Grouping Buttons on Taskbar ??

[Blue Max]

How does the user force the option to group open application document
windows under the application button on the taskbar?

When the open application document windows on theVista Taskbar finally
exceed a certain limit, then Vista starts grouping them, by application, on
the taskbar versus displaying individual buttons for each document. At this
point, the user can depress the application button on the taskbar in order
to list and open any document window within the application. This is an
extremely useful approach, but the user is apparently not given any obvious
control over the ability to invoke this feature as a default.

In our opinion, the Windows Taskbar has become too visually confusing since
introducing the convention of placing a separate button on the taskbar for
every open application and for all open document windows within each
application. We would be most appreciative if anyone can show us how to
change this default and group document windows by application?

 

[Mark Veldhuis]

Blue Max wrote :

How does the user force the option to group open application document windows
under the application button on the taskbar?

http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/features/article_1369372.php/Grouping_taskbar_buttons_in_Vista

 

[DanS]

How does the user force the option to group open application document
windows under the application button on the taskbar?

When the open application document windows on theVista Taskbar finally
exceed a certain limit, then Vista starts grouping them, by
application, on the taskbar versus displaying individual buttons for
each document. At this point, the user can depress the application
button on the taskbar in order to list and open any document window
within the application. This is an extremely useful approach, but the
user is apparently not given any obvious control over the ability to
invoke this feature as a default.

In our opinion, the Windows Taskbar has become too visually confusing
since introducing the convention of placing a separate button on the
taskbar for every open application and for all open document windows
within each application. We would be most appreciative if anyone can
show us how to change this default and group document windows by
application?

You keep saying documents, does this mean Word documents (and Excel) ?

If so, I don't know what version of Office you are using, I have 2003,
and both Excel and Word have options for whether or not each individual
open document is shown on the taskbar.

In Word (2003)...'Tools' menu, click 'Options', 'View' tab, top
section..'Show', uncheck 'Windows in Taskbar'.

In Excel (2003)...same as above, except the tab is named 'Show'.

Regards,

DanS

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you, Mark, the article was perfect. Just wish Microsoft wouldn't hide
these nifty little features! It sounds as if a lot of other folks were also
disappointed over the lack of access to this feature. Microsoft needs some
kind of master control console that will help the user quickly, easily, and
safely access these type of settings.

Thanks

****************

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you. Dan. Your reply was very helpful. We didn't realize that Word
and Excel had such an option, but after a few minutes found them in the 2007
versions. On the down side, many other applications do not have such an
option. While this is definitely a nice option, it also would be nice to
have this option at an operating system level also to turn the feature
ON/OFF for all applications. It appears that the reply here from Mark
Veldhuis addresses this issue. Wish Microsoft would have provided easier
access to this important visual detail.

Thanks

**************

 

[DanS]

Thank you. Dan. Your reply was very helpful. We didn't realize that
Word and Excel had such an option, but after a few minutes found them
in the 2007 versions. On the down side, many other applications do
not have such an option. While this is definitely a nice option, it
also would be nice to have this option at an operating system level
also to turn the feature ON/OFF for all applications. It appears that
the reply here from Mark Veldhuis addresses this issue. Wish
Microsoft would have provided easier access to this important visual
detail.

Thanks

**************

Your welcome.