Toolbars

Toolbars are collections of icons usually found at or near the top of a program,collected together to allow a series of similar functions to be actioned when one of the icons on the bar is clicked on. Often the icons will indicate their function if the mouse pointer is held over the icon and no mouse button is pressed by showing a "Tool Tip" - a short word or phrase explaining what the icon is for.

At the left hand side of a tool bar is vertical handle,and when the mouse pointer is held over that and the left mouse button held down  the cursor will alter to a four-pointed cross- the toolbar can then be moved around as if it was a bag of tools,around the program area. When the toolbar is moved to the edges of the program area it will "dock" - that is,become a vertical or horizontal strip which locks to the sides,top or bottom of the program area.

Two toolbars on the same line will produce chevrons,clicking on the triangle (top right) will show a mini menu of the rest of the toolbar.Note the handle of the next toolbar next to the chevronsIf two or more toolbars find themselves on the same line of the docked area then you may notice a pair of chevrons indicating that the toolbar extends further than can be seen along the docked area. Below the chevrons is a small triangle which when clicked will show the rest of the toolbar's functions.

Right clicking on a toolbar will bring up a mini-menu that allows the choice of whether any individual tool bar is available to use or whether it is hidden.

It is possible also to create your own toolbars and add buttons to them to link to webpages or perform macro functions which are automated functions using a programming language. The programming language maybe a cut-down version of an existing programming language such as Visual Basic.

The Yahoo,Google and My Search toolbars added to Internet Explorer

Toolbars can sometimes be installed into Internet Explorer to give enhanced abilities such as blocking pop-up menus from webpages or enhanced drop down menu facilities.These add search boxes to IE to save having to go to the search engine website to look up something on the internet.

Points to remember about Toolbars:

How to create your own toolbars


See Also: Files and Folders,Internet Explorer,Cutting and Pasting