Whenever you open content (a program, picture, document, or video) the content will appear in a window.

Windows offers standard controls and features so that you can control the program or content using standard features. The only exception is when a program “Turns Off” certain features.

The following are a list of basic window controls and features:

The Title Bar displays the name of the content or program.

The Title Bar also allows you to move the window to a different part of the desktop by right-clicking the Title Bar and dragging the window to the new position.

Minimize, Maximize / Restore, and Close buttons can be found on the right side of the Title Bar.  

The Minimize button is on the left and looks like a minus sign. Clicking on the Minimize Button places the window on the taskbar, usually found at the bottom of the screen. The windows is not closed or gone, it is simply out of the way of other windows, waiting to be opened or used again. To open the window again, click on it from the taskbar.

The Maximize / Restore button is in the middle and has two states. When a window is “Full Size”, you can make it smaller. When the window is small, you can maximize it to full size.

The Close button is the one on the right with the X. Clicking the Close button will close the window or program.

Most computers have a menu bar with File, Edit, View, Help, and other menu items depending on the type of program you are running, or the content being viewed. Some programs turn off the menu bar. Some give you the option of turning the menu bar back on, whilst others, like Microsoft Office 10, us a “Ribbon Bar”.

The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the window and provides information about the window.

A window can be resized horizontally by grabbing the right or left side of the window and moving it left or right.

A window can be resized vertically by grabbing the top or bottom of the window and moving it up or down.

Both Horizontal and Vertical resize can be accomplished at the same time by grabbing the corner of the window and moving it to a new location.

Full Screen – waiting to be Restored

Restored waiting to be Full Size