Taskbar" to toggle the option. Now that the taskbar is unlocked, click on the resize bar and drag it to resize the Quick Launch toolbar. You can make it as big or small as you want!

Addional Taskbar Toolbars
 One of the easiest steps you can take to increase your productivity in Windows is to add toolbars to the taskbar. Depending on the toolbars you enable, you'll be able to open a file with fewer clicks, navigate to a favourite Web site with ease, or launch a program with a single click.

In addition to the Quick Launch toolbar, there are three common toolbars:

  1. The Address toolbar
  2. The Links toolbar
  3. The Desktop toolbar

The Address toolbar lets you quickly navigate to a Web site. After you enable the Address toolbar, you must double-click on it to use it. A window will open, and you can enter the Web address you wish to visit in your default browser.

The Links toolbar provides links to Web sites. The links match those you have stored in the Links folder of your Internet Explorer favourites. You can add new links to the toolbar by dragging and dropping them to the Links toolbar, or you can use the IE Favourites Centre to add new Web sites.

By enabling the Desktop toolbar, you'll place shortcuts to items that are on your desktop onto your taskbar. Since you won't have to first show the desktop in order to access the files, folders, and programs on the desktop, it will take you fewer clicks and less time to launch files and applications.

Add Your Own Toolbars to the Taskbar
 You can add toolbars that point to a specific folder or network location to your taskbar. These toolbars make it a snap to open the files within a folder that you use often, since they provide a direct link to the file right from your taskbar. To add a folder toolbar to your taskbar:

  1. Right-click on the taskbar.
  2. Point to Toolbars.
  3. Click on "New toolbar."
  4. Select the folder for which you want to add a toolbar.

You can enable or disable a toolbar by right-clicking on the taskbar and pointing to Toolbars in the pop-up menu. Click the toolbar you want to enable (name is ticked) or disable.

The taskbar can make your daily use of Windows a bit easier. You can keep regularly used programs, files, and folders close at hand. Don't go overboard and end up with a cluttered taskbar. The taskbar can be customized for each user on the computer simply by logging on to the user account and following the steps outlined in this Tutor Tip.