Hello all,

First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
pretty-much dead ...

I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will globally
change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the window.

Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

In message <ucmo3i$2l2kp$1@dont-email.me> at Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:37:22,
R.Wieser <address@is.invalid> writes
>Hello all,
>
>First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
>pretty-much dead ...
>
>I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
>maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will globally
>change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the window.
>
>Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)
>
>Regards,
>Rudy Wieser
>
>
(7 here, but this has probably been there since Windows 3.x ...)

Alt-space n, or if you're mouse-obsessed, click top-left then n - _may_
be quicker than what you're doing. (_Don't_ double-click top left: that
seems to close!)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Try to tell me to watch something because it's brilliant and everyone says so
and therefore I will love it, too, and you lose me for ever.
- Alison Graham, RT 2016/2/6-12

J. P. Gilliver,

> Alt-space n,

Hmmm... I always forget about that menu. Might be usefull when already
having my hands on the keyboard (which, when on the desktop, doesn't happen
all that often).

.... though I'm quite bad at remembering "secret" incantations like that. :-\

> or if you're mouse-obsessed, click top-left then n - _may_ be quicker than
> what you're doing.

I doubt it, regardless of using the standard "minimize" button or my
intended "almost anywhere on the caption bar". Having to shift (eye) focus
from the mouse/desktop to the keyboard (or vice verse) puts you at a severe
disadvantage.

> (_Don't_ double-click top left: that seems to close!)

Don't (double-)click the top right area either, as that seems to do the same
:-)

Or, for keyboard-obsessed people, hitting ALT-F4. :-p

But I take it you are not aware of any setting to do what I asked about.
Bummer.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

In message <ucn8dd$2nasv$1@dont-email.me> at Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:15:35,
R.Wieser <address@is.invalid> writes
>J. P. Gilliver,
>
>> Alt-space n,
>
>Hmmm... I always forget about that menu. Might be usefull when already
>having my hands on the keyboard (which, when on the desktop, doesn't happen
>all that often).

I was going to say I find it easier than the minimise button, perhaps
because I'm using a laptop with touchpad. But thinking about it,
actually I think I just rarely minimise anything! Of the dozen or so
things I have open at the moment, I don't think any are minimised -
they're just under other things. I use alt-tab a lot, or the taskbar
buttons.
>
>... though I'm quite bad at remembering "secret" incantations like that. :-\

Yes, it's hardly documented anywhere.
>
>> or if you're mouse-obsessed, click top-left then n - _may_ be quicker than
>> what you're doing.
>
>I doubt it, regardless of using the standard "minimize" button or my
>intended "almost anywhere on the caption bar". Having to shift (eye) focus
>from the mouse/desktop to the keyboard (or vice verse) puts you at a severe
>disadvantage.

True, though alt-space - especially on a proper keyboard - I think I can
do without looking. (Maybe helps that I'm left-handed [don't know if
alt-space works with the right alt key on a US layout: I'm used to the
right alt key having a different function anyway].)
>
>> (_Don't_ double-click top left: that seems to close!)
>
>Don't (double-)click the top right area either, as that seems to do the same
>:-)

True, but the X might suggest that that will happen, whereas there isn't
anything similar top left!
>
>Or, for keyboard-obsessed people, hitting ALT-F4. :-p
>
I've always found alt-F4 awkward, though I do use it sometimes.
>
>But I take it you are not aware of any setting to do what I asked about.
>Bummer.

Sorry, no. I don't even use the double-click-in-title-bar much if at all
- I think I more do it by mistake (and wonder why my screen layout has
changed) than deliberately.
>
>Regards,
>Rudy Wieser
>
>
me
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Worst programme ever made? I was in hospital once having a knee operation and I
watched a whole episode of "EastEnders". Ugh! I suppose it's true to life. But
so is diarrhoea - and I don't want to see that on television. - Patrick Moore,
in Radio Times 12-18 May 2007.

R.Wieser <address@is.invalid> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
> pretty-much dead ...

<OT>

FWIW, I never unsubscribe from quiet/'dead' groups.

For example at the moment, 'even' while I'm using Windows 11 (and
'managing' SWMBO's Windows 10), I'm still subscribed to anything from XP
to 11.

Of course I don't know what others do, so YMMV/YMWV.

</OT>

> I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
> maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will globally
> change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the window.

Count your blessings! On 11 (and 10? and 8[1]?), for some programs
(mainly 'apps'?), you don't even get to *see* a '-' on the top bar,
unless you hover over it!

"Just click on the invisible '-' (or '[ ]' or 'X')!" Microsoft UI
'design' in action! :-(

> Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)

J. P. Gilliver,

> Of the dozen or so things I have open at the moment, I don't think any are
> minimised - they're just under other things.

To me multiple open windows are distracting, so I normally only have open
what I actually need for my current task. And from those I often minimize
the ones I'm not activly use.

