Alt-Space

Alt-space brings up the menu from the top left-hand corner of any Windows Application window.

In Windows Explorer you click on the little yellow folder, extreme top left hand corner, to the left of the title “Exploring – Win98” or similar. In Microsoft Word you click on the little Green “W”, extreme top left hand corner, to the left of the title “Microsoft Word – Power.doc” or similar.

One of the items in the menu is to Minimize the window, and you’ll notice that the letter “n” is underlined, just as I’ve show it here. That’s your clue to a short-cut key method for minimizing a window.

Alt-Space and then tap just the letter “n”. Your current window is minimized. Some other window is now apparent and becomes your current window.

Alt-Space and then tap just the letter “n”. Your current window is minimized. Some other window is now apparent.

You can minimize all your windows (or as many as you want) without reaching for the mouse and hunting for the little icon. No need to even look at the screen!

In a similar manner, Alt-space and then the letter “X” will maximize any Windows Application window. I like my windows maximized. I like to use every inch of the monitor I’ve paid for.

Alt-space and then the letter “R” would shoot my Application window back to intermediate size, but I rarely do that. I like to let my eyes/brain do the walking, and for that I need the most data I can get on the screen, not a small part of it.