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Anatomy of a Window: We wanted to try to break down the whole window concept into some really basic categories. Here we will give you a very basic run-down about the parts of a window and what you can do with them.
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There are several basic things you need to know about a "Window". Every window has the three buttons in the upper right corner. These buttons are, from right to left, Minimize, Maximize (or restore), and Close. Obviously, each button has it's own use.
Minimize:
Maximize: This button is used to make the window either take up the entire screen (maximize) or to return to (restore) whatever size you have set the window to be. I'll explain more of that in a minute.
Close: This button, obviously, will completely close the window and / or program.
Window Size: You can change the size of any window by simply pulling on the sides of the window. Let me explain further; if a window is not maximized to full screen status, the size and shape of the window can be changed by the user. To check if the window is maximized, look at the Maximize / Restore button.
If it looks like two squares, it is maximized. If the button looks like one square and the word "Maximize" appears, the window is not maximized and can be resized. Be sure to set the window for resizing by clicking the Maximize button until it looks like the one square. This should make the window visibly smaller. Move the mouse cursor to the edge of the window you wish to resize until the cursor changes from the "I-beam" to a "double arrow" like this one
Once you have the double arrow, click the left mouse button and hold it. Now, while holding the left mouse button down, as you move the mouse, you will notice that an image of the edge of the window moves with the cursor. Once you have the edge where you want it, release the mouse button and the window is resized. Whallah! If you do this very same procedure, except on the very corner of the window, you can move both the top and side or the bottom and side of the window at the same time.
Try this by moving your mouse to the very corner of the window. When the cursor becomes a diagonal double arrow, click and hold it while moving the mouse as needed. There! You did it!
Moving a Window: You can move a window without changing the size or shape by clicking and holding on the blue banner at the top of the window.
Once you have it where you want it, just release the mouse button and it will stay where you have placed it. Remember that this only works with a window that is not maximized. Maximized windows cannot be moved or manually resized!
Shuffling: Another useful maneuver with windows is the ability to shuffle (or stack) them around on the desktop. Microsoft Windows was created for the type of person who has more than one project going on at one time. You know the type, the "Multi-Tasker". If you have several different windows or programs open at one time, you will notice that each program and/or window has it's own button on the taskbar. In the image below, there are two buttons. There is a button for Paint Shop Pro and one for Internet Explorer (which is currently at the Google search engine site as you can see by the image). There are also icons to the left of these buttons, but they are in what is called the "Quick Launch Bar".
You will also notice that the "active" window ( the window that is currently being used, or in other words, the window that is currently at the top of the pile, signified by the banner at the top of the window showing as blue as opposed to gray in the non-active windows) is the only window who's button looks like it is pushed in. Phew! You still with me? OK, let me explain that in a different way. Click here to see an image of multiple windows opened at one time and "stacked" on the screen. You will notice that the MY COMPUTER window is "active" or at the top of the stack, and has a blue area at the top of the window. The other "inactive" windows behind it have a gray area at the top. This helps to signify that this is the active, or top, window. Clicking on any of the other windows will bring that window to the top and make it active. You will also notice that down in the taskbar, the button for whichever window is currently "active" or on top, appears to be pushed in. If you click on one of the other window buttons it will cause that button to come to the top and be "active". If you need to get to a window but it is currently buried by some of the other windows, you don't need to close or minimize the other windows until you can get to the one you want. You can simply click that window's button on the taskbar to bring it to the top of the pile. Give it a try. With several windows open at one time, click from button to button on the taskbar and watch the windows shuffle. You got it? Great! If the button for the active window is clicked (while it is already "pushed in", it will minimize the window off of the desktop and down to the taskbar. The window isn't closed, just moved out of your way (minimized). You can bring the minimized window back into view by clicking on the button again. I strongly suggest you familiarize yourself with doing this because you will need to know how this works. You will use this often!
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