Althoug I sometimes hear of people who have tens of windows open for weeks
on end I cannot imagine myself doing such a thing.

> True, but the X might suggest that that will happen, whereas there isn't
> anything similar top left!

The "close" option in that menu is displayed in bold, which doesn't have any
meaning in normal use of the menu. But it could well be the "default
action" indicator, preformed on a double-click.

> I've always found alt-F4 awkward, though I do use it sometimes.

For me it depends. The nice thing is that those keys are always at the same
place, and I do not have to hunt (with the mouse) for a dialogs close
button.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:

> First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
> pretty-much dead ...

Lack of volume does not necessitate death. Did you try posting there to
see if you got a response in a couple days? I and others still monitor
the XP newsgroup, but that doesn't mean we respond unless we think we
can help.

> I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
> maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will
> globally change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the
> window.

A hotkey sequence you can use on the focused window is to press
Winkey+downarrow to reduce size. If the window is maximized,
Winkey+downarrow changes to normal sized window. If the window is
normal sized, Winkey+downarrow minimizes the window. Same for the
Winkey+uparrow hotkey combo. This only works on the active window (the
one with focus).

Winkey+M minimizes all windows. Winkey+Shift+M restores them.

Although the trend has been to hide the Control menu of a window, often
Alt+Space will show it. N will minimize, and x will maximize, so you
can use Alt+Space N or Alt+Space X.
There is probably 3rd-party software that will alter windows behavior.
I hear (never used) Actual Window Manager has an option for what you
want: https://www.actualtools.com/windowmanager/. Looks like it is
shareware.

I've read where you can do a registry edit in Win7/8/10/11, but don't
know if it was available back in WinXP. Run regedit, and edit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Create a string valued item named SnapSizing.
Set to 1 (enable) or 0 (disable)

Mine is set to 1 which means double-clicking on the titlebar will
maximize that window. I have not tested with it set to 0 (disable) to
see what double-clicking will do on the titlebar. Just because a
registry setting exists for a later version of Windows doesn't mean it
is recognized in an earlier version of Windows. Likewise, registry
settings may get dropped, and creating them in a later version of
Windows may not get them recognized and honored. I don't know that
disabling double-click on the titlebar changes the maximize action to
the minimize action, or if nothing then happens when double-clicking the
titlebar.

Of course, you're not saving any mouse clicks. You'll either
double-click to minimize, or you'll single-click on the dash ("-") icon
to minimize the window.

If the app's code controls the action of double-clicking on the
titlebar, the Windows setting is overridden.

VanguardLH,

> A hotkey sequence you can use on the focused window is to
> press Winkey+downarrow to reduce size.

Doesn't work here. I get the normal arrow-down key response.

> Winkey+M minimizes all windows.

Same as the "show desktop" next to my "start" button. But I need to be able
to do that for one window, not all at the same time.

> you can use Alt+Space N

J. P. Gilliver mentioned the same.

I don't like "magical" keystrokes though, I forget them too easily. That,
and I would than need to switch from the mouse to keyboard. IOW, just
clicking the dialogs "minimize" button would probably/likely be
easier/quicker.

> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
> Create a string valued item named SnapSizing.
> Set to 1 (enable) or 0 (disable)

Thank you for that. Alas, the below only says, for that registry edit, that
that will disable the vertical sizing, and nothing about minimizing.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-double-click-to-maximize-windows-vertically-in-windows.3225/

> Of course, you're not saving any mouse clicks. You'll either
> double-click to minimize, or you'll single-click on the dash ("-")
> icon to minimize the window.

:-) clicking the caption bar on its middle-ish now maximizes the window,
even if there is a "maximize" button right there next to it.

IOW, it already duplicates an already available button method, and I just
want it to duplicate /the other/ already available button method.

> There is probably 3rd-party software that will alter windows behavior.

I was already thinking of trying to build something for it myself. But I'd
rather use a(n already available) setting. Thru registry editing or a
windows configuration screen.

> If the app's code controls the action of double-clicking on the
> titlebar, the Windows setting is overridden.

I did not override it, but just noticed that I seem to have a dialog window
which doesn't minimize using the winkey-M method. It however does using the
earlier mentioned "Show desktop" button.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

On Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:37:22 +0200, R.Wieser wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
> pretty-much dead ...
>
> I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
> maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will globally
> change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the window.
>
> Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)
>
> Regards,
> Rudy Wieser

It'll be a lot faster to use e.g. AutoHotkey to set up a keyboard shortcut
to maximize the active window. Preferrably, a shortcut which is quickly
accessible by the left or the other hand which isn't holding the mouse. Two
hands makes things done faster than only one.

On Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:41:06 +0200, "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid>
wrote:

>J. P. Gilliver,
>
>> Of the dozen or so things I have open at the moment, I don't think any are
>> minimised - they're just under other things.
>
>To me multiple open windows are distracting, so I normally only have open
>what I actually need for my current task. And from those I often minimize
>the ones I'm not activly use.
>
>Althoug I sometimes hear of people who have tens of windows open for weeks
>on end I cannot imagine myself doing such a thing.

I always have six Windows open, and sometimes one or two more.

But I have a 34" wide-screen monitor.

In message <181bf6cd9muan.uyi81aavkabe$.dlg@40tude.net> at Thu, 31 Aug
2023 04:24:38, JJ <jj4public@outlook.com> writes
>On Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:37:22 +0200, R.Wieser wrote:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> First off, I'm (stil) using XP, but as that newsgroup seems to be
>> pretty-much dead ...
>>
>> I just realized that I /way/ more often minimize a window than that I
>> maximize it. As such a am wondering if there is setting which will globally
>> change a double-click on a windows caption to minimizing the window.
>>
>> Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)
>>
>> Regards,
>> Rudy Wieser
>
>It'll be a lot faster to use e.g. AutoHotkey to set up a keyboard shortcut
>to maximize the active window. Preferrably, a shortcut which is quickly
>accessible by the left or the other hand which isn't holding the mouse. Two
>hands makes things done faster than only one.

I think he wants something he can do with the mouse. From the keyboard,
the old (since Windows 3.x!) Alt-space menu still works - Alt-space x to
maximise, Alt-space n to minimise: no need for macros.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"In the _car_-park? What are you doing there?" "Parking cars, what else does
one
do in a car-park?" (First series, fit the fifth.)

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:

> VanguardLH,
>
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
>> Create a string valued item named SnapSizing.
>> Set to 1 (enable) or 0 (disable)
>
> Thank you for that. Alas, the below only says, for that registry edit, that
> that will disable the vertical sizing, and nothing about minimizing.
>
> https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-double-click-to-maximize-windows-vertically-in-windows.3225/

Isn't vertical sizing the same as minimize, normal, and maximize?

Also, that article says to use Winkey+Shift+down/up for resizing the
window. On my Win10 setup, I don't need the Shift key. Maybe you do
back in WinXP.

> clicking the caption bar on its middle-ish now maximizes the window,
> even if there is a "maximize" button right there next to it.

Hmm, seems odd that both the "-" and max icons do the same thing. Could
be a prior tweak, or some tool you run in the background to effect
behavior on windows.

JJ,

> Preferrably, a shortcut which is quickly accessible by the left or the
> other hand which isn't holding the mouse.

Duplicating the already present alt-space, "n" sequence ...

Thank you, but no thank you.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

VanguardLH,

> Hmm, seems odd that both the "-" and max icons do the same thing.

You're the only one here asserting that I'm afraid, and I've got no idea
where you got it from. Sorry.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote

| > Preferrably, a shortcut which is quickly accessible by the left or the
| > other hand which isn't holding the mouse.
| | Duplicating the already present alt-space, "n" sequence ...
| | Thank you, but no thank you.
|

I'm afraid this is a lost cause. 90% of people on usenet
never got used to using a mouse, so they're not likely to
know about obscure tweaks, and they can't understand
why you're so stubborn about wanting to click when you
could use a 3-key combination and put a sticky note on
your keyboard to remember it. Isn't that easier than
hunting in your closet for the mouse? :)

I actually thought that you were nuts, as usual. But I
tried the double-click on the title bar and... sure enough...
it maximized! I never knew that. So a minimize click option
does seem like a reasonable thing to ask for.

On Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:07 +0200, "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid>
wrote:

>VanguardLH,
>
>> Hmm, seems odd that both the "-" and max icons do the same thing.
>
>You're the only one here asserting that I'm afraid, and I've got no idea
>where you got it from. Sorry.

It seems very odd to me too.

Frank Slootweg expressed precisely :
> I'm still subscribed to anything from XP
> to 11.

on my side also 9x and DOS :)
https://i.imgur.com/BWOkTQq.png

--
/-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ T /-\
-=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- - -=-
............ [ al lavoro ] ...........

On 8/31/2023 9:15 AM, Newyana2 wrote:

> But I tried the double-click on the title bar and... sure enough...
> it maximized!

Hey, I use that :-)

It might even be cross platform.

Did you know, that if you grab a window by the title
bar with your mouse, and "shake it", that's a gesture
and your DE can respond ?

Well, don't do that, because you might not be able to figure out what happened :-)

After WinXP, slapping windows against the side of the screen can do something.
It's possible to resize a window, so all the decorations disappear.

And on Windows 11, you can "push" a window high enough, that the three
decorations in the upper-right corner cannot be seen.

*******

Don't forget that alt-F4 still works, and for a lot of these
"miserable situations" that happen above, that might be a
good choice to kill the program and try again.

