CHUG CHAT

Topic #3

The Quick Launch Toolbar

The Computer Helper
And User Group
of Saddlebag Lake Resort

by

Glenn Bell

Helpful Tips and Instructions for your computer.

The Quick Launch Toolbar

The picture that you see below is taken from the bottom left corner of the Windows XP desktop screen. The icons to the right of the start button are the Quick Launch Icons. When you single left click on these icons the program or action will begin in the same manner as if you double click on the main icons on the desktop.

Advantages

Using these icons is particularly handy when you have another program displayed on the screen and wish to execute another action item without having to return to the main desktop to find the main icon. By placing the icon here you can also remove the shortcut icons for these actions from the main desktop thus providing less clutter on your desktop.

Adding and Displaying These Icons

If your desktop does not display these icons, right click on a blank area of the bottom bar right of the start button. On the popup menu point to Toolbars and a side menu will appear. Left click on Quick Launch and the quick launch icons will appear on the toolbar. To add new icons right click on the bar and from the popup menu select Lock the Taskbar and left click. The toolbar will open allowing for icons to be added. To add an icon left click on the desktop icon then hold and drag it to the toolbar. When you release the left click the new icon will be added to toolbar. To display all the icons on the Quick Launch bar, right click on the marks to the right of the last icon and drag the marks to the right this exposing all the icons. Then immediately relock the toolbar by right clicking the tool bar and left click on the Lock the Taskbar menu item. You can also sort them to your liking when the toolbar is unlocked and left click and drag them to the order you want.