Jan's Windows Basics: Desktop & Taskbar: All parts

Across the bottom of the screen we see the Taskbar. Normally it is in view all the time. The Taskbar's main job is to show what applications are currently running.

The middle section of the bar shows a button for each open application. Each button shows an icon with a label that shows the program and the current document, when there is room to see it! The icons and labels for the tasks adjust in size to fit the space on the Taskbar. So if you have several programs running, you may not see much of each one's taskbar icon, as in the illustration which is sized for this small window.

The Taskbar also holds the Start menu button at the far left and the Notification Area at the far right. Other toolbars, such as Quick Launch, Address, Links, Windows Media Player, may also display on the Taskbar.

In WinXP and Windows Vista you may see

double chevrons or an arrow on the Taskbar when there are too many items to show in the allowed space. When you click the chevrons, a menu list appears or the space will expand to show the hidden items.

In WinXP and in Windows Vista you can choose to group icons from the same program. For example, if you have 7 Word windows open, you will only see 1 button on the Task Bar that shows there are 7 Word windows.

Clicking the button's arrow opens a list of the grouped windows.

Start Menu

Clicking on the Start Menu brings up a list of shortcuts to start your programs. An item with an

arrow at the right, such as Programs or All Programs, will open another list. There can be several levels of such lists.

In WinXP and Windows Vista, above the All Programs link is a list of often used programs. Above that is a list of programs that you want to remain in view, no matter how often you actually use them.

In Windows Vista the All Programs link works a bit differently. Clicking on All Programs changes the area directly above to show folders and shortcuts in a folder tree display instead of as cascading menus. Double click a folder to see the shortcuts and other folders inside it. At the bottom of the list, the Back arrow will return you to the original list.

Windows Vista - Start menu
after clicking All Programs Shows folders and shortcuts
after expanding the Accessories folder

Quick Launch toolbar

The Quick Launch toolbar, next to the Start Menu button, holds shortcuts to your frequently used programs. This is handy because the Taskbar is normally in view all the time. Desktop shortcuts can get hidden by open applications.

This example has shortcuts for Show Desktop (minimizes all open applications), Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer. These are installed by default.

Too many icons to fit: Click the small chevron

(i.e. double arrow) on the right of the Quick Launch toolbar to show a list of hidden icons.

Resize Quick Launch: Drag the vertical bar at the right of the Quick Launch area. If the bar does not show, then the Taskbar is locked. To unlock it, right click in a blank area of the Taskbar. On the menu that appears, click on Lock the Taskbar to remove the checkmark. The Taskbar unlocks for you to make changes.

Open Application

Each open application will have an button on the Taskbar like the one shown here for MS Word 2007. Word has been minimized so all we can see is its button on the taskbar. If there is room, you will see the name of the document that is open in Word. When an application is maximized, its window takes up all the space above the taskbar.

Notification Area

The notification area, or tray, at the far right of the Taskbar is used to show icons for programs that are awake and hanging around in the background, like the clock, anti-virus, and scheduling programs. Such an icon lets you know for sure that the program is ready to do its thing when it is needed. Some icons mean that there is something for you to do, like view a new email message or download/install a new update.

Document Icons

Files can actually be stored as part of the Desktop. This icon represents a document rather than a shortcut to the application. There is no arrow at the bottom left like there is for a shortcut. The W on top of the paper is the logo for MS Word.

Problem:

WinXP and Vista may not add an arrow for all shortcuts. So it is harder to know for sure whether an icon represents a shortcut or an actual document.

Solution: Before deleting an icon from the Desktop, right click on it and choose Properties. If the dialog that appears shows the Shortcut tab open, then the icon represents a shortcut and not the document itself.

Shortcuts Icons

A shortcut points to the file that runs a program, like MS Word, or to a document, like the web page Astronomy Picture of the Day. A shortcut can be placed wherever you want to put it - on the Desktop, in a folder, in the Quick Launch area.

WinXP and Windows Vista do not necessarily put an arrow on the icon for a shortcut!

For programs, don't move the actual file that starts a program to the Desktop or another folder. The program won't start!

Before you delete an icon on the desktop, be SURE it is a shortcut rather than the file itself! Don't try to delete the icons for parts of your computer like My Computer or Network Places . (Surely you wouldn't be that silly!)

Desktop Icons

Some icons lead you to important parts of the computer. A number of others of this type may show on your desktop, depending on what has been installed.

Desktop & Taskbar: All Parts

The Desktop

Taskbar