How to deal with windows

Written by Larry Schneider
Thursday, 22 September 2011 00:00

Dear Larry,

One of my friends asked me to move a window, and I didn’t know what she was talking about! Please clue me in.

P. D.

Dear P. D.,

First, be sure you understand why they call it “Windows!” A window is a rectangular box in which a program runs, a folder or document is viewed, a Web site is perused, and so forth. These windows are used to separate one task from another.

Multiple windows overlay one another like papers on your desk. The window on the top of the pile is the one you’re working on at any particular moment. This active window is easily recognized because its title bar at the top of the window is a different color (usually darker) than those of other windows on your screen. You can switch from one window to another by simply clicking inside the window that you want on top. You can also click a window’s corresponding button on the taskbar (usually on the bottom of the screen) to force that window to the foreground.

To close or exit a window, click the “X” in the top right corner of the window.

Minimizing a window is equivalent to hiding it temporarily. You minimize a window by clicking — you guessed it — the Minimize Button. The minimize button appears in the upper right corner of the window and looks like a dash. Click this button, and the window “shrinks” into its corresponding taskbar button at the bottom of your screen. Clicking this taskbar button restores the window to its previous size and location.

You maximize a window when you want to make it as large as possible. Not only will you be covering up all other windows on the screen, but you’ll be giving the maximized window as much screen “real estate” as possible. The Maximize Button appears immediately to the right of the minimize button.

After you maximize a window, there’s no further need for a maximize button in that window so it’s replaced with a Restore Button — a picture of two tiny overlapping windows. This restore button “un-maximizes” the window, restoring it to its previous size and location on the screen.

If you click and drag a title bar — aim your mouse at a window’s title bar, hold down the left mouse button, and move the mouse — you’ll be able to move that window around the screen.

Resizing a window is a bit trickier. First, be sure the window you want to resize isn’t maximized. You’ll have to position the tip of your mouse cursor (the arrow) on one of the four corners or four edges of the window. When the mouse cursor turns into a double-headed arrow, click and drag to make the window taller, shorter, skinnier, or fatter.

With a little practice, you’ll be manipulating windows like a pro and dancing up a storm. Don’t know how to dance, you say? That’s next week’s column.

This is Larry Schneider, logging off.

Larry Schneider is the owner of Accent on Computers, a Greenwich-based consulting firm catering to individuals, businesses and professional offices. PC and Mac services include computer setup, training, troubleshooting, virus resolution, networking, Internet, database and programming. Call 203-625-7575, visit Accentoncomputers.com, or send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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