The key to quality work is a quality workplace. Organized, a place for everything and everything in its place. This is one of the ideas behind the Windows Toolbar. Let’s find out how to get the most out of this.
The Windows Toolbar is the bar at the bottom of the screen with the Windows button on the left and the clock on the right. There can be many things in between. Let’s take a look at them and see what they can do for you.
Shortcut Windows Button to Utilities
You already know that. It’s the Windows icon at the far left of the toolbar. Clicking on it opens the Start menu; your gateway to all programs and everything else in Windows.
What you didn’t know is that you can right-click on it to open mini-menus of Windows utilities such as Task Manager, Applications and Features, and even Windows PowerShell. If you are not using PowerShell, you need to find out about this.
Personalize your computer and search the web
The search box next to the Windows button does what it says. He’s looking for. When you click on it, a search bar appears. You will see all sorts of different categories. By default, it is set to All, which means it will search all over your computer and the Internet.
Click one of the categories to narrow your search to Applications, Documents, Email, Internet, and more.
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In the upper right corner of this panel, you will see a three-dot menu. Click on it and you will have the option to add accounts or change your search settings and indexing options.
Use your voice to take notes and reminders
Clicking the circle icon next to the search bar activates Cortana, a voice-activated Windows virtual assistant.
You know you can give Cortana verbal commands to perform actions in Windows, such as Open File Explorer , and Cortana will open it. You can ask Cortana questions, she will try to get an answer for you from the Internet, and she will verbally try to answer your question.
Try asking questions such as “What time is it?” or “What’s the weather tomorrow?” . Cortana will tell you your local time and weather.
Did you know that Cortana can also take notes and remind you of important things? Click on the Cortana icon and a notebook icon will appear in the menu that opens in the upper left corner.
Click on it to learn how to take quick notes on the go and add other services known as Skills to Cortana for fitness trackers, music, or even ordering food.
You have multiple desktop computers
Next to Cortana‘s circle in the taskbar is the task view icon. Clicking on it does a few things, like giving you a history of what you’ve been doing recently and showing you all the programs you have open right now.
But the best feature is the New Desktop feature. Not everyone can have two or more monitors, but you can have multiple desktops, each with their own programs open.
How about having one desktop to work with and another to just mess around on the Internet? This gives you the freedom to focus on work when you need to, as well as jump to social sites when you take a short break.
How you use this feature is up to you, but we’re sure you’ll find a good use for it.
Get more installed apps
It’s great that you can pin your favorite apps to the taskbar. This is what we like the most. All the programs we need to get started are just a click away.
But did you right click on these apps? You might be in for a surprise.
Open an instance of a regular or private view
If you right click on the browser application, you can open a new regular window or private view instance. You can also see your recent history of sites by letting you click on them to open a browser that has already pointed to that site. How convenient!
Access frequently used application functions
Depending on the application, a list of frequently used application functions will be displayed.
For example, when using SnagIt, you will see options to start a capture, switch the capture window, create a new image, transform images, or open the SnagIt 12 editor.
Try right-clicking your favorite applications in the taskbar to see the possibilities.
Move the application or find it again
There is one more thing you can squeeze out of pinned apps. Do you know how when you hover over them, a preview of the application window is displayed? Right-click to open a menu that allows you to restore, move, resize, minimize, or maximize the window.
This can be very handy for restoring a window that is off-screen and you just can’t find it.
Toolbars, toolbars, and toolbars
Right click on the taskbar and go to the Toolbars selection. From there, you can add the Address, Links and Desktop toolbar. If that’s not enough, you can also create and add your own toolbars.
Address Toolbar
This is similar to the address bar in your web browser, only in the taskbar. Enter the website address and press Enter.
Your default browser will open and go directly to this page. It keeps a history of recently visited pages, so you can choose from them as well.
Desktop Links and Toolbars
These toolbars make it easy to access content on your desktop and in the Links folder.
Links are usually created in Internet Explorer (IE), so if you are not using IE, you need to copy the bookmarks from the current browser and put them in C: Users User Favorites Links
The desktop toolbar does the same. It shows you what’s on your desktop. It also gives you access to frequently used locations on your computer. You can open them all from here.
Create your own toolbar
In the Toolbars submenu, there is a New Toolbar… option. Click on it and the explorer will open. Just navigate to the folder you want easy access to and select it.
If you have a project folder that you use frequently, this can be a useful way to access it.
Get Sticky & Sketchy
The Windows Ink Workspace taskbar icon is your way to draw and take quick notes. Clicking on it gives you quick access to Sticky Notes, Sketchpad, and Snip and Sketch.
Check them out, they may be useful to you.
Real feelings from keyboard on screen
You are now typing on a real keyboard, so why do you need an on-screen keyboard? Well, this comes in handy when you are using a tablet. This will also come in handy if your keyboard doesn’t work for some reason.
But the fun part is getting access to a huge number of emoticons that can be inserted into any Windows program. Yes, in Excel you can even shrug your shoulders. Why would you want to do that? I do not know.
But wait, there’s more!
Now that you know there is more to the taskbar, spend a little time looking. Right click and click everything.
Don’t be afraid, your computer won’t break. You cannot do something that cannot be repaired. Mistakes: learn and learn – live.
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