Windows 98 Tips #38



*1. CHANGE DESKTOP RESOLUTION         
     
Need a little more desktop real estate? You can change the size of 
your Windows 98 desktop on the fly. 

Right-click the desktop, select Properties, and click the Settings 
tab. Under Screen Area, move the lever toward More (or Less, if that's 
what you want), and you'll see the dimensions change before your eyes. 
If you like what you see in the preview and want to go through with 
the change, click OK, then click OK again. In the Monitor Settings 
dialog box, click Yes to accept the change or No to go back to where 
you started.


*2. RIGHT-MOUSE KEYBOARD EQUIVALENT         
     
Tired of having to reach for your mouse? You can do just about 
anything without it--even "click" something with the right-mouse 
button. 

The next time you need to right-click the desktop, an active window, 
or a highlighted shortcut, press Shift-F10 instead. Magic


*3. ADJUST KEYBOARD REPEAT DELAY         
     
Have you ever noticed that when you press an arrow key to move your 
cursor in one direction or another, the cursor thinks about it for a 
second and then goes? Hel-LO! Can we shake a leg here? 

Light a fire under that cursor by adjusting your keyboard delay. Open 
the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel), double-click 
Keyboard, and on the Speed tab, move the Repeat Delay all the way 
right, to Short. While you're at it, adjust that Repeat Rate to Fast, 
if it isn't already. Now take your cursor for a test spin in the white 
text box. 

That's more like it. Click OK to keep the change.


*4. Turn off menu animation

It's not a big deal for many people, but Windows 98's default
way of sliding out menus and windows gradually distracts some
people. To make menus pop out, as they do under Windows 95,
open Control Panel and double-click on the Display item. Click
on the Effects tab and under Visual Effects, click to remove
the checkmark next to Animate windows, menus, and lists. If
you change your mind later, you can return here and click a
checkmark back into the box.


*5. SHORTCUT TO PROPERTIES         
     
When you want to know all about an icon--file, folder, whatever--you 
right-click the icon and select Properties. Getting tired of dragging 
your pointer all the way down to the bottom of that context menu to 
the Properties command? Next time, hold down the Alt key as you 
double-click the icon. Properties dialog box, at your service.


*6. Reorganize Your Start Menu

You can permanently move any item on your Start menu (with
the exception of the "hard-wired" items, such as the
Documents or Programs menu labels) simply by dragging and
dropping the item to the new Start menu location of your
choice.


*7. PRINT FROM THE DESKTOP         
     
Need to print a file that's sitting on the desktop (or inside an open 
window)? Don't waste time opening the file and selecting the 
application's Print command. Windows 98 will do all of that for you. 
Simply right-click the item you want to print and select Print in the 
resulting menu. Done. 

(Note: If you don't see the Print command, no go--sorry. Certain file 
types don't support this feature.)


*8. THE MANY FACES OF PAINT TOOLS         
     
The next time you're creating a work of art in Paint (Start, Programs, 
Accessories, Paint), keep in mind that there's more to those tools 
than meets the eye. Many of them can take on multiple personalities. 

Take the tool that looks like a paintbrush, for instance. Select this 
tool, and a palette of 12 tips appears under the toolbar. For a great 
calligraphy effect, try one from the third or fourth row.


*9. LAUNCH STARTUP APPLICATION MINIMIZED         
     
Is there an application you'd like to launch when Windows 98 starts, 
without it being a total desktop hog? Instruct the application to open 
minimized. All it takes is a quick trip to its Properties dialog box. 

Right-click the Start button, select Open, double-click Programs, and 
double-click Startup. Inside the Startup folder, right-click the 
shortcut of the program you want to open minimized and select 
Properties. Click the Shortcut tab, and on the Run line, select 
Minimized. Click OK. The next time you start Windows 98, that 
application will open and then shrink to the Taskbar.


*10. SEND FILE OR FOLDER TO FLOPPY DRIVE         
     
Need to copy a file or folder from your hard drive to a floppy? You 
could go the long route--drag the file or folder to your floppy icon 
in a My Computer or an Explorer window--or, you could be quick about 
it: Right-click the file or folder, select Send To, and in the 
resulting menu, select your floppy drive. Done.
