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Windows Tips

   
 

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A useful Web page of Windows tips.

 
What is a Window? The term Window refers to the frame on the computer screen within which information is displayed relating to a particular computer program (software), and maybe displaying a portion of a document, spreadsheet, or other set of information. At any point in time, there may be one or more Windows on the screen. Each Window could be maximised (filling the screen), or minimised (to a button on the Microsoft Windows Task Bar, or somewhere in between. Each Window can usually be re-sized by using the mouse cursor to grab and drag one of the Window's borders, or a corner.
What is the Active Window? Each Window normally has a Title Bar across the top of the Window (just above the row of menu options), containing some sort of title, and with the Window control buttons in the top right corner. The Active Window has its Title Bar shown in a colour (such as blue), whereas other Windows will have the Title Bar greyed out. The Active Window may be hiding parts of any other Windows that are open and not minimised.
The Windows Task Bar Some versions of MS Windows have a Task Bar; and in some cases it can be modified to have a different appearance or to appear in a different place. In Windows 95/98 the Task Bar is initially a bar across the bottom of the computer screen, with the Start button at the left-hand end. The Task Bar will also have one button for each Window that is open.
 Closing the Active Window  To close the Active Window:
(a) hit <Alt>+<F4>, or
(b) from the Menu options: File, Close/Exit.
Jump to another Window  If several windows are open, there will be one button for each on the Windows Task Bar.
(a) Just click on the Task Bar button for the required Window; OR
(b) <Alt> + <Tab>
That is, hold down the <Alt> key, and press and release the <Tab> key. A small panel will appear on the screen with a number of icons (one for each open Window), and a text description line for one of the open Windows. Keep holding the <Alt> key, and press and release the <Tab> key to step through
the list of icons. Release the <Alt> key to jump to the selected open Window.

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Please feel free to print this web page, and/or pass it on to others, provided that it is printed in entirety including the Copyright notice and home page web address below. Some of the computer terms used here are explained in our on-line Glossary of (Computer) Terms (it will open in a new Window). For a more complete glossary have a look at our Merlin's Techno-Guide. To search this web site for specific information, you can use the PicoSearch facility on our home page. Or to search the Web using a search engine, try browsing a Search Engine, Directory, Portal Web site from our (extensive list) Search Engines page, or the abridged version of the same page.

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Last revised: 20 May, 2003.

Important: The information provided here is not advice. It is intended as a guide only, and may not be complete, nor relevant to every situation. It should not be relied upon. Any product or company names that might be mentioned here may be registered trade marks or trade names and owned by the respective companies, and they are are quoted here in good faith, without recommendation or endorsement.