{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:32:33+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-28T14:32:33+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-09T18:15:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Operating Systems","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33524"},"slug":"operating-systems","categoryId":33524},{"name":"Windows","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33532"},"slug":"windows","categoryId":33532},{"name":"Windows 10","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33535"},"slug":"windows-10","categoryId":33535}],"title":"How to Navigate Open Applications on the Windows 7 Desktop","strippedTitle":"how to navigate open applications on the windows 7 desktop","slug":"how-to-navigate-open-applications-on-the-windows-7-desktop","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you have a lot of applications open on your Windows 7 desktop, it can sometimes be difficult to find and view the one you want. 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When you've highlighted the window you want to work with, press Enter to close the panel and display the selected window on the desktop.\nFlip 3D\nTo use the Flip 3D feature, hold down the Windows logo key (the key with picture of a waving flag divided into four parts) and then press the Tab key. All the open windows will cascade across your desktop in 3-D. Flip through the cascading thumbnails by continuing to the press the Tab key. When the thumbnail of the window you want appears at the front of the stack, release the Windows logo key. Your windows will all lay back down with the window you want on top.\n\nIf your mouse has a center wheel, you can then flip through the 3-D stack by turning the wheel. (Turn the wheel forward to flip backward through the stack and backward to flip forward.)\nAs with Flip, holding the Ctrl key down while activating Flip 3D ensures that the windows remain cascaded across your desktop while you peruse them with your right and left arrow keys. 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You’ll need to use the Windows Explorer to view your libraries, files, and folders. You can access Windows Explorer by clicking the Start menu and then clicking either Computer or one of your many folders, such as Documents, Pictures, or Music.\n\nThe following tools make it easy to use Windows Explorer:\n\n The Navigation pane. On the left side of the Windows Explorer window, you can click an item to see the files within. Items in the Navigation pane can include folders (such as Downloads); the Favorites list; the Windows 7 libraries (such as Documents and Music); other computers in your Homegroup; other drives on your computer; or other computers on the network.\n \n Use the “breadcrumb” navigation bar to move around. Click the wedges at the top of the Windows Explorer window to select from available folders.\nWindows 7 lacks the Up One Level folder button found in Windows XP. However, you can usually go up one level in Windows 7 by holding down the Alt key and pressing the up arrow. Also, the folder one level up normally appears in the \"breadcrumb\" at the top, so you can just click it there.\n \n Details box. If you click a file or folder once, details for it appear in the Details box at the bottom of the Windows Explorer window.\n \n Command bar. Most of the actions you might want to perform are listed in the Command bar. Many other actions are accessible by right-clicking the file or folder.\n \n Hidden menu bar. If you click Alt, Windows Explorer shows you the old menu bar (File, Edit, View, Tools, Help) from previous versions of Windows with dozens of functions tucked away.\n \n\nWhen Windows Explorer opens for the first time, you’ll see the Large Icons view. Although it's impressive, if you’re looking through a folder that contains many files, you’ll probably want to switch to Details view (click the Views button and choose Details). You’ll see a much more succinct list that requires less scrolling.\nWindows Explorer starts off in Large Icon view.\nThe other advantage to Details view is that you can sort the list of files by clicking one of the column headings — Name or Date Modified, for example. You can right-click one of the column headings and choose More to change what columns are visible.\nEvery Windows Explorer window has a button in its upper-right corner, next to the Help question mark, that lets you turn on the Preview pane — a strip along the right side of the window that, in many cases, shows a preview of the file you selected. This is a cool but slow feature. 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If you have a lot of applications open on your Windows 7 desktop, it can sometimes be difficult to find and view the one you want. But once you get the hang of some of Windows 7's desktop navigation features, such as Flip 3D and side-by-side comparisons, you'll find yourself getting more done more quickly than before.
Andy Rathbone's computer books, which include Windows? 2000 Professional For Dummies? and Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies?, have sold more than 11 million copies.
