If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Thanks for the info about the shortcut keys. On a laptop, how do I use
the D or M keys? If I click control escape, I get the start menu, but nothing happens when I try M and D brings up the documents list. Also, the properties that are accessible from the show desktop icon don't have a box for a shortcut key? is there a place in the registry for this? Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: Also, check out the 'Shortcut key' box in a shortcut's properties page (under the shortcut tab). If you specify a key combination in this box for any shortcut on the Desktop or 'Start Menu' , and by simply pressing this key-combination you call up the program (or other target of the shortcut). This can be useful if the shortcut is used a lot and space is all but used up on your desktop. Many mouseclicks can be saved in this way. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Hi Tim, Thanks for the keyboard shortcut! The only difference is that I don't have to use the mouse to go down to the show desktop icon. I like to minimize mousing (as well as windows) to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which I have had in the past. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: P.S. Aside from the 'Show desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar, there is also the WinKey+M key-combination that minimises all open windows as well... == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Tim Meddick" wrote in message ... Well it's me that doesn't understand..... how does what you just said differ from clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link? == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... No, Tim. I mean exactly what I said. If any number of windows are open (but none are maximized, so that part of the desktop is visible), I'd like to click on the desktop and have the open windows be minimized. Maybe I asked the wrong question and should be looking for something like minimize all? Anyway, thanks for your reply. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: You mean like clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar? (Right-click on an empty part of the Taskbar and chose 'Toolbars' 'Quick Launch' to display the 'Quick Launch' toolbar including the 'Show Desktop...' link) == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
Ads |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Thanks for the info about the shortcut keys. On a laptop, how do I use
the D or M keys? If I click control escape, I get the start menu, but nothing happens when I try M and D brings up the documents list. Also, the properties that are accessible from the show desktop icon don't have a box for a shortcut key? is there a place in the registry for this? Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: Also, check out the 'Shortcut key' box in a shortcut's properties page (under the shortcut tab). If you specify a key combination in this box for any shortcut on the Desktop or 'Start Menu' , and by simply pressing this key-combination you call up the program (or other target of the shortcut). This can be useful if the shortcut is used a lot and space is all but used up on your desktop. Many mouseclicks can be saved in this way. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Hi Tim, Thanks for the keyboard shortcut! The only difference is that I don't have to use the mouse to go down to the show desktop icon. I like to minimize mousing (as well as windows) to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which I have had in the past. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: P.S. Aside from the 'Show desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar, there is also the WinKey+M key-combination that minimises all open windows as well... == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Tim Meddick" wrote in message ... Well it's me that doesn't understand..... how does what you just said differ from clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link? == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... No, Tim. I mean exactly what I said. If any number of windows are open (but none are maximized, so that part of the desktop is visible), I'd like to click on the desktop and have the open windows be minimized. Maybe I asked the wrong question and should be looking for something like minimize all? Anyway, thanks for your reply. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: You mean like clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar? (Right-click on an empty part of the Taskbar and chose 'Toolbars' 'Quick Launch' to display the 'Quick Launch' toolbar including the 'Show Desktop...' link) == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Hi Shenan,
Thanks. I want to cut down on mousing by bypassing the icon. Ellen Shenan Stanley wrote: Ellen wrote: Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? To minimize *all* open Windows (maximized or not) you use the "Show Desktop" shortcut that is a default in Windows (at least XP, Vista, etc.) Lost your "Show Desktop" icon? http://www.google.com/search?q=resto...+in+Windows+XP |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Hi Shenan,
Thanks. I want to cut down on mousing by bypassing the icon. Ellen Shenan Stanley wrote: Ellen wrote: Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? To minimize *all* open Windows (maximized or not) you use the "Show Desktop" shortcut that is a default in Windows (at least XP, Vista, etc.) Lost your "Show Desktop" icon? http://www.google.com/search?q=resto...+in+Windows+XP |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