Paul

>
> Yep, thats all. Probably doesn't exist, but you/I never know ... :-)
>
>
>
Click on the taskbar icon and it will minimise. Click again and it will
maximize. This works on all open applications. No need to remember key
stokes if you can remember to click on the taskbar, of course, it goes
without saying.

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:

> VanguardLH,
>
>> Hmm, seems odd that both the "-" and max icons do the same thing.
>
> You're the only one here asserting that I'm afraid, and I've got no idea
> where you got it from. Sorry.

Huh? Just which words have me asserting you are afraid, and of what? I
merely commented that it seems odd the "-" and max icons on the titlebar
perform the same action of maximizing the window when the "-" should
minimize the window. I've never seen the behavior you describe. That's
why what you describe seems odd to me. Something is odd when it never
or rarely happens.

MR,

> Click on the taskbar icon and it will minimise. Click again and it
> will maximize.

what is that saying again?... Oh yes : O.M.G.!

The simplest solution to what I was looking for (minimizing a window without
having to aim for a small button) and I missed it completely. And that when
I (ofcourse) already use it to un-minimize the window ...

IOW, thank you. That one will definitily do. Nicely big and on a rather
steady location - usable even when the window (and its minimize button) is
partly hidden.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

VanguardLH,

> Huh? Just which words have me asserting you are afraid, and of what?

Oh well.

Thank you for making it clear that went back to trolling. To be honest,
your previous post made me already wonder, but I wanted to give you the
benefit of the doubt.

Back into my "lets ignore him." list I'm afraid.

And FWI, even if you really have no clue to what I ment (but I doubt that
very much) than I have no desire to struggle/fight with you, effectivily
trying to teach you basic English conversation.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

In message <ucqbqm$3bhih$1@dont-email.me> at Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:32:38,
Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> writes
>On 8/31/2023 9:15 AM, Newyana2 wrote:
>
>> But I tried the double-click on the title bar and... sure enough...
>> it maximized!
>
>Hey, I use that :-)
>
>It might even be cross platform.
>
>Did you know, that if you grab a window by the title
>bar with your mouse, and "shake it", that's a gesture
>and your DE can respond ?
>
>Well, don't do that, because you might not be able to figure out what
>happened :-)
>
>After WinXP, slapping windows against the side of the screen can do something.

One of the things is "resize to left [or right] half of screen". When I
first came across that I thought it was rather neat, but turned it off
as I found I was doing it when I didn't want to. (And/or, returning
window to where-and-size it was before either wasn't possible or wasn't
obvious, and I don't like things that lose existing settings
irretrievably.)

>It's possible to resize a window, so all the decorations disappear.
>
>And on Windows 11, you can "push" a window high enough, that the three
>decorations in the upper-right corner cannot be seen.

That's been possible with the "Move" function in the top-left menu since
(I think) W3.x [ACHTUNG - involves keyboard use!]; in fact I'm pretty
sure you can use that to move a window off the screen/desktop
altogether. (It's a way to try getting back such a window, but as you
don't know which way to move it, it's not as useful as it at first
seems.)
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

No, I wouldn't describe myself as an eccentric. Apart from having webbed feet
and fins, I'm really quite normal! - Patrick Moore, RT 1989/3/18-24

In message <ucqo6k$3dhjs$1@dont-email.me> at Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:42:43,
R.Wieser <address@is.invalid> writes
>MR,
>
>> Click on the taskbar icon and it will minimise. Click again and it
>> will maximize.
>
>what is that saying again?... Oh yes : O.M.G.!

(-:

Actually, the second one will restore, rather than maximise, at least if
the window wasn't maximised when minimised. (At least, that's the case
under 7 - oh, I see, we're only posting to the '7 'group. Good.)
[]
>IOW, thank you. That one will definitily do. Nicely big and on a rather
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

No, I wouldn't describe myself as an eccentric. Apart from having webbed feet
and fins, I'm really quite normal! - Patrick Moore, RT 1989/3/18-24

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:

> VanguardLH,
>
>> Huh? Just which words have me asserting you are afraid, and of what?
>
> Oh well.
>
> Thank you for making it clear that went back to trolling. To be honest,
> your previous post made me already wonder, but I wanted to give you the
> benefit of the doubt.
>
> Back into my "lets ignore him." list I'm afraid.
>
> And FWI, even if you really have no clue to what I ment (but I doubt that
> very much) than I have no desire to struggle/fight with you, effectivily
> trying to teach you basic English conversation.
>
> Regards,
> Rudy Wieser

Does ANYONE have a clue why Reiser chose to become animous to me? Where
did I say he was afraid of anything? I give him several possible
resolutions, he figures perhaps I didn't assualt/insult him, but then he
accuses me of trolling. Something odd about Reiser himself.