I'm quite sure everyone reading this blog entry owns a computer, or at the very least is using one right now. Personally, I've been a PC-user for almost a decade now and am proud to say that I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I can reach into whenever something quite unusual is going on with my PC or if there's something that I want to change in the settings (or any what-have-yous) before I head for the phone and call whatever number I have to ask for help. Of course, whatever knowledge I have now is a result of what I've gathered from my PC-knowledgeable thesismates, friends, family, and technical persons who have come and gone to fix my previously-owned PCs.
Anyway (before I get carried away from the topic at hand), in the ten years that I have been a PC-user, I've always wondered WHY I am never able to arrange the sequence of applications shown in my taskbar. I've even gone to the extent of purposely opening the applications I have to use in a certain order just so these applications are arranged (in the taskbar) in the sequence that I want them to be. I've always wondered why Windows did not include any settings or option for this, even when XP arrived, where they added the option to 'group similar takbar buttons' (which I never really liked) but not a 'rearrange the taskbar buttons as you wish' setting or option was in sight.
I've actually gotten used to opening the applications in my PC in a certain order, especially at work. First I open my Lotus Notes email application. Then, I click on Windows Explorer to be able to access in a single click the folders in my PC. Then I open an Internet Explorer window just so I can easily search for names in our intranet's directory when the need arises. I don't really mind the order of applications that comes after that third one, except when I'm multi-tasking and working on two or three things at the same time, in which case, it would be really helpful if all applications that are related to a certain task are next to each other in the taskbar rather than jumbled together with the applications for the other tasks. On some occasions, I just wish that those applications with the same icons are next to each other. Like all Word documents are next to each other...then the Excel workbooks...then whatever I feel like should come next after that...just because it looks nicer, aesthetically-speaking.
Anyway, opening the applications in sequence is something that I can deal with daily. But that's only good until your next application crash. In which case, you'll just have to deal with your applications 'misarranged' in the taskbar. Or if you just can't work with that, then you can always close everything then open them in sequence. AGAIN. Now, that can get annoying at times, especially if you have a gazillion applications open. Plus, its a waste of time especially if you're working with a jurrasic PC (like what I have at work Ü).
To all those who can relate with what I've written above, look no further! Our prayers have been answered! On a blah day when I couldn't think of anything to do, I tried keying-in "how to arrange taskbar applications" in Google and came about this website: MBoffin.com. He (or she, I don't really know) has the same dillemma as I have (it's great to know that I am not alone in this greater scheme of things Ü) and has actually found a nifty freeware application called TaskArrange (by Elias Fotinis) that allows you to rearrange the taskbar applications as you wish!
How cool is that, huh?!?!!!Ü Gone are the days when I have to open my applications in sequence! With TaskArrange, I can open anything and everything any way I like and still achieve my desired desktop application arrangement! Now, that's what I call PC empowerment (HAHAHA!).
And did I mention that it's free?Ü All you have to do is download it from this site (it's just a mere 83KB), unzip the file, install the appropriate version (depending on your OS) in your PC, and VOILA! TaskArrange is up and running, ready for use as needed! It doesn't even take that much resource in your PC since it doesn't run in the background and you just launch it when needed, then shut it down once you've achieved your desired desktop application arrangement. It's also easy to use. You can just drag the applications and drop it to where you want it to be placed or you can use the UP, DOWN, TOP, and BOTTOM buttons then click OK. The program closes as well when you hit the OK button so you won't even have to do that extra step of clicking the X on the upper, right-hand of the window or the CLOSE button.
So thank you, Mr. Elias Fotinis for this mini wonder of a program.Ü To everyone out there, join me in enjoying this new discovery, and check out as well the other programs available for download is Mr. Fotinis' website. That's all for now...ta-ta!Ü
Anyway (before I get carried away from the topic at hand), in the ten years that I have been a PC-user, I've always wondered WHY I am never able to arrange the sequence of applications shown in my taskbar. I've even gone to the extent of purposely opening the applications I have to use in a certain order just so these applications are arranged (in the taskbar) in the sequence that I want them to be. I've always wondered why Windows did not include any settings or option for this, even when XP arrived, where they added the option to 'group similar takbar buttons' (which I never really liked) but not a 'rearrange the taskbar buttons as you wish' setting or option was in sight.
