31st May 1998

Unless you're using a Macintosh, you've probably got more than one button on your mouse. We use the left mouse button on a regular basis, but what about the right mouse button? Get in the habit of using it just as much as the other--you could be saving time.

Right click on the Taskbar, you'll find all sorts of options available. Select "Properties" to find ways to optimize your Taskbar and Start Menu. NOTE: "Properties" is the magic word in just about any Right Click menu. If you see it, select it to find more information about a particular object (or group of objects).

While we're talking about the Taskbar, try right clicking on one of the open programs within it. You'll then find a nifty little menu which could help you close, maximize, & minimize that particular program. If you have many programs open which you want to close, this could be a quick way of doing it.

What about the Start button? Yep, you can right click on that, too. "Explore" and "Find" are the two options you'll find most helpful. If you want to edit what can be found in your Start Menu, choose "Explore" and delete/rename folders at will. Or, if you're looking for something you know is in your Start Menu (but you can't find it), select the "Find" option.

In just about any 32-bit application where you can enter text, you can also probably right click and bring up a very useful menu. In most instances, you should be able to cut, copy, paste, and delete! Try it in your e-mail program, in Notepad, and even in the address line of your favorite web browser. And you thought you knew everything? :)

On the Desktop, you can right click on 'My Computer' to get your system's properties and empty the 'Recycle Bin' with the click of a button. Talk about a time saver! While you're at it, I'd remove any excess icons that might be cluttering up your Desktop. Do you REALLY need all of them?

Let's travel into the Windows Explorer for a brief moment. Double click on 'My Computer' and then right click on any one of the disk drives--you'll discover relatively extensive info by selecting the "Properties" option. Now open up a drive (like the C: drive) and right click on any given file or folder. You'll see so many options you probably never knew existed.

Fire up your favorite web browser... try right clicking on a web page background, link, or graphic. Wow--more functionality! I've seen many people right click in browsers to move back and forward (instead of using the arrow icons).

Remember, you can right click just about anywhere (and in just about any program). There are exceptions, of course, but it will seldom hurt to try! Now you know (and knowing is half the battle).