Moving, Sizing, and Organizing Windows . windows98

Moving, Sizing, and Organizing Windows

Once you are familiar with the parts of a window, it is easy to use several windows at once so that you can accomplish more than one thing at a time. You can search the Internet and import text or pictures into a Word document; or, you can figure grades with an Excel spreadsheet, and write memos in Word Pad all while you are reading your e-mail. Windows allows you to easily enlarge, hide or shrink a window using the minimize, maximize and restore buttons.

The Minimize button is among the three buttons at the right end of the title bar. It's the box that has a small dash (or minus sign). The Minimize button lets you remove a window from the desktop while leaving the application running.

The button in the middle is the Maximize button. It's a box with a picture of a window inside it. Use the maximize button to enlarge a window.

After a window is maximized, the button changes to the Restore button. It looks like a box with a picture of two windows. If you click on the Restore button, the maximized window shrinks to its previous size (the size it was before you maximized it).

To maximize a window:

• Click Start. • Choose Programs--> Accessories Notepad. • Click the Maximize button.

OR

• Click the Control Menu button on the left end of the title bar. • Choose Maximize.

OR

Double-click on the title bar

Maximizing not allowed

Some windows cannot be maximized. They always appear as a small window. If a window cannot be maximized, the maximize button appears light gray or dim in color.

To see a window that cannot be maximized:

• Click Start. • Choose ProgramsAccessories Calculator.

• Notice that the Calculator window cannot be maximized.

Scrolling

The scroll bar appears at the right side or the bottom of a window when all the information in that window can't be seen at the same time. You can use the scroll bar to see the hidden information.

The scroll bar of a window allows you to move easily through a document. It comes in handy, especially if you're viewing a long document.

Using the scroll bar to move through a window is called scrolling.

Moving a Window

Sometimes a window may be in front of an item you want to click on or view on your desktop.

Use the Title Bar to move a window around on the desktop. Click on the title bar, and while holding down the mouse button, drag the window to a new location on the desktop. This is helpful when you are using more than one program at a time and need to see them both simultaneously, such as when you are editing a picture in Paint and then want to import the picture into a Word document.

To move a window:

• Point the mouse pointer over the title bar at the top of the window and hold down the mouse left button. (Remember, you cannot move a window that is maximized.)

• Drag the window to the place where you want it and release the mouse button.

Tiling and Cascading Windows

When you right-click on the taskbar, a menu appears. This handy menu contains commands for cascading and tiling windows, and for minimizing all open windows. To try out these features, open a few accessory programs such as Word Pad, the calculator, and Paint, and then right-click an open space on the taskbar and choose Cascade Windows or Tile Windows Horizontally.

Cascading windows are layered on top of each other. Tiled windows are next to each other. Windows can be tiled horizontally or vertically. If windows are tiled horizontally, they appear one above another. If windows are tiled vertically, they appear side by side.

Below is an example of vertically tiled windows: