Home > Articles > Home & Office Computing > Microsoft Windows Desktop

This chapter is from the book

Using Toolbars

Windows XP is bristling with toolbars of all shapes and sizes. Even the Taskbar has several toolbars you can use. What's the purpose of all these toolbars? They make it easier for you to move around Windows XP. The toolbars in Windows XP reflect a continuing effort on Microsoft's part to enable you to customize every part of an application as you see fit.

As with most toolbars, you can move these around and resize them as necessary. Unlike most toolbars, those provided with the Taskbar aren't free floating. You can't move them off the Taskbar and have them sitting around like a dialog box. This makes sense. Consider all the confusion that would occur when a user tries to figure out where a free-floating toolbar belongs.

Peter's Principle: Don't Bury Windows XP in a Pile of Toolbars

Some people will most likely go crazy with the toolbars Microsoft provides. After all, if one toolbar can increase efficiency a little, and two toolbars a little more, why not have a toolbar for every purpose? If you look at toolbars as the sole method for improving your Windows XP efficiency, such logic might actually look good.

The problem is that you can end up cluttering your screen with more toolbars than you'll ever use. Think what will happen to the Taskbar if you add four or five toolbars and have that many applications open besides. Will you really be able to figure out what's going on without checking each icon individually? When a toolbar begins to get in the way of the work you're doing, it's no longer a method of improving efficiency, but rather a hindrance to that efficiency.

The trick to using toolbars is to look for a few tasks you perform regularly. I'm not talking about once a day; I'm talking about tasks you perform hourly or perhaps even more frequently. An efficiency-enhancing toolbar is one that makes getting the most from Windows XP a matter of a single click.

The next few sections will help you learn more about the Taskbar toolbars. I'll show you how to add, create, remove, and destroy toolbars.

Standard

Windows XP comes with four standard toolbars (although your toolbars may not necessarily appear in the same order mine did). The first is the Quick Launch toolbar, which enables you to view the desktop, to launch Internet Explorer, or to check out the channels to which you've subscribed. The second toolbar, Desktop, replicates all the icons on your desktop so that you can access them without minimizing your current application. Just select the Desktop icon you want to see from the toolbar, and Windows XP displays it. The third toolbar, Address, displays a list box in which you can type an address of something you want to see. (You also can type the name of a file on your local or network drive as a location on the Internet.) The list box keeps track of your most recent requests so that you can select them rather than type them. The fourth toolbar, Links, displays a list of the links you've defined for Internet Explorer. A single click takes you to one of your favorite locations.

You can access any of these toolbars by right-clicking the Taskbar and then selecting Toolbars from the context menu. To place a standard toolbar on the Taskbar, add a check to its context menu entry.

Custom

Just because Windows XP comes with standard toolbars doesn't mean that you have to keep things that way. You can create your own toolbars to meet specific needs. For example, you might want to create a toolbar that gives you access to the various projects you're working on. Another toolbar might contain the applications you use on a daily basis. The list could be endless.

It's a good idea to keep the number of items on your toolbar as low as possible. I usually keep the number of items to 10 or fewer. A toolbar can really start to clog things up when you get past that level. If your toolbar starts to reach 10 items, you should consider alternatives to listing every item. For example, you could place the items you use less often in a folder and then place that folder on the toolbar.

Creating a toolbar is easy. All you need to do to start the process is create a folder containing shortcuts to the items you want to access using the toolbar. For example, you might create a folder named Common Applications that contains shortcuts to your favorite applications. After the folder is completed, right-click the Taskbar. Select the Toolbars | New Toolbar option from the context menu. You'll see a New Toolbar dialog box containing a field for the link name or Internet address and an Explorer-style directory listing you can use to choose the folder containing the shortcuts.

The capability to use an Internet address means that you can create a toolbar of the Web sites you visit on a daily basis. You even can include your company intranet as a potential toolbar item. You can get only one site per toolbar when specifying an Internet or intranet location, so you should use toolbars for only the most important sites.

After you type a folder name or URL, Windows XP displays it on the Taskbar. Figure 3.11 shows an example of both types of toolbars. The toolbar on the left points to a local folder. The one on the right points to Microsoft's home page on the Internet.

TIP

You might find it a bit difficult to view Web sites on the Taskbar, especially if you have more than one. To see the Web site in a window, right-click the toolbar you want to see and select Open in Window from the context menu. You also can save room on the toolbar by right-clicking it and removing the check from the Show Title option in the toolbar. This removes the Web site title from the toolbar and creates more space for actually viewing the Web site.

Figure 3.11 Toolbars provide a great deal of flexibility when it comes to accessing local or remote resources, even those on the Internet.

Getting Rid of a Toolbar You Don't Need

After a while, you might find that all those toolbars you created really don't do as much as you'd like, or you may find that you want to get rid of some old toolbars to make room for new ones. Whatever the reason, getting rid of an old toolbar is easy. Simply right-click the Taskbar and then select Toolbars from the context menu. Find the toolbar you want to remove, and then remove the check next to its name by selecting it.

Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar

I consider the Quick Launch Toolbar a substitute for the simplified Start Menu, discussed in Chapter 2, for the advanced user. It can hold all of the applications you use regularly, but doesn't change dynamically. You should include all of the applications you use daily, but not those that you start by double-clicking application files.

To give you a better idea of how the Quick Launch Toolbar should work, consider the way I use Microsoft Office. I almost never open Access as an application; it's common for me to double-click one of the database file shortcuts in my work folder. Likewise, I seldom open Word as an application because I usually open an established file, such as an outline or existing manuscript file first. Neither of these applications is a good candidate for the Quick Launch toolbar. On the other hand, I always open Excel as an application because I use it to modify so many files. It's easier to open the application and load the data files I need using the File | Open command. Excel is one of the applications on my Quick Launch toolbar because I use the program almost daily and usually open it by using the application icon.

There are many ways to modify your Quick Launch toolbar. For example, you could open a copy of Windows Explorer and locate \Documents and Settings\<User Name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch. Personally, I prefer not to dig that many layers down the drive hierarchy if I don't have to.

An alternative to using Windows Explorer is to locate in the Programs folder of the Start Menu the application you want to place in the Quick Launch toolbar. Right-click the application icon and drag it to the Quick Launch toolbar. You'll see a context menu with Copy Here, Move Here, and Cancel in it. Notice that Move Here is the default option, which is why you don't want to use a standard drag to move the application icon. Choose Copy Here from the context menu, and you'll see the application icon appear in the Quick Launch toolbar.

If you later decide that the application doesn't really belong in the Quick Launch toolbar, you can right-click it and choose Delete. The icon will still appear with your programs under the Start Menu. However, if you had used the normal drag method, the icon would now be gone for good. In short, always create copies of icons you move to one of the toolbars.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020