Displaying and Arranging Toolbars

Toolbars provide easy access to commonly used tasks. Windows Vista comes with a set of toolbars you can use to access programs, folders, documents, and Web pages right from the taskbar. You can rearrange, resize, and move the toolbars to compliment your working style. When you move a toolbar, you can attach or dock it, to any of the sides on the desktop or you can float it in a window anywhere within the desktop.

Show or Hide a Toolbar

Right-click a blank area on the taskbar.

Point to Toolbars, and then click a toolbar without a check mark.

A toolbar with a check mark is already displayed.

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Did You Know? You can display hidden buttons on a toolbar. Click the double-arrow at the end of the toolbar. You can display buttons on the taskbar. Click the up or down arrow on the taskbar to scroll through the taskbar buttons. You can also show or hide toolbars using the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. Right-click the taskbar, click Properties, click the Toolbars tab, select or clear the toolbar check boxes, and then click OK.

See Also See “Customizing the Taskbar” on page 118 for information on modifying the taskbar.

Toolbars on the Taskbar Toolbar Description Address Opens Web pages, network locations, files, and folders using the Address bar from Internet Explorer Windows Media Player Opens the Windows Media Player to play music and videos Links Opens links using the Links toolbar from Internet Explorer Tablet PC Input Panel Opens the Table PC Input Panel to use ink as an input device Language bar Switches between languages Desktop Opens windows to files, folders, and shortcuts on the desktop Quick Launch Starts Internet Explorer and other programs, switch between windows, or minimizes all the windows New Toolbar Adds a new toolbar to Windows

Unlock or Lock the Taskbar

Right-click a blank area on the taskbar.

Click Lock the Taskbar.

• Toolbars on the taskbar are locked when a check mark is displayed.

• Toolbars on the taskbar are unlocked when a check mark isn’t displayed.

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Move a Toolbar

Right-click a blank area on the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar to remove the check mark, if necessary.

Point to the dotted bar or name of the toolbar, and then drag it to a new location on the desktop docked to the side or floating in the middle.

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Did You Know? You can resize a toolbar. Unlock the taskbar, and then drag the small vertical bar at the beginning of the toolbar. You can expand or collapse a toolbar. Unlock the taskbar, and then double-click the small vertical bar at the beginning of the toolbar.