Windows 3.x always supported having more than one application open at a time. The problem was that when one application was maximized, it covered the entire desktop and novice computer users often found it difficult to find the icons of the other applications open at the same time. Windows 95 solved that problem with the introduction of the Taskbar.
The Taskbar, that little bar along the bottom of the screen, is used to manage the programs on your computer. In addition, it can display the date and time and displays icons that represent the status of certain operations on the computer. The Start button is also located on the Taskbar. All applications currently running are shown as icons. It is a simple matter of clicking on one to toggle between applications.
If you don't like the Taskbar location, move it to another location. You can also hide it and resize it. To move it, grab it with your cursor on a blank area and drag to another side of the screen. Ever have a lot of programs open and the Taskbar is so bunched with "icons" that you can't read the titles? Make it bigger! Just click the mouse cursor on the top of the task bar (if it's on the bottom) and drag it up. Or if you don't want to make it bigger, hold your mouse briefly over an incomplete name of a minimized application and the entire name will pop up. By right clicking the Taskbar, you can arrange open windows on your screen, tiling them horizontally or vertically or cascading them.
Access the Taskbar options via the Start Menu (settings, Taskbar) or by right clicking the Taskbar, and clicking properties. Your choices in Taskbar, properties/options include:
ALWAYS ON TOP - When chosen, your Taskbar will be visible no matter what program is open, giving you less screen space but making minimized programs accessible.
AUTOHIDE - When you choose autohide, the Taskbar disappears, giving you more screen space. It reappears when you move the cursor to the very bottom of your screen.
SHOW SMALL ICONS - You can make the icons on your Start menu smaller, so that you can add more programs to your Start Menu.
SHOW CLOCK - When chosen, a small clock will appear at the bottom right of the Taskbar. Double clicking the time accesses the date and time dialog box.
Shortcuts enable quick access to programs and documents; they are really just "pointers" to the associated program or document file. In fact, they're a lot like program icons in Windows 3.x. The easiest way to create a shortcut is to right-drag an object to the desktop or to a folder. Release and choose Create Shortcut(s) Here from the context menu.
Icons for a variety of system functions such as fax, printer, modem, volume, and more are shown on the right hand side of he Taskbar, called the Notify Area or System Tray. Simply click, double-click, or right-click on any of these icons to get at the details and controls.
Clicking on Start will display the Start Menu. Click Programs to display a menu of programs and program groups. Other items on the Start Menu give quick access to various features of Windows 95. Click Find to locate a file on the hard drive. Click Settings to configure hardware devices, install and configure the printer, and customize the Taskbar. Click Documents to open a document recently opened. Run offers an alternative way to start a program for which the exact path and command is known. Typing the URL of a web page in the run dialog box will open that web page in Internet Explorer.
Add or remove any item that appears on the Programs menu via the Start Menu (settings, Taskbar) or by right clicking the Taskbar, and clicking properties. At this next screen, click the Start Menu Programs tab along the top. You can now customize the Start Menu by clicking the Add, Remove, or Advanced buttons. This is also the screen where you clear the contents of the Documents menu.
The Taskbar was one of the major design enhancements introduced with Windows 95. It allows you access to all programs on the computer. We have just shown various ways to configure the Taskbar to suit individual needs. That is the beauty of Windows 95. It allows configuration of the interface the way you like it, not the way some programmer thinks you should like it.
Extra Did you know that you have a file on your computer with all kinds of neat little tips and tricks concerning Windows 95? Look in your Windows folder for a file called "tips.txt". This file has all kinds of neat information. For instance, do you own one of those new Windows 95 keyboards with the extra two little keys on the bottom row? Here are some hot key combinations using the Win key (the key with the Windows logo on it):
