Controlling the Vista Start Menu - Controlling the Taskbar
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So just what is that thing at the bottom of the screen there? You know, the thing that holds all of the program buttons, the Start menu button, and all those other little icons on the far-righthand side. Does it even have a name?
It does, and as most admins are already aware, it’s called the taskbar. Configuring taskbar behavior can present a little more of a challenge than just remembering its name, however. It may seem like a trivial, almost inconsequential, part of the greater Vista picture. But before you dismiss it, consider what a huge impact the taskbar has on overall Vista usability. It provides quick access to a wealth of operating system and application information, and it is the key navigational tool for most users when switching among applications.
Given its vital role, then, it’s important that administrators understand how to customize taskbar behavior to best suit not only their needs, but also the needs of users in the enterprise. This section tackles the many methods administrators can use to tweak taskbar behavior.
Recall that one nice enhancement of the taskbar is the ability to see a live thumbnail of the application contents, as shown in Figure 4-10. This is predicated, however, on using the Vista Aero interface.
Figure 4-10. Live thumbnails in the taskbar
Changing Taskbar Size and Position
You already know about the taskbar’s default location: at the bottom of the screen. By default, it’s wide enough to contain one row of application buttons. But you can change both of these characteristics with a few simple clicks of the mouse.
To change the taskbar size, move the mouse pointer over the edge of the taskbar until you see a double-headed arrow. Now just click and drag to increase the taskbar real estate. This might be especially handy if you decide not to group taskbar items together, as discussed later on.
To change the taskbar location, left-click an empty taskbar area and drag. The taskbar can be housed on the left, right, or top of the desktop area, as well as in its default location at the bottom of the screen.
Each technique requires that the taskbar not be locked, because you cannot change the taskbar while it is locked. To unlock the taskbar, just right-click an empty area and make sure there’s no check next to the Lock the Taskbar menu option.
Please check back next week for the continuation of this article.
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of Windows Vista Administration: The Definitive Guide, written by Brian Culp (O'Reilly; ISBN: 0596529597). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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