"Ellen" wrote in message
... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen Hi Ellen, Let me address the "hack" possibility last. Your Windows XP system already has a program which includes a "Minimize All" capability. There are at least 7 ways to access that capability that I am aware of. 1. Right-click a blank area of your taskbar and click "Show Desktop". (Hard to hit the 3 pixel wide space between buttons some times. 2. It's easier to Right-click the clock and click "Show Desktop". 3. Click Show Desktop button on Quick Launch bar (if you use that toolbar.) 4. Hold Windows logo key (win-key) down and press M to Minimize All. 5. Hold win-key down and press D to show Desktop. 6. Put a Show Desktop shortcut on your desktop. 7. Put a Show Desktop shortcut on your Start Menu With items 1 and 2, after you Show Desktop, the right click menu item changes to "Show Open Windows", which reverses the Minimize All. With items 4 and 5, hold win-key plus SHIFT key and press M to undo Minimize All. With items 3, 6 and 7, the Show Desktop button or shortcut is a toggle between Minimize All or Undo Minimize All. I found an interesting item in the Windows Tips section of the registry, which still has the tip from older versions of Windows: [begin cite:] HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Tips Tip #11 You can minimize all open windows at once; just use your right mouse button to click an empty area on the taskbar, and then click Minimize All Windows. [:end cite] (Hello Microsoft? It doesn't say that anymore, it says Show Desktop! BTW: (By The Way,) after you right click to get that menu, you can either left or right click the Show Desktop or Show Open Windows item. Note that when you Minimize All to Show Desktop, "All open windows and dialog boxes are minimized. Minimized windows appear as buttons on your taskbar, but dialog boxes do not appear as buttons. To restore all windows and dialog boxes to their previous state, click [Show Desktop] again." The quick launch Show Desktop button is located here on my system: C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Applicati on Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf (I'm guessing SCF stands for System Command File.) (Right click the button and click Properties to find its location.) You can right click the Show Desktop button on the quick launch bar and click copy, and then either paste a copy of the button to desktop or start menu, (it is only 79 bytes,) or Paste Shortcut, which would be 491 bytes. (With a hard drive cluster size of 4KB, either file "size" would use up 4KB space on the drive, so it doesn't really matter. (Besides Quick Launch, there is also a taskbar "Desktop" toolbar.) So far, none of the Show Desktop methods directly address your initial question. Double clicking a Show Desktop shortcut on the desktop is not single clicking the desktop itself, and you would have to position the shortcut in a corner of the desktop where it could be seen while various non-maximized windows are partly covering the desktop. You could change your Folder Options (General tab) to use the "Single-click to open an item (point to select)" option, so you could single click the Show Desktop shortcut, (and all other shortcuts, in all other folders too,) but that would still not be clicking the desktop itself. Possible Hack. I'm at a dead end as to HOW to do it, but it seems to me, that since there is a Show Desktop item on the taskbar right click menu, that there should be a way to add a Show Desktop item to the Desktop right click menu, possibly by accessing the above mentioned "Show Desktop.scf" file. (Attention hackers! Your mission, should you decide to accept it... So, there ya go! For what it's worth. --Richard |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
"Ellen" wrote in message
... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen Hi Ellen, Let me address the "hack" possibility last. Your Windows XP system already has a program which includes a "Minimize All" capability. There are at least 7 ways to access that capability that I am aware of. 1. Right-click a blank area of your taskbar and click "Show Desktop". (Hard to hit the 3 pixel wide space between buttons some times. 2. It's easier to Right-click the clock and click "Show Desktop". 3. Click Show Desktop button on Quick Launch bar (if you use that toolbar.) 4. Hold Windows logo key (win-key) down and press M to Minimize All. 5. Hold win-key down and press D to show Desktop. 6. Put a Show Desktop shortcut on your desktop. 7. Put a Show Desktop shortcut on your Start Menu With items 1 and 2, after you Show Desktop, the right click menu item changes to "Show Open Windows", which reverses the Minimize All. With items 4 and 5, hold win-key plus SHIFT key and press M to undo Minimize All. With items 3, 6 and 7, the Show Desktop button or shortcut is a toggle between Minimize All or Undo Minimize All. I found an interesting item in the Windows Tips section of the registry, which still has the tip from older versions of Windows: [begin cite:] HKEY_lOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Tips Tip #11 You can minimize all open windows at once; just use your right mouse button to click an empty area on the taskbar, and then click Minimize All Windows. [:end cite] (Hello Microsoft? It doesn't say that anymore, it says Show Desktop! BTW: (By The Way,) after you right click to get that menu, you can either left or right click the Show Desktop or Show Open Windows item. Note that when you Minimize All to