Managing Windows in Windows 7

One of the most powerful things about Windows is that you can open more than one window or program at once. This means, however, that the desktop can get cluttered with many open windows for the various programs. Windows 7 groups similar types of windows under one button on the taskbar, which you can use to switch among open windows and programs (New!). If you prefer a keyboard shortcut, you can also press Alt-Tab or {WINDOW}Tab (Aero) to switch to an open window. You can identify a window by its name on the title bar at the top of the window, which you can also use to move or resize it (New!). Each window is also surrounded by a border and resize buttons in the upper-right corner that you can use to resize the window.



Switch Among Open Windows
Click anywhere in a window to make it active, or point to a taskbar button for an open program or window, and then click a name or icon. You can also press Alt-Tab to switch windows.

• In Windows Aero, a live thumbnail appears when you
point to an open program or window taskbar button. When you point to the thumbnail, the program or window temporally appears until you move the mouse (New!). You can also press{WINDOW}Tab to switch windows.



Move or Resize a Window
Point to the window’s title bar. Drag the window to a new location, and then release the mouse button.
• Maximize active window. Drag the title bar to the top edge of the desktop (New!) or doubleclick the title bar.

• Resize active window for side by side use. Drag the title bar to the left or right edge of the desktop (New!).



Use Buttons to Resize and Close a Window
All windows contain the same sizing and close buttons:
• Maximize button. Click to make a window fill the entire screen.

• Restore Down button. Click to reduce a maximized window.

• Minimize button. Click to shrink a window to a taskbar button.

• Close button. Click to close the window.

• Show desktop button. Click to minimize or restore all windows. In Windows Aero, point to the button to peek at the desktop through transparent windows (New!).



Use the Mouse to Resize a Window
• Resize a window using a border. Move the mouse over a border in a non-maximized window until the mouse pointer changes into a two-headed arrow, and then drag until the window is the size you want.

• Resize all open windows on the desktop. Right-click a blank area of the taskbar, and then click a command:
• Cascade windows.
• Show window stacked.
• Show windows side by side.

• Minimize or restore all open windows except active one. In Windows Aero, drag the title bar back and forth (shake) to minimize or restore all open windows except the active one (New!).


Source of Information : Microsoft Windows 7 on Demand (2009)