I've actually gotten used to opening the applications in my PC in a certain order, especially at work. First I open my Lotus Notes email application. Then, I click on Windows Explorer to be able to access in a single click the folders in my PC. Then I open an Internet Explorer window just so I can easily search for names in our intranet's directory when the need arises. I don't really mind the order of applications that comes after that third one, except when I'm multi-tasking and working on two or three things at the same time, in which case, it would be really helpful if all applications that are related to a certain task are next to each other in the taskbar rather than jumbled together with the applications for the other tasks. On some occasions, I just wish that those applications with the same icons are next to each other. Like all Word documents are next to each other...then the Excel workbooks...then whatever I feel like should come next after that...just because it looks nicer, aesthetically-speaking.
Anyway, opening the applications in sequence is something that I can deal with daily. But that's only good until your next application crash. In which case, you'll just have to deal with your applications 'misarranged' in the taskbar. Or if you just can't work with that, then you can always close everything then open them in sequence. AGAIN. Now, that can get annoying at times, especially if you have a gazillion applications open. Plus, its a waste of time especially if you're working with a jurrasic PC (like what I have at work Ü).
To all those who can relate with what I've written above, look no further! Our prayers have been answered! On a blah day when I couldn't think of anything to do, I tried keying-in "how to arrange taskbar applications" in Google and came about this website: MBoffin.com. He (or she, I don't really know) has the same dillemma as I have (it's great to know that I am not alone in this greater scheme of things Ü) and has actually found a nifty freeware application called TaskArrange (by Elias Fotinis) that allows you to rearrange the taskbar applications as you wish!
How cool is that, huh?!?!!!Ü Gone are the days when I have to open my applications in sequence! With TaskArrange, I can open anything and everything any way I like and still achieve my desired desktop application arrangement! Now, that's what I call PC empowerment (HAHAHA!).And did I mention that it's free?Ü All you have to do is download it from this site (it's just a mere 83KB), unzip the file, install the appropriate version (depending on your OS) in your PC, and VOILA! TaskArrange is up and running, ready for use as needed! It doesn't even take that much resource in your PC since it doesn't run in the background and you just launch it when needed, then shut it down once you've achieved your desired desktop application arrangement. It's also easy to use. You can just drag the applications and drop it to where you want it to be placed or you can use the UP, DOWN, TOP, and BOTTOM buttons then click OK. The program closes as well when you hit the OK button so you won't even have to do that extra step of clicking the X on the upper, right-hand of the window or the CLOSE button.
So thank you, Mr. Elias Fotinis for this mini wonder of a program.Ü To everyone out there, join me in enjoying this new discovery, and check out as well the other programs available for download is Mr. Fotinis' website. That's all for now...ta-ta!Ü
6 comments:
I posted this comment on my site too, but wasn't sure if you'd see it. I'm glad my post was useful to you. Since I wrote that post, I also came across Taskbar Shuffle that does what I really wanted, which is add the ability to drag-and-drop my taskbar buttons around the taskbar. And again, it's free.
WOW! Another great discovery there! And FREE!!! I've installed Taskbar Shuffle and it does live up to its name.Ü Thanks for this info! Now, we have a choice between TaskArrange and Taskbar Shuffle.Ü Thanks again! It's also nice to confirm that the person behind MBoffin.com is a guy.Ü LOL! Thanks!
I was laughing and nodding the whole time. hehe nkaka-relate
Hi Jac! It's nice to know that i'm not alone in this...whatever you wanna call it (weird trait, perhaps? hehe). Pati si Marvin and Dio din pala, very particular din with the way the taskbar buttons are arranged.Ü
Thanks for dropping by!Ü Hope to see you here again soon!
taskbar shuffle is such a nifty little tool. plus it works with vista. i can't wait to try it out.
Ei Maris!
I have to say, Taskbar Shuffle is easier to use.Ü You can even arrange the tray icons aside from just the taskbar buttons! I've been using it eversince.
Thanks for dropping by! See ya Friday.Ü
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