Show Desktop, "All open windows and dialog boxes are minimized. Minimized windows appear as buttons on your taskbar, but dialog boxes do not appear as buttons. To restore all windows and dialog boxes to their previous state, click [Show Desktop] again." The quick launch Show Desktop button is located here on my system: C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Applicati on Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf (I'm guessing SCF stands for System Command File.) (Right click the button and click Properties to find its location.) You can right click the Show Desktop button on the quick launch bar and click copy, and then either paste a copy of the button to desktop or start menu, (it is only 79 bytes,) or Paste Shortcut, which would be 491 bytes. (With a hard drive cluster size of 4KB, either file "size" would use up 4KB space on the drive, so it doesn't really matter. (Besides Quick Launch, there is also a taskbar "Desktop" toolbar.) So far, none of the Show Desktop methods directly address your initial question. Double clicking a Show Desktop shortcut on the desktop is not single clicking the desktop itself, and you would have to position the shortcut in a corner of the desktop where it could be seen while various non-maximized windows are partly covering the desktop. You could change your Folder Options (General tab) to use the "Single-click to open an item (point to select)" option, so you could single click the Show Desktop shortcut, (and all other shortcuts, in all other folders too,) but that would still not be clicking the desktop itself. Possible Hack. I'm at a dead end as to HOW to do it, but it seems to me, that since there is a Show Desktop item on the taskbar right click menu, that there should be a way to add a Show Desktop item to the Desktop right click menu, possibly by accessing the above mentioned "Show Desktop.scf" file. (Attention hackers! Your mission, should you decide to accept it... So, there ya go! For what it's worth. --Richard |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Ellen,
With a desktop full of open windows - try pressing (the special key with the Windows logo on it) WinKey+D is the same as clicking on the "Show Desktop" icon. (*Remember - it's the "Win Key" plus "D" - NOT CTRL plus "D") Also - and very similar - WinKey+M minimises all open Windows (very subtle difference between this and "D"). Other WinKey combinations include : WinKey = Open Start Menu WinKey+E = Open an Explorer window WinKey+R = Open the Run dialog WinKey+Pause = Open the System Properties WinKey+F = Find: All Files WinKey+Ctrl+F = Find: Computer WinKey+M = Minimize all open windows WinKey+D = Show/Hide Desktop WinKey+Shift+M = Undo minimize all open windows WinKey+Tab = Cycle through taskbar program buttons WinKey+F1 = Open Windows Help Concerning shortcut's 'hotkey' combinations; Open up a shortcut's properties page (right-click on a shortcut then choose 'Properties'). Then, under the 'Shortcut' tab (along the top), in the box labelled 'Shortcut key:' type a letter on it's own to specify that you want the combination to be CTRL-ALT-LETTER (Control key + Alt key + Your chosen letter) Or; Type your chosen letter while pressing on the 'Shift' key to specify that you want the combination to be CTRL+SHIFT+LETTER (Control key + Shift key + Your chosen letter) . Click on the [ok] button to close the 'Properties' page. Then, you can press on your key combination to open up any shortcut you have done the above to, including programs, documents or internet shortcuts.... If you are still having problems with anything here, please tell us about it. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Thanks for the info about the shortcut keys. On a laptop, how do I use the D or M keys? If I click control escape, I get the start menu, but nothing happens when I try M and D brings up the documents list. Also, the properties that are accessible from the show desktop icon don't have a box for a shortcut key? is there a place in the registry for this? Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: Also, check out the 'Shortcut key' box in a shortcut's properties page (under the shortcut tab). If you specify a key combination in this box for any shortcut on the Desktop or 'Start Menu' , and by simply pressing this key-combination you call up the program (or other target of the shortcut). This can be useful if the shortcut is used a lot and space is all but used up on your desktop. Many mouseclicks can be saved in this way. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Hi Tim, Thanks for the keyboard shortcut! The only difference is that I don't have to use the mouse to go down to the show desktop icon. I like to minimize mousing (as well as windows) to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which I have had in the past. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: P.S. Aside from the 'Show desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar, there is also the WinKey+M key-combination that minimises all open windows as well... == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Tim Meddick" wrote in message ... Well it's me that doesn't understand..... how does what you just said differ from clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link? == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... No, Tim. I mean exactly what I said. If any number of windows are open (but none are maximized, so that part of the desktop is visible), I'd like to click on the desktop and have the open windows be minimized. Maybe I asked the wrong question and should be looking for something like minimize all? Anyway, thanks for your reply. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: You mean like clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar? (Right-click on an empty part of the Taskbar and chose 'Toolbars' 'Quick Launch' to display the 'Quick Launch' toolbar including the 'Show Desktop...' link) == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
