The Parts Of miniMIZE

miniMIZE is effectively a service application. That means that it doesn't have a user interface in the same way as an application such as Microsoft Word. Instead, miniMIZE runs in the background and creates the thumbnails when you minimize your windows. However miniMIZE does still have some user interface elements that allow you to interact with it.

miniMIZE Notification Icon
In order to allow you to change the way miniMIZE works, and to allow you to exit the application, miniMIZE adds an icon to the Windows taskbar notification area (the area of the taskbar near the clock). The icon provides you with a way to interact with miniMIZE, while at the same time informing you as to the status of miniMIZE. When miniMIZE is active, it displays the active icon and when it is in-active, it displays the inactive icon.
graphic
miniMIZE Active Icon
graphic
miniMIZE In-Active Icon

Double clicking the notification icon will bring up the settings editor and right clicking the notification icon will show the miniMIZE context menu.

miniMIZE Context Menu
The miniMIZE context menu provides you with generally used options. To bring up the miniMIZE context menu, right click the notification icon.
graphic

The miniMIZE context menu allows you to access to various miniMIZE actions.
·    Activate - enables miniMIZE so that it captures window minimizes
·    Deactivate - disables miniMIZE so that it no longer captures window minimizes
·    Thumbnail Level - is a submenu that allows you to set the thumbnail level for all the thumbnail windows (see Thumbnail Settings)
·    Settings - brings up the settings editor (see miniMIZE Settings Editor)
·    Help - Displays the miniMIZE help
·    About miniMIZE... - provides you with information about miniMIZE
·    Exit - exits miniMIZE

miniMIZE Settings Editor
The miniMIZE settings editor provides you with a way to customize the behavior of miniMIZE by changing the settings that affect the way miniMIZE runs. For more information, see the section on Settings.

miniMIZE Thumbnail Windows
Of course the main reason you're running miniMIZE, is for the thumbnails. For each of the windows that you minimize, miniMIZE takes a snapshot of the window before the minimize action is complete. It then uses that snapshot to create a scaled thumbnail of the window and places the thumbnail on the desktop. The thumbnail is updated each time you minimize the window, so you are always provided with information about the last task you were busy with before you minimized the window.
graphic



Copyright (c) 2005 Stephen Kew