Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual

The commands in the View menu apply only to the active desktop window: the one that's open and in front of all the others.

B.3.1 Toolbars

Offers a submenu of toolbars you can add to the top of the window. For details on these toolbars and their functions, see Section 3.3. Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, T.

B.3.2 Status Bar

Makes the status bar appear or disappear at the bottom of the window. The status bar displays information about the contents of the current window, or the selection you've made inside it. (It may say, for example, "3 object(s) selected" or "Type: Microsoft Word Document.") Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, B.

B.3.3 Explorer Bar

Splits the window, creating a new left-side pane. In this special panel, you can summon your choice of extra information; make your choice using the View Explorer Bar submenu. The choices are described in Section 3.1.2. Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, E.

B.3.4 Thumbnails, Filmstrip, Tiles, Icons, List, Details

Let you view the files in a window as icons (which you move by dragging freely ), as a list (a neat list view that's automatically sorted), as a filmstrip (a slide show of graphics files), and so on. Section 3.2.1 begins a complete description of these views and their relative advantages.

B.3.5 Arrange Icons By

Tidies a window filled with randomly spaced icons, placing them into an orderly grid according to the criteria you select from the submenu here. These commands appear only in windows you've displayed in icon (not list) views. Section 3.2.1.1 has complete details. Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, I.

B.3.6 Choose Details

If you've put a window into Details view, you can use this command to specify which columns of information you want the window to show (date, size, type, author, and so on). Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, C.

B.3.7 Customize This Folder

This command launches a wizard that walks you through the process of changing the folder window's background (such as the identifying text and graphics that appear on the left side of the window). See GEM IN THE ROUGH: Folder Templates for details. Keyboard equivalent: Alt+V, F.

B.3.8 Go To

This command's submenu lets you move forward or backward through desktop windows you've recently opened, much like the Back and Forward buttons in your Web browser. (View Go To Home Page launches your Web browser, connects to the Internet, and takes you to the page you've designated as your home page.)

Keyboard equivalents : Backspace or Alt+left arrow (for Go To Back), Alt+right arrow (for Go To Forward), Alt+V, O, U (for Up One Level), Alt+Home (for Home Page), Windows logo key+D (for Desktop).

B.3.9 Refresh

Updates the contents of the window. Use this command if you've just cut, pasted, or deleted icons and the window doesn't yet reflect the changes. Keyboard equivalent: F5.