Ellen, With a desktop full of open windows - try pressing (the special key with the Windows logo on it) WinKey+D is the same as clicking on the "Show Desktop" icon. (*Remember - it's the "Win Key" plus "D" - NOT CTRL plus "D") Also - and very similar - WinKey+M minimises all open Windows (very subtle difference between this and "D"). Other WinKey combinations include : WinKey = Open Start Menu WinKey+E = Open an Explorer window WinKey+R = Open the Run dialog WinKey+Pause = Open the System Properties WinKey+F = Find: All Files WinKey+Ctrl+F = Find: Computer WinKey+M = Minimize all open windows WinKey+D = Show/Hide Desktop WinKey+Shift+M = Undo minimize all open windows WinKey+Tab = Cycle through taskbar program buttons WinKey+F1 = Open Windows Help Concerning shortcut's 'hotkey' combinations; Open up a shortcut's properties page (right-click on a shortcut then choose 'Properties'). Then, under the 'Shortcut' tab (along the top), in the box labelled 'Shortcut key:' type a letter on it's own to specify that you want the combination to be CTRL-ALT-LETTER (Control key + Alt key + Your chosen letter) Or; Type your chosen letter while pressing on the 'Shift' key to specify that you want the combination to be CTRL+SHIFT+LETTER (Control key + Shift key + Your chosen letter) . Click on the [ok] button to close the 'Properties' page. Then, you can press on your key combination to open up any shortcut you have done the above to, including programs, documents or internet shortcuts.... If you are still having problems with anything here, please tell us about it. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Thanks for the info about the shortcut keys. On a laptop, how do I use the D or M keys? If I click control escape, I get the start menu, but nothing happens when I try M and D brings up the documents list. Also, the properties that are accessible from the show desktop icon don't have a box for a shortcut key? is there a place in the registry for this? Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: Also, check out the 'Shortcut key' box in a shortcut's properties page (under the shortcut tab). If you specify a key combination in this box for any shortcut on the Desktop or 'Start Menu' , and by simply pressing this key-combination you call up the program (or other target of the shortcut). This can be useful if the shortcut is used a lot and space is all but used up on your desktop. Many mouseclicks can be saved in this way. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Hi Tim, Thanks for the keyboard shortcut! The only difference is that I don't have to use the mouse to go down to the show desktop icon. I like to minimize mousing (as well as windows) to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which I have had in the past. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: P.S. Aside from the 'Show desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar, there is also the WinKey+M key-combination that minimises all open windows as well... == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Tim Meddick" wrote in message ... Well it's me that doesn't understand..... how does what you just said differ from clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link? == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... No, Tim. I mean exactly what I said. If any number of windows are open (but none are maximized, so that part of the desktop is visible), I'd like to click on the desktop and have the open windows be minimized. Maybe I asked the wrong question and should be looking for something like minimize all? Anyway, thanks for your reply. Ellen Tim Meddick wrote: You mean like clicking on the 'Show Desktop...' link in the 'Quick Launch' toolbar? (Right-click on an empty part of the Taskbar and chose 'Toolbars' 'Quick Launch' to display the 'Quick Launch' toolbar including the 'Show Desktop...' link) == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
================
It was obvious to me 20 years ago, that since clicking on any other object 'brings it to the top', the same would usually be more convenient than all the (7) other ways, and should apply to the desktop, a useful object in its own right. I have thought of no dis-advantage to that, except that Ms did not think of it (in the last 20 years). I suspect someone knows how to define a click on the desktop to be the same as Window+d. ;-) ================ "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Show Desktop Just by Clicking on it?
================
It was obvious to me 20 years ago, that since clicking on any other object 'brings it to the top', the same would usually be more convenient than all the (7) other ways, and should apply to the desktop, a useful object in its own right. I have thought of no dis-advantage to that, except that Ms did not think of it (in the last 20 years). I suspect someone knows how to define a click on the desktop to be the same as Window+d. ;-) ================ "Ellen" wrote in message ... Is there a program or hack that will let me show the desktop in xp just by clicking on it (assuming that open windows are not maximized)? Thanks. Ellen |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|