Productivity tips for Windows XP
From the pages of the New Riders Publishing book, Windows XP Killer Tips, we’ve pulled together some tips that are sure to improve your computer productivity.
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Print from Windows Explorer
If you need to print a document, let’s say a Microsoft Word document, there’s no need to launch Word first. Browse your hard drive for the file that you want to print, right-click its icon, and then click Print. This will automatically send the document to your printer without launching Word.
Pin programs to the Start menu
Want to add your favorite programs to the Start menu? From the Start menu, click All Programs. Locate a favorite program, right-click the program’s icon, and then click Pin to Start menu. That’s it.
You can also pin an application by dragging and dropping its icon from All Programs to the Start menu. The program is now “pinned” to your Start menu. To remove it, right-click the program icon on the Start menu and then click Unpin from Start menu.
Use small icons on your Start menu
After you install a few dozen applications, your Start menu can become very crowded. One way to reduce the clutter is to use small icons.
| • | To switch to small icons, right-click the Start menu and click Properties. |
| • | Next, click the Start Menu tab and then click the Customise button. |
| • | Now click the General tab, click Small Icons, and then click OK twice. |
Search a folder
When I’ve misplaced a file, I almost always know which folder it’s in, but it’s usually lost in a maze of documents or buried in a subfolder. I just can’t remember which subfolder. This is a great way to search a folder quickly.
| • | Locate the folder where you think the file’s located, right-click the folder, and then click Search. A Search window will open, ready to search for the selected folder and only that folder. This is much quicker than launching Search and navigating your hard drive to the folder. |
Send an e-mail attachment from anywhere
Here’s a really handy tip.
| • | Locate a file anywhere on your hard drive that you want to e-mail, right-click the file’s icon, click Send To, and then click Mail Recipient. A new mail message will open with the file attached and ready to send. But what’s really speedy about this tip is that your mail program doesn’t launch. This action creates only a single new mail message. |
| • | Now, to send your attachment, simply type the recipient's e-mail address in the To text field, add any accompanying message, and then click the Send icon. The subject and attachment fields are already set. |
These tips are from the book, Windows XP Killer Tips by Kleber Stephenson, ISBN 073571357X. Published here with the permission of Pearson Education, Inc.
