The Tech Consumer: Navigating your open files and programs

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Navigating your open files and programs

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In my last post I highlighted some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts.

This time I want to mention an enhancement for WINDOWS XP which makes the Alt + Tab function much more useful.

First the basics. When you hit Alt + Tab on windows a window comes up which shows a small icon for each window/program open and as muc of the filename as will fit into the box below all the icons as in Diagram 1 just below (Vista is different - if you have Vista see here)

Diagram 1

This is definitely a useful device. Sometimes however you may have a number of files with similar names and the description won't tell you enough to remember which is which and the icons only show the type of application - e.g. all the Word files simply show an icon for a Word file.

There are at least two ways to get more information out of the thumbnails.

1. Install a program which works like Exposé on the Mac

I bought this program which shows you in miniature form all the open windows with a label in front showing the file name - See Diagram 2

Diagram 2

It looks great and it does the job but ...
1. It takes up a lot of system resources, slowing your PC down
2. It costs $10 - that might not be a lot, but free is always better!

So, I found a program which gives the visual thumbnail so you can actually see what the program/file looks like, enough to remember which document or program is which.

It uses fewer system resources, doesn't freeze up the PC
AND ... it's free.

TaskSwitchXP simply replaces the standard Alt + Tab functionality showing you what you need to see when you need it but not slowing things down when you don't need it.

Here is what it looks like. (See Diagram 3) (The size and shape of the preview and file list panels can be modified according to personal preferences)

Diagram 3

It is highly configurable as the image below (Diagram 4) indicates but can be used as is. (I found the default size of the panes too small for my liking so I changed the size).

Diagram 4