older1
Associate Member
Posts: 76
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Post by older1 on Mar 7, 2014 14:37:13 GMT -5
Is there a way of aligning the desktop icons alphabetically or numerically?
Older
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Post by drmark on Mar 7, 2014 15:21:05 GMT -5
Well, you can always click on them and drag them where you want.
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Post by Jack Teems on Mar 7, 2014 17:46:13 GMT -5
Well, you can always click on them and drag them where you want. Provided, of course, you have not enabled the auto arrange feature. In Windows 7 (I didn't look at other OS, but likely the same): right click on a blank space on the desktop. Click on "View", then uncheck "auto arrange icons" if it is checked. Now you should be able to drag and arrange them where ever you wish.
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Post by cyberdiva on Mar 8, 2014 8:34:19 GMT -5
For years, I've used a very handy free program called Desktop Restore. After installing Desktop Restore, I arrange the icons the way I want them. I then right-click on the desktop and select "Save Desktop" from the list of possibilities. That preserves the arrangement I've made. If for any reason that arrangement changes without my wanting it to, I right-click on the desktop and select "Restore Desktop," and the program restores the desktop icons to their saved arrangement. I also use this program when I add icons--I again save the desktop so that the new icon(s) will be included in the saved arrangement.
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Post by drmark on Mar 8, 2014 18:08:54 GMT -5
Of course then there are those like me who like a clean desktop and have no desktop icons. The few shortcuts I need and that I use regularly are in my quick launch bar. The rest in my start menu.
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Post by marck on Mar 10, 2014 12:54:45 GMT -5
The only icon I have is the recycle bin in the top left corner of the screen.I too love a clean uncluttered desktop.
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Post by drmark on Mar 10, 2014 13:10:58 GMT -5
Great minds think alike.
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Post by marck on Mar 10, 2014 14:18:15 GMT -5
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Post by cyberdiva on Mar 10, 2014 15:36:47 GMT -5
Well, I agree that I wouldn't want to have so many icons that I'd have a hard time finding them. That's why I use a launcher program called LaunchBar Commander, which contains roughly 120 programs in well-organized categories. I MUCH prefer it to the Start Menu. But I also have a rather large desktop monitor, and I see no advantage to having endless blue space to stare at, so I have about 30 icons there as well. I also have about a dozen most-frequently used programs in a quick-launch bar. There's a certain amount of duplication, but depending on what I'm doing, one location or another may be best. I've never understood the imperative to have a clean desktop. Not even on my real desktop .
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Post by marck on Mar 10, 2014 17:15:50 GMT -5
To each his or her own.that's why they call it a (personal)computer.
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581
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Post by drcard on Mar 10, 2014 21:42:58 GMT -5
Hi all,
Here's an easy tip to get Quick launch function for many more programs than the Quick launch bar can handle and get rid of desktop icons to one small place on the taskbar and because of the way it is done provides alphabetical arrangement. This works for any shortcut to any program or internet address.
Open Explorer and create a Folder anywhere you want with any name you want. Note: I keep the name short as the name of the folder becomes the name on the taskbar. I use Apps for my list of favorite applications.
Open this new folder in Explorer (which will be empty) While this empty "Apps" folder is displayed on the screen open the Start Menu. Select a program that you want in the Apps folder, left click and hold while moving to the empty Apps folder in Explorer. Release the mouse button and a new shortcut to that program will be placed in the folder. Continue to add the shortcuts on all the programs you want in the folder. You will notice that the shortcuts will arrange in alphabetical order as they are added. When finished, close Explorer.
Not right click a blank spot on the taskbar. If Lock the taskbar is on (checked) turn it off by clicking Lock the taskbar. If you have to unlock it you will have to right click again to display the otions again. Select Toolbars>New toolbar... This opens the New Toolbar - Select Folder window. Navigate to the folder you created (Apps in my example) and select that folder. Click the Select Folder button.
The name of the folder will appear on the taskbar with a double right arrow next to the name. Clicking the double arrow will display a list above the taskbar with your shortcuts. Clicking the shortcut opens the program the same as if you clicked the shortcut in the Start Menu. This can be expanded upon if you desire more organization. Create folders in the Apps folder with names by kind of programs such as Photo Editing, Utilities, Security, etc. Place the shortcuts into these folders based upon the kind of program. This creates a list of the folders from the double arrow click and holding the mouse pointer over the folder name will cause the list of shortcuts in that folder to display in a cascade type view.
This can be done for links for web sites and personal storage folders. You can clean the desktop of icons and the Quick launch bar.
Try it and see if you like it. If you don't simply right click a blank spot on the taskbar and click your new Apps toolbar to uncheck it and remove it from the taskbar.
Note: Some times the new toolbar will spread across the taskbar when fist placed on the taskbar. Select the border of the taskbar name on the left (the border is the 3 dotted vertical lines) and while holding the mouse button down move the border to the right until only the Apps name appears (it will compact as as it hits running appplications icons on the right side of the toolbar.. Be sure to lock the taskbar when finished as this will compact the toolbar name.
Let me know if you need any additional instructions.
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Post by drmark on Mar 11, 2014 6:57:21 GMT -5
One reason for a clean desktop is to speed up boot times. It takes time to load up all of those icons. Besides that I have wall paper that I don't want covered by the blight of icons everywhere. I also would prefer to click once rather than twice to open folders or programs. But as Marck said: to each their own.
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Post by cyberdiva on Mar 11, 2014 8:33:09 GMT -5
Mark, I agree that if I had wallpaper I wanted to see, I wouldn't want it messed up by icons. I'm writing now simply to ask for clarification. You said "I also would prefer to click once rather than twice to open folders or programs." But that's one reason I like to have some of my icons on the desktop. I simply click on them and they open, as opposed to clicking on the Start button, searching for the program I want in the Start menu, and clicking on that. I keep about a dozen of my most-used programs in the Quick Launch bar, but that can't accommodate a number of the programs to which I want fairly quick access.
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Post by drmark on Mar 11, 2014 14:38:06 GMT -5
Generally desktop shortcuts require a double click to open whereas quick launch shortcuts require only a single click.
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Post by marck on Mar 11, 2014 22:40:38 GMT -5
One click or two. (All that time)When I get on my PC the time it takes to click once or twice doesn't mean much,I usually get on here to kill time.At one time speed was a factor I wanted more and more,but now a hundred of a second is all the same to me.At my age I have all the time in the world.
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