Right Click for Power - Windows Powertoys

many users don't make use of what their computers offer

part 1 - control panel: basic definitions

part 2 - monitor resolution: proper settings can make a difference

part 3 - hot tips: users don't get enough training

part 4 - shortcuts: keyboard shortcuts for common tasks

part 5 - splits: using Windows Explorer for faster file transfer

part 6 - right click for power: Microsoft Powertoys

Ever since Windows was introduced, people have created programs and utilities to make Windows or Windows applications do more things, or do the same things in better ways. After Windows 95 was released, Microsoft made a small set of particularly useful utilities available for download from its web site. These utilities - "Powertoys for Windows" - have been available for some time, but many people don't know about them.

The set comprises over a dozen utilities, many of which will not be of use to an average computer user. We'll take a look at just a couple of them, ones that you can use every day. An interesting coincidence is that each of the ones we'll discuss is activated by right-clicking - clicking on an object with the right mouse button rather than the left one. If you are still using an old single-button mouse, go directly to your local computer store and get one with two or three buttons. While you're at it, look at the ones with wheels, and check out the new cordless models, as well!

a good sendoff

If you place your cursor over a filename or folder name and right-click, you will see a pop-up menu with a couple of options. Powertoys will give you new options, two of which I use every day. The first is "send to any folder". Selecting this option brings up a dialogue box that lets you move or copy the selected items to any directory on your system. It even has a memory, so if you regularly move files to two or three different locations they will be easy to find.

The other nice addition to the "send to" list is "send to clipboard as name". If you select a file, folder, or group of them, then use this option, it will send a list of names of the selected items to the clipboard, complete with the path. I use this feature frequently to create a list of all of the files in a directory.

Next month we'll take a look at TweakUI. In the meantime, download Powertoys from the Microsoft web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/bin/W95powertoy.exe
(if you don't want to type in that URL, visit the Microsoft site and search for Powertoys).

Note: TweakUI, which is part of Powertoys, is available in two versions - one for Win95 and one for Win98. There are also versions for newer versions of Windows. Be sure to get the right one, as installing the wrong one may cause problems.

home page

Material from CSI Chapter newsletters used with permission.