Making the Quick Launch Bar Accessible

Subscriber Helen Day wrote to ask about the Quick Launch bar:

How to keep the "quick launch" bar exposed when I'm using different programs. Regardless of what I open I have to minimize to find the bar and some programs won't let me do that. I tried changing the resolution but that didn't work.

The Quick Launch bar is a portion of the Windows Task Bar that is used as a mini-menu. If you put a program icon in the Quick Launch bar, you can start the program with one click. Although many programs want to install their icons in the Quick Launch bar, it's real use if to make your favorite programs easily accessible.

Helen's problemm is that the Quick Launch bar, along with the Windows Task Bar that holds it, is being hidden behind the windows that are open on her desktop. The solution is to change some of the settings for the Task Bar.

First, we need to right-click on a blank portion of the Windows Task Bar.

Then from the pop-up context menu, select "Properties"

Optional — Uncheck "Auto-hide the taskbar" This would show the Taskbar all the time - and leave less space on your monitor for all the applications.

Check "Keep the taskbar on top of other windows"

Now, when you move the mouse to the bottom of thte screen (assuming you have the Windows Taskbar placed at the bottom of the screen), the Taskbar will unhide and display itself on top of the other windows.

Copyright © 2008 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.